The coronavirus has infected countless millions of people and taken the lives of more than 465,000 as the pandemic continues to sweep the globe. And the rich and famous are not immune.
As more and more celebrities speak out about contracting and recovering from COVID-19, we’re also losing celebrated musicians to the virus. Read about the talented musical artists who’ve died after suffering complications from the coronavirus.
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Anne Feeney
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fight for the Future Anne Feeney, a folk singer who collaborated with Pete Seeger, John Prine and Peter, Paul and Mary, was also an impassioned activist who fought for workers’ and women’s rights. She died Feb. 3, 2021, of COVID-19 complications at age 69.
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Armando Manzanero
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Armando Manzanero, the seminal songwriter who wrote some of the most iconic and enduring songs in the Latin American songbook, died on Dec. 28. Manzanro had reportedly been diagnosed with the virus on Dec. 17 and was hospitalized five days later.
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Charley Pride
Image Credit: Erika Goldring/FilmMagic Pride, country music’s first African-American superstar, died Dec. 12 at age 86.
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Jerry Demara
Image Credit: Courtesy of Casa Nacional Regional Mexican singer-songwriter Jerry Demara died Nov. 30 at 45 years old after being hospitalized over the weekend. Demara died of complications stemming from COVID-19.
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Tommy DeVito
Image Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images Tommy DeVito, a founding member of the legendary 1960s Four Seasons band, died from the coronavirus at the age of 92 on Sept. 21.
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William Pursell
Image Credit: Courtesy of the Pursell archives The Grammy-nominated composer died on Sept. 5 at age 94 after a battle with COVID-19 and pneumonia, his daughter said. Pursell was famous for composing “Our Winter Love.”
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Trini Lopez
Image Credit: Stanley Bielecki/ASP/Getty Images Trini Lopez died of COVID-19 complications at a hospital in Palm Springs on Aug. 11. The “If I Had a Hammer” singer — who also had a role in The Dirty Dozen — was 83 years old.
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Dave Greenfield
Image Credit: Lorne Thomson/Redferns The Stranglers’ keyboardist, 71, died May 3 due to complications from COVID-19, the band announced. Greenfield is credited for penning the English group’s biggest hit, 1981’s “Gold Brown.”
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Nick Cordero
Image Credit: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images Broadway star Nick Cordero died on July 5, after a long battle with Covid-19 at the age of 41. Cordero, who starred in musicals such as Waitress, A Bronx Tale, and Bullets Over Broadway, is survived by his wife Amanda Kloots and his one-year-old son Elvis.
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Troy Sneed
Image Credit: Courtesy of Emtro Gospel The Grammy-nominated gospel singer, 52, died on April 27 due to complications from COVID-19. During his career, Sneed had seven records on the Top Gospel Albums chart, and also landed on the Hot Gospel Songs chart 13 times. He also appeared in the 1996 film The Preacher’s Wife, which starred Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington.
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DJ Mike Huckaby
Image Credit: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Eaton Hotel The influential DJ, recognized for his work in the Detroit techno and houes music scene died April 24 at age 54. He had suffered a mild stroke, but after improving, he started showing symptoms of COVID-19 and had to be put on a ventilator. He tested positive shortly before his death. Besides live performances, Huckaby also released his own music and was a staple at Detroit’s annual Movement festival.
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Fred the Godson
Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage The rising rapper, 35, died three weeks after revealing that he had been hospitalized with COVID-19. A member of the 2011 XXL Freshman class — along with Kendrick Lamar, Meek Mill and others — Fred the Godson was recognized for his exemplary wordplay and smooth delivery.
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John Prine
Image Credit: Rett Rogers Americana legend and revered singer-songwriter John Prine died April 7 from complications of COVID-19. The two-time Grammy-winning artist was 73. Prine’s family revealed his diagnosis on March 29. In a message posted to social media, his family let fans know that he had been in the hospital for several days and that his situation was “critical.” His wife, Fiona, gave an update April 2, stating that he was still “very ill,” yet she remained “hopeful.”
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Adam Schlesinger
Image Credit: Jason Merritt/FilmMagic for Superfly Presents The Fountains of Wayne member died on April 1 at age 52 from complications from the coronavirus. Schlesinger was a highly accomplished musician, with Grammy nominations for his work with the band, Oscar and Golden Globe nods for the music he wrote for That Thing You Do!, Tony nominations for Cry-Baby, an Emmy win for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and more.
