2021 in American music

The following is a list of events and releases that happened in 2021 in music in the United States.

January

 * 8 – Olivia Rodrigo released her debut single, "Drivers License", which was met with critical acclaim and went on to break several records.
 * 29 – Lia Ices released her first album in four years, Family Album.

February

 * 5 – Foo Fighters released their first album in four years, Medicine at Midnight.
 * 7 – Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan performed the national anthem, H.E.R. performed "America The Beautiful", and The Weeknd performed the halftime show during Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
 * 12 – Jillette Johnson released her first album in four years, It's A Beautiful Day And I Love You.
 * Robin Thicke released his first album in seven years, On Earth, and in Heaven.
 * Taylor Swift released a re-recorded version of her 2008 single "Love Story", entitled "Love Story (Taylor's Version)". It is the lead single off Fearless (Taylor's Version), a re-recorded version of her second studio album.
 * 26 – Julien Baker released her first album in four years, Little Oblivions.
 * NOFX released their first album in five years, Single Album.

March

 * 5 – Tigers Jaw released their first album in four years, I Won't Care How You Remember Me.
 * A Day to Remember released their first album in five years, You're Welcome.
 * Chevelle released their first album in five years, Niratias. It was also their first album released as a duo following the departure of longtime bassist Dean Bernardini at the end of 2019.
 * Kings of Leon released their first album in five years, When You See Yourself.
 * The Spill Canvas released their first album in nine years, Conduit.
 * 12 – Rob Zombie released his first album in five years, The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy.
 * Nick Jonas released his first solo album in five years, Spaceman.
 * Eyehategod released their first album in seven years, A History of Nomadic Behavior.
 * 14 – The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Awards were originally scheduled for January 31, at the Staples Center but were pushed back due to escalating COVID-19 cases and health concerns in Los Angeles County. Beyoncé won the most awards with four. Billie Eilish won her second consecutive Record of the Year award for "Everything I Wanted", while Taylor Swift won her third Album of the Year award for Folklore.
 * 19 – KSHMR released his debut album Harmonica Andromeda.
 * Justin Bieber released his sixth album, Justice (Justin Bieber album).
 * 26 – Evanescence released their first album of all-original material in ten years, The Bitter Truth.
 * Tomahawk released their first album in eight years, Tonic Immobility.
 * The Juliana Theory released their first album in 16 years, A Dream Away.
 * Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) and Richie Kotzen (The Winery Dogs) released their self titled debut album, Smith/Kotzen.

April

 * 2 – Demi Lovato released their first album in four years, Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over.
 * 9 – Taylor Swift released Fearless (Taylor's Version), a re-recorded version of her 2008 album of the same name. Swift had announced her intention to re-record her first six studio albums after her master recordings were sold to Scooter Braun. The album became the first ever re-recorded album to top the US Billboard 200 chart.
 * Rapper DMX died at the age of 50, one week after suffering a heart attack from a drug overdose.
 * 16 – Cannibal Corpse released their first album in four years, Violence Unimagined.
 * Liquid Tension Experiment released their first album in 22 years, Liquid Tension Experiment 3.
 * The Offspring released their first album in nine years, Let the Bad Times Roll. It is also their first album without original bassist Greg K., who was fired from the band in 2018, and their last album with drummer Pete Parada who was ejected from the band in August 2021.
 * 18 – The 56th Academy of Country Music Awards took place at various locations in Nashville.
 * 23 – Porter Robinson released his sophomore album, and also his first in seven years, Nurture.
 * Dinosaur Jr. released their first album in five years, Sweep It Into Space.
 * 30 – Flotsam and Jetsam was scheduled to begin their Demolition of North America tour at the Club Red in Tempe, Arizona; this tour had previously been postponed from 2020 to this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was later put on hold until further notice. A new album, Blood in the Water, previously expected to coincide with the tour, was released on June 4.
 * Manchester Orchestra released their first album in four years, The Million Masks of God.
 * Dropkick Murphys released their first album in four years, Turn Up That Dial.
 * Shelley, formerly DRAM, released his first album in five years, Shelley FKA DRAM.

May

 * 7 – Travis Tritt released his first album in fourteen years, Set in Stone.
 * 14 – Alan Jackson released his first album in six years, Where Have You Gone.
 * 21 – Blake Shelton released his first album in four years, Body Language.
 * Olivia Rodrigo's debut album, Sour, was released to critical acclaim and commercial success.
 * Counting Crows released their first new music in seven years, Butter Miracle, Suite One, a four-song EP that plays as a suite.
 * 23 – The Billboard Music Awards took place in Los Angeles.
 * Chayce Beckham won the nineteenth season of American Idol. Willie Spence was named runner-up.
 * 24 – Megadeth parted ways with its co-founder, bassist David Ellefson, following accusations of sexual misconduct on his part. Ellefson denied the allegations as false and is currently pursuing charges and a defamation lawsuit against the accuser. The woman involved also made a statement denying the allegations.
 * 25 – Cam Anthony won the twentieth season of The Voice. Kenzie Wheeler was named runner-up. Jordan Matthew Young, Rachel Mac, and Victor Solomon finished third, fourth, and fifth place respectively.
 * 28 – DMX's first album in nine years, Exodus, was released following his death in April.

