Gail Zappa, the wife of the late, great,Frank Zappa, has passed away. She was 70.

After Frank died of prostate cancer in 1993, Gail kept his image alive by releasing dozens of his recordings. She was also the executor of the Zappa family trust, a job now assigned to the couple’s son Ahmet.

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“Gail will forever be identified as a key figure in the creative renaissance that is Laurel Canyon,” a family statement said. “But more than any singular accomplishment, she defined herself in her personal relationships, happiest when surrounded by loved ones and artists, often one in the same. The memories she leaves behind are indeed her own art form. Her searing intelligence, unforgettable smile, wild thicket of hair and trailing black velvets leave a blur in her wake. h/t rollingstone

A cause of death has not been revealed. It is believed Gail dies after a long battle with lung cancer.