# Whose artist's death robbed us of the best (future) hits by this person? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [July 18, 2023, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232 "2023-07-18T23:37:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/1 "2023-07-18T23:37:30Z")
sorry, awkward way to phrase it … but which artist would have had a way greater number / quality of hits had (s)he not died untimely? I “nominate” **Jim Croce** he was pretty much at the top of his game (and easily on par with a Billy Joel, Jackson Browne, James Taylor) both from the writing and interpretation side of things when he left the planet and had written/performed great music in the few months predating his death … I can clearly visualize a 5 year run of great 70ies folk pop, like Paul Simon, America, Al Stewart or the before mentioned ones. possibly also John Lennon (assuming he’d stayed clear of the cr@p Macca did in the 80ies \_\> “say, say, say” and that godawful Michael Jackson duet ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/2 "2023-07-18T23:47:32Z")
Jim Croce is a good choice I nominate **Buddy Holly.** Who knows if he would have evolved like the Beatles over the next decade or so. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/3 "2023-07-18T23:49:29Z")
- Otis Redding - Notorious B.I.G. - Hank Williams I’d like to add Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain but I think their music was good in part because they were these tortured souls doomed to an early demise. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/4 "2023-07-18T23:50:45Z")
Jim Croce is one of my absolute favorites. I’d put Jimi Hendrix on the list. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/5 "2023-07-18T23:50:45Z")
A second vote for Buddy Holly and Otis Redding, plus Karen Carpenter. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/6 "2023-07-18T23:52:59Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I’d put Jimi Hendrix on the list. Me too but then you gotta add Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison I think. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/7 "2023-07-18T23:53:48Z")
I’ll add Randy Rhoads, the 25 year old guitarist killed in a worthless airplane joy ride, who had an outsized influence on hard rock/metal after a brief and successful career with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne. There’s no knowing what he may have done with the guitar and more time here. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/8 "2023-07-19T00:02:38Z")
Patsy Cline. Another airplane ride that shouldn’t have been accepted. Duane Allman. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/9 "2023-07-19T00:03:48Z")
No love for Stevie Ray Vaughan? ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/10 "2023-07-19T00:09:03Z")
Robert Johnson Sam Cooke ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/11 "2023-07-19T00:09:03Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > No love for Stevie Ray Vaughan? Probably my all-time favorite guitarist. The guy was a legend in his own time. I actually had a chance to go see him play at Alpine Valley. A friend had an extra ticket at the last minute but I had some family something-or-other so had to skip it but figured I’d catch him later. That is the concert he died at. I try not to have regrets but that is one I cannot shake. > [@peccavi](#): > > Duane Allman. Second that. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/12 "2023-07-19T00:12:55Z")
Ronnie Van Zant still had some good stuff in him, I think. I agree with Jim Croce. I loved him so. Harry Chapin should be on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/13 "2023-07-19T00:50:06Z")
Selena - so talented, beautiful, and mesmerizing. She would have benefited from or kickstarted the Latin explosion in the USA. If the discussion is open to actors, too - River Phoenix had so many brilliant performances at such a young age. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/14 "2023-07-19T01:09:59Z")
Mozart Chopin Gershwin Stan Rogers ---
**Author:** ![doc481](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@doc481](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doc481)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/15 "2023-07-19T01:17:36Z")
Yes! SRV… can listen to him for hours. Just sit back close your eyes and let the headphones vibrate. Another awesome guitarist taken way too young was Mike Bloomfield. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/16 "2023-07-19T01:20:50Z")
> [@Tarataratara](#): > > Selena - so talented, beautiful, and mesmerizing. She would have benefited from or kickstarted the Latin explosion in the USA. In that case I nominate: (since I am a hetero-male I can’t speak to the beautiful and mesmerizing) - Ritchie Valens. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/17 "2023-07-19T01:24:58Z")
How about authors like Jack London? He died (possibly of carbon monoxide poisoning due to a faulty chimney or renal failure due maybe to kidney stones, or maybe a morphine OD) at age 40, after writing **Call of the Wild** and **White Fang**. Given his long and storied [background](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_London), I can’t help to think he’d have continued writing great stories for decades to come. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/18 "2023-07-19T01:25:52Z")
For authors I will add: - Douglas Adams Maybe his absolute best was behind him but he definitely had a lot more great stuff in him to write. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/19 "2023-07-19T01:25:58Z")
“ …when his Life and Times tour ended. In a letter to Ingrid which arrived after his death, Croce told her that he had decided to quit music and wanted to stick to writing short stories and movie scripts as a career and withdraw from public life.” Wikipedia ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2023, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232/20 "2023-07-19T01:37:39Z")
Several people have mentioned Jimi Hendrix, and he was the first to come to my mind. At the time of his death, he was already beginning to explore jazz and other forms of music that were several steps beyond his music of a few years earlier. I’ve often thought that the world missing out on his musical evolution was the greatest tragedy. I also agree with folks who’ve mentioned Jim Croce. He was an outstanding singer-songwriter who would have most certainly taken a well-deserved position among the greats. “Operator” and “Time in a Bottle” still bring a tear to my eye. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-artists-death-robbed-us-of-the-best-future-hits-by-this-person/987232.md?page=2)