Al Jackson Jr.

popular name: Scrapper Blackwell

date_of_death: October 7, 1962

age: 59

cause_of_death: Murdered (solved but no arrest)

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Scrapper Blackwell, together with Leroy Carr are arguably the two most underrated blues musicians of the 1920s and 1930s. What is undeniable is the two together created some of the most recorded blues classics including How Long, How Long Blues, Mean Mistreater Mama and When the Sun Goes Down

popular name: Michel Berger

date_of_death: August 2, 1992

age: 44

cause_of_death: Heart attack

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Michel Berger was a popular French singer and songwriter and a leading figure of France's pop music scene for two decades as a singer. As a songwriter he was active for such artists as his wife France Gall, Françoise Hardy and Johnny Hallyday. Berger first became known to the French public in the 1960s as singer of hit song Salut les copains, after which he became record producer and songwriter. In the early 1970s he produced the early albums of Véronique Sanson, and Allah once again in 1989. In 1973, he was responsible for producing the album Message personnel, the title track of which relaunched Françoise Hardy's career. He also produced the single Je suis moi for Hardy. Berger started writing for France Gall in 1974, produced all her albums from 1975 on, and married her the following year. In 1978, he composed the musical: Starmania, with lyrics by Luc Plamondon. The musical starred Gall, Claude Dubois, Daniel Balavoine, Diane Dufresne, Nanette Workman, Éric Estève and Fabienne Thibeault and was a big success in France in the 1980s and 1990s. Unfortunately his career stalled when his next two productions failed and he was under pressure to deliver another best seller. But at the age of 44, Berger suffered a heart attack while playing tennis, and despite the pleas of friends and family, he made his way up the hill to his home in Ramatuelle, France and suffered two more heart attacks in bed. He died waiting for the ambulance that was stuck in traffic from all the tourist in St. Tropez. He was laid to rest at Cimetière de Montmartre in Paris, France.

popular name: Woody Herman

date_of_death: October 29, 1987

age: 74

cause_of_death: Complications from congestive heart failure, emphysema, and pneumonia

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Woody Herman (1913–1987) was a major figure in American jazz, known for leading a series of innovative big bands over five decades. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he was a child performer in vaudeville before turning to music full-time, mastering the clarinet and saxophone. Herman rose to prominence in the 1930s and 1940s with his orchestra, “The Herd,” which became famous for blending swing with more modern, experimental sounds. Unlike many bandleaders of his era, he embraced change, incorporating elements of bebop and later jazz styles, and nurturing young talent such as Stan Getz and Zoot Sims. His bands produced hits like “Woodchopper’s Ball” and “Caldonia,” and were known for their energetic, blues-infused style. Herman remained active as a performer and bandleader until his death in 1987, leaving a legacy as a forward-thinking musician who helped bridge the swing era and modern jazz.