Musicians Who Died in 2017

On December 17, at Brazil's Atmosphere dance festival, DJ Kaleb Freitas was giving a performance when strong winds caused the stage to collapse. Freitas was fatally struck by debris and the 30-year-old died in the accident.

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Kim Jong-hyun, vocalist of the K-pop boy group SHINee, died on December 18. His sister alerted emergency services when she received text messages indicating he was planning on committing suicide. Upon finding coal chips burnt in the kitchen, investigators believe he died from inhaling toxic fumes.

Jong-hyun was selected as a member of the South Korean boy band SHINee when he was 18 years old. Since then, SHINee continued being one of the most popular groups with songs, like "View," "Dreamgirl," and "Sherlock." In 2015, Jonghyun made his solo debut, and later released his first solo studio album, She Is, in May 2016. 

Considered to be the first artist of S.M. Entertainment to have participated the most in the writing, organizing, and composing for an album, Jonghyun has frequently been called one of few K-pop artists who have a higher level of musicality. 

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People, BBC, Rolling Stone

Pat DiNizio, the lead singer of The Smithereens, died on December 12. The cause of death was not shared; the 62-year-old had suffered numerous health issues in recent years.

The Smithereens enjoyed cult success throughout the '80s, thanks to songs like "A Girl Like You," "Top of the Pops," and "Miles From Nowhere." Musicians including Kurt Cobain cited the band as an influence, and they opened for artists including Lou Reed and Bruce Springsteen.

Outside of music, DiNizio also dabbled in politics. He ran for the U.S. Senate in New Jersey as a Reform party candidate in 2000. He almost made it as a minor league baseball player, too – he tried out for the Somerset Patriots.

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Rolling Stone, Variety, USA Today

Johnny Hallyday, the "French Elvis" died on December 6. The 74-year-old had battled lung cancer.

Born Jean-Philippe Smet, Hallyday decided he wanted to be a performer after watching Elvis Presley. He was credited with introducing rock 'n' roll to France in the '60s, and enjoyed enormous success there. However, Hallyday never really broke through in the United States.

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Actor and singer Jim Nabors died on November 30 at the age of 87. His health had apparently been in decline over the previous year.

Nabors's best known role was that of the lovable, bumbling Gomer Pyle on the sitcoms The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. He starred in a few movies as well, including The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Cannonball Run II. After leaving television, Nabors became a singer; he was a hit on the nightclub circuit, and recorded more than two dozen albums.

Nabors is survived by his husband Stan Cadwallader and two sisters, Freddie and Ruth.

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Variety, NPR, ABC News

Pop and new wave songwriter Tommy Keene died on November 22 at the age of 59. According to his website, he "passed unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep."

Keene found a cult following in the '80s thanks to songs like "Places That Are Gone." He frequently collaborated with artists like Robert Pollard, the Goo Goo Dolls, and T-Bone Burnett, and last toured with Matthew Sweet.

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Blue-eyed soul singer Wayne Cochran died on November 21 at the age of 78. He had been battling cancer.

Cochran was born in Georgia, and took inspiration from soul singers like Otis Redding and James Brown as he began his own career. He was known for his over-the-top performances and flashy attire, both of which influenced Elvis Presley. Cochran's most famous song was "Last Kiss," though its covers arguably enjoyed more success than the original.

Cochran left the music scene in the mid-'80s and became an evangelical minister in Florida.

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Rolling Stone, Stereogum, Washington Post

Actor and singer David Cassidy died on November 22 at the age of 67. He had been admitted to the hospital for organ failure, and had suffered from dementia.

Cassidy was born into a show business family; his mother was an actress, and his father sang and acted as well. It was only fitting that Cassidy found fame as the member of another performing family, this one fictional. Cassidy starred as Keith Partridge in The Partridge Family, and embarked on a successful musical and acting career thanks to the sitcom.

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Singer and actress Della Reese died on November 19 at the age of 86.

Reese first broke into the entertainment industry in the 1950s, thanks to the hit single "Don’t You Know." The Grammy-nominated vocalist soon moved to television; she became the first black woman to host a talk show, and later moved onto series including Chico and the Man and The Royal Family. Her biggest role was that of Tess on the CBS series Touched by an Angel.

