- 1548 Carpentras [Elzéar Genet], French composer, dies at about 78 [birthdate uncertain]
- 1594 Orlandus Lassus, Flemish composer (Prophet sybillarum), dies at about 61 [birthdate uncertain]
- 1709 Gottfried Wegner, German theologian and hymn composer (court preacher at Konigsberg), dies at 65
- 1744 Andre Campra, French composer, dies at 83
- 1750 Franz Anton Maichelbeck, German composer, dies at 47
- 1789 Johann Wilhelm Hertel, German composer, dies at 61
- 1891 Nicolò Gabrielli, Italian opera composer, dies at 77
- 1908 "Blind" Tom Wiggins, African-American pianist and composer, dies at 59
- 1911 Johan Svendsen, Norwegian composer, dies at 70
- 1933 Albert Ross Parsons, American composer, dies at 85
- 1948 Ernst Henrik Ellberg, Swedish composer, dies at 79
- 1948 John Blackwood McEwen, Scottish classical composer, dies at 80
- 1952 John Kirby [Kirk], American jazz double-bassist and tuba player (Benny Goodman; "Undecided"), dies at 43
- 1960 Vladimir Nikolayevich Kryukov, Russian composer, dies at 57
- 1962 Mykhaylo Verikivsky, Ukrainian composer, dies at 65
- 1965 Guido Guerrini, Italian composer, dies at 74
- 1968 (Ernest) "Pop" Stoneman, American country music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and autoharp player ("Sinking of the Titanic"; The Stoneman Family), dies at 75
- 1968 Karl-Birger Blomdahl, Swedish composer (Facettes; Aniara), dies at 51
- 1968 Ken Errair, American pop-jazz singer (Four Freshmen, 1953-55 - "Graduation Day"), dies in a chartered plane crash at 42
- 1969 Wynonie Harris, American rhythm and blues singer, dies of cancer at 53
- 1974 Knud Jeppesen, Danish organist, composer, educator (Royal Danish Academy, 1920-47; Aarhus University, 1946-57), and musicologist (La frottola), dies at 81
- 1976 Géza Anda, Hungarian-Swiss pianist (Mozart; Bartók), dies at 54
- 1978 Theodore Karyotakis, Greek classical composer, dies at 74
- 1982 Marie Rambert, Polish-British ballerina, teacher and director (Ballet Rambert) dies at 94
Alan Jay Lerner (1918-1986)
American Tony and Academy Award-winning lyricist (with Frederick Loewe - My Fair Lady; Gigi; Camelot), and screenwriter, dies of lung cancer at 67
Henry Mancini (1924-1994)
American Grammy and Academy Award-winning film and television composer (Breakfast at Tiffany's; Peter Gunn; Pink Panther films), arranger, and conductor, dies of pancreatic cancer at 70
- 1994 Lionel Grigson, British jazz musician, dies at 52
- 1995 Els Aarne, Estonian composer, dies at 78
- 1995 Rory Gallagher, Irish rock guitarist (See Here), dies at 47
- 1996 Thomas Edward Montgomery, American jazz drummer and musical director, dies at 73
- 2000 Paul Griffin, American session musician and pianist, dies at 62
- 2004 Eamonn McGirr, Irish-born singer and entertainer
- 2005 Carlo Maria Giulini, Italian conductor, dies at 91
- 2008 Esbjörn Svensson, Swedish jazz pianist (b. 1964)
- 2008 Jamelão, Brazilian samba singer (b. 1913)
- 2009 Bob Bogle, American surf rock bassist and guitarist (Ventures - "Walk, Don't Run"), dies at 75
- 2009 Ivan Della Mea, Italian singer-songwriter (b. 1940)
- 2012 Dumitru Capoianu, Romanian conductor and classical and film composer (The Little Man), dies at 82
- 2016 Henry McCullough, Irish guitarist (Wings), dies at 72