George Michael's sister Melanie Panayiotou died suddenly age 59 on the third anniversary of the singer's death. George had left the bulk of his estate to her and her sister Yioda when he died aged 53 from heart and fatty liver disease.

George Michael died at his home aged 53. Thames Valley Police said South Central Ambulance Service attended a property in Goring in Oxfordshire at 13:42 GMT. The singer who launched his career with Wham in the 1980s and later continued his success as a solo performer, was said to have "passed away peacefully at home". Up to the time of his death, Michael sold more than 115 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Ed Sheeran was at No.1 on the UK album chart with x, (pronounced "multiply"). In 2015, x won the Brit Award for British Album of the Year, and at the 57th Grammy Awards it was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year. Spotify named x the most-streamed album in the world for 2014, racking up more than 430 million streams for the year.

Tony Bellamy guitarist, pianist and vocalist for the Native American rock band Redbone died of liver failure. Redbone had the 1971 UK No.2 & US No.21 single 'The Witch Queen Of New Orleans' and the 1974 US No. 4 hit single, 'Come and Get Your Love.' Redbone are accredited in the NY Smithsonian as the first Native American rock/Cajun group to have a No.1 single in the United States and internationally. Bellamy had performed with Dobie Gray, and was a member of Peter and the Wolves (a band from San Francisco that evolved into the psychedelic band Moby Grape).

American singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt died from an overdose of muscle relaxants that had left him in a coma in an Athens hospital. He released 17 albums during his career, including two produced by Michael Stipe.

American actress, singer, and cabaret star Eartha Kitt died from colon cancer at her Weston, Connecticut home at the age of 81. Best known for her 1953 Christmas song ‘Santa Baby.’

James Brown the ‘Godfather of Soul’, died at the age of 73 after being diagnosed with severe pneumonia. Brown went to his dentist in Atlanta the previous day who told him something was wrong, and sent him to a doctor immediately. His hits included ‘Papa's Got a Brand New Bag’, ‘I Got You (I Feel Good)’, and ‘Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine, Pt. 1’. Brown was married four times, at the age of 16, was arrested for theft and served 3 years in prison. In 1988, Brown was arrested following a high-speed car chase along the Georgia-South Carolina state border.

Michael Jackson recorded his first interview since news of the allegations of sexual abuse with a 12-year old boy. He told the CBS TV network he would 'slit his wrists' before he would hurt a child. He also claimed he suffered a dislocated shoulder after police 'manhandled' him and treated him 'very roughly' during his arrest.

Bryan MacLean, guitarist with Love, died of a heart attack aged 62 while having Christmas dinner with a young fan who was researching a book about the band. Love had the 1966 US No.33 single '7 And 7 Is', and the 1968 album Forever Changes.

American singer, actor and TV host Dean Martin died. Had the 1956 UK & US No.1 single 'Memories Are Made Of This' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles including ‘That's Amore’, ‘Everybody Loves Somebody’, ‘Mambo Italiano’. In 1965, Martin launched his weekly NBC comedy-variety series, The Dean Martin Show.

David Bowie had a No.3 UK hit with a duet with Bing Crosby, 'Peace On Earth - Little Drummer Boy.' The single became one of Bowie's best selling in his career, with total estimated sales over 400,000 in the UK alone. The Christmas song was written in 1941, while the 'Peace on Earth' tune and lyrics, written by Ian Fraser, Larry Grossman, and Alan Kohan, were added to the song specially for Bowie and Crosby's recording.

Michael Jackson phoned Paul McCartney and suggested they write and record together, the first result being ‘The Girl Is Mine’. The song was a US No.2 & UK No.8 in 1982.

John Lydon's new group Public Image Ltd played their first live gig at the Rainbow Theatre, London. PiL released their debut First Issue (1978), creating an abrasive, bass-heavy sound that drew on dub, noise, progressive rock and disco.

