Famous Musicians Who Died This Decade (2010 - 2019) Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. Close
Music Stars We Lost in the 2010s
David Bowie Whitney Houston Prince and others who helped shape the sounds of today
Whitney Houston, Prince, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie/GETTY IMAGES Aretha Franklin singer-songwriter 76
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images (March 25, 1942 — Aug. 16, 2018) From child gospel singer in Detroit to the “Queen of Soul,” Franklin built a career that spanned seven decades. The singer and pianist, a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and 18 Grammys(among a long list of other honors), was a trailblazer who inspired generations of music lovers. David Cassidy actor and singer 67
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for IEBA (April 12, 1950 — Nov. 21, 2017) Combining his love for singing and acting, Cassidy found his dream job (and became a teen idol) as Keith Partridge on The Partridge Family (1970-74). He went on to record albums and perform, though later struggled with alcohol addiction. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Della Reese singer and actress 86
Gerald Smith/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images (July 6, 1931 — Nov. 19, 2017) Known first as an R&B singer, then as an actress, Reese rose to the top of the pop singles chart in 1959 with her biggest song, “Don't You Know?” Her greatest fame came in the 1990s, when she was cast as Tess, an angel on Touched by an Angel (1994-2003). Tom Petty musician 66
Scott Legato/Getty Images (Oct. 20, 1950 — Oct. 2, 2017) For four decades, Petty's distinctive voice led the Heartbreakers, a band he formed in 1976; the group had just wrapped up a summer tour to celebrate its 40th anniversary shortly before he died. Music stars including Willie Nelson and Jakob Dylan have just come out with a tribute album, For Real — For Tom, featuring covers of Petty's tunes. Glen Campbell country singer 81
Gary Miller/FilmMagic (April 22, 1936 — Aug. 8, 2017) Over his half-century career, Campbell excelled as a singer, musician, songwriter, television host and actor. He was the voice behind “By the Time I Get to Phoenix" (1967), “Wichita Lineman" (1968), “Rhinestone Cowboy" (1975) and more. He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2011. Chuck Berry musician 90
Francois G. Durand/WireImage (Oct. 18, 1926 — March 18, 2017) The seminal musician is considered by many to be the father of rock ‘n’ roll, known for his incredible guitar playing, singing and stage antics. Berry's oeuvre includes such timeless hits as “Roll Over Beethoven” (1956), and “Johnny B. Goode” and “Sweet Little Sixteen” (both 1958). AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe Prince musician 57
Neil Lupin/Redferns (June 7, 1958 — April 21, 2016) Born Prince Rogers Nelson, this music genius demonstrated stunning virtuosity on many instruments; broke stylistic barriers around R&B, rock, pop and funk; challenged racial, gender and sexuality conventions; and delivered such timeless hits as “Little Red Corvette" (1983), “When Doves Cry" (1984) and Sign o’ the Times (1987). Entertainment Access curated AARP entertainment articles, essays, videos, films and more See more Entertainment offers > David Bowie musician 69
NILS MEILVANG/AFP via Getty Images (Jan. 8, 1947 — Jan. 10, 2016) An icon of 20th-century popular music, Bowie was rarely predictable and often remarkable — beginning in the late 1960s with “Space Oddity" (1969) and continuing right up until his death. Bowie released his final album, Blackstar (2016), on his 69th birthday, two days before he passed away. B B King musician 89
Neil Lupin/Redferns (Sept. 16, 1925 — May 14, 2015) The poor boy who lived in a sharecropper's shack grew up to become a legendary guitarist and the true king of American blues. “The Thrill Is Gone” (the title of his 1969 hit) was a note left on his website after he passed away; his countless fans agree. Casey Kasem radio host 82
Carlo Allegri/Getty Images (April 27, 1932 — June 15, 2014) As the host of the syndicated radio show American Top 40, Kasem offered his weekly countdown of popular hits and “long-distance dedications,” from 1970 until his retirement in 2004. Cartoon fans remember him as the distinctive voice of slacker-dude Shaggy on Scooby-Doo. Whitney Houston singer 48
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images (Aug. 9, 1963 — Feb. 11, 2012) From singing in her church choir in Newark, New Jersey, as a child to becoming one of the best-selling musicians of all time, Houston had a vocal talent and range that was one of a kind. Her library of number one songs includes “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” (1987) and “I Will Always Love You” (1992). Dick Clark television personality 82
Kevin Winter/ImageDirect (Nov. 30, 1929 — April 18, 2012) It's hard to ring in the new year without thinking of Clark leading the countdown. The host of The $10,000 and $25,000 Pyramid (1973-88) and, most notably, American Bandstand (1952-89) is credited with advancing the careers of so many performers, including Paul Anka, Barry Manilow and Madonna. Andy Williams singer and television host 84
Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall of Fame (Dec. 3, 1927 — Sept. 25, 2012) The artist behind 43 albums, nine Top 10 hits (such as “Butterfly” and “Love Story") and the Emmy-winning Andy Williams Show (1962-71) brought his smooth voice and comedic sketches to households everywhere. And his Christmas songs remain some of the most beloved holiday classics. Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency’s Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English. MORE FROM AARP AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Restaurants offers > See more Travel Planning offers > See more Flowers & Gifts offers > See more Groceries offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS