Celebrities who died too young - NBC Montana Celebrities who died too young Posted: Jul 20, 2016 02:47 AM MDT Updated: Oct 04, 2016 01:00 PM MDT Celebrities who died too young By National General Pictures (eBay front back) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Actor Bruce Lee died from an allergic reaction to a painkiller on July 20, 1973, at age 32. He is considered the greatest icon of martial arts cinema, and is known for his roles in "Enter the Dragon" and "Fists of Fury," among others. Raised in Hong Kong, Lee came to America at age 18 and made a career teaching martial arts before he became an actor. Larry Busacca/Getty Images Scott Weiland, whose career as the lead singer of the Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver was overshadowed by his unending battle with drug addiction, died at age 48 on Dec. 3, 2015, while on tour with his latest band, The Wildabouts.

Weiland was found dead on his tour bus in Bloomington, Minnesota, with his cause of death later announced as an accidental drug overdose. Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Bing Former A Tribe Called Quest rapper Phife Dawg died of complications from diabetes at age 45 on March 22, 2016. Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images Paul Walker, who shot to fame as star of the high-octane street racing franchise "Fast & Furious," died in a fiery car crash in Southern California on Nov. 30, 2013. The 40-year-old actor was in the passenger seat of a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT driven by racing team partner Roger Rodus, who also died in the crash, that slammed into a light pole and burst into flames in an office park in the community of Valencia in Santa Clarita, about 30 miles north of Hollywood. Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images For The BFI Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on Feb. 2, 2014, of a drug overdose.

Authorities said Hoffman, 46, was found on the bathroom floor and that heroin and prescription medications were also discovered at the scene. The New York City medical examiner's office later ruled Hoffman's death an accident caused by "acute mixed drug intoxication, including heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine." Hoffman won an Academy Award for Best Actor for the 2005 biopic "Capote" and also earned Oscar nominations for his roles in "Charlie Wilson's War," "Doubt" and "The Master." He also starred in movies such as "Twister," "Boogie Nights," "The Big Lebowski," "Almost Famous," "Mission: Impossible III," "Moneyball" and "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire." Peter Kramer/Getty Images Actor Heath Ledger, best known for his films "The Dark Knight" and "Brokeback Mountain," died from an accidental prescription drug overdose on Jan. 22, 2008, at age 28.

The Australia-born actor earned a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of The Joker in "The Dark Knight." Isaac Brekken/Getty Images "Glee" star Cory Monteith was found dead in a Vancouver hotel room at the age of 31 on July 13, 2013. Three days later the British Columbia Coroners Service announced his death was caused by "a mixed drug toxicity, involving heroin and alcohol." Monteith had a history of drug use, telling Parade magazine in 2011 that he used "anything and everything, as much as possible." He entered rehab at age 19, but it took a family ultimatum after stealing money from a relative to convince him to get clean. He entered rehab again in April 2013, about three months before his death. Brunswick Records via Wikimedia Commons Rock 'n' Roll pioneer Buddy Holly died at the age of 22 on Feb. 3, 1959, in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.

His successful career lasted less than two years and produced such hits as "That'll Be the Day," "Peggy Sue," "Everyday," "Maybe Baby" and "It's So Easy." That same plane crash also claimed the lives of Ritchie Valens, 17, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, 28. Valens had a recording career that lasted all of eight months, scoring several hits, including "La Bamba," and Richardson was a former disc jockey best known for his 1958 hit "Chantilly Lace." Decca Records via Wikimedia Commons Thursday marks 30 years since Ricky Nelson, the teen idol who rose to fame thanks to his role along with his family on "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," died when his private plane made an emergency landing and hit some trees near De Kalb, Texas, on Dec. 31, 1985. Nelson, who was one of seven killed in the incident, was 45 at the time. Take a look at some other celebs who died too young, some at the height of their careers.

Dina Regine/Wikimedia Commons Led Zeppelin drummer John "Bonzo" Bonham died on Sept. 25, 1980, of asphyxiation on his own vomit due to consumption of alcohol while sleeping at Jimmy Page's house in Clewer, Windsor, England. He was 32. The remaining members of the band would decide to disband in December 1980 rather than replace Bonham, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest drummers in the history of rock music. Don Hunstein via Wikimedia Commons Blues rock guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan was 35 when, on Aug. 27, 1990, he died when the helicopter he was riding crashed into the side of a ski hill after leaving a concert in East Troy, Wisconsin. RCA Records via Wikimedia Commons Cass Elliot, known as Mama Cass and a member of The Mamas & the Papas, died in her sleep from a heart attack at the age of 32 on July 29, 1974 in London, England.

Elektra Records via Wikimedia Commons The Doors lead singer Jim Morrison died of a heroin overdose at the age of 27 on July 3, 1971. Before his rise to fame, Morrison attended UCLA, where he was enrolled in the film program. Guitar hero Jimi Hendrix also died when he was 27. He was found dead in a London flat on Sept. 18, 1970, with an inquest later concluding that he had aspirated his own vomit and died of asphyxia while intoxicated with barbiturates. By Grossman Glotzer Management Corporation (eBay item photo front photo back) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Just 16 days after Hendrix's death, on Oct. 4, 1970, strong-voiced Janis Joplin also died at age 27. The official cause of death was an overdose of heroin, possibly combined with the effects of alcohol. Jean-Luc via Wikimedia Commons Keith Moon, the drummer for The Who, died from an accidental prescription drug overdose at the age of 32 in London on Sept. 7, 1978.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images Former Beatle John Lennon was 40 when Mark David Chapman shot him in the back four times on Dec. 8, 1980, as Lennon and wife Yoko Ono returned to their New York City apartment. Lennon was taken to the emergency room of the nearby Roosevelt Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival at 11:07 p.m. Matt Cardy/Getty Images Amy Winehouse, who won five Grammys for her 2006 album "Back to Black," was found dead on July, 23, 2011, at her home in London. A coroner later ruled the 27-year-old's cause of death to be alcohol poisoning. Warner Bros. via Wikimedia Commons Actor James Dean's short-lived career ended with his death in a car crash near Cholame, California, at age 24 on Sept. 30, 1955. He is best known for his starring role in "Rebel Without a Cause," in which he personified the restless American youth of the mid-'50s. His acting career only lasted a little over a year, but his three films and tragic car crash death made him an American legend.

Allan warren/Wikimedia Commons Fate wasn't kind to either of Dean's "Rebel" co-stars, including Natalie Wood, who died by accidental drowning while on a weekend trip to Santa Catalina Island at the age of 43 on Nov. 29, 1981. Allan warren via Wikimedia Commons Sal Mineo, another star of "Rebel Without a Cause," was stabbed to death in the alley behind his apartment building in West Hollywood on Feb. 12, 1976. He was 37 years old. Milton H. Greene via Wikimedia Commons Actress, model, showgirl, and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe died from an overdose of barbiturates at age 36 on Aug. 5, 1962. The photogenic actress made only 30 films in her lifetime, but still became a cultural icon and was nicknamed "The Blonde Bombshell." She was ranked as the sixth greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute in 1999.

