Refugee 7 Report post Posted May 25, 2009 URBANA, Ill. (AP) — Jay Bennett, a former member of the band Wilco, died Sunday at age 45, according to a posting on the Web site of his record label. "We are profoundly saddened to report that our friend died in his sleep ... Jay was a beautiful human being who will be missed," read the posting Sunday on Undertow Music Collective's Web site. Bennett died at his Urbana home early Sunday and an autopsy was being performed, friend and fellow musician Edward Burch told the Chicago Sun-Times in a story posted online late Sunday. "The family is in mourning and is unavailable for comment at this time," Burch said. A cause of death was not immediately available. A message left for the Champaign County Coroner on Sunday was not immediately returned. Bennett worked as a sound engineer and played instruments for Wilco from 1994 to 2001. Earlier this month, he sued the band's lead singer Jeff Tweedy, claiming he was owed royalties for songs during his seven years and five albums with the group. In the breach-of-contract lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court, Bennett also claimed that he deserved money from the band's 2002 documentary, "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart." The film documents the making of Wilco's album "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot." A message left for Tweedy and Wilco's management company, Tony Margherita Management, was not immediately returned Sunday. On the Net: http://undertowmusic.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
agirl 0 Report post Posted May 25, 2009 How sad. R.I.P. Jay. :085: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marion 1,411 Report post Posted May 26, 2009 Only 45? That's so sad. :085: RIP Jay. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Square One 0 Report post Posted May 26, 2009 So very sad...... too young! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieB 0 Report post Posted May 26, 2009 How sad. So young. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WildflowerNJ 136 Report post Posted May 26, 2009 Too young...this is very sad...:085: RIP, Jay... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
knebworth_1978 22 Report post Posted May 26, 2009 Oh man. :085: So sad to read this... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nel 71 Report post Posted May 26, 2009 He died just 4 miles from where I live. My daughter knows the the band members very well. She played violin on one of their albums. I know this will be a shock to her. She's out of the country right now, though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PumpkinBumpkin 1 Report post Posted May 26, 2009 How sad Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
