Memphis musician Jay Lindsey, who recorded and performed under the name Jay Reatard was reportedly found dead at his Midtown home early this morning. The cause of death is not yet known.
The news was first reported this afternoon on the web site for Goner Records, the local/shop label through whom Lindsey released his first recordings as a Memphis teenager more than a decade ago and with whom he’d maintained close ties.
Lindsey’s death was confirmed a few minutes ago in a published report from Commercial Appeal reporter Jody Callahan and also confirmed to the Flyer by a Goner representative. Lindsey was 29 years old.
Lindsey had been one of the city’s most prolific and also most controversial musicians over the past decade, recording in bands such as the Reatards and most notably the Lost Sounds before finding a new level of national and international acclaim as a solo artist over the past few years. His most recent album, Watch Me Fall, a studio debut for venerable indie label Matador Records was recently named the 13th best album of 2009 by Spin magazine.
More on this terribly sad story as it develops.