By MGM Records [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Country legend Hank Williams, whose best-known songs include "Lovesick Blues," "Honky Tonkin'" and "Your Cheatin' Heart," died suddenly in the early morning hours of Jan. 1, 1953, at the age of 29 from heart failure brought on by pills and alcohol. He was riding in the backseat of a Cadillac somewhere in Virginia or West Virginia on the way to a New Year's Day show in Canton, Ohio, when he died. Decca Records via Wikimedia Commons Country singer Patsy Cline was 30 years old and at the peak of her fame when she died in a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee, on March 5, 1963, along with her manager Randy Hughes and long-time country musicians Hawkshaw Hawkins and Cowboy Copas. 20th Century Fox via Wikimedia Commons Actress and 1950s-era sex symbol Jayne Mansfield was 34 when she died in a June 29, 1967, automobile accident in Louisiana that also killed her boyfriend and the driver of the car.

Three of her children, including future actress Mariska Hargitay, who was 3 years old at the time, were also in the car but escaped with minor injuries. Elfast via Wikimedia Commons Bon Scott, the original lead singer for AC/DC, died from choking on his own vomit at the age of 33 in London, England, on Feb. 19, 1980. Scott had passed out after a night of drinking and had been left to sleep in a car owned by an acquaintance. The following morning he was found lifeless in the vehicle. The official cause of death was later listed as "acute alcohol poisoning" and "death by misadventure." While AC/DC considered breaking up after Scott's death, they instead recruited new singer Brian Johnson and released the album "Back in Black" as a tribute to Scott five months after his death. MCA Records via Wikimedia Commons Three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant (third from left), guitarist Steve Gaines (seated, second from right) and backup singer Cassie Gaines, were killed along with three others in a plane crash in Gillsburg, Mississippi, on Oct. 20, 1977.

Van Zant was 29, Steve Gaines was 28 and Cassie Gaines was 29. RCA Victor Records via Wikimedia Commons R&B singer Sam Cooke, whose hits included "Cupid," "You Send Me" and "Twistin' the Night Away," was shot and killed on Dec. 11, 1964, at the age of 33. Universal Studios Home Entertainment Image Actor, comedian and musician John Belushi died from a drug overdose at age 33 on March 5, 1982. He was well known for his acting roles in "The Blues Brothers" and "Animal House," and was a regular on the sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live." 20th Century Fox Actor Brandon Lee was 28 years old when he died in an accidental shooting during filming of his movie "The Crow" on March 31, 1993. He was best known for being the son of actor Bruce Lee, but was on the road to making a name for himself as an actor.

He signed a deal with 20th Century Fox in 1991 and landed his first starring role in 1992 in "Rapid Fire." Photo by Alan Light via Wikimedia Commons River Phoenix, the older brother of actor Joaquin Phoenix, collapsed and died of drug-induced heart failure on the sidewalk outside the West Hollywood nightclub The Viper Room at age 23 on Oct. 31, 1993. He began acting at age 10, and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Danny in "Running on Empty" in 1988. Jac. de Nijs via Wikimedia Commons Singer Florence Ballard, one of the founding members of the Motown group The Supremes, died Feb. 22, 1976, at age 32 in Detroit, Michigan, from cardiac arrest caused by a blood clot in one of her coronary arteries. She sang on 16 top 40 singles with The Supremes, including 10 No. 1 hits, before Motown founder Berry Gordy removed her from the group in 1967.

Ballard was posthumously inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Supremes in 1988. Paramount Pictures Popular comedian and actor Chris Farley was known for his skits on "Saturday Night Live," as well as his film roles, especially "Tommy Boy." He died from a drug overdose at age 33 on Dec. 18, 1997. MGM via Wikimedia Commons Comedian and actress Gilda Radner, best known as one of the original cast members of the sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live," died of ovarian cancer on May 20, 1989, at the age of 42 in Los Angeles. While on "Saturday Night Live," Radner created recurring characters such as obnoxious personal advice expert Roseanne Roseannadanna, the Barbara Walters parody "Baba Wawa," and Emily Litella, an elderly hearing-impaired woman who gave angry and misinformed editorial replies on the "Weekend Update" segment. She met actor Gene Wilder while filming the 1982 comedy "Hanky Panky" and the two were later married.

She also starred with Wilder in the movies "The Woman in Red" and "Haunted Honeymoon" (pictured), her last role prior to her death. Stax Records via Wikimedia Commons R&B and soul legend Otis Redding was only 26 when his plane crashed into Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin, on Dec. 10, 1967. Columbia Pictures Michael Jackson was preparing for a worldwide comeback tour when he died in June 2009 at age 50. Warner Home Video Image "Wizard of Oz" star Judy Garland had a long struggle with alcohol and drug use during most of her career, dying of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 47 on June 22, 1969. Public domain Actor Brad Renfro, who made his film debut at the age of 11 in the lead role of "The Client," died of heroin overdose on Jan. 15, 2008, at the age of 25 in Los Angeles.

Renfro, seen here in a 2000 mugshot following an arrest in Florida, also appeared in movies such as "Sleepers," "Apt Pupil" and "Deuces Wild." Ingrid Croce via Wikimedia Commons Singer-songwriter Jim Croce, known for such songs as "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and "Time in a Bottle," died along with five others in a plane crash in Natchitoches, Louisiana, on Sept. 20, 1973. Croce was 30. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons Jimmie Rodgers, one of the first country music superstars and pioneers, died May 26, 1933, from a pulmonary hemorrhage at age 35 in New York City. Rodgers, whose hits included "Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)," "Blue Yodel No. 9," "In the Jailhouse Now," "No Hard Times" and "T.B.

Blues," was also known as "The Singing Brakeman," "The Blue Yodeler" and "The Father of Country Music." He began performing in his early teens before working on the railroad as a water boy and brakeman, but his railroad career was cut short when he contracted tuberculosis at age 27. When the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1961, Rodgers was one of the first three inductees. By General Artists Corporation (management) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Singer and actor Bobby Darin, a 1950s teen idol best known for the songs "Splish Splash," "Dream Lover", "Mack the Knife" and "Beyond the Sea," died at age 37 on Dec. 20, 1973, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after undergoing surgery to repair two artificial heart valves he had received in January 1971. Library of Congress Singer and musician Nat King Cole, known for his soft, baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres, died of lung cancer on Feb.

