Legendary Abbey Road engineer Chris Blair has died. Born in 1951, "Vinyl" Blair joined Abbey Road in 1969 as a tape operator, working on many sessions, including The Beatles’ Abbey Road album at the age of 17. He soon moved across the studio to become a cutting engineer, quickly rising to the top of the discipline.

In 1975 he mastered 12 UK number one singles, including Queen’s massive number one Bohemian Rhapsody, which pushed the boundaries of the available technology.

Throughout his Abbey Road career Blair worked with an incredible range of artists from Pink Floyd to the Arctic Monkeys, as well as mastering most of the Now! compilations.

When asked his favourite people to work with in a recent interview in the Abbey Road magazine Playback, Blair cited Radiohead and Travis, who he called "very nice guys" as well as Christian rock group Delerious.

He is survived by his wife Catherine and their son Oliver. A memorial service will be held at 11.30am on Friday November 18 at St Peter Le Poer Church at the corner of Colney Hatch and Albion Avenue, London, N10.

Donations to the East Anglian Air Ambulance Team can be made through Leverton & Sons, 1 Denmark Terrace, Fortis Green, London N2 9HG.