From 1966 until 1973 John Hutchinson was a veteran of three important bands backing music legend David Bowie and playing guitar on Bowie’s first major hit, “Major Tom” in 1972.

It being reported that guitarist John “Hutch” Hutchinson has died in England after a long illness.

He first connected with Bowie in 1966 when he auditioned for the singer’s backing band and then performed as a trio with Bowie and his girlfriend.

He was described as a “a semi-retired jazz guitarist” in his later years and published a memoir called “Bowie & Hutch,” in 2014.

No age at death was confirmed for the guitarist.

Bowie died after a battle with cancer in 2016 at the age of 69