(CNN) Musician JJ Cale whose songs Cocaine and After Midnight were made famous by Eric Clapton died Friday night after suffering a heart attack the president of his management agency said. His contemporaries considered him a legend even if many fans weren't familiar with his name.
He was 74.
JJ Cale was loved by fans worldwide for his completely unpretentious and beautiful music said Mike Kappus president of the Rosebud Agency. He was loved even more dearly by all those he came in contact with as the most real and down to earth person we all knew.
'Cocaine's' Cale makes his own groove
Lynyrd Skynyrd made Cale's song Call Me The Breeze famous and bands including Santana The Allman Brothers Johnny Cash and many others covered his songs.
He won a Grammy for his 2006 album with Clapton called The Road to Escondido.
A look back at those we have lost in 2013. Syndicated radio host Kidd Kraddick died July 27 at a golf tournament in New Orleans to raise money for his Kidd's Kid Charity. His cause of death was not immediately known. He was 53. Musician JJ Cale died Friday July 26 after suffering a heart attack. He was 74. Above Cale performs at the Carre Theatre in Amsterdam in 1973. Virginia Johnson the pioneering sex researcher who was part of a groundbreaking team with William Masters died at age 88 on July 24 her family said. Masters died in 2001. Former world class boxer Emile Griffith who won five titles during the 1960s died July 23 the International Boxing Hall of Fame announced. He was 75. Dennis Farina has died his representative said Monday July 22. He was 69. Above Farina shoots a scene as Detective Joe Fontana in Law Order in 2004. Pioneer journalist and former senior White House correspondent Helen Thomas died on July 20 after a long illness sources told CNN. She was 92. Jazz guitarist Carline Ray died at Isabella House in New York City on July 18. She was 88. Cory Monteith who played heart throb Finn Hudson in the Fox hit Glee was found dead in a Vancouver Canada hotel room Saturday July 13 police said. He was 31. Douglas Englebart the inventor of the computer mouse died Tuesday July 2 at his home in Atherton California according to SRI International the research institute where he once worked. He was 88. Jim Kelly a martial artist best known for his appearance in the 1973 Bruce Lee movie Enter the Dragon died on June 29 of cancer. He was 67. After a brief acting career he became a ranked professional tennis player on the USTA senior men's circuit. Here he appears in the 1974 film Three the Hard Way. Bert Stern a revolutionary advertising photographer in the 1960s who also made his mark with images of celebrities died on June 25 at age 83. Possibly most memorably he captured Marilyn Monroe six weeks before she died for a series later known as The Last Sitting. Alan Myers Devo's most well known drummer lost his battle with cancer on June 24. Band member Mark Mothersbaugh said in a statement that Myers' style on the drums helped define the band's early sound. Singer Bobby Blue Bland who helped create the modern soul blues sound died June 23 at age 83. Bland was part of a blues group that included B.B. King. His song Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City was sampled on a Jay Z album. Bland was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Marc Rich the commodities trader and Glencore founder whom President Bill Clinton pardoned on his final day in office died June 26 at age 78 in Switzerland. Rich often was credited with the creation of modern oil trading. He lived abroad after being indicted in 1983 for tax evasion false statements racketeering and illegal trading with Iran becoming one of the world's most famous white collar criminals. Richard Matheson an American science fiction writer best known for his novel I Am Legend died June 23 at age 87. During a career that spanned more than 60 years Matheson wrote more than 25 novels and nearly 100 short stories plus screenplays for TV and film. James Gandolfini died at the age of 51 after an apparent heart attack. Gandolfini became a fan favorite for his role as mob boss Tony Soprano on HBO's The Sopranos. Country music singer/songwriter Slim Whitman died on June 19 his son in law Roy Beagle told CNN. He was 90. Above Whitman poses with his guitar at a press conference at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London on February 22 1956. Esther Williams whose success as a competitive swimmer propelled her to Hollywood stardom during the 1940s and 1950s died on Thursday June 6 in California according to her spokesman. David Deacon Jones who is credited with coining the term sacking the quarterback during his stint as one of the greatest defensive ends in the NFL has died. Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey died June 3 of viral pneumonia his office said. Lautenberg 89 had been the Senate's last surviving veteran of World War II. Actress Jean Stapleton best known for her role as Archie Bunker's wife Edith in the groundbreaking 1970s TV sitcom All in the Family died at age 90 on Saturday June 1. Ed Shaughnessy the longtime drummer for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson has died a close friend said Sunday. He was 84. Ray Manzarek keyboardist and founding member of The Doors passed away of cancer on Monday May 20. He was 74. NASCAR legend Dick Trickle died on May 16 of an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound. He was 71. Popular American psychologist and television personality Dr. Joyce Brothers died at 85 her daughter said on May 13. Brothers gained fame as a frequent guest on television talk shows and as an advice columnist for Good Housekeeping magazine and newspapers throughout the United States. Jeanne Cooper who played Katherine Chancellor the Dame of Genoa City on The Young and the Restless died on May 8. She was 84. Ray Harryhausen the stop motion animation and special effects master