Music is a powerful force that connects members of a generation, and when an icon of that generation passes away, the loss is felt among the masses; it is especially shocking when that larger-than-life celebrity dies suddenly and at a young age. Sadly, we have lost several musical artists much too soon, often due to the pressure, exposure or commitments that come with fame. Tour our photo gallery remembering 30 music legends and the details around their tragic deaths.
I was only nine years old when John Lennon died, and over 40 years later, I remember sitting at the kitchen table hearing the report on the radio that crazed fan Mark David Chapman had shot the legendary singer to death. This was one of the most shocking events in rock and roll history; fans were devastated, with a least three committing suicide. Chapman pleaded guilty and remains incarcerated. Just 15 years later, promising young singer Selena was murdered by an obsessed fan, Yolanda Salvidar, who also remains in jail.
In the 1990s, two influential rappers were murdered within a year of each other when East and West coast hip-hop rivalries became heated. Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. were each shot in drive-by shootings. Crips gang member Orlando Anderson was a prime suspect in Shakur’s death, but many thought Biggie was involved. When Biggie was later killed in a similar fashion, theories arose linking Wallace’s death to Shakur’s as a revenge theory; corrupt L.A. cops were also implicated. Both murders remain unsolved.
Sadly, many have fallen into the trap of substance abuse. It is disturbing to note that in some instances, the musician’s personal physician is responsible for supplying unnecessary “medication.” In fact, some of these doctors have been held accountable. Although there were differing opinions on the role of drug use in Elvis Presley‘s death, his primary physician had his license temporarily suspended for overmedicating; it was later permanently revoked due to further allegations. Michael Jackson‘s doctor was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, and served a short stint in jail.
We have lost too many of these gifted musicians at too young of an age, with an unfortunate link connecting many of them. Between September, 1970 and July, 1971, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison all died from drug-related causes. They were each only 27 years old, leading to the concept of the “27 Club,” which was also linked to Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse decades later.
One of the most common causes of deaths for musicians is plane crashes, as the artists attempt to get from one concert venue to another in a short period of time. Aaliyah, Otis Redding and Patsy Cline were still young and in the beginning stages of promising careers when their planes went down. The most famous of these crashes was immortalized by Don McLean in the song “American Pie,” which references the tragic deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper, who were all terribly young, as “The Day the Music Died.”
Some, like Nat King Cole and Bob Marley, have died young from an illness such as cancer. Others, like George Michael and Karen Carpenter, seemed to have overcome their demons and were continuing to work and thrive; however, the damage they had done to their bodies with substance abuse or eating disorders had taken its toll. The following is a list of some of the most shocking deaths of popular musicians, most of whom were pioneers in their genre and left an impressive body of work, but also left us wondering what else they would have gifted the entertainment world with had they not left us much too soon.
-
George Michael (June 25, 1963 – December 25, 2016)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Michael was a fan favorite as one-half of Wham! in the 1980s, but he achieved his greatest successes as a solo artist. With record sales exceeding 120 million, he is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, earning eight Number One songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Michael struggled for many years with his sexuality and with substance abuse, both of which led to numerous arrests. Although he had overcome many of his problems, years of drug abuse took its toll, and his partner found him in his bed on Christmas morning, dead of heart disease at the age of 53.
-
Prince (July 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image With his falsetto, flamboyant look and ability to play a wide range of instruments, Prince was one of the most original and diverse artists of all time, with a number of accolades including an Oscar for Best Original Song Score for “Purple Rain” (1984). One week before his death, he performed his final show, despite having the flu; he was later hospitalized, but left against medical advice. He was scheduled to meet with a doctor regarding pain management and opioid addiction, but was found unresponsive in his home. One of the most influential artists of all time died at the age of 57 from an accidental overdose of fentanyl.
-
Whitney Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Houston is the only performer to have seven consecutive Number One hits on the Billboard 100, and was the recipient of six Grammys, a record 11 Billboard Music Awards and an Emmy. Despite her success and accolades, “The Voice” struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. She was found unconscious in her hotel bathtub, submerged and unresponsive. A month after her death, it was reported that Houston accidentally drowned due to drug use, including cocaine. A decade after her death, her music is just a popular, with her video for “I Will Always Love You” surpassing one billion views on YouTube; she is the first solo artist from the 20th century to accomplish this feat.