June

 * 4 – Rise Against released their first album in four years, Nowhere Generation.
 * – Atreyu released Baptize, their first album without co-frontman Alex Varkatzas (who left in 2020), and also with Brandon Saller moving away from the drums to focus only on vocals.
 * – Lloyd Banks released his first album in 11 years, The Course of the Inevitable.
 * – Liz Phair released her first album in 11 years, Soberish.
 * 9 — The CMT Music Awards took place in Nashville. Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini hosts.
 * 11 – AFI released their first album in four years, Bodies.
 * – Azure Ray released their first album in 11 years, Remedy.
 * – Garbage released their first album in five years, No Gods No Masters.
 * – Maroon 5 released their first album in four years, Jordi.
 * 18 – Fear Factory released their first album in six years, Aggression Continuum. It is their first studio album released following former vocalist Burton C. Bell's departure from the previous year, though his vocals from the album's 2017 sessions are still present.
 * 25 – Gary Allan released his first album in eight years, Ruthless.
 * Modest Mouse released their first album in six years, The Golden Casket.

July

 * 9 – The Wallflowers released their first album in nine years, Exit Wounds.
 * 16 – Caveman released their first album in five years, Smash.
 * – John Mayer released his first album in four years, Sob Rock.
 * 23 – Descendents released their first album in five years, 9th & Walnut.
 * - Dave Matthews Band embarked on their 2021 Summer Tour, playing the first show in Raleigh, NC.
 * 24 - Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and Weezer kicked off the Hella Mega Tour, which had been postponed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 * 30 – Jack Antonoff's project Bleachers released its first album in four years, Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night.
 * – Isaiah Rashad released his first album in five years, The House Is Burning.
 * – Billie Eilish released her sophomore album, Happier Than Ever.

August

 * 6 – Willy Mason released his first album in eight years, Already Dead.
 * Billy Currington released his first album in six years, Intuition.
 * 13 – Quicksand released their first album in four years, Distant Populations.
 * 18 – Kiss resumed their End of the Road World Tour at Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts, following 17 months of postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 * 20 – Connie Smith released her first album in ten years, The Cry of The Heart.
 * James McMurtry released his first album in six years, The Horses and the Hounds.
 * 27 – OneRepublic released their first album in five years, Human.

September

 * 3 – Molly Lewis released her first album in six years, The Forgotten Edge.
 * 10 – Sleigh Bells released their first album in five years, Texis.
 * 12 – The 2021 MTV Video Music Awards took place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
 * 17 – Candlebox released their first album in five years, Wolves.
 * 17 – ZillaKami released his debut album, DOG BOY.
 * 24 – Angels & Airwaves released their first album in seven years, Lifeforms.

October

 * 12 – Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell announced his retirement from the band to focus on his health following an erratic performance at the Big Sip festival in Bethel, New York.
 * 15 – Kelly Clarkson released her first album in four years, When Christmas Comes Around....
 * Gemini Syndrome released their first album in five years, 3rd Degree - The Raising.
 * 19 – The 52nd GMA Dove Awards were held at the Allen Arena located in Nashville, Tennessee. Steven Furtick led the non-artist nominations with ten nominations, whilst Elevation Worship and Brandon Lake led the artist nominations with seven each.
 * 22 – Fuel released their first album in seven years, Anomaly. It is their first album to feature new lead singer John Corsale, following the second departure of original lead singer Brett Scallions. Co-founding member Carl Bell made his return on this album for the first time since 2007's Angels & Devils, and drummer Kevin Miller appeared for the first time since 2003's Natural Selection.
 * Every Time I Die released their first album in five years, Radical.
 * Together Pangea released their first album in eleven years, Dye.
 * 29 – Mastodon released their first album in four years, Hushed and Grim.
 * The War on Drugs released their first album in four years, I Don't Live Here Anymore.
 * Tori Amos released her first album in four years, Ocean to Ocean.
 * 31 – Limp Bizkit released their first album in ten years, Still Sucks.

