Rock 'n' Roll Heaven
(J to Z)
Steve Jablecki - singer and guitarist for the L.A. group, Wadsworth Mansion, who reached #7 in the US with "Sweet Mary" in 1971, died on April 14th, 2005, at the age of 59
Susan Jacks - of the Canadian band The Poppy Family, died of kidney disease on April 25th, 2022 at the age of 73. The band is most often remembered for a pair of 1970 hits, "Which Way You Goin' Billy" (#2) and "That's Where I Went Wrong" (#29)
Al Jackson Jr. - drummer and founding member of Booker T. & The MG'S was murdered in his home by an unknown assailant on October 1st, 1975. He was 39
Doris Kenner-Jackson - of the Shirelles, whose soaring harmonies can be heard on "Soldier Boy" and a number of other hits in the early 1960s, died of breast cancer on Feb. 4th, 2000 at age 58
Michael Jackson - the self-proclaimed "King Of Pop" who sold millions of records while collecting 13 Grammy Awards and the hearts of adoring fans around the world, died June 25th, 2009 at the age of 50
Pervis Jackson - bass vocalist and original member of the Motown group The Spinners, died of cancer on August 18th, 2008 at the age of 70. The band had a series of hits in the 1970s, including "Rubber Band Man", "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" and "I'll Be Around"
Stonewall Jackson - the Country music artist who reached #4 on the Hot 100 in 1959 with "Waterloo", passed away on December 4, 2021 at the age of 89. Stonewall was his given name, not a nickname or assumed moniker. His father named him after the Confederate Army general and claimed to be one of his descendants
Tito Jackson - a founding member of The Jackson 5 who sang on their hits "I Want You Back", "ABC" and "I'll Be There", passed away on September 15th, 2024 at the age of 70
Tony Jackson - bass player for The Searchers, a Liverpool band best known for the 1964 song "Needles and Pins", died August 18th, 2003 of cirrhosis of the liver. He was 63
Etta James - most often remembered for her signature song, "At Last", which reached number 2 on the Billboard R&B chart and number 47 on the Hot 100, died from complications of leukemia at the age of 73 on January 20th, 2012. She also placed nine other songs in the American Top 40, won three Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993
Joni James - the 1950s era singer who reached the Billboard Top 100 twenty times, passed away on February 20th, 2022 at the age of 91. Her biggest hits during the Rock and Roll era were, "How Important Can It Be?" (#2 in 1955), and "You Are My Love" (#6 in 1955)
Rick James - most often remembered for the 1981, #16 hit "Super Freak", died on August 6th, 2004, at the age of 56. An autopsy revealed that there were at least nine drugs in his system including cocaine, valium, vicodin, and methamphetamine. Because none of the substances were found in lethal quantities, his death was ruled as accidental
Sonny James - whose 1957 hit "Young Love" topped both the Billboard Pop and Country charts, died of natural causes at the age of 88 on February 22nd, 2016. His initial success was followed by more than twenty, number one Country hits. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and was the first Country artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Jimi Jamison - the lead vocalist for Survivor suffered a fatal heart attack on August 31st, 2014 at the age of 63. He joined the band in 1983 after they had released their hit "Eye of the Tiger" and went on to contribute vocals on songs such as "High on You", "I Can`t Hold Back" and "The Moment of Truth" from The Karate Kid
Joe Jeffrey - leader of The Joe Jeffrey Group, who had a Billboard #14 hit with "My Pledge Of Love" in 1969, died of cancer at his Cleveland home on September 4th, 2016, at age 80
Waylon Jennings - a member of Buddy Holly's band who gave up his plane seat to The Big Bopper just moments before their doomed flight took off. He went on to become a major Country star and died of diabetes on February 13th, 2002. He was 64
Al Jarreau - a multiple Grammy winner for his Jazz and R&B songs, died February 12th, 2017 at the age of 76. His hit songs included "We're in This Love Together", "After All", "Boogie Down", "Never Givin' Up" and the theme song to the TV series Moonlighting, for which he wrote the lyrics
Little Willie John - died in prison under mysterious circumstances on March 26th, 1968, after being convicted of manslaughter two years earlier. He had fourteen hits on the R&B charts and the same number on the Pop charts, including "Fever", "Sleep", and "Talk To Me, Talk To Me"
Dr. John - six-time Grammy winner who scored a #9 hit on the Hot 100 in 1973 with "Right Place Wrong Time", suffered a fatal heart attack on June 6th, 2019 at the age of 77. The New Orleans pianist, singer-songwriter and producer's real name was Mac Rebennack
Robert John - who topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979 with "Sad Eyes", passed away on February 24th, 2025, at the age of 79. He had suffered a severe stroke several years earlier, from which he had never fully recovered
Sammy Johns - most often remembered for his 1975, Billboard #5 hit, "Chevy Van", died on January 4th, 2013, at the age of 66
Claude Johnson - "Juan" of Don and Juan, who reached number 7 with "What's Your Name" in 1962, died on October 31st, 2002, at the age of 67
General Norman Johnson - the lead singer of the Chairmen Of The Board passed away on October 13th, 2010 at the age of 67. The Detroit vocal quartet placed four songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Give Me Just A Little More Time", a number 3 hit in 1970
Joan Marie Johnson - one of the founding members of the New Orleans girl group The Dixie Cups, died at a hospice in her home town on October 3rd, 2016 at the age of 72. The trio scored a #1 hit in 1964 with "Chapel of Love", but Johnson was forced to drop out after only a few years after being diagnosed with sickle cell anemia
Johnnie Johnson - a rock 'n' roll pioneer who teamed with Chuck Berry on "Roll Over Beethoven" and "No Particular Place to Go", died of natural causes on April 15th, 2005 at the age of 80
Marv Johnson - R&B artist who reached the Hot 100 nine times, including two Top 10 hits in 1960; "You Got What It Takes" and "I Love The Way You Love" - died following a stroke on May 16th, 1993
Michael Johnson - singer/songwriter who scored hits in 1978 and 1979 with "Bluer Than Blue", "Almost Like Being In Love" and "This Night Won't Last Forever", passed away at the age of 72 after a long illness on July 25th, 2017
Barbara Lee Jones - of the mid-60s girl group, The Chiffons, ("He's So Fine") died of a heart attack on May 15th, 1992. She was 44
Billy Jones - vocalist and guitarist for The Outlaws died of a self inflicted gun shot wound on February 7th, 1995 at the age of 45. The band's biggest hit was "Ghost Riders in the Sky", which rose to #31 on the Billboard chart in 1981
Bob Jones - guitarist for We Five on their 1965, Billboard #3 hit, "You Were On My Mind", died of pancreatic cancer on July 24th, 2013, at the age of 66
Brian Jones - the original lead guitarist of The Rolling Stones, drowned in his swimming pool on July 3rd, 1969
Davy Jones - of the made-for-TV group The Monkees suffered a fatal heart attack on February 29th, 2012 at the age of 66
Jack Jones - a crooner who placed five songs on the Billboard Top 40 in the mid-1960s, passed away on October 23rd, 2024. He was 86 years old. Among his hits were "Wives And Lovers (#14 in 1963) and "The Race Is On" (#15 in 1965). He is also remembered for singing the theme song to TV's The Love Boat
Jimmy Jones - who earned two Gold records in 1960 for "Handy Man" (#2) and "Good Timin'" (#3), passed away on August 2nd, 2012. He was 82 years of age
Joe Jones - a musician-turned producer who sang the 1961 Billboard #3 hit "You Talk Too Much" and went on to become an independent music publisher and advocate for black artists' rights, died on November 27 th, 2005. He was 79
Joesph Jones Jr. - known as "Little Joe" of the group The Tams died of pancreatic cancer on December 31st, 2010 at the age of 64. Although he joined the band eight years after their Billboard Top Ten hit "What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am", Jones stayed with the group for 36 years before retiring in 2008
Mickey Jones - drummer for The First Edition from 1967 to 1975, passed away after a long illness on February 7th, 2018 at the age of 76. After a music career that saw him play with Bob Dylan, The Band, Johnny Rivers and Trini Lopez, Jones went on to acting in several movies and TV shows
Quincy Jones - the legendary, multi Grammy Award-winning music producer and composer, passed away at his home in Bel-Air, Los Angeles on November 3rd, 2024 at the age of 91
Will "Dub" Jones - of The Coasters ("Charlie Brown") died on January 16th, 2000. He was 71
Janis Joplin - died on October 4th, 1970 from an overdose of heroin at age 27
Don Julian - who lead The Larks on their 1964 #7 hit "The Jerk", died of pneumonia on November 6th, 1998
Marvin Junior - vocalist for The Dells who co-wrote their first hit, "Oh, What a Nite", died from kidney and heart problems on May 29th, 2013 at the age of 77. He was with the group for 57 years.
Bill Justis - whose 1957, Billboard #2 hit "Raunchy" is credited with being the first instrumental Rock 'n' Roll hit, died of cancer on July 16th, 1982. He was just 55 years old
Hal Kalin - of The Kalin Twins, who are most often remembered for their 1958 million seller, "When", died on August 24th, 2005, as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was 71
Herbie Kalin - of The Kalin Twins, who reached Billboard's #5 spot with "When" and #12 with "Forget Me Not" in 1958, suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 72 on July 21st, 2006
Arthur Kane - best known as the bassist for the pioneering glam punk band the New York Dolls, died of leukemia on July 13th, 2004, at the age of 55
Paul Kantner - a founding member of Jefferson Airplane and Starship died on January 28th, 2016 after suffering a heart attack. He was 74
Casey Kasem - the host of US radio shows like American Top 40 and Casey's Countdown for nearly 40 years, died June 15th, 2014 after battling Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1981 and was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters' Hall of Fame in 1985
Terry Kath - guitarist with Chicago, accidentally shot and killed himself with a pistol on January 23rd, 1978, eight days short of his 32nd birthday
Ernie K-Doe - remembered for his 1961 novelty hit, "Mother-In-Law", died of liver failure on July 5th, 2001 at the age of 65
Murray "The K" Kaufman - pioneer rock and roll disc jockey, died of cancer at the age of 60 on February 21st, 1982
Harvey Kaye - keyboard player for Spiral Starecase on their 1969 hit "More Today Than Yesterday", suffered a fatal heart attack on August 17, 2008, just five days before his 70th birthday
John "Speedy" Keene - vocalist and drummer for Thunderclap Newman, died on March 21st, 2002, at the age of 56. The band's biggest hit came in 1969 with "Something In The Air"
Brian Keenan - drummer for The Chambers Brothers on their 1968, #11 hit, "Time Has Come Today", suffered a fatal heart attack on October 5th, 1985 at the age of 42
Chris Kenner - New Orleans-based R&B singer who reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the million selling record, "I Like It Like That" in 1961, suffered a fatal heart attack on January 25th, 1976. He was just 46 years of age
Joe Kelley - guitarist for The Shadows Of Knight on their 1966, Billboard #10 hit, "Gloria" died on September 1st, 2013, after a brief battle with lung cancer. He was 67
Wells Kelly - drummer for Orleans on their hits "Still The One" and "Love Takes Time" died on October 29th, 1984. He was found laying on his back, asphyxiated, in front of the front door of where he was staying while on tour with Meat Loaf. He was 35
Eddie Kendricks - formerly of the Temptations before launching a solo career, died of lung cancer on October 5th, 1992, at the age of 52
Bobby Keys - an American saxophonist who worked as both a touring and session musician, died from liver cancer on December 2nd, 2014 at the age of 70. During his career he appeared on albums by the Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Harry Nilsson, Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, George Harrison, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker and many other prominent musicians
Johnny Kidd - who led his band The Pirates to the top of the UK chart with "Shakin' All Over" in 1960, was killed in an auto accident on October 7th, 1966. He was just 30 years old
Greg Kihn - who reached #2 In America in 1983 with "Jeopardy", passed away on August 13th, 2024 after struggling with Alzheimer's disease
Lemmy Kilmister - the frontman of the Heavy Metal band Motorhead died of cancer on December 28th, 2015. He was 70
Albert King - Blues guitarist famed for his rendition of "Crosscut Saw" suffered a fatal heart attack on December 21st, 1992, at the age of 69
Claude King - a singer and songwriter best known for his million selling 1962 Country cross-over hit, "Wolverton Mountain", died suddenly on March 7th, 2013. He was 90 years old
B.B. King - a legendary American Blues singer, song writer and guitarist, passed away on May 14th, 2015 at the age of 89. He won a 1970 Grammy Award for the song "The Thrill Is Gone" and Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 6 on its 2011 list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time
Ben E. King - an R&B legend who passed away on April 30th, 2015 at the age of 76. As a member of The Drifters, he sang lead on their biggest singles, "This Magic Moment", "Save The Last Dance For Me" and "There Goes My Baby." He also reached the Billboard Top 40 seven times as a solo artist, including his 1961 #4 hit, "Stand By Me"
Ed King - a guitarist who played with both Strawberry Alarm Clock and Lynyrd Skynyrd, passed away on August 22nd, 2018 at the age of 68. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Skynyrd in 2006
Freddie King - Blues guitarist known as "The Texas Cannonball", reached the Hot 100 in 1961 with "Hide Away", died on December 28th, 1976 from a heart attack at the age of 42. In 2003, King was ranked 25th on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time
Ronnie King - bassist for The Stampeders on their 1971, Billboard #8 hit, "Sweet City Woman", passed away after a brief illness on March 4th, 2024 at the age of 76
Kathy Kirby - who had five UK Top 40 hits between 1963 and 1965, including "Dance On", "Secret Love" and "Let Me Go, Lover!" died of a suspected heart attack on May 19th, 2011 at the age of 72
Terry Kirkwood - a founding member of The Association, died of heart failure on September 23rd, 2023 at the age of 83. He wrote "Cherish" and "Everything That Touches You" and contributed vocals to their other hits, including "Never My Love"
Don Kirshner - the songwriter, manager, publisher and music executive who helped launch the careers of Neil Diamond, Bobby Darin, Carole King, Neil Sedaka, The Monkees, The Archies and Kansas, died of heart failure on January 17th, 2011 at the age of 76
Danny Kirwan - guitarist for Fleetwood Mac from 1968 to 1972, passed away on June 8th, 2018 at the age of 68
Larry Knechtel - keyboard player for the Soft-Rock group Bread, died following a heart attack on August 20th, 2009 at the age of 69. Knechtel earned a Grammy award for his arrangement of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and also performed with Neil Diamond, Randy Newman, Ray Charles, The Beach Boys, The Doors, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams Jr., The Dixie Chicks and Elvis Costello
Robert Knight - the R&B singer who took "Everlasting Love" to #13 on the Hot 100 in 1967, died of an undisclosed illness on November 5th, 2017 at the age of 72
Terry Knight - who fronted the Michigan based Terry Knight and The Pack ("I, Who Have Nothing") before going on to manage Grand Funk Railroad, was stabbed to death at his Temple, Texas home during a domestic dispute on November 1st, 2004. He was 61. Police charged his daughter's boyfriend with murder
Dick Kniss - who played bass for Peter, Paul And Mary for five decades and co-wrote the John Denver hit "Sunshine on My Shoulders", died of pulmonary disease at the age of 74 on January 25th, 2012
Buddy Knox - best remembered for his 1957 hit, "Party Doll", died of cancer on February 14th, 1999, at the age of 65
Keith Knudsen - longtime Doobie Brothers drummer who was part of the band during their string of hits in the 1970s, died of pneumonia on February 8th, 2005. He was 56
Cub Koda - the leader of Brownsville Station and composer of their hit "Smokin' in the Boys Room", passed away from complications arising from kidney dialysis on July 1st, 2000, at the age of 51
Paul Kossoff - of the rock band "Free", died of heart failure while sleeping during a flight across the U.S. on March 19th, 1976. The 26 year old had played guitar on the group's biggest hit "All Right Now"
Ted Kowalski - a member of the Canadian quartet The Diamonds, died of heart disease on August 8th, 2010 at the age of 79. The vocal group had a string of hits in the late 1950s including "Little Darlin'", "Silhouettes" and "The Stroll"
Phil Kramer - who took Lee Dorman's place when Iron Butterfly re-formed in 1975, was found in a canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains, on May 31st, 1999, over four years after he called a police to say he was going to commit suicide. At the time of his death, he was 42
