# 2020 in music

This topic covers notable events and articles related to 2020 in music.

## Specific locations

* African music
* American music
* Asian music
* Australian music
* Brazilian music
* British music
* Canadian music
* Chinese music
* Czech music
* Danish music
* European music
* Finnish music
* French music
* German music
* Icelandic music
* Indian music
* Indonesian music
* Irish music
* Japanese music
* Latin music
* Malaysian music
* Mongolian music
* Norwegian music
* Philippine music
* Polynesian music
* Scandinavian music
* South Korean music
* Swedish music
* Taiwanese music
* Vietnamese music

## Specific genres

* Classical
* Country
* Electronic
* Jazz
* Latin
* Heavy metal
* Hip hop
* Rock
* K-pop
* J-pop

## Awards

* 62nd Annual Grammy Awards (USA)
* Record of the Year: "Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish • Album of the Year: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Eilish • Song of the Year: "Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish • Best New Artist: Billie Eilish
* Billboard Music Awards (USA)
* Top Artist: Post Malone • Top Male Artist: Post Malone • Top Female Artist: Billie Eilish • Top New Artist: Billie Eilish • Top Duo/Group: Jonas Brothers • Top Billboard 200 Album: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Eilish • Top Hot 100 Song: "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X Featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
* 2020 Brit Awards (UK)
* British Album of the Year: Psychodrama by Dave • Song of the Year: "Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi • Best New Artist: Lewis Capaldi
* 2020 Juno Awards (Canada)
* Artist of the Year: Shawn Mendes • Group of the Year: Loud Luxury • Album of the Year: The Pains of Growing by Alessia Cara • Single of the Year: "Senorita" by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello
* 2020 MTV Video Music Awards (USA)
* Video of the Year: "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd • Best Push New Artist: Doja Cat • Artist of the Year: Lady Gaga
* 2020 MTV Europe Music Awards (Europe)
* Best Song: "Dynamite" by BTS • Best Video: "Popstar" by DJ Khaled featuring Drake • Best Artist: Lady Gaga • Best New: Doja Cat
* 2020 American Music Awards (USA)
* Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift • New Artist of the Year: Doja Cat • Collaboration of the Year: "10,000 Hours" by Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber
* 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Music (USA)
* The Central Park Five by Anthony Davis
* Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (USA)
* Inductees: The Doobie Brothers • Whitney Houston • Depeche Mode • T. Rex • The Notorious B.I.G. • Nine Inch Nails
* Mercury Prize (UK)
* Kiwanuka by Michael Kiwanuka
* Polar Music Prize (Sweden)
* Inductees: Anna Netrebko • Diane Warren
* Polaris Music Prize (Canada)
* God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out of It by Backxwash
* Eurovision Song Contest (Europe)
* Event cancelled as result of COVID-19 pandemic
* 29th Seoul Music Awards (South Korea)
* Grand Award: BTS • Best Song: Taeyeon • Best Album: BTS • Best New Artist: Itzy, Tomorrow X Together, AB6IX

## Bands formed

* 1st.One
* Aespa
* All at Once
* Arcana Project
* BAE173
* Blackswan
* BonBon Girls 303
* B.O.Y
* Botopass
* BtoB 4U
* Chō Tokimeki Sendenbu
* Cignature
* Citi Zēni
* Cravity
* DKB
* Dolla
* Drippin
* E'Last
* English Teacher
* Enhypen
* Ghost9
* Go to the Beds
* H&D
* JO1
* The Lucid
* Lucy
* Lunarsolar
* MCND
* Militarie Gun
* Morfonica
* Nemophila
* NewDad
* NiziU
* Orbit
* Paradises
* Piggs
* P1Harmony
* Porij
* Redsquare
* Red Velvet - Irene & Seulgi
* Refund Sisters
* Sakurazaka46
* Secret Number
* SixTones
* Snow Man
* Softcult
* SSAK3
* STAYC
* TO1
* Treasure
* UNVS
* Weeekly
* WEi
* Woo!ah!
* WJSN Chocome
* Zamb

## Soloist debuts

* Ado
* Ai Furihata
* Aina Suzuki
* Akane Kumada
* Alexa Ilacad
* Amee
* Anson Kong
* Anson Lo
* April Lawlor
* Ashton Irwin
* Azumi Waki
* Bang Ye-dam
* Central Cee
* Curley Gao
* Dixie
* Denis Stoff
* Elio
* Emma Heesters
* Emman
* Fujii Kaze
* Gakuto Kajiwara
* Han Seung-woo
* Haruka Kudō
* Hayley Williams
* Heo Chan-mi
* Hikaru
* Holly Humberstone
* Hoshimachi Suisei
* Ivana Alawi
* Jamie Miller
* Jer Lau
* Jxdn
* Kai
* Karin Miyamoto
* Keiko
* Ken
* Kim Nam-joo
* Kim Woo-seok
* Koutaro Nishiyama
* Laufey
* Lee Eun-sang
* Lee Su-hyun
* Lilas Ikuta
* Liyuu
* Maine Mendoza
* Max
* Miki Satō
* Mimiyuuuh
* Mimi Webb
* MindaRyn
* Moon Jong-up
* Nanaka Suwa
* Nana Mori
* Natty
* Nessa Barrett
* Ong Seong-wu
* Reina Washio
* Riho Sayashi
* Ryota Katayose
* Ryu Su-jeong
* Rubi Rose
* Sae Ōtsuka
* Sangiovanni
* Seo Eun-kwang
* Serri
* Solar
* Suho
* Takuya Kimura
* Tomori Kusunoki
* Win Morisaki
* Wonho
* YooA
* Yook Sung-jae
* Yoon Doo-joon
* Yui Ninomiya
* Yuki Nakashima
* Yurina Hirate
* Zild

## Bands reformed

* attack attack!
* Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows
* Faith No More
* The Format
* Genesis
* Linkin Park
* The Network
* Rage Against the Machine
* RBD
* Toto
* Billy Pilgrim

