Veteran session drummer Earl Palmer has died at the age of 84 at his home in LA, following a long illness. The musician, born in New Orleans in 1924, worked with a host of music legends over the course of his career, bringing his pioneering backbeats to such tracks as Little Richard's 'Tutti Frutti', The Righteous Brothers' 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', and Ike and Tina Turner's 'River Deep, Mountain High'. Over the years he also worked with the likes of Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and Neil Young.
Inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, Palmer was referred to in Little Richard's autobiography as "probably the greatest session drummer of all time." He is survived by seven children.