The great P.B. Shelly once said, “Music, when great voices die, vibrates in the memories.” This quote is enough to describe that music has the power that makes us fell in love with its creators. Almost all of us have a favorite musician whose music lands straight into our hearts and become a part of our lives. It is not just the music that we feel close to ourselves but we develop a heartfelt association with the musicians as well. Just like all other human beings; musicians, no matter how great they are, have to go one day. However, we are not prepared for their death and when that unfortunate incident happens; we are left with no other option but to mourn. Yet we love them forever no matter they are dead or still alive.
There have been many great musicians in the past who were privileged enough to reach their full capacity and there are also some who died at the peak of their career without reaching their full potential and unveiling what they had in store for their fans and lovers. In this post, we will discuss some of those great musicians who left us too soon.
Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin, a name that is considered as a symbol of psychedelic rock and someone who can be termed as the true icon of the 1960s. The time when she passed away in 1970, she was considered as one of the most popular female singers of the world. At a very early stage of her career in 1967, she rose to fame where most of the new musicians dream to be. In was 1970 when Janis was preparing to release her latest album Pearl which was recorded with none other than Full Tilt Boogie Band; her life came to a tragic and swift end. Initially, the reason for her death was unknown because she was found dead in her Hollywood hotel room. After the investigations, it was revealed that the reason for her death was a heroin overdose.
Selena Quintanilla Perez
Selena Quintanilla Perez is a name that needs no introduction. She was a singer, songwriter, actress, model, speaker, and designer. She was one of the most prolific musicians of her era. The biggest reason of her fame was the fact that she actually brought Latin music genres to the mainstream. Born in 1971, Selena found herself as one of the top musicians in 1989 with the release of her album named after her own name. However, her fame was not limited to just one album but her second LP, Entre a Mi Mundo was the number 1 on the Billboard Mexican Albums for a record period of 8 straight months. For a star, fans mean very much but in Selena’s case, the cause of her death was Yolanda Saldívar, her friend and former manager of her Selena Etc. boutiques, shooting her. Selena Quintanilla Perez death left the fans shell-shocked and mourning.
Sam Cooke
Recognized as the most important soul singer in history, Sam Cooke was one of the first musicians to bring closer black and white audiences. Not only this, he was also the first black singer to found a record publishing company and a record label. Sam was also known for taking part in civil rights movement. His career began in the 1930s when he started singing in his father’s church in the choir. Continued hard work and determination paid off when he released some of the most popular songs in the 1950s. The kind of music he made was a fusion of pop genres and R&B which was quite unique for the audiences of that age. The reason of his death proved to be an altercation with the night manager of a motel. He was shot dead after allegedly attempting to attack the manager. However, it was not proved and the reason why he was shot dead still remains a mystery for the law enforcement agencies.
Hank Williams
Hank Williams is a legendary musician who gave meaning to country music and breathed a new life into this dying genre. His contributions in country music are compared to those of Hendrix to rock music, and Bowie’s to pop music. He was in a league of his own without a doubt and many publications call him as the most influential and powerful iconic figures in American Music. Born in Alabama, Hank developed an interest in music at a very young age. His youth was afflicted with the severe spinal condition but it was his love for music that helped him overcome the odds. Within six years of his career, he had recorded 66 songs out of which 37 were chartbusters. However, as we know that not everyone is able to deal with success and fame, Williams caught into alcoholism. He was unable to meet his commitments and missed several big concerts as well. In 1952, he hired a doctor who supplied him with prescription drugs of high danger level. This led to his death when he was on his way to some small gigs for the New Year’s Eve.
Death is a reality that spares no one even celebrities and these musicians at the peak of their careers are a proof of this statement. However, these legends will be remembered in history for decades to come.