15, 1965, at the age of 49 in Santa Monica, California. Some of Cole's best known songs include "Unforgettable," "Straighten Up and Fly Right," "The Christmas Song," "Nature Boy," "Mona Lisa," "Too Young" and "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer." Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images Actress Brittany Murphy, best known for her role in the 1995 comedy "Clueless," died at age 32 after collapsing in her Los Angeles home on Dec. 20, 2009. The Los Angeles County coroner later ruled that the primary cause of Murphy's death was pneumonia, with secondary factors of iron-deficiency anemia and multiple drug intoxication of over-the-counter and prescription medications. Warner Bros. Pictures via Wikimedia Commons Actor John Garfield, known for movies such as "Four Daughters," "They Made Me a Criminal," "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and "Gentleman's Agreement," died May 21, 1952, of a heart attack at the age of 39 in New York City.

Garfield earned Academy Award nominations for his performances in "Four Daughters" and "Body and Soul" and was known for playing brooding, rebellious, working-class characters and his method acting. Called to testify before the U.S. Congressional House Committee on Un-American Activities in the late 1940s, he denied Communist affiliation and refused to "name names," effectively ending his film career. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons Actress Jean Harlow, who became a 1930s sex symbol and is considered among the greatest movie stars despite her short career, died of kidney failure at age 26 in Los Angeles on June 7, 1937. Harlow's first major role was a starring turn in the Howard Hughes-directed "Hell's Angels" in 1930. She went on to star in a string of hit films as a leading lady for MGM, including "Red Dust," "Dinner at Eight," "Reckless" and "Suzy." Distributed by LAKANA. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Music star dies in Wisconsin plane crash - Dec 10, 1967 - HISTORY.com Music star dies in Wisconsin plane crash Share this: Music star dies in Wisconsin plane crash Author Music star dies in Wisconsin plane crash URL Publisher A+E Networks A plane crash in Madison, Wisconsin, kills soul singer Otis Redding and members of the Bar-Kays band on this day in 1967. The plane crashed into Lake Monona, several miles from the Madison airport. One survivor, Ben Cauley of the Bar-Kays, later reported that he had been asleep until just before the crash. He saw his friend in the band, Phalon Jones, look out the window of the small plane and exclaim “Oh no!” and, before he knew it, he was in a frigid lake holding onto a seat cushion. The following day, the lake was dragged and the bodies of the victims were recovered. A storm in Madison that day was a factor in the crash but the exact cause was never determined. Redding was not the only well-known singer to die in a plane crash. In 1959, Buddy Holly, along with the lesser known J.P.

“Big Bopper” Richardson and Ritchie Valens, were killed in a crash that is thought to have inspired Don McLean’s well-known song “American Pie.” Country singer Patsy Cline died in a 1963 crash. Ten years later, Jim Croce perished in one in Louisiana. Key members of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd died in an accident 1977. Singer John Denver was killed piloting his own plane in 1997. Four months after his death at the age of 26, Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ on the) Dock of the Bay,” the last song he ever recorded, reached the top spot on the pop music charts. It was his first No. 1 hit.

Related Videos Airplane crash page in Fuller Up, Dead Musician Directory Aaliyah : Age 22 (born: Aaliyah Haughton, New York 16 January 1979; died Marsh Harbour, the Bahamas 25 August 2001) , Aaliyah was at the forefront of the Nineties' mainstream acceptance of R&B which now sees acts like Destiny's Child and 3LW go straight into the US and UK pop charts. A teen idol who scored her first transatlantic hit with "Back and Forth" in 1994 at the age of 15 and remained a chart presence for the next seven years, she went on to model for the fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger and made her acting dï¿½but last year opposite the Chinese martial arts legend Jet Li in the film Romeo Must Die ... The rhythm 'n' blues singer was killed in a plane crash after a video shoot in the Bahamas. She was 22. NASSAU, Bahamas (CNN) -- The small aircraft that crashed...on the island of Abaco, killing singer Aaliyah and eight others, was overloaded by hundreds of pounds, officials said Thursday.

The extra weight -- and the way in which it was distributed -- most likely contributed to the plane's crash shortly after takeoff, said John Frank, executive director of the Cessna Pilots' Association...Immediately after the crash Saturday at Marsh Harbour airport, airport employees told CNN that baggage handlers and the pilot of the Cessna 402 had complained before takeoff that the aircraft was overloaded with luggage, but the passengers insisted on taking everything with them. Aaliyah (Limited Edition) The Bar-Kays': Jimmy King(b.1949; guitar), Ronnie Caldwell (b. 1948; organ), Phalin Jones (b. 1949; saxophone), and Carl Cunningham (b. 1949; drums). The Bar-Kays were employed as Otis Redding's backing group on tour, and the tragic plane crash in 1967, which took his life, also claimed King, Caldwell, Jones and Cunningham. James Alexander, who fortuitously missed the flight, put a new line-up together with Ben Cauley, the sole survivor of the accident. Interview with Ben Cauley / photo of plane: Big Bopper: Age 29 (b.

Jape Perry Richardson, 24 October 1930, Sabine Pass, Texas, USA, d.3 February 1959). After working as a disc jockey in Beaumont, Richardson won a recording contract with Mercury, releasing two unsuccessful singles in 1957. The following year, under his radio monicker The Big Bopper, he recorded the ebullient Chantilly Lace, a rock n roll classic, complete with blaring saxophone and an insistent guitar run. Backed with the satiric The Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor, the disc was a transatlantic hit. The follow up, Big Bopper's Wedding underlined the singer's love of novelty and proved popular enough to win him a place on a tour with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. On 3 February 1959, a plane carrying the three stars crashed , leaving no survivors. David Box: Age 22 (b. Harold David Box, Sulphur Springs on 11 August 1943; d. 23 October 1964) After the death of Buddy Holly, the Crickets used various lead singers on their records.

One was David Box who sang lead on the Crickets' recording of "Peggy Sue Got Married"...The song was among the last Cricket singles to be issued on Coral - and one of the very best released after Buddy died...David also worked with local band Buddy and the Kings. Buddy Groves vocal/guitar, Carl Banks bass and Bill Daniels presumably on drums. Daniels was a qualified pilot and the quartet hired a Cesna Skyhawk 172 to take them to a gig in Harris County on . The plane crashed nose first and overturned on the return flight. There were no survivers. Ozark Mountain Daredevils Former Ozark Mountain Daredevils member Stephen Canaday was killed Saturday (Sept. 25, 1999) when the vintage airplane in which he was riding crashed into a vacant house in Nashville. Witnesses to the crash attempted to perform CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Canaday, 55, but he died en route to a local hospital. Canadays companion in the plane, computer/software programmer Rick Loudermilk, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigating officials could not immediately determine the cause of the crash but said Canaday may have been shooting low-level aerial photographs from the North American SNJ-5, a single-engine training plane from the World War II era... Canaday, 55, joined the Ozark Mountain Daredevils in 1977. More recently, he had worked at a Nashville photographic-supply store and as a tour manager for country singer Lee Roy Parnell and Nashville folk-rocker Marshall Chapman. -- Brian Mansfield Bill Chase: Age 39 (b. 1935; d. 9 August 1974, Jackson, MN) In 1974, Chase chartered a plane to take him and three band members to a performance in Jackson, MN. The weather was bad with a low ceiling, and the airport in Jackson had little communications equipment. The plane went down, but was not found until the next day. There were no survivors. - Dick Cooper Chase's entire band lost their lives: (BILL CHASE, JOHN EMMA, WALLY YOHN and WALTER CLARK). Patsy Cline: Age 30 (b.

