Roberta Flack (1937–2025), Killing Me Softly with His Song singer

Roberta Flack was a singer who had No. 1 hits with “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love.”

Jimmy Carter (1924–2024), 39th president of the United States

Jimmy Carter was the 39th president of the United States of America, serving from 1977 to 1981.

Zakir Hussain (1951–2024), renowned Indian tabla player

Zakir Hussain was an icon of Indian classical music and world fusion, widely considered one of the world’s greatest tabla players.

Roy Haynes (1925–2024), legendary jazz drummer

Roy Haynes was a Grammy Award-winning drummer whose career spanned more than 70 years and covered most major forms of jazz.

Ella Jenkins (1924–2024), first lady of children’s music

Ella Jenkins was a singer and songwriter who focused on creating music for children during her entire decades-long career.

Quincy Jones (1933–2024), legendary music producer

Quincy Jones was a noted jazz musician, film composer, and one of the greatest music producers of the 20th century, working with Frank Sinatra (1915–1998), Dinah Washington (1924–1963), Michael Jackson (1958–2009), and other top musicians.

Gavin Creel (1976–2024), award-winning Broadway headliner

Gavin Creel was an award-winning Broadway musical star known for his work in “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “The Book of Mormon,” “Hair,” and “Hello, Dolly!” 

Kris Kristofferson (1936–2024), singer, songwriter and actor

Kris Kristofferson was a singer, songwriter, and actor whose writing helped reshape country music and whose successful jump into acting made him one of the 1970s’ biggest stars.

James Earl Jones (1931–2024), the voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa

James Earl Jones was the acclaimed actor whose deep, rich voice was featured as Darth Vader in several “Star Wars” films and as Mufasa in “The Lion King.”

Fatman Scoop (1968–2024), rap star and hype man 

Fatman Scoop was a DJ, rapper, and hype man best known for his booming voice, which appeared on hits by Missy Elliott and Mariah Carey, as well as his own club mainstay, “Be Faithful.” 

Shaun Martin (1978–2024), Snarky Puppy keyboardist

Shaun Martin was a seven-time Grammy Award winner as a keyboardist for the jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy and music director and producer for gospel singer Kirk Franklin.

Duke Fakir (1935–2024), last surviving founder of the Four Tops

Duke Fakir was a singer best known as the last surviving founder of legendary Motown group the Four Tops.

David Sanborn (1945–2024), Grammy-winning saxophonist

David Sanborn was a six-time Grammy-winning saxophonist whose smooth jazz broke through to the mainstream, with a dozen albums hitting the Billboard Top 200.

Duane Eddy (1938–2024), early rock and roll guitar hero 

Duane Eddy was an early rock and roll guitar hero known for his influential twangy sound, heard on songs like “Peter Gunn” and “Rebel Rouser.” 

Dickey Betts (1943–2024), Allman Brothers Band guitarist and singer

Dickey Betts was a guitarist, singer and songwriter best known as one of the founding members of the iconic classic rock act the Allman Brothers Band and the writer of classics like “Ramblin’ Man,” “Blue Sky” and “Jessica.”

Casey Benjamin (1978–2024), Grammy-winning saxophonist

Casey Benjamin was a Grammy Award-winning saxophonist, an original member of the Robert Glasper Experiment, and a vocoder wizard who influenced jazz-based hip hop and R&B.

Maurizio Pollini (1942–2024), famed Italian pianist and conductor 

Maurizio Pollini was an award-winning Italian pianist and conductor who helped lead the establishment of the Rossini Opera Festival. 

Sandra Crouch (1942–2024), Grammy Award-winning gospel artist 

Sandra Crouch was a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer and songwriter who also performed on several Motown records and contributed songs by the Jackson 5.

Jim Beard (1960–2024), Steely Dan keyboardist since 2008 

Jim Beard was a musician and keyboardist who had performed with Donald Fagen’s Steely Dan since 2008, and he also recorded with such artists as , , Pat Metheny, and Steve Vai.

“Peetah” Morgan (1977–2024), reggae singer with Morgan Heritage 

Peter Anthony “Peetah” Morgan was the lead singer for the two-time Grammy-winning reggae band Morgan Heritage.

Randy Sparks (1933–2024), founder of the New Christy Minstrels 

Randy Sparks was a singer-songwriter who founded the New Christy Minstrels, a group that was part of the 1960s folk revival, and whose Grammy Award-winning debut was on the charts for two years.

Seiji Ozawa (1935–2024), norm-breaking conductor 

Seiji Ozawa was an offbeat, norm-breaking Japanese conductor who led the Boston Symphony Orchestra longer than any other music director.

Jo-El Sonnier (1946–2024), Grammy-winning Cajun musician

Jo-El Sonnier was a Cajun and country singer-songwriter known for “No More One More Time” and “Tear-Stained Letter.” 

George “Funky” Brown (1949–2023), Kool & the Gang drummer  

George “Funky” Brown was the founding and longtime drummer of Kool & the Gang, as well as one of the band’s primary songwriters.

