Music

CLASSICAL

One of the first African American singers to reach prominence on the international opera stage.

Soprano known for her performances of Wagner.

Principal clarinetist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic for nearly 45 years.

Soprano who originated the role of Bess in George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess."

Trumpeter with a broad range of musical interests, including jazz and classical, who later in life served as personnel manager for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

British maestro who conducted the BBC Philharmonic and the Royal Opera, died with his wife at an assisted-suicide clinic in Switzerland.

Leading philanthropist co-founded Music Center and aided in building Disney Concert Hall.

Polyglot American composer, conductor and pianist.

Los Angeles philanthropist was Medici for contemporary composers.

A master violin maker

Founder of the Junior Philharmonic of California

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer.

Los Angeles Philharmonic violinist, reported missing by his family and discovered dead four days later.

Cincinnati Pops Orchestra conductor

Musicologist noted for his pioneering research on Franz Joseph Haydn.

Renowned Spanish pianist.

British composer who brought William Styron's wrenching novel "Sophie's Choice" to the opera stage.

Wrote lyrics for the Russian and Soviet national anthems.

Longtime host of classical music programs on KUSC-FM (91.5).

American music theorist and scholar who was widely regarded as the composer who put a human face on atonal music.

Czech character actor and opera singer who played the Amish grandfather in the 1985 film "Witness."

Composer, conductor and professor at Cal State San Bernardino

Swedish soprano.

Philanthropist, musicologist and devoted champion of Polish classical music who co-founded the Polish Music Center at USC.

Principal trombonist for L.A. Philharmonic.

Cellist who founded the Church of Beethoven performance series in Albuquerque.

COUNTRY

Grand Ole Opry singer whose 1963 smash hit "Talk Back Trembling Lips" was one of the first country tunes to cross over into pop.

Country singer who was a teenage star on TV's "Hometown Jamboree" and "The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show."

Bluegrass bass player and singer with Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys.

One of the original members of the country rock band New Riders of the Purple Sage.

Singer-songwriter whose "Chiseled in Stone" was named the Country Music Assn.'s song of the year in 1989.

Country star wrote "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On" and was longtime Grand Ole Opry fixture.

EXECUTIVES AND AGENTS

Co-founded Mercury Records and was executive with MCA.

Music manager who represented Tony Bennett, Peter Frampton and others.

Actor and personal manager for Debbie Reynolds, Susan Anton and Liberace.

Veteran entertainment-industry executive who was chairman and co-owner of Concord Music Group.

Music industry executive who held key positions at several record labels including Atlantic, Warner Bros., MGM/UA and Mirage.

Founded Del-Fi records and his discoveries included the late rocker Ritchie Valens.

Music mogul served as business manager for Beatles and Rolling Stones.

Pop music manager, promoter and record executive who played a key role in the success of the bands Talking Heads, Blondie and the Ramones.

Entertainment industry veteran whose career included signing the Beatles while president of Capitol Records in the 1960s, and creating the character "Bozo the Clown" for children's read-along record albums in the 1940s.

Father and longtime manager of country singer Barbara Mandrell.

Los Angeles music industry veteran who rose from stock clerk to president of Motown Records.

Country music mogul who launched the careers of Roger Miller and Ray Stevens before resuscitating the fabled Sun Records label.

INTERNATIONAL

Helped bring the work of Belgian songwriter Jacques Brel to the U.S. in the revue "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris."

An Indian classical singer who battled caste and gender prejudices to establish a career that spanned more than seven decades.

Master of the sarod was key figure in introducing Indian music to the west.

Argentine singer who emerged as an electrifying voice of conscience throughout Latin America for songs that championed social justice in the face of government repression.

JAZZ

Drummer for John Coltrane

Daughter of Broadway entertainer and singer Pearl Bailey and jazz drummer Louie Bellson who went on to craft her own singing career.

Jazz drummer and band leader who combined remarkable instrumental virtuosity with far-ranging compositional skills.

New Orleans blues musician wrote the Emma James hit "My Dearest Darling."

South Los Angeles jazz organist.

