2016 in American music

The following is a list of events and releases that happened in 2016 in music in the United States.

January

 * 8 — David Bowie released his final album, Blackstar, just two days before his death. It was his first album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200.
 * 11 — Ciara performed the National Anthem at the second College Football Playoff Championship.
 * 15 — Panic! at the Disco released their fifth studio album, Death of a Bachelor. It is their first album to be entirely written and recorded by Brendon Urie, the last remaining member of the band. It is also their first album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200.
 * 28 — Rihanna released her eighth studio album Anti; two days following its release the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) after receiving 1 million free downloads in 15 hours due to a deal with Samsung, becoming the fastest certified platinum album in history.

February

 * 7 — During Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, California, Lady Gaga performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and British band Coldplay performed at halftime with artists Beyoncé, Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson.
 * 15 – The 58th Annual Grammy Awards, hosted by LL Cool J, took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Kendrick Lamar won the most awards of the night with five. Taylor Swift won Album of the Year for the second time with 1989, becoming the first woman to do so; her previous win was for Fearless in 2010.
 * 26 – Anthrax released their first studio album in five years, For All Kings.

March

 * 4 — Ninja Sex Party released their first cover album, and album with Tupper Ware Remix Party as their backing band.
 * 5 – Rihanna's single "Work" became the first dancehall song to top the Billboard Hot 100 since Sean Paul's "Temperature" in 2006. It is also her 14th number-one hit, surpassing Michael Jackson, for having the third-most number-one songs of the Hot 100, behind Mariah Carey and The Beatles.
 * 11 — 3 Doors Down released their first studio album in five years, Us and the Night.
 * 18 — Gwen Stefani released her first solo studio album in ten years, This Is What the Truth Feels Like. The album became her first number one on the Billboard 200.
 * 19 — I, the Breather played their last concert in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
 * At the Drive-In's guitarist and co-founder, Jim Ward, leaves the band shortly before their 2016 reunion tour.
 * 25 — Zayn Malik, released his first solo studio album, Mind of Mine, and becomes the British male artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
 * 30 – R&B singer-songwriter Brandy filed a lawsuit against her label, Chameleon Entertainment Group, for allegedly blocking her from recording and releasing new music.

April

 * 1 — Cheap Trick released their first album in seven years, Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello.
 * Guns N' Roses performed a concert at the Troubadour, marking the first time Axl Rose performed with classic era band members Slash and Duff McKagan in twenty-three years.
 * 3 – The 51st Annual ACM Awards took place in Las Vegas. Chris Stapleton was the big winner of the night and Jason Aldean won the biggest award of the night, Entertainer of the Year. Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley were hosts.
 * The 3rd iHeartRadio Music Awards took place in Inglewood, California. Taylor Swift was the big winner of the night.
 * 7 — Trent Harmon won the fifteenth season of American Idol. This was the show's last season, but was picked up by ABC the following year. La'Porsha Renae is runner-up. All fourteen previous winners, and several Idol alumni took part of the two-hour finale.
 * 21 – Seven time Grammy Award winner Prince dies at his recording studio in Minnesota at the age of 57.
 * 23 — Beyoncé premiered her sixth studio album Lemonade on HBO with an hour-long film. The album was released on Tidal, where it remained exclusively available to stream for 24 hours, until it was uploaded to all formats, including iTunes. Upon the album debuting at number-one on the Billboard 200 chart, Beyoncé became the first act in Billboard history to have their first six albums debut at number one.
 * 29 — Drake releases his first studio album in three years, Views. The album spends longest time atop the Billboard 200 for a rapper, since To the Extreme by Vanilla Ice in 1990, spending 12 weeks at number-one.

