2019 in music explained
This topic covers notable events and articles related to 2019 in music.
Specific locations
Specific genres
Albums released
See main article: article and List of 2019 albums.
Bands formed
Soloist debuts
Bands reformed
Bands on hiatus
Bands disbanded
Deaths
January
- 1
- Shane Bisnett, 31, American metalcore bassist (Ice Nine Kills)
- Feis Ecktuh, 32, Dutch rapper
- Joan Guinjoan, 87, Spanish composer and pianist
- Kris Kelmi, 63, Russian rock singer and keyboardist
- Pegi Young, 66, American folk rock singer-songwriter and guitarist
- 2 – Daryl Dragon, 76, American pop keyboardist and songwriter (Captain & Tennille, The Beach Boys)
- 3 – Steve Ripley, 69, American country rock singer-songwriter and guitarist (The Tractors)
- 5
- 7
- 9 – Joseph Jarman, 81, American jazz saxophonist (Art Ensemble of Chicago)
- 10
- 12 – Sanger D. Shafer, 84, American country singer-songwriter
- 13
- 15 – Carol Channing, 97, American Broadway and film musicals singer
- 16
- 17
- Debi Martini, American punk rock singer and bassist (Red Aunts)
- Ron Watson, 62, Canadian rock guitarist (Helix)
- Reggie Young, 82, American rock guitarist (The Memphis Boys)
- 19 – Ted McKenna, 68, Scottish glam rock drummer (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band)
- 21
- 23 – Oliver Mtukudzi, 66, Zimbabwean afro-jazz guitarist
- 25
- 26
- 27 – Pepe Smith, 71, Filipino rock singer and guitarist (Juan de la Cruz Band, Speed, Glue & Shinki, Asin)
- 28 – Paul Whaley, 72, American psychedelic rock drummer (Blue Cheer, The Oxford Circle)
- 29 – James Ingram, 66, American R&B singer-songwriter
- 31 – Harold Bradley, 93, American country guitarist
February
- 1
- 2 – Tim Landers, American emo guitarist and singer (Transit, Misser)
- 3
- 5 – Eddy Giles, 80, American R&B and blues singer-songwriter
- 6 – Gerald English, 93, British opera singer
- 9
- 11
- 13 – Willy Lambregt, 59, Belgian rock guitarist (The Scabs, Vaya Con Dios)
- 15 – Kofi Burbridge, 57, American jam band keyboardist and flautist (Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Derek Trucks Band, Aquarium Rescue Unit)
- 16
- 17 – Ethel Ennis, 86, American jazz singer
- 19 – Artie Wayne, 77, American pop singer, songwriter and producer
- 20
- 21
- 23 – Dorothy Masuka, 83, Zimbabwean-born South African jazz singer-songwriter
- 24 – Mac Wiseman, 93, American bluegrass singer and guitarist (Foggy Mountain Boys)
- 25 – Mark Hollis, 64, British new wave and post-rock singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (Talk Talk)
- 26 – Andy Anderson, 68, British new wave drummer (The Cure, The Glove, Hawkwind)
- 27 – Doug Sandom, 89, British rock drummer (The Who)
- 28
- Stephan Ellis, 69, American rock bassist (Survivor)
- André Previn, 89, German-born American jazz and classical pianist, conductor and composer
March
- 1 – Paul Williams, 78, British rock and blues singer (Zoot Money's Big Roll Band, Juicy Lucy, Tempest, Allan Holdsworth)
- 2 – Al Hazan, 84, American pianist (B. Bumble and the Stingers), songwriter and record producer
- 3 – Leo de Castro, 70, New Zealand funk and soul singer and guitarist
- 4
- 5 – Jacques Loussier, 84, French jazz pianist and film score composer (Jacques Loussier Trio)
- 6
- James Dapogny, 78, American jazz pianist and musicologist
- Mike Grose, 77, British rock bassist (Queen)