Wayne Kramer - guitarist for Detroit's MC5, died of pancreatic cancer on February 2nd, 2024, at the age of 75. The group's album, "Kick Out The Jams" reached #30 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1969
Kris Kristofferson - legendary singer / songwriter passed away on September 28th, 2024 at the age of 88. Along with placing nineteen albums on the Billboard 200 chart, he also wrote such classics as "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", "Help Me Make It Through the Night", "For the Good Times" and "Me and Bobby McGee"
Jan Kuehnemund - founding member and lead guitarist for the all-female hard rock band Vixen died of cancer on October 10th, 2013
Les Kummel - bassist for The New Colony Six on their Billboard Top 40 hits "I Will Always Think About You" and "Things I'd Like To Say", was killed in a car accident on December 18th, 1978. He was 33
Jeff LaBar - guitarist for the Glam Metal band Cinderella, died on July 14th, 2021, at the age of 58. The band had hits with "Shelter Me", "Heartbreak Station", and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)"
Denny Laine - guitarist for The Moody Blues and Wings, died from interstitial lung disease on December 5th, 2023, at the age of 79
Frankie Laine - suffered complications after hip-replacement surgery and died February 6th, 2007 at the age of 93. The big voiced singer sold over 100 million records and placed seven songs on Billboard's Top 40 between 1955 and 1969, including "Moonlight Gambler" and "Love Is A Golden Ring"
Greg Lake - bassist and vocalist for both King Crimson and Emerson, Lake And Palmer, died of cancer on December 6th, 2016 at the age of 69
Joe Lala - a drummer and percussionist who worked with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Bee Gees, Whitney Houston, The Eagles and Eric Clapton, died from complications of lung cancer on March 18th, 2014, at the age of 66
Major Lance - who had many hits on the R&B charts as well as placing "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" and "Monkey Time" on the Pop charts, died of heart failure on September 3rd, 1994 at the age of 55
Alan Lancaster - bassist for the English band Status Quo, died on September 26th, 2021 after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. The band reached #12 on the Hot 100 in 1968 with "Pictures Of Matchstick Men"
Jackie Landry - of The Chantels, who placed four songs on the Billboard Top 40 between 1958 and 1961, including "Maybe", died of cancer on December 23rd, 1997, at the age of 56
Ronnie Lane - of The Small Faces, died from multiple sclerosis on June 4th 1997. He was 51
Allen Lanier - a founding member of Blue Oyster Cult, who scored a Billboard #12 hit in 1976 with "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", died on August 14th, 2013 after a long battle with lung disease. He was 67
Honey Lantree - drummer for The Honeycombs on their 1964, Billboard #5 hit, "Have I The Right", died of breast cancer on December 23rd, 2018. She was 75 years old
John Larson - trumpet player for The Ides Of March on their 1970 hit "Vehicle", died of cancer on September 22nd, 2011, at the age of 61
Stan Lark - bassist for The Fireballs on their Billboard Top 10 hits, "Sugar Shack" and "Bottle Of Wine", died of cancer on August 4, 2021
Nicolette Larson - most often remembered for her 1978, number 8 US hit, "Lotta Love", died on December 16th, 1997 as a result of complications arising from cerebral edema triggered by liver failure. She was 45
Schuyler Larson - the bassist for Every Mother's Son on their 1967, Billboard #6 hit, "Come On Down To My Boat", passed away on December 19th, 2021 at the age of 74
Roger LaVern - keyboard player for The Tornados on their 1962 instrumental hit, "Telstar", died of cancer on June 13th, 2013. He was 75
John Lawton - lead singer for Uriah Heep from 1976 to 1979, passed away at the age of 74 on June 29th, 2021
Steve Lawrence - a 1950s and '60s crooner who often teamed with his wife, Eydie Gorme, passed away on March 7th, 2024 at the age of 88. He reached the Top Ten of the Billboard Pop chart with "Pretty Blue Eyes", "Footsteps", "Portrait Of My Love" and "Go Away Little Girl"
Derek Leckenby - lead guitarist for Herman's Hermits, died of cancer on June 4th, 1994, at the age of 51
Alvin Lee - the founder of Ten Years After died unexpectedly from complications following a routine surgical procedure on March 6th, 2013. He was 68. The album oriented band burst to stardom with a memorable Woodstock performance and reached the Billboard Top 40 with "I'd Love To Change The World" in 1971
Arthur Lee - singer and guitarist for the psychedelic rock band Love, died of leukemia on August 3rd, 2006, at the age of 61
Peggy Lee - jazz vocalist who reached the Pop charts with "Fever" and "Is That All There Is", died of a heart attack on January 21st, 2002 at the age of 81
Marshall Leib - of the Teddy Bears, died of a heart attack on March 15th, 2002, at the age of 63. Leib, along with Annette Kleinbard and Phil Spector scored a Billboard chart topper in 1958 with "To Know Him Is To Love Him"
Jerry Leiber - a songwriting legend whose credits include "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Yakety Yak", "Poison Ivy" and "Love Potion No. 9", died August 23rd, 2011 at the age of 78. Leiber and his songwriting partner Mike Stoller were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame two years later
John Lennon - murdered by Mark David Chapman, December 8th 1980. He was 40 years old
David Lerchey - a founding member of The Dell-Vikings, who reached the Billboard Top 40 with "Come Go With Me" (#4), "Whispering Bells" (#9) and "Cool Shake" (#12), all in 1957, died of cancer on January 29th, 2005 at the age of 67
Phil Lesh - bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, passed away of unspecified causes on October 25th, 2024. He was 84 years old. Although he was not a principal singer or songwriter in the band, he was ranked as the 57th greatest bassist of all time by Bass Player magazine in 2017
Wally Lester - backing vocalist for The Skyliners on their 1959, Billboard #12 hit, "Since I Don't Have You", died of pancreatic cancer on April 21st, 2015 at the age of 73
Drake Levin - the lead guitarist for Paul Revere and The Raiders during their prime hit making years, died of cancer on July 4th, 2009. He was 62
Bobby Lewis - Soul singer who topped the Billboard Hot 100 in July, 1961 with "Tossin' And Turnin'", died on April 28th, 2020 after contracting pneumonia. He was 95 years of age
Jerry Lewis - an actor and comedian who also scored a Billboard #10 hit in 1956 with "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody", died of natural causes on August 20th, 2017 at the age of 91. After making 17 movies with Dean Martin, Lewis struck out on his own and found further success with films such as The Bellboy and The Nutty Professor. As host of the Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon he helped raise over $1.5 billion for that charity
Jerry Lee Lewis - the Rock 'n' Roll pioneer who scored six Billboard Top 40 hits, passed away on October 28th, 2022 at the age of 87. Along with his Rock hits, which included "Whole Lot Of Shakin' Going On' and "Great Balls Of Fire, he also enjoyed a long string of Country And Western hits. In 1986, along with Elvis and Chuck Berry, he made the inaugural class of inductees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and joined the Country Hall of Fame in 2022
Rudy Lewis - lead singer of The Drifters on their hits "On Broadway" and "Up On The Roof", died under mysterious circumstances on May 20th, 1964, the night before the group was set to record "Under the Boardwalk". He was 28 years old
Gordon Lightfoot - Canadian folk icon died of natural causes on May 1st, 2023 at the age of 84. He placed six songs on the Billboard Hot 100, most notably "If You Could Read My Mind" (#5 in 1971), "Sundown" (#1 in 1974) and "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald" (#2 in 1976)
Gary Loizzo - the lead singer for The American Breed on their 1968 #5 hit, "Bend Me, Shape Me", died of pancreatic cancer on January 16th, 2016 at the age of 70
Julie London - an American singer and actress who reached #9 on the Billboard Top 100 with "Cry Me A River" in 1955, died following cardiac arrest on October 18th, 2000. She was 74
Alan Longmuir - bassist and founding member of The Bay City Rollers died at the age of 70 on July 2nd, 2018 following a brief illness.
Richard "Scar" Lopez - a founding member of Cannibal and The Headhunters, the East Los Angeles vocal group that scored a #30 Billboard hit in 1965 with "Land of 1000 Dances", died of lung cancer on July 30th, 2010. He was 65
Trini Lopez - singer/guitarist/actor who scored a Billboard #3 hit in 1963 with "If I Had A Hammer", passed away on August 11th, 2020 at the age of 83 from complications caused by the COVID-19 virus
Jon Lord - keyboardist for Deep Purple who co-wrote one their biggest hits, "Smoke On The Water", died at the age of 71 on July 16th, 2012, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer
Jim Lowe - an American singer-songwriter, best known for his 1956 Billboard chart topper, "The Green Door", died after a long illness on December 12th, 2016 at the age of 93
Peter Lucia - the drummer for Tommy James And The Shondells, died of a heart attack while on a golf course in Los Angeles in 1987. He was 40 years old
Bob Luman - a Rockabilly artist who reached #7 on the Billboard chart in October, 1960 with "Let's Think About Livin'", died of of pneumonia on December 27th, 1978 at the age of 41
Frankie Lymon - who led the 1950's doo-wop group 'The Teenagers' to fame with "Why Do Fools Fall In Love", was found dead of a drug overdose in a friend's apartment in Harlem on February 28th, 1968. He was 25 years old
Phil Lynott - bassist for Thin Lizzy, lost his battle with drugs and died of heart failure and pneumonia on January 4th, 1986 at the age of 34
Jamie Lyons - lead singer of Music Explosion died of a heart attack on September 27th, 2006 at the age of 57. The band is most often remembered for their garage-band classic "Little Bit o' Soul", which spent 16 weeks on the Billboard Pop chart in 1967, peaking at #2
Marshall Lytle - bassist for Bill Haley And His Comets on their hits "Crazy Man, Crazy" and "Rock Around The Clock", died of lung cancer on May 25th, 2013 at the age of 79
Johnny Maestro - the lead singer for The Crests on their seven US Top 40 records, including the 1959, #2 hit "Sixteen Candles" as well as The Brooklyn Bridge on "The Worst That Could Happen" in 1969, died of cancer on March 24th, 2010. He was 70
Byron MacGregor - whose spoken word rendition of "The Americans" became a Billboard number four hit in January 1974, passed away on January 3rd, 1995, at the age of 46
Lonnie Mack - considered by many as a ground breaking guitar soloist, Mack died on April 21st, 2016 at the age of 74. He reached the Billboard Top 40 twice in 1963 with the instrumentals "Memphis" (#5) and "Wham!" (#24)
Bryan MacLean - guitarist and singer-songwriter for the '60s rock act "Love" died of an apparent heart attack on December 25th, 1998 at the age of 52. The band is mostly remembered for their 1966 hit "My Little Red Book"
Kevin MacMichael - lead guitarist of the ritish band Cutting Crew, died of lung cancer on December 31st, 2002 at age 51. The band topped the Billboard chart in 1987 with (I Just) Died in Your Arms .
Miriam Makeba - the South African singer who reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967 with "Pata Pata" suffered an apparent heart attack and died on November 9th, 2008 at the age of 76. Among her many notable achievements was becoming the first African woman to win a Grammy, for Best Folk Recording in 1966 with Harry Belafonte for "An Evening With Belafonte / Makeba"
Teena Marie - known as the "Ivory Queen of Soul", Teena was Motown Records' first white act. As well as scoring two Platinum albums, she reached #37 on the Billboard Pop chart in 1981 with "I Need Your Lovin'" and #4 in 1985 with "Lovergirl". Teena passed away on December 26th, 2010 at the age of 54
Richard Manuel - of The Band, hanged himself in his hotel room on March 4th, 1986, after a performance in Florida. He was 42
Ray Manzarek - keyboard player for The Doors, died May 20th, 2013 at the age of 74 after a long battle with bile duct cancer
Benny Mardones - most often remembered for his 1980, Billboard #11 hit, "Into The Night" died of complications from Parkinson's disease on June 29th, 2020 at the age of 73
Mitch Margo - a founding member of The Tokens, the doo-wop foursome behind the 1961 hit "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" died of natural causes on November 24th, 2017. He was 70
Phillip Margo - vocalist for The Tokens on "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", passed away on November 13th, 2021 at the age of 79
Bob Marley - the uncontested King of Reggae, died of melanoma, (skin cancer) that metastasized to his lungs and brain, on May 11th, 1981, at the age of 36
Steve Marriott - formerly of The Small Faces and Humble Pie, was killed in a fire at his home in April 20th 1991. He was 44
Bernie Marsden - guitarist for Whitesnake, died August 24th, 2023 at the age of 72. He co-wrote the band's biggest hit, "Here I Go Again"
Jerry Marsden - guitarist and lead vocalist for Gerry And The Pacemakers died at the age of 78 after suffering an infection in his heart on January 23rd, 2021. His band placed seven songs in the Billboard Top 40, including three of them in the Top 10, during the height of the British Invasion of the mid-1960s
Fred Marsden - drummer for Gerry And The Pacemakers died of cancer on December 9th, 2006, at the age of 66
David Martin - bass player for Sam The Sham & the Pharaohs died of a heart attack on August 2nd, 1987, at the age of 50. Martin co-wrote the group's #1 hit "Wooly Bully"
Dean Martin - recorded such standards as "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime", died at the age of 78, on December 25th, 1995, of acute respiratory failure
Dewy Martin - drummer and backing vocalist for Buffalo Springfield on their hit "For What It's Worth", died January 31st, 2009 at the age of 68
Dino Martin Jr. - of Dino, Desi and Billy, was the son of crooner Dean Martin, died when the Air National Guard jet he was piloting crashed into a mountain on March 21st, 1987. He was 35
George Martin - who signed The Beatles to EMI in 1962 and went on to produce most of their catalog, passed away on March 8th, 2016 at the age of 90
Vince Martin - singer/songwriter who reached #9 in America with "Cindy, Oh Cindy" in 1956, passed away at the age of 81 on July 6th, 2018 after being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis
Antonio Martinez - founding member and guitarist for Los Bravos was killed in a motorcycle accident on June 20th, 1990, at age 46. The band reached #4 on the Hot 100 in 1966 with "Black Is Black"
Al Martino - a Pop crooner who placed eleven songs on the Billboard Top 40, including "I Love You Because", "Spanish Eyes" and "I Love You More And More Every Day", died October 13th, 2009 at the age of 82. He is often remembered for playing the Frank Sinatra-type role of Johnny Fontane in The Godfather
Hugh Masekela - South African jazz musician who topped the Billboard Hot 100 with an instrumental version of "Grazing In The Grass" in 1968, died on January 23rd, 2018 at the age of 78 after a decade-long fight with cancer
Nick Massi - bass guitarist and bass vocalist for The Four Seasons on their long string of hits, died of cancer on December 24th, 2000. He was 73
Joe Mauldin - bassist for Buddy Holly And The Crickets died of cancer on February 7th, 2015 at the age of 74
Paul Mauriat - French orchestra leader most often remembered for his 1968, Billboard #1 instrumental hit, "Love Is Blue", passed away on November 3rd, 2006, at the age of 81
John Mayall - known as the Godfather of British Blues, passed away on July 22nd, 2024 at the age of 90
Billy Maybray - bassist / drummer / vocalist for The Jaggerz, died of cancer on December 5th, 2004, at the age of 60. Billy played drums on the band's 1970, Billboard #2 hit, "The Rapper" and wrote and sang their debut single, "Baby I Love You"
Curtis Mayfield - best known for his early 1970s hits, "Freddie's Dead" and "Superfly" passed away on December 26th, 1999 at the age of 55
Bob Mayo - who played guitar and keyboards with Peter Frampton on and off over the span of twenty-five years, died of a heart attack on February 23rd, 2004, while on tour with Frampton. He was 52
Lenny Mays - of The Dramatics, passed away of heart failure on November 7th, 2004 at the age of 53. The group cracked the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971 with "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" and again in 1972 with "In The Rain"
Bob McBride - lead singer of Lighthouse, died February 20th, 1998. He was 51. The Toronto band cracked the Hot 100 with "One Fine Morning", on which he sang lead and "Sunny Days", which came after McBride left the band
Dan McCafferty - lead vocalist for the band Nazareth on their 1976, #8 hit, "Love Hurts", died November 8th, 2022, from unspecified causes. He was 76
C.W. McCall - who topped both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with "Convoy" in January, 1976, died of cancer on April 1st, 2022 at the age of 93. His real name was William Dale Fries Jr.
