Who Is Warren Zevon? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Warren Zevon was born on January 24, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. He passed away on September 7, 2003, due to complications from cancer. Zevon's career spanned over three decades, marked by his clever songwriting, distinctive voice, and a number of classic hits, including "Werewolves of London" and "Lawyers, Guns and Money." His work is celebrated not only for its musicality but also for its storytelling prowess and poetic depth.
| Occupation | Rock Singer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 24, 1947 |
| Age | 56 Years |
| Birth Place | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 7 September, 2003 |
| Died Place | N/A |
Popularity
Warren Zevon's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While physical stature wasn’t a defining feature of his artistic persona, Warren Zevon was approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed around 160 pounds during his prime. His measurements, like his style, leaned towards a rugged and contemporary vibe characteristic of rock artists of his time.
In interviews, Zevon described a lifelong phobia of doctors and said he seldom consulted one. He had started working out, and he looked physically fit. Shortly before playing at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival in 2002, he started feeling dizzy and developed a chronic cough.
After a period of suffering with pain and shortness of breath, Zevon was encouraged by his dentist to see a physician; he was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, a cancer (usually caused by exposure to asbestos) that affects the pleura, a thin membrane around the lungs and chest lining.
Zevon was deeply shaken by the news and began drinking again after 17 years of sobriety.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Warren Zevon was married twice; first to his high school sweetheart, a relationship that was tumultuous and eventually ended in divorce. He later married Crystal Zevon, with whom he shared a significant part of his life. Warren Zevon also had two children, Ariel and Jordan, both of whom have occasionally reflected on their father's legacy. Following his passing, he didn't have a boyfriend or girlfriend, as he was in a committed relationship with his professional life, devoted to creating lasting music.
His father was a Jewish immigrant from Ukraine, whose original surname was Zivotofsky. William Zevon worked as a bookie who handled volume bets and dice games for the notorious Los Angeles mobster Mickey Cohen. He worked for years in the Cohen gang, in which he was known as Stumpy Zevon, and was best man at Cohen's first wedding.
Warren's mother was from a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints family and of English descent. They later moved to Fresno, California, and by the age of 13, Zevon was an occasional visitor to the home of Igor Stravinsky, where he briefly studied modern classical music alongside Robert Craft. Zevon's parents divorced when he was 16 years old.
He soon quit high school and, driving a sports car William won in a card game, moved from Los Angeles to New York City to become a folk singer.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death in 2003, Warren Zevon’s net worth was estimated at around $10 million. His earnings over his career came from album sales, live performances, and royalties from his extensive catalog of songs. Even years after his passing, Zevon’s music continues to generate revenue, contributing to his posthumous earnings and maintaining his financial legacy.
Re-issues of the albums Stand in the Fire and The Envoy were released on March 27, 2007, by Rhino Records, alongside a re-issue of Excitable Boy, with the three CDs having four unreleased bonus tracks each.
Noteworthy rarities include the outtakes "Word of Mouth" and "The Risk" from the Envoy sessions and "Frozen Notes (Strings Version)", a melancholy outtake from Excitable Boy performed on acoustic piano with a string quartet.
Career, Business & Investments
Warren Zevon's career began in the late 1960s, but he achieved substantial success in the 1970s with his groundbreaking album Warren Zevon (1976). His career not only encompassed songwriting but also included stints as a session musician, contributing to albums for other artists. He was known for his collaborations with notable musicians, including Bruce Springsteen and Linda Ronstadt. Zevon's unique approach blended rock, blues, and folk, establishing him as a distinctive voice in American music.
In addition to his music, Zevon’s astute business sense allowed him to navigate the entertainment landscape effectively, facilitating his investments in music publishing and branding.
Zevon had early music industry successes as a session musician, jingle composer, songwriter, touring musician, musical coordinator and bandleader. However, he struggled to break through with a solo career until Linda Ronstadt performed his music on her 1976 album Hasten Down the Wind.
It launched a cult following that lasted 25 years, with Zevon making occasional returns to album and single charts until his death from mesothelioma in 2003. He briefly found a new audience by teaming up with members of R.E.M. in the blues rock outfit Hindu Love Gods for a 1990 album release, although no tour followed.
In 2025, Zevon was selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Influence Award category.
Social Network
Today, Warren Zevon’s legacy is celebrated across various social media platforms. His official Facebook page and Twitter account, maintained by his estate, serve as platforms for fans to connect and discuss his music. Additionally, tributes on Instagram and various music streaming services keep his memory alive, sharing quotes, song snippets, and iconic performances that resonate with fans old and new.
Warren William Zevon (January 24, 1947 – September 7, 2003) was an American rock singer and songwriter. His most famous compositions include "Werewolves of London", "Lawyers, Guns and Money" and "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner".
All three songs are featured on his third album, Excitable Boy (1978), the title track of which is also well-known. He also wrote major hits that were recorded by other artists, including "Poor Poor Pitiful Me", "Mohammed's Radio", "Carmelita" and "Hasten Down the Wind". Per The New York Times, "Mr.
Zevon had a pulp-fiction imagination" which yielded "terse, action-packed, gallows-humored tales that could sketch an entire screenplay in four minutes and often had death as a punchline. But there was also vulnerability and longing in Mr. Zevon's ballads, like 'Mutineer,' 'Accidentally Like a Martyr' and 'Hasten Down the Wind.'"
Education
Warren Zevon attended the University of Southern California and an early passion for music guided him through his education. Despite being largely self-taught, his academic background in literature and music demonstrated his talent early on and helped shape the thematic landscapes found in his songs.
In conclusion, as we look to 2025, Warren Zevon's influence continues to reverberate through the music industry and remains a poignant figure in the pantheon of American songwriting. His body of work and complex personal life reflect an artist dedicated to authenticity, artistry, and connection.
George Plasketes, a professor at Auburn University, wrote a critical study of Zevon's music in 2016, Warren Zevon, Desperado of Los Angeles. Zevon was also the subject of Michael Flood's essay "Lord Byron's Luggage: Warren Zevon and the Redefinition of Literature Rock".
A collection of short stories by Kelly Lynn Thomas, Miss Gun to a Knife Fight: Stories, is composed of retellings of songs by Zevon; as of 2025 it continues to evolve under the title She's Tired of Going Nowhere: Short Stories Inspired by Warren Zevon with various stories available online.
