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List of musicians who died before the age of 60

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27BOZOS Rock, pop and blues music has a long history of premature deaths of influential musicians.

May these musicians rest in peace.

Died in Teens[]

Artist Notoriety Age Born Died Cause of Death
Ritchie Valens Singer 17 May 13, 1941 February 3, 1959 Airplane Crash[1]
Rina Matsuno Japanese Idol and Member of Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku 18 July 16, 1998 February 8, 2017 Cardiac Arrhythmia
Yukiko Okada Japanese Idol 18 August 22, 1967 April 8, 1986 Suicide
Hiromi Yanagihara Singer 19 October 19, 1979 July 16, 1999[2] car crash
Yaki Kadafi Rapper and Member of Outlawz 19 October 9, 1977 November 10, 1996 Shooting

Died in 20s[]

Artist Notoriety Age Born Died Cause of Death
XXXTentacion Rapper/Singer 20 January 23, 1998 June 18, 2018 Shot to death
Pop Smoke Rapper 20 July 20, 1999 February 19, 2020 Gunshot wounds
Siinamota Japanese Pop Musician 20 March 9, 1995 July 23, 2015 Suicide, though unknown if fully true
Eddie Cochran Rock and roll musician 21 October 3, 1938 April 17, 1960 Traffic accident
Sid Vicious Bassist of Sex Pistols 21 May 10, 1957 February 2, 1979 Heroin overdose
Juice WRLD Rapper/Singer 21 December 2, 1998 December 8, 2019 Codeine and Oxycodone Overdose
Lil Peep Rapper/Singer 21 November 1, 1996 November 15, 2017 Accidental Drug Overdose
6Dogs Rapper/Singer 21 May 5, 1999 January 26, 2021 Suicide
Agustin Briolini Vocalist / Guitarist of Argentine band The Krebs 22 April 6, 1992 November 23, 2014 Electrocution via improperly grounded microphone.
Darby Crash Vocalist of The Germs 22 September 26, 1958 December 7, 1980 Suicide
Buddy Holly Vocalist of The Crickets 22 September 7, 1936 February 3, 1959 Airplane crash
Aaliyah Singer 22 January 16, 1979 August 25, 2001 Plane crash
Ariel Camacho Lead singer of Los Plebes del Rancho de Ariel Camacho 22 July 8, 1992 February 25, 2015 Car accident
Per "Dead" Yngve Ohlin Vocalist of Mayhem 22 16 January 1969 8 April 1991 Suicide
Christina Grimmie Singer 22 March 12, 1994 June 10, 2016 Murdered - Gunshot
Bobby Fuller Singer/Songwriter, member of The Bobby Fuller Four 23 October 22, 1942 July 18, 1966 Suicide or accident
Ian Curtis Vocalist of Joy Division 23 15 July 1956 18 May 1980 Suicide
Selena Singer 23 April 16, 1971 March 31, 1995 Gunshot wounds
Duane Allman Guitarist and founder of the Allman Brothers Band 24 November 20, 1946 October 29, 1971 Motorcycle crash
Tammi Terrell Singer 24 April 29, 1945 March 16, 1970 Complications Related To Brain Tumor
Cliff Burton Bassist of Metallica 24 February 10, 1962 September 27, 1986 Bus Crash
Andrew Wood Vocalist of Malfunkshun, Mother Love Bone 24 January 8, 1966 March 19, 1990 Hypoxic Encephalopathy caused by Heroin Overdose
Stefanie Sargent Bassist of 7 Year Bitch 24 June 1, 1968 June 27, 1992 Drug and alcohol related asphyxia
The Notorious B.I.G. Rapper 24 May 21, 1972 March 9, 1997 Gunshot wounds
Lil' Chris Singer-songwriter 24 August 26, 1990 March 23, 2015 Suicide by hanging
Charlie Ondras Drummer of Unsane and Boss Hog 25 October 5, 1966 June 22, 1992 Heroin Overdose
Tupac Shakur Rapper 25 June 16, 1971 September 13, 1996 Gunshot wounds
Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth Guitarist of Mayhem 25 March 22, 1968 August 10, 1993 Murder
