Musicians and singers who died in May 2025

Charles Wadsworth, a pianist who parlayed his Southern charm and his passion for chamber music into a career as the founder, director and host of important chamber series — including the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York — and whose work helped propel the chamber music boom that began in the 1970s, died on Thursday at a rehabilitation center on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.… via nytimes

The Danish composer Per Nørgård has died, aged 92. It informs the family and his publisher to P2. … via dr

Al Foster, whose superbly alert and flexible drumming formed a swirling current in modern jazz for more than 60 years, propelling bands led by Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and many others, died on Wednesday in his New York City apartment. He was 82.… via npr

Brian Kellock, who was born in the capital and went on to study music at the University of Edinburgh, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 63. Through his life, he established himself as one of the top piano players in the UK jazz scene.… via yahoo

The news of grief is approaching the world of Indonesian music. Senior singer Irianti Erningpraja died.The sad news was conveyed by music watchlist Stanley Tulung via Instagram.… via medcom

Freddie Aguilar passed away due to multiple organ failure. He was 72 years old. This was confirmed by his former partner, Josephine Quiepo, to “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” as announced by Abunda on Tuesday.… via gmanetwork

Farewell to Domenico Gigi Canu: Planet Funk guitarist has died Mourning in the world of music. This morning in Naples Domenico “Gigi” Canu died at the age of 66. Canu was the guitarist for Planet Funk.… via napolitoday

Bad news has come from the master artist Ilhan Şeşen, who has been treated for a long time. The master artist died at the age of 76.… via gzt

Rick Derringer death: Classic rock guitarist of ‘Hang On Sloopy’ fame dies aged 77… via the-independent

With hearts heavy yet full of gratitude, we pay tribute to a son of the soil, a beacon of heritage, and a revered griot — the late Jali Foday Susso. His passing is not only a great personal loss to his family, friends, and disciples but a profound and irreplaceable void in the cultural and spiritual soul of The Gambia and the greater Manding world.… via standard

Depending upon which side of the rock spectrum you stand, Simon House’s name usually invokes one of two memories — the majesty with which he has graced some of the greatest Hawkwind albums, or the haunting violin which dominated his time with David Bowie.… via goldminemag

Angel Mahler, an icon of musicals in Argentina and composer of the emblematic Dracula, died, the musical. The musician was 65 years old and died from a metastatic tumor for which he had been hospitalized in late April.… via clarin

Boom Radio and Radio Trent presenter John Peters has died aged 75. Mr Peters has been described as a “radio man through and through” by Boom Radio, which he joined in February 2021.… via nottinghampost

The death of music producer Masao Akashi has been announced on the official X (Twitter) account of the Music Universe. He was 68 years old.… via natalie

Dynamic and beloved New Orleans singer Lillian Boutte has passed away. Her family confirmed she died on Friday following a lengthy illness.… via wgno

Dan Storper, founder, creator and president of Putumayo World Music, has passed away. He died this morning in his home surrounded by his family, after a battle with cancer. He was 74-years-old.… via offbeat

Guy Klucevsek, age 78, passed away under the care of home hospice on May 22, 2025, after a lengthy battle with cancer. Guy was born to Godfred Klucevsek and Alyse Hamilton on February 26, 1947, in New York City… via dignitymemorial

Daniel Williams, former drummer for Ohio metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, died Thursday morning (May 22) in a San Diego plane crash that also killed music agent Dave Shapiro from Sound Talent Group.… via billboard

Daniel Williams, former drummer for Ohio metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, died Thursday morning (May 22) in a San Diego plane crash that also killed music agent Dave Shapiro from Sound Talent Group.… via billboard

Frank Gibson Jr’s beat has gone well beyond Drum City: he clocks in at Drum World. Few drummers anywhere have a CV to compare.… via audioculture

The artist, who was also a jazz musician, designer, author and broadcaster, died on Tuesday at his home in Turin, Italy, from a heart attack. Private Eye editor Ian Hislop said: “Barry was a brilliant multi-talented writer, artist and musician.… via standard

Michael B Tretow is dead – created iconic Abba sound Abba stars: “You meant more to the four of us than anyone else”… via aftonbladet

