Musicians Who Died in 2012

Etta James (1938-2012)

Jan 20 American singer ("Roll With Me"; "At Last"), dies from leukemia at 73

Jan 24 Patricia Neway, American opera and musical theatre singer, dies at 83
Jan 25 Paavo Berglund, Finnish violinist and conductor (Helsinki Chamber Orchestra; Finnish RSO, 1956-72), dies at 82
Jan 26 Clare Fischer, American musician, composer and arranger, dies at 83
Jan 29 Camilla Williams, American operatic soprano, dies at 92
Feb 1 Ton de Kruyf, Dutch composer, dies at 74
Feb 5 Al De Lory, American session pianist, arranger, and record producer (Glen Campbell), dies 82
Feb 6 Billy Bean, American jazz guitarist (John Lewis; Herbie Mann; Bud Shank), dies at 79
Feb 6 Noel Kelehan, Irish pianist, conductor (RTÉ Concert Orchestra), and arranger (Eurovision; U2), dies at 77
Feb 8 Luis Alberto Spinetta, Argentinian rock musician, dies from lung cancer at 62

Whitney Houston (1963-2012)

Feb 11 American singer ("I Will Always Love You"; "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"), actress (The Bodyguard), and film producer (The Princess Diaries), dies from an accidental bathtub drowning at 48

Feb 13 Russell Arms, American actor and vocalist (Your Hit Parade; "Cinco Robles"), dies at 92
Feb 14 Dory Previn, American singer-songwriter, dies at 86
Feb 15 Charles Anthony [Caruso], American tenor, dies from kidney failure at 82
Feb 17 Michael Davis, American bass guitarist, and songwriter (MC5 -"Kick Out The Jams"), dies of liver failure at 68
Feb 22 Billy Strange, American singer-songwriter, dies at 81
Feb 22 Mike Melvoin, American jazz and studio pianist, composer, and arranger, dies of cancer at 74
Feb 24 István Anhalt, Hungarian-Canadian classical and electronic music composer (La Tourangelle; Winthrop), educator (McGill; Queens (Ontario) Universities), and writer (Alternative Voices), dies at 92
Feb 25 Louisiana Red [Iverson Minter], American blues guitarist, and singer-songwriter ("Sweet Blood Call"), dies of a stroke at 79
Feb 25 Maurice André, French classical trumpeter and baroque revivalist, dies at 78
Feb 25 Red Holloway [James], American jazz tenor saxophonist, dies from stroke and kidney failure at 84
Feb 26 Rolf "Hazy" Osterwald, Swiss jazz bandleader, trumpeter, and vibraphonist, dies at 90

Davy Jones (1945-2012)

Feb 29 British singer and actor (The Monkees - "Daydream Believer"), dies from heart attack at 66

