Pop Music in History

• 1926-01-02 Melody Maker, British popular music magazine, publishes 1st issue
• 1939-06-03 "Beer Barrel Polka" by Will Glahe hits #1 on the pop singles chart

• 1964-06-08 "The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)", recorded by 1960s American pop singers, Jan and Dean, is released

• 1967-02-04 "Wild Thing" cover version by "Senator Bobby" hits #20 on the pop singles chart
• 1967-06-16 50,000 attend first day of the Monterey International Pop Festival - beginning of the Summer of Love

• 1967-09-30 BBC starts its own popular music radio station (Radio 1)

• 1969-06-27 Denver Pop Festival opens; 50,000 attend; Frank Zappa, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Jimi Hendrix headline; other performers include Three Dog Night, Tim Buckley, Big Mama Thornton, Johnny Winter, Joe Cocker, and Poco

• 1969-07-25 70,000 attend Seattle Pop Festival (across 3 days); performers included: Bo Diddley, Flying Burrito Brothers, Ten Years After, Guess Who, Santana, Tim Buckley, Byrds, Ike & Tina Turner Revue, Chicago Transit Authority, Chuck Berry, Led Zeppelin, and The Doors

• 1969-08-30 3-day New Orleans Pop Festival opens - 25,000 attend; performers include: Spiral Staircase;. Rex; The Byrds; Janis Joplin: Grateful Dead; Chicago; Dr. John; and Santana
• 1969-08-30 3-day Texas International Pop Festival opens in Lewisville, Texas - 125,000 attend; performers include: Chicago Transit Authority; Delaney and Bonnie and Friends; Grand Funk Railroad; Janis Joplin; B.B. King; Led Zeppelin; Nazz; Sam and Dave; Sly and the Family Stone; and Johnny Winter
• 1970-02-07 "Jingle Jangle" hits #10 on the pop singles chart by Archies
• 1970-07-03 Atlanta International Pop Festival opens, 200,000 attend over 3 days; performers include Allman Brothers; Grand Funk Railroad, Jimi Hendrix Experience; Richie Havens; Cat Mother & the All-Night Newsboys; B.B. King; Mott the Hoople; and John Sebastian
• 1973-07-28 600,000 attend the "Summer Jam" rock festival featuring The Grateful Dead, The Band, and The Allman Brothers Band, at Watkins Glen, New York; at the time the largest ever audience at a pop festival
• 1973-08-28 Bobby "Boris" Pickett's song "Monster Mash" goes gold
• 1979-02-03 "YMCA" by Village People peaks at #2 on pop singles chart

• 1979-05-20 Elton John is the 1st western pop star to tour USSR

• 1987-05-29 British pop singer Freddie Mercury and Spanish opera diva Montserrat Caballé debut their song "Barcelona" at the Ibiza Fest
• 1990-09-29 "Love & Affection" by Nelson peaks at #1 on pop singles chart

• 2003-02-02 Russian pop girl duo Tatu start a four-week run at #1 on the UK singles chart with "All The Things She Said"
• 2005-06-13 A jury in Santa Maria, California acquits pop singer Michael Jackson of molesting 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo at his Neverland Ranch

• 2016-09-27 American "boy band" pop music group 'Why Don't We' (WDW) forms in Los Angeles

• 2018-08-26 Moroccan pop singer Saad Lamjarred arrested in Saint-Tropez, France on a rape allegation
• 2018-08-30 Ugandan pop star MP Bobi Wine re-arrested attempting to leave the country
• 2018-10-31 BLACKPINK become the first K-pop girl group to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 with multiple hits
• 2019-11-29 K-pop stars Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon sentenced to prison for gang-raping unconscious fans and distributing footage of it (Jung)

• 2022-09-16 South Korean girl group Blackpink release their second studio album "Born Pink" - 1st K-pop girl group to top the US Billboard chart

• 2024-01-28 100 Ballads names "The Wandring Prince of Troy" the most popular ballad of the 17th century in project documenting “the earliest form of commercial pop music in England" [1]

