Memorial Fund For Musician Richard Swift Set Up By Friends

TACOMA, WA - The friends of musician Richard Swift have set up a memorial fund to cover the costs of his funeral and medical expenses. Swift, who played with bands like The Shins and The Black Keys, died Tuesday in Tacoma.

The GoFundMe memorial has a $200,000 goal. As of Thursday, the campaign had raised about half of that. Swift was married with three children at the time of his death. Swift, 41, has been undergoing treatment for an unspecified illness for about a month. He died while in hospice.

Swift had a prolific career in the Pacific Northwest music scene. He played drums for The Arcs and played bass on tour with The Black Keys. Swift also produced albums for artists like Damien Jurado, Guster, and the Mynabirds.

"We all know of his immense talent, but he also could be a deep well of generosity and kindness. He was motivated by discovery, a fearless explorer of other artists and their work, and what he found he shared ... He layered all that discovery into his brilliant—at times melancholy, at times euphoric—music," Swift's friends wrote on the GoFundMe fundraiser.

Image via GoFundMe, a Patch promotional partner