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The Death of Rock: The Alphabetical Archive

U and V

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.)

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Key

U

Gary Usher

cancer (1990). He was 51. Usher was the lead for The Hondells. "Little Honda"

V

Ritchie Valens

*Ritchie Valens

(Richard Steven Valenzuela), plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and "The Big Bopper" in 1959; Valens was 17. Visit the Archive's Tribute to Rock's Royal Trinity. Valens was the first person to chart with a song in Spanish, with "La Bamba." He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and he has also been inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. (Read about the connection to the Curse of Buddy Holly.) "Come On, Let's Go," "Oh, Donna," "We Belong Together," "Ooh, My Head"

Luther Vandross

Luther Vandross

died in 2005 of complications from a stroke he suffered in 2003. Luther Ronzoni Vandross, Jr. was a Grammy-winning soul vocalist. He claimed to have lost 100 pounds - 13 times in his life. He also suffered from hypertension and diabetes. Vandross remained in a coma for two months after his 2003 stroke and never completely recovered. He was 54. In 2010, NPR included the singer in its 50 Greatest Voices in recorded history, saying Vandross represents "the platinum standard for R&B song stylings." "Here and Now," "Give Me the Reason," "Power of Love/Love Power," "The Best Things in Life Are Free" (duet with Janet Jackson)

Randy Van Warmer

leukemia (2004). He was 48. Van Warmer recorded the hit "Just When I Needed You Most" and wrote the number one country hits "It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes" (performed by The Oak Ridge Boys) and "I'm in a Hurry (And Don't Know Why)" (by Alabama). He was cremated and his remains were sent into space in 2007.

Ronnie Van Zant

*Ronnie Van Zant

plane crash in Mississippi (1977); he was 29. Ronnie was the lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Guitarist Steve Gaines, Steve's sister, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, and manager Dean Kilpatrick were also killed. Gary Rossington (died 2023), Allen Collins (see 1990), Billy Powell (see 2009), Artimus Pyle and Leon Wilkeson (see 2001) survived, but not without serious injuries. Lynyrd Skynyrd were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Visit the Archive's Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute. "Free Bird," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps," "Simple Man"

Stevie Ray Vaughan; memorial in Austin, Texas.

*^Stevie Ray Vaughan

helicopter crash into a fog-shrouded, man-made ski hill in 1990. A guitar legend; he was 35. He was nominated for two and won two Grammy Awards. In 2003, Rolling Stone Magazine named Vaughan one of greatest guitarists of all time (ranking number 7). Vaughan was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. View the National Transportation and Safety Board report on Stevie Ray Vaughan's helicopter crash. "Pride and Joy," "Cold Shot" "Tight Rope"

Mariska Veres

(Maria Elizabeth Ender), gallbladder cancer in 2006. Veres was the lead singer for '60s Dutch rock group, Shocking Blue. Veres was 59; she died only three weeks after her diagnosis. Shocking Blue scored a global hit with "Venus", which reached #1 in several countries, including the US.

Canned Heat, front to back:

Fito de la Parra, Larry Taylor (d. 2019),

Bob Hite (standing, d. 1981), Henry Vestine (d. 1997),

Alan Wilson (standing, d. 1970).

Henry "Sunflower" Vestine

respiratory failure; he was 52. Vestine was an original member of Canned Heat, with Al "Blind Owl" Wilson (see 1970) and Bob "The Bear" Hite (see 1981). Vestine was found dead in his hotel room in 1997. In 2003, Rolling Stone Magazine named Vestine one of greatest guitarists of all time (ranking number 77). (Bassist Larry Taylor succumbed to cancer in 2019 at the age of 77.) "Same All Over," "Let's Work Together," "Time Was," "Boogie Music," "On the Road Again"

Sid Vicious

*Sid Vicious

(John Simon Ritchie), heroin overdose in 1979. Sex Pistols' bassist; he was 21. Vicious died while on bail after being charged in his girlfriend's murder. It is speculated that the overdose was administered by his mother and was intentionally fatal. The Sex Pistols were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. "Anarchy in the U.K.," "God Save the Queen"

Gene Vincent, circa 1957 (unknown photographer, Rolling Stone Images of Rock & Roll).

*Gene Vincent

(Eugene Vincent Craddock), internal bleeding from a ruptured stomach ulcer (1971); he was 36. Sadly, his family lacked sufficient funds and the city of Los Angeles had to bury him. Vincent won an "Elvis Presley Soundalike Sweepstakes" in 1956, landing a contract with Capitol Records. He survived the automobile crash that killed singer Eddie Cochran (see 1960). Vincent was the first inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 1997, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Read about Vincent's connection to the Curse of Buddy Holly. "Be-Bop-A-Lula," "Lotta Lovin'"