The year 2016 has been brutal for music fans, as they coped with the loss of legends from a wide range of genres. Here is a look back at some of the notable musicians who died in 2016.
For a complete list of notable deaths of 2016:
David Bowie: The first major loss of 2016 came Jan. 10 with the death of Bowie. He died at the age of 69 after a battle with liver cancer. A transformative and prolific musician, Bowie's passion for experimentation left a lasting mark on a variety of music genres, from rock to jazz to techno pop. Bowie was also an actor, starring in "The Man Who Fell to Earth," "The Hunger" and "Labyrinth." Bowie won numerous awards and honors, including two Grammys, and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
Glenn Frey: A co-founder of the Eagles, Frey died Jan. 18 from complications of rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and pneumonia after undergoing intestinal surgery. He was 67. After a legendary career with the Eagles, one of the best-selling groups of all-time, Frey launched a successful solo career. Frey co-wrote such Eagles classics as "Take it Easy" and "Tequila Sunrise." His solo career highlights include "The Heat is On," the "Beverly Hills Cop" theme song that Frey performed lead vocal and lead guitar on, and "You Belong to the City," which he co-wrote.
Paul Kantner: The co-founder of the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane, Kantner died on Jan. 28 at the age of 74 from septic shock after suffering a heart attack. Jefferson Airplane became the face of the hip San Francisco music scene during the 1960s and the band's "Surrealistic Pillow" album became one of the best-known works from that period. Kantner, along with band members, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
Maurice White: The Earth, Wind & Fire founder died on Feb. 4 from complications of Parkinson's disease. He was 74. White founded the band in 1971 and found success in a unique sound that melded together elements of soul, jazz, funk and pop. While White had to stop performing due to his Parkinson's disease, the band continues to perform. White won a total of seven Grammys for his work with the band and as a solo artist and received numerous other honors.
Vanity: The Canadian-born singer and actress died from renal failure on Feb. 15 at the age of 57. Vanity, whose real name was Denise Matthews, began her career as a model before landing a few acting roles. A chance meeting with Prince led to a brief relationship and the formation of her own band, Vanity 6. The group released one album which included the hit, "Nasty Girl." Vanity later released two solo albums and acted in major motion pictures before renouncing her entertainment career to focus on her evangelism.
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Joey Feek: Country music duo Joey+Rory publicly shared wife Joey Feek's battle with cervical cancer with fans via their blog, "This Life I Live" and on March 4, she died at the age of 40. Feek and her husband, Rory, came to fame via the CMT show "Can you Duet?" The couple released several albums and their natural, sincere style earned them a loyal fan base.
Frank Sinatra, Jr.: A respected musician in his own right, the son of Rat Pack legend Frank Sinatra died March 16 at the age of 72. Sinatra Jr. made headlines when he was kidnapped in 1963 at age 19 for ransom. He was released four days later and the kidnappers were arrested. While Sinatra Jr.'s career success paled in comparison to his legendary father, he enjoyed performing, and died while on tour.
Phife Dawg: The rapper, whose birth name was Malik Taylor, died March 22 at the age of 45 from complications of diabetes. He was best known for his work as a member of the band A Tribe Called Quest, in which he focused on political and social issues. The band's album, "The Low End Theory," is considered to be one of the best hip-hop albums in history.
April was a particularly brutal month. First came the loss of a country music legend.
Merle Haggard: The country music legend died on his birthday, April 6, at the age of 79. Haggard helped establish the Bakersfield sound and was one of the earlier outlaw country artists. Haggard's plainspoken, heartfelt songs, such as "Mama Tried" and "Okie from Muskogee," earned him the title of "poet of the common man." Haggard recorded dozens of hit songs, including 38 No. 1 hits, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994.
Next came perhaps the most shocking death of the year.
Prince: The legendary music artist was found dead at his home on April 21. He was 57. The cause of death was an accidental overdose of the opioid fentanyl. It's believed that Prince developed a dependence on powerful pain medication to deal with chronic hip and knee issues suffered during years of high-energy performances. Prince brought his creative, innovative style to multiple music genres, winning several Grammy Awards, and also left his mark in film, winning an Academy Award for the "Purple Rain" soundtrack.
Guy Clark: The Texas-born country and folk songwriting icon died May 17. Clark was 74. Clark was well-known and admired in both the country and folk genres. He recorded 13 studio albums over his career spanning 40-plus years. His well-known songs include, "Desperados Waiting for a Train" and "That Old Time Feeling." He was a Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member and Academy of Country Music Poet's Award honoree.
Christina Grimmie: While Grimmie was relatively new to the musical world, the sudden death of the former "The Voice" contestant made headlines due to the tragic circumstances. Grimmie was murdered on June 10 after a show in Florida, shot to death by an obsessed fan. She was just 22 years old. Grimmie posthumously received a Teen Choice Award.
Ralph Stanley: The bluegrass legend died June 23 at the age of 89. The longtime Grand Ole Opry member enjoyed a renaissance in his career after appearing on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou" soundtrack in 2000, which earned him a Grammy award. Stanley received numerous honors over his 70-year career and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor.
Shawty Lo: The Atlanta rapper, whose real name was Carlos Walker, died Sept. 21 in a fiery single-car crash. He was 40. He was known for the hit "Dey Know" and was also a member of the Atlanta rap group D4L, who scored a hit with "Laffy Taffy." The rapper leaves behind 11 children. His large family was considered for a reality show before social backlash scrapped the idea.
Leonard Cohen: The prolific and critically acclaimed singer-songwriter died Nov. 7 at the age of 82. Cohen, who was born in Canada, received many honors from his home country and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. Cohen was a poet and novelist before turning to music in his 30s. "Suzanne," "Sisters of Mercy," "Hallelujah" and "Famous Blue Raincoat" are among his well-known songs. His final album, "You Want it Darker," was released three weeks before his death.
Sharon Jones: The funk and soul singer died Nov. 18 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 60. Known for her passionate and energetic performances, Jones' musical career did not take off until she was in her 40s. She performed with the Dap Kings, a band based in Brooklyn. Her battle with cancer while working as a musician is captured in the critically-acclaimed documentary, "Miss Sharon Jones!"
