From R&B legends, to rock icons, a bluegrass picker who will never be forgotten and a bright young rap star from Atlanta, music fans sadly lost some talented individuals in March.
- 11 musicians who are battling cancer in 2025
- Deaths that stunned the music world in 2025: A drowning, crashes and a suspected murder
As we move forward into 2025, we take a look back at those who left us across the past month:
EDDIE ADCOCK
Eddie Adcock’s name might not be the first that comes to mind when it comes to country music legends, but he was a legend in his own right.
Don’t believe it? Just Google him. You can find stories calling him a “legend,” and a “master” and there are plenty of other adjectives thrown in along the way, too.
Sadly, Adcock died on March 20. He was 86.
BlueGrassToday.com called him a “five string banjo master,” while noting that he has been “suffering from multiple health issues over recent years.”
Adcock was a native of Virginia, who began performing all the way back in 1949. He joined Smokey Graves 7 His Blue Star Boys in 1953, and he played with a handful of different bands. He may be best known, though, for his time playing in The Country Gentleman. In 1996, that group became the first inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Fame.
“Eddie was a truly innovative artists and musician with a one-of-a-kind voice on the banjo - & any instrument he picked up,” The Blue Grass Situation posted on X.
RANDY BROWN
Randy Brown joined sadly joined the long list of those who died on March 5, according to multiple reports.
He was 72.
Brown may not have enjoyed the commercial success that some of the other legendary R&B performers who have died this year did, but he was a popular singer in the 1970s and 1980s.
SoulTracks.com reported Brown’s death, and wrote that “for those who love their smooth, sensual, and stepped in Southern tradition, Randy Brown was a name worth knowing.”
The site said Brown got started with the group The Newcomers, but made his biggest mark as a solo act. The site said he began his solo career in 1978 and “quickly became a favorite among quiet storm enthusiasts.”
SoulTracks noted that Brown had “slow-burning hits” such as “I’m Always in the Mood,” and “I Wanna Make Love To You.”
It noted that he was known for his “rich, expressive tenor and heartfelt delivery.”
DANNY COX
Don’t know Danny Cox?
Well, you probably should. Not only was Cox a legendary folk singer, but he was known, too, as a fighter for social justice during the Civil Rights Movement.
Cox died on March 7. He was 82.
The story was first reported by KCUR.
Cox’s son, Nate Cox, shared the news of his death on social media Friday afternoon.
“My dad always taught us that you only have so much energy in this life, your body can only produce so much energy,” he wrote. “He gave so much energy to the world, to his family, his friends, his fans, his music, his art. He was out of energy. He spent his energy in an amazing way.
“You live your life on your own terms with unwavering strength and passion,” he added. “You sold out Carnegie Hall four times, toured the world, and shared your gift with so many.”
KCUR said that Cox shared stages with the likes of Ray Charles and Jefferson Starship.
The story also detailed Cox’s past as a “fighter for social justice.”
“So I started going to jail in the 8th grade,” Cox told KCUR in 2018. “And, of course, they didn’t know what to do with me. Here’s a little kid, you know? They knew how to put the dogs and the hoses on the adults, but they didn’t quite know what to do (with a kid). I’ve been doing it ever since, I’ve been trying.”
The report noted him as being a versatile and talented signer of folk, blues and jazz. He told the site he was able to meld the genres because he wasn’t “pretending.”
Nate Cox said his family would plan “a big hootenanny where everybody can come out.”
“He wouldn’t have wanted people crying and grieving,” he said. “He’d want people celebrating and remembering the good times. He was a child of the (1960s), so he’d want everybody up on stage jamming and singing songs.”
BRIAN JAMES
Legendary punk rocker Brian James died on March 6.
He was 70.
A post announcing his death was shared to his Facebook page.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of the true pioneers of music, guitarist, songwriter, and true gentleman, Brian James,” the post read.
It then ran down his accolades as a musician before noting that, “With his wife Minna, son Charlie, and daughter-in-law Alicia by his side, Brian passed peacefully on Thursday 6th March 2025.”
James was best known as a founding member of the Damned and he was also a member of the Lords of the New Church.
He began his career in 1974 and was active up until this year.
His best success in the United States came as a member of the Lords of the New Church, according to Parade Magazine, as the band put out the 1982 hit “Open Your Eyes.”
AURELIO MARTINEZ
Aurelio Martinez, a famed and beloved musician and politician from Honduras, was among 12 killed in a plane crash on March 17 in the Caribbean.
