The following is a list of music released posthumously.

19th century and earlier

Ludwig van Beethoven had numerous works not released in his lifetime; these include, but are not limited to: Für Elise Piano Concerto No. 0 Violin Concerto in C Frédéric Chopin's opuses 66–74 contain more than 20 posthumous works: Fantaisie-Impromptu Nocturne in C-sharp minor "Beautiful Dreamer", published in 1864, shortly after the death of songwriter Stephen Foster; at the time of publication of its first edition, it was promoted as "the last song ever written by Stephen C. Foster, composed but a few days prior to his death,"Catalogue of first editions of Stephen C. Foster (1826–1864). Library of Congress. p. 9. though it actually may have been written as early as 1862. The phonautograms of Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville could not be played back until long after his death in 1879, as they required digital technology.

20th century 1900s–1950s

"Cannibal Carnival", a dance barbarique, was published in late May 1920, three months after composer Sol P. Levy's death on Valentine's Day earlier that year. Levy's composition was later popularized as thematic stock material in such films as Trader Horn and the Tarzan film series. Karelian kantele player Iivana Mišukka's posthumous album Iivana Mišukka (with Arja Kastinen) was released on February 6, 2026, almost 107 years after his death. It features songs recorded on wax cylinders between 1916 and 1917, combined with Kastinen's kantele. Karelian kantele player Teppana Jänis' posthumous album Teppana Jänis (with Arja Kastinen and Taito Hoffrén) was released on February 28, 2021, 99 years after his death. It features songs recorded on wax cylinders between 1916 and 1917, combined with Kastinen's kantele and Hoffrén's vocals. Turandot, a three-act opera by Giacomo Puccini, was finished by fellow composer Franco Alfano and premiered, almost two years after Puccini's death, on April 25, 1926. Country singer Jimmie Rodgers' last 25 songs were released between 1933 and 1938 after his death from tuberculosis on May 26, 1933. Blues legend Robert Johnson's work was released after his death in 1938. Three albums were released: King of the Delta Blues Singers (1961), King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. II (1970) and The Complete Recordings (1990). Fats Navarro's The Complete Blue Note and Capitol Recordings of Fats Navarro and Tadd Dameron released by Blue Note Records in 1995. Also is featured on Dizzy Gillespie's The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (1995). Charlie Christian died of tuberculosis in 1942. He worked with Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton. His album Solo Flight: The Genius of Charlie Christian (1972), appears on Dizzy Gillespie's The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (1995), appears on Goodman's Solo Flight, with the Benny Goodman Sextet (2003), Electric, with the Benny Goodman Sextet and the Charlie Christian Quartet (2003) and others. "Your Cheatin' Heart", "Kaw-Liga", and "Take These Chains from My Heart", three singles released after Hank Williams' death from a heart attack in January 1953, brought on by a fatal combination of alcohol, chloral hydrate, vitamin B12, and morphine. The song "There's a Tear in My Beer", which was a demo recorded in 1950, was reworked as a duet with his son Hank Williams Jr. for his album Greatest Hits, Vol. 3, which was released on February 1989, 36 years after Williams' death. American rhythm and blues singer Johnny Ace's only compilation album Memorial Album was released in 1957, three years after his death from an accidental gunshot. Originally it was released as a shorter version entitled Memorial Album for Johnny Ace, released in 1955. Charlie Parker had two albums released after his death in 1955: The Genius of Charlie Parker, #1 – Night and Day (1957) and Dizzy Gillespie's The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (1995). Clifford Brown's work was released after his death in 1956. Two albums with Max Roach were Daahoud (1972) and Alone Together: The Best of the Mercury Years (1995). Most of Big Bill Broonzy's work was released after he died from throat cancer in 1958, including albums such as Trouble in Mind (2000). "Peggy Sue Got Married" and other songs by Buddy Holly were released after his death in a plane crash in February 1959. Ritchie Valens, who died along with Holly, his two albums, a self-titled album and Ritchie were released in February and October 1959, respectively; only the former released nine days after his death. Nearly two years later, his live album In Concert at Pacoima Jr. High was released in December 1960. The Big Bopper, who also died in the accident, wrote Johnny Preston's song "Running Bear", which was released a few months after his death. American jazz saxophonist Lester Young's final album Le Dernier Message de Lester Young, which was recorded on March 4, 1959, was released a few months after his death from internal bleeding on March 15. Sixty-three years later, a 2022 edition of this album, which includes the last studio track "D.B. Blues" recorded four days before his death, was released. Last Recordings was released just days after Billie Holiday's death from heart disease and cirrhosis of the liver in July 1959. The album Remixed and Reimagined was released on August 7, 2007, 48 years after her death. American blues singer and guitarist Blind Willie McTell's first long play album Last Session, which was recorded in 1956, was released in 1961, two years after his death from a stroke on August 19, 1959. His second long play album, Blind Willie McTell: 1940, which features some unreleased songs, was released in 1966, seven years after his death.

