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The Death of Rock: The Alphabetical Archive

M

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

Kirsty MacColl

severe head and chest injuries sustained when struck by a speeding powerboat in 2000. She was 41. While vacationing in Mexico, a powerboat sped into the restricted are where MacColl and her sons were diving. MacColl attempted to push one of her sons out of the path of the boat and was herself struck. She had several pop hits in the '80s and '90s, inlcuding "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis," covers of "A New England," and "Days." She also appeared with The Pogues on "Fairytale of New York."

Steve Mackey

died after an undisclosed illness in 2023; he was 56. Mackey was the bassist for the British group, Pulp. He joined in 1989, appearing on hits such as "Common People," "Disco 2000," and "Lipgloss".

Angus MacLise

hypoglycemia and pulmonary tuberculosis; 1979. (Some sources state he died of malnutrition.) He was 41. MacLise was the original drummer for The Velvet Underground. He quit early in their career (1965) when the group booked its first paid show. He felt the band was selling out. The Velvet Underground would be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 (minus MacLise). "Waiting for My Man," "Heroin," "Sunday Morning," "Venus in Furs"

Kevin Scott Macmichael

lung cancer in 2002. He was 51. Macmichael played guitar for Cutting Crew, who were nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist in 1987. Their song, "(I Just) Died in Your Arms," hit number one the same year. After his time with Cutting Crew, he played on Robert Plant's album, Fate of Nations (1993), including the Grammy-nominated song "Calling to You."

Mike Mahaffey

died in his sleep in 2005; unknown causes. Mahaffey was the guitarist of the Nashville band, Self. His brother, Matt, sang lead. Mike was 38. "So Low," "Borateen," "Cannon"

*Richard Manuel

hanging (suicide); 1986. He was 42. Manuel was the keyboardist and vocalist for The Band (with bassist Rick Danko, see 1999), who began their career as Bob Dylan's back-up band. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. "Up On Cripple Creek," "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," "This Wheel's On Fire"

Bob Marley

*Bob Marley

(Robert Nesta Marley), cancer in 1981. He was 36. First internationally famous reggae star and Rastafarian. Also was a Wailer with Carlton Barrett and Peter Tosh (see 1987 for both), and Junior Braithwaite (see 1999). (All three Wailers were murdered.) Marley developed a malignant melanoma on his big toe. He was advised to have the toe amputated, but refused. Doctors were unable to successfully remove all of the cancer, and it eventually metastasized to his lungs and his brain. In 1978, Marley was awarded the Peace Medal of the Third World from the United Nations and in 1981, he was honored with the Jamaican Order of Merit, Jamaica's third highest honor. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2001, he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. "No Woman, No Cry, "Get Up, Stand Up," "Buffalo Soldier," "One Love/People Get Ready"

The Small Faces:

Kenney Jones, Ian McLagan, Ronnie Lane

(d. 1997) and Steve Marriott (d. 1991).

*Steve Marriott

(Stephen Peter Marriott), house fire in 1991. Marriott was the singer and guitarist for The Small Faces and Humble Pie. After a return flight from the US, Marriott had dinner with his wife at a friend's house, but returned home alone in the early morning. Valium, cocaine and alcohol were in his system. According to investigators, Marriott fell asleep with a lit cigarette. He was found on the floor next to his bed, dead from smoke inhalation. He was 44. (Marriott's co-founder in the Small Faces, Ronnie Lane, would succumb to multiple sclerosis in 1997.) The Small Faces were awarded the Ivor Novello Oustanding Contribution to British Music "Lifetime Achievement" Award in 1996. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Read about Marriott's connection to the Curse of Buddy Holly. With The Small Faces: "Itchycoo Park," "Tin Soldier," "Lazy Sunday," "All or Nothing." With Humble Pie: "Black Coffee," "Shine On," "30 Days in the Hole"

Dino Martin, Jr.

