2020 in music

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This topic covers notable events and articles related to 2020 in music.

Specific locations[edit]

Popular music
Timeline of musical events
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List of popular music genres
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Specific genres[edit]

Albums released[edit]

Awards[edit]

Bands formed[edit]

Soloist debuts[edit]

Bands reformed[edit]

• attack attack!
• Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows
• Faith No More
• The Format^[1]
• Genesis^[2]
• Linkin Park^[3]
• The Network
• Rage Against the Machine^[4]
• RBD
• Toto
• Billy Pilgrim^[5]

Bands on hiatus[edit]

• 100%
• AAA
• Anathema^[6]
• Arashi
• B.A.P
• Baroque
• College Cosmos
• DEL48
• Good Morning America
• Ladies' Code
• Ladybaby
• Masahiko Kondō
• Marius Yo
• Mrs. Green Apple
• Real Friends
• Teen Top
• Sleep
• Stone Sour
• Winner
• ZE:A

Bands disbanded[edit]

Deaths[edit]

January[edit]

• 1
  • Lexii Alijai, 21, American rapper
  • Marty Grebb, 74, American rock keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist (The Buckinghams, Chicago)
  • Tommy Hancock, 90, American country singer ^[7]
• 2 – Lorraine Chandler, 73, American soul singer
• 3 – Bo Winberg, 80, Swedish rock guitarist (The Spotnicks)
• 4 – Emanuel Borok, 75, Russian-born American classical violinist
• 5 – Martin Griffin, British space rock drummer (Hawkwind, Hawklords)
• 7 – Neil Peart, 67, Canadian progressive rock drummer and lyricist (Rush)^[8]
• 8 – Edd Byrnes, 87, American actor and pop singer
• 9
  • Tom Alexander, 85, Scottish folk accordionist (The Alexander Brothers)
  • Bobby Comstock, 78, American rock and roll singer
• 10 – Wolfgang Dauner, 84, German jazz pianist
• 11 – Maceo Woods, 87, American gospel musician
• 13
  • Demetri Callas, 77, American rock guitarist and singer (The Four Seasons)
  • Hylda Sims, 87, British skiffle guitarist
• 14
  • Steve Martin Caro, 71, American baroque pop singer (The Left Banke)
  • Chamín Correa, 90, Mexican classical guitarist
  • Guy Deplus, 95, French chamber music clarinetist
  • Barry Mayger, 73, English pop bassist (Chicory Tip)
  • Bruno Nettl, 89, Czech-born American ethnomusicologist and musicologist^[9]
• 15 – Chris Darrow, 75, American country and rock singer and multi-instrumentalist (Kaleidoscope, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
• 18
  • Dennis Garcia, 67, Filipino pop rock bassist (Hotdog)
  • David Olney, 71, American folk singer-songwriter
• 19
  • Dan Andrei Aldea, 69, Romanian progressive rock singer and multi-instrumentalist (Sfinx)
  • Jimmy Heath, 93, American jazz saxophonist (Heath Brothers)
  • Robert Parker, 89, American R&B singer
  • Sunanda Patnaik, 85, Indian classical singer
• 21 – Meritxell Negre, 48, Spanish pop singer (Peaches & Herb)
• 24
  • Joe Payne, 35, American metal bassist (Divine Heresy, Nile)
  • Sean Reinert, 48, American metal drummer (Cynic, Death, Æon Spoke)
• 25
  • Bob Gullotti, 71, American free jazz drummer (Surrender to the Air)
  • Vernon Sandusky, 80, American rock singer and guitarist (The Chartbusters)
• 26 – Bob Shane, 85, American folk singer and guitarist (The Kingston Trio)
• 27 – Reed Mullin, 53, American sludge metal drummer (Corrosion of Conformity)
• 28 – Bob Nave, 75, American bubblegum pop keyboardist (The Lemon Pipers)
• 30 – Lucien Barbarin, 63, American jazz trombonist (Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Harry Connick Jr.)^[10]

February[edit]