Moon Bin Singer, member of Astro 25 January 26, 1998 April 19, 2023 Suicide
Randy Rhoads Guitarist of Quiet Riot 25 December 6, 1956 March 19, 1982 Plane Crash
Otis Redding Singer/Songwriter 26 September 9, 1941 December 10, 1967 Plane accident
Nick Drake Singer/Songwriter 26 June 19, 1948 November 25, 1974 Intentional Overdose (Disputed)
Hillel Slovak Original Guitarist of Red Hot Chili Peppers 26 April 13, 1962 June 25, 1988 Overdose
Marília Mendonça Singer, songwriter and instrumentalist. 26 July 22, 1995 November 5, 2021 Plane Crash
Mac Miller American rapper and record producer 26 January 19, 1992 September 7, 2018 Drug Overdose
Pete Ham Vocalist and guitarist of Badfinger 27 April 27, 1947 April 24, 1975 Suicide
Audie Pitre Bassist of Acid Bath, Vocalist of Shrüm 27 October 5, 1970 Jan 23, 1997 Killed by a drunk driver while at a stoplight
Kurt Cobain Vocalist of Nirvana 27 February 20, 1967 April 5, 1994 Suicide
Mia Zapata Vocalist of The Gits 27 August 25, 1965 July 7, 1993 Murder
Kristen Pfaff Bassist of Hole and Janitor Joe 27 May 26, 1967 June 16, 1994 Heroin Overdose
Richey Edwards Bassist of Manic Street Preachers 27 December 22, 1967 February 1, 1995 Suicide (Disputed)
Jim Morrison Vocalist of The Doors 27 December 8, 1943 July 3, 1971 Drug overdose
Les Harvey Guitarist of Stone the Crows 27 September 13, 1944 May 3, 1972 Electrocution via Improperly Grounded Microphone
Jimi Hendrix Lead Guitarist, Vocalist of The Jimi Hendrix Experience 27 November 27, 1942 September 18, 1970 Drug and alcohol related asphyxia
Janis Joplin Singer 27 January 19, 1943 October 4, 1970 Drug overdose
Amy Winehouse Singer 27 September 14, 1983 July 23, 2011 Alcohol poisoning
Robert Johnson Guitarist, singer 27 May 8, 1911 August 16, 1938 Syphilis
Brian Jones Guitarist of The Rolling Stones 27 February 28, 1942 July 3, 1969 Drowning
Danny Wilder Vocalist/Guitarist of Kings of the City 27 February 11, 1986 October 3, 2013 Lung cancer
Kim Jong-hyun Main vocalist of SHINee 27 April 8, 1990 December 18, 2017 Suicide
The Big Bopper Singer, songwriter 28 October 24, 1930 February 3, 1959 Plane crash
Steve Gaines Guitarist of Lynyrd Skynyrd 28 September 14, 1949 October 20, 1977 Plane crash
Shannon Hoon Vocalist of Blind Melon 28 September 26, 1967 October 21, 1995 Drug overdose
Big Pun Rapper 28 November 10, 1971 February 7, 2000 Heart attack
Mitch Lucker Vocalist of Suicide Silence 28 October 20, 1984 November 1, 2012 Motorcycle crash
Kyle Pavone Co-Lead Vocalist/Keyboardist of We Came as Romans 28 June 5, 1990 August 25, 2018 Heroin overdose
Gabriel Diniz Singer, Songwriter 28 October 18, 1990 May 27, 2019 Plane Crash
Avicii DJ, Songwriter 28 September 8, 1989 April 20, 2018 Suicide
Tom Searle Lead Guitarist/Keyboardist of Architects 28 October 23, 1987 August 20, 2016 Melanoma
Tim Buckley Singer, Songwriter 28 February 14, 1947 June 29, 1975 Morphine Overdose
Takeoff Rapper, member of Migos and Unc & Phew 28 June 18, 1994 November 1, 2022 Gunshot wounds
Hank Williams Country musician 29 September 17, 1923 January 1, 1953 Heart failure
Marc Bolan Vocalist of T. Rex 29 September 30, 1947 September 16, 1977 Car crash
Ronnie Van Zant Vocalist and founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd 29 January 15, 1948 October 20, 1977 Plane crash
Cristiano Araújo Singer, Songwriter 29 January 24, 1986 June 24, 2015 Car Crash

