Who is the most talented musician to have died young?

[Cant trust em]

My favorites are:

John Lennon
Jimi Hendrix
Otis Redding
Sam Cooke
Janis Joplin
Jim Morrison

but the answer is probably Mozart (died when he was 35).

[joeybee12]

1. Kurt Cobain should be with those six, but not alongside Mozart

[Captain Hilts]

50. Let's put Gershwin next to Mozart then. nt

[jobycom]

2. Add Hank Williams and Marvin Gaye (if 44 is young enough to be young).

[gmoney]

13. Hank was just 29... that boggles my mind.

[JCMach1]

138. Exactly, he was too good for this world...

[jobycom]

3. Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jim Croce, too.

[MrCoffee]

4. SRV gets my vote

[Amerigo Vespucci]

82. SRV conquered his demons, then died

That's the tragedy, to me.

Stevie got clean and sober and centered, and seemed to be on the threshold of a new chapter, something bigger and unexpected and amazing...

...yes, the legacy he left behind is bigger than what most musicians will ever attempt, let alone successfully deliver.

I mourn what we might have had BEYOND that, because the promise and potential were huge.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

104. I live near where his helicopter went down....

I get sad every time I drive by there.

[abq e streeter]

130. I went to music camp in East Troy in the summer of '67

When they showed aerial views of the crash site on the news, I remember thinking that one of the lakes in the background looked like the one we used to go canoeing on, and I've always guessed that they built that Alpine Valley place on the grounds of the old music camp ( but just a guess). I imagine it'd be hard not to think about Stevie Ray when going by there.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

142. Can you believe that this year will be twenty years since he died?

Holy Crap! We're getting old!

[abq e streeter]

148. Getting old? Done already got there myself

Actually ,it does seem like a long time ago now....And doesn't feel one bit less sad with the passing of those years. Same as with Buddy Holly .

[abq e streeter]

127. The only time I ever saw him was on his first "sober tour"

I went to the show with a somewhat negative attitude : " OK ,I know it's the great Stevie Ray Vaughn, but bottom line, it's another white guy playing blues...Ok sucker, show me something". Well, he showed me. Didn't take long into the show for me to be laughing at myself for being so ignorant. He was absolutely amazing. One thing I remember was him talking just a little during a song about having almost died and getting clean and sober and " if you don't remember anything else from this show , remember your friend Stevie says you don't have to be fucked up to party" or something to that effect. My date to the show told me she'd seen him a year earlier and that as great as he was that night, still drinking and/or drugging, he was way better this time. I agree that contemplating what he, and a lot of the people mentioned in this thread might have accomplished had they lived a "normal" lifespan , is something to mourn in and of itself, but this was the time it turns out they were allotted, and I for one am eternally grateful I got to see him even that one time.

[Arkansas Granny]

11. Those were two of the first that came to my mind, also.

[hippywife]

38. Of all of them, yep, gotta be Stevie Ray that

I miss the most. :hi:

[av8rdave]

119. +1 for SRV. And yes, put him next to Mozart.

[MrScorpio]

5. Nick Drake

Died at 26



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE0ODrmaiFE

[jobycom]

35. Yeah, he's got to be on the short list, at least. nt

[aquaman]

121. Nick Drake....

was brilliant, no question.

[rurallib]

6. for R&R I would go with Buddy Holly

[pokerfan]

87. +1

[BlueIris]

109. Ditto. nt

[lunamagica]

115. I was surprised not to see Buddy Holly on the OP. He sure belongs there n/t

[OhioChick]

7. Layne Staley n/t

[SoxFan]

8. Ian Curtis

[Orrex]

75. +1

:thumbsup:

[Rhythm]

77. +2

[name not needed]

90. +3

[Taverner]

9. FALCO!

[RebelOne]

10. How about Ritchie Valens, he was only 17.

[Brother Buzz]

28. We lost a lot of talent in that plane crash

I don't know how far Ritchie Valens might have gone, but Buddy Holly certainly was on track to go all the way. Hell, Buddy could have had a stellar career just writing music. Even the Beatles would agree.

