Notable Musicians and Celebrities Who Died in 2023

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We say goodbye and celebrate the lives of the legendary musicians and celebrities who’ve passed away in 2023.

Here’s our list of significant people who’ve contributed to our favorite entertainment:

Laura Lynch
Nov. 18th, 1958 – Dec. 22nd, 2023 (Aged 65)
Co-founding member of Dixie Chicks (Obituary)

Rudolph Isley
Apr. 1st, 1939 – Oct. 11th, 2023 (Aged 84)
The Isley Brothers’ co-founding member (Obituary)

Matthew Perry
Aug. 19th, 1969 – Oct. 28th, 2023 (Aged 54)
Star of Friends (Obituary)

Tina Turner
Nov. 26th, 1939 – May 24th, 2023 (Aged 83)
The singer and actress known as the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll (Obituary)

Tommy Smothers
Feb. 2nd, 1937 – Dec. 26th, 2023 (Aged 86)
One-half of the legendary comedy folk dup The Smothers Brothers

John Cutler
1950 – Dec. 24th, 2023 (Aged 73)
Longtime Grateful Dead sound tech, producer, and archivist

Jimmy Buffett
Dec. 25th, 1946 – Sept. 1, 2023 (Aged 76)
Easy-going music icon and founder of Margaritaville (Obituary)

Gary Young
May 3rd, 1953 – Aug. 17th, 2023 (Aged 70)
Original drummer of Pavement (Obituary)

Bobbie Jean Carter
Jan. 12th, 1982 – Dec. 23rd, 2023 (Aged 41)
Sister of Nick and Aaron Carter (Obituary)

Amp Fiddler
May 1958 – Dec. 17th, 2023 (Aged 65)
George Clinton’s Parliament and Funkadelic keyboardist and funk pioneer (Obituary)

Jim Ladd
1948 – Dec. 16th, 2023 (Aged 75)
Influential rock radio DJ

Manny Martinez
1954 – Dec. 2023 (Aged 69)
Early drummer of Misfits (Obituary)

Andre Braugher
Jul. 1st, 1962 – Dec. 11th, 2023 (Aged 61)
Star of Homicide and Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Obituary)

Jeffrey Foskett
Feb. 17th, 1956 – Dec. 11th, 2023 (Aged 67)
Longtime Beach Boys collaborator

Denny Laine
Oct. 29th, 1944 – Dec. 5th, 2023 (Aged 79)
Co-founder of Wings and The Moody Blues (Obituary)

Shane MacGowan
Dec. 25th, 1957 – Nov. 30th, 2023 (Aged 65)
Singer of The Pogues (Obituary)

Scott Kempner
Feb. 6th, 1954 – Nov. 29th, 2023 (Aged 69)
Co-founding member of The Dictators and The Del-Lords (Obituary)

Geordie Walker
Dec. 18th, 1958 – Nov. 26th, 2023 (Aged 64)
Guitarist of Killing Joke (Obituary)

George Brown
1949 – Nov. 16th, 2023 (Aged 74)
Co-founding member and drummer of Kool & the Gang (Obituary)

Charlie Dominici
Jun. 16th, 1951 – Nov. 2023 (Aged 72)
Former singer of Dream Theater (Obituary)

Dex Carvey
1991 – Nov. 15th, 2023 (Aged 32)
Comedian and son of Dana Carvey (Obituary)

Lee Sun-kyun
Mar. 2nd, 1975 – Dec. 27th, 2023 (Aged 48)
South Korean actor who starred in Parasite (Obituary)

Richard Moll
Jan. 13th, 1943 – Oct. 26th, 2023 (Aged 80)
Actor who played “Bull” on Night Court (Obituary)

Richard Roundtree
Jul. 9th, 1942 – Oct. 24th, 2023
Star of the Shaft movie franchise (Obituary)

Angelo Bruschini
1960/1961 – Oct. 23rd, 2023 (Age 62)
Massive Attack’s longtime touring guitarist (Obituary)

DJ Mark the 45 King
Oct. 16th, 1961 – Oct. 19th, 2023 (Aged 62)
Hip-hop producer who worked with Eminem, JAY-Z, and Queen Latifah (Obituary)

Suzanne Somers
Oct. 16th, 1945 – Oct. 15th, 2023 (Aged 76)
Star of Three’s Company and Step by Step (Obituary)

Michael Gambon
Oct. 19th, 1940 – Sept. 27th, 2023 (Aged 82)
Irish actor who played Albus Dumbledore in several Harry Potter movies (Obituary)

Terry Kirkman
Dec. 12th, 1939 – Sept. 23rd, 2023 (Aged 83)
Singer of vocal pop group The Association

Kent Stax
1962 – Sept. 20th, 2023 (Aged 61)
Original drummer of DC hardcore band Scream (Obituary)

