Dennis Davis, the longtime drummer of David Bowie, has passed away.

Though the official cause of death has not been revealed, social media posts from friends of Davis state that he had recently been undergoing treatment for cancer.

Davis is featured on seven Bowie albums released between 1975 and 1980: Young Americans, Station To Station, Low, Heroes, Stage, Lodger and Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps).

Tony Visconti, Bowie's frequent co-producer, paid tribute to Davis on Facebook.

"He was a disciplined jazz drummer who tore into Rock with a Jazz sensibility," Visconti said.

"Listen to the drum breaks on 'Black Out' from the Heroes album.

He had a conga drum as part of his set up and he made it sound like two musicians were playing drums and congas.

By Scary Monsters he was playing parts that were unthinkable but they fit in so perfectly."