these artists had huge futures that were
tragically cut short welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the top ten musicians
who died at their peak before we begin
we publish new content every day so be
sure to subscribe to our Channel and
ring the bell to get notified about our
latest videos for this list we’re
looking at popular artists from across
decades and musical genres who died too
soon but whose legends continue to live
on number 10 Bob Marley the unofficial
Jamaican ambassador to the world Bob
Marley had a long fruitful career
despite his early death entering the
limelight in the mid 60s with the
Wailers Marley’s position in the group
would grow until he split off and
fronted a second group of the same name
his star continued to rise as a solo
artist in part due to a new mainstream
interest in reggae through Eric
Clapton’s cover of Marley’s I shot the
sheriff as well as Bob’s wise authentic
songwriting Marley’s final single while
alive redemption song written while he
was facing certain death from melanoma
it’s considered by many to be among his
finest number 9
xxx panthis Ian just say on Fry better
known as XXX temptation was said to be
one of the next big things in hip hop
murdered in an apparent robbery the 20
year old short life was one marked by
crime violence acts of charity and
prolific bouts of creativity taking
influence from guitar-heavy genres like
nu metal and emo xxx tentation had a
fresh unique sound that resulted in
seven singles debuting within the
Billboard Hot 100 and a sophomore album
that debuted at number one following his
death he became the owner of the first
posthumous number-one single since
biggie smalls and would also have a
posthumous collab with the late lil peep
number 8 Avicii Tim Avicii Bergling
started producing music at only 16 years
old eventually finding fame with the
single levels and his 2013 album true
Avicii quickly became an in-demand
remixer festival headliner and
operation partner working with the likes
of Lenny Kravitz Madonna Coldplay and
David Guetta he’d also received
nominations for multiple awards
including two Grammy nods but his
success was slowed by alcohol abuse and
a range of physical and mental health
concerns forcing him to retire from
touring in 2016 and culminating in his
suicide two years later in addition to
two studio albums and four EPS Avicii
left behind more than 200 compositions
in various states of completion number
seven Selena a certified Latin superstar
Selena was set to make a similar
breakthrough in the english-speaking
world her album Anthony mi mundo spent
eight straight months on top of
Billboard’s Mexican albums chart
ahead at twenty-three she gained enough
recognition to finally follow through on
her desire to record an album in English
the album dreaming of you debuted at
number one on the Billboard 200 in July
of 1995 but ultimately became a
posthumous release when Selena was shot
and killed by her former friend and fan
club president Yolanda Saldivar who had
been fired due to embezzlement number
six alia Alia career path was something
out of a made-for-tv movie appearing on
Star Search at the age of 10 she’d go on
to perform with Gladys Knight before
signing a record contract at 12 I did
the mentorship of our Kelly she released
age ain’t nothing but a number at 15 and
would release two more albums before her
tragic death at 22
following the production of the video
for her single rock the boat Aaliyah and
her entourage were killed in a plane
crash heartbreakingly cutting short what
could have been a remarkable career in
Def however she would collect multiple
awards and have continued chart success
with posthumous releases number five
Janis Joplin a member of the infamous 27
club Janis Joplin didn’t live to see her
career hit its highest point exploding
onto the scene via 1967 s Monterey Pop
Festival while fronting Big Brother and
the Holding Company Joplin soon outgrew
and parted ways with her band and
eventually put together the full-tilt
boogie band appearing at Woodstock and
joining the almost mythical festival
Express touring
Canada Joplin was set to release her
masterpiece when she died of a heroin
overdose in a Hollywood hotel room the
album pearl would be released in January
of 1971 spending nine weeks on top of
the Billboard chart number four jimi
hendrix discharged from the army after a
year’s worth of subpar service hendrix
would work his way through the chitlin
circuit eventually backing artists like
Little Richard and The Isley Brothers
moving to England to work with Chas
Chandler in 1966 Hendrix would release
three studio albums and completely
revolutionize the concept of electric
guitar playing in a remarkably short
period of time in the midst of a
creative retooling that saw Jimi build a
recording studio form Band of Gypsys and
experiment with a sound similar to jazz