According to reports, Martinez, 56, was onboard a Lanhsa airlines Jetstream plane that crashed off the coast of Roatan, Honduras. The plane had just taken off from Roatan and had reportedly suffered a mechanical failure before going down in the ocean.
There were reportedly 17 people onboard, and five survived.
BLAST reported that Martinez was “a legendary Garifuna musician and politician, whose impact on Honduran culture was widely recognized.” While his career began as a star musician, the site noted that he moved into politics and was serving as a representative in the Honduran National Congress.
Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade issued a statement, acknowledging his death.
“Belize joins Honduras in mourning the passing of Aurelio Matinez Sauzo, one of six victims who perished in a plane crash near Roatan, Honduras,’ the statement on X read. “Aurelio was a great friend of Belize and a true champion of Garifuna culture and music. As a renowned Garifuna musician, Aurelia was a powerful voice in preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Garinagu people.
“Aurelio, alongside Belize’s Andy Palacio and Paul Nabor were instrumental in bringing Garifuna music to global stage and international recognition,” the statement continued. His passing leaves a void in the world of music and culture, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of all who loved his art and his people.
“Belize expresses out deepest condolences to the government and people of Honduras amidst this tragedy and the Garifuna community worldwide.”
JOEY MOLLAND
Joey Molland, the last surviving member of the original lineup of Badfinger, died on March 1.
He was 77.
The guitarist reportedly died Saturday after battling “multiple health issues.”
“Well, the day we never wanted to see has arrived,” Badfinger shared in a statement on its Facebook page. “Joey (Joseph Charles) Molland passed away last night, surrounded by Mary, his two sons, and other family members at 11:39 CST.”
Parade Magazine noted that Molland’s girlfriend, identified as “Mary,” started a GoFundMe for him last November.
“Joey was vaguely ill throughout the fall, and then in early December acquired a very bad bacterial infection due to his diabetes,” an update on that page read. “The infection caused septicemia and traveled through his body, causing harm in multiple critical organs and bones. His recovery has been slow and arduous, including several surgeries and procedures.”
Molland joined Badfinger in 1969 and performed with the band across “several decades,” according to Parade.
He continued to perform up until 2024.
JEFFREY RUNNINGS
Jeffrey Runnings, the frontman for post-punk rock band For Against, died on March 3.
He was 61.
Runnings had reportedly had a long battle with cancer.
“We are devastated to hear that Jeff Runnings of Captured Tracks’ legendary post-punk reissue band For Against has passed away,” Captured Tracks posted on X. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”
“Jeffery Runnings forever,” Independent Project Records posted. “Thank you Jeffrey, for all the beautiful music that you and your bandmates have brought forth into the world for us to immerse ourselves in. Know that you are loved, and that your music speaks deeply to many of us.”
Post-punk.com called Runnings “a beacon of bright light in the US post-punk scene, a passionate fan of music, a devoted husband, a caring friend, and a wonderful cat dad.”
For Against first formed in 1984, and Runnings joined the band a short-time later.
Post-punk.com said his “striking tenor and deep, melodic bass playing were among the driving forces of the band.”
He is survived by his husband, Sean Applegate.
BOB RUPE
Bob Rupe, the bassist for the popular 1990s alternative rock band Cracker, died on March 3.
He was 68.
Rupe was also known for his time playing with The Silos.
Cracker shared the news of his death on Instagram.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of Bob Rupe,” the statement on the band’s page read. “Bob was the charismatic and talented bassists for Cracker from roughly 1994 to 1999. Along with the late Charlie Quintana, he formed the rhythm section that powered Cracker’s theatre and shed tours at the peak of the band’s popularity. Bob also played bass guitar on many Cracker recordings, most notably the albums The Golden Age and Gentleman’s Blues.
“Although Bob was not a man of many words, he was known for his sharp and concise wit,” the statement continued. “He had a lot of drag racing and vintage muscle cars. Indeed, the Cracker fan club release ‘Bob’s Car’ features a photo of his beloved Super Bee on the cover. In addition to his work with Cracker, Bob was a founding member of The Silos and Gutterball. He also played with House of Freaks and Sparklehorse.”
The statement said that Rupe was a “staple of the 1990s central Virginia music scene,” and said that he “will be missed by his many peers.”
“Bob is survived by his mother, Carol; his brothers, Tom and Dan; and his sister, Kathy, along with two nephews and two nieces,” the statement read. “The cause of his death is unknown at this time.”
YOUNG SCOOTER
Popular Atlanta rapper Young Scooter died on March 28.
He was 39.
