2020 in music

This topic covers notable events and articles related to 2020 in music.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Albums released

Awards

62nd Annual Grammy Awards (USA)
class="wikitable"
{{small\|Record of the Year: "Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish • Album of the Year: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Eilish • Song of the Year: "Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish • Best New Artist: Billie Eilish}}
Billboard Music Awards (USA)
{{small\|Top Artist: Post Malone • Top Male Artist: Post Malone • Top Female Artist: Billie Eilish • Top New Artist: Billie Eilish • Top Duo/Group: Jonas Brothers • Top Billboard 200 Album: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Eilish • Top Hot 100 Song: "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X Featuring Billy Ray Cyrus}}
2020 Brit Awards (UK)
{{small\|British Album of the Year: Psychodrama by Dave • Song of the Year: "Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi • Best New Artist: Lewis Capaldi}}
2020 Juno Awards (Canada)
{{small\|Artist of the Year: Shawn Mendes • Group of the Year: Loud Luxury • Album of the Year: The Pains of Growing by Alessia Cara • Single of the Year: "Senorita" by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello}}
2020 MTV Video Music Awards (USA)
{{small\|Video of the Year: "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd • Best Push New Artist: Doja Cat • Artist of the Year: Lady Gaga}}
2020 MTV Europe Music Awards (Europe)
{{small\|Best Song: "Dynamite" by BTS • Best Video: "Popstar" by DJ Khaled featuring Drake • Best Artist: Lady Gaga • Best New: Doja Cat}}
2020 American Music Awards (USA)
{{small\|Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift • New Artist of the Year: Doja Cat • Collaboration of the Year: "10,000 Hours" by Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber}}
2020 Pulitzer Prize for Music (USA)
{{small\|The Central Park Five by Anthony Davis}}
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (USA)
{{small\|Inductees: The Doobie Brothers • Whitney Houston • Depeche Mode • T. Rex • The Notorious B.I.G. • Nine Inch Nails}}
Mercury Prize (UK)
{{small\|Kiwanuka by Michael Kiwanuka}}
Polar Music Prize (Sweden)
{{small\|Inductees: Anna Netrebko • Diane Warren}}
Polaris Music Prize (Canada)
{{small\|God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out of It by Backxwash}}
Eurovision Song Contest (Europe)
{{small\|Event cancelled as result of COVID-19 pandemic}}
29th Seoul Music Awards (South Korea)
{{small\|Grand Award: BTS • Best Song: Taeyeon • Best Album: BTS • Best New Artist: Itzy, Tomorrow X Together, AB6IX}}

Bands formed

Soloist debuts

Bands reformed

attack attack!
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows
Faith No More
The Format{{cite web |title=The Format Reunites! See Their 2020 Tour Dates: Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8550032/the-format-reunion-tour-2020 |website=Billboard.com |access-date=6 February 2020}}
Genesis{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/genesis-tour-reunion-961479/|title=Genesis to Launch 'The Last Domino?' Reunion Tour in November|date=4 March 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Andy|last=Greene|access-date=4 March 2020}}
Linkin Park{{cite news |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/linkin-park-have-been-working-on-new-music/ |title=LINKIN PARK HAVE BEEN WORKING ON NEW MUSIC |work=Kerrang! |date=2020-04-28 |access-date=2020-04-28 }}
The Network
Rage Against the Machine{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebaltin/2019/11/01/confirmed-rage-against-the-machine-to-reunite-in-2020-headline-coachella/|title=Confirmed: Rage Against The Machine To Reunite In 2020, Headline Coachella|first=Steve|last=Baltin|website=Forbes.com}}
RBD
Toto
Billy Pilgrim{{Cite web |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/music/watch-kristian-bush-reunite-with-billy-pilgrim-partner-andrew-hyra-eddie-attic/eFjHUCeCAbtiXUOKxQZUUJ/ |title=Watch Kristian Bush reunite with Billy Pilgrim partner Andrew Hyra at Eddie's Attic |date=2016-11-28 |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |last=Ruggieri |first=Melissa}}

Bands on hiatus

100%
AAA
Anathema{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anathema-to-go-on-an-indefinite-hiatus/|title=ANATHEMA To 'Go On An Indefinite Hiatus'|date=September 23, 2020|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}}
Arashi
B.A.P
Baroque
College Cosmos
DEL48
Good Morning America
Ladies' Code
Ladybaby
Masahiko Kondō
Marius Yo
Mrs. Green Apple
Real Friends
Teen Top
Sleep
Stone Sour
Winner
ZE:A

Bands disbanded

Deaths

=January=

1
Lexii Alijai, 21, American rapper
Marty Grebb, 74, American rock keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist (The Buckinghams, Chicago)
Tommy Hancock, 90, American country singer {{Cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2020-01-02/tommy-hancock-dances-his-way-to-heaven-1929-2020/|title=Tommy Hancock Dances His Way to Heaven (1929–2020)|website=Austinchronicle.com}}
2 – Lorraine Chandler, 73, American soul singer
3 – Bo Winberg, 80, Swedish rock guitarist (The Spotnicks)
4 – Emanuel Borok, 75, Russian-born American classical violinist
5 – Martin Griffin, British space rock drummer (Hawkwind, Hawklords)
7 – Neil Peart, 67, Canadian progressive rock drummer and lyricist (Rush){{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/10/entertainment/neil-peart-rush-drummer-death-trnd/index.html|title=Neil Peart, the drummer and lyricist of Rush, has died at 67|author=Dakin Andone|website=Cnn.com|date=10 January 2020 }}
8 – Edd Byrnes, 87, American actor and pop singer
9
Tom Alexander, 85, Scottish folk accordionist (The Alexander Brothers)
Bobby Comstock, 78, American rock and roll singer
10 – Wolfgang Dauner, 84, German jazz pianist
11 – Maceo Woods, 87, American gospel musician
13
Demetri Callas, 77, American rock guitarist and singer (The Four Seasons)
Hylda Sims, 87, British skiffle guitarist
14
Steve Martin Caro, 71, American baroque pop singer (The Left Banke)
Chamín Correa, 90, Mexican classical guitarist
Guy Deplus, 95, French chamber music clarinetist
Barry Mayger, 73, English pop bassist (Chicory Tip)
Bruno Nettl, 89, Czech-born American ethnomusicologist and musicologist{{Cite web|url=https://music.illinois.edu/news/remembering-bruno-nettl|title=Remembering Bruno Nettl | Music at Illinois|website=Music.illinois.edu}}
15 – Chris Darrow, 75, American country and rock singer and multi-instrumentalist (Kaleidoscope, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
18
Dennis Garcia, 67, Filipino pop rock bassist (Hotdog)
David Olney, 71, American folk singer-songwriter
19
Dan Andrei Aldea, 69, Romanian progressive rock singer and multi-instrumentalist (Sfinx)
Jimmy Heath, 93, American jazz saxophonist (Heath Brothers)
Robert Parker, 89, American R&B singer
Sunanda Patnaik, 85, Indian classical singer
21 – Meritxell Negre, 48, Spanish pop singer (Peaches & Herb)
24
Joe Payne, 35, American metal bassist (Divine Heresy, Nile)
Sean Reinert, 48, American metal drummer (Cynic, Death, Æon Spoke)
25
Bob Gullotti, 71, American free jazz drummer (Surrender to the Air)
Vernon Sandusky, 80, American rock singer and guitarist (The Chartbusters)
26 – Bob Shane, 85, American folk singer and guitarist (The Kingston Trio)
27 – Reed Mullin, 53, American sludge metal drummer (Corrosion of Conformity)
28 – Bob Nave, 75, American bubblegum pop keyboardist (The Lemon Pipers)
30 – Lucien Barbarin, 63, American jazz trombonist (Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Harry Connick Jr.){{Cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/keith_spera/article_045ff3dc-43a1-11ea-9e72-23972059d69f.html|title=Lucien Barbarin, trombonist for Preservation Hall and Harry Connick Jr., dies at 63|author=Keith Spera|website=Nola.com|date=30 January 2020 }}

