Musicians Who Died on August 24

  • 1712 Thomas Bullis, Jr. English composer, dies at 54
  • 1724 Andreas Kneller, German composer, dies at 75
  • 1840 Joseph Waast Aubert Nonot, French organist (St Géry in Cambrai, 1768-83), and composer, dies at 89
  • 1841 Karl Friedrich Curschmann, German composer, dies at 36
  • 1932 Gheorghe Cucu, Romanian composer, dies at 50
  • 1957 Albert Edward Sammons, British violinist, and composer (Phantasy Quartet), dies at 71
  • 1958 Kenneth Leighton, British pianist and composer, dies of esophageal cancer at 58
  • 1958 Leo Blech, German opera composer and conductor, (Königliches Opernhaus, 1906-37; Städtische Oper, 1949-53). dies at 87
  • 1962 Henry George Ley, British organist, and choral composer, dies at 74
  • 1963 Jack Pettis, American jazz saxophonist and bandleader, dies of cirrhosis of the liver at 61
  • 1964 Maurice Schoemaker, Belgian composer (Fireworks), dies at 73
  • 1967 Amanda Randolph, American jazz and blues piano player and singer; stage, radio, and screen actress (The Laytons; Amos 'n Andy - "Ramona"; Danny Thomas Show - "Louise"), and restaurateur, dies of a stroke at 70
  • 1968 (Edmond) "Doc" Souchon, American jazz guitarist, music journal writer and editor, and New Orleans jazz historical preservationist, dies at 70
  • 1972 [Carlos] Don Byas, American swing and be-bop jazz saxophonist, and bandleader, dies of lung cancer at 59
  • 1973 Sláva Vorlová [Miroslava Johnová], Czech composer (Bílá oblaka (White Clouds)), dies at 79
  • 1976 Michael Head, British organist, pianist, and composer, dies at 76
  • 1978 Louis Prima, American jazz and pop singer, trumpeter, and bandleader ("That Old Black Magic"; "Oh, Marie"), dies at 67
  • 1980 Frederick A. Fox, American classical composer (Nightscenes; Shaking The Pumpkin),and educator (Indiana University, 1974-94), dies at 80
  • 1985 Paul Creston [Giuseppe Guttoveggio], Italian-American composer (Zanoni), educator, and music theorist (Creative Harmony), dies at 78
  • 1991 Mark Lawrence, American pianist (Alice Pearce), and songwriter, and theatrical producer, dies at 70
  • 1992 Larrie Londin [Ralph Gallant], American session drummer (Motown and Nashville), dies of a heart attack at 48
  • 1995 Gary Crosby, American singer (with Bing -"Play a Simple Melody"), and actor (The Bill Dana Show -"Eddie"; Mardi Gras), dies of lung cancer at 62
  • 1997 (Vincente) "Tete" Montoliu, Catalonian jazz pianist, dies at 64
  • 1998 Gene Page, American arranger, composer, and record producer (Righteous Brothers; Marvin Gaye; Whitney Houston), dies at 58
  • 1999 Alexandre Lagoya, Greek-Italian-French classical guitarist and composer, dies at 70
  • 2001 Raymond Wilding-White, American composer, dies at 78
  • 2005 Kaleth Morales, Colombian vallenato folk music singer and songwriter ("Vivo en el Limbo" - I Live in the Limbo), dies in a vehicle crash at 22
  • 2006 James Carl Tenney, American composer, dies at 72
  • 2006 Léopold Simoneau, French Canadian tenor, dies at 90
  • 2008 Tristram Ogilvie Cary, British-Australian composer, electronic music pioneer, and educator, dies at 82
  • 2015 Vardo Rumessen, Estonian classical pianist, musicologist, politician, and independence advocate, dies at 73
  • 2020 Tony Colton [Chalk], British singer-songwriter, and record producer (Head, Hands, and Feet), dies of kidney failure at 68

Charlie Watts (1941-2021)

British rock and jazz drummer (Rolling Stones), dies at 80

  • 2023 Bernie Marsden, English rock and blues guitarist and songwriter (Whitesnake - "Fool for Your Loving"; "Here I Go Again"), dies at 72