- 1692 Giovanni Battista Vitali, Italian composer, dies at 60
- 1794 James Lyon, American composer, dies at 59
- 1797 Pierre Jélyotte, French composer, dies at 84
- 1817 Johann Franz Xaver Sterkel, German organist, pianist, kapellmeister, composer, and priest, dies at 66
- 1865 William Vincent Wallace, Irish-American violinist (known as the 'Australian Paganini'), and composer (Maritana), dies at 53
- 1924 Monroe Althouse, American composer, dies at 71
- 1966 Arthur Lourié, Russian-American composer (Concerto spirituale; The Feast in a Time of Plague), dies at 74
- 1971 Gene Vincent [Vincent Eugene Craddock], American rock guitarist and vocalist ("Be-Bop-A-Lula"), dies of bleeding ulcers at 36
- 1972 (Wilfred) "Billy" Williams, American pop singer ("I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter"), dies at 61
- 1974 Hendrik Diels, Flemish conductor, dies at 73
- 1974 Joseph Frederick Wagner, American composer, conductor (Boston Civic Symphony, 1925 to 44), and teacher, dies at 74
- 1976 José Rozo Contreras, Colombian saxophonist, conductor, and composer, dies at 82
- 1982 (Christiann) "Chris"Reumer, Dutch operatic tenor, dies at 73
- 1985 Ricky Wilson, American rock guitarist (B-52's - "Love Shack"), dies of AIDS at 32
- 1989 Carmen Cavallaro, American actor and pianist (Hollywood Canteen, Diamond Horseshoe), dies from prostate cancer at 76
- 1989 Franco Luambo [Makiadi], Congolese jazz and rumba guitarist, composer, and bandleader (TPOK Jazz), dies from AIDS at 51
John Denver (1943-1997)
American pop songwriter ("Leaving On A Jet Plane"), country-pop singer ("Sunshine On My Shoulders"; "Calypso"; "Thank God I'm A Country Boy"), and actor (Oh, God!), dies in a solo plane crash at 53
- 1998 Oldřich Flosman, Czechoslovakian composer (Visions of Michelangelo; Butterflies Don't Live Here Any Longer), dies at 73
- 2001 Witold Szalonek, Polish composer (Satire), educator, and musicologist, dies at 74
- 2002 Ray Conniff, American bandleader and musician (Ray Conniff Singers), dies at 85
- 2003 Ram Gopal, Indian-English dancer (Blue Peter, Purple Plain), dies at 90
- 2008 Cliff Nobles American soul singer ("The Horse"), dies at 67
- 2009 Dickie Peterson American heavy metal bassist (Blue Cheer), dies of liver cancer at 63
- 2009 Ian Wallace, British buffo bass-baritone opera and concert singer ("Gendarmes' Duet"), and broadcaster (BBC's My Music, 1964-97), dies at 90
- 2011 Joel "Taz" DiGregorio, American country-rock keyboardist (Charlie Daniels Band), killed in a car accident at 67 [1]
- 2015 Armin Kircher, Austrian organist, composer, and conductor, dies of heart failure at 48
- 2016 (William) "Sonny" Sanders, American soul vocalist, songwriter, arranger and producer (Jackie Wilson), dies at 77
- 2018 Takehisa Kosugi, Japanese violinist and experimental music composer (Group Ongaku; Taj Mahal Travellers), dies at 80
- 2019 George Chambers, American rock bassist and vocalist (Chambers Brothers - "Time Has Come Today"), dies at 88
- 2021 Paddy Moloney, Irish uilleann pipe and tin whistle player, composer, and producer (The Chieftains), dies at 83
- 2023 Rudolph Isley, American rock singer (Isley Brothers - "Shout"; "Twist and Shout"; "It's Your Thing"), and minister, dies at 84 [1]
Assassination
Drug Overdose
Gunshot Wound
Murder
Plane Crash
Suicide