Richard Swift, a music producer, solo artists and former member of indie rock outfit The Shins, has died at 41. Additionally, Swift performed as the touring bassist for the Black Keys in 2014 (the band’s most recent tour), and played drums for The Arcs, a side project of Black Keys singer Dan Auerbach. Swift performed with The Shins from 2011 through 2016.
Last month, Swift was hospitalized in Tacoma, Washington, due to an unidentified “life-threatening condition,” and a GoFundMe campaign had been launched to cover his medical bills. The campaign raised more than $87,000 of its $100,000 goal.
On top of his own solo career, Swift produced a variety of rock outfits, including Foxygen, Guster, the Mynabirds, Sharon Van Etten, Damien Jurado and Pure Bathing Culture.
Born in California in 1977, Swift released music on his own before signing to indie label Secretly Canadian. His final solo release was 2009’s “The Atlantic Ocean.”
Auerbach confirmed the news of Swift’s death in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
“Today the world lost one of the most talented musicians I know,” the Black Keys singer/guitarist wrote in post under a photo of him and Swift. “He’s now with his Mom and Sister. I will miss you my friend.”