Guitarist Jeff Golub, a versatile contemporary jazz artist who also spent years as a sideman with rockers Billy Squier and Rod Stewart, died Thursday at 59, JazzTimes reported Monday.
Though the exact cause of death has yet to be disclosed, Golub, a Copley Township native, had been suffering from a rare disease called progressive supranuclear palsy. It caused him to lose sight in both eyes in 2011 and caused physical problems that recently left him unable to perform.
Golub began gigging at 12, and after graduating from Copley High School in 1973 went on to study at the Berklee College of Music while also working in the band of blues singer James Montgomery. Golub moved to New York in the early 1980s where he joined Squier’s band, performing on multi-platinum hits including The Stroke, In the Dark and Everybody Wants You.
In 1988, Golub began his solo career while he was performing with Stewart. He recorded more than 15 albums as a solo artist and leader of the band Avenue Blue, and maintained a career as a studio whiz for artists, including Tina Turner, Dave Koz and Vanessa Williams.
Despite going blind suddenly, Golub maintained a pragmatic approach to his disease and its effects on his everyday life.
In 2012, he spoke to the Beacon Journal in advance of his performance at the Winter Breakout benefit concert for Akron General Medical Center.
Though the exact cause of death has yet to be disclosed, Golub, a Copley Township native, had been suffering from a rare disease called progressive supranuclear palsy. It caused him to lose sight in both eyes in 2011 and caused physical problems that recently left him unable to perform.
Golub began gigging at 12, and after graduating from Copley High School in 1973 went on to study at the Berklee College of Music while also working in the band of blues singer James Montgomery. Golub moved to New York in the early 1980s where he joined Squier’s band, performing on multi-platinum hits including The Stroke, In the Dark and Everybody Wants You.
In 1988, Golub began his solo career while he was performing with Stewart. He recorded more than 15 albums as a solo artist and leader of the band Avenue Blue, and maintained a career as a studio whiz for artists, including Tina Turner, Dave Koz and Vanessa Williams.
Despite going blind suddenly, Golub maintained a pragmatic approach to his disease and its effects on his everyday life.
In 2012, he spoke to the Beacon Journal in advance of his performance at the Winter Breakout benefit concert for Akron General Medical Center.
