British rocker and early collaborator with the Beatles Tony Sheridan died on Feb. 16 in Hamburg at the age of 72, according to ABC.

Sheridan's family posted a message about his passing on Facebook that read, "Our beloved father and friend! Thank you for your love and inspiration. You left us today at 12.00 pm."

Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity was born in Norwich, England. He is survived by his wife, three sons - Tony Jr., Bennet and Felim - and a daughter named Amber.

A singer and guitarist, Sherdian collaborated with the Beatles on some of their first recordings after meeting John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and the band's original drummer Pete Best in Germany in the early 1960s when they arrived in Hamburg to work as a club band. He was already a professional performer at the time and led the band's first official recording, with the tracks going under the name Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers.

Some of the tracks he recorded with the group included My Bonnie, The Saints and She Ain't So Sweet. During 1961 and 1962, Sheridan and the Beatles recorded nine songs together, according to The New York Times. The band held Sheridan in high esteem and McCartney him "The Teacher" because of his influence over the group.

The Beatles and Sheridan together were offered recording contracts in the spring of 1961 with the intention of the Beatles being the backup band to Sheridan. However, after the pop group's fan base began to grow as well as their status, the Beatles were given a recording contract of their own. They recorded their first album, Please Please Me, 50 years ago this February.