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.

Arthur Kane

leukemia (2004). Kane was the bassist for the New York Dolls, four of whom would die prematurely: Kane, Bill Murcia (see 1972), Johnny Thunders (see 1991), and Jerry Nolan (see 1992). Kane was 55. "Personality Crisis," "Frankenstein"

*Terry Kath

accidental suicide in 1978. Kath was the founder and guitarist of Chicago. At a friend's house, Kath decided to fool around with one of his guns. He was warned to be careful, but he assured his friend that the gun wasn't loaded. It was. Kath shot himself in the temple. He was a few days shy of his 32nd birthday. Chicago were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. "Saturday in the Park," "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" "25 or 6 to 4"

Brian Keenan

heart attack (1985) at age 41. Keenan was a member of Manfred Mann; later, he was drummer for the Chambers Brothers. Manfred Mann: "The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)". The Chambers Brothers: "Time Has Come Today," "New Generation," "People Get Ready".

Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly

drug overdose in 2013. He was 34. Kelly, who was half of the hip hop duo, Kris Kross, gained massive popularity with 1991's "Jump". At the time of his death, Kelly was determined to have multiple drugs in his system, including both heroin and cocaine.

Tim Kelly

(Timothy Patrick Kelly), head-on collision with an 18-wheeler, 1998. He was 35. Kelly was the guitarist for '90s metal band, Slaughter. "Up All Night," "Fly to the Angels," "Streets of Broken Hearts"

Johnny Kemp

cause of death undisclosed (2015); his body was found floating at a beach in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He was 55. Kemp had a Number One R&B hit with 1988's "Just Got Paid." The song was also nominated for a Grammy Award.

*Eddie Kendricks

lung cancer in 1992. Kendricks was a founding member of the Temptations. He was 52 at the time of his death. Fellow Temptations also included in The Archive: Paul Williams (suicide, 1973), Elbridge Bryant (cirrhosis of the liver, 1975), David Ruffin (cocaine overdose in 1991), and Melvin Franklin (seizure in 1995). The Temptations were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. "The Way You Do The Things You Do," "My Girl," "Just My Imagination," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"

Chris Kenner

heart attack in 1976. He was 57. Kenner scored a hit in 1961 with "I Like It Like That." In 1968 he was convicted of statutory rape and spent three years in Louisiana's Angola prison. His writing credits include "Land of 1,000 Dances," "Something You Got," "Sick and Tired" and "Rocket to the Moon."

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

heart attack in 1997. Middle Eastern singer whose popularity soared when he appeared on the "Dead Man Walking" soundtrack with Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. Khan was 48. "Face of Love," "Long Road"

Tommy Kiefer

suicide in 1986; he was 34. Kiefer was the guitarist and a founding member of Swiss metal band, Krokus: "Midnite Maniac," "Our Love," "Screaming in the Night"

*Bob King

cause of death undisclosed (1955); he was 49. King was a member of the gospel/pop vocal group, The Soul Stirrers. (Sam Cooke - see 1964 - was another Soul Stirrer alum.) The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 (Early Influence) and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000. "By and By," "Touch the Hem of His Garment," "Any Day Now," "Mean Old World"

Pete King

testicular cancer in 1987; he was 28. King was the drummer for the British punk act, The Flys, and later joined After The Fire, who had an international hit with a cover of Falco's (see 1998) "Der Kommissar." He was later a member of the German group, BAP.

