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The following is a list of events and releases that happened in 2020 in music in the United States.

Events

January

• 10 – Selena Gomez released her first studio album in four years, Rare.
  • Echosmith released their first studio album in six years, Lonely Generation.
• 13 – Lauren Daigle performed the National Anthem at the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
• 26 – The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, hosted by Alicia Keys, took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas took home the most awards with five each. Eilish won all four General field awards, including Album of the Year with When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, both Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Bad Guy", and Best New Artist. She is the first artist to win every major award in the same year since Christopher Cross in 1981.
• 31 – Taylor Swift released Miss Americana, a Netflix documentary based on the singer's life and her recent stance on politics to critical acclaim. Along with the documentary, Swift released a song, "Only the Young" alongside the documentary.

February

• 2 – Demi Lovato performed the National Anthem, and Jennifer Lopez and Shakira performed the halftime show during Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
• 3 – Green Day released their first studio album in four years, Father of All Motherfuckers.
• 14 - Justin Bieber released his first album in four years, Changes.
• 24 – Armor for Sleep announced a reunion for a 2020 summer tour which will celebrate the 15th anniversary of their 2005 album, What to Do When You Are Dead, but soon the tour was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

March

• 2 – After 35 years with the group, Flavor Flav was fired from Public Enemy.
• 6 – Lauv released his full-length debut studio album How I'm Feeling.
  • Mandy Moore released her first studio album in eleven years, Silver Landings.
    • Lil Uzi Vert released their long-awaited studio album "Eternal Atake"
• 13 – Jay Electronica released his debut studio album and his first full project in thirteen years, A Written Testimony.
• 20 – Legendary country singer and actor Kenny Rogers died at the age of 81.
  • Conan Gray released his full-length debut studio album Kid Krow, becoming the biggest new artist debut of the year.
• 22 – Childish Gambino, released his first studio album in four years, 3.15.20.
• 27 – Pearl Jam released their first studio album in seven years, Gigaton.
  • Jessi Alexander released her first album in six years, Decatur Country Red.

April

• 3 – Testament released their first studio album in four years, Titans of Creation.
  • Sam Hunt released his first studio album in six years, Southside.
• 10 – Sparta released their first studio album in fourteen years, Trust the River.
  • The Strokes released their first studio album in seven years, The New Abnormal.
  • Maddie & Tae released their first studio album in five years, The Way It Feels.
• 17 – Fiona Apple released her first studio album in eight years, Fetch the Bolt Cutters.
• 22 – X released their first studio album in 27 years, Alphabetland.

May

• 9 – Little Richard died at the age of 87 due to bone cancer.
• 17 - Just Sam won the eighteenth season of American Idol. Arthur Gunn was named runner-up.
• 19 - Todd Tilghman was named winner of the eighteenth season of The Voice. Toneisha Harris was named runner-up.
• 29 – Lady Gaga released her first studio album in four years, Chromatica.

June

• 11 - Lady Antebellum changed their name to Lady A (a nickname fans have gave them since they first came out) in the wake of the George Floyd protests, to remove any associations the old name might have had with Civil War history, slavery and the Antebellum South.
• 19 – Lamb of God released their self-titled album, their first studio album of original material in five years.
  • Mushroomhead released their first studio album in six years, A Wonderful Life.
  • Phantom Planet released their first studio album in twelve years, Devastator.
• 23 – Hum released their first studio album in 22 years, Inlet.
• 26 – Kansas released their first studio album in four years, The Absence of Presence.

July

• 6 – Country music legend Charlie Daniels died at the age of 83.
• 10 – Rufus Wainwright released his first studio album in eight years, Unfollow The Rules.
  • Static-X released Project Regeneration Volume 1, their first studio album in 11 years; it features some of the final recordings of original frontman Wayne Static who died in November 2014.
  • The Rentals released their first studio album in six years Q36.
  • My Morning Jacket released their first studio album in five years, The Waterfall II.
• 17 - The Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, released their first album in fourteen years, Gaslighter. It is also their first album under their new name. They had dropped "Dixie", which referenced the American Mason–Dixon line, separating the free and slave-owning southern states. The name change followed criticism that the word had connotations of American slavery.
• 24 – Neon Trees released their first studio album in six years, I Can Feel You Forgetting Me.
• 31 – Brandy released her first studio album in eight years, B7.

