Musicians who died in 2023
December (71)
The musician Shmulik Bilo, a member of the Halab and Dvash band, passed away at the age of 71
Billo was part of the band formed for Eurovision 1979, where she won with the song “Hallelujah” when Gali Atari was the soloist … via ynet |
The world of Carnatic music has been left in a state of mourning with the death of OS Thyagarajan. Born in Chennai, his remarkable journey was shaped under the mentorship of Sangeetha Kalanidhi T. M. Thiagarajan and Padmabhushan Lalgudi Jayaraman. The son and pupil of Sangeetha Booshanam O.V. Subrahmanyam, Thyagarajan’s life was imbued with controversies, yet his musical heritage remains undeterred.
… via thethaiger |
Pandit Bhavani Shankar who is known as the Pakhawaj maestro passed away on December 30, 2023, on Saturday. His family has confirmed the news and said that his ‘rasam kriya’ will take place on December 31, from 12pm onwards in Borivali.
… via indiatimes |
Maurice Hines, the Broadway dancer, choreographer and actor who famously showcased his skills alongside his late younger brother, Gregory Hines, in a Nicholas Brothers-like act featured in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Cotton Club, has died. He was 80.
… via hollywoodreporter |
Les McCann, a jazz titan best known for his performance with musical partner Eddie Harris of the protest song “Compared to What,” has died at age 88, his manager said Sunday.
… via nbcnews |
Per Myrberg is dead – he was 90 years old
… via sverigesradio |
Francis Dhomont *2.11.1926 Paris +28.12.2023 Avignon
I’m writing to share the sad news of the passing of Francis Dhomont, who died peacefully in a hospital in Avignon on December 28th, aged 97. … via cime-icem |
Sad news to report that Michael Gibbons Jr., an OG lead guitar player best known for his early records with New York Hardcore band Leeway, has died.
… via ghostcultmag |
Pedro Martín José María Suárez-Vértiz Alva, better known as Pedro Suárez Vértiz, died on December 28, 2023, at the age of 54, the result of a sudden heart attack.
… via infobae |
Tom Smothers, the countercultural comedy icon admired for the 1960s variety program he created and hosted with his younger brother, Dick, and for the tenacity he displayed in frequent clashes with CBS censors, has died. He was 86.
… via hollywoodreporter |
Percussionist and free music icon Tony Oxley passed away this morning, December 26, aged 85. Oxley enjoyed a reputation as one of the British free music greats, known for blending styles, which he would break down, mold, and reconstruct according to his creative vision.
… via ultimate-guitar |
Dave Freeman, bluegrass and old time music archivist, record label owner, and historian, has died at 84 years of age. He passed early on Christmas morning after several years of ill health, at home, surrounded by family.
… via bluegrasstoday |
On December 25, Thanh Dien Guitar Fanpage shared the sad news of artist Thanh Dien’s passing. Sharing with Tien Phong, artist Thanh Dien’s manager confirmed the information that he passed away at 6:00 a.m. on the same day, at the age of 57.
… via vietnamnet |
Longtime Grateful Dead producer/engineer John Cutler died at age 73 on Christmas Eve after a long illness as per his brother, Bill Cutler. John Cutler’s numerous credits include co-producing the Grateful Dead’s final two studio albums — 1987’s In The Dark and 1989’s Built To Last — with Jerry Garcia.
… via jambase |
According to the first information, Vassilis Karras died this afternoon at 5, at the age of 70. He was admitted two days ago with coronavirus at Diabalkaniko in Thessaloniki. It is recalled that recently the great popular artist was bravely fighting cancer.
… via lifo |
Alice Parker, the choral music legend whose work was frequently featured by Twin Cities groups, died Christmas Eve. She was 98.
Her final composition, “On the Common Ground,” was premiered three years ago at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. … via startribune |
Sheffield native Willie Ruff, one of the founders of the popular W.C. Handy Music Festival and a renowned music professor at Yale University, died Dec. 24 at the age of 92.
… via spotonalabama |
On the afternoon of December 23, Lisandro Meza died. This was confirmed by the Specialized Clinic La Concepción de Sincelejo (Sucre) in a statement. The Macho of America had been hospitalized since December 6 in the health center as a result of kidney and heart failure, which kept him in an intensive care unit.
… via infobae |
At the age of 93, our dear maestro, People’s Artist of the USSR, Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation, Honored Artist of the RSFSR, Soviet and Russian composer, conductor, teacher, public figure Murad Magomedovich Kazhlaev passed away.
… via lezgigazet |
Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Dixie Chicks, was killed in a head-on crash in El Paso, Texas, police said Saturday. She was 65.
