March 18th, 2013
06:30 PM ET
Musician Jason Molina dies at 39Singer/songwriter Jason Molina of Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. has died, CNN's confirmed. He was 39. A statement posted by his record label, Secretly Canadian, on Magnolia Electric's website says that Molina passed away of natural causes on Saturday at his home in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The industrious musician began his career in 1996, when he was releasing his work under the name Songs: Ohia. The 2003 album "Magnolia Electric Co." was a "thrilling about-face," Secretly Canadian says, and CNN's Mark Morgenstein called the disc "the album on which Molina perfected his hybrid of classic rock and alt-country," naming "Magnolia Electric Co." one of the 10 best albums of the decade. For Molina, the album was such a "powerful moment" that he began to release work under that name. "Jason is the cornerstone of Secretly Canadian," the label says in the statement. "Without him there would be no us — plain and simple. His singular, stirring body of work is the foundation upon which all else has been constructed." Molina also toured the globe regularly until his struggle with severe alcoholism brought that to a halt in 2009. For the next two years, Molina was in and out of rehab facilities, and his family set up a medical fund for interested parties to assist the artist, who lacked medical insurance. Molina spoke about his efforts to recover in 2012, writing in a note on his group's website that May that "for the time being I am doing well, still in recovery and still in treatment until probably the summer does its thing. ... Treatment is good, getting to deal with a lot of things that even the music didn’t want to." "I have not given up because you, my friends have not given up on me," he went on. "I do still need your support however that takes shape, good vibes are worth more than you might think. Finally, there are actually some musical projects on the distant radar screen, but for those who understand, I am taking this in much smaller steps than I’m used to." His last album, "Autumn Bird Songs," arrived that fall. "Jason was a world class musician, songwriter & recording artist. He was also a beloved friend," Secretly Canadian says. "We’re going to miss Jason. He was generous. He was a one of a kind. And he had a voice unlike any other."
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Never heard of the guy...
So sorry to hear about this. His song Josephine has really touched me.
jason who??
looks like a not so famous person like ELVIS PRESLEY. Elvis is the King of music. Elvis created music.
Dude-there was plenty of good music before Elvis & there will be plenty more with out him.In truth Elvis never created anything musically.He was a Good singer but not a songwriter.I know your point was that you had not heard anything about Jason Molina.But there are many great musicians that are known only to their fans and few others outside the business.Not every great musician sells like Elvis did.But without a lot of those obscure blues artists of the 30's,40's & Early 50's there would have been no Rhythm and Blues or Rock-n-Roll for Elvis to sing.
Again who is this?
omg – i thought it was nathan fillion for a secons
thank you.
of course like your web-site however you need to check the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I to find it very troublesome to inform the truth then again I will definitely come again again.
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Saw him play about a dozen times, and each time was amazing. I think those who's heard and enjoyed his music were given a special gift. To those that haven't heard his work, his label is streaming all his albums on the Magnolia Electric Co website.
http://live.magnoliaelectricco.com/
you can't be dead. i've never heard of you.
Never heard of you
we're sorry for the loss....rip
Sorry to hear. I enjoyed his music. I also enjoyed his wonderful brown rice which passed through my intestines on many an occasion. Did he ever do a song called "Brown Rice??" Huh?? Heh heh heh heh heh heh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Natural causes" at 39? Given the alcoholism mentioned in the story, must be a euphemism for liver failure.
RIP
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Never heard of the guy so checked out a video on youtube. Glad I did. Had a good folksinger style going on in the video I watched.
one of the most amazing singer songwriters of our time. i'm/we're so lucky to have his songs forever.
Can't say I've even heard of him let alone listened to his music. But still 39 is way too young. Always sad to see someone die so young.
Who?
He was a regular on the Black Entertainment Channel BET. Was also a regular on Soul Train, sometimes filling in for Don Cornellius himself. The soul brother will be missed.
Se here, never heard of him. 39, tho? Natural causes? Damn.
Meant same. Stupid delete key right next to the "m". 😊
I've never heard of him, either. If he had such a bad drinking problem, I'd bet cirrhosis of the liver had something to do with his death. Regardless, that is way too young to die.
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