This topic covers notable events and articles related to 2017 in music.
Specific locations
- African
- American
- Asian
- Australian
- Brazilian
- British
- Canadian
- Chinese
- Danish
- European
- Finnish
- French
- German
- Icelandic
- Indian
- Irish
- Japanese
- Latin
- Malaysian
- Mongolian
- Norwegian
- Philippine
- Polynesian
- Scandinavian
- South Korean
- Swedish
- Taiwanese
- Vietnamese
- World
Specific genres
- Classical
- Country
- Electronic
- Jazz
- Latin
- Heavy metal
- Hip hop
- Rock
- R&B
- New Wave
- Opera
- Pop
- Punk
- K-pop
- J-pop
Albums released
Awards
Soloist debuts
Bands on hiatus
Bands disbanded
Deaths
January
- 1 – Memo Morales (79), Venezuelan rumba singer
- 2 – Auriel Andrew (69), Indigenous Australian country singer
- 4 – Bade Fateh Ali Khan (82), Pakistani classical music and Khyal singer
- 6 – Sylvester Potts (78), American R&B singer (the Contours)
- 7 – Jerzy Kossela (74), Polish rock guitarist (Czerwone Gitary)
- 8 – Peter Sarstedt (75), British folk pop singer
- 10 – Buddy Greco (90), American jazz singer and pianist
- 11 – Tommy Allsup (83), American rock and roll guitarist
- 13
- Horacio Guarany (91), Argentine folklore singer
- Richie Ingui (69), American soul singer (Soul Survivors)
- 14 – John Boudreaux (80), American jazz and soul drummer
- 15 – Greg Trooper (61), American alternative country singer and songwriter
- 16
- 18 – Mike Kellie (69), British psychedelic rock and power pop drummer (Spooky Tooth, The Only Ones)
- 19 – Loalwa Braz (63), Brazilian pop and lambada singer (Kaoma)
- 20
- Ronald "Bingo" Mundy (76), American singer (The Marcels)
- Joey Powers (82), American pop singer
- Tommy Tate (71), American soul singer
- 21
- 22
- 23 – Bobby Freeman (76), American pop and R&B singer
- 24
- 25 – Ronnie Davis (66), Jamaican reggae singer (The Tennors, The Itals)
- 27 – Stan Boreson (91), American comedian, accordionist and singer
- 28
- Guitar Gable (79), American blues singer and guitarist
- Geoff Nicholls (68), British rock musician and keyboardist (Black Sabbath, Quartz)
- Alexander Tikhanovich (64), Belarusian pop singer (Verasy)
- 29 – Elkin Ramírez (54), Colombian hard rock singer (Kraken)
- 30 – James Laurence (27), American hip hop musician and producer (Friendzone) (death announced on this date)
- 31
February
- 1 – Robert Dahlqvist (40), Swedish alternative rock guitarist and singer (The Hellacopters, Thunder Express, Dundertåget)
- 4 – Steve Lang (67), Canadian rock bassist (April Wine)
- 5
- 7 – Svend Asmussen (100), Danish jazz violinist
- 8
- 11 – Jarmila Šuláková (87), Czech folk singer
- 12
- Al Jarreau (76), American jazz singer
- Damian (52), British pop singer
- 13
- Trish Doan (31), American heavy metal bassist (Kittie) (death announced on this date)
- E-Dubble (34), American rapper
- 16 – Pericoma Okoye (81), Nigerian traditional music singer
- 17
- 18 – Clyde Stubblefield (73), American funk and soul drummer (James Brown, The J.B.'s)
- 19 – Larry Coryell (73), American jazz fusion guitarist
- 20 – Huang Feili (99), Chinese classical music conductor
- 23
- 25
- Rick Chavez, American progressive metal singer and guitarist (Drive)
- Toshio Nakanishi (61), Japanese new wave guitarist (Plastics)
- Bill Paxton (61), American new wave keyboardist (Martini Ranch) and actor
March
- 1 – Hiroshi Kamayatsu (78), Japanese rock singer (The Spiders, Vodka Collins)
- 2 – Gata Cattana (26), Spanish rapper
- 3
- 4
- Valerie Carter (64), American rock singer and songwriter
