The pop icon and celebrated torch singer Marianne Faithfull has died. The blonde, voluptuous Faithfull was an international celebrity before age 20 when she covered one of the first songs written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards,

Marianne Faithfull, who died today at 78, was crucial to the story of the Rolling Stones. Discovered by producer Andrew Loog Oldham at a party for the band, she later dated Mick Jagger from 1966 to 1970 and inspired him to write songs including “Wild Horses” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.

Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger has paid tribute to “wonderful friend and beautiful singer” Marianne Faithfull following her death aged 78. He was joined by bandmates Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards, the latter with whom Sir Mick wrote Faithfull’s first single As Tears Go By, which reached number nine in the UK singles chart.