_photo by Dino Perrucci_

Shortly after the beginning of this year, we reported that legendary keyboardist Bernie Worrell, who is most well known for his work with Parliament Funkadelic and Talking Heads, was battling advanced lung cancer, and news came down recently that his symptoms were worsening as a tumor was paralyzing his vocal chords. Yesterday and today, Worrell’s wife Judie posted to his official Facebook page that the musician’s health has continued to decline.

“Bernie has taken a turn for the worse,” she wrote yesterday, noting that he would not be performing his scheduled show at Ohio’s Nelson Ledges Quarry Park tomorrow. Today, the note was followed up with a more dire statement: “I was just told that Bernie is now headed ‘Home.’” Mrs. Worrell asks friends, fans and family in the Washington state area to let her know if they want to visit “to say your goodbyes,” noting that her husband can no longer talk on the phone or text.

This past April, Worrell came out during a Brooklyn concert aimed to both help ease his medical costs and tribute to his legacy. The show featured music from P-Funk and Talking Heads, plus appearances by George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, David Byrne, The Meters’ Leo Nocentelli, Meryl Streep, John Batiste and more. See photos from that show here.