Founding member of 1960s band Traffic Jim Capaldi had died of stomach cancer at the age of 60, his family announced on Friday.
Jim Capaldi was the drummer in Traffic
Traffic, which also featured Steve Winwood in the line-up, scored hits with Paper Sun and Hole in My Shoe.
The band were inducted into the American Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame in March 2004.
Artists including Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Paul Weller all worked with Capaldi on his solo material.
Capaldi died at a London hospital in the early hours of Friday morning, surrounded by his family including his wife and two children.
Capaldi's friend and long-time manager John Taylor, said: "He was one of the most influential songwriters, not only of his generation but in the history of popular music culture.
"He attacked life with energy and passion and left a rich legacy. He leaves a benchmark for today's writers and musicians to emulate."
Capaldi was the drummer with Traffic and he also wrote many of their hits, with album sales topping 25 million.
The band split in 1979 but they got back together in 1993 to record a new album, Far From Home.
Born in Evesham, Worcestershire, Capaldi was close friends with Bob Marley, travelling with him as he wrote his Catch a Fire album.
Capaldi was married to Brazilian-born Aninha in 1975, a campaigner for the Brazilian street children's charity Jubilee.
Aninha escorted Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie during their official trip to Rio de Janeiro.