- Edi Fitzroy (61), Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer
- Tommy Page (46), American pop singer
- 6
- Ritchie Adams (78), American songwriter and singer (The Fireflies)
- Lars Diedricson (66), Swedish rock singer (Snowstorm)
- Alberto Zedda (89), Italian conductor and musicologist
- 7 – Kalika Prasad Bhattacharya (46), Indian folk singer
- 8
- Dave Valentin (64), American jazz flutist
- Wordsayer (47), American rapper (Source of Labor)
- 10 – Joni Sledge (60), American R&B and disco singer (Sister Sledge)
- 11
- Evan Johns (60), American rockabilly guitarist (The LeRoi Brothers)
- Ángel Parra (73), Chilean folk singer
- Don Warden (87), American country slide guitarist
- 12 – Joey Alves (63), American hard rock rhythm guitarist (Y&T)
- 13
- 15
- Phil Garland (75), New Zealander folk singer
- Vicky (69), Colombian pop singer
- 16 – James Cotton (81), American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter
- 18 – Chuck Berry (90), American rock and roll guitarist, singer and songwriter
- 20
- Buck Hill (90), American jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist
- Tony Terran (90), American rock and pop trumpeter (The Wrecking Crew)
- 21 – Gabriel "Negru" Mafa (42), black metal drummer (Negură Bunget)
- 22
- Sib Hashian (67), American rock drummer (Boston)
- Sven-Erik Magnusson (74), Swedish pop singer and guitarist (Sven-Ingvars)
- 23 – Sebastián (63), Argentine cuarteto singer
- 24
- 25 – Edward Grimes (43), American post-rock drummer (Rachel's)
- 26
- Alessandro Alessandroni (92), Italian film composer and classical guitarist
- Jimmy Dotson (83), American blues singer and songwriter
- 27 – Clem Curtis (76), Trinidadian-British singer (The Foundations)
- 28 – Terry Fischer (70), American pop singer (The Murmaids)
- 30 – Rosie Hamlin (71), American pop singer (Rosie and the Originals)
April
- 1
- Lonnie Brooks (83), American blues singer and guitarist
- Ikutaro Kakehashi (87), Japanese engineer, founder of Roland Corporation, manufacturer of electronic musical instruments
- Wycliffe Noble (91), British gospel singer (The Joystrings) and architect
- 3 – Brenda Jones (62), American singer (The Jones Girls)
- 5 – Paul O'Neill (61), American progressive metal composer, lyricist, producer, and songwriter (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Savatage)
- 6 – David Peel (74), American folk singer and songwriter
- 7 – Ben Speer (86), American gospel singer (Speer Family)
- 8 – Keni Richards (60), American rock drummer (Autograph)
- 9
- 10 – Banner Thomas (62), American hard rock bassist (Molly Hatchet)
- 11
- 12 – Barry "Frosty" Smith (71), American rock drummer (Sweathog, Soulhat)
- 14 – Bruce Langhorne (78), American folk singer
- 15
- 19 – Dick Contino (87), American accordionist and singer
- 20 – Cuba Gooding Sr. (72), American soul and R&B singer (The Main Ingredient)
- 23 – Jerry Adriani (70), Brazilian rock singer
- 27
- Jeff Decker, Canadian heavy metal guitarist (Thor)
- John Shifflett (64), American jazz bassist
- 28 – Joanna Brouk (68), American electronic music composer
May
- 1
- Bruce Hampton (70), American rock and jazz fusion singer and guitarist (Hampton Grease Band, Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit)
- Erkki Kurenniemi (75), Finnish electronic music composer
- 2 – Kevin Garcia (41), American indie rock bassist (Grandaddy)
- 3
- 4 – Katy Bødtger (84), Danish singer (Eurovision Song Contest 1960)
- 5 – Clive Brooks (67), British progressive rock drummer (Egg)