August

• 14 – Tanya Donelly released her first studio album in fourteen years, Tanya Donelly and the Parkingtion Sisters.
• 21 – Bright Eyes released their first studio album in nine years, Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was.
  • Tim McGraw released his first solo studio album in five years, Here on Earth.
• 22 – Singer Alex Varkatzas left Atreyu after 22 years with the band.
• 28 – G.E. Smith released his first studio album in five years, Stony Hill.
• 30 – The MTV Video Music Awards took place. Lady Gaga took home the most awards with five including Artist of the Year.

September

• 16 – The 55th Academy of Country Music Awards took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was originally scheduled for April 5 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 18 – Alicia Keys released her first studio album in four years, Alicia.
• 25 – Sufjan Stevens released his first solo studio album in five years, The Ascension.
  • Deftones released their first studio album in four years, Ohms.

October

• 2 – Aloe Blacc released his first studio album in six years, All Love Everything.
  • Bon Jovi released their first studio album in four years, 2020.
  • Dolly Parton released her first Christmas album in 30 years, A Holly Dolly Christmas.
• 6 – Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen died from throat cancer at the age of 65. The following month, the band officially announced their disbandment.
• 9 – DevilDriver released their first studio album of original material in four years, Dealing With Demons I. The first part of a double-album cycle, the second part was due to be released in 2021, but will arrive in 2023.
  • Blue Öyster Cult released their first studio album in nineteen years, The Symbol Remains.
• 14 – The Billboard Music Awards took place.
• 21 – The CMT Music Awards took place.
• 23 – Armored Saint released their first studio album in five years, Punching the Sky.
• 30 – Busta Rhymes released his first studio album in eight years, Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God.
  • Mr. Bungle released their first studio album in 21 years, The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo.
  • Puscifer released their first studio album in five years, Existential Reckoning.

November

• 6 – Fates Warning released their first studio album in four years, Long Day Good Night.
• 11 – The CMA Awards took place. Darius Rucker and Reba McEntire hosts.
• 12 – Billie Eilish released "Therefore I Am", the second single from her second studio album Happier Than Ever. The song made the fourth-biggest leap in Billboard Hot 100 history, vaulting from 94-2 on the chart.
• 22 – The American Music Awards took place.
• 27 – Hatebreed released their first studio album in four years, Weight of the False Self.

December

• 4 – Geographer released their first full-length studio album in five years, Down And Out In The Garden Of Earthly Delights.
• 7 – It was announced that Bob Dylan had sold all rights in his entire song catalog to Universal Music Publishing Group.
• 11 – M. Ward released his first studio album in four years, Think of Spring.
  • Less Than Jake released their first studio album in seven years, Silver Linings; it is also their first album without founding drummer Vinnie Fiorello, who left the band in 2018.
  • Kid Cudi released his first solo studio album in four years, Man on the Moon III: The Chosen.
• 12 – Charley Pride, the first Black superstar of country music died at age 86, due to complications of COVID-19.

Bands reformed

• Armor for Sleep
• Attack Attack!
• Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows
• Dream Street
• The Firm
• Foxy Shazam
• Genesis
• I, the Breather
• Jazz Warriors
• JLS
• The Juliana Theory
• Living Things
• The Microphones
• Mott the Hoople
• Mr. Bungle
• Narcissus
• The Network
• The Original Rudeboys
• Rage Against the Machine
• The Receiving End of Sirens
• Secret Machines
• Son of Sam
• Tribe
• Thursday
• Toto
• The Union Underground

Bands on hiatus

• Against Me!
• The Chainsmokers
• Imagine Dragons
• Night Riots
• Real Friends
• Stone Sour

Bands disbanded

• Babes In Toyland
• JJ Doom
• KMD
• Madvillain
• The Mowgli's
• She Wants Revenge
• Van Halen

