Frankie Beverly (1946–2024), R&B singer and founder of Maze

Frankie Beverly was the frontman for the soul/funk band Maze, known for hits like “Can’t Get Over You” and “Back in Stride.” 

Henry Fambrough (1938–2024), last original member of the Spinners

Henry Fambrough was an R&B singer best known as one of the original members of the Motown group the Spinners.

Marlena Shaw (1942–2024), California Soul singer 

Marlena Shaw was a singer whose best-known songs included “California Soul” and “Woman of the Ghetto.” 

Nidra Beard (1952–2023), Dynasty lead singer 

Nidra Beard was the co-lead singer for the R&B group Dynasty, known for hits like “I’ve Just Begun to Love You.”

Jean Knight (1943–2023), Mr. Big Stuff singer

Jean Knight was a New Orleans singer who had a chart-topping hit in 1971 with “Mr. Big Stuff.” 

Irish Grinstead (1980–2023), singer with 702

Irish Grinstead was a singer with the 1990s girl group 702, known for their songs "Where My Girls At?" and "Get It Together." 

August 08 (1992–2023), R&B singer and songwriter 

August 08 was a singer and songwriter who co-wrote the chart-topping hit “I’m the One” for DJ Khaled.

Robbie Robertson (1943–2023), cofounder of The Band

Robbie Robertson was a songwriter and musician who cofounded the classic Americana group The Band, writing “The Weight” and several more of their best-known songs, as well as playing lead guitar for Bob Dylan.

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.”

Bobby Caldwell (1951–2023), What You Won’t Do for Love singer

Bobby Caldwell was a singer and songwriter known for music including the 1978 R&B hit “What You Won’t Do for Love.”

Chuck Jackson (1937–2023), Any Day Now singer

Chuck Jackson was an R&B singer who had a 1962 hit with the song “Any Day Now.”

Gordy Harmon (1943–2023), singer with the Whispers

Gordy Harmon was a singer with the R&B group the Whispers, known for hits including “Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong.”

B. Smyth (1994–2022), R&B singer  

B. Smyth was an R&B singer known for his song “Twerkaholic” which received millions of views on YouTube.

Geraldine Hunt (1945–2022), “Can’t Fake the Feeling” singer

Geraldine Hunt was an R&B singer who had a disco hit in 1980 with “Can’t Fake the Feeling.”

Art Laboe (1925–2022), legendary “Oldies but Goodies” DJ

Art Laboe was a legendary DJ known for coining the phrase “Oldies but Goodies,” and who was among the first to play Black and Latin music.  

Ivy Jo Hunter (1940–2022), unsung Motown songwriter 

Ivy Jo Hunter was an unsung Motown songwriter and musician who wrote hits for Martha and the Vandellas, the Isley Brothers, and the Four Tops.

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.”

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.”

Roderick “Pooh” Clark (1973–2022), R&B singer with Hi-Five

Roderick “Pooh” Clark was a singer with the R&B group Hi-Five, known for their 1991 hit “I Like the Way (The Kissing Game).”

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.

Keith Martin (1966–2022), R&B singer known for “Never Find Someone Like You”

Keith Martin was an R&B singer and songwriter known for songs including his 1995 hit “Never Find Someone Like You.”

Timmy Thomas (1944–2022), R&B musician known for “Why Can’t We Live Together”

Timmy Thomas was an R&B singer, songwriter, and keyboardist known for songs including his 1972 hit, “Why Can’t We Live Together.”

Traci Braxton (1971–2022), R&B singer and reality TV star

Traci Braxton was an R&B singer who starred on the reality TV show “Braxton Family Values” along with her older sister, singer Toni Braxton.

Jessie Lee Daniels (1963–2022), R&B singer with Force MDs

Jessie Lee Daniels was a singer with the R&B group Force MDs, known for their 1985 Top Ten hit “Tender Love.”