fusion the guitarist died of asphyxia
caused by drug use robbing the music
world of one of its greatest talents
number three Tupac Shakur and the
notorious b.i.g the later stages of the
careers of Tupac and Biggie were wrapped
in bitter rivalry once friends and
mutual admirers the two MCS were dragged
into the infamous East Coast West Coast
feud and would face the same end
death by drive-by shooting Tupac’s final
album while alive all eyes on me was a
huge seller with two number-one singles
and he’d later have five posthumous
albums four of which have gone platinum
biggie meanwhile would break into the
music world through his classic 1994
debut ready to die work with both
Michael Jackson and Shaquille O’Neal and
in death would become the first artist
to have two posthumous number-one hits
hypnotize and Mo Money mo problems
number two
Kurt Cobain like Jimi Hendrix before him
Kurt Cobain fronted a three-piece rock
combo that for a time revolutionized
popular music eventually settling on
Dave Grohl as a drummer in 1990 indie
darlings Nirvana broke into the
mainstream with 1991 s never mind and
kept the momentum going with 1993 in
utero
but with health troubles heroin
addiction a troubled mental state and
the pressures of Fame in the industry
weighing him down Cobain committed
in 1994 a death still wrapped in an air
of mystery his death would inadvertently
gift the world with the Foo Fighters but
also deny it a brilliant and unique
songwriter and performer before we
unveil our top pick here are a few
honorable mentions
number one amy winehouse with a distinct
and retro influenced Talent Amy
Winehouse made a remarkable impression
in her short life winning praise from
legends like her one time duet partner
Tony Bennett Winehouse was
unquestionably and legitimately talented
although her alcohol dependency would
also earn her jeers from the paying
public but in top form Winehouse was
simply untouchable her largely
self-penned final album Back to Black
helped net her 5 Grammys and topped the
charts in Britain and many other
European countries hit number 2 on
Billboard and boasted 5 UK top 40 hits
following her tragic death her first
posthumous compilation album lioness
hidden treasures hit number one in
Britain and number five stateside do you
agree with our picks check out these
other great clips from WatchMojo and be
sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos
tragically cut short welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the top ten musicians
who died at their peak before we begin
we publish new content every day so be
sure to subscribe to our Channel and
ring the bell to get notified about our
latest videos for this list we’re
looking at popular artists from across
decades and musical genres who died too
soon but whose legends continue to live
on number 10 Bob Marley the unofficial
Jamaican ambassador to the world Bob
Marley had a long fruitful career
despite his early death entering the
limelight in the mid 60s with the
Wailers Marley’s position in the group
would grow until he split off and
fronted a second group of the same name
his star continued to rise as a solo
artist in part due to a new mainstream
interest in reggae through Eric
Clapton’s cover of Marley’s I shot the
sheriff as well as Bob’s wise authentic
songwriting Marley’s final single while
alive redemption song written while he
was facing certain death from melanoma
it’s considered by many to be among his
finest number 9
xxx panthis Ian just say on Fry better
known as XXX temptation was said to be
one of the next big things in hip hop
murdered in an apparent robbery the 20
year old short life was one marked by
crime violence acts of charity and
prolific bouts of creativity taking
influence from guitar-heavy genres like
nu metal and emo xxx tentation had a
fresh unique sound that resulted in
seven singles debuting within the
Billboard Hot 100 and a sophomore album
that debuted at number one following his
death he became the owner of the first
posthumous number-one single since
biggie smalls and would also have a
posthumous collab with the late lil peep
number 8 Avicii Tim Avicii Bergling
started producing music at only 16 years
old eventually finding fame with the
single levels and his 2013 album true
Avicii quickly became an in-demand
remixer festival headliner and
operation partner working with the likes
of Lenny Kravitz Madonna Coldplay and
David Guetta he’d also received
nominations for multiple awards
including two Grammy nods but his
success was slowed by alcohol abuse and
a range of physical and mental health
concerns forcing him to retire from
touring in 2016 and culminating in his
suicide two years later in addition to
two studio albums and four EPS Avicii
left behind more than 200 compositions
in various states of completion number
seven Selena a certified Latin superstar
