Music

Laura Lynch (1958–2023), Dixie Chicks founding member

Laura Lynch was a founding member of the Dixie Chicks, playing bass and providing vocals as part of the original line up. 

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.” 

John Gosling (1948–2023), keyboardist for the Kinks

John Gosling was a keyboardist with the British rock group the Kinks throughout the 1970s, and hec2would later form the spinoff band the Kast Off Kinks.c2

Keenan Cahill (1995–2022), YouTube celebrity lip syncer 

Keenan Cahill  was a YouTube star known for his lip sync videos with celebrities.

Jesse Powell (1971–2022), R&B vocalist known for the song “You”

Jesse Powell was an R&B singer best known for his 1999 hit song “You.”

Shonka Dukureh (1977–2022), “Elvis” actress and blues singer 

Shonka Dukureh was a blues singer and actress who appeared as Big Mama Thornton in the recent Baz Luhrmann movie “Elvis.” 

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.

Trouble (1987–2022), rapper collaborated with Drake 

Trouble was an Atlanta rap artist who collaborated with Drake and The Weeknd on his 2018 debut album ‘Edgewood.’

Dave Smith (1950–2022), synthesizer pioneer

Dave Smith was an engineer known as the “Father of MIDI” for his innovations in electronic instruments.

Rosmarie von Trapp (1929–2022), daughter from “The Sound of Music” family  

Rosmarie von Trapp was a daughter of Georg and Maria von Trapp of the Trapp Family Singers whose story was told in the movie “The Sound of Music.”

Lil Keed (1998–2022), rapper on Young Thug’s label 

Lil Keed was an up-and-coming Atlanta rapper who was signed to Young Thug’s record label Young Stoner Life.

Art Rupe (1917–2022), record exec who helped launch Little Richard’s career

Art Rupe was the founder of Specialty Records, an influential force in early rock and roll.

Paul Siebel (1937–2022), 1960s singer and songwriter

Paul Siebel was a folk singer and songwriter known for songs including the widely-covered “Louise.”

Archie Eversole (1984–2022), rapper known for “We Ready”

Archie Eversole was an Atlanta-based rapper best known for his 2002 hit “We Ready.”

Richard Pratt (2022), singer with Blue Magic

Richard Pratt was the bass singer with Philadelphia soul group Blue Magic, known for hits including “Sideshow.”

Snootie Wild (1985–2022), rapper known for “Yayo”

Snootie Wild was a rapper known for songs including his 2013 hit “Yayo.”

Bappi Lahiri (1952–2022), India’s “Disco King”

Bappi Lahiri was a popular Bollywood singer and composer who was known as the “Disco King” of India.

Jon Zazula (1952–2022), record exec who helped launch Metallica

Jon Zazula was the founder of Megaforce Records, Metallica’s first label.

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.  

Fred Parris (1936–2022), singer and songwriter with the Five Satins

Fred Parris was the lead singer for the Five Satins and wrote their 1956 hit “In the Still of the Night.”

Rosa Lee Hawkins (1944–2022), singer with the Dixie Cups

Rosa Lee Hawkins was a singer with the 1960s girl group the Dixie Cups, known for their hits “Chapel of Love” and “Iko Iko.”

Ronnie Spector (1943–2022), lead singer with the Ronettes

Ronnie Spector was the lead singer for the 1960s girl group the Ronettes, whose hits included “Be My Baby.”

Marilyn Bergman (1928–2022), Oscar-winning “The Way We Were” songwriter

Marilyn Bergman was a songwriter who won three Academy Awards for her work.

Ken Kragen (1936–2021), organizer of “We Are the World” and Hands Across America

Ken Kragen was a music manager and TV producer who organized the famous “We Are the World” and Hands Across America charity events in the 1980s.

Robbie Shakespeare (1953–2021), Sly and Robbie bassist

Robbie Shakespeare was the bassist in the legendary rhythm section Sly and Robbie.

