Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter JJ Cale, who wrote hits for Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Johnny Cash, has died at 74 after suffering a heart attack.
Cale suffered the fatal heart attack on Friday while staying at a hospital in La Jolla, California, according to a statement posted to his website. No donations have been requested by the family but according to the statement, “[Cale] was a great lover of animals so, if you like, you can remember him with a donation to your favourite local animal shelter.”
Cale is best known for his 1976 song Cocaine, subsequently covered by friend and frequent collaborator Eric Clapton, who once called Cale his most admired living person in a Vanity Fair interview. Cale won a Grammy in 2008 for his song The Road to Escondido, another collaboration with Clapton.
Cale was also well-respected by other rock legends, including Neil Young who once said, “of all the players I ever heard, it’s got to be Hendrix and JJ Cale who are the best electric guitar players.” Cale’s last studio album, Roll On, was released in 2009.
(Via ABC News)
Watch: JJ Cale – Cocaine
http://youtu.be/E40IFKrzDIg