… via nbcnews |
Ruth Seymour, the hard-driving broadcast pioneer who transformed KCRW into a public radio powerhouse during her 32-year run at what was a sleepy Santa Monica-based station, died Friday. She was 88.
… via hollywoodreporter |
Actor Sajid Khan, who played the younger version of Sunil Dutts Birju in Mehboob Khans Mother India and later rose to prominence with international projects such as Maya and The Singing Filipina, has died following a battle with cancer.
… via devdiscourse |
In memory of Heike (1969 – 2023). The deceased two days before Christmas Eve.
… via hrbruns |
Czechia is trying to come to terms with a horrific shooting incident in Prague that left 14 victims dead. Thursday’s attack on a Charles University facility was the worst such event ever in this country and Saturday has been declared a day of national mourning.
… via radio.cz |
Popular gospel singer, Eric Moyo has died. He reportedly succumbed to a brain bleed after collapsing on stage during a performance with Joyous Celebration in South Africa, according to information obtained by Chronicle Showbiz.
At the age of 41, Eric Moyo took his last breath at a hospital in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape this morning. … via chronicle |
December 26, 2023: R.I.P. Russell Hunter of The Deviants and Pink Fairies
… via wfmu |
Philippe Oyhamburu dit Poupou died on Tuesday evening in Biarritz at the age of 102. A choreographer, dancer and choirmaster, he was a figure in the world of Basque music.
… via francebleu |
Singer and entertainer Gunther Emmerlich died unexpectedly
His sonorous bass was present in concert, opera and TV. The age did not stop Kammersänger Gunther Emmerlich from stage or screen – now his audience has to say goodbye forever. … via suedkurier |
Ronnie Caryl, a long-time companion of Phil Collins and a member of his solo band since 1996, passed away on 18 December. Annie Callingham, who looked after Phil Collins’ personal affairs for over 34 years, informed us in an email
… via genesis-news |
The historic jotas singer Pilarín Bueno died this morning in Zaragoza at the age of 79. Pilarín Bueno has been for decades holy and sign of the Aragonese jack, to which he dedicated his life as an interpreter and teacher.
… via heraldo |
Veteran singer Datuk M Daud Kilau, 85, died at the Teluk Intan Hospital at 4.40pm today.
His grandson, Hasnor Ikram, announced the news of his passing through the Insta Story on his Instagram account. … via malaymail |
Susanna Parigi, a Florentine singer-songwriter and teacher at the Milan conservatory, died on Monday at the age of 62. She graduated in piano at the Cherubini conservatory in Florence, she was the pianist of Riccardo Cocciante and Fiorella Mannoia, vocalist and accordionist of Claudio Baglioni and Raf.
… via milanotoday |
Lewis Pragasam, a celebrated figure in Malaysia’s jazz scene, passed away today at 3 am.
Pragasam was revered as one of Asia’s most esteemed percussionists and a trailblazer in the fusion of Asian and Western music. He founded the groundbreaking Asiabeat project in 1979 … via nst |
The original 1961 lineup with Maxfield was drummer Tony Bookbinder, guitarist Robin MacDonald, bassist Ray Jones and singer Pete Maclaine. However, their manager Brian Epstein was persuaded by Lennon and McCartney to have them back singer Billy J. Kramer. As Maclaine left the group, the decision proved the right one. Chart hits like “Little Children”, “Bad To Me” and “Do You Want To Know A Secret”. As they both had separate recording contracts with Parlophone, they were billed as Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas.
… via beat-magazine |
American musician and producer Amp Fiddler has died.
The Detroit based figure suffered an unknown illness last year, and had been struggling with his health during 2023. … via clashmusic |
Jim Ladd, the DJ and radio producer who was a cornerstone of free-form radio in his early years and a classic rock legend decades later, died Sunday (12/17). He was 75.
… via hitsdailydouble |
Original MISFITS drummer Manny Martinez has died at the age of 69.
Martinez’s death was confirmed by his friend Zach Rector in a social media post on Saturday (December 16). … via blabbermouth |
Songwriter Tim Norell is dead, his daughter confirms to Aftonbladet.
Norell is known as the hitmaker behind several famous Swedish songs. He lived to be 68 years old. … via aftonbladet |
This Saturday, December 16, an unfortunate news shocked Colombia: the talented musician Óscar Agudelo, also known as ‘El Zorzal Criollo’, passed away. The singer was the voice of the unforgettable ‘Cama Vacía’.
… via eltiempo |
Colin Burgess, the drummer for The Masters Apprentices and first drummer for AC/DC, has died at the age of 77.
