Officials are investigating death of Robert Wayne Birch, whose body was found in the Los Angeles area, as 'a possible suicide'
Robert Wayne Birch, a backup musician and bass player for Elton John, was found dead in the Los Angeles area on Wednesday. He died from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, officials said.
Los Angeles County chief assistant coroner, Ed Winter, said Birch's body was found after 1am (8am GMT) in a community of the San Fernando Valley. The case is "being investigated as a possible suicide," Winter said.
Birch, who also played saxophone, worked as the bass player in John's band starting in the early 1990s, opening the door for him to play with other famous musicians and bands such as Billy Joel, Keith Emerson, and the Replacements.