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List of deaths in rock and roll (1980s)

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The following is a list of notable performers of rock and roll music or rock music, and others directly associated with the music as producers, songwriters or in other closely related roles, who have died in the 1980s. The list gives their date, cause and location of death, and their age.

Rock music developed from the rock and roll music that emerged during the 1950s, and includes a diverse range of subgenres. The terms "rock and roll" and "rock" each have a variety of definitions, some narrow and some wider. In determining criteria for inclusion, this list uses as its basis reliable sources listing "rock deaths" or "deaths in rock and roll", as well as such sources as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Preceded by
1970s 		List of deaths in popular music
1980s 		Succeeded by
1990s
Name Age Date Location Cause of death
Amos Milburn 52 January 3, 1980 Houston, Texas, U.S. Complications from a stroke[1]
Georgeanna Tillman
The Marvelettes		 35 January 6, 1980 Inkster, Michigan, U.S. Complications from sickle cell anemia and lupus
Larry Williams 44 January 7, 1980 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Suicide by gunshot
Carl White
The Rivingtons		 47 January 7, 1980 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Acute tonsillitis
Professor Longhair 61 January 23, 1980 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Heart attack
Jimmy Durante 86 January 29, 1980 Santa Monica, California, U.S. Pneumonia
Edward Lewis
Record producer for Decca Records		 79 January 29, 1980 Chelsea, London, England Cancer
Warren Smith 47 January 30, 1980 Heart attack
Bon Scott
AC/DC, The Valentines		 33 February 19, 1980 Dulwich, London, England Alcohol poisoning,[2] heroin overdose[3]
Janet Vogel
The Skyliners		 38 February 21, 1980 Suicide by carbon monoxide[4]
Jacob Miller
Inner Circle		 27 March 23, 1980 Kingston, Jamaica Traffic accident
John Poulos
The Buckinghams		 32 March 26, 1980 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Heart failure
Ricky Lancelotti 35 April 7, 1980 Unknown
Anna Jantar 29 April 14, 1980 Warsaw, Poland "Mikolaj Kopernik" plane crash[5]
Tommy Caldwell
The Marshall Tucker Band		 30 April 28, 1980 Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S. Traffic collision
Ian Curtis
Joy Division		 23 May 18, 1980 Macclesfield, England Suicide by hanging[6]
Carl Radle
Derek and the Dominos, Eric Clapton		 37 May 30, 1980 Claremore, Oklahoma, U.S. Kidney infection
Charles Miller
War		 42 June 14, 1980 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Stabbing[7]
Bert Kaempfert 56 June 21, 1980 Mallorca, Spain Stroke
Malcolm Owen
The Ruts		 26 July 14, 1980 London, England Heroin overdose
Keith Godchaux
The Grateful Dead		 32 July 23, 1980 Marin County, California, U.S. Traffic accident
Duke Pearson 47 August 4, 1980 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Multiple sclerosis[8]
George Scott III 26 August 5, 1980 New York City, New York, U.S. Heroin overdose
Jimmy Forrest 60 August 26, 1980 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. Heart failure
Bill Evans 51 September 15, 1980 New York City, New York, U.S. Peptic ulcer
John Bonham
Led Zeppelin		 32 September 25, 1980 Windsor, England Asphyxiation on vomit[9]
Pat Hare 49 September 26, 1980 Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. Lung cancer
Lincoln Chase 54 October 6, 1980 Metro Atlanta, U.S. Unknown
Bobby Lester
The Moonglows		 49 October 6, 1980 Lung cancer
Steve Peregrin Took
T. Rex, Shagrat, Steve Took's Horns		 31 October 27, 1980 Ladbroke Grove, London, England Asphyxiation[10]
O. V. Wright 41 November 16, 1980 Mobile, Alabama, U.S. Heart attack
Darby Crash
Germs		 22 December 7, 1980 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Suicide by heroin overdose
John Lennon
The Beatles, Plastic Ono Band 		40 December 8, 1980 New York City, New York, U.S. Murder[11]
Tim Hardin 39 December 29, 1980 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Heroin overdose[12]
Robert Pete Williams 66 December 31, 1980 Rosedale, Louisiana, U.S. Unknown
David Lynch
The Platters		 52 January 2, 1981 Cancer
Felton Jarvis 46 January 3, 1981 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Stroke
Alice Mae Buschmann Spielvogel
The Chordettes		 55 January 6, 1981 North Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas, U.S.