## Bands on hiatus

* 100%
* AAA
* Anathema
* Arashi
* B.A.P
* Baroque
* College Cosmos
* DEL48
* Good Morning America
* Ladies' Code
* Ladybaby
* Masahiko Kondō
* Marius Yo
* Mrs. Green Apple
* Real Friends
* Teen Top
* Sleep
* Stone Sour
* Winner
* ZE:A

## Bands disbanded

* 1the9
* Babes in Toyland
* Badkiz
* Bay City Rollers
* Black Dresses
* Carry Loose
* Columbia University Marching Band
* Default
* E-girls
* Fairies
* Gang of Four
* Group Tamashii
* Gugudan
* Hachimitsu Rocket
* Hinapia
* Household Gods
* Joan of Arc
* Madvillain
* Magnolia Factory
* Masc
* Mission of Burma
* Nachtmystium
* NeonPunch
* obey the brave
* Party Rockets GT
* PrizmaX
* Psychic TV
* Red Sun Rising
* She Wants Revenge
* Spectrum
* Sora tob sakana
* SudannaYuzuYully
* The Spencer Davis Group
* SSAK3
* SHVPES
* Tegomass
* Uijin
* Van Halen
* X1

## Deaths
### January

* 1
** Lexii Alijai, 21, American rapper
** Marty Grebb, 74, American rock keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist (The Buckinghams, Chicago)
** Tommy Hancock, 90, American country singer
* 2 – Lorraine Chandler, 73, American soul singer
* 3 – Bo Winberg, 80, Swedish rock guitarist (The Spotnicks)
* 4 – Emanuel Borok, 75, Russian-born American classical violinist
* 5 – Martin Griffin, British space rock drummer (Hawkwind, Hawklords)
* 7 – Neil Peart, 67, Canadian progressive rock drummer and lyricist (Rush)
* 8 – Edd Byrnes, 87, American actor and pop singer
* 9
** Tom Alexander, 85, Scottish folk accordionist (The Alexander Brothers)
** Bobby Comstock, 78, American rock and roll singer
* 10 – Wolfgang Dauner, 84, German jazz pianist
* 11 – Maceo Woods, 87, American gospel musician
* 13
** Demetri Callas, 77, American rock guitarist and singer (The Four Seasons)
** Hylda Sims, 87, British skiffle guitarist
* 14
** Steve Martin Caro, 71, American baroque pop singer (The Left Banke)
** Chamín Correa, 90, Mexican classical guitarist
** Guy Deplus, 95, French chamber music clarinetist
** Barry Mayger, 73, English pop bassist (Chicory Tip)
** Bruno Nettl, 89, Czech-born American ethnomusicologist and musicologist
* 15 – Chris Darrow, 75, American country and rock singer and multi-instrumentalist (Kaleidoscope, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
* 18
** Dennis Garcia, 67, Filipino pop rock bassist (Hotdog)
** David Olney, 71, American folk singer-songwriter
* 19
** Dan Andrei Aldea, 69, Romanian progressive rock singer and multi-instrumentalist (Sfinx)
** Jimmy Heath, 93, American jazz saxophonist (Heath Brothers)
** Robert Parker, 89, American R&B singer
** Sunanda Patnaik, 85, Indian classical singer
* 21 – Meritxell Negre, 48, Spanish pop singer (Peaches & Herb)
* 24
** Joe Payne, 35, American metal bassist (Divine Heresy, Nile)
** Sean Reinert, 48, American metal drummer (Cynic, Death, Æon Spoke)
* 25
** Bob Gullotti, 71, American free jazz drummer (Surrender to the Air)
** Vernon Sandusky, 80, American rock singer and guitarist (The Chartbusters)
* 26 – Bob Shane, 85, American folk singer and guitarist (The Kingston Trio)
* 27 – Reed Mullin, 53, American sludge metal drummer (Corrosion of Conformity)
* 28 – Bob Nave, 75, American bubblegum pop keyboardist (The Lemon Pipers)
* 30 – Lucien Barbarin, 63, American jazz trombonist (Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Harry Connick Jr.)

### February

* 1
** Harold Beane, 73, American funk guitarist (Funkadelic)
** Andy Gill, 64, British post-punk guitarist (Gang of Four)
** Peter Serkin, 72, American classical pianist
* 2
** Kofi B, Ghanaian highlife singer
** Ivan Král, 71, Czech-American rock bassist and songwriter (The Patti Smith Group)
* 4
** Andrew Brough, New Zealand indie rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist (Straitjacket Fits)
** Buddy Cage, 73, Canadian folk pedal steel guitarist (New Riders of the Purple Sage, Great Speckled Bird)
** Ljiljana Petrović, 80, Serbian pop singer
* 6
** Lynn Evans, 95, American pop singer (The Chordettes)
** Diego Farias, 27, American progressive metalcore guitarist (Volumes)
** Nello Santi, 88, Italian classical conductor
* 7
** Nexhmije Pagarusha, 86, Albanian-Kosovan pop singer
** Steve Weber, 76, American folk singer and guitarist (The Holy Modal Rounders)
* 8 – Robert Conrad, 84, American actor and singer
* 9 – Sergei Slonimsky, 87, Russian classical composer
* 10 – Lyle Mays, 66, American jazz fusion keyboardist (Pat Metheny Group)
* 11 – Joseph Shabalala, 78, South African isicathamiya and mbube singer (Ladysmith Black Mambazo)
* 12
** Paul English, 87, American country drummer
** Victor Olaiya, 89, Nigerian highlife trumpeter
* 13
** Buzzy Linhart, 76, American folk rock singer-songwriter
** Jacob Thiele, 40, American indie rock keyboardist (The Faint)
* 14
** Reinbert de Leeuw, 81, Dutch classical pianist and conductor
** Sonam Sherpa, 48, Indian blues rock guitarist (Parikrama)
* 15 – Cavan Grogan, 70, Welsh rock and roll singer (Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers)
* 16
** Pearl Carr, 98, British pop singer (Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson)
** Graeme Allwright, 93, New Zealand-French folk and jazz singer-songwriter
* 17
** Kizito Mihigo, 38, Rwandan gospel singer
** Andrew Weatherall, 56, British electronic musician (Two Lone Swordsmen, The Sabres of Paradise) and record producer
* 18 – Jon Christensen, 78, Norwegian jazz drummer
* 19
** Bob Cobert, 95, American composer
** Pop Smoke, 20, American rapper
* 24
** David Roback, 61, American alternative rock and dream pop guitarist (Mazzy Star, Rain Parade, Opal)
** Jahn Teigen, 70, Norwegian pop and progressive rock singer (Popol Ace, Prima Vera)
* 26
** Hans Deinzer, 86, German classical clarinetist
** Sergei Dorensky, 88, Russian classical pianist
* 27 – Lillian Offitt, 81, American blues and R&B singer
* 28 – Mike Somerville, 67, American rock guitarist and songwriter (Head East)
* 29
** Odile Pierre, 87, French classical organist and composer
** Bill Smith, 93, American classical and jazz clarinetist

