List of 1950s deaths in popular music

The following is a list of notable performers of rock and roll music or rock music, and others directly associated with the music as producers, songwriters or in other closely related roles, who have died in the 1950s. The list gives their date, cause and location of death, and their age.

Rock music developed from the rock and roll music that emerged during the 1950s, and includes a diverse range of subgenres. The terms "rock and roll" and "rock" each have a variety of definitions, some narrow and some wider. In determining criteria for inclusion, this list uses as its basis reliable sources listing "rock deaths" or "deaths in rock and roll", as well as such sources as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Name Age Date Location Cause of death Jaybird Coleman 53 January 28, 1950 Tuskegee, Alabama, U.S. Cancer Kansas Joe McCoy Harlem Hamfats 44 January 28, 1950 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Heart disease Buddy Stewart 27 February 1, 1950 Deming, New Mexico, U.S. Car accidenthttps://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/1950.html Ada Brown 59 March 30, 1950 Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. Kidney diseaseAdolf Wiklund Swedish composer and conductor70April 2, 1950Stockholm, SwedenNatural causes related to his advanced ageKurt Weill German-born American composer, best known for his collaboration with Bertolt Brecht on works such as The Threepenny Opera ( Die Dreigroschenoper )50April 3, 1950New York City, New York, U.S.Heart attackSemyon Chernetsky Composer68April 13, 1950Moscow, Russia Death to natural causes related to his age and the general conditions of his health at that timeVincenzo D'Annibale Italian pianist, composer and conductor55April 14, 1950Naples, ItalyLung cancerEduard Oja Estonian composer, conductor and violinist45April 16, 1950Tartu, EstoniaPulmonary tuberculosisGerald Berners Composer66April 23, 1950Faringdon, UKNatural causes related to age and progressive physical failure, after he had muttered his apologies to the doctor for having wasted his timeGemma Bellincioni Soprano85April 23, 1950Naples, ItalyEvemero Nardella Italian composer and singer, a key figure in Neapolitan songwriting (author of music based on lyrics by Libero Bovio and Ernesto Murolo)71April 23, 1950Naples, ItalyNatural causes Bertha Hill 45 May 7, 1950 New York City, U.S. Hit and run-related accidentErardo Trentinaglia Italian composer61June 3, 1950Venice, ItalyAlfred Edward Moffat86June 6, 1950Fulham, London, UKBohumil Makovsky71June 12, 1950Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S.Julio Fonseca Costa Rican composer65June 22, 1950San José, Costa RicaDeteriorating health, compounded by deep grief over the death of his wife María Elena in 1948Henry Balfour Gardiner72June 28, 1950Salisbury, EnglandNatural causes or related to old age Fats Navarro 26 July 7, 1950 New York City, U.S. Tuberculosis Papa Charlie McCoy Harlem Hamfats 41 July 26, 1950 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Paralytic brain diseaseNikolaj Jakovlevič Mjaskovskij Russian composer69August 8, 1950Union SovietKhemchand Prakash Composer42August 10, 1950Mumbai, IndiaGiuseppe De Luca Italian baritone73August 26, 1950Manhattan, New York, U.S.Al Killian American jazz trumpeter and occasional bandleader during the big band era33September 5, 1950Los Angeles, California, U.S.Giuseppe Borgatti Italian tenor79October 18, 1950Reno di Leggiuno, Varese Italy Al Jolson 64 October 23, 1950 San Francisco, California, U.S. Massive heart attackFrancesco Cilea Italian composer84November 20, 1950Varazze, Italy Raymond Grant Jr.The Four Vagabonds 34 December 13, 1950 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Unknown causeshttps://www.uncamarvy.com/4Vagabonds/4vagabonds.html John A. Pope The Excelsior Band87 January 18, 1951 Mauvile, Alabama, U.S. Possibly old age Cecil Gant 37 February 4, 1951 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Pneumonia Sid Catlett 41 March 25, 1951 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Heart