Dan Hicks, leader of The Hot Licks, passed away on February 6 after a two year battle with liver cancer. Hicks passed away at his home in Mill Valley, CA. He was 74. Hicks is survived by his wife Claire and step daughter Sara Wasserman.

Hicks began performing with The Hot Licks in the 60s in San Francisco. The group would go on to release numerous albums with various lineups before disbanding. Hicks would return to using the Hot Licks name for 2000’s Beatin’ the Heat (that record featured Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Rickie Lee Jones, Bette Midler and others) and would release several more records after that.

Over the years, Hicks has collaborated with the likes of Costello, Waits, Jimmy Buffett, Gibby Haynes, Jim Keltner, Chris Goldsmith, David Grisman, Charlie Musselwhite and many others.