The Sex Pistols played their last ever UK gig, (until 1996), before splitting, at Ivanhoes in Huddersfield. It was a charity performance before an audience of mainly children.

American MOR singer Johnny Mathis was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'When A Child Is Born', the singers only UK No.1 and the Christmas hit of 1976.

Led Zeppelin arrived in the United States for the very first time in preparation of their debut North American tour. The group were paid an average of $1,500 for each show.

The Beatles recorded six songs for the BBC radio program Saturday Club in London: ‘Rock and Roll Music’, ‘I'm a Loser’, ‘Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby’, ‘I Feel Fine’, ‘Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey’ and ‘She's a Woman.’

The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Miracles, Stevie Wonder and The Marvelettes all appeared at The Fox Theatre, Brooklyn, New York.

Bing Crosby's ‘White Christmas’ entered the Billboard Pop chart for the eleventh time. Bing's rendition has sold over 100 million copies around the world, with at least 50 million sales as singles. It was the largest selling single in music history until it was surpassed by Elton John's ‘Candle in the Wind 1997’.

Johnny Ace shot himself dead backstage at the City Auditorium in Houston, Texas. The R&B singer was playing with a revolver during a break between sets, someone in the room said "Be careful with that thing’’ and he said ‘It’s OK the gun’s not loaded, see’’ and pointed it at himself with a smile on his face.

American singer-songwriter Lukas Nelson known for his band Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real and as a solo artist. Nelson has won a Grammy Award for his work with Lady Gaga for producing the soundtrack A Star Is Born. He is the son of country musician Willie Nelson.

American session drummer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter Josh Freese. He played drums for Guns N' Roses from 1997 to 2000, A Perfect Circle from 1999 to 2012, Nine Inch Nails from 2005 to 2008, Weezer from 2009 to 2010, and Sublime with Rome from 2011 to 2017. He has appeared on nearly 400 records.

Noel Hogan, guitarist with Irish rock band The Cranberries who had the 1994 UK No.14 single 'Linger'. The bands 1993 album Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can’t We spent 86 weeks on the UK chart. In 2020, the official music video for ‘Zombie’ became the first song by an Irish band to reach over one billion views on YouTube.

English singer and songwriter Dido, (born Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong). She had the 2001 UK No.1 & US No.4 album No Angel, which sold over 21 million copies worldwide and the 2001 UK No.4 single 'Here With Me'. The first verse of her hit 2000 'Thank You' is sampled in 'Stan', a critically acclaimed collaboration with American rapper Eminem. Dido's first two albums are among the best-selling albums in UK chart history, and both are in the top 10 best-selling albums of the 2000s in the UK

Bob Stanley from English band Saint Etienne, who had the 1993 UK No.12 single 'You're In A Bad Way'. Their second studio So Tough, released in 1993, is their highest-charting album to date, reaching No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart. The band's name comes from the French football club AS Saint-Étienne.

Canadian singer-songwriter Alannah Myles, who scored the 1990 US No.1 and UK No.2 single 'Black Velvet.' She has won both a Grammy and a Juno Award for 'Black Velvet'.

Shane MacGowan, singer from Irish-British Celtic punk band The Pogues who scored the 1987 UK No.8 single 'The Irish Rover' and the 1987 UK No.2 single with Kirsty MaCcoll, 'Fairytale Of New York'. He won acclaim for his lyrics, which often focused on the Irish emigrant experience; he also received widespread media attention for his life, which included decades of heavy alcohol and drug abuse. MacGowan died from pneumonia on 30 November 2023, at his home in Dublin, he was 65.

Robin Campbell, guitar, vocals, with UB40, who had the 1983 UK No.1 & 1988 US No.1 single 'Red Red Wine' and over 30 other top 40 hits.