Mar 3 Frank Marocco, American jazz, pop, classical, and session accordionist, arranger and composer, dies at 81
Mar 3 Ronnie Montrose, American rock guitarist (Montrose, Gamma), dies from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 64
Mar 6 Gene “Joe” Byrd, American jazz bassist (Charlie Byrd Trio), dies in a car crash at 78
Mar 6 Lucia Mannucci, Italian jazz singer (Quartetto Cetra, 1947-88), dies at 91
Mar 6 Robert Sherman, American songwriter, dies at 86
Mar 7 Jimmy Ellis, American soul singer, dies from complications from Alzheimer's disease at 74
Mar 10 Heinz Wunderlich, German organist and composer, dies at 92
Mar 11 Hans G. Helms, German writer and composer, dies at 79
Mar 12 Michael Hossack, American rock drummer (The Doobie Brothers), dies of cancer at 65
Mar 18 Jalal Zolfonun, Iranian composer (Gol-e Sadbarg), setar (Persian lute) player, and teacher, dies of a heart attack at 74
Mar 24 Marion Marlowe, American singer ("The Man in the Raincoat"; Arthur Godfrey & His Friends), and actress, dies at 83
Mar 28 Alexander Arutiunian [Harut'unyan], Soviet Armenian classical pianist and composer (Trumpet Concerto), dies at 91
Mar 28 Earl Scruggs, American bluegrass banjo player (Flatt & Scruggs - "Foggy Mountain Breakdown"; "Ballad of Jed Clampett"), dies from natural causes at 88
Apr 5 Jim Marshall, British businessman and electric guitar amplifier pioneer known as "The Father of Loud", dies at 88
Apr 9 Dave Shriver, American rock bassist (Eddie Cochran, Trini Lopez), and music director, dies of cardiac arrest following a stroke at 76
Apr 10 Ritchie Teeter, American drummer (The Dictators, 1976-79; Twisted Sister, 1980-81), dies of esophageal cancer at 61
Apr 12 Andrew Love, American saxophonist (The Memphis Horns), dies of Alzheimer's disease at 70
Apr 12 George Mesterhazy, Hungarian-American jazz pianist, and arranger, dies at 56
Apr 17 Dimitris Mitropanos, Greek singer, dies from a heart attack at 64
Apr 18 Robert O. Ragland, American film score composer (The Thing With Two Heads), dies at 80
Apr 19 Greg Ham, Australian rock saxophonist and flutist (Men At Work - "Who Can It Be Now"), dies under mysterious circumstances at 58
Apr 19 Levon Helm, American drummer and singer (The Band - "Up On Cripple Creek"; "The Weight"), and actor (Coal Miner's Daughter; The Right Stuff), dies from throat cancer at 71
Apr 20 Bert Weedon, British jazz, pop, and blues guitar player ("Guitar Boogie Shuffle"), dies at 91
Apr 23 Chris Ethridge, American country rock bass guitarist (International Submarine Band; The Flying Burrito Brothers), dies from pancreatic cancer at 65
Apr 23 Tommy Marth, American rock saxophone player (the Killers, 2008-2010), dies of self-inflicted gunshot at 33
Apr 27 Jan Bark, Swedish jazz, classical, and avant agrde trombonist and composer, dies at 78
Apr 28 Jackie Kelso [John Joseph Kelson Jr], American jazz saxophonist & session musician, dies at 90
Apr 29 Jim McCrary, American photographer (album covers such as Tapestry, Ticket to Ride), dies of a chronic nervous system disorder at 72
May 1 Charles "skip" Pitts, American soul and blues guitarist, dies from lung cancer at 65
May 2 Zvi Zeitlin, Russian-American classical violinist and music professor (Eastman School, 1967-2012), dies at 90

Adam Yauch (1964-2012)

May 4 American rap-rock vocalist (Beastie Boys -"(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)"), dies from cancer at 47

May 4 Mort Lindsey [Lippman], American pianist, arranger, musical director (Judy Garland, 1961-64; Merv Griffin Show, 1962-86; Barbra Streisand, 1968), and composer, dies at 89
May 5 "Sweet Joe" Russell, American a cappella singer (The Persuasions - "Slip Sliding Away"), dies at 72 [1]
May 13 Donald "Duck" Dunn, American bassist (Booker T & The MG's; Stax Records house band; The Blues Brothers), dies at 70
May 14 Derek Hammond-Stroud, English operatic baritone, dies at 86
May 16 Doug Dillard, American country rock musician (The Dillards, Gene Clark, Dillard & Clark) and actor (Clem-Popeye), dies of a lung infection caused by a collapsed lung at 75

Donna Summer (1948-2012)

May 17 American disco and pop singer-songwriter ("Love to Love You, Baby"; "On The Radio"; "Last Dance"), dies from lung cancer at 63

May 18 Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, German baritone (Doktor Faust), dies at 86
May 20 Robert Nix, American drummer and songwriter (Roy Orbison; Atlanta Rhythm Section - "So Into You"; "Imaginary Lover"), dies at 67

Robin Gibb (1949-2012)

May 20 English rock-pop-disco singer-songwriter and producer (Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever), dies from colon and liver cancer at 62

