American singer-songwriter David Berman , who was the leader of the alternative music group Silver Jews , has died at age 52, his record label Drag City Records reported.

"We couldn't regret telling you this anymore. David Berman passed away today. A great friend and one of the most inspiring individuals we've met is gone, " Drag City Records posted on his official Twitter account.

The cause of the death of this musician who was also a poet has not been disclosed at the moment.

Berman founded at the end of the 80s and in New York the Silver Jews group with Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich , who at that time were taking the first steps of the Pavement cult band at the same time.

Starlite Walker (1994) was the debut album of Silver Jews, a set that, over time, would become a practically individual project of Berman and in which the musicians who accompanied him changed.

Silver Jews , which would become a notable and applauded reference within the alternative and independent US scene, released five more albums before its dissolution in 2009: The Natural Bridge (1996), American Water (1998), Bright Flight (2001 ), Tanglewood Numbers (2005) and Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea (2008).

After many years away from music, Berman returned this year under the alias Purple Mountains and the Purple Mountains album, published just a month ago.

The artist had planned to start this weekend the presentation tour of this album that was going to take him through the stages of American cities like Washington, Chicago, Philadelphia or Los Angeles .

Berman maintained a conflictive and very hostile relationship with his father, Richard Berman , a lobbyist who worked for conservative interests in the US.

Numerous fans of Berman as well as companions of the alternative and independent music of the United States showed in the social networks their sadness for the death of the artist.

"I could sit here all day and quote memorable couplets from David Berman without getting tired. I had no competitor . He was the competition," The Mountain Goats group wrote on Twitter.

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