attackSimon Barere Russian-American pianist54April 2, 1951Carnegie Hall in New York City, U.S.Cerebral hemorrhageWarner Baxter American actor and singer62May 7, 1951Beverly Hills, California, U.S.Karl Heinrich David Swiss conductor and composer66May 17, 1951Nervi, ItalyJan Ingenhoven Dutch composer and conductor74May 20, 1951Hoenderloo, NetherlandsJosef Bohuslav Foerster Czech organist, teacher and composer91May 29, 1951Nový Vestec, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic)Robert Kahn German composer and pianist85May 29, 1951Biddenden, Kent, EnglandDimitrios Levidis Greek composer66May 29, 1951Palaio Faliro (Athens area), GreeceSerge Koussevitzky American conductor, double bassist, and composer 76June 4, 1951Boston, Massachusetts, United StatesCarl Vogler Swiss composer and organist, known for his contributions to choral and educational music77June 17, 1951Zürich, SwitzerlandArmin Knab German composer and musicologist, famous in particular for his Lieder and choral works inspired by folk tradition70June 23, 1951Bad Wörishofen, Bavaria, GermanyFrank Ferera American guitarist and singer originally from Hawaii66June 26, 1951Honolulu, Hawaii, United StatesStroke complicationsJosef Hüttel Czech composer57July 6, 1951Plzeň, CzechoslovakiaJørgen Bentzon Danish composer known for his modernist and chamber works54July 9, 1951Hørsholm, DenmarkGiannina Arangi-Lombardi Famous Italian soprano, gifted with an extraordinary nineteenth-century voice, particularly known for her Verdi and operatic roles60July 9, 1951Milan, ItalyEgbert Van Alstyne American ragtime composer and pianist, famous author of popular hits of the turn of the century such as "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree" 73July 9, 1951Chicago, Illinois, United StatesArnold Schönberg Austrian composer and painter naturalized American, one of the fathers of twentieth-century music and theorist of twelve-tone music76July 13, 1951Los Angeles, California, United StatesGiulio Fregosi Italian baritone64July 17, 1951Milan, ItalyMax Ettinger German composer and conductor76July 19, 1951Basel, SwitzerlandGustave Slapoffski English violinist and conductor 88August 3, 1951Melbourne, AustraliaEbbe Hamerik Danish composer and conductor52August 11, 1951Kattegat (the sea area between Denmark and SwedenBoating accidentArtur Schnabel Austrian pianist, composer and teacher, best known for his historic interpretations of Beethoven69August 15, 1951Morschach, SwitzerlandConstant Lambert English composer and conductor, known for works such as The Rio Grande and for his role as first Music Director of the Royal Ballet45August 21, 1951Marylebone, London, EnglandPneumonia and undiagnosed diabetes, complicated by acute alcoholism Roy Howard Florida Boys 63 September 2, 1951 Canan, Blair, Pennsylvania, U.S. Heart attack Jimmy Yancey 56 September 17, 1951 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Diabetes-induced stroke.Mirko Polič Composer and conductor/theatre director, a key figure in the promotion of opera in the Slovenian language61October 2, 1951Ljubljana, SloveniaLuciano Neroni Italian bass, particularly active in the major opera houses of those years4223 October 1951Ripatransone, ItalyCharlie Creath Well-known American jazz trumpeter, saxophonist, and bandleader active on Mississippi ships6023 October 1951Chicago, Illinois, U.S.Mario Zargani Italian musician, violist and violinist of Jewish origins, active in the EIAR orchestra and persecuted during fascism55November 4, 1951Turin, ItalyNikolai Medtner Russian pianist and composer71November 13, 1951London, EnglandVáclav Kálik Czech composer, choirmaster and pedagogue60November 18, 1951Prague, Czech RepublicWill Vodery African-American arranger, orchestrator, and composer66November 18, 1951Farmingdale, New York, United StatesMildred Bailey Famous American jazz singer, known as "The Queen of Swing"44December 12, 1951Poughkeepsie, United StatesSelim Palmgren Finnish composer, pianist and conductor73December 13, 1951Helsinki, FinlandMaría Grever Mexican composer of popular and international