November

 * 10 - The Country Music Association Awards took place at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville; Luke Bryan hosts.
 * 12 – Taylor Swift released her second re-recorded album, Red (Taylor's Version), a freshly recorded issue of her 2012 studio album, Red.
 * Silk Sonic, consisting of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, released their debut album, An Evening with Silk Sonic. It was Mars' first album in five years.
 * Walk the Moon released their first album in four years, Heights. It was their first album recorded as a trio after the band parted ways with bassist Kevin Ray in 2020.
 * 19 – Exodus released their first studio album in seven years, Persona Non Grata.
 * Converge and Chelsea Wolfe released their collaborative album, Bloodmoon: I. It was Converge's first album in four years.
 * 21 – The American Music Awards took place at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles. BTS, Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion took home the most awards with three each.
 * 26 – Marvin Peterson reissued his live album, In Concert.
 * Cynic released their first album in seven years, Ascension Codes. It was their first release since the 2020 deaths of bassist Sean Malone and former founding drummer Sean Reinert.

December

 * 10 – Marie Osmond released her first album in five years, Unexpected.
 * 14 – Girl Named Tom won the twenty-first season of The Voice. Wendy Moten was named runner-up. Paris Winningham, Hailey Mia, and Jershika Maple finished third, fourth, and fifth place respectively.
 * 17 – John Dwyer released his first album in fifteen years, Gong Splat
 * 31 – Mourning Noise released their compilation album Mourning Noise

Bands formed

 * Silk Sonic

Bands reformed

 * 7 Seconds
 * Big Time Rush
 * The Bravery
 * Crossbreed
 * Element Eighty
 * Mudvayne
 * New Radicals
 * The Summer Set

Bands disbanded

 * Beach Slang
 * Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan
 * Fat Boys
 * Hollywood Monsters
 * Rascal Flatts
 * Return to Forever

Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 Songs

 * "All I Want for Christmas Is You" – Mariah Carey (2 weeks in 2019, 2 weeks in 2020, 2 weeks in 2021)
 * "All Too Well (Taylor's Version)" – Taylor Swift (1 week)
 * "Butter" – BTS (10 weeks)
 * "Drivers License" – Olivia Rodrigo (8 weeks)
 * "Easy on Me" – Adele (7 weeks)
 * "Good 4 U" – Olivia Rodrigo (1 week)
 * "Industry Baby" – Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow (1 week)
 * "Leave the Door Open" – Silk Sonic, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak (2 weeks)
 * "Mood" – 24kGoldn feat. Iann Dior (6 weeks in 2020, 2 weeks in 2021)
 * "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" – Lil Nas X (1 week)
 * "My Universe" – Coldplay and BTS (1 week)
 * "Peaches" – Justin Bieber feat. Daniel Caesar and Giveon (1 week)
 * "Permission to Dance" – BTS (1 week)
 * "Rapstar" – Polo G (2 weeks)
 * "Save Your Tears" – The Weeknd and Ariana Grande (2 weeks)
 * "Stay" – The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber (7 weeks)
 * "Up" – Cardi B (1 week)
 * "Way 2 Sexy" – Drake feat. Future and Young Thug (1 week)
 * "What's Next" – Drake (1 week)

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.

• "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" – Olivia Rodrigo (#19)

• "100 Mil'" – J. Cole and Bas (#14)

• "34+35" – Ariana Grande feat. Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion (#2)

• "7 Summers" – Morgan Wallen (#6 in 2020, #18 in 2021)

• "7AM on Bridle Path" – Drake (#16)

• "95 South" – J. Cole (#8)

• "A Holly Jolly Christmas" – Burl Ives (#4)

• "ABCDEFU" – Gayle (#15)

• "All I Want for Christmas Is You" – Mariah Carey (#1)

• "All Too Well (Taylor's Version)" – Taylor Swift (#1)

• "Already Dead" – Juice Wrld (#20)

• "Am I the Only One" – Aaron Lewis (#14)

• "Amari" – J. Cole (#5)

• "Anyone" – Justin Bieber (#6)

• "Applying Pressure" – J. Cole (#13)

• "Astronaut in the Ocean" – Masked Wolf (#6)

• "Back in Blood" – Pooh Shiesty feat. Lil Durk (#13)

• "Bad Habits" – Ed Sheeran (#2)

• "Bang!" – AJR (#8)

• "Beat Box" – SpotemGottem feat. Pooh Shiesty or DaBaby (#12)

• "Beautiful Mistakes" – Maroon 5 feat. Megan Thee Stallion (#13)

• "Beggin'" – Måneskin (#13)

• "Best Friend" – Saweetie feat. Doja Cat (#14)

• "Better Together" – Luke Combs (#15)

• "Blinding Lights" – The Weeknd (#1 in 2020, #3 in 2021)