Albums released in 2020

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Top songs on record

Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 Songs

• "All I Want for Christmas Is You" – Mariah Carey (2 weeks in 2019, 2 weeks in 2020)
• "Blinding Lights" – The Weeknd (4 weeks)
• "Cardigan" – Taylor Swift (1 week)
• "Circles" – Post Malone (2 weeks in 2019, 1 week in 2020)
• "Dynamite" – BTS (3 weeks)
• "Franchise" – Travis Scott feat. Young Thug and M.I.A. (1 week)
• "Life Goes On" – BTS (1 week)
• "Mood" – 24kGoldn feat. Iann Dior (6 weeks)
• "Positions" – Ariana Grande (1 week)
• "Rain on Me" – Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande (1 week)
• "Rockstar" – DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch (7 weeks)
• "Savage" – Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé (1 week)
• "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)" – Jawsh 685, Jason Derulo and BTS (1 week)
• "Say So" – Doja Cat feat. Nicki Minaj (1 week)
• "Stuck with U" – Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber (1 week)
• "The Box" – Roddy Ricch (11 weeks)
• "The Scotts" – The Scotts, Travis Scott and Kid Cudi (1 week)
• "Toosie Slide" – Drake (1 week)
• "Trollz" – 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj (1 week)
• "WAP" – Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion (4 weeks)
• "Watermelon Sugar" – Harry Styles (1 week)
• "Willow" – Taylor Swift (1 week)

Billboard Hot 100 Top 20 Hits

All songs that reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the year, complete with peak chart placement.