-
Amy Winehouse (September 14, 1983 – July 23, 2011)
Image Credit: ABD/ZDS/WENN A throwback to another era, Winehouse’s eclectic mix of soul, jazz and R&B along with her distinctive look made her one of the most successful singers and songwriters of her time. In 2008, she became one of the few female artists to win five Grammys in a single night, and the first British woman to do so. Unfortunately, she was plagued by substance abuse, including heavy drinking and drug use, as well as mental illness that led to eating disorders, depression, self-harm and physical attacks on others that resulted in numerous arrests. Although she did receive medical help throughout her short life, she succumbed to alcohol poisoning at the age of 27.
-
Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image With groundbreaking videos, legendary dance moves and iconic fashion choices, Jackson’s influence on pop music and culture resonates to this day. His “Thriller” album is the best-selling record of all time, and his accolades include 15 Grammys and a Golden Globe. His fame came at an early age as part of the Jackson 5, and his life was plagued with health issues, intense public scrutiny, legal troubles and sexual abuse allegations. He was preparing for a comeback tour when he passed away at the age of 50 from a combined drug intoxication, the most disturbing being the anesthetic propofol.
-
Aaliyah (January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001)
Image Credit: Kathy Hutchins Photography/Newscom/The Mega Agency The “Princess of R&B” is credited with redefining R&B, pop and hip hop for her generation, with her debut album, “Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number,” at age 14 eventually certified two times Platinum. She won three American Music Awards, was nominated for five Grammys and was establishing herself as an actress. The 22-year-old had just completed her music video for “Rock the Boat” when she, seven members of her entourage and a pilot boarded a small aircraft. Severely overloaded, the plane crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all on board.
-
John Denver (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image An Emmy-and-Grammy-winning artist of many talents, Denver, with his soothing vocals and acoustic guitar, was one of America’s best-selling crossover artists, with chart toppers like “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and “Rocky Mountain High.” Denver also had a love of flying; however, due to a drunken driving charge, his medical certification to fly had been revoked. He nonetheless took off in a light plane he had recently purchased, and crashed into Monterey Bay. He had no drugs or alcohol in his system; it was found that he was unable to switch fuel tanks due to an unusual design. He was the only one onboard, and died from multiple blunt force trauma at the age of 53.
-
Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Wallace revived East Coast hip-hop with his debut album “Ready to Die” at a time when the West Coast was dominating the genre. His songwriting and production collaborations with artists such as Michael Jackson and with his protege group Junior M.A.F.I.A. further cemented his legacy; however, his accomplishments also fueled a rivalry with West Coast hip-hop members. Wallace was implicated in two shootings of West Coast rapper Tupac Shakur, the second of which killed him. Six months after Shakur’s murder, Wallace was in L.A. to promote his second album, and had just left a party with his entourage. While stopped at a light, a car pulled alongside Wallace’s SUV, and the driver shot into the vehicle. Wallace was struck four times, and died at the age of 24 while in surgery.
-
Tupac Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image One of the central figures in West Coast hip-hop, Shakur was praised for his socially conscious music, and also had a promising film career, working alongside such directors as John Singleton. However, multiple run-ins with the law, including prison time, and a heated rivalry with East Coast hip-hop members such as The Notorious B.I.G. plagued him. In 1994, Shakur was shot during a robbery, and he later accused Biggie and other members of the East Coast hip-hop scene for setting up the shooting. In 1996, Shakur and his entourage were involved in an attack on Orlando Anderson, a Crips gang member who had previously been involved in an attack on one of Shakur’s associates. A few hours later, Shakur was shot four times while traveling with his entourage, and died six days later at the age of 25 from his injuries.
-
Selena (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995)
Image Credit: Universal Music Latino “The Queen of Tejano Music” broke barriers in that male-dominated genre, becoming the most celebrated Latin singer in her short lifetime. She was the first Latin artist to debut at Number One on the Billboard 200, with her posthumous album “Dreaming of You.” Also a fashion icon, she founded Selena Etc. boutiques, and named Yolanda Saldivar, the president of her fan club, as manager. However, Selena’s family discovered that Saldivar had embezzled money from the fan club and the boutiques and fired her. When Selena met with her one-on-one at a motel to reclaim some tax documents, Saldivar shot her in the back, fatally injuring the 23-year-old singer.
