Folk singer Arlo Guthrie has announced the death of his wife, Jackie, at age 68.
Jackie Guthrie had inoperable cancer and died Sunday at the couple's winter home in Sebastian, Florida, according to an obituary released by Arlo Guthrie's record label. The couple had recently celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary.
Jackie Guthrie was from Salt Lake City and grew up in Malibu, California. She met Arlo Guthrie in 1968 while working as a cashier at the Troubadour, the Hollywood nightclub that was an epicentre for folk music at the time.
The couple raised four children, and in recent years the family toured together, with Jackie Guthrie working as the videographer. This past summer, the family toured to celebrate the centennial birthday of Arlo's father, folk singer Woody Guthrie, a tour that included a stop in Victoria in August. At one point, Jackie became so weak she could barely hold up the camera, according to the obituary. In early September, she was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer.
On his Facebook page, Arlo Guthrie said he's cancelling or postponing some upcoming shows and will begin a planned tour in Canada next week.
Jackie Guthrie is survived by her four children with Arlo Guthrie; her daughter with singer David Crosby; and 10 grandchildren.