=February=

1
Harold Beane, 73, American funk guitarist (Funkadelic)
Andy Gill, 64, British post-punk guitarist (Gang of Four)
Peter Serkin, 72, American classical pianist
2
Kofi B, Ghanaian highlife singer
Ivan Král, 71, Czech-American rock bassist and songwriter (The Patti Smith Group)
4
Andrew Brough, New Zealand indie rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist (Straitjacket Fits)
Buddy Cage, 73, Canadian folk pedal steel guitarist (New Riders of the Purple Sage, Great Speckled Bird)
Ljiljana Petrović, 80, Serbian pop singer
6
Lynn Evans, 95, American pop singer (The Chordettes)
Diego Farias, 27, American progressive metalcore guitarist (Volumes)
Nello Santi, 88, Italian classical conductor
7
Nexhmije Pagarusha, 86, Albanian-Kosovan pop singer
Steve Weber, 76, American folk singer and guitarist (The Holy Modal Rounders)
8 – Robert Conrad, 84, American actor and singer
9 – Sergei Slonimsky, 87, Russian classical composer
10 – Lyle Mays, 66, American jazz fusion keyboardist (Pat Metheny Group)
11 – Joseph Shabalala, 78, South African isicathamiya and mbube singer (Ladysmith Black Mambazo)
12
Paul English, 87, American country drummer
Victor Olaiya, 89, Nigerian highlife trumpeter
13
Buzzy Linhart, 76, American folk rock singer-songwriter
Jacob Thiele, 40, American indie rock keyboardist (The Faint)
14
Reinbert de Leeuw, 81, Dutch classical pianist and conductor{{cite news|url =https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/article/composer-conductor-and-pianist-reinbert-de-leeuw-has-died|title =Composer, conductor and pianist Reinbert de Leeuw has died|website=Gramophone|date =February 17, 2020}}
Sonam Sherpa, 48, Indian blues rock guitarist (Parikrama)
15 – Cavan Grogan, 70, Welsh rock and roll singer (Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers)
16
Pearl Carr, 98, British pop singer (Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson)
Graeme Allwright, 93, New Zealand-French folk and jazz singer-songwriter
17
Kizito Mihigo, 38, Rwandan gospel singer
Andrew Weatherall, 56, British electronic musician (Two Lone Swordsmen, The Sabres of Paradise) and record producer
18 – Jon Christensen, 78, Norwegian jazz drummer
19
Bob Cobert, 95, American composer
Pop Smoke, 20, American rapper
24
David Roback, 61, American alternative rock and dream pop guitarist (Mazzy Star, Rain Parade, Opal)
Jahn Teigen, 70, Norwegian pop and progressive rock singer (Popol Ace, Prima Vera)
26
Hans Deinzer, 86, German classical clarinetist{{cite web|url=https://www.deutsche-klarinetten-gesellschaft.de/service/nachruf/|title=Prof. Hans Deinzer verstorben|language=de|trans-title=Prof. Hans Deinzer passed away|access-date=14 March 2020}}
Sergei Dorensky, 88, Russian classical pianist
27 – Lillian Offitt, 81, American blues and R&B singer
28 – Mike Somerville, 67, American rock guitarist and songwriter (Head East)
29
Odile Pierre, 87, French classical organist and composer
Bill Smith, 93, American classical and jazz clarinetist

=March=

2
Jan Vyčítal, 77, Czech country singer
Susan Weinert, 54, German jazz fusion guitarist{{cite news|url=https://www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de/saarland/neunkirchen/neunkirchen/jazzgitarristin-susan-weinert-aus-neunkirchen-ist-tot_aid-49377059|title=Susan Weinert ist tot|language=de|trans-title=Susan Weinert is dead|date=5 March 2020|access-date=14 March 2020|publisher=Saarbrücker Zeitung}}
Peter Wieland, 89, German pop singer{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/gesellschaft/medien/ddr-schlagerstar-und-schauspieler-peter-wieland-mit-89-jahren-gestorben/25601966.html|title=Peter Wieland mit 89 Jahren gestorben|language=de|trans-title=Peter Wieland died at the age of 89|date=2 March 2020|access-date=14 March 2020}}
3
Les Cauchi, 77, American pop singer (Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge)
Alf Cranner, 83, Norwegian folk singer
4 – Barbara Martin, 76, American R&B singer (The Supremes)
6
McCoy Tyner, 81, American jazz pianist
Elinor Ross, 93, American opera soprano
7
Jim Owen, 78, American country singer-songwriter
Laura Smith, Canadian folk singer-songwriter
9
Keith Olsen, 74, American psychedelic rock bassist (The Music Machine) and record producer
Eric Taylor, 70, American folk singer-songwriter
10
Marcelo Peralta, 59, Argentine jazz saxophonist
Beba Selimović, 80, Bosnian folk singer
11 – Charles Wuorinen, 81, American classical composer
12 – Don Burrows, 91, Australian jazz multi-instrumentalist
14
Phil Phillips, 94, American pop singer-songwriter
Eva Pilarová, 80, Czech jazz singer
Genesis P-Orridge, 70, British industrial singer, songwriter and bassist (Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV, Thee Majesty)
Diane Ray, 74, American pop singer
16
Sergio Bassi, 69, Italian folk rock singer-songwriter
Ted Cahill, 72, American garage rock guitarist (The Magic Mushrooms)
Jason Rainey, 53, American thrash metal guitarist (Sacred Reich)
17 – Thái Thanh, 85, Vietnamese-American pop singer
19 – Aurlus Mabélé, 66, Congolese soukous singer
20
Kenny Rogers, 81, American country and pop singer-songwriter
Jerry Slick, 80, American psychedelic rock drummer (The Great Society)
21 – Hellmut Stern, 91, German classical violinist{{cite news| last = Peitz| first = Christiane

| url = https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/zum-tod-des-geigers-hellmut-stern-der-musizierende-weltbuerger/25669952.html| title = Der musizierende Weltbürger| newspaper = Der Tagesspiegel| date = 22 March 2020| language = de| accessdate = 22 March 2020}}

22
Gabi Delgado-López, 61, Spanish-born German electronic singer (Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft)
Julie Felix, 81, American-British folk singer
Mike Longo, 83, American jazz pianist
Peter Stapleton, 65, New Zealand alternative rock drummer (The Terminals, Dadamah, Flies Inside the Sun)
Eric Weissberg, 80, American country and bluegrass banjoist
23 – Tres Warren, 41, American psychedelic rock singer and guitarist (Psychic Ills)
24
Manu Dibango, 86, Cameroonian makossa and jazz saxophonist
Bill Rieflin, 59, American rock drummer (The Blackouts, Ministry, Revolting Cocks, KMFDM, King Crimson)
25 – Detto Mariano, 82, Italian rock keyboardist (I Ribelli) and film composer
26
Olle Holmquist, 83, Swedish big band trombonist (James Last Orchestra)
Bill Martin, 81, British pop songwriter
27
Bob Andy, 75, Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter (The Paragons, Bob and Marcia)
Don Burch, 81, American doo-wop singer (The Slades)
Mirna Doris, 79, Italian canzone Napoletana singer
Delroy Washington, 67, Jamaican-born British reggae singer
28 – Jan Howard, 91, American country singer-songwriter
29
Joe Diffie, 61, American country singer and songwriter
Alan Merrill, 69, American pop rock singer and bassist (Arrows)
Paravai Muniyamma, 82, Indian folk singer
Krzysztof Penderecki, 86, Polish classical composer and conductor
30
Riachão, 98, Brazilian samba singer
Bill Withers, 81, American soul singer-songwriter
31
Cristina, 61, American new wave singer
Wallace Roney, 59, American jazz trumpeter

