J.J. Cale, RIP

Raised in Tulsa after being born in Oklahoma City in 1938, Cale played local clubs with Leon Russell before the two musicians, along with Carl Radle, moved to Los Angeles in 1964. One year later, Cale began a solo career and recorded his first version of “After Midnight.”

After Cale signed to Shelter Records in 1969, Clapton recorded “After Midnight” and made it a smash hit. Cale’s debut album, “Naturally,” came in 1971, and featured the song “Call Me the Breeze,” later covered and popularized by Lynyrd Skynyrd. – [Billboard]

J.J. Cale, who also wrote Clapton’s hit “Cocaine,” died of a heart attack on Friday night (7/26). He was 74.