Musicians are listed individually. Search by the artist's last name. Artists commonly referred to by a stage or street name (such as "The Big Bopper," Freddie Mercury, and Jam Master Jay) are listed under those names. Musicians who performed under a single name (like Aaliyah, Nico, and Selena) will be found under those single names. There are a few instances where two or more members of the same band perished in a single incident; you will find those artists listed under the group's name. (Examples are Banda Fugaz, The Bar-Kays, Chase, Passion Fruit, and The Reba McEntire Band.) One notable exception to this rule is Lynyrd Skynyrd. Members of Skynyrd are listed individually; although three perished in the 1977 plane crash, others have since died in unrelated incidents. (The three who died in the crash are grouped as "Lynyrd Skynyrd" on the Causes of Death and Chronology pages.) 

Key

Some entries have special notations prior to their names. They represent induction into one of the following Halls of Fame:

* denotes induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

# indicates induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

^ symbolizes induction into the Blues Hall of Fame.

I

*Marvin Isley

complications from diabetes in 2010. He was 56. Isley was a member of the Isley Brothers, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and Isley-Jasper-Isley, who had a #1 hit with "Caravan of Love". Isley had both legs removed because of his diabetes in 1997. The Isleys: "Fight the Power," "I Wanna be With You," "The Pride," "Take Me to the Next Phase," "Between the Sheets"

J

*Al Jackson

(Albert J. Jackson, Jr.), murdered in 1975; he was 39. Jackson was a session drummer and member of Booker T. and the MGs. Among others, Jackson backed Otis Redding, Al Green, and Sam & Dave. Jackson's death remains suspicious: he was killed the day before he was allegedly due to testify at a hearing concerning Stax Records' bankruptcy. Also, Jackson's estranged wife, Barbara, was at his home the night of the murder. She claimed she was bound and gagged and that intruders had tied Al up and shot him. He sustained five gunshot wounds to the back. The couple had been negotiating a divorce and Barbara had shot Al earlier that year in "self defense." No items of value were missing after the break-in. The suspected killer was the boyfriend of Barbara's friend; he was shot and killed in 1976 while resisting arrest. Al Jackson was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2015, and Booker T. & the MGs were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. "Green Onions," "Time is Tight," "Soul Limbo," "Hang 'Em High"

Doris Kenner Jackson

breast cancer; 2000. She was 58. Jackson was a member of the vocal girl-group, The Shirelles. "Soldier Boy," "Mama Said," "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?"

*Michael Jackson

(Michael Joseph Jackson), cardiac arrest in 2009; he was 50. Jackson collapsed at his home and was not breathing when paramedics arrived. He suffered a cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at UCLA Medical Center. The Los Angeles County coroner ruled Jackson's death a homicide. Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician, was convicted in 2011 of involuntary manslaughter. Lethal levels of propofol (a powerful anesthetic) were found in the singer's system, in addition to two sedatives, which Murray administered in an effort to get Jackson to sleep.

Jackson was arguably the most famous entertainer in the world, winning every music (and music video) award in existence. He began his career as lead singer of The Jackson 5, a group consisting of Michael and his brothers. (Singer Janet Jackson is his younger sister.) He went onto a phenomenal solo career, releasing Thriller in 1982, the best-selling album of all time. He influenced music, dance, music videos and fashion. Jackson co-wrote and performed on "We Are the World," for the charity USA for Africa, which went on to become the best-selling single at the time. He won 13 Grammy Awards, had 13 number one singles and achieved sales of over 750 million albums worldwide. Jackson was named male artist of the millennium at the World Music Awards. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice: with the Jackson 5 in 1997 and as a solo performer in 2001.

By contrast, his personal life was often a subject of controversy. He was married twice, once to Elvis Presley's (see 1977) daughter, Lisa Marie, and he was the father of three children: Michael Joseph, Jr. ("Prince") and Paris Michael Katherine (with second wife, Debbie Rowe), and Prince Michael II ("Blanket") born to an unnamed surrogate mother. Jackson battled several allegations of child molestation occurring at his Neverland Ranch and he came under fire when he once dangled "Blanket" off a balcony in front of the paparazzi. He was also criticized for his compulsion for plastic surgery and his claim that he suffered from vitiligo, a condition where the skin loses all pigmentation.

With the Jackson 5: "I Want You Back," "ABC," "Who's Lovin' You," "The Love You Save," "I'll Be There," "Dancing Machine"

Solo career: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," "Rock With You," "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Thriller," "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," "Human Nature," "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (duet with Siedah Garrett), "Bad," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Man in the Mirror," "Smooth Criminal," "Black or White," "Remember the Time," "In the Closet," "Scream" (duet with Janet Jackson)

*Jam Master Jay

(Jason Mizell), shot while working in a Queens (NY) recording studio in 2002. Mizell was DJ for the ground-breaking rap trio, Run-DMC. His death was one in a string of rap artist slayings. Mizell was 37. In 2024, two men - Mizell's godson and a childhood friend - were convicted of his murder. Supposedly, it was revenge after Mizell cut them out of a lucrative drug deal. A third individual is awaiting trial as an accessory; he reportedly let the murderers into the building. Run-DMC were named Greatest Hip Hop Group of All Time by MTV.com and Greatest Hip Hop Artist of All Time by VH1. The trio was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. Run-DMC's cover of "Walk This Way", featuring Aerosmith, charted higher on the Billboard Hot 100 than Aerosmith's original version, reaching the number four spot. "Mary Mary," "It's Tricky," "Down With the King"

