This topic covers notable events and articles related to 2017 in music.
Specific locations
Specific genres
Albums released
Awards
Bands formed
Soloist debuts
Bands reformed
Bands on hiatus
Bands disbanded
Deaths
January
- 1 â Memo Morales (79), Venezuelan rumba singer
- 2 â Auriel Andrew (69), Indigenous Australian country singer
- 4 â Bade Fateh Ali Khan (82), Pakistani classical music and Khyal singer
- 6 â Sylvester Potts (78), American R&B singer (the Contours)
- 7 â Jerzy Kossela (74), Polish rock guitarist (Czerwone Gitary)
- 8 â Peter Sarstedt (75), British folk pop singer
- 10 â Buddy Greco (90), American jazz singer and pianist
- 11 â Tommy Allsup (83), American rock and roll guitarist
- 13
- Horacio Guarany (91), Argentine folklore singer
- Richie Ingui (69), American soul singer (Soul Survivors)
- 14 â John Boudreaux (80), American jazz and soul drummer
- 15 â Greg Trooper (61), American alternative country singer and songwriter
- 16
- William Onyeabor (70), Nigerian funk singer-songwriter
- Steve Wright (66), American power pop bassist and songwriter (The Greg Kihn Band)
- 18 â Mike Kellie (69), British psychedelic rock and power pop drummer (Spooky Tooth, The Only Ones)
- 19 â Loalwa Braz (63), Brazilian pop and lambada singer (Kaoma)
- 20
- Ronald "Bingo" Mundy (76), American singer (The Marcels)
- Joey Powers (82), American pop singer
- Tommy Tate (71), American soul singer
- 21
- Karl Hendricks (46), American alternative rock singer (The Karl Hendricks Trio)
- Walter "Junie" Morrison (62), American funk keyboardist (The Ohio Players, Parliament-Funkadelic)
- Maggie Roche (65), American folk singer (The Roches)
- 22
- Jaki Liebezeit (78), German experimental rock drummer (Can)
- Pete Overend Watts (69), British glam rock bassist and singer (Mott the Hoople, British Lions)
- 23 â Bobby Freeman (76), American pop and R&B singer
- 24
- Gil Ray (60), American power pop drummer (Game Theory, The Loud Family)
- Butch Trucks (69), American rock drummer (The Allman Brothers Band, Les Brers)
- 25 â Ronnie Davis (66), Jamaican reggae singer (The Tennors, The Itals)
- 27 â Stan Boreson (91), American comedian, accordionist and singer
- 28
- Guitar Gable (79), American blues singer and guitarist
- Geoff Nicholls (68), British rock musician and keyboardist (Black Sabbath, Quartz)
- Alexander Tikhanovich (64), Belarusian pop singer (Verasy)
- 29 â Elkin RamÃÂrez (54), Colombian hard rock singer (Kraken)
- 30 â James Laurence (27), American hip hop musician and producer (Friendzone) (death announced on this date)
- 31
- Deke Leonard (72), British progressive rock guitarist (Man)
- John Wetton (67), British progressive rock singer, bassist, and songwriter (Asia, King Crimson)
February
- 1 â Robert Dahlqvist (40), Swedish alternative rock guitarist and singer (The Hellacopters, Thunder Express, DundertÃÂ¥get)
- 4 â Steve Lang (67), Canadian rock bassist (April Wine)
- 5
- David Axelrod (85), American jazz musician and producer
- Sonny Geraci (70), American pop and rock singer (Climax, The Outsiders)
- 7 â Svend Asmussen (100), Danish jazz violinist
- 8
- Rina Matsuno (18), Japanese pop singer (Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku)
- Tony Särkkä (44), Swedish black metal multi-instrumentalist
- 11 â Jarmila Ã
 uláková (87), Czech folk singer
- 12
- Al Jarreau (76), American jazz singer
- Damian (52), British pop singer
- 13
- Trish Doan (31), American heavy metal bassist (Kittie) (death announced on this date)
- E-Dubble (34), American rapper
- 16 â Pericoma Okoye (81), Nigerian traditional music singer
- 17
- Peter Skellern (69), English easy listening singer-songwriter and pianist
- Dave Yorko (73), American rock and roll guitarist (Johnny and the Hurricanes)
- 18 â Clyde Stubblefield (73), American funk and soul drummer (James Brown, The J.B.'s)
- 19 â Larry Coryell (73), American jazz fusion guitarist
- 20 â Huang Feili (99), Chinese classical music conductor
- 23
- Horace Parlan (86), American jazz pianist
- Leon Ware (77), American funk singer and songwriter
- 25
