Neil Sedaka, the American singer, songwriter and pianist known for “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” died on February 27, 2026. He began his music career in 1957 and sold millions of records worldwide. Sedaka wrote or co-wrote more than… · 27 February 2026 · February 2026
Travis Wammack, an American rock and roll guitarist, died on February 27, 2026, at the age of 81. Travis Lavoid Wammack Sr. was born on November 19, 1944, in Walnut, Mississippi, and was from Memphis, Tennessee. He worked as a… · 27 February 2026 · February 2026
Roscoe Robinson, an American gospel and soul singer, died on February 26, 2026, at age 97. Born in Dermott, Arkansas, in 1928, he recorded as a gospel solo artist in the 1950s with Trumpet Records and also sang with the… · 26 February 2026 · February 2026
Utsav Charan Das, an Indian dancer, lyricist, music composer and playwright, died on February 26, 2026. He was born in 1945 or 1946 in Mania village, then in Orissa Province, British India, and died in Choudwar, Cuttack district, Odisha, India,… · 26 February 2026 · February 2026
La Academia, the Mexican reality musical talent television series shown on TV Azteca, died on February 25, 2026. The program premiered in June 2002 and was in its thirteenth installment. It shared the competition format of many versions of the… · 25 February 2026 · February 2026 · La.
Ariel, the Russian pop/rock band based in Chelyabinsk, died on February 25, 2026. Formed in 1967 from the merger of two earlier ensembles, Ariel and Allegro, the group was headed by Valery Yarushin and, from 1989 to the present day,… · 25 February 2026 · February 2026
Uncle Joe Benson, an American rock radio DJ at KLOS, died on February 24, 2026, of complications from Parkinson's disease, dementia and a fall. He was 76. Benson was known professionally as "Uncle Joe" and worked in rock radio. · Parkinson's Disease Dementia And A Fall · 24 February 2026 · February 2026 · "Uncle
Roman Kofman, the Ukrainian conductor, violinist and composer, died on February 24, 2026, at age 89. Born in Kyiv in 1936, he was a music educator and was named a People's Artist of Ukraine in 2003. He was internationally known… · 24 February 2026 · February 2026
Éliane Radigue, the French composer, died on February 23, 2026, in Paris at the age of 94. Born in Paris on January 24, 1932, she began working in the 1950s and had her first compositions presented in the late 1960s.… · 23 February 2026 · February 2026
Monti Rock III, the American singer known for "Get Dancin'," died on February 23, 2026, at age 86. Born Joseph Moses Montanez Jr. on May 29, 1939, in New York City, he was also known professionally as Sir Monti Rock… · 23 February 2026 · February 2026
Fan Tsung-pei, a Taiwanese cellist and composer, died on February 22, 2026. He graduated from National Taiwan Academy of Arts and served as the lead cellist of the National Concert Hall Symphony Orchestra for nine years, until 1997. In 1997,… · China · 22 February 2026 · February 2026
James Dear, known professionally as Luci4, was an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer, died on February 22, 2026, at age 23. Born in Los Angeles, he began making music after getting a laptop for Christmas and started his career… · 22 February 2026 · February 2026
John Bertalot, an English organist who served at Blackburn Cathedral in England and at Trinity Church in Princeton, New Jersey, died on February 22, 2026. Born in Maidstone, Kent, on September 15, 1931, he was inspired to study the organ… · 22 February 2026 · February 2026
Mark Kennedy, an Australian musician and record producer who played drums for Spectrum, Ayers Rock and Marcia Hines, died on February 21, 2026, aged 74. Born in Melbourne on August 20, 1951, he was trained in classical piano at the… · 21 February 2026 · February 2026
Richard Felciano, an American composer, died on February 21, 2026, in San Francisco at the age of 95. Born in Santa Rosa, California, on December 7, 1930, he studied at San Francisco State College, earning a BA in 1952, and… · 21 February 2026 · February 2026
Pete Dello, the British singer and songwriter best known as lead singer of Honeybus, died on February 21, 2026, at the age of 83. Born Peter James Blumsom in Oxford in 1942, he began his career in the skiffle era… · England · 21 February 2026 · February 2026
Buranovskiye Babushki, the Russian Udmurt-Russian ethno-pop band known as the "Buranovo Grannies," died on February 21, 2026. The group comprised eight elderly women from the village of Buranovo, Udmurtia, and was active from 1970 to 2018. Buranovskiye Babushki represented Russia… · 21 February 2026 · February 2026
Willie Colón, an American salsa musician and actor, died on February 21, 2026. Born William Anthony Colón Román on April 28, 1950, he began his career as a trombonist and later sang, wrote, produced and acted. He was a pioneer… · 21 February 2026 · February 2026 · Colon
