We at boom 97.3 sadly announce that Adam Yauch, founding member of the seminal Hip-Hop group Beastie Boys has passed away at the age of 47.  Adam, or as he was known MCA, was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 after physicians seen a tumor in his salivary gland.  Yauch was to be seen at the recent induction of the Beastie Boys into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April, but had to bow out due to treatments.  

Yauch co-founded the Beastie Boys with Mike "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horowitz in 1979. The band started off as a hardcore punk group, but soon began experimenting with hip-hop. The band broke big with their first proper album, Licensed to Ill, in 1986 which launched their careers further into "superstardom"

Yauch is survived by his wife and daughter.

Watch MCA, Mike D, and Ad-Rock perform "Fight For Your Right (To Party)" below: