Deaths Famous Dead Musicians
Terry Sullivan
British drummer (Renaissance) · 09 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 9
Guy Moon
American television composer (The Fairly OddParents · 09 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 9
Ted Nichols Composer dead at age 97
an American composer, conductor and arranger best known for his work on Hanna-Barbera productions including The Flintstones and Jonny Quest, died on January 9, 2026, at age 97. Born Theodore Nicholas Sflotsos on October 2, 1928, in Missoula, Montana, he… · 09 January 2026 · January 2026
Rolf Riehm
German composer (Sirenen – Bilder des Begehrens und des Vernichtens) · 07 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 7
Jim McBride
American country music songwriter · 06 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 6
Mike Embro
Canadian drummer (Razor) · 05 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 5
Andrew Bodnar
English bass guitarist (The Rumour) · 04 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 4
Elsje de Wijn
Dutch actress and singer · 04 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 4 · Dutch · Wijn
Calbo
French rapper (Ärsenik) · 03 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 3 · French
Johnny Legend
American rockabilly musician · 02 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 2
Mesut İktu
Turkish operatic baritone · 02 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 2 · Other
Tony Carr
Maltese session drummer and percussionist (CCS · 01 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 1
Hayden Thompson American rockabilly musician dead at age 87
an American singer, songwriter and rockabilly musician, died on December 31, 2025, at age 87. Born in Booneville, Mississippi, Thompson was a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. He formed the Southern Melody Boys in high school and later… · 31 December 2025 · December 2025
Bobby Gosh American musician and singer-songwriter dead at age 89
an American musician and singer-songwriter known for writing “A Little Bit More,” died on December 31, 2025, at age 89. Born Robert Gosch on May 31, 1936, in Stouchsburg, Pennsylvania, he grew up in Reading and studied classical piano from… · 31 December 2025 · December 2025
Andy Billups
British bass guitarist (The Hamsters) · 29 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 29
Richard Smallwood
American gospel singer ("Total Praise") · 29 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 29
Denny Tsao
Taiwanese singer and actor (Westgate Tango) (body discovered on this date) · 29 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 29
Michael J. Schumacher Writer, journalist, biographer dead at age 75
an American journalist and author, died on December 29, 2025, at age 75. Born in Topeka, Kansas, on May 22, 1950, he wrote biographies of Beat Generation poet Allen Ginsberg, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, musicians Eric Clapton and Phil Ochs,… · 29 December 2025 · December 2025
James Akins (tubist) Musician dead at age 69
an American tubist and music professor best known for his association with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, died on December 29, 2025, at age 69. Born in Savannah, Georgia, on June 15, 1956, he studied the tuba with Ronald Bishop, Arnold… · 29 December 2025 · December 2025
Maria Pellegrini Canadian operatic soprano dead at age 86
the Canadian operatic soprano, died on December 28, 2025. Born in Pretoro, Italy, on July 15, 1939, she emigrated to Canada with her family in 1958 and became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1965. She studied voice at The Royal… · 28 December 2025 · December 2025
Monic Cecconi-Botella French pianist, composer and academic dead at age 89
a French pianist, music educator and composer, died on December 28, 2025. Born in Courbevoie on September 30, 1936, she studied at the Conservatoire de Paris with Maurice Duruflé, Jean Rivier and Henri Dutilleux. She later taught music theory at… · 28 December 2025 · December 2025
Gary Graffman
American classical pianist · 26 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 26
Marcia Rodd Actress dead at age 87
an American actress, singer and director known for Little Murders, Shelter and Handle with Care, died on December 27, 2025, at age 87. Born in Lyons, Kansas, on July 8, 1938, she studied theatre at Northwestern University before moving to… · 27 December 2025 · December 2025
Jonathan Powell (musician) British pianist and musicologist dead at age 56
the British pianist, musicologist and music editor, died on December 27, 2025, aged 56. Born in Lancashire in 1969, he was also a self-taught composer who wrote piano sonatas, string quartets and other chamber music. As a performer and scholar,… · 27 December 2025 · December 2025
Stu Phillips
Canadian-American country singer · 26 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 26
Tony Ocasio
Puertorican singer (Los Chicos) · 25 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 25
Perry Bamonte
English Hall of Fame guitarist (The Cure · 25 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 25
Justus Zeyen
German pianist and accompanist · 25 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 25
Pate Mustajärvi
Finnish musician (Popeda) · 25 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 25
Don Bryant (songwriter) American rhythm and blues singer and songwriter dead at age 83
