- 1522 Franchinus Gaffurius, Italian composer, dies at 71
- 1743 Václav Matyáš Gurecký, Bohemian composer dies at 37
- 1767 Georg Philipp Telemann, German late baroque composer, dies at 86
- 1785 Pierre Talon, French composer and cellist, dies at 63
- 1822 Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann, German Romantic writer, judge and composer (Undine), dies at 46
- 1876 John Patton, American trumpeter, dies at the Battle of the Little Bighorn at 24 or 25
- 1884 Hans Rott, Austrian composer, dies at 25
- 1944 Lucha Reyes [María de Luz Flores], Mexican mariachi singer ("Guadalajara"), dies of barbiturate intoxication at 38
Johnny Mercer (1909-1976)
American singer, Academy Award-winning lyricist ("Moon River"; "That Old Black Magic"; "And the Angels Sing": Come Rain Or Come Shine"), and record label executive (Capitol Records), dies from an inoperable brain tumor at 66 [1]
- 1977 Endre Szervánszky, Hungarian composer (Dark Heaven Requiem), dies at 65
- 1977 Petko Staynov, Bulgarian composer and pianist, dies at 80
- 1983 Alberto Evaristo Ginastera, Argentine composer (Panambi), dies at 67
- 1985 Connie "Pee Wee" Crayton, American R&B and blues guitarist and singer ("Do Unto Others"), dies of a heart attack at 70
- 1987 Boudleaux Bryant, American country music and pop songwriter ("Rocky Top"; "Love Hurts"; "Bye Bye Love"), dies at 67
- 1988 Hillel Slovak, Israeli musician (Anthym/What Is This?, Red Hot Chili Peppers) (b. 1962)
- 1990 Peggy Glanville-Hicks, Australian composer (Triad), dies at 77
- 1993 Miroslav Klega, Czech composer (Pantomime Suite), dies at 67
- 1996 Nicholas John, English National Opera's dramaturge, dies at 43
- 1997 Ziggy Talent, American saxophonist and novelty singer (Vaughn Monroe Orchestra - "Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long"), dies at 85
- 1998 Lounès Matoub, Kabylian singer-songwriter, guitar and mandole player, and Berber rights activist, assassinated by the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) at 42
- 1998 Richard Bales, American composer (National Gallery of Art orchestra), dies at 83
- 2006 Arif Mardin, Turkish-American music producer (Atlantic Records, Aretha Franklin, Bee Gees), dies of cancer at 74
- 2007 Mahasti, Persian singer (b. 1946)
- 2007 Nina Vyroubova, Russian-French ballerina (Pavlova Prize 1957), dies at 86
Michael Jackson (1958-2009)
American recording artist, dancer and King of Pop ("Thriller"; "Billie Jean"; "Bad"), dies of cardiac arrest at 50
- 2009 Sky Saxon [Richard Marsh], American rocker (The Seeds - "Pushin' To Hard"), dies from heart and renal failure at 71
- 2011 Goff Richards, British brass band music composer and arranger
- 2018 Bo Nilsson, Swedish composer (Doppelspiel), dies at 81
- 2020 Marga Richter, American classical pianist and composer (Landscapes of the Mind; Out of Shadows and Solitude), dies at 93
Assassination
Car Crash
Hanging
Killed in Action
Plane Crash
Poisoning