Gabby Gaborno was the lead vocalist of the rockabilly/punk band Cadillac Tramps. He died Jan. 4 of liver cancer at age 51.
(Photo: Instagram)

Buddy Greco was a jazz and pop singer and pianist who was good friends with the Rat Pack. He died Jan. 10 at the age of 90.
(Photo: Doug McKenzie/Getty Images)

Tommy Allsup was a rockabilly and swing musician. He worked with Buddy Holly, and lost the now famous coin toss that resulted in him not being in a plane crash that killed Holly and three others in 1959, known as “the day the music died.” Allsup passed away on Jan. 11 following complications from hernia surgery. He was 85.
(Photo: David Munn/WireImage)

Magic Alex was an electronics engineer who is best known for his close association with the Beatles. He died Jan. 13 due to complications from pneumonia. He was 74.
(Photo: Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy Stock Photo)

William Onyeabor was a Nigerian funk musician. He died Jan. 16 at the age of 70.
(Photo: Gonzales Photo / Alamy Stock Photo)

Walter “Junie” Morrison was a member of the Ohio Players in the early 1970s, and later became the musical director of P-Funk. He died Jan. 21 of undisclosed causes at the age of 62.
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Jaki Liebezeit was a drummer best known as a founding member of experimental rock band Can. He died Jan. 22 from pneumonia. He was 78.
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Overend Watts was a founding member of and bassist for the 1970s rock band Mott the Hoople. He died Jan. 22 from throat cancer. He was 69.
(Photo: Brian Rasic/Getty Images)

Bobby Freeman was a rock, soul, and R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer. He died Jan. 23 of natural causes. He was 76.
(Photo: Gilles Petard/Redferns)

Gil Ray was a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist, best known for his recordings in the 1980s and 1990s as a member of the bands Game Theory and the Loud Family. He died Jan. 24 of cancer at the age of 60.
(Photo: Paul Fearn / Alamy Stock Photo)

Butch Trucks was a drummer best known as a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band. He committed suicide on Jan. 24 at the age of 69.
(Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

Tom Coyne was a Grammy-winning music engineer who worked with Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Adele, and many others. He died April 12 from multiple myeloma at the age of 62.
(Photo: Wikipedia)

Tom Edwards was the guitarist and music director for Adam Ant. He died Jan. 25 of suspected heart failure. He was 41.
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Tia Sprocket was a drummer and singer-songwriter who played for various bands including Luscious Jackson and Ministry. She died Jan. 27 at the age of 48.
(Photo: MySpace)

Geoff Nicholls was the longtime keyboardist for heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He died Jan. 28 from lung cancer. He was 68.
(Photo: Chris Walter/WireImage)

John Wetton was the frontman and co-principal songwriter of the supergroup Asia. He died Jan. 31 from colon cancer. He was 67.
(Photo: Frank Hoensch/Redferns via Getty Images)

Robert “Strängen” Dahlqvist was a guitarist who played for Swedish garage-rock band the Hellacopters. He died Feb. 1 after accidentally drowning in his bathtub following an epileptic seizure. He was 40.
(Photo: Gary Wolstenholme/Redferns)

David Axelrod was a composer, arranger, and producer known for his work in jazz and soul. He died Feb. 5 of lung cancer at the age of 85.
(Photo: GAB Archive/Redferns)

Sonny Geraci was best known as the lead singer for both the Outsiders and Climax. He died Feb. 5, having suffered ill health following a brain aneurysm in 2012. He was 69.
(Photo: Bobby Bank/WireImage)

Al Jarreau was a multi-Grammy-winning soul and R&B singer. He died Feb. 12 of respiratory failure at the age of 76.
(Photo: Frank Hoensch/Redferns)

Doug Lunn was a bass player, composer, and bandleader. He died Feb. 12 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
(Photo: Mark Sullivan/WireImage)

Clyde Stubblefield was a drummer best known for his work with James Brown. He died Feb. 18 of kidney failure. He was 73.
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Larry Coryell was a pioneering jazz guitarist known as the “Godfather of Fusion.” He died Feb. 19 of heart failure at the age of 73.
(Photo: Paul Warner/Getty Images)