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Joe Diffie
Image Credit: Crystal K. Martel The country artist died March 29 at age 61, two days after he shared his diagnosis. During his career, Diffie was known for hits such as “Bigger Than The Beatles,” “Third Rock From the Sun,” “Home,” and many more. The artist, who had a Grammy and CMA Award under his belt, also wrote hits for country artists including Tim McGraw and Conway Twitty.
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Matthew Seligman
Image Credit: Andy Sheppard/Redferns Matthew Seligman, best known as the bass player for The Soft Boys, died April 17 due to complications of the coronavirus. Former Soft Boys frontman Robyn Hitchcock confirmed the news of Seligman’s death in a heartfelt Facebook post. “I’m writing this as Matthew Seligman slips out of this life and into wherever souls go next,” wrote Hitchcock, who met Seligman in 1976. “Everybody goes, but none of us were expecting Matthew to leave us so abruptly, forever.” Seligman’s friend and former bandmate Thomas Dolby shared on Facebook that Seligman “suffered a catastrophic haemorrhagic stroke” after being admitted to St George’s in London for COVID-19.
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Lee Konitz
Image Credit: Photo by Douglas Mason/WireImage The 92-year-old jazz saxophonist died on April 15 from pneumonia related to COVID-19, his son told NPR. Over the course of his seven-decade career, Konitz played with Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Stan Kenton, and many others. His 1989 solo album, Lee Konitz in Rio, peaked at No. 22 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.
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Ellis Marsalis
Image Credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images The New Orleans jazz patriarch died on April 1 at age 85. He is survived by six sons, four of whom are musicians: Pulitzer and Grammy winner Wynton; Grammy winner Branford; trombonist and producer Delfeayo; percussionist Jason; photographer Ellis III; and Mboya. “Pneumonia was the actual thing that caused his demise,” Ellis III told the Associated Press. “But it was pneumonia brought on by COVID-19.”
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John “Bucky” Pizzarelli
Image Credit: Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images The jazz guitarist died at age 94 on April 1. His family told The New York Times that they believe he died from the coronavirus after testing positive. Over the course of the celebrated musician’s decades-long career, he played at the White House multiple times, including for Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, and also performed with Frank Sinatra. “Jazz guitar wouldn’t be what it is today without Bucky Pizzarelli,” said jazz guitarist Frank Vignola.
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Wallace Roney
Image Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images The Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter and composer was 59 when he died of complications from COVID-19 on March 31. The musician began his long and celebrated career when he was 12. He had performed with Miles Davis and was also featured in Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool.
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Alan Merrill
Image Credit: Michael Putland/Getty Images The singer and songwriter best known for co-writing “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” died at 69 on March 29. His daughter confirmed in a Facebook post that the coronavirus was his cause of death. The musician formed the band the Arrows in 1974, and later joined Runner. He also had several solo albums, and worked with various musicians, including Meat Loaf and Rick Derringer.
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Manu Dibango
Image Credit: David Corio/Redferns The influential musician died in France from the coronavirus on March 24 at age 86. Dibango was known for fusing funk with African rhythms, and became known around the world with his 1972 song “Soul Makossa.”
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Eddy Davis
Image Credit: Marc Broussely/Redferns Banjoist Eddy Davis, who called himself the Manhattan Minstrel, died of complications from coronavirus on April 7, according to musician Jim Eigo, who performed a weekly gig with Davis in New York for several years in the early 2000s. He was 79. Davis was also the bandleader of the Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band, most famous for its clarinetist, filmmaker Woody Allen. Davis received a Grammy for his work on the soundtrack for Allen’s film, Midnight in Paris. A jazz traditionalist, the Indiana native first played drums before turning to the banjo, according to wbgo.org. He is survived by his partner, Ruth Miller, and a daughter.
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DJ Black N Mild
Image Credit: Courtesy of Facebook The New Orleans DJ, born Oliver Stokes Jr., died at age 44 on March 19 after contracting the coronavirus. Stokes brought bounce music to the radio, and also DJed around the New Orleans region.