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The Death of Rock: The Alphabetical Archive

C

Musicians are listed individually. Search by the artist's last name. Artists commonly referred to by a stage or street name (such as "The Big Bopper," Freddie Mercury, and Jam Master Jay) are listed under those names. Musicians who performed under a single name (like Aaliyah, Nico, and Selena) will be found under those single names. There are a few instances where two or more members of the same band perished in a single incident; you will find those artists listed under the group's name. (Examples are Banda Fugaz, The Bar-Kays, Chase, Passion Fruit, and The Reba McEntire Band.) One notable exception to this rule is Lynyrd Skynyrd. Members of Skynyrd are listed individually; although three perished in the 1977 plane crash, others have since died in unrelated incidents. (The three who died in the crash are grouped as "Lynyrd Skynyrd" on the Causes of Death and Chronology pages.)

Key

C

Stuart Cable

aspiration of vomit (2010). Cable was the drummer with British alternative band, Stereophonics, from 1992 until 2003 and was a member of Killing for Company at the time of his death. Cable had been drinking at a local Aberdare (Wales) pub, the Welsh Harp Inn, where he left his car and walked home with friends. He continued drinking and reportedly choked to death on his own vomit while asleep. He was 40. "Dakota," "Have a Nice Day," "The Bartender and the Thief"

Tommy Caldwell

car accident in 1980; he was 30. Caldwell succumbed to injuries he sustained when his Land Cruiser clipped a parked car (reportedly a 1965 Ford Galaxie). (His brother, Tim, was also killed in a motor vehicle accident - one month earlier when he collided with a garbage truck.) Caldwell was the co-founder and bassist for The Marshall Tucker Band and the brother of fellow band member, Toy Caldwell (see 1993). "Can't You See," "Heard It In A Love Song," "Ramblin'"

Toy Caldwell

cardiac arrest from a cocaine overdose in 1993; he was 45. Caldwell was the guitarist for Toy Factory and The Marshall Tucker Band (both with George McCorkle, see 2007). He was scheduled to play a fundraiser in memory of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ronnie Van Zant (see 1977) on the day he died. His brothers Tommy (also of the Marshall Tucker Band; see 1980) and Tim both died in motor vehicle accidents a month apart. "Can't You See," "Heard It In A Love Song," "Ramblin'"

Randy California

(Randy Craig Wolfe), drowned in 1997. California was guitarist for '60s group, Spirit. When he was 15 he briefly played with a pre-superstar Jimi Hendrix. California was rescuing his son from a strong ocean current when he was pulled under. He was 45. "Fresh Garbage," "Taurus" (borrowed by Led Zeppelin for "Stairway to Heaven"), "Elijah"

The Duprees, circa 1962: John Salvato, Michael Arnone (d. 2005), Joey Canzano (d. 1984), Joseph Santollo (d. 1981) and Thomas Bialoglow.

Joey Canzano

(Joey Vann), heart attack in 1984. He was 40. Canzano was the original lead singer of the doo wop group, The Duprees. The Duprees were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2006. (Fellow member, Joseph Santollo, died in 1981.) "You Belong to Me," "My Own True Love," "Have You Heard?"

*Jim Capaldi

stomach cancer (2005); he was 60. Capaldi was the drummer for Traffic and later formed his own band, The Contenders. He was a five-time winner of BMI or ASCAP for the most-played songs in the United States. Traffic were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. "Paper Sun," "Forty Thousand Headmen," "Dear Mr. Fantasy," "Feelin' Alright"

Karen Carpenter

Karen Carpenter

anorexia; 1983. Drummer and singer for The Carpenters. She was 33 when she died, 5'4" and 108 lbs. (In 1975 she weighed a mere 80 pounds, 35 lbs. underweight.) "We've Only Just Begun," "Close to You"

Eric Carr

(Paul Charles Caravello), cancer, 1991. He was 41. Carr was the drummer for the ostentatious rock band, Kiss. He played with the band from 1980-1991 as "The Fox." "Rock And Roll All Night," "Lick It Up," "Detroit Rock City"

Neal Casal

age 50 in 2019; suicide. Casal was a guitarist who was a member of The Cardinals, and played with Willie Nelson, Phil Lesh and Chris Robinson.