Linda McCartney - keyboard player and backing vocalist for Paul McCartney's Wings, died of cancer on April 17th, 1998 at the age of 56
Gayle McCormick - lead singer of a group called Smith, died following a lengthy battle with cancer on March 1st, 2016 at the age of 67. The band reached #5 on the Hot 100 with a remake of The Shirelles' "Baby It's You" in 1969 and McCormick followed with a solo hit, "It's A Cryin' Shame", in 1971
Gene McDaniels - most often remembered for his 1961 Top Ten hits "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" and "Tower Of Strength", died at the age of 76 on July 29th, 2011 after a short illness. Gene also wrote Roberta Flack's 1974 number one smash, "Feel Like Makin' Love"
Ian McDonald - a founding member of the bands King Crimson and Foreigner died of cancer at the age of 75 on February 9th, 2022
Hugh McDowell - cellist for ELO during their hit making days of the mid-1970s, passed away after a long illness on November 6th, 2018 at the age of 65
Brian McLeod - guitarist and backing vocalist for Chilliwack, died of brain cancer on April 25th, 1992 at the age of 39. The Vancouver, Canada band is most often remembered for their 1981 hit, "My Girl (Gone, Gone Gone)"
George McCorkle - founding Marshall Tucker Band rhythm guitarist died of cancer June 29th, 2007 at the age of 60. He penned many MTB songs, including the band's first Country Top 40 hit, "Fire on the Mountain"
Van McCoy - who had a number one disco hit with "Do The Hustle", died of a heart attack at the age of 39, on July 6th 1979
Jimmy McCulloch - guitarist for Wings and Thunderclap Newman, died of heart failure on September 28th, 1979. He was 26
Henry McCullough - who played guitar for Paul McCartney's band, Wings, passed away on June 14th, 2016 at the age of 72. His work was featured on the hits "Hi, Hi, Hi", "Live and Let Die" and McCartney's solo hit, "My Love"
Butch McDade - drummer for The Amazing Rhythm Aces on their 1975 hit, "Third Rate Romance" died of cancer on November 29th, 1998, at the age of 52
John McElrath - keyboard player for The Swingin' Medallions on their 1966 hit, "Double Shot Of My Baby's Love", died of Parkinson's Disease on June 9th, 2018. He was 77
Les McKeown - front man for the Bay City Rollers died on April 20th, 2021 at the age of 65. The band landed in the Billboard Top 40 six times in the mid-1970s with hits including "Saturday Night" (#1), "Money Honey" (#9) and "You Made Me Believe In Magic" (#10)
Gene McFadden - R&B vocalist / songwriter, best known as half of the Philly soul duo McFadden & Whitehead, died of cancer January 27th, 2006, at the age of 56. He and John Whitehead reached number 13 on the Billboard chart in 1979 with "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"
Robbie McIntosh - drummer for The Average White Band died of a drug overdose on Sepember 23rd, 1974
Goldy McJohn - the original keyboard player for Steppenwolf, suffered a fatal heart attack on August 1st, 2017 at the age of 72. Founding the band with John Kay and Jerry Edmonton in 1967, McJohn recorded seven albums and stayed with the group until his termination in 1974
Ron "Pigpen" McKernan - a founding member of The Grateful Dead who contributed vocals, organ, harmonica, percussion and occasionally guitar, died as a result of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage on March 8th, 1973, at the age of 27
Scott McKenzie - who sang the U.S. #4 hit "San Francisco", the unofficial anthem for "the summer of love" in 1967, died of the nervous system disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome on August 18th, 2012 at the age of 73
Ian McLagan - keyboard player for The Small Faces and later The Faces, died due to complications from a stroke on December 3rd, 2014 at the age of 69. His work can be heard on hits like "Itchycoo Park" and "Stay With Me"
Van McLain - guitarist and vocalist for American Rock band Shooting Star, died from effects of a West Nile virus infection on March 2nd, 2018 at the age of 62
Clyde McPhatter - died of a heart attack on June 13th, 1972 at the age of 39. He had been the original lead singer with The Drifters before having solo hits like "A Lover's Question" and "Lover Please"
Christine McVie - vocalist and keyboard player for Fleetwood Mac, died in hospital after a brief illness on November 30th, 2022 at the age of 79. The British singer-songwriter was behind hits including "Little Lies", "Everywhere", "Don't Stop", "Say You Love Me", and "Songbird"
Meat Loaf - the singer and actor who is most often remembered for his million selling "Bat Out Of Hell" albums, passed away at the age of 74 on January 20th, 2022. During his career he appeared in over fifty movies and TV shows and sold over eighty million records
Hank Medress - a singer / producer best known as the voice behind The Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", died of lung cancer on June 25th, 2007, at the age of 68
Tony Meehan - drummer for The Shadows on their UK number one hit, "Apache", died in hospital on November 28th, 2005, from head injuries sustained in a fall. He was 62. "Apache" spent twenty-one weeks at the top of the British music charts in 1960
Joe Meek - record producer and songwriter, best known for writing "Telstar" by The Tornados, The Honeycombs "Have I The Right" and John Leyton's "Johnny Remember Me", committed suicide on February 3rd 1967, at the age of 37
Randy Meisner - bassist and founding member of the Eagles, died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on July 26th, 2023 at the age of 77. He sang lead vocals on the band's 1976, Billboard #4 hit, "Take It To The Limit"
Harold Melvin - leader of the Philadelphia soul group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, died of heart related problems on March 24th, 1997 at age 57. The group is best remembered for the hit, "If You Don't Know Me By Now"
Freddie Mercury - lead singer of Queen died on November 24 th, 1991 at age 45 of AIDS
George Michael - singing star who paired with Andrew Ridgely in Wham! before going on to a highly successful solo career, died on December 25th, 2016 at the age of 53
Ralph Middlebrooks - trumpeter / trombonist for The Ohio Players died on October 15th, 1996 at the age of 57
Fred Milano - tenor vocalist for Dion And The Belmonts on their hits "A Teenager in Love" and "Where or When", died January 1st, 2012, at the age of 72, just three weeks after being diagnosed with lung cancer
Buddy Miles - who played drums for Wilson Pickett, the Delfonics and the Ink Spots before founding The Electric Flag with Mike Bloomfield and later joined Jimi Hendrix in Band Of Gypsys, died on February 26th, 2008 from congestive heart failure. He was 60
Roger Miller - who rose to fame in the mid 1960's with hits like "King Of The Road" and "Dang Me" died of lung cancer in Los Angeles, California, on October 25th, 1992, at the age of 56
Sal Mineo - a singer and actor who reached number nine on the Billboard chart in 1957 with "Start Movin' In My Direction", was stabbed to death on February 12th, 1976. He was 37
Guy Mitchell - who scored two number one U.S. hits with "You Got Me Singing The Blues" in 1956 and "Heartaches By The Number" in 1959, died on July 1st, 1999 at the age of 72, from complications following surgery
Ian Mitchell - who joined The Bay City Rollers in 1976 and sang lead on the title track of their fourth album, "Dedication", passed away on September 1st, 2020. He was 62
Mike Mitchell - co-founder of The Kingsmen, who played guitar on their classic hit, "Louie Louie", died of unspecified causes on April 16th, 2021 at the age of 77
Mitch Mitchell - drummer for The Jimi Hendrix Experience was found dead in a Portland, Ore. hotel room on November 12th, 2008. He was 62
Domenico Modugno - the Italian singer whose recording of "Volare" topped the North American charts in 1958, died of a heart attack near his home on the island of Lampedusa on August 6th, 1994. He was 66
Joey Molland - guitarist for the English rock band Badfinger, passed away on March 1st, 2025 at the age of 77. He appeared on seven studio albums as well as the US hit singles, "Come And Get It", "No Matter What", "Day After Day" and "Baby Blue"
Eddie Money - whose eleven Billboard Top 40 hits included "Take Me Home Tonight" (#4 in 1986) and "Walk On Water" (#9 in 1988), died on September 13th, 2019 after a battle with cancer. He was 70 years old
Ronnie Montrose - an American Rock guitarist who led a number of his own bands as well as recording with The Beau Brummels, Van Morrison, Boz Scaggs and The Edgar Winter Group, died of prostate cancer on March 3rd, 2012 at the age of 64
Keith Moon - drummer for The Who, died of an overdose of the sedative Heminevrin on September 7th, 1978, at the age of 31
Gary Moore - guitarist for the influential Irish rock band Thin Lizzy was found dead in his hotel room in Spain on February 6th, 2011 following a suspected heart attack. He was 58
Johnny Moore - lead singer for The Drifters on their 1960s hit "Under The Boardwalk" died Dec. 30th, 1998, at the age of 64
Sam Moore - one half of the legendary Soul duo Sam And Dave passed away following complications of surgery on January 10th, 2025. He was 89. The pair's most popular hits were "Hold On, I'm Comin'" (1966), "Soul Man" (1967) and "I Thank You" (1968)
Scotty Moore - the guitarist who helped Elvis Presley record his earliest hits, passed away on June 28th, 2016 at the age of 84
Warren "Pete" Moore - an original member of legendary Motown group The Miracles, died November 19th, 2017 at the age of 78. Moore was the co-writer of the Miracles' hits "Love Machine", "The Tears Of A Clown", "The Tracks of My Tears" and "Ooo Baby Baby"
Rushton Moreve - Steppenwolf bassist who co-wrote "Magic Carpet Ride" with John Kay, was killed in a car crash on July 1st, 1981. He was 32
Jim Morrison - lead singer of the Doors, died July 3rd 1971. The 27-year-old was found dead in his bathtub. Speculation abounded as to the exact cause of death, but no autopsy was performed. His 27 year old widow, Pamela, died of a heroin overdose in April, 1974
Sterling Morrison - one of the founding members of The Velvet Underground died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on August 30th, 1995, two days after his 53rd birthday
Mickey Most - English record producer behind many hit singles by The Animals, Herman's Hermits, The Nashville Teens, Donovan, Lulu, Suzi Quatro, Hot Chocolate and several others. Died of peritoneal mesothelioma on May 30th, 2003 at age of 64
Ronald "Bingo" Mundy - vocalist for the Doo-Wop group The Marcels on their 1961, #1 hit "Blue Moon", passed away on January 20th, 2017 at the age 76
Billy Murcia - the New York Dolls' drummer was accidently suffocated when his girlfriend tried to wake him by forcing him to drink coffee after he passed out from drugs and alcohol following a show at Imperial College in London on November 6th, 1972. Murcia was only 21
Dee Murray - bassist for Elton John during the 1970s and '80s and appeared on the albums "Tumbleweed Connection", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy". Dee battled skin cancer for a number of years and died after suffering a stroke on January 15th, 1992. He was 45
Don Murray - drummer for The Turtles, died on March 22nd, 1996 at the age of 50
Brent Mydland - played keyboards for The Grateful Dead longer than anyone else, from April, 1979 until his death from a drug overdose on July 26th, 1990, at the age of 37. Despite being often referred to as "the new guy", he was with the band for a longer time than any other keyboardist, during which time they had their highest charting material
Alan Myers - drummer for the New Wave band Devo on their 1980, Billboard #14 hit, "Whip It", died of complications from brain cancer on June 24th, 2013 at the age of 58
Johnny Nash - Reggae artist who topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 with "I Can See Clearly Now", died of natural causes at the age of 80 on October 6th, 2020
Nate Nelson - lead vocalist for The Flamingos on their 1959 hit "I Only Have Eyes For You", passed away on April 10th, 1984 at the age of 52
Rick Nelson - scored a string of hits in the late 1950's including "Hello Mary Lou", "Poor Little Fool" and "Travelin' Man", was killed on December 31st, 1985, when his private plane caught fire and crashed. He was 45
Sandy Nelson - one of the most influential drummers of the early 1960s, died February 14th, 2022 at the age of 83. As well as being a noted session drummer, he also put three songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Teen Beat" (#4 in 1959), "Let There Be Drums" (#7 in 1961) and "Drums Are My Beat (#29 in 1962). During the course of his career, he released over 30 albums
Mike Nesmith - guitarist for The Monkees, died of natural causes on December 10th, 2021 at the age of 78
Andy "Thunderclap" Newman - died of unspecified causes on March 30th, 2016 at the age of 73. Newman led a self-named band that included Speedy Keen, Jimmy McCulloch and Pete Townshend to #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969 with "Something In The Air"
Art Neville - keyboard player for The Meters ("Cissy Strut") and later The Neville Brothers ("Healing Chant") died July 22nd, 2019 at the age of 81
Olivia Newton-John - a British born singer and actress who scored fifteen Billboard Top Ten hits, died of breast cancer on August 8th, 2022 at the age of 73. With sales of over 100 million records and four Grammy wins, she was also known for her starring role in the 1978 musical film Grease alongside John Travolta, the soundtrack of which sold over 28 million copies worldwide
Geoff Nicholls - Black Sabbath's keyboardist who performed with the Heavy Metal legends from 1979 to 2004, died January 28th, 2017 following a battle with lung cancer He was 68
Harry Nilsson - remembered for "Everybody's Talkin' At Me", died peacefully in his sleep of heart failure on January 15th, 1994, in his 53rd year
Bobby Nunn - vocalist for The Coasters on their 1958 hit, "Yakety Yak", died of a heart attack on November 5th, 1986. He was 61
Rab Noakes - a founding member of Stealers Wheel, passed away on November 11th, 2022 at the age of 75. The band reached #6 in the US and #8 in the UK with "Stuck In The Middle With You" in 1973. He was also at the forefront of Scottish folk music for over 50 years and recorded 19 studio albums
Jerry Nolan - drummer for The New York Dolls died January 14th, 1992 at the age of 45. He was being treated for bacterial meningitis and bacterial pneumonia at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York, when he suffered a stroke and went into a coma from which he never recovered
Nervous Norvus - whose real name was James Drake, reached #8 in 1956 with a novelty tune about bloody accidents called "Transfusion". He Died of liver failure on July 24th, 1968 at the age of 56
Laura Nyro - best known as a composer and lyricist rather than as a performer, she wrote the Fifth Dimension's "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "Sweet Blindness" and "Save The Country" as well as Blood, Sweat & Tears' "And When I Die"; Three Dog Night's "Eli's Coming"; and Barbra Streisand's "Stoney End". Nyro died of ovarian cancer on April 8th, 1997, at the age of 49. The same disease had claimed the life of her mother at the same age
Berry Oakley - bassist for The Allman Brothers Band. A year after Duane Allman was killed, Oakley was riding his motorcycle with a member of band's road crew when they collided with a bus just three blocks from where Allman met his fate. Friends took Oakley to the same hospital Allman was treated at, but he died from head injuries and internal bleeding later that night. The 24 year old Oakley was buried next to Allman with matching tombstones, in the Civil War section of Macon's Rose Hill Cemetery
Ric Ocasek - guitarist and vocalist for The Cars died of heart disease on September 15th, 2019 at the age of 75. The band placed thirteen songs on the Billboard Top 40 between 1978 and 1987
Phil Ochs - 1960s singer/songwriter who concentrated on topical, folk and protest style songs, suffered from manic-depression and hanged himself on April 9th, 1976, at the age of 35
Alan O'Day - a singer/songwriter who reached #1 in America in 1977 with "Undercover Angel", died of brain cancer on May 17th, 2013 at the age of 72. He also wrote Helen Reddy's chart topping "Angie Baby" and co-wrote The Righteous Brothers' "Rock And Roll Heaven", as well as several other hits
Roy Orbison - one of classic Rock's greatest voices was silenced when the 52 yr old Orbison died of a heart attack the night of December 6th, 1988
Frank O'Keefe - bassist for The Outlaws on their 1975 hit "There Goes Another Love Song" died on February 26th, 1995 at the age of 44
Johnny O'Keefe - with twenty-nine Top 40 hits to his credit in Australia between 1959 and 1974, O'Keefe has often been called the undisputed King of Australian rock and roll. He died on October 6th 1978 following a heart attack induced by an accidental overdose of prescribed drugs. He was 43
Oliver - singer of "Jean" and "Good Mornin' Starshine" died of cancer at the age of 54, February 13th, 2000
Benjamin Orr - bassist / vocalist for the Cars lost his fight with pancreatic cancer on October 3rd, 2000 at the age of 53. Orr sang lead vocals on some of the band's most recognizable hits, such as "Just What I Needed", "Bye Bye Love", "Drive" and "Let's Go"
Joe Osborn - a sessions bassist best known for his work with the studio group known as The Wrecking Crew, died on December 14th, 2018 at the age of 81 after a battle with pancreatic cancer
Wayne Osmond - guitarist and baritone voice of The Osmonds, suffered a fatal stroke on January 1st, 2025 at the age of 73. The family band scored ten Billboard Top 40 hits between 1971 and 1975, including "One Bad Apple", "Yo-Yo" and "Down By The Lazy River", selling more than 77 million records worldwide
Johnny Otis - a Rock 'n' Roll pioneer who reached #9 in America with "Willie And The Hand Jive" in 1958, died of natural causes on January 17th, 2012 at the age of 90. After his music career wound down, he went to work as a disc jockey for Los Angeles radio station KFOX and later became an ordained minister, and was heavily involved in politics and the civil rights movement
Buck Owens - a Country artist who reached #25 on the Billboard Pop chart in 1965 with "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail", died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack on March 25th, 2006, at the age of 76
Patti Page - the best selling female artist in America in the 1950s, earning 15 Gold singles and 3 Gold albums, passed away on January 1st, 2013. She was 85
Bruce Palmer - bassist for Buffalo Springfield on their classic protest song "For What It's Worth", died on October 11th, 2004 of an apparent heart attack. He was 58
Robert Palmer - reached number 14 in the US in 1979 with "Bad Case Of Loving You", died of a heart attack at the age of 54 on September 26th, 2003
John Panozzo - of Styx, died of a haemorrhage brought on by alcoholism, on July 16th, 1996, at the age of 48. The band had a string of hits that included "Grand Illusion", "Mr. Roboto", "Come Sail Away" and "Babe"
Felix Pappalardi - bassist for the group Mountain, one of America's first hard rock acts. He was shot and killed by his wife, Gail Collins on the night of April 17th, 1983, when they argued over his long-standing affair with a younger woman. She was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to four years in prison. Felix was 43
Rick Parfitt - guitarist for the English Rock band Status Quo died December 24th, 2016 at the age of 68 due to a severe infection after suffering an injury to his shoulder. The band reached #12 in the US in 1968 with "Pictures Of Matchstick Men" and topped the UK chart in 1975 with "Down Down"
Michael Parks - who hit #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970 with "Long Lonesome Highway", the theme from the TV show Then Came Bronson, passed away on May 9th, 2017 at the age of 77. In a career that spanned six decades, Parks acted in more than 100 films and TV shows, including Kill Bill and Twin Peaks
Priscilla Paris - the youngest member of the female vocal trio The Paris sisters, died on March 5th, 2004 from injuries suffered in a fall at her home. She was 59. Priscilla and her sisters Albeth and Sherrell reached the Billboard Top 40 in 1961 with "I Love How You Love Me" (#5) and again in 1962 with "He Knows I Love Him Too Much" (#34)
