Adam Yauch, one third of the Beastie Boys, has died at 47, RumorFix has confirmed.
The musician was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, after a tumor was discovered in his salivary gland.
Adam was a founding member of the Beastie Boys, and continued to work in the music world with his company Oscilloscope Laboratories. He was a passionate Buddhist, and a vegan.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Adam taught himself to play bass in high school, forming Beastie Boys for his 17th birthday party.
With fellow members Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Adrock” Horovitz, Beastie Boys would go on to sell over 40 million records, release four Number One albums — including the first hip hop album ever to top the Billboard 200.
Their album”Licensed To Ill” won three Grammys, and the MTV Video Vanguard Lifetime Achievement award. Last month Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with Diamond and Horovitz reading an acceptance speech on behalf of Yauch, who was unable to attend.
Adam is survived by his wife Dechen and his daughter, Tenzin Losel Yauch.