John Cascella

heart attack while driving. He was 45. Cascella played keyboards, saxaphone, and accordion for John "Cougar" Mellencamp. In 1992, Cascella was returning from a boxing match, when he had a heart attack while driving. He veered off the road into a cornfield, and his vehicle (containing his body) was later found by a passing motorist. (Mellencamp was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.) With Mellencamp: "Get a Leg Up," "Paper in Fire," "R.O.C.K. in the USA," "Cherry Bomb," "Small Town

Randy Castillo

squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) in 2002. He was 51. Castillo was the drummer for Ozzy Osbourne and briefly played with Motley Crue. Albums with Osbourne include: The Ultimate Sin, No Rest for the Wicked, and No More Tears.

Paul Cattermole

found dead in his home of "natural causes" in 2023. He was 46. Cattermole was a member of the pop group, S Club 7. "Never Had A Dream Come True," "Bring It All Back," "Don't Stop Movin'"

*Danny Cedrone

(Donato Joseph Cedrone), broken neck; 1954. He was one of Bill Haley's Comets, playing lead guitar. Cedrone was responsible for the scorching guitar solo in the classic rock hit, "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock." While leaving the second floor of the 819 Bar in Philadelphia with a bag of roast beef sandwiches, he fell down a flight of stairs and broke his neck, dying instantly. He was three days shy of his 34th birthday. "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock" held the #1 spot for eight weeks, was used on the soundtracks of the motion pictures "The Blackboard Jungle" (1955) and "American Graffiti" (1974), and was chosen as the theme for the 1970s' television series "Happy Days." In 2012, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by a special committee, when the band failed to originally be inducted with Bill Haley in 1987. Cedrone is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. (Bill Haley suffered a fatal heart attack in 1981 at the age of 55. Fellow Comets Rudy Pompilli (age 51; 1974) and Marshall Lytle (age 79; 2013), both succumbed to lung cancer.) "Rocket 88," "Rock the Joint," "Shake, Rattle and Roll"

*Chas Chandler

(Bryan James Chandler), aortic aneurysm (1996). He was 58. Chandler was the bassist for The Animals. He later discovered and managed Jimi Hendrix (see 1970) and Slade. The Animals were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. "House of the Rising Sun," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," "We Gotta Get Out of This Place"

Harry Chapin

Harry Chapin

(Harry Forster Chapin), car accident, possibly due to a heart attack suffered while driving; he was 38. In 1981, Chapin was driving to a free concert at which he was performing. On the Long Island Expressway, he put on the car's hazard lights, significantly dropped speed, and veered several times from one lane into another until he swerved directly in front of a tractor trailer, which slammed into the rear of Chapin's car. The official cause of death is "cardiac arrest," but it is unclear whether it was the cause or the result of the auto accident. In 1987, Chapin was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his philanthropic work. For more informationon Chapin's career and humanitarian work, along with details of his fatal accident, visit The Archive's Tribute to Harry Chapin. "Cat's in the Cradle," "Taxi"

The band, Chase.

Chase

a promising jazz-rock ensemble, founded by trumpeter Bill Chase. In 1974, while leaving Texas for an appearance in Minnesota, Chase (age 39), his drummer Walter Clark (age 25), guitarist John Emma (age 22), and keyboardist Wally Yohn (age 27) were killed when their plane crashed. The cause was sited as pilot error and poor radio communication. View the National Transportation and Safety Board Report. "Get It On"

Chi Cheng

complications from a 2008 car accident; he was 42. Cheng was the bassist for the Grammy-winning Deftones. He was involved in an automobile accident, colliding with another car, and was ejected from the vehicle (he wasn't wearing a seatbelt). He was in a coma until 2009, when it was reported that he was in a "semi-conscious state". He remained that way until he died of cardiac arrest in 2013. "Elite," "Change (In the House of Flies)," "Minerva"

Philip Chevron

(Philip Ryan), esophageal cancer in 2013. He was 56. Chevron was a singer-songwriter and guitarist, member of the Irish punk band, The Pogues. "Sunny Side of the Street," "Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah," "Tuesday Morning"

Alex Chilton

(William Alexander Chilton), heart attack in 2010. Chilton was a member of Big Star, with Chris Bell (car accident, 1978) and Andy Hummel (cancer, 2010) and The Box Tops. Chilton was in a hospital emergency room when he suffered a heart attack at age 59. With The Box Tops: "The Letter," "Cry Like a Baby," "Soul Deep"

