2016

George Michael died December 25, 2016

George Michael: A Trailblazing Pop Icon George Michael, born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on June 25, 1963, in East Finchley, London, was one of the most influential and beloved pop stars of the 1980s and 1990s. As a solo artist and as part of the duo Wham!, Michael achieved global fame, becoming known for his powerful voice, charismatic stage presence, and ability to blend multiple musical styles such as pop, soul, R&B, and dance. Beyond his music, Michael was a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and social causes, adding layers of depth to his public persona. His life, however, was marked…
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17 musicians who died in 2016

Musicians who died in 2016 – 2016 was seen by many people as the year music died, as so many legends of the music world sadly passed away. 10 January 2016: David Bowie David Bowie (David Robert Jones) (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016) was a singer, songwriter and actor, for over five decades, and was regarded by critics and musicians alike as an innovator. Throughout his career he reinvented himself, with various alter-egos, and his visual presentation, music and stagecraft significantly influencing many other performers and musicians. During his lifetime, his estimated 140 million record sales worldwide,…
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Prince Rogers Nelson died on April 21, 2016

Prince was born Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Mattie Della Nelson (née Shaw; 1933–2002) and John Lewis Nelson (1916–2001). Prince used many aliases including Jamie Starr, Alexander Nevermind, Joey Coco, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince and of course “Symbol”. Prince’s father John was a songwriter and pianist, and his mother Mattie was a jazz singer. John’s stage name was Prince Rogers, and he performed with a jazz group called the Prince Rogers Trio. In a 1991 interview John Lewis Nelson said, “I named my son Prince because I wanted him to do everything…
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David Bowie died January 10, 2016.

David Bowie was a transformative figure in music, fashion, and culture, whose career spanned over five decades. Born David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947, in Brixton, South London, his life was defined by constant reinvention, experimentation, and artistic innovation. From his early days as a teenager fascinated by rock ‘n’ roll, to his final album, released just days before his death in 2016, Bowie left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape. Early Life and Musical Beginnings Bowie grew up in a working-class family and developed an early interest in music, theater, and the visual arts. His father, a…
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