[Orrex]

80. But if he hadn't died, where would Gary Busey be today?

[Brother Buzz]

88. Betty Ford Clinic

instead of acting in a reality show celebrity Rehab program.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

105. Hee, hee...

That was gratuitious and uncalled-for.

And pretty darned funny!

[Brother Buzz]

108. The bit I worked up on advocating against motorcycle helmets and the California helmet law...

was really over the top so I deleted it. ;)

[Bucky]

113. Riding shotgun with Randy Quaid?

[Alexander]

12. I'd say Jaco Pastorius deserves a mention.

[Fire Walk With Me]

14. Mozart.

Or, Wesley Willis.

[Fridays Child]

24. Yes, Mozart.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

27. Lots of short-lived classical composers:

Schubert was even younger than Mozart--31, as was Pergolesi, only 26

Purcell was 36, and Mendelssohn was 39. Bizet (who wrote Carmen) was only 37.

Mussorgsky was an alcoholic who drank himself to death by age 44.

Lili Boulanger was only 24, but her more famous sister Nadia lived to be 92 and taught composition to all sorts of composers, including Aaron Copeland and Virgil Thomson.

But they all accomplished a lot more than I have so far. :-)

[Cant trust em]

34. Probably tough to compare people who lived in the 18th century

to people who died early in the 20th century. Just in terms of average lifespan.

[PassingFair]

106. Mozart: How much genius the world missed out on.

His untimely death was a great tragedy.

What might he have done if he lived into old age?

[BOSSHOG]

15. Robert Johnson has to be on such a list

if only for the mystique. I'd put Hendrix on top. Wouldn't it have been great if Hendrix and Hank Williams got together?

[Mad_Dem_X]

16. Definitely Mozart. n/t

[elehhhhna]

17. Lennon.

[Spider Jerusalem]

18. Charlie Parker?

Also 35.

Hank Williams, Sr comes to mind too.

[Robeson]

74. Gets my vote.

[KamaAina]

19. Any number of hip-hop artists

Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac for starters.

[jobycom]

41. Yeah, Tupac was a great loss.

I don't know much about Biggie's music or influence. Not trying to slight him.

[Blue_Tires]

102. Pimp C from UGK

[alp227]

117. Don't forget Eazy-E

Former member of the founding fathers of gangsta rap, N.W.A (<racial epithet> With Attitude). Eazy-E died of AIDS in 1995 at age 31.

[BeachBaby]

20. Selena.

[jgraz]

21. Keith Richards.

[LostInAnomie]

22. Of those. Sam Cooke

They were all amazingly talented in different ways.

Lennon was an amazing song writer.
Hendrix was one of the most talented guitar players ever.
Otis Redding was a good performer, but overrated IMHO.
Janis Joplin & Jim Morrison had just found a niche they excelled at.

Sam Cooke though, he was talented all around. Amazing voice, amazing performer, amazing song writer, amazingly charismatic, etc.

[old mark]

23. I have a few, too:

Kurt Cobain-a really gifted writer and interesting guitarist, who knew music history.

Alan Wilson-A superb blues guitarist and historian.

Little Walter-Best harmonica player who ever lived.

Magic Sam-One of the greatest stage musicians/performers/guitarists ever.

Marvin Gay-Brilliant writer, superb voice, great musician.

Paul Desmond- Saxophone for the Dave Brubeck Quartet, an amazing soloist and composer of the California "Cool School" in the early '60's.

That's my 6-must be about a thousand more, including Robert Johnson.

mark

[graywarrior]

25. Duane Allman

[mwdem]

37. I agree.

The brothers were never quite the same. I saw at least 4 of their concerts, and the one after Duane died was so sad.

[graywarrior]

55. Every time they played Boston, I was there.

I couldn't believe he died. That was a major loss.