### March

* 2
** Jan Vyčítal, 77, Czech country singer
** Susan Weinert, 54, German jazz fusion guitarist
** Peter Wieland, 89, German pop singer
* 3
** Les Cauchi, 77, American pop singer (Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge)
** Alf Cranner, 83, Norwegian folk singer
* 4 – Barbara Martin, 76, American R&B singer (The Supremes)
* 6
** McCoy Tyner, 81, American jazz pianist
** Elinor Ross, 93, American opera soprano
* 7
** Jim Owen, 78, American country singer-songwriter
** Laura Smith, Canadian folk singer-songwriter
* 9
** Keith Olsen, 74, American psychedelic rock bassist (The Music Machine) and record producer
** Eric Taylor, 70, American folk singer-songwriter
* 10
** Marcelo Peralta, 59, Argentine jazz saxophonist
** Beba Selimović, 80, Bosnian folk singer
* 11 – Charles Wuorinen, 81, American classical composer
* 12 – Don Burrows, 91, Australian jazz multi-instrumentalist
* 14
** Phil Phillips, 94, American pop singer-songwriter
** Eva Pilarová, 80, Czech jazz singer
** Genesis P-Orridge, 70, British industrial singer, songwriter and bassist (Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV, Thee Majesty)
** Diane Ray, 74, American pop singer
* 16
** Sergio Bassi, 69, Italian folk rock singer-songwriter
** Ted Cahill, 72, American garage rock guitarist (The Magic Mushrooms)
** Jason Rainey, 53, American thrash metal guitarist (Sacred Reich)
* 17 – Thái Thanh, 85, Vietnamese-American pop singer
* 19 – Aurlus Mabélé, 66, Congolese soukous singer
* 20
** Kenny Rogers, 81, American country and pop singer-songwriter
** Jerry Slick, 80, American psychedelic rock drummer (The Great Society)
* 21 – Hellmut Stern, 91, German classical violinist
* 22
** Gabi Delgado-López, 61, Spanish-born German electronic singer (Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft)
** Julie Felix, 81, American-British folk singer
** Mike Longo, 83, American jazz pianist
** Peter Stapleton, 65, New Zealand alternative rock drummer (The Terminals, Dadamah, Flies Inside the Sun)
** Eric Weissberg, 80, American country and bluegrass banjoist
* 23 – Tres Warren, 41, American psychedelic rock singer and guitarist (Psychic Ills)
* 24
** Manu Dibango, 86, Cameroonian makossa and jazz saxophonist
** Bill Rieflin, 59, American rock drummer (The Blackouts, Ministry, Revolting Cocks, KMFDM, King Crimson)
* 25 – Detto Mariano, 82, Italian rock keyboardist (I Ribelli) and film composer
* 26
** Olle Holmquist, 83, Swedish big band trombonist (James Last Orchestra)
** Bill Martin, 81, British pop songwriter
* 27
** Bob Andy, 75, Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter (The Paragons, Bob and Marcia)
** Don Burch, 81, American doo-wop singer (The Slades)
** Mirna Doris, 79, Italian canzone Napoletana singer
** Delroy Washington, 67, Jamaican-born British reggae singer
* 28 – Jan Howard, 91, American country singer-songwriter
* 29
** Joe Diffie, 61, American country singer and songwriter
** Alan Merrill, 69, American pop rock singer and bassist (Arrows)
** Paravai Muniyamma, 82, Indian folk singer
** Krzysztof Penderecki, 86, Polish classical composer and conductor
* 30
** Riachão, 98, Brazilian samba singer
** Bill Withers, 81, American soul singer-songwriter
* 31
** Cristina, 61, American new wave singer
** Wallace Roney, 59, American jazz trumpeter

