Musicians Who Died in 2018

Jan 14 François Morel, Canadian pianist, conductor, and composer (Antiphonie; Me duele España), dies at 91
Jan 14 Marlene VerPlanck [Pampinella], American jazz and pop vocalist, dies of pancreatic cancer at 84

Dolores O’Riordan (1971-2018)

Jan 15 Irish musician and singer-songwriter (The Cranberries - "Zombie"; ,"Linger"), drowns in the bath at 46

Jan 15 Edwin Hawkins, American gospel musician, choir master and composer ("Oh Happy Day"), dies of pancreatic cancer at 74
Jan 16 Dave Holland, English heavy metal rocker (Judas Priest - "Breakin' the Law"), dies at 69
Jan 20 Jim Rodford, English rock bassist (The Kinks; Argent; Zombies), dies after a fall at 76
Jan 23 Hugh Masekela, South African trumpeter, described as the "father of South African jazz" ("Grazing in the Grass"; "Soweto Blues"; Sarafina!), and anti-apartheid activist dies of prostate cancer at 78
Jan 23 Lari White, American country music singer and actress (You Can Be a Star winner- 1988), dies of peritoneal cancer at 52
Jan 24 Mark E. Smith, British rock vocalist (The Fall, The Post-Nearly Man), dies after a long illness at 60
Jan 25 John Morris, American film and Broadway composer who commonly worked alongside Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder, dies of a respiratory infection at 91
Jan 26 Francisco Savín, Mexican conductor and composer (Quasar I), dies at 88
Jan 26 Igor Zhukov, Russian pianist, conductor (Moscow Chamber Orchestra), and sound engineer, dies at 80
Jan 30 Mark Salling, American actor and musician (Glee), commits suicide at 35
Feb 1 Alan Stout, American composer, dies at 85
Feb 1 Dennis Edwards, American pop and soul singer (The Temptations - "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"), dies following a stroke at 74
Feb 3 Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, American pop, funk and jazz session and touring drummer, (Michael Jackson -"Billie Jean"; George Duke; Herbie Hancock), composer, and producer, dies of prostate cancer at 65
Feb 7 John Perry Barlow, American lyricist (Grateful Dead - "Estimated Prophet"; "I Need A Miracle"; "Cassidy"), essayist, internet pioneer, and activist, dies at 70
Feb 7 Mickey Jones, American musician and actor (Home Improvement, Justified), dies at 76
Feb 8 Paul Danblon, Belgian composer, opera director, opera administrator and scientific journalist, dies at 86
Feb 9 Craig McGregor, American rock bassist (Foghat, 1976-2018), dies of lung cancer at 68
Feb 9 Jóhann Jóhannsson, Icelandic theatre, dance, and film score composer (The Theory of Everything), dies from a combination of cocaine and prescription medication at 48
Feb 11 Vic Damone [Vito Farinola], American singer ("On the Street Where You Live"), entertainer, actor and TV presenter (Vic Damone Show), dies at 89
Feb 15 Vaclovas Paketūras, Lithuanian composer (The Sun Is Setting; Polyphonic Pieces), dies at 90
Feb 17 Beatricce "Beebe" Freitas [nee Botty], American pianist, organist, and voice teacher (Hawaii Opera Theatre), dies at 79
Feb 22 Nanette Fabray [Ruby Fabares], American actress and singer (Love Life, Caesar's Hour, One Day at a Time), dies at 97
Feb 28 Harvey Schmidt, American musical theatre composer (The Fantasticks; 110 in the Shade), and illustrator, dies of complications of congestive heart failure at 88
Mar 2 Van McLain [McElvain], American rock guitarist (Shooting Star), dies from West Nile virus at 62
Mar 3 Patrick Doyle, English drummer (Veronica Falls; Boys Forever), dies at 32
Mar 5 Kjerstin Dellert, Swedish opera singer, dies at 92
Mar 7 Gary Burden, American artist and one of the pioneers for the concept of album cover art (designed covers for Neil Young, Nash, The Doors), dies at 84
Mar 8 Milko Kelemen, Croat composer (Archetypon), dies at 93
Mar 11 Ken Dodd, British singer and comedian described as "the last great music hall entertainer," dies of complications from a chest infection at 90
Mar 12 Craig Mack, American rapper (Flava In Ya Ear), dies of heart failure at 47
Mar 12 Nole "Nokie" Edwards, American surf-rock guitarist (The Ventures) and actor (Deadwood), dies of complications following a surgery at 82
Mar 12 Olly Wilson, American composer and founder of TIMARA, dies of complications of dementia at 80
Mar 16 Buell Neidlinger, American pop, jazz, and classical session cellist and double bassist (Cecil Taylor; Frank Zappa; Duane Eddy), dies at 82
Mar 19 Irwin Hoffman, American conductor, dies at 93
Mar 20 Ariel Bybee, American mezzo-soprano (Morman Tabernacle Choir; Metropolitan Opera, 1977-95), dies at 75
Mar 22 Morgana King, American jazz singer and actress (The Godfather, The Godfather Part II), dies of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 87
Mar 24 José Antonio Abreu, Venezuelan conductor, pianist and teacher (El Sistema), dies at 78
Mar 24 Lys Assia, Swiss singer who won the 1st Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, dies at 94
Mar 29 Michael Sahl, American contemporary classical composer (Civilization and its Discontents; Jungles), dies at 83
Apr 3 Lill-Babs [Barbro Margareta Svensson], Swedish pop singer, (Eurovision, 1961) actress, and television presenter, dies of heart failure while battling cancer at 80
Apr 5 Cecil Taylor, American pianist, poet, and one of the pioneers of free jazz, dies at 89
Apr 8 Richard Moryl, American composer, pedagogue, and visual artist, dies at 89
Apr 10 Yvonne Staples, American R&B singer (The Staple Sisters), dies at 80
Apr 19 Graciela Agudelo, Mexican pianist and avant garde composer (Celebration of Wine), dies at 72

