- 1617 Alonso Lobo, Spanish composer (Versa est in luctum), dies at 62
- 1732 Johann Christian Schieferdecker, German composer, dies at 52
- 1871 Andreas Henkel, German organist, composer, and pedagogue, dies at 66
- 1878 Wilhelm Speyer, German violinist and composer, dies at 87
- 1896 John Rogers Thomas, Welsh-American baritone and composer of popular, classical, and sacred music, dies at 66
- 1908 Gaetano Coronaro, Italian conductor, pedagogue, and composer (La Creola), dies at 55
- 1921 Alphonsus J M Diepenbrock, Dutch composer (Missa), dies at 58
- 1934 Salvatore Di Giacomo, Italian poet and songwriter during "Golden Age of Neapolitan Song", dies at 74
- 1935 Emil Młynarski, Polish conductor and composer, dies at 64
- 1944 Willy Derby [Willem Dieben], Dutch popular song singer (Hello Bandoeng; White Roses), dies of a heart attack at 58
- 1946 Vincent Youmans, American composer and songwriter (Tea for Two), dies at 47
- 1954 Claude Delvincourt, French composer and pianist, dies at 66
- 1963 Julius Harrison, English composer, dies at 78
- 1970 Jacob H "Jaap" Stotijn, Dutch oboist, and conductor (Residence Orchestra), dies at 78
- 1971 Earl "Jock" Caruthers American jazz saxophonist (Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra, 1932-47), dies at 60
- 1978 Carlo Tagliabue, Italian operatic baritone, (La Scala, 1930-55), dies at 80
- 1981 Bob "Bear" Hite, rocker (Canned Heat), dies of a heart attack at 36
- 1983 Cliff Carlisle, American country and blues musician, singer, songwriter, and yodeler ("Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad"), dies at 79
- 1989 William Hibbard, American composer, musician and conductor, dies of an AIDS related illness at 49
- 1992 Anthony "Tony" Papa, big band bandleader, dies at 65
Kurt Cobain (1967-1994)
American grunge rocker (Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"), commits suicide at 27 by shooting himself in the head with a shotgun
- 1994 Roy Smeck, American musician (guitar and banjo), dies at 94
- 1998 Cozy Powell [Colin Flooks] English rock drummer (Jeff Beck Group; Emerson, Lake & Powell), dies in a car crash at 50
- 1998 John Wilbraham, British classical, baroque, and session trumpeter (Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields; English Chamber Orchestra; The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour), and educator, dies at 53
- 2002 Layne Staley, American rock singer and guitarist (Alice in Chains - Dirt), dies at 34
- 2006 Gene Pitney, American vocalist and songwriter ("Town Without Pity"; "Hello Mary Lou"; "He's A Rebel"), dies of a heart attack at 66
- 2007 Mark St. John [Norton], American rock guitarist (KISS, April- November, 1984), dies of a brain hemorrhage at 51
- 2012 Jim Marshall, British businessman and electric guitar amplifier pioneer known as "The Father of Loud", dies at 88
- 2015 Claudio Prieto, Spanish composer (Solo a Solo; Cantata manriqueña), dies at 80
- 2016 Leon Haywood, American funk and soul singer, and keyboardist ("It's Got To Be Mellow"; "I Want'a Do Something Freaky To You"), dies at 74
- 2017 María Luisa Ozaita, Spanish pianist, harpsichordist, musicologist, conductor, and composer (Pelleas y Melisanda), dies at 77
- 2018 Cecil Taylor, American pianist, poet, and one of the pioneers of free jazz, dies at 89
- 2022 Bobby Rydell [Ridarelli], American pop singer ("Wild One"; "Wildwood Days"), and actor (Bye Bye Birdie), dies of pneumonia at 79 [1]
- 2022 Boris Brott, Canadian conductor (Hamilton Philharmonic, 1969-90) and music promoter (Brott Music Festival: National Academy Orchestra of Canada), killed in a hit-and-run accident at 78
- 2022 Paul Siebel, American folk singer and songwriter (Louise; Spanish Johnny), dies from complications of pulmonary fibrosis at 84
- 2024 C. J. Snare, American rock vocalist (Firehouse - "Love of a Lifetime"), dies of cardiac arrest at 64
Assassination
Car Crash
Hanging
Killed in Action
Plane Crash
Poisoning