Pop, Hip-Hop and Rock Star Deaths in 2022

T-U

Takeoff (Kirsnik Ball) - Georgia-born member of rap trio Migos; shot and killed in Houston; 28

Creed Taylor - headed jazz labels Impulse, Verve and CTI; 93

R. Dean Taylor (Richard Taylor) - Canadian singer-songwiter, wrote and recorded for Motown, including "Love Child" for the Supremes; Covid-19; 82

Timmy Thomas - Miami-based R&B singer best known for the organ-drenched "Why Can't We Love Together" (No. 3, 1972); cancer; 77

Tony Thomas - guitarist with Parliament Funkadelic; 62

John Till - Canadian guitarist with Janis Joplin's Full Tilt Boogie Band that backed her on Pearl; 76

Traxamillion (Sultan Banks) - San Jose DJ/hip-hop producer; cancer; 42

Brett Tuggle - Denver-born keyboardist, played with Fleetwood Mac, David Lee Roth and more; he and Roth co-wrote "Just Like Paradise"; cancer; 70

Nik Turner - co-founder/saxoponist of British space-rock band Hawkwind; 82

23 Rackz (Justin Johnson) - Washington, DC rapper; shot and killed; 16

Ian Tyson - member of Canadian folk duo Ian & Sylvia with wife Sylvia Tyson; heart attack; 89

Margaret Urlich - New Zealand-born, Australia-based pop singer; cancer; 57

 

V

Vangelis (Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou) - Greek keyboardist won Oscar for composing Chariots of Fire soundtrack; Covid-related; 79

Paul Vance (Joseph Paul Florio) - co-writer of "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" (by Brian Hyland) in 1960 and other songs

Diego Vedaguer (Miguel Hernández) - Mexican singer of Argentine descent; Covid-related; 70

Michael Vincens - bassist with Spanish rock band Los Bravos, had hit with "Black Is Black" in 1966; 77

 

W-Z

Patrick "Adam" Wade - Pittsburgh-born early '60s pop singer, hosted TV show Musical Chairs; Parkinson's; 87

Walter "Wolfman" Washington - New Orleans blues guitarist and singer; 79

Norma Waterson - British folk singer with the Watersons; pneumonia; 82

Wavy Navy Pooh (Shandler Beaubien) - Miami rapper; murdered; 28

Alan White - replaced Bill Bruford as Yes' drummer in 1972, played on John Lennon and George Harrison albums; 72

Don Wilson - co-founder/rhythm guitarist with '60s surf band, the Ventures; 88

Andrew Woolfolk - Texas-born saxophone player with Earth, Wind & Fire; 71

Bernard Wright - New York-born R&B/jazz singer/keyboardist, played with MIles Davis and others

Jon "Jonny Z" Zazula - Bronx-born founder of MegaForce Records; COPD; 69

 

Source: Best Classic Bands

 

2022 Total: 233

 

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Steve Bloom

Steve Bloom

Publisher of CelebStoner.com, former editor of High Times and Freedom Leaf and co-author of Pot Culture and Reefer Movie Madness.