=April=

1
Ellis Marsalis Jr., 85, American jazz pianist
Bucky Pizzarelli, 94, American jazz guitarist
Harold Rubin, 87, South African-born Israeli free jazz clarinetist
Adam Schlesinger, 52, American power pop singer, songwriter and bassist (Fountains of Wayne, Ivy, Tinted Windows)
2 – Vaughan Mason, 69, American funk and electronic multi-instrumentalist (Vaughan Mason & Crew, Raze)
3 – Helin Bölek, 28, Turkish folk rock singer (Grup Yorum)
4
Timothy Brown, 82, American pop and soul singer
Patrick Gibson, French eurodisco drummer (Gibson Brothers)
Alex Harvey, 73, American country singer-songwriter
5 – Barry Allen, 74, Canadian rock musician and record producer (Painter) (death announced on this date)
6
M. K. Arjunan, 84, Indian film composer
Black the Ripper, 32, British grime rapper
7
Betty Bennett, 98, American jazz and big band singer
Hutch Davie, 89, American pianist, arranger and composer
Steve Farmer, 71, American rock guitarist and songwriter (The Amboy Dukes)
Travis Nelsen, American indie rock drummer (Okkervil River)
John Prine, 73, American folk singer-songwriter
Hal Willner, 64, American record producer
Xudeydi, 91, Somali folk oud player
8
Carl Dobkins, Jr., 79, American singer and songwriter
Glenn Fredly, 44, Indonesian R&B singer-songwriter
Chynna Rogers, 25, American rapper
9
Andy González, 69, American Latin jazz bassist
Dmitri Smirnov, 71, Russian-British classical composer
10
Big George Brock, 87, American blues harmonicist
Shanti Hiranand, 86, Indian classical singer
Jymie Merritt, 92, American jazz bassist (The Jazz Messengers)
11 – Liu Dehai, 82, Chinese classical pipa player
12
Jerry Hludzik, American pop rock guitarist and bassist (The Buoys)
Louis van Dijk, 78, Dutch jazz pianist
13
Ryo Kawasaki, 73, Japanese jazz fusion guitarist
Moraes Moreira, 72, Brazilian MPB singer and guitarist (Novos Baianos)
14
Akin Euba, 84, Nigerian folk pianist, composer, and musicologist
Kassongo Wa Kanema, 73, Congolese soukous singer (Orchestra Super Mazembe)
Kerstin Meyer, 92, Swedish opera singer
15
Henry Grimes, 84, American jazz bassist
Dries Holten, 84, Dutch pop singer-songwriter (Rosy & Andres)[https://web.archive.org/web/20200507024341/https://www.telegraaf.nl/entertainment/1577708105/zanger-dries-holten-84-overleden Zanger Dries Holten (84) overleden] {{in lang|nl}}
Lee Konitz, 92, American jazz saxophonist
Gary McSpadden, 77, American gospel singer (The Imperials, Gaither Vocal Band, The Oak Ridge Boys)
16
Christophe, 74, French singer-songwriter
Dušan Vančura, 82, Czech folk singer and bassist (Spirituál kvintet)
17
Giuseppi Logan, 84, American jazz multi-instrumentalist
Matthew Seligman, 62, British new wave bassist (Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club, The Soft Boys, Thompson Twins)
19
Alexander Vustin, 76, Russian composer
Ian Whitcomb, 78, British pop singer-songwriter
Emina Zečaj, 91, Bosnian sevdalinka singer
21
Derek Jones, 35, American metalcore guitarist (Falling in Reverse)
Jacques Pellen, 63, French jazz guitarist
Florian Schneider, 73, German krautrock and electronic multi-instrumentalist (Kraftwerk, Organisation)[https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/9372433/florian-schneider-dead-kraftwerk-co-founder-dies Kraftwerk Co-Founder Florian Schneider Dies at Age 73]{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/colby-cosh-remembering-kraftwerks-florian-schneider-the-prophet-of-the-post-human|title=Remembering Kraftwerk's Florian Schneider, the prophet of the post-human| work=National Post|first=Colby|last=Cosh|date=8 May 2020}}
22
Bootsie Barnes, 82, American jazz saxophonist
Marcos Mundstock, 77, Argentine comedy music singer and multi-instrumentalist (Les Luthiers)
23
Fred the Godson, 35, American rapper
Kamit Sanbayev, 78, Kazakh rock singer (Dos Mukasan)
24
Hamilton Bohannon, 78, American R&B and disco percussionist and music producer
Phil Broadhurst, 70, New Zealand jazz pianist
Harold Reid, 80, American country singer-songwriter (The Statler Brothers)
25
Alan Abel, 91, American classical percussionist
Ronald Frangipane, 75, American session keyboardist (The Archies)
26 – Big Al Carson, 66, American blues singer
27
Lynn Harrell, 79, American classical cellist
Troy Sneed, 52, American gospel singer
Scott Taylor, British new wave guitarist (Then Jerico)
28 – Bobby Lewis, 95, American R&B singer
29
Martin Lovett, 93, British classical cellist (Amadeus Quartet)
Stezo, 52, American rapper
30
Tony Allen, 79, Nigerian afrobeat and rock drummer (Fela Kuti and Afrika '70, The Good, the Bad & the Queen)
Óscar Chávez, 85, Mexican pop singer
Sam Lloyd, 56, American a cappella singer (The Blanks)