### April

* 1
** Ellis Marsalis Jr., 85, American jazz pianist
** Bucky Pizzarelli, 94, American jazz guitarist
** Harold Rubin, 87, South African-born Israeli free jazz clarinetist
** Adam Schlesinger, 52, American power pop singer, songwriter and bassist (Fountains of Wayne, Ivy, Tinted Windows)
* 2 – Vaughan Mason, 69, American funk and electronic multi-instrumentalist (Vaughan Mason & Crew, Raze)
* 3 – Helin Bölek, 28, Turkish folk rock singer (Grup Yorum)
* 4
** Timothy Brown, 82, American pop and soul singer
** Patrick Gibson, French eurodisco drummer (Gibson Brothers)
** Alex Harvey, 73, American country singer-songwriter
* 5 – Barry Allen, 74, Canadian rock musician and record producer (Painter) (death announced on this date)
* 6
** M. K. Arjunan, 84, Indian film composer
** Black the Ripper, 32, British grime rapper
* 7
** Betty Bennett, 98, American jazz and big band singer
** Hutch Davie, 89, American pianist, arranger and composer
** Steve Farmer, 71, American rock guitarist and songwriter (The Amboy Dukes)
** Travis Nelsen, American indie rock drummer (Okkervil River)
** John Prine, 73, American folk singer-songwriter
** Hal Willner, 64, American record producer
** Xudeydi, 91, Somali folk oud player
* 8
** Carl Dobkins, Jr., 79, American singer and songwriter
** Glenn Fredly, 44, Indonesian R&B singer-songwriter
** Chynna Rogers, 25, American rapper
* 9
** Andy González, 69, American Latin jazz bassist
** Dmitri Smirnov, 71, Russian-British classical composer
* 10
** Big George Brock, 87, American blues harmonicist
** Shanti Hiranand, 86, Indian classical singer
** Jymie Merritt, 92, American jazz bassist (The Jazz Messengers)
* 11 – Liu Dehai, 82, Chinese classical pipa player
* 12
** Jerry Hludzik, American pop rock guitarist and bassist (The Buoys)
** Louis van Dijk, 78, Dutch jazz pianist
* 13
** Ryo Kawasaki, 73, Japanese jazz fusion guitarist
** Moraes Moreira, 72, Brazilian MPB singer and guitarist (Novos Baianos)
* 14
** Akin Euba, 84, Nigerian folk pianist, composer, and musicologist
** Kassongo Wa Kanema, 73, Congolese soukous singer (Orchestra Super Mazembe)
** Kerstin Meyer, 92, Swedish opera singer
* 15
** Henry Grimes, 84, American jazz bassist
** Dries Holten, 84, Dutch pop singer-songwriter (Rosy & Andres)
** Lee Konitz, 92, American jazz saxophonist
** Gary McSpadden, 77, American gospel singer (The Imperials, Gaither Vocal Band, The Oak Ridge Boys)
* 16
** Christophe, 74, French singer-songwriter
** Dušan Vančura, 82, Czech folk singer and bassist (Spirituál kvintet)
* 17
** Giuseppi Logan, 84, American jazz multi-instrumentalist
** Matthew Seligman, 62, British new wave bassist (Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club, The Soft Boys, Thompson Twins)
* 19
** Alexander Vustin, 76, Russian composer
** Ian Whitcomb, 78, British pop singer-songwriter
** Emina Zečaj, 91, Bosnian sevdalinka singer
* 21
** Derek Jones, 35, American metalcore guitarist (Falling in Reverse)
** Jacques Pellen, 63, French jazz guitarist
** Florian Schneider, 73, German krautrock and electronic multi-instrumentalist (Kraftwerk, Organisation)
* 22
** Bootsie Barnes, 82, American jazz saxophonist
** Marcos Mundstock, 77, Argentine comedy music singer and multi-instrumentalist (Les Luthiers)
* 23
** Fred the Godson, 35, American rapper
** Kamit Sanbayev, 78, Kazakh rock singer (Dos Mukasan)
* 24
** Hamilton Bohannon, 78, American R&B and disco percussionist and music producer
** Phil Broadhurst, 70, New Zealand jazz pianist
** Harold Reid, 80, American country singer-songwriter (The Statler Brothers)
* 25
** Alan Abel, 91, American classical percussionist
** Ronald Frangipane, 75, American session keyboardist (The Archies)
* 26 – Big Al Carson, 66, American blues singer
* 27
** Lynn Harrell, 79, American classical cellist
** Troy Sneed, 52, American gospel singer
** Scott Taylor, British new wave guitarist (Then Jerico)
* 28 – Bobby Lewis, 95, American R&B singer
* 29
** Martin Lovett, 93, British classical cellist (Amadeus Quartet)
** Stezo, 52, American rapper
* 30
** Tony Allen, 79, Nigerian afrobeat and rock drummer (Fela Kuti and Afrika '70, The Good, the Bad & the Queen)
** Óscar Chávez, 85, Mexican pop singer
** Sam Lloyd, 56, American a cappella singer (The Blanks)