Birthdays 1 - 100 of 913

• 1877-05-25 Billy Murray, Irish-American vaudeville and early recording popular music tenor, known as the 'Denver Nightengale' ("Shine On, Harvest Moon"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1954)
• 1878-03-04 Egbert Van Alstyne, American popular music songwriter and ragtime pianist ("In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree"; "For Your Boy and My Boy"), born in Marengo, Illinois (d. 1951) [1]
• 1892-03-17 Sayed Darwish, Egyptian singer-songwriter and "father of Egyptian popular music" (Ana Haweet), born in Kôm el-Dikka, Alexandria, Egypt (d. 1923)
• 1902-06-17 Sammy Fain, American popular music composer, born in New York City (d. 1989)
• 1906-03-24 Klavdiya Shulzhenko, Soviet jazz and pop singer ("Let's Smoke"), born in Kharkiv, Russian Empire (now Ukraine) (d. 1984)
• 1907-02-17 Alec Wilder, American classical, jazz, and pop music composer (The Churkendoose), and musicologist (American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950), born in Rochester, New York (d. 1980)
• 1909-06-28 Arnold Shaw, American writer on popular music and composer, born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1989)
• 1910-12-07 Louis Prima, American jazz and pop singer, trumpeter, and bandleader ("That Old Black Magic"; "Oh, Marie"), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1978)
• 1912-04-02 Herbert Mills, American pop singer, (The Mills Brothers), born in Piqua, Ohio (d. 1989)
• 1913-05-18 Charles Trenet, French pop singer and songwriter ("Boum!"; "La Mer"), born in Narbonne, France (d. 2001)
• 1913-06-24 Max van Praag, Dutch popular music singer (Glück Auf!), born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1991)
• 1913-07-24 Johnny McAfee, American ballad singer, saxophonist, and clarinetist (Harry James Orchestra; Sammy Kaye Show), born in Dallas, Texas (d. unk) [1]
• 1914-02-11 Matt Dennis, American pop singer, pianist, composer, and arranger ("Everything Happens To Me"; "Angel Eyes"), born in Seattle, Washington (d. 2002)
• 1915-08-21 Raquel Rastenni, Danish pop singer ("Hele ugen alene" - Seven Lonely Days), born in Copenhagen (d. 1998)
• 1915-12-17 André Claveau, French pop singer and actor (Dors, mon amour), born in Paris; (d. 2003)
• 1917-03-20 Vera Lynn, British popular music singer, known as 'the Forces' Sweetheart' ("We'll Meet Again"; "The White Cliffs of Dover"), born in East Ham, London (d. 2020)

• 1917-07-18 Henri Salvador, French-Caribbean pop singer, guitarist, and cabaret artist, born in Cayenne, French Guiana (d. 2008)
• 1917-11-12 Jo Stafford, American pop singer (The Pied Pipers - "I'll Never Smile Again"; Tommy Dorsey - "Let's Just Pretend"; solo - "You Belong to Me"), born in Coalinga, California (d. 2008) [1]
• 1917-11-24 Rita Corita [Hendrika Sturm], Dutch pop singer ("Koffie, koffie, lekker bakkie koffie - Coffee, coffee, nice cup of coffee"), born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1998)
• 1919-02-13 Joan Edwards, American pop singer on radio (Your Hit Parade) and television (Joan Edwards Show), born in New York City (d. 1981)
• 1919-04-21 Don Cornell [Luigi Varlaro], American pop singer (Sammy Kaye Orchestra - "Room Full of Roses; solo - "Hold My Hand"), born in The Bronx, New York City (d. 2004)
• 1919-05-07 La Esterella [Ester Lambrechts], Flemish pop singer ("Oh Lieve Vrouwetoren"), born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 2011)
• 1920-08-17 Georgia Gibbs [Frieda Lipschitz], American jazz and pop singer ("Kiss of Fire"; "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake"), born in Worcester, Massachusetts (d. 2006) [1]
• 1921-05-05 Sonja Oosterman, Dutch pop singer and lyricist (De Marketentsters en De Musketiers), born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 2008)
• 1921-05-25 (Catherine) "Kitty" Kallen, American big band (Harry James, Jimmy Dorsey, Jack Teagarden) and pop singer ("Little Things Mean A Lot"; "My Coloring Book"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2016) [1]
• 1922-01-16 Ernesto Bonino, Italian pop singer, born in Turin, Italy (d. 2008)
• 1923-01-25 (Farrell) "Rusty" Draper, American country and pop singer ("The Shifting, Whispering Sands"; "Are You Satisfied?"), born in Kirksville, Missouri (d. 2003)
• 1924-03-27 Sarah Vaughan, American jazz and pop singer ("Body and Soul; "Broken Hearted Melody"), often known as "Sassy" and "The Divine One", born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 1990) [1]
• 1924-10-01 Roger Williams [Louis Jacob Weertz], American popular music pianist ("Born Free"), born in Omaha, Nebraska (d. 2011)
• 1924-11-26 Michael Holliday [Norman Milne], British pop singer ("The Story of My Life"), born in Liverpool, England (d. 1963)
• 1925-04-26 Jørgen Ingmann, Danish jazz and pop guitarist ("Apache"; "Dansevise"), born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 2015)

