Jay Bennett Found Dead

Songwriter Jay Bennett, Dead At 45
May 26, 2009
Story by: Michael Tedder
from CMJ.com

Songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and former Wilco member Jay Bennett died in his sleep early Sunday morning. He was 45. Bennett is perhaps best known for his songwriting and lush, symphonic keyboard work on the Wilco albums Being There, Summerteeth and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. As shown in the documentary I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, Bennett left Wilco during the recording of Hotel over creative disagreements with Jeff Tweedy, the group's lead songwriter, and a few weeks before his death, Bennett sued the group for unpaid royalties from his film appearance and his album work.

Before joining Wilco, Bennett had played in the early '90s alternative pop group Titanic Love Affair, and since leaving the group, he has recorded several solo albums, including last year's Whatever Happened I Apologized, which was released as a free download. He had also done session work and production for artists such as Allison Moorer, Tim Easton, Tommy Keene, Jeff Black, Blues Traveler and Sheryl Crow.

At the time of his death, Bennett was living in Urbana, Illinois, and was set to have hip replacement surgery in the near future. His cause of death is currently unknown.