Mexican composer and music arranger · 19 February 2026 · February 2026 · February 19 · Santiago
Nikolai Komyagin, the Russian singer best known as the vocalist of the experimental band Shortparis, died on February 20, 2026. He was 39. Born in Novokuznetsk on January 31, 1987, Komyagin was also a poet, musician and actor. He was… · 20 February 2026 · February 2026
Angela Luce, the Italian actress and singer known professionally as Angela Luce, died on February 20, 2026, in Naples, Italy, at the age of 87. Born Angela Savino in Naples on December 3, 1938, she was active as an actress… · 20 February 2026 · February 2026 · Heart Failure
Shortparis, the Russian experimental music band formed in Saint Petersburg in 2011, died on February 20, 2026. The group was formed by Nikolai Komyagin, Alexander Ionin and Pavel Lesnikov, who met in their hometown of Novokuznetsk before moving to Saint… · 20 February 2026 · February 2026
Mexican composer and music arranger · 17 February 2026 · February 2026 · February 17 · Fernández
Lil Poppa, the American rapper, singer and songwriter born Janarious Mykel Wheeler, died on February 18, 2026, at age 25. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, he rose to prominence with his 2018 song "Purple Hearts." He was also known for… · 18 February 2026 · February 2026
Trevor Oakes, the English guitarist and songwriter best known for his work with Showaddywaddy, died on February 18, 2026, aged 79. Born Trevor Leslie Oakes in Leicester on September 9, 1946, he was a member of the glam rock band… · 18 February 2026 · February 2026
Béatrice Ardisson, a French composer, died on February 18, 2026, at the age of 62. Born Béatrice Loustalan in Auch, France, on July 26, 1963, she produced a variety of songs in the 1990s alongside her husband, Thierry Ardisson, whom… · 18 February 2026 · February 2026 · Cancer
Kazue Sawai, a Japanese koto player and musician, died on February 17, 2026. Born in Kyoto on January 1, 1941, she began studying the koto at age eight with Michio Miyagi and later graduated from the Tokyo National University of… · 17 February 2026 · February 2026
Shinya Yamada, the Japanese musician best known as the drummer of Luna Sea, died on February 17, 2026, at age 56 of cancer. Born in Hadano, Kanagawa, on January 13, 1970, he was also a media personality and businessman. He… · 17 February 2026 · February 2026
Jim Čert, the Czech singer and accordionist born František Horáček, died on February 17, 2026, at the age of 69. Born in Prague on February 25, 1956, he was known for writing ballads based on East Slavic folklore, as well… · 17 February 2026 · February 2026
José van Dam, the Belgian bass-baritone known internationally for his work in opera, died on February 17, 2026, at the age of 85. Born Joseph Van Damme in Ixelles, part of Brussels, on August 25, 1940, he studied at the… · France · 17 February 2026 · February 2026
Ray Reach, an American musician, died on February 17, 2026, at age 77. Born Raymond Everett Reach Jr. in Birmingham, Alabama, he worked as a pianist, vocalist, guitarist, composer, arranger, music producer and educator. He performed and recorded in jazz,… · 17 February 2026 · February 2026
Czech musician and pedagogue · 15 February 2026 · February 2026 · February 15 · Czech
Billy Steinberg, an American songwriter known for "Like a Virgin," died on February 16, 2026, at age 75. Born William Endfield Steinberg in Fresno, California, he achieved his greatest success in the 1980s with songwriting partner Tom Kelly. Together they… · 16 February 2026 · February 2026
Homo Sapiens, the Italian singer and bassist associated with the pop rock group Homo Sapiens, died on February 16, 2026. The group, sometimes spelled Gli Homo Sapiens, was mainly successful in the 1970s. Formed in the late 1960s as I… · 16 February 2026 · February 2026
We the People, the American guitarist associated with the Orlando garage rock band We the People, died on February 15, 2026. The band formed in late 1965 and was professionally active from 1966 to 1970, drawing members from several Orlando-based… · 15 February 2026 · February 2026
Theodore Seio Chihara, an American mathematician, died on February 15, 2026. He worked on orthogonal polynomials and introduced the Al-Salam–Chihara, Brenke–Chihara and Chihara–Ismail polynomials. Chihara earned his PhD from Purdue University, where his thesis advisor was Arthur Rosenthal. He was… · 15 February 2026 · February 2026
La Voz (Mexican TV series) season 8, identified in the provided information as a Bolivian singer and a contestant on The Voice of Mexico, died on February 15, 2026. The eighth season of La Voz premiered March 12, 2019 on… · 15 February 2026 · February 2026 · La.