Gram Parsons - one time member of The Byrds & The Flying Burrito Brothers, he became a cult figure that influenced countless musicians. Parsons was found dead at Joshua Tree, Ca. Sept 19th, 1973 of an alcohol and drug overdose at the age of 27
Billy Paul - the Soul singer who topped the Billboard Hot 100 in December, 1972 with "Me And Mrs. Jones" died of pancreatic cancer on April 24th, 2016. He was 81
Les Paul - the man who invented the solid-body electric guitar, died of complications from pneumonia on August 13th, 2009 at the age of 94. With Mary Ford, his wife from 1949 to 1962, he earned 36 gold records for hits including "Vaya Con Dios" and "How High the Moon", both of which reached #1 in the US
Jon Paulos - drummer for The Buckinghams on their string of 1967 hits, including "Kind Of A Drag" and "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", died of a drug overdose on March 26th, 1980. He was 32
Dennis Payton - saxophonist for The Dave Clark Five died of cancer on December 17th, 2006, at the age of 63
Neil Peart - drummer and lyricist for the Progressive Rock band Rush, died on January 7th, 2020 at the age of 67 after a three year battle with brain cancer. The band reached #1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart with "New World Man" in 1982
Dan Peek - a founding member of the Soft Rock trio America died in his sleep on July 24th, 2011 at the age of 60. The group notched eight Top 40 hits in the US charts between 1971 and 1975, including "Sister Golden Hair", "Ventura Highway", "Tin Man", "Daisy Jane" and Peek's own composition, "Lonely People"
Teddy Pendergrass - an American soul singer who first rose to fame as lead vocalist for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes in the 1970s before enjoying a successful solo career at the end of the decade, died of colon cancer on January 13th, 2010. He was 59
"Little Richard" Penniman - a founding father of Rock 'n' Roll, died of bone cancer on May 9th, 2020 at the age of 87. Placing just nine songs in the Billboard Top 40 between 1956 and 1958, he nonetheless influenced dozens of prominent musicians and set the standard for showmanship with his pompadour hairdo, over the top makeup, and glass-beaded shirts
Johnny Perez - founding member and drummer for Sir Douglas Quintet, died of from cirrhosis of the liver on September 11th, 2012 at age 68. The band scored three Billboard Top 40 hits, "She's About A Mover" (#13 in 1965), "The Rains Came" (#31 in 1966) and "Mendocino", (#27 in 1968)
Carl Perkins - writer of Elvis Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes" and a pioneer rock-a-billy guitarist, died on January 19th, 1998 at the age of 65 after a long series of illness
Luther Perkins - Johnny Cash's guitar player who is credited for creating the man in black's signature "boom-chicka-boom" style, passed away on August 5th, 1968 at the age of 40
Willie 'Pinetop' Perkins - a Delta Blues pianist best known for his work with Sonny Boy Williamson and Muddy Waters, passed away March 21st, 2011 at the age of 97. Perkins' maintained an active musical career well into his 90s and won the Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album for 2010's "Joined at the Hip"
A J Pero - drummer for Twisted Sister on their 1984, Billboard #21 hit, "We're Not Gonna Take It" died of an apparent heart attack on March 20th, 2015 at the age of 55
Colin Petersen - who played drums on four Bee Gees albums between 1966 and 1970, passed away of undisclosed causes on November 18th, 2024 at the age of 78. His efforts can be heard on the band's classic hits, "New York Mining Disaster 1941", "To Love Somebody", "Holiday", "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" and "I Started a Joke"
Dickie Peterson - guitarist and vocalist for Blue Cheer on their 1969 Billboard #14 hit, "Summertime Blues", died of cancer at the age of 63 on October 12th, 1969
Ray Peterson - who scored a pair of US Top Ten hits with "Tell Laura I Love Her" and "Corinna, Corinna" in 1960, died of cancer on January 25th, 2005, at the age of 69
Lonesome Dave Peverett - lead singer with Savoy Brown and Foghat, suffered from cancer and died of from double-pneumonia on February 7th, 2000, at the age of 56
Tom Petty - who achieved sixteen Billboard Top 40 hits between 1978 and 1995, died following multisystem organ failure on October 2nd, 2017 at the age of 66. Three of his songs, "Don't Do Me Like That", "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" (with Stevie Nicks) and "Free Fallin'" reached the Top 10
Gregg Philbin - bass player for REO Speedwagon from 1971 to 1977, died on October 24th, 2022
John Phillips - leader of The Mamas and Papas died of heart failure on March 18th, 2001 at the age of 65
Phil Phillips - a singer/songwriter most often remembered for his 1959 Billboard #2 hit, "Sea Of Love", died March 14th, 2020. He was 94
Sam Phillips - the man who discovered Elvis Presley and owner of the legendary Sun Records, passed away July 30th, 2003, at the age of 80. Phillips also helped launch the careers of Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich, Conway Twitty and Jerry Lee Lewis. He sold Elvis' contract to RCA in November, 1955, for $40,000. Sam was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986
Bobby "Boris" Pickett - whose Boris Karloff impression propelled the Halloween anthem "The Monster Mash" to the top of the Billboard Pop chart in 1962, died of leukemia on April 25th, 2007. He was 69
Wilson Pickett - suffered a fatal heart attack on January 19th, 2006. During his career, he placed 16 hits on Billboard's Pop chart, including "Land Of 1000 Dances" (#6) and "Funky Broadway" (#8)
Jim Pike - of the L.A. based vocal group, The Lettermen, passed away on June 9th, 2019 at the age of 82. The trio achieved six Billboard Top 40 hits between 1961 and 1969, including the Top Ten hits, "When I Fall In Love" in 1962 and "Goin' Out Of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You" in 1968
Mike Pinder - keyboardist and founding member of The Moody Blues passed away on April 24th, 2024 at the age of 82
Bill Pinkney - the last surviving member of the original Drifters passed away on July 4th, 2007 from unknown causes. He was 81
Fayette Pinkney - an original member of The Three Degrees, who lent her voice to the 1970s hits "TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" and "When Will I See You Again?", died of acute respiratory failure on June 27th, 2009 at the age of 61
Gene Pitney - who had a string of hits in the early and mid-sixties, including " The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (#4), "Only Love Can Break A Heart" (#2) and "It Hurts To Be In Love" (#7), was found dead on April 5th, 2006, at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff, Wales. He was 65
Eugene Pitt - lead vocalist for The Jive Five, who scored a Billboard #3 hit with "My True Story" in 1961, died June 29th, 2018 at the age of 80
Anita Pointer - of The Pointers Sisters died of cancer on December 31st, 2022. She was 74. The second oldest of the four sisters, she and her siblings rose to fame with hits including "Jump (For My Love)" and "Fire"
Bonnie Pointer - an original member of The Pointer Sisters, passed away on June 8th, 2020 at the age of 69. Bonnie left the group in 1977 for a solo career and scored a Billboard #11 hit with "Heaven Must Have Sent You" two years later
June Pointer - the youngest of the four Pointer Sisters who went from teenage gospel singers to the top of the Pop charts with such hits of the 1970s and '80s as "Fire", "Slow Hand" and "I'm So Excited", died of cancer at the age of 52 on April 11th, 2006
Jeff Porcaro - drummer for Toto suffered a heart attack and died on August 5th, 1992. He was using a pesticide in his yard and an allergic reaction to the substance triggered the attack. An autopsy revealed a serious heart condition that had been previously undiagnosed
Mike Porcaro - bassist for Toto died at the age of 59 on March 15th 2015 after a long battle with Lou Gehrig's Disease. He was with the band from 1983 until 2007
Terry Porter - drummer for The Lemon Pipers on their 1968, Billboard number one hit, "Green Tambourine", died December 7th, 2020 at the age of 73
Sandy Posey - who scored four Billboard Top 40 hits in the mid-1960s, passed away following complications from dementia on July 20th, 2024 at the age of 80. Three of her songs, "Born a Woman", "Single Girl" and "I Take It Back" all reached the same #12 spot on the chart
Jannie Pought - of The Bobbettes, who reached number six in 1957 with "Mr. Lee", was stabbed to death by a total stranger as she walked down the street in September, 1980, at the age of 36
Billy Powell - Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist who played on "Sweet Home Alabama" and survived the 1977 plane crash that killed three band members, died of a suspected heart attack on January 28th, 2009. He was 56
Cozy Powell - touted as one of Britain's best session drummers, died in a car accident near Bristol, England on April 5th, 1998 at the age of 50
William Powell - an original member of the O'Jays, died at the age of 35 on May 26th, 1977, after a long bout with cancer
Dave Prater - of the soul duo Sam and Dave, was killed in a car accident in Georgia on April 9th, 1988. He was 50 years of age
Elvis Presley - the King of Rock and Roll, died of heart failure at his Graceland mansion on August 16th, 1977
Lisa Marie Presley - Elvis' only child, died after suffering cardiac arrest on January 12th, 2023, at the age of 54. She was an accomplished singer in her own right, releasing three albums, including 2003's "To Whom It May Concern", which was certified Gold for over 500,000 units sold in the United States
Reg Presley - the lead singer for The Troggs on their 1966 smash "Wild Thing" died February 4th, 2013 after a year-long struggle with lung cancer. He was 71
Billy Preston - keyboardist who had a series of hit singles in the 1970s, including "Will It Go 'Round In Circles" and "Nothing From Nothing", passed away on June 6th, 2006, at the age of 59
Johnny Preston - who topped the Billboard chart in January, 1960 with "Running Bear", passed away on March 4th, 2011 at the age of 71 from lingering health problems following heart bypass surgery
Lloyd Price - Soul singer who placed ten songs on the Billboard Top 40 between 1957 and 1963, passed away on May 6th, 2021 at the age of 88. His biggest hits all came in 1959, and included "Stagger Lee" (#1), "Personality" (#2) and "I'm Gonna Get Married" (#3)
Ray Price - Country singer who scored a #13 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970 with "For The Good Times", died of pancreatic cancer on December 16th, 2013 at the age of 87
Rod Price - a founding member of Foghat died March 24th, 2005, after suffering a heart attack. The 57 year old guitarist was with the band for three platinum and eight gold records including their highest charting US single "Slow Ride" in 1976
Charlie Pride - Country singer who reached #21 on the Hot 100 in 1972 with "Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'", died of complications from COVID-19 on December 12th 2020 at the age of 86. Between 1967 and 1987, Pride enjoyed 52 Top 10 Country hits
Steve Priest - bassist and co-founder of the Glam Rock band Sweet, died on June 4th, 2020 at the age of 72. Between 1971 and 1984, the group placed 16 songs on the UK Top 40 and 5 in the US Top 40
Prince - the flamboyant singer / songwriter and multi-instrumentalist died on April 21st, 2016, at the age of 57 of an accidental overdose of fentanyl, a powerful opioid painkiller that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin. Between 1979 and 1999 he had 32 Billboard Top 40 entries including "Little Red Corvette", "When Doves Cry", "Purple Rain" and "Sign 'O' The Times"
Barry Pritchard - vocalist and guitarist for The Fortunes, died of heart failure on January 12th, 1999. The group reached the Billboard Top 20 with "You've Got Your Troubles" in 1965 and "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again" in 1971
Skip Prokop - drummer and co-founder of the thirteen piece Canadian band called Lighthouse, passed away on August 30th, 2017 at the age of 73. The band reached #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971 with "One Fine Morning" and #34 a year later with "Sunny Days"
Pete Quaife - the original bassist for the Kinks, who played on such early hits as "You Really Got Me", "All Day and All of the Night" and "Tired of Waiting for You" before leaving the British band in 1969, died of kidney failure on June 23rd, 2010. He was 66
Clarence Quick - of The Dell-Vikings, suffered a heart attack and died on May 5th, 1983 at the age of 46. The group reached number four with "Come Go With Me" and number nine with "Whispering Bells" in 1957
Derek Quinn - lead guitarist for the British Invasion group Freddie And The Dreamers, passed away on October 22nd, 2020, shortly after being diagnosed with COVID-19. The band placed four songs on the Billboard Top 40 in 1965, including the number one hit, "I'm Telling You Now"
Eddie Rabbitt - Country star whose hits included "I Love A Rainy Night" and "Drivin' My Life Away", died on May 7th, 1998 of lung cancer at the age of 56
Mike Rabon - lead vocalist and lead guitarist for Five Americans on their 1967, Billboard #5 hit, "Western Union", passed away on February 11th, 2022 at the age of 78
Brian Rading - a founding member of Canada's Five Man Electrical Band who played bass on their 1971, #3 hit, "Signs", died of natural causes on June 8th, 2016, after a long battle with throat cancer. He was 69
Carl Radle - bassist for Eric Clapton's Derek & The Dominoes, Delaney & Bonnie and many others, died on May 30th, 1980 of kidney failure at the age of 37
Gerry Rafferty - the lead singer of Stealers Wheel on their 1973 hit "Stuck In The Middle With You" died after a long illness on January 4th, 2011 at the age of 63. After the band split up, he went on to a successful solo career which included five more Billboard Top 30 hits, including "Baker Street" and "Right Down The Line"
Teddy Randazzo - a rock icon from the 1950s who composed classic hit songs such as "Goin' Out of My Head" and "Hurt So Bad", died November 21st, 2003. He was 68
Boots Randolph - saxophone player best known for the 1963 hit "Yakety Sax" died from a cerebral hemorrhage on July 3rd, 2007, at the age of 80
Bobby Ramirez - the 23-year-old drummer with Edger Winter's White Trash, was killed in a bar fight in Chicago on July 24th, 1972, after some redneck made a comment about the length of his hair. He died of head injuries after being kicked with steel-tipped shoes
Dee Dee Ramone - bassist for the '70s punk rock band The Ramones died from a drug overdose on June 7th, 2002. His real name is Douglas Colvin
Johnny Ramone - co-founder of The Ramones, passed away September 15th, 2004 after a five year battle with prostate cancer. The 55 year old guitarist's real name is John Cummings
Joey Ramone - singer for The Ramones, died of lymphatic cancer at the age of 49 on April 15th, 2001. His real name is Jeff Hyman
Tommy Ramone - drummer for The Ramones, died from from cancer of the bile duct on July 11th, 2014 at the age of 62. He was born Erdelyi Tamas
Larry Ramos - guitarist and vocalist for The Association died of cancer on April 30th, 2014 at the age of 72. Ramos shared lead vocals on two of the band's biggest hits, "Windy" and "Never My Love"
Allan Ramsay - the original bassist for Gary Lewis and The Playboys was killed in a plane crash on November 27th 1985 at the age of 42
Mike Ramsden - guitarist and vocalist for the British quartet The Silkie died at the age of 60 after a long battle with kidney disease on January 17th, 2004. The band reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965 with a cover of The Beatles "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away", on which Lennon produced, McCartney played guitar and Harrison played the tambourine
Danny Rapp - of Danny and The Juniors, scored two 1957 hits with "At The Hop" and "Rock and Roll Is Here To Stay", died of a self inflicted gunshot wound on April 4th, 1983. He was 41
Lou Rawls - passed away on January 6th, 2006, at the age of 72, after a long battle with cancer. The velvet voiced singer placed six songs on the Billboard Top 40 Pop chart, including the number two hit, "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" in 1976
Harry Ray - of the R&B trio, The Moments, died of a stroke on October 1st, 1992, at the age of 45. The group's biggest hit was "Love On A Two Way Street", which reached number 3 in 1970
Johnnie Ray - noted by music historians as a pioneering figure in the development of Rock 'n' Roll, died of liver failure on February 24th, 1990 at the age of 63. Among his four Billboard Top 40 hits was the classic, "Just Walkin' In The Rain", a number two song in 1956
Bill Read - the bass singer who was featured during the talking portion of The Diamonds' 1957 hit "Little Darlin", passed away on October 26th, 2004, at the age of 68
Eugene Record - the lead singer of The Chi-lites, died of cancer on July 22nd, 2005 at the age of 65. The group is most often remembered for the 1972 US #1 single "Oh Girl" and 1972 UK #3 single "Have You Seen Her"
Noel Redding - the bass player with the Jimi Hendrix Experience, died May 11th, 2003 of natural causes. He was 57
Otis Redding - was killed in a plane crash in December 10th, 1967. Four members of his backup band, The Bar-Kays were also killed
Helen Reddy - the Australian singer behind feminist anthem "I Am Woman", died September 29th, 2020 at the age of 78
Keith Relf - former lead singer for The Yardbirds, was electrocuted on May 14th, 1976, while tuning his guitar at home. He was 33 years old
Alto Reed - the longtime saxophonist for Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band, died December 30th, 2020 after a long battle with colon cancer. He was 72
Herb Reed - bass vocalist for The Platters, died on June 4th, 2012 at the age of 83. The L.A. quintet scored four number one hits, including "The Great Pretender", "My Prayer", Twilight Time" and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", and placed twenty-three songs in the Billboard Top 40
Jerry Reed - guitarist / actor / Country music artist who reached the Top Ten of the Billboard Pop chart with "Amos Moses" and "When You're Hot, You're Hot" in 1971, died September 1st, 2008 from complications of emphysema at the age of 71
Jimmy Reed - Blues singer / guitarist who reached the Billboard Pop chart with "Honest I Do" in 1957 and "Baby What You Want Me To Do" in 1960, died following an epileptic seizure on August 29th, 1976, just days shy of his 51st birthday
Della Reese - singer and actress who scored three Billboard Top 20 hits in the late 1950s, including the #2 hit "Don't You Know", died on November 19th, 2017 at the age of 86
Jim Reese - guitarist for The Bobby Fuller Four on their hit "I Fought The Law" suffered a fatal heart attack after playing a round of golf on October 26th, 1991 at the age of 49
Lou Reed - an influential songwriter and guitarist who paved the way for Glam, Punk and Alternative Rock, died of liver disease on October 27th, 2013 at the age of 71. He led the Velvet Underground in the late '60s and enjoyed an outstanding solo career over the next 50 years
Jim Reeves - Country artist who reached the Pop charts four times, including the #2 hit, "He'll Have To Go" in 1960, was killed in a plane crash on July 31st, 1964. He was three weeks short of his 40th birthday
Harold Reid - bass vocalist for The Statler Brothers on their 1965 hit, "Flowers On The Wall", died after a long battle with kidney failure on April 24th, 2020. He was 80 years old
Keith Reid - a founding member and main lyricist for Procol Harum, passed away on March 23rd, 2023 at the age of 76. Reid, who wrote the words to the band's biggest hit, "A Whiter Shade Of Pale", had been battling cancer for the last few years of his life
Paul Revere - organist and leader of Paul Revere And The Raiders died October 4th, 2014 following a battle with cancer. Between 1961 and 1971, the band placed 15 songs on Billboard's Top 40, including the Top 10 hits "Kicks", "Hungry", "Good Thing" and "Him Or Me - What's It Gonna Be?"
