"Lonesome" Dave Peverett, founding member and frontman of the popular 1970s boogie-rock band Foghat [ tickets ], died in an Orlando hospital Monday (2/8) after a year-long battle with kidney cancer. He was 57.

"Working with Dave for the last 30 plus years was one of the great pleasures I've known," Foghat drummer Roger Earl said in a statement. "We'll cry and be sad, and we will always miss him. But in the end we'll remember him for what he gave us all. His music.''

Foghat emerged from the rubble of the blues band Savoy Brown in 1970, when singer/guitarist Peverett, bassist Tony Stevens and Earl left that group and linked with lead guitarist Rod Price (a fellow native of Great Britain). Legend has it that Foghat's moniker was a word Peverett and his brother made up during a Scrabble game.

On the strength of guitar-rock staples like "Slow Ride," "Fool For The City," "Third Time Lucky," "Honey Hush," and "Driving Wheel," Foghat grew into an arena headliner by the mid-1970s. In 1977, the band released its best-selling album, the double platinum. "Foghat Live."

The band's sales marks declined precipitously through the late 1970s and the early 1980s, prompting the band to split following the release of a 1983 album. Foghat reunited for various albums and tours in the years that followed. Peverett toured with the band last year.

The family has requested that donations be made, in the name of Dave Peverett, to St. Judes Children's Hospital, 501 St. Judes Place, Memphis, TN, 38105. To make a donation by credit card, call (800) 822-6344.

The closed memorial service will be held in Orlando on Thursday (12/10). Peverett is survived by his wife Linda, his son Jason, daughters Lucy and Leighla and a grandson.