Musicians and singers who died in February 2023

• Musicians who died in 2023

February (62)

[28 Feb 2023] Zev (Dorian Zev Kweller) (American musician), 16, car accident Singer-songwriter Ben Kweller’s 16-year-old son, Dorian Zev Kweller, died on Monday, the singer confirmed. Kweller’s wife Liz wrote in a social media post that Dorian died in a car accident. Dorian was an aspiring musician and released several songs under the name Zev. … via variety.com

[27 Feb 2023] Ismaïla Touré (Senegalese musician for Touré Kunda), 73 Singer Ismaïla Touré, co-founder of the Senegalese group Touré Kunda, is dead Co-creator, with his brother, of the famous African music group that emerged in France in the 1980s, the artist died on February 27 at the age of 72. … via lemonde.fr

[25 Feb 2023] Sir David Lumsden (British musician and choirmaster), 94 The family have reported the death yesterday of Sir David Lumsden, organist, chorus director and sometimes controversial principal of two British academies of music. Raised in Newcastle upon Tyne in modest circumstances, Lumsden became became fellow and organist of New College, Oxford, raising its choir to high standard. He founded the Nottingham Bach Society and conducted the BBC Scottish Singers; with principals of the LSO he formed the London Virtuosi. … via slippedisc.com

[25 Feb 2023] François Hadji-Lazaro (French actor, musician and producer), 66 Founder of Pigalle and Les Garçons Bouchers, this alternative rock activist, who had also won over young audiences in recent years and scored several roles in the cinema, died shortly before midnight on Saturday February 25. … via sudouest.fr

[23 Feb 2023] Asrat Sellassie (Ethiopia-born musician for Dallol), 68 Asrat Sellassie, Wild Hare co-owner and musician who recorded Grammy-winning albums with Ziggy Marley, dies at 68 Mr. Sellassie died peacefully at his home in Chicago on Feb. 23. … via suntimes

[23 Feb 2023] Junnosuke Kuroda (Japanese rock musician for Sumika), 34 The official website for the rock band sumika announced on Friday that the band's guitarist Junnosuke Kuroda (pictured far right) passed away on Thursday. He was 34. … via lemonde.fr

[23 Feb 2023] Slim Borgudd (Swedish racing driver and musician), 76 We learn with sadness of the death of the former Swedish driver Karl "Slim" Borgudd, ephemeral participant in the Formula 1 Grand Prix thanks to the support of his compatriots from the Abba group. … via autojournal.fr

[22 Feb 2023] Germano Mathias (Brazilian samba singer), 88 The sambista and composer Germano Mathias died at the age of 88 this Ash Wednesday (22), in Franco da Rocha, in Greater São Paulo. … via globo.com

[21 Feb 2023] Jesse Gress (American guitarist for Todd Rundgren), 67 Jesse Gress, the Todd Rundgren guitarist and longstanding contributor to Guitar Player, has died, aged 67. Gress died on February 21 at his home in Woodstock, New York, surrounded by his family who announced his passing on Facebook … via guitarworld.com

[21 Feb 2023] Ron Altbach (American songwriter and keyboardist for King Harvest), 76 In memory of our bandmate, Ron Altbach 1946 - 2023 “Old friends, when the story ends, we'll still be good as gold” "Old Friends" by King Harvest 1975 … via kingharvest.us

[20 Feb 2023] Lewis Largent (American disc jockey for MTV, KROQ), 58 Lewis Largent, who was known to millions in the 1980s and ‘90s as an influential alternative-music MTV VJ and DJ on KROQ, died on Feb. 20 after a long illness, his family confirms to Variety. He was 58. … via variety.com

[20 Feb 2023] Lyubomyr Futorsky (Ukrainian singer for Dead Rooster), 50 "Shock and sadness": one of the founders of the band "Dead Rooster" passed away … via focus.ua

[20 Feb 2023] Bruce Barthol (American bassist for Country Joe and the Fish), 75 Bruce Barthol, the original bassist for the Bay Area psychedelic-folk-rock band Country Joe and the Fish, died yesterday (Feb. 20, 2023). Barthol, who played on the group’s first three albums, was 75. No cause or place of death has yet been reported. … via bestclassicbands.com

[20 Feb 2023] Victor Brox (English blues musician), 81 Hugely popular Ashton-born blues legend Victor Brox has died at the age of 81. … via louderthanwar.com

[19 Feb 2023] Davis Causey (American guitarist for The Jesters, Sea Level), 74 Athens music scene stalwart, The Jesters member Davis Causey dies The 60-year-career of prolific Athens musician Davis Cauley came to an end Sunday when he died unexpectedly. … via classiccitynews.com