Selena was set to make a similar
breakthrough in the english-speaking
world her album Anthony mi mundo spent
eight straight months on top of
Billboard’s Mexican albums chart
ahead at twenty-three she gained enough
recognition to finally follow through on
her desire to record an album in English
the album dreaming of you debuted at
number one on the Billboard 200 in July
of 1995 but ultimately became a
posthumous release when Selena was shot
and killed by her former friend and fan
club president Yolanda Saldivar who had
been fired due to embezzlement number
six alia Alia career path was something
out of a made-for-tv movie appearing on
Star Search at the age of 10 she’d go on
to perform with Gladys Knight before
signing a record contract at 12 I did
the mentorship of our Kelly she released
age ain’t nothing but a number at 15 and
would release two more albums before her
tragic death at 22
following the production of the video
for her single rock the boat Aaliyah and
her entourage were killed in a plane
crash heartbreakingly cutting short what
could have been a remarkable career in
Def however she would collect multiple
awards and have continued chart success
with posthumous releases number five
Janis Joplin a member of the infamous 27
club Janis Joplin didn’t live to see her
career hit its highest point exploding
onto the scene via 1967 s Monterey Pop
Festival while fronting Big Brother and
the Holding Company Joplin soon outgrew
and parted ways with her band and
eventually put together the full-tilt
boogie band appearing at Woodstock and
joining the almost mythical festival
Express touring
Canada Joplin was set to release her
masterpiece when she died of a heroin
overdose in a Hollywood hotel room the
album pearl would be released in January
of 1971 spending nine weeks on top of
the Billboard chart number four jimi
hendrix discharged from the army after a
year’s worth of subpar service hendrix
would work his way through the chitlin
circuit eventually backing artists like
Little Richard and The Isley Brothers
moving to England to work with Chas
Chandler in 1966 Hendrix would release
three studio albums and completely
revolutionize the concept of electric
guitar playing in a remarkably short
period of time in the midst of a
creative retooling that saw Jimi build a
recording studio form Band of Gypsys and
experiment with a sound similar to jazz
fusion the guitarist died of asphyxia
caused by drug use robbing the music
world of one of its greatest talents
number three Tupac Shakur and the
notorious b.i.g the later stages of the
careers of Tupac and Biggie were wrapped
in bitter rivalry once friends and
mutual admirers the two MCS were dragged
into the infamous East Coast West Coast
feud and would face the same end
death by drive-by shooting Tupac’s final
album while alive all eyes on me was a
huge seller with two number-one singles
and he’d later have five posthumous
albums four of which have gone platinum
biggie meanwhile would break into the
music world through his classic 1994
debut ready to die work with both
Michael Jackson and Shaquille O’Neal and
in death would become the first artist
to have two posthumous number-one hits
hypnotize and Mo Money mo problems
number two
Kurt Cobain like Jimi Hendrix before him
Kurt Cobain fronted a three-piece rock
combo that for a time revolutionized
popular music eventually settling on
Dave Grohl as a drummer in 1990 indie
darlings Nirvana broke into the
mainstream with 1991 s never mind and
kept the momentum going with 1993 in
utero
but with health troubles heroin
addiction a troubled mental state and
the pressures of Fame in the industry
weighing him down Cobain committed
in 1994 a death still wrapped in an air
of mystery his death would inadvertently
gift the world with the Foo Fighters but
also deny it a brilliant and unique
songwriter and performer before we
unveil our top pick here are a few
honorable mentions
number one amy winehouse with a distinct
and retro influenced Talent Amy
Winehouse made a remarkable impression
in her short life winning praise from
legends like her one time duet partner
Tony Bennett Winehouse was
unquestionably and legitimately talented
although her alcohol dependency would
also earn her jeers from the paying
public but in top form Winehouse was
simply untouchable her largely
self-penned final album Back to Black
helped net her 5 Grammys and topped the
charts in Britain and many other
European countries hit number 2 on
Billboard and boasted 5 UK top 40 hits
following her tragic death her first
posthumous compilation album lioness
hidden treasures hit number one in
Britain and number five stateside do you
agree with our picks check out these
other great clips from WatchMojo and be
sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos
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