Kenny Edwards was a folk-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who is best remembered as a founding member of the Stone Poneys along with Linda Ronstadt and Bob Kimmel. Formed in 1965, the group helped pave the way for the popular “Laurel Canyon” sound of ’70s country rock. Their 1967 album Evergreen, Volume 2 included the hit single, “Different Drum,” which helped set up Ronstadt’s wildly successful solo career. Even though the group’s recording career lasted just 15 months, they remarkably, released three full albums. After the Stone Poneys parted ways, Edwards formed the moderately successful Bryndle, then went solo, and collaborated with the likes of Karla Bonoff, Warren Zevon, Stevie Nicks, Brian Wilson, and Don Henley. In 1974, Edwards and Ronstadt again joined forces to release one of her most popular albums, Heart Like A Wheel. They continued to work together for many more years. Kenny Edwards passed away on August 18, 2010. He was 64 and had been battling prostate cancer.
Richie Hayward is perhaps best remembered as the founding drummer for legendary southern rock band, Little Feat. Formed by Lowell George in 1969, the band quickly built a sizable following thanks to their seamless merging of rock, jazz, blues, country and R&B. Albums like Little Feat, Sailin’ Shoes and Dixie Chicken are now classic rock staples while there 1978 live album, Waiting On Columbus, is widely considered one of the greatest live albums ever released. Hayward also kept very busy outside of Little Feat. As a session player, he worked with the likes of Bob Dylan, Peter Frampton, Bob Seger, the Doobie Brothers, Robert Palmer, Warren Zevon, and many more. Richie Hayward was 64 when he died of liver cancer on August 12, 2010
Ben Keith (Born Bennett Schaeufle)
March 6, 1937 – July 26, 2010
Ben Keith was a successful Nashville session player, producer, and singer-songwriter who is perhaps best remembered for his many collaborations with Neil Young. Keith first began making a name for himself in Nashville during the ’50s and ’60s when he played on numerous country and early rock ‘n roll hits. That list includes his steel guitar on Patsy Cline’s “I Fall To Pieces.” During the early ’70s, Keith was invited to play on Young Harvest album that went on to become the most successful album of 1971 and spawned such rock staples as “Old Man” and “Heart Of Gold,” both of which featured Keith’s playing. That was the beginning of a nearly 40-year musical partnership that found Keith playing on over a dozen Young albums and in countless concerts. Over the course of his career, Keith also collaborated with a group of some of popular music’s most beloved artists. That list includes Waylon Jennings, Jewel, Warren Zevon, Willie Nelson, the Band, Johnny Cash, and Ringo Starr. He also released a handful of his albums. Ben Keith passed away on July 26, 2010 at the age of 73. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Elmer Valentine played a critical role in the growth of popular music in the Los Angeles area by co-founding the legendary Sunset Strip clubs, the Whiskey a Go Go and the Roxy. Born and raised in Chicago where he worked on the police force, Valentine transplanted to the L.A. area in 1960. In 1964, Valentine and three partners opened the Whiskey which would help define the west coast rock scene of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Acts like the Doors, the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield played some of their earliest gigs there during the ’60s, while the likes of Great White, Motley Crue and Guns ‘n Roses did the same during the ’80s. And of course, there were countless others between and since. In 1966, he and investers that included Lou Adler, opened the Roxy (and later, the infamous Rainbow Bar & Grill next door). Like the Whiskey, the Roxy hosted its own share of legendary early shows. That list includes Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Warren Zevon, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Frank Zappa. The Roxy’s small upstairs bar, On The Rox was also the site of some of rock music’s most notorious incidents. In the mid ’70s, it played host to John Lennon’s infamous “lost weekend” gatherings with Keith Moon, Harry Nilsson, and Alice Cooper. And in March of 1982, it was reportedly the last place John Belushi over-indulged before calling it a night and dying of an overdose in his hotel room. Elmer Valentine sold his share of the Whiskey during the ’90s, but held on to his share of the Roxy and Rainbow until he passed away at the age of 80.
Warren Zevon was one of rock’s greatest songwriters. He could write a better song title than most can write full songs. He first gained prominence as part of the same ’70s Los Angeles rock community that spawned the Eagles, Jackson Browne, and Linda Ronstadt, Zevon crafted songs that were beautifully ironic and at times, darkly humorous. He was, as the saying goes, a songwriter’s songwriter. Over the years he gave us such classic tunes as “Send Lawyers, Guns and Money,” “Werewolves Of London,” “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” “Hasten Down The Wind,” and “Carmelita.” Throughout most of the ’80s and ’90s, Zevon could be seen from time to time filling in for Paul Shaffer on Late Night With David Letterman. In 2002, Zevon was diagnosed with a cancer that has been linked to asbestos. Instead of seeking traditional treatment, Zevon set out to create his final masterpiece, The Wind. The album featured a list of friends paying him back for the impact he had had on them. That list included Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Tom Petty, Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris and more. A brilliant VH-1 documentary was made of the sessions. October 30, 2002, David Letterman paid an unprecedented gesture to Zevon by devoting that entire one-hour show to his dear friend. Warren Zevon died on September 7, 2003, just 12 days after the release of The Wind which went on to be certified gold and earn five Grammy nominations, winning two.
Richie Hayward is perhaps best remembered as the founding drummer for legendary southern rock band, Little Feat. Formed by 
Ben Keith was a successful Nashville session player, producer, and singer-songwriter who is perhaps best remembered for his many collaborations with Neil Young. Keith first began making a name for himself in Nashville during the ’50s and ’60s when he played on numerous country and early rock ‘n roll hits. That list includes his steel guitar on 
Warren Zevon was one of rock’s greatest songwriters. He could write a better song title than most can write full songs. He first gained prominence as part of the same ’70s Los Angeles rock community that spawned the Eagles, Jackson Browne, and Linda Ronstadt, Zevon crafted songs that were beautifully ironic and at times, darkly humorous. He was, as the saying goes, a songwriter’s songwriter. Over the years he gave us such classic tunes as “Send Lawyers, Guns and Money,” “Werewolves Of London,” “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” “Hasten Down The Wind,” and “Carmelita.” Throughout most of the ’80s and ’90s, Zevon could be seen from time to time filling in for Paul Shaffer on Late Night With David Letterman. In 2002, Zevon was diagnosed with a cancer that has been linked to asbestos. Instead of seeking traditional treatment, Zevon set out to create his final masterpiece, The Wind. The album featured a list of friends paying him back for the impact he had had on them. That list included Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, 