2015 in music

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Last updated February 28, 2025

This topic covers notable events and articles related to music in 2015.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Albums released

List of 2015 albums

Awards

2015 Billboard Music Awards
Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift – New Artist of the Year: Sam Smith – Top Hot 100 Song: All About That Bass – Top Billboard 200 Album: 1989
57th Japan Record Awards
Grand Prix: "Unfair World" (ja) by Sandaime J Soul Brothers from Exile Tribe • Best Singer: Seiko Matsuda • Best New Artist: Magnolia Factory • Best Song: several
2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards
Artist of the Year: Big Bang • Album of the Year: Exodus by Exo • Song of the Year: "Bang Bang Bang" by Big Bang • Best Music Video: Bae Bae by Big Bang
MTV Video Music Awards
Video of the Year: Bad Blood – Best Male Video: Uptown Funk – Best Female Video: Blank Space – Artist to Watch: Fetty Wap
MTV Europe Music Awards
Best Song: Bad Blood – Best Video: Downtown – Best Female: Rihanna – Best Male: Justin Bieber
The 3rd V Chart Awards
Top Male Artist : Vision Wei with By Your Side • Top Female Artist: Jane Zhang with You Are Mine (我是我的) • Top Group: Top Combine with Large Pear (鸭梨大) • Top New Artist: Henry Huo
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Inductees: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band • Joan Jett & The Blackhearts • Green Day • Lou Reed • Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble • Bill Withers
25th Seoul Music Awards
Grand Prize: Exo • Best Album: Time by Beast • Best Song: "Some" by Soyou & Lil Boi • Best New Artist: Red Velvet, Got7, Eddy Kim

Deaths

January

1 – Matthew Cogley (30), British musician and songwriter (Failsafe).^[1]
6 – Lance Percival (81), British actor and singer.^[2]
13
- Ronnie Ronalde (91), British siffleur and yodeller.
- Trevor Ward-Davies (70), English bassist (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich)
19 – Ward Swingle (87), American jazz singer (The Swingle Singers).
22 – Joan Hinde (81), British trumpet player
25 – Demis Roussos (68), Greek singer and musician
27 – Margot Moir (55), Scottish-born Australian singer (The Moir Sisters).^[3]
29 – Danny McCulloch (69), British bassist (Eric Burdon & The Animals).

February

12 – Steve Strange (55), British musician (Visage).^[4]
16 – Lesley Gore (68), American singer
21 – Clark Terry (94), American jazz trumpeter.^[5]
22 – Erik Amundsen (78), Norwegian jazz upright-bassist.^[6]
23 – Ron Edgar (68), American rock drummer (The Music Machine)

March

21 – Jørgen Ingmann, (89), Danish guitarist.^[7]

April

1
- Dave Ball (65), British musician (Procol Harum).^[8]
- Sandy Mason (75), American country music singer-songwriter
3 – Andrew Porter (86), British organist, music critic, and opera director^[9]
10 – Ronald Hambleton (97), English-born Canadian broadcaster and music critic ( Toronto Star ).^[10]
13 – Ronnie Carroll (80), Northern Irish singer
14 – Percy Sledge (74), American soul, gospel and R&B singer
17 – Brian Couzens (86), British music industry executive (Chandos Records).^[11]
18 – Ben E. King (76), American soul and R&B singer

May

6
- Errol Brown (71), British-Jamaican singer (Hot Chocolate)
- Dottie Dillard (91), American pop singer (The Anita Kerr Quartet)
14 – B.B. King (89), American blues guitarist.^[12]
20 – Bob Belden (58), American jazz saxophonist.^[13]
23 – Marcus Belgrave (78), American jazz trumpeter.^[14]
31 – Slim Richey (77), American jazz guitarist.^[15]

June

11 – Ornette Coleman (85), American jazz saxophonist.^[16]
12 – Monica Lewis (93), American singer and actress.^[17]
21 – Gunther Schuller (89), American composer, conductor, and horn player.^[18]
27 – Joe Bennett (75), American rock and roll singer, songwriter, and guitarist (Joe Bennett & the Sparkletones)

July

1
- Val Doonican (88), Irish-born singer.
- Edward Greenfield (86), British music critic and broadcaster.^[19]
13 – Eric Wrixon (68), British musician from Belfast, Northern Ireland (Them, Thin Lizzy).^[20]
22
- Daron Norwood (49), American country music singer
- Eddie Hardin (66), British singer-songwriter and pianist (The Spencer Davis Group and Axis Point).
30 – Lynn Anderson (67), American country singer
31 – Pamela Brandt (68), American country-rock bassist, singer and songwriter (The Deadly Nightshade)

