Zevon, Warren

▪ 2004

      American singer-songwriter (b. Jan. 24, 1947, Chicago, Ill.—d. Sept. 7, 2003, Los Angeles, Calif.), was critically acclaimed and much admired by other songwriters despite having had only one major hit, “Werewolves of London,” from the album Excitable Boy (1978). He studied classical piano, was music director for the Everly Brothers, and wrote songs recorded by Linda Ronstadt and the Turtles before employing his rough-hewn baritone on albums such as Warren Zevon (1976) and Sentimental Hygiene (1987), featuring poetic songs that were by turns hard-boiled, humorous, tough, and tender. He survived inoperable lung cancer long enough to complete a final, touching album, The Wind (2003).

* * *