whose work influenced such directors as Steven Spielberg Peter Jackson and George Lucas died on May 7 at age 92 according to the Facebook page of the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation. Grammy winning guitarist Jeff Hanneman a founding member of the heavy metal band Slayer died on May 2 of liver failure. He was 49. Chris Kelly one half of the 1990s rap duo Kris Kross died on May 1 at an Atlanta hospital after being found unresponsive at his home the Fulton County medical examiner's office told CNN. Kelly right and Chris Smith shot to stardom in 1992 with the hit Jump. George Jones the country music legend whose graceful evocative voice gave depth to some of the greatest songs in country music including She Thinks I Still Care The Grand Tour and He Stopped Loving Her Today died on April 26 at age 81 according to his public relations firm. Actor Allan Arbus poses for a portrait with his daughter photographer Amy Arbus in 2007. Allan Arbus who played psychiatrist Maj. Sidney Freedman in the M A S H television series died at age 95 his daughter's representative said April 23. Folk singer Richie Havens the opening act at the 1969 Woodstock music festival died on April 22 of a heart attack his publicist said. He was 72. Australian rocker Chrissy Amphlett the Divinyls lead singer whose group scored an international hit with the sexually charged I Touch Myself in the early 1990s died on April 21 from breast cancer and multiple sclerosis her husband said. She was 53. Pat Summerall the NFL football player turned legendary play by play announcer was best known as a broadcaster who teamed up with former NFL coach John Madden. Summerall died April 16 at the age of 82. Comedian Jonathan Winters died on April 11 at age 87. Known for his comic irreverence he had a major influence on a generation of comedians. Here he appears on The Jonathan Winters Show in 1956. Sir Robert Edwards a co pioneer of the in vitro fertilization technique and Nobel Prize winner died April 10 in his sleep after a long illness the University of Cambridge said. He was 87. He is pictured on July 25 1978 holding the world's first test tube baby Louise Joy Brown alongside the midwife and Dr. Patrick Steptoe who helped develop the fertility treatment. Annette Funicello one of the best known members of the original 1950s Mickey Mouse Club and a star of 1960s beach party movies died at age 70 on April 8. Pictured Funicello performs with Jimmie Dodd on The Mickey Mouse Club in1957. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher a towering figure in postwar British and world politics and the only woman to become British prime minister died at the age of 87 on Monday April 8. Designer Lilly Pulitzer right died on April 7 at age 81 according to her company's Facebook page. The Palm Beach socialite was known for making sleeveless dresses from bright floral prints that became known as the Lilly design. Film critic Roger Ebert died on April 4 according to his employer the Chicago Sun Times. He was 70. Ebert had taken a leave of absence on April 2 after a hip fracture was revealed to be cancer. Jane Nebel Henson wife of the late Muppets creator Jim Henson and instrumental in the development of the world famous puppets died April 2 after a long battle with cancer. She was 78. Shain Gandee one of the stars of the MTV reality show Buckwild was found dead with two other people in Kanawha County West Virginia on April 1. He was 21. Music producer and innovator Phil Ramone right with Paul Shaffer left and Billy Joel at the Song Writers Hall of Fame Awards in New York in 2001. Ramone died March 30 at the age of 72. Writer/producer Don Payne one of the creative minds behind The Simpsons died March 26 at his home in Los Angeles after losing a battle with bone cancer reports say. He was 48. Gordon Stoker left who as part of the vocal group the Jordanaires sang backup on hits by Elvis Presley died March 27 at 88. Deke Richards center died March 24 at age 68. Richards was a producer and songwriter who was part of the team responsible for Motown hits such as I Want You Back and Maybe Tomorrow. He had been battling esophageal cancer. Legendary publisher promoter and weightlifter Joe Weider who created the Mr. Olympia contest and brought California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the United States died at age 93 on March 23. Playboy magazine's 1962 Playmate of the Year Christa Speck Krofft died March 22 of natural causes at the age of 70. Rena Golden who held top positions at CNN died at age 51 after battling lymphoma for two years on March 21. Harry Reems the porn star best known for playing Dr. Young in the 1972 adult film classic Deep Throat died March 19 according to a spokeswoman at a Salt Lake City hospital. Reems whose real name is Herbert Streicher was 65. Bobbie Smith who as a member of the Spinners sang lead on such hits as I'll Be Around and Could It Be I'm Falling in Love died on March 16 at age 76. Pictured clockwise from left Spinners band member Pervis Jackson Billy Henderson Jonathan Edwards Bobbie Smith and Henry Fambrough 1977. Sweden's Princess Lilian the Welsh born model who lived with her lover Prince Bertil for 30 years before they were married has died at the age of 97 the Swedish Royal Court said in a statement. Alvin Lee the speed fingered British guitarist who lit up Woodstock with a monumental 11 minute version of his song I'm Going Home died on March 6 according to his website. He was 68. Hugo Chavez the polarizing president of Venezuela who cast himself as a 21st century socialist and foe of the United States died March 5 said Vice President Nicolas Maduro. Bobby Rogers one of the original members of Motown staple The Miracles died on Sunday March 3 at 73. From left Bobby Rogers Ronald White Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore circa 1965. Actress Bonnie Franklin star of the TV show One Day at a Time died at the age of 69 on March 1 of complications from pancreatic cancer. Actor Dale Robertson who was popular for his western TV shows and movies died at age 89 on Thursday February 28. Richard Street former member of the Temptations died at age 70 on February 27. Street second from the left poses for a portrait with fellow members of the Temptations circa 1973. Van Cliburn the legendary pianist honored with a New York ticker tape parade for winning a major Moscow competition in 1958 died on February 27 after a battle with bone cancer his publicist said. He was 78. Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop died on February 25. He was 96. Koop served as surgeon general from 1982 to 1989 under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Damon Harris former member of the Motown group the Temptations died at age 62 on February 18. Harris center on the stool poses for a portrait with fellow members of The Temptations circa 1974. Lou Myers a stage film and TV actor who memorably portrayed Mr. Gaines on the comedy A Different World died on February 19 at the age of 75. Los Angeles Laker owner Jerry Buss died February 18 at age 80. Buss who had owned the Lakers since 1979 was credited with procuring the likes of Earvin Magic Johnson James Worthy Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. The Lakers won 10 NBA championships and 16 Western Conference titles under Buss' ownership. Country singer Mindy McCready was found dead on February 17 of a self inflicted gunshot wound authorities said. She was 37. During her career McCready landed 14 songs and six albums on the Billboard country charts. Ed Koch the brash former New York mayor died February 1 of congestive heart failure at 88 his spokesman said. Patty Andrews center the last surviving member of the Andrews Sisters died at her Northridge California home on January 30 her publicist Alan Eichler said. She was 94. Patty is seen in this 1948 photograph with her sisters Maxene left and Laverne. Baseball Hall of Famer and St. Louis Cardinals great Stan Musial died on January 19 according to his former team. He was 92. Baseball Hall of Fame manager Earl Sidney Weaver who led the Baltimore Orioles to four pennants and a World Series title with a pugnacity toward umpires died January 19 of an apparent heart attack at age 82 Major League Baseball said. Pauline Phillips better known to millions of newspaper readers as the original Dear Abby advice columnist has died after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. She died January 16 in Minneapolis Minnesota at age 94. Aaron Swartz the Internet activist who co wrote the initial specification for RSS committed suicide a relative told CNN on January 12. He was 26. Swartz also co founded Demand Progress a political action group that campaigns against Internet censorship. Claude Nobs the founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival died aged 76 following a skiing accident. Richard Ben Cramer the Pulitzer Prize winning writer whose 1992 book What It Takes remains one of the most detailed and passionate of all presidential campaign chronicles died January 7 according to his longtime agent. He was 62. Director and stuntman David R. Ellis died on January 7. He directed Snakes on a Plane. Tony Lip who played mob figures in the hit cable show The Sopranos and several critically acclaimed movies died January 4 a funeral home official said. Lip whose real name was Frank Vallelonga was 82. Character actor Ned Wertimer known to fans of The Jeffersons as the doorman Ralph Hart died on January 2. He was 89. Pop country singer Patti Page died on January 1 in Encinitas California. She was 85. Born Clara Ann Fowler Page was the best selling female artist of the 1950s and had 19 gold and 14 platinum singles. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 Photos People we lost in 2013He was incredibly humble and avoided the spotlight at all costs but will be missed by anyone touched by him directly or indirectly Kappus said. Luckily his music lives on.
The singer songwriter passed away at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla his official website said.
There were no immediate plans for funeral services it said.
We've lost a great artist and a great person Clapton wrote on his Facebook page.
His official biography describes Cale as someone for whom music is all he's ever known.
I remember when I made my first album I was 32 or 33 years old and I thought I was way too old then Cale said according to his bio. When I see myself doing this at 70 I go 'What am I doing I should be layin' down in a hammock.'
He was living in Tulsa and had given up on making money in the record business when his career was suddenly made by Clapton's cover of After Midnight.
That moment changed everything for the musician his biography states. After Clapton picked up his song Cale drove to Nashville to record his first album.
He is credited with helping create what is known as the Tulsa Sound a laid back style that contrasted with the psychedelic rock that was heard at the time.
I'm so old I can remember before rock 'n' roll come along Cale told CNN in 2009. When I was a young fellow I played guitar for other people so I'd have to learn (cover tunes). ... So the guitar players on all those early recordings I guess influenced what I did. I never could get it exactly right the way they played it and I guess that helped the style that evolved.
Other musicians who covered Cale's work include The Band Chet Atkins Freddie King Maria Muldaur and Captain Beefheart according to his biography which also notes he was asked whether it bothered him that fellow musicians considered him a legend while many fans did not even know his name.
No it doesn't bother me Cale said. What's really nice is when you get a check in the mail.
People we've lost in 2013 The lives they lived
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