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The Death of Rock: Medical Causes

All Other Causes

Because the Medical Archive has the largest number of entries, I have divided it into several pages. Musicians who died from causes not covered by the categories, below, are listed on this page. You can select different medical causes using the links, below.

Key

*Dave Michael Alexander

pulmonary edema; 1975. He was 27. "Zander" was the original bassist for The Stooges (featuring punk icon, Iggy Pop). Zander died of pulmonary edema in Ann Arbor, Michigan, after being admitted to a hospital for pancreatitis, probably caused by his excessive drinking. (Stooges guitarist, Ron Asheton, died of a heart attack in 2009. Original drummer, Scott Asheton, died of an undisclosed illness in 2014 at age 64.) The Stooges were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. "I Wanna Be Your Dog," "Fun House," "Dirt"

Paul Atkinson

liver and kidney disease, 2004. Atkinson was a founding member of The Zombies, a '60s British Invasion band. He later became a music executive, signing (among others) ABBA, Bruce Hornsby, Judas Priest, and Patty Smyth. Atkinson was 58 at the time of his death. "She's Not There," "Time of the Season," "Tell Her No"

Paul Baloff

stroke in 2002. Baloff was a lead vocalist for thrash-metal band, Exodus. He appeared on the album, Bonded by Blood. Baloff was 41 at the time of his death.

Brook Benton

(Benjamin Franklin Peay), spinal meningitis. Benton died in 1988 at the age of 56. He scored a hit in 1970 with "A Rainy Night In Georgia."

Ronnie Bond

(Ronald Bullis), lengthy illness in 1992. He was 50. Bond was a member of The Troggs, who scored a number two hit with 1966's "Wild Thing." Other hits include "A Girl Like You" and "I Can't Control Myself."

Audrey Brickley

acute respiratory distress syndrome in 2005. She was 58. Brickley was a member of girl group, The Orlons, who were popular in the 1960s. Shirley Brickley, Audrey's sister and fellow Orlon, was shot to death in 1977 when an intruder invaded her home. She was 35. Marlena Davis died of lung cancer in 1993 (age 48). "The Wah Watusi," "Don't Hang Up," "South Street"

*David Brown

liver and kidney failure; 2000. He was 53. Brown was the original bassist for Santana, playing with the band from 1966 until 1971. He rejoined the band in 1973, remaining until 1976. Santana were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Brown played on classics like "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen," "Oye Como Va," "Samba Pa Ti," and "Evil Ways"

Clive Burr

multiple sclerosis; 2013. Burr was the original drummer for metal band, Iron Maiden. He joined the group in 1979 and appeared on the band's first three albums. He was 56. Iron Maiden, Killers, The Number of the Beast

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"

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'"

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"

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...."

Brian Connolly

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

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

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"

One version of T. Rex: Bill Legend, Mickey Finn (d. 2003), singer Marc Bolan (d. 1977), and Steve Currie (d. 1980).

*Mickey Finn

(Michael Norman Finn), liver and kidney disease; 2003. He was 55. Finn joined T-Rex, where he replaced Steve Peregrin Took (see 1980) on bongos and "looked superb," according to singer Marc Bolan (see 1977). T-Rex seems to have fallen apart after Bolan's death. In addition to Finn and Took, fellow T-Rex members Steve Currie (see 1981) and "Dino" Dines (see 2004) also passed away prematurely. T-Rex was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. "Get It On (Bang A Gong)," "Hot Love," "Telegram Sam," "Metal Guru"

Depeche Mode: Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher.

*Andy "Fletch" Fletcher

"natural causes"; he was 60. Fletcher, keyboardist for synth-pop icons, Depeche Mode, co-founded the band in 1980 and remained with the group until his death in 2022. Depeche Mode was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. "People Are People," "Policy of Truth," "World in My Eyes," "Personal Jesus," "Enjoy the Silence"

*Tom Fogerty

1990. There are conflicting reports of cause of death. Some versions state AIDS as the reason; some say a heart attack or tuberculosis were to blame. Fogerty was 49. Member of Creedence Clearwater Revival and brother to legendary songwriter/musician John Fogerty. Creedence was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. "Fortunate Son," "Bad Moon Rising," "Proud Mary"

The Temptations, 1964-68: David Ruffin (d. 1991), Paul Williams (d. 1973), Eddie Kendricks (d. 1992), Melvin Franklin (d. 1995), & Otis Williams (clockwise from bottom left).