*Keith Knudsen

pneumonia (2005); he was 56. Knudsen had played for Southern Pacific and been drummer for the Doobie Brothers since 1974 along with conga player Bobby LaKind (see 1992) and saxophonist Cornelius Bumpus (see 2004). He battled cancer in 1995. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. With the Doobies: "Takin it to the Streets," "Black Water," "China Grove"

Cub Koda

(Michael Koda), kidney disease (2000). He was 51. Koda was the leader of Brownsville Station and a successful solo blues artist. He was editor of The All Music Guide to Blues and writer/editor of Blues for Dummies. With Brownsville Station: "Smokin' in the Boys Room." As a solo artist: "Let's Hear a Word (For the Folks in the Cemetery)," "Sneakers on a Rooster," "Jail Bait"

Paul Kosoff

heart attack (1976) resultant of drug abuse; he was 25. Kossoff was the guitarist for Free. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the greatest guitarists of all time (ranking #51). "All Right Now"

Roy Koutsky

cause of death unknown (he "passed away in his home") in 2016. He was 53. Koutsky was the original drummer for Seattle punk outfit, L7. The group had minor hits with 1992's "Pretend We're Dead" and 1994's "Andre". Read about his involvement with the Shadows of Seattle.

Philip Taylor Kramer

appears to have driven off a cliff. Kramer took Lee Dorman's place as Iron Butterfly's bassist when the band re-formed in 1975. He was found in a canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains in 1999, four years after vanishing. In 1995, Kramer waited at Los Angeles International Airport for a contact who never arrived, then called both his wife and Ron Bushy (Butterfly's drummer) from his cell phone, leaving Bushy a cryptic message about seeing him "...on the other side." He also called 911, saying he was going to commit suicide. He was never heard from again. At the time of his disappearance, he had reportedly made a stunning mathematical discovery, prompting rumors of foul play. Kramer was 42; he predeceased Butterfly original singer Darryl DeLoach (see 2002) and guitarist Erik Brann (see 2003). "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vita," "Are You Happy?"

L

Jeff LaBar

found dead in his apartment (in 2021) of undisclosed causes. LaBar was the guitarist for '80s hair metal band, Cinderella. He was 58. "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)," "Nobody's Fool"

(Rocco) Scott LaFaro

automobile accident in 1961. LaFaro was an influential jazz bassist and worked with such luminaries as Chet Baker (see 1988), Benny Goodman, Percy Heath, and Bill Evans. LaFaro was 25 at the time of his death. "Bohemia After Dark," "Cherokee," "Scene is Clean"

Bobby LaKind

colon cancer (1992) at the age of 47. LaKind was a member (primarily congas) of The Doobie Brothers, along with saxophonist Cornelius Bumpus (see 2004) and drummer Keith Knudsen (see 2005). The Doobie Brothers were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004. The group (minus LaKind) was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. "Takin it to the Streets," "Black Water," "China Grove"

Lamya

(Lamya Al-Mugheiry), sudden heart attack in 2009. She was 35. Lamya was one of the lead singers for Soul II Soul, singing lead on "Love Come Through" and "In the Heat of the Night". She was later a back-up singer for Duran Duran, featuring on their hit, "Come Undone". She performed with Prince, David Bowie and James Brown. In 2002, she released her single, "Empires (Bring Me Men)", a remix of which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

Major Lance

heart failure in 1994. He was 55. "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um," "The Monkey Time," "The Matador"

Jani Lane

(John Kennedy Oswald), acute alcohol poisoning; found dead in a Los Angeles hotel in 2011. Lane, age 47, was the lead singer for '80s hair-metal band, Warrant. The group had six Top 40 singles: "Heaven," "Cherry Pie," "Sometimes She Cries," "Down Boys," "I Saw Red," and "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

Ronnie Lane

(Ronald Frederick Lane), multiple sclerosis (1997). He was 51. Lane was a co-founder of the '60s mod band, The Small Faces, who were awarded the Ivor Novello Outstanding Contribution to British Music "Lifetime Achievement" Award in 1996. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. (Lane's fellow founding member, Steve Marriott, died in a house fire in 1991.) "Itchycoo Park," "Tin Soldier," "Lazy Sunday," "All or Nothing"

Mark Lanegan

cause of death undisclosed (2022); he was 57. Lanegan was the lead singer of the Seattle Grunge scene group, Screaming Trees, who gained notoriety when their song, "Nearly Lost You", appeared on the Singles movie soundtrack. Lanegan was also a member of Queens of the Stone Age and The Gutter Twins. (Screaming Trees bassist, Van Connor, would die of pneumonia in 2023 at the age of 55. Read about their involvement with the Shadows of Seattle.)

