Singer-Songwriters

Robert John (1946–2025), Sad Eyes singer

Robert John was a singer and songwriter best known for his 1979 hit, “Sad Eyes,” and his version of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” from 1971.

Brenton Wood (1941–2025), The Oogum Boogum Song singer 

Brenton Wood was a singer and songwriter best known for a trio of hits released in 1967: "The Oogum Boogum Song," "Gimme Little Sign," and "Baby You Got It." 

David Mallett (1951–2024), Maine singer-songwriter

David Mallett was a singer-songwriter from Maine best known for his children’s folk composition, “Garden Song,” which has been widely covered by other artists, including a popular version by . 

íngela ílvarez (1927–2024), singer who won a Latin Grammy at 95

íngela ílvarez was a Cuban singer and songwriter who won a Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2022, when she was 95 years old.

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.

Libby Titus (1947–2024), Love Has No Pride singer-songwriter

Libby Titus was a singer and songwriter known for “Love Has No Pride,” which has been covered by such artists as Bonnie Raitt and Linda Ronstadt.

Dave Loggins (1947–2024), Please Come to Boston singer-songwriter

Dave Loggins was a singer and songwriter best known for his 1974 soft rock hit “Please Come to Boston” and the theme song to the Masters Golf Tournament.

Rusty Golden (1959–2024), country and gospel singer and songwriter

Rusty Golden was a country and gospel singer-songwriter and also the son of The Oak Ridge Boys‘ William Lee Golden.

Kinky Friedman (1944–2024), singer, humorist, and provocateur

Kinky Friedman was a singer, humorist, columnist, and all-around provocateur who led the band The Texas Jewboys and once ran for governor of Texas.

John Koerner (1938–2024), blues guitarist who mentored Bob Dylan

“Spider” John Koerner was a blues guitarist, singer and songwriter who enjoyed a six-decade career and ably mentored a young Bob Dylan.

Malcolm Holcombe (1955–2024), singer-songwriter 

Malcolm Holcombe was a singer and songwriter known for his back-to-basics Americana music. 

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.

Melanie (1947–2024), Brand New Key singer

Melanie was a folk singer and songwriter who had major hits in the 1970s with “Brand New Key” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),” and she was one of three women who performed solo acts at Woodstock.

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.” 

Essra Mohawk (1948–2023), Schoolhouse Rock! singer-songwriter

Essra Mohawk was a singer-songwriter who penned hits for Cyndi Lauper and Tina Turner, worked with Frank Zappa, and sang for “Schoolhouse Rock!” and “Sesame Street.” 

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. 

Charlie Robison (1964–2023), country singer and songwriter 

Charlie Robison was a Texas singer and songwriter whose country music singles included “I Want You Bad.” 

Gary Wright (1943–2023), Dream Weaver singer and songwriter 

Gary Wright was a singer and songwriter known for his hit songs “Dream Weaver” and “Love Is Alive.” 

Jimmy Buffett (1946–2023), Margaritaville singer

Jimmy Buffett was a singer and songwriter known for such laid-back hits as “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

Sixto Rodriguez (1942–2023), 'Searching for Sugar Man' musician

Sixto Rodriguez was an internationally recognized Detroit musician best known in the United States for being featured in the Oscar-winning documentary “Searching for Sugar Man.” 

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.” 

Biff Rose (1937–2023), Fill Your Heart singer and songwriter 

Biff Rose was a singer and songwriter whose songs were covered by such artists as , Pat Boone, and . 

Linda Lewis (1950–2023), It’s in His Kiss singer 

Linda Lewis was a British singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose hits included “It’s in His Kiss.”

Ron “Patch” Hamilton (1950–2023), Patch the Pirate singer and songwriter

Ron “Patch” Hamilton was a singer and songwriter who created the “Patch the Pirate” series of Christian recordings for children.

Napoleon XIV (1938–2023), sang They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!