- Charlie Panigoniak, 72, Canadian Inuk folk singer-songwriter
- 8 – Eddie Taylor Jr., 46, American blues singer and guitarist
- 10 – Asa Brebner, 65, American power pop singer, songwriter and guitarist (The Modern Lovers, Robin Lane & The Chartbusters)
- 11
- 12 – John Kilzer, 62, American rock singer-songwriter
- 16
- 17
- Wolfgang Meyer, 64, German classical clarinetist
- Bernie Tormé, 66, Irish guitarist (Gillan, Guy McCoy Tormé, Atomic Rooster, Desperado)
- Yuya Uchida, 79, Japanese rock musician (Flower Travellin' Band)
- Andre Williams, 82, American R&B singer
- 20 – Terje Nilsen, 67, Norwegian pop singer-songwriter
- 21 – Doris Duke, 77, American gospel and soul singer
- 22 – Scott Walker, 76, American-born British pop and avant garde singer-songwriter (The Walker Brothers)
- 23 – Shahnaz Rahmatullah, 66, Bangladeshi playback singer
- 25 – Bill Isles, 78, American R&B singer (The O'Jays)
- 26 – Ranking Roger, 56, British ska and new wave singer (The Beat, General Public)
- 27
- Stephen Fitzpatrick, 24, British indie rock singer and guitarist (Her's)
- Audun Laading, 25, Norwegian indie rock bassist (Her's)
- 30
- 31 – Nipsey Hussle, 33, American rapper
April
- 1 – Armando Vega Gil, 64, Mexican rock bassist (Botellita de Jerez)
- 2
- 3 - Shawn Smith, 53, American alternative rock singer and keyboardist (Brad, Satchel, Pigeonhed)
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 10 – Earl Thomas Conley, 77, American country singer-songwriter
- 12 – Johnny Hutchinson, 78, British rock and roll drummer (The Big Three)
- 13 – Paul Raymond, 73, British hard rock keyboardist (UFO, Savoy Brown, Chicken Shack)
- 15
- Les Reed, 83, British pop bandleader and songwriter
- Joe Terry, 78, American rock and roll singer (Danny & the Juniors)
- 18 – Eddie Tigner, 92, American blues singer and keyboardist
- 20 – Martin Böttcher, 91, German classical composer, arranger and conductor
- 22
- 23 – Earl Edwards, 82, American R&B singer and songwriter (The Dukays)
- 24 – Dick Rivers, 74, French rock and roll singer (Les Chats Sauvages)
- 26 – Phil McCormack, 58, American southern rock singer (Molly Hatchet)
- 30
May
- 2 – John Starling, 79, American bluegrass guitarist (The Seldom Scene)
- 3 – Mose Se Sengo, 73, Congolese jazz guitarist (TPOK Jazz)
- 4 – J. R. Cobb, 75, American rock guitarist and songwriter (Atlanta Rhythm Section, Classics IV)
- 6 – Pekka Airaksinen, 73, Finnish electronic composer
- 7 – Subir Nandi, 66, Bangladeshi playback singer
- 8
- 9
- 11 – Peggy Lipton, 72, American pop singer and actress
- 13 – Doris Day, 97, American pop singer and actress
- 14
- 15
- Chuck Barksdale, 84, American R&B singer (The Dells)
- Huelyn Duvall, 79, American rockabilly singer and guitarist
- 16 – Sol Yaged, 93, American jazz clarinetist
- 17 – Eric Moore, 67, American hard rock singer and bassist (The Godz)
- 18
- 19 – Alfred Janson, 82, Norwegian classical pianist and composer
- 21 – Jake Black, 59, British acid jazz singer and songwriter (Alabama 3)
- 28
- 29
- Tony Glover, 79, American blues singer and harmonica player (Koerner, Ray & Glover)
- Jeff Walls, 62, American jangle pop guitarist (Guadalcanal Diary)
- 30 – Leon Redbone, 69, Cypriot-American jazz and ragtime singer and guitarist
- 31 – Roky Erickson, 71, American psychedelic rock singer-songwriter (The 13th Floor Elevators)
June