Arlester "Dyke" Christian

shot in 1971. Christian sang back up for The O'Jays and later formed Dyke and the Blazers. Christian is said to have influenced many, including James Brown and Wilson Pickett. He was shot four times with a .22-caliber pistol while sitting in his car in downtown Phoenix. He was 27. It was speculated that the killing was drug-related; the case against the shooter, Clarence Daniels, was dismissed based upon "evidence indicating self-defense." Dyke and the Blazers were inducted to the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame. "Let A Woman Be a Woman, Let a Man Be a Man," "Funky Broadway - Part 1" (later covered by Pickett as a #1 R&B single)

John Cipollina

emphysema, 1989. Guitarist for Quicksilver Messenger Service. Cipollina was 45. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the greatest guitarists of all time (ranking #32). "Who Do You Love," "Pride of Man," "Fresh Air"

Dee Clark

heart attack in 1990. He was 52. As a member of The Hambone Kids, he had a hit in 1952 with "Hambone." As a solo artist, he scored with "Just Keep It Up," "Hey Little Girl" and 1961's "Raindrops" (which reached #2 on the Billboard pop chart, #3 on the R&B list).

*Gene Clark

cumulative effects of alcohol (a bleeding ulcer) in 1991; he was 46. Clark was the singer-songwriter of The Byrds, which also featured Gram Parsons and Clarence White (see 1973 for both) and Michael Clarke (see 1993). The Byrds were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2006. "Mr. Tambourine Man," "Eight Miles High," "Turn! Turn! Turn!"

Roderick "Pooh" Clark

Clark was paralyzed from the chest down after a vehicle rear-ended the group's car on I-95 in 1993. Clark died in 2022 of complications from an infection and pneumonia; he was 49. (Fellow group member, Tony Thompson, passed away at the age of 31. See 2007.) "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)," "I Can't Wait Another Minute"

Steve Clark

*Steve Clark

Clark (Stephen Maynard Clark) was the guitarist for Def Leppard. He was on a leave of absence from the band supposedly to deal with his alcoholism. He died in his sleep in 1991, from respiratory failure caused by a lethal mixture of alcohol and prescription drugs. He was 30. Def Leppard were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. "Pour Some Sugar On Me," "Love Bites," "Photograph"

*Michael Clarke

(Michael James Dick), cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol abuse (1993). He was 49. Clarke was the drummer for The Byrds, which also featured Gram Parsons, Clarence White (see 1973 for both) and Gene Clark (1991). The Byrds were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2006. "Mr. Tambourine Man," "Turn! Turn! Turn!" "Eight Miles High"

Patsy Cline

#Patsy Cline

(Virginia Patterson Hensley), plane crash in Tennessee in 1963; she was 30. Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Cowboy Copas were returning from a benefit for the widow of a local disc jockey who died in a car crash. Randy Hughes, both Copas's son-in-law and Cline's manager, was piloting the plane; he was also killed in the crash. While on the way to Cline's funeral, another country musician, Jack Anglin (also 1963), was killed. Cline was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973 and she is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. She was also honored on a United States postage stamp. Proceed to the Patsy Cline Tribute, which details the crash and includes photos and the official crash report. "Crazy," "I Fall To Pieces" "Leavin' on Your Mind" (the single at the time of her death)

Odia Coates

breast cancer (1991); she was 49. Coates sang with Paul Anka on 1974's "You're Having My Baby."

Kurt Cobain

*Kurt Cobain

self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head; 1994. Lead singer/guitarist for rock music iconoclasts and grunge pioneers, Nirvana. Cobain's body was discovered by an electrician 3 days after his death. Cobain suffered from stomach problems, possible depression/bipolar disorder, and drug addiction. He was 27 when he took his life. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the greatest guitarists of all time (ranking #12). Nirvana was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. Visit the Tribute to Kurt Cobain for artist information, photos, his suicide note, and a detailed account of the events leading up to his death. Learn about Cobain's connection to the Curse of Buddy Holly, or read about his involvement with the Shadows of Seattle. "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Come As You Are," "Heart-Shaped Box," "All Apologies"

Eddie Cochran; Cochran's wreck.