• 1
  • Harold Beane, 73, American funk guitarist (Funkadelic)
  • Andy Gill, 64, British post-punk guitarist (Gang of Four)
  • Peter Serkin, 72, American classical pianist
• 2
  • Kofi B, Ghanaian highlife singer
  • Ivan Král, 71, Czech-American rock bassist and songwriter (The Patti Smith Group)
• 4
  • Andrew Brough, New Zealand indie rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist (Straitjacket Fits)
  • Buddy Cage, 73, Canadian folk pedal steel guitarist (New Riders of the Purple Sage, Great Speckled Bird)
  • Ljiljana Petrović, 80, Serbian pop singer
• 6
  • Lynn Evans, 95, American pop singer (The Chordettes)
  • Diego Farias, 27, American progressive metalcore guitarist (Volumes)
  • Nello Santi, 88, Italian classical conductor
• 7
  • Nexhmije Pagarusha, 86, Albanian-Kosovan pop singer
  • Steve Weber, 76, American folk singer and guitarist (The Holy Modal Rounders)
• 8 – Robert Conrad, 84, American actor and singer
• 9 – Sergei Slonimsky, 87, Russian classical composer
• 10 – Lyle Mays, 66, American jazz fusion keyboardist (Pat Metheny Group)
• 11 – Joseph Shabalala, 78, South African isicathamiya and mbube singer (Ladysmith Black Mambazo)
• 12
  • Paul English, 87, American country drummer
  • Victor Olaiya, 89, Nigerian highlife trumpeter
• 13
  • Buzzy Linhart, 76, American folk rock singer-songwriter
  • Jacob Thiele, 40, American indie rock keyboardist (The Faint)
• 14
  • Reinbert de Leeuw, 81, Dutch classical pianist and conductor^[11]
  • Sonam Sherpa, 48, Indian blues rock guitarist (Parikrama)
• 15 – Cavan Grogan, 70, Welsh rock and roll singer (Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers)
• 16
  • Pearl Carr, 98, British pop singer (Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson)
  • Graeme Allwright, 93, New Zealand-French folk and jazz singer-songwriter
• 17
  • Kizito Mihigo, 38, Rwandan gospel singer
  • Andrew Weatherall, 56, British electronic musician (Two Lone Swordsmen, The Sabres of Paradise) and record producer
• 18 – Jon Christensen, 78, Norwegian jazz drummer
• 19
  • Bob Cobert, 95, American composer
  • Pop Smoke, 20, American rapper
• 24
  • David Roback, 61, American alternative rock and dream pop guitarist (Mazzy Star, Rain Parade, Opal)
  • Jahn Teigen, 70, Norwegian pop and progressive rock singer (Popol Ace, Prima Vera)
• 26
  • Hans Deinzer, 86, German classical clarinetist^[12]
  • Sergei Dorensky, 88, Russian classical pianist
• 27 – Lillian Offitt, 81, American blues and R&B singer
• 28 – Mike Somerville, 67, American rock guitarist and songwriter (Head East)
• 29
  • Odile Pierre, 87, French classical organist and composer
  • Bill Smith, 93, American classical and jazz clarinetist

March[edit]

• 2
  • Jan Vyčítal, 77, Czech country singer
  • Susan Weinert, 54, German jazz fusion guitarist^[13]
  • Peter Wieland, 89, German pop singer^[14]
• 3
  • Les Cauchi, 77, American pop singer (Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge)
  • Alf Cranner, 83, Norwegian folk singer
• 4 – Barbara Martin, 76, American R&B singer (The Supremes)
• 6
  • McCoy Tyner, 81, American jazz pianist
  • Elinor Ross, 93, American opera soprano
• 7
  • Jim Owen, 78, American country singer-songwriter
  • Laura Smith, Canadian folk singer-songwriter
• 9
  • Keith Olsen, 74, American psychedelic rock bassist (The Music Machine) and record producer
  • Eric Taylor, 70, American folk singer-songwriter
• 10
  • Marcelo Peralta, 59, Argentine jazz saxophonist
  • Beba Selimović, 80, Bosnian folk singer
• 11 – Charles Wuorinen, 81, American classical composer
• 12 – Don Burrows, 91, Australian jazz multi-instrumentalist
• 14
  • Phil Phillips, 94, American pop singer-songwriter
  • Eva Pilarová, 80, Czech jazz singer
  • Genesis P-Orridge, 70, British industrial singer, songwriter and bassist (Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV, Thee Majesty)
  • Diane Ray, 74, American pop singer
• 16
  • Sergio Bassi, 69, Italian folk rock singer-songwriter
  • Ted Cahill, 72, American garage rock guitarist (The Magic Mushrooms)
  • Jason Rainey, 53, American thrash metal guitarist (Sacred Reich)
• 17 – Thái Thanh, 85, Vietnamese-American pop singer
• 19 – Aurlus Mabélé, 66, Congolese soukous singer
• 20
  • Kenny Rogers, 81, American country and pop singer-songwriter
  • Jerry Slick, 80, American psychedelic rock drummer (The Great Society)
• 21 – Hellmut Stern, 91, German classical violinist^[15]
• 22
  • Gabi Delgado-López, 61, Spanish-born German electronic singer (Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft)
  • Julie Felix, 81, American-British folk singer
  • Mike Longo, 83, American jazz pianist
  • Peter Stapleton, 65, New Zealand alternative rock drummer (The Terminals, Dadamah, Flies Inside the Sun)
  • Eric Weissberg, 80, American country and bluegrass banjoist
• 23 – Tres Warren, 41, American psychedelic rock singer and guitarist (Psychic Ills)
• 24
  • Manu Dibango, 86, Cameroonian makossa and jazz saxophonist
  • Bill Rieflin, 59, American rock drummer (The Blackouts, Ministry, Revolting Cocks, KMFDM, King Crimson)
• 25 – Detto Mariano, 82, Italian rock keyboardist (I Ribelli) and film composer
• 26
  • Olle Holmquist, 83, Swedish big band trombonist (James Last Orchestra)
  • Bill Martin, 81, British pop songwriter
• 27
  • Bob Andy, 75, Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter (The Paragons, Bob and Marcia)
  • Don Burch, 81, American doo-wop singer (The Slades)
  • Mirna Doris, 79, Italian canzone Napoletana singer
  • Delroy Washington, 67, Jamaican-born British reggae singer
• 28 – Jan Howard, 91, American country singer-songwriter
• 29
  • Joe Diffie, 61, American country singer and songwriter
  • Alan Merrill, 69, American pop rock singer and bassist (Arrows)
  • Paravai Muniyamma, 82, Indian folk singer
  • Krzysztof Penderecki, 86, Polish classical composer and conductor
• 30
  • Riachão, 98, Brazilian samba singer
  • Bill Withers, 81, American soul singer-songwriter
• 31
  • Cristina, 61, American new wave singer
  • Wallace Roney, 59, American jazz trumpeter