• "Body" – Megan Thee Stallion (#12 in 2020, #16 in 2021)

• "Brutal" – Olivia Rodrigo (#12)

• "Bubbly" – Young Thug, Drake and Travis Scott (#20)

• "Butter" – BTS (#1)

• "Calling My Phone" – Lil Tjay feat. 6lack (#3)

• "Champagne Poetry" – Drake (#4)

• "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" – Darlene Love (#17)

• "Cold Heart (Pnau remix)" – Elton John and Dua Lipa (#11)

• "Dakiti" – Bad Bunny and Jhay Cortez (#5 in 2020, #17 in 2021)

• "Deja Vu" – Olivia Rodrigo (#3)

• "Drivers License" – Olivia Rodrigo (#1)

• "Dynamite" – BTS (#1 in 2020, #5 in 2021)

• "Easy on Me" – Adele (#1)

• "Enough for You" – Olivia Rodrigo (#14)

• "Escape Plan" – Travis Scott (#11)

• "Essence" – Wizkid feat. Tems and Justin Bieber (#9)

• "Every Chance I Get" – DJ Khaled feat. Lil Baby and Lil Durk (#20)

• "Fair Trade" – Drake feat. Travis Scott (#3)

• "Family Ties" – Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar (#18)

• "Fancy Like" – Walker Hayes (#3)

• "Favorite Crime" – Olivia Rodrigo (#16)

• "Feliz Navidad" – José Feliciano (#6)

• "For the Night" – Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby and DaBaby (#6 in 2020, #11 in 2021)

• "Forever After All" – Luke Combs (#2 in 2020, #12 in 2021)

• "Girls Want Girls" – Drake feat. Lil Baby (#2)

• "Go Crazy" – Chris Brown and Young Thug (#3)

• "Good 4 U" – Olivia Rodrigo (#1)

• "Good Days" – SZA (#9)

• "Good Time" – Niko Moon (#20)

• "Happier" – Olivia Rodrigo (#15)

• "Happier Than Ever" – Billie Eilish (#11)

• "Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season" – Andy Williams (#18)

• "Hats Off" – Lil Baby, Lil Durk and Travis Scott (#16)

• "Having Our Way" – Migos feat. Drake (#15)

• "Heartbreak Anniversary" – Giveon (#16)

• "Heat Waves" – Glass Animals (#7)

• "Hold On" – Justin Bieber (#20)

• "Holy" – Justin Bieber feat. Chance the Rapper (#3 in 2020, #4 in 2021)

• "Hurricane" – Kanye West (#6)

• "I Drink Wine" – Adele (#18)

• "I Hate U" – SZA (#7)

• "I Hope" – Gabby Barrett feat. Charlie Puth (#3 in 2020, #8 in 2021)

• "If I Didn't Love You" – Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood (#15)

• "In the Bible" – Drake feat. Lil Durk and Giveon (#7)

• "Industry Baby" – Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow (#1)

• "Interlude" – J. Cole (#8)

• "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" – Michael Bublé (#20)

• "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" – Perry Como and The Fontane Sisters with Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra (#12 in 2020, #15 in 2021)

• "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" – Andy Williams (#5)

• "Jail" – Kanye West (#10)

• "Jingle Bell Rock" – Bobby Helms (#3)

• "Junya" – Kanye West (#16)

• "Kings & Queens" – Ava Max (#13 in 2020, #15 in 2021)

• "Kiss Me More" – Doja Cat feat. SZA (#3)

• "Knife Talk" – Drake feat. 21 Savage and Project Pat (#4)

• "Last Christmas" – Wham! (#9)

• "Late at Night" – Roddy Ricch (#20)

• "Laugh Now Cry Later" – Drake feat. Lil Durk (#2 in 2020, #7 in 2021)

• "Leave Before You Love Me" – Marshmello and Jonas Brothers (#19)

• "Leave the Door Open" – Silk Sonic, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak (#1)

• "Lemon Pepper Freestyle" – Drake feat. Rick Ross (#3)

• "Lemonade" – Internet Money and Gunna feat. Don Toliver and Nav (#6 in 2020, #12 in 2021)

• "Let Go My Hand" – J. Cole, Bas and 6lack (#19)

• "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" – Dean Martin (#8)

• "Levitating" – Dua Lipa feat. DaBaby (#2)

• "Lonely" – Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco (#12)

• "Love All" – Drake feat. Jay-Z (#10)

• "Love Story (Taylor's Version)" – Taylor Swift (#11)

• "Miss the Rage" – Trippie Redd and Playboi Carti (#11)

• "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" – Lil Nas X (#1)

• "Mood" – 24kGoldn feat. Iann Dior (#1)

• "Moon" – Kanye West (#17)

