Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Roky Erickson (1947-2019) was born Roger Kynard Erickson in Texas. He was one of three founding members of pioneering psychedelic rock band The 13th Floor Elevators, who were amongst the first bands to refer to themselves by that term.

In 1969, Erickson was arrested for possession of marijuana, and, facing a felony drug charge, he entered a psychiatric hospital to avoid a prison sentence. This virtual incarceration effectively ended the band, and during his hospitalization Erickson underwent controversial “treatment” that included electroshock/electroconvulsive therapy.

After his release in the mid-1970s, Erickson recorded on and off for the remainder of his life, including such albums as The Evil One (1981), Don’t Slander Me (1986), and True Love Cast Out All Evil (2010). He is remembered and celebrated today as a pioneer of not only psychedelic rock for his time with the Elevators but also of “outsider music” for his solo work.