This is a list of notable performers of rock music and other forms of popular music, and others directly associated with the music as producers, songwriters, or in other closely related roles, who died in 2016.
2016 deaths in popular music
Name Age Date Location Cause of deathLuciana Gonzales Italian singer812016Lodi, ItalyPrimo Brown Italian rapper for the Cor Veleno39January 1, 2016Rome, Italy Long John Hunter 84 January 4, 2016 Phoenix, Arizona, United States "El Paso Music Legend Long John Hunter Dies". El Paso Times, January 5, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2016. Robert StigwoodManager for the Bee Gees, Cream 81 January 4, 2016 London, England Otis Clay 73 January 8, 2016 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Heart attack David BowieArnold Corns, The Riot Squad, Tin Machine 69 January 10, 2016 Manhattan, New York, U.S. Liver cancer Giorgio GomelskyManager for The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, The Paramounts 81 January 13, 2016 New York City, New York, U.S. Cancer Pete HuttlingerThe John Denver Band 54 January 15, 2016 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Stroke Gary LoizzoThe American Breed 70 January 16, 2016 Orland Park, Illinois, U.S. Pancreatic cancer Blowfly 76 January 17, 2016 Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, U.S. Liver cancer Mic GilletteTower of Power 64 January 17, 2016 Concord, California, U.S. Heart attack Dale GriffinMott the Hoople, British Lions 67 January 17, 2016 London, UK Alzheimer's disease Glenn FreyEagles 67 January 18, 2016 New York City, New York, U.S. Rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia while recovering from intestinal surgery Jimmy BainRainbow, Wild Horses, Dio, Last in Line 68 January 23, 2016 MSC Divina, Atlantic Ocean Lung cancer Black 53 January 26, 2016 Cork, Ireland Traffic accident T. J. TindallMFSB 65 January 26, 2016 New Hope, Pennsylvania, U.S. Cancer Paul KantnerJefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, KBC Band 74 January 28, 2016 San Francisco, California, U.S. Multiple organ failure Signe Toly AndersonJefferson Airplane 74 January 28, 2016 Beaverton, Oregon, U.S. COPD Billy Faier 85 January 29, 2016 Alpine, Texas, U.S. Michael Kroeger Ampage55https://finance.yahoo.com/news/michael-kroeger-drummer-famed-west-213252581.htmlJanuary 31, 2016Los Angeles, California, U.S.Leukemia Jon BunchFurther Seems Forever, Sense Field 45 February 1, 2016 Long Beach, California, U.S. Suicidal overdose Maurice WhiteEarth, Wind & Fire 74 February 4, 2016 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Parkinson's disease Joe Dowell 76 February 4, 2016 Bloomington, Illinois, U.S. Heart attack Dan HicksThe Charlatans 74 February 6, 2016 Mill Valley, California, U.S. Liver cancer KipišasMember of Kastaneda37 February 12, 2016 Vilnius, Lithuania Cardiac arrest L. C. Ulmer 87 February 14, 2016 Ellisville, Mississippi, U.S. Natural causes VanityVanity 6 57 February 15, 2016 Fremont, California, U.S. Kidney failure Paul GordonThe B-52's 52 February 18, 2016 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Heart disease Vi SubversaPoison Girls 80 February 19, 2016 Brighton, Brighton and Hove, UK Piotr GrudzińskiRiverside 40 February 21, 2016 Warsaw, Poland Pulmonary embolism Hans ReffertGuru Guru 69 February 21, 2016 Mannheim, Germany Lennie BakerSha Na Na 69 February 24, 2016 Weymouth, Massachusetts, U.S. Infection Josefin Nilsson 46 February 29, 2016 Själsö, Gotland, Sweden Aron Burton 77 February 29, 2016 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Heart failure and diabetes Gayle McCormickSmith 67 March 1, 2016 St. Louis, Missouri, United States Cancer Chip HooperPhish, Dave Matthews Band 53 March 5, 2016 Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, U.S. Cancer Ross HannafordDaddy Cool, Mighty Kong 65 March 8, 2016 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Cancer George MartinThe Beatles, America 90 March 8, 2016 Highbury, London, England Naná VasconcelosPat Metheny Group 71 March 9, 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Lung cancer Keith EmersonEmerson, Lake & Palmer 71 March 10, 2016 Santa Monica, California, U.S. Suicide Tommy Brown84 March 12, 2016 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Phife DawgA Tribe Called Quest 45 