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Variety, Los Angeles Times, People

Country singer Mel Tillis died on November 19 at the age of 85. His death was likely caused by respiratory issues, though he had been in poor health since 2016.

Over his long career, Tillis wrote over 1,000 songs and recorded more than 60 albums. Tillis's hits include "Coca Cola Cowboy," "Southern Rain," and "Good Woman Blues." He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in 2012.

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Los Angeles Times, CNN, Variety

AC/DC co-founder and guitarist Malcolm Young died on November 18 at the age of 64. He had been living with dementia; the condition forced him to retired from his band.

The Glasgow-born, Sydney-raised Young and his brother Angus founded AC/DC in 1973. The band is widely considered one of the greatest rock outfits of all time, and Young is frequently cited as the driving force behind its success.

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Rolling Stone, Consequence of Sound, NPR

Rapper Lil Peep died on November 15 at the age of 21. The suspected cause of death was an overdose of Xanax.

The young rapper, born Gustav Ahr, grew up in Long Island. He quickly grew an underground following thanks to a string of self-released mixtapes; his debut album, Come Over When You’re Sober (Part One), was released in August 2017.

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The Guardian, New York Times, NY Daily News

Singer Robert Knight died on November 6. The 72-year-old had suffered from a brief, undisclosed illness.

Knight made his debut in the early '60s with the group the Paramounts. But his biggest break came as a solo artist, thanks to the 1967 hit "Everlasting Love." He continued recording, but never achieved the same level of success with another single.

After his music career ended, Knight worked as a lab technician and chemistry teacher at Vanderbilt University.

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People, USA Today, Billboard

Singer and pianist Fats Domino died on October 24 at the age of 89. He made his mark on the music world with hits like "Ain't It a Shame," "Blueberry Hill," and "Shake, Rattle and Roll."

The New Orleans-born Antoine Domino began playing in local bars as a teenager, and soon dropped out of school to pursue his music career full time. His signature style went on to influence the burgeoning rock and roll scene; artists like Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney cited him as an influence. His nickname came from bandleader Billy Diamond, partly in reference to Fats Waller, and party as a joke about Domino's appetite.

In his later years, Domino kept to himself more, but remained a beloved presence in New Orleans. He contributed greatly to the relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina.

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Rolling Stone, The Guardian, The Independent

Martin Eric Ain, the bassist for metal bands Celtic Frost and Hellhammer, died of a heart attack on October 21 at the age of 50.

Ain (then known as Slayed Necros) got his start in Switzerland in the early '80s with Hellhammer, a rough sounding outfit that nonetheless had a profound impact on the evolution of metal. But Ain found the most success with Celtic Frost, a group that many future outfits looked to as inspiration. Celtic Frost broke up and rebanded a number of times over the years, and finally called it quits for good in 2008.

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Gordon Downie, the lead singer of the Tragically Hip, died on October 17 at the age of 53. The musician had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2015.

The Tragically Hip was incredibly popular in their native Canada and beyond. The majority of their albums topped the charts, and they won 16 Juno awards, the most of any single band. After Downie's diagnosis, the Hip went on one last tour to say farewell to their fans.

A statement released by his family read in part, "Gord knew this day was coming – his response was to spend this precious time as he always had – making music, making memories and expressing deep gratitude to his family and friends for a life well lived, often sealing it with a kiss... on the lips."

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Rolling Stone, CBC, Billboard

Singer Tom Petty died on October 2 after going into massive cardiac arrest. He was 66.

Petty was born in Gainsville, Florida where he met future bandmates Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench. They formed a banged called Mudcrutch, and when the band dissolved, Petty went off to start a solo career. He reunited with Campbell and Tench - then called the Heartbreakers - and became Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 1976. 

The group released several albums and hits before briefly disbanding again in 1988 to work on solo projects. Petty played with George Harrison's band the Traveling Wilburys - which also featured Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison - and released several solo albums, most notably "Free Fallin'" and "I Won't Back Down." 

The band reformed and continued recording and touring right until Petty's death. 

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Billboard, Huffington Post, People, Music ReDef

Soul singer Charles Bradley died on September 23. The 68-year-old had suffered from liver and stomach cancer; he was diagnosed in 2016.