- Rick Chavez, American progressive metal singer and guitarist (Drive)
- Toshio Nakanishi (61), Japanese new wave guitarist (Plastics)
- Bill Paxton (61), American new wave keyboardist (Martini Ranch) and actor
March
- 1 â Hiroshi Kamayatsu (78), Japanese rock singer (The Spiders, Vodka Collins)
- 2 â Gata Cattana (26), Spanish rapper
- 3
- Jim Fuller (69), American surf rock guitarist (The Surfaris)
- Lyle Ritz (87), American rock bassist and ukuleleist (The Wrecking Crew)
- Danny Spooner (80), British-born Australian folk singer
- 4
- Valerie Carter (64), American rock singer and songwriter
- Edi Fitzroy (61), Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer
- Tommy Page (46), American pop singer
- 6
- Ritchie Adams (78), American songwriter and singer (The Fireflies)
- Lars Diedricson (66), Swedish rock singer (Snowstorm)
- Alberto Zedda (89), Italian conductor and musicologist
- 7 â Kalika Prasad Bhattacharya (46), Indian folk singer
- 8
- Dave Valentin (64), American jazz flutist
- Wordsayer (47), American rapper (Source of Labor)
- 10 â Joni Sledge (60), American R&B and disco singer (Sister Sledge)
- 11
- Evan Johns (60), American rockabilly guitarist (The LeRoi Brothers)
- ÃÂngel Parra (73), Chilean folk singer
- Don Warden (87), American country slide guitarist
- 12 â Joey Alves (63), American hard rock rhythm guitarist (Y&T)
- 13
- Robert "P-Nut" Johnson, American funk singer (Parliament-Funkadelic)
- John Lever (55), British post-punk drummer (The Chameleons)
- 15
- Phil Garland (75), New Zealander folk singer
- (69), Colombian pop singer
- 16 â James Cotton (81), American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter
- 18 â Chuck Berry (90), American rock and roll guitarist, singer and songwriter
- 20
- Buck Hill (90), American jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist
- Tony Terran (90), American rock and pop trumpeter (The Wrecking Crew)
- 21 â Gabriel "Negru" Mafa (42), black metal drummer (NeguràBunget)
- 22
- Sib Hashian (67), American rock drummer (Boston)
- Sven-Erik Magnusson (74), Swedish pop singer and guitarist (Sven-Ingvars)
- 23 â (63), Argentine cuarteto singer
- 24
- Vincent Falcone (78), American pianist (Frank Sinatra) and conductor
- Pete Shotton (75), British skiffle percussionist and washboardist (The Quarrymen)
- 25 â Edward Grimes (43), American post-rock drummer (Rachel's)
- 26
- Alessandro Alessandroni (92), Italian film composer and classical guitarist
- Jimmy Dotson (83), American blues singer and songwriter
- 27 â Clem Curtis (76), Trinidadian-British singer (The Foundations)
- 28 â Terry Fischer (70), American pop singer (The Murmaids)
- 30 â Rosie Hamlin (71), American pop singer (Rosie and the Originals)
April
- 1
- Lonnie Brooks (83), American blues singer and guitarist
- Ikutaro Kakehashi (87), Japanese engineer, founder of Roland Corporation, manufacturer of electronic musical instruments
- Wycliffe Noble (91), British gospel singer (The Joystrings) and architect
- 3 â Brenda Jones (62), American singer (The Jones Girls)
- 5 â Paul O'Neill (61), American progressive metal composer, lyricist, producer, and songwriter (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Savatage)
- 6 â David Peel (74), American folk singer and songwriter
- 7 â Ben Speer (86), American gospel singer (Speer Family)
- 8 â Keni Richards (60), American rock drummer (Autograph)
- 9
- Alan Henderson (72), Northern Irish rock bassist (Them)
- Bob Wootton (75), American country guitarist (The Tennessee Three)
- 10 â Banner Thomas (62), American hard rock bassist (Molly Hatchet)
- 11
- J. Geils (71), American blues, rock and jazz guitarist (The J. Geils Band)
- Scotty Miller (65), American drummer (Instant Funk)
- Toby Smith (46), English acid jazz keyboardist, songwriter and producer (Jamiroquai)
- 12 â Barry "Frosty" Smith (71), American rock drummer (Sweathog, Soulhat)
- 14 â Bruce Langhorne (78), American folk singer
- 15
- Tim Goshorn, 62, American country rock guitarist and singer (Pure Prairie League)
- Allan Holdsworth (70), British jazz fusion guitarist (Gong, Soft Machine, U.K.)