*Eddie Cochran

(Raymond Edward Cochran), car accident in 1960; he was 22. Fellow rocker Gene Vincent (see 1971), and several others were injured when their taxi skidded into a lamppost. Cochran was thrown through the windshield and survived his brain injuries less than a day. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the greatest guitarists of all time (ranking #84). Cochran was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and he is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Read about Cochran's connection to the Curse of Buddy Holly. "Summertime Blues," "Sittin' in the Balcony," "Three Steps to Heaven" (posthumous release)

Brian Cole

drug overdose in 1972. He was 29. Member of the group, The Association, who were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003. "Never My Love," "Cherish," "Windy," "Along Comes Mary"

David Cole

spinal meningitis (1995). He was 32. Cole was half of the early '90s dance sensation, C & C Music Factory. They won a Grammy for their work on the Whitney Houston/Kevin Costner film, The Bodyguard. "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)," "Here We Go," "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...."

"Nat "King" Cole

*Nat "King" Cole

(Nathaniel Adams Cole), lung cancer; 1965. He was 45. Cole sang and hosted a weekly variety show, The Nat King Cole Show, on NBC in 1957. It lasted for 64 episodes; Cole was the first black man to host a program on televison. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Alabama Hall of Fame in 1985. Cole was also named an Icon and awarded the Jay McShann Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2005. "Unforgettable," "Mona Lisa"

Charlie Colin

reportedly fell in the shower while house-sitting in Brussels (2024). He was 57. Colin was a co-founder and the bassist for Train, who scored hits with "Meet Virginia" and "Drops of Jupiter". Colin had left the band prior to the group's next hit, "Hey Soul Sister".

Allen Collins

*Allen Collins

(Larkin Allen Collins, Jr.), pneumonia (1990). He was 37. Collins was a guitarist for and one of the founders of Lynyrd Skynyrd. In 1986, he crashed his car while driving drunk; his girlfriend was killed and he was paralyzed from the waist down. The pneumonia was a result of decreased lung capacity from the paralysis. Collins, along with Gary Rossington (died 2023), Leon Wilkeson (see 2001), Artimus Pyle and Billy Powell (see 2009), was also a survivor of the 1977 plane crash that killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister, backup singer Cassie Gaines, and manager Dean Kilpatrick. Lynyrd Skynyrd were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Visit the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute. "Free Bird," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps," "Simple Man"

John Coltrane

John Coltrane

liver cancer (1967) at age 40. Coltrane was once a member of Miles Davis's group, and is arguably the greatest jazz saxophonist on record. It was rumoured that his liver problems were caused by a lengthy addiction to alcohol and heroin. In 1965, Coltrane was inducted into the Down Beat Magazine Jazz Hall of Fame, and he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992. In 2007, he was awarded a special citation by the Pulitzer Prize Committee. His legendary albums include My Favorite Things, Live at the Village Vanguard, and A Love Supreme.

Scott Columbus

causes unknown (2011); he was 54. Columbus was the drummer for the mythology- and fantasy-inspired metal act, Manowar. The group was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for giving the loudest performance, and they hold the record for the longest heavy metal concert - 5 hours and 1 minute (Bulgaria, 2008). Manowar's albums include Battle Hymns, Into Glory Ride, Sign of the Hammer, and The Triumph of Steel.

Gravesite of Arthur Conley (courtesy of Bart Kouwenhoven).

Arthur Conley

(also known as Lee Roberts), intestinal cancer in 2003. Conley recorded the 1967 hit, "Sweet Soul Music", which reached #2 on the US charts and made the Top Ten throughout Europe. It sold over one million copies and earned a gold disc. Conley passed away at his home in The Netherlands at the age of 57. Conley's grave is without a headstone, in the General Cemetery of Vorden. It is considered a "nature-grave", per the wishes of his partner. The information about his burial, along with the photo, are courtesy of Bart Kouwenhoven. For more photos of Conley's gravesite, click here.

Brian Connolly

kidney failure; 1997. He was 52. Connolly was the vocalist for Sweet. "Ballroom Blitz," "Action," "Little Willy"

Van Connor

bassist for grunge band, Screaming Trees. In 2021, after emergency stomach surgery, Connor fell into a coma. He then contracted COVID-19, exacerbating his health issues. In 2023, he died of pneumonia. He was 55. (Lead singer of Screaming Trees, Mark Lanegan, passed away in 2022 at the age of 57. The cause of death was not disclosed. Read about their involvement with the Shadows of Seattle.) Screaming Trees reached their peak of popularity when their single, "Nearly Lost You", appeared on the Singles movie soundtrack.