Virginia Patterson Hensley, 8 September 1932, Gore, near Winchester, Virginia, d. 5 March 1963). Patsy's manager, Randy Hughes, was the son-in-law of Cowboy Copas. In 1963 Randy flew Patsy to Kansas City for a benefit for the widow of a country disc jockey who had died in a car crash. The return journey was hampered by storms and poor visibility. On 5 March 1963 Patsy Cline , Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Randy Hughes were killed when their plane crashed in swamped woodlands in Camden, Tennessee , 85 miles from Nashville. Identification was difficult as only Patsy's shoulders, the back of her head and right arm were in one recognizable piece. Another country star, Jack Anglin, of the duo Johnny And Jack, was killed on the way to her funeral. Patsy's single at the time of her death was, ironically, Leavin' On Your Mind. Cowboy Copas: Age 49 (b. Lloyd Estel Copas, 15 July 1913, near Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA, d.

5 March 1963). Copas was raised on a small ranch and taught himself the fiddle and guitar before he was 10 years old. His son-in-law, Randy Hughes, also managed Patsy Cline and all three were killed, along with Hawkshaw Hawkins, in a plane crash on 5 March 1963. A few weeks later, Copas had a posthumous country hit with a record ironically entitled Goodbye Kisses. Jim Croce: Age 30 (b. 10 January 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, d. 20 September 1973). Originally a university disc jockey, Croce played in various rock bands before moving to New York in 1967 where he performed in folk clubs. By 1969, he and his wife, Ingrid , were signed to Capitol Records for APPROACHING DAY. The album's failure led to Croce returning to Pennsylvania and taking on work as a truck driver and telephone engineer. Meanwhile, he continued with songwriting and, after sending demo tapes to former college friend and New York record producer, Tommy West, Croce secured a new deal with the ABC label.

Croce's second album, YOU DON'T MESS AROUND WITH JIM, provided him with a US Top 10 hit in the title track and, along with Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels) helped establish Croce as a songwriter of distinction. In July 1973, he topped the US charts with the narrative Bad Bad Leroy Brown. Exactly two months later, he died in a plane crash at Natchitoches, Louisiana. when the chartered Beechcraft D-18 snagged the top of a pecan tree during take-off. link to buy: Jim Croce Complete d.12 October 1997, CA ). One of America's most popular performers during the '70s, Denver's rise to fame began when he was discovered in a Los Angeles night club. He initially joined the Back Porch Majority, a nursery group for the renowned New Christy Minstrels but, tiring of his role there, left for the Chad Mitchell Trio where he forged a reputation as a talented songwriter.

One of his compositions, Leaving On A Jet Plane, provided an international hit for Peter, Paul And Mary, and this evocative song was the highlight of Denver's debut album, RHYMES AND REASONS. He continued to enjoy a high profile throughout the rest of the decade and forged a concurrent acting career with his role in the film comedy OH, GOD with George Burns. However, although Denver became an unofficial musical ambassador with tours to Russia and China, his recording became less prolific as increasingly he devoted time to charitable work and ecological interests. A San Francisco television station reported that Denver may have crashed while trying to switch from one fuel tank to another. Both tanks were empty, KRON reported. Denver was killed instantly in the crash of the Long-EZ experimental airplane he was piloting on October 12 , in Monterey Bay shortly after take off. Denver, an experienced pilot, had taken delivery of the Y-shaped, futuristic looking plane just a day before the crash. link to: John Denver Books Jane Dornacker: Age 39 Tubes (b. 10/1/47, d.

10/22/86, NYC, NY) Jane sang with the Tubes (wrote and sang their quasi-hit "Don't Touch Me There"), and the performance-art group Leila and the Snakes (late '70s San Francisco - also featuring Pearl Harbor of Explosions fame)... well regarded standup comedienne, played Nurse Murch in the movie "The Right Stuff," mostly SF Bay Area centered but moved to New York City in the early '80s to do radio. She was killed in a helicopter crash over the Hudson River while doing a live traffic report. An audio clip of the broadcast is available at . ~Evan Hulka Carlos Gardel: Age 44 (Born in France 11 December 1890; Died: 24 June 1935) Buy Gardel music here Carlos Gardel arrived in Buenos Aires at the age of two. As a young man he became known in the clubs and cafï¿½s of the barrios (districts) in Buenos Aires, establishing a famous folk singing duo with Josï¿½ Razzano.

But it was in the 1920s, when he began to specialize in tango singing, that he rose to extraordinary fame...[Gardel was one of 17 killed when two Ford Tri Motor airplanes collided in midair over Medellin, Columbia. ~ John Kremer ] An orgy of grief swept from New York to Puerto Rico, and a woman in Havana suicided. Hordes of people thronged to pay their respects as the singer's body made the journey to its final resting place in a Buenos Aires cemetery, traveling via Colombia, New York and Rio de Janeiro. Instantly immortal and preserved forever young, his enduring fame is measured by the oft heard Argentine expression 'Gardel sings better every day'. Sixty years after his death, a devoted following keeps the legend blazing, playing Gardel's music daily, placing a lit cigarette in the hand of the life-sized statue which graces his tomb and keeping his few films in circulation. ~ Lizandro Llancafilo Bill Graham: Age 60 Promoter Bill Graham was the P.T. Barnum of rock and roll, an unparalleled showman who forever revolutionized the symbiotic relationship between artists and audiences.

A catalyst behind the rise of the San Francisco psychedelic scene of the late 1960s, he almost single- handedly pioneered the business of concert promotion, his fusion of theatricality and professionalism introducing new standards in sound, lighting and stage design. Famed for mixing acts of various musical and racial backgrounds on his bills, Graham nurtured the careers of superstars and cult favorites alike, his influence extending from small club dates to stadium tours and festivals; despite no musical talent of his own, he remains one of the truly seminal figures of the rock era...On the night of October 25, 1991, he and Bill Graham Presents staffers Steve Kahn and Melissa Gold were killed in a helicopter accident; a free concert dubbed "Laughter, Love and Music" soon followed in their honor, headlined by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Santana, Aaron Neville and comedian Robin Williams. At the time of his death, Graham was 60 years old. -- Jason Ankeny, All-Music Guide . To buy Bill Graham Presents: My Life inside Rock and Out Hawkshaw Hawkins: Age 41 (b.

