Deaths Famous Dead Musicians

Tiersten in 2009

Jonathan Tiersten public figure dead at age 60

Jonathan Tiersten, an American actor known for Sleepaway Camp, died on May 5, 2026, at age 60. Tiersten portrayed Ricky Thomas in the 1983 cult film Sleepaway Camp and later reprised the role in the 2008 sequel Return to Sleepaway…

Tülay Özer 1988

Tülay Özer Turkish singer dead at age 79

Tülay Özer, a Turkish singer, died on May 1, 2026, at the age of 79. Born on December 10, 1946, in Kemaliye, Turkey, she began her professional music career in 1972 after working in accountancy. She was known for pop…

Mimi Coertse in Vienna

Mimi Coertse South African soprano dead at age 93

Mimi Coertse, the South African soprano, died on April 27, 2026, aged 93. Born Maria Sophia Coertse in Durban on June 12, 1932, she matriculated at Helpmekaar Girls High School in Johannesburg and began vocal studies in South Africa in…

Slenczynska, c. 1957

Ruth Slenczynska public figure dead at age 101

Ruth Slenczynska, an American classical pianist, died on April 23, 2026. She was 101. Slenczynska was born in Sacramento, California, on January 15, 1925, and was the last living piano student of Sergei Rachmaninoff. She studied in Europe from age…

Gregg Foreman public figure dead at age 53

Gregg Foreman, an American musician and DJ, died on April 22, 2026, at age 53. Born in Philadelphia on October 5, 1972, he was the front man of The Delta 72, a band known for a frenetic style drawing on…

Ernie Smith appearing at Jamaica Awareness Association of California (JAAC) 25th Anniversary event in Los Angeles on 5 November 2011.

Ernie Smith Jamaican reggae singer dead at age 80

Ernie Smith, a Jamaican reggae singer, died on April 16, 2026, at the age of 80. Born Glenroy Anthony Michael Archangelo Smith in Kingston, Jamaica, in May 1945, he was raised in St. Ann and May Pen. He played guitar…

Men Without Hats performing in 2011

Al Gunn public figure dies

Al Gunn, a Canadian bassist best known for his work with Men Without Hats, died on April 13, 2026. News of his death was announced on that date. Gunn played bass with the Montreal-founded new wave and synth-pop band, which…