==Date unknown==

Ceybil Jefferies, American house and R&B singer

=May=

1
Richard Cole, 72, American jazz saxophonist{{Cite web|url=https://jazzbuffalo.org/2020/05/02/alto-sax-master-richie-cole-has-died-at-the-age-of-72/|title=Alto Sax Master Richie Cole Has Died At The Age of 72|date=May 2, 2020|website=JazzBuffalo}}
Tavo Limongi, 52, Mexican nu metal guitarist (Resorte){{Cite web|url=https://www.explica.co/mexican-singer-tavo-resorte-founder-of-the-band-resorte-died/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820000141/https://www.explica.co/mexican-singer-tavo-resorte-founder-of-the-band-resorte-died/|url-status=dead|title=Mexican singer Tavo Resorte, founder of the band Resorte, died|archive-date=August 20, 2020|website=www.explica.co}}
2
Cady Groves, 30, American country singer-songwriter{{Cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/cady-groves-singer-songwriter-dead-at-age-30-145894|title=Cady Groves, 'This Little Girl' Singer-Songwriter, Dead at Age 30 | Entertainment Tonight|website=www.etonline.com|date=3 May 2020 }}
Idir, 70, Algerian folk singer-songwriter{{Cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/disparitions/article/2020/05/03/le-chanteur-idir-l-un-des-principaux-ambassadeurs-de-la-chanson-kabyle-est-mort_6038485_3382.html|title=Le chanteur Idir, l'un des principaux ambassadeurs de la chanson kabyle, est mort|date=May 3, 2020|newspaper=Le Monde}}
Jonathan Kelly, 72, Irish folk rock singer-songwriter{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/irish-folk-rock-hero-jonathan-kelly-aka-jon-ledingham-died-22814242|title=Irish Folk Rock Hero Jonathan Kelly aka Jon Ledingham Has Died|website=Hotpress}}
Erwin Prasetya, 48, Indonesian alternative rock bassist (Dewa 19){{Cite web|url=https://www.kompas.com/hype/read/2020/05/02/110855566/eks-basis-dewa-19-erwin-prasetya-meninggal-dunia-karena-pendarahan-lambung|title=Eks Basis Dewa 19, Erwin Prasetya, Meninggal Dunia karena Pendarahan Lambung|first1=Revi C.|last1=Rantung|first2=Novianti|last2=Setuningsih|date=May 2, 2020|website=KOMPAS.com}}
3
Rosalind Elias, 90, American opera singer{{Cite web|url=https://operawire.com/obituary-legendary-mezzo-soprano-rosalind-elias-passes-at-90/|title=Obituary: Legendary Mezzo-Soprano Rosalind Elias Passes At 90|date=May 4, 2020|website=Opera Wire}}
Dave Greenfield, 71, British punk and new wave keyboardist (The Stranglers){{Cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/04/stranglers-keyboardist-dave-greenfield-dies-aged-71-contracting-coronavirus-12653667/|title=Stranglers keyboardist Dave Greenfield dies aged 71 from coronavirus|first=Mel|last=Evans|newspaper=Metro |date=May 4, 2020}}
Bob Lander, 78, Swedish rock singer and guitarist (The Spotnicks){{Cite web|url=http://www.gp.se/1.27550607|title=Sångaren Bob Lander i The Spotnicks död|first=Maria|last=Domellöf-Wik|date=May 4, 2020|website=gp.se}}
Lorne Munroe, 95, Canadian-born American classical cellist{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestrad.com/news/lorne-munroe-former-principal-cellist-of-philadelphia-and-new-york-philharmonic-has-died/10625.article|title=Lorne Munroe – former principal cellist of Philadelphia and New York Philharmonic – has died|website=The Strad}}
4
John Erhardt, American indie rock musician (Wussy, Ass Ponys){{Cite web|url=https://www.kexp.org/read/2020/5/7/rip-john-erhardt-wussy-and-ass-ponys/|title=R.I.P. John Erhardt of Wussy and Ass Ponys|website=www.kexp.org}}
Frederick C. Tillis, 90, American jazz saxophonist{{Cite web|url=https://fac.umass.edu/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=Tillis|title=In Memory of Dr. Frederick C. Tillis|website=fac.umass.edu}}
Dragan Vučić, 65, Macedonian pop singer[https://www.danas.rs/svet/preminuo-makedonski-tv-voditelj-i-muzicar-dragan-vucic-od-korona-virusa/ Preminuo makedonski TV voditelj i muzičar Dragan Vučić od korona virusa] {{in lang|bs}}
5
Sweet Pea Atkinson, 74, American dance-rock singer (Was (Not Was)){{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9373142/hillard-sweet-pea-atkinson-obit|title=Hillard 'Sweet Pea' Atkinson, Legendary Vocalist With Was (Not Was), Dies at 74|magazine=Billboard}}
Sonny Cox, 82, American jazz saxophonist{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/high-school/ct-landon-sonny-cox-king-basketball-obit-20200506-ynwxqe2wizfjfc5blija6ceahm-story.html|title=Landon 'Sonny' Cox, the colorful coach who built King High School into a national basketball power, dies at 82|first=Paul|last=Sullivan|website=chicagotribune.com|date=5 May 2020 }}
Didi Kempot, 53, Indonesian campursari singer{{Cite web|url=https://en.tempo.co/read/1338921/remembering-didi-kempot-from-street-busker-to-campursari-legend|title=Remembering Didi Kempot, from Street Busker to Campursari Legend – Life en.tempo.co|date=5 May 2020 }}
Ciro Pessoa, 62, Brazilian post-punk singer-songwriter and guitarist (Titãs, Cabine C){{Cite web|url=https://www.radiorock.com.br/2020/05/05/morre-ciro-pessoa-um-dos-fundadores-dos-titas/|title=Morre Ciro Pessoa, um dos fundadores dos Titãs|date=May 5, 2020|website=A Rádio Rock – 89,1 FM – SP}}
Kiing Shooter, 24, American rapper{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/nas-and-jungles-artist-kiing-shooter-dies-from-covid-19-report-news.109826.html|title=Nas & Jungle's Artist Kiing Shooter Allegedly Dies From COVID-19: Report|website=HotNewHipHop|date=5 May 2020 }}
Millie Small, 73, Jamaican ska and reggae singer-songwriter{{Cite web|url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/millie-small-dies-blackwell-remembers-her-as-a-special-person-_193596|title=Jamaica Observer Limited|website=Jamaica Observer}}
6
Norbert Balatsch, 92, Austrian choral conductor{{Cite web|url=https://orf.at/stories/3164802/|title=Ehemaliger Staatsopernchordirektor Balatsch ist tot|agency=Agenturen red|date=May 7, 2020|website=news.ORF.at}}
Brian Howe, 66, British rock singer-songwriter (Bad Company){{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/celebrity-news/breaking-brian-howe-dead-bad-21990633|title=Bad Company frontman Brian Howe dies of heart attack on way to hospital|first=Emmeline|last=Saunders|date=May 7, 2020|website=Irish Mirror}}
7
İbrahim Gökçek, 41, Turkish folk rock bassist (Grup Yorum){{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/07/second-member-banned-turkish-folk-group-grup-yorum-dies-hunger-strike--ibrahim-gokcek|title=Second member of banned Turkish folk group dies after hunger strike|agency=Associated Press|location=Ankara|date=May 7, 2020|website=the Guardian}}
Andre Harrell, 59, American record producer, songwriter, rapper (Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde), and founder of Uptown Records{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/andre-harrell-dead-dies-executive-motown-mentored-sean-p-diddy-puffy-combs-1234602676/|title=Andre Harrell, Music Executive Who Mentored Sean 'Puffy' Combs, Dies at 59|first1=Shirley|last1=Halperin|first2=Andrew|last2=Barker|date=May 9, 2020}}
Ty, 47, British rapper{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/07/ty-mercury-prize-nominated-uk-rapper-dies-aged-47-of-coronavirus|title=Ty, Mercury prize-nominated UK rapper, dies aged 47 of coronavirus|date=May 7, 2020|website=the Guardian}}
8 – Mark Barkan, 85, American songwriter, record producer, and musical director for The Banana Splits Adventure Hour
9
Joe Hupp, 78, American rock musician (The Smoke Ring)
Little Richard, 87, American rock and roll singer and pianist{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/little-richard-dead-48505/|title=Little Richard, Founding Father of Rock Who Broke Musical Barriers, Dead at 87|first1=David|last1=Browne|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=May 9, 2020}}
10
David Corrêa, 82, Brazilian samba singer{{Cite web|url=https://g1.globo.com/rj/rio-de-janeiro/noticia/2020/05/10/david-correa-morre-no-rio.ghtml|title=David Corrêa, maior vencedor de sambas-enredo da Portela, morre no Rio aos 82 anos|website=G1|date=10 May 2020 }}
Betty Wright, 66, American soul and R&B singer and songwriter{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/betty-wright-legendary-randb-artist-has-died-at-66|title=Betty Wright, Legendary Soul and R&B Artist, Has Died at 66|first=Barbie Latza|last=Nadeau|date=May 10, 2020|website=The Daily Beast}}
11 – Moon Martin, 74, American rockabilly singer-songwriter and guitarist{{Cite web|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/musique/bad-news-le-chanteur-moon-martin-est-mort-20200514|title=Bad News, le chanteur Moon Martin est mort|website=LEFIGARO|date=14 May 2020 }}