Harold Franklin Hawkins, 22 December 1921, Huntingdon, West VA, d. 5 March 1963). In 1942, he performed on radio in Manila when stationed in the Phillippines. After his discharge, he signed with King Records and did well with Sunny Side Of The Mountain, which became his signature tune. In 1948 he became one of the first country artists to appear on network television. He had US country hits with Pan American, I Love You A Thousand Ways, I'm Just Waiting For You and Slow Poke In 1963 Hawkins released his best-known recording, Justin Tubb's song Lonesome 7-7203. The song entered the US country charts three days before Hawkins died on 5 March 1963 in a plane crash which also claimed Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas. Lonesome 7-7203 was his only number 1 record in the US country charts. His wife, country singer Jean Shepard, was pregnant at the time and their son was named Harold Franklin Hawkins II in his memory.

Barnes and Noble on Hawkins Buddy Holly: Age 22 (Charles Hardin Holley, 7 September 1936, Lubbock, Texas, d. 3 February 1959). Holly was one of the first major rock n roll groundbreakers, and one of its most influential artists. Holly was an initial inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. On the afternoon of 1 February his tour played in Green Bay, Wisconsin but an evening show was cancelled owing to bad weather. The 2 February date at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa went ahead. It was following this show that Holly, Valens and the Big Bopper chartered a small plane to take them to the next date in Moorhead, Minnesota, rather than travel on the tour bus, which had a defective heater and had previously broken down several times. Owing to the snowy weather the plane crashed minutes after takeoff, killing all three stars and the pilot. (The tour actually continued after their deaths, with Bobby Vee, Jimmy Clanton and Frankie Avalon filling in). Death certificate / C.A.B.

Accident Investigation Report Front page of newspaper for sale / To read more link to: Uncle Walt's Band (B. 1950 , D. May 11, 1996) Former Austinite Hyatt was one of the unfortunate souls aboard the Valujet flight that crashed into the Everglades. The 46 year-old singer-songwriter, who had been living in Nashville since the mid-'80s, was best known as the titular center of Uncle Walt's Band, the early '70s combo featuring Hyatt, Champ Hood and David Ball. Hyatt was an inspiration to, among others, Lyle Lovett, who returned the favor in 1989 by producing Hyatt's " King Tears " album for MCA. Hyatt's most recent album, " Music Town ," is on Sugar Hill Records; proceeds from the sale of that record (as well as two Uncle Walt's Band reissues ) will benefit Hyatt's wife and three daughters. Donations in his memory should be sent to the Second Presbyterian Church, c/o Hyatt Family Fund, 3511 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN 37215. ~By Jason Cohen Ronnie Van Zant : (d.

20 October 1977) With their tally of gold discs increasing each year and a series of sell-out tours, the band suffered an irrevocable setback in late 1977. On 20 October, Van Zant, Steve Gaines, his sister and backup singer, Cassie and manager Dean Kilpatrick were killed in a plane crash en route from Greenville, South Carolina to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (The twin-engine Convair 240 plane short of fuel crashed into a swamp in Gillsburg, MS). Gary Rossington, Allen Collins , Billy Powell and Leon Wilkenson were all seriously injured but eventually recovered. That same month, Lynyrd Skynyrd's new album STREET SURVIVORS was withdrawn as the sleeve featured a macabre design of the band surrounded by flames.

To read more link to: Lynyrd Skynyrd: An Oral History Dino Martin: Age 35 (Born: July 20, 1953 in Encino, CA ,Died: March 21, 1987 in Mount San Gorgonio, CA) Entertainer Dean Martin's son Dino Martin, who as member of '60s pop group Dino, Desi and Billy had a hit called " I'm a Fool ," killed in the crash [while flying] an Air National Guard [Phantom Fighter] jet in California's San Bernardino Mountains. ~ Washington Post Glenn Miller: Age 40 (Born: Mar 1, 1904 in Clarinda, IA, Died: Dec 15, 1944 in English Channel) Only Glenn Miller's decision to enlist in the Army stopped his orchestra's success. He did the near-impossible and organized the finest military jazz band ever heard, his Army Air Force Band .

By 1944, when it had relocated to London, it featured clarinetist Peanuts Hucko, pianist Mel Powell, drummer/singer Ray McKinley, trumpeter Bobby Nichols and sometimes a string section and a vocal group. Their version of " St. Louis Blues March " became famous and this group's broadcasts and radio transcriptions are well worth searching for. Glenn Miller flew across the English Channel in December 1944 with plans of setting up engagements on the Continent. His plane was shot down (quite possibly in error by the Allies) and lost. ~AMG or December 15, 1944 a cold, wet and foggy afternoon, Glenn Miller departed an RAF-Base, in England in a Norseman C-64 aircraft . The flight was to take Glenn Miller and other passengers to Paris. However, the flight never made it. It is believed the aircraft encountered icing conditions over the English Channel and crashed. Glenn Miller and his band had been performing for Allied Troops prior to the crash and was planning on putting on a show in Paris, France. ~ AVSTOP.com Grace Moore: Age 46 (born:5 Dec. 1901; died 26 Jan.

1947) Photo of Grace Grace Moore was a figure out of another era, almost a geological age's distance, in popular entertainment-an opera singer who found success on the silver screen and even charted some hit records. Her story is also one of the most compelling tales of success, defeat, redemption, and tragedy in the history of American entertainment. Born to the family of a travelling salesman (and later department store owner) in Tennessee, she developed a love of music, and, fueled by a magnificent voice, bluffed her way onto the Broadway stage. From an eventual star's berth at the Met, she jumped to motion pictures with the advent of the talkies, was destroyed at one studio by the pressures for success and then rescued, and given a whole second career on screen and the concert stage by the politics at another studio, only to die in an air crash a decade later.~ Bruce Eder AMG Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 26, 1947, Grace Moore boarded a KLM DC3 to fly to Stockholm. The aircraft taxied out to the runway and was cleared to takeoff. The aircraft rotated and climbed to an altitude of about 150 feet.

