Bruce Springsteen biographer Dave Marsh dead

Dave Marsh, a well-known music critic and biographer, has passed away. He was 76.

He died on Friday at his home in Connecticut. A specific cause of death has not been shared, though reports indicate he had been dealing with health issues in recent years.

Marsh grew up in Michigan, where his early exposure to Detroit's music scene shaped much of his career. He began working as an editor for a music magazine in the late 1960s before moving on to other publications, eventually becoming an associate editor at Rolling Stone.

Marsh became especially well known for writing an early, influential biography of Bruce Springsteen in 1979, which became a bestseller. He was one of the first critics to recognise and write about Springsteen's talent, later expanding and updating the book several times over the years.

In addition to his work on Springsteen, Marsh wrote more than two dozen books throughout his career, including biographies of other major music icons. He also won a Grammy Award in the early 1990s for his writing work on an album by Aretha Franklin.

Later in his career, Marsh hosted a long-running radio show and helped launch a Springsteen-focused radio station. Marsh was also known for his advocacy work, particularly in health care access and social justice causes.

He is survived by his wife. He was preceded in death by his two daughters.