• 1925-07-09 Alan Dale, American pop singer ("Cheery Pink and Apple Blossom White"), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2002)
• 1925-09-25 Pete Murray [James], British pop music BBC radio and television presenter, born in London, England
• 1925-10-13 Gustav Winckler, Danish pop singer ("Skibet skal sejle i nat"- "The Ship Is Leaving Tonight"), born in Nørrebro, Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1979)
• 1926-03-04 Fran Warren [Wolff], American big band and pop singer ("A Sunday Kind of Love"; "I Said My Pajamas (and Put On My Pray'rs)"), born in The Bronx, NYC (d. 2013)
• 1926-03-14 Lita Roza, English pop singer ("How Much is That Doggie in the Window"), born in Liverpool, England (d. 2008)
• 1926-08-14 (Armando) "Buddy" Greco, American jazz and pop singer ("Ooh! Look-A There, Ain't She Pretty"; "The Lady Is A Tramp"), pianist, and television personality (Away We Go), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2017)
• 1926-09-26 Julie London, American pop singer ("Cry Me A River"), and actress (Emergency - "Nurse MaColl"), born in Santa Rosa, California (d. 2000)
• 1926-10-19 Arne Bendiksen, Norwegian pop singer-songwriter (Eurovision, 1964, 1966, 1973, 1974), born in Bergen, Norway (d. 2009)
• 1927-01-10 Johnnie Ray, American pop singer ("Cry"), born in Dallas, Oregon (d. 1990)
• 1927-07-16 Mindy Carson, American popular music vocalist (Club Embassy, Ford Star Revue), born in New York City
• 1927-10-07 Al Martino [Jasper Cini], American pop singer ("Here in My Heart"), and actor (The Godfather), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2009)
• 1927-10-28 Dame Cleo Laine, British actress and jazz-pop singer ("Flesh to a Tiger"), born in Middlesex, England

