Alternative singer-songwriter Jason Molina passed away from organ failure due to alcoholism on Saturday, March 16th. He was only 39 years old. The prolific musician, who fronted both Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co., had been struggling with addiction for years, going in and out of rehab until, finally, it was just too much.
Molina’s career started in 1996 with Songs: Ohia and he was active in that band until its 2003 release, Magnolia Electric Co., which became the name of his next band. Partnering with the label Secretly Canadian, Molina released three official studio LPs with Magnolia Electric Co., including his last album, Josephine, which was released in 2009. Over the course of his career, Molina penned some of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard, many of which communicate his troubled and darker side.
As a fan of Molina’s, his death came as a shock and has saddened me deeply. His music has followed me for much of my adult life and I even got the chance to see him perform live in Winnipeg at the West End Cultural Centre. He put on a very moving and beautiful show, which was exactly what I expected from such a beautiful song writer. His life ended way too soon, but his music lives on.
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Krista is a writer for The Spectator Tribune. Follow her on Twitter @KristaWiebe