(Dean Paul Martin, Jr.), plane crash. He was 35. Member of Dino, Desi and Billy and son of legendary Rat Packer, Dean Martin. Junior died when the Air National Guard jet he was piloting crashed into a mountain in 1987. Read about his connection to the Curse of Harry Nilsson. "I'm a Fool," "Not The Lovin' Kind"

Curtis Mayfield

*Curtis Mayfield

complications from quadriplegia; 1999. He was 57. Mayfield was a member of the Impressions and a successful solo artist. He was performing outdoors when the wind blew a lighting rig down upon him, paralyzing him from the neck down. Mayfield was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice: with the Impressions in 1991 and as a solo artist in 1999. "People Get Ready," "Superfly"

Bob Mayo

heart attack in 2004 at the age of 53. Mayo was a session keyboardist and guitarist. He joined Pater Frasmpton's touring band, appearing on Frampton Comes Alive!. (John Siomos, who was drummer for Frampton's tour, also died in 2004.) He also appeared on Frampton's albums I'm in You, Where I Should Be, Frampton Comes Alive! II, Live in Detroit and Now. Mayo also toured with Foeigner, Dan Fogelberg, Hall & Oats, Aerosmith and Robert Plant. With Foreigner: "Waiting For a Girl Like You" With Frampton: "Show Me the Way," "Baby, I Love Your Way", "Do You Feel Like We Do"

Linda Eastman McCartney

breast cancer, 1998. Rock & Roll photographer, member of Wings (lead guitarist Jimmy McCulloch died in 1979) and wife of Paul McCartney. She was 56 at the time of her death. Read about her connection to the Curse of Harry Nilsson. Wings: "Band on the Run," "Wonderful Christmastime," "Listen to What the Man Said," "With a Little Luck"

George McCorkle

complications from cancer in 2007. He was the guitarist for the Toy Factory, the Marshall Tucker Band (both with Toy Caldwell, see 1993), and Pax Parachute. McCorkle was 60. He appeared on the Marshall Tucker Band albums Searchin' For a Rainbow, A New Life, Where We Belong, and Carolina Dreams.

Van McCoy

heart attack (1979) at age 39. Songwriter and producer. Most widely-known for his instrumental, "The Hustle."

Jimmy McCulloch

heroin overdose in 1979, age 26. McCulloch played lead guitar in Paul McCartney's Wings (which also featured Paul's wife, Linda Eastman McCartney - see 1998). "Band on the Run," "With a Little Luck," "Listen to What the Man Said"

Richard McDougall

unknown causes in 1984; his age at death is also unknown. McDougall was a member of the Capitols, who had a hit in 1966 with "Cool Jerk." Lead singer, Samuel George, was killed in 1982 when he was stabbed during a family argument. He was 39.

Gene McFadden

cancer (2006); age 56. McFadden formed The Epsilons with John Whitehead (see 2004), and scored hits with "The Echo" and 1979's "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now." The Epsilons toured with Otis Redding, and McFadden and Whitehead wrote the O'Jays' "Backstabbers" and Harold Melvin (see 1997) & the Blues Notes' "Wake Up Everybody."

"Stick" McGhee

(Granville "Stick" McGhee), lung cancer. McGhee was an American guitarist (Walter "Brownie" McGhee's younger brother) best known for "Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee", later covered by Jerry Lee Lewis. The alcoholic fruit drink "spodi" supposedly takes its name from the song. He earned the nickname "Stick" by pushing his polio-stricken older brother, "Brownie" (died 1996, age 80; stomach cancer), on a cart that he propelled with a stick. "Drinkin' Wine," first recorded in 1947 and remade in 1949, became a huge R&B hit for "Stick." He died in 1961 at the age of 44. "Tennessee Waltz Blues," "Jungle Juice," "Double Crossin' Liquor," "Six to Eight," and "Head Happy with Wine."

Robbie McIntosh

drug overdose in 1974. McIntosh was the drummer for the Average White Band. While attending a party, McIntosh inhaled what he thought was cocaine; it was actually heroin laced with strychnine. He was 24. The Average White Band: "Pick Up the Pieces," "Cut the Cake," "A Love of Your Own"

Daniel McKenna

shot himself in 2006. He was 54. McKenna was the guitarist for '70s band Toby Beau. "My Angel Baby," "Westbound Train," "Into the Night," "Broken Down Cowboy"

Ron "Pigpen" McKernan

*Ron "Pigpen" McKernan

liver failure due to alcohol abuse (1973); he was 27. Keyboardist for the Grateful Dead, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. McKernan was the first of four Grateful Dead keyboardists to die prematurely. He was succeeded by Keith Godchaux (see 1980), Brent Mydland (see 1990), and Vince Welnick (see 2006). "Truckin'," "St. Stephen," "Casey Jones," "Friend of the Devil"

