88 '80s Singers Who Passed Away (1981-2023)

88 singers who had hit songs in the 1980s and have passed away:
1. Tina Turner
2. Anita Pointer (The Pointer Sisters)
3. Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac)
4. Irene Cara
5. Dan McCafferty (Nazareth)
6. Olivia Newton-John
7. Diego Verdaguer
8. Meat Loaf
9. Nick Kamen
10. Tony Lewis (The Outfield)
11. Benny Mardones
12. Mory Kanté
13. Bill Withers
14. Kenny Rogers
15. Marie Fredriksson (Roxette)
16. Greedy Smith (Mental As Anything)
17. Ric Ocasek (The Cars)
18. Eddie Money
19. Mark Hollis (Talk Talk)
20. James Ingram
21. Marty Balin
22. Aretha Franklin
23. Rose Laurens
24. Paul Gray (Wa Wa Nee)
25. France Gall
26. Tom Petty (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
27. John Wetton (Asia)
28. Loalwa Braz (Kaoma)
29. George Michael (Wham!)
30. Colonel Abrams
31. Pete Burns (Dead or Alive)
32. Prince
33. Colin Vearncombe (Black)
34. Glenn Frey
35. David Bowie
36. Natalie Cole
37. Jim Diamond (Ph.D.)
38. Steve Strange (Visage)
39. Joe Cocker
40. Alvin Stardust
41. Jimi Jamison (Survivor)
42. Chrissy Amphlett (Divinyls)
43. Brian Hibbard (Flying Pickets)
44. Robin Gibb (Bee Gees)
45. Donna Summer
46. Whitney Houston
47. Nick Ashford (Ashford & Simpson)
48. Jani Lane (Warrant)
49. Gary Moore
50. Teena Marie
51. Eric Woolfson (The Alan Parsons Project)
52. Michael Jackson
53. Paul Davis
54. Jeff Healey (The Jeff Healey Band)
55. Trevor Taylor (Bad Boys Blue)
56. Dan Fogelberg
57. Kevin DuBrow (Quiet Riot)
58. Brad Delp (Boston)
59. James Brown
60. June Pointer (The Pointer Sisters)
61. Luther Vandross
62. Izora Armstead (Weather Girls)
63. Laura Branigan
64. Rick James
65. Robert Palmer
66. Maurice Gibb (Bee Gees)
67. Stuart Adamson (Big Country)
68. George Harrison
69. Kirsty MacColl
70. Benjamin Orr (The Cars)
71. Paul Young (Mike and the Mechanics)
72. Ofra Haza
73. Eddie Rabbitt
74. Falco
75. Carl Wilson (The Beach Boys)
76. Michael Hutchence (INXS)
77. Jermaine Stewart
78. Edem Ephraim & Dennis Fuller (London Boys)
79. Dan Hartman
80. Frank Zappa
81. Freddie Mercury (Queen)
82. Melanie Appleby (Mel & Kim)
83. Roy Orbison
84. Andy Gibb
85. Daniel Balavoine
86. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)
87. Marvin Gaye
88. Bob Marley (Bob Marley and the Wailers)

[somerandomguy_music]

