Musicians Who Died on January 4

  • 1765 Joseph Franz Xaver Dominik Stalder, Swiss composer, dies at 39
  • 1809 Bartolomeo Giacometti, composer, dies at 67
  • 1864 Mateo Ferrer, composer, dies at 75
  • 1883 Nicolás Ledesma, Spanish organist and composer, dies at 91
  • 1885 Iosif Kotek, Russian composer and violinist, dies at 29
  • 1898 Frantisek Pivoda, Czech composer, dies at 73
  • 1924 Alfred Grünfeld, Austrian pianist, composer (b. 1852)
  • 1930 Albert Löfgren, Swedish clarinetist and composer (Slåttergille Rhapsody), dies at 57
  • 1942 Léon Jessel, German light classical and operetta composer (The Parade of the Tin Soldiers; Schwarzwaldmädel (The Black Forest Girl)), dies of injuries sustained during Gestapo interrogation at 70
  • 1955 Dominicus Johner, German composer, dies at 80
  • 1955 Francois Rasse, Belgian composer, dies at 81
  • 1956 Alexandr Tikhonovich Grechaninov, composer, dies at 91
  • 1964 (Arthur) "Artie" Bernstein, American jazz and session double bassist (The Dorsey Brothers), dies at 54
  • 1966 Marcel Tabuteau, French-American oboist (Philadelphia Orchestra, 1915-54), dies at 78
  • 1969 Montague Fawcett Phillips, British composer, dies at 83
  • 1969 Paul Chambers, American jazz bassist (Miles Davis Quintet, 1955-63; Wynton Kelly Trio, 1963-68), dies of tuberculosis at 33
  • 1972 Carl-Olof Anderberg, Swedish composer, dies at 57
  • 1974 Karel Janeček, Czech composer, dies at 70
  • 1981 Ruth Lowe, Canadian pianist and composer ("I'll Never Smile Again"), dies at 66
  • 1985 Lovro von Matačić, Croatian conductor and composer (Bruckner Medal), dies at 86
  • 1986 Phil Lynott, Irish rock musician (Thin Lizzy), dies of an overdose at 36 [1]
  • 1988 Lily Laskine, French harpist, dies at 94
  • 1988 Predrag Milošević, Serbian pianist, conductor, composer (Simfonijeta), and pedagogue, dies at 83
  • 1991 Leo Wright, American jazz saxophone and flute player (Dizzy Gillespie; "Blues Shout"; "I Left My Heart In San Francisco"), dies of a heart attack at 57
  • 1992 Teddy Grace [Stella Crowson], American jazz and blues singer, dies at 86 [1]
  • 1994 R. D. Burman, Indian film score composer (1942: A Love Story), dies at 54
  • 1995 Eduardo Mata, Mexican conductor (Improvisaciones), dies in air crash at 52
  • 1995 Leonard Hirsch, British violinist and conductor (BBC Empire Orchestra), dies at 92
  • 1996 Ramon Vinay, Chilean operatic tenor, dies at 83
  • 1998 John Gary [Strader], American pop and easy listening singer ("Cold"), dies of cancer at 65
  • 1999 Allen Sapp, American composer (Imaginary Creatures), and pedagogue, dies of heart failure at 76
  • 2001 Les Brown, American big band bandleader (His Band of Renown - "Sentimental Journey"), dies at 88
  • 2003 Yfrah Neaman, Israeli-British concert violinist, and pedagogue, dies of cancer at 79
  • 2004 Jake Hess, American singer (b. 1927)
  • 2008 Mort Garson, Canadian-American composer ("Our Day Will Come") and Moog synthesizer pioneer, dies of renal failure at 83
  • 2010 Sandro, Argentine songwriter (b. 1945)
  • 2011 Gerry Rafferty, Scottish guitarist and vocalist (Steeler's Wheel - "Stuck In The Niddle"; solo - "Baker Street"), dies at 63
  • 2011 Miick Karn [Andonis Michaelides], Cypriot-British new wave and art rock fretless bassist, and singer-songwriter (Japan), dies of cancer at 52
  • 2013 Sammy Johns, American country artist, dies at 66
  • 2016 Robert Stigwood, Australian-British music entrepreneur (RSO Records), stage (Jesus Christ Superstar) and film (Saturday Night Fever; Grease; Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) producer, dies at 81
  • 2017 Georges Prêtre, French classical and opera conductor known for interpretation of Poulenc, dies at 92
  • 2017 Vlastimir Trajković, Serbian avant-garde composer, and educator, dies at 79
  • 2018 Ray Thomas, English rock vocalist and flautist (Moody Blues - "Legend Of A Mind"), dies at 76
  • 2024 Bernhard Lewkovitch, Danish organist and composer (Tre Madrigali di Torquato Tasso), dies at 96
  • 2024 David Soul [Solberg], American-British actor (Starsky & Hutch; Here Come s the Brides), and singer ("Don't Give Up On Us"), dies at 80 [1]
  • 2024 Glynis Johns, British stage and screen Tony Award-winning actress and singer (Mary Poppins; A Little Night Music - "Send In The Clowns"; The Sundowners), dies at 100 [1]
  • 2024 John White, English-German experimental composer and musical performer (systems music), dies at 87