May

 * 13 — Chance the Rapper, released his streaming-only album, Coloring Book, and becomes the first album to chart on the Billboard 200, without selling any copies.
 * 20 — Saosin released Along the Shadow, their first studio album since 2009, and also their first full-length album with original lead vocalist Anthony Green (who originally left the band before they released their 2006 debut). It is also their first album without lead guitarist Justin Shekoski.
 * 22 – The 2016 Billboard Music Awards took place in Las Vegas. Britney Spears won the Millennium Award, Céline Dion won the Icon Award and Rihanna won Chart Achievement Award.
 * 24 — Alisan Porter won the tenth season of The Voice. Adam Wakefield was named runner-up. Hannah Huston and Laith Al-Saadi finishing third and fourth place respectively. Christina Aguilera becomes the first female winning coach in The Voice history.
 * 27 — Thrice released their first studio album in five years after returning from hiatus.

June

 * 1 – The Dixie Chicks played their first headlining U.S. tour in ten years on the DCX MMXVI World Tour.
 * 10 – Former The Voice contestant Christina Grimmie, age 22, was shot following a concert in Orlando, Florida; she died from her injuries.
 * 17 - Red Hot Chili Peppers released their first studio album in five years, The Getaway.

July

 * 1 — Blink-182 released California, their first album to feature Alkaline Trio frontman Matt Skiba as a full-time member, and also their first album without founding member Tom DeLonge. It was also their first studio album in five years.
 * 15 — Good Charlotte released their first studio album in six years, Youth Authority.
 * 22 — Tonic released their first studio album in six years, Lemon Parade Revisited.
 * 29 – The Descendents released Hypercaffium Spazzinate, their first studio album in 12 years.

August

 * 6 — Sia became the first female artist over 40 years old to have a number one song, with "Cheap Thrills", since Madonna in 2000.
 * 20 — Frank Ocean released his first studio album in four years, Blonde.
 * 26 — Britney Spears released her first album in three years, Glory.
 * Céline Dion released her first French-language studio album in four years, Encore Un Soir and became one of the biggest-selling records of the year. The album was also a tribute to her husband, who passed away 7 months earlier.
 * Fear Factory perform live at Reload Festival in Sulingen, Germany. The performance marks the band's last live appearance for seven years and their final performance with original vocalist Burton C. Bell before his departure four years later.
 * 28 – The 2016 MTV Video Music Awards took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Beyoncé won eight awards, becoming the most-awarded act in the show's history, surpassing Madonna. Rihanna received the Michael Jackson Vanguard Award. Britney Spears makes her first performance in the show in nine years.
 * 29 – With "Ride" charting at number-five and "Heathens" at four in the same week, the musical duo Twenty One Pilots became the third rock act with simultaneous top five Hot 100 singles in the chart's 58-year history, following only the Beatles and Elvis Presley, as well as the first act in 47 years.

September

 * 30 — Solange releases her first studio album in eight years, A Seat at the Table.

October

 * 7 — Green Day released the first studio album in four years, Revolution Radio
 * 14 — JoJo released her first studio album in ten years, Mad Love.
 * 21 — Lady Gaga released her fourth studio album, Joanne, which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200, making her the first woman of the 2010s to have four number one albums
 * 28 — Dope released their first studio album in seven years, Blood Money Part 1.

November

 * 2 – The 50th Annual CMA Awards took place live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood returned to host for the ninth straight year.
 * 4 — Alicia Keys released her first studio album in four years, HERE.
 * 11 — A Tribe Called Quest released We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service, their first studio album since 1998 and also their final studio album.
 * 18 — Metallica released their first studio album in eight years, Hardwired... to Self-Destruct.
 * 20 – The American Music Awards took place live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Ariana Grande won Artist of the Year.

December

 * 12 — Live announced the return of original lead vocalist Ed Kowalczyk, who had left the band in 2009.
 * 13 — Sundance Head won the eleventh season of The Voice. Billy Gillman was named runner-up. Wé McDonald and Josh Gallagher finishing third and fourth place respectively.
 * 18 — Fifth Harmony announced that Camila Cabello had left the group.