The aircraft stalled, crashed to the ground and exploded. On the evening before her death, Grace Moore had sung to a packed audience of more than 4000 people.~ avstop.com Rick Nelson: Age 45 (b. Eric Hilliard Nelson, 8 May 1940, Teaneck, New Jersey, d. 31 December 1985, De Kalb, Texas). One of his greatest moments as a pop singer occurred in the spring of 1961 when he issued the million-selling Travelin Man backed with the exuberant Gene Pitney composition Hello Mary Lou. Shortly after the single topped the US charts, Nelson celebrated his 21st birthday and announced that he was changing his performing name from Ricky to Rick. A performance at Madison Square Garden in late 1971 underlined Nelson's difficulties at the time. Although he had recently issued the accomplished RICK SINGS NELSON, on which he wrote every track, the audience were clearly more interested in hearing his early '60s hits. Nelson responded by composing the sarcastic Garden Party, which reaffirmed his determination to go his own way.

The single, ironically, went on to sell a million and was his last hit record. On 31 December 1985, a chartered plane carrying him to a concert date in Dallas caught fire and crashed near De Kalb, Texas. To buy the out of print: Teenage Idol Travellin' Man The Complete Biography of Rick Nelson by Bashe, P Maria Serrano-Serrano, and Nathaly van het Ende: Age 27 (November 24, 2001) Plane crash kills 24 in Switzerland --- By ERNST E. ABEGG - Associated Press Writer ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) - Workers combing through a muddy wood found the flight recorders from a Swiss airliner that crashed near Zurich, killing at least 10 people and leaving 14 others missing and feared dead, officials said Sunday. Nine people survived, two in critical condition...Three women from a German dance-music group, Passion Fruit, were also on board and at least one was believed to have survived, Scheding said. [A pop-music trio called Passion Fruit - two Dutch women and a German woman of Spanish origin, all 27 - was also on the plane.

Maria Serrano-Serrano and Nathaly van het Ende were killed, but Debby St. Marteen survived, said the band's manager, Georg Bergheim.] The plane crashed as it approached a nighttime landing strip...The runway is considered more difficult to approach than two others used previously, and the agreement with Germany allowed the use of those two runways in bad weather. Officials said the pilot did not request permission to switch runways. Rain mixed with snow was falling and visibility was poor when the Jumbolino went down just after 10 p.m. Airport officials said communication was normal until the plane suddenly disappeared from radar. The nine survivors walked from the wreckage and were met by rescue workers, said Zurich airport's chief medical officer, Remo Reichlin. Guenther said four were "well, considering the circumstances," three were in stable condition and two in critical condition. Grinderswitch (Died 8 Janurary 2000, Macon, GA) Longtime Allman Brothers Band guitar tech and former Grinderswitch bassist Joe Dan Petty was killed in a plane crash Saturday (1/8/00) near the Herbert Smart Airport in Macon, Georgia...

The accident occurred about 2:45 in the afternoon after the pilot reported fuel line problems and was attempting to land the aircraft in an opening. Also aboard the plane was an unidentified second person, thought to be a friend of Joe Dan's and fellow pilot. It's not clear who was piloting the plane at the time of the accident. Joe Dan received his pilot's license about a year ago and had owned the plane for two years... Grinderswitch: Working in the commercial shadow of better-known acts, they counted as fans members of the Marshall Tucker Band and a lot of other musicians who felt they deserved a break. The group failed to emerge as much more than a top regional act and an opener for the Allmans and Charlie Daniels, among others, despite recording seven album between 1972 and 1982, first for Capricorn and later for Atlantic. -- Bruce Eder, All Music Guide. Otis Redding: Age 26 (September 1941, Dawson, Georgia, USA, d. 10 December 1967). Photo of Otis The son of a Baptist minister, Redding assimilated gospel music during his childhood and soon became interested in jump blues and R&B.

He remained something of a cult figure until 1965 and the release of the magnificent OTIS BLUE in which original material nestled beside the Rolling Stones' Satisfaction and two songs by a further mentor, Sam Cooke. Redding's version of the Temptations' My Girl then became a UK hit, while the singer's popularity was further enhanced by the visit of the Hit The Road Stax revue in 1967. A triumphant appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival suggested that Redding was about to attract an even wider following but tragedy struck on 10 December 1967. The light aircraft in which he was travelling plunged into Lake Monona, Madison, Wisconsin, killing the singer, his valet, the pilot and four members of the Bar-Kays. The wistful (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay, a song Redding recorded just three days earlier, became his only million-seller and US pop number 1. To get the book Otis Redding: From Memphis to the Mainstream, Vol. 8 Jim Reeves: Age 40 (James Travis Reeves, b. 20 August 1923, Galloway, Texas, USA, d.

31 July 1964). His first singing work was with Moon Mullican's band in Beaumont, Texas and he worked as an announcer and singing disc jockey at KGRI in Henderson for several years. (Reeves bought the station in 1959). In November 1952 Reeves moved to KWKH in Shreveport, where his duties included hosting the "Louisiana Hayride." A land deal took him via private plane (he was a skilled amateur pilot) to Batesville, Arkansas, on July 30, 1964, with pianist Dean Manuel. On July 30, while approaching Nashville on his return, the plane ran into a rainstorm and disappeared from radar. Outside his Brentwood home, Marty Robbins heard something crash. It took two days to find the wreckage and the bodies. To get the book: Like a Moth to a Flame: The Jim Reeves Story Randy Rhoads: Age 25 (b. Randall William Rhoads, 6 Dec 1956, Santa Monica, CA, d. 19 March 1982).

Possibly one of the greatest hard rock guitarists America ever produced, Randy Rhoads would, had his life not been so tragically curtailed in a freak airplane accident, be talked about in the same breath as Eddie Van Halen or even Jimmy Page. Randy Rhoads was the talented heavy metal guitarist who helped put Ozzy Osbourne back on the charts in the early 1980's. Whilst en route to Florida for further live shows the tour bus made an unscheduled stop where the driver's friend had a small aeroplane. After taking up a couple of band members for a joy ride, Rhoads and a make-up girl were persuaded to enlist. The pilot, high on cocaine, seemingly aimed the aircraft at the empty tour bus and all passengers were killed. Barnes and Noble on Randy Rhoads Stan Rogers: Age 33 (Born:November 29, 1949 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Died: June 2 , 1983) Stan Rogers came from Hamilton, Ontario, a six-foot-four poet who started out as a rock bassist before turning to folk music.

With his rich voice, he used his music to call to life all of the wonder and mysticism of his native Canada. His singing is occasionally mistaken for that of Gordon Lightfoot, but it's huskier and earthier than Lightfoot's, and his repertoire -- made up of song cycles drawn from throughout Canada -- is also more tradition-oriented and more mystical. Rogers died in a fire aboard an Air Canada flight in Cincinnati, OH, in June 1983, leaving behind a half-dozen albums. -- Bruce Eder, All-Music Guide On June 2, 1983, Rogers was headed home from the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas. A fire started in the restroom on Air Canada flight 797. It was forced to land in the Greater Cincinatti Airport. Rogers was one of 23 people who died of smoke inhalation. He was 33. ~Stephen Ide (steve@folkie.riva.com) This article ran in The Patriot Ledger La Bouche (b.