Farewell to Dre Love, ‘Messaggero della Dopa’ who made great hip hop in Italy André Thomas Halyards, a New Yorker, with his scathing voice and spirit of African-American culture has lived in Florence since the 1990s … via adnkronos

onight we say a sad goodbye Mark Greene, the original lead singer of the legendary R&B group The Moments. The sad news was posted by Greene’s friend and former groupmate Eban Brown… via soultracks

Glenn Soukesian, best known as the adult film star and pop singer Colton Ford, has reportedly died. He was 62 years old…Popular gay porn star Colton Ford has died following an accident during a hike on the weekend. Ford, known outside of the gay adult film industry as Glenn Soukesian, was 62 years old when he died on Monday, May 19, 2025.… via inmagazine

Died a famous Chernivtsi conductor, composer and violinist Yuri Gina This night in Germany stopped beating the heart of the famous conductor and teacher, People’s Artist of Ukraine, laureate of the regional award S. Vorobkevich, Chernivtsi resident Yuri Gina. This was announced on his Facebook page Deputy Chairman of the Chernivtsi Regional Council Mykhailo Pavliuk.… via promin

Guitarist Chris Hager, a founding member of Stephen Pearcy’s pre-RATT band MICKEY RATT, has died at the age of 67.… via blabbermouth

Adam Ramey, founding member and vocalist of Dropout Kings, died on Monday, May 19. He was 31.… via people

Rapper Werenoi, the biggest record seller in France, died at 31 The rapper of Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis) died at the age of 31, it was said this Saturday.… via leparisien

In Memoriam: Roger Nichols (1940-2025) Roger Nichols TreasuryIf you don’t know the name of Roger Nichols, you know the man’s songs. His compositions have been sung by Carpenters, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Petula Clark, Jackie DeShannon, Bobby Darin, Paul Anka, The Monkees… via theseconddisc

Ghanaian highlife artiste Dada Kwaku Dua, popularly known as Dada KD, is reported dead. Dada KD’s manager King Pee confirmed the news to myjoyonline.com.… via myjoyonline

With deep regret and a sense of irreparable loss, we inform that on 16.05.2025 Prof. dr hab. Jadwiga Rappe, an outstanding Polish singer (alt), an unparalleled artist, an excellent singing teacher, a long-time professor at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, a person with a great heart, wisdom and high culture.… via chopin

‘Curly Locks’ singer Junior Byles has died Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange has said that the music of Junior Byles, one of Jamaica’s great roots reggae artistes, stood out because of his powerful voice and thought-provoking lyrics and that his death has left a huge void in the industry.… via jamaica-gleaner

At the age of 98 he died today in Mariano Comense (CO) Luigi Alva, one of the most elegant voice of the twentieth century lyrical and a reference figure in the eighteenth-nineteenth-century comic repertoire and grace … via connessiallopera

Charles Strouse, 96, the celebrated and multi-award-winning American film, television, and Broadway musical composer, responsible for such legendary songs as “Put on a Happy Face,” “Tomorrow,” “Those Were the Days,” and many others, died at his home in New York City on May 15… via broadwayworld

Dominican singer Dharo First dies from the golden age of the ballad The artist, the other family said, died “after a brave battle with lung cancer and heart problems”… via listindiario

William Thaxton “Billy” Earheart, III, 71, died in Fulton, Mississippi on May 13, 2025 after an extended struggle with cancer. Billy was born on February 21, 1954 in Tullahoma, Tennessee to William Thaxton Earheart, Jr. and Beatrice Christine Williams Earheart… via quadcitiesdaily

Ernst Mahle died at the age of 96 on Monday night (12) in Piracicaba (SP). The German conductor was admitted to a hospital in the city, but the causes of death were not reported by the family… via globo

John Edwards, singer with the Hall of Fame R&B group the Spinners, died May 11, 2025, at the age of 80 after a period of declining health following a stroke.… via legacy

Marie Nejar survived as a child of Nazi terror, played in Nazi propaganda films and later became a hit star – forced to play a child. She was one of the last black contemporary women of this era. Now she died at the age of 95.… via deutschlandfunkkultur

Alena Štěpánková Veselá’s organist has died, she was 101 years old. She was one of the most respected personalities of Brno’s cultural life, for example, she held the position of Rector of the Janáček Academy of Musical Arts in Brno (JAMU).… via ceskenoviny

