Richie Hayward, co-founder of Little Feat, dies
NEW YORK (AP)
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. The drummer had been suffering from liver cancer and
died Thursday at a hospital near Vancouver, Canada, after complications
of pneumonia, his publicist, Bridget Nolan, confirmed Friday. "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. 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.
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