Bands formed

 * Cruel Youth
 * lovelytheband
 * The Magpie Salute
 * Nightly
 * Prophets of Rage
 * Vimic
 * Why Don't We
 * PrettyMuch
 * Blackpink

Bands reformed

 * At the Drive-In
 * Abandon All Ships
 * The Anniversary
 * Bash & Pop
 * Belly
 * Blake Babies
 * Boss Hog
 * The Damned Things
 * A Different Breed of Killer
 * Eric B. & Rakim
 * Galactic Cowboys
 * Game Theory
 * G.R.L.
 * Guided by Voices
 * Hopesfall
 * Le Tigre
 * Letters to Cleo
 * Misfits (featuring Glenn Danzig)
 * Nasty Savage
 * The Number Twelve Looks Like You
 * Piebald
 * P.S. Eliot
 * Rainbow
 * The Revolution
 * The Righteous Brothers
 * Squirrel Nut Zippers
 * Stabbing Westward
 * Stir
 * A Thorn for Every Heart
 * Temple of the Dog
 * Thursday
 * Tickle Me Pink
 * The Union Underground

Bands on hiatus

 * Coal Chamber
 * Flyleaf
 * Man Overboard
 * Middle Class Rut
 * On An On
 * We Are the in Crowd
 * Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Bands disbanded

 * 3rdeyegirl
 * Agalloch
 * Aiden
 * Augustines
 * Bane
 * Blood on the Dance Floor
 * Chiodos
 * Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
 * Dinner and a Suit
 * Dream
 * Eagles
 * Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate)
 * Fearless Vampire Killers
 * Finch
 * For Today
 * Funeral for a Friend
 * Gnashing of Teeth
 * Gossip
 * I, the Breather
 * Joey + Rory
 * Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
 * A Lighter Shade of Brown
 * Lionheart
 * Matchbook Romance
 * Maybeshewill
 * Mischief Brew
 * Motion City Soundtrack
 * Mudvayne
 * P.M. Dawn
 * Thee Satisfaction
 * School of Seven Bells
 * Sockweb
 * Sorry About Dresden
 * The Stooges
 * Suicide
 * Trailer Choir
 * Transit
 * Twisted Sister
 * You, Me, and Everyone We Know

Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 Songs

 * "Black Beatles" – Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane (6 weeks)
 * "Can't Stop the Feeling!" – Justin Timberlake (1 week)
 * "Cheap Thrills" – Sia feat. Sean Paul (4 weeks)
 * "Closer" – The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey (12 weeks)
 * "Hello" – Adele (7 weeks in 2015, 3 weeks in 2016)
 * "Love Yourself" – Justin Bieber (2 weeks)
 * "One Dance" – Drake feat. Wizkid and Kyla (10 weeks)
 * "Pillowtalk" – Zayn (1 week)
 * "Sorry" – Justin Bieber (3 weeks)
 * "Work" – Rihanna feat. Drake (9 weeks)

Billboard Hot 100 Top 20 Hits
All songs that reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the year, complete with peak chart placement.

• "2 Phones" – Kevin Gates (#17)

• "24K Magic" – Bruno Mars (#4)

• "6 Inch" – Beyoncé feat. The Weeknd (#18)

• "679" – Fetty Wap feat. Remy Boyz (#4 in 2015, No. 11 in 2016)

• "7 Years" – Lukas Graham (#2)

• "Adventure of a Lifetime" – Coldplay (#13)

• "All I Want for Christmas Is You" – Mariah Carey (#11)

• "All We Know" – The Chainsmokers feat. Phoebe Ryan (#18)

• "Antidote" – Travis Scott (#16)

• "Back to Sleep" – Chris Brown (#20)

• "Bad Things" – Machine Gun Kelly and Camila Cabello (#10)

• "Black Beatles" – Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane (#1)

• "Broccoli" – DRAM feat. Lil Yachty (#5)

• "Cake by the Ocean" – DNCE (#9)

• "Can't Feel My Face" – The Weeknd (#1 in 2015, No. 15 in 2016)

• "Can't Stop the Feeling!" – Justin Timberlake (#1)

• "Caroline" – Aminé (#12)

• "Cheap Thrills" – Sia feat. Sean Paul (#1)

• "Close" – Nick Jonas feat. Tove Lo (#14)

• "Closer" – The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey (#1)