[mwdem]

57. I will always miss him.

I am a southern girl, and I saw them in N.C. and Atlanta.

[graywarrior]

When Berry Oakley died on the same damn corner as Duane, that was too much!

[mwdem]

59. I was at the concert following Berry's death, too.

They were never the same, and the place of both deaths was weird!

[graywarrior]

61. Still weird to this day!

[EastTennesseeDem]

84. +1

[driver8]

118. He was the first person I thought of.

He was very young when he died, also -- 24 or 25, I think.

[rcrush]

26. Its Jim Morrison for fucks sake.

OMG

[CBGLuthier]

29. Brian Jones for fucks sake

Can't believe the list got this long before Brian Jones came up.

[Duer 157099]

30. Freddie Mercury n/t

[Frank Cannon]

122. +1

Unfortunately, it was only after he died that I learned and appreciated just how talented Freddie Mercury was.

[yawnmaster]

31. the original Paul McCartney eom

[Captain Hilts]

49. Okay, I liked this one. nt

[Maccagirl]

65. I wonder whether his five kids know that their last name

is really Campbell, not McCartney. Did Linda ever let them in on the secret? Oh well, they still get the money in the trust fund.

:

[BlueIris]

110. Oh, man. Yer goin' to hell for this post.

I just finished reading all about the "Paul is dead" conspiracy insanity.

[yawnmaster]

111. great stuff, huh?! great conspiricy or great marketing eom

[Sky Masterson]

32. Frank Sinatra

He should have lived to be 200.:mad: :cry:

[velvet]

33. and also

Lowell George - 34
Gram Parsons - 26

[Manifestor_of_Light]

36. Franz Schubert, obviously.

Died at 31. Wrote a ton of stuff in nearly all genres. His last composition is # 956, which is a helluva lot of composing for a pup of 31.

Franz Grillparzer wrote, "Here lies great treasure, but still fairer hopes".

Listen to the C Major String Quintet, the last piece he wrote.

It has 2 violins, 1 viola, and 2 celli. Absolutely radical and stunning for 1828.

I have a DGG recording of it with Rostropovich as the "fifth wheel" with the Melos Quartet of Stuttgart.

Definitely up there with Mozart.

[TK421]

39. Benjamin Orr...I'm shocked nobody has mentioned him here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Orr

[Capn Sunshine]

42. Most people don't know he died

I missed it and I'm pretty tuned in to that shit. Saw the Cars at their peak many times.

[TK421]

43. My sisters listened to the Cars incessantly...they were part of my upbringing, so to speak

this guy had a presence and a voice that was severely underrated...especially at this point and time in the music industry.

[pitohui]

147. most people don't consider 53 to be "young"

again is the question about musicians who died young or musicians who died "too" young?

anyone who died whilst still active in their career could be said to have died "too" young, even if they were bob dylan's age (he just released a new album, so even tho he's OLD, if he died tomorrow, it would be "too" young because he has more to say)

[tXr]

86. +1.

[candyobnoxious]

149. Benjamin Orr

Just looking about the site looking for my fellow Benjamin Orr fans!

[TK421]

40. I would like to add another to this list...Keith Moon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Moon

[Cant trust em]

44. John Bonham too.

Both great, but I definitely prefer Moon.

[TK421]

46. Oh yes...good addition, thanks!!!

:thumbsup:

[InkAddict]

45. Karen Carpenter n/t

[Pendrench]

144. Lovely voice...and a very talented drummer. n/t

[AsahinaKimi]

47. hide from X~ JAPAN

Hideto Matsumoto: (December 13, 1964–May 2, 1998), was a popular Japanese musician. More commonly known by his mononymous stage name hide. (written in all lowercase letters by the artist,) he was primarily known for his work as lead guitarist of the popular heavy metal band X Japan from 1987 to 1997. He was also a successful solo artist and co-founder of the United States based band Zilch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hide_%28musician%29

[Roon]

60. he's cute!!! eom

[Roon]

62. Oooops!

He WAS cute..sorry that he died :cry:

