Famed guitarist Greg Brown, 56, who helped start the band Cake in 1991, passed away suddenly.
The Iowa native had been performing since 1967, and he was known for his touring performances and albums. Notable albums included “Songs of Innocence and of Experience,” “The Poet Game,” and “One Night.”
When Cake began, Brown worked with John McCrea, Vince DiFiore, Frank French, and Shon Meckessel to launch a self-released debut album called Motorcade of Generosity. The band’s reach grew from there through the 1990s, when Brown was the guitarist until 1997.
During Brown’s time with Cake, they landed a deal with Capricorn Records, which led to the band’s first single “Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyle,” in 1995. Cake then released the album “Fashion Nugget” in 1996, and Brown wrote the first song of the album, “The Distance,” which became Cake’s biggest hit.
When Brown left the band in 1997, it raised questions about whether the band would last. Cake has continued to this day, while Brown released more of his own albums, including “Slant 6 Mind” in 1997, which earned him a Grammy nomination.
Brown re-released “One Night” in 1999, and he released “Over and Under and Covenant” in 2000. He released more albums in the 2000s, most notably, “The Evening Call” in 2006 and “Yellow Dog” in 2007.
Brown’s final album, “Hymns to What is Left,” was released in 2012. And he retired from the tour scene in 2019. He performed two more times in 2023 and released “Ring Around the Moon: A Songbook” in 2024.
Brown is survived by his four children and three former spouses.