Grant McLennan

massive heart attack (2006). McLennan was the singer and songwriter for the Australian band, The Go-Betweens. He was preparing for a party, decided to take a nap before his guests arrived, and never woke up. He was 48. The group's single, "Cattle and Cane," was voted by the Australian Performing Rights Association as one of the ten greatest Australian songs of all time. "Part Company," "Streets of Your Town," "Head Full of Steam"

Ben McMillan

diabetes; 2008. He was 46. McMillan was the singer for Skin Yard, a Seattle band who were contemporaries of Soundgarden and Screaming Trees. (Soundgarden's long-time drummer, Matt Cameron, was previously the drummer for Skin Yard.) Skin Yard contributed two songs to the Deep Six compilation, which was the first showcase of Grunge music. Released in 1986, it also featured Soundgarden, Melvins, Malfunkshun, U-Men and Green River. Skin Yard released five albums before breaking up. Read about McMillan's involvement with the Shadows of Seattle. "Bleed," "Stranger," "Start at the Top"

Leroy McNeil

stabbed. McNeil was a member of The Nutmegs, a doo-wop/R&B vocal group. In 1975, McNeil was fatally stabbed during an argument. He was 36. (Fellow Nutmeg, Leroy Griffin, was also murdered. See 1966.) "Story Untold," "Ship of Love"

Clyde McPhatter

*Clyde McPhatter

multiple organ failure (liver, kidney, and heart failure) brought on by alcohol abuse in 1972; he was 39. McPhatter was the original lead singer with The Drifters before embarking on a briefly successful solo career. The Drifters, with McPhatter, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998. The song, "Money Honey," was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. McPhatter was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1987 and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. He was also featured on a U.S. postage stamp in 1993. Read about McPhatter's connection to the Curse of Buddy Holly on The Archive. With The Drifters: Honey Love," "Money Honey," "Such a Night," "Lucille." As a solo artist: "Treasure of Love," "A Lover's Question," "Little Bitty Pretty One," "Lover Please."

Don McPherson

leukemia (1971); he was 29. McPherson was a founding member of The Main Ingedient, an R&B group that gained popularity with their hit, "Everybody Plays the Fool". Other hits include "You've Been My Inspiration," "I'm So Proud," "Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling in Love)," and "Black Seeds Keep On Growing".

Jimmy McShane

(James Harry McShane), AIDS in 1995. He was 37. McShane was the lead singer of Baltimora, who had a hit in the '80s with "Tarzan Boy" which still features in commercials.

Joe Meek

(Robert George Meek), self-inflicted gunshot wound. Meek was a pioneering record producer and songwriter. Meek's works include The Tornados' "Ridin' the Wind" and "Telstar," which was the first song by a British act to reach #1 on the US Hot 100. Meek suffered from bouts of rage, paranoia and depression which were exacerbated by his drug use. He became obsessed with fallen rocker Buddy Holly (see 1959), whom Meek claimed visited him in dreams. On the eighth anniversary of Holly's death (3 February 1967), Meek shot and killed his landlady before turning the single-barreled shotgun on himself. He was 37. Read about Meek's involvement in the Curse of Buddy Holly.

Jonathan Melvoin

heroin overdose in 1996. Keyboardist for Smashing Pumpkins; Melvoin was 34. "Disarm," "Today"

Harold Melvin

heart problems; he died in 1997. Melvin was the founder and original lead singer of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. He was 57 at the time of his death. (Melvin was replaced as lead singer in 1970 by Teddy Pendergrass. Pendergrass died of colon cancer in 2010. He was 59.) "If You Don't Know Me By Now," "Wake Up Everybody," "Bad Luck"

Michael Menson

(Michael Tachie-Menson), set on fire. He was 30. Menson was a member of the British band, Double Trouble, who had several pop hits in the 1980s. On 28 January 1997, Mario Pereira, Harry Charalambous Constantinou, and Ozguy Cevat, using an accelerant, set fire to the back of Menson's coat. Constantinou also stole his personal stereo; they then fled. Two passing motorists, and later emergency services, went to Menson's aid. He died about two weeks later from complications and two heart attacks caused by 30% burns to his back. Pereira confessed to the killing, saying the the motive was that Menson was, or looked like, a man who had "stressed his girlfriend." In 1999, Pereira was found guilty of murder, Constantinou was found guilty of manslaughter, and Cevat (who fled to Cyprus) was arrested and jailed for 14 years for manslaughter. "Just Keep Rockin'," "Street Tuff," "Don't Give Up," "Talk Back," "Love Don't Live Here Anymore"

Nick Menza

Former Megadeth drummer, Nick Menza, died after collapsing on stage while performing with his band, OHM, in 2016. The musician suffered a heart attack at the age of 51. Menza performed with Megadeth at the height of their success, appearing on such albums as Rust in Peace, Countdown to Extinction and Youthanasia.