• "Cold Water" – Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber and MØ (#2)

• "Controlla" – Drake (#16)

• "Dangerous Woman" – Ariana Grande (#8)

• "Deja Vu" – J. Cole (#7)

• "Don't" – Bryson Tiller (#13)

• "Don't Let Me Down" – The Chainsmokers feat. Daya (#3)

• "Don't Mind" – Kent Jones (#8)

• "Don't Wanna Know" – Maroon 5 feat. Kendrick Lamar (#7)

• "Down in the DM" – Yo Gotti feat. Nicki Minaj (#13)

• "Ex's & Oh's" – Elle King (#10 in 2015, No. 14 in 2016)

• "Fake Love" – Drake (#10)

• "For Free" – DJ Khaled feat. Drake (#13)

• "Formation" – Beyoncé (#10)

• "Gold" – Kiiara (#13)

• "Hands to Myself" – Selena Gomez (#7)

• "Heathens" – Twenty One Pilots (#2)

• "Hello" – Adele (#1)

• "Here" – Alessia Cara (#5)

• "Hold Up" – Beyoncé (#13)

• "H.O.L.Y." – Florida Georgia Line (#14)

• "Hotline Bling" – Drake (#2 in 2015, No. 3 in 2016)

• "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" – Zayn and Taylor Swift (#6)

• "I Hate U, I Love U" – Gnash feat. Olivia O'Brien (#10)

• "I Know What You Did Last Summer" – Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello (#20)

• "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" – Mike Posner (#4)

• "Immortal" – J. Cole (#11)

• "In the Night" – The Weeknd (#12)

• "Into You" – Ariana Grande (#13)

• "Juju on that Beat (TZ Anthem)" – Zay Hilfigerrr and Zayion McCall (#5)

• "Jumpman" – Drake and Future (#12)

• "Just Like Fire" – Pink (#10)

• "Let It Go" – James Bay (#16)

• "Let Me Love You" – DJ Snake feat. Justin Bieber (#4)

• "Like I'm Gonna Lose You" – Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend (#8 in 2015, No. 9 in 2016)

• "Little Red Corvette" – Prince (#6 in 1983, No. 20 in 2016)

• "Love on the Brain" – Rihanna (#20)

• "Love Yourself" – Justin Bieber (#1)

• "Low Life" – Future feat. The Weeknd (#18)

• "Luv" – Tory Lanez (#19)

• "Make Me..." – Britney Spears feat. G-Eazy (#17)

• "Me, Myself & I" – G-Eazy and Bebe Rexha (#7)

• "Me Too" – Meghan Trainor (#13)

• "Middle" – DJ Snake feat. Bipolar Sunshine (#20)

• "My House" – Flo Rida (#4)

• "Needed Me" – Rihanna (#7)

• "Neighbors" – J. Cole (#13)

• "Never Be like You" – Flume feat. Kai (#20)

• "Never Forget You" – Zara Larsson and MNEK (#13)

• "No" – Meghan Trainor (#3)

• "On My Mind" – Ellie Goulding (#13 in 2015, No. 14 in 2016)

• "One Call Away" – Charlie Puth (#12)

• "One Dance" – Drake feat. Wizkid and Kyla (#1)

• "Ooouuu" – Young M.A (#19)

• "Oui" – Jeremih (#19)

• "Panda" – Desiigner (#1)

• "Party Monster" – The Weeknd (#16)

• "Perfect Illusion" – Lady Gaga (#15)

• "Piece by Piece" – Kelly Clarkson (#8)

• "Pillowtalk" – Zayn (#1)

• "Pop Style" – Drake feat. The Throne (#16)

• "Purple Rain" – Prince and The Revolution (#2 in 1984, No. 4 in 2016)

• "Ride" – Twenty One Pilots (#5)

• "Rise" – Katy Perry (#11)

• "Roses" – The Chainsmokers feat. ROZES (#6)

• "Same Old Love" – Selena Gomez (#5)

• "Scars to Your Beautiful" – Alessia Cara (#13)

• "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" – Adele (#8)