-
Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image As lead singer and primary songwriter for Nirvana, Cobain is one of the most influential artists of the Seattle grunge movement, making Nirvana one of the best-selling groups of all time. However, an unstable home life, a family history of suicide and mental illness and health problems, including chronic bronchitis and an undiagnosed stomach condition, led to extensive drug use beginning at age 13. Shortly after a stint in rehab, Cobain was found dead in his home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Although conspiracies theories have floated that he was murdered, it was officially ruled that he died by suicide at the age of 27.
-
Freddie Mercury (September 5, 1946 – November 24, 1991)
Image Credit: News Licensing / MEGA With his impressive four-octave voice range and flamboyant costumes and performances, Mercury was arguably the greatest rock showman of all time. As singer and songwriter for Queen, his theatrics were profoundly influential on rock music. For years, it was suspected that Mercury was HIV positive; however, offstage Mercury was an extremely private person and did not confirm his diagnosis until November 23, 1991. Less than 24 hours later, he died at the age of 45 from bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS.
-
Stevie Ray Vaughan (October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990)
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC He wore many hats – singer, songwriter, record producer – but Vaughan’s skills with a guitar are what made him legendary. He was not only frontman of his own group Double Trouble, but also played his blues guitar on David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” album. Vaughan and his band had just finished opening for Eric Clapton at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in Wisconsin when he and three members of Clapton’s entourage left by helicopter. Shortly after takeoff, it crashed into the side of a ski slope, killing the pilot and all four passengers. Vaughan was only 35-years-old, but remains one of the most influential guitarists of all time.
-
Ricky Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985)
Image Credit: Beitia Archives / Digital Press Photos/Newscom/The Mega Agency With a popularity that rivaled Elvis’s, Nelson first found fame as part of his parent’s sitcom “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” and used that series to help launch his music career. His “Poor Little Fool” was the very first Number One hit on Billboard’s Top 100, and he eventually charted 63 songs on the legendary pop chart. His career eventually waned, but, in 1985, he embarked on a comeback tour, and bought a private plane for traveling. The plane, which had experienced ongoing mechanical issues, crash-landed, reportedly due to a fire from a faulty heater. Nelson and six passengers, including his girlfriend, were killed, while the two pilots were able to escape.
-
Marvin Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image With his impressive vocal range and gift for songwriting, Gaye helped shape the sound of Motown and became one of its first successful recording artists with hits like “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” Post-Motown, he found success with songs like the Grammy-winning “Sexual Healing.” Sadly, his personal life was haunted by a contentious relationship with his abusive father, depression and cocaine addiction, all of which led to three suicide attempts. He was home with his parents when he intervened in an argument between them, attacking his father; his father retrieved a handgun that Gaye had bought him for protection, and shot his son twice, killing him one day before his 45th birthday. His family feels this was Gaye’s final suicide attempt, as well as punishment for his abusive father, who received a suspended sentence and probation for voluntary manslaughter.
-
Karen Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Known for her incredible vocals, Carpenter is also admired as one of the few female and one of the most talented drummers of all time. She and her brother Richard had several hit songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including “We’ve Only Just Begun” and “(They Long to Be) Close to You.” Carpenter was plagued with body image issues, and began dieting at a young age; by 1975, she weighed 91 pounds. In a time when eating disorders weren’t widely discussed, she sought help, and by 1983, had gained some weight and seemed on the road to recovery. Sadly, she collapsed in her parents home and died shortly after arriving at the hospital, due to the damage to her heart from anorexia nervosa. Carpenter was only 32-years-old; she is credited with bringing public awareness to eating disorders.
-
Bob Marley (February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image With his “Wailers,” Marley blended reggae, ska and rocksteady and redefined this genre of music; as a songwriter, Marley gained famed after Eric Clapton covered “I Shot the Sheriff.” With his trademark dreadlocks and spirituality in his music, Marley remains an iconic Rastafari figure 40 years after his death. In 1977, Marley was diagnosed with a rare type of melanoma unrelated to sun exposure. The lesion was under a toenail, and he was advised to have the toe amputated, but he opted to have the nail and nail bed removed instead. Although he continued to record and tour, his health declined, and it was determined that the cancer had spread. Despite months of various treatments, he died in Miami at the age of 36. His posthumous greatest hit album “Legend” (1984) is the best-selling reggae album of all time.