12 – Takami Asano, Japanese psychedelic rock guitarist (Godiego){{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-05-13/godiego-guitarist-takami-asano-passes-away-at-68/.159490|title=Godiego Guitarist Takami Asano Passes Away at 68|website=Anime News Network|date=31 May 2023 }}
13
Gabriel Bacquier, 95, French opera singer{{Cite web|url=https://www.forumopera.com/breve/deces-de-gabriel-bacquier|title=Décès de Gabriel Bacquier | Forum Opéra|website=www.forumopera.com}}
Yoshio, 60, Mexican pop singer{{Cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/entretenimiento/2020/05/14/murio-el-cantante-yoshio-por-complicaciones-de-covid-19/|title=Murió el cantante Yoshio por complicaciones de COVID-19|date=13 May 2020|website=infobae}}
14 – Jorge Santana, 68, Mexican rock guitarist (Malo, Santana){{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/altlatino/2020/05/19/857397725/jorge-santana-malo-guitarist-and-latin-rock-maestro-dead-at-68|title=Jorge Santana, Malo Guitarist And Latin Rock Maestro, Dead At 68|website=NPR.org|date=19 May 2020 |last1=Contreras |first1=Felix }}
15
Denny DeMarchi, 57, Canadian rock keyboardist (Alias, The Cranberries){{Cite web|url=https://www.iheartradio.ca/92-3-the-dock/news-trending/canadian-musician-denny-demarchi-loses-battle-with-cancer-1.12428391|title=Canadian musician Denny DeMarchi loses battle with cancer}}
Sergio Denis, 71, Argentine pop singer{{Cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/teleshow/infoshow/2020/05/15/sergio-denis-murio-a-los-71-anos-a-mas-de-un-ano-del-grave-accidente-que-sufrio-sobre-el-escenario/|title=Murió Sergio Denis, a 14 meses de su caída del escenario|date=15 May 2020|website=infobae}}
Phil May, 75, British rock singer-songwriter (Pretty Things){{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/15/phil-may-frontman-with-the-pretty-things-dies-aged-75|title=Phil May, frontman with the Pretty Things, dies aged 75|date=May 15, 2020|website=the Guardian}}
17
Lucky Peterson, 55, American blues singer, guitarist and organist{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockandbluesmuse.com/2020/05/17/american-blues-legend-lucky-peterson-dies-at-55/|title=American Blues Legend Lucky Peterson Dies at 55|first=Martine|last=Ehrenclou|date=May 18, 2020|website=ROCK AND BLUES MUSE}}
Peter Thomas, 94, German film composer{{Cite web |url=https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/aktuell.1894.de.html |title=Mister Raumpatrouille ist tot |language=de |website=Deutschlandfunk Kultur |access-date=2020-05-20 |archive-date=2020-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507010130/https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/aktuell.1894.de.html |url-status=dead }}
19 – Willie K, 59, American folk ukuleleist{{Cite web |url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/05/19/hawaiian-music-legend-willie-k-dies-after-lengthy-battle-lung-cancer-battle/ |title=Hawaiian music legend Willie K dies after lengthy cancer battle |first=Dillon |last=Ancheta |website=www.hawaiinewsnow.com|date=20 May 2020 }}
21
Berith Bohm, 87, Swedish opera singer{{Cite news|url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/snabbkollen/operettstjarnan-berith-bohm-har-avlidit|title=Operettstjärnan Berith Bohm har avlidit|date=May 21, 2020|newspaper=SVT Nyheter}}
Bobby Digital, 59, Jamaican dancehall producer{{Cite web|url=https://www.dancehallmag.com/2020/05/22/news/dancehall-mourns-the-death-of-legendary-producer-bobby-digital-at-59.html|title=Dancehall Mourns The Death Of Legendary Producer Bobby Digital At 59|date=May 22, 2020}}
Neil Howlett, 85, British opera singer{{Cite web|url=https://www.eno.org/news/eno-are-very-saddened-to-learn-that-baritone-neil-howlett-has-passed-away/|title=ENO are very saddened to learn that Baritone Neil Howlett has passed away | English National Opera|date=21 May 2020 }}
22
Steve Hanford, 50, American punk rock drummer (Poison Idea){{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/former-poison-idea-drummer-steven-thee-slayer-hippy-hanford-dead-at-50/|title=Former Poison Idea Drummer Steven "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford Dead at 50|date=May 22, 2020|website=Pitchfork}}
Mory Kanté, 70, Guinean folk singer and kora player{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52774331|title=Mory Kanté: African music star dies aged 70|work=BBC News |date=May 22, 2020}}
KJ Balla, 23, American rapper{{Cite web|url=https://thesource.com/2020/05/24/rapper-kj-balla-shot-and-killed-in-brooklyn/|title=Rapper KJ Balla Shot and Killed in Brooklyn|first=Sha Be|last=Allah|date=May 24, 2020}}
Klaus Selmke, 70, German rock drummer (City){{Cite web|url=https://www.nordkurier.de/aus-aller-welt/city-schlagzeuger-klaus-selmke-erliegt-krebsleiden-2239461305.html|title=DDR-Rockband: City-Schlagzeuger Klaus Selmke erliegt Krebsleiden | Nordkurier.de|date=May 22, 2020|website=www.nordkurier.de}}
24
Jimmy Cobb, 91, American jazz drummer (Miles Davis Quintet){{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/05/25/845814061/jimmy-cobb-the-pulse-of-kind-of-blue-dies-at-91|title=Jimmy Cobb, The Pulse Of 'Kind Of Blue,' Dies At 91|website=NPR.org|date=25 May 2020 |last1=Weiner |first1=Natalie }}
Lily Lian, 103, French pop singer{{Cite web|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/mort-a-103-ans-de-lily-lian-derniere-chanteuse-de-rue-de-paris-20200524|title=Mort à 103 ans de Lily Lian, dernière chanteuse de rue de Paris|website=LEFIGARO|date=24 May 2020 }}
Al Rex, 91, American rock and roll bassist (Bill Haley & His Comets){{Cite web|url=https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2020/05/31/in-memoriam-al-rex/|title=In Memoriam: Al Rex|date=May 31, 2020}}
25 – Bucky Baxter, 65, American folk and rock guitarist{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/bucky-baxter-bob-dylan-dead-obit-1004905/|title=Bucky Baxter, Pedal-Steel Great Who Toured With Bob Dylan, Dead at 65|first1=Joseph|last1=Hudak|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=May 26, 2020}}
26
Brendan Bowyer, 81, Irish rock and roll singer{{Cite web|url=https://www.waterfordlive.ie/news/home/546382/waterford-native-and-showband-legend-brendan-bowyer-passes-away.html|title=Waterford native and showband legend Brendan Bowyer passes away|website=www.waterfordlive.ie|date=29 May 2020 }}
Charlie Monttana, 58, Mexican rock singer{{Cite web|url=https://remezcla.com/music/charlie-monttana-legendary-mexican-rock-urbano-singer-died/|title=Charlie Monttana, Legendary Mexican Rock Urbano Singer Has Died|date=May 29, 2020}}
Lennie Niehaus, 90, American jazz saxophonist and film composer{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lennie-niehaus-dead-alto-saxophonist-frequent-clint-eastwood-collaborator-was-90-1296668/|title=Lennie Niehaus, Alto Saxophonist and Frequent Clint Eastwood Collaborator, Dies at 90|first1=Mike|last1=Barnes|website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 1, 2020}}
27 – Evaldo Gouveia, 91, Brazilian MPB singer{{Cite web|url=https://g1.globo.com/ce/ceara/noticia/2020/05/29/cantor-e-compositor-evaldo-gouveia-morre-de-covid-19-no-ceara.ghtml|title=Cantor e compositor Evaldo Gouveia morre de Covid-19 no Ceará|website=G1|date=30 May 2020 }}
28 – Bob Kulick, 70, American hard rock guitarist (Balance, Kiss, W.A.S.P.){{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/bruce-kulick-says-there-wont-be-a-traditional-funeral-for-his-brother-bob-due-to-covid-19-pandemic/|title=BRUCE KULICK Says There Won't Be A Traditional Funeral For His Brother BOB Due To COVID-19 Pandemic|date=June 1, 2020|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}}
30
Mady Mesplé, 89, French opera singer{{Cite web|url=https://www.francemusique.fr/actualite-musicale/la-grande-soprano-mady-mesple-est-morte-84518|title=La grande soprano Mady Mesplé est morte|first=Guillaume|last=Decalf|date=May 31, 2020|website=France Musique}}
John Nzenze, 79–80, Kenyan rock and jazz guitarist{{Cite web|url=http://www.mwakilishi.com/article/entertainment-news/2020-05-30/legendary-kenyan-twist-singer-john-nzenze-is-dead|title=Legendary Kenyan Twist Singer John Nzenze is Dead|website=Mwakilishi.com}}
31
Bob Northern, 86, American jazz French hornist[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/robert-northern-who-as-brother-ah-became-a-synthesizer-of-sounds-dies-at-86/2020/06/01/57aa7e34-a415-11ea-bb20-ebf0921f3bbd_story.html Robert Northern, who, as ‘Brother Ah,’ became a synthesizer of sounds, dies at 86]
Kjeld Wennick, 76, Danish banjoist and singer (Jan & Kjeld){{Cite news|date=2 June 2020|title=Kjeld Wennick er død |url=https://www.bt.dk/kendte/kjeld-wennick-er-doed|website=B.T.|language=da}}

