This year again, the great music family said goodbye to some of its most eminent members. A succession of departures which began in the spring with the disappearance of Steve Albini, a major figure in independent rock, who died on May 7 at the age of 61. The American sound engineer and musician had notably produced emblematic albums by Nirvana, the Pixies and PJ Harvey.
A month later, an icon of French song passed away: Françoise Hardy left us on June 11 at the age of 80, after a long fight against cancer. A ceremony was held a few days later at Père Lachaise, where his son Thomas Dutronc paid him a moving tribute.
Brutal losses
The fall was particularly cruel for the music world, with the tragic death of Liam Payne. The former member of One Direction died on October 16 in Buenos Aires at just 31 years old, following an accidental fall from the third floor of his hotel room. His funeral, a month later in Great Britain, was attended by the other members of the group and many personalities, while millions of fans remained inconsolable.
On October 7, Cissy Houston died at the age of 91 in New Jersey, United States. This great gospel singer, who had collaborated with Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, and who was also the mother of Whitney Houston, suffered from Alzheimer's disease. A week earlier, it was Tito Jackson, the one from the Jackson Five who played the guitar, who died of a heart attack at the age of 70.
Legends for eternity
The end of the year was marked by the loss of two music giants. On November 3, Quincy Jones died at the age of 91 from pancreatic cancer. The genius producer, who notably produced Michael Jackson's legendary albums, leaves behind an incomparable musical legacy with no less than 28 Grammy Awards.
Finally, on the night of November 17 to 18, it was Charles Dumont, the legendary composer of Edith Piaf, who bowed out at the age of 95. A disappearance which, for the youngest, made it possible to discover the identity of the one who gave birth to No, I don't regret anything et My God.