-
John Lennon (October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980)
Image Credit: ZUMA Press / MEGA He was one-fourth of one of the most successful bands of all-time, one-half (with Paul McCartney) of one of the most successful songwriting duos of all time and a successful Grammy-winning solo artist. Lennon is a true rock icon, whose music, style, personal life and political activism are the stuff of legend. On December 8, 1980, Lennon obliged Mark David Chapman for an autograph; later that evening, as Lennon and Yoko Ono returned to their New York residence The Dakota, Chapman shot Lennon four times in the back. Chapman remained at the scene, claiming that he was emulating Holden Caulfield from “Catcher in the Rye.” A previous fan of the Beatles, Chapman was angry at Lennon for previous remarks he had made, and for some of his lyrics. Despite efforts to save Lennon, his injuries were too extensive and he died at the age of 40.
-
Ronnie Van Zant (January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977)
Image Credit: Courtesy of MCA As lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Van Zant fronted one of the most popular and influential Southern rock bands of the 1970s, known for hits like “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird.” At the height of their fame, the band was traveling from one venue to another by plane, which ran out of fuel and crash-landed in Gillsburg, MS. Van Zant was thrown from the plane and died on impact from head injuries. Many later claimed that Van Zant often said he wouldn’t live to 30; he was less than three months away from that milestone. Also killed were guitarist Steve Gaines (who had only been with the band for a year), Gaines’s sister Cassie ( who sang backup for the band), the band’s assistant road manager, the pilot and co-pilot; 20 others survived, most critically injured and rescued by local residents. With the losses of their frontman and lead guitarist, Lynyrd Skynyrd disbanded; ten years later, the surviving band members, one of their former guitarists and Van Zant’s younger brother Johnny regrouped and, with band members varying over the years, Lynyrd Skynyrd has continued to record and perform.
-
Elvis Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Although best known as the “King of Rock and Roll,” Presley found success in multiple genres, and remains the best-selling solo artist of all time. As a singer, actor and teen sensation, Presley was a force in changing the look and sound of music. However, years of substance abuse led to numerous health problems, and it has also been reported that he had an enlarged heart. The day Presley had planned to leave Memphis to start another concert tour, his girlfriend found him unresponsive on his bathroom floor. He was unable to be revived, and he was pronounced dead at the age of 42. Medical professionals differed on the extent that drugs played in his untimely death, and his official cause of death is heart disease.
-
Cass Elliot (September 19, 1941 – July 29, 1974)
Image Credit: Courtesy of BBC1 Elliot made a name for herself as one-fourth of the folk rock group The Mamas & the Papas, whose signature songs “California Dreamin’” and “Monday, Monday” helped define a generation. Later, she had a promising a solo career, and, in 1974, had a successful two-week show at the London Palladium. A few days after her last appearance, she died in her sleep at the age of 32. Rumors circulated for years that she had choked on a sandwich – Elliot had struggled with her weight throughout her short life – however, this was reportedly due to an offhand comment an attending doctor made to the press. There was a sandwich in her room, but no food in her windpipe; Elliot died of heart failure.
-
Jim Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image As frontman for The Doors, Morrison rose to fame with hits like “Light My Fire” and “People Are Strange,” and became a pop culture icon for teen rebellion. Not only a great vocalist, Morrison was known for his style, electrifying stage presence, and his numerous run-ins with law – he was, in fact, the first rock star to be arrested while performing live on stage. Drug and alcohol abuse caught up with him, and his longtime partner Pamela Courson found him dead at the age of 27 in the bathtub of a rented apartment in Paris. No autopsy was performed, and the official cause of death was heart failure; however, many individuals who were close to him at the time claim it was likely an accidental heroine overdose.
-
Janis Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970)
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC With her deep-throated growls, dynamic stage presence and edgy bohemian style, Joplin stood out among her peers. Her hits, including “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Piece of My Heart” and “Cry Baby,” continue to sell over half a century after her untimely death, making her one of the top-selling musicians in America. A self-proclaimed misfit, Joplin struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. She was found dead in her hotel room at the age of 27 from an accidental overdose of heroin.
-
Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image One of the greatest guitarists of all time, Hendrix pioneered new ways of producing music with amplifiers and effects units. As part of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, he released hits such as “Hey Joe” and “Purple Haze,” and eventually became the world’s highest-paid rock musician, headlining Woodstock in 1969. He was almost as famous for his alcohol and drug use as his musical talents. He spent most of his last day in London with his girlfriend, who awoke the next morning to find him barely breathing. He had asphyxiated on his own vomit due to an overdose of barbiturates, and died at the age of 27.
