May 11, 1888, September 22, 1989

Irving Berlin (born Israel Isidore Baline, May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-born Jewish-American composer and lyricist. Widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history, his music forms a great part of the Great Americ ...

August 20th, 1942, August 10th, 2008

Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. (August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008) was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and producer. Hayes was one of the creative forces behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as ...

February 7, 1974, February 10, 2006

James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006), better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer and rapper who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan. According to his obi ...

August 24, 1928, December 15, 1979

(August 24, 1928 or 1930 – December 15, 1979) was an American R&B singer and saxophonist, who recorded, with Ike Turner's band, the first version of the pioneering rock and roll song "Rocket 88". Brenston was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, United St ...

June 9, 1934, January 21, 1984

Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. (June 9, 1934 – January 21, 1984) was an American soul singer-songwriter and performer. A tenor with a four octave vocal range, he was nicknamed "Mr. Excitement", and was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into ...

4 May 1952, 23 March 1980

Jacob Miller (4 May 1952 – 23 March 1980) was a Jamaican reggae artist who first recorded with Clement Dodd. While pursuing a prolific solo career, he became the lead singer for reggae group Inner Circle with whom he recorded until his death in a car acci ...

January 21, 1965, October 30, 2002

Jason William Mizell (January 21, 1965 – October 30, 2002), better known by his stage name Jam Master Jay, was an American musician and DJ. He was the DJ of the influential hip hop group Run–D.M.C. During the 1980s, Run-D.M.C. became the biggest hip-hop g ...

January 29, 1936, August 2, 1983

James Lee Jamerson (January 29, 1936 – August 2, 1983) was an American bass player. He was the uncredited bassist on most of the Motown Records hits in the 1960s and early 1970s (Motown did not list session musician credits on their releases until 1971), ...

January 19, 1943, October 4, 1970

Janis Lyn Joplin (/ˈdʒɑːplɪn/; January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was a US singer-songwriter who first rose to fame in the late 1960s as the lead singer of the psychedelic/acid rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company, and later as a solo artist wit ...

December 25, 1967, July 29, 1996

Jason Matthew Thirsk (December 25, 1967 – July 29, 1996) was the former bass player of the California punk rock band Pennywise who grew up in Hermosa Beach, California. Pennywise was formed in 1988 by Thirsk along with singer Jim Lindberg, guitarist Fl ...

June 27, 1958, March 31, 1996

Jeffrey Lee Pierce (June 27, 1958 – March 31, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He was one of the founding members of the 1980s punk band The Gun Club, and also released material as a solo artist. Jeffrey's mother is Mexican-Ameri ...

February 2, 1941, April 7, 2010

Gerard Donald "Jerry" Byrne (February 2, 1941 – April 7, 2010) was an American rock and roll singer from New Orleans, best known for his 1958 single "Lights Out". The son of Charles and Mayme Byrne, he was born and raised in the Irish quarter of New Or ...

December 15, 1932, February 6, 1960

Jesse Lorenzo Belvin (December 15, 1932 – February 6, 1960) was an American R&B singer, pianist and songwriter popular in the 1950s, whose success was cut short by his death in a car crash aged 27. Belvin was born in Texarkana, Texas, and moved with hi ...

6 July 1939, 18 March 2011

Terence Harris MBE (6 July 1939 – 18 March 2011), known as Jet Harris, was an English musician. He was the bass guitarist of the Shadows until April 1962, and had subsequent success as a soloist and as a duo with the drummer Tony Meehan. Harris, the only ...

August 2, 1971, July 7, 2002

Jim Cherry was an American musician, most famous for being the bassist in the punk rock band Strung Out. His other musical credits include the guitar player in the band Pulley, and bassist/vocalist in the band Zero Down. Cherry was born James Paul Cher ...

December 17, 1947, June 5, 1990

Jim Hodder (December 17, 1947 – June 5, 1990) was an American drummer, best known as an early member of Steely Dan. After leading the group The Bead Game, Hodder joined the formative lineup of Steely Dan and appeared on their first three albums. He left t ...

December 8, 1943, July 3, 1971

James Douglas "Jim" Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971) was an American singer, songwriter, and poet best remembered as the lead singer of the Doors. Because of his songwriting, wild personality, performances, and the dramatic circumstances surr ...

November 27, 1942, September 18, 1970

James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most infl ...

23 May 1957, 29 March 1995

Jimmy McShane (born James Harry McShane; 23 May 1957 – 29 March 1995), was a Northern Irish singer, known as the front-man of Italian band Baltimora. McShane was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. He learned at a young age to play bass and guitar. As a c ...

September 6, 1925, August 29, 1976

Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed (September 6, 1925 – August 29, 1976) was an American blues musician and songwriter. A major player in electric blues, he had a significant impact on rock and roll artists such as Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Hank ...