The Most Famous Musicians Who Left Us In 2019

Ric Ocasek

As it is the case every year, music has lost a lot of people in 2019, there were no huge names like Bowie and Prince (who both died in 2016) but some important contributors to the music world are gone. This is certainly not a complete list, but this is a list of the most famous musicians who left us in 2019.

In January:

Daryl Dragon, aka ‘The Captain’ of Captain and Tennille died of renal failure on January 2nd at the age of 76.

Six-string bassist Eric Haydock of The Hollies died on January 5th at the age of 75.

Lorna Doom, bassist for the punk-rock band the Germs died of cancer on January 16th at the age of 61.

In February:

Peter Tork, singer and musician for The Monkees died of complications of adenoid cystic carcinoma on February 21st at the age of 77.

Mark Hollis, lead-singer and songwriter of Talk Talk, died on February 25th at the age of 64.

Andy Anderson, drummer for The Cure died of cancer on February 26th at the age of 68.

In March:

Asa Brebner, guitarist, singer, and songwriter for The Modern Lovers died on March 10th at the age of 65.

Hal Blaine, Hall of Fame drummer for The Wrecking Crew died on March 11th at the age of 90.

Dick Dale, surf rock pioneer died of complications of heart and kidney failure on March 17th at the age of 81.

Scott Walker, formerly of The Walker Brothers, died of cancer on March 22nd at the age of 76.

Ranking Roger, singer for The English Beat died of cancer on March 26th at the age of 56.

In April:

Phil Grande, guitarist for Stevie Ray Vaughn and Blue Oyster Cult, died on April 30th at the age of 61.

In May:

Singer-songwriter Leon Redbone died of complications of dementia on May 30th at the age of 69.

Roky Erickson, singer-songwriter for The 13th Floor Elevators, died on May 31st at the age of 71.

In June:

Singer-songwriter, Dr. John died of a heart attack on June 8th at the age of 77.

In July:

Art Neville, founding member of The Neville Brothers and The Meters (and later known as The Funky Meters), died on July 22nd at the age of 81.

In August:

Ian Gibbons, former keyboardist for The Kinks, died of bladder cancer on August 1st at the age of 67.

Singer-songwriter David Berman, from Silver Jews and Purple Mountains, died of suicide on August 7th at the age of 52.

In September:

Singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston died of a heart attack on September 11th at the age of 58.

Musician Eddie Money died from complications from heart surgery on September 13th at the age of 70.

The Cars’ singer-songwriter,  Ric Ocasek, died of cardiovascular disease on September 15th at the age of 75.

Robert Hunter, poet, lyricist, and musician for The Grateful Dead, died on September 23rd at the age of 78.

Opera singer Jessye Norman died of multiple organ failure on September 30th at the age of 74.

In October:

Kim Shattuck, lead-singer and songwriter for The Muffs, died on October 2nd at the age of 56, after a two-year struggle with ALS.

Barrie Masters, singer for Eddie and the Hot Rods, died on October 2nd at the age of 63.

Superstar drummer Ginger Baker for supergroup Cream died on October 6th at the age of 80.

Larry Junstrom, founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, died on October 6th at the age of 70.

In November:

Goo Hara (aka Hara) of the K-Pop band Kara died (may have been suicide) on November 24th at the age of 28.

In December:

Rapper Juice WRLD died of a seizure on December 8th at the age of 21.

Roy Loney, singer and guitarist for Flamin’ Groovies died of severe organ failure on December 13th at the age of 73.

Allee Willis of The Rembrandts (also co-writer for Earth, Wind & Fire) died of a heart attack on December 24th at the age of 72.

Neil Innes, writer, comedian (Monty Python) and musician (The Rutles) died of a heart attack on December 29th at the age of 75.