-
Otis Redding (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Rhino Entertainment One of the most successful and influential of the early soul singers and songwriters, Redding’s raw vocals and emotional delivery appealed to a vast audience, and he gained national acclaim with his electrifying performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. His career was cut terribly short, however, when his plane crashed en route to a performance in Wisconsin. Four members of his back-up band the Bar-Kays, a valet and the pilot were also killed; one member of the band survived. No cause for the crash was ever found. Redding was only 26-years-old; his iconic single “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” was released a month later and became the first posthumous Number One single on the Billboard Hot 100.
-
Nat King Cole (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image With one of the most “unforgettable” voices in music history, Cole fought racism to become a Grammy-winning singer, pianist, songwriter, actor and host of his own television series – the first African-American man to do so. He cemented his place in entertainment history with classics like “The Christmas Song,” “Mona Lisa,” “Too Young” and, of course, “Unforgettable.” He began having health problems, and was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in late 1964. He finished his last album, and, despite treatment efforts, passed away at the age of 45 less than two months after his diagnosis. His daughter Natalie had her own successful career, with her album honoring her father’s music (including a duet of “Unforgettable” with him ) winning several Grammys.
-
Sam Cooke (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964)
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC With his velvety voice, Cooke charted 29 singles in Billboard’s Top 40 in his short eight-year career, including hits like “Twistin’ the Night Away” and “Good Times,” and is considered a pioneer of the soul genre. When Cooke was 33 years-old, he got into an altercation with the manager of a motel, and she shot him in what she claimed was self-defense. Although a coroner’s jury eventually ruled it justifiable homicide, some of his friends and family believe there was a conspiracy to have him killed, with his manager thought to have a role; however, no evidence has ever supported these theories.
-
Patsy Cline (September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963)
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC With enduring hits like “Crazy,” “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “I Fall to Pieces,” Kline was one of the first artists to successfully cross over from county to pop music, and is considered one of the greatest vocalists of all time in any genre. Ironically, she survived life-threatening injuries from a car accident in 1961; less than two years later, she was killed in a small-engine plane crash in Tennessee. The plane had taken off in unfavorable weather conditions; the pilot was inexperienced and he likely became disoriented due to low visibility. Cline, the pilot and fellow country music performers Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins were all killed on impact. In 1973, Cline became the first solo female performer to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
-
Billie Holiday (April 7, 1915- July 17, 1959)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS One of the most well-renown jazz singers of the swing era, Holiday found fame with her renditions of such hits as “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” “Summertime,” “Strange Fruit” and “God Bless the Child.” She was one of the first African-American female singers to work with a white band (Artie Shaw), and performed to sold-out audiences at Carnegie Hall. Despite these successes, her personal life was hounded by abusive relationships, a difficult temperament and substance abuse, which led to a brief stint in prison. In 1959, she was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver; while in the hospital she was arrested on a narcotics charge and handcuffed to her bed. She died at the age of 44 from pulmonary edema and heart failure resulting from cirrhosis of the liver.
-
Buddy Holly (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image One of the earliest and most influential rock-and-roll pioneers, Holly is credited with popularizing the use of two guitars, bass and drums by rock bands, experimenting with double tracking and writing a huge catalogue of songs that helped shape the genre, including “That’ll Be the Day” and “It’s So Easy.” During this same time, teenager Ritchie Valens was pioneering the Spanish-speaking rock and roll movement, with songs like “La Bamba” inspiring Latino musicians; he is considered the first Latino to find success in mainstream rock and roll. J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson was also gaining popularity, as a songwriter and guitarist who wrote George Jones’s first Number One Country Hit (“White Lightning”) and as a performer known for his humor with such hits as “Chantilly Lace.” All three artists, along with the group Dion and the Belmonts, formed a 24-day, 24-city “Winter Dance Party” tour throughout the Midwest. For the tour, they used buses that were breaking down in wintery conditions, with travel often lasting most of a day due to poor scheduling. Holly charted a small plane that would carry him, Valens and Richardson to the next venue. The pilot and all three artists were killed shortly after takeoff when the plane crashed into a nearby cornfield; Holly was 22, Richardson was 28 and Valens was only 17.
‘ Este Articulo puede contener información publicada por terceros, algunos detalles de este articulo fueron extraídos de la siguiente fuente: www.goldderby.com ’