• "Side to Side" – Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj (#4)

• "Sorry" – Beyoncé (#11)

• "Sorry" – Justin Bieber (#1)

• "Starboy" – The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk (#2)

• "Starving" – Hailee Steinfeld and Grey feat. Zedd (#12)

• "Stitches" – Shawn Mendes (#4 in 2015, No. 6 in 2016)

• "Stressed Out" – Twenty One Pilots (#2)

• "Sucker for Pain" – Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa and Imagine Dragons with Logic and Ty Dolla $ign featuring X Ambassadors (#15)

• "Summer Sixteen" – Drake (#6)

• "The Greatest" – Sia feat. Kendrick Lamar (#18)

• "The Hills" – The Weeknd (#1 in 2015, No. 7 in 2016)

• "This Is What You Came For" – Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna (#3)

• "Too Good" – Drake feat. Rihanna (#14)

• "Treat You Better" – Shawn Mendes (#6)

• "Unsteady" – X Ambassadors (#20)

• "Used to This" – Future feat. Drake (#14)

• "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" – Silentó (#3 in 2015, No. 19 in 2016)

• "We Don't Talk Anymore" – Charlie Puth feat. Selena Gomez (#9)

• "What Do You Mean?" – Justin Bieber (#1 in 2015, No. 5 in 2016)

• "When Doves Cry" – Prince (#1 in 1984, No. 8 in 2016)

• "When We Were Young" – Adele (#14)

• "White Iverson" – Post Malone (#14)

• "Wildest Dreams" – Taylor Swift (#5 in 2015, No. 18 in 2016)

• "Work" – Rihanna feat. Drake (#1)

• "Work from Home" – Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign (#4)

Musical theater

 * Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, written by Dave Malloy: Broadway production starring Josh Groban and Denée Benton