Steve Harwell
Jan. 9th, 1967 – Sept. 4th, 2023 (Aged 56)
Smash Mouth singer (Obituary)

Gary Wright
Apr. 26th, 1943 – Sept. 4th, 2023 (Aged 80)
“Dream Weaver” singer and George Harrison collaborator (Obituary)

Brian McBride
1970 – Aug. 2023 (Aged 53)
One-half of the influential ambient music duo Stars of the Lid

Bob Barker
Dec. 12th, 1923 – Aug. 26th, 2023 (Aged 99)
Longtime host of The Price is Right (Obituary)

Ron Cephas Jones
Jan. 8th, 1957 – Aug. 19th, 2023 (Aged 66)
Emmy Award-winning actor known for his work on This Is Us (Obituary)

Magoo
1973 – Aug. 13th, 2023 (Aged 50)
One-half of rap duo Timbaland and Magoo (Obituary)

Clarence Avant
Feb. 25th, 1931 – Aug. 13th, 2023 (Aged 92)
Trailblazing record executive known as the “Godfather of Black Music” (Obituary)

Robbie Robertson
Jul. 5th, 1943 – Aug. 9th, 2023 (Aged 80)
Guitarist and vocalist of The Band (Obituary)

Johnny Hardwick
Sept. 21st, 1963 – Aug. 8th, 2023 (Aged 59)
Voice of Dale Gribble on King of the Hill (Obituary)

Jamie Reid
Jan. 16th, 1947 – Aug. 8th, 2023 (Aged 76)
Artist responsible for Sex Pistols’ album and singles artwork (Obituary)

DJ Casper
May 31st, 1965 – Aug. 7th, 2023 (Aged 58)
Chicago DJ who created “Cha Cha Slide” (Obituary)

William Friedkin
Aug. 29th, 1935 – Aug. 7th, 2023 (Aged 87)
Director of The Exorcist and The French Connection (Obituary)

John Gosling
Feb. 6th, 1948 – Aug. 4th, 2023 (Aged 75)
Pianist of The Kinks

Mark Margolis
Nov. 26th, 1939 – Aug. 3rd, 2023 (Aged 83)
Actor from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul (Obituary)

Angus Cloud
Jul. 10th, 1998 – Jul. 31st, 2023 (Aged 25)
Co-star of Euphoria (Obituary)

Paul Reubens 
Aug. 27th, 1952 – Jul. 30th, 2023 (Aged 70)
Pee-wee Herman actor (Obituary)

Randy Meisner
Mar. 8th, 1946 – Jul. 26th, 2023 (Aged 77)
Founding bassist of The Eagles (Obituary)

Sinead O’Connor
Dec. 8th, 1966 – Jul. 26th, 2023 (Aged 56)
Renowned Irish singer-songwriter (Obituary)

Brad Houser
Sept. 7th, 1960 – Jul. 24th, 2023 (Aged 62)
Bassist of Edie Brickell and New Bohemians (Obituary)

Neal Langford
1971 – Jul. 21st, 2023 (Aged 50)
Former bassist of The Shins (Obituary)

Tony Bennett
Aug. 3rd, 1926 – Jul. 21st, 2023 (Aged 96)
Legendary voice of American standards (Obituary)

Jane Birkin
Dec. 14th, 1946 – Jul. 16th, 2023 (Aged 76)
British-French actress, singer, and style icon who inspired the eponymous Hermès Birkin handbang (Obituary)

Leonado De Niro Rodriguez
Jun. 25th, 2004 – Jul. 3rd, 2023 (Aged 19)
Actor and grandson of Robert De Niro (Obituary)

Rick Froberg
Jan. 19th, 1968 – Jun. 30th, 2023 (Aged 55)
Vocalist and guitarist of Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, and Obits (Obituary)

Alan Arkin
Mar. 26th, 1934 – Jun. 29th, 2023 (Aged 89)
Academy Award-winning actor known for films including Little Miss SunshineArgoCatch-22, and Glengarry Glen Ross (Obituary)

Monte Cazazza
Jan. 23rd, 1949 – Jun. 27th, 2023 (Aged 74)
Artist and musician who coined the term “industrial” to describe aggressive electronic rock music (Obituary)

Lee Rauch
Sept. 10th, 1964 – Jun. 23rd, 2023 (Aged 58)
Early drummer of Megadeth (Obituary)

Ryan Siew
1997 – Jun. 19th, 2023 (Aged 26)
Guitarist for metalcore band Polaris (Obituary)

Teresa Taylor
Nov. 10th, 1962 – Jun. 18th, 2023
Former Butthole Surfers drummer (Obituary)

Blackie Onassis
1966 – 2023 (Aged 57)
Drummer for alt-rock act Urge Overkill during their ’90s heyday (Obituary)