Merauder, an American guitarist associated with the band Merauder, died on February 14, 2026. Merauder was an American metalcore band from New York City, formed in 1990. The group established itself on the New York hardcore and metal scene through… · 14 February 2026 · February 2026
We All Together, the Peruvian rock and roll band formed in 1971, died on February 14, 2026. The group composed songs in English and Spanish and was known for “Carry On Till Tomorrow,” a cover of the Badfinger song, as… · 14 February 2026 · February 2026
Anna Ranalli, the Italian model, singer and actress, died on February 14, 2026, at the age of 84. Born in San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy, on January 21, 1942, she was named Miss Europe 1960, becoming the second Italian woman… · 14 February 2026 · February 2026
Manchester Orchestra, the American rock drummer for the Atlanta indie rock band Manchester Orchestra, died on February 14, 2026. The band formed in 2004 and was led by singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist Andy Hull, with lead guitarist Robert McDowell… · 14 February 2026 · February 2026
Milkman (rapper), the Mexican rapper, producer and composer known professionally as MLKMN, died on February 13, 2026. Born Óscar Botello on April 11, 1989, he was born in Monterrey, Mexico and raised in Laredo, Texas. In 2014, he released the… · 13 February 2026 · February 2026
Simon Harris, a British music producer, DJ, remixer and electronic musician, died on February 13, 2026, aged 63. Born in London, he was predominantly known for his 1988 hit "Bass (How Low Can You Go?)". Harris began as a mobile… · 13 February 2026 · February 2026 · Simón
S. M. Joe Simon, an Indian film director, actor, lyricist, and screenplay and story writer, died on February 12, 2026, of a heart attack. He was known for his work in Kannada cinema and directed films including "Mr. Vasu" (1995),… · 12 February 2026 · February 2026 · Simón
Michel Portal, the French composer, saxophonist and clarinetist, died on February 12, 2026, at the age of 90. Born in Bayonne on November 27, 1935, he studied clarinet at the Conservatoire de Paris and conducting with Pierre Dervaux. Portal worked… · 12 February 2026 · February 2026
László Somfai, a Hungarian musicologist, died on February 11, 2026. Born in Jászladány on August 15, 1934, he studied history of music and graduated in 1959 with a dissertation on the classical string quartet idiom of Joseph Haydn. He later… · 11 February 2026 · February 2026
Helmuth Rilling, the German choral conductor and academic teacher who was internationally known as an authority on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, died on February 11, 2026. Born in Stuttgart on May 29, 1933, he founded the Gächinger Kantorei… · 11 February 2026 · February 2026
Jerry Kennedy, an American record producer, songwriter and guitarist, died on February 11, 2026. Born Jerry Glenn Kennedy in Shreveport, Louisiana, on August 10, 1940, he worked in country music and rock and roll and was active from 1961 to… · 11 February 2026 · February 2026
Andrew Ranken, an English drummer best known for his work with the Pogues, died on February 10, 2026, at the age of 72. Born in London on November 13, 1953, he played with several bands during his career, including the… · 10 February 2026 · February 2026
Des de Moor, English writer, singer, musician and songwriter, died on February 10, 2026. In 1987, he formed The Irresistible Force with Morris Gould, also known as Mixmaster Morris. Among his best-known works was Darkness and Disgrace: Des de Moor… · 10 February 2026 · February 2026
Garland Green, an American soul singer and pianist, died on February 9, 2026. Born Garfield Green Jr. on June 14, 1942, in Dunleith, Mississippi, he was the tenth of 11 children. He lived in Mississippi until 1958, then moved to… · 09 February 2026 · February 2026
Kåre Grøttum, the Norwegian jazz pianist and composer, died on February 7, 2026, aged 92. Born Kåre Idar Grøttum in Trondheim on January 24, 1934, he was also a music arranger and a presenter in NRK. He was active as… · 07 February 2026 · February 2026