• "More Than My Hometown" – Morgan Wallen (#15 in 2020, #16 in 2021)

• "Motley Crew" – Post Malone (#13)

• "My Ex's Best Friend" – Machine Gun Kelly feat. Blackbear (#20)

• "My Life" – J. Cole, 21 Savage and Morray (#2)

• "My Universe" – Coldplay and BTS (#1)

• "N 2 Deep" – Drake feat. Future (#12)

• "Need to Know" – Doja Cat (#8)

• "No Friends in the Industry" – Drake (#11)

• "No Love" – Summer Walker and SZA (#13)

• "Off the Grid" – Kanye West (#11)

• "Oh My God" – Adele (#5)

• "Ok Ok" – Kanye West (#12)

• "On Me" – Lil Baby (#15)

• "One Right Now" – Post Malone and The Weeknd (#6)

• "Papi's Home" – Drake (#8)

• "Peaches" – Justin Bieber feat. Daniel Caesar and Giveon (#1)

• "Permission to Dance" – BTS (#1)

• "Pipe Down" – Drake (#14)

• "Positions" – Ariana Grande (#1 in 2020, #2 in 2021)

• "Praise God" – Kanye West (#20)

• "Pride Is the Devil" – J. Cole and Lil Baby (#7)

• "Punchin' the Clock" – J. Cole (#20)

• "Race My Mind" – Drake (#18)

• "Rapstar" – Polo G (#1)

• "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" – Brenda Lee (#2)

• "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" – Gene Autry (#16)

• "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" – DMX (#16)

• "Rumors" – Lizzo and Cardi B (#4)

• "Run Rudolph Run" – Chuck Berry (#10)

• "Santa Tell Me" – Ariana Grande (#17)

• "Save Your Tears" – The Weeknd and Ariana Grande (#1)

• "Seeing Green" – Nicki Minaj, Drake and Lil Wayne (#12)

• "Shivers" – Ed Sheeran (#5)

• "Skate" – Silk Sonic, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak (#14)

• "Ski" – Young Thug and Gunna (#18)

• "Sleigh Ride" – The Ronettes (#13)

• "Smokin Out the Window" – Silk Sonic, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak (#5)

• "Solid" – Young Thug and Gunna feat. Drake (#12)

• "State of Grace (Taylor's Version)" – Taylor Swift (#18)

• "Stay" – The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber (#1)

• "Street Runner" – Rod Wave (#16)

• "Streets" – Doja Cat (#16)

• "Super Gremlin" – Kodak Black (#20)

• "Take My Breath" – The Weeknd (#6)

• "Thats What I Want" – Lil Nas X (#10)

• "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)" – Nat King Cole (#11)

• "The Good Ones" – Gabby Barrett (#19)

• "Therefore I Am" – Billie Eilish (#2 in 2020, #12 in 2021)

• "Thot Shit" – Megan Thee Stallion (#16)

• "Thriller" – Michael Jackson (#4 in 1984, #19 in 2021)

• "Tombstone" – Rod Wave (#11)

• "Traitor" – Olivia Rodrigo (#9)

• "TSU" – Drake (#9)

• "Underneath the Tree" – Kelly Clarkson (#12)

• "Up" – Cardi B (#1)

• "Wants and Needs" – Drake feat. Lil Baby (#2)

• "Wasted on You" – Morgan Wallen (#9)

• "Way 2 Sexy" – Drake feat. Future and Young Thug (#1)

• "What You Know Bout Love" – Pop Smoke (#9)

• "What's Next" – Drake (#1)

• "White Christmas" – Bing Crosby (#12 in 1962, #20 in 2021)

• "Who Want Smoke??" – Nardo Wick feat. G Herbo, Lil Durk and 21 Savage (#17)

• "Whole Lotta Money" – Bia feat. Nicki Minaj (#16)

• "Whoopty" – CJ (#10)

• "Wild Side" – Normani feat. Cardi B (#14)

• "Without You" – The Kid Laroi and Miley Cyrus (#8)

• "Wockesha" – Moneybagg Yo (#20)

• "WusYaName" – Tyler, the Creator feat. YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Ty Dolla Sign (#14)

• "Yonaguni" – Bad Bunny (#10)

• "You Broke Me First" – Tate McRae (#17)

• "You Right" – Doja Cat and The Weeknd (#11)

• "You're Mines Still" – Yung Bleu feat. Drake (#18)

• "Your Power" – Billie Eilish (#10)