May 28 Dieter Schönbach, German composer, and music director (Bochum Theater, 1959–73), dies at 81
May 29 (Arthel) "Doc" Watson, American Grammy Award-winning bluegrass, folk, and blues guitarist, songwriter, and singer, dies from complications following surgery at 89
May 29 Mark Minkov, Russian/Soviet theater and film score composer, dies at 67
Jun 4 George Marino, American Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer (Guns N' Roses; Bon Jovi; Stevie Wonder; John Lennon & Yoko Ono), dies of lung cancer at 65
Jun 4 Herb Reed, American pop singer (The Platters - "Only You"; "The Great Pretender"), dies from multiple medical complications at 83
Jun 7 Bob Welch, American musician (Fleetwood Mac), commits suicide by gunshot at 66
Jun 7 Nabil Totah, Palestinian-American jazz double bassist, dies at 72
Jun 13 Graeme Bell, Australian jazz pianist, band leader, and composer, dies at 97
Jun 14 Dumitru Capoianu, Romanian conductor and classical and film composer (The Little Man), dies at 82
Jun 21 Richard Adler, American musical theater composer and songwriter (Pajama Game; Damn Yankees)), dies at 90
Jun 28 Éric Gaudibert, Swiss composer, pianist, and teacher, dies at 75
Jul 1 Evelyn Lear, American operatic soprano, dies at 86
Jul 3 Andy Griffith, American actor, comedian, television producer, Southern gospel singer, and writer (Andy Griffith Show, Matlock), dies from a heart attack at 86
Jul 4 Larance Marable, American jazz drummer (Charlie Haden's Quartet West; Stan Getz; Groove Holmes), dies at 83
Jul 16 Bob Babbitt [Kreinar], Hungarian-American bassist (The Funk Brothers), dies of brain cancer at 74
Jul 16 Jon Lord, English keyboardist and composer (Deep Purple - "Smoke On The Water"; Whitesnake), dies from a pulmonary embolism at 71
Jul 16 Kitty Wells [Ellen Deason], American country singer ("It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"), dies from complications after a stroke at 92
Jul 17 Ilhan Mimaroglu, Turkish electronic music composer and musician, dies at 86
Jul 22 Nan Merriman, American-Dutch singer (Arturo Toscanini NBC Orchestra), dies at 92
Jul 23 Robert Cage, American blues guitarist (From Lake Mary), dies at 75
Jul 27 Tony Martin, American singer, dies from natural causes at 98
Jul 31 Bobby Edwards [Moncrief], American country singer-songwriter ("You're The Reason"), dies at 86
Aug 1 Douglas Townsend, American composer, dies at 90
Aug 2 Jimmy Jones, American singer-songwriter ("Handy Man"), dies at 75
Aug 2 Marguerite Piazza, American operatic soprano (Young Broadway), dies at 86
Aug 6 Marvin Hamlisch, American composer and conductor (The Sting; A Chorus Line), dies of respiratory arrest at 68
Aug 6 Ruggiero Ricci, American composer and violinist (Paganini), dies from heart failure at 94
Aug 11 Carlo Curley, American classical concert organist dies at 59
Aug 12 Mendelis Bašs, Latvian composer, conductor, and pedagogue, dies at 93
Aug 15 Bob Birch, American session and touring bassist (Elton John), commits suicide at 56
Aug 18 Scott McKenzie, American singer, dies at 73
Aug 30 Chris Lighty, American music executive and manager (Violator), dies of a gunshot wound at 44
Sep 1 Hal David, American lyricist ("Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head"; "What The World Needs Now Is Love"; "Do You Know the Way to San Jose"), dies at 91
Sep 2 Emanuel Nunes, Portuguese composer, dies at 71
Sep 2 Mark Abrahamian, American rock guitarist (Starship, 2000-12), dies of a heart attack after a concert at 46
Sep 4 Ian Parrott, British-Welsh composer (The Black Ram), dies at 96
Sep 5 Joe South [Souter], American Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist ("Games People Play"; "Walk A Mile In My Shoes"; "Rose Garden"), dies of heart failure at 72
Sep 7 Dorothy "Dottie" McGuire, American pop vocalist (McGuire Sisters - "Sincerely"; "Sugartime"), dies at 84
Sep 10 Steven Springer, American guitarist, dies from lung cancer at 60
Sep 13 William Duckworth, American composer (Time Curve Preludes), teacher (Bucknell, 1973-2011), and internet pioneer (PitchWeb), dies of pancreatic cancer at 69
Sep 15 George Hurst, British conductor (BBC Northern Orchestra. 1958-68; Bournemouth Sinfonietta. 1968-74), and educator, dies at 86
Sep 23 Karl Michael Komma, German composer and music publicist, dies at 98

Andy Williams (1927-2012)

Sep 25 American pop singer ("Moon River"; "Days of Wine and Roses"), dies from bladder cancer at 84

