Mars Williams, the renowned jazz saxophonist and former member of bands like Psychedelic Furs and Waitresses, has sadly passed away at the age of 68. The news of his death was confirmed by the Chicago Tribune, with reports stating that Williams succumbed to ampullary cancer, a diagnosis he received last year.

The Psychedelic Furs took to social media to express their grief, stating, "We're heartbroken. Goodbye to the great Mars Williams. Rest well." Williams' family also released a statement, remembering him as a person full of humor, energy, and love for music. Despite his health declining, Williams chose to spend his final weeks performing on stage night after night with the Psychedelic Furs. Those performances, along with his vast musical contributions, will forever be remembered and continue to inspire.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Williams grew up in a household that cherished jazz music, thanks to his father's trumpet skills. This exposure fueled his love for swing music and influenced his musical idols such as Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman, and Charlie Parker. Williams initially trained as a classical clarinetist before transitioning to the saxophone during his final year of high school. He further honed his skills by attending DePaul University and studying under notable musicians like Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell at the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians.

In 1980, Williams joined the Ohio-based new wave band, Waitresses. His contributions can be heard on their debut album, "Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful?" and the subsequent release, "Bruiseology." He achieved his first Billboard hit with the song "I Know What Boys Like," which reached No. 62 on the Hot 100 chart. Notably, his saxophone hook on the Waitresses' 1981 single, "Christmas Wrapping," remains a timeless holiday tune and a standout moment in his musical career.

Following the breakup of Waitresses in 1983, Williams swiftly joined the ranks of the Psychedelic Furs for a tour and later became an official member. He showcased his talents on albums like "Mirror Moves" in 1984 and "Midnight to Midnight" in 1987. Although Williams left the band in 1989, he rejoined in 2005 and contributed saxophone to their 2020 comeback album, "Made of Rain." Their final performance together took place just two days ago at the Darker Waves music festival.

Throughout the 1990s, Williams became an integral part of the longstanding free jazz group known as NRG Ensemble. After the passing of the group's founder Hal Russell, Williams stepped up as a bandleader. Over the years, he collaborated with numerous artists, lending his saxophone skills to projects by Billy Idol, the Power Station, the Killers, Ken Vandermark, Ministry, Jerry Garcia, Naked Raygun, Wayne Kramer, Witches & Devils, and Dirty Projectors.

In honor of Mars Williams' legacy, a benefit show titled "Music for Mars" is planned to take place on November 25 at Chicago's Metro. The event will feature performances from Liquid Soul, the Joe Marcinek Band, and Jesse De La Peña, along with special appearances by Richard Butler, Zachary Alford, and Rich Good of Psychedelic Furs, Jeff Coffin of Dave Matthews Band, Richard Fortus of Guns N' Roses, and Ike Reilly.

The music industry mourns the loss of Mars Williams, a gifted saxophonist whose memorable hooks in songs like "Christmas Wrapping" and "Heartbreak Beat" left an indelible mark. His immense talent and boundless energy will be remembered by fans and fellow musicians alike.