May 1967, South Carolina; died November 24, 2001, Switzerland) ZURICH (Reuters) - U.S.-born pop singer Melanie Thornton, on tour to publicize her solo album " Ready to Fly ,'' died on Saturday night in a Swiss plane crash near Zurich, police said Sunday. "It is true that Miss Thornton was on the passenger list. She is not among the survivors,'' Zurich police spokesman Karl Steiner told Reuters. Nine people survived out of the 33 aboard the Crossair jet and police said 24 were presumed dead. Melanie's latest single, "Wonderful Dream,'' is the song of a new Coca-Cola commercial and was due to be in stores starting Monday. Thornton, born in May 1967 in South Carolina, was for many years the voice of the group La Bouche with whom she had worldwide sales successes with songs such as ``Sweet Dreams,'' ''Fallin' In Love'' and ``Be My Lover.'' But their second album flopped and Thornton left the group in February 2000 for an independent career.

Although born in the United States , her singing career started in Germany under the auspices of Franc Farian, who has launched many pop bands. She had arrived with just $15 in her pockets to join her sister in Germany in 1992. It was said, "She became successful enough to book New York clubs, and L.A. venues." With her singing partner Lane McCray, she celebrated world-wide successes with La Bouche and they sold more than 10 million units and obtained gold and platinum awards in over 15 countries. Kyu Sakamoto: born 10 December 1941 . died August 12, 1985 His most popular song, "Ue o muite arukō" ("I look up when I walk"-"Sukiyaki." remains the only Japanese song to reach number one on the Billboard pop charts in the United States, Kyu Sakamoto was a Japanese singer and actor, best known outside of Japan for his international hit song "Sukiyaki", which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963.

He died in the deadliest single-aircraft accident in history: crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123. Skyhooks (Born: Malvern Australia 2/1/52; Died August 29, 2001) Australian rock legend Shirley Strachan, front man for Skyhooks has died in a helicopter accident. Graeme 'Shirley' Strachan was piloting the helicopter near Kilroy, northwest of Brisbane when the helicopter crashed into Mount Alexander at around 4pm this afternoon. The Australian music community is both saddened and shocked with the news of one of the country's great larrikans. Skyhooks earned their place in Australian rock history, releasing their debut album Living In The 70's in 1974 and immediately having 6 of the 10 tracks banned from Australian commercial radio. It sold 4x platinum, unheard of in its day... ~by Paul Cashmere Ritchie Valens: Age 17 (b. Richard Steve Valenzuela, 13 May 1941, Los Angeles, California, USA, d. 3 February 1959, Iowa).

Valens was the first major Hispanic-American rock star, the artist who popularized the classic '50s hit La Bamba. Valens also performed solo and was heard by Bob Keane of Del-Fi Records , who took him into Gold Star Studios to record several songs. (Keane also shortened the singer's name from Valenzuela to Valens and added the t to Richie). In October 1958 the single Donna/La Bamba was issued. It was actually the ballad Donna, written by Valens about his high school friend Donna Ludwig, that was, contrary to popular belief, the side of the record which was the bigger hit, reaching number 2. La Bamba, the b-side, only reached number 22 in the USA but is the more fondly-remembered song. It was on 3 February 1959 when he, Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper were killed in an airplane crash following a concert in Clear Lake, Iowa.

Newspaper Story To buy the book: Ritchie Valens: The 1st Latino Rocker Stevie Ray Vaughan : Age 35 Born: Oct 3, 1954 in Dallas, TX; Died: Aug 27, 1990 in East Troy, WI Sure, Robert Cray had the nascent groundswell's first Top 40 hit with March 1987's "Smoking Gun" (off of Strong Persuader), but it was Vaughan who sold millions of records and had the ability to galvanize arena-sized audiences with his incendiary performances. And in the final hours of his life, it was Vaughan who--by Eric Clapton's admission-- emerged the victor in a good-ol'-fashioned cutting contest on a Wisconsin amphitheater stage, leaving the other world-class participants--Clapton, Cray, Buddy Guy, and Vaughan's brother Jimmie--all wondering to what heights he would eventually take his virtuosity. The question was answered when the helicopter carrying Vaughan to Chicago after the concert slammed into a fog-shrouded hill near the amphitheater in the wee hours of August 27, 1990.

He was dead--instantly--at 35. ~by Ted Drozdowski To buy the book: Stevie Ray Vaughan: Caught in the Crossfire, Vol. 1 Additionally: March 16, 1991: Seven members of singer Reba McEntire's band are among 10 people killed in crash near San Diego. Links to entertainers killed in plane crashes: 15 Black Artists That Died in Their Prime-Black Enterprise 15 Black Artists That Died in Their Prime-Black Enterprise A- A A+ This past Saturday, July 23, news broke that British singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse had passed away of unknown causes in her London apartment. She was just 27 years old. Throughout her short career, the troubled performer had numerous issues with drugs and alcohol, but was still able to make an indelible mark on the music world. Her 2006 album, Back to Black, earned Winehouse six Grammy nominations and five wins. Her talent was undeniable. Still, Winehouse’s musical impact, which borrowed elements of Black artists, will remain her greatest legacy.

In light of Winehouse’s untimely passing, BlackEnterprise.com compiles a collection of other great artists who died before their time. —Anslem Samuel AALIYAH HAUGHTON, 22: Just 22 years old at the time of her death, Aaliyah was just hitting her stride as a singer and actress. Redefining the look and sound of R&B in the early 90s, she was a platinum selling performer and leading lady that was admired and loved by fans the world over. Tragedy struck on the evening of August 25, 2001 when Aaliyah’s plane crashed in the Bahamas as she and her entourage attempted to return to the States following a video shoot. CHRISTOPHER “THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G.” WALLACE, 24: Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Wallace would grow to become one of hip-hop’s most respected and successful rappers. The marquee artist of Sean “Puffy” Combs’ label, Bad Boy Records, he would go on to release dozens of hit records, memorable guest verses and sell millions of albums.

Tragically, Wallace was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997. The 24-year-old left behind two children and a lasting musical legacy. TAMMI TERRELL, 24: Already a solo singer on Motown, Terrell saw her notoriety grow once she was paired with label mate Marvin Gaye. The pair created notable collaborations like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” and “You’re All I Need to Get By,” that were featured on their various duet albums. It was during this time that Terrell was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Despite eight surgeries, Terrell’s health continued to deteriorate until her passing on March 16, 1970, just over a month shy of her 25th birthday. TUPAC “2PAC” SHAKUR, 25: A gifted lyricist and outspoken figurehead, Shakur ruffled more than a few feathers in his time but it was his brutally honest approach to his life and craft that drew fans to him.

