# List of deaths in rock and roll (1980s)

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.
| 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 |
| 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, heroin overdose |
| Janet Vogel The Skyliners | 38 | February 21, 1980 | | Suicide by carbon monoxide |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Bert Kaempfert | 56 | June 21, 1980 | Mallorca, Spain | Stroke |
| Barney Bigard | 74 | June 27, 1980 | Culver City, California, U.S. | |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Tim Hardin | 39 | December 29, 1980 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Heroin overdose |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Kit Lambert | 45 | April 7, 1981 | Middlesex, England | Cerebral hemorrhage after fall down stairs |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Danutė Neimontaitė Lithuanian Pop singer | 34 | January 3, 1982 | Vilnius, Lithuania | Unknown |
| Elis Regina | 36 | January 19, 1982 | São Paulo, Brazil | Drug overdose |
| Tommy Tucker | 48 | January 22, 1982 | Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | Food poisoning |
| Lightnin' Hopkins | 69 | January 30, 1982 | Houston, Texas, U.S. | Esophageal cancer |
| Alex Harvey Sensational Alex Harvey Band | 46 | February 4, 1982 | Zeebrugge, Belgium | Heart attack |
| Thelonious Monk | 64 | February 17, 1982 | Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| John Belushi The Blues Brothers | 33 | March 5, 1982 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Speedball overdose |
| Randy Rhoads Quiet Riot | 25 | March 19, 1982 | Leesburg, Florida, U.S. | Plane accident |
| 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 |
| Cal Tjader | 56 | May 5, 1982 | Manila, Philippines | Heart attack |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| David Blue | 41 | December 2, 1982 | New York City, New York, U.S. | Heart attack |
| Tommy Cogbill | 50 | December 7, 1982 | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | Stroke |
| 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 |
| Big Joe Williams | 79 | December 17, 1982 | Macon, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Dig Richards | 42 | February 17, 1983 | Sydney, Australia | Pancreatic cancer |
| Cliff Trenier The Treniers | 63 | March 2, 1983 | | Cancer |
| Peter Ivers | 36 | March 3, 1983 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Murdered |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Stan Rogers | 33 | June 2, 1983 | Hebron, Kentucky, U.S. | Was onboard Air Canada Flight 797 |
| 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 |
| Roosevelt Sykes | 77 | July 17, 1983 | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | Heart attack |
| 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 |
| Sandra Tilley The Velvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas | 37-38 | September 9, 1983 | Las Vegas, Nevada U.S. | Brian aneurysm |
| Willie Bobo | 49 | September 15, 1983 | | Cancer |
| Roy Milton | 76 | September 18, 1983 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 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 |
| Keith Barrow | 29 | October 23, 1983 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | AIDS-related complications |
| 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 |
| Lucienne Boyer | 82 | December 6, 1983 | Paris, France | Stroke |
| 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 |
| Zakes Mchunu Member of The Soul Brothers | ? | ?, 1984 | ?, South Africa | Car accident |
| 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 |
| Al Dexter | 78 | January 28, 1984 | Lewisville, Texas, U.S. | |
| Ethel Merman | 76 | February 15, 1984 | Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. | Brain cancer |
| Paul Gardiner Tubeway Army, Gary Newman | 25 | February 18, 1984 | Northolt, Middlesex, England | Heroin overdose |
| 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 |
| Ral Donner | 41 | April 6, 1984 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | Lung cancer |
| Machito | 74 | April 15, 1984 | London, England, U.K. | Complications from a stroke |
| Red Garland | 60 | April 23, 1984 | Dallas, Texas, U.S. | Heart attack |
| Count Basie | 79 | April 26, 1984 | Hollywood, Florida, U.S. | Pancreatic cancer |
| 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 |
| Louis (Blues Boy) Jones | 53 | June 27, 1984 | | Unknown |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Bobo Jenkins | 68 | August 14, 1984 | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | Unknown |
| 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 |
| Steve Goodman | 36 | September 20, 1984 | Seattle, Washington, U.S. | Leukemia |
| 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 |
| Alberta Hunter | 89 | October 17, 1984 | Roosevelt Island, Manhattan, U.S. | Unknown |
| Buddy Moss | 70 | October 19, 1984 | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 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 |
| Armand "Jump" Jackson | 67 | January 31, 1985 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 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 |
| Annette Hanshaw | 83 | March 13, 1985 | New York City, U.S. | Cancer |
| Zoot Sims | 59 | March 23, 1985 | New York City, New York, U.S. | Lung cancer |
| The Singing Nun | 51 | March 29, 1985 | Wavre, Brabant, Belgium | Suicide |
| Willie Mabon | 59 | April 19, 1985 | Paris, France | Cancer |
| Rockin' Dave Allen | 43 | April 28, 1985 | Houston, Texas, U.S. | Pneumonia |
| Larry Clinton | 75 | May 2, 1985 | Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | Cancer |
| Johnny Fuller | 56 | May 20, 1985 | Oakland, California, U.S. | Lung cancer |
| Lloyd Glenn | 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 Air Lines Flight 123) |
| 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 |
| Espen Hoff | 22 | October 14, 1985 | ?, Norway | Motorcycle accident |
| Big Joe Turner | 74 | November 24, 1985 | Inglewood, California, U.S. | Heart attack |
| 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 |
| Eddie Taylor | 62 | December 25, 1985 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Monk Higgins | 49 | July 3, 1986 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Respiratory ailment |
| Rudy Vallée | 84 | July 3, 1986 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Heart Attack |
| Coke Escovedo | 45 | July 13, 1986 | Montebello, California, U.S. | Cirrhosis |
| Clarence Garlow | 75 | July 24, 1986 | Beaumont, Texas, U.S. | Unknown |
| Teddy Wilson | 73 | August 1, 1986 | New Britain, Connecticut, U.S. | Illness after surgery |
| 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 |
| Pepper Adams | 55 | September 10, 1986 | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | Lung cancer |
| Cliff Burton Metallica | 24 | September 27, 1986 | Ljungby Municipality, Sweden | Traffic accident |
| 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 |
| Sippie Wallace | 88 | November 1, 1986 | Detroit, Michigan | Heart Ailment |
| Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis | 64 | November 3, 1986 | Culver City, California, U.S. | Hodgkin's lymphoma |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Tony Destra Cinderella, Britny Fox | 32 | February 8, 1987 | Pennsylvania, U.S. | Car Accident |
| Antanas Šabaniauskas Lithuanian Pop singer | 83 | February 9, 1987 | Vilnius, Lithuania | Unknown |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Clifton Chenier | 62 | December 12, 1987 | Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S. | Complications from diabetes |
| 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 |
| Divine | 42 | March 7, 1988 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Heart enlargement after years of obesity |
| 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 |
| 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 South African Country singer | 60 | June 5, 1988 | Mbombela, 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 |
| Eddie Vinson | 70 | July 2, 1988 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Heart attack |
| Nico | 49 | July 18, 1988 | Ibiza, Spain | Cerebral haemorrhage after fall from bicycle |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Lance Railton "Earl Preston & the TT's" | 40s | December 24, 1989 | | Unknown |