the American rhythm and blues singer and songwriter known for "I Can't Stand the Rain," died on December 26, 2025, at age 83. Born Donald Maurice Bryant on April 4, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, he began singing in church at… · 26 December 2025 · December 2025
Robert Mosci American jazz musician and pianist dead at age 72
an American jazz musician and pianist, died on December 25, 2025. Also a singer and songwriter, he was known for his long-standing performances at New York City piano bars, including the Beekman Tower Hotel’s Top of the Tower bar and… · 25 December 2025 · December 2025
Isaiah Jackson (conductor) American conductor dead at age 80
an American conductor and academic teacher, died on December 24, 2025, at age 80. He was music director of the Royal Ballet in London from 1987 to 1990 and, from 2001, served for seven years as conductor of the Pro… · 24 December 2025 · December 2025
Paa Kow
Ghanaian Highlife and Afro-Fusion drummer and composer · 22 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 22
Jerry Kasenetz
American music producer ("Yummy Yummy Yummy" · 21 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 21 · Other
Chris Rea
English singer-songwriter ("Driving Home for Christmas" · 21 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 21
Ken Downie
British musician (The Black Dog) · 21 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 21
Ray Lynch American musician and songwriter, complications from a fall dead at age 82
an American musician and songwriter known for "Celestial Soda Pop," died on December 22, 2025, in California at the age of 82 from complications from a fall. Born Raymond Augustus Lynch on July 3, 1943, in Salt Lake City, Utah,… · 22 December 2025 · December 2025
Jontho
Norwegian vocalist (Ragnarok) · 21 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 21
Robbie Kondor
American film composer (Happiness · 20 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 20
Mick Abrahams
English guitarist and singer (Jethro Tull · 19 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 19
Goldwire McLendon
American gospel singer. · 19 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 19
Richard Barnes (musician) British singer and actor dead at age 81
the British singer and actor known for his work in pop music and television roles, died on December 19, 2025, aged 81. Born in Surrey in 1944, he began his professional music career with The Quiet Five, playing bass guitar… · 19 December 2025 · December 2025
Phil Vinall
English record producer and engineer (Black Sea · 17 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 17 · Other
Marcel de Sade
Danish convicted fraudster and musician · 16 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 16 · Sade
Max Eider
British guitarist (The Jazz Butcher) and songwriter · 16 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 16
DJ Warras
South African radio and club DJ · 16 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 16 · Other
Abdel Gadir Salim
Sudanese singer and bandleader · 16 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 16 · Salim
John Boulter
British tenor (The Black and White Minstrel Show) · 16 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 16 · Other
Richard Grégoire
Canadian film and television composer · 16 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 16
Joe Ely
American musician (The Flatlanders) · 15 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 15
Carl Carlton
American singer and songwriter (“Everlasting Love” · 14 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 14
Brenda Lucas Ogdon English concert pianist dead at age 90
an English concert pianist, died on December 14, 2025, at the age of 90. She was known for her solo work and for her long-standing duet partnership with her husband, the pianist John Ogdon · 14 December 2025 · December 2025
Abraham Quintanilla
American musician and talent manager (Selena) · 12 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 12
Manny Guerra
American Tejano musician (Sunny and the Sunglows) and record producer · 12 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 12
Brent McLachlan
New Zealand drummer (Bailter Space) · 10 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 10
Ernest McCarty American bass player dead at age 84
an American bass player, composer and playwright, died on December 11, 2025, at age 84. Born in Chicago on March 26, 1941, he was an upright bass player known for performing with Erroll Garner from 1970 until Garner’s death in… · 11 December 2025 · December 2025
Junior King South African dancer, TikTok personality and rapper, traffic collision dead at age 28
a South African dancer, TikTok personality and rapper, died on December 11, 2025, in a traffic collision in Verkeerdevlei, Free State, South Africa. Born Dugulth Ferreira in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, around 1996 or 1997, he was also a choreographer and… · 11 December 2025 · December 2025
Roberto Iniesta
Spanish singer (Extremoduro) · 09 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 9
Bernie Toorish
Canadian-American singer (The Four Lads) · 08 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 8
Raul Malo
American singer and guitarist (The Mavericks) · 08 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 8 · Raúl
Peter McFarlane
Australian rock drummer (Finch · 08 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 8
Yaya Moektio
Indonesian musician drummer (Cockpit · 07 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 7
Rory MacLeod
American musician (Roomful of Blues) · 07 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 7