• 1928-02-01 Debbie Dean [Reba Smith], American pop singer and songwriter (Motown), born in Corbin, Kentucky (d. 2001)
• 1928-03-09 Keely Smith [Dorothy Keely], American jazz and pop singer (w/ husband Louis Prima -"That Old Black Magic"; "I Wish You Love"), born in Norfolk, Virginia (d. 2017)
• 1928-08-10 Eddie Fisher, American pop singer ("Oh My Papa"; "Lady of Spain"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2010)
• 1928-08-16 Eydie Gormé [Edithe Gormezano], American Grammy and Emmy Award-winning pop singer ("Blame It On The Bossa Nova"; Steve and Eydie), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2013)
• 1928-12-15 Jerry Wallace, American country and pop singer ("Primrose Lane"; "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry"), born in Guilford, Missouri (d. 2008)
• 1929-11-09 Alexandra Nikolayevna Pakhmutova, Russian classical and popular music composer (Trumpet Concerto), born in Volgograd, Russia
• 1930-06-01 Edward Woodward, British actor (Breaker Morant; Wickerman; The Equalizer), and pop singer ("The Way You Look Tonight"), born in Croydon, Surrey (d. 2009)
• 1930-08-01 Lionel Bart [Begleiter], British pop music composer and writer (Oliver!), born in London, England
• 1930-09-22 Joni James [Joan Babbo], American pop singer ("Why Don't You Believe Me?"; "How Important Can It Be?"), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2022)
• 1930-12-01 Matt Monro [Terence Parsons], English pop singer ("Softly As I Leave You"), born in Shoreditch, London (d. 1985)
• 1931-01-27 Rudi Maugeri, Canadian doo-wop vocalist (Crew Cuts - "Sh-Boom"), and broadcaster, born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2004)
• 1931-07-08 Jerry Vale [Gennaro Vitaliano], American pop singer ("Arriverderci Roma"; "Have You Looked Into Your Heart"), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2014)
• 1931-08-28 John Perkins, Canadian pop singer (Crew Cuts), born in Toronto, Ontario
• 1931-09-27 Freddy Quinn [Franz Nidl], Austrian pop singer and actor, born in Niederfladnitz, Austria
• 1931-12-03 [Mary] Jaye P. Morgan, American pop singer ("All I Want From You"), game show panelist (Gong Show), born in Mancos, Colorado
• 1931-12-16 Karl Denver [Angus McKenzie], Scottish pop singer ("Never Say Goodbye"; "Wimoweh"), born in Springburn, Glasgow, Scotland (d. 1998)
• 1931-12-30 Skeeter Davis [Mary Penick], American country-pop singer-songwriter ("(I Can't Help You) I'm Falling Too"; "Set Him Free"; "The End Of The World"), born in Dry Ridge, Kentucky (d. 2004)
• 1932-04-16 Vince Hill, English pop singer ("Roses of Picardy"; "La Vie en Rose"; "Edelweiss"), born in Holbrooks, Coventry, England (d. 2023)
• 1932-05-19 Alma Cogan, British pop singer ("Dreamboat"; "I Can't Tell a Waltz from a Tango"), born in Whitechapel, London, England (d. 1966)
• 1932-06-13 Jo Roland [Rolando Bonardelli], Swiss pop singer and TV personality (Rendez-vous), known as the 'Swiss Perry Como', born in Geneva, Switzerland (d. 2013)
• 1932-07-28 Vinnie Bell [Gambella], American session guitarist, electric sitar player, and pioneer of electronic effects in pop music, born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2019)
• 1932-11-15 Petula Clark, British pop singer-songwriter (Downtown; My Love; Don't Sleep in the Subway, and actress, born in Epsom, England
• 1932-12-03 Corry Brokken, Dutch pop singer (1957 Eurovision), born in Breda, The Netherlands (d. 2016)
• 1933-03-03 Marco Antonio Muñoz, Mexican Latin pop singer (Que Murmurmen; Escandallo), and actor (Sinful), born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
• 1933-04-12 Montserrat Caballé, Spanish bel canto operatic soprano, and unlikely pop star (with Freddie Mercury - "Barcelona"), born in Barcelona, Spain (d. 2018)
• 1933-08-17 Mark Dinning, American pop singer (Teen Angel), born in Manchester, Oklahoma (d. 1986)
• 1933-09-18 (James Frederick) "Jimmie" Rodgers, American pop singer and guitarist ("Honey Comb" ; “Oh-Oh, I’m Falling In Love Again”), born in Camas, Washington (d. 2021)
• 1933-12-15 Jesse Belvin, American pop singer, piano player (Mr. Easy), and songwriter (Earth Angel), born in San Antonio, Texas (d. 1960)
• 1933-12-30 Perry Ford [Brian Pugh], British pop singer, session musician and songwriter (The Ivy League - "Tossing And Turning"), born in Lincoln, England (d. 1999)
• 1934-05-04 Frederik von Pallandt, Danish-Dutch pop singer and guitarist (Nina & Frederik), born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1994)
• 1934-09-30 Udo Jürgens [Bockelmann], Austrian-Swiss pop singer-songwriter (Eurovision Song Contest, 1966), born in Klagenfurt, Federal State of Austria (now Austria) (d. 2014)
• 1935-03-17 (Patrick Henry) "Adam" Wade, American pop singer (The Writing On The Wall), actor (Kiss Me Goodbye), and 1st US Black game show host (Musical Chairs), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 2022)
• 1935-03-29 Ruby Murray, Irish pop singer ("Heartbeat"; "Softly, Softly"), born in Belfast, Northern Ireland (d. 1996)
• 1935-04-16 Bobby Vinton, American pop singer, known as "The Polish Prince" ("Roses Are Red (My Love)"; "Blue Velvet"; "My Melody Of Love"), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• 1935-07-08 Steve Lawrence [Sidney Leibowitz], American Grammy and Emmy Award-winning pop singer ("Go Away Little Girl"; Steve and Eydie), and actor (The Lonely Guy; The Blues Brothers), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2024)
• 1935-09-30 Jill Corey [Norma Jean Speranza], American pop singer (Your Hit Parade), born in Avonmore, Pennsylvania (d. 2021)

• 1936-01-30 Dries Holten, Dutch pop singer (Sandra & Andres), born in Cimahi, Dutch East Indies (d. 2020)
• 1936-02-24 Jess Conrad [Gerald James], British stage and screen actor and pop singer, born in Brixton, South London, England
• 1936-03-19 Birthe Wilke, Danish pop singer (Eurovision Song Contest, 1957 & 1959), born in Vesterbro, Denmark
• 1936-04-04 Margo J. Sylvia (née Lopez), American pop singer (Tune Weavers - "Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby"), born in Woburn, Massachusetts (d. 1991)