Sep 27 Eddie Bert, American bebop jazz trombonist, dies at 90
Sep 27 R. B. Greaves, American singer, dies from prostate cancer at 68
Sep 30 César Bolaños, Peruvian electro-acoustic and experimental musician and composer, dies at 81
Oct 2 Big Jim Sullivan [Tomkins], British session and touring rock guitarist, sitar, and banjo player, dies of heart disease and diabetes at 71
Oct 3 (Kathryn) "Kathi" McDonald, American blues and rock singer (Ike & Tina Turner Revue; Big Brother & The Holding Company), and songwriter, dies at 64
Oct 5 Edvard Mirzoyan, Armenian composer, dies at 91
Oct 7 John Tchicai, Danish jazz saxophonist and composer (New York Art Quartet), dies at 76
Oct 9 Theo Olof, German-Dutch violinist and concert master, dies at 88
Oct 15 Axel Borup-Jørgensen, composer (Nordisk Sommerpastorale; Thalatta! Thalatta!), dies at 87
Oct 18 David Spencer Ware, American free jazz saxophonist, dies at 62
Oct 27 Hans Werner Henze, German composer, dies at 86
Oct 27 Terry Callier, American soul, folk and jazz guitarist, and singer-songwriter ("What Color Is Love"), dies of cancer at 67
Nov 4 Ted Curson, American jazz trumpeter, dies from a heart attack at 77
Nov 5 Elliott Carter, American composer, dies from natural causes at 103
Nov 7 Cleve Duncan, American rocker (The Penguins - "Earth Angel"), dies at 78
Nov 9 Major Harris, American R&B singer ("Love Won't Let Me Wait"), dies from congestive heart and lung failure at 65
Nov 18 Philip Ledger, British organist, composer, conductor, and academic (King's College Cambridge), dies of cancer at 74
Nov 20 Michael Dunford, British guitarist and songwriter (The Nashville Teens, 1960-63; Renaissance - "Scheherazade"), dies of a cerebral hemorrhage at 68
Nov 20 Wim van Gennep, Dutch dance band singer and keyboardist (De Heikrekels - "Waarom heb jij me laten staan?"), dies at 87
Nov 22 David Allyn [Albert DiLello], American jazz singer (Boyd Raeburn Band), dies at 93 [1]
Nov 24 Christopher "Chris" Stamp, British music producer, psychodrama therapist and manager (The Who; Jimi Hendrix), dies of cancer at 70
Nov 25 Earl "Speedoo" Carroll, American doo-wop vocalist (Cadillacs; The Coasters), dies of complications from diabetes and a stroke at 75
Nov 27 Jan Maegaard, Danish composer and musicologist (Triptykon), dies at 86
Nov 27 Mickey Baker, American guitar player ("Love is strange"), dies at 87
Nov 28 Franco Ventriglia, American opera singer, dies at 90
Dec 1 Galina Vishnevskaya, Russian soprano opera singer (Britten's "War Requiem"), dies at 85
Dec 4 Jonathan Harvey, British composer (Bhakti; Wheel of Emptiness),educator, and musicologist (Music of Stockhausen), dies at 73
Dec 5 Dave Brubeck, American jazz pianist ("Take Five") and composer (Gates of Justice), dies from heart failure at 91
Dec 7 Russ "Rusty" Thacker, American stage actor and singer, dies of cancer at 66
Dec 9 Charles Rosen, American pianist and musicologist (Sonata Forms), dies at 85

Jenni Rivera (1969-2012)

Dec 9 Mexican-American singer-songwriter (Jenni, 2008), dies in a plane crash at 43

Ravi Shankar (1920-2012)

Dec 11 Bengali Brahmin sitar master and Indian classical music composer (West Meets East; Concert for Bangladesh), dies at 92

Dec 13 Otto Ketting, Dutch trumpeter and composer (Passacaglia), dies at 77
Dec 20 Jimmy McCracklin, American pianist, dies from diabetes and hypertension at 91
Dec 21 Lee Dorman, American rock bassist (Iron Butterfly; Captain Beyond), dies at 70
Dec 24 Hugh Atkin, American composer, dies at 88
Dec 24 Ray Collins, American rock vocalist (Mothers of Invention), dies at 76
Dec 24 Richard Rodney Bennett, English pianist, classical and film score composer (Four Weddings And A Funeral), dies at 76
Dec 26 Fontella Bass, American R&B and soul singer and songwriter (Rescue Me), dies from a heart attack at 72