A hard-swinging tenor saxophonist who formed a rowdy and successful onstage partnership with entertainers Louis Prima and Keely Smith in the 1950s.

Big-band and jazz singer known for her smoky voice.

Jazz and cabaret singer known for her sophisticated performances.

Founder of the Los Angeles blues club Babe's and Ricky's Inn.

Saxophonist was best known for his soloing in Gene Krupa's big band.

Jazz guitarist whose sprawling career included stints with musical giants Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker and as part of the Ink Spots.

Bass player and co-founder of Cuba's legendary Buena Vista Social Club.

Alto saxophonist best known for his work with Stan Kenton, Charles Mingus and Eberhard Weber.

Jazz guitarist who toured with Mangione, died in plane crash near Buffalo, N.Y.

Last surviving member of Montgomery brothers was fine pianist and vibraphonist.

Musician played saxophone, clarinet and flute in trumpeter Chuck Mangione's band, died in plane crash near Buffalo, N.Y.

Baritone saxophonist played in Herman and Kenton big bands.

Jazz musician who was daughter of noted pianist and composer Jimmy Rowles

A composer, educator and theorist who had a powerful effect on the jazz forms and methods that have evolved from the 1950s to the present.

Big-band singer and saxophonist.

Three-time All-American at Oklahoma who played 12 seasons in the NBA and later became a leading contemporary jazz musician.

Musician was instrumental in desegregating L.A. unions.

Trumpeter for a number of leading big bands who was best known for his association with Glenn Miller's orchestra in the 1940s.

LYRICISTS

Songwriter whose "Goodbye Horses" was featured in the 1991 film "The Silence of the Lambs."

Lyricist and former vice president and West Coast editor of Cash Box magazine.

Co-wrote 'Da Doo Ra Ron' and other 60's hits.

Songwriter penned "All or Nothing at All," "Beyond the Sea," and "Tenderly."

Prolific songwriter wrote "It's Now or Never" for Elvis Presley.

Musician who wrote the 1980s hit "The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)" for Grammy-winning singer Juice Newton.

POP

Professional wrestler who appeared in Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" music video.

TV host and a founding member of the singing group the Four Aces

Adapted the "Caisson" into the official song of the Army.

Guitarist for punk rock band the Stooges.

Keyboardist for Elton John's band.

Keyboard player and record producer for Bob Dylan, Kenny Chesney and Hank Williams Jr.

One of the Ronettes, the singing trio whose 1963 hit "Be My Baby" epitomized the famed "wall of sound" technique of its producer, Phil Spector.

Guitarist and songwriter and former member of the alternative band Wilco, died in his sleep.

Co-founder and original lead guitarist of the Ventures instrumental rock band.

Child star sang "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."

Steel guitarist for Buck Owens and later for Rick Nelson.

Staff composer wrote music for Disney films.

Guitarist and songwriter best known for his long association with Kris Kristofferson.

One of the singing King Sisters in swing vocal group and TV variety show.

Founder of the soul group the Delfonics.

Drummer who was considered an anchor in the Mississippi Delta blues scene.

Poet and punk rocker wrote wry tales of rocky adolescence as an athlete-turned-junkie in the 1978 memoir "The Basketball Diaries."

Singer twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Singer-songwriter created folk songs with an edge, died of intentional prescription drug overdose.

Irish singer inspired folk music in U.S.

Played baritone saxophone for Ray Charles and at times served as bandleader for the R&B pianist.

Father of the Grammy Awards telecast, he convinced network bosses to air the annual ceremony.

Influential alto saxophonist and arranger/conductor for Ray Charles.

Dubbed the "Father of Latin Boogaloo" for weaving a fluid, bilingual mix of musical influences.

Founder of the punk group Mink DeVille who was known for his blend of R&B, blues, Dixieland and traditional French Cajun ballads.

A piano player and producer who helped shape the Memphis sound.

Blind musician was a legendary blues player in New Orleans.

Singer was half of the 1960s folk duo Bud & Travis.

Bassist for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Fiddler, singer and songwriter on the Los Angeles roots music scene, found dead of suspected suicide.

