Roy Ayers (1940–2025), influential musician and composer

Roy Ayers was a musician and composer whose work on the vibraphone helped push the boundaries of jazz, soul, and funk through works like his 1976 classic, “Everybody Loves the Sunshine.” 

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.

Lou Donaldson (1926–2024), famed jazz saxophonist

Lou Donaldson was an alto saxophonist and jazz great best known for his Blue Note albums of the 1950s and prominence for the decades that followed.

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.

Barbara Dane (1927–2024), folk singer and activist

Barbara Dane was a folk, blues, and jazz singer who spent her career fighting for peace and justice through the power of song.

Al McCoy (1933–2024), longtime Phoenix Suns broadcaster

Al McCoy was a sports broadcaster best known for his 51 years as the play-by-play announcer for the Phoenix Suns, the longest tenure in NBA history. 

Benny Golson (1929–2024), jazz saxophonist and composer

Benny Golson was a tenor saxophonist and composer whose work helped define the sound of hard bop and whose compositions have since become standards in the world of jazz.

Zoot Money (1942–2024), famed ‘60s keyboardist

Zoot Money was a keyboardist and actor whose shift from R&B to psychedelia in the 1960s saw him playing with acts like The Animals, Humble Pie, and others, as well as his own group, Big Roll Band.

Russell Malone (1963–2024), acclaimed jazz guitarist

Russell Malone was an acclaimed jazz guitarist who has worked with noted artists such as Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, and many others.

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.

Jewel Brown (1937–2024), Houston jazz legend

Jewel Brown was a Houston jazz legend who for years performed with the band of jazz icon Louis Armstrong.

Angela Bofill (1954–2024), This Time I’ll Be Sweeter singer

Angela Bofill was a Cuban-Puerto Rican singer known for ‘80s hits like “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter,” “Too Tough,” “I’ll Try,” and “I’m On Your Side.”

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.

Albert "Tootie" Heath (1935–2024), giant of jazz percussion 

Albert "Tootie" Heath was a jazz percussionist who played with , , Herbie Hancock, and others, including his own brothers in Heath Brothers.0

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.

Eleanor Collins (1919–2024), Canada's First Lady of Jazz

Eleanor Collins was a jazz singer widely known as Canada's First Lady of Jazz, who broke ground on television when she became the first woman and first Black artist in Canada to host her own national television series, “The Eleanor Show.” 

Les McCann (1935–2023), jazz great known for “Compared to What”

Les McCann was a soul-jazz pioneer who helped turn jazz into protest music through “Compared to What,” and was later sampled by hip-hop artists like Notorious B.I.G., Dr. Dre, and A Tribe Called Quest.

Mars Williams (1955–2023), saxophonist for the Psychedelic Furs

Mars Williams was a rock and jazz saxophonist who played for the Psychedelic Furs and on the modern holiday classic “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses. 

Carla Bley (1936–2023), influential free jazz composer 

Carla Bley was an influential figure in the free jazz movement who became a staunch advocate of artists’ rights and the creation of independent record labels so musicians would have greater control over their own music.

Dom Famularo (1953–2023), worldwide advocate for drumming

Dom Famularo was a drummer and drum teacher who became renowned and respected for his four decades of advocacy for the art.

Curtis Fowlkes (1950–2023), co-leader of the Jazz Passengers 

Curtis Fowlkes was a jazz trombonist and singer who pushed the boundaries of avant-garde jazz as part of the Jazz Passengers.

Richard Davis (1930–2023), bassist for Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen 

Richard Davis was a jazz bassist and session musician who recorded with Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Dolphy, and many others.

Leny Andrade (1943–2023), known as the First Lady of Brazilian Jazz

Leny Andrade was a singer and musician whose incredible blend of bossa nova and jazz vocal improvisations garnered her the nickname “First Lady of Brazilian Jazz.” 

Reuben Wilson (1935–2023), soul jazz organist 

Reuben Wilson was a widely sampled jazz organist who helped innovate the soul jazz subgenre.