Deaths

 * January 1 – Gilbert Kaplan, 74, conductor
 * January 2 – Brad Fuller, 62, composer
 * January 3 – Jason Mackenroth, 46, drummer (Rollins Band, Mother Superior)
 * January 4 – Long John Hunter, 84, blues singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * January 5
 * Nicholas Caldwell, 71, singer (The Whispers)
 * Elizabeth Swados, 64, composer
 * January 7
 * Robert M. Cundick, 89, organist and composer
 * Kitty Kallen, 94, singer
 * Troy Shondell, 76, singer-songwriter
 * January 8
 * Otis Clay, 73, R&B singer
 * Red Simpson, 81, country singer-songwriter
 * Brett Smiley, 60, singer-songwriter
 * January 10 - David Bowie, 69, singer-songwriter and actor
 * January 13 – Bern Herbolsheimer, 67 composer
 * January 15
 * Noreen Corcoran, 72, singer
 * Pete Huttlinger, 54, guitarist
 * January 16 – Gary Loizzo, 70, singer, guitarist, and producer (The American Breed)
 * January 17
 * Blowfly, 76, singer-songwriter and producer
 * Mic Gillette, 64, bass player (Tower of Power and Sons of Champlin)
 * Ramblin' Lou Schriver, 86, country singer
 * January 18 – Glenn Frey, 67, singer-songwriter and guitarist (Eagles)
 * January 20 – Lee Abramson, 45, bass player and composer
 * January 22 – Cadalack Ron, 34, rapper
 * January 26
 * Margaret Pardee, 95, violinist
 * T.J. Tindall, 65, guitarist (MFSB)
 * January 28
 * Signe Toly Anderson, 74, singer (Jefferson Airplane and KBC Band)
 * Paul Kantner, 74, singer-songwriter and guitarist (Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, and KBC Band)
 * January 29 – Billy Faier, 85, banjo player
 * February 1 – Jon Bunch, 45, singer-songwriter (Sense Field and Further Seems Forever)
 * February 3
 * Big Kap, 45, hip-hop DJ and producer
 * Maurice White, 74 singer-songwriter and producer (Earth, Wind & Fire)
 * February 4
 * Leslie Bassett, 93, composer
 * Joe Dowell, 76, singer
 * Jimmie Haskell, 79, composer and conductor
 * February 5 – Ray Colcord, 66, composer
 * February 6
 * Dan Hicks, 74, singer-songwriter, guitarist, and drummer (The Charlatans)
 * Sam Spence, 88, composer
 * February 8 – Ken Delo, 77, singer (The Lawrence Welk Show)
 * February 11
 * Bob Raymond, 69, bassist (Sugarloaf)
 * Kim Williams, 68, songwriter
 * February 12 – George Tipton, 84, composer and conductor
 * February 14
 * Steven Stucky, 66, composer
 * L. C. Ulmer, 87, blues singer-songwriter
 * February 15
 * Louis Lane, 92, conductor
 * Joyce Paul, 78, singer
 * Vanity, 57, singer-songwriter (Vanity 6)
 * February 17 – Ray West, 90, sound mixer (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope)
 * February 18 – Paul Gordon, 52, keyboard player and producer (New Radicals and The B-52's)
 * February 21 – Betty Jane Watson, 94, singer
 * February 22 – Sonny James, 87, country singer-songwriter
 * February 24 – Lennie Baker, 69, singer and saxophonist (Sha Na Na and Danny & the Juniors)
 * February 26 – C. L. Blast, 81, soul singer
 * March 1
 * Gayle McCormick, 67, singer (Smith)
 * Martha Wright, 92, singer
 * March 3 – Gavin Christopher, 66, R&B singer-songwriter and producer
 * March 4
 * Bankroll Fresh, 28, rapper
 * Joey Feek, 40, country singer (Joey + Rory)
 * March 5
 * Jimmy Henderson, 61, rock guitarist (Black Oak Arkansas)
 * Chip Hooper, 53, talent agent
 * March 6 – Aaron Huffman, 43, bassist (Harvey Danger)
 * March 7 – Joe Cabot, 94, jazz trumpeter and bandleader
 * March 8 – Ron Jacobs, 78, producer, co-creator of American Top 40
 * March 9
 * Karen Carroll, 58, singer
 * Ray Griff, 75, country singer
 * March 10
 * Ernestine Anderson, 87, singer
 * Gogi Grant, 91, singer
 * March 11
 * Joe Ascione, 54, jazz drummer
 * Shawn Elliott, 79, singer
 * Ruth Terry, 95, singer and actress
 * March 12 – Tommy Brown, 84, R&B singer
 * March 13 – Sidney Mear, 97, trumpeter
 * March 15 – Daryl Coley, 60, gospel singer
 * March 16 – Frank Sinatra, Jr., 72, singer-songwriter
