- 1576 Hans Sachs, German composer, playwright, shoemaker, and inspiration for "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg" opera by Richard Wagner, dies at 81
- 1625 Erhard Buttner, German organist and composer, commits suicide at 32
- 1795 Maria Teresa Agnesi, Italian harpsichodist, singer, and composer, dies at 74
- 1805 Johann Gottlieb Karl Spazier, German composer, dies at 43
- 1830 Wenzel Thomas Matiegka, Czech composer, dies at 56
- 1833 (Louis Joseph) Ferdinand Hérold, French pianist, violinist, and composer of over twenty operas, dies from tuberculosis at 41
- 1839 Georg Abraham Schneider, German horn player and composer, dies at 68
- 1893 Julius Eichberg, German composer, dies at 68
- 1913 David Emlyn Evans, British composer, dies at 69
- 1934 Armand Parent, Belgian composer, dies at 70
- 1944 Harold Fraser-Simson, composer, dies at 71
- 1951 Constantin C. Nottara, Romanian composer, dies at 60
- 1969 Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau, American jazz guitarist and double-bassist, dies at 80
- 1971 Harry Shields, American musician (b. 1899)
- 1972 Michael Rabin, American violinist (In Memorium), dies at 35
- 1980 Richard Franko Goldman, American educator and composer, dies at 69
- 1982 Elis Regina (Costa), Brazilian pop-samba-bossa nova singer ("Arrastão" - "Pull the Trawling Net"), dies from cardiac arrest after consuming alcohol, cocaine and tranquilizers at 36
- 1983 Don Costa, American composer (Hello, Dolly!), arranger, and record producer (Sinatra and Strings; My Way), dies at 57
- 1987 Fred Lohse, German composer and educator, dies at 78
- 1990 (Alberto) Semprini, British pianist and radio broadcaster (BBC's Semprini Serenade), dies at 81
- 1992 Manabendra Mukhopadhyay, Bengali singer and composer (Ei Ganga ei Padda), dies at 60
- 1995 Gene MacLellan, Canadian singer-songwriter ("Snowbird"; "Put Your Hand in the Hand"), takes his own life at 56
Carl Perkins (1932-1998)
American rock and rockabilly singer-songwriter ("Blue Suede Shoes"; "Honey Don't"), dies from stroke complications at 65 [1]
- 2006 Thomas Christian David, Austrian flutist, conductor, choral director, and composer, dies at 80
Wilson Pickett (1941-2006)
American R&B singer ("In The Midnight Hour"; "Funky Broadway"), dies of a heart attack at 64
- 2007 Denny Doherty, Canadian musician, singer, songwriter (The Mamas and The Papas - "California Dreamin'"), dies from abdominal aortic aneurysm at 66
- 2007 Murat Nasyrov, Russian singer and composer, dies at 37
- 2008 John Stewart, American pop-folk singer, guitsrist, banjo player (Kingston Trio, 1961-67), and songwriter ("Daydream Believer"), dies of a stroke at 68
- 2012 Rudi van Dantzig, Dutch ballet dancer an choreographer (Painted Birds), dies from lymphoma at 78
- 2014 Udo Kasemets, Estonian-born Canadian composer, dies at 94
- 2019 Mario Bertoncini, Italian composer, dies at 86
- 2019 Ted McKenna, Scottish drummer (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band; Rory Gallagher), dies from surgery complication at 68
- 2020 Jimmy Heath, American jazz saxophonist and composer, known as "Little Bird", dies at 93
- 2020 Robert Parker, American saxophonist and soul singer ("Barefootin'"), dies at 89
- 2024 Marlena Shaw [Marlina Burgess], American jazz, R&B, and disco singer ("California Soul"; "Touch Me In the Morning"), dies at 81
- 2024 Mary Weiss, American pop singer (The Shangri-Las - "Leader of the Pack"), dies at 75
Assassination
Car Crash
Hanging
Killed in Action
Plane Crash
Poisoning