- Matt Holt (39), American heavy metal singer (Nothingface)
- Sylvia Moy (78), American songwriter
- 19 â Dick Contino (87), American accordionist and singer
- 20 â Cuba Gooding Sr. (72), American soul and R&B singer (The Main Ingredient)
- 23 â Jerry Adriani (70), Brazilian rock singer
- 27
- Jeff Decker, Canadian heavy metal guitarist (Thor)
- John Shifflett (64), American jazz bassist
- 28 â Joanna Brouk (68), American electronic music composer
May
- 1
- Bruce Hampton (70), American rock and jazz fusion singer and guitarist (Hampton Grease Band, Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit)
- Erkki Kurenniemi (75), Finnish electronic music composer
- 2 â Kevin Garcia (41), American indie rock bassist (Grandaddy)
- 3
- Casey Jones (77), American blues drummer (Johnny Winter)
- C'el Revuelta, American punk rock bassist (Black Flag)
- Saxa (83), Jamaican ska saxophonist (The Beat)
- 4 â Katy Bødtger (84), Danish singer (Eurovision Song Contest 1960)
- 5 â Clive Brooks (67), British progressive rock drummer (Egg)
- 9
- Michael Parks (77), American country singer and actor
- Robert Miles (47), Swiss-born Italian electronic dance record producer, composer and DJ
- 10
- Bonaldo "Burt" Bonaldi (90), American pop singer (The Gaylords)
- Pierre DeMudd (64), American trumpeter and singer (Dazz Band)
- 11 â ðbrahim Erkal (50), Turkish folk singer
- 12 â Bill Dowdy (84), American jazz drummer (The Three Sounds)
- 13 â Jimmy Copley (63), British rock drummer
- 14 â Keith Mitchell, American dream pop drummer (Mazzy Star)
- 17 â Chris Cornell (52), American alternative rock singer and songwriter (Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog)
- 18 â Frankie Paul (51), Jamaican dancehall singer
- 20
- Jimmy Dale (81), British-Canadian film and television composer
- Ace Still, American doom metal singer (Goatlord)
- 21
- Kenny Cordray (62), American rock guitarist and songwriter
- Jimmy LaFave (61), American folk singer and songwriter
- Tulsa Pittaway (42), South African indie rock drummer (Watershed, Evolver One)
- 22
- Rosa Speer (94), American gospel singer (Speer Family)
- Zbigniew Wodecki (67), Polish pop singer and violinist
- 25 â Saucy Sylvia (96), Canadian-born American comedy music singer and pianist
- 27
- Gregg Allman (69), American rock singer, songwriter and keyboardist (The Allman Brothers Band)
- Guillermo Sanchez, Argentinian heavy metal bassist (Rata Blanca)
- 29 â Arleen Lanzotti (73), American pop singer (The Delicates)
- 31 â Bern Nix (69), American jazz guitarist
June
- 2 â Aamir Zaki (49), Pakistani psychedelic rock guitarist
- 6
- Sandra Reemer (66), Dutch pop singer
- Vin Garbutt (68), British folk singer and songwriter
- 8 â Norro Wilson (79), American country music singer, songwriter and record producer
- 11 â Rosalie Sorrels (83), American folk singer and songwriter
- 12 â Geri Allen (60), American jazz pianist
- 16 â Eliza ClÃÂvia (37), Brazilian forro singer
- 17 â Thara Memory (68), American jazz trumpeter
- 18 â Chris Murrell (60), American gospel and jazz singer
- 20
- Prodigy (42), American rapper (Mobb Deep)
- Bo Wagner (72), American marimba player (Starbuck)
- 21 â Belton Richard (77), American Cajun accordionist
- 22 â Jimmy Nalls (66), American blues rock guitarist (Sea Level)
- 25 â Dave Evans (66), American bluegrass singer and banjoist
- 28
- Gary DeCarlo (75), American pop singer and songwriter (Steam)
- Nic Ritter (37), American thrash metal drummer (Warbringer)
- Dave Rosser (50), American alternative rock guitarist (The Afghan Whigs)