The "Screaming Eagle of Soul" broke into the music scene as a James Brown impersonator who went by the name Black Velvet. After decades in the business, Bradley began performing under his own name. He released his debut album, No Time For Dreaming, in 2011, when he was 62. Bradley soon began receiving accolades for his raw lyrics and powerful voice.

Shortly before his passing, Bradley released a statement: "I love all of you out there that made my dreams come true. When I come back, I'll come back strong, with God's love. With God's will, I'll be back soon."

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Rolling Stone, New York Times, CNN

Grant Hart, the drummer and singer of Hüsker Dü, died on September 13. The 56-year-old had been battling cancer.

Hart and Hüsker Dü rose to fame in the 1980s, and enjoyed success as part of the era's wave of independent rock groups. The band had a bitter break up in 1988; Hart continued making music both solo and with groups like Sugar and Nova Mob.

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New York Times, Variety, AV Club

Jessi Zazu, the lead singer of the Nashville alt-rock group Those Darlins, died on September 13. The 28-year-old died of cervical cancer, which she had been fighting since 2016.

Those Darlins released three albums with Zazu since their 2009 debut. The band quickly won a following thanks to their one-of-a-kind blends of punk, garage rock, and country, but broke up in December 2015. Zazu was diagnosed with cancer a few months later.

Zazu's bandmate Linwood Regensburg released a statement on her passing:

"She maintained a sense of humor and a commanding presence up until and through her final moments. She was in the company of those who cared deeply about her and who she cared deeply about."

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Spin, Rolling Stone, NPR

Troy Gentry of the country duo Montgomery Gentry died on September 8. The 50-year-old died in a helicopter crash in New Jersey. The pilot reportedly also died in the accident. Gentry is survived by his wife Angie McClure, and his daughters Taylor and Kaylee.

Gentry and Eddie Montgomery met in Lexington, KY, and their musical collaboration was a success. The duo had five number-one hits on the country charts, including "Something To Be Proud Of" and "Roll With Me," and and was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2009.

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Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard

Walter Becker, the co-founder of Steely Dan, died on September 3 at the age of 67. The cause of his death is unknown.

Becker's band first made it big in the 1970s thanks to a savvy combination of jazz and pop sounds. The group disbanded in the early '80s, but Becker and fellow musician Donald Fagen reunited in the '90s and began releasing new music and touring.

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New York Times, Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, ReDEF

Singer Glen Campbell - also known as the Rhinestone Cowboy - died on August 8. He was 81.

Campbell was a country music sensation who came onto the music scene in the late 1950s. He formed a band with his uncle before moving to Los Angeles, where he found a daytime job as a session musician for the label American Music. He played with greats like Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Nancy Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Phil Spector. In 1962 he got his own record deal, and released several unsuccessful singles.

But then, in 1967, he released "Gentle On My Mind" and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," two bona fide hits at the time. He received a short-lived CBS series, starred in several TV movies, and even was nominated for an Academy Award for his song "True Grit." 

His biggest hit, though, came in 1974 with "Rhinestone Cowboy," which some say bridged the gap between pop and country. He had a steady career throughout the 1980s and '90s, and in 2005 was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2011 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and announced his retirement.

Shortly before his death in 2017, he released a final album titled Adios.

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The New Yorker, New York Times, Rolling Stone

Chester Bennington - the frontman for alt rock band Linkin Park - hung himself at a Los Angeles County home on July 20. He was 41.

Bennington was born in Arizona and struggled with drugs and alcohol most of his life. He also suffered from depression, a result of being sexually abused by an older boy as a kid. He didn't address his abuse until he was an adult, and as a child channeled his emotions over it into poetry and songs. 

After high school, he pursued a career in music. In 1993, he recorded several songs with a few bands in Arizona. His big break came in 1998 when he was asked to audition for Linkin Park - then called Xero. The group released several hit albums, including Hybrid Theory and Meteora. 

Between his work with Linkin Park, Bennington worked with the Stone Temple Pilots, Death by Sunrise, and with musician Chris Cornell. Bennington and Cornell - who also committed suicide in 2017 - were very close friends.

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Gregg Allman - a musician most known for his work with his group the Allman Brothers Band - died on May 27. He was 69.

