Warren Zevon

One of the most satiric songwriters of our era, Warren Zevon was the son of a professional gambler which forced the family to move a lot. An unhappy home life led him to pop music. After his parents divorced when he was 16, Warren hopped into the Corvette his father won in a card game, and headed to New York to become a folk singer. He found success with his "Excitable Boy" album which produced the cut "Werewolves of London". After several album failures, Warren fell prey to alcoholism. David Letterman helped his friend out with a "guest appearance" on Warren's "My Rides Here", which became a huge hit. Shortly after it's release, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, and died one year later.