Debbie Reynolds - singer / actress who topped the Billboard and Cashbox charts in 1957 with "Tammy", died December 28th, 2016 at the age of 84. In early 1958 she reached #20 on the Most Played by Jockeys chart with "A Very Special Love", then scored two entries on the Hot 100 in 1960: "Am I That Easy to Forget" (#25) and "City Lights" (#55)
Nick Reynolds - a founding member of the Kingston Trio, who jump-started the Folk music scene of the late 1950s with their US number one hit "Tom Dooley", died of acute respiratory disease on October 1st, 2008. He was 75
Randy Rhoads - guitarist for Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne, was killed on March 19th, 1982, when the small plane he was riding in crashed while buzzing Osbourne's tour bus. He was 25
Buddy Rich - often called the world's best drummer, died of a brain tumour on April 2nd, 1987 at the age of 69
Charlie Rich - started out as a song writer for Sam Phillips' Sun Records before becoming a country star and later crossed over to the Pop charts with two big 1973 hits, "Behind Closed Doors" and "The Most Beautiful Girl". He developed a blood clot in his lung and died July 25th, 1995, at the age of 62
J.P. Richardson - known as The Big Bopper on his hit "Chantilly Lace", died in a plane crash along with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens on February 3rd, 1959
Johnnie Richardson - of the R&B duo Johnnie and Joe, who reached #8 on the Billboard Pop chart in 1957 with "Over The Mountain; Across The Sea", died following a stroke on October 25th, 1988, in her 43rd year
Gary Richrath - songwriter and lead guitarist for REO Speedwagon from 1970 until 1989, died on September 13th, 2015 due to complications from surgery. He was 65 years old
Jerry Rightmer - bassist for The Sanford-Townsend Band on their 1976 hit, "Smoke From A Distant Fire" died of cirrhosis of the liver on March 4th, 2007 at the age of 57
Greg Ridley - bassist for Humble Pie, died November 19th, 2003 of pneumonia and resulting complications. He was 56
Minnie Riperton - died of breast cancer on July 12th, 1979 at the age of 31, four years after her number 1 hit, "Lovin' You". She had also been a member of Stevie Wonder's backup group, Wonderlove
Doug Roberts - drummer for The Fireballs on their hits, "Sugar Shack" and "Bottle Of Wine", died November 18th, 1981
Garry Roberts - guitarist for The Boomtown Rats passed away on November 9th, 2022 at the age of 72. The band topped the UK charts in 1978 with "Rat Trap" and again in 1979 with "I Don't Like Mondays"
Robbie Robertson - guitarist and songwriter for The Band, passed away after a long illness on August 9th, 2023 at the age of 80
Marty Robbins - Country singer who put 13 songs on the Billboard Pop chart including the 1959, #1 smash "El Paso", died following a heart attack on December 8th, 1982. He was 57
Cynthia Robinson - trumpeter for Sly And The Family Stone died of cancer on November 23rd, 2015 at the age of 69
Dave "Doc" Robinson - lead vocalist, bassist and keyboard player for King Harvest on their 1973 hit, "Dancing In The Moonlight", passed away on December 11th, 2012 at the age of 67
Vicki Sue Robinson - who scored the US Top 10 Disco hit "Turn The Beat Around" in 1976, died of cancer at the age of 46 on April 27th, 2000
Ed Roberts - of Ruby and The Romantics, died of cancer on August 10th, 1993. He was 57
Jim Rodford - bassist and founding member of the band Argent, died January 20th, 2018 at the age of 76. During his career he was also a member of The Kinks for eighteen years starting in 1979 and a further eighteen years with The Zombies beginning in the late '90s
Eileen Rodgers - a nightclub singer and Big Band vocalist who placed two songs on the Billboard Pop chart with "Miracle Of Love" (#18 in 1956) and "Treasure Of Your Love" (#26 in 1958), died of lung cancer on July 13th, 2003, three days after her 73rd birthday
Jimmie Rodgers - a Pop singer who placed 14 songs on the Billboard Top 40, including the chart topping "Honeycomb" in 1957, died on January 18th, 2021 at the age of 87
Bobby Rogers - a founding member of the Motown group The Miracles, died on March 3rd, 2013, at the age of 73 following a long illness. His voice can be heard on the group's hits "Shop Around", "You've Really Got a Hold on Me", "The Tracks of My Tears", "Going to a Go-Go", "I Second That Emotion" and "The Tears of a Clown"
Kenny Rogers - the Country/Pop superstar who placed 28 songs on the Billboard Top 40 chart between 1968 and 2000, died of natural causes on March 20th, 2020 at the age of 81. During the course of his career, Rogers achieved 30 number one singles on the Pop, Country and Adult Contemporary charts. He also won three Grammys, six CMA awards, and eight ACM awards, along with inclusion in the Country Music Hall of Fame
Duane Roland - a founding member of the Southern Rock band Molly Hatchet died of natural causes on June 19th 2006. He was 53
Mick Ronson - guitarist for David Bowie's band Ziggy Stardust's Spiders From Mars, died of liver cancer on April 29th, 1993 at the age of 46
Gary Rossington - founding member and guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, passed away on March 5th, 2023. He was 71
Dave Rowberry - keyboardist who joined the Animals in May of 1965 and played on several major hits, including "We've Gotta Get Out of This Place", "It's My Life" and "Don't Bring Me Down", passed away of an apparent heart attack on June 6th, 2003, one month shy of his 63rd birthday
Billy Joe Royal - a Country and Pop vocalist who placed four songs on Billboard's Top 40, died suddenly on October 6th, 2015 at the age of 73. His hits included "Down In The Boondocks" (#9 in 1965), "I Knew You When" (#14 in 1965) and "Cherry Hill Park" (#15 in 1969)
David Ruffin - former lead singer of the Temptations died of an overdose of crack cocaine on June 1st, 1991 at the age of 50
Jimmy Ruffin - Soul singer who reached the Billboard Top 40 with "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted" (#7 in 1966), "I've Passed This Way Before" (#17 in 1966), "Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got" (#29 in 1967) and "Hold On To My Love" (#10 in 1980), passed away on November 17th, 2014 at the age of 78
Tommy Ruger - drummer for The Nightcrawlers on their 1967 garage band classic, "The Little Black Egg", died from complications of diabetes on December 11th, 2013. He was 67
Leon Russell - singer / songwriter / studio musician, died in his sleep at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, on November 13th, 2016, at the age of 74. During his career he placed eight songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Tight Rope" (#11 in 1972) and "Lady Blue" (#14 in 1975). As a studio musician, he played on hit records by Gary Lewis And The Playboys, Bobby "Boris" Pickett, Herb Alpert, The Ronettes, The Crystals, Darlene Love, Brian Hyland, Dorsey Burnette, Glen Campbell and many others
John Ryanes - of The Monotones, died on May 30th, 1972. The group had one big hit, "Book Of Love", which reached number 5 in 1958
Warren Ryanes - of The Monotones, died in June, 1982
Bobby Rydell - the Philadelphia singer who scored nineteen Billboard Top 40 hits between 1959 and 1964, died of complications from pneumonia on April 5th, 2022 at the age of 79. Over the course of his career, Rydell, who was born Robert Louis Ridarelli, sold over twenty-five million records, including "Wild One" (#2 in 1959), "Swingin' School" (#5 in 1960), "Volare' (#4 in 1960) and "Forget Him" (#4 in 1964)
Jack Ryland - bassist for Three Dog Night from 1973 to 1975, died November 13th, 1996, two days before his 46th birthday
Melania Safka - who topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971 with "Brand New Key", died of undisclosed causes on January 23rd, 2024 at the age of 76. In all, she reached the Top 40 on six occasions, most notably with "Lay Down (Candles In The Wind)", which reached #6 and stayed on the chart for fourteen weeks
Doug Sahm - leader of the Sir Douglas Quintet, succumbed to a heart attack November 18th, 1999, just days shy of his 58th birthday. The band had three Billboard Top 40 hits with "She's About A Mover" (#13 in 1965), "The Rains Came" (#31 in 1966) and "Mendocino" (#27 in 1969)
Bernard St. Clair Lee - a baritone singer and original member of the Hues Corporation, who had an early Disco hit in 1974 with "Rock the Boat", died of natural causes on March 8th, 2011. He was 66
Crispian St. Peters - who scored a #2 hit in the UK with "You Were On My Mind" and reached the Top Ten on both sides of the Atlantic with "Pied Piper" in 1966, passed away on June 8th, 2010 at the age of 71
Kyu Sakamoto - the first Japanese artist to have a number one hit in the United States with "Sukiyaki" (June 1963), was killed in a Tokyo airplane crash on August 12th, 1985. He was 43
Jerry Samuels - who recorded the novelty hit, "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" in 1966 as Napoleon XIV, died on March 10th, 2023, at the age of 84. His song reached #3 in America and #4 in Great Britain
Gary "Gar" Samuelson - the drummer for Megadeth from 1984 through 1987 when he was fired for drug addictions, died of liver failure on July 22nd, 1999 at the age of 41
Joe Santollo - of The Duprees, suffered a fatal heart attack on June 3rd, 1981, at the age of 37. The group is most often remembered for their 1962 hit, "You Belong To Me"
Clarence Satchell - guitarist and saxophone player for the '70s R&B group the Ohio Players, died on December 30th, 1995 from a brain aneurysm at the age of 55. The group placed eight songs in the Billboard Top 40, including two chart toppers, "Fire" in 1974 and "Love Rollercoaster" in 1976
Bill "Little Bo" Savich - drummer for the Rock instrumental group Johnny and The Hurricanes died January 4th, 2002 at the age of 62. The band placed four songs on the Billboard Top 40, including the #5 hit, "Red River Rock" in 1959
Ray Sawyer - the eye-patch wearing vocalist for Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show on their 1973 hit, "Cover Of The Rolling Stone" died on December 31st, 2018 at the age of 81
Sky Saxon - lead singer and founder of the 1960s band The Seeds, who had a Top 40 hit in 1967 with "Pushin' Too Hard", died June 25th, 2009
Bon Scott - of AC/DC, died of alcohol poisoning on February 19th, 1980. He was 33
Jack Scott - who scored nine Billboard Top 40 hits between July 1958 and September, 1960, including "My True Love" and "Burning Bridges", died following a heart attack on December 12th, 2019 at the age of 83
James Honeyman Scott - guitarist for The Pretenders on their 1980 hit "Brass In Pocket", died of a drug overdose on June 16th, 1982, at the age of 24
Walter Scott - lead singer of Bob Kuban & the In-Men, who scored a 1966 hit with "The Cheater", was reported missing shortly after Christmas, 1983. His body however, wasn't found until 1987, floating in a cistern with a gunshot wound to the back. A neighbour named Jim Williams, who had starting dating Scott's wife Joanne shortly after the disappearance, was found guilty of murder. Joanne Scott was sentenced to five years for hindering the investigation
Dan Seals - who sang under the name England Dan in a 1970s duo with John Ford Coley, died of cancer on March 25th, 2009, at the age of 61. After scoring several Billboard Pop chart hits, including "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight", "Nights are Forever" and "Love Is The Answer", Seals went on to have a solid career in Country music during the 1980s and early '90s
Jim Seals - of the Soft Rock duo Seals And Crofts, passed away on June 6th, 2022 at the age of 80. Along with his partner Darrell "Dash" Crofts, Seals enjoyed eight Billboard Top 40 hits between 1972 and 1978, including "Summer Breeze", "Diamond Girl", and "Get Closer", all of which reached #6
Pete Seeger - the banjo-picking troubadour who introduced generations of Americans to their Folk Music heritage, died of natural causes on January 27th, 2014 at the age of 94. As a member of The Weavers, he recorded such hits as "Goodnight Irene" and "On Top of Old Smokey" and would go on to write "If I Had a Hammer", "Turn, Turn, Turn", "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" and "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine"
Phil Seymour - of The Dwight Twilley Band, died of cancer on Aug 17th, 1993 at the age of 41. The group reached #16 with "I'm on Fire" in 1975. Seymour also had a Top 40 solo hit with "Precious to Me" in 1981
Ed Shaughnessy - drummer for The Tonight Show band for over 29 years, died at the age of 84 following a heart attack on May 24th, 2013
Joe Schermie - original bassist of Three Dog Night died of a heart attack March 26th 2002 at the age of 55
Florian Schneider - co-founder and keyboardist of the influential German electronic music group Kraftwerk, died of cancer on May 6th 2020 at the age of 73
Eddie Serrato - the drummer for Question Mark And The Mysterians on their 1966 hit "96 Tears", suffered a fatal heart attack on February 24th, 2011. He was 65
Bob Shane - a founding member of The Kingston Trio died of complications connected with pneumonia on January 26th, 2020 at the age of 85
Del Shannon - who placed nine songs on the Billboard Top 40 chart, including the #1 hit "Runaway", died of a self inflicted gun shot wound on February 8th, 1990 at age 55
Bobby Sheen - the male vocalist of Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans on their 1963, #8 hit "Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah", died of pneumonia on November 11th, 2000, at the age of 58. The trio's only other Billboard Top 40 hit was sung by Darlene Love, as she had, uncredited, on the Crystals' "He's A Rebel" and "He's Sure The Boy I Love"
James "Shep" Sheppard - of Shep and The Limelites, was found murdered in his car on the Long Island Expressway on January 24th, 1970 after being robbed and beaten. The group is best remembered for their 1961 hit, "Daddy's Home"
Tony Sheridan - who used the early Beatles as his backing band during their days of playing clubs in Hamburg, Germany, died following a long illness on February 16th, 2013 at the age of 72
Allan Sherman - recorded the comedy tune, "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh", died of respiratory ailments at the age of 48 on November 21st, 1973
Gary Shider - guitarist for Parliament-Funkadelic who was featured on their hit "One Nation Under A Groove" died from complications of cancer on June 16th, 2010. He was 56
Troy Shondell - singer who reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "This Time (We're Really Breaking Up)" in 1961, died from complications related to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease on January 7th, 2016. He was 76
Jumpin' Gene Simmons - an American singer and songwriter best known for his 1964, #11 novelty single "Haunted House", died after a long illness on August 29th, 2006, at the age of 69
Kim Simmonds - co-founder and guitarist of Savoy Brown passed away on December 15th 2022 after a battle with colon cancer. He was 75
Frank Sinatra - died of natural causes May 14th 1998 at the age of 83
The Singing Nun - whose given name was Jeanine Deckers, committed suicide on March 29th 1985 after the center for autistic children in Belgium that she helped to found had closed due to lack of funds. Her 1963 hit "Dominique" went to number one in the U.S. and sold over 1.5 million copies, winning a Grammy Award for the year's best gospel song. At the time of her death, she was 52 years old
John Siomos - played drums on countless albums and singles with a host of bands and in studio recordings for artists such as Peter Frampton, Todd Rundgren, Mitch Ryder and Carly Simon, died January 16th 2004, at the age of 56
Joni Sledge - a part of the trio known as Sister Sledge, passed away on March 10th, 2017 of natural causes at the age of 60. The group is most often remembered for their 1979 Disco hit, "We Are Family"
Percy Sledge - who scored a million selling hit with "When A Man Loves A Woman" in 1966, died of liver cancer on April 14th, 2015
Millie Small - Jamaican singer who reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964 with "My Boy Lolipop", died at the age of 72 on May 6th 2020 after suffering a stroke
Bobbie Smith - lead vocalist for The Spinners, died on March 16th, 2013 following complications from lung cancer. The group had seven Top 10 singles including "Rubberband Man", "One of a Kind (Love Affair)", "Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl" and "I'll Be Around"
Claydes Charles Smith - a co-founder and lead guitarist for Kool & The Gang died on June 20th, 2006 after a long illness. He was 57
Fred "Sonic" Smith - guitarist for The MC5 on their shock rock hit "Kick Out The Jams", died of heart failure on November 4th, 1994 at the age of 46
Frank Smith - of The Monotones, who reached number 5 in 1958 with "Book Of Love", died of cancer on November 26th, 2000. He was 61
Huey "Piano" Smith - American rhythm-and-blues pianist, passed away at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the age of 89 on February 13th, 2023. He and his group, The Clowns scored a #9 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958 with the million selling record "Don't You Just Know It"
Jerome Smith - former rhythm guitarist and founding member of KC & the Sunshine Band, died July 28th, 2000 after he fell off the bulldozer he was driving and was crushed by the machine. The 47 year old Smith was working in the building and construction trades as a heavy-equipment operator after leaving the music business
Mike Smith - keyboard player and lead vocalist for The Dave Clark Five died of pneumonia on February 28th, 2008, less than two weeks before the band was to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was 64
Mike "Smitty" Smith - drummer for Paul Revere and the Raiders during their prime hit making years, died of natural causes at his home in Hawaii on March 6th, 2001, at the age of 58
O.C. Smith - best remembered for "Little Green Apples" and "Hickory Hollar's Tramp" died in his sleep on November 23rd, 2001 at age 65
Russell Smith - lead vocalist for The Amazing Rhythm Aces on their 1975, US #14 hit "Third Rate Romance", died of cancer on July 12th, 2019, at age 70
Sammi Smith - best known for the 1971, Billboard number 8 hit, "Help Me Make It Through the Night", died February 12th, 2005 at the age of 61. She won a Grammy award for her rendition of the song written by Kris Kristofferson, establishing him as a leading Nashville songwriter.