La Reyna de Monterrey

La Reyna de Monterrey was a group affiliated with the Banda genre of music. On 27 April 2013, the band was returning from a gig at a bar in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. At Sabinas Hidalgo, on the outskirts of Monterrey, the driver of the band's van dozed off, hitting the side of a truck then crashing head-on with a tractor-trailer. The force of the impact was so powerful that several band members were thrown from the vehicle. Ten band members were killed; another five were injured. Reports are scarce, but among those killed were: Antonio de Jesús Torres Arellano, age 22; José Guadalupe Flores Rosales, age 21; Diego Armando Vázquez Vázquez, age 20; Edwin Arturo Luna López, age not disclosed; Miguel Angel Torres Arellano, age 19; Rubén Paz Martínez, age 28; Luis Antonio Arellano Ortega, age 22; Alberto López Vázquez, age 22. Photos of the accident scene are viewable, but be warned: the images may be disturbing to some individuals.

Nicolette Larson

cerebral edema caused by liver failure in 1997. She was 45. In 1985, Larson won Top New Female Vocalist from the Academy of Country Music Awards. 1978's "Lotta Love"

Derek Leckenby

cancer (1994). He was 51. Leckenby was the lead guitarist for Herman's Hermits. "I'm Henry the VIII I Am," "I'm Into Something Good," "There's a Kind of Hush"

*John Lennon

shot outside the Dakota Apartments in New York City by Mark David Chapman. Lennon left his apartment building with wife, Yoko Ono, at approximately 5 pm on 8 Decmeber 1980. On his way out he signed a copy of Double Fantasy for Chapman. The couple returned home less than six hours later, and Chapman, who remained outside the Dakota, fired five hollow point bullets at Lennon's back. Four of the bullets found their mark. John Lennon was 40. He was a member of The Beatles and a controversial solo artist. He was also father to musicians Sean (of Cibo Matto) and Julian. While he was still with The Beatles, Lennon was asked how he expected to die. He lightly answered: "I'll probably be popped off by some loony." (Another macabre fact is found in The Beatles' "Come Together", which contains the words "shoot me" repeated over and over throughout the song. The "me" is obscured by music, but it is there.) Lennon was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice: with The Beatles in 1988 and as a solo artist in 1994. The Beatles were also inducted into both the UK Music Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004. This is an article from 2010 detailing the sale of Mark David Chapman's signed copy of Double Fantasy. Read about Lennon's connections to the Curse of Buddy Holly and the Curse of Harry Nilsson. With the Beatles: "She Loves You," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "Eleanor Rigby," "Yellow Submarine," "A Day in the Life," "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Solo: "Woman," "Imagine," "Instant Karma," "Just Like Starting Over"

*Bobby Lester

lung cancer in 1980. He was 50. Lester was an original member of The Moonglows, who had a string of hits in the 1950s. The Moonglows were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. "Sincerely, "See Saw," "Most Of All," "We Go Together," "Please Send Me Someone to Love"

Gerald Levert

accidental mix of prescription and over-the-counter drugs in 2006; age 40. Levert released several solo albums (hits include "I Swear," "I'd Give Anything," and "Baby Hold On to Me"). He was a member of Levert ("Casanova," "Baby I'm Ready," and "(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind") and LSG ("My Baby"). Gerald was the son of O'Jays member, Eddie Levert, Sr. and the brother of Sean, also a member of Levert, who died in 2008.

