1957 Jimmy Dorsey, American big band jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and bandleader (Green Eyes; Tangerine; Pennies From Heaven), dies of throat cancer at 53
1962 John Ireland, English composer and pianist (Epic March), dies at 82
1966 Hermann Scherchen, German conductor (Winterthur Symphony Orchestra, 1922-50), and music theorist (Lehrbuch des Dirigierens -Treatise on Conducting), dies at 74
1966 Thomas Chalmers, American opera singer, actor, and filmmaker (Blind Alleys, Outrage), dies at 81
1968 Fidelio Friedrich Finke, Bohemian German composer, dies at 76
1988 Marcel Poot, Belgian baron and composer, dies at 87
1989 Lou Monte [Scaglione], Italian-American novelty song singer-songwriter (Peppino the Italian Mouse; Dominick the Donkey), dies at 72
1989 Peter Baden, Norwegian composer, organist and music critic, dies at 80
1995 Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Italian classical pianist, dies at 75
1997 Bulat Okudzhava, Russian poet-bard and singer-songwriter (founder of author's song genre), dies at 73
1998 Theresa Merritt [Hines], American singer and actress (The Wiz; That's My Mama), dies of skin cancer at 75
2006 György Ligeti, Hungarian classical composer (Le Grand Macabre), dies at 83 (b. 1923)
2008 Pam Henning [Cornelia Catharina Pamela Ingenegeren], Indonesian-Dutch cabaret dancer and actress, dies at 90
2011 Carl Gardner, American pop-rock vocalist (The Coasters - "Yakety Yak"), dies at 83
2015 Ernest Tomlinson, English light classical composer, dies at 90
2015 Monica Lewis, American jazz singer and film actress (Box Office, Affair with a Stranger), dies at 93
2017 Felice Taylor, American R&B singer (I Feel Love Comin' On), dies at 73
2018 Jon Hiseman, English drummer (Colosseum), dies at 73
Assassination
Drug Overdose
Gunshot Wound
Murder
Plane Crash
Suicide