Died in 30s[]

Artist Notoriety Age Born Died Cause of Death
Sean McDonnell Vocalist/Guitarist of Surgery 30 October 2, 1965 January 11, 1995 Asthma Attack
Patsy Cline Singer 30 September 8, 1932 March 5, 1963 Plane crash[3]
Johnny Burnette Singer/Songwriter 30 March 25, 1934 August 14, 1964 Drowning
Jim Croce Singer-Songwriter 30 January 10, 1943 September 20, 1973 Plane crash
PnB Rock Rapper/Singer 30 December 9, 1991 September 12, 2022 Shot to death
Criss Oliva Lead guitarist and co-founder of Savatage 30 April 3, 1963 October 17, 1993 Car accident
Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes Singer, member of musical trio TLC 30 May 27, 1971 April 25, 2002 Car crash
Jeff Buckley Singer–songwriter 30 November 17, 1966 May 29, 1997 Accidental drowning
Steve Clark Guitarist of Def Leppard 30 April 23, 1960 January 8, 1991 a mixture of anti-depressants, painkillers and alcohol
Eazy-E Member of N.W.A (West Coast) 30 September 7, 1964 March 26, 1995 AIDS[4]
Satan Panonski Croatian Punk Musician / Artist 31 June 4, 1960 January 27, 1992 Accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound
Terry Kath Chicago guitarist, vocalist 31 January 31, 1946 January 23, 1978 Accidental suicide
Dwayne Goettel Keyboardist of Skinny Puppy 31 February 1, 1964 August 23, 1995 Heroin overdose[5][6]
Karen Carpenter Vocalist of The Carpenters 32 March 2, 1950 February 4, 1983 Complications due to anorexia nervosa
Cass Elliot Singer in The Mamas & the Papas 32 September 19, 1941 July 29, 1974 Contrary to popular belief:[7] heart attack[8]
Minnie Riperton Singer-songwriter 32 November 8, 1947 July 12, 1979 Breast Cancer
John Bonham Led Zeppelin drummer 32 May 31, 1948 September 25, 1980 Pulmonary edema
Keith Moon Drummer of The Who 32 August 23, 1946 September 7, 1978 Chlormethiazole overdose
Bon Scott Lead singer of AC/DC 33 July 9, 1946 February 19, 1980 Acute alcohol poisoning[9] (disputed)
Sam Cooke Gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter 33 January 22, 1931 December 11, 1964 Shot dead[10]
Tom Parker Singer, member of The Wanted 33 4 August, 1988 March 30, 2022 Brain cancer
Elliott Smith Singer-songwriter 34 August 6, 1969 October 21, 2003 Stab wounds to the chest
Layne Staley Lead singer of Alice In Chains 34 August 22, 1967 April 5, 2002 Overdose
Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly Rapper, member of Kris Kross 34 August 11, 1978 May 1, 2013 Drug abuse
Stevie Ray Vaughan Blues guitarist/singer 35 October 3, 1954 August 27, 1990 Helicopter crash
Jaco Pastorius Jazz bassist 35 December 1, 1951 September 21, 1987 Brain hemorrhage
Jimmie Rodgers Country musician 35 September 8, 1897 May 26, 1933 Tuberculosis
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Austrian classical music composer 35 27 January 1756 5 December 1791 Disputed, possibly rheumatic fever
Blind Lemon Jefferson Creator of the Texas Blues 36 September 24, 1893 December 12, 1929 Heart attack
Bob Marley Singer, lead member of Bob Marley and the Wailers 36 February 6, 1945 May 11, 1981 Acral lentiginous melanoma[11]
Ian Stuart Donaldson Skrewdriver vocalist and Neo-Nazi Musician 36 August 11, 1957 September 24, 1993 Car crash
Renato Russo Singer, songwriter, producer, vocalist of the band Legião Urbana 36 March 27, 1960 October 11, 1996 Complications caused by HIV
Bobby Darin Singer-songwriter 37 May 14, 1936 December 20, 1973 Complications following heart surgery
Stephen Foster American music composer 37 July 4, 1826 January 13, 1864 Starvation, fever, blow to head
Michael Hutchence Lead singer of INXS 37 January 22, 1960 November 22, 1997 Suicide[12]
Jam Master Jay DJ, member of Run-DMC 37 January 21, 1965 October 30, 2002 Murder
Israel 'IZ' Kamakawiwoʻole Singer, songwriter 38 May 20, 1959 June 26, 1997 Respiratory and cardiac issues
Paul Grey Bassist of Slipknot 38 April 8, 1972 May 24, 2010 Overdose
Dennis Dannell Social Distortion guitarist 38 June 24, 1961 February 29, 2000 Brain aneurysm
David Byron Lead singer of Uriah Heep 38 January 29, 1947 February 28, 1985 Alcoholism
Dimebag Darrell Guitarist of Pantera, Damage Plan 38 August 20, 1966 December 8, 2004 Shot to death
Harry Chapin Singer-Songwriter, #1 Song (Cat's in the Cradle) 38 December 7, 1942 July 16, 1981 Car Accident
Rafael Orozco Lead singer of El Binomio de Oro 38 March 24, 1954 June 11, 1992 Shot dead
Sarah Harding Member of Girls Aloud 39 November 17, 1981 September 5, 2021 Breast Cancer