Avicii (1989-2018)

Apr 20 Swedish musician, DJ, remixer and record producer ("Levels"; "Wake Me Up"; "Sunshine"), commits suicide at 28

Apr 23 Bob Dorough, American jazz vocalist, pianist, composer, songwriter, arranger, and producer (Schoolhouse Rock!; Too Much Coffee Man), dies at 94
Apr 26 Charles Neville, American vocalist & saxophonist (Neville Brothers), dies of pancreatic cancer at 79
Apr 30 Naresh Sohal, Indian-British composer (Gautama Buddha; The Cosmic Dance; The Divine Song), dies at 78
May 1 John "Jabo" Starks, American drummer (James Brown, The J.B.'s), dies at 79
May 1 Max Berrú, Ecuadorian-Chilean musician, dies at 74
May 1 Wanda Wiłkomirska, Polish violinist and teacher, dies at 89
May 2 Herman Krebbers, Dutch violinist, concert master, and music teacher, dies at 94
May 2 Tony Cucchiara, Italian folk singer and songwriter ("Cain and Abel"), dies at 80
May 4 Abi Ofarim [Abraham Reichstadt], Israeli dancer, folk and pop singer, guitarist, and record producer (Ester & Abi - "Cinderella Rockerfella"), dies at 80
May 4 Naser Cheshm Azar, Iranian composer, dies of a heart attack at 67
May 4 Steve Coy, British rocker and producer (Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)), dies at 56
May 7 Maurane [Claudine Luypaerts], Belgian Francophone jazz and chanson singer, dies at 57
May 7 Roman Toi, Estonian-Canadian composer, choral conductor and organist, dies at 101
May 11 Scott Hutchinson, Scottish musician (Frightened Rabbit), found dead after a suffering from mental illness at 36
May 18 Jacques Guyonnet, Swiss composer, dies at 85
May 20 Dieter Schnebel, German experimental composer (Harley-Davidson, for nine motorbikes and trumpet), dies at 88
May 25 Piet Kee, Dutch organist and composer, dies at 90
May 27 Russell Nype, American singer and actor (The Stuff,;Call Me Madam; Dorothy), dies at 98
May 28 María Dolores Pradera, Spanish melodic singer and actress, dies at 93
May 29 Rosa Briceño, Venezuelan conductor, and educator, dies of leukemia at 61
Jun 1 Eddy Clearwater [Edward Harrington], American blues musician (West Side Strut), dies of heart failure at 83
Jun 3 Clarence Fountain, American Grammy Award-winning gospel singer (The Blind Boys of Alabama), dies of complications of diabetes at 88
Jun 8 Danny Kirwan, British musician, singer and songwriter (Fleetwood Mac - "Albatross"), dies at 68
Jun 9 Lorraine Gordon [Stein], American jazz music advocate and owner of Village Vanguard jazz club, dies at 95
Jun 12 Jon Hiseman, English drummer (Colosseum), dies at 73
Jun 13 (Dominic Joseph) "D. J." Fontana, American rock and roll drummer (Elvis Presley), dies at 87
Jun 15 Matt "Guitar" Murphy, American blues guitarist (Blues Brothers band), dies at 88
Jun 16 Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Russian conductor (Bolshoi Theatre, 1951-61; USSR State Radio, 1961-74; USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony, 1983-91), dies at 87
Jun 18 Barry McDaniel, American lyric baritone (Deutsche Oper Berlin, 1962-99), dies at 87

