Zevon was considered the rock star’s rock star known for his songwriting talents in songs that showcased his quirky, sardonic wit in the dark humor of his ballads. Rock ‘n roll royalty like Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young praised his talents and called him friend. Born in Chicago, Illinois on Januhe became the quintessential West Coast rocker literally living the LA lifestyle right up until his death on September 7, 2003. It’s easy to figure out why musicians thought Warren Zevon was so cool. From his earliest days, his personal pedigree, made Warren unique and different. Zevon was the son of Beverly and William Zevon. His mother was from a Mormon family and his father was a Jewish immigrant from Russia whose original surname was “Zivotovsky”. William was a bookie who handled volume bets and dice games for notorious Los Angeles mobster Mickey Cohen.

Known as Stumpy Zevon in Cohen’s employ, he was best man at Mickey’s first marriage, and worked for him for years. The family moved to Fresno, California when Warren was 13 years old. His British-born mother insisted that Warren take piano lessons. So Zevon started taking his lessons at the home of Igor Stravinsky, the Russian-American composer, pianist and conductor widely considered to be one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century. There, Warren alongside future American conductor Robert Craft, briefly studied modern classical music. Zevon’s parents divorced when he was 16 years old and he soon quit high school and moved from Los Angeles to New York to become a folk singer. Zevon got his first taste of success with the song called “Follow Me” as the male component of a musical coed duo called lyme & cybelle pronounced Lime & Sybil).

He left the duo citing artistic differences and spent time as a session musician and jingle composer. He wrote several songs for “the Turtles” and another early composition (“She Quit Me”) was included in the soundtrack for the film Midnight Cowboy (1969). Zevon’s first attempt at a solo album, Wanted Dead or Alive (1969), was well received but did not sell well. Zevon’s second effort, Leaf in the Wind, went unreleased.ĭuring the early 1970s, Zevon led the touring band for the Everly Brothers, serving as both keyboard player and band leader/musical coordinator. In the latter role Zevon became the first to recognize the talents of guitar player Lindsey Buckingham by hiring him for the band. It was during his time with the Everly’s that Lindsey and girlfriend Stevie Nick’s left to join Fleetwood Mac. Warren Zevon was a roommate of the famous duo in a Fairfax district apartment in Los Angeles at the time (September 1975 ).

Zevon would remain friends with both famous duos for the rest of his life maintaining neutrality during the tumultuous breakups of both the Everly Brothers and Buckingham-Nicks.

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