=June=

1
Majek Fashek, 57, Nigerian reggae singer and songwriter{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52888813|title=Nigerian reggae legend Majek Fashek dies at 57|work=BBC News |date=June 2, 2020}}
Joey Image, 63, American punk rock drummer (Misfits){{Cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/misfits-drummer-joey-image-reportedly-dead-at-63/|title=Misfits drummer Joey Image dead at 63|website=BrooklynVegan|date=June 2020 }}
2 – Chris Trousdale, 34, American pop singer (Dream Street)
4
Marcello Abbado, 93, Italian classical pianist and composer
Rupert Hine, 72, British jazz-rock singer and keyboardist (Quantum Jump)
Steve Priest, 72, British glam rock guitarist (The Sweet){{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/steve-priest-dies-sweet-bassist-ballroom-blitz-fox-on-the-run-1202951571/|title=Steve Priest Dies: Bassist Who Co-Founded Sweet Was 72|first1=Erik|last1=Pedersen|date=June 4, 2020}}
5 – Marjan, 72, Iranian pop singer
7
Frank Bey, 74, American blues singer
Floyd Lee, 86, American blues singer and guitarist
8
James Hand, 67, American country singer
Bonnie Pointer, 69, American R&B singer (The Pointer Sisters)
9
Paul Chapman, 66, Welsh hard rock guitarist (UFO, Lone Star)
Pau Donés, 53, Spanish pop rock singer-songwriter and guitarist (Jarabe de Palo)
12
Dodo Doris, 71, Congolese soukous drummer (Orchestra Super Mazembe)
Ricky Valance, 84, Welsh pop singer
14
Keith Tippett, 72, British free jazz and progressive rock pianist (King Crimson, Centipede)
15
Rocky Isaac, 73, American pop-rock drummer (The Cherry People)
Nana Tuffour, 66, Ghanaian highlife singer
16 – Yohan, 28, South Korean K-pop singer (TST)
17 – Hugh Fraser, 67, Canadian jazz pianist and trombonist
18
Hux Brown, 75, Jamaican reggae guitarist (Toots and the Maytals)
Vera Lynn, 103, British pop singer
19 – A. L. Raghavan, 86, Indian playback singer
20 – Aaron Tokona, 45, New Zealand alternative rock guitarist (Weta, Cairo Knife Fight, Fly My Pretties)
21
Jeet Singh Negi, 95, Indian folk singer-songwriter
Joan Pau Verdier, 73, French nòva cançon singer
23 – Margarita Pracatan, 89, Cuban novelty singer
24
Michael Hawley, 58, American classical pianist and academic
Claude Le Péron, 72, French rock bassist
25
Huey, 32, American rapper
Graeme Williamson, Canadian new wave singer and guitarist (Pukka Orchestra)
26 – Tami Lynn, 81, American soul singer
27
Pete Carr, 70, American rock, pop and soul guitarist (Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Hour Glass, LeBlanc & Carr)
Freddy Cole, 88, American jazz singer and pianist
Tom Finn, 71, American baroque pop guitarist (The Left Banke)
Mats Rådberg, 72, Swedish country singer and guitarist
28 – Simon H. Fell, 61, British jazz bassist
29
Steppa J. Groggs, 32, American rapper (Injury Reserve)
Johnny Mandel, 94, American jazz and film composer
Benny Mardones, 73, American soft rock singer-songwriter
Willie Wright, 80, American soul singer

=July=

1
Max Crook, 83, American pop rock keyboardist
Joe Penny, 92, American country music singer
3 – J. Marvin Brown, 66, American soul singer (The Softones)
5
Cleveland Eaton, 80, American jazz bassist (Ramsey Lewis Trio)
John Marascalco, 89, American songwriter and record producer
6
Charlie Daniels, 83, American country singer-songwriter and fiddler
Andrew Kishore, 64, Bangladeshi playback singer
Ennio Morricone, 91, Italian film composer
8 – Naya Rivera, 33, American pop singer and actress
10 – Eddie Gale, 78, American jazz trumpeter (Sun Ra's Arkestra)
11
Gabriella Tucci, 90, Italian opera singer
Rich Priske, 52, Canadian rock bassist (Matthew Good Band)
12
Rod Bernard, 79, American swamp pop singer
Judy Dyble, 71, British folk singer-songwriter and autoharpist (Fairport Convention, Trader Horne)
Eleanor Sokoloff, 106, American classical pianist
14
J. J. Lionel, 72, Belgian pop singer
Raúl Pagano, Argentine rock keyboardist (Bersuit Vergarabat)
16
Ken Chinn, 57, Canadian punk rock singer (SNFU)
Jamie Oldaker, 68, American country drummer (The Tractors)
Víctor Víctor, 71, Dominican folk singer and guitarist
18 – Haruma Miura, 30, Japanese pop singer and actor
19 – Emitt Rhodes, 70, American pop rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (The Merry-Go-Round, The Palace Guard)
21
Dobby Dobson, 77, Jamaican reggae singer
Annie Ross, 89, British-American jazz singer (Lambert, Hendricks & Ross)
Mieko Hirota, 73, Japanese kayokyoku singer
22 – Tim Smith, 59, British progressive rock singer and guitarist (Cardiacs, The Sea Nymphs, Spratleys Japs)
24 – Regis Philbin, 88, American television personality and singer
25
Peter Green, 73, English blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist (Fleetwood Mac)
CP Lee, 70, British comedy rock singer and guitarist (Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias)
27
Denise Johnson, 56, British alternative rock singer (Primal Scream)
Miss Mercy, 71, American psychedelic rock singer (The GTOs)
28
Pepe Cardona, 72, American pop-rock singer (Alive 'N Kickin')
Bent Fabric, 95, Danish classical pianist and composer
29
Balla Sidibé, 79, Senegalese son cubano singer and timbalero (Orchestra Baobab)
Malik B., 47, American rapper (The Roots)
30
Randy Barlow, 77, American country singer
Sonam Tshering Lepcha, 92, Indian folk singer
31 – Bill Mack, 88, American country singer-songwriter