March 22, 2016 Oakley, California, U.S. Complications related to diabetes Jimmy Riley 68 March 22, 2016 New York, U.S. Gianmaria Testa Italian singer-songwriter57March 30, 2016Alba, ItalyCancer (tumor)Giorgio Calabrese Italian lyricist and television author 86March 31, 2016Rome, Italy Gato Barbieri 83 April 2, 2016 New York, U.S. Pneumonia Jelena MarjanovićSerbian singer 32 April 3, 2016 Belgrade, Serbia MurderKōji Wada Japanese singer and blogger, best remembered for his songs in the animated series Digimon and his debut song "Butter-Fly"42April 3, 2016Tokyo, JapanComplications from upper pharynx (nasopharynx) cancer Carlo MastrangeloThe Belmonts 78 April 4, 2016 Boynton Beach, Florida, U.S. Leon Haywood 74 April 5, 2016 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Merle Haggard 79 April 6, 2016 Palo Cedro, California, U.S. Pneumonia Jade LemonsGuitarist for Injected 43 April 6, 2016 U.S. Drug overdose Dennis Davis 66 April 6, 2016 Manhattan, New York City, U.S. Cancer Jimmie Van Zant 59 April 7, 2016 Florida, U.S. Liver cancer Emile Ford 78 April 11, 2016 London, England Gib GuilbeauFlying Burrito Brothers 78 April 12, 2016 Palmdale, California, United States Lonnie Mack 74 April 21, 2016 Smithville, Tennessee, U.S Natural causes PrincePrince and The Revolution, New Power Generation 57 April 21, 2016 Chanhassen, Minnesota, U.S. Accidental fentanyl toxicity Billy Paul81 April 24, 2016 Gloucester Township, New Jersey, U.S. Pancreatic cancerPiero Calabrese Italian composer, record producer and singer57April 28, 2016Rome, ItalyHeart attack Harrison CallowayMuscle Shoals Horns 75 April 30, 2016 Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. Stroke Phil RyanMan, Pete Brown, Neutrons 69 April 30, 2016 Denmark Isao Tomita 84 May 5, 2016 Tokyo, Japan Candye Kane 54 May 6, 2016 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Complications from pancreatic cancer John StabbGovernment Issue 54 May 7, 2016 Rockville, Maryland, U.S. Stomach cancer Luther SimmonsThe Main Ingredient 74 May 9, 2016 Harlem, New York, United States Cancer Peter BehrensTrio 68 May 11, 2016 Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony, Germany Multiple organ failure Julius La Rosa 86 May 12, 2016 Crivitz, Wisconsin, U.S. Natural causes Emilio Navaira 53 May 16, 2016 New Braunfels, Texas, U.S. Guy Clark 74 May 17, 2016 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Lino Toffolo Italian actor and singer-songwriter81May 17, 2016Murano, Venice, ItalyHeart attack John BerryBeastie Boys 52 May 19, 2016 Danvers, Massachusetts, U.S. Frontotemporal dementia Nick MenzaMegadeth, OMH 51 May 21, 2016 Studio City, California, U.S. Heart failure Marshall "Rock" JonesOhio Players 75 May 27, 2016 Houston, Texas, U.S. Cancer Reshad FeildThe Springfields 82 May 31, 2016 Devon, England Dave SwarbrickFairport Convention 75 June 3, 2016 Aberystwyth, Wales Emphysema Habib 68 June 10, 2016 Ramsar, Mazandaran, Iran Cardiac arrest Christina Grimmie 22 June 10, 2016 Orlando, Florida, U.S. Gunshot Chips Moman 79 June 12, 2016 LaGrange, Georgia, U.S. Lung disease Chris Warren 49 June 12, 2016 Valley Cottage, Rockland Country, New York, U.S. Henry McCulloughWings 72 June 14, 2016 Ballywindelland, Ballymoney, Northern Ireland Stroke Attrell CordesP.M. Dawn 46 June 17, 2016 Neptune City, New Jersey, U.S. Renal disease Sverre KjelsbergThe Pussycats 69 June 19, 2016 Tromsø, Norway Wayne JacksonThe Mar-Keys 74 June 21, 2016 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. Heart failure Jim BoydThe Jim Boyd Band 60 June 21, 2016 Washington, U.S. Bill HamManager for ZZ Top 79 June 22, 2016 Austin, Texas, U.S. Douglas M. Lackey American composer and music editor83June 22, 2016Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States Bernie WorrellParliament, Funkadelic, Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains 72 June 24, 2016 Everson, Washington, U.S. Lung cancer Mack RiceThe Falcons 82 June 27, 2016 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Complications resulting from Alzheimer's disease Scotty Moore 84 June 28, 2016 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Rob WassermanRatDog 64 June 29, 2016 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Undisclosed William Hawkins 76 July 4, 2016 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Danny