Scott Smith - bassist for Loverboy died at the age of 45 on November 30th, 2000 after a 26-foot wave swept him overboard in shark infested waters off the coast of San Francisco near the Golden Gate Bridge. Loverboy reached the Billboard Top 40 ten times, including two Top 10 hits, "Almost Paradise" and "Lovin' Every Minute Of It"
William Smith - vocalist and keyboard player for Motherlode, died of a heart attack on December 1st, 1997, at the age of 53. The Canadian group hit number 18 on the Billboard Pop chart in 1969 with "When I Die"
Danny Smythe - drummer for The Box Tops on their hits "The Letter" and "Neon Rainbow", passed away on July 6th, 2016 at the age of 67
Floyd Sneed - drummer for Three Dog Night during their hit making years, passed away on January 27th, 2023. He was 80 years old
Phoebe Snow - the velvet voiced singer / songwriter who reached #5 in the U.S. in 1975 with "Poetry Man", died of complications from a stroke on April 26th, 2011. She was 60
Eddie Snyder - pianist for The Cascades on their 1963, Billboard #3 hit, "Rhythm Of The Rain", died of cancer on November 14th, 2000 at the age of 63
Jimy Sohns - the lead vocalist on The Shadows Of Knight's 1966, #10 hit, "Gloria", passed away on July 29th, 2022 at the age of 75 following complications of a stroke
Lew Soloff - the trumpeter who played the memorable solo on the album version of Blood, Sweat & Tears' "Spinning Wheel", died following a heart attack on March 8th, 2015 at the age of 71
David-Troy Somerville - lead singer for The Diamonds, died of cancer on July 14th, 2015 at the age of 81. The Canadian quartet charted sixteen times on Billboard's various charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including the Top 10 hits "Little Darlin'", "Silhouettes" and "The Stroll"
Jack Sonni - best known as "the other guitarist" in Dire Straits, died on August 30th, 2023, at the age of 68
David Soul - who scored a Billboard #1 hit with "Don't Give Up On Us" in 1977, died after a long battle with cancer on January 4th, 2024 at the age of 80
Jimmy Soul - whose real name was James McCleese, hit #1 in 1963 with the novelty tune "If You Wanna Be Happy", died of a heart attack on June 25th, 1988. He was 45
Joe South - singer / songwriter who penned dozens of hit songs in the '60s and '70s, including Deep Purple's "Hush", Lynn Anderson's "Rose Garden" and Billy Joe Royal's "Down In The Boondocks", as well as his own hits "Games People Play" and "Walk A Mile In My Shoes", died on September 5th, 2012 at the age of 72
J.D. Souther - singer / songwriter and Eagles collaborator passed away on September 17th, 2024. He was 78. Along with co-writing "Best of My Love", "James Dean", "New Kid in Town" and "Heartache Tonight", Souther enjoyed hits of his own with "You're Only Lonely" in 1979 and again in 1981 with "Her Town Too" with James Taylor
Skip Spence - the original drummer for Jefferson Airplane who left to form Moby Grape, died of lung cancer on April 16th, 1999 at the age of 52
Phil Spector - revolutionary music producer famed for his "wall of sound" production techniques, died of COVID-19 on January 16th, 2021 at the age of 81
Ronnie Spector - lead vocalist for The Ronettes passed away on January 12th, 2022 at the age of 78 after a brief battle with cancer. Her group placed five songs on the Billboard Top 40 between 1963 and 1964, including "Be My Baby" (#2), "Baby I Love You" (#24), "The Best Part Of Breakin' Up" (#39), "Do I Love You?" (#34_ and "Walking In The Rain" (#23)
Jimmie Spheeris - an American singer-songwriter who released four albums in the 1970s, died at the age of 34 when his motorcycle collided with a van on the morning of July 4th, 1984
Jakson Spires - drummer and founding member of Blackfoot, died March 16th, 2005, at the age of 53, after suffering a brain aneurysm. The band reached #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August, 1979 with "Highway Song"
Dusty Springfield - who scored a Top Ten U.S. hit with "I Only Want To Be With You" in 1963, died March 2nd, 1999, at the age of 59 after a five year battle with cancer
Chris Squire - bassist and co-founder of the Progressive Rock band Yes, died of leukemia on June 28th, 2015 at the age of 67
Dick St. John - half of the singing team of Dick & DeeDee, who recorded such hits as "The Mountain's High" (1961), "Young And In Love" (1963) and "Thou Shalt Not Steal" (1965), died on December 27th, 2003, from complications suffered in a fall from the roof of his home two weeks earlier. The 63 year old singer had continued to record and performed regularly until his death
Edwin Starr - soul singer who had hits with "War", "Agent Double-O Soul" and "Twenty-five Miles", died of a heart attack on April 1st, 2003 at the age of 61
Ruby Starr - vocalist for Black Oak Arkansas on their 1974 hit "Jim Dandy" as well as having her own solo career, died of cancer on January 14th, 1995 at the age of 45
Terry Stafford - whose Elvis-like voice help make a hit out of "Suspicion" in 1964, died March 17th 1996 at age 54
Cleotha Staples - of the Gospel quartet The Staple Singers, died February 21st, 2013 at the age of 78. The group placed eight songs on the Billboard Top 40, including two chart toppers, "I'll Take You There" in 1972 and "Let's Do It Again" in 1975
Pervis Staples - a co-founding member of The Staple Singers, passed away on May 6th, 2021 at the age of 85
Yvonne Staples - of The Staple Singers died of colon cancer on April 10th, 2018 at the age of 80. She sang on the group's hits "Heavy Makes You Happy" (#27 in 1971) "Respect Yourself" (#12 in 1971) and I'll Take You There" (#1 in 1972)
Robby Steinhardt - violinist and co-lead vocalist for Kansas, died July 17th, 2021 at the age of 71 after a bout of acute pancreatitis and septic shock
Jim Steinman - composer and lyricist who wrote songs for Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Barry Manilow, Air Supply and Celine Dion, died from kidney failure on April 19th, 2021. He was 73
April Stevens - who teamed with her brother Nino Tempo on four Billboard Top 40 entries, passed away on April 17th, 2023 at the age of 93. The duo topped the chart in 1963 with "Deep Purple" and followed it with the #11 hit, "Whispering".
Rick Stevens - who fronted Tower Of Power on their #29 Hot 100 hit, "You're Still A Young Man", died of liver cancer on September 5th, 2017 at the age of 77
B.W. Stevenson - who had a 1973 hit with "My Maria", died after heart surgery on April 28th, 1988, at the age of 38. The "B.W." reportedly stood for "Buckwheat"
Billy Stewart - R&B singer nicknamed "Fat Boy" who hit the Billboard Pop chart Top 40 four times, including the #10 hit "Summertime" in 1966. Billy was killed on January 17th, 1970, along with three members of his band, when his car ran off the road and plunged into a river. He was 32
Ian Stewart - played piano in the original line-up of The Rolling Stones and predates both Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts as a member of the band. Because the group's manager Andrew Loog Oldham did not think Stewart's looks were right for publicity purposes, Stewart officially "left the group", but continued to work with them as a road manager and played keyboards on most of the Stones' essential albums from the 1960s until the 1980s. While waiting to see a doctor about respiratory problems, Stewart suffered a heart attack and died in the waiting room on December 12th, 1985
John Stewart - singer / songwriter who was a member of The Kingston Trio in the early '60s, but more often remembered for writing The Monkees' hit, "Daydream Believer", died following a brain aneurism on January 19th, 2008. Stewart also had a successful solo career which included four dozen albums and a Billboard #9 hit single with "Gold" in 1979
Mike Stewart - guitarist for We Five on their 1965, number one hit "You Were On My Mind", died on November 13th, 2002, at the age of 57
Gordon Stoker - the tenor voice of The Jordanaires who backed Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves and many more, passed away on March 27th, 2013 at the age of 88. Estimated sales of records that the vocal group sang on total more than eight billion copies
Jimmy Stokley - who sang lead on Exile's 1978, #1 hit, "Kiss You All Over", died August 13th 1985 after experiencing complications from hepatitis. He was just 41 years old
Rory Storm - who led The Hurricanes, the group that Ringo Starr quit to join the Beatles, died of an overdose of sleeping pills on September 27th, 1972
Richard Street - a member of The Temptations for 25 years, passed away on February 27th, 2013, of a pulmonary embolism. He was 70
Barrett Strong - a singer/songwriter who reached #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960 with "Money (That's What I Want)", passed away at the age of 81 on January 28th, 2023
Joe Strummer - lead singer for the landmark British punk band The Clash, suffered a fatal heart attack on December 22nd, 2002, at the age of 50
Jud Strunk - comedian and singer/songwriter who appeared on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and scored a number 14 hit with "Daisy A Day" in 1973, died in a small plane crash in Maine on October 5th 1981. He was 45
Levi Stubbs - lead singer of The Four Tops died after a long series of illnesses, including cancer and a stroke, on October 17th, 2008 at the age of 72
Chad Stuart - of the British Invasion duo Chad And Jeremy died of pneumonia on December 20th, 2020 at the age of 79. The pair scored seven Billboard Top 40 hits, including "Yesterday's Gone" (#21 in 1964), "A Summer Song" (#7 in 1964) and "Before And After" (#17 in 1965)
Clyde Stubblefield - drummer who played on many of James Brown's most important recordings, including "Cold Sweat", "I Got the Feelin'" and "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud", died of kidney failure on February 18th, 2017 at the age of 73
J.D. Sumner - the bass voice of The Stamps Quartet died November 16th, 1998 at the age of 73. He is most often remembered for accompanying Elvis Presley on recordings and in live performances and can be heard prominently on Presley's 1977 #18 hit, "Way Down" where he hit double low C at the end of the song
David 'Screaming Lord' Sutch - British shock-rocker was found hanged at his London home, apparently committed suicide on June 17th, 1999, at the age of 58
Stuart Sutcliffe - played bass guitar for The Beatles before Paul McCartney took over in 1961. After leaving the group, he died on April 10th, 1962 of a brain haemorrhage in Hamburg, Germany. Sutcliffe was in his 22nd year
Niki Sullivan - one of Buddy Holly's original Cricketts, died on April 6th, 2004 at the age of 66. He joined Holly in 1956 and played on most of the hit songs the band recorded. The hassel of touring forced him to drop out in 1957
Donna Summer - often called The Queen Of Disco, died of cancer on May 17th, 2012 at the age of 63. During a career that peaked in the '70s, she won five Grammys and sold more than 130 million records worldwide
Darrell Sweet - founding member and drummer for the Scottish hard rock band Nazareth, suffered a fatal heart attack on April 30th, 1999. He was just 51 years old
Pieter Sweval - bassist for Looking Glass on their 1972 Billboard number one smash "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)" succumbed to the AIDS virus on January 23rd, 1990 at the age of 42
Sylvain Sylvain - guitarist with Punk icons The New York Dolls, died on January 13th, 2021 following a battle with cancer. He was 69
Edmund Sylvers - lead singer of the Sylvers on their 1975 number one hit, "Boogie Fever", died on March 11th, 2004, after a ten month battle with cancer. He was only 47 years old
Margo Sylvia - of The Tune Weavers, died of a heart attack on October 25th, 1991, at the age of 55. The group topped the Billboard chart in 1957 with "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby"
Marv Tarplin - the guitarist whose riffs and melodies helped form the sound of one of Motown's most successful acts, Smokey Robinson And The Miracles, died September 30th, 2011, at the age of 70
Dallas Taylor - drummer for Crosby, Still And Nash from 1967 until 1974, passed away on January 18th, 2015 at the age of 66
Johnnie Taylor - best remembered for his 1968 hit, "Who's Makin' Love To Your Old Lady?" died of a heart attack on May 31st, 2000, shortly after his 62nd birthday
Larry Taylor - the founding bassist of 1960s L.A. boogie rock band Canned Heat died at age 77 on August 19th, 2019 after a twelve year battle against cancer
Mel Taylor - long-time drummer for The Ventures died of cancer on August 11th, 1996 at the age of 62. He recorded and toured with The Ventures from 1961 until his death and also worked as a session musician, playing drums on "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett and "Lonely Bull" by Herb Alpert & The Tijiuana Brass
Phil Taylor - drummer for Motorhead from 1975-84 & 1987-92, died of liver failure on November 11th, 2015, at the age of 61. During his time with the band he recorded eleven studio albums and four live LPs
R. Dean Taylor - a Canadian musician most often remembered for his 1970 Billboard #5 hit, "Indiana Wants Me", died at the age of 82 on January 7th, 2022 after contracting COVID-19
Richard Taylor - of the R&B vocal group, The Manhattans, died on December 7th, 1987 at the age of 47
Zola Taylor - who broke gender barriers as the first female member of the 1950s R&B group The Platters, singing on their hit "The Great Pretender", died from complications of pneumonia on April 30th, 2007. She was 69
Rod Temperton - keyboardist and songwriter with Heatwave, who reached Billboard's #2 spot in 1977 with "Boogie Nights", died after a brief bout with cancer on or about October 5th 2016 at the age of 66. During his career he also wrote "Off the Wall" and "Thiller" for Michael Jackson and "Give Me The Night" for George Benson
Tammi Terrell - sang many duets with Marvin Gaye, died of a brain tumour on the 16th of March, 1970, at the age of 24
Joe Terry - vocalist for Danny And The Juniors on "At The Hop" and "Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay", died on April 15th, 2019. He was 78
Peter Tetteroo - vocalist for The Tee Set, died of cancer on September 5th, 2002, at the age of 55. The Dutch band reached number five on the Billboard Pop chart in 1970 with "Ma Belle Amie"
Joe Tex - soul singer whose hits included "I Gotcha" and "Skinny Legs and All" died of a heart attack, August 12th, 1982 at the age of 49
Gary Thain - former bassist of the British band Uriah Heep, died December 8th, 1975 of a heroin overdose. He was 27
Chuck Tharp - rhythm guitarist/vocalist for The Fireballs, died of cancer on March 17th, 2006 at the age of 65. The band reached the Billboard Top 40 six times, most notably with "Sugar Shack" (#1 in 1963) and "Bottle Of Wine" (#9 in 1968)
B.J. Thomas Thomas - vocalist who placed 14 songs on the Billboard Top 40 between 1966 and 1977, died of lung cancer on May 29th, 2021 at the age of 78
Charlie Thomas - of The Drifters died of liver cancer on January 31st, 2023 at the age of 85. He sang lead on the group's 1961, Billboard #16 hit, "Sweets For My Sweet"
Dennis 'Dee Tee' Thomas - a co-founder of Soul-Funk outfit Kool & the Gang, died on August 7th, 2021. He was 70
Ray Thomas - flautist, vocalist and founding member of The Moody Blues, died January 4th, 2018 at the age of 76, just three and half months before the band was due to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rufus Thomas - R&B singer whose biggest Pop hit was "Walkin' The Dog" in 1963, died on December 15th, 2001, following a short illness. He was 84
Timmy Thomas - who reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Why Can't We Live Together" in February, 1973, died on March 11th, 2022 at the age of 77
Hughie Thomasson - guitarist for The Outlaws on their 1975 hit "There Goes Another Love Song" died of a heart attack on September 9th, 2007, at the age of 55
Dennis Thompson - original drummer for Detroit's MC5 passed away on May 8th, 2024 at the age of 75. The band's biggest hit was the controversial "Kick Out The Jams", which reached #82 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969