• 1936-05-02 Engelbert Humperdinck [Arnold George Dorsey], British pop singer ("Release Me"; "After The Loving"), born in Madras, British India
• 1936-06-20 Billy Guy [Frank Phillips], American baritone pop singer (The Coasters, 1955-73 - "Charlie Brown"; "Youngblood"), and record producer, born in Itasca, Texas (d. 2002)
• 1936-12-17 Tommy Steele [Thomas Hicks], English pop singer, 1st British Rock and Roll star, born in London
• 1937-04-07 Charlie Thomas, American pop singer (The Drifters, 1958-67 - "Sweets For My Sweet"; "Save The Last Dance For Me"), born in Lynchburg, Virginia (d. 2023)
• 1937-05-13 Teddy Randazzo, American pop singer-songwriter (I'm on the Outside Looking In), born in New York City (d. 2003)
• 1937-05-29 Hibari Misora [Kazue Katō], Japanese pop singer ("Kawa no nagare no yō ni" - Like the Flow of the River), and actress, born in Yokohama, Japan (d. 1988)
• 1937-06-20 Jerry Keller, American pop singer-songwriter ("Here Comes Summer"), and actor (If Ever I See You Again), born in Fort Smith, Arkansas
• 1937-07-25 Dmitry Smolsky, Belarusian orchestral, choral, theater and pop music composer, and teacher (Belarusian State Academy of Music, 1962-2014), born in Minsk, Belorussian SSR (d. 2017)
• 1937-08-02 Garth Hudson, Canadian rock Lowrey organist, accordion player and saxophonist (The Band - "Chest Fever"; "Up On Cripple Creek"), born in Windsor, Ontario
• 1937-08-08 (Ludwig) "Louis" Neefs, Belgian pop singer (Eurovision, 1967 & 1969), born in Gierle, Belgium (d. 1980)
• 1937-10-05 Abi Ofarim [Abraham Reichstadt], Israeli dancer, folk and pop singer, guitarist, and record producer (Ester & Abi - "Cinderella Rockerfella"), born in Safed, British Palestine (now Israel) (d. 2018)
• 1937-10-16 Emile Ford, St. Lucian pop singer (first Black male singer to top UK charts - "What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?"), and sound engineer, born in Castries, St Lucia (d. 2016)
• 1937-11-05 Jackie Verdell, American gospel singer (The Davis Sisters, 1955-66), pop singer-songwriter ("Why Not Give Me A Chance") and session vocalist (Wilson Picket; Van Morrison), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1991)

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• 1948-05-15 American dancer and actress Cyd Charisse (26) weds American pop singer Tony Martin (34)

• 1982-06-26 American pop singer Marie Osmond (22) weds college student Steve Craig; divorce in 1985

• 1986-10-16 American pop singer Marie Osmond weds Brian Blosil at the Jordan River Temple in South Jordan, Utah: divorce in 2007
• 1989-09-16 American pop singer Natalie Cole (39) weds second husband American "Rufus" drummer and record producer André Fisher; divorce in 1995
• 1991-06-07 American pop singer Jimmy Osmond (28) weds Michelle Larson

• 1995-09-09 American pop singer Chynna Phillips (27) weds American actor William Baldwin (32)

• 1996-12-21 American pop singer Lionel Richie (47) weds clothing designer Diane Alexander (30) at Metropolitan Club in New York; divorce in 2004

• 2000-12-22 Pop singer Madonna (42) weds film director Guy Ritchie (32) at Skibo Castle in Scotland
• 2001-10-05 "The Golden Boy" professional boxer Oscar De La Hoya (28) weds Puerto Rican pop singer Millie Corretjer (27) in a secret ceremony held at "El Invernino" in San Juan
• 2001-10-12 American pop singer Natalie Cole (51) marries Bishop Kenneth H. Dupree; divorce in 2004

• 2004-09-18 Pop star Britney Spears (22) weds rapper-dancer Kevin Federline (26) in Studio City, California

• 2006-06-19 "Savage Garden" pop singer Darren Hayes (34) weds animator Richard Cullen in London
• 2006-09-18 Chinese movie actor Nicholas Tse (26) weds HK actress and cantopop singer Cecilia Cheung (26) at Palawan island in the Philippines
• 2006-12-17 Contemporary Christian and Latin pop singer Jaci Velasquez (27) weds "Salvador" lead singer Nic Gonzalez in Austin, Texas
• 2007-04-21 American pop singer sensation Anastacia (38) weds her bodyguard Wayne Newton (not the singer) at the Quinta Real Huatulco in Huatulco, Mexico; file for divorce in 2010
• 2007-04-30 "Timbiriche" pop singer Paulina Rubio (35) weds Spanish public relations executive Nicolas "Colate" Vallejo Najera in Cancun, Quintana Roo
• 2009-12-19 American pop singer, musician, and actor Kevin Jonas (22) weds Danielle Deleasa (23) at Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York

• 2011-04-22 American actor Eddie Cibrian (37) weds American country and pop singer LeAnn Rimes (28) at a private home in California
• 2011-05-04 American pop singer Marie Osmond re-weds her 1st husband Steve Craig at the Las Vegas Nevada Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• 2012-05-23 Grammy-winning Spanish pop star Alejandro Sanz (43) weds longtime girlfriend Raquel Perera (37) in Barcelona

• 2010-09-03 Pop singer Cheryl Cole (27) divorces England soccer player Ashley Cole (29) due to unreasonable behavior after 3 and a half years of marriage