*Melvin Franklin

seizure in 1995. Franklin (uncle of Rick James, see 2004) was a founding member of the Temptations. He was 52 at the time of his death. Fellow Temptations also included in The Archive: Paul Williams (suicide, 1973), Elbridge Bryant (cirrhosis of the liver, 1975), David Ruffin (cocaine overdose in 1991), and Eddie Kendricks (cancer, 1992). The Temptations were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. "The Way You Do The Things You Do," "My Girl," "Just My Imagination," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"

Pauly Fuemana

died after a brief illness in 2010; he was 40. Fuemana was the lead singer of the New Zealand group, OMC (Otara Millionaires Club). The duo was best known for their international hit, "How Bizarre" (1996). The song was named Single of the Year at the 1996 New Zealand Music Awards, and reached number one in the U.S. (Billboard's Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks), Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand.

The Shangri-Las: Mary Ann Ganser (d. 1970), Betty Weiss, Marge Ganser (d. 1996), and Mary Weiss

Mary Ann Ganser

encephalitis (1970); she was 23. (Some sources report the cause of death as a drug overdose.) Member of girl group, The Shangri-Las. Her twin sister and band mate, Marge, would be stricken with breast cancer and pass away in 1996. "Leader Of The Pack," "Remember Walking In the Sand," "Give Him a Great Big Kiss"

Francisco Garcia

died after an undisclosed illness in 1996. He was 49. Garcia was the lead singer for Cannibal and the Headhunters, who opened for the Beatles, the Temptations, the Miracles and the Supremes. 1965's "Land Of 1000 Dances"

*Glen Lamont Goins

systemic disorder (1978); he was 24. Goins was a member of Parliament-Funkadelic, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Goins would later be joined by fellow band members, Eddie Hazel (1992) and Garry Shider (2010). "Flash Light," "One Nation Under a Groove," "Aqua Boogie," "(Not Just) Knee Deep"

Johnny Guitar

(John Byrnes), motor neurone disease (1999). He was 59. Guitar was a member of The Hurricanes with Rory Storm (see 1972) and future Beatle Ringo Starr. "Dr. Feelgood," "America"

Woody Guthrie

*Woody Guthrie

(Woodrow Wilson Guthrie), Huntington's Chorea; 1967. Folk hero. Wrote over 1000 songs, folksy-protest ballads. By the mid-1940s, Guthrie began experiencing bouts of depression and disorientation that signaled the onset of Huntington's Chorea (a genetic disorder that had afflicted his mother). His health slowly deteriorated and he was eventually confined to hospitals. He died at the age of 55, leaving behind 3 wives and eight children, including folk singer Arlo Guthrie. Woody Guthrie was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. He was honored again in 1996 with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame American Music Masters Series. In 1997, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. "This Land is Your Land," "Dust Bowl Refugees," "So Long, It's Been Good to Know You," "Grand Coulee Dam"

*Eddie Hazel

internal bleeding and liver failure after a lengthy battle with stomach problems (1992); he was 42. Hazel was the pioneering guitarist for Parliament-Funkadelic, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2003, Rolling Stone Magazine named Hazel one of the greatest guitarists of all time (ranking number 43). Hazel was predeceased by fellow band member, Glenn Lamont Goins (1978), and was followed by Garry Shider (2010). "Flash Light," "One Nation Under a Groove," "Aqua Boogie," "(Not Just) Knee Deep"

Heavy D

Heavy D

(Dwight Arrington Myers), respiratory ailment; 2011. Heavy D was was returning home when he experienced difficulty breathing and collapsed in the hallway of his condominium. He died at the hospital, approximately 90 minutes later. The singer was 44, weighing almost 350 pounds. Heavy D was nominated for four Grammy Awards and four Soul Train Awards (one of which he won, for the 1990 album, Big Tyme). Heavy D & the Boyz: "Now That We Found Love" and themes for the TV programs, In Living Color and MADtv. Heavy D also appears on Michael Jackson's (see 2009) single "Jam" and Janet Jackson's single "Alright".