- 9
- Michael Parks (77), American country singer and actor
- Robert Miles (47), Swiss-born Italian electronic dance record producer, composer and DJ
- 10
- Bonaldo "Burt" Bonaldi (90), American pop singer (The Gaylords)
- Pierre DeMudd (64), American trumpeter and singer (Dazz Band)
- 11 – İbrahim Erkal (50), Turkish folk singer
- 12 – Bill Dowdy (84), American jazz drummer (The Three Sounds)
- 13 – Jimmy Copley (63), British rock drummer
- 14 – Keith Mitchell, American dream pop drummer (Mazzy Star)
- 17 – Chris Cornell (52), American alternative rock singer and songwriter (Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog)
- 18 – Frankie Paul (51), Jamaican dancehall singer
- 20
- Jimmy Dale (81), British-Canadian film and television composer
- Ace Still, American doom metal singer (Goatlord)
- 21
- Kenny Cordray (62), American rock guitarist and songwriter
- Jimmy LaFave (61), American folk singer and songwriter
- Tulsa Pittaway (42), South African indie rock drummer (Watershed, Evolver One)
- 22
- Rosa Speer (94), American gospel singer (Speer Family)
- Zbigniew Wodecki (67), Polish pop singer and violinist
- 25 – Saucy Sylvia (96), Canadian-born American comedy music singer and pianist
- 27
- 29 – Arleen Lanzotti (73), American pop singer (The Delicates)
- 31 – Bern Nix (69), American jazz guitarist
June
- 2 – Aamir Zaki (49), Pakistani psychedelic rock guitarist
- 6
- 8 – Norro Wilson (79), American country music singer, songwriter and record producer
- 11 – Rosalie Sorrels (83), American folk singer and songwriter
- 12 – Geri Allen (60), American jazz pianist
- 16 – Eliza Clívia (37), Brazilian forro singer
- 17 – Thara Memory (68), American jazz trumpeter
- 18 – Chris Murrell (60), American gospel and jazz singer
- 20
- Prodigy (42), American rapper (Mobb Deep)
- Bo Wagner (72), American marimba player (Starbuck)
- 21 – Belton Richard (77), American Cajun accordionist
- 22 – Jimmy Nalls (66), American blues rock guitarist (Sea Level)
- 25 – Dave Evans (66), American bluegrass singer and banjoist
- 28
- Gary DeCarlo (75), American pop singer and songwriter (Steam)
- Nic Ritter (37), American thrash metal drummer (Warbringer)
- Dave Rosser (50), American alternative rock guitarist (The Afghan Whigs)
- 30 – Don Rea (88), American pop singer (The Gaylords)
July
- 3 – Rudy Rotta (66), Italian blues rock guitarist
- 4 – John Blackwell, Jr. (43), American funk and R&B drummer (D'Angelo, The New Power Generation)
- 5 – Pierre Henry (89), French musique concrète composer
- 6
- Mick Bund, British post-punk bassist (Felt)
- Melvyn "Deacon" Jones (73), American soul keyboardist (Baby Huey & the Babysitters)
- 9 – Erik Cartwright (66), American blues rock guitarist (Foghat)
- 12
- Marc 'Blaash' Michaelson, American black metal drummer (Bahimiron)
- Tamara Miansarova (86), Russian pop singer
- Ray Phiri (70), South African jazz fusion singer and guitarist
- 13
- Simon Holmes (54), Australian jangle pop guitarist (The Hummingbirds)
- Egil Kapstad (76), Norwegian jazz pianist and composer
- Chris Wong Won (53), American rapper (2 Live Crew)
- 14
- 16 – Wilfried (67), Austrian pop singer
- 17 – Peter Principle (63), American post-punk bassist (Tuxedomoon)
- 19
- Barbara Weldens (35), French pop singer and songwriter
- Graham Wood (45), Australian jazz pianist
- 20
- 21
- Errol Dyers (65), South African jazz guitarist
- Geoff Mack (94), Australian country singer and songwriter
- Kenny Shields (69), Canadian hard rock singer (Streetheart)
