Legendary drummer Jimi Hendrix found dead

The English drummer was discovered in the early hours of Wednesday at his hotel room, a county coroner's office spokesman told US media. An employee at Portland's Benson Hotel discovered his body in the room and then called police.

Although, no cause of death was immediately available, but the Multnomah County Medical Examiner's office said Mitchell likely died of natural causes. An autopsy was planned.

British-born drummer was the last surviving member of legendary 1960s band The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Mitchell was one of the most influential drummers of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He had been drumming for the Experience Hendrix Tour, which performed Friday in Portland.

"We're all devastated to hear of Mitch's passing," Janie Hendrix, chief executive of Experience Hendrix said in a statement. "He was a wonderful man, a brilliant musician and a true friend. His role in shaping the sound of the Jimi Hendrix Experience cannot be underestimated."

"It was a devastating surprise," said Bob Merlis, a spokesman for the Experience Hendrix tour. "Nobody drummed like he did."

"Over the course of the recent tour (Mitch) seemed delighted with the interchange with the other musicians and the audiences. There is no question that he was doing what he loved," Janie added.

During his lengthy career, Mitchell had also played with such rock legends like The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Keith Richards, Jack Bruce, Jeff Beck, Muddy Waters and others.

Born John "Mitch" Mitchell on July 9, 1947 in Ealing, Middlesex, Mitchell was one of the greatest rock drummers of the 1960s whose innovative drumming was considered as an important component of the Hendrix-led group's huge success

Mitchell’s style was a blend of the abandon of someone like Keith Moon, with the jazz complexity of a sticksman like Elvin Jones.

The Hendrix band trio, Mitch Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix and Noel Redding, first came to prominence during the Monterey Pop Festival, one of the first major music festivals, in June 1967.

Hendrix died in 1970 at the age of 27 in mysterious circumstances in London and the band's bassist Noel Redding died in 2003 aged 57.