Richie Hayward, co-founder of the Little Feat, an eclectic jamband that maintained a strong cult following throughout the decades, has died. He was 64.
Hayward helped form Little Feat in 1969, along with frontman Lowell George, Bill Payne and Roy Estrada.
The jamband mixed a variety of genres including rock, country, jazz and blues, and were known for songs like “Willin.”
The group fell apart in 1979 after George died, but reformed in 1987, and had been a fixture on the touring circuit.
Besides his work with Little Feat, Hayward also performed with acts including Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Buddy Guy and Barbra Streisand.
The drummer had been suffering from liver cancer and died Thursday (Aug. 12) at a hospital near Vancouver, Canada.
He was also struggling with complications of pneumonia, his publicist, Bridget Nolan, confirmed today (Aug. 13).
“He was waiting for a liver transplant,” said Nolan. Over the past year, benefits had been staged on Hayward’s behalf; he had no health insurance.
In a letter to fans last August, Hayward wrote about his predicament, but sounded hopeful.
“My intent is to come back to the band, as soon as I am physically able. Your love and support will mean a lot to me, more than I can say. I love and will miss you all, and I will see you again on the proud highway.”
He last performed with the band on July 11.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
Keith Girard has four decades of experience as an award-winning reporter, editor-in-chief, and senior media executive. Keith’s career began in Washington, D.C., where he was a reporter for The Washington Post and a contributing editor for Regardie’s and Washingtonian magazines. He also worked as a writer/producer in CNN’s Washington Bureau and has written one book on the U.S. Marines in the Gulf War and two novels: The ‘Heidelberg Conundrum’ and ‘The Curse of Northam Bay.’