Originally by Ranker MusicList RulesGreat musicians who died before their 40th birthdays
Some of the best musicians in history only lived for a few short decades. This list ranks those musicians whose lives were taken before they turned 40, whether intentionally or accidentally, including everyone from Bob Marley to Mozart. They may all come from different genres and backgrounds, but the loss of each of these musicians left a major emptiness in the world of music. Singers and rock stars like Amy Winehouse, Buddy Holly, and Jimi Hendrix didn’t live to 40, but they did live long enough to secure a lasting legacy in music history.
Many people think of rock stars like Kurt Cobain (of the 27 Club) when they consider musicians who died young, but the world of rap music can be just as deadly. Who can forget the feud between Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.? While no one has ever conclusively proven who killed the two stars or even that the two deaths were linked, there is no doubt that both musicians were killed far too early. These musicians were murdered in their prime, and hip hop fans still mourn them.
Other deaths have rocked the music world as well. Can any fan of hip hop or R&B every truly recover from Aaliyah’s death in 2001? She was only 22 years old when her plane crashed in the Bahamas, killing not only her but also eight others. This gifted musician died before reaching the age of 40, and the world of R&B is not the same for her loss.
On this list you’ll find musicians who died before they turned 40. The gifted performers on this list come from all genres. Many of the musicians here died in unfortunate and horrific circumstances, while others passed away more peacefully, some from natural causes. Whatever the case, they have all earned their spots on this list of the greatest musicians who died before 40.
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1,972641Jimi 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)James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18,... more on Wikipedia
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1,787671Bob Marley
ReggaeAlbums: The Wailing Wailers, Soul Rebels, Soul Revolution, The Best of the Wailers, Catch a Fire
Died at 36 (1945-1981)Robert Nesta Marley, (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer and songwriter.... more on Wikipedia
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1,856725Kurt Cobain
Grunge, Alternative rockAlbums: 1993-09-08: Rock Against Rape Benefit, Club Lingerie, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Died at 27 (1967-1994)Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, and... more on Wikipedia4
1,331651Jim Morrison
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: Paris Jim, Dionysus
Died at 27 (1943-1971)James Douglas Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971) was an American singer, songwriter... more on Wikipedia5
977464Buddy 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)Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), known professionally as Buddy... more on Wikipedia6
1,105570Janis 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)Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American rock, soul, and blues... more on Wikipedia7
1,358738Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Opera, BalletAlbums: Symphony Edition, Classical Anthology, Eternal Classics, Concertos for Flute, Harp and Orchestra (Orchestra: Saint Paul's Philharmonic Orchestra; Flute: Ubaldo Rosso; Harp: Ursula Mazurek; Conductor: Silvano Frontalini)
Died at 35 (1756-1791)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791), baptised as Johannes Chrysostomus... more on Wikipedia8
1,628607Tupac 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)Tupac Amaru Shakur ( TOO-pahk shə-KOOR; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September... more on Wikipedia9
897480Otis 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)Otis Ray Redding Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer,... more on Wikipedia10
943543Stevie Ray Vaughan
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: Texas Flood, Couldn't Stand The Weather, Soul to Soul, In Step, In Step
Died at 35 (1954-1990)Stephen Ray Vaughan (October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990) was an American musician, singer,... more on Wikipedia11
1,135532The Notorious B.I.G.
Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hopAlbums: Ready to Die, Life After Death
Died at 24 (1972-1997)Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), known professionally as The... more on Wikipedia12
1,134637Amy Winehouse
Doo-wop, Pop musicAlbums: Frank, Back to Black
Died at 27 (1983-2011)Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) was an English singer and songwriter.... more on Wikipedia
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629359Hank Williams
Outlaw country, Western musicAlbums: Cold, Cold Heart, Beyond the Sunset, Three Hanks: Men With Broken Hearts, Hillbilly Hero
Died at 29 (1923-1953)Hiram King "Hank" Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American... more on Wikipedia14
637453John Bonham
Blues-rock, Folk rockAlbums: Rock and Roll Highway
1948-1980. 32 years old. Led Zeppelin drummer.John Henry Bonham (31 May 1948 – 25 September 1980) was an English musician and songwriter,... more on Wikipedia15
705364Eazy-E
Hip hop music, Old-school hip hopAlbums: Eazy-Duz-It, Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton
Died at 31 (1963-1995)Eric Lynn Wright (September 7, 1964 – March 26, 1995), known professionally as Eazy-E, was an... more on Wikipedia16
596371Ronnie Van Zant
Rock music, Southern rockDied at 29 (1948-1977)Ronald Wayne Van Zant (January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977) was an American musician, known as... more on Wikipedia17
693462Patsy Cline
Rock music, Swing musicAlbums: Patsy Cline, Patsy Cline Showcase, Sentimentally Yours
Died at 30 (1932-1963)Patsy Cline (born Virginia Patterson Hensley; September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an... more on Wikipedia18
819424Selena
Mexican cumbia, Pop musicAlbums: Selena, Ven Conmigo, Entre a Mi Mundo, Amor Prohibido, Dreaming of You
Died at 23 (1971-1995)Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995) was an American singer, songwriter,... more on Wikipedia19
493346Bon Scott
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: The Early Years 1967-1972, With the Spektors and the Valentines, Round and Round: The Forgotten Years, Round and Round and Round, Seasons of Change Raven/RCA 1971-72 (disc 2)
Died at 33 (1946-1980)Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott (9 July 1946 – 19 February 1980) was an Australian singer,... more on Wikipedia20
476235Mac 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
Malcolm James McCormick (January 19, 1992 – September 7, 2018), known professionally as Mac... more on Wikipedia21
653415Sam Cooke
Pop music, Rhythm and bluesAlbums: Songs by Sam Cooke, Twistin' the Night Away, Encore, Swing Low, Cooke's Tour
Died at 33 (1931-1964)Samuel Cook (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), known professionally as Sam Cooke, was an... more on Wikipedia22
483378Frédéric Chopin
Romantic music, Art songAlbums: Complete Edition, Classical Anthology, Chopin: Complete Works, The Mazurkas, Spectacular Classics
Died at 39 (1849-1810)Frédéric François Chopin (, also UK: , US: , French: [ʃɔpɛ̃], Polish: [ˈʂɔpɛn]; 1 March 1810 –... more on Wikipedia23
1,016671XXXTentacion
Rock Hip Hop EmoAlbums: 17,revenge,?
Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, better known by his stage name XXXTentacion, was an American rapper,... more on WikipediaJahseh Onfroy was a musican artist who began their c
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Gustav Åhr, known by his stage name Lil Peep, is an American rapper and singer. He was cited... more on Wikipedia519361Lil Peep
Emo rap, alternative R&B25
569431Jim Croce
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: Facets, Jim & Ingrid Croce, You Don't Mess Around with Jim, Life and Times, I Got a Name
Died at 30 (1943-1973)James Joseph Croce (; January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973) was an American folk and rock... more on Wikipedia
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