Deaths 1 - 100 of 190

• 1923-09-15 Sayed Darwish, Egyptian singer-songwriter and "father of Egyptian popular music" (Ana Haweet), dies at 31
• 1951-07-09 Egbert Van Alstyne, American popular music songwriter and ragtime pianist ("In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree"; "For Your Boy and My Boy"), dies after a stroke at 73 [1]
• 1960-02-06 Jesse Belvin, American pop singer, piano player (Mr. Easy), and songwriter (Earth Angel), dies in a car crash after a concert in Little Rock, Arkansas at 27
• 1963-06-22 Maria Tănase, Romanian singer of traditional and popular music (b. 1913)
• 1963-10-29 Michael Holliday [Norman Milne], British pop singer ("The Story of My Life"), dies of a suspected drug overdose at 38
• 1966-10-26 Alma Cogan, British pop singer ("Dreamboat"; "I Can't Tell a Waltz from a Tango"), dies of ovarian cancer at 34
• 1968-02-27 Frankie Lymon, American pop singer (The Teenagers - "Why Do Fools Fall In Love"), dies of a heroin overdose at 25
• 1970-03-15 Mary Ann Ganser, American pop singer (The Shangri-Las - "Leader of the Pack"), dies of a drug overdose at 22
• 1972-10-12 (Wilfred) "Billy" Williams, American pop singer ("I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter"), dies at 61
• 1975-04-25 Mike Brant, Israeli pop singer ("Laisse-moi t'aimer" ("Let Me Love You")), commits suicide at 28
• 1978-03-11 Claude François, French pop singer-songwriter ("Comme d'habitude"), electrocuted in a home mishap at 39
• 1978-08-24 Louis Prima, American jazz and pop singer, trumpeter, and bandleader ("That Old Black Magic"; "Oh, Marie"), dies at 67
• 1979-01-20 Gustav Winckler, Danish pop singer ("Skibet skal sejle i nat"- "The Ship Is Leaving Tonight"), dies in a car crash at 53
• 1980-01-13 Andre Kostelanetz, Russian-American orchestral-pop music conductor (Lincoln Portrarit), dies of pneumonia at 78

• 1980-12-24 Alec Wilder, American classical, jazz, and pop music composer (The Churkendoose), and musicologist (American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950), dies at 73 [1]
• 1980-12-25 (Ludwig) "Louis" Neefs, Belgian pop singer (Eurovision, 1967 & 1969), dies, along with his wife, in a car accident at 43
• 1981-08-27 Joan Edwards, American pop singer on radio (Your Hit Parade) and television (Joan Edwards Show), dies of a heart attack at 62
• 1982-08-08 Ferre Grignard, Belgian pop singer/painter (Crucified Jesus), dies
• 1983-04-03 Danny Rapp, American pop singer (Danny & The Juniors - "At The Hop"), takes his own life at 41
• 1984-06-17 Klavdiya Shulzhenko, Soviet jazz and pop singer ("Let's Smoke"), dies at 78
• 1985-02-07 Matt Monro [Terence Parsons], English pop singer ("Softly As I Leave You"), dies from liver cancer at 54
• 1988-06-24 Hibari Misora [Kazue Katō], Japanese pop singer ("Kawa no nagare no yō ni" - Like the Flow of the River), dies of heart failure at 52
• 1988-07-18 Nico [Christa Päffgen], German model, and pop singer (Velvet Underground - "Sunday Morning"; "I'll Be Your Mirror"), dies from a bicycle accident at 43
• 1989-04-12 Herbert Mills, American pop singer (The Mills Brothers - "Paper Doll"; "Lazy River"), dies at 77
• 1989-09-26 Arnold Shaw, American writer on popular music and composer, dies at 80
• 1989-12-06 Sammy Fain, American popular music composer, dies at 87
• 1990-04-03 Sarah Vaughan, American jazz and pop singer ("Body and Soul; "Broken Hearted Melody"), often known as "Sassy" and "The Divine One", dies of lung cancer at 66
• 1990-08-18 Grethe Ingmann (née Clemmensen), Danish pop singer (Eurovision, 1963), dies of cancer at 52
• 1990-12-07 Dee Clark, American pop singer ("Raindrops"), dies at 52
• 1991-05-23 William Sinnot, Scottish pop musician (Shamen), dies at 30
• 1991-06-10 Max van Praag, Dutch popular music singer (Glück Auf!), dies at 77
• 1991-08-03 Jackie Verdell, American gospel singer (The Davis Sisters, 1955-66), pop singer-songwriter ("Why Not Give Me A Chance") and session vocalist (Wilson Picket; Van Morrison), dies at 53
• 1991-10-25 Margo J. Sylvia (née Lopez), American pop singer (Tune Weavers - "Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby"), dies of heart attack and stroke at 55
• 1992-05-15 Barbara Lee, American pop singer (Chiffons - He's So Fine; Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?), dies at 44
• 1992-12-23 Eddie Hazel, American pop guitarist (Funkadelic - "Knee Deep"), dies at 42
• 1993-02-27 Marlena Davis, American pop singer (The Orlons - "Don't Hang Up"; "South Street"), dies of lung cancer at 48
• 1993-08-08 Lou van Rees, Dutch jazz and pop music impresario, dies at 77
• 1994-02-24 Jean Sablon, French pop singer-songwriter, dies at 87
• 1994-05-15 Frederik von Pallandt, Danish-Dutch pop singer and guitarist (Nina & Frederik), murdered in the Philippines at 60
• 1994-09-20 Jule Styne [Julius Stein], British-American Academy and Tony Award-winning songwriter ("Three Coins In The Fountain"; "Time After Time"), and Broadway composer (Funny Girl; Hallelujah, Baby!; Gypsy), dies at 88
• 1995-05-08 Teresa Teng [Li-chun], Taiwanese pop singer ("Aijin"; "The Power Of Love"; "Airport"), and actress, dies from a severe asthma attack at 42
• 1996-07-28 Marguerite "Marge" Ganser, American pop singer (The Shangri-Las - "Leader of the Pack"), dies of breast cancer at 48

