Bruce Springsteen has always been a vocal fan of Joe Ely, the progressive Texas country legend who mixed country music with rock on albums like Honky Tonk Masquerade, was a member of the cult favorite band the Flatlanders, and even toured with the Clash. Ely died Monday at 78 after a long illness.

The country music world has had its share of heartbreak of late, and Monday brought more with the news of Joe Ely’s death. Ely, who rose up out of Texas to become a beloved musician, was 78.

Just months after revealing that he was battling a pair of incurable diseases, beloved country music singer/songwriter Joe Ely has died. He was 78. Variety reported Ely died from complications from Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease and pneumonia.