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    Jay Bennett's Family Issues Letter to Fans After His Death

    • Posted on May 28th 2009 12:00PM by Benjy Eisen
    • Comments (86)
    Print |  Email More
    As previously reported, ex-Wilco multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett passed away on Monday, in his sleep. While the cause of death is still publicly unknown, his family sent an email out to his mailing list on Wednesday morning, hoping to clear up some potential rumors ... and to end things on a high note.

    The email states that "Jay was in a really good place these past few years" and that, contrary to common perception, he looked back on his seven years with Wilco both fondly and proudly. He was knee-deep in work on another solo album and was also taking graduate classes to pursue his "umpteenth degree" at the time of his death.

    Most notably, the message clears up any misconceptions about Bennett's battle with Wilco, which he took public earlier this month (in an attempt to recoup money he claimed he was rightfully owed). According to the email, the lawsuit was four years in the making, was very emotional and stressing for Bennett, and had nothing to do with his impending hip surgery. In a post that he wrote on his MySpace blog in April, Bennett revealed that he did not have health insurance and was trying to scrape together money for long-overdue and urgently needed hip surgery.

    The email ends with a message of love. Literally. While many fans have paid homage to Bennett this week by pulling out their favorite Bennett-era Wilco albums, the email urges fans to "listen to a Nick Lowe album, watch some 'Mythbusters' on Discovery, play Warren Zevon's 'Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner,' rent 'Pay It Forward' (one of his favorite movies), write a song with the TV on and the sound off."

    The email ends with: "...and focus on how Jay always concluded his communications: Love, Jay."
    Download Wilco Songs
    Watch Wilco Perform Live in Our Studio

    Dearly Departed Musicians

      Dolla, May 18: The Atlanta-based rapper, whose real name is Roderick Anthony Burton II, was gunned down outside a Los Angeles mall. Burton's publicist told reporters he was waiting at a valet stand after a shopping trip when a gunman shot him. The The 'Make a Toast' star was 21. A suspect is in custody.

      Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

      Stephen Bruton: The guitarist and songwriter, who worked with the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt and Willie Nelson, died from complications of throat cancer in May 2009. He was 60.

      Ebet Roberts/Redferns , Getty Images

      Ean Evans: The Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist died in May 2009 after what the band called "a valiant battle with an aggressive form of cancer."

      Rusty Russell , Getty Images

      Vern Gosdin, April 29: The country hit-maker, best known for songs like 'I Can Tell By the Way You Dance (You're Gonna Love Me Tonight)' and 'I'm Still Crazy,' died in Nashville from complications due to a stroke.

      Chuck Krall / Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

      Rev. Timothy Wright, April 23, 2009:The two-time Grammy-nominated gospel singer died following a July car crash that took the lives of his wife and his grandson.

      Mark Q. Murray, AP

      David "Pop" Winans, April 9, 2009: The gospel music patriarch -- BeBe and CeCe are his kids -- was twice nominated for Grammys, in 1989 for his album with wife Delores, pictured, and again in 1999 for a solo album. He died at a Nashville hospice, seven months after suffering a heart attack and stroke.

      Arnold Turner, WireImage / Getty Images

      Bud Shank, April 2, 2009: The alto saxophonist and flutist died at age 82. He was most famous for his work with acts like the Mamas and the Papas and his flute work can be heard on their song 'California Dreamin'.'

      GAB Archive / Redferns / Getty Images

      Hal Durham, March 29, 2009: He was a fixture on the Grand Ole Opry stage, working at the famed country music institution for 32 years. He was 77.

      Donnie Beauchamp, Gaylord Entertainment / AP

      Dan Seals, March 25, 2009: The singer, who scored a number of pop and country hits, died at 61 of leukemia. Seals was half of the pop duo, England Dan and John Ford Coley, best known for the ballad, 'I'd Really Love to See You Tonight.'

      Beth Gwinn, Retna

      Uriel Jones, March 24, 2009: One of the original members of the Funk Brothers, a Motown group that played with Marvin Gaye and The Temptations, Jones died after suffering complications from a heart attack. He was 74.

      Tabatha Fireman, Redferns / Getty Images

    • Filed under: News, R.I.P.
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    Reader Comments(1 of 5)

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    embeddedrfat 5-28-2009

    Even though this comment is a day late I can not say being a dolla short is bad news.

    Every time a rapper gets a taste of the violence they so vehemently promote I have to admit to rejoicing.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Dreamsicleat 5-28-2009

    Rappers dont promote violence.... they talk about the reality of violence in many neighborhoods where they are from. If James Gandolfino was gunned down would your rejoice because the Sopranos "promoted" violence?

