Chuck E. Weiss, Songwriter and Fixture of L.A. Music Scene, Dies at 76
Chuck E. Weiss, the musician who helped launch the Viper Room with Johnny Depp and was a fixture of Los Angeles’ music scene for decades, died Tuesday. He was 76.
His bandmate Jimmy Wood confirmed his death, telling Variety, “Chuck E. Weiss left the room yesterday morning around 8:30. JJ Holiday was by his side. He was one of a kind and certainly made Los Angeles a better city!”
Holiday posted on Facebook on the page for his band, the Imperial Crowns, writing, “All of us who remain must feel very lucky to have been invited to his one-of-a-kind party too. He means a lot and the very most to so many of us.”
Known for his friendship with Tom Waits and for being the subject of Rickie Lee Jones’ hit song “Chuck E.’s In Love,” Weiss spent his career as a L.A. scene-maker, releasing uniquely rhythmic music himself that teetered between blues and rock.
https://variety.com/2021/(...)-in-love-1235025050/