• "10,000 Hours" – Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber (#4 in 2019, #5 in 2020)
• "34+35" – Ariana Grande (#8)
• "7 Summers" – Morgan Wallen (#6)
• "A Holly Jolly Christmas" – Burl Ives (#4)
• "Adore You" – Harry Styles (#6)
• "After Hours" – The Weeknd (#20)
• "All I Want for Christmas Is You" – Mariah Carey (#1)
• "Baby Pluto" – Lil Uzi Vert (#6)
• "Bad Energy" – Juice Wrld (#16)
• "Bad Guy" – Billie Eilish (#1 in 2019, #14 in 2020)
• "Ballin'" – Mustard feat. Roddy Ricch (#11)
• "Be Like That" – Kane Brown, Swae Lee and Khalid (#19)
• "Bean (Kobe)" – Lil Uzi Vert feat. Chief Keef (#19)
• "Before You Go" – Lewis Capaldi (#9)
• "Blinding Lights" – The Weeknd (#1)
• "Blood on My Jeans" – Juice Wrld (#12)
• "Blue & Grey" – BTS (#13)
• "Blueberry Faygo" – Lil Mosey (#8)
• "Body" – Megan Thee Stallion (#12)
• "Bop" – DaBaby (#11 in 2019, #12 in 2020)
• "Break My Heart" – Dua Lipa (#13)
• "Cardigan" – Taylor Swift (#1)
• "Chasin' You" – Morgan Wallen (#16)
• "Chicago Freestyle" – Drake feat. Giveon (#14)
• "Circles" – Post Malone (#1)
• "Come & Go" – Juice Wrld and Marshmello (#2)
• "Conversations" – Juice Wrld (#7)
• "Dakiti" – Bad Bunny and Jhay Cortez (#5)
• "Dance Monkey" – Tones and I (#4)
• "D4L" – Drake, Future and Young Thug (#19)
• "Does to Me" – Luke Combs feat. Eric Church (#20)
• "Don't Start Now" – Dua Lipa (#2)
• "Dreams" – Fleetwood Mac (#1 in 1977, #12 in 2020)
• "Dynamite" – BTS (#1)
• "Everything I Wanted" – Billie Eilish (#8 in 2019, #9 in 2020)
• "Exile" – Taylor Swift feat. Bon Iver (#6)
• "Falling" – Trevor Daniel (#17)
• "Feliz Navidad" – José Feliciano (#10)
• "For the Night" – Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby and DaBaby (#6)
• "Forever After All" – Luke Combs (#2)
• "Franchise" – Travis Scott feat. Young Thug and M.I.A. (#1)
• "Glock in My Lap" – 21 Savage and Metro Boomin (#19)
• "Go Crazy" – Chris Brown and Young Thug (#9)
• "Godzilla" – Eminem feat. Juice Wrld (#3)
• "Gooba" – 6ix9ine (#3)
• "Good as Hell" – Lizzo (#3 in 2019, #6 in 2020)
• "Good News" – Mac Miller (#17)
• "Got What I Got" – Jason Aldean (#16)
• "Greece" – DJ Khaled feat. Drake (#8)
• "Hate the Other Side" – Juice Wrld and Marshmello feat. Polo G and The Kid Laroi (#10)
• "Hawái" – Maluma and The Weeknd (#12)
• "Heartless" – The Weeknd (#1 in 2019, #4 in 2020)
• "Heatin Up" – Lil Baby feat. Gunna (#18)
• "High Fashion" – Roddy Ricch feat. Mustard (#20)
• "Highest in the Room" – Travis Scott (#1 in 2019, #8 in 2020)
• "Holy" – Justin Bieber feat. Chance the Rapper (#3)
• "Hot Girl Bummer" – Blackbear (#11)
• "I Hope" – Gabby Barrett feat. Charlie Puth (#3)
• "I Love Me" – Demi Lovato (#18)
• "Ice Cream" – Blackpink and Selena Gomez (#13)
• "In Your Eyes" – The Weeknd (#16)
• "Intentions" – Justin Bieber feat. Quavo (#5)
• "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" – Perry Como and The Fontane Sisters with Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra (#12)
• "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" – Andy Williams (#6)
• "Jingle Bell Rock" – Bobby Helms (#3)
• "Jump" – DaBaby feat. YoungBoy Never Broke Again (#17)
• "Kings & Queens" – Ava Max (#13)
• "Last Christmas" – Wham! (#11)
• "Laugh Now Cry Later" – Drake feat. Lil Durk (#2)
• "Lemonade" – Internet Money and Gunna feat. Don Toliver and Nav (#6)
• "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" − Dean Martin (#11)
• "Levitating" – Dua Lipa feat. DaBaby (#20)
• "Life Goes On" – BTS (#1)
• "Life Is Good" – Future feat. Drake (#2)
• "Life's a Mess" – Juice Wrld and Halsey (#9)
• "Lo Mein" – Lil Uzi Vert (#8)
• "Lonely" – Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco (#14)