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Makeupgirl!at 5-28-2009

    All rappers dont promote violence, you shouldnt comment on things that you know nothing about.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    explicitsoul5at 5-28-2009

    I heard that! Being happy because someone has been murdered is the way to go! Also making general blanket statements that rappers promote violence is also a winner. Because everybody knows that groups like A Tribe Called Quest,Mos Def,Kanye West,Common,etc are ALL violent! Wait a minute! No their not! There goes your argument. See how easy that was. And I'm NEVER happy when someone is killed. Not even if it was you.

    vote downvote upReportLow Ranked

    Katina703at 5-28-2009

    your an ass for that statement

    vote downvote upReportLowest Ranked

    Katina703at 5-28-2009

    your an ass for that statement......

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    wsiede1at 5-28-2009

    It is facinating to me when we as humnan beings forget the Universe is no repect to a person. I really think you are angry, for what, you are the only person who know it. It's time to deal with your anger or pain and release yourself. You deserve to be happy and hatery is not the path for freedom of the soul. I'm sure we all have behaviors that are unacceptable but yet, our desire it to live as well, as those we love. Can you imagine someone close to you dead unexpectantly, and negative comments made about that person? If you can't, live long and you will have the opportunity to attend a relative or close friend's funeral. I wish you well and hope you will allow yourself some time to process your feelings and opinion.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    monicaat 5-28-2009

    Your simply crazy !embeddedrf! to wish death on a young man because you don't understand the culture of rap. Ignorance!

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    alphama333at 5-28-2009

    They don't promote violence...but talk about it? Ha! What planet are you from? Ever really listen to some of the words from them rap songs? Sure sound like they're promoting it to me. About killing one another and all sorts of violence.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Makeupgirl!at 5-28-2009

    Maybe you should listen to more than one of them rap songs and you would see that there are just as many positive rappers as there are gangsta rappers. Keep your judgements to yourself, this is not the place for it. A young man was killed and he did not deserve to die no matter what the reason.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    mydnytrydrat 5-28-2009

    Know nothing about it ....Hmmmmm...I know one thing.. I don't want that crap in my house. And according to these "ganstas"....which one are you ... a b!tch or a 'hoe?

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    boba1616at 5-29-2009

    "listen to one of THEM rap songs" I guess you did'nt pay attention in high school before you dropped out...as far as a young man getting killed...fuck em! one less scumbag from the ghetto I have to worry about...

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Makeupgirl!at 5-28-2009

    A young man is killed and you rejoice??? What kind of human being are you??? No one deserves to die, especially in that way. And Im sure that you have heard his music, thats how you know that he promotes violence huh? I doubt it! This is not the place for you to judge rap, your opinion is unimportant as the industry has and will thrive without you. A person was killed and you rejoice, thats like me saying everytime a bigot is killed I rejoice. I dont like bigots, but as I said before, no one deserves to die.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Tony Radunat 5-28-2009

    People with any type of common sense know rappers live a short life.. They are into drugs, and promoting their garbage rap music... we are short one more rapper... I SAY REJOICE......

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    maxwellhutat 5-28-2009

    What is this world coming to when people REJOICE over the death of a person, let alone 1 so young.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    breannmalmbergat 5-28-2009

    I am in total agreement, when do you rejoice over someone dying, if you dont like rap dont listen to it but don't ever condem someone for being different than you..... well said max

    vote downvote upReportLow Ranked

    boba1616at 5-28-2009

    One less scumbag in the world...I say rejoice as well...the one good thing about rap stars is that they usually all either over dose or get killed in drive bys...In either case society is rid of that ghetto garbage...

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    Robertaat 5-28-2009

    i feel this way if somebody passes away and other people want to rejoice i say let them be cause they dont have a heart. when somebody in their family passes away then they will know what it feels like when you loose a loved one. just let them be let these people do and say what they want.

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    jusasmile823at 5-28-2009

    No one deserves to be gunned down like a dog in the streets. But these so called rappers started this whole business. Some are not involved in these kind of words. But when you tell of violence, calling all women ho's,shootin up bang bang, naming the type of guns used and have. That's not music. They seem to be trying to tell some kind of story here but it has gotten way outta hand. There are innocent people getting shot out there and then there are the people thinking they have the right do to such a thing. The animosity this race have for one another is atrocious and they should be looking in their own backyards for why they do this to their own race....

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    all4poker4at 5-28-2009

    people come on these boards and make ignorant comments thinking it sounds good. what makes you think he or anyone that succumbs to any type of violence deserve it? have you lost anyone in your life? how would you feel if someone made that same ignorant comment towards you?

    Reply
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