music66December 15, 1951New York City, U.S.Luigi Guida Italian composer, pianist and organist68December 15, 1951Vico Equense, Naples, ItalyAureliano Pertile Italian tenor79January 11, 1952Milan, ItalyHeart problemsArtur Kapp Estonian composer73January 14, 1952Suure-Jaani, EstoniaArthur Farwell American composer79January 20, 1952New York City, United StatesJohann Baptist Thaller German composer79February 2, 1952Bad Endorf, Bavaria, GermanyNatural causes related to old ageAdela Verne Pianist, composer, and music teacher74February 5, 1952London, EnglandAlfred Einstein German-American musicologist and music critic71February 13, 1952El Cerrito, Contra Costa County, California, United States Black Boy Shine 43 March 28, 1952 Sugar Land, Texas, U.S. TuberculosisJone Caciagli Italian singer known in the first half of the twentieth century35April 6, 1952Milan, ItalyBruno Barilli Eclectic Italian composer, writer and music critic, among the founders of the magazine La Ronda71April 15, 1952Rome, ItalyGiovanni Tebaldini Italian organist, composer and musicologist87May 11, 1952San Benedetto del Tronto, Ascoli, ItalyNatural causesVera Amerighi Rutili Italian soprano55May 13, 1952Pisa, ItalyNatural causes related to her health, after leaving the stage in 1947 to devote herself to teachingItalo Montemezzi Famous Italian composer, author of works such as L'amore dei tre re76May 15, 1952Vigasio, Verona, ItalyCoronary syndrome (heart attack) John Kirby 43 June 14, 1952 Hollywood, California, U.S. Unknown causes Luke Jordan 60 June 25, 1952 Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S. Unknown causesHenriëtte Bosmans Dutch pianist, cellist and composer of great importance56July 2, 1952Amsterdam, NetherlandsRued Langgaard Danish composer and organist, author of the monumental Music of the Spheres58July 10, 1952Ribe, DenmarkHerbert Murrill43July 25, 1952London, EnglandCancerNino Rossi Italian pianist56July 27, 1952Fortezza, Bolzano, ItalyCerebral hemorrageAntonio Certani Italian cellist and composer72July 27, 1952Bologna, ItalyVincenzo Scarpetta Italian actor75August 3, 1952Naples, ItalyMaryam Jahangiri Iranian poet, musician and teacher35August 9, 1952Urmia, IranNicholas Laucella American flautist and composer of Italian origin70September 2, 1952New York City, U.S.Myocardial infarction (heart attack)Vesta Tilley Singer and actress88September 16, 1952London, EnglandAdvanced age/Natural causesFrances Alda73September 18, 1952Venice, ItalyStroke (apoplexy)/Natural causesPaul Hastings Allen68September 28, 1952Boston, Massachusetts, United StatesCharles Draper English classical clarinetist82October 21, 1952Subirton, United KingdomFrederick Jacobi American composer and teacher61October 24, 1952New York City, United StatesSergei Bortkiewicz Ukrainian composer and pianist75October 25, 1952Vienna, AustriaMike Pingitore American jazz banjo player, known for his membership in Paul Whiteman's orchestra64October 30, 1952North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United StatesVincent Scotto French composer of songs and soundtracks78November 15, 1952Paris, FranceAlbert van Raalte Dutch conductor 62November 23, 1952Amsterdam, NetherlandsJean-Fernand Vaubourgoin French composer71November 25, 1952Bordeaux, FranceAntonio Guarnieri72November 25, 1952Milan, Italy Fletcher Henderson 55 December 29, 1952 New York City, U.S. Unknown causes Willie Brown 52 December 30, 1952 Tunica, Mississippi, U.S. Heart disease Hank Williams 29 January 1, 1953 Oak Hill, West Virginia, U.S. Acute right ventricular dilation Big Maceo Merriweather 47 February 23, 1953 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Heart attackSergej Sergeevič Prokof'ev Russian composer, conductor and pianist who lived during the Soviet period61March 5, 1953Moscow, RussiaVittorio Fassone Italian author and composer81April 4, 1953Palermo, ItalyPeter DeRose Composer of pop and jazz music of the first half of the twentieth century57April 23, 1953New York City, United States Django Reinhardt 43 May 16, 1953 Fontainebleau, France Brain hemorrhageVirginia Talarico