Michel Legrand

popular name: Johnny Winter

date_of_death: July 16, 2014

age: 70

cause_of_death: Emphysema combined with pneumonia

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: When it comes to the world of blues and rock 'n' roll, few names command as much respect and admiration as Johnny Winter. A true guitar virtuoso and a master of his craft, Winter's influence on the genre is immeasurable. John Dawson Winter III was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. He burst onto the world blues scene in the 1960s, dazzling crowds with his fast licks while his trademark long, white hair flew about from under his cowboy hat. He and his brother Edgar — both born with albinism — were both renowned musicians. From the opening notes of "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo", his blues-infused rock anthem, to the soulful wails of "Still Alive and Well" and the electrifying riffs of "Mean Mistreater", each song showcases Winter's unparalleled skill as a guitarist and his ability to seamlessly blend blues, rock, and boogie-woogie into a sound uniquely his own. Rolling Stone magazine listed him as the No. 63 best guitar player of all time in 2015. He released more than two dozen albums and was nominated for several Grammy Awards, winning his first one posthumously in 2015 for Best Blues Album for “Step Back.” Johnny Winter, who played at Woodstock in 1969, was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1988.

popular name: Ludwig van Beethoven

date_of_death: March 26, 1827

age: 56

cause_of_death: Liver disease, viral hepatitis and alcohol consumption

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist who remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music. His works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire and span the transition from the Classical period to the Romantic era in classical music. His career has conventionally been divided into early, middle, and late periods. His early period, during which he forged his craft, is typically considered to have lasted until 1802. From 1802 to around 1812, his middle period showed an individual development from the styles of Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and is sometimes characterized as heroic. During this time, he began to grow increasingly deaf. In his late period, from 1812 to 1827, he extended his innovations in musical form and expression. Nearly 200 years since his passing Beethoven's works remain mainstays of the classical music repertoire.

popular name: Duke Ellington

date_of_death: May 24, 1974

age: 75

cause_of_death: Lung cancer and pneumonia

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Considered by many as the greatest jazz composer and bandleader of his time, Duke Ellington led his band for more than half a century, composed thousands of scores, and created one of the most distinctive ensemble sounds in all of Western music. In addition to the over 1000 composition and phenomenal sideman that graced his various musical groups, Ellington was noted for his inventive use of the orchestra and for his eloquence and charisma. His reputation continued to rise after he died, and he was awarded a posthumous Pulitzer Prize Special Award for music in 1999.