August

1 – Cilla Black (72), British singer and presenter.
12 – John Scott (59), British organist and choirmaster.^[21]
14 – Jazz Summers (71), British music manager (Scissor Sisters, The Verve, Snow Patrol), (lung cancer)^[22]
20 – Laurent Rossi (67), French singer, songwriter, and record producer (Bimbo Jet)

September

4 – Hal Willis (82), Canadian country music singer
13 – Gary Richrath (65), American guitarist (REO Speedwagon)
29 – Phil Woods (83), American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader and composer^[23]

October

8 – Jim Diamond, Scottish singer (Ph.D.)
9 – Larry Rosen (75), American drummer, entrepreneur, and music producer.^[24]
20 – Cory Wells (74), American singer (Three Dog Night)
22 – Mark Murphy (83), American singer.^[25]
28 – Diane Charlemagne (51), English dance singer (52nd Stree, Urban Cookie Collective)

November

5 – Nora Brockstedt, Norwegian singer (92).^[26]
25 – Svein Christiansen, Norwegian drummer (74).^[27]

December

3 – Scott Weiland (48), American musician, singer and songwriter (Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver and Art of Anarchy)
28
- Guru Josh (51), acid house DJ
- Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister (70), English musician, singer and songwriter (Motörhead, Hawkwind, The Rockin' Vickers)
30 – Zjef Vanuytsel (70), Belgian folk singer.
31 – Natalie Cole (65), American singer, songwriter, and actress (congestive heart failure).^[28]

References

↑ Livesey, Jon (January 3, 2015). "Musician whose band starred in The Inbetweeners dies on New Year's Day". Mirror.co.uk.
↑ "Percival – Deaths Announcements – Telegraph Announcements". Announcements.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
↑ "R.I.P Margot Moir Of The Moir Sisters 1959–2015". Noise11.com. 26 January 2015.
↑ "New Romantic pioneer Steve Strange dies". The Guardian . 2015-02-12. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
↑ Keepnews, Peter (2015-02-22). "Clark Terry, Master of Jazz Trumpet, Dies at 94". The New York Times . Retrieved 2016-02-26.
↑ Stendahl, Bjørn (2015-03-04). "Nekrolog: Erik Amundsen". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2016-02-26.
↑ Escudero, Victor M. (2015-03-22). "Eurovision winner Jørgen Ingmann died". Eurovision . Retrieved 2016-04-16.
↑ "Dave Ball passed away". Dmme.net.
↑ Huizenga, Tom (3 April 2015). "Multifaceted Music Critic Andrew Porter Dies At 86". Npr.org.
↑ "Veteran writer Ronald Hambleton dies at 97 – Toronto Star". Thestar.com. 16 April 2015.
↑ "Brian Couzens: Businessman who founded the Chandos record label and" . Independent.co.uk. 26 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01.
↑ Leopold, Todd (2015-05-16). "Blues legend B.B. King dies at age 89". CNN . Retrieved 2016-04-15.
↑ Stutz, Colin (2015-05-20). "Bob Belden, Jazz Saxophonist & Renaissance Man, Dead at 58". Billboard . Retrieved 2016-04-11.
↑ Stedman, Alex (2015-05-24). "Marcus Belgrave, Famed Detroit Jazz Trumpeter, Dies at 78". Variety . Retrieved 2016-04-11.
↑ Curtin, Kevin (2015-06-01). "Slim Richey 1938–2015: Austin's jazz maverick peaces out". CNN . Retrieved 2016-04-15.
↑ Ratliff, Ben (2015-06-11). "Ornette Coleman, Saxophonist Who Rewrote the Language of Jazz, Dies at 85". The New York Times . Retrieved 2016-02-26.
↑ "Monica Lewis, Actress Who Sang in Chiquita Banana Cartoons, Dies at 93". Variety . 2015-06-12. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
↑ Kozinn, Allan (2015-06-21). "Gunther Schuller Dies at 89; Composer Synthesized Classical and Jazz". The New York Times . Retrieved 2016-04-15.
↑ McKie, David; Bowen, Meirion (2 July 2015). "Edward Greenfield obituary". The Guardian .
↑ "RIP Eric Wrixon – Music – News – Hot Press". Hotpress.com.
↑ "News – About – Saint Thomas Church". Saintthomaschurch.org. Archived from the original on 2015-08-15. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
↑ "Music industry manager Jazz Summers dies". Digitalspy.co.uk. 15 August 2015. Archived from the original on 16 August 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
↑ La Rosa, David (2015-09-29). "Alto Sax Legend Phil Woods Has Died At 83". TheJazzLine.com. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
↑ Gans, Charles J. (2015-10-10). "Larry Rosen, music producer and label founder, dies at 75". The Washington Post . Retrieved 2016-04-15.
↑ Tamarkin, Jeff (2015-10-23). "Vocalist Mark Murphy dies at 83". JazzTimes . Retrieved 2016-04-15.
↑ Hustad, Helge Voll (2015-11-06). "Norwegians mourn Brockstedt's death". NewsInEnglish.no. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
↑ Andersen, Arild; Stendahl, Bjørn (2015-03-04). "Nekrolog: Svein Christiansen". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2016-02-26.
↑ Cohen, Sandy; Fekadu, Mesfin (2016-01-01). "Natalie Cole, Grammy winning singer, has died". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2016-03-15.