Brad Arnold, the American singer and lead vocalist of 3 Doors Down, died on February 7, 2026, at age 47. Born Bradley Kirk Arnold in Escatawpa, Mississippi, on September 27, 1978, he co-founded the rock band in 1996 with Todd… · 07 February 2026 · February 2026
Matti Caspi, an Israeli singer-songwriter, composer, musician, arranger and lyricist, died on February 7, 2026, at age 76. Born in Kibbutz Hanita on November 30, 1949, he began developing an interest in music as a child after hearing Shmuel Gogol… · 07 February 2026 · February 2026
Ebo Taylor, a Ghanaian musician, guitarist, composer, bandleader, record producer and arranger, died on February 7, 2026. Born Deroy Taylor in Cape Coast, then in the Gold Coast colony, on January 6, 1936, he began playing piano at age six… · 07 February 2026 · February 2026
Tres Chicas, the American country musician and alternative country group from Raleigh, North Carolina, died on February 6, 2026. The group formed in 1999 after Lynn Blakey, Caitlin Cary and Tonya Lamm began singing together, following meetings that had brought… · 06 February 2026 · February 2026
Helen and Joseph, the Maltese singing duo of Joe Cutajar and Helen Micallef, died on February 5, 2026, aged 75. Best known for their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 1972 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the duo was active from 1972… · 05 February 2026 · February 2026
Janina Borońska, a Polish film and theatre actress, died on February 5, 2026, at the age of 82. Born in Litzmannstadt, Reichsgau Wartheland, Germany, now Łódź, Poland, on June 16, 1943, she debuted in theater in 1966 and graduated from… · 05 February 2026 · February 2026
Fred Smith, the American bassist best known for his work with the rock band Television, died on February 5, 2026, at the age of 77. Born Fredrick Edward Lefkowitz in New York City on April 10, 1948, he performed with… · 05 February 2026 · February 2026 · Cancer
Tamás Vásáry, the Hungarian pianist and conductor, died on February 5, 2026, at the age of 92. Born in Debrecen on August 11, 1933, he began as a child prodigy, playing Mozart in public at age eight and later studying… · 05 February 2026 · February 2026
Greg Brown, an American musician and songwriter known for his work with Cake and Deathray, died on February 5, 2026. Born Gregory Paul Brown in Sacramento, California, on January 3, 1970, he was a founding member of Cake and played… · 05 February 2026 · February 2026
François Beukelaers, the Belgian actor and stage director, died on February 4, 2026. Born in Vilvoorde on February 2, 1938, he was also a singer and educator whose career ran from 1965 to 2026. Herman Teirlinck encouraged him to study… · 04 February 2026 · February 2026
Tōsha Meishō, a Japanese hayashi musician, died on February 4, 2026. Born Isao Nakagawa in Tokyo in 1941, he was one of a long line of Tōsha school musicians specializing in musical accompaniment for kabuki theatre. He began studying under… · 04 February 2026 · February 2026
The Elegants, the American doo-wop vocal group formed in 1958 in South Beach, Staten Island, New York, died on February 4, 2026. The group was started by Vito Picone, Arthur Venosa, Frank Tardogno, Carman Romano and James Moschello. Before their… · 04 February 2026 · February 2026
Tommy Crook, an American guitarist, died on February 4, 2026, at the age of 81. Thomas Paul Crook was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on February 16, 1944, and lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, throughout his life. He began playing guitar at… · 04 February 2026 · February 2026
Ron Kenoly, an American Christian worship leader, singer and songwriter, died on February 3, 2026, at age 81. Born in Coffeyville, Kansas, on December 6, 1944, he grew up there and began his music career after leaving the United States… · 03 February 2026 · February 2026
Lamonte McLemore, an American singer, actor, composer and photographer who was a founding member of The 5th Dimension, died on February 3, 2026, at age 90. Born Herman Lamonte McLemore in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 17, 1935, he was… · 03 February 2026 · February 2026
