List of 2015 deaths in popular music

Last updated

This is a list of notable performers of rock music and other forms of popular music, and others directly associated with the music as producers, songwriters, or in other closely related roles, who died in 2015.

Contents

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Preceded by
2014 		List of deaths in popular music
2015		Succeeded by
2016
NameAgeDateLocationCause of death
Jeff Golub 59January 1, 2015 New York City, New York, U.S.Progressive supra-nuclear palsy [1]
Little Jimmy Dickens 94January 2, 2015 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.Heart failure [2]
Pino Daniele 59January 4, 2015 Rome, ItalyHeart attack [3]
Curtis Lee 75January 8, 2015 Yuma, Arizona, U.S.Cancer [4]
Andraé Crouch 72January 8, 2015 Los Angeles, California, U.S. [5]
Popsy Dixon
The Holmes Brothers 		72January 9, 2015Bladder cancer [6]
Tim Drummond 74January 11, 2015 Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. [7]
A. J. Masters 72January 12, 2015 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.Prostate cancer [8]
Trevor Ward-Davies
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich 		70January 13, 2015Cancer [9]
Kim Fowley
Record producer and songwriter; manager of the Runaways 		75January 15, 2015 Los Angeles, California, U.S.Bladder cancer [10]
Dallas Taylor
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young 		66January 18, 2015 Los Angeles, California, U.S.Cancer [11]
ASAP Yams
ASAP Mob 		26January 18, 2015 New York City, New York, U.S.Drug overdose [12]
Ward Swingle
The Swingle Singers 		87January 19, 2015 Eastbourne, England [13]
Edgar Froese
Tangerine Dream 		70January 20, 2015 Vienna, AustriaPulmonary embolism [14]
Demis Roussos
Aphrodite's Child 		68January 25, 2015 Athens, GreecePancreatic, stomach and liver cancer [15]
Neil LeVang 83January 26, 2015 Canyon Country, Santa Clarita, California, U.S.Unknown [16]
Don Covay 78January 31, 2015 Franklin Square, New York, U.S.Stroke [17]
Andriy Kuzmenko
Skryabin 		46February 2, 2015Lozuvatka, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, UkraineTraffic accident [18]
Eddie "The Kydd" Rendini
Darwin's Waiting Room, Cold 		?February 5, 2015 ?, U.S.Unknown
Joe B. Mauldin
The Crickets 		74February 7, 2015 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.Cancer [19]
Calvin Jackson 54February 10. 2015 Senatobia, Mississippi, U.S.
Steve Strange
Strange Cruise, The Moors Murderers, The Photons, Visage 		55February 12, 2015 Sharm el-Sheikh, EgyptHeart attack [20]
Sam Andrew
Big Brother and the Holding Company 		73February 12, 2015 San Francisco, California, U.S.Complication after open heart surgery [21]
David Maxwell 71February 13, 2015 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.Prostate cancer [22]
Lesley Gore 68February 16, 2015 Manhattan, New York, U.S.Lung cancer [23]
Mats Olausson
Talisman, Kamelot 		54February 18, 2015 Rayong, Thailand Suicide [24]
Clark Terry 94February 21, 2015 Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S.Diabetes
Orrin Keepnews 91March 1, 2015 El Cerrito, California, U.S. [25]
Lew Soloff
Blood, Sweat & Tears 		71March 8, 2015 New York City, New York, U.S.Heart attack
Jimmy Greenspoon
Three Dog Night 		67March 11, 2015 North Potomac, Maryland, U.S. Melanoma
Daevid Allen
Gong, Soft Machine 		77March 13, 2015AustraliaCancer [26]
Mike Porcaro
Toto 		59March 15, 2015 Los Angeles, California, U.S.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [27]
Bruce Crump
Molly Hatchet 		57March 16, 2015Throat cancer [28]
Andy Fraser
Free 		62March 16, 2015 Temecula, California, U.S.Heart attack [29]
Paul Jeffrey 81March 20, 2015 North Carolina, U.S.
