By Jane Nambi

Rick Huxley of Dave Clark Five has died at the age of 72.

Mr. Huxley was the co founding member of the pop group of the ’60′s and was a bass player. Known to be a heavy smoker and had emphysema, Huxley’s life was a battle. However, the band leader, Dave Clark said at the time of his death, the 72-year-old had been fine health-wise. Talking about the deceased’s death, Clark said, “Rick was a dear friend and an immensely talented musician with an amazing sense of humor, he always made me smile.”

The death took him by surprise considering they had just talked and seemed to be fine. “We’d talk once a week. I spoke to Rick on Friday, he was in great spirits.”

Dave Clark was a band founded in 1958 as part of the British Invasion movement that brought the Beatles to America in the ’60′s. Their song, “Glad All Over” knocked “I Want to Hold Your Hand” out of the top spot on the U.K. singles chart a month earlier before the coming of the Beatles. Some of their popular songs include “Bits and Pieces” and “Everybody Knows.” The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.

Huxley was born in the British town of Dartford in Kent, and remained in the Dave Clark Five until the group split in 1970. After leaving the group, he sought a career in real estate and the music business.

Huxley’s death leaves two of the original group alive. Saxophonist Denis Payton died in 2006, and singer and keyboard player Mike Smith in 2008. Clark and guitarist Lenny Davidson are the only surviving members of the band.