- 30 â Don Rea (88), American pop singer (The Gaylords)
July
- 3 â Rudy Rotta (66), Italian blues rock guitarist
- 4 â John Blackwell, Jr. (43), American funk and R&B drummer (D'Angelo, The New Power Generation)
- 5 â Pierre Henry (89), French musique concrète composer
- 6
- Mick Bund, British post-punk bassist (Felt)
- Melvyn "Deacon" Jones (73), American soul keyboardist (Baby Huey & the Babysitters)
- 9 â Erik Cartwright (66), American blues rock guitarist (Foghat)
- 12
- Marc 'Blaash' Michaelson, American black metal drummer (Bahimiron)
- Tamara Miansarova (86), Russian pop singer
- Ray Phiri (70), South African jazz fusion singer and guitarist
- 13
- Simon Holmes (54), Australian jangle pop guitarist (The Hummingbirds)
- Egil Kapstad (76), Norwegian jazz pianist and composer
- Chris Wong Won (53), American rapper (2 Live Crew)
- 14
- Mahi Beamer (88), American-Native Hawaiian folk singer and pianist
- David Zablidowsky (38), American hard rock bassist (Adrenaline Mob, Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
- 16 â Wilfried (67), Austrian pop singer
- 17 â Peter Principle (63), American post-punk bassist (Tuxedomoon)
- 19
- Barbara Weldens (35), French pop singer and songwriter
- Graham Wood (45), Australian jazz pianist
- 20
- Chester Bennington (41), American hard rock singer and songwriter (Linkin Park, Stone Temple Pilots, Dead by Sunrise)
- Andrea Jürgens (50), German schlager singer
- 21
- Errol Dyers (65), South African jazz guitarist
- Geoff Mack (94), Australian country singer and songwriter
- Kenny Shields (69), Canadian hard rock singer (Streetheart)
- Paapa Yankson (73), Ghanaian highlife singer
- 22
- Polo Hofer (72), Swiss pop singer
- Bobby Taylor (83), American soul singer (Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers)
- 25
- Michael Johnson (72), American country singer and songwriter
- Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (46), Indigenous Australian folk singer and guitarist
- 27 â Billy Joe Walker Jr. (64), American country music record producer
- 28 â D.L. Menard (85), American Cajun music singer
- 31 â Chuck Loeb (61), American jazz guitarist (Fourplay)
August
- 1 â Goldy McJohn (72), Canadian hard rock keyboardist (Steppenwolf)
- 2 â Daniel Licht (60), American film and television composer
- 4
- Luiz Melodia (66), Brazilian MPB singer
- Joe Romano 67, American bassist (The Fun and Games)
- 8 â Glen Campbell (81), American country music singer and songwriter
- 11 â Segun Bucknor (71), Nigerian soul and funk keyboardist and guitarist
- 19 â Bea Wain (100), American big band singer (Larry Clinton and His Orchestra)
- 20 â Jerry Lewis (91), American actor and pop singer
- 21 â Sonny Burgess (88), American rockabilly singer
- 22 â John Abercrombie (73), American jazz fusion guitarist
- 24
- Pete Kuykendall (79), American bluegrass banjoist
- Larry Marshall (75), Jamaican reggae singer
- 26 â Wilson das Neves (81), Brazilian bossa nova singer and percussionist
- 28 â Melissa Bell (53), British R&B and soul singer (Soul II Soul)
- 29 â Larry Elgart (95), American jazz bandleader and alto saxophonist
- 30 â Skip Prokop (73), Canadian rock and jazz fusion drummer (Lighthouse, The Paupers)
September
- 1 â Mick Softley (77), British folk singer and songwriter
- 2 â Dave Hlubek (66), American rock guitarist and songwriter (Molly Hatchet)
- 3 â Walter Becker (67), American jazz rock guitarist, bassist and songwriter (Steely Dan)
- 4 â Earl Lindo (64), Jamaican reggae keyboardist (Bob Marley and the Wailers)
