Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, who had been battling a lung cancer and recently released his final studio album 'The Wind', died Sept. 7 at his home. He was 56.

Although he didn't enjoy major commercial success in his thirty-plus-year career, Warren Zevon has been acclaimed for his songwriting ability and a sense of humor found in much of his songs, 'I'll Sleep When I'm Dead' and his biggest hit 'Werewolves of London'.

Born Jan. 12, 1947 in Chicago to Russian immigrant parents, Zevon settled down in L.A. by the time he was in junior high school. He first received lessons in classical music from noted Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, then turned to folk and rock music, inspired by Bob Dylan.

After spending a few years as one-half of rock duo Lyme And Cybelle, Zevon made a solo debut in 1969 with 'Wanted Dead Or Alive', which sold only moderately. For several years, he stayed away from performing and focused on work behind the scenes as a songwriter. In '70s, he wrote such rock classics as 'Poor, Poor Pitiful Me', 'Carmelita', and 'Hasten Down The Wind' for Linda Ronstadt.

With the assistance from his longtime friend Jackson Browne, Zevon scored his first charting success with his self-titled second album in 1976, and had his biggest hit 'Excitable Boy' in 1978. The latter included his most popular single, 'Werewolves Of London', which reached Top 20 on US charts.

After a series of commercially disappointing albums in the 1980s, Zevon finally lost the recording deal with Asylum. Deeply shocked, he spent much of the decade recovering from alcoholism. It was J.D. Souther that helped Zevon to attempt a comeback. In 1987, Zevon returned with 'Sentimental Hygiene', which featured contributions from such big names as R.E.M., Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Briazn Setzer.

Shortly after signing with Artemis Records in 2002, Zevon was faced with a tragedy when he was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. He chose to work on his final studio album with a host of friends including Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, Ry Cooder, Don Henley, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne and Emmylou Harris. With his final effort, 'The Wind' was completed and he lived to see the August, 2003 release of the album, which became the first Top 20 hit since 'Excitable Boy'.