Rock and Roll

John Mayall (1933–2024), godfather of British blues

John Mayall was a British blues guitarist and bandleader who helped launch the careers of legends like Eric Clapton, , and Mick Taylor.

Richard Tandy (1948–2024), longtime ELO keyboardist

Richard Tandy was the longtime Electric Light Orchestra keyboardist who voiced “Mr. Blue Sky” in their song of the same name.

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.” 

Mike Pinder (1941–2024), the Moody Blues' last original member

Mike Pinder was the original keyboardist and the last surviving founding member of the superstar English rock band the Moody Blues, and an inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Jimmy Van Eaton (1937–2024), drummer for Jerry Lee Lewis and others

Jimmy Van Eaton was a drummer in the early days of rock ‘n roll, recording with the likes of , , and others at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee.

Dex Romweber (1966–2024), half of the power duo Flat Duo Jets 

Dexter “Dex” Romweber was a rockabilly musician and one half of the power duo Flat Duo Jets, who were a major influence on back-to-basics rock acts like The White Stripes. 

Mojo Nixon (1957–2024), psychobilly singer of Elvis Is Everywhere

Mojo Nixon was an irreverent, tongue-in-cheek psychobilly singer and songwriter known for pop culture-skewering songs like “Elvis is Everywhere” and “Don Henley Must Die,” and for being name-dropped in the Dead Milkmen cult favorite, “Punk Rock Girl.”

John Morris (1939–2023), organizer of the original Woodstock festival 

John Morris was an event organizer among those who put together the original Woodstock music festival in 1969 and later worked with such artists as Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, , and . 

Dusty Street (1946–2023), pioneering female rock DJ 

Dusty Street was one of the first women to work as a rock and roll DJ, most famously at Los Angeles’ KROQ-FM.

Bernie Marsden (1951–2023), Whitesnake guitarist and songwriter

Bernie Marsden was an English guitarist best known as a co-founder of the hard rock band Whitesnake. 

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.

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

Robert “Beatle Bob” Matonis (1953–2023), St. Louis music superfan 

Robert “Beatle Bob” Matonis was a St. Louis man known widely for his enthusiastic dancing at concerts he attended every day for decades.

George Tickner (1946–2023), founding guitarist in Journey 

George Tickner was a guitarist and songwriter who co-founded Journey.

Dick Biondi (1932–2023), Chicago DJ who played the Beatles first 

Dick Biondi was a legendary Chicago radio DJ who, in 1963, played the first Beatles song heard on U.S. radio.

Blackie Onassis (1965–2023), drummer for Urge Overkill 

Blackie Onassis was a drummer for Chicago-based alternative rock band Urge Overkill during their most successful period. 

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.”

Pete Brown (1940–2023), poet and co-writer of rock classics

Pete Brown was an English poet and lyricist who collaborated with music acts like Cream and Jack Bruce, co-writing rock classics such as “White Room” and “Sunshine of Your Love.”

Tom Leadon (1952–2023), co-founded Mudcrutch with Tom Petty 

Tom Leadon was a guitarist who co-founded first band, Mudcrutch.

Jim Gordon (1945–2023), Derek and the Dominos drummer

Jim Gordon was the drummer for Derek and the Dominos, who cowrote their song “Layla” and also played on many other hits of the 1960s and ‘70s.

Gary Rossington (1951–2023), last surviving original Lynyrd Skynyrd member

Gary Rossington was a founding guitarist of the iconic Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, the last of the band’s original members to die.

Floyd Sneed (1942–2023), Three Dog Night drummer

Floyd Sneed was the drummer for Three Dog Night, known for hits including “Joy to the World” and “Mama Told Me Not to Come.”

Dean Daughtry (1946–2023), Atlanta Rhythm Section co-founder

Dean Daughtry was the keyboardist and a founding member of the southern rock band Atlanta Rhythm Section.

Jerry Blavat (1940–2023), legendary rock and roll DJ

Jerry Blavat was a Philadelphia DJ who became iconic as a radio and TV fixture for decades.