… via noise11 |
Carlos Lyra, singer and songwriter of bossa nova, dies at the age of 90
… via globo |
In most discussion of Steeleye Span, Bob Johnson could be overlooked or at least overshadowed.
Steeleye was/is Maddy Prior, Maddy is/was Steeleye. isn’t that the case? Look more closely and you see how important others were in the band’s great success. Think Ashley Hutchings, Tim Hart, Peter Knight, Martin Carthy, Rick Kemp … that list goes on. But Bob Johnson absolutely must be on it. Bob died, aged 79, on December 15 after being unwell for several months. … via salutlive |
Eduardo Walczak, one of the most remembered violinists in the Sexteto Mayor, died at 94
… via lanacion |
Waldomiro Bariani Ortêncio, one of the main names in the cultural production of Goiás, died on Friday afternoon (15), in Goiânia, at the age of 100. He was a writer and folklorist and had completed a century of his life in July this year.
… via globo |
Veteran singer-composer Anup Ghoshal passed away at the age of 78 on Friday.
He passed away at a private hospital in south Kolkata. He was in the hospital for the last seven days. … via indiablooms |
Gospel singer Pedro Henrique died young at the age of 30 after collapsing on stage on Wednesday, December 13, during a performance.
… via thecelebpost |
Giorgos Tolios, drummer of the legendary band Trypes, has died
The artistic world became poorer, as, as it became known from his environment, Giorgos Tolios passed away. … via naftemporiki |
Roger Grant McMurrin, 84, born on August 7, 1939 in Bedford, Indiana, recently passed away on December 13, 2023 in Lebanon, Ohio. A Celebration of Roger’s Life will be held at Redeemer OPC, 22 S. Fairfield Rd., Beavercreek, OH 45440, on December 21, 2023, at 9:30am
… via legacy |
Ole Paus fell asleep quietly in Drammen hospital at 01.16 on the night of Tuesday 12 December, with some of those closest to him. He would have turned 77 in February. This is what Ole Paus’ manager Arne Aronsen tells VG.
… via vg |
Jakob Margido Esp was a popular actor from Trondheim – one of his most famous characters was Flettfrid Andresen.
He is said to have felt unwell when he was swimming on 28 November. … via nrk |
Renowned musician Zahara, born Bulelwa Mkutukana, has tragically died at the age of 35.
The multi-award-winning artist breathed her last at a private hospital in Johannesburg on Monday night. The news was confirmed by Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture Zizi Kodwa, who expressed his deep sorrow on social media. … via standardmedia |
Jeffrey Foskett, a singer-guitarist that spent decades in the Beach Boys and played a pivotal role in Brian Wilson‘s late Nineties comeback thanks to his soaring falsetto and effortless ability to harmonize, died Monday after a long battle with anaplastic thyroid cancer. He was 67. A spokesperson for Wilson confirmed Foskett’s death to Rolling Stone.
… via rollingstone |
A tribute to Richard Kerr
An extract of Dominc King’s documentary with singer-songwriter Richard Kerr, who has died aged 78. … via bbc |
Essra Mohawk, a singer-songwriter whose compositions were covered by everyone from the Shangri-Las and the Vanilla Fudge to Cyndi Lauper and Tina Turner, died today (Dec. 11, 2023), of as-yet-unreported causes. The place of death was not disclosed either. Her death was announced by associates, including her biographer, on her Facebook page. Mohawk was 75 and had been in hospice care for some time.
… via bestclassicbands |
Cayle Sain, a musician who’s played in hardcore bands like Twitching Tongues and Downpresser, has died. Twitching Tongues broke the news of Sain’s passing on Twitter yesterday, and many of his bandmates and peers have shared tributes. No cause of death has been reported. According to Metalsucks, Sain was 31.
… via stereogum |
The legendary name of Turkish music, 97-year-old Prof. Dr. Nevzat Atlığ died in the hospital where he was treated in Bodrum district of Muğla.
… via sozcu |
The news hit us like a ton of bricks this morning, as the social media page of the legendary SOLAR Records informed us of the death of Dynasty lead singer Nidra Beard
… via soultracks |
The singer Florin Apostol died at only 58 years old, after facing great health problems in the last years of his life. In 1988, the artist who performed several concerts with the late Mădălina Manole, won the Mamaia Festival with the song “Ce bămăşă e marea”, composed by Aurel Manolache.
… via observatornews |
The missionary artist Ramón Ayala, a fertile reference in coastal music, died tonight at the age of 96 in a Buenos Aires sanatorium where he had been hospitalized and in delicate condition for just over 10 days due to the worsening of pneumonia.