Blind James Campbell 74 January 22, 1981 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Unknown
Carl Feaster
The Chords		 50 January 23, 1981 Cancer
Bill Haley
Bill Haley & His Comets		 55 February 9, 1981 Harlingen, Texas, U.S. Brain tumor or heart attack[13]
Mike Bloomfield
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band		 37 February 15, 1981 San Francisco, California, U.S. Accidental drug overdose
Ty Hunter
The Originals		 40 February 24, 1981 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Lung caner[14]
Little Hat Jones 81 March 7, 1981 Naples, Texas, U.S. Unknown
Tampa Red 77 March 19, 1981 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Unknown
Bob Hite
Canned Heat		 38 April 5, 1981 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Heart attack caused by heroin overdose[15]
Kit Lambert 45 April 7, 1981 Middlesex, England Cerebral hemorrhage after fall down stairs[16]
Austin Pitre 63 April 8, 1981 Elton, Louisiana, U.S. Unknown
Steve Currie
T. Rex		 33 April 28, 1981 Vale de Parra, Algarve, Portugal Traffic accident
Tracy Weber 21 May 1981 Harlem, New York City, U.S. Murder by gunshot
Bob Marley
The Wailers		 36 May 11, 1981 Miami, Florida, U.S. Acral lentiginous melanoma[17]
Ernie Freeman 58 May 16, 1981 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Heart attack
Roy Brown 55-60 May 25, 1981 San Fernando, California, U.S. Heart attack
Mary Lou Williams 71 May 28, 1981 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Bladder cancer
Joseph Santollo
The Duprees		 37 June 4, 1981 Heart attack
Polka Dot Slim 54 June 22, 1981 Oakland, California, U.S. Unknown
Chuck Wagon
The Dickies		 24 June 28, 1981 San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Suicide by gunshot
Rushton Moreve
Steppenwolf		 32 July 1, 1981 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Traffic accident
Hubert Johnson
The Contours		 40 July 11, 1981 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Suicide by poison and gunshot
Harry Chapin 38 July 16, 1981 Jericho, New York, U.S. Heart attack/Traffic accident[18]
Guy Stevens
Record producer and band manager from Hapshash and the Coloured Coat, Mott the Hoople, Procol Harum and The Clash 		38 August 28, 1981 South London, England Prescription drug overdose
Sandra Tilley
The Velvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas		 35 or 36 September 9, 1981 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Complications from brain surgery
Helen Humes 68 September 13, 1981 Santa Monica, California, U.S. Cancer[19]
Furry Lewis 88 September 14, 1981 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. Heart failure
Hazel Scott 61 October 2, 1981 Mount Sinai Hospital, Manhattan, New York, U.S. Pancreatic cancer[20]
Jud Strunk 45 October 5, 1981 Carrabassett Valley, Maine, U.S. Plane crash
George de Fretes 59 November 19, 1981 Los Angeles County, California, U.S.
Big Walter Horton 60 December 8, 1981 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Heart failure
Pigmeat Markham 77 December 13, 1981 The Bronx, New York, U.S. Stroke
Elis Regina 36 January 19, 1982 São Paulo, Brazil Drug overdose
Tommy Tucker 48 January 22, 1982 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. Food poisoning[21]
Lightnin' Hopkins 69 January 30, 1982 Houston, Texas, U.S. Esophageal cancer[22]
Alex Harvey
Sensational Alex Harvey Band		 46 February 4, 1982 Zeebrugge, Belgium Heart attack[23]
Thelonious Monk 64 February 17, 1982 Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. [24]
John Belushi
The Blues Brothers		 33 March 5, 1982 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Speedball overdose[25]
Randy Rhoads
Quiet Riot		 25 March 19, 1982 Leesburg, Florida, U.S. Plane accident[26]
Floyd Smith 65 March 29, 1982 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. Unknown
Lester Bangs
music journalist		 33 April 30, 1982 New York City, New York, U.S. Opioid, diazepam, and NyQuil overdose
Neil Bogart
Record producer for Kiss and music executive from Casablanca Records		 39 May 8, 1982 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Cancer
Monk Montgomery 60 May 20, 1982 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Cancer[27]
Rusty Day
The Amboy Dukes		 36 June 3, 1982 Longwood, Florida, U.S. Murder
Addie Harris
The Shirelles		 42 June 10, 1982 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Heart attack
Art Pepper 56 June 15, 1982 Los Angeles. California, U.S. Stroke
James Honeyman-Scott
The Pretenders		 25 June 16, 1982 London, England Cocaine overdose[28]
Warren Ryanes
The Monotones		 45 June 16, 1982 Unknown
