I’m not sure I’d want to argue that Jimi Hendrix would have pursued a direction leading to a string of top-of-the-charts hits long term, but he would have made some awesome records had he lived on.
Oh, and Warren Zevon.
answering my own thread:
I completely missed:
John Coltrane !!!
there was lots of music and talent left in this guy
Not pointing any fingers, but keep in mind your favorite performer might have peaked before their untimely deaths. And, had they lived, would’ve just kept making the same kind of music for another decade or two.
That’s how I feel, when I’m being honest, about some of the artists I miss most.
Someone mentioned America. Well, Dan Peek died, but that wouldn’t have changed anything. Their best years were in the 70s. And Karen Carpenter? Might have just been a few more years of the same music.
Janis. Joplin, obviously. I’d trade all of my tomorrows, for one single yesterday.
But if we’re also doing actors, too, then Phil Hartman. He had such a bright future that he was robbed of, and that we were robbed of, too.
+1 … that’s why I don´t see many of the 27 club belonging in this thread … Morrison/Joplin/Brian Jones/Curbain were def. burnt out before …
of course one can argue either case …
he had 55+ to do what he did … not necesarily expecting something really big coming out of him past his 60ies …
and yes, I am slightly cynical here, but so was he 
How about Michael Jackson? He certainly had some good years left in him.
Had the same reaction.
I’ll add
- John Belushi
- Heath Ledger (after playing Joker he was due for the big time)
Did he?
He was getting legit weird in his later years.
John Keats.
I mean, 'OnLooking into Chapman’s Homer" slaps. You know it does.
Or Scott?
Really big? Maybe not. I think he could have had some good stuff left. But going back and rereading the OP, I’d have to admit I’m not prepared to argue he would be on the short list of artists we would have expected the greatest quantity and/or quality from.
Clifford Brown
Nick Drake. Dead at 26 basically unknown and, nearly 50 years later, a major influence with one of his three albums in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Edgar Allan Poe was only 40 when he died too.
Prince?
Jeff Buckley
John Kennedy Toole
Well, “Say Say Say” actually was a Michael Jackson duet (so you’re probably thinking of “The Girl is Mine”).