Cause of death for each singer:
1. Tina Turner - natural causes
2. Anita Pointer (The Pointer Sisters) - cancer
3. Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac) - metastatic cancer and stroke
4. Irene Cara - arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease
5. Dan McCafferty (Nazareth) - the effects of COPD
6. Olivia Newton-John - breast cancer
7. Diego Verdaguer - COVID-19
8. Meat Loaf - not disclosed
9. Nick Kamen - bone marrow cancer
10. Tony Lewis (The Outfield) - not disclosed
11. Benny Mardones - complications of Parkinson's disease
12. Mory Kanté - the result of untreated chronic health problems
13. Bill Withers - heart complications
14. Kenny Rogers - natural causes
15. Marie Fredriksson (Roxette) - brain cancer
16. Greedy Smith (Mental As Anything) - heart attack
17. Ric Ocasek (The Cars) - cardiovascular disease
18. Eddie Money - esophageal cancer
19. Mark Hollis (Talk Talk) - a short illness (not disclosed)
20. James Ingram - brain cancer
21. Marty Balin - not disclosed
22. Aretha Franklin - pancreatic cancer
23. Rose Laurens - cancer
24. Paul Gray (Wa Wa Nee) - multiple myeloma (cancer)
25. France Gall - breast cancer
26. Tom Petty (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) - accidental overdose of prescription drugs
27. John Wetton (Asia) - complications of colorectal cancer
28. Loalwa Braz (Kaoma) - murdered by one of her employees
29. George Michael (Wham!) - heart failure
30. Colonel Abrams - diabetes
31. Pete Burns (Dead or Alive) - cardiac arrest
32. Prince - accidental fentanyl overdose
33. Colin Vearncombe (Black) - traffic accident
34. Glenn Frey - colitis and pneumonia after being treated with drugs for rheumatoid arthritis
35. David Bowie - liver cancer
36. Natalie Cole - congestive heart failure
37. Jim Diamond (Ph.D.) - pulmonary edema
38. Steve Strange (Visage) - heart attack
39. Joe Cocker - lung cancer
40. Alvin Stardust - prostate cancer
41. Jimi Jamison (Survivor) - heart attack
42. Chrissy Amphlett (Divinyls) - breast cancer
43. Brian Hibbard (Flying Pickets) - prostate cancer
44. Robin Gibb (Bee Gees) - colorectal cancer
45. Donna Summer - lung cancer
46. Whitney Houston - drowning and the effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use
47. Nick Ashford (Ashford & Simpson) - throat cancer
48. Jani Lane (Warrant) - alcohol poisoning
49. Gary Moore - heart attack
50. Teena Marie - natural causes
51. Eric Woolfson (The Alan Parsons Project) - kidney cancer
52. Michael Jackson - cardiac arrest after propofol overdose
53. Paul Davis - heart attack
54. Jeff Healey (The Jeff Healey Band) - lung cancer
55. Trevor Taylor (Bad Boys Blue) - heart attack
56. Dan Fogelberg - prostate cancer
57. Kevin DuBrow (Quiet Riot) - drug overdose
58. Brad Delp (Boston) - suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning
59. James Brown - congestive heart failure
60. June Pointer (The Pointer Sisters) - cancer
61. Luther Vandross - heart attack
62. Izora Armstead (Weather Girls) - heart failure
63. Laura Branigan - cerebral aneurysm
64. Rick James - pulmonary failure and cardiac failure
65. Robert Palmer - heart attack
66. Maurice Gibb (Bee Gees) - complications of a twisted intestine
67. Stuart Adamson (Big Country) - suicide
68. George Harrison - laryngeal cancer
69. Kirsty MacColl - hit by powerboat while on holiday (saving her son's life)
70. Benjamin Orr (The Cars) - pancreatic cancer
71. Paul Young (Mike and the Mechanics) - heart attack
72. Ofra Haza - AIDS-related pneumonia
73. Eddie Rabbitt - lung cancer
74. Falco - car accident
75. Carl Wilson (The Beach Boys) - lung cancer
76. Michael Hutchence (INXS) - suicide or accidental strangulation
77. Jermaine Stewart - AIDS-related liver cancer
78. Edem Ephraim & Dennis Fuller (London Boys) - car accident
79. Dan Hartman - AIDS-related brain tumor
80. Frank Zappa - prostate cancer
81. Freddie Mercury (Queen) - pneumonia as a complication of AIDS
82. Melanie Appleby (Mel & Kim) - pneumonia following cancer treatment
83. Roy Orbison - heart attack
84. Andy Gibb - inflammation of the heart muscle caused by drug abuse
85. Daniel Balavoine - helicopter crash
86. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) - heart failure and pneumonia caused by alcohol and drug use
87. Marvin Gaye - gunshot (shot by his own father)
88. Bob Marley (Bob Marley and the Wailers) - skin cancer

[somerandomguy_music]