Tony Thompson - drummer for Chic, passed away on November 12th, 2003 from renal cell cancer at the age of 48. Thompson played on all the Chic hits, including "Dance, Dance, Dance", "Le Freak", "I Want Your Love" and "Good Times"
Billy Thorpe - who had over 20 hits in Australia and influenced many American artists with his 1979 album, "Children Of The Sun", died following a massive heart attack on February 28th, 2007, at the age of 60
Johnny Thunders - guitarist who rose to fame with The New York Dolls, died on April 23rd, 1991 at the age of 38. The cause of death appeared to be drug-related, but it has been speculated that foul play may have been involved
Sonny Til - lead singer of The Orioles died of a heart attack on December 9th, 1981 at the age of 51. His group had a hit with "Crying In The Chapel" in 1953
Georgeanna Tillman - of The Marvelettes, who scored a number one hit with "Please Mr Postman" in 1961, died on Jan 6th 1980 of sickle cell anemia at the age of 35
Ivory Tilmon - of The Detroit Emeralds died of a heart attack on July 6th 1982 at the age of 37. The group reached #24 on the Hot 100 in 1972 with "Baby Let Me Take You In My Arms"
Tiny Tim - who reached number 17 in 1968 with "Tip-Toe Thru' The Tulips", had a heart attack while on stage and died shortly after on November 30th, 1996 at age 63
Dan Toler - guitarist for Dickey Betts And Great Southern, The Allman Brothers Band and The Gregg Allman Band, passed away on February 25th, 2013 at the age of 64
Anthony 'Top' Topham - the founding guitarist of the Yardbirds, died on January 23rd, 2023 at the age of 75
Mel Torme - passed away on June 5th 1999, at the age of 73, from complications caused by a stroke
Peter Tork - bassist for The Monkees died at the age of 77 on February 21st, 2019, ten years after being diagnosed with a rare cancer that affected his tongue
Peter Tosh - the guitarist in the original Wailing Wailers with Bob Marley was brutally murdered at his Jamaican home on September 11th, 1987, in his 43rd year. Though robbery was officially said to be the motivation behind Tosh's death, many believe that there were ulterior motives to the killing, citing that nothing was taken from the house
Allen Toussaint - legendary New Orleans pianist, songwriter, producer and performer who penned or produced such classics as "Working in a Coal Mine", "Mother-In-Law", "Lady Marmalade", "Play Something Sweet" and "Southern Nights", died on November 10th, 2015 after suffering a heart attack following a concert he performed in Spain. He was 77
Ed Townsend - who scored a #13 hit with "For Your Love" in 1958, died of heart failure on August 13th, 2003, at the age of 74
Ron Townson - vocalist with The Fifth Dimension, died in his home in Las Vegas on August 2nd, 2001 at age sixty-eight. He suffered renal failure after a four-year battle with kidney disease
Mary Travers - the striking blonde in the Folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary died September 16th, 2009 after suffering from leukemia for several years. She was 72. Mary's lead vocal can be heard on the group's biggest hit, 1969's "Leaving On A Jet Plane"
Roland Trone - "Don" of Don & Juan, who reached number seven with "What's Your Name" in 1962, died in May 1982, at the age of 45
Domenic Troiano - guitarist for The Guess Who and The James Gang, died of cancer on May 25th, 2005. He was 59
Doris Troy - the big voiced singer of the 1963 hit "Just One Look", died of emphysema on February 16th, 2004 at the age of 67
Butch Trucks - drummer and founding member of The Allman Brothers Band passed away on January 23th, 2017 at the age of 69. His real name was Claude Hudson Trucks
Andrea True - Disco star and actress who had Top 40 hits with "More, More, More" (1976) and "N.Y. You Got Me Dancing" (1977), died of undisclosed causes on November 7th, 2011 at the age of 68
Mick Tucker - drummer for Sweet, who hit #5 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1975 with "Ballroom Blitz", died of leukemia on February 14th 2002. He was 53
Tommy Tucker - who hit number eleven in 1964 with "Hi-Heel Sneakers", died of poisoning on January 22nd, 1982, at the age of 42
Mark Tulin - bassist for The Electric Prunes on their 1967 hit "I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)", suffered a fatal heart attack on February 26th, 2011, at the age of 62
Big Joe Turner - a Jazz and Blues artist who became an early founder of Rock and Roll when he released "Shake, Rattle and Roll" in 1954. Turner suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 74 on November 24th, 1985
Ike Turner - whose role as one of Rock and Roll's most innovative architects was overshadowed by his image as the man who abused former wife and singing partner Tina Turner, suffered a fatal heart attack on December 12th, 2007. He was 76
Tina Turner - who placed fourteen songs on the Billboard Top 40 between 1984 and 1993, died at her home in Switzerland on May 24th, 2023 at the age of 83. Along with having Top Ten hits such as "What's Love Got To Do With It", "Better Be Good To Me", "Private Dancer", "We Don't Need Another Hero" and "Typical Male", she won eight Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2021
Conway Twitty - had an early pop hit with "It's Only Make Believe", died of a heart attack after stomach surgery in Springfield, Missouri, June 5th, 1993
Rob Tyner - lead singer of the MC5, died of heart failure at the age of 46, on September 18th, 1991
Pat Upton - singer/guitarist for Spiral Starecase, died on July 27th, 2016 at the age of 75 after a long illness. The band reached #12 on the Hot 100 with "More Today Than Yesterday" in 1969
Gary Usher - led the studio group The Hondells to the Top 10 in 1964 with "Little Honda", died of cancer on May 25th, 1990. He was 51
Jerry Vale - a crooner who placed thirty-four songs in the Top 100 of the Billboard Pop and Adult Contemporary charts between 1953 and 1971, died of natural causes on May 18th, 2014 at the age of 83
Ritchie Valens - singer of "Oh Donna" and "La Bamba", died in a plane crash along with Buddy Holly and J.P. Richardson on February 3rd, 1959
Hilton Valentine - guitarist and founding member of The Animals passed away on January 29th, 2021 at the age of 77
Sylvia Vanderpool - who teamed with guitarist Micky Baker to form Micky and Sylvia. They scored a Billboard R&B #1 and Pop #11 hit "Love Is Strange" in 1957. In 1970 she found success as a songwriter, penning The Moments' "Love On A Two Way Street" and also scored a solo #1 hit in 1973 with "Pillow Talk". Sylvia died of congestive heart failure on September 29th, 2011, at the age of 75
Luther Vandross - the silky smooth voiced R&B singer died on July 1st, 2005 at the age of 54, two years after suffering a major stroke.
Joey Vann - of The Duprees, died on February 28th, 1984 at the age of 40. The group had four Top 40 hits, including 1962's "You Belong To Me"
Randy VanWarmer - who reached #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1979 with "Just When I Needed You Most" died of leukemia on January 12th, 2004, at the age of 48
Eddie Van Halen - who established himself as one of the all-time greatest guitar players in Rock history, died October 6th, 2020 after a long battle with cancer. He was 65
Ronnie Van Zant - member of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd, whose single "Sweet Home Alabama" reached number 8 in 1974, died with several other band members in a small plane crash on October 20th, 1977. He was just 29
Stevie Ray Vaughan - guitarist whose highly charged and expressive solos turned a new generation on to Rock / Blues in the 1980s, was killed on August 27th, 1990, when the helicopter he was taking from a gig in East Troy, Wisconsin to a show in Chicago, crashed in dense fog, killing everyone on board. Vaughn was 35 years old
Bobby Vee - who had 14 Billboard Top 40 hits between 1960 and 1968, died from complications of early onset Alzheimer's disease on October 24th, 2016 at the age of 73
Lolly Vegas - lead singer and guitarist for Redbone, died of cancer on March 4th, 2010 at the age of 70. The band is most often remembered for their 1974, Billboard #5 hit "Come And Get Your Love"
Mariska Veres - vocalist for Shocking Blue on their mega hit "Venus", died of cancer on December 2nd, 2006, at the age of 59
Henry Vestine - guitarist for Canned Heat, died on October 20th, 1997 at the age of 52 from heart and respiratory failure
Sid Vicious - bassist for the punk rock group the Sex Pistols, died from an accumulation of fluid on the lungs, characteristic of heroin abuse, on February 2nd, 1979. He was just 21 years old
Gene Vincent - recorded "Be-Bop-A-Lula" in 1957, died at the age of 36 following a seizure brought on by a bleeding ulcer on October 12th, 1971 at his parent's California home. Sadly, no one in his family had any money and the city of Los Angeles had to bury him
Janet Vogel - sang soprano for The Skyliners on their 1959, US number one hit, "Since I Don't Have You", committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning on February 21st, 1980. She was 37
Roger Voudouris - singer / songwriter / guitarist who reached #21 on the Billboard Pop chart in 1979 with "Get Used To It", died August 3rd, 2003, at the age of 48, after suffering from liver disease for some time. Although his success was limited in the U.S., he enjoyed a strong following in Japan and Australia
Wayne Wadhams - the keyboard player and lead vocalist for The Fifth Estate on their 1967 hit "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead", died August 19th, 2008. He was 61
Steve Wahrer - drummer and vocalist for The Trashmen on their 1964 hit "Surfin' Bird", died of throat cancer on January 21st 1989, at the age of 47
John Walker - lead vocalist for The Walker Brothers, who enjoyed Billboard Top 20 hits with "Make It Easy On Yourself" in 1965 and "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" in 1966, died of liver cancer on May 7th, 2011. He was 67
Junior Walker - leader of the All-Stars on "Shotgun", "What Does It Take" and "Roadrunner", died of cancer on Nov 23rd, 1995 at the age of 64
Scott Walker - whose hits with The Walker Brothers in the 1960s included "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" and "Make It Easy On Yourself", died of cancer on March 22nd, 2019 at the age of 76
Jerry Wallace - singer / guitarist who placed seven songs on Billboard's Top 40, including the 1959, #8 hit "Primrose Lane", died on May 5th, 2008, at the age of 79, after suffering congestive heart failure
Gordon Waller - of the Pop duo Peter and Gordon died of cardiac arrest on July 17th, 2009 at the age of 64. The pair were part of the 1960s British Invasion and had a string of hits including "A World Without Love", "I Don't Want To See You Again", "I Go to Pieces" and "Lady Godiva"
Trevor Ward-Davies - better known as Dozy from Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, died January 13th, 2015 at the age of 70
Clint Warwick - the original bass player for The Moody Blues died from liver disease on May 18th, 2004 at the age of 63. Clint left the band in 1966 after playing on their only number one hit, "Go Now"
Muddy Waters - blues guitarist whose real name was McKinley Morganfield, died of a heart attack at the age of 68 on April 30th, 1983
Johnny "Guitar" Watson - whose greatest chart success was "Those Lonely Lonely Nights", which hit the US R&B Top 10 in 1955, died of a heart attack on the 17th May, 1996
Charlie Watts - drummer for The Rolling Stones for 58 years, passed away on August 24th, 2021 at the age of 80
Peter Overend Watts - original bassist for Mott the Hoople who played on the band's only Billboard Top 40 hit, "All The Young Dudes", died of throat cancer on January 22nd, 2017 at the age of 69
Pete Way - bassist and founding member of the British band, UFO, died August 14th, 2020 from injuries he suffered in a household accident two months earlier. He was 69
Carl Wayne - the lead singer of influential 1960s Pop group the Move, died of oesophageal cancer on August 31st, 2004, at the age of 61
Thomas Wayne (Perkins) - who reached #5 in the US in 1959 with "Tragedy", died on August 15th 1971 at the age of 31 when he drove his car across four lanes of traffic, over a median and slammed into an oncoming car. Some believe he committed suicide as he had earlier confessed to a friend that he once parked his car across both lanes of an interstate highway at night and turned off his lights. Fortunately the first person on the scene was a highway patrolman who arrested him
Laura Webb - of the R&B quintet The Bobbettes, who scored a Billboard number six hit with "Mr. Lee" in 1957, died of cancer on January 8th, 2001
Charlie Webber - of The Swingin' Medallions, died of cancer on January 17th, 2003, at the age of 57. The group is best known for their 1966 hit, "Double Shot Of My Baby's Love"
Mary Weiss - the lead singer of the 1960s girl group The Shangri-Las, died on January 19th, 2024 at the age of 75. The group placed six song on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1964 and 1966, including "Remember (Walking in the Sand)" (US #5), "Leader Of The Pack" (US #1) and "I Can Never Go Home Anymore" (US #6)
Eric Weissberg - who had a #2 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Dueling Banjos" from the movie Deliverance in 1973, passed away on March 22nd, 2020 at the age of 80
Bob Welch - a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1971 to 1974 who went on to enjoy a successful solo career with hits such as "Sentimental Lady" and "Ebony Eyes" died on June 7th, 2012, of an apparent suicide. He was 66
Cory Wells - a founding member of Three Dog Night died suddenly on October 21st, 2015 at the age of 74. His lead vocals on "Eli's Coming", "Mama Told Me Not To Come", "Shambala" and "Never Been To Spain" helped the band achieve twenty-one Billboard Top 40 hits and place eleven albums on the Billboard 200 chart
Mary Wells - known for her hits "My Guy" and "You Beat Me To The Punch," died of cancer at age 49 on July 26th, 1992
Vince Welnick - keyboard player for The Tubes and later The Grateful Dead, died on June 2nd, 2006. The 55-year-old musician stood on a hillside behind his Forestville home and drew a knife across his throat in front of his wife
Leslie West - vocalist and lead guitarist for the band Mountain, suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 75 on December 23rd, 2020. Their only Top 40 single, "Mississippi Queen" reached #21 on the Hot 100 in 1970
Sandy West - drummer for The Runaways on their most notable songs such as "Cherry Bomb", "Hollywood" and "Queens of Noise", died of cancer on October 21st, 2006 at the age of 47
Jimmy Weston - lead singer of The Danleers, died on June 10th 1993. The Brooklyn, New York doo-wop group is most often remembered for their 1958 hit "One Summer Night"
John Wetton - who played bass guitar in King Crimson, Uriah Heep and Roxy Music before fronting supergroup Asia, died at the age of 67 on January 31st, 2017 after a battle with colon cancer
Paul Whaley - Blue Cheer's drummer on their 1968 hit, "Sumertime Blues" died of heart failure on January 28th, 2019 at the age of 72
Ian Whitcomb - the British born singer who scored a Billboard #8 hit with "You Turn Me On" in 1965, died of natural causes on April 19th, 2020. He was 78
Alan White - the drummer for the Progressive Rock band Yes for over fifty years, passed away on May 26th, 2022 at the age of 72
Andy White - the Scottish studio musician who producer George Martin hired to play drums on The Beatles' "Love Me Do" and its B-side, "P.S. I Love You", died following a stroke on November 9th, 2015, at the age of 85
David White - vocalist for Danny And The Juniors on their 1958 hit, "At The Hop", died on March 16th, 2019, at the age of 79
Clarence White - guitarist with the Byrds, died on July 14th, 1973, after being hit by a car in Lancaster, California. He was 29. White joined the Byrds in 1968, after the group had recorded their hits as "Mr. Tambourine Man," "Turn! Turn! Turn!" and "Eight Miles High"