Emani 22 (1998–2021), R&B singer

Emani 22 was a rising R&B singer known for music including her 2020 single “Feelings.”

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.

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.”

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.”

Mary Wilson (1944–2021), founding member of the Supremes

Mary Wilson was an R&B singer who was a founding member of the Supremes.

Danny Ray (1935–2021), James Brown’s longtime emcee and cape man

Danny Ray was longtime personal valet and emcee, who became an integral part of the singer’s stage show as his “cape man.”

Pamela Hutchinson (2020), singer with R&B group the Emotions

Pamela Hutchinson was a singer with the R&B and disco group the Emotions, known for hits including the Grammy-winning “Best of My Love.”

Edna Wright (1944–2020), Honey Cone lead singer

Edna Wright was the lead singer of the R&B group Honey Cone, known for their 1971 hit “Want Ads.” She was the sister ofpopular singer Darlene Love.

Ronald Bell (1951–2020), co-founder of Kool & the Gang

Ronald Bell was a musician who co-founded Kool & the Gang and wrote and composed songs including their 1980 No. 1 hit, “Celebration.”

Hal Singer (1919–2020), hit-making jazz saxophonist

Hal Singer was a hit-making jazz saxophonist and R&B performer known for his 1940s No. 1 hit song “Corn Bread.”

Bobby Lewis (1925–2020), “Tossin’ and Turnin’” singer

Bobby Lewis was an R&B singer who had a No. 1 hit in 1961 with “Tossin’ and Turnin’.”

Bonnie Pointer (1950–2020), Pointer Sisters singer

Bonnie Pointerstarted the legendary R&B group The Pointer Sisters with her sisters June and Anita in 1969. She left the group in 1977 for a solo career.

Andre Harrell (1960–2020), Uptown Records founder discovered Diddy

Andre Harrell was a hip-hop and R&B visionary who started Uptown Records and discovered Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Betty Wright (1953–2020), Grammy-winning soul and R&B singer

Betty Wright was a soul and R&B singer known for songs including “Clean Up Woman,” “Tonight Is the Night,” and “Where Is the Love.”

Jimmy Cavallo (1927–2019), rock and roll pioneer

His band is believed to be the first white group to play the Apollo Theater.

Art Neville (1937–2019), keyboardist and singer with the Neville Brothers and the Meters

Art Neville was a keyboardist and singer who was a founding member of the Neville Brothers and the Meters. Known as “Poppa Funk,” Neville was a staple of the New Orleans music scene, who helped shape the city’s signature sound. The Meters, formed in 1965, were among the originators of funk, performing their own songs as well as backing artists including Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, and . They were honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. In 1977, Neville founded the Neville Brothers along with his brothers Aaron, Charles, and Cyril. Their notable songs include “Sister Rosa” and “Healing Chant,” which won a Grammy Award in 1989. In later years, Neville formed the Funky Meters along with some members of the original group. He continued playing with them until his retirement in late 2018.

Jerry Lawson (1944–2019), lead singer for the Persuasions

Jerry Lawson was the lead singer of the a cappella group the Persuasions. Lawson and his bandmates revived the a cappella style as young men singing their favorite songs together in their neighborhood, applying the style to songs from diverse genres including R&B, pop, gospel, blues, and more. They continued singing together for decades, recording more than two dozen albums and influencing later groups including Boyz II Men and Take 6. Lawson later left the Persuasions and joined another group they had influenced, Talk of the Town. With Talk of the Town, Lawson appeared on NBC’s “The Sing-Off” in 2011. Lawson released his only solo album, “Just a Mortal Man,” in 2015.