[AsahinaKimi]

68. Hide had a lot of fans in Japan

Many people loved him. He will be missed. XJAPAN is still one of the top draws
in Japan and one of the best loved groups.
hide memorial song ...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noOvZNaXgac



The full concert starts here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_fBehjz2xk

Hideto Matsumoto died on May 2, 1998. After a night out drinking, he was found hanged with a towel tied to a doorknob in his Tokyo apartment. Three fans died in copycat suicides, of the 50,000 people who attended his funeral in Tsukiji Hongan-ji, nearly 60 were hospitalized and about 200 received medical treatment in first aid tents. Later that month, the single "Pink Spider" was released, entering the Oricon charts at number one. The song would also receive that year's MTV Video Music Award in the category "Japan Viewers Choice". Sales were also strong for the follow up single "Ever Free", while those of a single released previous to his death "Rocket Dive" would also see a substantial increase. American Journalist Neil Strauss commented on the trend saying that: "In just a few weeks, pop culture in Japan had gone from mourning Hide's death to consuming it."

[Captain Hilts]

48. Don't forget Gershwin. nt

[Manifestor_of_Light]

93. Yes, very much so. I forgot about him.

Porgy and Bess is wonderful. I think if he had lived he could have been a master of opera such as Puccini or Mozart.

His brother Ira was 98 or 99 when he died.

[abq e streeter]

51. just strictly on the basis of musical talent in rock and/or roll, Hendrix from that list...easily

Mozart is probably a category unto himself for musical genius....Parker and Coltrane in jazz, and so many in blues....Robert Johnson, Little Walter and Stevie Ray probably at the top there.

[Captain Hilts]

53. Jimi was always trying to recreate with his guitar what the dolper affect would do

to a plane's engines as he heard it jumping out of an airplane while a paratrooper.

Had he not been in the Army, he would still have been a great guitarist, but a different one.

[abq e streeter]

54. Never thought of it that way, but it certainly makes sense

[Zomby Woof]

52. Ronnie Van Zant

29. He had often said he would never live to see his 30th birthday, and that was even after he moderated his hard drinking and started to settle down. He just knew.

[greendog]

56. Need to mention Leroy Carr

Died when he was 30.



"How long, how long Blues"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNpLtkZNzZs

[TK421]

58. I get the sense he could have done so much more....what a loss

[B3Nut]

63. French composer Jehan Alain

who died at 29 when his motorcycle patrol was ambushed by the Nazis in WW2.



He was ahead of his time, a brilliant composer, almost a classical Hendrix. He's best known for his wrenchingly emotive organ piece "Litanies" which is a must hear if you think classical doesn't kick ass - you can hear the seeds of prog rock in this even. Some of his compositions almost go into formal jazz territory.

My pick for gone-too-soon soul singers would of course be Otis Redding. I've never heard a singer who could wrench the hell out of my guts like he can...raw emotive power.

[TK421]

64. I never heard of him before this...and I just listened to it on youtube...for anyone else

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2OTIVgZQao

yeah...I see what you're talking about-this guy was something else!!

[Inspired]

66. Tommy Bolin

[kayakjohnny]

67. Thank you

Yes

[dysfunctional press]

139. i can't believe it took 66 posts to get tommy's name on the list.

[Inspired]

140. It would have been sooner if I wasn't so busy listening to this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqKZEoY1rgU

One of my favorite songs of all time. It's long but listening all the way through it is worth every minute. There are a lot of different hooks in this song.

They don't make music like this anymore.

His brother was in a band that played in clubs around 1980. This was their signature song. They did a great cover of it.

[bbernardini]

69. Kevin Gilbert

Only 29 when he died, I believe. One of my top 5 favorite musicians of all time. An absolute genius. Some of you old-time west coasters may remember his work with Toy Matinee. Some samples:

Water Under The Bridge (from "The Shaming Of The True", completed by his friends after his death):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsYwZ4ukx54


Tea For One (from "Thud"...this one breaks my heart every time I hear it):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkgsNx0mdCI


I can post more if you like. He has great upbeat numbers as well, but his ballads are stunning.