Johnny Powers (1938–2023), early rock and roller

Johnny Powers was an early Detroit rock and roll musician known for songs including “Long Blond Hair.”

David Crosby (1941–2023), legendary rock and roll singer-songwriter 

David Crosby was one of the most important figures in rock and roll. He was an original member of folk rock visionaries the Byrds and the super group, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Robbie Bachman (1953–2023), Bachman-Turner Overdrive drummer

Robbie Bachman was the drummer for Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO), known for 1970s hits including “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet.”

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.

Keith Levene (1957–2022), founding member of Public Image Ltd., the Clash

Keith Levene was a founding member and guitarist in Public Image Ltd. and the Clash.

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.”

John Hartman (1950–2021), Doobie Brothers drummer

John Hartman was the founding drummer for the Doobie Brothers, who played on hits including “Black Water” and “Listen to the Music.”

Sonny West (1937–2022), songwriter of Buddy Holly’s “Oh Boy!”  

Sonny West was a songwriter and musician who wrote the early rock classicsc2e2809cOh Boy!e2809d and e2809cRave On,e2809d which were hits for Buddy Holly.

Manny Charlton (1941–2022), lead guitarist for Nazareth

Manny Charlton was the founding lead guitarist for the Scottish rock band Nazareth, known for hits including “Love Hurts” and “Hair of the Dog.”

Alec John Such (1951–2022), founding bassist for Bon Jovi

Alec John Such was the founding bassist of the chart-topping rock band Bon Jovi.

Ronnie Hawkins (1935–2022), rockabilly musician who mentored the Band

Ronnie Hawkins was a legendary rockabilly singer and songwriter who helped launch the careers of the musicians who would form the Band.

Randy Rand (2022), founding bassist for Autograph

Randy Rand was the founding bassist for hair metal band Autograph, known for their hit “Turn Up the Radio.”

Cynthia Albritton (1947–2022), artist known as Cynthia Plaster Caster

Cynthia Albritton was a pop artist known as Cynthia Plaster Caster for her casts of rock stars’ penises.

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.

Don Wilson (1933–2022), co-founder of surf rock pioneers the Ventures

Don Wilson was a rhythm guitarist and co-founder of the pioneering surf rock instrumental band the Ventures.

Don Maddox (1922–2021), country music pioneer with the Maddox Brothers & Rose

Don Maddox was a fiddle player in the pioneering country band the Maddox Brothers & Rose.

Jay Black (1938–2021), lead singer for Jay and the Americans

Jay Black was the lead singer for Jay and the Americans, who had 1960s hits including “Come a Little Bit Closer” and “Cara Mia.”

Don Everly (1937–2021), one-half of rock & roll pioneers the Everly Brothers

Don Everly (pictured at right) and his brother Phil were the highly influential early rock and roll duo the Everly Brothers. Known for their incredible close-harmony singing, their hit songs included “Wake Up Little Suzie,” “Bye Bye Love,” “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” and “Cathy’s Clown.”

Paul Cotton (1943–2021), guitarist with Poco

Paul Cotton was a guitarist, singer, and songwriter who was a longtime member of Poco.

Al Rappa (1927–2021), bassist with Bill Haley & His Comets

Al Rappa was a bassist with the pioneering rock and roll group Bill Haley & His Comets.

Joey Jordison (1975–2021), founding Slipknot drummer

Joey Jordison was a co-founder and the original drummer for the popular metal band Slipknot.

Sanford Clark (1935–2021), rockabilly singer known for “The Fool”

Sanford Clark was a rockabilly singer and guitarist known for his 1956 hit song, “The Fool.”

Roger Hawkins (1945–2021), Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section drummer for Aretha Franklin

Roger Hawkins was a drummer with the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, who played on hits including “Respect.”

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.”

Mike Mitchell (1944–2021), “Louie Louie” guitarist with the Kingsmen

Mike Mitchell was the guitarist for the Kingsmen, best known for playing the iconic solo on the 1963 hit song “Louie Louie.”