- Paapa Yankson (73), Ghanaian highlife singer
- 22
- 25
- 27 – Billy Joe Walker Jr. (64), American country music record producer
- 28 – D.L. Menard (85), American Cajun music singer
- 31 – Chuck Loeb (61), American jazz guitarist (Fourplay)
August
- 1 – Goldy McJohn (72), Canadian hard rock keyboardist (Steppenwolf)
- 2 – Daniel Licht (60), American film and television composer
- 4
- Luiz Melodia (66), Brazilian MPB singer
- Joe Romano 67, American bassist (The Fun and Games)
- 8 – Glen Campbell (81), American country music singer and songwriter
- 11 – Segun Bucknor (71), Nigerian soul and funk keyboardist and guitarist
- 19 – Bea Wain (100), American big band singer (Larry Clinton and His Orchestra)
- 20 – Jerry Lewis (91), American actor and pop singer
- 21 – Sonny Burgess (88), American rockabilly singer
- 22 – John Abercrombie (73), American jazz fusion guitarist
- 24
- Pete Kuykendall (79), American bluegrass banjoist
- Larry Marshall (75), Jamaican reggae singer
- 26 – Wilson das Neves (81), Brazilian bossa nova singer and percussionist
- 28 – Melissa Bell (53), British R&B and soul singer (Soul II Soul)
- 29 – Larry Elgart (95), American jazz bandleader and alto saxophonist
- 30 – Skip Prokop (73), Canadian rock and jazz fusion drummer (Lighthouse, The Paupers)
September
- 1 – Mick Softley (77), British folk singer and songwriter
- 2 – Dave Hlubek (66), American rock guitarist and songwriter (Molly Hatchet)
- 3 – Walter Becker (67), American jazz rock guitarist, bassist and songwriter (Steely Dan)
- 4 – Earl Lindo (64), Jamaican reggae keyboardist (Bob Marley and the Wailers)
- 5 – Rick Stevens (77), American R&B singer (Tower of Power)
- 6 – Holger Czukay (79), German experimental rock bassist (Can)
- 8
- 11 – Virgil Howe (41), British alternative rock drummer (Little Barrie)
- 12
- Riem de Wolff (74), Dutch-Indonesian rock and roll singer (The Blue Diamonds)
- Josh Schwartz (45), American alternative country guitarist (Beachwood Sparks)
- Jessi Zazu (28), American garage rock singer and songwriter (Those Darlins)
- 13 – Grant Hart (56), American alternative rock singer, songwriter and drummer (Hüsker Dü)
- 17 – Laudir de Oliveira (77), Brazilian rock and jazz percussionist (Chicago)
- 18 – Mark Selby (56), American blues rock singer and guitarist
- 21 – Cees Bergman (65), Dutch glam rock singer (Catapult)
- 22
- Ammon Tharp (75), American soul singer and drummer (Bill Deal and the Rhondels)
- Eric Eycke (41), American heavy metal singer (Corrosion of Conformity)
- 23 – Charles Bradley (68), American soul singer
- 27
- CeDell Davis (91), American blues guitarist
- Joy Fleming (72), German pop singer
- Hiromi Hayakawa (34), Japanese-born Mexican pop singer
- 30 – Tom Paley (89), American folk guitarist and banjoist (New Lost City Ramblers)
October
- 2 – Tom Petty (66), American rock singer, songwriter and guitarist (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Traveling Wilburys, Mudcrutch)
- 4 – Janis Hansen (74), American pop and bossa nova singer (Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66, The Carnival)
- 5
- Alvin DeGuzman, American post-hardcore guitarist (The Icarus Line)
- Rodrigo BVevino (42), British heavy metal singer (Avenger)
- 6 – Bunny Sigler (76), American soul singer, songwriter and record producer
- 7 – Jimmy Beaumont (76), American doo-wop singer (The Skyliners)
- 8 – Grady Tate (85), American jazz drummer and singer
- 16
- Augustin Mawangu Mingiedi (56), Congolese afro-pop lkembist (Konono Nº1)