April[edit]

• 1
  • Ellis Marsalis Jr., 85, American jazz pianist
  • Bucky Pizzarelli, 94, American jazz guitarist
  • Harold Rubin, 87, South African-born Israeli free jazz clarinetist
  • Adam Schlesinger, 52, American power pop singer, songwriter and bassist (Fountains of Wayne, Ivy, Tinted Windows)
• 2 – Vaughan Mason, 69, American funk and electronic multi-instrumentalist (Vaughan Mason & Crew, Raze)
• 3 – Helin Bölek, 28, Turkish folk rock singer (Grup Yorum)
• 4
  • Timothy Brown, 82, American pop and soul singer
  • Patrick Gibson, French eurodisco drummer (Gibson Brothers)
  • Alex Harvey, 73, American country singer-songwriter
• 5 – Barry Allen, 74, Canadian rock musician and record producer (Painter) (death announced on this date)
• 6
  • M. K. Arjunan, 84, Indian film composer
  • Black the Ripper, 32, British grime rapper
• 7
  • Betty Bennett, 98, American jazz and big band singer
  • Hutch Davie, 89, American pianist, arranger and composer
  • Steve Farmer, 71, American rock guitarist and songwriter (The Amboy Dukes)
  • Travis Nelsen, American indie rock drummer (Okkervil River)
  • John Prine, 73, American folk singer-songwriter
  • Hal Willner, 64, American record producer
  • Xudeydi, 91, Somali folk oud player
• 8
  • Carl Dobkins, Jr., 79, American singer and songwriter
  • Glenn Fredly, 44, Indonesian R&B singer-songwriter
  • Chynna Rogers, 25, American rapper
• 9
  • Andy González, 69, American Latin jazz bassist
  • Dmitri Smirnov, 71, Russian-British classical composer
• 10
  • Big George Brock, 87, American blues harmonicist
  • Shanti Hiranand, 86, Indian classical singer
  • Jymie Merritt, 92, American jazz bassist (The Jazz Messengers)
• 11 – Liu Dehai, 82, Chinese classical pipa player
• 12
  • Jerry Hludzik, American pop rock guitarist and bassist (The Buoys)
  • Louis van Dijk, 78, Dutch jazz pianist
• 13
  • Ryo Kawasaki, 73, Japanese jazz fusion guitarist
  • Moraes Moreira, 72, Brazilian MPB singer and guitarist (Novos Baianos)
• 14
  • Akin Euba, 84, Nigerian folk pianist, composer, and musicologist
  • Kassongo Wa Kanema, 73, Congolese soukous singer (Orchestra Super Mazembe)
  • Kerstin Meyer, 92, Swedish opera singer
• 15
  • Henry Grimes, 84, American jazz bassist
  • Lee Konitz, 92, American jazz saxophonist
  • Gary McSpadden, 77, American gospel singer (The Imperials, Gaither Vocal Band, The Oak Ridge Boys)
• 16
  • Christophe, 74, French singer-songwriter
  • Dušan Vančura, 82, Czech folk singer and bassist (Spirituál kvintet)
• 17
  • Giuseppi Logan, 84, American jazz multi-instrumentalist
  • Matthew Seligman, 62, British new wave bassist (Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club, The Soft Boys, Thompson Twins)
• 19
  • Alexander Vustin, 76, Russian composer
  • Ian Whitcomb, 78, British pop singer-songwriter
  • Emina Zečaj, 91, Bosnian sevdalinka singer
• 21
  • Derek Jones, 35, American metalcore guitarist (Falling in Reverse)
  • Jacques Pellen, 63, French jazz guitarist
  • Florian Schneider, 73, German krautrock and electronic multi-instrumentalist (Kraftwerk, Organisation)^[16][17]
• 22
  • Bootsie Barnes, 82, American jazz saxophonist
  • Marcos Mundstock, 77, Argentine comedy music singer and multi-instrumentalist (Les Luthiers)
• 23
  • Fred the Godson, 35, American rapper
  • Kamit Sanbayev, 78, Kazakh rock singer (Dos Mukasan)
• 24
  • Hamilton Bohannon, 78, American R&B and disco percussionist and music producer
  • Phil Broadhurst, 70, New Zealand jazz pianist
  • Harold Reid, 80, American country singer-songwriter (The Statler Brothers)
• 25
  • Alan Abel, 91, American classical percussionist
  • Ronald Frangipane, 75, American session keyboardist (The Archies)
• 26 – Big Al Carson, 66, American blues singer
• 27
  • Lynn Harrell, 79, American classical cellist
  • Troy Sneed, 52, American gospel singer
  • Scott Taylor, British new wave guitarist (Then Jerico)
• 28 – Bobby Lewis, 95, American R&B singer
• 29
  • Martin Lovett, 93, British classical cellist (Amadeus Quartet)
  • Stezo, 52, American rapper
• 30
  • Tony Allen, 79, Nigerian afrobeat and rock drummer (Fela Kuti and Afrika '70, The Good, the Bad & the Queen)
  • Óscar Chávez, 85, Mexican pop singer
  • Sam Lloyd, 56, American a cappella singer (The Blanks)

Date unknown[edit]

• Ceybil Jefferies, American house and R&B singer

May[edit]