[Beaverhausen]

83. Yes, he was great. So was Jeff Buckley

[jkirch]

70. Stephen Foster, age 36. nt

[mopinko]

71. patsy cline?

aged 30 when she died in a plane crash.
admit she may not be in the "most talented" but she is my current ear worm.
beautiful, powerful voice, and a wonderful human being.

[Cant trust em]

78. I didn't even know that she died young

I'm not a huge country fan, but I like her sound enough.

[Zomby Woof]

72. Jimmie Rodgers

The Singing Brakeman. Died of complications due to TB at the age of 35.

[MadMaddie]

73. Tammi Terrel

She sang duets with Marvin Gaye, after her death he was a changed man.

"Ain't No mountain High Enough"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlOuaTwKOP8

"If this World were mine" this is a lovely a cappella version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I1iqcq9r1U

Tammi Terrel
http://www.tammiterrell.com/

I could add more but these are worth listening to.

I have the Cd it's so good!

[bluesbassman]

76. Dimebag Darrell - August 20, 1966 – December 8, 2004

Lead guitarist for Pantera.

[KamaAina]

79. Ricky Wilson

of the B-52's.

[The empressof all]

81. Phil Ochs

His music helped to politicize a generation

[Chan790]

85. Elliott Smith...

over everybody else on this list or in this thread...even Mozart.

The guy changed alternative rock with Heatmiser...then he went solo and became probably the most underrated songwriter of this generation and possibly the best songwriter since John Lennon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5XZUHLNv-Y

[Quantess]

98. Oh yeah, Elliott Smith. I loved his music.

He stabbed himself with a knife, in the chest. Why?
But he was very talented.

Elliott Smith's death came close in meaning and musicality to a person who was very dear to me.

[pokerfan]

89. Bob Marley?

[libodem]

91. Gram Parsons

I loved the Flying Burrito Brothers.

[ironflange]

92. Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga

The "Spanish Mozart," perhaps an even greater loss. Died at nineteen.

[enigmatic]

94. Peter Laughner

http://recluseshow.blogspot.com/2009/04/sylvia-plath-peter-laughner.html

[Manifestor_of_Light]

95. Performer -- Jacqueline du Pre.

Died at age 42 from Multiple Sclerosis.

Her performing/recording career as a famous artist only lasted about six years, 1965-1971.

I was lucky enough to see her perform live in 1969, the Elgar Cello Concerto, with her husband, Daniel Barenboim, conducting. She came to Houston because the elder conductor of the Houston Symphony at the time was Sir John Barbirolli, who was British, a cellist, and one of her mentors.

She burned up an amazing amount of energy. The movie "Hilary and Jackie" is a good account of her life. The real videos of her on Youtube are better though.

Watch her on Youtube:
Playing the Intermezzo from "Goyescas" by Enrique Granados.
This was recorded in 1962 when she was only SEVENTEEN!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbs2H_PvGpE



Part of the Elgar Concerto, the piece I saw her perform:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1ofV9qWNaQ&feature=related


The greatest fiddler of the 20th century IMNSHO (when I say fiddler, I mean violin, viola, cello or string bass). Shitkick doesn't count.

[MilesColtrane]

96. I would add...

Bix Beiderbecke - 28
Jimmy Blanton - 23
Django Reinhardt - 43
Clifford Brown - 25
Billie Holliday - 43
Paul Chambers - 33
Eric Dolpy - 36
Scott LaFaro - 25
Wes Montgomery - 45
Bud Powell - 41
Lee Morgan - 33
Rahsaan Roland Kirk - 42
Woody Shaw - 44
Kenny Kirkland - 43

[Quantess]

97. Kurt Cobain

[NC_Nurse]

132. +1

[LeftinOH]

99. Buddy Holly- he'd be in his early 70s now, and its painful to think of the great material

that could have been.