1960s

Jesse Belvin's work Mr. Easy featuring Art Pepper and Marty Paich Orchestra (1960), Yesterdays (1975), Hang Your Tears out To Dry (1986) and others were released after he died in a car crash in February 1960. The singles "Lonely" and "Weekend" were released after Eddie Cochran's death in a taxi accident in April 1960. Several of country singer Johnny Horton's albums and singles were released during the rest of the decade. Several of Patsy Cline's singles and albums were released after her death in a 1963 plane crash, including the singles "Leavin' on Your Mind", "Sweet Dreams (Of You)", and "Faded Love", which became hits, and the albums The Patsy Cline Story, A Portrait of Patsy Cline, That's How a Heartache Begins, and Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits. The Beatles' early member Stuart Sutcliffe appears on Anthology 1 released in 1995. He played bass on the songs "Hallelujah, I Love Her So", "You'll Be Mine" and "Cayenne", which had been recorded in 1960. Sutcliffe died in 1962 before the Beatles became famous. Many of Elmore James' singles and albums were released after his death in 1963. Notable singles include "Bleeding Heart", "One Way Out" and "Every Day I Have the Blues". Albums Whose Muddy Shoes (1969), Street Talkin''' (1975), King of the Slide Guitar (1992) and The Classic Early Recordings: 1951–1956 (1993), etc. Sam Cooke's albums Shake and Try a Little Love were both released in 1965, a year after he was shot dead. Jim Reeves' album The Jim Reeves Way was released in 1965, a year after his death. Yours Sincerely was released in 1966, Two years after his death. The album Blue Side of Lonesome was released on April 24, 1967, Three years after his death. Six months later, My Cathedral was released on October 23, 1967. A Touch of Sadness was released on March 25, 1968, Almost four years after his death. The album And Some Friends was released in 1969, Five years after his death. Jim Reeves Writes You a Record was released in 1971, Seven years after his death. Eric Dolphy's live album called Here And There was released on May 1966, Almost two years after his death in 1964. Nat King Cole died of lung cancer in February 1965. His album Unreleased was released in 1983, featuring previously unreleased songs. Sonny Boy Williamson II's albums Sonny Boy Williamson and the Yardbirds (1966), The Real Folk Blues (1966) and other albums and singles were released after his death in 1965. Bobby Fuller had many albums released after his mysterious death in 1966, including The Bobby Fuller Tapes Vol. 1 (1983) and The Bobby Fuller Tapes Vol. 2 (1984). Mexican singer and actor Javier Solís' album Vida de Bohemio was released in 1966 some time after his death from complications due to gallbladder surgery. Many of Woody Guthrie's recordings were released in albums after his death in 1967. See the Woody Guthrie discography. Chilean singer Violeta Parra had several albums released after her suicide in 1967, including Violeta Parra y sus canciones reencontradas en París and Canciones de Violeta Parra, both in 1971. John Coltrane's album Om was released in January 1968, six months after his death. Six months later, his collaborative album with Alice Coltrane, Cosmic Music, was released in July 1968. Selflessness: Featuring My Favorite Things was released in 1969, Two years after his death. The album Transition was released in July 1970, Three years after his death. Sun Ship was released on April 16, 1971, Four years after his death. The album Infinity was released in September 1972, Five years after his death. Interstellar Space, an album containing his last recordings was released in September 1974, Six years after his death. The album First Meditations (for quartet) was released in December 1977, Ten years after his death. Stellar Regions was released on October 10, 1995, 28 years after his death. The compilation album entitled Living Space was released on March 10, 1998, 31 years after his death. Both Directions at Once, an unreleased album recorded in 1963 was released on June 29, 2018, 51 years after his death. His last album Blue World was released on September 27, 2019, 52 years after his death. A Love Supreme: Live in Seattle was released on October 22, 2021, 54 years after his death. His collaborative album with Eric Dolphy entitled Evenings at the Village Gate was released on July 14, 2023, 57 years after Coltrane's death and 59 years after Dolphy's death. The single "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" was released on January 8, 1968, less a month after the December plane crash that killed singer Otis Redding. A month later, his album The Dock of the Bay was released on February 23, 1968. The Immortal Otis Redding was released four months later on June 15, 1968. Love Man was released on June 20, 1969, Two years and six months after his death. His last studio album entitled Tell the Truth was released on July 1, 1970, Three years and seven months after his death. The compilation album entitled Remember Me featuring 22 unissued tracks was released on March 29, 1992, 25 years after his death. French singer Édith Piaf's last recording, "L'homme de Berlin", was released five years after she died of liver cancer in October 1963. Her album Symphonique featuring Legendis Orchestra was released on October 13, 2023, 60 years after her death. "I'm Sorry" and "Seabreeze" by Frankie Lymon were released in 1969, a year after Lymon's death from an accidental heroin overdose. Little Willie John's album Ninety Sixty Six was released in 2008, 40 years after he died of a heart attack in jail. Wes Montgomery's albums Road Song (1968), Willow Weep for Me (1969) and Eulogy (1970) were released after his sudden passing. The Sheik of Shake by Dickie Pride was released in 1992, 23 years after he died from an accidental overdose. Fairport Convention's drummer, Martin Lamble, was killed in a car accident nearly two months before their album Unhalfbricking was released in October 1969. Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones drowned in a swimming pool in July 1969. The band's album Let It Bleed was released five months later. He appeared in two songs: "Midnight Rambler" and "You Got the Silver".