#### Date unknown

* Ceybil Jefferies, American house and R&B singer

### May

* 1
** Richard Cole, 72, American jazz saxophonist
** Tavo Limongi, 52, Mexican nu metal guitarist (Resorte)
* 2
** Cady Groves, 30, American country singer-songwriter
** Idir, 70, Algerian folk singer-songwriter
** Jonathan Kelly, 72, Irish folk rock singer-songwriter
** Erwin Prasetya, 48, Indonesian alternative rock bassist (Dewa 19)
* 3
** Rosalind Elias, 90, American opera singer
** Dave Greenfield, 71, British punk and new wave keyboardist (The Stranglers)
** Bob Lander, 78, Swedish rock singer and guitarist (The Spotnicks)
** Lorne Munroe, 95, Canadian-born American classical cellist
* 4
** John Erhardt, American indie rock musician (Wussy, Ass Ponys)
** Frederick C. Tillis, 90, American jazz saxophonist
** Dragan Vučić, 65, Macedonian pop singer
* 5
** Sweet Pea Atkinson, 74, American dance-rock singer (Was (Not Was))
** Sonny Cox, 82, American jazz saxophonist
** Didi Kempot, 53, Indonesian campursari singer
** Ciro Pessoa, 62, Brazilian post-punk singer-songwriter and guitarist (Titãs, Cabine C)
** Kiing Shooter, 24, American rapper
** Millie Small, 73, Jamaican ska and reggae singer-songwriter
* 6
** Norbert Balatsch, 92, Austrian choral conductor
** Brian Howe, 66, British rock singer-songwriter (Bad Company)
* 7
** İbrahim Gökçek, 41, Turkish folk rock bassist (Grup Yorum)
** Andre Harrell, 59, American record producer, songwriter, rapper (Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde), and founder of Uptown Records
** Ty, 47, British rapper
* 8 – Mark Barkan, 85, American songwriter, record producer, and musical director for The Banana Splits Adventure Hour
* 9
** Joe Hupp, 78, American rock musician (The Smoke Ring)
** Little Richard, 87, American rock and roll singer and pianist
* 10
** David Corrêa, 82, Brazilian samba singer
** Betty Wright, 66, American soul and R&B singer and songwriter
* 11 – Moon Martin, 74, American rockabilly singer-songwriter and guitarist
* 12 – Takami Asano, Japanese psychedelic rock guitarist (Godiego)
* 13
** Gabriel Bacquier, 95, French opera singer
** Yoshio, 60, Mexican pop singer
* 14 – Jorge Santana, 68, Mexican rock guitarist (Malo, Santana)
* 15
** Denny DeMarchi, 57, Canadian rock keyboardist (Alias, The Cranberries)
** Sergio Denis, 71, Argentine pop singer
** Phil May, 75, British rock singer-songwriter (Pretty Things)
* 17
** Lucky Peterson, 55, American blues singer, guitarist and organist
** Peter Thomas, 94, German film composer
* 19 – Willie K, 59, American folk ukuleleist
* 21
** Berith Bohm, 87, Swedish opera singer
** Bobby Digital, 59, Jamaican dancehall producer
** Neil Howlett, 85, British opera singer
* 22
** Steve Hanford, 50, American punk rock drummer (Poison Idea)
** Mory Kanté, 70, Guinean folk singer and kora player
** KJ Balla, 23, American rapper
** Klaus Selmke, 70, German rock drummer (City)
* 24
** Jimmy Cobb, 91, American jazz drummer (Miles Davis Quintet)
** Lily Lian, 103, French pop singer
** Al Rex, 91, American rock and roll bassist (Bill Haley & His Comets)
* 25 – Bucky Baxter, 65, American folk and rock guitarist
* 26
** Brendan Bowyer, 81, Irish rock and roll singer
** Charlie Monttana, 58, Mexican rock singer
** Lennie Niehaus, 90, American jazz saxophonist and film composer
* 27 – Evaldo Gouveia, 91, Brazilian MPB singer
* 28 – Bob Kulick, 70, American hard rock guitarist (Balance, Kiss, W.A.S.P.)
* 30
** Mady Mesplé, 89, French opera singer
** John Nzenze, 79–80, Kenyan rock and jazz guitarist
* 31
** Bob Northern, 86, American jazz French hornist
** Kjeld Wennick, 76, Danish banjoist and singer (Jan & Kjeld)

### June

* 1
** Majek Fashek, 57, Nigerian reggae singer and songwriter
** Joey Image, 63, American punk rock drummer (Misfits)
* 2 – Chris Trousdale, 34, American pop singer (Dream Street)
* 4
** Marcello Abbado, 93, Italian classical pianist and composer
** Rupert Hine, 72, British jazz-rock singer and keyboardist (Quantum Jump)
** Steve Priest, 72, British glam rock guitarist (The Sweet)
* 5 – Marjan, 72, Iranian pop singer
* 7
** Frank Bey, 74, American blues singer
** Floyd Lee, 86, American blues singer and guitarist
* 8
** James Hand, 67, American country singer
** Bonnie Pointer, 69, American R&B singer (The Pointer Sisters)
* 9
** Paul Chapman, 66, Welsh hard rock guitarist (UFO, Lone Star)
** Pau Donés, 53, Spanish pop rock singer-songwriter and guitarist (Jarabe de Palo)
* 12
** Dodo Doris, 71, Congolese soukous drummer (Orchestra Super Mazembe)
** Ricky Valance, 84, Welsh pop singer
* 14
** Keith Tippett, 72, British free jazz and progressive rock pianist (King Crimson, Centipede)
* 15
** Rocky Isaac, 73, American pop-rock drummer (The Cherry People)
** Nana Tuffour, 66, Ghanaian highlife singer
* 16 – Yohan, 28, South Korean K-pop singer (TST)
* 17 – Hugh Fraser, 67, Canadian jazz pianist and trombonist
* 18
** Hux Brown, 75, Jamaican reggae guitarist (Toots and the Maytals)
** Vera Lynn, 103, British pop singer
* 19 – A. L. Raghavan, 86, Indian playback singer
* 20 – Aaron Tokona, 45, New Zealand alternative rock guitarist (Weta, Cairo Knife Fight, Fly My Pretties)
* 21
** Jeet Singh Negi, 95, Indian folk singer-songwriter
** Joan Pau Verdier, 73, French nòva cançon singer
* 23 – Margarita Pracatan, 89, Cuban novelty singer
* 24
** Michael Hawley, 58, American classical pianist and academic
** Claude Le Péron, 72, French rock bassist
* 25
** Huey, 32, American rapper
** Graeme Williamson, Canadian new wave singer and guitarist (Pukka Orchestra)
* 26 – Tami Lynn, 81, American soul singer
* 27
** Pete Carr, 70, American rock, pop and soul guitarist (Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Hour Glass, LeBlanc & Carr)
** Freddy Cole, 88, American jazz singer and pianist
** Tom Finn, 71, American baroque pop guitarist (The Left Banke)
** Mats Rådberg, 72, Swedish country singer and guitarist
* 28 – Simon H. Fell, 61, British jazz bassist
* 29
** Steppa J. Groggs, 32, American rapper (Injury Reserve)
** Johnny Mandel, 94, American jazz and film composer
** Benny Mardones, 73, American soft rock singer-songwriter
** Willie Wright, 80, American soul singer

