Photo: CC 4.0 Helge Overas

Sad to note the passing of guitarist David Lindley at 78. Jackson Browne is among the many artists who considered Lindley's contributions to his recordings extraordinarily important to his songs. His exceptional playing on Browne's great 1977 album Running On Empty, Lindley also is featured on Jackson's For Everyman and Late for the Sky and Hold Out albums and frequently toured with Browne. Linda Ronstadt enlisted him for her Heart Like a Wheel album. Other credits include Warren Zevon's self-titled 1976 album, Rod Stewart's Atlantic Crossing and A Night On The Town albums, Graham Nash's Songs for Beginners, Nash's albums with David Crosby Wind on the Water, and Whistling Down the Wind, Joe Walsh's There Goes the Neighborhood, and was featured on several dozen other artist's albums and tours. Early in his career he teamed with Chris Darrow in the band Kaleidoscope on four albums and released his first solo album El Rayo-X in 1981.

No cause of death was provided, but Lindly had reportedly been facing health complications in recent months.