• "Lose You to Love Me" – Selena Gomez (#1 in 2019, #5 in 2020)
• "Memories" – Maroon 5 (#2)
• "Midnight Sky" – Miley Cyrus (#14)
• "Monster" – Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber (#8)
• "Mood" – 24kGoldn feat. Iann Dior (#1)
• "Mood Swings" – Pop Smoke feat. Lil Tjay (#17)
• "More Than My Hometown" – Morgan Wallen (#15)
• "Move Ya Hips" – ASAP Ferg feat. Nicki Minaj and MadeinTYO (#19)
• "Mr. Right Now" – 21 Savage and Metro Boomin feat. Drake (#10)
• "My Future" – Billie Eilish (#6)
• "My Oh My" – Camila Cabello feat. DaBaby (#12)
• "My Tears Ricochet" – Taylor Swift (#16)
• "Myron" – Lil Uzi Vert (#13)
• "No Guidance" – Chris Brown feat. Drake (#5 in 2019, #15 in 2020)
• "No Time to Die" – Billie Eilish (#16)
• "Nobody but You" – Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani (#18)
• "Old Town Road" – Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus (#1 in 2019, #15 in 2020)
• "On" – BTS (#4)
• "One Margarita" – Luke Bryan (#19)
• "One of Them Girls" – Lee Brice (#17)
• "P2" – Lil Uzi Vert (#11)
• "Pain 1993" – Drake feat. Playboi Carti (#7)
• "Panini" – Lil Nas X (#5 in 2019, #17 in 2020)
• "Popstar" – DJ Khaled feat. Drake (#3)
• "Positions" – Ariana Grande (#1)
• "Rags2Riches" – Rod Wave feat. ATR Son Son (#12)
• "Rain on Me" – Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande (#1)
• "Righteous" – Juice Wrld (#11)
• "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" – Brenda Lee (#2)
• "Rockstar" – DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch (#1)
• "Roses (Imanbek remix)" – Saint Jhn (#4)
• "Roxanne" – Arizona Zervas (#4 in 2019, #5 in 2020)
• "Runnin" – 21 Savage and Metro Boomin (#9)
• "Said Sum" – Moneybagg Yo (#17)
• "Savage" – Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé (#1)
• "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)" – Jawsh 685, Jason Derulo and BTS (#1)
• "Say So" – Doja Cat feat. Nicki Minaj (#1)
• "Señorita" – Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello (#1 in 2019, #11 in 2020)
• "Silly Watch" – Lil Uzi Vert (#9)
• "Sleigh Ride" − The Ronettes (#19)
• "Smile" – Juice Wrld and The Weeknd (#8)
• "Someone You Loved" – Lewis Capaldi (#1 in 2019, #4 in 2020)
• "Stuck with U" – Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber (#1)
• "Stupid Love" – Lady Gaga (#5)
• "Suicidal" – YNW Melly and Juice Wrld (#20)
• "Sum 2 Prove" – Lil Baby (#16)
• "Sunday Best" – Surfaces (#19)
• "Tap In" – Saweetie (#20)
• "That Way" – Lil Uzi Vert (#20)
• "The 1" – Taylor Swift (#4)
• "The Bigger Picture" – Lil Baby (#3)
• "The Bones" – Maren Morris (#12)
• "The Box" – Roddy Ricch (#1)
• "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)" − Nat King Cole (#11 in 2019, #15 in 2020)
• "The Last Great American Dynasty" – Taylor Swift (#13)
• "The Scotts" – The Scotts, Travis Scott and Kid Cudi (#1)
• "The Woo" – Pop Smoke feat. 50 Cent and Roddy Ricch (#11)
• "Therefore I Am" – Billie Eilish (#2)
• "Titanic" – Juice Wrld (#14)
• "Toosie Slide" – Drake (#1)
• "Trampoline" – Shaed (#13 in 2019, #16 in 2020)
• "Trollz" – 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj (#1)
• "Truth Hurts" – Lizzo (#1 in 2019, #18 in 2020)
• "Turks" – Nav, Gunna and Travis Scott (#17)
• "WAP" – Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion (#1)
• "Watermelon Sugar" – Harry Styles (#1)
• "We Paid" – Lil Baby and 42 Dugg (#10)
• "What a Man Gotta Do" – Jonas Brothers (#16)
• "Whats Poppin" – Jack Harlow feat. DaBaby, Tory Lanez and Lil Wayne (#2)
• "Willow" – Taylor Swift (#1)
• "Wishing Well" – Juice Wrld (#5)
• "Woah" – Lil Baby (#15)
• "Wonder" – Shawn Mendes (#18)
• "Yummy" – Justin Bieber (#2)

