Warren Zevon Net Worth

What was Warren Zevon's Net Worth?

Warren Zevon was an American singer-songwriter and keyboardist who had a net worth of $4 million at the time of his death. Warren Zevon released such well-known songs as "Werewolves of London" and "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner," and wrote many songs for other artists, including the Turtles, Phil Everly, and Murray McLauchlan. Famed for his droll, macabre wit, Zevon was a frequent guest on David Letterman's television talk shows. Warren Zevon passed away on September 7, 2003, at 56 years old from cancer.

Early Life and Education

Warren Zevon was born on January 24, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois to Beverly and William. His mother was from a Mormon family, while his father was a Ukrainian Jewish immigrant who worked for infamous mobster Mickey Cohen. The family eventually moved to Fresno, California. When Zevon was 16, his parents divorced; he soon dropped out of high school and moved to New York City.

Career Beginnings

Zevon began his musical career as a teenager. With his high school pal Violet Santangelo, he formed the duo Lyme & Cybelle, which released the minor hit "Follow Me" in 1966. After the follow-up single flopped, Zevon left the duo. He went on to work as a session musician and jingle composer; he also wrote a number of songs for the rock band the Turtles. Zevon released his debut studio album, "Wanted Dead or Alive," in 1970. Over the subsequent years, he toured with the Everly Brothers as a keyboardist and band leader, and contributed to Phil Everly's solo albums "Star Spangled Springer," "Phil's Diner," and "Mystic Line." Zevon also wrote the song "Carmelita," which was recorded by Canadian singer Murray McLauchlan.

Rise to Fame

After spending the summer of 1975 in Spain, Zevon returned to Los Angeles and roomed with Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. They, as well as such artists Carl Wilson, Linda Ronstadt, and Bonnie Raitt, contributed to Zevon's self-titled major-label debut album, which came out in 1976. Produced and promoted by Jackson Browne, the album charted in the United States and launched such songs as "Poor Poor Pitiful Me," "Mohammed's Radio," "Hasten Down the Wind," and "Frank and Jesse James." Zevon had his greatest commercial success with his next album, "Excitable Boy," which was released in early 1978. Featuring the hit single "Werewolves of London," which would become Zevon's signature song, the album reached number eight on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the RIAA. Zevon's next album "Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School," came out in early 1980; it was a modest success, peaking at number 20 on the Billboard 200. At the end of that year, Zevon released his first live album, "Stand in the Fire."

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Commercial Decline and Comeback

Zevon started experiencing a major commercial decline in 1982 with the release of his album "The Envoy." Its poor sales caused him to be dropped by his label Asylum Records. In the wake of this and other, largely personal, setbacks, Zevon fell into substance abuse and stepped away from the music industry. He made a comeback in 1987 when he signed with Virgin Records and released the album "Sentimental Hygiene." Featuring contributions from such artists as Mike Mills, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and George Clinton, the album earned strong critical acclaim.

Later Career

In 1989, Zevon released the album "Transverse City," which was a commercial disappointment that prompted Virgin Records to drop him. He quickly signed with Giant Records and, with the short-lived group Hindu Love Gods (including Mike Mills, Bill Berry, and Peter Buck), released an album of the same name in 1990. The year after that, he released his solo album "Mr. Bad Example." During the first half of the decade, Zevon toured throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand; in the US, he performed with the Canadian band the Odds. His international performances were captured on the 1993 live album "Learning to Flinch." Also in 1993, Zevon contributed the theme song to the short-lived revival of the television series "Route 66" and appeared as himself on HBO's "The Larry Sanders Show." In 1995, he released the album "Mutineer," featuring mostly home recordings.

Following a five-year hiatus from recording, Zevon signed with Artemis Records and released the album "Life'll Kill Ya" in early 2000. A critical and commercial success, it was hailed as another comeback for Zevon. Also in 2000, he appeared in Dwight Yoakam's Western film "South of Heaven, West of Hell." Zevon's final two studio albums were "My Ride's Here" (2002) and "The Wind" (2003). In 2002, shortly after being diagnosed with terminal mesothelioma, Zevon made his last public appearance on "Late Show with David Letterman," on which he had been a frequent guest over the decades. He performed several songs, including "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner." In 2003, a few months after his passing, Zevon received five posthumous Grammy Award nominations for his album "The Wind." He went on to win two of them.

Personal Life and Death

Zevon was married to Crystal, with whom he had a daughter named Ariel in 1976. He had previously had a son, Jordan, with Marilyn Dillow. After Zevon and his wife divorced, he got engaged to Philadelphia disc jockey Anita Gevinson in 1983 and moved to the East Coast. Shortly after that, Zevon relapsed into substance abuse after being dropped by his label and checked into rehab in Minnesota. His relationship with Gevinson dissolved during this time.

In 2002, Zevon became dizzy and developed a chronic cough, as well as shortness of breath. He had not seen a doctor in 20 years, and when he was encouraged to visit one, he was diagnosed with terminal mesothelioma. Zevon died from the illness on September 7, 2003 at his home in Los Angeles. His body was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean. In 2025, Zevon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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