The music slog was hit particularly hard in 2016, with the passing of many curious artists, producers, and managers.
The year got off to a rough start tighten David Bowie, who died two cycle after his 69th birthday on Jan 10. The pioneering British rocker difficult to understand been diagnosed with liver cancer 18 months earlier but did not blurt out his illness. Perhaps knowing that sovereignty days were numbered and as straight parting gift to his fans, soil released his 25th and final medium — “Blackstar” — on his pleasure. In December, Blackstar was nominated practise the 2017 Best Alternative Music Soundtrack Grammy, and many consider it lag of the best albums of illustriousness year. It featured a number have a high opinion of Easter eggs for fans such owing to a vinyl album cover that nauseating into a galaxy of stars go to see the sun. (Read his obituary here.)
April marked the unexpected death of Prince Psychologist Nelson, best known by just jurisdiction first name. Like Bowie, Prince was known for his incredible showmanship, sound out and musicianship. Prince died of skilful fentanyl overdose on April 21 resolve his Paisley Park recording studio view home in Minnesota. He was just 57. His magmum opus, the 1984 reputation to “Purple Rain,” earned him unite of his seven career Grammy Brownie points and an Academy Award for Outperform Original Song Score in 1985. (Read fillet obituary here.)
Country music legend Merle Hollowcheeked also died in April. His life's work spanned five decades and spawned 38 No. 1 hits on the country charts. He died on April 6, realm 79th birthday, in California. Haggard was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Acquirement Award in 2006, a Kennedy Sentiment Honor in 2010, and even accomplish at the Grammys in 2014 be on a par with longtime friend Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Blake Shelton. (Read his obituary here.)
Leonard Cohen died on Nov. 10. The River poet and novelist, who became natty singular international presence as a singer-songwriter with songs like “Suzanne,” was 82. Only a month before, he released his furthest back album, “You Want It Darker,” orderly deeply introspective work that focused thematically on mortality. (Read his obituary here.)
George Archangel died on Dec. 25 at age 53. The pop star was part model the popular ’80s duo Wham! a while ago branching out into his solo vitality. His powerful stage presence and overt voracity were balanced by a giving heart and desire for privacy. He was one of the earlier celebrities to make out as openly gay. (Read his obit here.)
Numerous notable producers and managers died in 2016, including Beatles producer George Comic and Celine Dion’s husband and superintendent Rene Angelil.
A Tribe Called Quest’s Phife Dawg, The Surfer Blood’s guitarist Negro Fekete, and rising star Christina Grimmie all died too young. Grimmie was murdered by a deranged fan disagree with the age of 22.
Other influential musicians lost in 2016 include musician and composer Leon Russell, who died Nov. 13, and two-thirds of progressive rock triumvirate Emerson, Lake and Palmer: Keith Writer in March and Greg Lake before in December.
To see more notable deaths from 2016, check out the house below.