=August=

2
Leon Fleisher, 92, American classical pianist
Steve Holland, 66, American Southern rock guitarist (Molly Hatchet, Gator Country)
Larry Novak, 87, American jazz pianist
4
Tony Costanza, 52, American heavy metal drummer (Machine Head, Crowbar)
5
Agathonas Iakovidis, 65, Greek folk singer
Jan Savage, 77, American garage rock guitarist (The Seeds)
6
Wayne Fontana, 74, British pop singer (The Mindbenders)
Vern Rumsey, 47, American post-hardcore and indie rock bassist (Unwound, Blonde Redhead, Household Gods)
7 – Mark Wirtz, 76, French pop singer
9
Salome Bey, 80, American-born Canadian soul singer
Martin Birch, 71, British music producer and recording engineer
10 – Don Martin, New Zealand new wave bassist (Mi-Sex)
11
Belle du Berry, 54, French chanson singer (Paris Combo)
Pat Fairley, 76, Scottish pop rock singer and bassist (Marmalade)
Trini Lopez, 83, American pop singer
13 – Steve Grossman, 69, American jazz fusion saxophonist
14
Julian Bream, 87, British classical guitarist
Ewa Demarczyk, 79, Polish cabaret singer and poet
Valentina Legkostupova, 54, Russian pop singer
Pete Way, 69, English rock bassist (UFO, Waysted, Fastway)
16 – Emman, 21, Filipino pop singer
17 – Jasraj, 90, Indian classical singer
18
Ron Heathman, American rock guitarist (Supersuckers)
Sean Pentecost, Australian alternative metal drummer (Superheist)
Hal Singer, 100, American jazz saxophonist and bandleader
19
Randall Craig Fleischer, 61, American classical conductor
Todd Nance, 57, American jam band drummer (Widespread Panic)
20
Frankie Banali, 68, American hard rock drummer (Quiet Riot, W.A.S.P.)
Justin Townes Earle, 38, American folk singer-songwriter
Mike Kirkland, 82, American folk musician (The Brothers Four)
Jack Sherman, 64, American funk rock guitarist (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Piotr Szczepanik, 78, Polish pop singer
22
Walter Lure, 71, American punk rock guitarist (The Heartbreakers)
D. J. Rogers, 72, American soul singer
23
Peter King, 80, American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist
Charlie Persip, 91, American jazz drummer
24 – Riley Gale, 34, American thrash metal singer (Power Trip)
25
Georges Bœuf, 82, French opera composer and saxophonist
Mick Hart, Australian folk singer
Gerry McGhee, 58, British-Canadian hard rock singer (Brighton Rock)
27
Archana Mahanta, 71, Indian folk singer
Mike Noga, 43, Australian alternative rock drummer (The Drones, Legends of Motorsport)

=September=

1
John Meyer, 67, Australian rock slide guitarist (Rose Tattoo, Chain)
Ian Mitchell, 62, British pop rock bassist (Bay City Rollers)
Erick Morillo, 49, Colombian-American house and eurodance DJ (Reel 2 Real)
2 – Alexander Priko, 46, Russian pop rock keyboardist (Laskovyi Mai)
3 – Bill Pursell, 94, American easy listening composer
4
Gary Peacock, 85, American jazz double-bassist
Lucille Starr, 82, Canadian country singer
6 – Bruce Williamson, 49, American R&B singer (The Temptations)
7 – Xavier Ortiz, 48, Mexican pop singer (Garibaldi)
8
Simeon Coxe, 82, American electronic rock singer and synthesizer player (Silver Apples)
Vexi Salmi, 77, Finnish pop rock lyricist
9
Ronald Bell, 68, American funk saxophonist (Kool & The Gang)
Sid McCray, American punk rock singer (Bad Brains)
10 – Danny Webster, 61, American funk singer and guitarist (Slave)
11
Toots Hibbert, 77, Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter (Toots & The Maytals)
Reggie Johnson, 79, American jazz bassist
12 – Edna Wright, 76, American R&B singer (Honey Cone)
14
Al Kasha, 83, American pop songwriter
Peter Starkie, 72, Australian rock guitarist (Skyhooks, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons){{cite web | url = https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/original-skyhooks-guitarist-peter-starkie-dead-at-72-20200916-p55wa4.html | title = Peter Starikies, Skyhooks founding member, dies aged 72 | last = Cooper | first = Nathanael | work = The Sydney Morning Herald | date = 16 September 2020 | access-date = 17 September 2020 }}
16 – Roy C, 81, American soul singer
18
Georgia Dobbins, 78, American R&B singer (The Marvelettes) and songwriter
Pamela Hutchinson, 62, American R&B singer (The Emotions)
19
Lee Kerslake, 73, British hard rock drummer (Uriah Heep, Ozzy Osbourne, Toe Fat)
Dave Kusworth, 60, British indie rock singer (Jacobites)
21
Hamdi Benani, 77, Algerian pop singer and violinist
Tommy DeVito, 92, American pop singer and guitarist (The Four Seasons)
Roy Head, 79, American country singer-songwriter
Ira Sullivan, 89, American jazz trumpeter
23
Juliette Gréco, 93, French chanson singer
W. S. Holland, 85, American country drummer (The Tennessee Three, The Great Eighties Eight)
24 – Max Merritt, 79, New Zealand soul singer-songwriter and guitarist
25 – S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, 74, Indian playback singer
26
Masayoshi Kabe, 70, Japanese rock guitarist and bassist (The Golden Cups, Speed, Glue & Shinki, Vodka Collins)
Mark Stone, American hard rock bassist (Van Halen)
Jimmy Winston, 75, British rock keyboardist (Small Faces)
28 – Jackie Dennis, 77, Scottish pop singer
29
Mac Davis, 78, American country singer-songwriter
Rocco Prestia, 69, American funk bassist (Tower of Power)
Helen Reddy, 78, Australian-American pop singer

=October=

2 – Lisa Schouw, Australian pop singer (Girl Overboard)
3
Karel Fiala, 95, Czech opera singer
Anthony Galindo, 41, Venezuelan pop singer (Menudo, MDO)
6
Johnny Nash, 80, American pop and reggae singer-songwriter
Eddie Van Halen, 65, Dutch-born American hard rock guitarist and keyboardist (Van Halen)
7 – Ray Pennington, 86, American country singer-songwriter
8
Brian Locking, 81, British rock and roll bassist (The Shadows)
Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, 80, Iranian classical singer
9
David Refael ben Ami, 70, Israeli religious singer
Pierre Kezdy, 58, American punk rock bassist (Naked Raygun, Pegboy, Strike Under)
11
Harold Betters, 92, American jazz trombonist
Rajan, 87, Indian film composer (Rajan–Nagendra)
12
Jon Gibson, 80, American minimalist multi-instrumentalist (Philip Glass Ensemble)
Kim Massie, 62, American blues and soul singer
13 – Saint Dog, 44, American rapper (Kottonmouth Kings)
14 – Paul Matters, Australian hard rock bassist (AC/DC)
15 – Dave Munden, 76, British rock and roll drummer (The Tremeloes)
16
Johnny Bush, 85, American country singer-songwriter
Gordon Haskell, 74, British progressive rock and jazz singer and bassist (King Crimson, The Fleur de Lys)
P. S. Narayanaswamy, 86, Indian Carnatic singer
17 – Toshinori Kondo, 71, Japanese jazz trumpeter
18
Alfredo Cerruti, 78, Italian comedy rock musician and producer (Squallor)
Naâma, 84, Tunisian pop singer
José Padilla, 64, Spanish ambient DJ and producer
Maisa Tsuno, 29, Japanese indie rock guitarist (Akai Ko-en)
Chet "JR" White, 40, American indie rock bassist (Girls)
19
Spencer Davis, 81, Welsh rock guitarist (The Spencer Davis Group)
Tony Lewis, 62, British pop rock singer and guitarist (The Outfield)
21
Zero Babu, 80, Indian playback and Carnatic singer
Viola Smith, 107, American swing and classical drummer
22
Margie Bowes, 79, American country singer
K. Deep, 79, Burmese folk singer
23 – Jerry Jeff Walker, 78, American country singer-songwriter
25
Dolores Abril, 81, Spanish copla singer
Jan Boerman, 97, Dutch electronic composer
Rosanna Carteri, 89, Italian opera singer
Mahesh Kanodia, 83, Indian Gujarati film singer
26 – Stan Kesler, 92, American rock and roll guitarist and songwriter
28
Cano Estremera, 62, Puerto Rican salsa singer
Billy Joe Shaver, 81, American country singer-songwriter
29 – Denise Ferri, 76, American pop singer (The Delicates)
30 – Božidar Tanaskovic, Serbian alternative rock bassist (Bjesovi)
31
Rance Allen, 71, American gospel singer, guitarist and keyboardist (The Rance Allen Group)
Marc Fosset, 71, French jazz guitarist
MF Doom, 49, British-American rapper (KMD, Madvillain)