Rick James

Rick James

(James Johnson, Jr.), existing medical conditions (2004). He was 56. James, nephew of the Temptations' Melvin Franklin (see 1995), was notorious for his tangles with sex, drugs, and the law. James became a funk favorite after the success of his hit, "Super Freak." He produced songs for Teena Marie (died 2010) and Eddie Murphy ("Party All the Time") and won Grammy Awards for his album Street Songs and his collaboration with M.C. Hammer on "U Can't Touch This," which incorpoarted samples from "Super Freak." "Give It to Me Baby," "17," "Glow"

^Blind Lemon Jefferson

(Lemon Henry Jefferson); 1929. Reports about his death are conflicting; the most popularly circulated stories have Jefferson either freezing to death or suffering a heart attack while disoriented in a Chicago snowstorm. No death certificate has ever been found. Jefferson was one of the earliest blues artists to record, logging over a hundred titles between 1926-1929. Jefferson was between 32 and 37 years old at the time of his death. In addition to his cause of death and age, Jeffereson's exact burial place is also a mystery. The general area of his final resting place is marked in what is now Blind Lemon Memorial Cemetery in Wortham, Texas. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980. "Matchbox Blues," "See That My Grave is Kept Clean," "Easy Rider Blues," "Jack O'Diamonds"

Daniel Johnston

"natural causes" after being hospitalized with a kidney ailment in 2019; he was 58. Johnston was an influential artist who was admired by the likes of Kurt Cobain (see 1994), Matt Groening and Tom Waits. Artists such as Pearl Jam, The Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, and Beck covered his songs. "Life in Vain," "True Love Will Find You in the End," "Walking the Cow"

Scott Joplin

Scott Joplin

dementia paralytica (1917), the result of suffering most of his life with syphilis. He was 49. The "King of Ragtime" composed "Treemonisha," the first grand opera by an African American. In 1973, his music was featured in the film, "The Sting," which won an Academy Award for its score. In 1976, Joplin was awarded a citation for his contributions to American music. "Maple Leaf Rag," "The Entertainer"

Joey Jordison

died in his sleep from transverse myelitis in 2021. He was 46. Jordison was a founder and former drummer for the metal outfit, Slipknot. The band only appeared publicly wearing grotesque masks and jumpsuits. Slipknot was nominated for seven Grammy Awards and a Video Music Award; the group took home a Grammy in 2006 for Best Metal Performance ("Before I Forget"). (Fellow Slipknot member, Paul Gray, died of a drug overdose in 2010.) "Wait and Bleed," "Psychosocial," "Duality"

Cub Koda

(Michael Koda), kidney disease (2000). He was 51. Koda was the leader of Brownsville Station and a successful solo blues artist. He was editor of The All Music Guide to Blues and writer/editor of Blues for Dummies. With Brownsville Station: Smokin' in the Boys Room." As a solo artist: "Let's Hear a Word (For the Folks in the Cemetery)," "Sneakers on a Rooster," "Jail Bait"

The Small Faces: Kenney Jones, Ian McLagan, Ronnie Lane (d. 1997) and Steve Marriott (d. 1991).

Ronnie Lane

(Ronald Frederick Lane), multiple sclerosis (1997). He was 51. Lane was a co-founder of the '60s mod band, The Small Faces, who 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. (Lane's fellow founding member, Steve Marriott, died in a house fire in 1991.) "Itchycoo Park," "Tin Soldier," "Lazy Sunday," "All or Nothing"

Sean Levert

brief illness; 2008. He was 39. Levert was incarcerated at the time (and transported to the hospital) for failing to pay child support. Supposedly he suffered from high blood pressure and was hallucinating while in jail. He was a member of LeVert with his brother Gerald, who died in 2006 of an accidental mix of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Their father was O'Jays member, Eddie Levert, Sr. "Casanova," "Baby I'm Ready," and "(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind"

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"

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"

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."

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"

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.

*George Nelson

fatally gagged during an asthma attack in 1959. He was 33. Nelson was a vocalist for The Orioles ("the first R&B vocal group") and was involved in the auto accident that claimed the life of Orioles' guitarist Tommy Gaither (see 1950). The Orioles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as an "Early Influence" in 1995. "It's Too Soon to Know," "Tell Me So," "Crying in the Chapel"

Sinead O'Connor

Sinead O'Connor

"natural causes" in 2023; no specifics given. She was 56. O'Connor shot to fame with her single, "Nothing Compares 2 U" (written by Prince, see 2016) and courted controversy with her crusades against numerous issues including racism, child abuse, and organized religion. (In 1992, she infamously tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live stating, "Fight the real enemy.") It is reported that O'Connor was despondent after the suicide of her 17-year-old son, Shane, in January of 2022. She struggled with depression and was hospitalized. O'Connor was nominated for numerous awards and won several, including a Grammy Award, an MTV Video Music Award, and a Billboard Music Award.