### July

* 1
** Max Crook, 83, American pop rock keyboardist
** Joe Penny, 92, American country music singer
* 3 – J. Marvin Brown, 66, American soul singer (The Softones)
* 5
** Cleveland Eaton, 80, American jazz bassist (Ramsey Lewis Trio)
** John Marascalco, 89, American songwriter and record producer
* 6
** Charlie Daniels, 83, American country singer-songwriter and fiddler
** Andrew Kishore, 64, Bangladeshi playback singer
** Ennio Morricone, 91, Italian film composer
* 8 – Naya Rivera, 33, American pop singer and actress
* 10 – Eddie Gale, 78, American jazz trumpeter (Sun Ra's Arkestra)
* 11
** Gabriella Tucci, 90, Italian opera singer
** Rich Priske, 52, Canadian rock bassist (Matthew Good Band)
* 12
** Rod Bernard, 79, American swamp pop singer
** Judy Dyble, 71, British folk singer-songwriter and autoharpist (Fairport Convention, Trader Horne)
** Eleanor Sokoloff, 106, American classical pianist
* 14
** J. J. Lionel, 72, Belgian pop singer
** Raúl Pagano, Argentine rock keyboardist (Bersuit Vergarabat)
* 16
** Ken Chinn, 57, Canadian punk rock singer (SNFU)
** Jamie Oldaker, 68, American country drummer (The Tractors)
** Víctor Víctor, 71, Dominican folk singer and guitarist
* 18 – Haruma Miura, 30, Japanese pop singer and actor
* 19 – Emitt Rhodes, 70, American pop rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (The Merry-Go-Round, The Palace Guard)
* 21
** Dobby Dobson, 77, Jamaican reggae singer
** Annie Ross, 89, British-American jazz singer (Lambert, Hendricks & Ross)
** Mieko Hirota, 73, Japanese kayokyoku singer
* 22 – Tim Smith, 59, British progressive rock singer and guitarist (Cardiacs, The Sea Nymphs, Spratleys Japs)
* 24 – Regis Philbin, 88, American television personality and singer
* 25
** Peter Green, 73, English blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist (Fleetwood Mac)
** CP Lee, 70, British comedy rock singer and guitarist (Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias)
* 27
** Denise Johnson, 56, British alternative rock singer (Primal Scream)
** Miss Mercy, 71, American psychedelic rock singer (The GTOs)
* 28
** Pepe Cardona, 72, American pop-rock singer (Alive 'N Kickin')
** Bent Fabric, 95, Danish classical pianist and composer
* 29
** Balla Sidibé, 79, Senegalese son cubano singer and timbalero (Orchestra Baobab)
** Malik B., 47, American rapper (The Roots)
* 30
** Randy Barlow, 77, American country singer
** Sonam Tshering Lepcha, 92, Indian folk singer
* 31 – Bill Mack, 88, American country singer-songwriter

### August

* 2
** Leon Fleisher, 92, American classical pianist
** Steve Holland, 66, American Southern rock guitarist (Molly Hatchet, Gator Country)
** Larry Novak, 87, American jazz pianist
* 4
** Tony Costanza, 52, American heavy metal drummer (Machine Head, Crowbar)
* 5
** Agathonas Iakovidis, 65, Greek folk singer
** Jan Savage, 77, American garage rock guitarist (The Seeds)
* 6
** Wayne Fontana, 74, British pop singer (The Mindbenders)
** Vern Rumsey, 47, American post-hardcore and indie rock bassist (Unwound, Blonde Redhead, Household Gods)
* 7 – Mark Wirtz, 76, French pop singer
* 9
** Salome Bey, 80, American-born Canadian soul singer
** Martin Birch, 71, British music producer and recording engineer
* 10 – Don Martin, New Zealand new wave bassist (Mi-Sex)
* 11
** Belle du Berry, 54, French chanson singer (Paris Combo)
** Pat Fairley, 76, Scottish pop rock singer and bassist (Marmalade)
** Trini Lopez, 83, American pop singer
* 13 – Steve Grossman, 69, American jazz fusion saxophonist
* 14
** Julian Bream, 87, British classical guitarist
** Ewa Demarczyk, 79, Polish cabaret singer and poet
** Valentina Legkostupova, 54, Russian pop singer
** Pete Way, 69, English rock bassist (UFO, Waysted, Fastway)
* 16 – Emman, 21, Filipino pop singer
* 17 – Jasraj, 90, Indian classical singer
* 18
** Ron Heathman, American rock guitarist (Supersuckers)
** Sean Pentecost, Australian alternative metal drummer (Superheist)
** Hal Singer, 100, American jazz saxophonist and bandleader
* 19
** Randall Craig Fleischer, 61, American classical conductor
** Todd Nance, 57, American jam band drummer (Widespread Panic)
* 20
** Frankie Banali, 68, American hard rock drummer (Quiet Riot, W.A.S.P.)
** Justin Townes Earle, 38, American folk singer-songwriter
** Mike Kirkland, 82, American folk musician (The Brothers Four)
** Jack Sherman, 64, American funk rock guitarist (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
** Piotr Szczepanik, 78, Polish pop singer
* 22
** Walter Lure, 71, American punk rock guitarist (The Heartbreakers)
** D. J. Rogers, 72, American soul singer
* 23
** Peter King, 80, American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist
** Charlie Persip, 91, American jazz drummer
* 24 – Riley Gale, 34, American thrash metal singer (Power Trip)
* 25
** Georges Bœuf, 82, French opera composer and saxophonist
** Mick Hart, Australian folk singer
** Gerry McGhee, 58, British-Canadian hard rock singer (Brighton Rock)
* 27
** Archana Mahanta, 71, Indian folk singer
** Mike Noga, 43, Australian alternative rock drummer (The Drones, Legends of Motorsport)