Deaths

• January 1 –
  • Lexii Alijai, 21, rapper
  • Marty Grebb, 74, rock keyboardist
  • Tommy Hancock, 90, country singer
• January 2 – Lorraine Chandler, 73, soul singer
• January 8 – Edd Byrnes, 87, actor and pop singer
• January 9 – Bobby Comstock, 78, rock and roll singer
• January 14 – Steve Martin Caro, 71, singer
• January 15 – Chris Darrow, 75, country and rock singer
• January 18 – David Olney, 71, folk singer-songwriter
• January 19 –
  • Jimmy Heath, 93, jazz saxophonist
  • Robert Parker, 89, R&B singer
• January 24 –
  • Joe Payne, 35, metal bassist
  • Sean Reinert, 48, metal drummer
• January 25 –
  • Bob Gullotti, 71, free jazz drummer
  • Vernon Sandusky, 80, rock singer and guitarist (The Chartbusters)
• January 26 – Bob Shane, 85, folk singer and guitarist
• January 28 – Bob Nave, 75, bubblegum pop keyboardist
• February 1 –
  • Harold Beane, 73, funk guitarist
  • Peter Serkin, 72, classical pianist
• February 6 – Diego Farias, 27, progressive metalcore guitarist
• February 10 – Lyle Mays, 66, jazz fusion keyboardist
• February 12 – Paul English, 87, country drummer
• February 13 –
  • Jacob Thiele, 40, indie rock keyboardist
  • Buzzy Linhart, 76, folk singer-songwriter
• February 19 –
  • Bob Cobert, 95, composer
  • Pop Smoke, 20, rapper
• February 25 – David Roback, 61, alternative rock and dream pop guitarist
• February 28 – Mike Sommerville, 67, rock guitarist and songwriter
• March 3 – Les Cauchi, 77, pop singer (Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge)
• March 4 – Barbara Martin, 76, R&B singer
• March 6 –
  • McCoy Tyner, 81, jazz pianist
  • Elinor Ross, 93, opera soprano
• March 7 – Jim Owen, 78, country singer songwriter
• March 9 –
  • Keith Olson, 74, rock bassist, record producer
  • Eric Taylor, 70, folk singer songwriter
• March 11 – Charles Wuorinen, 81, classical composer
• March 16 – Jason Rainey, 53, thrash metal guitarist
• March 20 –
  • Kenny Rogers, 81, country singer-songwriter, actor
  • Jerry Slick, 80, rock drummer
• March 22
  • Mike Longo, 83, jazz pianist
  • Eric Weissberg, 80, country and bluegrass banjoist
• March 23 – Tres Warren, 41, rock singer and guitarist
• March 25 – Bill Rieflin, 59, rock drummer
• March 28 – Jan Howard, 91, country singer songwriter
• March 29 –
  • Joe Diffie, 61, country singer
  • Alan Merrill, 69, rock singer and bassist
• March 30 – Bill Withers, 81, soul and R&B singer-songwriter
• March 31 – Cristina, 61, no wave singer
• April 1 –
  • Ellis Marsalis Jr., 85, jazz pianist
  • Adam Schlesinger, 52, singer-songwriter, record producer, guitarist
  • Bucky Pizzarelli, 94, jazz guitarist
• April 2 – Vaughan Mason, 69, funk musician (Vaughan Mason & Crew, Raze)
• April 4 -
  • Timothy Brown, 82, pop and soul singer
  • Alex Harvey, 73, country singer songwriter
• April 7 –
  • Betty Bennett, 98, jazz and big band singer
  • Hutch Davie, 89, pianist, arranger and composer
  • Steve Farmer, 71, rock guitarist, songwriter (The Amboy Dukes)
  • Travis Nelsen, 38, indie rock drummer
  • John Prine, 73, country folk singer-songwriter
  • Hal Willner, 64, record producer
• April 8 –
  • Carl Dobkins, Jr., 79, singer and songwriter
  • Chynna Rogers, 25, rapper
• April 9 – Andrew Gonzalez, 69, Latin jazz bassist
• April 10 –
  • Big George Brock, 87, blues harmonicist
  • Jymie Merritt, 92, jazz bassist
• April 15 –
  • Lee Konitz, 92, jazz saxophonist
  • Henry Grimes, 84, jazz bassist
  • Gary McSpadden, 77, gospel singer, songwriter, producer
• April 17 – Giuseppi Logan, 84, jazz instrumentalist
• April 21 – Derek Jones, 35, metalcore guitarist
• April 24 –
