Since 2016, I have been curating Spotify playlists consisting of songs by artists who have passed away this year. It makes for a very interesting and eclectic playlist, because it will contain oldies rock from musicians who’ve naturally passed away from old age, fresh hip-hop from rappers who’ve been shot, and every particular genre and decade.
Some notable losses in 2021 include Gerry & The Pacemakers’ Gerry Marsden, Vanilla Fudge’s bassist Tim Bogert, and 1950’s crooner Jimmie Rodgers.
The musicians are listed in descending order (most recent to die) here and in ascending order on the Spotify playlist (to listen to the year’s musicians in order).
January 2021
[21 Jan 2021] Randy Parton (American country singer, brother of Dolly Parton), 67, cancer
[18 Jan 2021] Jimmie Rodgers (American singer), 87, kidney disease and COVID–19
[13 Jan 2021] Tim Bogert (American bassist with Beck, Bogert, Appice and Vanilla Fudge), 76, cancer
[11 Jan 2021] Mark Keds (British vocalist for Senseless Things), 50
[08 Jan 2021] Ed Bruce (American country singer/songwriter), 81
[08 Jan 2021] Michael Fonfara (Canadian keyboardist with The Electric Flag, Rhinocerous, Lou Reed, and Downchild Blues Band), 74, cancer
[07 Jan 2021] Jamie O’Hara (American country singer with The O’Kanes), 70, cancer
[04 Jan 2021] Alexi Laiho (Finnish guitarist with Children of Bodom), 41
[03 Jan 2021] Gerry Marsden (English singer with Gerry & The Pacemakers), 78