XXXTentacion (1998-2018)

Jun 18 American rapper and singer-songwriter, shot to death during a robbery at 20

Jun 19 Lenore Engdahl, American classical pianist, and educator (Boston University School of Music, 1972–83), dies at 100
Jun 22 Vinnie Paul [Abbott], American heavy metal drummer (Pantera), dies of a heart condition at 54
Jun 25 Bo Nilsson, Swedish composer (Doppelspiel), dies at 81
Jun 26 Edward Simons, American classical violinist and conductor (Rockland Symphony, 1962-2017), dies at 101
Jun 29 Liliane Montevecchi, French-Italian actress, dancer, and singer (Nine, Grand Hotel), dies of colon cancer at 85
Jul 1 Dame Gillian Lynne [Pyrke], British dancer, choreographer and actress, known for Broadway work on "Cats" and "The Phantom of the Opera," dies at 92
Jul 2 Alan Longmuir, Scottish pop-rock musician (Bay City Rollers), dies at 70
Jul 2 Henry Butler, American jazz and blues pianist, educator, and photographer (Dark Light: The Art of Blind Photographers), dies of cancer at 69 [1]
Jul 3 Bill Watrous, American jazz trombonist, dies at 79
Jul 3 Richard Swift [Ochoa], American singer and songwriter (The Black Keys), dies of complications from hepatitis at 41
Jul 7 Paul Fetler, American composer (December Stillness; Three Poems By Walt Whitman), dies at 98
Jul 8 Alan Johnson, American Emmy Award-winning screen and stage choreographer (The Producers - "Springtime for Hitler"; Legs Diamond), director (To Be Or Not To Be), and dancer (West Side Story), dies at 81
Jul 8 Oliver Knussen, British composer (Where the Wild Things Are, Chicara), dies at 66
Jul 8 Tab Hunter [Arthur Andrew Kelm], American actor (Tab Hunter Show, Lust in the Dust) and singer ("Young Love"), dies of complications of deep vein thrombosis at 86
Jul 18 Wolfgang Hufschmidt, German church musician, academic, and composer, dies at 84
Jul 29 Tomasz Stańko, Polish trumpeter (Astigmatic), dies of complication from lung cancer at 76
Aug 5 Charlotte Rae, American character actress (Facts of Life - "Edna"), comedian, singer, and dancer, dies at 92
Aug 14 Jill Janus, American heavy metal singer (Huntress), commits suicide at 43

