Richie Hayward died at a B.C. hospital after complications caused by pneumonia. He had been waiting for a liver transplant. (Polly Gray/Associated Press)

Richie Hayward, co-founder of Little Feat, an eclectic jam band that maintained a strong cult following throughout the decades, has died. He was 64.

The drummer had been suffering from liver cancer and died Thursday in a B.C. hospital after complications caused by pneumonia, his publicist, Bridget Nolan, confirmed Friday.

"He was waiting for a liver transplant," Nolan said. Over the past year, benefits had been staged on Hayward's behalf; he had no health insurance.

"The world's a little quieter and a lot less rhythmic today, although heaven's a lot funkier," said a letter posted on the Little Feat website.

Born in Clear Lake, Iowa, Hayward had been living in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island since 2007. The Victoria Times-Colonist said he died in a hospital in the B.C. capital while other reports say he died in a hospital outside of Vancouver.

"He was a great drummer, and he was very much integral to Little Feat's sound," singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, who had known the drummer for 40 years ago, told the Los Angeles Times on Friday. "It's hard to imagine another drummer making that music because it's very inventive."

In a letter to fans last August, Hayward wrote about his predicament, but sounded hopeful: "My intent is to come back to the band, as soon as I am physically able. Your love and support will mean a lot to me, more than I can say. I love and will miss you all, and I will see you again on the proud highway."

He last performed with the band on July 11.

Hayward helped form Little Feat in 1969, along with frontman Lowell George, Bill Payne and Roy Estrada. The jam band mixed a variety of genres including rock, country, jazz and blues, and was known for songs like Willin.

The group fell apart in 1979 after George died, but reformed in 1987, and had been a fixture on the touring circuit.

Besides his work with Little Feat, Hayward also performed with many well-known acts including Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Buddy Guy, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan and Tom Waits.

He is survived by his wife, Shauna Drayson-Hayward, and eight children.