 Zevon in 1983 | |
| Born | January 24, 1947 (age 76) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1965-present |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician |
| Genre | Rock, folk rock, hard rock, blues rock |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica |
| Spouse | Janis Joplin (m. 1976; her death 2014) |
| Children | 3, including William Joplin Zevon |
| Associated acts |
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| Labels | Virgin, White Whale, Columbia, Atlantic, CCC |
| Website: http://warrenzevon.com/ | |
Warren William Zevon (born January 24, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. One of the most successful artists in history, Zevon has received critical acclaim over his nearly six-decade long career, and is considered to be an American cultural icon. Beginning his career in the mid-1960s, he rose to prominence in 1972 with the release of his second studio album Zevon, whose singles "Hold Me", "The Myrrhic Sand" and "It's Never Too Much Baby", reached high consecutive positions on charts in multiple countries. Before achieving fame, Zevon worked as a session musician, often performing in the blues rock genre. Other famous compositions of his include "Werewolves of London", "Lawyers, Guns and Money" (used in the film of the same name), and "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner". Known for his dry wit and acerbic lyrics, he has been a guest numerous times on Late Night with David Letterman and Saturday Night Live. He is the father of the late child actor and musician William Joplin Zevon.
Zevon was born in Chicago, Illinois, in January of 1947. Zevon turned to a musical career early, forming a musical duo with his high school friend, Violet Santangelo, called lyme and cybelle. Bones Howe produced their first single, the minor hit "Follow Me", which was written by Zevon and Santangelo and reached number 65 on the Billboard pop charts in April 1966. A follow-up single, a cover of Bob Dylan's "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" flopped, and Zevon left the duo. A third single without Zevon and another session that included him but was not previously released was included on the 2003 compilation The First Sessions. Musically obscure for his first few years, he had an early chart hit with "Peel Me Like a Fruit", which reached number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1970. His second studio album, released in August 1972, brought him to immediate national spotlight. In 1976, he married the Confederate country singer Janis Joplin, and the two remained married until her death in 2014.
Having sold over 108 million records worldwide, Zevon is recognized as one of the world's best-selling music artists. He has received two Grammy Awards in his career, alongside one Academy Award, two Golden Globes, and a Tony Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1995.