• 1
  • Richard Cole, 72, American jazz saxophonist^[18]
  • Tavo Limongi, 52, Mexican nu metal guitarist (Resorte)^[19]
• 2
  • Cady Groves, 30, American country singer-songwriter^[20]
  • Idir, 70, Algerian folk singer-songwriter^[21]
  • Jonathan Kelly, 72, Irish folk rock singer-songwriter^[22]
  • Erwin Prasetya, 48, Indonesian alternative rock bassist (Dewa 19)^[23]
• 3
  • Rosalind Elias, 90, American opera singer^[24]
  • Dave Greenfield, 71, British punk and new wave keyboardist (The Stranglers)^[25]
  • Bob Lander, 78, Swedish rock singer and guitarist (The Spotnicks)^[26]
  • Lorne Munroe, 95, Canadian-born American classical cellist^[27]
• 4
  • John Erhardt, American indie rock musician (Wussy, Ass Ponys)^[28]
  • Frederick C. Tillis, 90, American jazz saxophonist^[29]
  • Dragan Vučić, 65, Macedonian pop singer^[30]
• 5
  • Sweet Pea Atkinson, 74, American dance-rock singer (Was (Not Was))^[31]
  • Sonny Cox, 82, American jazz saxophonist^[32]
  • Didi Kempot, 53, Indonesian campursari singer^[33]
  • Ciro Pessoa, 62, Brazilian post-punk singer-songwriter and guitarist (Titãs, Cabine C)^[34]
  • Kiing Shooter, 24, American rapper^[35]
  • Millie Small, 73, Jamaican ska and reggae singer-songwriter^[36]
• 6
  • Norbert Balatsch, 92, Austrian choral conductor^[37]
  • Brian Howe, 66, British rock singer-songwriter (Bad Company)^[38]
• 7
  • İbrahim Gökçek, 41, Turkish folk rock bassist (Grup Yorum)^[39]
  • Andre Harrell, 59, American record producer, songwriter, rapper (Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde), and founder of Uptown Records^[40]
  • Ty, 47, British rapper^[41]
• 8 – Mark Barkan, 85, American songwriter, record producer, and musical director for The Banana Splits Adventure Hour
• 9
  • Joe Hupp, 78, American rock musician (The Smoke Ring)
  • Little Richard, 87, American rock and roll singer and pianist^[42]
• 10
  • David Corrêa, 82, Brazilian samba singer^[43]
  • Betty Wright, 66, American soul and R&B singer and songwriter^[44]
• 11 – Moon Martin, 74, American rockabilly singer-songwriter and guitarist^[45]
• 12 – Takami Asano, Japanese psychedelic rock guitarist (Godiego)^[46]
• 13
  • Gabriel Bacquier, 95, French opera singer^[47]
  • Yoshio, 60, Mexican pop singer^[48]
• 14 – Jorge Santana, 68, Mexican rock guitarist (Malo, Santana)^[49]
• 15
  • Denny DeMarchi, 57, Canadian rock keyboardist (Alias, The Cranberries)^[50]
  • Sergio Denis, 71, Argentine pop singer^[51]
  • Phil May, 75, British rock singer-songwriter (Pretty Things)^[52]
• 17
  • Lucky Peterson, 55, American blues singer, guitarist and organist^[53]
  • Peter Thomas, 94, German film composer^[54]
• 19 – Willie K, 59, American folk ukuleleist^[55]
• 21
  • Berith Bohm, 87, Swedish opera singer^[56]
  • Bobby Digital, 59, Jamaican dancehall producer^[57]
  • Neil Howlett, 85, British opera singer^[58]
• 22
  • Steve Hanford, 50, American punk rock drummer (Poison Idea)^[59]
  • Mory Kanté, 70, Guinean folk singer and kora player^[60]
  • KJ Balla, 23, American rapper^[61]
  • Klaus Selmke, 70, German rock drummer (City)^[62]
• 24
  • Jimmy Cobb, 91, American jazz drummer (Miles Davis Quintet)^[63]
  • Lily Lian, 103, French pop singer^[64]
  • Al Rex, 91, American rock and roll bassist (Bill Haley & His Comets)^[65]
• 25 – Bucky Baxter, 65, American folk and rock guitarist^[66]
• 26
  • Brendan Bowyer, 81, Irish rock and roll singer^[67]
  • Charlie Monttana, 58, Mexican rock singer^[68]
  • Lennie Niehaus, 90, American jazz saxophonist and film composer^[69]
• 27 – Evaldo Gouveia, 91, Brazilian MPB singer^[70]
• 28 – Bob Kulick, 70, American hard rock guitarist (Balance, Kiss, W.A.S.P.)^[71]
• 30
  • Mady Mesplé, 89, French opera singer^[72]
  • John Nzenze, 79–80, Kenyan rock and jazz guitarist^[73]
• 31
  • Bob Northern, 86, American jazz French hornist^[74]
  • Kjeld Wennick, 76, Danish banjoist and singer (Jan & Kjeld)^[75]

June[edit]