S. P. Venkatesh, the Indian film score composer and music director known for his work in Malayalam cinema, died on February 3, 2026, at the age of 70. Also credited as Sangeetharajan or Sangeetha Raja, he worked primarily in Malayalam… · 03 February 2026 · February 2026
Alfonso Buller, an English MC, dancer and music promoter, died on February 2, 2026. Best known as the co-founder of the sound system MVITA, he was a key figure in the Madchester scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s.… · 02 February 2026 · February 2026
Yuan Wei-jen, a Taiwanese singer-songwriter and music producer, died on February 2, 2026. Born on June 24, 1968, he rose to fame in 1991 as part of the duo Fanren with Mo Fan, winning the Golden Melody Award for Best… · China · 02 February 2026 · February 2026
Slave, the American Ohio-based funk band formed in Dayton in 1975 by trombonist Floyd Miller and trumpeter Steve Washington, died on February 2, 2026. The group was popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s and worked in funk, R&B,… · 02 February 2026 · February 2026
Chuck Negron, an American singer-songwriter best known as a founding member and lead vocalist of the rock band Three Dog Night, died on February 2, 2026, of heart failure and COPD in Studio City, Los Angeles, California. Born Charles Negron… · 02 February 2026 · February 2026
Kenneth Joseph Peplowski, an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist, died on February 2, 2026, at age 66. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 23, 1959, he was known primarily for playing swing music. For more than a decade, he… · 02 February 2026 · February 2026
Japanese-American musician · 31 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 31
Graham Morgan, an Australian drummer and teacher of drumming, died on February 1, 2026, aged 88. Born in Melbourne on April 30, 1937, he was educated at Melbourne Grammar School. In 1962, he travelled to Los Angeles to study under… · 01 February 2026 · February 2026
Fernando Esteso, a Spanish actor and singer best known for his film appearances with Andrés Pajares, died on February 1, 2026, in Valencia, Spain, at the age of 80. Born in Zaragoza on February 16, 1945, he began performing as… · 01 February 2026 · February 2026
Don Adams, an American country singer, died on February 1, 2026. Born in Ross County, Ohio, on January 4, 1941, he often supported George Jones, including on Live at Dancetown U.S.A. (1965), and also sang with Johnny Paycheck. Adams was… · 01 February 2026 · February 2026
American percussionist and drummer (Santana · 30 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 30
American musician (ELO Part II) · 30 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 30
Moroccan singer · 29 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 29
Martin Bruns, a Swiss baritone and music lecturer, died on January 30, 2026. Born in Weil am Rhein on November 25, 1960, he was a member of the Knabenkantorei Basel during his school years. He studied violin at the City… · 30 January 2026 · January 2026
H. Robert Reynolds, an American musician, conductor and academic, died on January 30, 2026, at the age of 91. He was principal conductor of the Wind Ensemble at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where… · 30 January 2026 · January 2026
British theatre organist and radio presenter (The Organist Entertains) · 28 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 28
Swiss musician and painter · 28 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 28 · Swiss
American songwriter ("Do the Bartman") · 28 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 28
Australian Aboriginal mezzo-soprano singer · 27 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 27
Japanese guitarist · 26 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 26
American jazz pianist and composer · 26 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 26
French baritone and music director · 26 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 26 · French · Other
Sri Lankan journalist and lyricist · 26 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 26