Warren William Zevon (January 24, 1947 ??? September 7, 2003), born in Chicago, Illinois, was a rock and roll musician and songwriter. He was noted for his offbeat, sardonic view of life which was reflected in his dark, sometimes humorous songs, which often incorporated political or historical themes. He was born to a Russian Jewish father and a Mormon mother and soon moved to California. At the age of 12/13, Warren Zevon was a regular visitor to the home of Igor Stravinsky where he, along with Robert Craft, would study music. He turned to a musical career early, including a stretch as part of a Sonny and Cher-type male/female duo called Lyme and Cybelle, and spent time as a session musician (notably as piano player for the Everly Brothers) and jingle composer. He wrote several songs for his White Whale label-mates the Turtles, though his participation in their recording is unknown. Another early composition ("She Quit Me") was included in the soundtrack for Midnight Cowboy, released in 1969. His first attempt at a solo album, Wanted Dead or Alive (1969), did not fare well, and his second effort, Leaf in the Wind, was scrapped (though release was considered just prior to his death). In the early 70s he toured regularly with the Everly Brothers as keyboard player and band leader/musical coordinator. His dissatisfaction with his career and the opportunities for a song-writer led him to move to Spain briefly, where he played in a small bar owned by a former mercenary. Together, they penned Zevon's classic "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner." In the mid-70s he moved to Los Angeles, and became associated with the then-burgeoning West coast music scene, including collaborations with Jackson Browne, who would produce and promote Zevon's self-titled major-label debut in 1976, The Eagles, who appeared on that first album, and Linda Ronstadt, who would record several early Zevon songs including a hit version of "Poor Poor Pitiful Me". Zevon'
1 | Werewolves Of London | A Quiet Normal Life; The Best of Warren Zevon |
2 | Accidentally Like A Martyr | A Quiet Normal Life; The Best of Warren Zevon |
3 | I'll Sleep When I'm Dead | A Quiet Normal Life; The Best of Warren Zevon |
4 | Looking For The Next Best Thing | A Quiet Normal Life; The Best of Warren Zevon |
5 | Lawyers, Guns And Money | A Quiet Normal Life; The Best of Warren Zevon |
6 | Desperados Under The Eaves | A Quiet Normal Life; The Best of Warren Zevon |
7 | Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner | A Quiet Normal Life; The Best of Warren Zevon |
8 | Excitable Boy | A Quiet Normal Life; The Best of Warren Zevon |
9 | Ain't That Pretty At All | A Quiet Normal Life; The Best of Warren Zevon |
10 | Play It All Night Long | A Quiet Normal Life; The Best of Warren Zevon |
11 | Poor Poor Pitiful Me | A Quiet Normal Life; The Best of Warren Zevon |
12 | Mohammed's Radio | A Quiet Normal Life; The Best of Warren Zevon |
13 | Johnny Strikes Up The Band | A Quiet Normal Life; The Best of Warren Zevon |
14 | The Envoy | A Quiet Normal Life; The Best of Warren Zevon |