Died in 40s[]

Artist Notoriety Age Born Died Cause of Death
Glenn Miller Swing-era bandleader and Trombonist 40 March 1, 1904 December 14, 1944 Airplane crash over the English Channel
John Coltrane Jazz Saxophonist 40 September 23, 1926 July 17, 1967 Liver Cancer
John Lennon Singer-songwriter. Founding member of The Beatles 40 9 October 1940 8 December 1980 Shot dead
Nate Dogg Rapper 41 August 19, 1969 March 15, 2011 Heart failure
Chester Bennington Lead vocalist of Linkin Park 41 March 20, 1976 July 20, 2017 Suicide by hanging
Freddie King Blues Guitarist 42 September 3, 1934 December 28, 1976 Acute Pancreatitis
Rich Mullins Contemporary Christian music singer and composer 41 October 21, 1955 September 19, 1997 Ejected from a Jeep and run over by a truck
Karl Mueller Bassist of Soul Asylum 42 July 27, 1963 June 17, 2005 Throat Cancer
Elvis Presley Singer, actor and musician. "The King of Rock and Roll". 42 January 8, 1935 August 16, 1977 Heart attack
Prodigy Rapper, member of Mobb Deep 42 November 2, 1974 June 20, 2017 Accidental choking, complications of sickle cell disease
Bessie Smith Blues Singer 43 April 15, 1894 September 26, 1937 Car Crash
Charley Patton Delta Blues Singer 43 April 1891 April 23, 1891 Mitral Valve Disorder
Seth Putnam Vocalist of Anal C*nt (Anal C*nt is cencored) 43 May 15, 1968 June 11, 2011 Heart attack
Amédé Ardoin Cajun/[Creole singer 44 March 11, 1898 November 3, 1942 Venereal disease
Marvin Gaye Singer-songwriter 44 April 2, 1939 April 1, 1984 Shot dead by his father
Billie Holliday Singer-songwriter 44 April 7, 1915 July 17, 1959 Cirrhosis of the liver [13]
Raul Seixas Singer, songwriter, producer and pioneer of Brazillian Rock 44 June 28, 1945 August 21, 1989 Pancreatitis
Nat King Cole Singer, jazz pianist 45 March 17, 1919 February 15, 1965 Lung cancer
Elmore James Blues Guitarist 45 January 27, 1918 May 24, 1963 Heart Attack
Freddie Mercury Vocalist / Pianist of Queen. 45 September 5, 1946 November 24, 1991 Died due to complications of AIDs and pneumonia
Ricky Nelson Singer, musician and actor 45 8 May 1940 31 December 1985 Airplane crash
Phife Dawg Rapper, member of A Tribe Called Quest 45 November 20, 1970 March 22, 2016 Diabetes
Dolores O’Riordan Lead Singer Of The Cranberries 46 September 6, 1971 January 15, 2018 Accidental drowning
Craig Mack Rapper 46 May 10, 1971 March 12, 2018 Heart failure
John Panozzo Drummer of Styx 47 September 20, 1948 July 16, 1996 Gastrointestinal hemorrhanging and cirrhosis due to years of excessive drinking
Scott Joplin Ragtime Composer and Pianist 48 November 24, 1868 April 1, 1917 Dementia caused by Neurosyphilis
Whitney Houston Singer-songwriter 48 August 9, 1963 February 11, 2012 Drowning due to coronary artery disease and cocaine intoxication
Wayne Static Lead vocalist/guitarist of Static-X 48 November 4, 1965 November 1, 2014 Combined drug and alcohol intoxication
Peter Steele Vocalist / Bassist of Type O-Negative 48 January 4, 1962 April 14, 2010 Sepsis caused by Diverticulitis
Joey Ramone Singer for Ramones 49 19 May 1951 15 April 2001 Lymphoma[14]
Daniel "MF Doom" Dumile Rapper 49 July 13, 1971 October 31, 2020 Angioedema

