After battling with health problems in recent years, Dewey Martin, former drummer of the short-lived 1960s band Buffalo Springfield, was found dead at his apartment last Sunday. He was 68-years-old. The cause of Martin’s death has not yet been revealed, but it is believed to have been of natural causes, as reported by the LA Times.
Buffalo Springfield, was founded by Martin, Neil Young, Richie Furay, and Stephen Stills, in 1966. The band is best known for boosting the careers of Young and Stills, who later went on to be members of the successful band Crosby Stills Nash & Young. The two have also gained great solo success away from the bands as well.
Martin, whose birth name is Walter Milton Dewayne Midkiff, was born in Chesterville, Canada on September 30th 1940. He came to the U.S. to pursue his music career, where he met his band-mates in Los Angeles. Prior to working with Buffalo Springfield, Martin had worked as a drummer for musicians like Patsy Cline. Buffalo Springfield disbanded after gaining minimal success in 1968. While the other band-mates moved on to different projects, Martin formed the new Buffalo Springfield, which was short lived as well.
Aside from his stint with Buffalo Springfield and its attempted revival, Martin also played with other bands, including Medicine Ball and Pink Slip, and in 1997 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Prior to his passing, Martin had been working on developing an innovative, new drum head.
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