[17 Feb 2023] Jerry Dodgion (American jazz saxophonist and flautist), 90, infection Jerry Dodgion, saxophonist and flutist who embodied the versatile grace of a sideman, is dead at 90 … via wrti.org

[17 Feb 2023] Gerald Fried (American film and television composer), 95, pneumonia Composer Gerald Fried, who won an Emmy for the landmark miniseries “Roots” and whose 1960s scores, from “Star Trek” to “Gilligan’s Island,” left an indelible impression on a generation of TV watchers, died of pneumonia Friday at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Bridgeport, Ct. He was 95. … via variety.com

[17 Feb 2023] Otis Barthoulameu (American record producer and musician for Fluf) Otis Barthoulameu, aka O, has passed away. The singer-guitarist played with Fluf, Makeup Sex, Systems Officer, Olivelawn, Harshmellow, Octagrape, Reeve Oliver, and Woofer... he reportedly helped Blink 182 secure their first record deal … via sandiegoreader.com

[17 Feb 2023] Kyle Jacobs (American songwriter), 49, suicide Kellie Pickler’s husband, songwriter Kyle Jacobs, was found dead in an apparent suicide at the singer’s home in Nashville, Tenn. on Friday. He was 49. … via variety.com

[17 Feb 2023] Hans Poulsen (Australian singer and songwriter), 77 Hans was born Bruce Poulsen in Melbourne of Danish descent. His grandfather migrated to Australia in the early 20th century. Bruce became known as Hans when he started performing his first gigs around Frankston and Mornington in the early 1960s. … via noise11.com

[17 Feb 2023] Vijay Kichlu (Indian classical singer), 92 Life of famous musician Pandit Vijay Kichlu. The budding artist breathed his last at a private hospital in South Kolkata on Friday. It is heard that he was suffering from breathing problem. Because of that he was taken to the hospital. … via sangbadpratidin.in

[17 Feb 2023] Pansequito (Spanish flamenco singer), 78, brain cancer José Cortés Jiménez, a reference and survivor of an entire generation of flamencos, that of Lebrijano, Camarón or Rancapino, died in Seville after an illness diagnosed just a few months ago … via elpais.com

[16 Feb 2023] Dane Terry (American singer and harmonica player for Plow), 67 A 67-year-old El Cajon man who died after a San Carlos crash early Monday was a singer and harmonica player who performed for years with blues, jazz and bluegrass bands around the region. … via sandiegouniontribune.com

[16 Feb 2023] Maon Kurosaki (Japanese singer), 35 FANS are shocked by the news that anisong (anime song) singer Maon Kurosaki succumbed to a long-term chronic illness last month... The 35-year-old, best known for performing the ending themes to Highschool Of The Dead and A Certain Magical Index II, died on Feb 16, according to Kurosaki’s agency, Art One Entertainment. … via thestar.com

[16 Feb 2023] Chuck Jackson (American R&B singer), 85 R&B singer Chuck Jackson, who placed nearly 30 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the 1960s, died on Feb. 16, 2023. Best known for his 1962 hit “Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird),” which reached #2 on the trade magazine’s R&B chart and #23 on the Hot 100, Jackson was 85. … via bestclassicbands.com

[16 Feb 2023] Michael Kupper (German heavy metal musician for Running Wild), 65 Guitarist Michael “Majk Moti” Kupper, who played with German heavy metal act Running Wild between 1985 and 1990, has died at 65, former bassist Jens Becker and former drummer Stefan Schwarzmann confirmed via social media … via variety.com

[16 Feb 2023] Tony Marshall (German Schlager and opera singer), 85 Everyone can at least hum along to his biggest hit: in 1971 pop singer Tony Marshall became known throughout Germany with the song "Schöne Maid". Many more hits followed. Now the musician has died at the age of 85. … via variety.com

[16 Feb 2023] Marilú (Mexican singer and actress for El barchante Neguib), 95 The Mexican singer and actress Marina Herrera Aragón, better known as Marilú, "La Muñequita que Canta", an outstanding protagonist of The Golden Age of Mexican Cinema, passed away this Thursday morning at the age of 95. … via azcentral.com

[16 Feb 2023] Alberto Radius (Italian guitarist and singer-songwriter for Formula 3), 80 Alberto Radius died, he was 80 years old. Radius was one of the greatest Italian progressive rock guitarists. He celebrates his relationship with Lucio Battisti, a long musical career that began in the 50 … via repubblica.it

[14 Feb 2023] Tohru Okada (Japanese musician and music producer), 73, heart failure Tohru Okada, the musician and music producer responsible for creating PlayStation's iconic logo sound, has died aged 73. … via eurogamer.net

[14 Feb 2023] Tim Aymar (American heavy metal singer for Pharaoh), 59 CONTROL DENIED and PHARAOH vocalist Tim Aymar has died at the age of 59. Tim's passing was confirmed by his PHARAOH bandmates in a social media post. … via blabbermouth.net

