This is a list of musicians whose death left either a huge mark or possibly a dark shadow in music history. Their inclusion on the list does not automatically mean I am a fan, It’s just an acknowledgment of their impact.
#10: Buddy Holly- February 3, 1959
This one is an odd pick as I barely know anything about Buddy Holly, let alone do I care about him. The most that I know about him is that he was portrayed by Gary Busey in "The Buddy Holly Story" (which I have never seen). Other than that, I don't know a thing about him. Never even heard any of his music, and I don't care enough to. But the fact that the day he died was soon declared "The Day The Music Died" says a lot. In February Of 1959, Mr. Holly, along with Ritchie Valens (whom I feel the worst for) and J.P. "The Big Bopper '' Richardson boarded a flight set for Minnesota. Unfortunately, they never made it. It sucked that Holly had to die so young (22), but to make that much of an impact already by that age is a huge accomplishment. Salute to you
#9: Whitney Houston- February 11, 2012
You probably got the impression from my "Iconic Music Notes" list that Whitney Houston is my favorite singer of all time. But one thing I constantly keep kicking myself for is that I never really got into her until after she died. I actually thought it was a hoax at first. But it was not hard for me to see the impact she left on music, and continues to do so even after her unfortunate end on February of 2012. The fact that the Grammys took a moment to pray for her in light of her death says a lot about how many people this woman has touched. And of course she's had a huge influence over younger and older female artists, even the most unlikely. She's definitely left an impact on me. I just wish I didn’t appreciate her too late.
#8: Freddie Mercury- November 24, 1991
Freddie Mercury was a strange dude, both on and off stage. But there's no denying that he could SANG! Honestly, I never expected to take a huge liking to Queen. I wouldn't say I'm a fan, but I like several of their songs and I do respect them to an extent. Freddie definitely played a part in that. He died from AIDS in November of 1991. At the time AIDS/HIV was killing people left and right, and this became one of the biggest deaths from the disease, hence one of the reasons for this death's significance. But of course, it was sad to lose such a huge voice in rock and in music as a whole. He was nuts, but there's no denying that he left one Hell of an impression on us, and I strangely respect that.
#7: Kurt Cobain- April 5, 1994
I actually like Smells Like Teen Spirit, which is unusual because I’m not really a grunge fan, nor am I a fan of Nirvana. Basically, all I know about Nirvana is the song, Courtney Love, and Kurt Cobain’s suicide. A member of the 27 Club (people who died at the age of 27), Cobain’s death is a huge example of somewhat becoming a legend after you’ve left this earth. I’m not saying that the song didn't put him and Nirvana on the map. It obviously made them stars, but I don’t think they were really seen as legends until after they lost one of their own. That’s sad, but it happens in both the music industry and movie industry a lot. No one has control over that.
#6: Tupac Shakur- September 13, 1996
Iconic rapper Tupac Shakur (Born Lesane Crooks) also left an impression. He's mostly known for speaking on social issues in his music, which I normally despise on artists. Shakur's not an exception, but I do understand he's seen things and wanted to make a difference in the world. His death from a drive-by shooting is obviously one of the biggest mysteries in music history, hence the reason it is on the list. To my surprise, this mystery may end up getting solved with the recent arrest of Duane "Keffe D" Davis. Repeat "might", this may lead to more dead ends. But the fact that the authorities are still scrambling to figure this out says a lot in my opinion. By the way, another certain rapper will be seen on this list.
#5: Selena- March 31, 1995
I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that Selena was done dirty. The girl was a true groundbreaker for obvious reasons, but she also seemed like a sweetheart. Not only did it seem like she loved what she was doing, but she seemed genuinely happy that you were there. She was delighted to entertain you. She wasn't just talented, she also was loveable. So the whack-job fraud of a fan club president killing her was probably a slap in the face for her fans. Selena's murder remains probably one of the darkest days in music history. She may have trusted the wrong people, but how was she supposed to know that? She was just bringing some joy to the world and doing what she loved. She didn't deserve that.
#4: Aaliyah- August 25, 2001
Aaliyah is another artist lucky enough to make a huge impact at a young age. From her tomboy/girl power image to that silky voice, Aaliyah truly had it all. The girl was even starting a movie career, Most notably Queen Of The Damned (which was released posthumously). Aaliyah really did have a lot going for her, only for a STUPID PLANE CRASH to ruin everything. Aaliyah was also only 22 when her life was cut tragically short. This just goes to show you that you never really know how long you have on this planet. Again, she and Holly are very fortunate to be that young and to have already made such an impact on the world. But it's still really sad for them to have died so young.
#3: The Notorious B.I.G- March 9, 1997
So remember when I said that another certain rapper may or may not show up on this list? With all due respect to Tupac and his fans, being considered an icon after releasing only one album is a HUGE accomplishment. Tupac had been around for years. But Biggie only had to release one album, and that was enough to cement his legacy. Like Tupac, Biggie was also killed in a drive-by shooting. Also like his rival, his death also remains a mystery to this day. The sad thing about Biggie's death is that he could've done so much more and added to his legacy. At least Tupac had gotten to expand his resume. But Biggie had that chance taken from him. Who knows what more he could've done?
#2: John Lennon- December 8, 1980
I wouldn't consider myself a huge fan of the Beatles, nor John Lennon. But I do respect them and I like at least some of their work. With thought provoking lyrics and pioneering success, their influence and legacy, as well as Lennon's, remains untouched and unmatched. Lennon kicked the bucket in 1980 after some moron got annoyed with Lennon's bigger than Jesus comment. As a Christian, I don't like the comment either. But killing him was ridiculous and is definitely NOT what Jesus would do. We live in a world full of people with different beliefs, DEAL WITH IT! Anyway, Lennon's assassination remains a dark day in music history as well as a bleak shadow in The Beatles' history. And while it's not the biggest death, it is in my opinion the darkest on this list.
Here are some more losses that left a major void in music..................
-January 10, 2016 -April 21, 2016
-August 16, 1977 -March 5, 1963
-August 16, 2018 -July 23, 2011
#1: Michael Jackson- June 25, 2009
Michael Jackson is another artist with an unmatched legacy. The "King Of Pop" has been in the music business since childhood, and grew into possibly the greatest voice in music history. From his shiny glove, to his moonwalk, Michael is literally the definition of what an icon is, and despite his controversies, I don't think we will ever see someone match his influence. His passing in 2009 felt like one of those rare days where the earth stood still, and it's hard to believe that he's been gone for longer than a decade. Michael was an easy pick for #1 as he really was a rare talent that can never be duplicated. He may have been a complicated dude, but he knew how to entertain you and truly left his mark on the world.
The google slide link is down below. Thanks for reading
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1BSkrThXXDve_ygvxSEGjkImxmNLb48GDt3ckJVdQaH0/edit?usp=sharing
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