Jane Vasey
Downchild Blues Band		 32-33 July 6, 1982 Leukemia
Bill Justis 55 July 15, 1982 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Cancer
Sonny Stitt 58 July 22, 1982 Washington, D.C., U.S. Heart attack
Nick Lucas 84 July 28, 1982 Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. Double pneumonia
Joe Tex 47 August 13, 1982 Navasota, Texas, U.S. Heart attack
Doyle Wilburn
The Wilburn Brothers		 52 September 27, 1982 Lung cancer
Hoyt Hawkins
The Jordanaires		 54 October 23, 1982 Heart attack
Patrick Cowley 32 November 12, 1982 San Francisco, California, U.S. HIV/AIDS
Al Haig 60 November 16, 1982 New York City, New York, U.S. Heart attack[29]
David Blue 41 December 2, 1982 New York City, New York, U.S. Heart attack[30]
Tommy Cogbill 50 December 7, 1982 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Stroke[31]
Dave Torbert
Kingfish, New Riders of the Purple Sage		 34 December 7, 1982 Heart attack
Marty Robbins 57 December 8, 1982 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Heart attack
Lazy Bill Lucas 64 December 11, 1982 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Natural causes
Rebop Kwaku Baah
Traffic, Can		 38 January 12, 1983 Stockholm, Sweden Cerebral hemorrhage
Lamar Williams
The Allman Brothers Band		 34 January 21, 1983 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Lung cancer
Billy Fury 42 January 28, 1983 London, England Heart attack[32]
Lorraine Ellison 51 January 31, 1983 Ovarian cancer
Sam Chatmon 86 February 2, 1983 Hollandale, Mississippi, U.S. Unknown
Karen Carpenter
The Carpenters		 32 February 4, 1983 Downey, California, U.S. Heart attack due to anorexia[33]
Dig Richards 42 February 17, 1983 Sydney, Australia Pancreatic cancer[34]
Cliff Trenier
The Treniers		 63 March 2, 1983 Cancer
William Walton 80 March 8, 1983 La Mortella, Ischia, Italy Natural causes
Danny Rapp
Danny & The Juniors		 41 April 5, 1983 Parker, Arizona, U.S. Suicide by gunshot
Pete Farndon
The Pretenders		 30 April 14, 1983 London, England Drowning after heroin overdose
Felix Pappalardi
Mountain		 43 April 17, 1983 New York City, New York, U.S. Murdered by his wife Gail Collins Pappalardi
Earl Hines 79 April 22, 1983 Oakland, California, U.S. Heart attack
Muddy Waters 70 April 30, 1983 Westmont, Illinois, U.S. Heart attack[35]
Clarence Quick
The Del-Vikings		 46 May 5, 1983 Heart attack
Eduardo Benavente
Alaska y los Pegamoides
Parálisis Permanente		 20 May 14, 1983 Alfaro, La Rioja, Spain Car accident[36]
Stan Rogers 33 June 2, 1983 Hebron, Kentucky, U.S. Was onboard Air Canada Flight 797[37]
J. B. Hutto 57 June 12, 1983 Harvey, Illinois, U.S. Cancer
Douglas "Buzz" Shearman
Moxy		 32 June 16, 1983 Toronto, Canada Motorcycle accident
Walter Jackson 45 June 20, 1983 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Cerebral hemorrhage
Larry Darnell 54 July 3, 1983 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. Lung cancer
Chris Wood
Traffic		 39 July 12, 1983 Birmingham, England Pneumonia
Frank Fenter
Record producer and music industry executive of Atlantic Records and Capricorn Records		 47 July 21, 1983 Macon, Georgia, U.S. Heart attack
Jimmy Liggins 64 July 21, 1983 Durham, North Carolina, U.S. Unknown
Wild Bill Moore 65 August 1, 1983 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Unknown
James Jamerson
The Funk Brothers		 47 August 2, 1983 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Complications of cirrhosis, heart failure and pneumonia
Jobriath 36 August 3, 1983 Manhattan, New York City, U.S. AIDS
Klaus Nomi 39 August 6, 1983 New York City, New York, U.S. Complications due to AIDS
Ira Gershwin 86 August 17, 1983 Beverly Hills, California, U.S. Cardiovascular disease
Willie Bobo 49 September 15, 1983 Cancer
George "Harmonica" Smith 59 October 2, 1983 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Unknown
Hugh Mundell 21 October 14, 1983 Kingston, Jamaica Murder by gunshot
Merle Travis 65 October 20, 1983 Tahlequah, Oklahoma, U.S. Heart attack
James Booker 43 November 8, 1983 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Renal failure related to chronic abuse of heroin and alcohol
John Grimaldi
Argent, Flux, Cheap Flights		 28 November 15, 1983 Multiple sclerosis
Tom Evans
Badfinger		 36 November 19, 1983 London, England Suicide by hanging[38]
Gene Bricker
The Marcels		 45 December 10, 1983 Unknown
Jimmy Nolen 49 December 18, 1983 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Heart attack
Dennis Wilson
The Beach Boys		 39 December 28, 1983 Marina del Rey, California, U.S. Accidental drowning[39]