Sam Cooke

*Sam Cooke

murdered in 1964. Member of the gospel group, the Soul Stirrers, and wildly successful solo artist. Cooke was staying in a LA motel with a woman he had picked up. He realized his money and clothes were stolen and assumed the manageress of the motel was in on the scam. Cooke, half-naked, accosted her. She brandished a gun and a struggle ensued. Cooke was fatally shot; he was 33. Over 200,000 fans payed their respects in Chicago. Cooke was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1986; the Soul Stirrers were inducted in 1989. Visit Sam Cooke's Tribute for details about his career and suspicious death. You can also read about Cooke's connection to the Curse of Buddy Holly. "You Send Me," "Twisting the Night Away," "Chain Gang," "Bring It On Home"

Cowboy Copas

Cowboy Copas

(Lloyd Estel Copas), "The Oklahoma Cowboy," plane crash in Tennessee in 1963. Copas was 49. Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Patsy Cline, were returning from a benefit for the widow of a local disc jockey who died in a car crash. Randy Hughes, both Copas's son-in-law and Cline's manager, was piloting the plane; he was also killed in the crash. Proceed to the Patsy Cline Tribute, which details the crash and includes photos and the official crash report. You can also read about Copas's connection to the Curse of Buddy Holly. "Filipino Baby," "Signed, Sealed and Delivered," "Alabam'," "Goodbye Kisses" (posthumous release)

Carter Cornelius

heart attack in 1991. He was 43. Member of The Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose, who split up in 1976 when Carter joined a black Hebrew sect in Miami and adopted the name Prince Gideon Israel. "Too Late To Turn Back Now," "Treat Her Like a Lady"

Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell was the lead singer of Temple of the Dog, Soundgarden, and Audioslave. He was a Grunge/Rock legend. On 18 May 2017, after finishing a Soundgarden show in Detroit, Cornell returned to his hotel room and hanged himself. The only drugs in his system were prescription, at therapeutic doses. His death was ruled a suicide. Cornell was 52. Soundgarden won two Grammy Awards and has been nominated once for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Read about his involvement with the Shadows of Seattle. With Soundgarden: "Slaves and Bulldozers," "Rusty Cage," "Spoonman," "Black Hole Sun," "Pretty Noose, "Burden in My Hand." With Audioslave: "Cochise," "Like A Stone," "Doesn't Remind Me"

Barbara Cowsill

emphysema (1985). She was the vocalist and matriarch of the '60s family group, The Cowsills, who were the inspiration for television's "The Partridge Family." (Sons and fellow band members Barry (see 2005) and William (see 2006) would die within a year of one another.) Barbara was 54 at the time of her death. "Hair," "The Rain, The Park, and Other Things," "Indian Lake"

The Cowsills: Bob, Barry (d. 2005), Susan, William (d. 2006), Barbara (d. 1985), and John

Barry Cowsill

body found among Hurricane Katrina's (2005) devastation in New Orleans. He was 51. He was a member of the '60s group, The Cowsills. (Mother Barbara passed away in 1985 and brother William would die in 2006.) Made up of six siblings and their mother, The Cowsills were the inspiration for television's "The Partridge Family." Barry left a message for his sister before Katrina struck: "I don't know how to get out of town except wait for a bus...I've been so...lonely...I hope I get in touch with you." He was never heard from again. Four months later, his body was found. The cause of death was determined to be drowning. "Hair," "The Rain, The Park, and Other Things," "Indian Lake"

William Cowsill

complications from emphysema, osteoporosis and Cushing syndrome; 2006. He was a member of the '60s group, The Cowsills. (Mother Barbara passed away in 1985 and brother Barry drowned during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.) Made up of six siblings and their mother, The Cowsills were the inspiration for television's "The Partridge Family." William was 58. "Hair," "The Rain, The Park, and Other Things," "Indian Lake"

Darby Crash

(Jan Paul Beahm, a.k.a. Bobby Pyn), heroin overdose the day before John Lennon's murder (1980). Founder of seminal L.A. punk band The Germs; Crash was 22. "Lexicon Devil"

Dani Crivelli

found dead after falling from a bridge (2013); he was 53. Crivelli was drummer for Swiss metal band, Krokus, from 1989 to 1989. Krokus: "Midnite Maniac," "Our Love," "Screaming in the Night"

Jim Croce

Jim Croce

(James Joseph Croce), plane crash in Louisiana in 1973. The Beechcraft D-18 that Croce had chartered snagged the top of some pecan trees during take-off and crashed, one day before the release of his third album, I Got A Name. Croce was 30. In 1990, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Visit the Archive's Tribute to Jim Croce. "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," "You Don't Mess Around with Jim," "I Got A Name," "I'll Have to Say I Love You In A Song," "Time in a Bottle" (The latter three songs were released posthumously.)

