Record producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Richard Swift, who collaborated with artists including The Pretenders, The Black Keys and Sharon Van Etten, has died aged 41.
Swift also played keyboards in American indie rock band The Shins from 2011 to 2016.
A representative for Swift said he died on Tuesday morning in Tacoma in the US state of Washington, according to a report from the Associated Press.
US rock band The Black Keys have paid tribute to Swift, who was their former touring bassist.
In a post on their Instagram profile, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Cairney shared a black and white photo of the late musician.
They wrote: "He was the funniest person we ever met, one of the most talented musicians we have ever worked with and we feel so honoured to have known him. RIP Richard".
Death Cab For Cutie's Dave Depper also thanked Smith for helping him secure work with American singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne.
He said: "Richard Swift was the most talented person I've ever met. Some impossible amalgamation of Harry Nilsson, Paul McCartney, and Levon Helm.
"Beyond soulful on any instrument he picked up, and a writer of hilarious, heartbreaking, funky, psychedelic songs."
A GoFundMe account for Swift set up in June said he was in hospital with a serious medical condition.
A link to the page had been shared on both The Shins and The Black Keys' Instagram profiles. The page had continued to receive donations following the reports of Smith's death.