- Iain Shedden (60), Australian punk rock drummer (The Saints)
- 17
- 18 – Eamonn Campbell (70), Irish folk singer and guitarist (The Dubliners)
- 21 – Martin Eric Ain (50), American-Swiss heavy metal bassist (Celtic Frost)
- 22
- 24
- Fats Domino (89), American rock and roll singer and pianist
- Larry Ray (63), American power pop guitarist (Outrageous Cherry)
- 27
- Mike Hudson (61), American punk rock singer (The Pagans)
- Dick Noel (90), American big band singer
- 28
- Bruce Black, American power metal drummer (Meliah Rage)
- Daichi Shimoda, Japanese deathcore vocalist (Victim of Deception)[2]
- 29
- Muhal Richard Abrams (87), American free jazz pianist
- Billy Mize (88), American country singer and steel guitarist
- Keith Wilder (65), American funk singer (Heatwave)
November
- 1
- 2 – María Martha Serra Lima (72), Argentinean bolero singer
- 3
- Gaetano Bardini (91), Italian opera singer
- Naomi Sego (86), American gospel singer (The Sego Brothers and Naomi)
- 5
- Robert Knight (72), American soul singer
- Louis Roney (96), American opera tenor
- 7
- 9 – Fred Cole (69), American garage rock singer and guitarist (The Lollipop Shoppe, Dead Moon)
- 10 – Chuck Mosley (57), American alternative rock singer (Faith No More)
- 11 – Chiquito de la Calzada (85), Spanish flamenco singer
- 12 – Chad Hanks (46), American metal bassist (American Head Charge)
- 15
- Bonnie Flower (63), American sunshine pop singer (Wendy and Bonnie)
- Lil Peep (21), American rapper
- 16 – Michael "Dik Mik" Davies (73), British space rock keyboardist (Hawkwind)
- 17 – Rikard Wolff (59), Finnish pop singer and actor
- 18
- 19
- 20 – Laila Sari (82), Indonesian children's music singer
- 21
- 22 – Tommy Keene (59), American power pop singer and songwriter
- 23
- 24
- Mitch Margo (70), American doo-wop singer and songwriter (The Tokens)
- Clotilde Rosa (87), Portuguese classical harpist
- Bari Siddiqui (63), Bangladeshi folk singer and flautist
- 26 – Patrick Bourgeois (54), Canadian rock singer and guitarist (Les B.B.)
- 27 – Robert Popwell (66), American rock and jazz bassist (The Young Rascals, The Crusaders)
- 28 – Shadia (86), Egyptian pop singer
- 29 – Robert Walker (80), American blues guitarist
- 30
December
- 2
- Norihiko Hashida (72), Japanese folk singer and songwriter (The Folk Crusaders)
- Mundell Lowe (95), American jazz guitarist
- 5 – Johnny Hallyday (74), French rock singer
- 7 – Sunny Murray (81), American free jazz drummer
- 8 – Gloria Ann Taylor (73), American soul singer
- 12
- Pat DiNizio (62), American power pop singer and guitarist (The Smithereens)
- Willie Pickens (86), American jazz pianist
- 13
- 16
- Ralph Carney (61), American rock and jazz saxophonist and clarinetist (Tin Huey)
- Richard Dobson (75), American country singer and songwriter
- Michael Prophet (60), Jamaican reggae singer
- Keely Smith (89), American jazz singer
- 17 – Kevin Mahogany (59), American jazz singer
- 18 – Kim Jong-hyun (27), South Korean K-pop singer and songwriter (Shinee)
- 19
- Jim Forrester (43), American hard rock bassist (Sixty Watt Shaman)
- Leo Welch (85), American gospel blues singer and guitarist
- 21
- Roswell Rudd (82), American free jazz trombonist
- Marilyn Tyler (91), American opera singer
- 22 – Pam the Funkstress, American hip hop DJ (The Coup)
- 25 – Nao (56), Japanese heavy metal vocalist (United)
- 28
- 31 – Maurice Peress (87), American conductor and music educator
Musical films
See also
References