### September

* 1
** John Meyer, 67, Australian rock slide guitarist (Rose Tattoo, Chain)
** Ian Mitchell, 62, British pop rock bassist (Bay City Rollers)
** Erick Morillo, 49, Colombian-American house and eurodance DJ (Reel 2 Real)
* 2 – Alexander Priko, 46, Russian pop rock keyboardist (Laskovyi Mai)
* 3 – Bill Pursell, 94, American easy listening composer
* 4
** Gary Peacock, 85, American jazz double-bassist
** Lucille Starr, 82, Canadian country singer
* 6 – Bruce Williamson, 49, American R&B singer (The Temptations)
* 7 – Xavier Ortiz, 48, Mexican pop singer (Garibaldi)
* 8
** Simeon Coxe, 82, American electronic rock singer and synthesizer player (Silver Apples)
** Vexi Salmi, 77, Finnish pop rock lyricist
* 9
** Ronald Bell, 68, American funk saxophonist (Kool & The Gang)
** Sid McCray, American punk rock singer (Bad Brains)
* 10 – Danny Webster, 61, American funk singer and guitarist (Slave)
* 11
** Toots Hibbert, 77, Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter (Toots & The Maytals)
** Reggie Johnson, 79, American jazz bassist
* 12 – Edna Wright, 76, American R&B singer (Honey Cone)
* 14
** Al Kasha, 83, American pop songwriter
** Peter Starkie, 72, Australian rock guitarist (Skyhooks, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons)
* 16 – Roy C, 81, American soul singer
* 18
** Georgia Dobbins, 78, American R&B singer (The Marvelettes) and songwriter
** Pamela Hutchinson, 62, American R&B singer (The Emotions)
* 19
** Lee Kerslake, 73, British hard rock drummer (Uriah Heep, Ozzy Osbourne, Toe Fat)
** Dave Kusworth, 60, British indie rock singer (Jacobites)
* 21
** Hamdi Benani, 77, Algerian pop singer and violinist
** Tommy DeVito, 92, American pop singer and guitarist (The Four Seasons)
** Roy Head, 79, American country singer-songwriter
** Ira Sullivan, 89, American jazz trumpeter
* 23
** Juliette Gréco, 93, French chanson singer
** W. S. Holland, 85, American country drummer (The Tennessee Three, The Great Eighties Eight)
* 24 – Max Merritt, 79, New Zealand soul singer-songwriter and guitarist
* 25 – S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, 74, Indian playback singer
* 26
** Masayoshi Kabe, 70, Japanese rock guitarist and bassist (The Golden Cups, Speed, Glue & Shinki, Vodka Collins)
** Mark Stone, American hard rock bassist (Van Halen)
** Jimmy Winston, 75, British rock keyboardist (Small Faces)
* 28 – Jackie Dennis, 77, Scottish pop singer
* 29
** Mac Davis, 78, American country singer-songwriter
** Rocco Prestia, 69, American funk bassist (Tower of Power)
** Helen Reddy, 78, Australian-American pop singer

### October

* 2 – Lisa Schouw, Australian pop singer (Girl Overboard)
* 3
** Karel Fiala, 95, Czech opera singer
** Anthony Galindo, 41, Venezuelan pop singer (Menudo, MDO)
* 6
** Johnny Nash, 80, American pop and reggae singer-songwriter
** Eddie Van Halen, 65, Dutch-born American hard rock guitarist and keyboardist (Van Halen)
* 7 – Ray Pennington, 86, American country singer-songwriter
* 8
** Brian Locking, 81, British rock and roll bassist (The Shadows)
** Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, 80, Iranian classical singer
* 9
** David Refael ben Ami, 70, Israeli religious singer
** Pierre Kezdy, 58, American punk rock bassist (Naked Raygun, Pegboy, Strike Under)
* 11
** Harold Betters, 92, American jazz trombonist
** Rajan, 87, Indian film composer (Rajan–Nagendra)
* 12
** Jon Gibson, 80, American minimalist multi-instrumentalist (Philip Glass Ensemble)
** Kim Massie, 62, American blues and soul singer
* 13 – Saint Dog, 44, American rapper (Kottonmouth Kings)
* 14 – Paul Matters, Australian hard rock bassist (AC/DC)
* 15 – Dave Munden, 76, British rock and roll drummer (The Tremeloes)
* 16
** Johnny Bush, 85, American country singer-songwriter
** Gordon Haskell, 74, British progressive rock and jazz singer and bassist (King Crimson, The Fleur de Lys)
** P. S. Narayanaswamy, 86, Indian Carnatic singer
* 17 – Toshinori Kondo, 71, Japanese jazz trumpeter
* 18
** Alfredo Cerruti, 78, Italian comedy rock musician and producer (Squallor)
** Naâma, 84, Tunisian pop singer
** José Padilla, 64, Spanish ambient DJ and producer
** Maisa Tsuno, 29, Japanese indie rock guitarist (Akai Ko-en)
** Chet "JR" White, 40, American indie rock bassist (Girls)
* 19
** Spencer Davis, 81, Welsh rock guitarist (The Spencer Davis Group)
** Tony Lewis, 62, British pop rock singer and guitarist (The Outfield)
* 21
** Zero Babu, 80, Indian playback and Carnatic singer
** Viola Smith, 107, American swing and classical drummer
* 22
** Margie Bowes, 79, American country singer
** K. Deep, 79, Burmese folk singer
* 23 – Jerry Jeff Walker, 78, American country singer-songwriter
* 25
** Dolores Abril, 81, Spanish copla singer
** Jan Boerman, 97, Dutch electronic composer
** Rosanna Carteri, 89, Italian opera singer
** Mahesh Kanodia, 83, Indian Gujarati film singer
* 26 – Stan Kesler, 92, American rock and roll guitarist and songwriter
* 28
** Cano Estremera, 62, Puerto Rican salsa singer
** Billy Joe Shaver, 81, American country singer-songwriter
* 29 – Denise Ferri, 76, American pop singer (The Delicates)
* 30 – Božidar Tanaskovic, Serbian alternative rock bassist (Bjesovi)
* 31
** Rance Allen, 71, American gospel singer, guitarist and keyboardist (The Rance Allen Group)
** Marc Fosset, 71, French jazz guitarist
** MF Doom, 49, British-American rapper (KMD, Madvillain)