… via cablera |
Terry Baucom, a truly and deeply beloved figure in the world of bluegrass banjo, has died following a brief but debilitating illness. He was 71 years of age.
… via bluegrasstoday |
Singer Teresa Silva Carvalho, 88 years old, performer of, among other hits, “Pescador da Barca Bela” and “Canção Grata”, died this Thursday in Lisbon, a family member told Lusa.
… via expresso |
Musician Pedro Hietanen has died at the age of 74. Hietanen died on Independence Day after a long illness, the relatives tell STT. The relatives hope for peace to mourn.
… via hs |
The Martinican musician, Michel Sardaby embraced the music initiated by his father at a very young age. He also has another passion, drawing. He is part of the Laouchez and Hélénon generation. After brilliant studies at the Lycée Schœlcher, he flew to Paris. Enrolled in the school of applied arts, he obtained his diploma.
… via francetvinfo |
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The artist Mama Diabaté has bowed out. This musician nicknamed the “doe of Manding” died this Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at the Sino-Guinean hospital following illness, Africaguinee.com learned.
… via africaguinee |
Denny Laine, lead singer of the Moody Blues and a guitarist with Sir Paul McCartney’s band Wings, has died at the age of 79.
His wife Elizabeth Hines said he died after a long battle with lung disease. … via bbc |
Vlado Pravdić, the legendary keyboardist of Bijeli Dugmet, died in Split after a battle with a serious illness.
… via slobodnadalmacija |
Renowned Rosem maestro Thanga Darlong breathed his last at the age of 103 at his residence in Kailashahar under Tripura’s Unakoti District on December 3.
… via indiatodayne |
Nova Scotia musician Myles Goodwyn, who stepped down earlier this year as the singer of April Wine, died Sunday.
The 75-year-old’s death was confirmed by his publicist, Eric Alper. … via cbc |
Opera singer, People’s Artist of Georgia and the USSR Medea Amiranashvili died at the age of 94. The Tbilisi State Conservatory reported this.
… via tass |
Renowned classical singer Ustad Badar-uz-Zaman passed away in Lahore today.
He was born on 21st April 1940. … via radio |
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I see an important omission from 2023. Chaim Topol (AKA Topol), an Israeli singer and actor who was famous for playing Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof” passed away in Tel-Aviv Yafo, Israel on March 8, 2023. He was 87.
Per Myrberg swedish actor and singer died 28 dec
All Greeks who pased away on all 2023
03 Ιανουαριου – Νοτης Μαυρουδης 1945-2023 Greek composer, songwriter, guitarist (78)
22 Ιανουαριου – Νικος Ξανθοπουλος – 1934-2023 Greek actress and singer (91)
03 Απριλιου – Ρενα Κουμιωτη – 1941-2023 Greek singer (82)
02 Μα’ι’ου – Σουλη Σαμπαχ – 1932-2023 Greek actress and singer (91)
11 Μα’ι’ου – Γιαννης Βογιατζης – 1934-2023 Greek singer (91)
06 Ιουνιου – Γιαννης Φλωρινιωτης – 1947-2023 Greek actress and singer (76)
10 Ιουνιου – Γιαννης Μαρκοπουλος – 1939-2023 Greek music composer and singer (84)
25 Ιουλιου – Ανδρεας Τσουκαλας – 1963-2023 Greek singer (60)
11 Αυγουστου – Λιζετα Νικολαου 1948-2023 Greek singer (74)
06 Οκτωβριου – Μαιρη Χρονοπουλου – 1933-2023 Greek actress and singer (90)
23 Οκτωβριου – Χρονης Α’ι’δονιδης – 1928-2023 Greek Folk singer (95)
14 Δεκεμβριου – Γιωργος Τολιος – 1965-2023 (Greek drummer_group ‘TRYPES’)(58)
24 Δεκεμβριου – Βασιλης Καρρας – 1953-2023 Greek popular singer (70)
_Vasilis Karras – 24 December, 1953 – 2023 Greek popular singer (covid-19)
The photo for Ramón Ayala is the wrong person.
You want the guy from Argentina and not the Mexican accordion player.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/dec/03/jean-knight-obituary
As of 11/22/23 This had not been included. Catherine’s work was incredible.
https://www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/the-portal/catherine-christer-hennix-25-january-1948-19-november-2023
3 weeks since was last updated ? C’mon y’all !!
I think Taylor Swift will be dead before they ever get back to this.
How can you miss Roger Whittaker ??
You missed 2 musicians with strong connections to former Beatle, George Harrison.
