10 Musicians Who Died In 2020
Remembering those we lost in 2020.
On top of everything else that has gone wrong in 2020, the world of music has lost some true icons across the past 12 months. From elder statesmen and women who had a great innings before finally departing to younger artists whose deaths took us all by surprise, the great rock band in the sky enlarged its ranks ever further this year.
With 2020 being such an unusually eventful time to be alive, some of these great stars’ passings may not have gained the column inches they normally might have, so this is an effort to rectify that. There may have been more pressing concerns for many of us, but this musicians made enormous contributions to art, culture, and life in general, and it’s only right that they’re celebrated accordingly as the year dwindles to a close.
From major stars to cult icons and everything in between, each of these 10 musicians leaves behind a body of work that will stand the test of time, often contributed to culture and society at large, and made a difference to the lives of a great many fans. They will be missed.
10. John Prine
The sharply political, warmly empathetic Prine was discovered by Kris Kristofferson in the early ‘70s and invited to open for the country star. He was then discovered by Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler, and quickly embarked on a successful career as a singer and songwriter.
Prine released a steady stream of country and folk records throughout his career, finding particular success in the ‘70s and early ‘80s. He wrote with wisdom and anger on topics like Vietnam and US drug policies, and won fans in luminaries like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. His song “Angel from Montgomery” quickly became a much covered American folk standard.
He was an inspiration for the next generation of folk and country singers, acting as a mentor figure for the likes of Sturgill Simpson and Kacey Musgraves, and duetted with the similarly wry Kurt Vile on Vile’s excellent 2020 EP.
Prine was among the first celebrity figures to succumb to the global pandemic, dying at age 73 of COVID-19 related complications. A tribute to the revered figure featuring many of those he influenced aired this June.