SmytheThe Box Tops 67 July 6, 2016 Plainfield, Illinois, U.S. Geneviève Castrée 35 July 9, 2016 Anacortes, Washington, United States Pancreatic cancer El Lebrijano 75 July 13, 2016 Seville, Spain Roland Prince 69 July 15, 2016 Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda Alan VegaSuicide 78 July 16, 2016 New York City, New York, U.S. Gary S. PaxtonRecord producer for Skip & Flip, The Hollywood Argyles 77 July 17, 2016 Branson, Missouri, U.S. Complications of heart surgery and liver disease Lewis SteinbergBooker T. & the M.G.'s 82 July 21, 2016 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. Cancer Keith GemmellAudience 68 July 24, 2016 Beltinge, Herne Bay, UK Throat cancer Allan BarnesThe Blackbyrds 67 July 26, 2016 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Heart attack Einojuhani Rautavaara 87 July 26, 2016 Helsinki, Finland Sandy PearlmanBlue Öyster Cult, The Clash, Black Sabbath 72 July 26, 2016 Marin County, California, U.S. Pneumonia and complication from a stroke Lucille Dumont 97 July 29, 2016 Canada Ricci MartinDean Martin's son62 August 3, 2016 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Unknown Snaffu RigorMusic group from Cinderella 69 August 4, 2016 Manila, Philippines Lung cancer Pete Fountain 86 August 6, 2016 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Heart failure B.E. Taylor 65 August 7, 2016 Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S. Brain tumorPittsburgh musician B.E. Taylor dies, Wtae.com. August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2016.Pádraig DugganClannad 67August 9, 2016Dublin, IrelandAfter a recurring illness Glenn YarbroughThe Limeliters 86 August 11, 2016 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. Dementia Ruby Wilson 68 August 12, 2016 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. Heart attack Bobby Hutcherson 75 August 15, 2016 Montara, California, U.S. Emphysema James Woolley2wo, Nine Inch Nails 49 August 17, 2016 Lake Forest, Illinois Fell off a ladder Horacio Salgán 100 August 19, 2016 Buenos Aires, Argentina Lou PearlmanRecord producer and manager for NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, O-Town 62 August 19, 2016 Miami, Florida, U.S. Cardiac arrest Matt Roberts3 Doors Down 38 August 20, 2016 West Bend, Wisconsin Prescription drug overdose Louis Stewart 72 August 20, 2016 Harold's Cross, Dublin, Ireland Cancer Toots Thielemans 94 August 22, 2016 Brussels, Belgium Gilli SmythGong 83 August 22, 2016 Byron Bay, Australia Pulmonary pneumonia Rudy Van Gelder 91 August 25, 2016 Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, U.S. Natural causesVito Marletta Italian singer-songwriter and musician47August 27, 2016Milan, ItalySuicide Juan Gabriel 66 August 28, 2016 Santa Monica, California, U.S. Heart attack Fred Hellerman 89 September 1, 2016 Weston, Connecticut, U.S. Jerry HellerMusic manager for N.W.A 75 September 2, 2016 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. Heart attackCarlo D'Angiò Italian singer-songwriter, musician70September 5, 2016Naples, ItalySergio Renda Italian singer and actor90September 5, 2016Cremona, Italy Lewis MerensteinRecord producer 81 September 6, 2016 New York City, New York Pneumonia Clifford Curry 79 September 7, 2016 Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. Stroke Prince Buster 78 September 8, 2016 Miami, Florida, U.S. Stroke Jerry CorbettaSugarloaf 68 September 16, 2016 Denver, Colorado, U.S. Pick's disease John D. Loudermilk 82 September 21, 2016 Christiana, Tennessee, U.S. Bone cancer KashifB. T. Express 59 September 25, 2016 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Jean Shepard 82 September 25, 2016 Gallatin, Tennessee, U.S. Hagen LiebingDie Ärzte55September 25, 2016Berlin, GermanyBrain tumor Joe Clay 78 September 26, 2016 Gretna, Louisiana, U.S. Jonathan David BrownRecord producer & audio engineer 60 September 27, 2016 Ozark, Missouri, U.S. Nora Dean 72 September 29, 2016 Connecticut, U.S. Jackson, Kevin (2016) "Nora Dean Dead at 72", Jamaica Observer, 2 October 2016; retrieved 6 October 2016.Laura Troschel Italian actress and singer71September 29, 2016Rome, Italy Michael Casswell 53 September 30, 2016 Níjar, Spain Drowning Oscar Brand 96 September 30, 2016 Great Neck, New York, U.S. PneumoniaSandra Mantovani