- 2 – Paulo Pagni, 61, Brazilian rock drummer (RPM)
- 4 – Mikey Dees, American punk rock singer and guitarist (Fitz of Depression)
- 5 – Brian Doherty, 51, American alternative rock guitarist (Big Wreck)
- 6 – Dr. John, 77, American R&B and jazz singer-songwriter and keyboardist
- 8 – Andre Matos, 47, Brazilian heavy metal singer (Viper, Angra, Shaman)
- 9
- 10
- Chuck Glaser, 83, American country singer (Tompall & the Glaser Brothers)
- Paul "Lil' Buck" Sinegal, 75, American blues and zydeco guitarist
- 13 - Nature Ganganbaigal, 29, Chinese folk metal guitarist and multi-instrumentalist (Tengger Cavalry)
- 16
- 19 – Philippe Zdar, 52, French house musician and producer (Cassius)
- 21 – Kelly Jay Fordham, 77, Canadian rock singer-songwriter and keyboardist (Crowbar)
- 23 – Dave Bartholomew, 100, American R&B and rock and roll trumpeter, composer and bandleader
- 24 – Jeff Austin, 45, American bluegrass singer and mandolinist (Yonder Mountain String Band)
- 27
- 29 – Gary Duncan, 72, American psychedelic rock guitarist (Quicksilver Messenger Service)
July
- 1
- 2
- Ibrahim Emin, 56, Azerbaijani heavy metal bassist (Yukhu)
- Dante Rossi, 77, American garage rock guitarist and singer (The Baskerville Hounds)
- 6
- 9 – Aaron Rosand, 92, American classical violinist
- 10 – Jerry Lawson, 75, American a cappella singer (The Persuasions)
- 12
- 16
- 18 – Bob Frank, 75, American folk singer-songwriter
- 19 – Yao Lee, 96, Chinese pop singer
- 21 – Ben Johnston, 93, American microtonal composer
- 22
- 25 – Anner Bylsma, 85, Dutch classical cellist
- 26 – Cacik Jonne, 54, Brazilian axé guitarist and composer (Chiclete com Banana)
- 29 – Ras G, 39, American instrumental hip-hop producer
- 30 – Lol Mason, 69, English progressive rock singer (City Boy, The Maisonettes)
- 31 - Nigel Benjamin, 64, British rock singer (Mott, London)
August
- 1
- 3
- 4 – Bob Wilber, 91, American jazz clarinetist
- 5 – Lizzie Grey, 60, American glam metal guitarist (Spiders & Snakes, London)
- 6 – Danny Doyle, 79, Irish folk singer
- 7
- 11 – Jim Cullum Jr., 77, American jazz cornetist
- 12 – DJ Arafat, 33, Ivorian Coupé-Décalé singer and disk jockey
- 19 – Larry Taylor, 77, American bass guitarist (Canned Heat)
- 21 – Celso Piña, 66, Mexican cumbia singer and accordionist
- 26 – Neal Casal, 50, American rock guitarist (Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Blackfoot)
- 27 – Donnie Fritts, 76, American country keyboardist and songwriter
- 28 – Nancy Holloway, 86, American jazz and pop singer
- 29 – Jimmy Pitman, 72, American rock singer, songwriter and guitarist (Strawberry Alarm Clock)
September
- 2 – Laurent Sinclar, 58, French new wave keyboardist (Taxi Girl)
- 4 – Dan Warner, 49, American Latin pop guitarist
- 5 – Jimmy Johnson, 76, American rock and soul guitarist (Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section)
- 7 – Camilo Sesto, 72, Spanish pop singer
- 9
- 10
- 13 – Eddie Money, 70, American pop rock singer
- 15
- Roberto Leal, 67, Portuguese-Brazilian pop singer
- Ric Ocasek, 75, American new wave singer-songwriter and guitarist (The Cars)
- Mick Schauer, 46, American stoner rock keyboardist (Clutch)
- 16
- 17 – Alexandr Vasilyev, Russian new wave drummer (Center)
- 18 – Tony Mills, 57, British hard rock singer (Shy, TNT)
- 19
- Sandie Jones, 68, Irish pop singer