Died in 50s[]

Notoriety Age Born Died Cause of Death
Jelly Roll Morton Ragtime and Jazz Pianist 50 September 20, 1890 July 10, 1941 Heart Failure
Michael Jackson Singer, member of Jackson 5, "King of Pop" 50 August 29, 1958 June 25, 2009 Cardiac Arrest Induced Acute Propofol Intoxication
Earl "DMX" Simmons Rapper 50 December 18, 1970 April 9, 2021 Cocaine Induced Heart Attack
Joe Strummer Lead singer of The Clash 50 August 21, 1952 December 22, 2002 Congenital heart defect
Dee Dee Ramone Bassist of Ramones 50 September 18, 1951 June 5, 2002 Heroin overdose
Taylor Hawkins Drummer of Foo Fighters 50 February 17, 1972 March 25, 2022 Chest pain
Chris Cornell Lead singer of Soundgarden, Audioslave 52 July 20, 1964 May 18, 2017 Suicide by hanging
Frank Zappa Singer/Songwriter/Multi-Instrumentalist 52 21 December 1940 4 December

1993

Prostate cancer
John Denver Country music/folk singer-songwriter and folk rock musician 53 December 31, 1943 October 12, 1997 Plane crash [15]
Maurice Gibb Member of the Bee Gees 53 22 December 1949 12 January 2003 Volvulus[16]
Jerry Garcia Founder of the Grateful Dead 53 1 August 1942 9 August 1995 Heart Attack
George Michael Singer-songwriter 53 25 June 1963 25 December 2016 Heart disease
Oliver Singer 54 February 22, 1945 February 12, 2000 Lymphatic cancer
Vinnie Paul Drummer of Pantera and Hellyeah 54 March 11, 1964 June 22, 2018 Coronary artery disease
Héctor Jorge Ruiz Singer-songwriter 54 12 September, 1951 16 October, 2005 Lung cancer
Brad Delp Lead singer of Boston 55 12 June 1951 9 March 2007 Charcoal-burning suicide
Johnny Ramone Guitarist for Ramones 55 8 October 1948 15 September 2004 Prostate cancer
Woody Guthrie Folk Singer-Songwriter 55 July 14, 1912 October 3, 1967 Huntington's Disease
Roger Miller Singer/Songwriter 56 January 2, 1936 October 25, 1992 Lung and throat cancer
Dave Peverett Lead vocalist and guitarist of Foghat 56 April 16, 1943 February 7, 2000 Renal cancer
Rick James Singer/songwriter 56 1 February 1948 6 August 2004 Heart Attack

