R.I.P. Jason Molina: Singer-Songwriter And Native Clevelander

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Jason Molina, who at various points fronted Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co., died this weekend from organ failure stemming from alcoholism.

Born in Lorain, Molina rose to relative prominence by way of his solo project Songs: Ohia, which came complete with a mostly rotating cast of musicians throughout the late-90s. His work touched on a wide variety of musical styles, including a distinct blend of alternative country and lo-fi indie recording values.

The early- to mid-2000s were greeted with an expansion of sound by way of Magnolia Electric Co. His music took on a lusher tone and a more robust spectrum of moods and styles.

For the past several years, Molina remained far from the public eye. According to friends and family members, he skipped in and out of rehab, while occasionally working farmland in West Virginia. He wrote in May 2012: "Treatment is good, getting to deal with a lot of things that even the music didn’t want to. I have not given up because you, my friends have not given up on me. I do still need your support however that takes shape, good vibes are worth more than you might think."

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Eric Sandy

Eric Sandy is an award-winning Cleveland-based journalist. For a while, he was the managing editor of Scene. He now contributes jam band features every now and then.
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