[14 Feb 2023] Akira Tsuneoka (恒岡章) (Japanese pop-punk drummer for Hi-Standard), 51 Akira Tsuneoka, the drummer of the rock band Hi-STANDARD, passed away on the 14th. His label "PIZZA OF DEATH RECORDS" announced on the official SNS on the 15th. He is 51 years old. … via sponichi.co.jp

[14 Feb 2023] Peter Renkens (Belgian singer for Confetti's), 55 Peter Renkens - known as the frontman of the Belgian new beat music group Confetti's - has passed away. He was 55 years old. The sad news was confirmed by his former producer Serge Ramaekers. "What exactly happened, they are still investigating." … via hln.be

[14 Feb 2023] Friedrich Cerha (Austrian composer, conductor and music educator), 96 After decades of productive work, Friedrich Cerha was the undisputed doyen of Austrian avant-garde music. The composer, conductor, interpreter and scientist died in Vienna on Tuesday at the age of 96. … via orf.at

[13 Feb 2023] Huey "Piano" Smith (American R&B pianist and songwriter), 89 Huey “Piano” Smith, a New Orleans R&B legend and an early pioneer of rock n’ roll, has died at the age of 89. … via rollingstone.com

[13 Feb 2023] Spencer Wiggins (American soul singer), 81 Spencer Wiggins, one of the greatest deep soul singers, has died. The Memphis native ― who recorded for the Goldwax and FAME labels in the 1960s and ‘70s before largely devoting himself to gospel music and his work in the church ― died Monday at the age of 81. … via commercialappeal.com

[13 Feb 2023] Alain Goraguer (French jazz pianist, arranger and composer), 91 He was one of the major arrangers of French song, from Boris Vian to Jean Ferrat, via Serge Gainsbourg, but also a prolific film music composer. Alain Goraguer died at the age of 91. … via ladepeche.fr

[13 Feb 2023] Guido Basso (Canadian jazz trumpeter), 85 Guido Basso, the masterful musician who for decades was a distinguished pillar of Canada’s jazz scene, has died. He was 85. … via jazz.fm

[12 Feb 2023] Trugoy the Dove (David Jude Jolicoeur) (American rapper for De La Soul), 54 De La Soul legend Trugoy The Dove, also known as Dave or Dave Jolicoeur, has died his team confirmed to AllHipHop. He was 54. Details are scarce, but Trugoy has been struggling with his health over the past few years. In 2018, Trugoy opened up about his battle with congestive heart failure in an Instagram video and admitted he was struggling with being sidelined. … via allhiphop.com

[12 Feb 2023] Roger Bobo (American tuba player), 84 The death has been communicated of Roger Bobo, former principal tuba of the Concertgebouw Orchestra under Bernard Haitink (1962–1964) and of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, 1964–1989 with Zubin Mehta, Carlo Maria Giulini and André Previn. … via slippedisc.com

[11 Feb 2023] James H. Morton, Sr (American musician and pastor), 76 Bishop James H. Morton, Sr., a noted former Detroit pastor, musician and music director for the late Rev. C.L. Franklin, father of Aretha Franklin, died Feb. 11. He was 76. … via freep.com

[11 Feb 2023] Tito Fernández (Chilean singer-songwriter), 80 Tito Fernández -whose real name is Humberto Baeza Fernández- known as "El Temucano", died this Saturday, February 11, at the age of 80. … via biobiochile.cl

[10 Feb 2023] Ben Steinberg (Canadian composer, conductor and music educator), 93 We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ben Steinberg Friday February 10 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated. … via necrocanada.com

[10 Feb 2023] AKA (South African rapper), 35, shot Kiernan "AKA" Forbes was shot and killed - along with another man - in a shooting at a popular night spot on Durban’s Florida Road on Friday night. … via news24.com

[09 Feb 2023] Piero Montanari (Italian composer and bassist), 76 Montanari has played as bassist for many important artists, both in live concerts and for the recording of albums, making his debut in 1964 with: Gianni Davoli, Little Tony, La Nuova Cricca, I Vianella (Edoardo Vianello and Wilma Goich), Franco Califano … via globalist.it

[08 Feb 2023] Burt Bacharach (American Hall of Fame composer, six-time Grammy winner), 94 Singer and performer, who wrote Walk on By and What the World Needs Now Is Love, died at home in Los Angeles of natural causes … via theguardian.com

[08 Feb 2023] Dennis Lotis (South African-born British singer and actor), 97 BBC Radio Norfolk News mentions the death of South African-born pop singer and actor Dennis Lotis, best remembered for his tenure as a vocalist with the Ted Heath Orchestra, and for appearing in countless films and television programmes during a career spanning seven decades … via youtube.com