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

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

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.

Bill Lee (1928–2023), bassist with Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin

Bill Lee was a bassist who played with musicians including Bob Dylan and and composed music for the movies of his son, Spike Lee.0

Blair Tindall (1960–2023), author of Mozart in the Jungle

Blair Tindall was a classical musician who went on to write the memoir, “Mozart in the Jungle,” adapted into a series of the same name for Amazon.

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.” 

Kidd Jordan (1935–2023), jazz saxophonist and educator 

Kidd Jordan was a jazz saxophonist and educator who played alongside artists like , , Stevie Wonder, , Cannonball Adderley (1928–1975), and R.E.M., and taught jazz artists such as Wynton and Branford Marsalis, and Donald Harrison.

Wayne Shorter (1933–2023), jazz saxophonist who co-founded Weather Report

Wayne Shorter was an iconic jazz saxophonist with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the Miles Davis Quintet, and Weather Report.

Carol Sloane (1937–2023), jazz singer

Carol Sloane was a jazz singer who had a burgeoning career in the 1950s and ‘60s before rock became the dominant style of popular music.

Gene Cipriano (1928–2022), woodwind player recorded with Sinatra and Prince

Gene Cipriano  was a renowned woodwind session player who recorded with Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Prince, Miles Davis, Olivia Newton-John, and Paul McCartney.  

Louise Tobin (1918–2022), singer who helped discover Frank Sinatra

Louise Tobin was a big band singer who helped get his first big break with her husband’s band.

Pharoah Sanders (1940–2022), jazz saxophonist

Pharoah Sanders was a saxophonist known for his free jazz and spiritual jazz.

Ramsey Lewis (1935–2022), Grammy-winning jazz pianist

Ramsey Lewis was a legendary jazz pianist who had a hit in 1965 with “The In Crowd.”

Joey DeFrancesco (1971–2022), Hammond Organ Jazz legend 

Joey DeFrancesco was considered by many to be the best Jazz Hammond B3 organ player in the world.

Michael Henderson (1951–2022), R&B singer and Miles Davis’ bassist

Michael Henderson was a bassist in band as well as an R&B singer with hits including “Wide Receiver.”

Meghan Stabile (1982–2022), jazz revival promoter

Meghan Stabile was a music impresario who blended jazz and hip-hop to introduce jazz to a new, younger audience.

Joe Messina (1928–2022), guitarist with Motown’s Funk Brothers

Joe Messina was a guitarist with the Funk Brothers, the longtime studio band for Motown Records artists.

Conrad Janis (1928–2022), Mindy’s dad on “Mork & Mindy”

Conrad Janis was an actor and jazz musician known for roles including Fred McConnell, Mindy’s father, on the TV sitcom “Mork & Mindy.”

Tito Matos (1968–2022), master of the Puerto Rican music known as plena

Tito Matos was an acclaimed percussionist known for his skill playing the traditional Puerto Rican music called plena.

Badal Roy (1939–2022), pioneering tabla player

Badal Roy was a pioneering Indian tabla player who played with jazz legends Miles Davis and Ornette Coleman.  

James Mtume (1946–2022), legendary jazz and R&B musician

James Mtume was a legendary jazz and R&B percussionist, producer, and composer known for the hit single ‘Juicy Fruit.’    

Slide Hampton (1932–2021), jazz trombonist

Slide Hampton was a Grammy Award-winning jazz trombonist and NEA Jazz Master.

Dave Frishberg (1933–2021), “Schoolhouse Rock” songwriter

Dave Frishberg was a pianist and songwriter who composed “I’m Just a Bill” and other songs for “Schoolhouse Rock.”

Pat Martino (1944–2021), jazz guitarist

Pat Martino was a jazz guitarist who overcame amnesia after a 1980 surgery and relearned his instrument for a successful second career.

Dottie Dodgion (1929–2021), pioneering jazz drummer

Dottie Dodgion was a drummer who worked with jazz icons including and .