  • Hamilton Bohannon, 78, percussionist and music producer
  • Harold Reid, 80, country singer songwriter
• April 25 – Alan Abel, 91, classical percussionist
• April 26 – Big Al Carson, 66, blues singer
• April 27 –
  • Troy Sneed, 52, gospel singer
  • Lynn Harrell, 79, classical cellist
• April 28 – Bobby Lewis, 95, R&B singer
• April 29 – Stezo, 51, rapper
• April 30 – Sam Lloyd, 56, a cappella singer
• May 1 – Richard Cole, 72, jazz saxophonist
• May 2 – Cady Groves, 30, country singer-songwriter
• May 3 – Rosalind Elias, 90, opera singer
• May 4
  • John Erhardt, 58, indie rock musician
  • Frederick C. Tillis, 90, jazz saxophonist
• May 5 –
  • Sweet Pea Atkinson, 74, dance rock singer
  • Sonny Cox, 82, jazz saxophonist
  • Kiing Shooter, 24, rapper
• May 8 – Andre Harrell, 59, record producer, songwriter, and rapper
• May 9 – Little Richard, 87, R&B, soul, and rock-n-roll singer
• May 10 – Betty Wright, 66, R&B soul singer
• May 11 – Moon Martin, 74, rockabilly singer-songwriter and guitarist
• May 17 – Lucky Peterson, 55, blues guitarist
• May 19 – Willie K, 59, folk ukuleleist
• May 22 –
  • Steve Hanford, 50, punk rock drummer
  • KJ Balla, 23, rapper
• May 24 –
  • Jimmy Cobb, 91, jazz drummer
  • Al Rex, 91, rock & roll bassist
• May 25 – Bucky Baxter, 65, folk and rock guitarist
• May 26 – Lennie Niehaus, 90, jazz saxophonist and film composer
• May 28 – Bob Kulick, 70, hard rock guitarist (Balance, Kiss, W.A.S.P.)
• May 31 – Bob Northern, 86, jazz French hornist
• June 1 – Joey Image, 63, punk rock drummer
• June 2 – Chris Trousdale, 34, pop singer and actor
• June 7 –
  • Frank Bey, 74, blues singer
  • Floyd Lee, 86, blues singer and guitarist
• June 8 –
  • James Hand, 67, country singer
  • Bonnie Pointer, 69, R&B soul singer (The Pointer Sisters)
• June 24 – Michael Hawley, 58, classical pianist
• June 26 – Huey, 31, rapper
• June 27 –
  • Pete Carr, 70, rock, pop, and soul guitarist
  • Freddy Cole, 88, jazz singer and pianist
  • Tom Finn, 71, baroque pop guitarist
• June 29 –
  • Stepa J. Groggs, 32, rapper (Injury Reserve)
  • Johnny Mandel, 94, film composer, arranger
  • Benny Mardones, 73, soft rock singer, songwriter
• July 1 – Max Crook, 83, pop rock keyboardist
• July 3 – J. Marvin Brown, 66, soul singer
• July 5 – Cleveland Eaton, 80, jazz bassist
• July 6 – Charlie Daniels, 83, country singer
• July 8 – Naya Rivera, 33, pop singer and actress (Glee)
• July 10 – Eddie Gale, 78, jazz trumpeter
• July 12 –
  • Rod Bernard, 79, swamp pop singer
  • Eleanor Sokoloff, 106, classical pianist
• July 16 – Jamie Oldaker, 68, country music drummer
• July 19 – Emitt Rhodes, 70, pop rock singer
• July 27 – Miss Mercy, 71, psychedelic rock singer
• July 29 – Malik B., 47, rapper (The Roots)
• July 31 – Bill Mack, 88, country singer-songwriter
• August 2 –
  • Steve Holland, 66, southern rock guitarist
  • Larry Novak, 87, jazz pianist
  • Leon Fleisher, 92, classical pianist
• August 4
  • Tony Costanza, 52, heavy metal drummer
  • FBG Duck, rapper
• August 6 – Vern Rumsey, 47, indie rock bassist
• August 11 – Trini Lopez, 83, pop singer
• August 13 – Steve Grossman, 69, jazz fusion saxophonist
• August 18 –
  • Ron Heathman, rock guitarist (The Supersuckers)
  • Hal Singer, 100, jazz saxophonist and bandleader
• August 19 –
  • Todd Nance, 57, jam band drummer
  • Randall Craig Fleischer, 61, classical conductor
• August 20 – Frankie Banali, 68, rock drummer (Quiet Riot)
• August 22 –
  • Walter Lure, 71, punk rock guitarist
  • D.J. Rogers, 72, soul singer
• August 23 –
  • Justin Townes Earle, 38, singer-songwriter
  • Peter King, 80, jazz saxophonist and clarinetist