Neville Dilkes, an internationally renowned conductor, died in Vendée Neville Dilkes was born in Derby, England, on 28 August 1930.… via ouest-france

Larry Michael Lee January 5, 1947 – May 10, 2025 – Larry was one of the lead vocalists and the drummer for the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. He sang and co-wrote their biggest hit, “Jackie Blue”, released in 1974… via gormanscharpf

Mustafa Zaman Abbasi, a renowned Bangladeshi musicologist and author, passed away at a hospital in the capital on Saturday. He was 87.… via unb

Matthew Best, born 6 February 1957, was a versatile and celebrated figure in British classical music, making lasting contributions to opera, choral music, and education throughout his career. He passed away on 10 May 2025, surrounded by his loving family.… via gramophone

Pioneering Hispanic Country Music Star Johnny Rodriguez Has Died. Any serious fan of 1970’s country music worth their salt will know the name, the hits, and doesn’t need to be sold on the importance of Johnny Rodriguez.… via savingcountrymusic

The Hamburg woman Nadja Abd el Farrag died. It is a few weeks after her 60th birthday. The birthday on Friday in a clinic in Hamburg died of organ failure, first reported the “Image “.… via ndr

Stewart Francke, a beloved figure in Detroit’s music scene whose mix of rock, soul and folk earned him a loyal following, has died. He was 66.… via freep

German rapper-turned-entrepreneur Xatar, real name Giwar Hajabi, has died aged 43.According to the German publication Bild, Hajabi passed away in Cologne, which contradicts other reports from the country that claim he died in Berlin. No cause of death has been provided at this current stage.… via faroutmagazine

DJ Hazel, a popular Polish musician, has been found dead aged 44. The body of the artist born Michael Orzechowski was reportedly discovered in a car parked near Skępe, Lipno County, in Poland on Wednesday 7 May. According to reports by TVP3 Bydgoszcz, a regional branch of Poland’s public broadcaster, a police investigation has been launched given the unclear circumstances surrounding Orzechowski’s death.… via viterbotoday

Luigi Lopez died at his home in Civita Castellana. Author and composer of light music, he signed songs that accompanied entire generations. He was 77 years old and died this morning, Tuesday 6 May.… via viterbotoday

Georgian conductor Vakhtang Machavariani died at the age of 75. His death was reported by opera singer Tamar Iveri.… via smotrim

Musician wifiskeleton, also known as Jeremiah, was reported dead by close friends in his record label’s Discord server, a popular web messaging app.… via themirror

Artscape honours the life of celebrated international soprano May Abrahamse who died shy of her 95th birthday.… via themirror

James Baker, the drummer for some of Australia’s most important and influential rock bands, including The Scientists, Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon and The Dubrovniks, has died. He was 71.… via abc

Nathan Jerde, the drummer for Chicago’s beloved early-aughts garage rock revivalists the Ponys, has died. The group posted the news on Facebook, writing, “Nathan was an amazing drummer and possessed savant like art skills.… via pitchfork

Southern Gospel Music icon, West Virginia native, Squire Parsons died of a heart attack Monday. He was 77.… via wvmetronews

Today I learned that the composer David Cope died on May 4, at the age of 83. Cope was a long-time professor of music at UC Santa Cruz, and is known for his pioneering work in computer generated music, especially with his “Experiments in Musical Intelligence” (EMI or “Emmy”) project, carried out in the 1980s and 1990s.… via substack

The singer and actor Karel Bláha has died at the age of 77. The information was published by his friends on social media, saying he died in one of the homes of the elderly in Prague 4 after health complications.… via novinky

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of our beloved colleague and friend Victor Aviat, principal oboist of the Budapest Festival Orchestra, on 1 May 2025, at the age of 42… via bfz

Jill Sobule, the groundbreaking singer-songwriter and activist whose 1995 song “I Kissed a Girl” is widely considered the first openly gay-themed song to crack the Billboard Top 20, died in a Minneapolis house fire early Thursday morning, her rep confirmed. She was 66.… via variety

Nana Caymmi died on Thursday at the age of 84. The singer was admitted to the São José Health House, in the South Zone of Rio, for nine months, after undergoing a catheterization procedure and a pacemaker implantation.… via abril