=November=

1
Pedro Iturralde, 91, Spanish jazz saxophonist
Phil K, 51, Australian electronic DJ (Lostep)
Nikki McKibbin, 42, American pop rock singer
Ronnie Peel, Australian rock guitarist (The La De Da's, Thunderclap Newman)
Esteban Santos, 69, Spanish pop singer (Bravo)
2 – T. N. Krishnan, 92, Indian Carnatic violinist
4 – Ken Hensley, 75, British rock singer, keyboardist and guitarist (Uriah Heep, Toe Fat, The Gods)
5
Len Barry, 78, American soul singer
Reynaert, 65, Belgian pop singer
Ossi Runne, 93, Belgian pop trumpeter and conductor
6
Stefano D'Orazio, 72, Italian pop drummer (Pooh)
King Von, 26, American rapper
Jim Radford, 92, British folk singer-songwriter
Timur Selçuk, 74, Turkish pop singer and pianist
7
Cándido Camero, 99, Cuban jazz percussionist
Bones Hillman, 62, New Zealand alternative rock bassist (Midnight Oil, The Swingers, Suburban Reptiles)
8 – Oscar Benton, 71, Dutch blues singer
10 – Alec Baillie, American punk rock bassist (Choking Victim, Leftöver Crack)
11
Adrian Cionco, 48, Argentine rock bassist (La Mosca Tsé - Tsé)
MO3, 28, American rapper
Andrew White, 78, American jazz saxophonist
12 – Jim Tucker, 74, American pop rock guitarist (The Turtles)
13
Kićo Slabinac, 76, Croatian folk singer
Doug Supernaw, 60, American country singer
14
Des O'Connor, 88, English comedian and pop singer
Eugenia Ratti, 87, Italian opera singer
16 – Bruce Swedien, 86, American recording engineer
18
László Benkő, 77, Hungarian progressive rock keyboardist (Omega)
Dominic Grant, 71, British pop singer (Guys 'n' Dolls)
Tony Hooper, 81, British folk rock guitarist (Strawbs)
21 – Tamás Mihály, 73, Hungarian progressive rock bassist (Omega)
23 – Hal Ketchum, 67, American country singer-songwriter
25
Duris Maxwell, 74, Canadian rock drummer
Flor Silvestre, 90, Mexican ranchera and huapango singer and actress
Camilla Wicks, 92, American classical violinist
26
Allan Botschinsky, 80, Danish jazz trumpeter
Cecilia Fusco, 87, Italian opera singer
Jamir Garcia, 42, Filipino nu metal singer (Slapshock)
28 – Piotr Strojnowski, 62, Polish reggae singer and guitarist (Daab)
29 – Miša Aleksić, 67, Serbian hard rock bassist (Riblja Čorba)
30 – Jack Wray, 81, American doo-wop singer (The Earls)

=December=

1 – Dan Morrison, Australian ska punk drummer (Area-7)
2
Volodymyr Huba, 81, Ukrainian film composer
Ron Mathewson, 76, British jazz bassist
3 – André Gagnon, 84, Canadian pianist, composer, and arranger
4 – Kenny Jeremiah, 78, American garage-rock singer (Soul Survivors)
6 – Džej Ramadanovski, 56, Serbian folk pop singer
7
LD Beghtol, 55, American experimental rock singer and multi-instrumentalist (LD & the New Criticism, Flare Acoustic Arts League, The Magnetic Fields)
Howard Wales, 77, American jazz and rock keyboardist
8 – Harold Budd, 84, American avant-garde composer and poet
9
Sean Malone, 50, American progressive rock bassist (Gordian Knot, Cynic)
Jason Slater, 49, American alternative rock bassist (Third Eye Blind, Snake River Conspiracy, Brougham)
10 – Kenneth Alwyn, 95, British classical composer and conductor
11 – Ubirany, 80, Brazilian samba hand-repique player (Fundo de Quintal)
12 – Charley Pride, 86, American country singer
13 – Andrey Sapunov, 64, Russian rock guitarist and bassist (Voskreseniye)
14 – Paulinho, 68, Brazilian soft rock singer (Roupa Nova)
15
Albert Griffiths, 74, Jamaican reggae singer and guitarist (The Gladiators)
Corlynn Hanney, 75, American pop-soul singer (The Groop)
Sam Jayne, 46, American indie rock singer and guitarist (Love as Laughter, Lync)
16 – Carl Mann, 78, American rockabilly singer
17
Jeff Clayton, 66, American jazz saxophonist
Stanley Cowell, 79, American jazz pianist (Heath Brothers)
19
Pelle Alsing, 60, Swedish pop rock drummer (Roxette){{Cite web|date=2020-12-21|title=R.I.P. Pelle Alsing, Roxette drummer dead at 60|url=https://consequence.net/2020/12/pelle-alsing-dead-roxette-drummer/|access-date=2020-12-22|website=Consequence of Sound|language=en-US}}
Clay Anthony, 61, American hard rock bassist (Junkyard)
Pepe Salvaderi, Italian rock guitarist (Dik Dik)
20 – Chad Stuart, 79, British folk-pop singer and guitarist (Chad & Jeremy)
21 – K. T. Oslin, 78, American country singer-songwriter
23
John “Ecstasy” Fletcher, 56, American rapper (Whodini)
Leslie West, 75, American hard rock singer and guitarist (Mountain, West, Bruce and Laing, The Vagrants)
24
Ivry Gitlis, 98, Israeli classical violinist{{cite news|website=Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/12/25/ivry-gitlis-maverick-israeli-violinist-dazzled-audiences-virtuoso|title=Obituary Ivry Gitlis|date=29 December 2020}}
Mojmir Sepe, 90, Slovenian classical composer and conductor{{Cite web|url=https://www.24ur.com/popin/domaca-scena/umrl-je-skladatelj-in-dirigent-mojmir-sepe.html|title=Umrl je skladatelj in dirigent Mojmir Sepe|website=www.24ur.com}}
Geoff Stephens, 86, English songwriter and record producer, founder of The New Vaudeville Band{{Cite web|url=https://bestclassicbands.com/geoff-stephens-obituary-songwriter-winchester-cathedral-12-30-20/|title=Geoff Stephens, Prolific British Songwriter, Dead at 86|website=Best Classic Bands |date=30 December 2020 |access-date=December 31, 2020}}
25 – Tony Rice, 69, American bluegrass guitarist (New South){{Cite web|last=Willman|first=Chris|date=2020-12-27|title=Bluegrass Great Tony Rice Dies at 69|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/obituaries-people-news/tony-rice-bluegrass-great-dead-1234875125/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Variety|language=en-US}}
26 – Tito Rojas, 65, Puerto Rican salsa singer{{Cite web|url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/entretenimiento/musica/notas/fallece-tito-rojas-el-reconocido-gallo-salsero-a-los-65-anos/|title=Fallece Tito Rojas, el reconocido Gallo Salsero, a los 65 años|date=December 26, 2020|website=El Nuevo Día}}
27 – Richard Lewis Spencer, 78, American funk and soul singer and saxophonist (The Winstons)
28
Paul-Heinz Dittrich, 90, German composer
Armando Manzanero, 85, Mexican Mayan musician
29
Claude Bolling, 90, French jazz pianist and composer
Hugh X. Lewis, 90, American country music singer-songwriter
Phyllis McGuire, 89, American pop singer (The McGuire Sisters){{Cite web|url= https://m.lasvegassun.com/news/2020/dec/30/phyllis-mcguire-mcguire-sisters-las-vegas-dies|title=Phyllis McGuire Obituary – Las Vegas, Nevada |website=LasVegasSun.com|date=30 December 2020 }}
Rudy Salas, 72, American R&B and soul guitarist (El Chicano, Tierra)
30
Frank Kimbrough, 64, American jazz pianist
Alto Reed, 72, American rock saxophonist (Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band)
Eugene Wright, 97, American jazz bassist (Dave Brubeck Quartet)

References

Category:2020-related lists

Category:Music by year

Category:Culture-related timelines by year