As the end of the year gets closer and closer I've started to think back on what a year we've had, and it's tough to realize how many amazing musicians we lost this year in the last trip around the sun.

 

For starters in March, we lost one of the pioneers of rock and roll as we know it. With songs like Johnny B. 'Goode', 'Maybellene', and 'Rock and Roll Music', Chuck Berry was known for lyrics that painted a clear picture since they took you straight to the point. While no one can ever be credited with the creation of Rock and Roll, Berry is always in the conversation as one of the first to put the pieces together to create the sound we know and love today. Berry passed away at the age of 90 years old in his home.

 

Then, later in March was one of my all time favourites Chris Cornell in March. Most would know him as the lead singer Soundgarden, but there was so much more to his career. Lead singer of super group Audioslave and Temple of the Dog with Eddie Vedder, an amazing career as a solo artist, and a pioneer in the 90s grunge scene that spread like wildfire are all over the world are all feathers in his cap. Cornell's voice had a combination of melodic and powerful tones unlike anyone else there's ever been. Having performed the night before, Cornell took his own life in his Detroit hotel room mid May at only 52.

 

As well, Gregg Allman of the Allman brother's band passed away in May, just two weeks after Cornell's passing. 'Ramblin' Man', 'Midnight Rider', and 'Whippin Post' are songs all thanks to this man. Allman passed away in May in his home after losing a fight with liver cancer at the age of 69, but not before he record his final album titled 'Southern Blood', that was later released in September to critical acclaim.

 

In July, we witnessed in the death of Chester Bennington. The lead singer of Linkin Park had just recently hit #1 on Billboard album chart with 'One More Light' in May. A defining voice in early 2000s music, Bennington led Linkin Park through their meteoric rise with their first album 'Hybrd Theory', and even had a brief stint from 2013-2015 as the lead singer of the Stone Temple Pilots. Bennington shocked the world when he committed suicide on what would have been Chris Cornell's 53rd birthday. The two were close, and Bennington had even performed Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' at at his funeral, and had commented on the death of his friend before taking his own life. He was only 41 at the time.

 

Later this year, we also lost the great Tom Petty. If you tune in to any rock radio station for more than an hour, it's almost a guarantee you'll hear something from Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. Petty was found unconcious in his home in early October, and would go on to pass away in hospital later that evening at the age of 66, just weeks after finishing his final tour with his band.

 

And finally, we have the loss of a Canadian icon in Gord Downie. There arguably is not a single artist on the planet that has ever captured the spirit of their music like Gord and the Tragically Hip did throughout their career. His death resulted in national response, from the Toronto Maple Leafs lowering of Bill Barilko's retired number five, to the village of Bobcaygeon holding a town wide candle vigil, to buses in Kingston, Ontario bearing the words 'Gord, we'll miss you' on the front of them. Gord passed peacefully in his hospital bed surrounded by family after losing his battle with cancer.

 

Three of the six artists mentioned above are on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list, and you could make quite the argument for the remaining three. Luckily for us, musicians never truly die. Their music will continue to inspire and change