Pioneering musician/hip-hop artist MCA (Adam Yauch) of the Beastie Boys died at New York-Presbyterian hospital on May 4, 2012. He was 47 years old.
Yauch was diagnosed with cancer of the salivary gland in 2009. An especially rare form of cancer, salivary gland cancer effects only 2 in 100,000 people. MCA was on the younger side of the spectrum of those afflicted by the illness.
The Beastie Boys had recently been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April. MCA's health prevented him from joining Mike D and Ad-Rock in accepting the award, but he sent a letter of gratitude. The Beastie Boys are only the third hip-hop act to be inducted into the RnR Hall of Fame (after Grandmaster Flash and Run-DMC).
MCA is survived by wife Dechen Wangdu and 13-year-old daughter Tenzin Losel.
R.I.P MCA/Adam Yauch, 1964-2012. You will be missed.