The drummer from Hendrix group Band Of Gypsys, Buddy Miles, has died at the age of 60 in Austin, Texas. It's not clear what the cause of death was.
Miles was born in Nebraska in 1947 and was exposed to music from a young age by his father, who belonged to a band called The Bebops, and began his career playing with the likes of Wilson Pickett, The Delfonics and The Ink Spots. He first met Hendrix in 1960 but didn't work with him until 1969 when Hendrix produced an album by the drummer's own outfit, The Buddy Miles Express. Miles subsequently performed on Hendrix's 'Electric Ladyland' album, then joined Band Of Gypsys.
When Hendrix died in 1970, Miles drummed on a few posthumous releases, and in 2004 released a new Band Of Gypsys live album with bassist Billy Cox. In the intervening years he spent some time in prison on drugs charges, but also found new notoriety as the voice of the California Raisons claymation ads. His family are planning a tribute event, details of which aren't yet available.