List of songs used in this video:
1. Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do with It
2. Pointer Sisters - I'm So Excited
3. Fleetwood Mac - Little Lies
4. Irene Cara - Flashdance…What a Feeling
5. Nazareth - Dream On
6. Olivia Newton-John - Physical
7. Diego Verdaguer - La Ladrona
8. Meat Loaf & Cher - Dead Ringer for Love
9. Nick Kamen - Each Time You Break My Heart
10. The Outfield - Your Love
11. Benny Mardones - Into the Night
12. Mory Kanté - Yéké Yéké
13. Bill Withers - Just the Two of Us
14. Kenny Rogers - Lady
15. Roxette - Listen to Your Heart
16. Mental As Anything - Live It Up
17. Rick Ocasek - Emotion in Motion
18. Eddie Money - Take Me Home Tonight
19. Talk Talk - It's My Life
20. Patti Austin & James Ingram - Baby Come to Me
21. Marty Balin - Hearts
22. George Michael & Aretha Franklin - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
23. Rose Laurens - Africa
24. Wa Wa Nee - Stimulation
25. France Gall - Ella, elle l'a
26. Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty - Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
27. Asia - Don't Cry
28. Kaoma - Lambada
29. George Michael - Faith
30. Colonel Abrams - Trapped
31. Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
32. Prince - Little Red Corvette
33. Black - Wonderful Life
34. Glenn Frey - Smuggler's Blues
35. David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
36. Natalie Cole - Miss You Like Crazy
37. Ph.D. - I Won't Let You Down
38. Visage - Fade to Grey
39. Joe Cocker - You Can Leave Your Hat On
40. Alvin Stardust - Pretend
41. Survivor - I Can't Hold Back
42. Divinyls - Pleasure and Pain
43. Flying Pickets - Only You
44. Robin Gibb - Boys Do Fall in Love
45. Donna Summer - This Time I Know It's for Real
46. Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love for You
47. Ashford & Simpson - Solid
48. Warrant - Heaven
49. Gary Moore - Over the Hills and Far Away
50. Teena Marie - Lovergirl
51. The Alan Parsons Project - Don't Answer Me
52. Michael Jackson - Bad
53. Paul Davis - Cool Night
54. Jeff Healey Band - Angel Eyes
55. Bad Boys Blue - You're a Woman
56. Dan Fogelberg - Same Old Lang Syne
57. Quiet Riot - Cum on Feel the Noize
58. Boston - Amanda
59. James Brown - Living in America
60. Pointer Sisters - Dare Me
61. Luther Vandross - Stop to Love
62. The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men
63. Laura Branigan - Gloria
64. Rick James - Super Freak
65. Robert Palmer - Simply Irresistible
66. Bee Gees - One
67. Big Country - In a Big Country
68. George Harrison - Got My Mind Set on You
69. The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York
70. The Cars - Drive
71. Mike and the Mechanics - All I Need Is a Miracle
72. Ofra Haza - Im Nin'alu
73. Eddie Rabbitt - Driving My Life Away
74. Falco - Der Kommissar
75. Beach Boys - Kokomo
76. INXS - New Sensation
77. Jermaine Stewart - We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off
78. London Boys - London Nights
79. Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You
80. Frank & Moon Zappa - Valley Girl
81. Queen - I Want to Break Free
82. Roy Orbison - You Got It
83. Mel & Kim - Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)
84. Andy Gibb - Desire
85. Daniel Balavoine - Vivre ou survivre
86. Thin Lizzy - Killer on the Loose
87. Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
88. Bob Marley and the Wailers - Could You Be Loved

[Nicky]

They may be gone, but their music will live on for generations.

[josephsmall]

It breaks my heart thinking about these great singers are now gone, and can never be
replaced.

[marjandewith]

So many of them died between the age of 40-70, way too young! And also, this list once again proves how great music in the '80's was! ❤

[fakrulanuar]

RIP to Marie Fredrickson of Roxette. We all Roxers will miss you forever. Your music & voice will be in our heart forever! Roxette ROX Forever!

[dharmabeachbum]

I had more fun in the 80s than any other decade, thanks largely to the music, and this hits pretty hard. These artists were so energetic and one couldn't help but be optimistic back then. Life is short Enjoy as much of it as you possibly can.

[야빠아빠]

R.I.P Marie Frederiksson I loved you, I respected you, and I still can't believe you're gone.

[alfredstorella]

As a huge fan of Fleetwood Mac, I took Christine McVie's passing very hard. May all 88 on the list rest in Heavenly peace. Thank you to all 88 for the great music & memories! 😢

[Thediscodude]

RIP to some of my all time favorites Donna Summer, Olivia Newton-John, Laura Branigan, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, David Bowie, Prince & Michael Jackson

[trinaq]

Rest in peace to all of these legandary musicians, especially the late, great Tina Turner, whom we lost the most recently. 😇💔

[vs]

So many great artists have left us. So many of my favourites there. They are gone, but they left us with legacies of fantastic music!

[Hermann]

Most people in this video are superstars, but you could also add less known musicians like Baltimora, Mike Francis, Andy Fletcher (Depeche Mode), Felix Haug(Double), Greg Ham(Men at work), Paul Griffiths (Cube), Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek (Bronski Beat)...

[loulou]

I had no idea Anita Pointer had passed away ! 😢. So many irreplaceable legends gone here. A moment in time that will never be again 💔

[feliciathomas]

Thank you for putting together this list. These songs and artists are all from childhood, this just reminds me that we are all getting older.

[kaledrealmanofsteel]

R.I.P. them all, life was a better place when they were around and never will be forgotten. A great listing but I feel we're leaving behind a couple of men with a few hits under their belts, both of'em (If you're a Metalhead like myself) you couldn't define the 80's without. Ronnie James Dio (July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010) and Lemmy Killmister (24 December 1945 – 28 December 2015)

[brianjoyce]

Some real classics here i remember from growing up in the 80s. I was at school throughout the 80s.

[some.random.baldie]

RIP to all of the beautiful and talented singers. Your music will live on forever.

[sandraoyns-wilson]

So many brilliant memories of so many brilliant musicians. R.I.P. all of you.

[kerriekermelcatlover]

RIP to all the legends we've lost. 😞