Freddie Mercury

*Freddie Mercury

(Farrokh Bulsara), AIDS; 1991. Mercury was music's first superstar-turned-AIDS casualty; his homosexuality was a bit of an open secret. He was 45. Mercury was the charismatic showman who fronted Queen. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004. They were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. "Another One Bites the Dust," "We Are the Champions," "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Fat Bottomed Girls," "I Want to Break Free," "Killer Queen," "The Show Must Go On," "Somebody to Love," "Under Pressure"

The Miami Showband: Brian McCoy, Fran O'Toole, Des Lee,

Stephen Travers (top), Ray Miller (bottom), Tony Geraghty.

Miami Showband

ambushed; several members murdered in 1975. The Miami Showband were wildly successful throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, considered the "Irish Beatles." During The Troubles, five of the band members were stopped at a checkpoint when returning from a show in Northern Ireland. A group of men, members of the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force, a Northern Irish paramilitary group) and the Ulster Defence Regiment, with suspected ties to the British government, escorted the band members from their bus. It was bombed and the musicians were shot. The Miami Showband Massacre, as it came to be called, took the lives of Brian McCoy (age 32), Fran O'Toole (age 28) and Tony Geraghty (age 24). Des Lee and Stephen Travers sustained serious injuries. "Clap Your Hands and Stomp Your Feet," "Dance in the Old Fashioned Way," "There Won't Be Anymore"

George Michael

*George Michael

(Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou), cardiac arrest in 2016, age 53. He died peacefully in his sleep. Michael hit the scene with the pop duo, Wham! and then followed that success with a phenomenal solo career. He won two Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. With Wham!: "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," "Careless Whisper" As a solo artist: "I Want Your Sex," "Praying for Time, "Freedom! 90," "Faith," "Monkey," "Father Figure"

Ralph "Pee Wee" Middlebrooks

cancer (1997); he was 57. Middlebrooks was the trumpeter and trombonist for The Ohio Players, popular for their 1970s dance hits, such as "Love Rollercoaster," "Funky Worm," and "Fire." (Fellow Ohio Player Clarence "Satch" Satchell passed away the year before, in 1995.)

Robert Miles

(Roberto Concina), cancer in 2017; he was 47. Miles was a record producer, DJ, composer and musician. His 1995 work, "Children", sold 5 million copies and was an international hit.

Glenn Miller

Glenn Miller

(Alton Glenn Miller), plane disappeared on a flight over the English Channel during World War II. Miller was the internationally popular leader of The Glenn Miller Orchestra and The Army Air Force Band. He was also a former member of the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra (see Tommy, 1956 and Jimmy, 1957). Miller was in England, waiting to go to a Christmas concert that he was scheduled to perform for Allied soldiers in Paris. His flight was repeatedly delayed because of bad weather. On 15 December 1944, he boarded a single-engine Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman at the invitation of Lieutenant Colonel Norman Baessell. Supposedly, Baessell was denied authorization to fly that day because of the foul weather, and the pilot, John Stuart Morgan, was not properly qualified for instrumemnt flying. Additionally, Norseman aircraft were notorious for having their carburetors freeze in cold weather (resulting in engine stall). It is speculated that the frigid weather caused the plane's carburetor to freeze, which stalled the engine, sending the plane and its occupants plummeting into the English Channel. The news of Miller's "disappearance" was not announced until 9 days later, on 24 Decemeber 1944, possibly because the flight was unauthorized and it was not clear who was involved. Glenn Miller was 40. "In the Mood," "Moonlight Serenade," "Tuxedo Junction," "(I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo," "Chattanooga Choo Choo"

Jacob "Killer" Miller

car crash in Kingston, Jamaica; he was 27. Miller was an original member of the reggae group, Inner Circle. They initially gained popularity by covering US pop hits. In later years, the group had hits with "Bad Boys," the theme to the television show, COPS, and "Sweat (A La La La La Long)." At the time of Miller's death in 1980, Inner Circle were preparing for a tour with Bob Marley and the Wailers (see 1981). Side note: Miller was the uncle of British R&B singer, Maxi Priest ("Close to You," "Set the Night to Music" with Roberta Flack).