Also, a budding actor with an impressive resume, he was the face of West Coast rap music in the mid 90s and scored numerous platinum plaques along the way. Tragically the young star was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas and he died from his injuries several days later on September 13, 1996 at the age of 25. OTIS REDDING, 26: A struggling soul singer in the early 60s, Redding made his mark on the musical landscape with his surprise hit “These Arms of Mine” in 1962. The biggest record of his short career and most notable, however, was the timeless classic “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay.” Unfortunately, Redding would not get to see the song’s impact (4 million copies sold worldwide) as it was released as a single a month after his death in a plane crash on December 10, 1967. He was just 26 years old.

JIMI HENDRIX, 27: A talented musician and singer/songwriter, Hendrix revolutionized the use of the electric guitar with his distorted amp sound and use of wah wah pedals, breathing new life into rock music. Despite hailing from Seattle, Washington, he received a lion share of fame in Europe before gaining accolades for his trailblazing work in the US. After a night of partying, Hendrix was found dead in the London apartment of his girlfriend on September 18, 1970. He was just 27. LISA “LEFT EYE” LOPES, 30: As one-third of the platinum-selling girl group TLC, Lopes made a name for herself as the trio’s outspoken member. As one of the most successful girl groups of all time, TLC amassed a catalog of hits that spoke to millions of fans worldwide. Eventually splitting from the group to be a soloist, Lopes continued to make strides in her career; but her life was cut short at the age of 30 when she was involved in a fatal car accident on April 25, 2002 while in Honduras.

MINNIE RIPERTON, 31: Riperton was a true musical talent. Most notable was her unique vocal range of five-and-a-half octaves, which she put on full display with her 1975 single “Lovin’ You.” The classically trained singer went on to release several notable singles. However, in August of 1976 she announced that she had breast cancer and required a mastectomy. Despite being given only six months to live, Riperton continued to record and tour—becoming an American Cancer Society spokeswoman along the way—until she succumb to the disease on July 12, 1979 at the age of 31. DONNY HATHAWAY, 33: A talented singer and composer, Hathaway made a name for himself in the late 60s as a songwriter, penning hit records for other artists. But by the end of the decade he was signed as a recording artist in his own right and made waves as a singer, most notably for his duet with Roberta Flack “Where is the Love” (1973) and “The Closer I Get to You” (1978).

Despite his success, Hathaway suffered with severe bouts of depression that culminated in the 33-year-old’s apparent suicide on the night of January 13, 1979. SAM COOKE, 33: Often referred to as the King of Soul, Cooke helped popularize the genre and paved the way for many legendary vocalists. With over two dozen top 40 hits in his catalog, Cooke was also one of the first African American artists-turned-entrepreneur in music, founding his own record label and publishing company. Despite his trailblazing accomplishments, Cooke died under controversial circumstances as he was fatally shot by a motel manager who alleged that he attacked her. He was 33 at the time. DOROTHY DANDRIDGE, 42: A performer from a young age alongside her sister as part of the child group, The Wonder Children (later The Dandridge Sisters), Dandridge sang at small venues on the chitlin’ circuit. As she got older, she added acting to her list of talents and found success there, becoming the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Dandridge continued to sing and act until her death of a drug overdose on September 8, 1965. She was 42 years old. MARVIN GAYE, 44: A Motown legend and gifted songwriter, Gaye racked up an impressive musical catalogue of timeless hits records that ranged from political commentary to love ballads to poetic soul that touched millions of fans. Having several bouts with drugs and depression throughout the years, Gaye’s personal demons got the better of him when he and his father got into an altercation on April 1, 1984 that led to the legendary singer’s death from a fatal gunshot wound. Gaye died just one day shy of his 45th birthday. BILLIE HOLIDAY, 44: Born Eleanora Fagan, Holiday was a noted jazz singer who shifted the musical landscape of her genre in the 1940s and garnered critical acclaim as a result. However, her long-stemming drug and drinking problems caught up to Holiday and her health began to deteriorate. By May 31, 1959, she was checked into the hospital due to complications with her liver and heart disease.

She never checked out and passed away July 17, 1959 at the age of 44. NAT KING COLE, 45: In addition to being an accomplished jazz pianist with a smooth baritone, Cole made history as the first African American to host his own variety show, The Nat King Cole Show (1956). Still, it was his music, accented by a warm personality and melodic voice, which resonated most with fans. An avid smoker, Cole passed from lung cancer on February 15, 1965, just a month short of his 46th birthday.

Posted: July 26, 2011 Soul legend Otis Redding dies in a plane crash near Madison, Wisconsin - Dec 10, 1967 - HISTORY.com Soul legend Otis Redding dies in a plane crash near Madison, Wisconsin Share this: Soul legend Otis Redding dies in a plane crash near Madison, Wisconsin Author Soul legend Otis Redding dies in a plane crash near Madison, Wisconsin URL Publisher A+E Networks When he left his final recording session in Memphis, Otis Redding intended to return soon to the song he’d been working on—he still had to replace a whistled verse thrown in as a placeholder with additional lyrics that he’d yet to write. In the meantime, however, there was a television appearance to make in Cleveland, followed by a concert in Madison, Wisconsin. On its final approach to Madison on this day in 1967, however, the private plane carrying soul-music legend Otis Redding would crash into the frigid waters of a small lake three miles short of the runway, killing seven of the eight men aboard, including Redding.

“Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay” would be released in its “unfinished” form several weeks later, with Redding’s whistled verse a seemingly indispensable part of the now-classic record. It would soon become history’s first posthumous #1 hit and the biggest pop hit of Redding’s career. In the six months leading up to his death, Otis Redding had gone from one great success to another. In June, Aretha Franklin had taken a cover version of his song “Respect” all the way to #1 on the pop charts. Later that same month, the adulation of the young audience of rock fans at the Monterey International Pop Festival had transformed him into an icon of the blossoming counterculture thanks to his blistering, now-legendary live performance there. But if Otis Redding was only beginning to gain momentum within the largely white mainstream in 1967, he was already a giant in the world of soul music.

During a period in the mid-1960s when the Beatles and Motown ruled the pop charts, Otis Redding established himself as arguably the most exciting singer on the roster of Memphis-based Stax/Volt Records—itself arguably the most exciting soul and R&B label of the era. Singles like "I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” and “I Can’t Turn You Loose” (both 1965) were among Redding’s numerous top-20 hits on the R&B charts in that era, as were his soulful renditions of "(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (1966) and “Try A Little Tenderness” (1967). It was the latter song, rendered in the impassioned style that was by then familiar to soul audiences, that brought down the house at Monterey just a few months before his death at the age of 26 on this day in 1967. Related Videos

Question: Which singing legend died in a plane crash in Montana in 1967?
Answer: Otis Redding