17 Iconic Singers Who Died At The Top Of Their Careers

Marvin Gaye rose to prominence within the ’60s and had continued success by means of the ’80s due to a string of hits like “How Candy It Is (To Be Liked by You),” “I Heard It By the Grapevine,” “What’s Going On,” and “Sexual Therapeutic.” He died in 1984 at age 44 after being shot to dying by his father the day earlier than his forty fifth birthday, in response to the New York Occasions.

Aaliyah was a Grammy-nominated singer with main hits within the late ’90s and early ’00s, together with “Strive Once more,” “Miss You,” and “Rock The Boat.” She died in 2001 at age 22 in a airplane crash that took off within the Bahamas, in response to the New York Occasions.

Buddy Holly was a significant artist within the late ’50s. Throughout his personal albums and his document with The “Chirping” Crickets, his signature songs embody “That’ll Be the Day,” “Oh Boy!” “On a regular basis,” and “Peggy Sue.” He died in 1959 at age 22 after a airplane he was in crashed in Iowa. Fellow musicians “The Huge Bopper” J.P. Richardson and Ritchie Valens additionally died within the crash, and the incident would later be known as “The Day the Music Died” by Don McLean in his 1971 music “American Pie.”

Selena, generally known as the Queen of Tejano, had main crossover success within the ’90s. The Grammy-nominated singer launched 4 solo albums throughout her lifetime that included hits like “No Me Queda Más,” “Como la Flor,” and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.” Her posthumous album, Dreaming of You, went No. 1 shortly after her dying. She died in 1995 at age 23 after being shot and killed by her former supervisor, in response to the New York Occasions.

Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes was a member of the mega-popular group TLC. Collectively, they gained 4 Grammys, and Lisa launched her debut album, Supernova, in 2001. She died in 2002 at age 30 from a automotive crash in Honduras, in response to the New York Occasions.

Jeff Buckley launched only one album throughout his lifetime, titled Grace, in 1994. Over time, his cowl of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” has grown in recognition and grow to be his signature observe. Jeff died in 1997 at age 30 after unintentionally drowning within the Wolf River close to Memphis, in response to the New York Occasions.

Christina Grimmie was a contestant on The Voice who went on to launch two albums and open for Selena Gomez on a number of excursions. She died in 2016 at age 22 after being shot by an individual in line throughout a post-concert meet-and-greet in Orlando, in response to ABC Information.

Duane Allman was the unique chief of the rock band the Allman Brothers. He launched two albums with the band earlier than his dying. He is additionally featured on their breakthrough document, the stay album At Fillmore East. Duane died in 1971 at age 24 from a bike crash, in response to Rolling Stone.

Amy Winehouse was a Grammy-winning singer who launched two critically acclaimed solo albums: Frank in 2003 and Again to Black in 2006. She gained 5 Grammys in 2008, together with Document and Tune of the Yr for “Rehab.” She additionally gained Greatest New Artist. Amy died in 2011 at age 27 from alcohol poisoning, in response to The Guardian.

Tupac Shakur was a rapper, actor, and poet who launched 4 solo albums throughout his lifetime. This included two Billboard No. 1 albums: Me Towards the World in 1995 and All Eyez on Me in 1996. As an actor, he starred in a number of movies, together with Juice and Poetic Justice. Tupac died in 1996 at age 25 after being shot in a drive-by capturing outdoors of Las Vegas, in response to the Related Press.

Janis Joplin was a rock ‘n roll pioneer within the ’60s. She first gained fame because the lead singer of the band Huge Brother and the Holding Firm earlier than releasing one solo album: I Obtained Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Once more Mama! in 1969. A number of months after her dying, her second album, Pearl, was launched. It was ranked as one of many 500 best albums of all time by Rolling Stone in 2023. Janis died in 1970 at age 27 from an unintentional drug overdose, in response to the New York Occasions.

Jimi Hendrix was a titan of ’60s rock ‘n roll. His band, The Jimi Hendrix Expertise, noticed main success with three albums, together with the Billboard No. 1 document Electrical Ladyland. He died in 1970 at age 27 from suffocation, doubtless associated to a drug overdose, in response to the New York Occasions.

Cass Elliot, generally known as Mama Cass, first shot to fame as a part of the ’60s people group The Mamas & the Papas. They gained a Grammy for the 1966 music “Monday, Monday.” Cass went on to launch quite a few solo albums, together with Dream a Little Dream and Bubblegum, Lemonade, and… One thing for Mama. She died in 1974 at age 32 from a coronary heart assault, in response to the BBC.

Karen Carpenter was greatest recognized for being one-half of the duo The Carpenters alongside her brother, Richard. Collectively, they launched ten albums earlier than Karen’s dying. She died in 1983 at age 32 from issues of anorexia nervosa, in response to The Hollywood Reporter.

Juice WRLD was a rapper who discovered success due to a sequence of hits within the 2010s, together with “Lucid Goals” and his collaboration with YoungBoy By no means Broke Once more, “Bandit.” He died in 2019 at age 21 from an unintentional overdose, in response to NPR.

Jim Morrison was the lead singer of the Doorways, recording six albums with the band. He died in 1971 at age 27, and his dying was attributed to coronary heart failure, although no post-mortem was carried out, in response to NPR.

Mac Miller was a rapper who launched 5 albums throughout his lifetime, together with the chart-topping debut document Blue Slide Park. He died in 2018 at age 26 from an unintentional overdose, in response to Rolling Stone.