Deaths

 * January 1 – Misty Morgan, 75, country music singer
 * January 7 –
 * Deezer D, 55, rapper, singer
 * Jamie O'Hara, 70, country music singer, songwriter
 * January 8 – Ed Bruce, 81, country music singer, songwriter
 * January 11 –
 * Howard Johnson, 79, jazz musician
 * Don Miller, 80, pop singer
 * January 13 –
 * Tim Bogert, 76, rock bassist
 * Duke Bootee, 69, rapper, producer and songwriter
 * Sylvain Sylvain, 69, glam rock guitarist
 * January 14 –
 * Duranice Paice, 62, gospel singer
 * Larry Willoughby, 73, country music singer, songwriter
 * January 16 –
 * Jason Cope, 43, country music guitarist
 * Phil Spector, 81, record producer, pop musician and songwriter
 * January 17 –
 * Junior Mance, 92, jazz pianist
 * Sammy Nestico, 96, jazz composer and arranger
 * January 18 – Jimmie Rodgers, 87, pop singer
 * January 21 – Randy Parton, 67, country music singer, songwriter
 * January 22 – James Purify, 76, R&B singer (James & Bobby Purify)
 * January 24 – Tom Stevens, 64, alternative country music bassist
 * January 29 – Grady Gaines, 86, blues saxophonist
 * January 30 – Double K, 43, rapper (People Under the Stairs)
 * February 2 – Aaron Wegelin, indie rock drummer
 * February 3 –
 * Anne Feeney, 69, folk singer-songwriter
 * Jim Weatherly, 77, pop and country singer, songwriter
 * February 4 –
 * Matt Harris, power pop bassist
 * Nolan Porter, 71, R&B singer-songwriter
 * Gil Saunders, soul singer
 * February 5 – Douglas Miller, 71, gospel singer
 * February 7 – Elliot Mazer, 79, record producer and audio engineer
 * February 8 – Mary Wilson, 76, soul singer (The Supremes)
 * February 9 –
 * Chick Corea, 79, jazz keyboardist and composer
 * Cedrick Cotton, 46, R&B singer
 * February 10 – Lee Sexton, 92, bluegrass banjoist
 * February 12 – Milford Graves, 79, jazz drummer
 * February 14 – Ari Gold, 47, R&B singer
 * February 16 – Carman, 65, contemporary Christian singer
 * February 18 –
 * Prince Markie Dee, 52, rapper (The Fat Boys)
 * Miles Seaton, 41, indie rock singer
 * February 19 –
 * James Burke, 70, soul singer
 * Jerold Ottley, 86, choral conductor
 * February 20 – Gene Taylor, 68, rock keyboardist
 * February 26 – Bob James, 68, hard rock singer
 * February 28 – Ian North, 68, power pop singer and guitarist
 * March 1 – Ralph Peterson Jr., 58, jazz drummer
 * March 2 – Mark Goffeney, 51, rock bassist
 * March 3 – Duffy Jackson, 67, jazz drummer
 * March 4 – Barbara Ess, 72, post-punk multi-instrumentalist
 * March 5 – Michael Stanley, 72, rock singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * March 11 –
 * Ray Campi, 86, rockabilly musician
 * Jewlia Eisenberg, 50, avant-rock singer
 * March 14 –
 * Reggie Warren, 52, R&B singer
 * Taylor Dee, 33, country music singer
 * March 17 –
 * Matt Miller, 34, indie rock keyboardist
 * Freddie Redd, 92, jazz keyboardist
 * Corey Steger, 42, metalcore guitarist
 * March 18 – Paul Jackson, 73, jazz fusion bassist
 * March 19 – Gary Leib, 65, new wave keyboardist
 * March 20 – Dan Sartain, 39, garage rock and rockabilly singer-songwriter
 * March 23 – Don Heffington, 70, roots rock drummer
 * March 25 – Tavish Maloney, 24, emo guitarist
 * March 26 – Brett Bradshaw, 50, glam metal drummer
 * April 2 – Morris Dickerson, 71, funk bassist and singer
 * April 9 – DMX, 50, rapper, songwriter and actor
 * April 10 – Bob Petric, indie rock guitarist
 * April 14 – Rusty Young, 75, country rock singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * April 16 – Mike Mitchell, 77, rock guitarist
 * April 17 – Black Rob, 51, rapper
 * April 18 – Paul Oscher, 71, blues singer
 * April 19 – Jim Steinman, 73, rock lyricist, composer, pianist, and record producer
 * April 21 – Joe Long, 88, pop rock bassist
 * April 23 – Shock G, 57, rapper (Digital Underground)
 * April 25 – Denny Freeman, 76, blues guitarist