Cormac McCarthy
Jul. 20th, 1993 – Jun. 13th, 2023 (Aged 89)
Pulitzer Prize-winning author known for writing No Country for Old Men, Blood Meridian, and The Road (Obituary)

Treat Williams
Dec. 1st, 1951 – Jun. 12th, 2023 (Aged 71)
Actor known for films including Hair and Prince of the City (Obituary)

Astrud Gilberto
Mar. 29th, 1940 – Jun. 5th, 2023 (Aged 83)
Brazilian singer best known for her version of the bossa nova classic “The Girl from Ipanema” (Obituary)

Cynthia Weil
Oct. 18th, 1940 – Jun. 1st, 2023 (Aged 82)
Brill Building songwriter who along with her husband Barry Mann co-wrote songs like “You Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” “Make Your Own Kind of Music,” and “Here You Come Again” (Obituary)

Kirk Arrington
1962 – May 22nd, 2023 (Aged 61)
Longtime drummer of Metal Church (Obituary)

Ray Stevenson
May 25th, 1964 – May 21st, 2023 (Aged 58)
Northern Irish actor known for his roles in ThorDexterRRR, and The Three Musketeers (Obituary)

Andy Rourke
Jan. 17th, 1964 – May 19th, 2023 (Aged 59)
Co-founding member and bassist of The Smiths (Obituary)

Algy Ward
Jul. 11th, 1959 – May 17th, 2023 (Aged 63)
Founding frontman of cult British heavy metal band Tank and one-time member of The Damned (Obituary)

Frank Kozik
Jan. 9th, 1962 – May 6th, 2023 (Aged 61)
An acclaimed artist who designed posters and album covers for a number of bands (Obituary)

Jordan Blake
Jun. 20th, 1986 – May, 2nd 2023 (Aged 37)
Original vocalist of post-hardcore outfit A Skylight Drive (Obituary)

Gordon Lightfoot
Nov. 17th, 1938 – May 1st, 2023 (Aged 84)
Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter (Obituary)

Tim Bachman
Aug. 1st, 1951 – Apr. 28th, 2023 (Aged 71)
Co-founding guitarist and co-vocalist of Bachman-Turner Overdrive (Obituary)

Jerry Springer
Feb. 13th, 1944 – Apr. 27th, 2023 (Aged 79)
Host of the tabloid talk show Jerry Springer (Obituary)

Harry Belafonte
Mar. 1st, 1927 – Apr. 25th, 2023 (Aged 96)
Pioneering singer, actor, and Civil Rights leader (Obituary)

Mark Stewart
Aug. 10th, 1960 – Apr. 21st, 2023 (Aged 62)
Co-founder and singer of the UK post-punk act The Pop Group (Obituary)

Ahmad Jamal
Jul. 2nd, 1930 – Apr. 16th, 2023 (Aged 92)
An architect of modern jazz (Obituary)

Mark Sheehan
Oct. 29th, 1976 – Apr. 14th, 2023 (Aged 46)
Co-founding guitarist of Irish rock band The Script (Obituary)

Ian Bairnson
Aug. 3rd, 1953 – Apr. 7th, 2023 (Aged 69)
Guitarist on Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights” and member of The Alan Parsons Project (Obituary)

John Regan
Oct. 28th, 1951 – Apr. 7th, 2023 (Aged 71)
Bassist for Peter Frampton and Ace Frehley (Obituary)

Paul Cattermole
Mar. 7th, 1977 – Apr. 6th, 2023 (Aged 46)
British pop singer and member of S Club 7 (Obituary)

Vivian Trimble
May 24th, 1962 – Apr. 4th, 2023 (Aged 59)
Co-founding member and keyboardist of Luscious Jackson (Obituary)

Seymour Stein
Apr. 18th, 1942 – Apr. 2nd, 2023 (Aged 80)
Sire Records co-founder who signed Madonna and Talking Heads (Obituary)

Ray Shulman
Dec. 9th, 1949 – Mar. 30th, 2023 (Aged 73)
Co-founding member of Gentle Giant (Obituary)

Brian “Brizz” Gillis
1976 – Mar. 29th, 2023 (Aged 47)
Co-founding member of LFO (Obituary)

Ryuichi Sakamoto
Jan. 17th, 1952 – Mar. 28th, 2023 (Aged 71)
Pioneering music composer, producer, and co-founding member of Yellow Magic Orchestra (Obituary)

Tom Leadon
Sept. 16th, 1952 – Mar. 22nd, 2023 (Aged 70)
Co-founding member of Mudcrutch (Obituary)

Wayne Swinny
1963 – Mar. 22nd, 2023 (Aged 59)
Guitarist and co-founding member of Saliva (Obituary)

