Greg Brown, Guitarist Who Wrote Cake’s Biggest Hit, Dies at 56

Greg Brown, whose grungy guitar licks helped propel the band Cake and whose irony-laced lyrics for the hit song "The Distance" became an anthem for a disaffected generation, died on Feb. 5. He was 56. His daughter, Adri Brown, confirmed his death but did not provide a cause or location; a statement by Cake on social media cited a "short illness." Born and raised in Sacramento, he and his bandmates formed Cake in 1991.

After several years playing bars around Sacramento and the Bay Area, Cake entered heavy rotation on college radio with "Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle," from the 1994 debut album "Motorcade of Generosity." The band married John McCrea's semidetached speak-singing and Vince DiFiore's Herb Alpert–style trumpeting with Mr.

Brown's low-fi guitar, which drew on classic country and funk.

greg brown, cake, the distance, john mccrea, vince difiore, sacramento, college radio, lo-fi guitar, herb alpert, motorcade