Greg Tate (1957–2021), The Village Voice cultural critic

Greg Tate was a longtime cultural critic for The Village Voice as well as the founder of the band Burnt Sugar.

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.”

Philip Margo (1942–2021), baritone singer with the Tokens

Philip Margo was a singer with the Tokens, known for their 1961 hit “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”

Maureen Cleave (1934–2021), music journalist who covered the Beatles

Maureen Cleave was a music journalist who was a confidante of the Beatles, having written about them since their early days of fame.

Marília Mendonça (1995–2021), Grammy-winning Brazilian pop star

Marília Mendonça was a Brazilian singer and songwriter known for her powerful ballads.

Lizzie Bravo (1951–2021), Beatles fan who sang on “Across the Universe”

Lizzie Bravo was a Beatles fan who was invited by the band to sing backing vocals as they recorded “Across the Universe” in 1968.

Ruth Olay (1924–2021), jazz singer of the 1950s and ‘60s

Ruth Olay was a jazz singer who worked with notable musicians including and .

George Wein (1925–2021), Newport Jazz Festival founder

George Wein was a jazz impresario who founded the groundbreaking Newport Jazz Festival.

Chucky Thompson (1968–2021), acclaimed hip hop and R&B producer

Chucky Thompson was a hip-hop and R&B producer who worked with artists including the Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige.

Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas (1951–2021), founding member of Kool & the Gang

Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas was one of the founding members of Kool & the Gang, playing saxophone and other instruments.

Paul Johnson (1971–2021), DJ and producer known for “Get Get Down”

Paul Johnson was a house DJ and producer known for his 1999 hit single “Get Get Down.”

Biz Markie (1964–2021), rapper known for “Just a Friend”

Biz Markie was a rapper best known for his 1989 hit song, “Just a Friend.”

Jeff LaBar (1963–2021), guitarist for Cinderella

Jeff LaBar was the guitarist for the glam metal band Cinderella, known for hits including “Don’t Know What You Got (Till it’s Gone).”

Lloyd Price (1933–2021), R&B pioneer known for “Personality,” “Lawdy Miss Clawdy”

Lloyd Price was one of the great R&B stars of the 1950s and ‘60s, known for hits including “Personality” and “Lawdy Miss Clawdy.”

Nick Kamen (1962–2021), Levi’s model and singer who worked with Madonna

Nick Kamen was an English model and singer best known for the songs “Each Time You Break My Heart” and “I Promised Myself.”

Jim Steinman (1947–2021), “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” songwriter

Jim Steinman was a songwriter whose hit compositions include Meat Loaf’s “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” and Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”

Dan Sartain (1981–2021), indie singer and songwriter

Dan Sartain was an indie singer and songwriter whose music encompassed rockabilly, punk, blues, electronica, and more.

Taylor Dee (1987–2021), rising country music star

Taylor Dee was a country singer from Texas whose singles, including “The Buzz,” were gaining in popularity.

Lou Ottens (1926–2021), inventor of the cassette tape

Lou Ottens was a Dutch engineer who invented the cassette tape, one of the most popular music formats of the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s.

Bunny Wailer (1947–2021), reggae icon who co-founded the Wailers

Bunny Wailer was a giant of reggae music who co-founded the Wailers along with and Peter Tosh (1944–1987).

James Burke (2021), “O-o-h Child” singer with the Five Stairsteps

James Burke was a member of the Five Stairsteps, who had a hit in 1970 with “O-o-h Child.”

U-Roy (1942–2021), Jamaican musician who pioneered toasting

U-Roy was a Jamaican musician who pioneered toasting, a precursor to rap music in which a DJ talked over the records he was playing.

Carman (1956–2021), contemporary Christian singer and songwriter

Carman was a popular contemporary Christian singer and songwriter known for songs including “The Champion.”

Johnny Pacheco (1935–2021), musician who helped popularize salsa music

Johnny Pacheco was a musician who co-founded Fania Records, where he helped create salsa music and bring it into the mainstream.