Alexis Korner 55 January 1, 1984 Westminster, London Lung cancer
Jackie Wilson
Billy Ward and his Dominoes		 49 January 21, 1984 Mount Holly, New Jersey, U.S. Pneumonia[40]
Paul Gardiner
Tubeway Army, Gary Newman		 25 February 4, 1984 Northolt, Middlesex, England Heroin overdose
Ethel Merman 76 February 15, 1984 Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. Brain cancer
Joey Vann
The Duprees		 40 February 28, 1984 Heart attack
Tom Jans 36 March 25, 1984 Los Angeles. California, U.S. Drug overdose
Marvin Gaye 44 April 1, 1984 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Murdered by his father[41]
Ral Donner 41 April 6, 1984 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Lung cancer
Red Garland 60 April 23, 1984 Dallas, Texas, U.S. Heart attack
Count Basie 79 April 26, 1984 Hollywood, Florida, U.S. Pancreatic cancer[42]
Z. Z. Hill 48 April 27, 1984 Dallas, Texas, U.S. Heart attack
Moses "Whispering" Smith 52 April 28, 1984 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. Unknown
Nate Nelson
The Flamingos 		52 June 1, 1984 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Heart attack
Meredith Willson 82 June 15, 1984 Santa Monica, California, U.S. Heart failure
Harmonica Slim 49 June 16, 1984 Texarkana, Texas, U.S. Unknown
Guy McDonough 28 June 26, 1984 Melbourne, Australia Pneumonia
Jimmie Spheeris 34 July 4, 1984 Santa Monica, California Motorcycle accident
Philippé Wynne
The Spinners		 43 July 14, 1984 Oakland, California, U.S. Heart attack
Big Mama Thornton 57 July 25, 1984 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Heart attack[43]
Esther Phillips 48 August 7, 1984 Carson, California, U.S. Liver and kidney failure due to long-term drug abuse
Percy Mayfield 63 August 11, 1984 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Heart attack
Lenny Breau 43 August 12, 1984 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Murder by strangulation
Hammie Nixon 76 August 17, 1984 Jackson, Tennessee, U.S. Unknown
Trummy Young > 72 September 10, 1984 San Jose, California, U.S. Cerebral hemorrhage
Titus Turner 51 September 13, 1984 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Unknown
Shelly Manne 64 September 26, 1984 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Heart attack
Geater Davis 42 September 29, 1984 Dallas, Texas, U.S. Heart attack
Teddy Reig
Record producer, record company executive and co-founded of Roost Records		 58 September 29, 1984 Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S. Unknown
Steve Goodman 36 September 30, 1984 Seattle, Washington, U.S. Leukemia
Wells Kelly
Orleans		 34 October 29, 1984 London, England Morphine and cocaine overdose
Keith Hudson 38 November 14, 1984 New York, U.S. Lung cancer
Razzle
Hanoi Rocks		 24 December 8, 1984 Redondo Beach, California, U.S. Traffic accident
Mal Spooner
Demon		 39 December 10, 1984 Leek, Staffordshire, England Pneumonia
Ron Tabak
Prism		 31 December 25, 1984 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Brain blood clot
Eddie "Bongo" Brown
The Funk Brothers		 52 December 28, 1984 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Heart ailment
Paul Hewson
Dragon		 32 January 9–10, 1985 Accidental drug overdose
Georgie Stoll
Musical director from Metro-Goldwyn Mayer		 79 January 18, 1985 Monterey, California, U.S. Pneumonia
Kenny Clarke 71 January 26, 1985 Montreuil, France Heart attack
Dennis Parker 38 January 28, 1985 New York City, New York, U.S. AIDS
Matt Monro 54 February 7, 1985 Cromwell Hospital, London, England Liver cancer
David Byron
Uriah Heep		 38 February 28, 1985 Reading, Berkshire, England Alcohol-related liver failure
Robert Blackwell
Record producer and arranger		 66 March 9, 1985 Hacienda Heights, Whittier, California, U.S. Pneumonia
Bob Shad
Record producer for Big Brother and the Holding Company		 65 March 13, 1985 Beverly Hills, California, U.S. Heart attack
The Singing Nun 51 March 29, 1985 Wavre, Brabant, Belgium Suicide
Willie Mabon 59 April 19, 1985 Paris, France Cancer
Johnny Fuller 56 May 20, 1985 Oakland, California, U.S. Lung cancer
Lloyd Green 75 May 23, 1985 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Myocardial infarction
Pee Wee Crayton 70 June 25, 1985 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Heart attack
Wynn Stewart 51 July 17, 1985 Hendersonville, Tennessee, U.S. Heart attack
Kay Kyser 80 July 31, 1985 Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S. Heart attack
Kyu Sakamoto 43 August 12, 1985 Mount Osutaka, Ueno, Gunma Prefecture, Japan Plane crash (Japan Airlines Flight 123)[44]
Jimmy Stokely