Sean Levert

brief illness; 2008. He was 39. Levert was incarcerated at the time (and transported to the hospital) for failing to pay child support. Supposedly he suffered from high blood pressure and was hallucinating while in jail. He was a member of LeVert with his brother Gerald, who died in 2006 of an accidental mix of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Their father was O'Jays member, Eddie Levert, Sr. "Casanova," "Baby I'm Ready," and "(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind"

Ephraim Lewis

jumped from a fourth-floor balcony in 1994. It is said that the musician, on methamphetamines at the time, had a violent exchange with police in which he was tasered just prior to his fall. His death was ruled a suicide. Lewis was 25. "It Can't Be Forever" (#29 Top 40, #66 R&B for 6 weeks); "Drowning in Your Eyes" (#72 Hot 100 for 9 weeks, #80 R&B for 4 weeks)

*Rudy Lewis

drug overdose (although speculation remains) in 1964. He was 27. Lewis sang lead for the Drifters from 1960-64. His vocal credits include "Up On the Roof" and "On Broadway." Lewis was found dead in his hotel room, having overdosed the night before the group was supposed to record "Under the Boardwalk." The Drifters were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998. Read about Lewis and the Curse of 27. 

Brent Liles

hit by a truck while bicycling (2007). He was 43. Liles was the bassist for the '80s punk outfit, Social Distortion, from 1981-1983. He later played with other punk acts, including Agent Orange. From Social Distortion's Mommy's Little Monster: "It Wasn't a Pretty Picture," "Another State of Mind," "Moral Threat"

Devin Lima

(Harold Lima), cancer in 2018. He was 41. Lima was a member of LFO (Lyte Funkie Ones), who had the ubiquitous hit of 1999, "Summer Girls". Fellow band mates, Rich Cronin (see 2010) and Brian Gillis (see 2023) also died at an early age.

Mark Linkous

self-inflicted gunshot wound to the heart in 2010; he was 47. Linkous was a singer, songwriter and frontman of the group, Sparklehorse. He was staying with two friends, drinking heavily, and became upset after trading text messages with an unknown person. Linkous told his friends that he was going for a walk and exited through a back door. A witness saw him sit down in an alley, pull out a rifle, and fire into his own chest. He was declared dead at the scene. This is not the first time Linkous had attempted suicide. In 1996 while touring with Radiohead, he overdosed on pills, alcohol and anti-depressants. He lost consciousness for 14 hours, with his legs pinned beneath him and suffered a heart attack that left him legally dead for several minutes. The time he spent without circulation to his legs put him in a wheelchair for six months. "Someday I Will Treat You Good," "Rainmaker," "Sick of Goodbyes"

"Little Eva"

(Eva Narcissus Boyd), cancer; 2003. She was 59. Scored a number one hit as a teenager with the often-covered, 1962 dance-craze "The Loco-Motion."

London Boys

struck by a drunk driver in the Eastern Alps, Austria (1996). The dance-pop duo of Edem Ephraim and Dennis Fuller had hits in the UK with "Requiem" and "London Nights". Both were killed (along with Ephraim's wife) when a drunk driver tried to overtake another car on the wrong side of the road and struck the musicians' car head-on. Ephraim and Fuller were both 36 years old.