Annie Lennox, singer, songwriter and political activist. With The Tourists, she had the 1979 UK No.4 single 'I Only Want To Be With You'. With Eurythmics, the 1983 US No.1 single 'Sweet Dreams', 1985 UK No.1 single 'There Must Be An Angel'. As a solo artist, Lennox scored two UK No.1 albums with Deva (1992) and Medusa (1995). In June 2013 the Official Charts Company called her "the most successful female British artist in UK music history". By June 2008, including her work with Eurythmics, Lennox had sold over 80 million records worldwide.

Country singer Barbara Mandrell, named Country Music Association entertainer of the year in 1979, 1980 & 1981, (1977 US No.1 Country single 'Sleeping Single In A Double Bed').

American musician and singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. He had the 1977 US No.8 single 'Margaritaville' and the 2004 US No.1 album 'License to Chill' and the US Country No.1 'It's Five O'Clock Somewhere with Alan Jackson (2003). Buffett was one of the world's richest musicians, with a net worth of $1 billion. He died on 1 September 2023, at age 76, at his home in Sag Harbor, New York, due to complications from Merkel-cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer.

Noel Redding, bassist with The Jimi Hendrix Experience who had the 1967 UK No.3 single 'Purple Haze', and the 1970 UK No.1 single 'Voodoo Chile'. Redding was the first person to join the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and the first to leave, his final concert with them was in June 1969. Redding died on 11th May 2003 aged 57.

English radio DJ and television comedian Kenny Everett, known for his zany comedic style. He scored the 1983 UK No.9 single 'Snot Rap'. In 1975, Everett played a pivotal role in getting Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody released as a single. Everett was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1989, which developed into AIDS in 1993. Everett died on 4th April 1995 age 50.

Henry Vestine, guitarist with American rock band Canned Heat. Two of their songs 'Going Up the Country' and 'On the Road Again' became international hits. He died on 20th October 1997.

American soul singer John Edwards, the lead singer of the Spinners between 1977 and 2000. They are best known for the 1980 US top 10 and UK No.1 hit 'Working My Way Back to You'. He died on 11 May 2025, at the age of 80.

Australian folk singer, Trevor Lucas, who was a member of Fairport Convention and one of the founders of Fotheringay. Fairport Convention, had the 1969 UK No.21 single 'Si Tu Dois Partie'. He also worked with Al Stewart and The Strawbs. His second wife was fellow folk musician Sandy Denny (1973–1978. Lucas died on 4th February 1989.

American blues and rock keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer Barry Goldberg. He played keyboards with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band backing Bob Dylan during his 1965 newly 'electrified' appearance at the Newport Folk Festival and formed The Electric Flag with Mike Bloomfield in 1967. Goldberg's songs (some co-written with Gerry Goffin) have been recorded by many artists. He died in Los Angeles on 22 January 2025, at age 83, due to complications from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

English performance poet, lyricist, and singer Pete Brown. Together with Jack Bruce he wrote many of Cream's songs, including the hits 'I Feel Free', 'White Room' and (with Eric Clapton 'Sunshine of Your Love'). Brown died of cancer on 19 May 2023, at the age of 82.

O'Kelly Isley from American group The Isley Brothers who first came to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, 'Shout', and then the 1962 hit 'Twist and Shout'. The Isley Brothers also scored the hits 'This Old Heart Of Mine', 'Summer Breeze' and 'Harvest for the World'. Sixteen of their albums charted in the Top 40. O'Kelly Isley died on 31st March 1986.

American singer Bill Horton from The Silhouettes. The doo wop/R&B groups single 'Get A Job' was a No.1 hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart and pop singles chart in 1958. The doo-wop revival group Sha Na Na derived their name from the song's lyrics. 'Get A Job' is included in the soundtracks of the film American Graffiti, Trading Places and Stand By Me. Horton died on January 23, 1995.

American, New Orleans–based R&B singer and songwriter Chris Kenner, who had the 1961 US No.2 single 'I Like It Like That', which was also a hit for Dave Clarke Five. Kenner died from a heart attack triggered by alcoholism on January 25, 1976, at the age of 46.