[Bennyboy]

100. Well, If Frank Zappa was the most talented musician to have lived...

then he has to be the most talented musician to have died young.

Of all of those above, I miss Frank the most and am sure I would enjoy his commentary about the events of the time since his passing.

[Blue_Tires]

101. although they didn't die 'young',

Billie Holliday and Scott Joplin DID die before their time...

[Symarip]

103. Don Drummond

Google/Wiki this guy. It's a pretty sad story.

[kwassa]

107. Eva Cassidy, truely a terrible loss .... an amazing voice

she was about to hit it big.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3YVil3Ajjs

[Inspired]

131. Oh, yes. The voice of an angel.

I only 'discovered' her 6 years after she had already died. Very sad.

[Bucky]

112. Pat Boone. It was only a spiritual death, of course, but still think of all the music we've lost...

... if only he'd had a soul. Sigh.

[Bucky]

114. Musicians who died too late to die too soon: most of the Ramones.

Gabba gabba hey, of course. But, damn, an early death by at least one of them would've moved a lot of vinyl.

[MrScorpio]

116. Biggy and Tupac

[alp227]

120. Would you also count...

Layne Staley (of Alice in Chains, died at age 35 in 2002)
Michael Jackson (died this year at age 50)

[ceile]

123. Jeff Buckley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siNsgbIWhAQ

[jmowreader]

124. Randy Rhoads

How can we forget probably THE best metal guitarist who ever lived? Hendrix was the god of rock, but in metal Rhoads was the guy.

[FarLeftRage]

125. Ian Curtis...

of Joy Division. Unofficial founders of Goth Rock.

Ian Kevin Curtis (15 July 1956 – 18 May 1980) was the vocalist and lyricist, as well as occasional guitarist and keyboardist, of the band Joy Division, which he joined in 1976 after meeting with Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook at a Sex Pistols gig.

More at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Curtis

[hayu_lol]

126. Mozart...

as a musician, love and appreciate his Musical Joke.

He really was,overall, an extraordinary musician in all respects.

My son, also a Hornist(also violist/composer/conductor)believes that Mozart may have been Bi-Polar which would explain much about his life.

[goldcanyonaz]

128. Mozart.

[flying rabbit]

129. Bon Scott

Can't replace that lewd dark snarl of a voice.

[mix]

133. Robert Leroy Johnson & Hiram King Williams

[Tikki]

134. Darby and Jeffrey Lee Pierce...were both young and talented when..

when they died....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJEc4o-frgA
"Circle One"....The Germs...with lyrics under 'more info'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8m0Rd93YW8
"My Dreams"...Gun Club...with lyrics under 'more info'


Tikki

[Tikki]

135. Johnny Ace and Jesse Belvin....both young and very talented...

when they died...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjYJt5kCc4k
"Pledging My Love"....Johnny Ace

...died at 24 years old...messing around with a hand gun, shot himself...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMK3R8ALK8s
"Goodnight My Love"....Jesse Belvin

...died at 27 years old...an automobile accident took both he and his wife...


Tikki

[KT2000]

136. Stevie Ray Vaughn

[bamacrat]

137. John Lennon and Kurt Cobain.

Music would be insane had those two not been killed.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

141. As usual, I showed up late.

I'd like to add two names.

Marc Bolan
&
Jeff Healey

[JonLP24]

143. I'll name two that haven't been mentioned yet

Aaliyah and 'Left Eye' Lopes. Not the most talented but talented and died at a young age.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

145. How about Harry Chapin or Bobby Darrin?

Both around 37.

[pitohui]

146. well what's young? young people are under 30, i should think

there's a difference between john lennon and mozart died "too" young and actually dying YOUNG

i certainly don't think anyone in mozart's day considered a 35 year old to be a young kid, he died TOO young, but he sure as shit didn't die YOUNG, he died in early middle age by the standards of that time

[vwvortex5250]

150. schubert