Warren Zevon

Quick Facts: Who was Warren Zevon?

Subject:

Warren Zevon

Known for:

Cult American songwriter known for gallows humor and poignant ballads.

Born:

1947-01-24

Died:

2003-09-07

Century / Era:

1947s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Warren William Zevon (; January 24, 1947 – September 7, 2003) was an American rock singer and songwriter. His most famous compositions include "Werewolves of London", "Lawyers, Guns and Money" and "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner". All three songs are featured on his third album, Excitable Boy (1978), the title track of which is also well-known.

Career & Major Achievements

He also wrote major hits that were recorded by other artists, including "Poor Poor Pitiful Me", "Mohammed's Radio", "Carmelita" and "Hasten Down the Wind". Per The New York Times, "Mr. Zevon had a pulp-fiction imagination" which yielded "terse, action-packed, gallows-humored tales that could sketch an entire screenplay in four minutes and often had death as a punchline.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

But there was also vulnerability and longing in Mr. Zevon's ballads, like 'Mutineer,' 'Accidentally Like a Martyr' and 'Hasten Down the Wind'." Zevon had early music industry successes as a session musician, jingle composer, songwriter, touring musician, musical coordinator and bandleader. However, he struggled to break through with a solo career until Linda Ronstadt recorded his song "Hasten Down the Wind" on her 1976 album of the same title.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1947 (1947-01-24): Birth of Warren Zevon — Cult American songwriter known for gallows humor and poignant ballads.
2. 1976: 1976 Milestone — However, he struggled to break through with a solo career until Linda Ronstadt recorded his song "Hasten Down the Wind" on her 1976 album of the same title.
3. 1978: 1978 Milestone — All three songs are featured on his third album, Excitable Boy (1978), the title track of which is also well-known.
4. 2003 (2003-09-07): Passing & Historical Legacy — Warren Zevon passed away on 2003-09-07, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Warren Zevon

True or False: “Warren Zevon's early career was solely focused on writing songs for Broadway musicals and film soundtracks.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While he wrote for film and music, his early career was more varied, involving work as a session musician, jingle composer, and general songwriter, not exclusively Broadway or film scores.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Alberto Sordi — Contemporary (Died in 2003) (2003): Pillar of Italian Cinema, master of Commedia all'italiana comedy.
• Alija Izetbegović — Contemporary (Died in 2003) (2003): Bosnian politician, Islamic philosopher, and author who led Bosnia through its tumultuous independence.
• Althea Gibson — Contemporary (Died in 2003) (2003): Pioneering American tennis and golf star who broke racial barriers in sports.
• Amedeo Modigliani — Shared historical date (01-24 · Died) (1920): Italian painter and sculptor known for elongated, modern portraits and nudes.
• B. V. Doshi — Shared historical date (01-24 · Died) (2023): Pioneering Indian architect, celebrated for modernist and brutalist discourse.
• A. J. P. Taylor — Shared historical date (09-07 · Died) (1990): Influential English historian specializing in 19th and 20th-century European diplomacy.
• Abdou Diouf — Shared historical date (09-07 · Born) (1935): Senegalese politician who served as President of Senegal from 1981 to 2000.
• 1947 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1947
• January 24 (01-24) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 24
• 2003 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2003
• September 7 (09-07) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 7

Frequently Asked Questions about Warren Zevon