Music History Events: Deaths
October 25, 2000 Billy Bennett (drummer for Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs) dies of a heart attack in Sykesville, Maryland, at age 56.
October 18, 2000 Jazz/pop singer Julie London dies in Encino, California, at age 74, five years after a stroke left her in poor health. Known for her signature song, "Cry Me a River" (1955).
August 26, 2000 Allen Woody (bass guitarist for The Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule) dies in Queens, New York, from an indeterminate cause at age 44.
August 25, 2000 Composer Jack Nitzsche dies after a cardiac arrest in Hollywood, California, at age 63. Aside from playing keyboard for The Rolling Stones in the '60s, he co-wrote the 1983 hit "Up Where We Belong" from the romantic drama An Officer and a Gentlemen.
August 16, 2000 Guitarist Alan Caddy (of The Tornados) dies at age 60 after a lifelong battle with alcoholism.
July 28, 2000 Guitarist Jerome Smith (of KC And The Sunshine Band) dies in a construction-site accident in Miami, Florida, at age 47.
June 2, 2000 Western swing bandleader Adolph Hofner dies less than a week before his 84th birthday.
June 1, 2000 Mambo musician Tito Puente, who helped popularize Afro-Cuban and Caribbean music in the '50s, dies at age 77 following heart valve surgery.
May 31, 2000 Soul singer Johnnie Taylor dies of a heart attack at age 66.
May 30, 2000 Tex Beneke (blues singer and saxophonist of The Glenn Miller Orchestra) dies of respiratory failure at age 86.
April 27, 2000 Vicki Sue Robinson, who had a disco hit with "Turn The Beat Around," dies of cancer at age 45.
April 21, 2000 Neal Matthews Jr. (of Elvis Presley's backing group, The Jordanaires) dies of a heart attack at age 70.
March 27, 2000 British singer Ian Dury, who with his band Ian Dury & the Blockheads had a #1 UK hit with "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick," dies of cancer at age 57.
March 20, 2000 Gene "Eugene" Andrusco (of Adam Again, Lost Dogs, The Swirling Eddies) dies of a brain aneurysm at age 30.
March 20, 2000 American composer Vivian Fine dies at age 86.
March 9, 2000 Croatian singer Ivo Robic dies at age 77.
March 7, 2000 Country singer Pee Wee King dies at age 86.
February 12, 2000 Screamin' Jay Hawkins of "I Put A Spell On You" fame dies at age 70.
February 12, 2000 The singer Oliver ("Good Morning Starshine," "Jean") dies of cancer at age 54.
February 7, 2000 Dave Peverett (original lead vocalist for Foghat, guitarist for Savoy Brown) dies of cancer at age 56.
February 7, 2000 Rapper Big Pun, real name Christopher Lee Rios, dies at age 28 of a heart attack and respiratory failure.
January 2, 2000 Jazz cornet and trumpet player Nat Adderley dies of complications from diabetes at age 68.
December 17, 1999 Jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. suffers a fatal heart attack after performing on CBS's Saturday Early Show. He was 56.
December 17, 1999 Actor/country singer Rex Allen dies at age 78 when he's accidentally run over by his caregiver.
December 10, 1999 Rick Danko (bassist for The Band) dies of heart failure in his sleep in Marbletown, New York, at age 56.
November 21, 1999 Singer/actor Alvin Cash (of The Crawlers) dies of ulcer complications at age 60.
November 18, 1999 Doug Sahm (frontman for Sir Douglas Quintet) dies of a heart attack in Taos, New Mexico, at age 58.
November 16, 1999 Grady Owen (guitarist for Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps) dies.
November 13, 1999 Donald Mills (of The Mills Brothers) dies due to complications from pneumonia at age 84.
November 13, 1999 R.J. Vealey (drummer for Atlanta Rhythm Section) dies of a heart attack at age 37.
Back to Categories©2026 Songfacts®, LLC