2026

Beauty and the Beast singer Peabo Bryson died on June 2, 2026.

Peabo Bryson: The Voice of Romance and Disney Magic Peabo Bryson was one of the most accomplished and beloved voices in American R&B, soul, and adult contemporary music. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Bryson established himself as one of the premier romantic balladeers of his generation, famous for his memorable duets, including Grammy-winning performances of Disney classics such as Beauty and the Beast and A Whole New World. His rich tenor voice, emotional delivery, and remarkable ability to connect with listeners made him a defining figure in popular music from the 1970s through the 2020s. Early Life…
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Cosmic Soul legend Dexter Wansel died May 31. 2026

Dexter Wansel: The Cosmic Architect of Philadelphia Soul Few musicians have had as broad an impact on modern Black music as Dexter Wansel. Although his name is less widely recognized than some of the artists he worked with, his influence stretches across soul, jazz-funk, disco, neo-soul, and hip-hop. As a composer, arranger, producer, keyboardist, synthesizer pioneer, and executive at Philadelphia International Records, Wansel helped define the sound of Philadelphia music in the 1970s and beyond. His futuristic compositions, rich orchestration, and early embrace of synthesizer technology earned him a unique place in music history. Early Life and Musical Beginnings Dexter…
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Jazz Genius Sonny Rollins died on May 25, 2026

Sonny Rollins stands as one of the towering figures in the history of jazz, a musician whose technical brilliance, improvisational daring, intellectual curiosity, and relentless pursuit of artistic growth transformed the possibilities of the tenor saxophone. Across more than seven decades, Rollins became not merely a virtuoso performer but also a symbol of artistic integrity and self-renewal. His music bridged bebop, hard bop, avant-garde experimentation, calypso rhythms, blues traditions, and modern jazz innovation. Revered by musicians and critics alike, he was often called “the greatest living improviser,” a title earned through performances that combined astonishing spontaneity with deep emotional and…
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Pink Floyd Sax man Dick Parry died May 22, 2026

Dick Parry was best known for his unforgettable saxophone performances with Pink Floyd, Parry helped shape the emotional atmosphere of some of the most iconic recordings in rock history. His soulful tone on songs like “Money,” “Us and Them,” “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” and “Wearing the Inside Out” became inseparable from the sound of Pink Floyd’s golden era. Dick Parry, The Saxophone Voice Behind Pink Floyd’s Most Memorable Songs Although he was not an official member of the band, Dick Parry’s contributions were essential to the texture and emotional depth of many classic recordings. His work demonstrated how a…
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Dr Hook’s Dennis Locorriere died May 16, 2026.

The Voice Behind Dr. Hook Dennis Locorriere was one of the most recognizable voices in American country rock and soft rock music. Best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of Dr. Hook, Locorriere helped shape the sound of the 1970s with a mixture of heartfelt ballads, humorous storytelling, and radio-friendly country rock. His warm and emotional vocal style turned songs like “Sylvia’s Mother,” “Sharing the Night Together,” and “When You’re in Love with a Beautiful Woman” into international classics. While Dr. Hook became famous for its quirky humor and memorable hits, it was Locorriere’s sincerity and unmistakable voice that…
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Record Producer Jack Douglas died on May 11, 2026

Jack Douglas: The Producer Who Helped Shape the Sound of Rock Music Few record producers helped define the sound of 1970s and 1980s rock music as profoundly as Jack Douglas. Across a career that stretched from the gritty studios of New York to some of the biggest rock albums ever recorded, Douglas became known for capturing raw energy without sacrificing melody or atmosphere. He worked with artists as varied as John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Patti Smith, and the New York Dolls, leaving fingerprints on records that would shape generations of musicians. Though producers often remain in…
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Santana’s Alex Ligertwood died on 30 April 2026

Alex Ligertwood was best known as a lead vocalist for Santana, with five different stints from 1979 to 1994, which included the US Festival in 1982 and Live Aid in 1985. He was credited as lead vocalist on Santana songs such as “All I Ever Wanted,” “You Know That I Love You,” “Winning” and “Hold On.” He also had co-writing credits for Santana songs including “Brightest Star,” “E Papa Re,” “Make Somebody Happy,” “Somewhere in Heaven” and “The Nile.” Alex Ligertwood was born Alexander John Ligertwood was born on December 18, 1946, in Glasgow. and grew up in the Drumchapel…
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Outlaw David Allan Coe died April 29, 2026

David Allan Coe lived one of the most unconventional and polarizing lives in American music. A figure who straddled the line between myth and reality, Coe’s journey from reform schools and prisons to the center of the outlaw country movement is both compelling and controversial. His music, raw and unapologetic, reflected a life lived on the margins, while his storytelling ability secured his place as one of the most distinctive voices in country music history. Early Life: Hardship, Rebellion, and Myth David Allan Coe was born on September 6, 1939 in Akron, Ohio, into circumstances that would shape both his…
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Pianist Ruth Slenczynska died on April 22, 2026

Ruth Slenczynska: The Last Living Link to Rachmaninoff Ruth Slenczynska occupies a unique and almost mythic place in classical music history. Revered as a prodigy, survivor, pedagogue, and enduring performer, she was most famously known as the final piano student of Sergei Rachmaninoff. Her life spanned more than a century, bridging the golden age of Romantic pianism with the modern era. Yet beyond this historical distinction lies a deeply human story, one marked by brilliance, hardship, reinvention, and lasting artistic legacy. Early Life: A Prodigy Forged in Discipline Ruth Slenczynska was born in Sacramento, California, on January 15, 1925 and…
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Traffic’s Dave Mason died on April 19, 2026

Dave Mason (1946–2026): The Quiet Architect of Classic Rock and the Voice Behind Feelin’ Alright? Introduction Dave Mason was a founding member of Traffic, and a master songwriter, guitarist, and collaborator whose influence stretched far beyond his chart success. Best known for writing Feelin’ Alright? and Hole in My Shoe, and for his solo hit We Just Disagree, Mason helped shape the sound of late 1960s and 1970s rock. His career was defined not by flash or controversy, but by consistency, musical intelligence, and timeless songwriting. Early Life and Musical Roots Dave Mason was born David Thomas Mason on May…
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