Leon Ware was a R&B producer, songwriter, and recording artist who worked with artists ranging from Marvin Gaye to Maxwell. He died Feb. 23 at the age of 77.
(Photo: Earl Gibson III/WireImage)

Bill Paxton was an actor who was also in the new-wave band Martini Ranch. He died Feb. 25 of a stroke. He was 61.
(Photo: Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)

Tommy Page was a singer-songwriter best known for his 1990 hit single, “I’ll Be Your Everything” and was later a music industry executive. He died on March 4, an apparent suicide. He was 46. (Photo: Araya Diaz/Getty Images for Pandora)

Joni Sledge was a founding member of the family vocal group Sister Sledge. She died March 10 of natural causes at the age of 60.
(Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

Joey Alves was the the rhythm guitarist with veteran hard-rock group Y&T. He died March 12 from ulcerative colitis and other health complications. He was 63.
(Photo: Rockrol)

John Lever was the drummer for 1980s post-punk band the Chameleons. He died March 12 following a short illness.
(Photo: The Quietus)

Tommy LiPuma was a music producer who worked with a variety of award-winning artists, including Barbra Streisand, Miles Davis, Paul McCartney, and more. He died March 13 at the age of 80.
(Photo: Rebecca Sapp/WireImage)

James Cotton was a harmonica player and singer who performed and recorded with many of the great blues artists of his time, including B.B. King and Muddy Waters. He died March 16 of pneumonia at the age of 81.
(Photo: Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage)

Chuck Berry was a guitarist, singer and songwriter, and one of the iconic pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll music. He died March 18 of natural causes. He was 90.
(Photo: Mark Duncan/AP Photo)

Sib Hashian was the drummer for the rock band Boston. He died March 22 at the age of 67.
(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

Elyse Steinman was the co-founder and guitarist of Raging Slab. She died Mar. 30 of cancer.
(Photo: Teamrock.com)

Paul O’Neill was the founder of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a progressive metal band known for spectacular holiday concerts. He died April 5 of an accidental drug overdose. He was 61.
(Photo: Paul Bergen/Redferns)

J. Geils was a guitarist and leader of the J. Geils Band. He died April 11 from natural causes at the age of 71.
(Photo: Scott Legato/Getty Images)

Toby Smith was the co-founder and original keyboard player of Jamiroquai. He died April 11 at the age of 46.
(Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

Bruce Langhorne was active in the Greenwich Village folk scene in the 1960s. He died April 14 after failing health following a stroke in 2015. He was 78.
(Photo: Brucelanghornemusic/YouTube)

Allan Holdsworth was a jazz-fusion guitarist and composer. He died April 15 of heart disease. He was 70.
(Photo: Robert Knight Archive/Redferns)

Cuba Gooding Sr. was the most successful lead singer of the soul group the Main Ingredient. He was also an actor. He died April 20 of cardiovascular disease at the age of 72.
(Photo: Bennett Raglin/WireImage)

Jonathan Demme was a filmmaker known for the critically acclaimed concert film of the band Talking Heads, “Stop Making Sense.” He died April 26 of esophageal cancer and heart disease at the age of 73.
(Photo: AP)

Joanna Brouk was an electronic composer active in late 1970s and early ’80s. She died April 28 at the age of 68.
(Photo: Courtesy Numero Group)

Col. Bruce Hampton was a founding member of Atlanta’s avant-garde Hampton Grease Band. He died May 1 after collapsing on stage. He was 70.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Kevin Garcia was the the bassist and co-founder of the seminal indie-rock group Grandaddy. He died May 2 following a stroke. He was 41.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Cel Revuelta was the former bassist for Black Flag. He died May 3 of brain cancer.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Papa Saxa was a Jamaican saxophonist famous for having performed with the British ska band the Beat. He died May 3 at the age of 87.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Cecilia Kuhn was the drummer for feminist punk band Frightwig. She died May 4 of cancer. She was 61.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Robert Miles was a record producer, composer, musician and DJ best known for the 1996 composition “Children.” He died May 9 after a nine-month battle with cancer. He was 47.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Keith Mitchell was the longtime drummer for Mazzy Star. He died May 14 following a short battle with cancer.
(Photo: Courtesy of Grandstand)