Jerry Samuels was a singer and songwriter better known as Napoleon XIV, who had a novelty hit with “They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!”

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.

Lisa Marie Presley (1968–2023), singer-songwriter and Elvis Presley’s daughter

Lisa Marie Presley was a singer and songwriter and the daughter of and Priscilla Presley.

Ian Tyson (1933–2022), “Four Strong Winds” singer and songwriter

Ian Tyson was a Canadian singer and songwriter with the duo Ian & Sylvia who wrote the folk standard “Four Strong Winds.”

Shirley Eikhard (1955–2022), “Something to Talk About” songwriter    

Shirley Eikhard was a Canadian singer-songwriter who wrote “Something to Talk About” which became a hit song for Bonnie Raitt.

Christine McVie (1943–2022), Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter

Christine McVie was a vocalist, songwriter, and keyboardist for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Fleetwood Mac.

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.

Bobby Flores (1961–2022), Grammy-winning Texas western swing musician 

Bobby Flores was a legendary Texas western swing and country music multi-instrumentalist who played with Willie Nelson and Ray Price.

Kelly Joe Phelps (1959–2022), acclaimed slide guitar player  

Kelly Joe Phelps was a celebrated slide guitarist and singer-songwriter who played blues, country blues, folk, and Americana music.

Bob Neuwirth (1939–2022), wrote ‘Mercedes Benz’ with Janis Joplin  

Bob Neuwirth was a folk music singer-songwriter and influential associate of Bob Dylan who wrote ‘Mercedes Benz’ with Janis Joplin.

Judy Henske (1936–2022), 1960s folk singer and songwriter

Judy Henske was a folk singer and songwriter known for songs including “High Flying Bird.”

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

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

Mark Lanegan (1964–2022), Screaming Trees singer

Mark Lanegan  was the lead singer for the pioneering grunge band Screaming Trees known for the song “Nearly Lost You.”  

Gary Brooker (1945–2022), Procol Harum lead singer

Gary Brooker was a co-founder and lead vocalist of the classic progressive rock band Procol Harum known for their song “Whiter Shade of Pale.”

Les Emmerson (1944–2021), writer of the classic rock anthem "Signs"

Les Emmerson was a Canadian singer-songwriter who wrote the classic rock anthem "Signs," which was a hit song for his band the Five Man Electrical Band.

Joanne Shenandoah (1957–2021), Native American singer-songwriter

Joanne Shenandoah was a singer and songwriter celebrated as “Native America’s musical matriarch.”

Andrea Martin (1972–2021), R&B singer and songwriter

Andrea Martin was an R&B singer and songwriter who wrote hits for artists including Toni Braxton, Monica, and En Vogue.

Tom T. Hall (1936–2021), country music's "storyteller"

Tom T. Hall was a Country Music Hall of Fame singer-songwriter called "The Storyteller" who wrote "Harper Valley PTA."

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.”

Nanci Griffith (1953–2021), Grammy-winning singer and songwriter

Nanci Griffith was a folk and country music singer and songwriter known for songs including “Love at the Five and Dime” and “From a Distance.”

Paul Cotton (1943–2021), guitarist with Poco

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

Alix Dobkin (1940–2021), pioneering lesbian singer and songwriter

Alix Dobkin was a singer and songwriter whose 1973 album “Lavender Jane Loves Women” was a milestone for the lesbian community.

Randy Parton (1953–2021), country singer-songwriter and Dolly Parton’s brother

Randy Parton was a country music singer and songwriter who was Dolly Parton’s younger brother.

Ed Bruce (1939–2021), country music songwriter

Ed Bruce was a country music singer-songwriter who co-wrote the classic song "Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys."

Jamie O'Hara (1950–2021), country singer-songwriter

Jamie O'Hara was a country music singer-songwriter who won a Grammy for writing The Judds' hit song "Grandpa (Tell Me Bout the Good Old Days)."