Rick James

(James Johnson, Jr.), existing medical conditions (2004). He was 56. James, nephew of the Temptations' Melvin Franklin (see 1995), was notorious for his tangles with sex, drugs, and the law. James became a funk favorite after the success of his hit, "Super Freak." He produced songs for Teena Marie (died 2010) and Eddie Murphy ("Party All the Time") and won Grammy Awards for his album Street Songs and his collaboration with M.C. Hammer on "U Can't Touch This," which incorporated samples from "Super Freak." "Give It to Me Baby," "17," "Glow"

Jill Janus

lead singer of the metal band, Huntress. Janus committed suicide in 2018. She was 43. "Eight of Swords," "Spell Eater," "Zenith," "Sorrow"

^Blind Lemon Jefferson

(Lemon Henry Jefferson); 1929. Reports about his death are conflicting; the most popularly circulated stories have Jefferson either freezing to death or suffering a heart attack while disoriented in a Chicago snowstorm. No death certificate has ever been found. Jefferson was one of the earliest blues artists to record, logging over a hundred titles between 1926-1929. Jefferson was between 32 and 37 years old at the time of his death. In addition to his cause of death and age, Jefferson's exact burial place is also a mystery. The general area of his final resting place is marked in what is now Blind Lemon Memorial Cemetery in Wortham, Texas. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980. "Matchbox Blues," "See That My Grave is Kept Clean," "Easy Rider Blues," "Jack O'Diamonds"

Jobraith

(Bruce Wayne Campbell), AIDS; 1983. He was 36. Jobraith was the first openly gay rock musician to be signed to a major label and one of the first famous musicians to die of AIDS. "Take Me I'm Yours," "Street Corner Love," "Ooh La La"

*^Robert Johnson

(Robert Leroy Johnson), poisoned in 1938; he was 27. Father of the Blues, "King of the Delta Blues". Legend has that Johnson was living in Mississippi with no outstanding talent for guitar playing, but a strong desire to master the blues. He took his guitar to a crossroads at midnight, where he was met by a mysterious man who took the guitar and tuned it. Thereafter, Johnson possessed the unparalleled ability to play blues guitar. He had sold his soul to the devil in order to be the greatest bluesman. Johnson was infamous for his womanizing; while in Mississippi, he was supposedly given a bottle of whisky that had been poisoned by a jealous husband. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine named Johnson one of the greatest guitarists of all time (ranking #5). He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. He was also honored on a United States postage stamp. Read about how Robert Johnson started the "Curse of 27". "Crossroads," "I Think I'll Dust My Broom," "Hellhound on My Trail"

Daniel Johnston

"natural causes" after being hospitalized with a kidney ailment in 2019; he was 58. Johnston was an influential artist who was admired by the likes of Kurt Cobain (see 1994), Matt Groening and Tom Waits. Artists such as Pearl Jam, The Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, and Beck covered his songs. "Life in Vain," "True Love Will Find You in the End," "Walking the Cow"

Barbara Lee Jones

heart attack in 1992. She was 44. Member of the ‘60s girl group, The Chiffons. "He's So Fine," "One Fine Day"

Billy Jones

(William Harry Jones), self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head (1995). He was 45. Jones was the a guitarist and singer who co-founded the southern rock band, The Outlaws. "There Goes Another Love Song," "Breaker-Breaker," "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky"

*Brian Jones

(Lewis Brian Hopkins-Jones), drowned in 1969. He was 27. Jones was a co-founder of the Rolling Stones, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004. Speculation remains that Jones may have been murdered. For the whole story, and to read about the renewed investigation into his death in August of 2009, follow this link. You can also read about Jones's connection to the Curse of 27. "Satisfaction," "Red Door," "Sympathy for the Devil"

*Orville "Hoppy" Jones

brain hemorrage in 1944. He was 39. Jones was the bass vocalist for the vocal quartet, The Inkspots. The Inkspots were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. "If I Didn't Care," "I Don't Want to Set the World On Fire," "Maybe"

Peter Jones

brain cancer in 2012; he was 49. Jones was briefly the drummer for Crowded House, replacing Paul Hester (see 2005). Crowded House: "Don't Dream It's Over," "Something So Strong," "Weather With You"

*Janis Joplin

heroin overdose in 1970; "Pearl" was 27. Blues legend Bessie Smith (see 1937) lay in an unmarked grave for 33 years, until Joplin and Juanita Green, Smith’s former maid and later a chapter-head of the NAACP, donated money for a headstone. "Pearl" was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. You can read about Joplin's connection to the Curse of 27. "Me and Bobby McGee," "Piece of My Heart," "Summertime," "Mercedes Benz"

Scott Joplin

dementia paralytica (1917), the result of suffering most of his life with syphilis. He was 49. The "King of Ragtime" composed "Treemonisha," the first grand opera by an African American. In 1973, his music was featured in the film, "The Sting," which won an Academy Award for its score. In 1976, Joplin was awarded a citation for his contributions to American music. "Maple Leaf Rag," "The Entertainer"

Joey Jordison

died in his sleep from transverse myelitis in 2021. He was 46. Jordison was a founder and former drummer for the metal outfit, Slipknot. The band only appeared publicly wearing grotesque masks and jumpsuits. Slipknot was nominated for seven Grammy Awards and a Video Music Award; the group took home a Grammy in 2006 for Best Metal Performance ("Before I Forget"). (Fellow Slipknot member, Paul Gray, died of a drug overdose in 2010.) "Wait and Bleed," "Psychosocial," "Duality"