Musicians Who Died on July 3

  • 1801 Johann Nepomuk Went, Bohemian composer, dies at 56
  • 1809 Joseph Quesnel, French Canadian composer and playwright (Colas et Colinette), dies at 62
  • 1873 Josef Michal Poniatowski, Polish composer, dies at 57
  • 1891 Stefano Golinelli, Italian composer, dies at 72
  • 1952 Daniel Zamudio, Colombian organist, composer and folklorist, dies at 64
  • 1952 Henriëtte Bosmans, Dutch composer, dies of cancer at 56
  • 1957 Richard Mohaupt, German composer (Bucolica), dies at 52
  • 1960 Alfred Henry Ackley, American composer, dies at 73
  • 1966 (Joseph) Deems Taylor, American music critic (New York World), composer (Through The Looking Glass; Peter Ibbetson), and promoter of classical music (Fantasia), dies at 80
  • 1966 André Gailhard, French classical music composer, dies at 81

Brian Jones (1942-1969)

British blues and rock guitarist, organist and sitar player (Rolling Stones, 1962-69), drowns in his swimming pool at 27

  • 1969 Hermann Grabner, Austrian composer, dies at 83

Jim Morrison (1943-1971)

American singer-songwriter (The Doors) and poet, dies of heart failure allegedly caused be an accidental heroin overdose at 27

  • 1972 "Mississippi" Fred McDowell, American blues singer and guitarist, dies of cancer at 68
  • 1973 Karel Ančerl, Czechoslovak conductor (Czech Philharmonic, 1950-68; Toronto Symphony, 1968-73), composer, and Auschwitz survivor, dies at 65
  • 1977 Hugh Le Caine, Canadian physicist and composer, dies at 63
  • 1979 Louis Durey, French composer, dies at 91
  • 1980 James "Buster" Bennett, American blues saxophonist and blues shouter, dies at 66

Rudy Vallee (1901-1986)

American singer and one of the earliest crooners ("Vagabond Dreams"; "My Time Is Your Time"), dies at 84

  • 1991 Irina Nijinska, Russian American dancer, dies at 77
  • 1995 Brad Lee Sexton, American blues-rock bassist (Little Charlie & the Nightcats. 1990-93), dies at 47
  • 1996 Pim Jacobs, Dutch jazz pianist, TV host and actor (Gilas), dies at 61
  • 1998 George Lloyd, English composer (The Serf; Pervigilium Veneris (The Vigil of Venus); John Socman), dies at 85
  • 1999 Mark Sandman, American singer-songwriter and musician (Morphine; Treat Her Right), dies of a heart attack at 46
  • 2000 Harold Nicholas, American dancer known as one of the world's greatest dancers (Nicholas Brothers), dies of heart failure at 79
  • 2001 Delia Derbyshire, English musician and composer (Doctor Who theme, White Noise), dies of renal failure at 64
  • 2001 Johnny Russell, American country songwriter (Act Naturally; Let's Fall To Pieces Together), singer and comedian dies of complications from diabetes at 61
  • 2006 Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, American violist and operatic mezzo-soprano, dies of cancer at 52
  • 2007 (Homer) "Boots" Randolph, American session saxophonist ("Yakety Sax"), dies of a brain hemorrhage at 80
  • 2008 Colin Cooper, British vocalist and harmonica player (Climax Blues Band - "Couldn't Get It Right"), dies of cancer at 69 [1]
  • 2008 Oliver Schroer, Canadian fiddler and composer, dies of leukemia at 52
  • 2012 Andy Griffith, American actor, comedian, television producer, Southern gospel singer, and writer (Andy Griffith Show, Matlock), dies from a heart attack at 86
  • 2018 Bill Watrous, American jazz trombonist, dies at 79
  • 2018 Richard Swift [Ochoa], American singer and songwriter (The Black Keys), dies of complications from hepatitis at 41
  • 2019 Duncan Lamont, Scottish jazz and session trumpet and saxophone player, arranger, and songwriter ("I Told You So"), dies at 87