Gary Wright passed away September 4, 2023. In addition to his monster hit album, “The Dream Weaver”, Gary had a number of well known songs that charted in the 70’s and 80’s, both solo and with his former band, Spooky Tooth, including: “Evil Woman” and “Cotton Growing Man” with Spooky Tooth, as well as, “Blind Feeling”, “Can’t Find The Judge”, “Fascinating Things”, “Love Is A Rose”, “Love Is Alive”, “Really Want To Know You”, “Silent Fury” and “Water Sign”, all as a solo artist. He was also an integral player on George Harrison’s historic album, “All Things Must Pass”, contributing on piano, organ and electric piano. During those sessions Gary and George established a long lasting friendship based on their shared love of music and their interest in Indian Religion. Wright once described Harrison as his “spiritual mentor”.
American Christian Rock singer, Mylon LeFevre died September 8, 2023. In 1973, he and Alvin Lee (formerly of Ten Years After) released the album, “On The Road To Freedom”. Guest musicians on the album included superstars, George Harrison, Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Ron Wood and Mick Fleetwood. The Harrison-penned song, “So Sad (No Love Of His Own)”, was released as a single from the album.
you forgot Gary Wright.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gary-wright-dream-weaver-dead-obituary-1234818058/
I’m so happy musicians have stopped dying.
Rolf Harris died may 10
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/entertainment/live-news/singer-tina-turner-death-news/index.html
RIP We♥️Music
Hello?????
Did the people updating this end up dying themselves?
Please add Kalina Maloyer, a singer, a painter and a wife of famous German TV composer Frank Duval. Do not have the exact date or the cause of death but the news of her passing was announced on Frank Duval’s official Facebook Page on April, 15th.
Ahmad Jamal, measured maestro of the jazz piano, dies at 92.
Your list is missing Tom Leadon, died on March 22, 2023.
Tom was an original member of Mudcrutch, with Top Petty.
He also was with a couple of other lesser-known bands.
And his brother Bernie was one of the four founding members of the Eagles.
And Tom, and Bernie…along with Glenn Frey and Don Henley…wrote an Eagles song called “Hollywood Waltz”.
Jim Gordon, Drummer for Eric Clapton and ‘Layla’ Co-Writer Who Was Convicted of Murder, Dies at 77
https://news.google.com/articles/CBMiVmh0dHBzOi8vdmFyaWV0eS5jb20vMjAyMy9tdXNpYy9uZXdzL2ppbS1nb3Jkb24tZHJ1bW1lci1sYXlsYS1jb3dyaXRlci1kZWFkLTEyMzU1NTU3NzUv0gFaaHR0cHM6Ly92YXJpZXR5LmNvbS8yMDIzL211c2ljL25ld3MvamltLWdvcmRvbi1kcnVtbWVyLWxheWxhLWNvd3JpdGVyLWRlYWQtMTIzNTU1NTc3NS9hbXAv?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen
They’re both listed, one of them was listed in January 2023
https://weheartmusic.typepad.com/blog/musicians-and-singers-who-died-in-january-2023.html
You forgot to mention Yukihiro Takahashi (Yellow Magic Orchestra) & Robert “Artie Barnes” Haimer (Barnes & Barnes)
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/18/arts/music/yukihiro-takahashi-dead.html
https://www.brooklynvegan.com/robert-haimer-barnes-barnes-fish-heads-co-creator-has-died/
Dark Angel guitarist Jim Durkin dead at 58 lo
https://www.startribune.com/james-owl-walsh-stalwart-minnesota-musician-from-the-band-gypsy-dies-at-74-jimi-hendrix/600256677/
James “Owl” Walsh passed away Saturday, March 4, 2023.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/wayne-shorter-jazz-legend-dead-obit-1234689732/amp/
Wayne Shorter, Jazz Legend Who Collaborated With Miles Davis and Joni Mitchell, Dead at 89
François Hadji-Lazaro, central figure of the alternative French rock scene from the 1980s and 90s, leader of the Pigalle group and the butchers, died at the age of 66,
Jesse Gress, Todd Rundgren guitarist and longstanding Guitar Player contributor, dies aged 67
Huey Piano Smith
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/huey-piano-smith-new-orleans-rock-pioneer-dead-obit-1234680295/amp/
Yukihiro Takahashi passed away on the 11th of January.
Beck was a true guitar giant,
read our full tribute here: https://weheartmusic.typepad.com/blog/2023/01/rip-jeff-beck.html
Thanks for reading!
Green died in 2022: https://weheartmusic.typepad.com/blog/musicians-who-died-in-2022.html and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah_Green
Thanks for reading!
Jeremiah Green? (Modest Mouse)
Jeff beck has passed on jan 10th from contracting bacterial meningitis he was 78