• 1998-09-09 Lucio Battisti, Italian pop singer and composer, dies of cancer at 55
• 1998-12-21 Karl Denver [Angus McKenzie], Scottish pop singer ("Never Say Goodbye"; "Wimoweh"), dies of a brain tumor at 67
• 1999-04-03 Lionel Bart, English pop and theatrical music composer (Oliver), and writer, dies of liver cancer at 68
• 1999-04-29 Perry Ford [Brian Pugh], British pop singer, session musician and songwriter (The Ivy League - "Tossing And Turning"), dies at 65
• 1999-09-17 Frankie Vaughan, British pop singer ("Give Me the Moonlight, Give Me the Girl"), dies of heart failure at 71
• 1999-11-21 Alvin Cash [Welch], American pop singer ("Twine Time"; "The Philly Freeze"), and actor, dies of ulcer complications at 60
• 2000-02-04 Doris Coley, American pop singer (The Shirelles - "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"; "Baby It's You"), dies of breast cancer at 58
• 2000-02-12 Oliver [William Swofford], American pop singer ("Good Morning Starshine"), dies of cancer at 54
• 2000-04-27 Vicki Sue Robinson, American stage and screen actress, and pop singer ("Turn the Beat Around"), dies of cancer at 45
• 2000-08-13 Nazia Hassan, Pakistani pop singer-songwriter, lawyer and social activist known as "Queen of Pop" in South Asia, dies of lung cancer at 35
• 2001-02-17 Debbie Dean [Reba Smith], American pop singer and songwriter (Motown), dies at 73
• 2001-02-19 Charles Trenet, French pop singer and songwriter ("Boum!"; "La Mer"), dies at 87
• 2001-10-13 Peter Doyle, Australian pop singer (The New Seekers - "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing"), dies of throat cancer at 52
• 2001-11-24 Melanie Thornton, American pop-dance singer (La Bouche - "Be My Lover"), dies in a plane crash near Zürich, Switzerland, at 34

• 2002-01-02 Armi Aavikko, Finnish beauty queen (Miss Finland, 1977), and pop singer, dies at 43
• 2002-03-15 Marshall Leib [Leibovitz], American pop singer (Teddy Bears - "To Know Him Is To Love Him"), and record producer, dies of a heart attack at 62
• 2002-06-21 Matt Dennis, American pop singer, pianist, composer, and arranger ("Everything Happens To Me"; "Angel Eyes"), dies at 88
• 2002-11-05 Billy Guy [Frank Phillips], American baritone pop singer (The Coasters, 1955-73 - "Charlie Brown"; "Youngblood"), and record producer, dies of cardiovascular disease at 66
• 2003-03-28 (Farrell) "Rusty" Draper, American country and pop singer ("The Shifting, Whispering Sands"; "Are You Satisfied?"), dies of pneumonia at 80

