Swift was hospitalised with a “serious life threatening condition” last month. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to cover the medical costs. But he sadly didn't pull through.
Swift was the founder, owner, and recording engineer of National Freedom, a recording studio located in Oregon, and worked as producer for such acts as The Shins, Damien Jurado, David Bazan, Foxygen, Jessie Baylin, Nathaniel Rateliff, The Mynabirds, Wake Owl, Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab, Gardens & Villa, Cayucas, and Guster
A hugely talented musician who played various instruments, the American was a regular collaborator with The Black Keys‘ frontman Dan Auerbach, also playing with him in the band The Arch. Dan describes Swift as "one of the most talented musicians" he ever came across.
"Today the world lost one of the most talented musicians I know,” Dan Auerbach, Swift’s bandmate in the Black Keys and the Arcs, wrote in an Instagram post. “I will miss you my friend.”
A post on Swift's Facebook page reads, “And all the angels sing 'Que Sera Sera.'"
Here's some of the tributes being paid on Twitter:

r.i.p. richard swift. so many genius records because of you. truly heartbreaking :(

— cale tyson (@caletyson) July 3, 2018

What a sad fucking day. The world just lost another good one in Richard Swift. ?‘?. https://t.co/ny1v0HvpWG

— World Bo Free (@worldbofree) July 3, 2018

Sad to see Richard Swift go so young... Loved this song: https://t.co/1otMmfyNvl

— Adriaan Pels (@atease) July 3, 2018

A sad day in the world of music: the sudden passing of Richard Swift. Great producer, instrumental to so many strong artists, but also a wonderful songwriter himself. Hear his double opus “The Novelist / Walking without effort”. He will be missed and heard for times to come. ❤️

— Sondre Lerche (@SondreLerche) July 3, 2018