Warren Zevon was born January 24, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, son of Beverly Simmons and William Zevon. Moving to Los Angeles, William began working as a bookie for mobster Mickey Cohen. A move to Fresno saw young Warren study classical music with Igor Stravinsky along with Robert Craft when he was 13. Three years later, his parents divorced and Zevon quit high school and moved to New York performing as a folk singer. To make ends meet he wrote jingles and became a session musician, writing songs and had his first LP "Wanted Dead Or Alive" produced by Kim Fowley in 1969. He worked with the Everly Brothers until their break up, then worked with both brothers to help them establish solo careers. When the funds ran low, he moved to Spain in 1975 playing in bars to supplement his income. That September, he became roomies with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, who were on the cusp of meeting Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. Collaborating with Jackson Browne, he issued his self titled 1976 LP that contained "Hasten Down The Wind" , "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" and "Mohammed's Radio". He got the star treatment when Lindsey and Stevie joined him in the studio along with Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt and the LP has since become a masterpiece. He was still lacking that pop radio action, and got it with "Werewolves Of London" recorded for his 1978 "Excitable Boy" LP. The musicians on the song were Warren on piano and vocals, Mick Fleetwood on drums, John McVie on bass and Waddy Wachtel on guitar and what they put down became radio gold. Released on March 25, 1978, the song entered the chart at #76, then peaked at #21 on the Hot 100 June 3, 1978. Asylum Records unceremoniously dropped him from the label and Zevon found out via Billboard Magazine's "Random Notes" column. The pressure exacerbated his alcoholic tendencies and he did not get sober until 1984 when he checked into rehab. 1987 saw him release the hearty "Sentimental Hygiene" LP as a solo project included the talents of George Clinton, Brian Setzer, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Flea. A jam session with Bill Berry, Peter Buck and Mike Mills resulted in a Hindu Love Gods LP. Zevon had a lifelong fear of doctors and in 2002 had waited too long to have his lung problem diagnosed as mesothelioma, a cancer that results from inhaling asbestos. Refusing medical help, he began to put together his final LP, "The Wind" that attracted a variety of superstar artists like Don Henley, Emmylou Harris, Tom Petty, Dwight Yoakam. Bruce Springsteen, Joe Walsh and Timothy B Schmidt. He promoted the LP on David Letterman, and was his sole guest that evening. It was an emotional episode covering Warren's entire career and illness. He passed away on September 7, 2003 at home with his family. "The Wind" went gold and won two Grammys, Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal for "Disorder in the House," Zevon's duet with Bruce Springsteen. "Werewolves Of London" was included on the soundtrack of the powerhouse Paul Newman and Tom Cruise movie "The Color Of Money" and had a special 12 vinyl release on Asylum Records in 1986. It was not used on the soundtrack of "An American Werewolf In London". I fully expected to hear it, but they concentrated on songs about the moon (Moon Dance, Bad Moon Rising, Blue Moon) instead.

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