Music History Events: Deaths
March 8, 1993 Jazz singer Billy Eckstein, whose rendition of "I Apologize" was awarded the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999, dies at age 78, a few months after suffering a heart attack.
February 25, 1993 Toy Caldwell (lead guitarist for The Marshall Tucker Band) dies of cocaine-related cardio-respiratory failure at his home in Moore, South Carolina, at age 45.
January 21, 1993 French singer Noël Rota aka Helno (of Les Negresses Vertes) dies of a heroin overdose at age 29.
January 15, 1993 Prolific lyricist Sammy Cahn, known for enduring tunes like "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!," dies of heart failure at age 79.
December 24, 1992 Bobby LaKind (conga player for The Doobie Brothers) dies of colon cancer in Los Angeles, California, at age 47.
December 23, 1992 Eddie Hazel (lead guitarist for Funkadelic) dies from internal bleeding and liver failure in Plainfield, New Jersey, at age 42.
December 21, 1992 Bluesman Albert King dies of a heart attack in Memphis, Tennessee, at age 69.
November 23, 1992 Roy Acuff, country singer and co-founder of the Acuff/Rose music publishing company, dies of congestive heart failure at age 89.
November 13, 1992 Ronnie Bond (drummer for The Troggs) dies after a lengthy illness in Winchester, Hampshire, England, at age 52.
October 25, 1992 Country singer Roger Miller dies of lung and throat cancer in Los Angeles, California, at age 56.
October 5, 1992 Eddie Kendricks (of The Temptations) dies of lung cancer in Birmingham, Alabama, at age 52.
October 1, 1992 R&B vocalist Harry Ray (of The Moments, later known as Ray, Goodman & Brown) dies of a stroke in Bound Brook, New Jersey, at age 46. Known for hits like "Love on a Two-Way Street" (1970).
September 29, 1992 Paul Jabara dies of AIDS-related causes in Los Angeles, California, at age 44. Wrote the Donna Summer disco hit "Last Dance."
September 18, 1992 Earl Van Dyke, keyboardist for Funk Brothers, Motown's in-house band, dies of prostate cancer at age 62.
August 15, 1992 Reggae musician Jackie Edwards dies of a heart attack in Jamaica at age 54. Penned "Keep On Running" and "Somebody Help Me" for The Spencer Davis Group.
August 14, 1992 Tony Williams (of The Platters) dies of emphysema at age 64 in Manhattan, New York.
August 12, 1992 Composer John Cage dies of a stroke at age 79 in Manhattan, New York.
August 5, 1992 Jeff Porcaro (drummer for Toto) dies of a heart attack from cocaine-induced atherosclerosis at age 38 in Los Angeles, California.
July 26, 1992 Mary Wells, "Queen of Motown," dies in Los Angeles, California, at age 49 during a bout of pneumonia made worse by a cancer recurrence.
July 5, 1992 Helix guitarist Paul Hackman, age 38, is killed after a concert in Vancouver when the band's van rolls down a 40-foot embankment and throws him from the vehicle.
June 27, 1992 Stefanie Sargent of 7 Year Bitch dies at age 24. After a night of drinking and drug use, she chokes to death when she vomits in her sleep.
May 25, 1992 Boyz II Men is touring as the opening act for MC Hammer's 2 Legit 2 Quit tour when their manager, Khalil Rountree, is murdered by three gunmen at a Chicago hotel.
May 17, 1992 Bandleader and TV host Lawrence Welk dies of bronchial pneumonia at age 89.
May 15, 1992 '60s singer Barbara Lee (of The Chiffons) dies of a heart attack the day before her 45th birthday.
May 4, 1992 Dudu Mntowaziwayo Ndlovu (percussionist for Johnny Clegg & Juluka) is killed in a hail of gunfire in South Africa at age 33.
April 27, 1992 French composer Olivier Messiaen dies in Paris, France, at age 83.
April 20, 1992 Blues singer and guitarist Johnny Shines dies at age 76 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
April 10, 1992 Brash stand-up comedian Sam Kinison, who also appeared in several music videos ("Bad Medicine," "Kickstart My Heart," "Wild Thing"), dies at age 38 when his car is hit by a teenage drunk driver.
March 4, 1992 Jazz guitarist Mary Osborne dies at age 70.
January 14, 1992 Jerry Nolan of The Heartbreakers and New York Dolls dies from a stroke at age 45 while being treated for meningitis and pneumonia.
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