### November

* 1
** Pedro Iturralde, 91, Spanish jazz saxophonist
** Phil K, 51, Australian electronic DJ (Lostep)
** Nikki McKibbin, 42, American pop rock singer
** Ronnie Peel, Australian rock guitarist (The La De Da's, Thunderclap Newman)
** Esteban Santos, 69, Spanish pop singer (Bravo)
* 2 – T. N. Krishnan, 92, Indian Carnatic violinist
* 4 – Ken Hensley, 75, British rock singer, keyboardist and guitarist (Uriah Heep, Toe Fat, The Gods)
* 5
** Len Barry, 78, American soul singer
** Reynaert, 65, Belgian pop singer
** Ossi Runne, 93, Belgian pop trumpeter and conductor
* 6
** Stefano D'Orazio, 72, Italian pop drummer (Pooh)
** King Von, 26, American rapper
** Jim Radford, 92, British folk singer-songwriter
** Timur Selçuk, 74, Turkish pop singer and pianist
* 7
** Cándido Camero, 99, Cuban jazz percussionist
** Bones Hillman, 62, New Zealand alternative rock bassist (Midnight Oil, The Swingers, Suburban Reptiles)
* 8 – Oscar Benton, 71, Dutch blues singer
* 10 – Alec Baillie, American punk rock bassist (Choking Victim, Leftöver Crack)
* 11
** Adrian Cionco, 48, Argentine rock bassist (La Mosca Tsé - Tsé)
** MO3, 28, American rapper
** Andrew White, 78, American jazz saxophonist
* 12 – Jim Tucker, 74, American pop rock guitarist (The Turtles)
* 13
** Kićo Slabinac, 76, Croatian folk singer
** Doug Supernaw, 60, American country singer
* 14
** Des O'Connor, 88, English comedian and pop singer
** Eugenia Ratti, 87, Italian opera singer
* 16 – Bruce Swedien, 86, American recording engineer
* 18
** László Benkő, 77, Hungarian progressive rock keyboardist (Omega)
** Dominic Grant, 71, British pop singer (Guys 'n' Dolls)
** Tony Hooper, 81, British folk rock guitarist (Strawbs)
* 21 – Tamás Mihály, 73, Hungarian progressive rock bassist (Omega)
* 23 – Hal Ketchum, 67, American country singer-songwriter
* 25
** Duris Maxwell, 74, Canadian rock drummer
** Flor Silvestre, 90, Mexican ranchera and huapango singer and actress
** Camilla Wicks, 92, American classical violinist
* 26
** Allan Botschinsky, 80, Danish jazz trumpeter
** Cecilia Fusco, 87, Italian opera singer
** Jamir Garcia, 42, Filipino nu metal singer (Slapshock)
* 28 – Piotr Strojnowski, 62, Polish reggae singer and guitarist (Daab)
* 29 – Miša Aleksić, 67, Serbian hard rock bassist (Riblja Čorba)
* 30 – Jack Wray, 81, American doo-wop singer (The Earls)

### December

* 1 – Dan Morrison, Australian ska punk drummer (Area-7)
* 2
** Volodymyr Huba, 81, Ukrainian film composer
** Ron Mathewson, 76, British jazz bassist
* 3 – André Gagnon, 84, Canadian pianist, composer, and arranger
* 4 – Kenny Jeremiah, 78, American garage-rock singer (Soul Survivors)
* 6 – Džej Ramadanovski, 56, Serbian folk pop singer
* 7
** LD Beghtol, 55, American experimental rock singer and multi-instrumentalist (LD & the New Criticism, Flare Acoustic Arts League, The Magnetic Fields)
** Howard Wales, 77, American jazz and rock keyboardist
* 8 – Harold Budd, 84, American avant-garde composer and poet
* 9
** Sean Malone, 50, American progressive rock bassist (Gordian Knot, Cynic)
** Jason Slater, 49, American alternative rock bassist (Third Eye Blind, Snake River Conspiracy, Brougham)
* 10 – Kenneth Alwyn, 95, British classical composer and conductor
* 11 – Ubirany, 80, Brazilian samba hand-repique player (Fundo de Quintal)
* 12 – Charley Pride, 86, American country singer
* 13 – Andrey Sapunov, 64, Russian rock guitarist and bassist (Voskreseniye)
* 14 – Paulinho, 68, Brazilian soft rock singer (Roupa Nova)
* 15
** Albert Griffiths, 74, Jamaican reggae singer and guitarist (The Gladiators)
** Corlynn Hanney, 75, American pop-soul singer (The Groop)
** Sam Jayne, 46, American indie rock singer and guitarist (Love as Laughter, Lync)
* 16 – Carl Mann, 78, American rockabilly singer
* 17
** Jeff Clayton, 66, American jazz saxophonist
** Stanley Cowell, 79, American jazz pianist (Heath Brothers)
* 19
** Pelle Alsing, 60, Swedish pop rock drummer (Roxette)
** Clay Anthony, 61, American hard rock bassist (Junkyard)
** Pepe Salvaderi, Italian rock guitarist (Dik Dik)
* 20 – Chad Stuart, 79, British folk-pop singer and guitarist (Chad & Jeremy)
* 21 – K. T. Oslin, 78, American country singer-songwriter
* 23
** John “Ecstasy” Fletcher, 56, American rapper (Whodini)
** Leslie West, 75, American hard rock singer and guitarist (Mountain, West, Bruce and Laing, The Vagrants)
* 24
** Ivry Gitlis, 98, Israeli classical violinist
** Mojmir Sepe, 90, Slovenian classical composer and conductor
** Geoff Stephens, 86, English songwriter and record producer, founder of The New Vaudeville Band
* 25 – Tony Rice, 69, American bluegrass guitarist (New South)
* 26 – Tito Rojas, 65, Puerto Rican salsa singer
* 27 – Richard Lewis Spencer, 78, American funk and soul singer and saxophonist (The Winstons)
* 28
** Paul-Heinz Dittrich, 90, German composer
** Armando Manzanero, 85, Mexican Mayan musician
* 29
** Claude Bolling, 90, French jazz pianist and composer
** Hugh X. Lewis, 90, American country music singer-songwriter
** Phyllis McGuire, 89, American pop singer (The McGuire Sisters)
** Rudy Salas, 72, American R&B and soul guitarist (El Chicano, Tierra)
* 30
** Frank Kimbrough, 64, American jazz pianist
** Alto Reed, 72, American rock saxophonist (Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band)
** Eugene Wright, 97, American jazz bassist (Dave Brubeck Quartet)