Exile		 41 August 13, 1985 Richmond, Kentucky, U.S. Complications from hepatitis/Chronic liver disorder
Philly Joe Jones 62 August 30, 1985 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Heart attack
Jo Jones 73 September 3, 1985 New York City, New York, U.S. Pneumonia
Little Brother Montgomery 79 September 6, 1985 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Unknown
Brian Keenan
The Chamber Brothers		 42 October 5, 1985 Heart attack
Blind John Davis 71 October 12, 1985 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Unknown
Ricky Wilson
The B-52's		 32 October 12, 1985 New York City, New York, U.S. Complications due to AIDS
Big Joe Turner 74 November 24, 1985 Inglewood, California, U.S. Heart attack[45]
Ian Stewart
The Rolling Stones		 47 December 12, 1985 London, England Heart attack
Curley Moore 42 December 14, 1985 Algiers, Louisiana, U.S. Murdered
D. Boon
The Minutemen		 27 December 22, 1985 Tucson, Arizona, U.S. Traffic accident
Gus Jenkins 54 December 22, 1985 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Unknown
Tommy Blake 54 December 24, 1985 Haughton, Louisiana, U.S. Murdered by his wife
Andy Chapin
The Association, Ricky Nelson		 34 December 31, 1985 De Kalb, Texas, U.S. Plane accident
Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson		 45 December 31, 1985 De Kalb, Texas, U.S. Plane accident
Bobby Neal
Ricky Nelson		 38 December 31, 1985 De Kalb, Texas, U.S. Plane accident
Pat Woodward
Ricky Nelson		 35 December 31, 1985 De Kalb, Texas, U.S. Plane accident
Ricky Intveld
Ricky Nelson		 22 December 31, 1985 De Kalb, Texas, U.S. Plane accident
Clark Russel
Sound man for Ricky Nelson		 35 December 31, 1985 De Kalb, Texas, U.S. Plane accident
Phil Lynott
Thin Lizzy		 36 January 4, 1986 Salisbury, Wiltshire, England Heart failure and pneumonia caused by alcohol and drug use[46]
Joe Farrell
Return to Forever		 48 January 10, 1986 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Myelodysplastic syndrome
Gordon MacRae 64 January 24, 1986 Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S. Pneumonia
Albert Grossman 59 January 25, 1986 Heart attack
John R.
American disc jockey and record producer		 75 February 15, 1986 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Lung cancer
Robbie Basho 45 February 28, 1986 Berkeley, California, U.S. Stroke
Richard Manuel
The Band		 42 March 4, 1986 Winter Park, Florida, U.S. Suicide by hanging
Sonny Terry 74 March 11, 1986 Mineola, New York, U.S. Natural causes
Mark Dinning 52 March 22, 1986 Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. Heart attack
O'Kelly Isley, Jr.
The Isley Brothers		 48 March 31, 1986 Alpine, New Jersey, U.S. Heart attack[47]
Dorothy Ashby 53 April 13, 1986 Santa Monica, California, U.S. Cancer
Hank Mobley 55 May 30, 1986 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Pneumonia
Benny Goodman 77 June 13, 1986 New York, New York, U.S. Heart attack
Dean Reed 47 June 13, 1986 East Berlin, GDR Suicide by drowning
Clarence Garlow 75 July 24, 1986 Beaumont, Texas, U.S. Unknown
William B. Williams
American disc jockey		 62 August 3, 1986 New York City, New York, U.S. Acute anemia and respiratory failure
Thad Jones 63 August 20, 1986 Copenhagen, Denmark Cancer/Bone cancer
Cliff Burton
Metallica		 24 September 27, 1986 Ljungby Municipality, Sweden Traffic accident[48]
Moses Asch 80 October 19, 1986 New York City, New York, U.S. Unknown
Esquerita 50 October 23, 1986 Harlem, New York, U.S. Complications due to AIDS
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis 64 November 3, 1986 Culver City, California, U.S. Hodgkin's lymphoma[49]
Bobby Nunn
The Coasters		 63 November 5, 1986 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Heart failure
Tracy Pew 28 November 7, 1986 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Brain hemorrhage
Bea Booze 74 November 11, 1986 Scottsville, New York, U.S. Unknown
Scatman Crothers 76 November 22, 1986 Van Nuys, California, U.S. Pneumonia and lung cancer
Lee Dorsey 61 December 1, 1986 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Emphysema
Billy Rancher
The Malchicks, Billy Rancher and the Unreal Gods, and Flesh and Blood 		29 December 2, 1986 Portland, Oregon, U.S. Kidney and liver cancer
Desi Arnaz 69 December 2, 1986 Solana Beach, California, U.S. Lung cancer
Hollywood Fats
Canned Heat, The Blasters		 32 December 8, 1986 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Drug overdose
Kate Wolf 44 December 10, 1986 San Francisco, California, U.S. Leukemia
Tommy Keifer
Krokus		 34 December 24, 1986 Suicide by hanging
Peter Lucia, Jr.
Tommy James and the Shondells		 39 January 6, 1987 Heart attack
Handsome Ned 29 January 10, 1987 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Accidental heroin overdose
Rauli Somerjoki 39 January 14, 1987 Helsinki, Finland Alcohol-related ailments
Ray Bolger
The Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz		 83 January 15, 1987 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Bladder cancer[50]
Alfred Lion
Record executive and co-founder of Blue Note Records		 78 February 2, 1987 San Diego, California, U.S. Heart failure
Liberace 67 February 4, 1987 Palm Springs, California, U.S. AIDS[51]
Tony Destra
Cinderella, Britny Fox		 32 February 8, 1987 Pennsylvania, U.S. Car Accident
Seymor Spiegelman
The Hilltoppers		 56 February 13, 1987 New York City, New York, U.S. Heart defect
Jimmy Holiday 52 February 15, 1987 Iowa City, Iowa, U.S. Congestive heart failure
Jim Connors
Radio personality and disc jockey		 46 February 24, 1987 I-95, Virginia, U.S. Car crash
Danny Kaye 76 March 3, 1987 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Heart failure from Hepatitis
Norman Harris
MFSB		 39 March 14, 1987 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Cardiovascular disease
Don Gant 44 March 15, 1987 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Complications following a boating accident
Tony Stratton Smith
Record producer and manager from The Nice, Van der Graaf Generator, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and co-founder of Charisma Records 		53 March 19, 1987 St Helier, Jersey Pancreatic cancer
Dino Martin
Dino, Desi & Billy		 35 March 21, 1987 San Gorgonio Mountain, California, U.S. Military aircraft crash
Buddy Rich 69 April 2, 1987 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Respiratory and cardiac failure[52]
Maxine Sullivan 75 April 7, 1987 New York City, New York, U.S. Seizure
Carlton Barrett
The Wailers		 36 April 17, 1987 Kingston, Jamaica Murder by gunshot
Irving Ashby 66 April 22, 1987 Perris, California, U.S. Unknown
Billy Johnson
The Moonglows		 59 April 28, 1987 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Unknown
Dalida 54 May 3, 1987 Paris, France Suicide by drug overdose[53]
Paul Butterfield
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band		 44 May 4, 1987 North Hollywood, California, U.S. Accidental heroin overdose
Allen Jones
Record producer for The Bar-Kays		 46 May 5, 1987 Heart attack
Victor Feldman 53 May 12, 1987 Woodland Hills, California, U.S. Heart attack
Gary Driscoll
Rainbow, Elf		 41 June 8, 1987 Ithaca, New York, U.S. Murdered
Kid Thomas Valentine 91 June 18, 1987 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Unknown
Fred Astaire 88 June 22, 1987 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Pneumonia
Elizabeth Cotten 94 June 29, 1987 Syracuse, New York, U.S. Pneumonia
Snakefinger
The Residents		 38 July 1, 1987 Linz, Austria Heart attack
John Hammond
Record producer for Columbia Records		 76 July 10, 1987 Stroke
Lee Gaines
The Delta Rhythm Boys		 90 July 15, 1987 Helsinki, Finland Cancer
Pete King
After the Fire, BAP, The Flys		 28 July 15, 1987 Testicular cancer
Howard McGhee 69 July 17, 1987 New York City, New York, U.S. Unknown
Todd Crew
Bassist for Jetboy		 21 July 18, 1987 Heroin and alcohol overdose
Alex Sadkin
Record producer for Arcadia, Simply Red, Thompson Twins, Boom Crash Opera and Duran Duran		 38 July 25, 1987 Nassau, Bahamas Traffic accident
Joe Liggins 71 July 31, 1987 Lynwood, California, U.S. Stroke
David A. Martin
Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs		 50 August 2, 1987 Heart attack
Scott La Rock
Boogie Down Productions		 25 August 27, 1987 New York City, New York, U.S. Gunshot
Peter Tosh
The Wailers		 42 September 11, 1987 Kingston, Jamaica Murder by gunshot
Lorne Greene 72 September 11, 1987 Santa Monica, California, U.S. Pneumonia
Jaco Pastorius
Weather Report		 35 September 21, 1987 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. Brain hemorrhage following beating[54]
Ted Taylor
The Cadets		 53 October 2, 1987 Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S. Traffic accident
Woody Herman 74 October 29, 1987 West Hollywood, California, U.S. Pneumonia following ulcer surgery
Luke "Long Gone" Miles 62 November 22, 1987 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Unknown
Little Willy Foster 65 November 25, 1987 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Cancer
Richard "Ricky" Taylor
The Manhattans		 47 December 9, 1987 Cancer
Slam Stewart
Slim & Slam		 73 December 10, 1987 Binghamton, New York, U.S. Congestive heart failure
Conny Plank