- 5 â Rick Stevens (77), American R&B singer (Tower of Power)
- 6 â Holger Czukay (79), German experimental rock bassist (Can)
- 8
- Troy Gentry (50), American country singer (Montgomery Gentry)
- Don Williams (78), American country singer
- 11 â Virgil Howe (41), British alternative rock drummer (Little Barrie)
- 12
- Riem de Wolff (74), Dutch-Indonesian rock and roll singer (The Blue Diamonds)
- Josh Schwartz (45), American alternative country guitarist (Beachwood Sparks)
- Jessi Zazu (28), American garage rock singer and songwriter (Those Darlins)
- 13 â Grant Hart (56), American alternative rock singer, songwriter and drummer (Hüsker Dü)
- 17 â Laudir de Oliveira (77), Brazilian rock and jazz percussionist (Chicago)
- 18 â Mark Selby (56), American blues rock singer and guitarist
- 21 â Cees Bergman (65), Dutch glam rock singer (Catapult)
- 22
- Ammon Tharp (75), American soul singer and drummer (Bill Deal and the Rhondels)
- Eric Eycke (41), American heavy metal singer (Corrosion of Conformity)
- 23 â Charles Bradley (68), American soul singer
- 27
- CeDell Davis (91), American blues guitarist
- Joy Fleming (72), German pop singer
- Hiromi Hayakawa (34), Japanese-born Mexican pop singer
- 30 â Tom Paley (89), American folk guitarist and banjoist (New Lost City Ramblers)
October
- 2 â Tom Petty (66), American rock singer, songwriter and guitarist (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Traveling Wilburys, Mudcrutch)
- 4 â Janis Hansen (74), American pop and bossa nova singer (Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66, The Carnival)
- 5
- Alvin DeGuzman, American post-hardcore guitarist (The Icarus Line)
- Rodrigo BVevino (42), British heavy metal singer (Avenger)
- 6 â Bunny Sigler (76), American soul singer, songwriter and record producer
- 7 â Jimmy Beaumont (76), American doo-wop singer (The Skyliners)
- 8 â Grady Tate (85), American jazz drummer and singer
- 16
- Augustin Mawangu Mingiedi (56), Congolese afro-pop lkembist ()
- Iain Shedden (60), Australian punk rock drummer (The Saints)
- 17
- Gord Downie (53), Canadian rock singer and songwriter (The Tragically Hip)
- 18 â Eamonn Campbell (70), Irish folk singer and guitarist (The Dubliners)
- 21 â Martin Eric Ain (50), American-Swiss heavy metal bassist (Celtic Frost)
- 22
- Al Hurricane (81), American folk singer and songwriter
- Scott Putesky (49), American heavy metal guitarist (Marilyn Manson)
- George Young (70), British-born Australian rock guitarist and songwriter (The Easybeats, Flash and the Pan)
- 24
- Fats Domino (89), American rock and roll singer and pianist
- Larry Ray (63), American power pop guitarist (Outrageous Cherry)
- 27
- Mike Hudson (61), American punk rock singer (The Pagans)
- Dick Noel (90), American big band singer
- 28
- Bruce Black, American power metal drummer (Meliah Rage)
- Daichi Shimoda, Japanese deathcore vocalist (Victim of Deception)
- 29
- Muhal Richard Abrams (87), American free jazz pianist
- Billy Mize (88), American country singer and steel guitarist
- Keith Wilder (65), American funk singer (Heatwave)
November
- 1
- Katie Lee (98), American folk singer
- Scott Wily, American death metal singer (Vital Remains)
- 2 â MarÃÂa Martha Serra Lima (72), Argentinean bolero singer
- 3
- Gaetano Bardini (91), Italian opera singer
- Naomi Sego (86), American gospel singer (The Sego Brothers and Naomi)
- 5
- Robert Knight (72), American soul singer
- Louis Roney (96), American opera tenor
- 7
- Paul Buckmaster (71), British rock and orchestral arranger and conductor