Fanny Crosby's memorials.

Fanny Crosby

(Frances Jane Crosby), arteriosclerosis and a cerebral hemorrhage in 1915. She was 94. Blind from childhood, Crosby wrote over 8,000 hymns and gospel songs and more than 1,000 secular poems, four books of poetry, and two best-selling autobiographies. She also composed The Flower Queen, the first secular cantata by an American composer. She was one of the best-known women in the country. In 1843, she joined a group of lobbyists in Washington, D.C. in support of education for the blind. She read a poem in the United States Senate, becoming the first woman to speak there. Crosby played her hymn, "Safe in the Arms of Jesus", at President Ulysses S. Grant’s funeral. She was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1975. (Crosby's advanced age would normally preclude her from entry into The Archive, but considering her achievements, and more importantly, the fact that I was able to visit and take photos of her final resting place, I included her. She is buried in Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.)

Robbin Crosby

complications from AIDS; 2002. Crosby, guitarist for the seminal 1980's hair-metal band, Ratt, abused heroin during the band's early success and contracted HIV. Ratt's 1984 video for their signature song, "Round and Round," featured a cross-dressing Milton Berle. Crosby was 42. "Round and Round," "Lay It Down"

Rich Cronin

leukemia in 2010. He was 35. Cronin wrote LFO's (Lyte Funkie Ones) ubiquitous hit of 1999, "Summer Girls". Fellow band mates, Devin Lima (see 2018) and Brian Gillis (see 2023) also died at an early age.

The Partridge Family. Back: Shirley Jones, Dave Madden (d. 2014), David Cassidy (d. 2017), Susan Dey. Front: Brian Forster, Danny Bonaduce, Suzanne Crough (d. 2015).

Suzanne Crough

arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, a rare form of cardiomyopathy (2015). She was 52. Crough played Tracy, the youngest daughter on TV's The Partridge Family. The musical family (based on the Cowsills) scored several hits on the charts. Fellow Partridge Family member, David Cassidy, died of liver failure in 2017, age 67. "C'mon Get Happy," "I Think I Love You," "Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted"

One version of T.Rex: Bill Legend, Mickey Finn (d. 2003), singer Marc Bolan (d. 1977), and Steve Currie (d. 1981).

*Steve Currie

car accident in Portugal in 1981. He was 34. Currie was the bassist for T. Rex. He was one of five band members to die prematurely (see Marc Bolan, 1977; Steve Peregrin Took, 1980; Mickey Finn, 2003; and "Dino" Dines, 2004). T-Rex was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. "Bang a Gong (Get it On)," "Hot Love," "Telegram Sam," "Metal Guru"

Ian Curtis

Ian Curtis

hanged himself; 1980. Lyricist and singer for Joy Division; he was 23. Joy Division morphed into New Wave group New Order after Curtis's suicide. Both groups were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. "Love Will Tear Us Apart," "Dead Souls"

*King Curtis

(Curtis Ousley), murdered. Curtis was a legendary session saxophonist who appeared on many hits in the 50's and 60's. He had 15 top 100 songs from 1962 to 1971. In 1971, he had an argument outside his apartment when a man pulled out a dagger and stabbed Curtis in the heart. He was 37. King Curtis was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. "Soul Twist," "Ode to Billie Joe," "Memphis Soul Stew." With the Coasters: "Yakety Yak"

John "JC" Curulewski

brain aneurysm in 1988, age 37. Curulewski was a co-founder of Styx (with Dennis DeYoung and brothers Chuck and John Panozzo. John died of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage brought on by alcoholism in 1996.) Curulewski left the band in the mid-1970s and was replaced on guitar by Tommy Shaw. "Mr. Roboto," "Come Sail Away," "Lady," "Babe"

Johnny Cymbal

heart attack in 1993. He was 48. Cymbal had a hit with "Mr. Bass Man" in 1963, and a 1969 hit with "Cinnamon", under the name "Derek".