Allman was born in Nashville, TN, along with his brother Duane. The two developed a love for music and formed their first band - the Allman Joys - in their teens. Soon, the band relocated and renamed itself the Allman Brothers Band. Duane tragically died in 1971, but the band lived on. Two years later, they released their biggest album Brothers and Sisters. 

In 1975, the group broke up and Allman began his solo career. That same year he married Cher. When he and Cher broke up three years later, the Allman Brothers Band got back together with a new sound. He went between working with the band as the Allman Brothers Band and as the Gregg Allman band. Despite some turbulence, the band remained together on and off until the 2010s. 

Allman struggled with drug use, alcohol addiction, and health problems. In 2007 he was diagnosed with hepatitis C, and soon doctors discovered he had liver cancer. He had a liver transplant in 2007. He died from complications of liver cancer. 

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Singer songwriter Chris Cornell - best known as the front man for Soundgarden and Audioslave - died unexpectedly after a concert in Detroit. He was 52.

Cornell was born and raised in Seattle. As a young musician, he performed with his siblings but suffered from severe depression which made it hard for him to leave his house. He eventually discovered music helped him cope and joined a local cover band before forming Soundgarden in 1984. The band became huge in the Seattle grunge alt-rock scene, writing hits like "Black Hole Sun" and "Spoonman." The band broke up in 1997, but came back together in 2010 for a reunion tour, which included headlining Lollapalooza.

During Soundgarden's hiatus, Cornell had a brief solo career before forming Audioslave. Audioslave was a huge success, and Cornell penned most of the band's songs himself. Cornell left the band in 2006 to pursue a solo career, but habitually performed with the band - including at the Anti-Inaugural Ball to protest President Donald Trump. 

Cornell was on tour at the time of his death. He had performed a show in Detroit before his death. The Wanye County Medical Examiner ruled Cornell's death was a suicide by hanging.

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Bruce Hampton - also known as Col. Bruce Hampton Ret. - died on May 1 after he collapsed on stage. He was 70. 

Hampton was a founding member of Atlanta's Hampton Grease Band, but soon rose to prominent because of his unique sound. He became a huge figure around Atlanta, forming multiple bands and working as a guest performer on several other tracks. He also dabbled in acting, playing parts on Space Ghost Coast to Coast and Billy Bob Thorton's 1996 film Sling Blade. 

On the day of his death, Hampton was being honored for his 70th birthday at Atlanta's Fox Theatre. During an encore performance, Hampton collapsed on stage. He was later pronounced dead. 

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American country singer Don Williams died on September 8. The 78-year-old died in Mobile, Alabama due to emphysema. Williams is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joy Bucher; his two sons Gary and Timmy; and four grandchildren.

From Floydada, Texas, Williams's musical career took off shortly after the his folk-pop group Pozo-Seco Singers disbanded. His single, "I Wouldn't Want to Live If You Didn't Love Me," paved the way for an illustrious country music career, amassing 17 number one hits and being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010.

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The New York Times, Washington Post, Billboard

Boston drummer Sib Hashian died on March 22 while performing on a ship sailing to the Bahamas. The rocker was 67. 

Hashian was chosen as the drummer to replace Jim Masdea in 1975. He first played drums for the band on their debut album and is featured on several other of the bands tracks. Some years after joining the band, he was replaced by Masdea. Hashian later sued the band. 

After his departure from the band, he collaborated on a few other musical projects, as well as some work in theater. He died while aboard a rock and roll cruise where he was performing. He collapsed in the middle of a set after suffering a heart attack.

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People, The San Jose Mercury News, USA Today

Chuck Berry, a pioneer of rock and roll, died at age 90 on March 18. Berry was a guitarist, singer, and songwriter who is often called the "father of rock and roll."

Berry starting playing music when he was just a kid. When he was sent to a juvenile detention facility in high school, he formed a signing quartet. When he was released at 21, he began performing in clubs while working odd jobs. Eventually he catapulted to fame with his hit "Maybellene" and "Roll Over Beethoven." 

Known for his signature sound that mixed blues, jazz, and rhythm, Berry also personified what it meant to be a rock star. He received multiple music awards - including several grammys - and is considered one of the best musicians of all time. 

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