Record producer and also known as Moebius & Plank		 47 December 18, 1987 Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Cancer
John Spence
No Doubt		 18 December 21, 1987 Anaheim, California, U.S. Suicide
Gene "Bowlegs" Miller 54 December 25, 1987 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. Unknown
Nat Tarnopol
Record producer for Brunswick Records		 56 December 25, 1987 Congestive heart failure
John Dopyera 94 January 3, 1988 Grants Pass, Oregon, U.S. Unknown
Joe Albany 63 January 12, 1988 New York City, New York, U.S. Respiratory failure
René Hall 75 February 11, 1988 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Heart disease
John Curulewski
Styx		 37 February 13, 1988 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Brain aneurysm
Alexander Bashlachev 27 February 17, 1988 Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union Fall from the window (most likely suicide)
Memphis Slim 72 February 24, 1988 Paris, France Kidney failure
Pearl Butler
Carl Butler and Pearl		 60 March 1, 1988 Unknown[55]
Divine 42 March 7, 1988 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Heart enlargement after years of obesity[56]
Gordon Huntley
Matthews Southern Comfort		 62 March 7, 1988 Cancer
Amar Singh Chamkila 27 March 8, 1988 Mehsampur, Punjab, India Murder by gunshot
Andy Gibb
Younger brother of the Bee Gees		 30 March 10, 1988 Oxford, England Myocarditis worsened by drug addiction
Moody Jones 79 March 23, 1988 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Unknown
Dave Prater
Sam & Dave		 50 April 9, 1988 Sycamore, Georgia, U.S. Traffic accident
Brook Benton 56 April 9, 1988 Queens, New York City, New York, U.S. Pneumonia from spinal meningitis
Pony Poindexter 62 April 14, 1988 Oakland, California, U.S. Unknown
John Banks
The Merseybeats		 45 April 20, 1988 Throat cancer
Barbara Robison
The Peanut Butter Conspiracy		 42 April 22, 1988 Billings, Montana, U.S. Toxic shock poisoning
Carolyn Franklin 43 April 25, 1988 Bloomfield, Michigan, U.S. Breast cancer
B. W. Stevenson 38 April 28, 1988 Heart valve surgery complications
Claude Demetrius 71 May 1, 1988 New York City, New York, U.S. Unknown
Howie Johnson
The Ventures		 49-50 May 5, 1988 Cancer
Paul Wilson
The Flamingos 		53 May 6, 1988 Unknown
Chet Baker 58 May 13, 1988 Amsterdam, Netherlands Fall from hotel window after heroin and cocaine abuse[57]
Gil Evans 75 May 20, 1988 Cuernavaca, Mexico Peritonitis
Ted Dunbar 51 May 29, 1988 New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S. Stroke
Dick Jacobs
Record producer from Decca Records, Brunswick Records 		70 May 30, 1988 New York City, New York, U.S. Unknown
Charles Jacobie
Country singer		 60 June 16, 1988 Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa Heart attack
John Jordan
The Four Vagabonds		 74 June 16, 1988 Unknown
Finbarr Donnelly
Five Go Down to the Sea?		 27 June 18, 1989 The Serpentine, Hyde Park, London Drowning accident
Jesse Ed Davis 43 June 22, 1988 Venice, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Drug overdose
Hillel Slovak
Red Hot Chili Peppers		 26 June 25, 1988 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Heroin overdose
Jimmy Soul 45 June 25, 1988 Spring Valley, New York, U.S. Heart attack
Nico 49 July 18, 1988 Ibiza, Spain Cerebral haemorrhage after fall from bicycle[58]
Priscilla Bowman 60 July 24, 1988 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. Lung cancer
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Gray		 27 August 12, 1988 Manhattan, New York, U.S. Speedball overdose
Tenor Saw 21 August 13, 1988 Houston, Texas, United States Injuries sustained from a hit and run
Fred Below
The Aces		 61 August 13–14, 1988 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Liver cancer
Robert Calvert
Hawkwind		 43 August 14, 1988 Ramsgate, England Heart attack
Roy Buchanan 48 August 14, 1988 Fairfax County, Virginia, U.S. Suicide by hanging
Tim Davis
The Steve Miller Band		 44 September 20, 1988 Complications related to diabetes
J. C. Heard 71 September 27, 1988 Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S. Heart attack
Cliff Gallup
Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps		 58 October 9, 1988 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. Heart attack
Son House 86 October 19, 1988 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Laryngeal cancer
Johnnie Louise Richardson
Johnnie & Joe
 53 October 25, 1988 New York City, New York, U.S. Stroke
Black Randy
Black Randy and the Metrosquad		 36 November 11, 1988 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Complications due to AIDS[59]
Janet Ertel
The Chordettes		 75 November 22, 1988 Sheboygan, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, U.S.