A. J. Pero
Twisted Sister, Adrenaline Mob 		55March 20, 2015 Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S.Heart attack [30]
John Renbourn
Pentangle 		70March 26, 2015 Hawick, ScotlandHeart attack [31]
Billy Butler 69March 31, 2015 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Bob Burns
Lynyrd Skynyrd 		64April 3, 2015 Bartow County, Georgia, U.S.Traffic accident [32]
Percy Sledge 74April 14, 2015 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.Liver cancer [33]
Billy Ray Hearn
Record producer and co-founder of Myrrh Records and Sparrow Records 		85April 15, 2015Heart disease
Johnny Kemp 55April 16, 2015 Montego Bay, JamaicaHit and fall from ship [34]
Wally Lester
The Skyliners 		73April 21, 2015 Southport, North Carolina, U.S.Pancreatic cancer [35]
Jack Ely
The Kingsmen 		71April 27, 2015 Terrebonne, Oregon, U.S. [36]
Guy LeBlanc
Camel 		54April 27, 2015Kidney cancer [37]
Ben E. King
The Drifters 		76April 30, 2015 Hackensack University Medical Center, New Jersey, U.S.Natural causes [38]
Craig Gruber
Rainbow, Elf 		63May 5, 2015 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.Prostate cancer [39]
Errol Brown
Hot Chocolate 		71May 6, 2015 Bahamas Liver cancer [40]
B.B. King 89May 14, 2015 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Vascular dementia [41]
Louis Johnson
The Brothers Johnson 		60May 21, 2015 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Gastrointestinal bleeding [42]
Dennis Sheehan
Tour manager for U2 		68May 26, 2015 West Hollywood, California, U.S.Heart attack [43]
Ornette Coleman 85June 11, 2015 New York City, New York, U.S. Cardiac arrest
Big Time Sarah 62June 13, 2015 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.Heart complications
Chris Squire
Yes 		67June 27, 2015 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.Acute erythroid leukemia [44]
Ernie Maresca
The Regents 		76July 8, 2015 Florida, U.S. [45]
Michael Masser 74July 9, 2015 Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
Hussein Fatal
Outlawz 		42July 10, 2015 Banks County, Georgia Car crash [46]
Eric Wrixon
Them, Thin Lizzy 		68July 13, 2015Italy [47]
Joan Sebastian 64July 13, 2015Teacalco, Morelos, Mexico Bone cancer
Dave Somerville
The Diamonds 		81July 14, 2015 Santa Barbara, California, U.S.Cancer [48]
Buddy Buie 74July 18, 2015 Dothan, Alabama, U.S.Heart attack [49]
Dieter Moebius
Moebius & Plank 		71July 20, 2015Cancer
Mitch Aliotta
Rotary Connection 		71July 22, 2015U.S.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Eddie Hardin
The Spencer Davis Group, Axis Point 		66July 22, 2015Heart attack [50]
Lynn Anderson 67July 31, 2015 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.Heart attack
Cilla Black 72August 1, 2015 Estepona, Costa del Sol, SpainStroke after a fall [51]
Sean Price
Boot Camp Clik, Heltah Skeltah 		43August 8, 2015 New York City, New York, U.S.
Bob Johnston 83August 14, 2015 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Danny Sembello 52August 15, 2015 Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, U.S.Drowning [52]
Smokey Wilson 79September 8, 2015 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Bryn Merrick
The Damned 		56September 12, 2015 Cardiff, WalesCancer [53]
Gary Richrath
REO Speedwagon 		65September 13, 2015 [54]
Johnny "Yard Dog" Jones 74September 15, 2015 Decatur, Illinois, U.S.