Diomedes Díaz

Singer-songwriter 56 May 26, 1957 December 22, 2013 Cardiorespiratory arrest
Warren Zevon Singer-songwriter 56 January 24, 1947 September 7, 2003 Mesothelioma
Mark Lanegan Singer / Songwriter

Vocalist of Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age, Gutter Twins

57 November 25, 1964 February 22, 2022 Not Yet Known
Biz Markie Rapper/DJ/Producer 57 April 8, 1964 July 16, 2021 Complications from type 2 diabetes
Jimmy Yancey Boogie-Woogie Pianist 57 February 20, 1895 September 17, 1951 Diabetes induced Stroke
Scatman John Singer-songwriter 57 March 13, 1942 December 3, 1999 Lung cancer
Prince Singer-songwriter 57 June 7, 1958 April 21, 2016 Fentanyl overdose
Doris Coley Lead singer of The Shirelles 58 August 2, 1941 February 4, 2000 Breast Cancer
George Harrison Lead Guitarist for The Beatles 58 21 February 1943 29 November 2001 Throat cancer
Sister Rosetta Tharpe Gospel Blues Singer and Guitarist 58 March 20, 1915 October 9, 1973 Diabetes induced Stroke
Coolio Rapper 59 August 1, 1963 September 28, 2022 Drug overdose

References:[]

  1. ↑ Lehmer, Larry (2004). The Day the Music Died. http://books.google.com/books?id=yY-qrbtfonUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=ritchie+valens. 
  2. ↑ "Famous Deaths on 16th July". http://www.historyorb.com/deaths/july/16. Retrieved 27 June 09. 
  3. ↑ Nassour, Ellis (April 15, 2004). Honky Tonk Angel: The Intimate Story Of Patsy Cline. St. Martin's Paperbacks. pp. 374. ISBN 0312951582. 
  4. ↑ Chris Salewicz (1995). "Obituary: Eazy-E". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-eazye-1614134.html. Retrieved 2009-06-27. 
  5. ↑ Discogs.com
  6. ↑ Simmonds, Jeremy (2008). The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches. pp. 337. ISBN 1556527543. 
  7. ↑ Snopes.com - Ham and Wheeze
  8. ↑ Walker, Michael. Laurel Canyon: The Inside Story of Rock-and-Roll's Legendary Neighborhood‎. Macmillan. pp. 47. http://books.google.com/books?id=CdSvvoB6noAC&pg=PA49&dq=Cass+Elliot. 
  9. ↑ Walker, Clinton (April 15, 2001). Highway to Hell : The Life and Times of AC/DC Legend Bon Scott. Verse Chorus Press. pp. 280. ISBN 1891241133. 
  10. ↑ Todd Leopold (2005). "A Voice of Sex and Soul". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/16/sam.cooke/index.html. Retrieved 2009-06-27. 
  11. ↑ "Bob Marley, the eloquent ambassador of reggael". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/1981/may/12/fromthearchive. Retrieved 2009-06-27. 
  12. ↑ Pierre Perrone (1997). "Obituary: Michael Hutchenc". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-michael-hutchence-1296068.html. Retrieved 2009-06-27. 
  13. ↑ Billie's Blues: The Billie Holliday Story. De Capo Press. http://books.google.com/books?id=FjIbywBCeT8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Billie+Holliday. 
  14. ↑ Stanton, Scott (August 1, 2003). The Tombstone Tourist: Musicians. Pocket. pp. 202. ISBN 0743463307. 
  15. ↑ "John Denver killed in plane crash". CNN Interactive (CNN). 13 October 1997. http://www.cnn.com/US/9710/13/denver.nc/. Retrieved 27 June 09. 
  16. ↑ Sweeting, Adam (14 January 2003). "Obituary: Maurice Gibb". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2003/jan/14/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries. Retrieved 27 June 09. 

See also[]

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