Aug 16 American singer known as "The Queen of Soul" ("Respect"; "Think"; "Chain of Fools"), pianist, songwriter, and first female performer inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987), dies of pancreatic cancer at 76

Aug 20 Eddie Willis, American guitar and sitar player (The Funk Brothers), dies of polio complications at 82
Aug 22 Ed King, American psychedelic rock musician (Strawberry Alarm Clock; Lynyrd Skynyrd), dies of cancer at 68
Aug 23 George Theophilus Walker, African-American pianist, composer and teacher (Lilacs; In Praise Of Folly), dies at 96
Aug 25 Noam Sheriff, Israeli composer, conductor, and music director, dies at 83
Aug 29 Paul Taylor, American dancer and choreographer (Paul Taylor Dance Company), dies at 88 [1]
Aug 31 Gloria Jean [Schoonover], American actress (Never Give a Sucker an Even Break), and singer, dies at 92
Sep 2 Conway Savage, Australian piano and organ player (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds), dies from a brain tumor at 58 [1]
Sep 6 Claudio Scimone, Italian conductor (I Solisti Veneti), dies at 83
Sep 7 Mac Miller [Malcolm McCormick], American rapper and music producer (Best Day Ever), dies of a drug overdose at 26
Sep 13 Ivo Petric, Slovenian composer, dies at 86
Sep 16 Big Jay [Cecil James] McNeely, American R&B saxophonist, dies of prostate cancer at 91
Sep 19 Arthur Mitchell, African-American ballet dancer (New York City Ballet, 1955-66), choreographer, and founder of Dance Theater of Harlem (1968), dies of renal failure at 84
Sep 21 José Luis de Delás, Spanish composer and conductor, dies at 90
Sep 21 Katherine Hoover, American flautist, composer (Eleni: A Greek Tragedy), teacher, and conductor, dies at 80
Sep 22 Charles "Chas" Hodges, English musician (Chas & Dave), dies at 74
Sep 27 Marty Balin [Buchwald], American singer (Jefferson Airplane/Starship), dies at 76
Sep 28 Koos Alberts [Jacobus Krommenhoek], Dutch folk and pop singer (Many More Years; Life Goes On), dies of bladder cancer at 71
Sep 29 James "Big Jim" Wright, American Grammy and Dove Award-winning keyboardist, composer, arranger, and record producer (Sound of Blackness; Mariah Carey), dies at 52
Sep 29 Otis Rush, American blues musician (Right Place, Wrong Time), dies from complications from an earlier stroke at 83
Oct 1 Charles Aznavour [Shahnour Vaghinag Aznavourian], French-Armenian singer-songwriter ("She"; "Monsieur Carnavel"; "Tin Drum"), dies at 94
Oct 2 Geoff Emerick, British sound engineer and record producer (Beatles; Elvis Costello), dies of a heart attack at 72
Oct 3 Bent Lorentzen, Danish orchestral, electronic, and opera composer, dies at 83
Oct 4 John Tyrrell, British musicologist (Leoš Janáček; The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians), dies at 76
Oct 5 Bobby Notkoff, American rock and blues violinist (Crazy Horse; The Rockets), dies at 80
Oct 6 Montserrat Caballé, Spanish bel canto operatic soprano, and unlikely pop star (with Freddie Mercury - "Barcelona"), dies at 85
Oct 12 Takehisa Kosugi, Japanese violinist and experimental music composer (Group Ongaku; Taj Mahal Travellers), dies at 80
Oct 13 Annapurna Devi [Roshanara Khan], Indian classical surbahar (bass sitar) player, and music teacher, dies at 91
Oct 18 Randolph Hokanson, American concert pianist and teacher (University of Washington, 1949-84), dies at 103
Oct 24 Darijan Božič, Slovenian composer and conductor, dies at 86
Oct 24 Tony Joe White, American blues and swamp rock singer ("Polk Salad Annie"), and songwriter ("Rainy Night In Georgia"), dies of a heart attack at 75