  • Charlie Persip, 91, jazz drummer
• August 24 – Riley Gale, 35, thrash metal singer (Power Trip)
• September 3 – Bill Pursell, 94, composer
• September 4 – Gary Peacock, 85, jazz double-bassist
• September 6 – Bruce Williamson, 49, R&B singer
• September 8 – Simone Coxe, 82, electronic rock singer
• September 9 –
  • Ronald Bell, 68, saxophonist (Kool & The Gang)
  • Sid McCray, punk rock singer
• September 12 – Edna Wright, 76, R&B singer
• September 14 – Al Kasha, 83, pop songwriter
• September 16 – Roy C, 81, soul singer
• September 18 –
  • Georgia Dobbins, 78, R&B singer
  • Pamela Hutchinson, 62, R&B singer (The Emotions)
• September 21 –
  • Tommy DeVito, 92, singer, guitarist (The Four Seasons)
  • Roy Head, 79, country singer
• September 23 – W.S. Holland, 85, country music dummer
• September 26 – Mark Stone, hard rock bassist
• September 29
  • Mac Davis, 78, country singer
  • Rocco Prestia, 69, funk bassist
• October 6 –
  • Eddie Van Halen, 65, rock guitarist, songwriter (Van Halen)
  • Johnny Nash, 80 singer, songwriter
• October 7 – Ray Pennington, 86, country singer songwriter
• October 9 – Pierre Kezdy, 58, punk rock bassist
• October 11 – Harold Betters, 92, jazz trombonist
• October 12 –
  • Jon Gibson, 80, minimalist multi instrumentalist
  • Kim Massie, 62, blues and soul singer
• October 13 – Saint Dog, 44, rapper
• October 16 – Johnny Bush, 85, country music singer songwriter
• October 18 – Chet "JR" White, 40, indie rock bassist
• October 21 – Viola Smith, 107, swing and classical drummer
• October 22 – Margie Bowes, 79, country singer
• October 23 – Jerry Jeff Walker, 78, country singer songwriter
• October 26 – Stan Kesler, 92, rock and roll singer, songwriter
• October 28 – Billy Joe Shaver, 81, country singer, songwriter
• October 31 –
  • MF DOOM, 49, rapper
  • Rance Allen, 71, gospel singer, guitarist and keyboardist
• November 1 – Nikki McKibbin, 42, singer, American Idol season one third place finalist
• November 5 – Len Barry, 78, soul singer
• November 6 – King Von, 26, rapper
• November 10 – Alec Baillie, 73, bassist
• November 11 –
  • Andrew White, jazz saxophonist
  • MO3, 28, rapper
• November 12 – Jim Tucker, 74, rock guitarist
• November 13 – Doug Supernaw, 60, country singer
• November 16 – Bruce Swedien, 86, recording engineer
• November 23 – Hal Ketchum, 67, country singer
• November 25 – Camilla Wicks, 92, classical violinist
• December 7 –
  • LD Beghtol, 55, experimental rock singer
  • Howard Wales, 77, jazz and rock keyboardist
• December 8 – Harold Budd, 84, avant-garde composer and poet
• December 9 –
  • Sean Malone, 50, progressive metal bassist (Cynic)
  • Jason Slater, 49, alternative rock bassist
• December 12 – Charley Pride, 86, country singer
• December 15 – Sam Jayne, 46, indie rock singer and guitarist
• December 16 – Carl Mann, 78, rockabilly singer
• December 17 –
  • Jeff Clayton, 66, jazz saxophonist
  • Stanley Cowell, 79, jazz pianist
• December 19 – Clay Anthony, 61, hard rock bassist
• December 21 – K.T. Oslin, 78, country singer
• December 23
  • John Fletcher, 56, rapper
  • Leslie West, 75, hard rock singer and guitarist
• December 25 – Tony Rice, 69, bluegrass guitarist
• December 29 –
  • Phyllis McGuire, 89, pop singer (The McGuire Sisters)
  • Rudy Salas, 71, R&B and soul guitarist
• December 30 –
  • Frank Kimbrough, 64, jazz pianist
  • Alto Reed, 72, rock saxophonist
  • Eugene Wright, 97, jazz bassist

See also

• 2020s in music

References

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58. Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali dies

• 2020 in American music