 * March 17 – Steve Young, 73, country singer-songwriter
 * March 18
 * David Egan, 61, singer-songwriter
 * Ned Miller, 90, country singer-songwriter
 * March 22 – Phife Dawg, 45, rapper (A Tribe Called Quest)
 * March 23 – James Jamerson, Jr., 58, bass player (Chanson)
 * March 25 – Shannon Bolin, 99, actress and singer
 * March 26 – David Baker, 84, composer
 * March 29 – Patty Duke, 69, singer
 * March 30 – Frankie Michaels, 60, singer
 * March 31 – Terry Plumeri, 71, bassist, composer, and conductor
 * April 2 – Gato Barbieri, 83, jazz saxophonist and composer
 * April 3 – Bill Henderson, 90, jazz singer
 * April 4 – Carlo Mastrangelo, 78, doo-wop singer and bassist (The Belmonts)
 * April 5
 * Leon Haywood, 74, singer-songwriter and producer
 * Zena Latto, 90, jazz clarinetist and saxophonist
 * April 6
 * Dennis Davis, 66, drummer
 * Merle Haggard, 79, country singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * April 7 – Jimmie Van Zant, 59, singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * April 8 – Jack Hammer, 90, singer-songwriter and pianist
 * April 9 – Tony Conrad, 76, composer
 * April 12 – Gib Guilbeau, 78, musician and songwriter (The Flying Burrito Brothers)
 * April 13
 * Jeremy Steig, 73, jazz flutist
 * Pete Yellin, 74, jazz saxophonist
 * April 18 – Brian Asawa, 49, opera singer
 * April 19
 * Richard Lyons, 57, experimental musician (Negativland)
 * Pete Zorn, 65, multi-instrumentalist (Steeleye Span)
 * April 21
 * Lonnie Mack, 74, singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * Prince, 57, musician, singer-songwriter
 * April 24 – Billy Paul, 81, soul singer
 * April 25 – Remo Belli, 88, jazz drummer
 * May 7 – John Stabb, 54, singer (Government Issue)
 * May 12 – Julius La Rosa, 86, singer
 * May 13 – Buster Cooper, 87, jazz trombonist
 * May 14
 * Johnny Sea, 75, country music singer
 * Paul Smoker, 75, composer and jazz trumpeter
 * May 15 – Jane Little, 87, classical double bass player (Atlanta Symphony Orchestra)
 * May 16 – Emilio Navaira, 53, singer-songwriter
 * May 17 – Guy Clark, 74, singer-songwriter
 * May 21 – Nick Menza, 51, drummer and instrumentalist (Megadeth, OHM)
 * May 27 – Marshall "Rock" Jones, 75, bassist (Ohio Players)
 * May 28 – Floyd Robinson, 83, country singer
 * May 30 – Thomas Fekete, 27, guitarist (Surfer Blood)
 * June 4 – Phyllis Curtin, 94, soprano
 * June 8 – Norro Wilson, 79, country music singer-songwriter and record producer
 * June 9 – J. Reilly Lewis, 71, choral conductor and Baroque music specialist
 * June 10 – Christina Grimmie, 22, singer-songwriter
 * June 12 – Chris Warren, 49, singer and musician
 * June 13
 * Anahid Ajemian, 92, violinist
 * Randy Jones, 72, jazz drummer (Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck, Maynard Ferguson)
 * Chips Moman, 79, songwriter and record producer
 * June 16
 * Jerome Teasley, 67, soul drummer
 * Charles Thompson, 98, jazz pianist
 * June 17 – Attrell Cordes, 46, singer and rapper (P.M. Dawn)
 * June 20 – Bill Ham, 79, manager (ZZ Top)
 * June 21 – Wayne Jackson, 74, trumpeter (Mar-Keys, The Memphis Horns)
 * June 22 – Steve French, 56, gospel singer
 * June 23
 * Shelley Moore, 84, jazz singer
 * Ralph Stanley, 89, singer and banjoist (The Stanley Brothers)
 * June 24 – Bernie Worrell, 72, keyboardist (Parliament-Funkadelic)
 * June 26 – Mike Pedicin, 98, saxophonist and jazz bandleader
 * June 27 – Sir Mack Rice, 82, singer-songwriter
 * June 28 – Scotty Moore, 84, guitarist (Elvis Presley)
 * June 29
 * Stan Harper, 94, virtuoso harmonica player, arranger and composer
 * Rob Wasserman, 64, composer and bassist
 * June 30 – Don Friedman, 81, jazz pianist
 * July 3 – Richard Grayson, 75, composer and pianist
 * July 5 – Gladys Nordenstrom, 92, composer
 * July 6 – Danny Smythe, 67, drummer (The Box Tops)
 * July 9
 * Geneviève Castrée, 34, singer and guitarist