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[1] Livesey, Jon (January 3, 2015). "Musician whose band starred in The Inbetweeners dies on New Year's Day". Mirror.co.uk.

[2] "Percival – Deaths Announcements – Telegraph Announcements". Announcements.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2017-02-01.

[3] "R.I.P Margot Moir Of The Moir Sisters 1959–2015". Noise11.com. 26 January 2015.

[4] "New Romantic pioneer Steve Strange dies". The Guardian . 2015-02-12. Retrieved 2017-04-10.

[5] Keepnews, Peter (2015-02-22). "Clark Terry, Master of Jazz Trumpet, Dies at 94". The New York Times . Retrieved 2016-02-26.

[6] Stendahl, Bjørn (2015-03-04). "Nekrolog: Erik Amundsen". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2016-02-26.

[7] Escudero, Victor M. (2015-03-22). "Eurovision winner Jørgen Ingmann died". Eurovision . Retrieved 2016-04-16.

[8] "Dave Ball passed away". Dmme.net.

[9] Huizenga, Tom (3 April 2015). "Multifaceted Music Critic Andrew Porter Dies At 86". Npr.org.

[10] "Veteran writer Ronald Hambleton dies at 97 – Toronto Star". Thestar.com. 16 April 2015.

[11] "Brian Couzens: Businessman who founded the Chandos record label and" . Independent.co.uk. 26 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01.

[12] Leopold, Todd (2015-05-16). "Blues legend B.B. King dies at age 89". CNN . Retrieved 2016-04-15.

[13] Stutz, Colin (2015-05-20). "Bob Belden, Jazz Saxophonist & Renaissance Man, Dead at 58". Billboard . Retrieved 2016-04-11.

[14] Stedman, Alex (2015-05-24). "Marcus Belgrave, Famed Detroit Jazz Trumpeter, Dies at 78". Variety . Retrieved 2016-04-11.

[15] Curtin, Kevin (2015-06-01). "Slim Richey 1938–2015: Austin's jazz maverick peaces out". CNN . Retrieved 2016-04-15.

[16] Ratliff, Ben (2015-06-11). "Ornette Coleman, Saxophonist Who Rewrote the Language of Jazz, Dies at 85". The New York Times . Retrieved 2016-02-26.

[17] "Monica Lewis, Actress Who Sang in Chiquita Banana Cartoons, Dies at 93". Variety . 2015-06-12. Retrieved 2016-04-15.

[18] Kozinn, Allan (2015-06-21). "Gunther Schuller Dies at 89; Composer Synthesized Classical and Jazz". The New York Times . Retrieved 2016-04-15.

[19] McKie, David; Bowen, Meirion (2 July 2015). "Edward Greenfield obituary". The Guardian .

[20] "RIP Eric Wrixon – Music – News – Hot Press". Hotpress.com.

[21] "News – About – Saint Thomas Church". Saintthomaschurch.org. Archived from the original on 2015-08-15. Retrieved 2017-02-01.

[22] "Music industry manager Jazz Summers dies". Digitalspy.co.uk. 15 August 2015. Archived from the original on 16 August 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.

[23] La Rosa, David (2015-09-29). "Alto Sax Legend Phil Woods Has Died At 83". TheJazzLine.com. Retrieved 2016-04-15.

[24] Gans, Charles J. (2015-10-10). "Larry Rosen, music producer and label founder, dies at 75". The Washington Post . Retrieved 2016-04-15.

[25] Tamarkin, Jeff (2015-10-23). "Vocalist Mark Murphy dies at 83". JazzTimes . Retrieved 2016-04-15.

[26] Hustad, Helge Voll (2015-11-06). "Norwegians mourn Brockstedt's death". NewsInEnglish.no. Retrieved 2016-02-26.

[27] Andersen, Arild; Stendahl, Bjørn (2015-03-04). "Nekrolog: Svein Christiansen". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2016-02-26.

[28] Cohen, Sandy; Fekadu, Mesfin (2016-01-01). "Natalie Cole, Grammy winning singer, has died". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2016-03-15.

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