 * April 29 –
 * Johnny Crawford, 75, pop singer
 * Tony Markellis, 68, jam band bassist
 * Will Mecum, 48, stoner rock guitarist
 * April 30 – John Dee Holeman, 92, Piedmont blues guitarist, singer, songwriter
 * May 1 – Wondress Hutchinson, 56, dance singer
 * May 2 – Tommy West, 78, music producer and singer-songwriter
 * May 3 – Lloyd Price, 88, singer-songwriter and businessman
 * May 6 – Pervis Staples, 85, gospel singer
 * May 8 – Curtis Fuller, 86, jazz trombonist
 * May 13 –
 * Norman Simmons, 91, jazz pianist and arranger
 * Jack Terricloth, 50, dark cabaret singer
 * Bill Tsamis, 60, metal guitarist
 * May 15 – Mario Pavone, 80, jazz pianist
 * May 16 – Patsy Bruce, 81, country songwriter
 * May 17 – Neal Ford, 78, psychedelic rock singer
 * May 19 – Alix Dobkin, 80, folk singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * May 20 – Roger Hawkins, 75, rock and soul drummer
 * May 24 –
 * John Davis, 66, dance pop music singer
 * Samuel E. Wright, 74, pop singer and actor
 * May 29 -
 * B.J. Thomas, 78, rock and pop singer
 * Johnny Trudell, 82, jazz trumpeter
 * May 31 – Lil Loaded, 20, rapper
 * June 3 – Karla Burns, 66, opera singer
 * June 7 – David C. Lewis, soft rock and new age keyboardist
 * June 8 – Dean Parrish, 79, soul singer
 * June 9 – Juan Nelson, 62, blues rock bassist
 * June 18 – Gift of Gab, 50, rapper (Blackalicious)
 * June 20 –
 * Gianna Rolandi, 68, opera singer
 * Jeanne Lamon, 71, violinist and conductor
 * June 23 – Ellen McIlwaine, 75, psychedelic rock and blues singer, guitarist
 * June 26 –
 * Jon Hassell, 84, jazz trumpeter
 * Johnny Solinger, 55, hard rock singer (Skid Row)
 * June 28 – Burton Greene, 84, free jazz pianist
 * July 1 – Bryan St. Pere, 52, alternative rock drummer
 * July 4 – Sanford Clark, 85, rockabilly singer
 * July 9 – Andrew Williams, 49, Christian rock drummer
 * July 10 –
 * Byron Berline, 77, bluegrass fiddler
 * Chris Hutka, 35, post-hardcore singer
 * July 11 – Juini Booth, 73, jazz bassist
 * July 14 –
 * Gary Corbett, 63, blues rock keyboardist
 * Jeff LaBar, 58, glam metal and blues rock guitarist (Cinderella)
 * July 16 – Biz Markie, 57, rapper
 * July 17 – Robby Steinhardt, 71, progressive rock singer and violinist (Kansas)
 * July 19 – Chuck E. Weiss, 76, blues rock singer-songwriter
 * July 21 – Clarence McDonald, 76, pianist, composer, arranger and producer
 * July 25 – Count M'Butu, 75, blues rock percussionist (The Derek Trucks Band)
 * July 26 –
 * Joey Jordison, 46, heavy metal drummer (Slipknot)
 * Mike Howe, 55, heavy metal singer
 * July 27 – Willie Winfield, 91, doo-wop singer
 * July 28 – Dusty Hill, 72, rock singer and bassist (ZZ Top)
 * July 29 – Gonzoe, 45, rapper (Kausion)
 * August 1 – Paul Cotton, 78, country rock singer
 * August 3 – Kelli Hand, 56, techno DJ
 * August 4 –
 * Razzy Bailey, 82, country singer
 * Paul Johnson, 50, house DJ
 * August 7 – Dennis Johnson, 70, saxophonist
 * August 9 – Chucky Thompson, 53, record producer
 * August 11 –
 * Mike Finnigan, 76, rock and jazz keyboardist
 * Roy Gaines, 83, electric blues guitarist
 * Caroline Peyton, 69, folk singer songwriter
 * August 12 – Ronnell Bright, 91, jazz pianist
 * August 13 –
 * Baba Zumbi, 49, rapper
 * Nanci Griffith, 68, folk singer songwriter
 * August 17 – Squeak, 26, hip hop producer
 * August 20 –
 * Tom T. Hall, 85, country singer songwriter
 * Larry Harlow, 82, salsa keyboardist
 * Michael Morgan, 64, classical conductor
 * August 21 –
 * Bill Emerson, 83, bluegrass banjoist
 * Don Everly, 84, country-rock singer and songwriter (The Everly Brothers)
 * August 22 – Eric Wagner, doom metal singer
 * August 26 – Kenny Malone, 83, country music drummer
 * August 29 –
 * John Drake, 74, rock singer
 * Ron Bushy, 79, psychedelic rock drummer
 * August 30 – Lee Williams, 75, gospel singer
