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In Memoriam: Chi Cheng 1970-2013 Grammy winning bass guitarist of the Deftones
Sacramento, California
April 14, 2013
Photo: OneLoveforChi.com Chi Cheng (1970-2013) Grammy-winning American bass guitarist and Deftones band member
www.oneloveforchi.com posted sad news today. It published a message from Jeanne Marie Cheng, mother of American musician and poet Chi Cheng that he passed away last night.
The website, originally started by a fan was dedicated to communicating updates and raising funds to aid in the recovery of Chi Cheng who was seriously injured in a car accident. It reported that a candlelight vigil is planned tonight, Sunday April 14 in Cheng's memory at 6:30pm at Cesar Chavez park in downtown Sacramento.
Cheng, bass guitarist and co-founding member of the Grammy-winning alternative metal band Deftones died April 13, 2013 at age 42, after more than four years of medical care following a car accident in Santa Clara, California in November, 2008 which left him in a coma. Born Chi Ling Dai Cheng in Davis, California, he grew up in Stockton and joined the Deftones shortly after it formed in a Sacramento garage.
Updates on the website said that he was showing signs of improvement including regaining partial consciousness and moving his legs on command. By summer 2012 he returned home to further recover. But he took a turn for the worse this weekend.
Cheng recorded five albums with the Deftones, debuting in 1995 with Adrenaline to 2006's Saturday Night Wrist. In 2000, Cheng released a collection of his poetry in a spoken word album titled The Bamboo Parachute.
His sister Mae reportedly sustained minor injuries and was wearing a seat belt in the 2008 accident. Chi's injuries were much more serious. He was in the passenger seat without a seat belt on, and was ejected from the car when it flipped several times after hitting another car going 60 mph.
The message posted today on www.oneloveforchi.com signed by his mother Jeanne Marie Cheng:
"This is the hardest thing to write to you. Your love and heart and devotion to Chi was unconditional and amazing. I know that you will always remember him as a giant of a man on stage with a heart for every one of you. He was taken to the eme(r)gency room and a 3am today his heart just suddenly stopped. He left this world with the singing songs he liked in his ear. He fought the good fight. You stood by him sending love daily. He knew that he was very loved and never alone. I will write more later. I will be going through the oneloveforchi site and any other information may not be reliable. If you have any stories or messages to share please send them to the oneloveforchi site. Please hold Mae and Ming and the siblings and especially Chi's son, Gabriel in your prayers. It is so hard to let go."
Photo: OneLiveforChi.com Chi Cheng (1970-2013) Grammy-winning American bass guitaristWith great love and "Much Respect!" Mom J (and Chi)
Neil Portnow, president of The Recording Academy said, "The music industry has lost a proud and passionate performer all too soon, and our sincerest condolences go out to his family, his bandmates, and his fans worldwide who are mourning his untimely and unfortunate passing."