Roger Miller

lung cancer; 1992. He was 56. Enjoyed fame in the 1960's with hits like "King Of The Road" and "Dang Me." Inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

Charles Mingus

Charles Mingus

Lou Gehrig's disease (1979); he was 56. Mingus was a legendary jazz composer and bassist who suffered from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). He worked and/or performed with Charlie Parker (see 1955), Dizzy Gillespie, and Duke Ellington. "Fable of Faubus," "If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger, There'd Be a Whole Lot of Dead Copy Cats" (renamed to "Gunslinging Bird"), "Better Git It in Your Soul"

Taylor Mitchell

attacked by coyotes while hiking in 2009. She was 19. Mitchell was a Canadian folk singer who was nominated for Young Performer of the Year by the Canadian Folk Music Awards. During a break while touring, she decided to go hiking on the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia. Fellow hikers witnessed the coyote attack and called 911. Mitchell was airlifted to a hospital, where she died 12 hours later. Her album, For Your Consideration, was released in 2009.

Country Dick Montana

(Daniel Monte McLain), heart attack (some sources claim aneurysm) while performing a show in 1995. Montana was the vocalist and drummer for The Beat Farmers. He was 40. "Happy Boy," "The Girl I Almost Married," "Riverside"

Keith Moon

*Keith Moon

drug overdose (1978); he was 32. Moon was the drummer for The Who. On the eve of his death, he previewed The Buddy Holly Story and dined with his girlfriend, Annette Walter-Lax, and Paul and Linda McCartney. Moon and Walter-Lax returned to a flat owned by Harry Nilsson (heart failure, 1994, age 52) where "Mama" Cass Elliot had died four years earlier (heart failure, age 32). He supposedly woke up at 7:30 on the morning of the seventh, and returned to bed. At 3:40 pm, Walter-Lax tried to wake him, but he was unresponsive. At some point during the previous night or that morning, he had ingested 32 tablets of Clomethiazole (Heminevrin), a sedative prescribed for alcohol withdrawal. Keith Moon was dead of a prescription drug overdose. The Who (including bassist John Entwistle, see 2002), were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Read about Moon's connection to the Curse of Buddy Holly and the Curse of Harry Nilsson. "Baba O'Reilly," "Pinball Wizard," "Behind Blue Eyes"

Gary Moore

(Robert William Gary Moore), suffered a heart attack in his sleep in 2011. Moore, 58, was the guitarist for Irish rock band, Thin Lizzy. He was found dead in his hotel room while vacationing in Spain; it was suspected that his heart attack was caused by the high level of alcohol in his blood. (Lead singer, Phil Lynott, died in 1986 from drug- and alcohol-related compliations.) "The Boys Are Back in Town," "Whiskey in the Jar"

The Dave Matthews Band: Leroi Moore, Boyd Tinsley,

Dave Matthews, Carter Beauford, and Stefan Lessard.

*Leroi Moore

complications from an ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) accident in 2008. He was 46. Moore was the saxophonist and a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. "Ants Marching," "Crash," "What Would You Say," "Satellite"

Rushton Moreve

(John Russell Morgan), automobile crash in 1981; he was 33. Bassist Moreve, with drummer Jerry Edmonton (see 1993), was a co-founder of Steppenwolf. "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born to Be Wild"

Erick Morillo

acute ketamine toxicity in 2020. He was 49. Morillo was a DJ and producer. He garnered international attention with the 1993 hit, "I Like to Move It", which he produced under the name Reel 2 Real.