Barry White - known for his lush baritone voice and lyrics that oozed sex appeal on the hits "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love" and "You're The First, The Last, My Everything", died following kidney failure on Thursday, July 4th, 2003, at the age of 58
Carl White - a member of The Rivingtons and co-writer of "Papa Oom Mow Mow" and "The Bird Is The Word", died January 9th, 1980 of acute tonsillitis. He was 47. A group called The Trashmen combined his two songs into "Surfin' Bird" and gained a #4 hit in 1964
Maurice White - vocalist and co-founder of Earth, Wind And Fire died in his sleep on February 3rd, 2016 at the age of 74. He helped the band place sixteen songs on Billboard's Top 40 chart between 1974 and 1983
Ronnie White - of The Miracles, died of leukemia on August 26th, 1995. He was 56
Tony Joe White - who reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1969 with "Polk Salad Annie", died of natural causes on October 24th, 2018 at the age of 75. He was also a successful songwriter, penning Brook Benton's #4 hit, "Rainy Night In Georgia"
Roger Whittaker - a Folk balladeer who reached #19 in America in 1975 with "The Last Farewell", passed away on September 13th, 2023 at the age of 87
Danny Whitten - an American musician and songwriter best known for his work with Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and for the song "I Don't Want To Talk About It", a hit for Rita Coolidge and Rod Stewart, died November 18th, 1972 after an alleged heroin overdose. He was 29
Keith Wilder - the lead singer of '70s Funk band Heatwave, died in his sleep on October 29th, 2017 at the age of 65. The band is most often remembered for their hits, "Boogie Nights" (#2 in 1977), "Always And Forever" (#18 in 1978) and "The Groove Line" (#7 in 1978)
Rick "Tim Tam" Wiesend - lead singer of Tim Tam and the Turn-Ons, died of cancer on October 22nd, 2003 at the age of 60. The band's only U.S. chart appearance was "Wait A Minute" in 1966
Leon Wilkeson - bassist for the 70's southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd was found dead on July 27th, 2001 in a Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida hotel room. Allegedly suffering from chronic liver and lung disease, the actual cause of death was deemed "from natural causes". He was 49
John Wilkinson - guitarist who accompanied Elvis Presley for more than a thousand shows as a member of the TCB Band, died January 11th, 2013 at the age of 67 after a long battle with cancer
Andy Williams - mellow-voiced singer who placed 27 songs on the Billboard Top 40 between 1956 and 1972, passed away on September 25th, 2012 at the age of 84, after a yearlong battle with bladder cancer
Don Williams - renowned Country singer who scored a #24 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980 with "I Believe In You", died after a short illness on September 8th, 2017 at the age of 78. First coming to prominence in the Pozo Seco Singers with "I Can Make It With You" in 1966, Williams later reached the top of the Country And Western chart seventeen times as a solo artist
Flemming Williams - lead singer for The Hues Corporation on their 1974 hit "Rock The Boat", died of drug related causes in September, 1992
George Williams - vocalist for The Tymes died of cancer on July 28th, 2004, at the age of 68. The Philadelphia quartet topped the Billboard chart in 1963 with "So Much In Love" and reached #1 in the UK in 1975 with "Ms Grace"
Lamar Williams - the bassist who joined the Allman Brothers Band in late 1972 after the death of original bassist Berry Oakley and played in the band at the peak of their commercial success, died of lung cancer on January 21st, 1983. He was just 34 years old
Larry Williams - had hit songs with "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" and "Bony Maronie", was found dead on January 7th, 1980 at his Los Angeles home of a gunshot wound to the head. The medical examiner called the death a suicide, but rumours persisted for years after his death that he was murdered because of his involvement in drugs and crime
Maurice Williams - lead singer for Maurice Williams And The Zodiacs, passed away from unspecified causes on August 5th, 2024 at the age of 86. Their 1960, Billboard number one song, "Stay" was just 1:36 long, making it the shortest tune to ever top that chart
Milan B. Williams - one of the founding members for the Commodores, died on July 9th, 2006 after a long battle with cancer, at the age of 58. He wrote the band's first hit, "Machine Gun"
Paul Williams - of The Temptaions, died of a self inflicted gunshot wound on August 17th, 1973 at the age of 34. Williams had left the Temptations in 1971 because of poor health
Tony Williams - of The Platters died of emphysema at the age of 64 on August 14th, 1992. He sang most of the group's hits up until 1961 when he was replaced by Sonny Turner
Wendy O. Williams - lead singer of the late 70s / early 80s punk band The Plasmatics, died of a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head on April 6th, 1998. She was 48
Chuck Willis - R&B singer / songwriter who placed four songs on the Billboard Top 40, including "C.C. Rider" (#12 in 1957) and "What Am I Living For?" (#9 in 1958), died of a perforated ulcer on April 10th, 1958 at the age of 30
Al Wilson - Soul singer and songwriter who had a number of US hits, including "The Snake" in 1968 and the Billboard #1 smash "Show and Tell" in 1974, died of kidney failure on April 21st, 2008. He was 68
Al Wilson - vocalist and harmonica player for Canned Heat on their hits "On The Road Again" and "Going Up The Country", committed suicide on September 3rd, 1970, in Topanga Canyon, California, when it turned out that he couldn't save a redwood forest from being cut by a timber company. He was 27
Barry Wilson - drummer for Procol Harum, died on October 8th, 1990 after months in a coma following a car accident. He was 43
Bernie Wilson - the baritone voice of Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes, who produced the 1972 hit "If You Don't Know Me by Now", died on December 26th, 2010, following a stroke and a heart attack. He was 64
Carl Wilson - lead guitar player of The Beach Boys, died of cancer, with his family at his bedside on February 6th, 1998. He was 51
Dennis Wilson - drummer for The Beach Boys, jumped over board from his yacht at Marina Del Ray Harbour in Los Angeles and drowned, on Dec. 28th, 1983. He was 39
Don Wilson - co-founder and rhythm guitarist of the instrumental guitar band The Ventures, died of natural causes on January 22nd, 2022 at the age of 88. The Ventures had 14 singles in the Billboard Hot 100. With over 100 million records sold, they are the best-selling instrumental band of all time
J. Frank Wilson - One of rock's eeriest stories began on October 23rd, 1964. While his teenaged death song, "Last Kiss" was in the US Top Ten, Wilson, his bandmates and the record's producer, Sonley Roush, were involved in a head-on collision that killed Roush. Wilson never recorded a hit song again and died in a nursing home on October 4th, 1991, a few months shy of his fiftieth birthday
Jackie Wilson - passed away on January 21st, 1984, in Mount Holly, NJ, at Burlington County Memorial Hospital, at the age of 49. He had suffered a heart attack while singing "Lonely Teardrops" at the Latin Casino in New Jersey during a performance in 1975 and hit his head in the fall. Wilson suffered brain damage and required permanent care the rest of his life
Mary Wilson - one of the original Supremes, died in her sleep on February 8th, 2021 at the age of 76. Between 1963 and 1976, the group enjoyed 33 Billboard Top 40 hits
Nancy Wilson - who scored two Billboard Top 40 hits with "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am" (#11 in 1964) and "Face It Girl, It's Over" (#29 in 1968) passed away at the age of 81 on December 13th, 2018 after a long illness
Robert Wilson - bassist for The Gap Band, passed away on August 15th, 2010 at the age of 53. In a career that started in the late '70s, the group has had four platinum albums and fifteen Top Ten hits, including four that made it to number one
Ron Wilson - The Surfaris' drummer who recorded rock and roll's most influential drum solo, "Wipe Out", died of a brain aneurysm on May 12th, 1989, at the age of 44
Johnny Winter - Blues guitarist who overcame albinism and poor eye sight, and rose to fame as an arena-level concert draw in the early to mid-'70s, died July 16th, 2014 at the age of 70
Kurt Winter - the guitarist who replaced Randy Bachman in The Guess Who, died of kidney failure on December 14th, 1997 at the age of 51. He is best remembered for his contributions to the hits "Hand Me Down World" and "Share The Land"
Bill Withers - Soul singer most often remembered for the hits "Ain't No Sunshine", "Lean On Me", "Use Me" and "Just The Two Of Us", died from heart complications on March 30th, 2020 at the age of 81. During his career, he won three Grammy Awards, was nominated for four more, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015
Wolfman Jack - the disc jockey featured in the movie "American Graffiti", died of a heart attack on July 1st, 1995 at the age of 57. He had just completed a 20-day trip to promote his new book "Have Mercy, The Confession of the Original Party Animal", about his early career and parties with celebrities. He walked up the driveway of his home, went inside to hug his wife and collapsed. The Wolfman's real name was Bob Smith
Tom "T-Bone" Wolk - who played bass for nearly 30 years with Daryl Hall and John Oates and also recorded with Elvis Costello and Billy Joel, died February 27th, 2010 of an apparent heart attack. He was 58
Bobby Womack - Soul singer and studio musician, died June 27th, 2014 at the age of 70. He topped the Billboard R&B chart in 1974 with "Lookin' For A Love", placed it and three other tunes on the Pop chart Top 40 and played guitar on several of Aretha Franklin's albums
Brenton Wood - the Soul singer who gave us "The Oogum Boogum Song" and "Gimme Little Sign" in 1967, died in his sleep at his home in Moreno Valley, California on January 3rd, 2025. He was 83
Chris Wood - a founding member of the English rock band Traffic, along with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Dave Mason, died of pneumonia on July 12th, 1983 at the age of 39
Ali-Ollie Woodson - who led The Temptations in the 1980s and '90s and helped restore them to their hit-making glory with songs including "Treat Her Like A Lady", "Sail Away" and "Lady Soul", died of cancer at the age of 58 on May 31st, 2010
Douglas Allen Woody - bass guitarist best known for his tenures with The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule, The Artimus Pyle Band, The Peter Criss Band, Blue Floyd, and Montage, died on August 26th, 2000 at the age of 44
Sheb Wooley - best remembered for his 1958 #1 tune, "The Purple People Eater", died of leukemia on September 16th, 2003, at the age of 82. He charted a total of nine times, with many of his hits being parodies of other popular songs. As an actor, he appeared in more than 60 films, including High Noon and Giant. He also appeared as Pete Nolan in the US television series Rawhide
Eric Woolfson - co-founder of The Alan Parsons Project, died from kidney cancer on December 2nd, 2009 at the age of 64. His songwriting, combined with his keyboard and vocal contributions, helped sell over 50 million records, including the band's signature tune "Eye in the Sky", which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October, 1982
Bernie Worrell - whose mastery of the Moog synthesizer helped define the sound of George Clinton's dual projects of Parliament and Funkadelic, died of cancer on June 24th, 2016 at the age of 72
Link Wray - the electric guitar innovator who is often credited as the father of the power chord, died at his home in Copenhagen on November 5th, 2005, of natural causes. He was seventy-six. His 1959 instrumental, "Rumble" was banned by many radio stations, even thought it had no lyrics what so ever
Betty Wright - the Soul singer most often remembered for her Billboard Top Ten hits, "Clean Up Woman" (#6 in 1972) and "Dance With Me" (#8 in 1978), died of cancer on May 10th, 2020 at the age of 66
Gary Wright - who scored a pair of Billboard #2 hits in 1976 with "Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive", died of Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia on August 4th, 2023 at the age of 80
Jimmy Wright - drummer for Five Americans on their 1967, #5 US hit, "Western Union", passed away on January 30th, 2012
Norman Wright - vocalist for The Del-Vikings on their hits "Come Go With Me", "Whispering Bells" and "Cool Shake", passed away on April 23rd, 2010 at the age of 73
Rick Wright - a founding member of Pink Floyd died of cancer at the age of 65 on September 15th, 2008
Stevie Wright - lead vocalist for the Australian group The Easybeats died on December 27th, 2015 at the age of 68. The band reached #16 on the Hot 100 in 1967 with "Friday On My Mind"
Syreeta Wright - who teamed up with Billy Preston on the 1980, number 1 US hit "With You I'm Born Again", passed away on July 6th, 2004 after a two-year battle with bone cancer. She was 58
Philippe Wynne - former lead singer of the Spinners, suffered a fatal heart attack while on stage in Oakland California on July 14th, 1984. He was 43
Zal Yanovsky - guitarist for The Lovin' Spoonful, suffered a fatal heart attack on December 13th, 2002 at his Kingston, Ontario, Canada farm. He was 58
Peter Yarrow - of Peter, Paul And Mary, died of bladder cancer on January 7th, 2025 at the age of 86. A major force on the American Folk music scene of the 1960s, the trio placed twelve songs on the Billboard Top 40 during that decade
Dennis Yost - lead singer of The Classics IV on a string of hits in the late '60s, including "Spooky", "Stormy", "Traces" and "Everyday With You Girl", died on December 7th, 2008, of respiratory failure at the age of 65
Eldee Young - bass player with the Ramsey Lewis Trio on the instrumental smash "The In Crowd" in 1965 and who later formed Young-Holt Unlimited and reached #3 with "Soulful Strut" in 1968, died of an apparent heart attack on February 12th, 2007, in Thailand, where he was performing. He was 71
Faron Young - who reached number 12 on the US pop chart in 1961 with the country cross-over hit "Hello Walls", died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on December 10th, 1996, at the age of 64
George Young - a guitarist for the Australian based group, The Easybeats, who reached Billboard's #16 spot in 1967 with "Friday On My Mind", passed away on October 22nd, 2017 at the age of 70. After that band broke up, Young went on to co-produce AC/DC's first five albums
Jesse Colin Young - frontman for The Youngbloods, passed away of undisclosed causes at the age of 83 on March 16th, 2025. The band is most often remembered for their 1969, Billboard #5 hit, "Get Together"
Malcolm Young - rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and co-founder of AC/DC, died November 18th 2017 at the age of 64
Paul Young - guitarist and vocalist for Mike And The Mechanics on their 1986, Billboard #5 hit, "All I Need Is A Miracle", died of a heart attack on July 15th, 2000. He was just 53 years old
Rusty Young - of Buffalo Springfield and Poco suffered a fatal heart attack on April 14th, 2021 at the age of 75
Wanda Young - of The Marvelettes passed away on December 15th, 2021 at the age of 78. She sang lead vocals on three of the group's ten Billboard Top 40 hits, "Don't Mess With Bill" (#7 in 1966), "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" (#13 in 1967) and "My Baby Must Be a Magician" (#17 in 1968)
Timi Yuro - was just 18 years old when she reached #4 on the US charts in 1961 with a song called "Hurt", succumbed to brain cancer March 30th, 2004. She was 62
Frank Zappa - died of prostate cancer on December 4th, 1993 at the age of 52
Warren Zevon - singer / songwriter best remembered for his 1978 breakthrough album "Excitable Boy", which contained his only hit single, "Werewolves Of London", died of lung cancer on September 7th, 2003 at the age of 56
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