Ben Cauley
The Bar-Kays 		67September 21, 2015 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. [55]
Wilton Felder
The Crusaders 		75September 27, 2015 Whittier, California, U.S. Multiple myeloma [56]
Frankie Ford 76September 28, 2015 Gretna, Louisiana, U.S.Natural causes [57]
Phil Woods 83September 29, 2015 East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.Emphysema
Stasys Povilaitis
Nemuno Žiburiai, Nerija		68October 6, 2015 Palanga, LithuaniaLung cancer
Billy Joe Royal 73October 6, 2015 Morehead City, North Carolina, U.S.Natural causes [58]
Jim Diamond
Ph.D. 		64October 8, 2015 London, EnglandPulmonary edema [59]
Bruce Nazarian
Brownsville Station 		66October 9, 2015 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.Heart attack [60]
Steve Mackay
The Stooges 		66October 10, 2015 Daly City, California, U.S.Sepsis
Robbin Thompson
Steel Mill 		66October 10, 2015 Richmond, Virginia, U.S.Cancer [61]
Smokin' Joe Kubek 58October 11, 2015Heart attack
Frank Watkins
Obituary, Gorgoroth 		47October 18, 2015Cancer [62]
Cory Wells
Cory Wells & The Enemys, Three Dog Night 		74October 20, 2015 Dunkirk, New York, U.S.Complications from multiple myeloma [63]
Eddie Hoh
The Mamas & the Papas, The Monkees 		71November 7, 2015 Westmont, Illinois, U.S. [64]
Andy White
The Beatles 		85November 9, 2015 Caldwell, New Jersey, U.S.Stroke [65]
Allen Toussaint 77November 10, 2015 Madrid, SpainHeart attack [66]
Phil Taylor
Motörhead 		61November 11, 2015 Hasland, England Liver disease [67]
P.F. Sloan 70November 15, 2015 Los Angeles, California, U.S.Pancreatic cancer [68]
David Van Landing
Michael Schenker Group, Crimson Glory 		51November 17, 2015 Clearwater, Florida, U.S.Car accident, collision [69]
Cynthia Robinson
Sly and the Family Stone 		69November 23, 2015 Carmichael, California, U.S.Cancer [70]
Ronnie Bright
The Cadillacs, The Coasters, The Deep River Boys, The Valentines 		77November 26, 2015Unknown causes
Wayne Bickerton 74November 29, 2015 Hertfordshire, England [71]
Kelvin Knight
Drummer for Delta 5 		56December 2, 2015Liver & kidney failure
Scott Weiland
Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver 		48December 3, 2015 Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S.Drug overdose [72]
Bonnie Lou 91December 8, 2015 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.Dementia [73]
Rainer Bloss 69December 10, 2015U.S.
Stevie Wright
The Easybeats 		68December 27, 2015 South Coast, New South Wales, AustraliaPneumonia [74]
Zemya Hamilton
Clubland 		50December 23, 2015 Sigtuna, Sweden Multiple sclerosis [75]
Lemmy
Motörhead, Hawkwind 		70December 28, 2015 Los Angeles, California, U.S.Prostate cancer, cardiac arrhythmia, and congestive heart failure [76]
John Bradbury
The Specials 		62December 28, 2015England [77]
Natalie Cole 65December 31, 2015 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Congestive heart failure [78]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Jazz Articles: Guitarist Jeff Golub Dies at 59 – By Jeff Tamarkin – Jazz Articles". JazzTimes. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Country star Little Jimmy Dickens dies aged 94". BBC News . 3 January 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Annuncio di eros ramazzotti – E' morto Pino Daniele". Il Secolo XIX. 2 August 2012. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "Homebuilder, singer Curtis Lee dies at 75". Yuma Sun. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  5. ↑ "Andraé Crouch, Who Moved Gospel Into The 21st Century, Has Died". January 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ "'Popsy' Dixon, drummer and vocalist for The Holmes Brothers, dies at age 72". Brandonsun.com. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "Tim Drummond, Bassist for Neil Young, CSNY, Dylan, Dies at 74". Billboard. 12 January 2015.
  8. ↑ Thanki, Juli (January 13, 2015). "Songwriter A.J. Masters, who co-wrote 'Change My Mind,' dies". The Tennessean . Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  9. ↑ Laing, Dave. "Trevor Ward-Davies obituary". The Guardian . Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  10. ↑ McDonald, Soraya Nadia (January 16, 2015). "Kim Fowley, creator of The Runaways, dead at 75". The Washington Post . Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Dallas Taylor, Former Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Drummer, Dies at 66". Variety. 18 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "A$AP Yams Died of Accidental Drug Overdose".
  13. ↑ Bernstein, Adam (2015-01-20). "Ward Swingle, musician who made Bach swing, dies at 87". The Washington Post . Retrieved 2015-01-21.
