- 1585 Thomas Tallis, English composer, dies at 80
- 1752 Conrad Michael Schneider, German composer and organist, dies at 79
- 1787 Anton Schweitzer, German composer, dies at 52
- 1848 Alfred Julius Becher, Austrian journalist and composer, dies at 45
- 1853 Francisco Andrevi y Castellar, Spanish choirmaster and composer, dies at 67
- 1853 Friedrich Schneider, German keyboardist, composer, and conductor, dies at 67
- 1865 Josef Leopold Zvonař, Czech organist and composer, dies at 41
- 1916 Eduard Napravnik, Czech conductor and composer, dies at 77
- 1926 Frederic Ayers, American composer, dies at 50
- 1929 Arvid Kleven, Norwegian flautist and composer, dies at 29
- 1931 Evert Cornelis, Dutch conductor and pianist, dies at 46
- 1932 Percy Pitt, English composer (BBC), dies at 63
- 1937 Louis Victor Saar, Dutch-American composer, dies at 68
- 1940 Catharina van Rennes, Dutch composer, dies at 82
- 1948 Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Soviet composer who composed the anthem used by Azerbaijan during the Soviet period, dies at 63
- 1952 Albert van Raalte, Dutch conductor (AVRO - Dutch Radio Orchestra, 1928-40), dies at 62
- 1969 (Donnell) "Spade" Cooley, American Western swing fiddler, bandleader, and television personality ("Shame On You"), dies of a heart attack during the intermission of a performance at 58
- 1973 Jennie Tourel [Davidovich], Russian-American mezzo-soprano (Paris Opera, 1931-38; Metropolitan Opera,1937-47), dies at 73
- 1974 Páll Ísólfsson, Icelandic organist and composer, dies at 81
- 1979 Judee Sill, American singer-songwriter ("Crayon Angels"; "Jesus Was A Cross Maker"), dies of a drug overdose at 35
- 1987 Alton Adams, American composer (1st black bandmaster in the United States Navy), dies at 98
- 1992 Roy Acuff, American country fiddler, singer ("Wabash Cannonball"; Grand Ole Opry), and music publisher (Acuff-Rose Music), dies of congestive heart failure at 89
- 1993 Tatiana Nikolajeva, Russian pianist (Bach), dies at 69
- 1994 (Frederick) "Erick" Hawkins, American modern ballet dancer, and choreographer (Martha Graham Dance Company, 1939-51; Erick Hawkins Dance Company, 1951-94), dies at 85
- 1994 Eldero L D Williams, tenor saxophonist, dies at 70
- 1994 Tommy Boyce, American songwriter (Boyce & Hart; The Monkees), commits suicide at 55
- 1995 Junior Walker [Autry Mixon, Jr], American tenor saxophonist ("Shotgun"; "(I'm a) Road Runner"), dies of cancer at 64
- 1996 Art Porter, saxophonist, dies at 35
- 2001 O. C Smith, American jazz singer (Little Green Apples), dies at 69
- 2005 (John) "Fritz" Richmond, American folk musician (washtub bass and jug), and recording engineer, dies of lung cancer at 66 [1]
- 2005 Beverly Tyler, American singer and actress (Fireball, The Youngest Profession, Big Town), dies at 78
- 2006 Anita O'Day [Colton], American jazz singer, dies at 87
Betty Comden (1917-2006)
American lyricist ("On The Town"; "Just In Time") and playwright, dies of a heart failure at 89
- 2008 Richard Hickox, British organist, musical director, and conductor (City of London Sinfonia, 1971-2008; London Symphony Chorus from 1976-91), dies of a heart attack at 60
- 2009 Richard Graham Meale, Australian composer (Three Miró Pieces; Voss), dies at 77
- 2010 James Tyler, American musicologist and author (b. 1940)
- 2011 Montserrat Figueras, Catalan soprano and early music advocate (Hespèrion), dies at 69
- 2016 Larry Hosford, American folk singer-songwriter (The King Takes The Queen), dies at 73
- 2017 Carol Neblett, American operatic soprano (Metropolitan Opera, 1979-93), dies at 71
- 2020 Hal Ketchum, American country singer (Small Town Saturday Night), dies at 67
Assassination
Car Crash
Hanging
Killed in Action
Plane Crash
Poisoning