Lance Reddick
Jun. 7th, 1962 – Mar. 17th, 2023 (Aged 60)
Actor from The Wire and John Wick (Obituary)

Clarence “Fuzzy” Haskins
Jun. 8th, 1941 – Mar. 17th, 2023 (Aged 81)
Founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic

Bobby Caldwell
Aug. 15th, 1951 – Mar. 14th, 2023 (Aged 71)
“What You Won’t Do For Love” Singer (Obituary)

 

Jim Gordon

Jul. 14th, 1945 – Mar. 13th, 2023 (Aged 77)
Legendary session drummer and member of Derek and the Dominos (Obituary)

Jim Durkin
Feb. 7th, 1965 – Mar. 8th, 2023 (Aged 58)
Co-founding member and guitarist of Dark Angel (Obituary)

Gary Rossington
Dec. 4th, 1951 – Mar. 5th, 2023 (Aged 71)
Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist and founding member (Obituary)

Glen “SPOT” Lockett
Jul. 1st, 1951 – Mar. 4th, 2023 (Aged 72)
Influential producer and engineer for punk record label SST Records (Obituary)

Wayne Shorter
Aug. 25th, 1933 – Mar. 2nd, 2023 (Aged 89)
Legendary saxophonist and member of Miles Davis’ quintet (Obituary)

Steve Mackey
Nov. 10th, 1966 – Mar. 2nd, 2023 (Aged 56)
Bassist and member of Pulp (Obituary)

Dorian Zev Kweller
May 26th, 2006 – Feb. 27th, 2023 (Aged 16)
Musician and son of Ben Kweller (Obituary)

Tim Aymar
Sept, 4th, 1963 – Feb. 14th, 2023 (Aged 59)
Singer of Pharaoh and Control Denied (Obituary)

Leiji Matsumoto
Jan. 25th, 1938 – Feb. 13th, 2023 (Aged 85)
Manga artist and Daft Punk collaborator (Obituary)

Trugoy the Dove
Sept. 21st, 1968 – Feb. 12th, 2023 (Aged 54)
Rapper and co-founding member of De La Soul (Obituary)

Burt Bacharach
May 12th, 1928 – Feb. 8th, 2023 (Aged 94)
Acclaimed songwriter and modern pop architect (Obituary)

Charlie Thomas
Apr. 7th, 1937 – Jan. 31st, 2023 (Aged 85)
Singer and member of The Drifters (Obituary)

Tom Verlaine
Dec. 13th, 1949 – Jan. 28th, 2023 (Aged 73)
Frontman, guitarist, and songwriter of Television (Obituary)

Lisa Loring
Feb. 16th 1958 – Jan. 28th, 2023 (Aged 64)
Actress who played Wednesday Addams on the original Addams Family TV series (Obituary)

Barrett Strong
Feb. 5th, 1941 – Jan. 28th, 2023 (Aged 81)
Motown singer-songwriter (Obituary)

Cindy Williams
Aug. 22nd, 1947 – Jan. 25th, 2023 (Aged 75)
Star of Laverne & ShirleyAmericana Graffiti, and The Conversation (Obituary)

David Crosby
Aug. 14th, 1941 – Jan. 18th, 2023 (Aged 81)
Legendary songwriter and member of The Byrds and Crosby Stills Nash & Young (Obituary)

Van Conner
Mar. 17th, 1967 – Jan. 17th, 2023 (Aged 55)
Co-founding member and bassist of Screaming Trees (Obituary)

Lisa Marie Presley
Feb. 1st, 1968 – Jan. 12th, 2023 (Aged 54)
Singer, actress, and only daughter of Elvis Presley (Obituary)

Robbie Bachman
Feb. 18th, 1953 – Jan. 12th, 2023 (Aged 69)
Co-founding member and drummer of Bachman-Turner Overdrive (Obituary)

Yukihiro Takahashi
Jun. 6th, 1952 – Jan. 11th, 2023 (Aged 70)
Co-founding member, drummer, and lead vocalist of Yellow Magic Orchestra (Obituary)

Jeff Beck
Jun. 24th, 1944 – Jan. 10th, 2023 (Aged 78)
Guitar virtuoso and member of the Yardbirds and The Jeff Beck Group (Obituary)

Melinda Dillion
Oct. 13th, 1939 – Jan. 9th, 2023 (Aged 83)
Star of A Christmas Story and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Obituary)

Fred White
Jan. 13th, 1955 – Jan. 1st, 2023 (Aged 67)
Early member and drummer of Earth Wind & Fire (Obituary)

Gangsta Boo
Aug. 7th, 1979 – Jan. 1st, 2023 (Aged 43)
Memphis rapper and one-time member of Three 6 Mafia (Obituary)

 

Editorial credit to Consequence providing majority information:

 

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