Oct 24 Wah-Wah Watson [Melvin Ragin], American session guitarist in Motown's Funk Brothers (Temptations - "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"), dies at 67
Oct 25 Sonny Fortune [Cornelius Fortune], American jazz saxophonist, dies at 79
Oct 27 Murray Khouri, New Zealand classical clarinet player (Australia Ensemble), writer, and broadcaster, dies at 77
Oct 28 Richard James Gill, Australian conductor and music educator, dies from cancer at 76
Nov 2 Glenn Schwartz, American rock guitarist (Pacific Gas & Electric -"Are You Ready?"), dies at 78
Nov 2 Roy Hargrove, American trumpeter, dies of kidney disease at 49
Nov 6 Hugh McDowell, British cellist (Electric Light Orchestra - "Strange Magic"; "Evil Woman"), dies of cancer at 65
Nov 7 Francis Lai, French film music composer (Love Story), dies at 86
Nov 7 Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Irish pianist, composer and educator (University of Limerick), dies at 67
Nov 9 Paula Wayne [Watkins], American stage and Emmy Award-winning actress (Golden Boy; Everglade!), pop vocalist ("Everything's Great"), and civil rights activist, dies of cancer at 84
Nov 12 Igor Mikhailovich Luchenok, Belarusian composer and teacher, dies at 80
Nov 15 Roy Clark, American country singer and banjo player (Hee Haw, The Tonight Show), dies at 85
Nov 20 Harald Heilmann, German composer, dies at 94
Nov 20 Levine Andrade, Indian-British violinist (Arditti Quartet, 1974-90), film score composer, and conductor, dies at 64
Nov 21 Devin Lima [Harold Lima], American singer (LFO), dies of cancer at 41
Nov 22 Imrat Khan, Indian sitar and surbahar player and composer, dies of a stroke at 83
Nov 24 Harold Farberman, American percussionist, conductor, and composer (Medea), dies at 89
Dec 1 Calvin Newborn, American R&B and jazz guitarist, dies at 85
Dec 6 Andrew Frierson, pioneering African American opera singer, dies at 94
Dec 6 John "Ace" Cannon, American pop, rock and country music saxophonist (Tuff Sax), dies at 84
Dec 6 Pete Shelley [Peter McNeish], English singer-songwriter and guitarist (Buzzcocks "Going Steady"), dies at 63
Dec 13 Nancy Wilson, American jazz vocalist ("Feel Like Making Love"), dies at 81
Dec 14 Joe Osborn, American session bass player (Bridge Over Troubled Water), dies of pancreatic cancer at 81
Dec 17 Galt MacDermot, Canadian musician and composer (Hair), dies at 89
Dec 17 Raven Wilkinson, American ballerina, first African American woman to dance with major ballet company, dies at 83
Dec 23 (Ann) "Honey" Lantree, British rock drummer (The Honeycombs), dies at 75
Dec 26 Sono Osato, American Japanese ballet dancer and actress, dies at 99
Dec 26 Theodore Antoniou, Greek conductor and composer (Paean, Celebration), dies at 83
Dec 28 Christine McGuire, American pop vocalist (McGuire Sisters - "Sincerely"; "Sugartime"), dies at 92
Dec 28 Ray Sawyer, American singer (Dr Hook), dies at 81
Dec 29 Aldo Parisot, Brazilian-American concert cellist and educator (Yale School of Music, 1958-2018). dies at 100
Dec 30 Larry Austin, American classical and electronic composer and educator, dies at 88
Dec 31 Dean Ford (Thomas McAleese), Scottish singer-songwriter (Marmalade), dies from complications relating to Parkinson's disease at 72 [1]
Dec 31 Urban "Urbie" Green, American jazz trombonist (Woody Herman; Buck Clayton; Hugo Montenegro), dies at 92

Musicians Who Died in 2018

Dolores O’Riordan (1971-2018)

Avicii (1989-2018)

XXXTentacion (1998-2018)

Aretha Franklin (1942-2018)

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