 * September 1 – Carol Fran, 87, soul blues singer and pianist
 * September 5 – Rickie Lee Reynolds, 72, rock guitarist
 * September 7 – Warren Storm, 84, swamp pop singer and drummer
 * September 8 – Susan Anway, 70, indie rock singer
 * September 12 – Don Maddox, 90, country singer
 * September 13 – George Wein, 95, jazz pianist
 * September 15 – Leonard Gibbs, 73, jazz percussionist
 * September 16 – Jane Powell, 92, pop singer
 * September 20 –
 * Sarah Dash, 76, R&B and funk singer
 * Warner Williams, 91, blues guitarist
 * September 22 – Bob Moore, 88, country music bassist
 * September 23 – Sue Thompson, 96, pop and country singer
 * September 24 – Pee Wee Ellis, 80, jazz and soul saxophonist
 * September 26 – George Frayne IV, 77, country rock singer and keyboardist
 * September 27 – Andrea Martin, 49, R&B singer and songwriter
 * September 28 –
 * Karan Armstrong, 79, opera soprano
 * Lonnie Smith, 79, jazz organist
 * September 29 – Mike Renzi, 80, jazz pianist and conductor
 * September 30 – Carlisle Floyd, 95, opera composer
 * October 1 – Raymond Gniewek, 89, classical violinist
 * October 8 – Jem Targal, 74, psychedelic rock bassist
 * October 9 – Dee Pop, 65, post-punk drummer
 * October 11 – Deon Estus, 65, R&B bassist and singer
 * October 14 –
 * Emani 22, 22, R&B singer
 * Phil Leadbetter, 59, bluegrass resonator guitarist
 * Tom Morey, 86, jazz drummer
 * October 15 – Regi Hargis, 70, funk guitarist and singer
 * October 16 – Ron Tutt, 83, rock drummer
 * October 17 – Bruce Gaston, 74, classical instrumentalist
 * October 21 –
 * Tommy DeBarge, 64, funk bassist and singer
 * Robin McNamara, 74, pop rock singer-songwriter
 * October 22 – Jay Black, 82, pop rock singer
 * October 24 –
 * Willie Cobbs, 89, blues singer and harmonica player
 * Sonny Osborne, 83, bluegrass banjoist
 * October 26 – Rose Lee Maphis, 98, country singer
 * October 27 – William Shelby, 65, funk keyboardist
 * November 1 –
 * Emmett Chapman, 85, jazz guitarist
 * Pat Martino, 77, jazz guitarist
 * November 2 – Ronnie Wilson, 73, funk instrumentalist
 * November 8 – Margo Guryan, pop singer-songwriter
 * November 10 – Mike Gresema, 56, hard rock drummer
 * November 11 – John Goodsall, 68, progressive rock and jazz guitarist
 * November 13 – Philip Margo, 79, doo-wop singer
 * November 17 –
 * Young Dolph, 36, rapper
 * Keith Allison, 79, garage rock bassist
 * Dave Frishberg, 88, jazz pianist and songwriter
 * November 18 − Slide Hampton, 89, jazz trombonist
 * November 20 − Billy Hinsche, 70, pop singer, guitarist and keyboardist
 * November 21 − Yul Anderson, 63, blues and gospel singer, guitarist and pianist
 * November 22 − Joanne Shenandoah, 63, folk singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * November 24 − Marilyn McLeod, 82, R&B singer and songwriter
 * November 26 − Stephen Sondheim, 91, film and theater composer and lyricist
 * December 1 – Alvin Lucier, 90, experimental composer and sound artist
 * December 4 − Stonewall Jackson, 89, country music singer
 * December 7 − Greg Tate, 63, multi-genre guitarist and music critic
 * December 8 −
 * Gil Bridges, 80, rock saxophonist
 * Barry Harris, 91, jazz pianist
 * Ralph Tavares, 79, R&B singer
 * December 9 − David Lasley, 74, pop and R&B singer
 * December 10 − Michael Nesmith, 78, rock and country singer, songwriter and guitarist (The Monkees)
 * December 13 − Joe Simon, 85, R&B and soul singer
 * December 15 − Hub, 62, hip hop bassist (The Roots)
 * December 16 − Wanda Young, 78, R&B singer
 * December 18 − Kangol Kid, 55, rapper (UTFO)
 * December 19 − Drakeo the Ruler, 28, rapper
 * December 20 − Paul Mitchell, 53, R&B singer
 * December 24 − J.D. Crowe, 84, bluegrass banjo player
 * December 25 − Tiffini Hale, 54, pop singer (The Party)
 * December 30 − Stephen J. Lawrence, 82, television composer