• 1
  • Majek Fashek, 57, Nigerian reggae singer and songwriter^[76]
  • Joey Image, 63, American punk rock drummer (Misfits)^[77]
• 2 – Chris Trousdale, 34, American pop singer (Dream Street)
• 4
  • Marcello Abbado, 93, Italian classical pianist and composer
  • Rupert Hine, 72, British jazz-rock singer and keyboardist (Quantum Jump)
  • Steve Priest, 72, British glam rock guitarist (The Sweet)^[78]
• 5 – Marjan, 72, Iranian pop singer
• 7
  • Frank Bey, 74, American blues singer
  • Floyd Lee, 86, American blues singer and guitarist
• 8
  • James Hand, 67, American country singer
  • Bonnie Pointer, 69, American R&B singer (The Pointer Sisters)
• 9
  • Paul Chapman, 66, Welsh hard rock guitarist (UFO, Lone Star)
  • Pau Donés, 53, Spanish pop rock singer-songwriter and guitarist (Jarabe de Palo)
• 12
  • Dodo Doris, 71, Congolese soukous drummer (Orchestra Super Mazembe)
  • Ricky Valance, 84, Welsh pop singer
• 14
  • Keith Tippett, 72, British free jazz and progressive rock pianist (King Crimson, Centipede)
• 15
  • Rocky Isaac, 73, American pop-rock drummer (The Cherry People)
  • Nana Tuffour, 66, Ghanaian highlife singer
• 16 – Yohan, 28, South Korean K-pop singer (TST)
• 17 – Hugh Fraser, 67, Canadian jazz pianist and trombonist
• 18
  • Hux Brown, 75, Jamaican reggae guitarist (Toots and the Maytals)
  • Vera Lynn, 103, British pop singer
• 19 – A. L. Raghavan, 86, Indian playback singer
• 20 – Aaron Tokona, 45, New Zealand alternative rock guitarist (Weta, Cairo Knife Fight, Fly My Pretties)
• 21
  • Jeet Singh Negi, 95, Indian folk singer-songwriter
  • Joan Pau Verdier, 73, French nòva cançon singer
• 23 – Margarita Pracatan, 89, Cuban novelty singer
• 24
  • Michael Hawley, 58, American classical pianist and academic
  • Claude Le Péron, 72, French rock bassist
• 25
  • Huey, 32, American rapper
  • Graeme Williamson, Canadian new wave singer and guitarist (Pukka Orchestra)
• 26 – Tami Lynn, 81, American soul singer
• 27
  • Pete Carr, 70, American rock, pop and soul guitarist (Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Hour Glass, LeBlanc & Carr)
  • Freddy Cole, 88, American jazz singer and pianist
  • Tom Finn, 71, American baroque pop guitarist (The Left Banke)
  • Mats Rådberg, 72, Swedish country singer and guitarist
• 28 – Simon H. Fell, 61, British jazz bassist
• 29
  • Steppa J. Groggs, 32, American rapper (Injury Reserve)
  • Johnny Mandel, 94, American jazz and film composer
  • Benny Mardones, 73, American soft rock singer-songwriter
  • Willie Wright, 80, American soul singer

July[edit]

• 1
  • Max Crook, 83, American pop rock keyboardist
  • Joe Penny, 92, American country music singer
• 3 – J. Marvin Brown, 66, American soul singer (The Softones)
• 5
  • Cleveland Eaton, 80, American jazz bassist (Ramsey Lewis Trio)
  • John Marascalco, 89, American songwriter and record producer
• 6
  • Charlie Daniels, 83, American country singer-songwriter and fiddler
  • Andrew Kishore, 64, Bangladeshi playback singer
  • Ennio Morricone, 91, Italian film composer
• 8 – Naya Rivera, 33, American pop singer and actress
• 10 – Eddie Gale, 78, American jazz trumpeter (Sun Ra's Arkestra)
• 11
  • Gabriella Tucci, 90, Italian opera singer
  • Rich Priske, 52, Canadian rock bassist (Matthew Good Band)
• 12
  • Rod Bernard, 79, American swamp pop singer
  • Judy Dyble, 71, British folk singer-songwriter and autoharpist (Fairport Convention, Trader Horne)
  • Eleanor Sokoloff, 106, American classical pianist
• 14
  • J. J. Lionel, 72, Belgian pop singer
  • Raúl Pagano, Argentine rock keyboardist (Bersuit Vergarabat)
• 16
  • Ken Chinn, 57, Canadian punk rock singer (SNFU)
  • Jamie Oldaker, 68, American country drummer (The Tractors)
  • Víctor Víctor, 71, Dominican folk singer and guitarist
• 18 – Haruma Miura, 30, Japanese pop singer and actor
• 19 – Emitt Rhodes, 70, American pop rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (The Merry-Go-Round, The Palace Guard)
• 21
  • Dobby Dobson, 77, Jamaican reggae singer
  • Annie Ross, 89, British-American jazz singer (Lambert, Hendricks & Ross)
  • Mieko Hirota, 73, Japanese kayokyoku singer
• 22 – Tim Smith, 59, British progressive rock singer and guitarist (Cardiacs, The Sea Nymphs, Spratleys Japs)
• 24 – Regis Philbin, 88, American television personality and singer
• 25
  • Peter Green, 73, English blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist (Fleetwood Mac)
  • CP Lee, 70, British comedy rock singer and guitarist (Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias)
• 27
  • Denise Johnson, 56, British alternative rock singer (Primal Scream)
  • Miss Mercy, 71, American psychedelic rock singer (The GTOs)
• 28
  • Pepe Cardona, 72, American pop-rock singer (Alive 'N Kickin')
  • Bent Fabric, 95, Danish classical pianist and composer
• 29
  • Balla Sidibé, 79, Senegalese son cubano singer and timbalero (Orchestra Baobab)
  • Malik B., 47, American rapper (The Roots)
• 30
  • Randy Barlow, 77, American country singer
  • Sonam Tshering Lepcha, 92, Indian folk singer
• 31 – Bill Mack, 88, American country singer-songwriter

August[edit]

