Joey Ramone

popular name: Johann Strauss ll

date_of_death: June 3, 1899

age: 73

cause_of_death: Pleuropneumonia

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Johann Strauss II (also referred to as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger) was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas as well as a renown violinist. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas and a ballet. In his lifetime, Strauss ll was known as "The Waltz King", and was largely responsible for the popularity of the waltz in Vienna during the 19th century. Some of Johann Strauss's most famous works include "The Blue Danube", "Kaiser-Walzer" (Emperor Waltz), "Tales from the Vienna Woods", "Frühlingsstimmen", and the "Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka". Among his operettas, Die Fledermaus and Der Zigeunerbaron are the best known. Strauss was the son of Johann Strauss I and his first wife Maria Anna Streim. Two younger brothers, Josef and Eduard Strauss, also became composers of light music, although they were never as well known as their brother.

popular name: Sonny Boy Williamson II

date_of_death: May 24, 1965

age: 52

cause_of_death: Heart attack

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Sonny Boy Williamson II was one of the most influential harmonica players in blues history. Often compared to Little Walter and John Lee Williamson (aka Sonny Boy Williamson I), Sonny Boy Williamson II was a legendary blues character whose colorful personality, superb musicianship, unpredictable actions and frequent stretching of the truth only served to enliven his blues with a warm eccentricity. He first recorded with Elmore James on "Dust My Broom". Some of his popular songs include "Don't Start Me Talkin'", "Help Me", "Checkin' Up on My Baby", and "Bring It On Home". He toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival and recorded with English rock musicians, including the Yardbirds, the Animals. "Help Me" became a blues standard, and many blues and rock artists have recorded his songs.

popular name: Yma Sumac

date_of_death: November 1, 2008

age: 86

cause_of_death: Colon cancer

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Yma Sumac (pronounced Eema) was a Peruvian coloratura soprano who was one of the most famous exponents of exotica music during the 1950s. Sumac became an international success based on her extreme vocal range. It was often reported that she had five octave vocal range. However at the peak of her singing career recordings document closer to a four-and-a-half octave range. Impressive given that even the most classically trained vocalist might reach a range of three octaves on a good day.