Dave Bartholomew (1918–2019), New Orleans music legend

Dave Bartholomew was one of the architects of rock and roll, partnering with Fats Domino on early rock classics including co-writing “Ain’t That a Shame.” The New Orleans trumpeter, band leader, producer, songwriter, and arranger was involved in many iconic songs including “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” “Blueberry Hill,” “I’m Walking,” and “I Hear You Knocking.” Bartholomew was band leader for one of New Orleans premier R&B bands when he became an A&R man for Imperial Records. At Imperial, he brought in Fats Domino, working with him on combining R&B with big band, jazz, and country to create early rock and roll. Bartholomew was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.

Bill Isles (1941–2019), co-founder of legendary R&B group The O’Jays

Bill Isles was one of the original members of soul music hit-makers The O’Jays. He formed a singing group called the Mascots with friends in his hometown of Canton, Ohio, in 1958. They changed their name to the Triumphs and released their first single in 1961. In 1963, they changed their name to The O’Jays and released a successful single in 1965 titled “Lipstick Traces.” Shortly after, Isles left the group and would get married. The O’Jays went on to greater fame in the 1970s with the hit songs “Back Stabbers” and “Love Train.”

Andre Williams (1936–2019), R&B singer known as the "Godfather of Rap"

Andre Williams was an R&B singer who had hits in the 1950s with "Bacon Fat" and the too-raunchy-for-radio "Jail Bait." Known as the "Godfather of Rap" for the spoken-sung style he adopted when he wanted to be a recording star but knew he couldn't sing well enough, Williams recorded with labels including Detroit-based Fortune Records and Chicago's Chess Records. His most enduring composition is "Shake a Tail Feather," which became an R&B standard after he co-wrote it, recorded first by the Five Dutones and more famously by Ike and Tina Turner as well as by for the 1980 movie "The Blues Brothers." He wrote songs for , and produced for musicians including Ike Turner and , but he also continued recording and performing his own music all his life, including his 2017 album "Don't Ever Give Up."

Elvis Should Have Died in 2019, not 1977

When Memphis radio DJ , the late Elvis Presley’s best friend, died on Feb. 5, he was not the first or the second or even the third but the fourth of Elvis’s friends, colleagues, and peers to pass away in the first few weeks of the year. Klein’s death comes on the quick heels of two of Elvis’s recording-studio guitarists, (Jan. 17) and (Jan. 21). All three men died of natural causes in their 80s and 90s. So did Elvis's longtime drummer, , just a few months ago. And Elvis’s stepbrother, the evangelist , died just last week, in his 60s.

James Ingram (1952–2019), R&B singing legend

James Ingram (1952–2019) was a chart-topping singer known for the hit R&B song “Baby, Come to Me,” a duet with singer Patti Austin which reached number one in 1983. He first came to fame in 1981 when he sang vocals on the songs “Just Once” and “One Hundred Ways” on the Quincy Jones album “The Dude.”

Nancy Wilson (1937–2018), award-winning song stylist

Nancy Wilson (1937–2018) was a Grammy and Emmy Award-winning singer who sang many styles of music but is most closely associated with jazz. Among her notable recordings are the 1964 hit “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am,” and her debut single, “Guess Who I Saw Today.” Aware of her singing talent from a young age, she transformed her gift for song into a performing and recording career that spanned more than half a century, beginning in the 1950s and extending until her retirement in the 2010s.

Aretha Franklin (1942–2018), the "Queen of Soul"

Aretha Franklin (1942–2018) was affectionately called “the Queen of Soul.” Blessed with an incredible voice, she was a giant of soul music. Franklin’s signature song was her version of Otis Redding’s “Respect,” released in 1967. Her many hit songs included “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Freeway of Love,” and “Rock Steady.”

Legend Is Too Small a Word for Aretha Franklin

“Legend” becomes a small word when applied to someone like . Her influence on music is so profound, it is as if she has always been with us, her gospel-tinged siren call both able to kick off a house party or send someone on their loving way into the afterlife. Once she was crowned “the Queen of Soul” fifty-plus years ago, no other artist could assume the mantle, ever. Even after her death, time will likely prove that any attempt to transfer the title will be met by ridicule.