• 2
  • Leon Fleisher, 92, American classical pianist
  • Steve Holland, 66, American Southern rock guitarist (Molly Hatchet, Gator Country)
  • Larry Novak, 87, American jazz pianist
• 4
  • Tony Costanza, 52, American heavy metal drummer (Machine Head, Crowbar)
• 5
  • Agathonas Iakovidis, 65, Greek folk singer
  • Jan Savage, 77, American garage rock guitarist (The Seeds)
• 6
  • Wayne Fontana, 74, British pop singer (The Mindbenders)
  • Vern Rumsey, 47, American post-hardcore and indie rock bassist (Unwound, Blonde Redhead, Household Gods)
• 7 – Mark Wirtz, 76, French pop singer
• 9
  • Salome Bey, 80, American-born Canadian soul singer
  • Martin Birch, 71, British music producer and recording engineer
• 10 – Don Martin, New Zealand new wave bassist (Mi-Sex)
• 11
  • Belle du Berry, 54, French chanson singer (Paris Combo)
  • Pat Fairley, 76, Scottish pop rock singer and bassist (Marmalade)
  • Trini Lopez, 83, American pop singer
• 13 – Steve Grossman, 69, American jazz fusion saxophonist
• 14
  • Julian Bream, 87, British classical guitarist
  • Ewa Demarczyk, 79, Polish cabaret singer and poet
  • Valentina Legkostupova, 54, Russian pop singer
  • Pete Way, 69, English rock bassist (UFO, Waysted, Fastway)
• 16 – Emman, 21, Filipino pop singer
• 17 – Jasraj, 90, Indian classical singer
• 18
  • Ron Heathman, American rock guitarist (Supersuckers)
  • Sean Pentecost, Australian alternative metal drummer (Superheist)
  • Hal Singer, 100, American jazz saxophonist and bandleader
• 19
  • Randall Craig Fleischer, 61, American classical conductor
  • Todd Nance, 57, American jam band drummer (Widespread Panic)
• 20
  • Frankie Banali, 68, American hard rock drummer (Quiet Riot, W.A.S.P.)
  • Justin Townes Earle, 38, American folk singer-songwriter
  • Mike Kirkland, 82, American folk musician (The Brothers Four)
  • Jack Sherman, 64, American funk rock guitarist (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
  • Piotr Szczepanik, 78, Polish pop singer
• 22
  • Walter Lure, 71, American punk rock guitarist (The Heartbreakers)
  • D. J. Rogers, 72, American soul singer
• 23
  • Peter King, 80, American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist
  • Charlie Persip, 91, American jazz drummer
• 24 – Riley Gale, 34, American thrash metal singer (Power Trip)
• 25
  • Georges Bœuf, 82, French opera composer and saxophonist
  • Mick Hart, Australian folk singer
  • Gerry McGhee, 58, British-Canadian hard rock singer (Brighton Rock)
• 27
  • Archana Mahanta, 71, Indian folk singer
  • Mike Noga, 43, Australian alternative rock drummer (The Drones, Legends of Motorsport)

September[edit]

• 1
  • John Meyer, 67, Australian rock slide guitarist (Rose Tattoo, Chain)
  • Ian Mitchell, 62, British pop rock bassist (Bay City Rollers)
  • Erick Morillo, 49, Colombian-American house and eurodance DJ (Reel 2 Real)
• 2 – Alexander Priko, 46, Russian pop rock keyboardist (Laskovyi Mai)
• 3 – Bill Pursell, 94, American easy listening composer
• 4
  • Gary Peacock, 85, American jazz double-bassist
  • Lucille Starr, 82, Canadian country singer
• 6 – Bruce Williamson, 49, American R&B singer (The Temptations)
• 7 – Xavier Ortiz, 48, Mexican pop singer (Garibaldi)
• 8
  • Simeon Coxe, 82, American electronic rock singer and synthesizer player (Silver Apples)
  • Vexi Salmi, 77, Finnish pop rock lyricist
• 9
  • Ronald Bell, 68, American funk saxophonist (Kool & The Gang)
  • Sid McCray, American punk rock singer (Bad Brains)
• 10 – Danny Webster, 61, American funk singer and guitarist (Slave)
• 11
  • Toots Hibbert, 77, Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter (Toots & The Maytals)
  • Reggie Johnson, 79, American jazz bassist
• 12 – Edna Wright, 76, American R&B singer (Honey Cone)
• 14
  • Al Kasha, 83, American pop songwriter
  • Peter Starkie, 72, Australian rock guitarist (Skyhooks, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons)^[79]
• 16 – Roy C, 81, American soul singer
• 18
  • Georgia Dobbins, 78, American R&B singer (The Marvelettes) and songwriter
  • Pamela Hutchinson, 62, American R&B singer (The Emotions)
• 19
  • Lee Kerslake, 73, British hard rock drummer (Uriah Heep, Ozzy Osbourne, Toe Fat)
  • Dave Kusworth, 60, British indie rock singer (Jacobites)
• 21
  • Hamdi Benani, 77, Algerian pop singer and violinist
  • Tommy DeVito, 92, American pop singer and guitarist (The Four Seasons)
  • Roy Head, 79, American country singer-songwriter
  • Ira Sullivan, 89, American jazz trumpeter
• 23
  • Juliette Gréco, 93, French chanson singer
  • W. S. Holland, 85, American country drummer (The Tennessee Three, The Great Eighties Eight)
• 24 – Max Merritt, 79, New Zealand soul singer-songwriter and guitarist
• 25 – S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, 74, Indian playback singer
• 26
  • Masayoshi Kabe, 70, Japanese rock guitarist and bassist (The Golden Cups, Speed, Glue & Shinki, Vodka Collins)
  • Mark Stone, American hard rock bassist (Van Halen)
  • Jimmy Winston, 75, British rock keyboardist (Small Faces)
• 28 – Jackie Dennis, 77, Scottish pop singer
• 29
  • Mac Davis, 78, American country singer-songwriter
  • Rocco Prestia, 69, American funk bassist (Tower of Power)
  • Helen Reddy, 78, Australian-American pop singer

