Bass player RICK HUXLEY, one of the founding members of 60s pop group THE DAVE CLARK FIVE, has died at the age of 72.

He joined the band in 1958 and played on hits including Bits and Pieces and Glad All Over.

His death leaves just two original members of the group - drummer and leader Dave Clark and guitarist Lenny Davidson.

The musician died on Monday and Clark described the news as "devastating".

Huxley had been battling emphysema after years of heavy smoking, but Clark said he had recently been given a clean bill of health and his death had come as a shock.

"We'd talk once a week. I spoke to Rick on Friday, he was in great spirits," he said.

The band's successes included a number one in January 1964 with Glad All Over; and two songs which reached number two with Bits And Pieces later that year and Everybody Knows in 1967.

They also appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in the early 1960s, not long after The Beatles did the same.

Huxley attended when The Dave Clark Five were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame by actor and fan Tom Hanks in 2008.

Saxophone player Denis Payton died in December 2006 and singer and keyboard player Mike Smith died in 2008.

Huxley, who was from Dartford in Kent, stayed in the group until it split in 1970 and then pursued a career in property and in the music business.

His wife Anne died last year.