"The Lizard King"

*Jim Morrison

(James Douglas Morrison), unknown. Morrison was found dead in his bathtub while living in Paris in 1971. The official cause of death was myocardial infarction (heart attack). Some speculate that he actually succumbed to some type of drug (heroin or cocaine) and/or alcohol overdose. Others believe "The Lizard King" still lives. Morrison was lead singer of The Doors and a published poet; he was 27 at the time of his death. The Doors were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. (Keyboardist Ray Manzarek died in 2013 of bile duct cancer; he was 74.) "Riders on the Storm," "Hello, I Love You," "The End," "Light My Fire"

Interesting aside: In 1967, The Doors were booked to play three shows in San Francisco, headlined by soul singer Otis Redding. Redding was killed two weeks before the scheduled performances. (Visit Redding's Tribute.) Morrison paid tribute to the fallen singer during the first performance and again in The Doors' song "Runnin' Blue": "Poor Otis, dead and gone, left me here to sing his song..."

2007 - Update: Sources (including Morrison's close friend, Sam Sernett) are surfacing, stating that Morrison actually overdosed on heroin in a Paris nightclub bathroom and was quietly moved to his apartment where the bathtub death scene was staged.

*Sterling Morrison

non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; 1995. He was 53. Guitarist for Andy Warhol's Velvet Underground. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. "Heroin," "Sunday Morning," "Waiting for My Man"

Jelly Roll Morton

*Jelly Roll Morton

(Ferdinand Joseph Lematt), heart trouble and asthma (1941). He was 50. Morton, who started his career playing in whorehouses, was arguably the first great jazz pianist. Prior to his success as a musician, he was employed as a gambler, pool shark, vaudeville comedian, and pimp. He attributed his failing health to a voodoo curse. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. "Original Jelly Roll Blues," "Dead Man Blues," "Black Bottom Stomp," "Red Hot Pepper"

Karl Mueller

throat cancer; 2005. Mueller was bassist for '90s alternative band, Soul Asylum. He was 41. "Runaway Train," "Black Gold," "Somebody to Shove"

Bill Murcia

accidental drug overdose; in an effort to revive him, he was placed in a bathtub and forced to drink coffee. He died of asphyxiation at the age of 21 in 1972. Original drummer for The New York Dolls, he was replaced by Jerry Nolan (see 1992). Murcia and Nolan were two of four band members who would die prematurely, the other two being Johnny Thunders (see 1991) and Arthur "Killer" Kane (see 2004). "Personality Crisis," "Frankenstein"

Mercedes Navarro Murciano

pneumonia in 2007; she was 49. The Cuban-born singer/songwriter was a member of Miami Sound Machine, and shared vocals with Gloria Estefan on the band's first release, Otra Vez. This was the only album on which Murciano appeared. In later years, Miami Sound Machine would hit the charts with the singles "Bad Boy," "Conga," "The Words Get in the Way," and "Rhythm is Gonna Get You."

Brittany Murphy

combination of pneumonia, an iron deficiency and "multiple drug intoxication," in 2009; she was 32. Murphy was better known for her acting (Clueless, 8 Mile and Girl, Interrupted), but she was also a singer. She was in a band in the early '90s called Blessed Soul (with actor Eric Balfour) and in 2006, she and Paul Oakenfold had a club hit with the single "Faster Kill Pussycat." (The song reached number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.) Murphy also covered Queen's "Somebody to Love" and Earth, Wind & Fire's "Boogie Wonderland" for the soundtrack to the film, Happy Feet. Murphy was found at her home, unconscious in full cardiac arrest.

*Brent Mydland

morphine and cocaine overdose; 1990. He was 37. Keyboardist for the Grateful Dead, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Mydland was the third of four Grateful Dead keyboardists to die prematurely. He succeeded Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (see 1973) and Keith Godchaux (see 1980) and was succeeded by Vince Welnick (see 2006). "Truckin'," "St. Stephen," "Casey Jones," "Friend of the Devil"

Alan Myers

stomach cancer (2013), age 58. Meyers was drummer for the New Wave group, Devo ("De-evolution") from 1976 until 1986, their most successful period. "Whip It," "Working in the Coal Mine," "Theme from Doctor Detroit"

*Don Myrick

shot accidentally by police; he was 45. Myrick played saxophone for Earth, Wind & Fire. In 1993, an LAPD officer had a warrant to search Myrick's apartment for drugs. (Myrick had been abusing crack cocaine.) He shot Myrick when he mistook a cigarette lighter for a pistol in Myrick's hand. Earth, Wind & Fire were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Vocal Hall of Fame in 2003. "Shining Star," "Boogie Wonderland," "Let's Groove," "September"