Ty Longley

night club fire in 2003; he was 31. Longley was the guitarist for '80s hair band, Great White. The band was playing The Station, a club in Rhode Island, and used pyrotechnics, setting the building ablaze. One hundred people ultimately died and 230 others were injured. The club's owners claimed they did not give permission for pyrotechnics; band members say otherwise. Investigators determined that the foam used for insulation was intended for use in packaging and product display rather than sound-proofing and was not treated with fire-retardant materials used in acoustic foam. Witnesses to the blaze claimed the flames spread across the foam at approximately one foot per second. The Station (illegally) did not have a sprinkler system. The owners, Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, and Great White's road manager, Daniel Biechele, were charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter (criminally negligent manslaughter and misdemeanor manslaughter). Daniel Biechele, against his lawyers' advice, pleaded guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter. Biechele was sentenced to 15 years in prison; four to serve and 11 years suspended, plus three years probation. (Biechele was released from prison in March 2008.) Michael and Jeffrey Derderian, changed their pleas from not guilty to no contest. Michael Derderian received 15 years in prison; four to serve and 11 suspended, plus three years probation. Jeffrey Derderian received a 10-year suspended sentence, three years probation, and 500 hours of community service. (According to the sentencing judge, the difference in the brothers' penalties reflected their roles in purchasing and installing the flammable foam.) Michael Derderian will be released early from prison in September 2009. As of August 2008, nearly $175 million has been offered to the families of the victims of the fire by various defendants. Great White offered $1 million dollars in a settlement to survivors and victims' families; Jeffrey and Michael Derderian have offered $813,000. (Information from Wikipedia.) Original bassist, Lorne Black, would pass away from undisclosed causes in 2013 at the age of 49. Great White: "Once Bitten (Twice Shy)," "The Angel Song," "House of Broken Love"

Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes

car crash in 2002 in Honduras. Lopes was one third of the R&B trio, TLC, considered the best-selling girl group of all time. "Left Eye" was spending a month in Honduras, when several days before the end of her stay, she said she felt she was being "chased" by a spirit. A vehicle she was riding in struck and killed a young boy - Lopes thought it was a mistake on the spirit's part; the boy's last name was also Lopes. A few days later, she was driving a rented Mitsubishi Montero SUV when she swerved to avoid a truck, then turned sharply to avoid an on-coming car. The SUV struck two trees and rolled several times, throwing Lopes from the vehicle. She reportedly was not wearing her seat belt, and was the only fatality, having succumbed to head injuries. Lopes was 30. "Baby, Baby, Baby," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," "No Scrubs," "Unpretty," "Waterfalls"

Joe Hill Louis

(Lester/Leslie Hill), tetanus. Louis was an early musician on the seminal Sun Records, who billed himself as "Be-Bop Boy and His One-Man Band." He was fairly popular in his day and had a radio show (WDIA) on which he was known as "The Pepticon Boy." In 1957, he severely cut his thumb, supposedly on a guitar string, and it became infected; he died of tetanus at the age of 35.

Mitch Lucker

motorcycle crash. Lucker was the lead singer of metal band, Suicide Silence. He lost contorl of his motorcycle on Halloween night 2012, crashing into a light pole; he died the following day of his injuries. Lucker was 28. Suicide Silence released three albums: The Cleansing, No Time to Bleed and The Black Crown.

*David Lynch

cancer (1981) at the age of 51. Lynch was a singer with the vocal group, The Platters. The Platters were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998. "Only You", "The Great Pretender," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"

Billy Lyall

Billy (William) Lyall died of AIDS-related causes in 1989, aged 36. Lyall was keyboard player, vocalist and occasional flautist with Pilot, and an early member of the Bay City Rollers. He was keyboard player for Dollar for a few years and also contributed to The Alan Parsons Project. He released a solo album, Solo Casting.

*Frankie Lymon

heroin overdose at age 25; 1968. Lymon was only 13 when "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" reached #1 on the R&B charts. Within ten years, three members of the group would be dead: Lymon, Sherman Garnes (see 1977), and Joey Negroni (see 1978). Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000. "I Want You to Be My Girl," "Who Can Explain?"

*David Lynch

cancer (1981) at the age of 51. Lynch was a singer with the vocal group, The Platters. The Platters were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998. "Only You", "The Great Pretender," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"

Phil Lynott

substance abuse (1986). Lynott was abusing alcohol and drugs; he was rushed to the hospital with both liver and kidney infections. He died several days later from heart failure and pneumonia. He was 36. Lynott was the singer for Irish rock band, Thin Lizzy. A life-size bronze statue of Lynott was dedicated in Dublin in 2005. (Guitarist Gary Moore would be found dead in a hotel room in 2011.) "The Boys Are Back in Town," "Whiskey in the Jar"