- Robert De Cormier (95), American folk arranger
- Pentti Glan (71), Finnish rock drummer (Mandala, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper)
- 9 â Fred Cole (69), American garage rock singer and guitarist (The Lollipop Shoppe, Dead Moon)
- 10 â Chuck Mosley (57), American alternative rock singer (Faith No More)
- 11 â Chiquito de la Calzada (85), Spanish flamenco singer
- 12 â Chad Hanks (46), American metal bassist (American Head Charge)
- 15
- Bonnie Flower (63), American sunshine pop singer (Wendy and Bonnie)
- Lil Peep (21), American rapper
- 16 â Michael "Dik Mik" Davies (73), British space rock keyboardist (Hawkwind)
- 17 â Rikard Wolff (59), Finnish pop singer and actor
- 18
- Ben Riley (84), American jazz drummer
- Malcolm Young (64), Australian hard rock guitarist (AC/DC)
- 19
- Ronnie Butler (80), Bahamanian calypso singer
- Warren "Pete" Moore (79), American R&B singer (The Miracles)
- Della Reese (86), American gospel singer
- Mel Tillis (85), American country singer
- 20 â Laila Sari (82), Indonesian children's music singer
- 21
- David Cassidy (67), American pop singer and actor
- Wayne Cochran (78), American soul singer and songwriter
- 22 â Tommy Keene (59), American power pop singer and songwriter
- 23
- John Coates Jr. (79), American jazz pianist
- Jon Hendricks (96), American jazz singer
- Dmitri Hvorostovsky (55), Russian opera singer
- 24
- Mitch Margo (70), American doo-wop singer and songwriter (The Tokens)
- Clotilde Rosa (87), Portuguese classical harpist
- Bari Siddiqui (63), Bangladeshi folk singer and flautist
- 26 â Patrick Bourgeois (54), Canadian rock singer and guitarist (Les B.B.)
- 27 â Robert Popwell (66), American rock and jazz bassist (The Young Rascals, The Crusaders)
- 28 â Shadia (86), Egyptian pop singer
- 29 â Robert Walker (80), American blues guitarist
- 30
- Jim Nabors (87), American actor and singer
- Zé Pedro (61), Portuguese new wave guitarist (Xutos & Pontapés)
December
- 2
- Norihiko Hashida (72), Japanese folk singer and songwriter (The Folk Crusaders)
- Mundell Lowe (95), American jazz guitarist
- 5 â Johnny Hallyday (74), French rock singer
- 7 â Sunny Murray (81), American free jazz drummer
- 8 â Gloria Ann Taylor (73), American soul singer
- 12
- Pat DiNizio (62), American power pop singer and guitarist (The Smithereens)
- Willie Pickens (86), American jazz pianist
- 13
- Dave Christenson (54), American new wave singer (Stabilizers)
- Warrel Dane (56), American heavy metal singer (Sanctuary, Nevermore)
- Rory O'Donoghue (68), Australian rock and pop guitarist
- 16
- Ralph Carney (61), American rock and jazz saxophonist and clarinetist (Tin Huey)
- Richard Dobson (75), American country singer and songwriter
- Michael Prophet (60), Jamaican reggae singer
- Keely Smith (89), American jazz singer
- 17 â Kevin Mahogany (59), American jazz singer
- 18 â Kim Jong-hyun (27), South Korean K-pop singer and songwriter (Shinee)
- 19
- Jim Forrester (43), American hard rock bassist (Sixty Watt Shaman)
- Leo Welch (85), American gospel blues singer and guitarist
- 21
- Roswell Rudd (82), American free jazz trombonist
- Marilyn Tyler (91), American opera singer
- 22 â Pam the Funkstress, American hip hop DJ (The Coup)
- 25 â Nao (56), Japanese heavy metal vocalist (United)
- 28
- Rose Marie (94), American actress, singer and comedienne
- Curly Seckler (98), American bluegrass guitarist and mandolinist (Foggy Mountain Boys, Nashville Grass)
- 31 â Maurice Peress (87), American conductor and music educator
Musical films
See also
References