 * Maralin Niska, 89, operatic soprano
 * Carole Switala, 69, singer and voice actress
 * July 14 – Lisa Gaye, 81, actress, singer and dancer
 * July 15
 * Charles Davis, 83, jazz saxophonist
 * Erik Petersen, 38, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (Mischief Brew)
 * July 16
 * Bonnie Brown, 77, singer (The Browns)
 * Alan Vega, 78, singer (Suicide)
 * Claude Williamson, 89, jazz pianist
 * July 17 – Gary S. Paxton, 77, record producer, singer-songwriter (Skip & Flip, The Hollywood Argyles)
 * July 21 – Lewie Steinberg, 82, bassist (Booker T. & the M.G.'s)
 * July 22 – Dominic Duval, 71, free jazz bassist
 * July 24 – Marni Nixon, 86, singer
 * July 25 – Allan Barnes, 66, jazz saxophonist (The Blackbyrds)
 * July 26 – Sandy Pearlman, 72, record producer and band manager (Blue Öyster Cult, The Clash, Black Sabbath)
 * July 27 – Pat Upton, 75, singer, guitarist, songwriter (Spiral Starecase)
 * July 30 – Gloria DeHaven, 91, actress and singer
 * August 3 – Ricci Martin, 62, musician and singer, son of Dean Martin
 * August 4 – Patrice Munsel, 91, coloratura soprano
 * August 5 – Richard Fagan, 69, songwriter and musician
 * August 6 – Pete Fountain, 86, jazz clarinetist
 * August 7
 * B. E. Taylor, 65, singer
 * Ruby Winters, 74, soul singer
 * August 11 – Glenn Yarbrough, 86, folk singer
 * August 12 – Ruby Wilson, 68, blues and gospel singer
 * August 13 – Connie Crothers, 75, jazz pianist
 * August 14
 * DJ Official, 39, Christian hip hop musician (116 Clique)
 * James Woolley, 49, keyboardist (Nine Inch Nails)
 * August 15 – Bobby Hutcherson, 75, jazz vibraphone and marimba player
 * August 17 – Preston Hubbard, 63, bassist (The Fabulous Thunderbirds)
 * August 19 – Lou Pearlman, 62, record producer and manager (Backstreet Boys, NSYNC)
 * August 20
 * Irving Fields, 101, pianist
 * Matt Roberts, 38, guitarist (3 Doors Down)
 * Louis Smith, 85, jazz trumpeter
 * August 25 – Rudy Van Gelder, 91, recording engineer
 * August 30 – Hoot Hester, 65, country music and bluegrass artist (The Time Jumpers)
 * September 1
 * Fred Hellerman, 89, folk singer, guitarist, songwriter (The Weavers)
 * Kacey Jones, 66, singer-songwriter
 * September 2 – Jerry Heller, 75, music manager (N.W.A.)
 * September 6 – Clifford Curry, 79, R&B singer
 * September 16 – Jerry Corbetta, 68, singer-songwriter and keyboardist (Sugarloaf)
 * September 17 – Charmian Carr, 73, actress and singer
 * September 19 – Bobby Breen, 87, actor and singer
 * September 20 – Micki Marlo, 88, singer and model
 * September 21
 * John D. Loudermilk, 82, singer and songwriter
 * Shawty Lo, 40, rapper
 * September 24 – Buckwheat Zydeco, 68, accordionist and zydeco musician
 * September 25
 * Michael Jones (aka Kashif), 59, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, record producer (B.T. Express)
 * Jean Shepard, 82, singer-songwriter
 * October 8 – Don Ciccone, 70, singer-songwriter (The Critters)
 * October 24 – Bobby Vee, 73, pop singer
 * October 27 – John Zacherle, 98, television and radio personality, novelty singer
 * November 3 – Kay Starr, 94, jazz and pop singer
 * November 11 – Victor Bailey, 56, jazz bassist
 * November 13 – Leon Russell, 74, singer
 * November 14 – Holly Dunn, 59, singer
 * November 18 – Sharon Jones, 60, soul singer (Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings)
 * November 29 – Allan Zavod, 71, keyboardist (Frank Zappa, Jean-Luc Ponty, Eric Clapton, etc.)
 * December 2 – Mark Gray, 64, singer, songwriter, and keyboardist (Exile)
 * December 4 – Ralph Johnson, 67, singer (The Impressions)
 * December 7 – Brian Bennett, 65, garage-rock keyboardist (The Cherry Slush)
 * December 11 – Joe Ligon, 80, gospel singer (Mighty Clouds of Joy)
 * December 19 – Andrew Dorff, 40, songwriter
 * December 25 – Alphonse Mouzon, 68, jazz fusion drummer
 * December 28 – Debbie Reynolds, 84, actress and singer