Magnolia Electric Co.

Jason Molina, the singer of Magnolia Electric Co. and the man behind Songs:Ohia has passed away at the age of 39, from organ failure. He had long suffered problems with alcohol addiction and he was forced to stop touring in 2009, as his health deteriorated as a result of the substance abuse.

In a statement from his record label, Secretly Canadian (published by Huffington Post), they said “This is especially hard for us to share. Jason is the cornerstone of Secretly Canadian. Without him there would be no us — plain and simple… His singular, stirring body of work is the foundation upon which all else has been constructed. After hearing and falling in love with the mysterious voice on his debut single 'Soul' in early 1996, we approached him about releasing a single on our newly formed label. For some reason he said yes.”

Several members of the US alternative rock community have been mourning Jason’s passing. On Twitter, Maggie Vail, of the label Kill Rock Stars, commented “a touring musician is given access to a lot of free booze, healthcare almost never. if you're prone to addiction it's a recipe for disaster” and “I'm tired of seeing my friends and peers in pain. I'm tired of losing talented and wonderful people to addiction.” In 2011 Jason’s family had issued a plea for assistance with a monetary fund that had been set up for him to help pay for his treatment, as he did not have medical insurance. Secretly Canadian concluded their statement by saying “We’re going to miss Jason. He was generous. He was a one of a kind. And he had a voice unlike any other.”

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Jason Molina, the singer-songwriter who released his last album Autumn Bird Songs in 2012, has died. According to Chunklet, Molina passed away on Saturday (March 16, 2013) from organ failure due to alcohol consumption. His problems with drink were made public in late 2011 when his family posted a plea from contributions to his medical fund on the website of his band Magnolia Electric Co.

"We are asking all friends of Jason's music to come together with a showing of financial support for him. Please consider a contribution to his medical fund. Feel free to forward this to any and all appropriate parties. We are hoping to raise whatever funds we possibly can for Jason," a message said at the time. Molina has been in and out of rehabilitation for around two years, though did not have medical insurance. The singer himself took to the same website in May 2012 to update fans on his condition, writing, "Dear friends and family..It has been a long hospital year. You all have done so much and given so much to further my cause on this planet that I feel compelled to give you a little note. The response towards my medical fund and other support has been better than I could have ever imagined. I spent my time on the farm which was more like the opposite of a tour of duty, but it was good in its way."

Continue reading: Jason Molina Dead: Singer-Songwriter Dies Of Organ Failure