Mike Henderson (1953–2023), co-founder of the SteelDrivers 

Mike Henderson was a Grammy Award-winning country singer-songwriter who co-founded the SteelDrivers and frequently collaborated with country superstar Chris Stapleton, Henderson’s former SteelDrivers bandmate. 

Sinéad O'Connor (1966–2023), Nothing Compares 2 U singer

Sinéad O’Connor was an Irish singer-songwriter known best for her 1990 hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

Tony Bennett (1926–2023), legendary crooner

Tony Bennett was an iconic singer who brought traditional pop standards to generations of listeners in a singing career that spanned eight decades.

André Watts (1946–2023), Hall of Fame classical pianist 

André Watts was a Hall of Fame, award-winning pianist known for performing with orchestras across the world since the age of 16, including more than 100 shows with the New York Philharmonic.0

Peter Nero (1934–2023), Grammy-winning Philly Pops conductor 

Peter Nero was a Grammy Award-winning pianist, well-known as the conductor of Philly Pops for more than three decades and often interpreting popular music through jazz and classical styles.

George Winston (1949–2023), Grammy-winning pianist 

George Winston was a pianist known for his solo instrumental recordings, such as “Autumn” and “December.” 

Kaija Saariaho (1952–2023), sensory-focused Finnish composer

Kaija Saariaho was a Finnish composer who saw music as an art for all the senses, suggesting color, texture, and more for a richer sensory palate.

Astrud Gilberto (1940–2023), The Girl from Ipanema singer    

Astrud Gilberto was a Brazilian bossa nova singer known for the 1964 hit song “The Girl from Ipanema,” recorded with jazz saxophonist Stan Getz.

Isaac “Redd” Holt (1932–2023), Ramsey Lewis Trio drummer 

Isaac “Redd” Holt was the founding drummer with the Grammy Award-winning Ramsey Lewis Trio.

Sheldon Reynolds (1959–2023), guitarist for Earth, Wind & Fire

Sheldon Reynolds was a guitarist and co-vocalist for several landmark bands, including Earth, Wind & Fire, and The Commodores. 

Tina Turner (1939–2023), legendary Queen of Rock and Roll

Tina Turner was one of the bestselling recording artists of all time, known for her hits including “What’s Love Got to Do with It.”

Seán Keane (1946–2023), fiddle player for The Chieftains 

Seán Keane was a fiddle player for the Irish folk band The Chieftains and a virtuoso musician who helped keep the traditional musical legacy of his native Ireland alive.

Harry Belafonte (1927–2023), legendary singer, actor, and activist

Harry Belafonte was the “King of Calypso,” a singer known for his signature song, “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song),” as well as an actor and a prominent civil rights activist.

April Stevens (1929–2023), Deep Purple singer with Nino Tempo

April Stevens was a singer who performed with her brother, Nino Tempo, and had a No. 1 hit in 1963 with “Deep Purple.” 

Ahmad Jamal (1930–2023), innovative jazz pianist

Ahmad Jamal was a jazz pianist and bandleader known for his minimalist style and for songs including “Poinciana.” 

Burt Bacharach (1928–2023), great 20th-century songwriter

Burt Bacharach was a songwriting giant whose credits include “What the World Needs Now Is Love” and “I Say a Little Prayer.”

Barrett Strong (1941–2023), Motown’s first star with Money (That's What I Want)

Barrett Strong was a singer and songwriter for Motown Records who had the label’s first hit with “Money (That’s What I Want).”

Jeff Beck (1944–2023), influential guitarist with the Yardbirds and the Jeff Beck Group

Jeff Beck was one of the greatest guitarists in rock music history, known for his work with the Yardbirds and the Jeff Beck Group, and as a solo artist.

Alan Copeland (1926–2022), last surviving member of the Modernaires

Alan Copeland was a singer with the Modernaires known for his appearances on “Your Hit Parade.”

Irene Cara (1959–2022), “Flashdance” and “Fame” singer and actress

Irene Cara was a singer and actress who starred in the movie “Fame” and sang the title song, as well as singing the Oscar- and Grammy Award-winning song “Flashdance… What a Feeling.”

Pablo Milanés (1943–2022), beloved Cuban singer-songwriter

Pablo Milanés was a beloved Cuban singer-songwriter known as Pablito who led the genre of music called Nueva Trova.

Jerry Lee Lewis (1935–2022), “Great Balls of Fire” rock 'n' roll pioneer

Jerry Lee Lewis was a singer and pianist who pioneered rock n’ roll with hits including “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin' On” and “Great Balls of Fire.”

Noel Duggan (1949–2022), founding member of Irish band Clannad 

Noel Duggan was an Irish musician who was a founding member of the family folk band Clannad.

Anita Kerr (1927–2022), backup singer for Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison

Anita Kerr was the leader of the Anita Kerr Singers, who sang backup for country superstars including and as well as recording their own music.

Jody Miller (1941–2022), “Queen of the House” country singer

Jody Miller was a country singer known for her 1965 hit, “Queen of the House.”