Indie rocker Jason Molina dead at 39

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INDIANAPOLIS, March 19 (UPI) -- Indie rock singer and songwriter Jason Molina has died at his home in Indianapolis after a long battle with alcoholism, his record label said on its website.

He was 39.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Jason Andrew Molina passed away," the Indiana label Secretly Canadian said in an online statement Monday.

"Jason was a world class musician, songwriter and recording artist. He was also a beloved friend," the statement said.

"Jason is the cornerstone of Secretly Canadian," it went on. "Without him there would be no us -- plain and simple. His singular, stirring body of work is the foundation upon which all else has been constructed. ... After hearing and falling in love with the mysterious voice on his debut single 'Soul' in early 1996, we approached him about releasing a single on our newly formed label. For some reason he said yes. ...

"He toured the world every year until he had to stop in 2009 to deal with severe alcoholism. Jason was incredibly humbled by his fans' support through the years and said that the two most important words he could ever say are 'Thank you.'"

Molina, who recorded under the names Songs: Ohia and Magnetic Electric Co., died last Saturday of unspecified "natural causes," the label said.