October[edit]

• 2 – Lisa Schouw, Australian pop singer (Girl Overboard)
• 3
  • Karel Fiala, 95, Czech opera singer
  • Anthony Galindo, 41, Venezuelan pop singer (Menudo, MDO)
• 6
  • Johnny Nash, 80, American pop and reggae singer-songwriter
  • Eddie Van Halen, 65, Dutch-born American hard rock guitarist and keyboardist (Van Halen)
• 7 – Ray Pennington, 86, American country singer-songwriter
• 8
  • Brian Locking, 81, British rock and roll bassist (The Shadows)
  • Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, 80, Iranian classical singer
• 9
  • David Refael ben Ami, 70, Israeli religious singer
  • Pierre Kezdy, 58, American punk rock bassist (Naked Raygun, Pegboy, Strike Under)
• 11
  • Harold Betters, 92, American jazz trombonist
  • Rajan, 87, Indian film composer (Rajan–Nagendra)
• 12
  • Jon Gibson, 80, American minimalist multi-instrumentalist (Philip Glass Ensemble)
  • Kim Massie, 62, American blues and soul singer
• 13 – Saint Dog, 44, American rapper (Kottonmouth Kings)
• 14 – Paul Matters, Australian hard rock bassist (AC/DC)
• 15 – Dave Munden, 76, British rock and roll drummer (The Tremeloes)
• 16
  • Johnny Bush, 85, American country singer-songwriter
  • Gordon Haskell, 74, British progressive rock and jazz singer and bassist (King Crimson, The Fleur de Lys)
  • P. S. Narayanaswamy, 86, Indian Carnatic singer
• 17 – Toshinori Kondo, 71, Japanese jazz trumpeter
• 18
  • Alfredo Cerruti, 78, Italian comedy rock musician and producer (Squallor)
  • Naâma, 84, Tunisian pop singer
  • José Padilla, 64, Spanish ambient DJ and producer
  • Maisa Tsuno, 29, Japanese indie rock guitarist (Akai Ko-en)
  • Chet "JR" White, 40, American indie rock bassist (Girls)
• 19
  • Spencer Davis, 81, Welsh rock guitarist (The Spencer Davis Group)
  • Tony Lewis, 62, British pop rock singer and guitarist (The Outfield)
• 21
  • Zero Babu, 80, Indian playback and Carnatic singer
  • Viola Smith, 107, American swing and classical drummer
• 22
  • Margie Bowes, 79, American country singer
  • K. Deep, 79, Burmese folk singer
• 23 – Jerry Jeff Walker, 78, American country singer-songwriter
• 25
  • Dolores Abril, 81, Spanish copla singer
  • Jan Boerman, 97, Dutch electronic composer
  • Rosanna Carteri, 89, Italian opera singer
  • Mahesh Kanodia, 83, Indian Gujarati film singer
• 26 – Stan Kesler, 92, American rock and roll guitarist and songwriter
• 28
  • Cano Estremera, 62, Puerto Rican salsa singer
  • Billy Joe Shaver, 81, American country singer-songwriter
• 29 – Denise Ferri, 76, American pop singer (The Delicates)
• 30 – Božidar Tanaskovic, Serbian alternative rock bassist (Bjesovi)
• 31
  • Rance Allen, 71, American gospel singer, guitarist and keyboardist (The Rance Allen Group)
  • Marc Fosset, 71, French jazz guitarist
  • MF Doom, 49, British-American rapper (KMD, Madvillain)

November[edit]

