- 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