• 2003-08-26 Wilma Burgess, American country-pop singer (Baby; Misty Blue), dies of a heart attack at 64
• 2003-11-21 Teddy Randazzo, American pop singer-songwriter (I'm on the Outside Looking In), dies at 68
• 2003-12-30 Anita Mui, Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress, "Madonna of the East", dies of cancer at 40
• 2004-02-23 Don Cornell [Luigi Varlaro], American pop singer (Sammy Kaye Orchestra - "Room Full of Roses; solo - "Hold My Hand"), dies of emphysema and diabetes at 84
• 2004-06-10 Graeme Kelling, British pop guitarist (Deacon Blue), dies at 47
• 2004-09-19 Skeeter Davis [Mary Penick], American country-pop singer-songwriter ("(I Can't Help You) I'm Falling Too"; "Set Him Free"; "The End Of The World"), dies of breast cancer at 72
• 2004-10-17 Uzi Hitman, Israeli pop singer-songwriter, actor, and television personality, dies of a heart attack at 22)
• 2005-01-11 Jimmy Griffin, American pop singer, guitarist and songwriter, (Bread), and Academy Award winner ("For All We Know"), dies of cancer at 61
• 2005-04-15 John Fred [Gourrier], American pop singer (John Fred and His Playboy Band - "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)"), dies from kidney disease at 63
• 2005-10-22 Franky Gee [Francisco Gutierrez], American-German rapper and pop singer ("Captain Jack"), dies of a cerebral hemorrhage at 43
• 2005-10-23 Pete Nelson [Lipscomb], British pop singer (The Flower Pot Men - "Let's Go To San Francisco"), dies at 60
• 2005-12-05 Danny Williams, British pop singer, known as "Britain's Johnny Mathis" ("Moon River"; "White on White"), dies of lung cancer at 63
• 2006-05-08 Viola Mae Wilkerson, American pop singer ("Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now"), dies of cancer at 69
• 2006-05-19 Freddie Garrity, English pop singer (Freddie and the Dreamers - "I'm Telling You Now"), dies at 69
• 2006-12-09 Georgia Gibbs [Frieda Lipschitz], American jazz and pop singer ("Kiss of Fire"; "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake"), dies at 88 [1]
• 2006-12-13 Robert Long [Jan Leverman], Dutch pop singer (Vroeger of Later (Sooner or Later); Unit Gloria), actor, and television presenter, dies of cancer at 63
• 2007-01-28 Karel Svoboda, Czech pianist, composer of popular songs and television music, dies of suspected suicide at 68
• 2007-04-25 Bobby "Boris" Pickett, American singer-songwriter ("Monster Mash"), dies from leukemia at 69
• 2007-04-30 Grégory Lemarchal, French pop singer, dies of health complications while waiting for a lung transplant at 23
• 2007-04-30 Zoletta "Zola" Taylor, American pop singer (The Platters, 1954-62 - "The Great Pretender"; "Only You"; "Twilight Time"), dies at 69
• 2007-05-06 Đorđe Novković, Croatian pop singer-songwriter (Pro Arte), and television personality (Hrvatski Idol), dies at 63
• 2007-05-27 Izumi Sakai, Japanese pop singer (Zard - "Makenaide (Please Don't Lose)"), dies from head injuries after a fall, while undergoing cancer treatments at 40
• 2007-09-02 David "Fritz" Fryer, British pop guitarist and songwriter (The Four Pennies -"Juliet"), dies of pancreatic cancer at 62
• 2007-10-06 Eric McCredie, Scottish pop bassist (Middle Of The Road - "Chirpy, Chirpy, Cheep Cheep"), dies at 62
• 2007-10-16 Toše Proeski, Macedonian pop music singer-songwriter and musician, dies in a car crash in Croatia at 26
• 2008-02-07 (Wilhelmus) "Benny" Neyman, Dutch pop singer ("I Don't Know How"; "Waarom fluister ik je naam nog"), dies of cancer at 56
• 2008-02-13 Henri Salvador, French-Caribbean pop singer, guitarist, and cabaret, dies of an aneurysm at 90
• 2008-04-22 Paul Davis, American country-rock-pop singer-songwriter and piano player ("I Go Crazy"; "65 Love Affair"), dies of a heart attack at 60
• 2008-05-05 Jerry Wallace, American country and pop singer ("Primrose Lane"; "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry"), dies of heart failure at 79
• 2008-07-16 Jo Stafford, American pop singer (The Pied Pipers - "I'll Never Smile Again"; Tommy Dorsey - "Let's Just Pretend"; solo - "You Belong to Me"), dies of heart failure at 90
• 2008-08-12 (June) "Christie" Allen, British-Australian pop singer (Goosebumps), dies of pancreatic cancer at 54
• 2008-12-10 Didith Reyes [Maria Avenila], Filipino pop singer, dies of a heart attack at 59
• 2009-01-09 Dave Dee [Harman], British pop singer-songwriter, and guitarist (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich), dies of cancer at 67
• 2009-01-24 Gérard Blanc, French pop singer ("Une Autre Histoire"), dies at 61
• 2009-02-11 Estelle Bennett, American pop singer (The Ronettes - "Be My Baby"), dies at 67

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