Guitarist, singer and songwriter who co-founded the group NRBQ.

Half of the popular piano duo Ferrante and Teicher.

Chicago blues singer best known for his 1963 recording "Too Many Cooks."

Singer and 1940s leading lady whose most famous role was the terrorized prima donna in the first talking version of "The Phantom of the Opera."

Associate of Leo Fender who played a crucial role in the electric-guitar innovator's extraordinary success through his skills as a musician, artist and technician.

Singer with the Irish boy band Boyzone who made headlines when he came out as gay, died unexpectedly while vacationing in Spain.

Co-founder of rap group Slum Village

Celebrity disc jockey and Los Angeles club owner gained fame as DJ AM.

Bass player with 1970s rock hit-makers ELO.

Guitarist with Big Brother & the Holding Company, the psychedelic rock band that launched Janis Joplin to stardom.

Performed in the musical comedy duo the Hager Twins on "Hee-Haw."

Musician who co-founded the British folk-rock group Steeleye Span.

Folk singer, songwriter and naturalist based in San Diego.

Bassist, songwriter for progressive rock group Soft Machine.

Atlanta-based rapper who used the stage name Dolla, fatally shot in the valet waiting area of the Beverly Center mall.

Founder and front man of punk band the Cramps.

Legendary King of Pop transcended boundaries.

Composer won three Academy Awards writing film scores for David Lean.

Stalwart of the Los Angeles roots music scene whose lead guitar work landed him stints with Dwight Yoakam and Lucinda Williams.

Keyboardist and producer helped modernize dancehall music genre.

Drummer whose versatile, passionate beat helped fuel Motown hits.

Alabama blues singer and guitarist who appeared in Martin Scorsese's "Feel Like Going Home."

Studio musician played on countless albums during 1960s and '70s and was member of soft-rock group Bread.

Gospel singer who came to fame singing duets with gospel-music star Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Grammy Award-winning producer who worked with Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Fleetwood Mac and other rock bands

Lead guitarist for Paul Revere & the Raiders.

Drummer for short-lived but long resonating band Buffalo Springfield.

British singer-songwriter whose soulful songs were covered by Eric Clapton and others.

TV and film composer best known for themes to "Green Acres" and "The Addams Family"

Founder of the Masque club in Hollywood that helped launch the punk rock scene on the West Coast in the late 1970s.

Jazz saxophonist who was a key member of Ray Charles' band for a dozen years and later became a high-profile session player.

The virtuoso guitarist, VARIETY and relentless innovator who helped pave the way for rock 'n' roll.

Bassist and lead singer for band Blue Cheer.

Keyboardist with the band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Singer-songwriter and musician whose song "Peaceful" was a hit for Helen Reddy.

Co-wrote the film 'The Harder They Come,' which helped introduce reggae music to international audiences.

Sun Records artist whose career was overshadowed by others

Lead singer and founder of the 1960s L.A. garage band the Seeds.

Part of the pop duo England Dan and John Ford Coley had hit song "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight."

A folk musician, music historian and collector of traditional music.

Leading figure in West Coast jazz sound of the 1950s also had key roles in pop hits by the Association and the Mamas & the Papas.

Drummer for Orange County band Lit

Economics professor and banjo-playing folk singer who documented hobo music and culture.

Drummer for the Orange County heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold.

A Chicago musical icon who became a revered female blues vocalist with her signature hit "Wang Dang Doodle."

The female third of the quintessential folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary.

Inspiration for Beatles' hit "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds." She didn't like the song.

Half of the popular 1960s British singing duo of Peter and Gordon, who shot to the top of the charts in 1964 with "A World Without Love."

Vocalist who sang "Crawfish" with Elvis Presley in the 1958 film "King Creole."

Session guitar player who performed and recorded with Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Grammy-nominated patriarch of the award-winning gospel music family.

Co-founder of Alan Parson Project, a British progressive rock group

Grammy-nominated Gospel singer and composer known for his up-tempo praise songs.

Maryland socialite whose fatal beating of a black barmaid was recounted in Bob Dylan's 1964 folk song "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll."