Elton John Band Member Bob Birch Found Dead, Apparent Suicide

Veteran sideman and 20-year Elton John collaborator Bob Birch was found dead Wednesday morning, TMZ reports. Authorities have treated his death as a suicide.

Birch was reportedly found near his home with a gunshot wound to the head, unnamed law enforcement sources have said, with no suicide note found. There were neither signs of drug use, nor have there been reports of foul play indicators. Birch was 55.

A bass-playing collaborator of both John and John's fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famer pianist Billy Joel, Birch first worked with John in 1992. In 1997, he worked with John on his mourning-tribute rewrite of "Candle in the Wind" to the late Princess Diana of Wales.

Throughout his career, he made music also with - among others - Stevie Wonder, Clint Black, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Cher, Sting, LeAnn Rimes, The Backstreet Boys and The Spice Girls. All told, there's probably no telling at all how often familiar we've all been with Birch's bass work all along.

He's survived by his wife, Michele, and son, Jonathan, according to The Huffington Post.

From TMZ today, here's a parting performance to honor his decades of discreet contribution to many a catchy rhythm: Birch in one of his last live performances, steady as a clock, backing up Leon Russell and Elton John on a 2011 "Late Show with David Letterman."

Photo source: Baltimore Sun