• 1
  • Pedro Iturralde, 91, Spanish jazz saxophonist
  • Phil K, 51, Australian electronic DJ (Lostep)
  • Nikki McKibbin, 42, American pop rock singer
  • Ronnie Peel, Australian rock guitarist (The La De Da's, Thunderclap Newman)
  • Esteban Santos, 69, Spanish pop singer (Bravo)
• 2 – T. N. Krishnan, 92, Indian Carnatic violinist
• 4 – Ken Hensley, 75, British rock singer, keyboardist and guitarist (Uriah Heep, Toe Fat, The Gods)
• 5
  • Len Barry, 78, American soul singer
  • Reynaert, 65, Belgian pop singer
  • Ossi Runne, 93, Belgian pop trumpeter and conductor
• 6
  • Stefano D'Orazio, 72, Italian pop drummer (Pooh)
  • King Von, 26, American rapper
  • Jim Radford, 92, British folk singer-songwriter
  • Timur Selçuk, 74, Turkish pop singer and pianist
• 7
  • Cándido Camero, 99, Cuban jazz percussionist
  • Bones Hillman, 62, New Zealand alternative rock bassist (Midnight Oil, The Swingers, Suburban Reptiles)
• 8 – Oscar Benton, 71, Dutch blues singer
• 10 – Alec Baillie, American punk rock bassist (Choking Victim, Leftöver Crack)
• 11
  • Adrian Cionco, 48, Argentine rock bassist (La Mosca Tsé - Tsé)
  • MO3, 28, American rapper
  • Andrew White, 78, American jazz saxophonist
• 12 – Jim Tucker, 74, American pop rock guitarist (The Turtles)
• 13
  • Kićo Slabinac, 76, Croatian folk singer
  • Doug Supernaw, 60, American country singer
• 14
  • Des O'Connor, 88, English comedian and pop singer
  • Eugenia Ratti, 87, Italian opera singer
• 16 – Bruce Swedien, 86, American recording engineer
• 18
  • László Benkő, 77, Hungarian progressive rock keyboardist (Omega)
  • Dominic Grant, 71, British pop singer (Guys 'n' Dolls)
  • Tony Hooper, 81, British folk rock guitarist (Strawbs)
• 21 – Tamás Mihály, 73, Hungarian progressive rock bassist (Omega)
• 23 – Hal Ketchum, 67, American country singer-songwriter
• 25
  • Duris Maxwell, 74, Canadian rock drummer
  • Flor Silvestre, 90, Mexican ranchera and huapango singer and actress
  • Camilla Wicks, 92, American classical violinist
• 26
  • Allan Botschinsky, 80, Danish jazz trumpeter
  • Cecilia Fusco, 87, Italian opera singer
  • Jamir Garcia, 42, Filipino nu metal singer (Slapshock)
• 28 – Piotr Strojnowski, 62, Polish reggae singer and guitarist (Daab)
• 29 – Miša Aleksić, 67, Serbian hard rock bassist (Riblja Čorba)
• 30 – Jack Wray, 81, American doo-wop singer (The Earls)

December[edit]

• 1 – Dan Morrison, Australian ska punk drummer (Area-7)
• 2
  • Volodymyr Huba, 81, Ukrainian film composer
  • Ron Mathewson, 76, British jazz bassist
• 3 – André Gagnon, 84, Canadian pianist, composer, and arranger
• 4 – Kenny Jeremiah, 78, American garage-rock singer (Soul Survivors)
• 6 – Džej Ramadanovski, 56, Serbian folk pop singer
• 7
  • LD Beghtol, 55, American experimental rock singer and multi-instrumentalist (LD & the New Criticism, Flare Acoustic Arts League, The Magnetic Fields)
  • Howard Wales, 77, American jazz and rock keyboardist
• 8 – Harold Budd, 84, American avant-garde composer and poet
• 9
  • Sean Malone, 50, American progressive rock bassist (Gordian Knot, Cynic)
  • Jason Slater, 49, American alternative rock bassist (Third Eye Blind, Snake River Conspiracy, Brougham)
• 10 – Kenneth Alwyn, 95, British classical composer and conductor
• 11 – Ubirany, 80, Brazilian samba hand-repique player (Fundo de Quintal)
• 12 – Charley Pride, 86, American country singer
• 13 – Andrey Sapunov, 64, Russian rock guitarist and bassist (Voskreseniye)
• 14 – Paulinho, 68, Brazilian soft rock singer (Roupa Nova)
• 15
  • Albert Griffiths, 74, Jamaican reggae singer and guitarist (The Gladiators)
  • Corlynn Hanney, 75, American pop-soul singer (The Groop)
  • Sam Jayne, 46, American indie rock singer and guitarist (Love as Laughter, Lync)
• 16 – Carl Mann, 78, American rockabilly singer
• 17
  • Jeff Clayton, 66, American jazz saxophonist
  • Stanley Cowell, 79, American jazz pianist (Heath Brothers)
• 19
  • Pelle Alsing, 60, Swedish pop rock drummer (Roxette)^[80]
  • Clay Anthony, 61, American hard rock bassist (Junkyard)
  • Pepe Salvaderi, Italian rock guitarist (Dik Dik)
• 20 – Chad Stuart, 79, British folk-pop singer and guitarist (Chad & Jeremy)
• 21 – K. T. Oslin, 78, American country singer-songwriter
• 23
  • John “Ecstasy” Fletcher, 56, American rapper (Whodini)
  • Leslie West, 75, American hard rock singer and guitarist (Mountain, West, Bruce and Laing, The Vagrants)
• 24
  • Ivry Gitlis, 98, Israeli classical violinist^[81]
  • Mojmir Sepe, 90, Slovenian classical composer and conductor^[82]
  • Geoff Stephens, 86, English songwriter and record producer, founder of The New Vaudeville Band^[83]
• 25 – Tony Rice, 69, American bluegrass guitarist (New South)^[84]
• 26 – Tito Rojas, 65, Puerto Rican salsa singer^[85]
• 27 – Richard Lewis Spencer, 78, American funk and soul singer and saxophonist (The Winstons)
• 28
  • Paul-Heinz Dittrich, 90, German composer
  • Armando Manzanero, 85, Mexican Mayan musician
• 29
  • Claude Bolling, 90, French jazz pianist and composer
  • Hugh X. Lewis, 90, American country music singer-songwriter
  • Phyllis McGuire, 89, American pop singer (The McGuire Sisters)^[86]
  • Rudy Salas, 72, American R&B and soul guitarist (El Chicano, Tierra)
• 30
  • Frank Kimbrough, 64, American jazz pianist
  • Alto Reed, 72, American rock saxophonist (Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band)
  • Eugene Wright, 97, American jazz bassist (Dave Brubeck Quartet)

See also[edit]

• Timeline of musical events
• Women in music
• Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the music industry

References[edit]