Originally by Ranker MusicList RulesThe best musicians and singers who didn't make it to thirty
List of the greatest musicians who died before they reached the age of 30. On this list you’ll find all of the musicians who had the misfortune to die before turning 30 — from all time periods and including rock stars who died young and singers from other genres. Some died in horrific ways, others were the victims of unfortunate accidents or genetics, but they all left the world a little too soon, earning them a place on this, the list of the most amazing musicians who died before 30.
This list includes members of The 27 Club — those young and rising stars who died at the age of 27. Tragically, many died of overdose or under drug-related circumstances, including Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain. Janis Joplin and Amy Winehouse are among the female singers who have died at 27. Other musicians on this list died from poisoning (Robert Johnson), plane crashes (Otis Redding, Buddy Holly, and the Big Bopper), and even murder (Mia Zapata). In the hip-hop world, both Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. were killed outright, both having been shot repeatedly. No one knows for certain who murdered the two rap legends, but it is beyond a doubt that the musicians died too young. The two rappers may be gone, but they live on in fans’ memories.
On this list you can find all of the best artists who died young, never reaching the age of 30. The list contains rock musicians, rappers, guitar players, drummers, singers, jazz musicians, and more, but the musical style differences aren’t important. Fans still mourn these great artists, often wondering what might have been had these musicians lived.
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1,690546Jimi Hendrix
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: First Rays of the New Rising Sun, Band of Gypsys, Voodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix Collection, Live at the Fillmore East, Live at Woodstock
Died at 27 (1942-1970)2
1,765569Kurt Cobain
Grunge, Alternative rockAlbums: 1993-09-08: Rock Against Rape Benefit, Club Lingerie, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Died at 27 (1967-1994)3
1,516555Jim Morrison
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: Paris Jim, Dionysus
Died at 27 (1943-1971)4
953344Buddy Holly
Lubbock sound, Rock musicAlbums: Buddy, 20 Golden Greats, What You Been A-Missin': What You've Been A-Missin', The Buddy Holly Story, That'll Be The Day
Died at 22 (1936-1959)5
1,113489Janis Joplin
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: Pearl, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Greatest Hits, I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!, The Essential Janis Joplin
Died at 27 (1943-1970)6
919379Otis Redding
Southern soul, Soul bluesAlbums: Pain in My Heart, King & Queen, Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul, The Soul Album, The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads
Died at 26 (1941-1967)7
681306Ritchie Valens
Chicano rock, Rock musicAlbums: The Complete Ritchie Valens, The Very Best Of Richie Valens, Greatest Hits, The Very Best of Ritchie Valens, La Bamba
Died at 17 (1941-1959)8
1,427654Tupac Shakur
Hip hop music, Political hip hopAlbums: 2Pacalypse Now, Strictly 4 My Niggaz, Thug Life: Volume 1, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, Me Against the World
Died at 25 (1971-1996)9
476218Hank Williams
Outlaw country, Western musicAlbums: Cold, Cold Heart, Beyond the Sunset, Three Hanks: Men With Broken Hearts, Hillbilly Hero
Died at 29 (Sep. 1923-Jan. 1953)
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665356Ronnie Van Zant
Rock music, Southern rockDied at 29 (1948-1977)11
949501Selena
Mexican cumbia, Pop musicAlbums: Selena, Ven Conmigo, Entre a Mi Mundo, Amor Prohibido, Dreaming of You
Died at 23 (1971-1995)12
613172Avicii
House, TechnoAlbums: Bom, Collide, Avicii et al: Swedish House Collection - Taken from Superstar, Avicii Presents Strictly Miami, True
Died at 28 (1989-2018)
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1,149650Amy Winehouse
Doo-wop, Pop musicAlbums: Frank, Back to Black
Died at 27 (1983-2011)14
929483The Notorious B.I.G.
Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hopAlbums: Ready to Die, Life After Death
Died at 24 (1972-1997)15
532336Duane Allman
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: Duane Allman: An Anthology, Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective, Ton-Ton Macoute!, Duane & Greg Allman, Duane Allman: An Anthology
Died at 24 (1946-1971)16
402123Mac Miller
Hip hop music, Alternative hip hopAlbums: Watching Movies with the Sound Off, Macadelic, In the Air, But My Mackin Aint Easy, On and On and Beyond
Died at 26 (1992-2018)
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528337Randy Rhoads
Glam metal, Heavy metalDied at 25 (1956-1982)18
865583Aaliyah
Hip hop music, Pop musicAlbums: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, One in a Million, Aaliyah
Died at 22 (1979-2001)19
409287Brian Jones
Blues-rock, Pop musicAlbums: Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka
Died at 27 (1942-1969).
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436282Robert Johnson
Rock music, BluesAlbums: From Four Till Late, Hellhound on My Trail, Sweet Home Chicago, Kind Hearted Woman Blues
Died at 27 (1911-1938)21
389284Cliff Burton
Thrash metal, Progressive metalDied at 24 (1962-1986)22
20890Juice WRLD
Hip hop, Emo rapAlbums: Goodbye & Good Riddance
Died at 21 (1998-2019)
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268240Marc Bolan
Psychedelic folk, ProtopunkAlbums: 20th Century Boy, The Beginning of Doves, Christmas Box, Billy Super Duper, Love and Death
Died at 29 (1947-1977)
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286269Gram Parsons
Rock music, Country rockAlbums: GP, Grievous Angel, The Gilded Palace of Sin, Sweetheart of the Rodeo, Safe at Home
Died at 26 (1946-1973)25
249226Christina Grimmie
Hip hop music, Pop musicAlbums: With Love, Find Me, How To Love (The Voice Performance), Hold On, We're Going Home (The Voice Performance)
Died at 22 (1994-2016)
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