We’re only halfway through 2020, yet it has been an exceptionally difficult year for losses in the music industry.
Pioneers like Little Richard and Bill Withers left behind noteworthy careers and we also said goodbye to young voices like Glee‘s Naya Rivera and Fountains of Wayne‘s Adam Schlesinger.
Here’s an ongoing list of artists who have died this year.
Harry Haines, 27
As an actor, model and musician, the 27-year-old was a star in every right, appearing in FX’s American Horror Story: Hotel season and several other notable projects. He died on Jan. 7.
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Peart was not only one the backbone of one of the most important groups in prog rock music, he was arguably the most influential drummer of his time. Peart died of brain cancer complications in January.
Neil Peart September 12, 1952 – January 7, 2020 pic.twitter.com/NivX2RhiB8
— Rush (@rushtheband) January 10, 2020
Rojas led a resurgence of Colombian joropo music with Grammy nominations in his name. He died in January of a heart condition.
David Olney, 71
The Nashville singer-songwriter was known for his work with Del McCoury and others, left behind a massive catalog of hits. He died in January of a heart attack.
Reed Mullin, 53
The Corrosion Of Conformity drummer was remembered as a “badass” by bandmates and friends and helped earn the group five charting albums on the Billboard 200. He died on Jan. 27.
Jimmy Heath, 93
The 93-year-old jazz musician celebrated a career of collaborations with the likes of Coltrane and David, and the forming of his group, the Grammy-nominated Heath Brothers. Heath died in late January.
Bob Shane, 85
Shane was the last surviving member of the Kingston Trio, a group that created some of the biggest folk hits of the ’50s, including the Grammy-winning “Tom Dooley.”
Kobe Bryant, 41
Better known for his time as one of the most dominant forces is basketball, Bryant also rocked the mic as an MC. With features on records by Brian McKnight and a Destiny’s Child remix of “Say My Name” to his name, Kobe really had a wide-ranging career to be proud of. He died in a January helicopter crash alongside his daughter Gianna and seven others.
Andy Gill, 64
The Gang of Four founder and producer also had a stint producing the Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ debut album. Known for his jagged, rhythmic guitar playing, Gill was also a committed audio engineer, co-producing all of Gang of Four’s discography. He died on Feb. 1.
Andy Gill. pic.twitter.com/DHNCz5lAe6
— Gang Of Four (@gangof4official) February 1, 2020
