Fact #48270
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Drummer Ronnie Verrell dies in Kingston-upon-Thames, UK, one day after his 76th birthday. The cause of death is a chest infection he contracted during an operation to fix a crushed vertebra resulting from a fall down stairs. Verrell was perhaps most famous for playing in the house band for the Muppet TV Series where he provided the soundtrack for maniacal Muppet drummer Animal. Verrell also found acclaim working with Ted Heath, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, Jack Parnell, Cyril Stapleton, Peggy Lee, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, The Dave Clark Five and The Pizza Express All Stars.