R.I.P. Jay Bennett, Ex-Wilco Member, Undertow Artist

Sad news, via AJ Schnack, via the Chicago Sun-Times: Former Wilco guitarist/songwriter/engineer Jay Bennett -- who had been in the news lately for suing his ex-band -- died this morning in his sleep. He was 45. From the Sun-Times' Jim DeRogatis:

Jay Bennett, a rock musician with deep ties to Chicago best known as a former member of Wilco, died early Sunday morning in downstate Urbana, where he had been running a recording studio, according to a spokesman for his family...

"Early this morning, Jay died in his sleep and an autopsy is being performed," said Edward Burch, a friend and musician who collaborated with Bennett on the 2005 album "The Palace at 4 a.m." "The family is in mourning and is unavailable for comment at this time."...

Bennett's last LP, Whatever Happened I Apologize, is available via rockproper.com, and he released several solo albums via the St. Louis-affiliated Undertow Collective.