Well, we lost another from rock n’ roll’s first wave. The great Bobby Charles passed away early today. Offbeat.com posted a good obit, so I’m passing it on below.

http://www.offbeat.com/2010/01/14/bobby-charles-passed-away/

Bobby Charles Passed Away

14 January 2010 — by Alex Rawls

Songwriter Bobby Charles passed away this morning; the cause has yet to be determined. The writer of “Walking to New Orleans” and “See You Later Alligator” had struggled with ill-health for years, including back problems and a bout with cancer that was in remission. Those problems led him to miss a scheduled appearance at the Ponderosa Stomp in 2004 and Jazz Fest in 2007. Evidently he fell recently and was bedridden as a result. It was after that fall that he died.
Charles had completed work on a new album, which is due out next month.
More when we know more.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyJFK5PbZGs]