Chris Cornell was the lead vocalist for Soundgarden and Audioslave, as well as the founder and frontman of tribute band Temple of the Dog. He died May 18 by suicide. He was 52.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Gregg Allman was a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band. He died May 27 from liver cancer. He was 69.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Anita Pallenberg was an actress and model credited as a muse of the Rolling Stones. She was the romantic partner of band members Brian Jones and, later, Keith Richards. She died June 13 of complications from hepatitis C. She was 75.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Prodigy was one half of the hip-hop duo Mobb Deep. He died June 20 due to accidental choking while in the hospital for complications related to sickle-cell anemia, a condition he battled all his life. He was 42.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Dave Rosser was the guitarist for the alt-rock band Afghan Whigs. He died June 26 from colon cancer. He was 50.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Geri Allen was a jazz pianist and composer. She died June 27 of cancer. She was 60.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Kelan Phil Cohran was a jazz musician best known for playing trumpet in the Sun Ra Arkestra from 1959 to 1961. He died June 28 at the age of 90.
(Photo: Getty Images)

John Blackwell Jr. was a versatile drummer best known for his work with Prince. He died July 4 from brain cancer at the age of 43.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Christopher “Fresh Kid Ice” Wong Won was a founding member of rap group 2 Live Crew. He died July 13 of unspecified health issues. He was 53.
(Photo: Getty Images)

David Z was the bassist for New York-based metal band Adrenaline Mob. He died July 14 in a car accident. He was 38.
(Photo: YouTube)

Barbara Weldens was a French singer-songwriter who died July 19 after being accidentally electrocuted while performing on stage. She was 35.
(Photo: YouTube)

Chester Bennington was the frontman for rock band Linkin Park. He died July 20 by suicide. He was 41.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Daniel Licht was a composer best known for the score of the Showtime series “Dexter.” He died Aug. 2 of cancer. He was 60.
(Photo: Courtesy ofImpact24 PR)

Glen Campbell was best known for a string of country-pop hits in the ’70s, including “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Wichita Lineman,” as well as his popular TV show “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.” He died Aug. 8 from Alzheimer’s disease. He was 81.
(Photo: Getty Images)

John Abercrombie was a jazz guitarist, composer, and bandleader. He died Aug. 22 of heart failure. He was 72.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Melissa Bell was a singer best known for her work with R&B act Soul II Soul. She died Aug. 28 after struggling with health issues for several years. She was 53.
(Photo: Instagram/@AlexandraMusic)

Josh Schwartz was a guitarist and songwriter who performed with Beachwood Sparks and Further. He died in September at the age of 45, following a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
(Photo: Instagram/@JoshSchwartz)

Walter Becker was the co-founder, guitarist, bassist, and co-songwriter of Steely Dan. He died Sept. 3 from esophageal cancer. He was 67.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Dave Hlubek was the lead guitarist and founding member of the Southern rock band Molly Hatchet. He died Sept. 3 of a heart attack. He was 66.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Holger Czukay was a musician, producer, and engineer who was a founding member of influential Krautrock band Can. He died Sept. 5 at the age of 79.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Troy Gentry was half of country duo Montgomery Gentry with Eddie Montgomery. He died in a helicopter crash Sept. 8. He was 50.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Don Williams was a country singer and songwriter, and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He died Sep. 8 of emphysema at the age of 78.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Virgil Howe was a British musician best known for his work in Little Barrie and with his father, Steve Howe. He died Sept. 11 at the age of 41.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Jesse Zazu was the frontwoman of Nashville indie-rock band These Darlins’. She died Sept. 12 from cervical cancer. She was 28.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Grant Hart was the drummer and co-songwriter for the alternative rock and hardcore punk band Hüsker Dü. He died Sept. 13 of complications from liver cancer and hepatitis C. He was 56.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Charles Bradley was a singer who captured the feel of funk and soul music from the 1960s and ’70s. He died Sept. 23 of liver cancer at the age of 68.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Tom Petty was a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He died Oct. 2 of cardiac arrest at the age of 66.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Eric Harmon was the drummer of pioneering alt-rock band the Chainsaw Kittens. He died Oct. 4 of cancer at the age of 48.
(Photo: Chainsaw Kittens/Jason Scott)