[07 Feb 2023] Mendelson Joe ( Canadian singer-songwriter), 78, assisted suicide Mendelson Joe — the Canadian singer-songwriter, visual artist, and activist who was a fixture of Toronto's arts community for over four decades — has died. News of the artist's passing was shared on Twitter by friend, poet and musician Robert Priest, who confirmed via Joe's partner and gallerist Karen Robinson that he chose a medically assisted death following a battle with Parkinson's disease. … via exclaim.ca

[07 Feb 2023] Richard Kell (Irish poet, composer, and teacher), 95 My father, Richard Kell, who has died aged 95, was a poet, composer, teacher and former Guardian reviewer – a lover of language, a wordsmith and self-described “inveterate scribbler”. … via theguardian.com

[07 Feb 2023] Steve Sostak (American rock musician for Sweep the Leg Johnny), 49 Steve Sostak, the saxophonist and vocalist for Chicago-based indie/experimental projects such as Sweep The Leg Johnny, Check Engine, and ZZZZ, has died, Stereogum can confirm. He was 49. … via stereogum.com

[06 Feb 2023] Phil Spalding (English bass player for GTR), 65 To say that Phil Spalding was a larger-than-life character would mean to underestimate a lifeforce this highly esteemed British bassist used to embody for decades – until now … via dmme.net

[05 Feb 2023] Lillian Walker (American singer for The Exciters), 78, angiosarcoma Tonight we are sad to report the passing of Lillian Walker-Moss, co-founder of the doo-wop group The Exciters, known for the 1963 smash hit “Tell Him.” Walker-Moss died after a battle with angiosarcoma. … via soultracks.com

[04 Feb 2023] Vani Jairam (Indian playback singer for Sankarabharanam), 77 National Award-winning legendary playback singer Vani Jairam, who was conferred with the Padma Bhushan award - the third-highest civilian award -- this year, was found dead at her Chennai home on Saturday. According to reports, she was found dead with an injury on her forehead … via indiatimes.com

[03 Feb 2023] Paul Janovitz (American musician for Cold Water Flat), 54 Paul R. Janovitz, age 54, passed away peacefully at his home in Bedford, Massachusetts on Friday, February 3, 2023, after a long illness. … via chapmanfuneral.com

[03 Feb 2023] Naďa Urbánková (Czech singer and actress), 83, cancer and COVID-19 Singer and actress Naďa Urbanková has died at the age of 83. She passed away on Friday evening of complications from cancer and a recent bout of Covid-19, her daughter, Jana Fabiánová, announced on Facebook on Saturday. … via radio.cz

[02 Feb 2023] Tim Quy (British musician for Cardiacs) Sad news today, the passing of Tim Quy, Cardiacs beloved percussionist and performer extraordinaire. The news has just been announced on the Cardiacs website via this posting.. … via organthing.com

[02 Feb 2023] Butch Miles (American jazz drummer), 78 Drummer-bandleader Butch Miles (1944-2023) has died. Butch and his drumming were loved and admired all over the world. Butch Miles was best known for his tenure in the Count Basie Orchestra from 1975 to 1979 and then making a ten-year return to the band from 1997 to 2007. … via moderndrummer.com

[02 Feb 2023] Larry Rivera aka Mr. Coco Palms (American singer and entertainer), 92 Larry Rivera, a legendary fixture of Kauai, Hawaii whose career spanned over seven decades and who worked alongside Elvis Presley in ‘Blue Hawaii’ has passed away at the age of 92. … via 2911.us

[02 Feb 2023] Caspar Richter (German conductor for Vereinigte Bühnen Wien), 78 The German Musical Community is grieving the loss of one of the VBW's founding fathers, Caspar Richter, who passed away last night. … via broadwayworld.com

[02 Feb 2023] Yung Trappa (Russian rapper), 27 On February 3, 27-year-old rapper Yung Trappa (real name Vladislav Shiryaev) died in St. Petersburg. This is reported by the Telegram channel "Caution, news" with reference to its own source. … via gazeta.ru

[01 Feb 2023] Lucy Quintero (Panamanian folk singer), 74, heart attack Panamanian typical music is in mourning, after the death of the singer Lucy Quintero, at the age of 74. The "Perla Negra de Monagrillo", as she is known, was a vocalist for 26 years in the ensemble "Plumas Negras" led by Victorio Vergara Batista. … via panamaamerica.com

[01 Feb 2023] Maria Mykolaychuk (Мария Миколайчук) (Ukrainian singer and actress), 81 Soviet and Ukrainian actress and singer, widow of the legendary Soviet actor and director Ivan Mykolaichuk, died at the age of 82 … via argumenti.ru