J.J. Cale

“In my humble opinion, (J.J. Cale) is one of the most important artists in the history of rock, quietly representing the greatest asset his country has ever had.”
— Eric Clapton (2007)

J.J. Cale died Friday from a heart attack in La Jolla, California, according to a notice on his website.  The text of the notice is below.  Today’s Washington Post has a remembrance.  Neil Young once remarked that of all the musicians he had heard, J.J. Cale and Jimi Hendrix were the two best electric guitar players.  Cale’s thoughts: “Basically, I’m just a guitar player that figured out I wasn’t ever gonna be able to buy dinner with my guitar playing, so I got into songwriting, which is a little more profitable business.”

07/28 update:  good obituary in The Guardian detailing Cale’s musical career
07/28 update:  J.J. Cale – A Remembrance
07/30 update:  good obit in The Daily Beast focusing on Cale’s songwriting

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JJ Cale Has Passed Away

JJ Cale passed away at 8:00 pm on Friday July 26 at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, CA.

The legendary singer / songwriter had suffered a heart attack.  There are no immediate plans for services.   His history is well documented at JJCale.com, rosebudus.com/cale, and in the documentary, To Tulsa And Back.

Donations are not needed but he was a great lover of animals so, if you like, you can remember him with a donation to your favorite local animal shelter.

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Cale & Clapton at the 2004 Crossroads Guitar Festival. Cale’s wife & bandmate, guitarist Christine Lakeland, is to Clapton’s right.