Augustin Mawangu Mingiedi was the likembe player and bandleader of the Congolese outfit Konono No. 1. He died Oct. 16 after a long illness. He was 56.
(Photo: Augustin Mawangu Mingiedi of Konono No. 1)

Gord Downie was the lead vocalist and lyricist for the Tragically Hip, as well as a poet, actor, and solo artist. He died Oct. 17 of glioblastoma. He was 53.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Martin Eric Ain was best known for being a bassist for the influential extreme metal band Celtic Frost. He died Oct. 21 following a heart attack. He was 50.
(Photo: Getty Images/Wikimedia)

Daisy Berkowitz (Scott Mitchell Putesky) was the lead guitarist and co-founder of the industrial metal band Marilyn Manson. He died Oct. 22 of colon cancer. He was 49.
(Photo: Getty Images)

George Young was a musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was a founding member of the band the Easybeats, and was the older brother of AC/DC’s Angus Young and Malcolm Young (who also died this year). He died Oct. 22 at the age of 70.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Fats Domino was a New Orleans pianist and singer who was considered one of the pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll. He died Oct. 24 at the age of 89.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Keith Wilder was the singer of the influential ’70s funk outfit Heatwave. He died in his sleep Oct. 29 following unspecified health problems. He was 65.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Jon Kordosh was a music critic and longtime writer for Yahoo Music. He also played bass for the Detroit rock band the Mutants. He died Oct. 30.
(Photo: Rock NYC Live and Recorded)

Paul Buckmaster was a Grammy Award-winning arranger, conductor and composer. He is best known for his collaborations with Elton John, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Guns N Roses, and others. He died Nov. 7 at the age of 71.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Fred Cole was the frontman for underground rock trio Dead Moon. He died Nov. 9 from cancer. He was 69.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Chuck Mosley was best known as the frontman for Faith No More from 1984 to 1988. He died Nov. 9 from a drug overdose. He was 57.
(Photo: Facebook/EMP Label Group)

Chad Hanks was the bassist, principal songwriter, and co-founder of the industrial metal band American Head Charge. He died Nov. 12 of a terminal illness. He was 46.
(Photo: Facebook)

Lil Peep was a rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He died Nov. 15 from an accidental drug overdose. He was 21.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Malcolm Young was the co-founder, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter for the hard rock band AC/DC. He died Nov. 18 following several years of poor health. He was 64.
(Photo: AP Images)

Warren Moore was a singer-songwriter, record producer, and the bass singer for Motown group the Miracles. He died Nov. 19, his 79th birthday, due to complications from diabetes.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Della Reese was a jazz and gospel singer, actress, and ordained minister. She died Nov. 19 of unspecified causes at the age of 86.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Mel Tillis was a country singer, songwriter, and actor. He died Nov. 19 of respiratory failure at the age of 87.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Teen heartthrob David Cassidy was best known for his role as Keith Partridge in “The Partridge Family” TV show. He died Nov. 21 of liver failure. He was 67.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Wayne Cochran was a soul singer known for his outlandish outfits and white pompadour hairstyle. He died Nov. 21 at the age of 78.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Tommy Keene was a singer-songwriter best known for his power pop songs in the 1980s. He died Nov. 22 of natural causes. He was 59.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Johnny Hallyday was a French singer who was credited for having popularized rock ‘n’ roll in that country. He died Dec. 5 of lung cancer. He was 74.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Pat DiNizio was the lead singer and songwriter for the band the Smithereens. He died Dec. 12 after a series of health issues. He was 62.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Keely Smith was a singer of jazz and popular music best known for her act with Louis Prima in the 1950s. She died Dec. 16 of heart failure. She was 89.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Ralph Carney was a singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. He died Dec. 17 after sustaining head injuries from a fall. He was 61.
(Photo: Thomas Hawk/Flickr)

Kim Jong-hyun was the singer for K-pop group SHINee. He died Dec. 18, an apparent suicide. He was 27.
(Photo: Getty Images)