John Persh

(John Parrish), staph infection at the age of 34 (1976). Persh played bass, trombone, and sang vocals for rock/soul group, Rare Earth. Fellow band members Mark Olson died of chronic alcohol consumption (1991), and Eddie Guzman succumbed to complications of diabetes (1993). "I Just Want to Celebrate," "Hey, Big Brother," and covers of The Temptations' "(I Know) I'm Losing You" and "Get Ready"

Mike Porcaro

Lou Gehrig's Disease, 2015. Porcaro was the bassist for the band, Toto (and brother to Jeff). The group garnered six Grammy Awards in its heyday. Porcaro was 59. "Africa," "Rosanna," "Hold the Line"

Duane Roland

died of "natural causes" at his home in 2006. Roland was the guitarist for Molly Hatchet. He was 53. "Flirtin' with Disaster," "Bloody Reunion," "Satisfied Man"

Adam Schlesinger

coronavirus in 2020; age 52. Schlesinger was a singer/songwriter ("That Thing You Do!" from the film of the same name) and co-founder of Fountains of Wayne ("Stacy's Mom"). Based on his songwriting skills, he earned three Emmys and was nominated for a Academy Award and a Golden Globe.

Allan Sherman

respiratory ailments; 1973. He was 48. Sherman recorded the novelty tune, "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh."

Gregory Slay

Slay was co-founder of the band, Remy Zero, who scored hits with their songs, "Prophecy" and "Save Me". (The latter became the theme song for the television series, Smallville.) The group disbanded in 2003. That same year, Slay and two former bandmates formed Engine Room. They recorded "A Perfect Lie", which Slay co-wrote, the theme for the television series, Nip/Tuck. "A Perfect Lie" was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music in 2004. Slay succumbed to cystic fibrosis on New Year's Day, 2010. He was 40. Albums with Remy Zero: the self-titled Remy Zero and Villa Elaine.

Joni Sledge

(Joan Elise Sledge), "natural causes" at age 60 (2017). Sledge belonged to the disco/pop group, Sister Sledge. "We Are Family," "He's the Greatest Dancer," "Lost in Music"

*Claydes Charles Smith

passed away in 2006 after "a long illness." He was 57. Smith was co-founder and lead guitarist of Kool & the Gang. He wrote the hits "Joanna" and "Take My Heart," and was a co-writer of "Celebration," Jungle Boogie," and others. Kool & the Gang were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.

Mike "Smitty" Smith

succumbed to natural causes in 2001. He was 58. (Some sources have his age at death as 60.) Smith was the drummer for Paul Revere and the Raiders. "Indian Reservation (Cherokee People)," "Steppin' Out," "The Great Airplane Strike"

Shawn Smith

torn aorta and hypertension in 2019. He was 53. Smith was a singer and songwriter who had a solo career and performed with several Seattle bands, including Brad, Satchel, Pigeonhed, and The Twilight Singers. In 1999, the British techno group, Lo Fidelity Allstars, remixed and released the Pigeonhed song, "Battle Flag". The song reached #6 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart. Read about his involvement with the Shadows of Seattle. Smith's solo albums include Let It All Begin, Live at the Point, and Shield of Thorns.

Type O Negative. Peter Steele is second from the right.

