Notable Deaths 2020: Music
Remembering Little Richard, Kenny Rogers, Bill Withers, Krzysztof Penderecki, Trini Lopez, John Prine, Adam Schlesinger, Betty Wright, Ennio Morricone and many others who died this year.
Neil Peart, 67
Drummer and lyricist for Rush
Norma Tanega, 80
One-hit wonder
Jimmy Heath, 93
Jazz saxophonist and composer
Bob Shane, 85
Last of the original Kingston Trio
Peter Serkin, 72
Pianist with pedigree
Nello Santi, 88
Conductor with his heart in Italian opera
Mirella Freni, 84
Matchless Italian prima donna
Joseph Shabalala, 78
Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder
Nedda Casei, 87
Mezzo-soprano turned labor leader
Lynn Evans Mand, 95
Lead singer of the Chordettes
McCoy Tyner, 81
Jazz piano powerhouse
Charles Wuorinen, 81
Uncompromising modernist composer
Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, 70
Musician, artist and provocateur
Elinor Ross, 93
Met soprano with illness-shortened career
Doriot Anthony Dwyer, 98
Flutist and orchestral pathbreaker
Kenny Rogers, 81
Brought country music to a pop audience
Eric Weissberg, 80
Melodic banjo player
Manu Dibango, 86
Soulful ambassador of African music
Ray Mantilla, 85
Percussionist who transcended genres
Krzysztof Penderecki, 86
Polish composer with cinematic flair
Joe Diffie, 61
Grammy-winning country music star
Jan Howard, 91
Singer and writer of country hits
Wallace Roney, 59
Jazz trumpet virtuoso
Adam Schlesinger, 52
Songwriter for rock, film and the stage
Ellis Marsalis, 85
Jazz pianist and music family patriarch
Bucky Pizzarelli, 94
Master of jazz guitar
Bill Withers, 81
Sang "Lean on Me" and "Ain’t No Sunshine"
Cristina, 64
Downtown New York singer with a following
John Prine, 73
Musician who sang of the human condition
Andy Gonzalez, 69
Prolific Latin jazz bassist
Lee Konitz, 92
Jazz saxophonist
Harold Reid, 80
Bedrock voice of the Statler Brothers
Lynn Harrell, 76
Acclaimed American cellist
Tony Allen, 79
Drummer who created the beat of Afrobeat
Florian Schneider, 73
Co-founder of Kraftwerk
Rosalind Elias, 90
American mezzo-soprano
Little Richard, 87
Flamboyant wild man of rock ’n’ roll
Betty Wright, 66
Soul singer
Mory Kante, 70
Guinean singer, kora player and bandleader
Jimmy Cobb, 91
Drummer with Miles Davis
Bonnie Pointer, 69
Founder of the Pointer Sisters
Vera Lynn, 103
Singer who lifted wartime Britain
Mady Mesple, 89
French soprano with a silvery voice
Johnny Mandel, 94
Writer of memorable movie scores
Ennio Morricone, 91
Oscar-winning composer of film scores
Charlie Daniels, 83
Fiddling force in country and rock
Ida Haendel,
Violin prodigy
Annie Ross, 89
Jazz vocalist of "Twisted" renown
Leon Fleisher, 92
Spellbinding pianist using one hand or two
Trini Lopez, 83
Hitmaking singer who melded musical styles
Julian Bream, 87
Maestro of guitar and lute
Gary Peacock, 85
Master jazz bassist
Toots Hibbert,
Father of reggae
Juliette Gréco, 93
Grande dame of chanson française
Helen Reddy, 78
Singer of "I Am Woman"
Mac Davis, 78
Pop and country star
Constance Weldon, 88
Pioneering virtuoso of the tuba
Tommy DeVito, 92
Original member of the Four Seasons
Christiane Eda-Pierre, 88
Black opera star
Jacques-Louis Monod, 93
Modernist composer with a lyrical touch
Eddie Van Halen, 65
The most influential guitarist of his generation
Johnny Nash, 80
Singer of “I Can See Clearly Now”
Mohammad Reza Shajarian, 80
Iranian master singer and dissident
Erin Wall, 44
Acclaimed soprano in Mozart and Strauss
Spencer Davis, 81
Led hitmaking '60s rock band
Jerry Jeff Walker, 78
Singer and songwriter known for "Mr. Bojangles"
Billy Joe Shaver, 81
Outlaw singer and songwriter
Viola Smith, 107
"Fastest girl drummer in the world"
Rance Allen, 71
Frontman of a gospel group
Cándido Camero, 99
Conga master who transformed jazz
Len Barry, 78
Soulful voice of "Bristol Stomp" and "1-2-3"
Camilla Wicks, 92
Dazzling violinist from a young age
Charley Pride, 86
Country music’s first Black superstar
Tony Rice, 69
Bluegrass innovator
John Fletcher, 56
Rapper known as Ecstasy in the group Whodini
Leslie West, 75
Guitarist for the hit band Mountain
Chad Stuart, 79
Half of the British rock duo Chad & Jeremy
K.T. Oslin, 78
Country singer known for "80’s Ladies"