  14. ↑ "Tangerine Dream's Edgar Froese dies at 70". BBC News . 24 January 2015.
  15. ↑ "Greek singer Demis Roussos dies aged 68". BBC News . 26 January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  16. ↑ "Noted Guitarist Neil LeVang Passes". Vintage Guitar . January 28, 2015. ISSN   1067-2605.
  17. ↑ Weber, Bruce (February 6, 2015). "Don Covay, Performer and Writer of R&B Hits, Dies at 78". The New York Times . Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  18. ↑ На Дніпропетровщині у ДТП загинув співак Кузьма Скрябін. Espreso.tv (in Ukrainian). 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  19. ↑ Chawkins, Steve (February 10, 2015). "Joe B. Mauldin, bass player for Buddy Holly and Crickets, dies at 74". Los Angeles Times .
  20. ↑ "Steve Strange, Visage lead singer, dies aged 55". BBC News . 13 February 2015.
  21. ↑ Keepnews, Peter (February 16, 2015). "Sam Andrew, Guitarist for Big Brother and the Holding Company, Dies at 73". The New York Times . Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  22. ↑ Morse, Steve (2015-02-20). "David Maxwell, 71, of Concord; virtuoso blues pianist shared a Grammy Award". The Boston Globe . Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  23. ↑ "'It's My Party' singer-songwriter Lesley Gore dies at 68". MSN . Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Former Yngwie Malmsteen Keyboardist Mats Olausson Found Dead In Thailand Hotel Room". blabbermouth.net. 2015-02-20. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  25. ↑ Chinen, Nate (March 1, 2015). "Orrin Keepnews, Jazz Producer and Record Executive, Is Dead at 91". The New York Times .
  26. ↑ "Gong founder Daevid Allen has died, aged 77". The Guardian. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  27. ↑ "Mike Porcaro, Bass Player for Toto, Dies at 59". The New York Times . Associated Press. 16 March 2015. p. A24.
  28. ↑ "Original Molly Hatchet Drummer Bruce Crump Dies at 57". Loudwire.com. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  29. ↑ "Free bassist Andy Fraser dies at 62". BBC News. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  30. ↑ "A.J. Pero dies at 55; drummer for heavy metal band Twisted Sister". Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. March 20, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Guitarist Renbourn dies aged 70". Irish Independent. 2015-03-21. Retrieved 2015-03-26.
  32. ↑ Southall, Ashley (4 April 2015). "Robert Burns Jr., First Lynyrd Skynyrd Drummer, Dies at 64". The New York Times . p. A22.
  33. ↑ "Percy Sledge, Who Sang 'When A Man Loves a Woman,' Dies". ABC News. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  34. ↑ Slattery, Denis (April 17, 2015). "R&B singer Johnny Kemp, best known for the 1989 hit song 'Just Got Paid' found dead near beach in Jamaica". Daily News . Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Obituary: Walter 'Wally' Paul Lester / Original singer for the Skyliners". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  36. ↑ "'Louie Louie' singer Jack Ely of The Kingsmen dies". KOIN 6 News. April 28, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  37. ↑ "Passing of Guy LeBlanc" . Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  38. ↑ "'Stand By Me' singer Ben E. King dies at age 76". PIX11 News. May 1, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  39. ↑ Lach, Stef. "Rainbow bassist Craig Gruber dead at 63". ClassicRock.com. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
  40. ↑ Slotnik, Daniel E. (6 May 2015). "Errol Brown, 'You Sexy Thing' Singer, Dies at 71". The New York Times . Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  41. ↑ Weiner, Tim (May 15, 2015). "B. B. King, Defining Bluesman for Generations, Dies at 89". The New York Times . Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  42. ↑ "Louis Johnson, Legendary Bassist, Dead at 60". Theboombox.com. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  43. ↑ Allen, Nick (27 May 2015). "U2 tour manager Dennis Sheehan found dead in his hotel room". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  44. ↑ DeRiso, Nick (28 June 2015). "Yes Co-Founder Chris Squire Dies". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  45. ↑ "News". Oldies Music. Archived from the original on 2018-10-21. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  46. ↑ "Rapper Hussein Fatal, a Member of Tupac's Group the Outlawz, Has Died in a Car Accident". TIME. July 12, 2015.
