Dave Marsh, a widely read music writer, broadcaster and activist, died on Friday, Aug. 14, according to Billboard. His cause of death was not reported, though the publication said he had been in declining health in recent years.
Born in Pontiac, Michigan, in 1950, Marsh grew up surrounded by the sounds of Detroit, including Motown, R&B and rock and roll. That early exposure helped shape his lifelong belief in the power of music.
Marsh was one of the first editors at Creem when the magazine launched in 1969. He also wrote for Rolling Stone and other outlets, and he published more than two dozen books on artists such as Elvis Presley, The Who and Bruce Springsteen. His 1979 book, Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story, became a New York Times bestseller.
In addition to writing, Marsh co-founded Rap & Rock Confidential and joined SiriusXM in 2004, where he hosted Kick Out the Jams for 19 years, along with Live from E Street Nation and Live from the Land of Hope and Dreams. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Carr, while a full list of survivors and service plans were not immediately available, according to Billboard.