Roy Orbison
Traveling Wilburys		 52 December 6, 1988 Hendersonville, Tennessee, U.S. Heart attack[60]
Bill Harris
The Clovers		 63 December 6, 1988 Washington, D.C., U.S. Pancreatic cancer
Herbert Rhoad
The Persuasions		 44 December 8, 1988 Sacramento, California, U.S. Aneurysm
Sylvester 41 December 16, 1988 San Francisco, California, U.S. AIDS[61]
Paul Jeffreys
Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel		 36 December 21, 1988 Lockerbie, Scotland Pan Am Flight 103 bombing
Bobby Baylor
The Solitaires, The Mello-Moods		 54 January 4, 1989 Pneumonia
Patti McCabe
The Poni-Tails		 49 January 17, 1989 Cancer
Whistlin' Alex Moore 89 January 20, 1989 Dallas, Texas, U.S. Heart attack
Steve Wahrer
The Trashmen		 47 January 21, 1989 Throat cancer
Donnie Elbert 52 January 26, 1989 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Stroke
Blaze Foley 39 February 1, 1989 Austin, Texas, U.S. Gunshot
Paul Robi
The Platters		 57 February 1, 1989 Pancreatic cancer
Kenneth C. "Jethro" Burns
Homer and Jethro		 68 February 4, 1989 Evanston, Illinois, U.S. Prostate cancer
Joe Raposo
Television writer and lyrics from Sesame Street		 51 February 5, 1989 Bronxville, New York, U.S. Lymphoma
King Tubby 48 February 6, 1989 Kingston, Jamaica Gunshot
Hip Linkchain 52 February 13, 1989 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Cancer
Vincent Crane
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Dexys Midnight Runners, Atomic Rooster		 45 February 14, 1989 Westminster, London, England Suicide by barbiturate overdose
Roy Eldridge 78 February 26, 1989 Valley Stream, New York, U.S. Heart failure
Odie Payne 62 March 1, 1989 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Unknown
Bobby Mitchell 53 March 17, 1989 Diabetes
Marek Blizinski 41 March 17, 1989 Warsaw, Poland Cancer
Ray Agee 68 April 15, 1989 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Unknown
Dmitry Selivanov 25 April 22, 1989 Novosibirsk, Russia Suicide
Lucille Ball 77 April 26, 1989 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Aortic rupture
Ron Wilson
The Surfaris		 44 May 7, 1989 Placer County, California, U.S. Brain aneurysm
Keith Whitley 34 May 9, 1989 Goodlettsville, Tennessee, U.S. Alcohol poisoning
Good Rockin' Charles 56 May 17, 1989 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Unknown (ill health)
John Cipollina
Quicksilver Messenger Service		 45 May 29, 1989 San Francisco, California, U.S. Emphysema
Lou Monte 72 June 12, 1989 Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S. Emphysema
Vivian Carter
Record producer, company executive and co-founded of Vee Jay Records		 68 June 12, 1989 Hypertension, diabetes and stroke
Pete de Freitas
Echo & the Bunnymen		 27 June 14, 1989 London, England Traffic accident
Vic Maile 45 July 11, 1989 Cancer
Nesuhi Ertegun
Record producer, record executive of Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group		 71 July 15, 1989 New York City, New York, U.S. Complications of cancer surgery
Paul C
East Coast hip hop pioneer, producer, engineer, and mixer		 24 July 17, 1989 New York City, New York, U.S. Murdered[62]
Bull Moose Jackson 70 July 31, 1989 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. Lung cancer
Larry Parnes 59 August 4, 1989 London, England Meningitis
Sonny Thompson 65 August 11, 1989 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Unknown
Mickey Hawks 49 August 31, 1989 North Carolina, U.S. Unknown
Keef Cowboy
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five		 28 September 8, 1989 Heart attack after crack-cocaine overdose
Tim Hovey
New Riders of the Purple Sage
 43 September 9, 1989 Watsonville, California, U.S. Suicide by drug overdose
Pérez Prado 72 September 14, 1989 Mexico City, Mexico Stroke
Gene Nobles
American disc jockey 		76 September 21, 1989 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Unknown
Irving Berlin 101 September 22, 1989 Manhattan, New York City, U.S. Natural causes and Heart attack
Cousin Joe 81 October 2, 1989 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Natural causes
Alan Murphy
Go West, Level 42		 35 October 19, 1989 London, England Pneumonia resulting from AIDS
Ewan MacColl 74 October 22, 1989 Brompton, London, England Complications following heart surgery
Dickie Goodman
Record producer		 55 November 8, 1989 North Carolina, U.S. Suicide by gunshot
Freddie Waits 49 November 18, 1989 New York City, New York, U.S. Kidney failure
Billy Lyall
Bay City Rollers, Pilot		 36 December 1, 1989 AIDS
Patti Santos
It's a Beautiful Day		 39 December 14, 1989 Near Geyserville, California, U.S. Car crash
Floyd Jones 72 December 19, 1989 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Unknown[63]
Lance Railton
"Earl Preston & the TT's"		 40s December 24, 1989 Unknown

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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  3. ^ "Bon Scott's overdose: Fink finds new evidence on AC/DC's singer's death, involvement with 'Back in Black'". The Repository. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  4. ^ Rock, Doc. "The Dead Rock Stars Club - The 1980s". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  5. ^ "Anna Jantar zginęła 38 lat temu w katastrofie lotniczej na Okęciu". RMF FM (in Polish). Retrieved 2019-10-06.
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  12. ^ "Hardin left behind many reasons to believe".
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  15. ^ Kulczyk, David (2009). Death In California – The Bizarre, Freakish, and Just Curious Ways People Die in the Golden State. Craven Street Books. p. 128. ISBN 978-1-884995-57-6.
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  30. ^ "David Blue, Singer-Actor, 41, Was Part of 60's Folk Revival" The New York Times December 7, 1982.
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  33. ^ "Karen Carpenter obit". Newspapers.com. 4 February 1983. p. 2. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
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