- Harold Mabern, 83, American jazz pianist
- María Rivas, 59, Venezuelan Latin jazz singer
- Yonrico Scott, 63, American rock and blues drummer (The Derek Trucks Band)
- Larry Wallis, 70, British rock guitarist (Pink Fairies, Motörhead)
- 21
- 23
- 26
- 28
- 29
- busbee, 43, American country and pop songwriter and producer
- Larry Willis, 78, American jazz pianist (Blood, Sweat & Tears)
- 30
October
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5 – Larry Junstrom, 70, American Southern rock bassist (.38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd)
- 6
- 8 – Molly Duncan, 74, British funk saxophonist (Average White Band)
- 11 – Kadri Gopalnath, 69, Indian classical and jazz saxophonist
- 12
- 13 – Steve Cash, 73, American Southern rock singer (Ozark Mountain Daredevils)
- 14 – Sulli, 25, Korean pop singer (f(x))
- 15 – Cacho Castaña, 77, Argentine bolero singer and actor
- 17 – Ray Santos, 90, American Latin pop saxophonist
- 21 – Peter Hobbs, 58, Australian thrash metal guitarist and singer (Hobbs' Angel of Death)
- 22
- 25 – Joe Sun, 76, American country singer
- 26 – Paul Barrere, 71, American Southern rock guitarist (Little Feat)
- 31 – Kendra Malia, 37, American witch house singer (White Ring)
November
- 2 – Marie Laforêt, 80, French-Swiss pop singer
- 4
- 5 – Jan Erik Kongshaug, 75, Norwegian jazz guitarist
- 7
- 8
- 9 – Taiwo Lijadu, 71, Nigerian Afrobeat singer (Lijadu Sisters)
- 10 – Jan Byrczek, 83, Polish jazz bassist
- 11 – Bad Azz, 43, American rapper
- 16 – Éric Morena, 68, French pop singer
- 19
- 20
- 21
- Donna Carson, 73, American folk singer (Hedge and Donna)
- Farris Lanier Jr., 70, American R&B-soul-funk singer (Lanier & Co.)
- 22 – Eduardo Nascimento, 76, Angolan pop singer
- 24
- 25 – Iain Sutherland, 71, British folk singer and guitarist (The Sutherland Brothers)
- 27 – Martin Armiger, 70, Australian new wave singer and guitarist (The Sports)
- 28 – Padú del Caribe, 99, Aruban waltz songwriter
- 29 – Irving Burgie, 95, American calypso songwriter
- 30 – Howard "Sparky" Childress, 76, American rock and roll guitarist (The Sparkletones)
December
- 1 – Stuart Fraser, Australian hard rock guitarist (Noiseworks)
- 2
- 3 – Shaaban Abdel Rahim, 62, Egyptian sha'abi singer
- 4 – Rosa Morena, 78, Spanish flamenco pop singer
- 5 – Jerry Naylor, 80, American rock and roll musician (The Crickets)
- 7
- 8 – Juice Wrld, 21, American rapper
- 9 – Marie Fredriksson, 61, Swedish pop rock singer (Roxette)
- 10 – Gershon Kingsley, 97, German-born American electronic composer and synthesizer player
- 12 – Jack Scott, 83, Canadian rock and roll singer
- 13
- 14 – Irv Williams, 100, American jazz saxophonist
- 15 - Monique Leyrac, 91, Canadian pop singer
- 18
- Patxi Andión, 72, Spanish pop singer-songwriter
- Alain Barrière, 84, French chanson singer
- Kenny Lynch, 81, British pop singer
- Arty McGlynn, 75, Irish folk guitarist (Patrick Street)
- Abbey Simon, 99, American classical pianist
- 22 – Ubirajara Penacho dos Reis, 85, Brazilian jazz bassist
- 24
- 25
- 26 – Sleepy LaBeef, 84, American rockabilly singer and guitarist
- 27
- Don Imus, 79, American recording artist
- Garrett List, 76, American jazz trombonist and singer
- Jack Sheldon, 75, American jazz and children's music singer and trumpeter
- Art Sullivan, 69, Belgian pop singer
- 28
- 29
Musical films
See also
