Music Legends We’ve Lost This Year

It only takes three minutes for music to connect people. Listeners attach songs with current situations in their lives and learn through lyrics…now that’s powerful. Music has the ability to transform audiences back in time. With the passing of some of our most iconic artists, their music will continue to live on through our memories. Here are the Top 10 Icons we’ve lost this year.

David Robert Jones aka "David Bowie"

The legendary British singer/songwriter passed away at age 69 from cancer. His memory lives on with the release of the album Blackstar which was released on Bowie’s birthday, January 8, 2016. He passed away two days after the release of the album.

René Angélil

The former husband and manager of Celine Dion passed away at age 73 on January 14. He passed away from throat cancer. Unfortunately, two days later, Celine Dion lost her brother as well. January was definitely a hard month on her.

Glenn Frey

A founding member and guitarist of The Eagles passed away on January 18 from complications with his battle with rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia, while recovering from gastrointestinal track surgery. The Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1998. Frey, the famous singer, songwriter, record producer, actor and painter, was 67 years old.

Jon Bunch

Known for being the front man of the 1990s hardcore punk band “Sense Field” and front man for the band “Further Seem Forever.”  Sense Field was a pioneer band in emo music. The musician passed away at age 45 on January 31st.

Maurice White

Known best for being a founder of the group Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice White passed away on February 3 from Parkinson’s disease. The 74 year old won 7 Grammy’s and was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame and Vocal Group Hall Of Fame for his work in Earth, Wind & Fire. He stopped touring with the band in the late 1980s when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Dan Hicks

The founding member in San Francisco psychedelic folk scene passed away on February 6. He combined a variety of genres (folk, jazz, country, swing, bluegrass, pop and gypsy) to create a new sound in music. The cause of his death was liver cancer. Hicks was 74 when passed away

James Hugh Loden aka "Sonny James"

Sonny James was a country music singer/songwriter who passed away on February 22 at age 87. He’s known for the release his 1957 hit song “Young Love.” From 1967 to 1971, he had 16 No. 1 country records and in 2007 he was inducted in the Country Hall of Fame.

Francis Wayne Sinatra Jr.

Known as the son of legendary Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra Jr passed away on March 16 from cardiac arrest. The 72 year old followed in his father’s footsteps with a career as a singer, songwriter, and conductor. He passed away while he was on tour in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Malik Izaak Taylor aka "Phife Dawg"

The rapper passed away at age 45 in his home in Contra Costa County, California on March 22nd. The cause of death is from type two diabetes. His battle with diabetes began in 1990. After waiting two years to receive a kidney transplant, his wife was finally able to give hers in 2008. Unfortunately, he required another transplant in 2012.

Leandro “Gato” Barbieri

The famous Grammy winning saxophonist passed away on April 2 from pneumonia. The 83 year old Argentine musician was popular in the jazz genre. He gained fame during the free jazz movement in the 1960s and is known for his Latin jazz recordings in the 1970s.

We lost a lot of figureheads this year in music; may they rest in peace. They’ll be missed, but their music allows them to live on forever.

~Intern Victoria