  47. ↑ "R.I.P. Eric Wrixon". Hot Press. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  48. ↑ Falcone, Dana Rose (July 16, 2015). "The Diamonds' Dave Somerville dies at age 81". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  49. ↑ Weber, Bruce (20 July 2015). "Buddy Buie, Producer and Hit-Making Songwriter, Dies at 74". The New York Times . p. A25.
  50. ↑ Giles, Jeff (24 July 2015). "Former Spencer Davis Group and Axis Point Member Eddie Hardin Dies at 66". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  51. ↑ "Cilla Black Died From Stroke After Fall". Sky News. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  52. ↑ "R.I.P. soul music musician and songwriter Danny Sembello". SoulTracks. 2015-08-18. Retrieved 2015-08-24.
  53. ↑ McCarthy, James (2015-09-12). "The Damned bassist Bryn Merrick dies at Llandough Hospital after a battle with cancer". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 2015-09-16. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  54. ↑ "Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon dies". Music-News.com. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  55. ↑ "Ben Cauley, Founding Member Of Bar-Kays, Dies At 67 – NewsChannel5.com". Scrippsmedia.com. 2015-09-22. Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-09-29.
  56. ↑ "Wilton Felder, musician who played on many pop hits, dies at 75". The Washington Post . Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  57. ↑ Spera, Keith (29 September 2015). "Frankie Ford, New Orleans singer of 'Sea Cruise' fame, has died". The Times-Picayune .
  58. ↑ Thanki, Juli (October 6, 2015). "Singer Billy Joe Royal dies at 73". The Tennessean . Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  59. ↑ "Singer-songwriter Jim Diamond dies". BBC News . 10 October 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  60. ↑ "Bruce "Beezer" Nazarian Of Brownsville Station Has Died". Detroit Rock n Roll Magazine. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  61. ↑ Napoliello, Alex (October 11, 2015). "Former Springsteen bandmate, Robbin Thompson, dies". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  62. ↑ "Former Obituary Bassist Frank Watkins Dies At 47". Blabbermouth.net. October 18, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  63. ↑ "Cory Wells, vocalist with Three Dog Night, dies at 74". The Washington Post . Associated Press. October 22, 2015. p. B6.
  64. ↑ "Edward Hoh, October 16, 1944 – November 7, 2015". knollcrestfuneralhome.com. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  65. ↑ "Andy White, a Beatle for less than 5 minutes, dies at 85". Los Angeles Times . 2015-11-12. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  66. ↑ Sisario, Ben (November 10, 2015). "Allen Toussaint, New Orleans R&B Mainstay, Dies at 77". The New York Times . Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  67. ↑ "Ex-Motorhead Drummer Phil Taylor Dead at 61". Rolling Stone. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  68. ↑ Weber, Bruce (17 November 2015). "P. F. Sloan, Enigmatic Writer of '60s Hit 'Eve of Destruction,' Dies at 70". The New York Times . Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  69. ↑ Giles, Jeff (17 November 2015). "David VanLanding Dies". Blabbermouth . Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  70. ↑ Grimes, William (26 November 2015). "Cynthia Robinson, Sly and the Family Stone Trumpet Player, Dies at 71". The New York Times . Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  71. ↑ "SESAC International Chairman Dr. Wayne Bickerton Dies". Sesac.com. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  72. ↑ Messer, Lesley (December 4, 2015). "Rock Star Scott Weiland Is Dead at 48". ABC News. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  73. ↑ "Bonnie Lou, Pioneering Country and Rock Singer, Dies at 91". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  74. ↑ "Stevie Wright: The Easybeats frontman dies aged 68". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 December 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  75. ↑ "Artist Zemya Hamilton dies - 50 years old". Aftonbladet. 24 December 2015.
  76. ↑ "Motorhead frontman Lemmy dies aged 70". BBC News. 29 December 2015.
  77. ↑ "Specials drummer John Bradbury dies". BBC News. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
  78. ↑ "Natalie Cole, R&B and jazz singer, dies aged 65". BBC News. BBC. January 1, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
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