Legendary artist Willy DeVille passed away last week

Willy Deville, 58, founder of the legendary band Mink DeVille, died on August 6 at NYC's Cabrini Hospital after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mink DeVille, started on the New York club scene in the '70s.  The band was considered by many to be one of the most original groups in the punk genre for its mixture of R&B, blues, dixieland and traditional Cajun ballads.

He moved to New Orleans in the 90s, where he adapted the sounds of rhythm' n' blues, cajun and creole, and in 1992 produced a mariachi version of Jimi Hendrix tune "Hey Joe", which became an international hit. His last few albums "Crow Jane Alley" and "Pistola", soul and blues with a Latin rhythm, symbolized his work in trying to define a new musical style sometimes known as Spanish-American.

In addition to successful albums and singles with the band, Willy Deville also recorded several solo projects and was nominated for an Academy Award for his song "Storybook Love" from the 1987 cult-classic film "The Princess Bride".  Willy's last studio album was released in 1999, entitled Horse of a Different Color.

Willy is survived by his wife Nina.