In Memoriam: Honoring Those Lost In 2022

Pollstar pays tribute to some of those lost during a year that was simultaneously exuberant and somber, from the artists who do the shows to the managers and promoters behind the scenes who make it happen.

Michael Lang | Jan. 8
Michael Lang, promoter and face of the original 1969 Woodstock festival and subsequent iterations.

Bob Saget | Jan. 9
Actor and comedian

Gérard Drouot | Jan. 10
French promoter

Ronnie Spector | Jan. 12
Legendary singer, both solo and in the Ronettes

Meat Loaf | Jan. 21
Hard rock singer and actor

Louie Anderson | Jan. 21
Comedian and actor

Derek Tucker | Jan. 24
Vice President of Ticketing at AEG Presents, Derek Tucker died on Jan. 24 after battling cancer. His death sparked an outpouring of support across the live events industry,
with AEG venues honoring him on their marquees.

Glenn Wheatley | Feb. 1
Australian artist manager

Betty Davis | Feb. 9
Pioneering funk singer/songwriter and label owner

Ian McDonald | Feb. 9
Multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of Foreigner & King Crimson

Mark Lanegan | Feb. 22
Singer, Screaming Trees

Bobbie Nelson | March 10
Pianist/singer and member of Willie Nelson and Family

Taylor Hawkins | March 25
Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins died on March 25. The beloved road warrior
joined the band shortly after they released their sophomore album, The Colour And The Shape, and Hawkins remained with the band for more than 20 years. Foo Fighters celebrated Hawkins’ memory with two tribute concerts: Sept. 3 at London’s Wembley Stadium and Sept. 27 at Southern California’s Kia Forum in Inglewood.

Ken West | April 7
Founder of Australia’s Big Day Out festival. He also served as a tour manager and artist manager.

Naomi Judd | April 30
The Judd family matriarch died just several weeks after she and daughter Wynonna announced their first tour in more than a decade.

Mickey Gilley | May 7
Country singer/songwriter and honky-tonk owner

Vangelis | May 17
Legendary electronic composer

Andy Fletcher | May 26
Keyboardist, Depeche Mode

Ronnie Hawkins | May 29
Mentor to The Band

Alec John Such | June 4
Bassist, founding member of Bon Jovi

Jim Seals | June 6
Half of soft rock duo Seals and Crofts

Meghan Stabile | June 12
Promoter of hip-hop influenced jazz

Todd Brodginski | June 19
Music publicist and artist manager to Art Garfunkel

Mo Ostin | July 31
Legendary music executive who helped build Warner Music Group

Olivia Newton-John | Aug. 8
Grammy-winning entertainer who starred in “Grease.”

Lamont Dozier | Aug. 8
Singer, songwriter and record producer who helped make Motown

Jerry Allison | Aug. 22
Drummer for The Crickets

Jaimie “Breezy” Branch | Aug. 22
Jazz trumpeter and composer

Ramsey Lewis | Sept. 12
Three-time Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist

Pharoah Sanders | Sept. 24
Seminal jazz saxophonist

Coolio | Sept. 28
Rapper known for his 1990s hit “Gangsta’s Paradise”

Loretta Lynn | Oct. 4
Country music icon who died on Oct. 4 following a remarkable career that spanned six decades. Loretta Lynn built a persona of a defiantly tough woman and was intrepid
in her songwriting, touching on then-racy subjects of sex, divorce and contraceptives.
Lynn’s multiple gold albums, hit songs and three Grammy statuettes earned her a place
in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Her life was the subject of the 1980 film “The Coal Miner’s Daughter,” which earned Sissy Spacek an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Judy Tenuta | Oct. 6
Comedian, actress and comedy musician

Robert Gordon | Oct. 18
Rockabilly singer

Jerry Lee Lewis | Oct. 28
Rock ’n’ roll pioneer and pianist who changed the face of music

Takeoff | Nov. 1
Rapper and member of the Grammy-nominated hip-hop group Migos

Aaron Carter | Nov. 5
Singer

Mimi Parker | Nov. 5
Singer/drummer for Low

Jeff Cook | Nov. 7
Guitarist who co-founded the country group Alabama.

Gal Costa | Nov. 9
Renowned Brazilian Tropicalia singer

Keith Levene | Nov. 11
PiL guitarist & Clash co-founder

Wilko Johnson | Nov. 21
Guitarist for Dr. Feelgood

Irene Cara | Nov. 25
Singer, songwriter and actress best known for the film “Fame”

Christine McVie | Nov. 30
The co-lead vocalist and keyboardist for Fleetwood Mac known for her honeyed, yet bluesy vocals.

Jim Stewart | Dec 5
Co-founder of Stax Records s