Peter Steele

(Petrus T. Ratajczyk), sepsis caused by diverticulitis in 2010. Steele was the bassist, composer and lead singer of "Gothic metal" band, Type O Negative. He stood an imposing 6' 8" tall and appeared as a nude centerfold in Playgirl in 1995. Type O Negative's dark metal appeared on the soundtracks of several horror movies, including I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Blair Witch Project, Nosferatu (1922 silent film re-released in 1998), Bride of Chucky, and Freddy vs. Jason. Steele was 48 at the time of his death. "Black No. 1," "Bloody Kisses," a particularly disturbing version of Seals & Crofts's "Summer Breeze"

*Ian Stewart

stroke. Stewart was the original keyboardist for the Rolling Stones who was relegated to a behind-the-scenes position as roadie becuase he lacked the look of a rock star. He stayed with the band (and out of sight) for over twenty years, and he played on several Stones' hits, including "It's All Over Now," "Star Star," and "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll." In 1979, he formed the band Rocket 88. Stewart died of a stroke in 1985 while sitting in his doctor's waiting room. He was 47. He was included in the Rolling Stones' induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Teresa Taylor

lung disease (2023); she was 60. Taylor (also known as Teresa Nervosa) was the drummer for '90s alternative band, Butthole Surfers. The group achieved some commercial success with their hit, "Pepper."

Teena Marie

(Mary Christine Brockert), "natural causes" in 2010. She was 54. Marie, a protege of Rick James (died 2004), was a white R&B singer who was noted for her soulful "black" vocals. The "Ivory Queen of Soul" was found dead in her home; she apparently passed away in her sleep. Marie had suffered a grand mal seizure just a month prior. Her biggest hit, "Lovergirl," reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 (1984). "I'm a Sucker for Your Love" (with Rick James), "Square Biz," "Ooh La La La"

Georgeanna Tillman

sicklel cell anemia (1980). She was 36. Tillman was a member of the Motown girl-group, The Marvelettes. "Please Mr Postman," "Someday, Someway," "Too Many Fish in the Sea"

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)

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"

Gene Vincent

*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'"

Frederick Waite, Jr.

undisclosed medical causes (2022); he was 55. Frederick was receiving treatment for schizophrenia at a mental health facility in England, after being sectioned under Britain's mental health act. He died suddenly, found in his bed with his hands on his chest. Frederick was a member of the '80s one-hit wonders, Musical Youth. (Frederick's brother and fellow bandmate, Patrick Waite, passed away at the age of 23. See 1993.) "Pass the Dutchie"

Helen Wheels

(Helen Robbins), staph infection. Wheels sang with Blue Oyster Cult ("Room to Rage," "Tattoo Vampire") and later went on to form her own bands. In 2000, she developed a staph infection after a routine surgery and passed away. She was 50.

Barry White

Barry White

(Barry Carter), medical complications (2003) at the age of 58. Chronic high blood pressure resulted in kidney failure. While undergoing dialysis in May, White suffered a stroke which impaired his speech and left him partially paralyzed. The baritone, responsible for numerous romantic soul classics, won two Grammys and earned 106 gold albums, 41 platinum albums, 20 gold singles and 10 platinum singles. "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe," "You're the First, the Last, My Everything," "Love's Theme"

Carl White

acute tonsillitis (1980), age 47 or 48. White was the lead vocalist for The Rivingtons, who had two novelty hits in the Sixties with "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" and "The Bird's the Word".

Johnnie Wilder, Jr.

died in his sleep in 2006, presumably from complications of quadriplegia. He was 56. Wilder sang lead for Heatwave. He was paralyzed from the waist-down after a van struck his vehicle in 1979, yet he continued his singing career. "Always and Forever," "Boogie Nights"

Johnny Winter; photo I took at Winter's grave.

^Johnny Winter

cause of death not officially released (2014); Winter's guitarist said he died of a combination of emphysema and pneumonia. Winter was 70. (Although Winter's age would normally omit him from The Archive, I included him because I was able to visit his gravesite.) Winter was a Blues-guitar legend. He produced three Grammy Award-winning albums by Muddy Waters and was nominated for several Grammy Awards for his own work. (He posthumously won the Grammy Award for Best Blues Album for Step Back, which also won the 2015 Blues Music Award for Best Rock Blues Album.) In 2015, at the Maple Blues Awards, Winter was awarded the B.B. King International Artist of The Year Award. In 1980, Winter was on the cover of the first issue of Guitar World. In 1988, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, the first Caucasian performer to be inducted. In 2003, he was ranked 63rd in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".

Kurt Winter

some sources cite kidney failure, others state bleeding ulcers (1997). He was 51. Winter was the guitarist for The Guess Who. He wrote their hits, "Hand Me Down World" and "Clap for the Wolfman." The Guess Who are also known for: "These Eyes," "American Woman," "Undun"