Jan 13, 2026 2:09 PM
More Trump-Kennedy Center Cancellations
The fallout from the renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to include President Donald…
Aretha Franklin (1942-2018)
(Photo: DownBeat Archives/Atlantic Records)
Ndugu Chancler (1952-2018)
(Photo: Suzette Niess)
Eddy Clearwater (1935-2018)
(Photo: Courtesy of the Artist)
Bob Dorough (1923–2018)
(Photo: Courtesy bobdorough.com)
Roy Hargrove (1969–2018)
(Photo: Mark Sheldon)
Hugh Masekela (1939-2018)
(Photo: DownBeat Archives)
Otis Rush (1935–2018)
(Photo: Kirk West/DownBeat Archives)
Tomasz Stańko (1942-2018)
(Photo: Andrzej Tyszko)
Cecil Taylor (1929-2018)
(Photo: Hyou Vielz)
Randy Weston (1926-2018)
(Photo: Udo Salters)
Nancy Wilson (1937–2018)
(Photo: DownBeat Archives)From jazz trumpeters and blues guitarists to genre-defining soul singers and avant-garde soothsayers, DownBeat presents a look back at some of the talented performers who passed away during 2018. DB
• Eddie C. Campbell (1939–2018)
• Ndugu Chancler (1952-2018)
• Eddy Clearwater (1935-2018)
• Bob Dorough (1923–2018)
• Aretha Franklin (1942-2018)
• Roy Hargrove (1969–2018)
• Hugh Masekela (1939-2018)
• Randy Weston (1926-2018)
• Nancy Wilson (1937–2018)
• Otis Rush (1935-2018)
• Tomasz Stańko (1942-2018)
• Cecil Taylor (1929-2018)
Belá Fleck during an interview with Fredrika Whitfield on CNN.
Jan 13, 2026 2:09 PM
The fallout from the renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to include President Donald…
Peplowski first came to prominence in legacy swing bands, including the final iteration of the Benny Goodman Orchestra, before beginning a solo career in the late 1980s.
Feb 3, 2026 12:10 AM
Ken Peplowski, a clarinetist and tenor saxophonist who straddled the worlds of traditional and modern jazz, died Feb. 2…
The success of Oregon’s first album, 1971’s Music Of Another Present Era, allowed Towner to establish a solo career.
Jan 19, 2026 5:02 PM
Ralph Towner, a guitarist and composer who blended multiple genres, including jazz — and throughout them all remained…
Rico’s Anti-Microbial Instrument Swab
Jan 19, 2026 2:48 PM
With this year’s NAMM Show right around the corner, we can look forward to plenty of new and innovative instruments…
Richie Beirach was particularly renowned for his approach to chromatic harmony, which he used to improvise reharmonizations of originals and standards.
Jan 27, 2026 11:19 AM
Richie Beirach, a pianist and composer who channeled a knowledge of modern classical music into his jazz practice,…
