Clem Cattini, Drummer for The Tornados and Session Musician, Dies at 89

Tributes have been paid following the death of drummer Clem Cattini, who played on dozens of UK number one singles. Cattini died at the age of 89.

He was a co-founder of the instrumental rock band The Tornados in 1961. The band's signature song, "Telstar," spent five weeks at the top of the UK chart in 1962 and became the first British group to reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.

As a highly sought-after session musician, Cattini's drumming featured on numerous chart-topping songs, including Tom Jones' "Green, Green Grass of Home," Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me," and Tony Christie's "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo?" Christie described Cattini as "a world class musician but also a world class gentleman." In a Facebook post, Christie remembered Cattini as "a prolific session drummer" who played on "more number 1 records than any other British drummer."

Carl Palmer, a drummer for groups Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Asia, acknowledged Cattini's influence, stating, "The drummers all over the UK owe you a lot for opening the door for all of us."