News of the rapper’s death — his real name is Kenneth Edward Bailey — took off on social media Friday with widespread rumors that he was fatally shot by Atlanta Police. That prompted police in the city to call a late-night press conference in which they denied that was the case.
Instead, Atlanta Police Lt. Andrew Smith said that the rapper apparently suffered “some type of fracture” after jumping fences to run from officers that “caused the bleeding” that led to his death.
“Just to be very clear, the injury that was sustained was not via the officers on scene,” he said while making it clear that no one was shot. “It was when the male was fleeing.”
Smith said police were called to a home about a dispute with a weapon. Once there, Smith said, they set up a perimeter around the house after a man there shut the door on officers. That is when police say two men fled from the rear of the house. One of the men reportedly returned to the house while Scooter jumped fences to try to get away. “
When officers located him on the other side of the fence, he appeared to have suffered an injury to his leg,” Smith said.
He said that Scooter was carried to a trauma center where he died.
ANGIE STONE
Grammy-nominated R&B singer Angie Stone was killed on March 1 in a car crash, according to multiple reports.
She was 63.
Music producer Walter Millsap III told The Associated Press that at about 4 a.m. the cargo van that Stone was riding in back to Atlanta from Alabama “flipped over and was subsequently hit by a big rig.”
The Associated Press said that everyone else in the vehicle survived.
It said that Stone was slated to sing during the halftime show of Saturday’s Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association men’s championship basketball game.
Her death sent shockwaves across the R&B community and with fans on social media.
Stone was a native of Columbia, South Carolina where she began singing in the church. Her professional career began in 1979.
The Associated Press said that Stone “found a sweet spot in the early 2000s” alongside the likes of Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Maxwell and D’Angelo during the rise of neo-soul.
LARRY TAMBLYN
Larry Tamblyn, a founding member of the Standells, died on March 21.
He was 82.
His nephew, Dennis Tamblyn, announced his death on social media.
“My uncle Larry Tamblyn passed away today,” he wrote. “I have very fond memories of him and his family over the years. He lived an incredible life. He was in a band called the Standells, whose hit song ‘Dirty Water’ is still played to this day whenever the Red Sox or Bruins win a home game. They also played on an episode of The Munsters.”
The Standells were called a “pioneering garage rock group,” by Entertainment Weekly.
The group also had a post on its Facebook page.
“In life, we are given two dates,” it read. “Our start date and our end date. In the middle there is a dash. Judging from the overwhelming show of love and support to Larry’s memory and that of his family, Larry mad ethe very most of his dash. RIP Boss…”
Tamblyn, who was a singer for the band, also had a long list of acting credits, and his brother, Russ Tamblyn, is a famous actor, who has even earned an Oscar nomination.
D’WAYNE WIGGINS
D’Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of the iconic R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, died March 7.
He was 64.
USA Today reported that Wiggins had been battling bladder cancer.
“With broken hearts, we share with you that our beloved D’Wayne passed away this morning surrounded by family and loved ones,” a statement on the group’s Facebook page wrote. “Over the past year, he has been privately and courageously battling bladder cancer. Through this fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans and his community.
“D’Wayne’s life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California,” the statement continued. “He was a guitarist, producer, composer, philanthropist, mentor and founding member of Tony! Toni! Tone! He was deeply passionate about providing artist development and mentorship to emerging young musicians, helping to shape the early careers of many.
“For now, we ask that you continue to respect our privacy. We mourn with you and are deeply grateful for your love and support.”
A Grammy-nominated singer and guitarist, Wiggins was a founding member of
Tony! Toni! Tone! in 1986. The group was one of the most popular and influential through the 1980s and mid-1990s, releasing four albums.
Tony! Toni! Tone! had a reunion tour in 2023.
JESSE COLIN WOOD
Popular rock singer and songwriter Jesse Colin Young has died.
He was 83.
His publicist said he died in his home in Aiken, South Carolina on March 16.
Young was known for his time as the leader of the 1960s band, The Youngbloods, and for his solo career that followed. He performed for more than five decades, according to Ultimate Classic Rock.
He had an interesting life.
Young was born in New York City in 1941 as Perry Miller. He reportedly decided on the stage name of Jesse Colin young by taking from the names of outlaws Jesse James and Cole Young as well as Formula One team owner Colin Chapman.
He helped form The Youngbloods in 1965.
The band wrote and performed the song “Get Together,” in 1967, and the song became a favorite of the hippie era.
Young was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012 and retired from making music for a time, according to Ultimate Classic Rock. The site said he returned to the stage four years later, though, to play alongside his son and the duo released “Dreamers” in 2019.