Top 10 Musicians Who Became Famous After They Died
#10: Robert Johnson (1911-38)
Izzo Blues Coalition - Sweet Home Chicago (Robert Johnson Cover)
Little is known about Robert Johnson’s brief life; he was born in Mississippi and died there, with some wandering in between. He was an itinerant blues singer who made few recordings, though his talent was notable enough to start a legend that he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for awesome guitar skills. After his death in 1938, Johnson remained largely unknown until over twenty years later, when Columbia Records released a posthumous album of his work called “King of the Delta Blues Singers.” This sparked new interest in the blues; and although Johnson never knew it, his songs influenced a wide variety of artists - including Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the Rolling Stones - and helped shape rock and roll! #9: Nick Drake (1948-74) Unluckily for a musician, Nick Drake was shy and hated to perform live. He only created three albums, and when they didn’t sell, he was left depressed and with almost no income. He died at the age of 26 after overdosing on antidepressants. After his passing, Drake was cited as an influence by other musicians and bands, from Kate Bush to Robert Smith of the Cure. But as far as the public was concerned, he seemed destined to fade into obscurity - until Volkswagen used his song “Pink Moon” in a commercial in 1999. Viewers were entranced, and actively began to seek out Drake’s other songs, leading to a massive boost in sales of his albums, decades after they were made.
#8: Jonathan Larson (1960-96)
Jonathan Emile No Smoke (Official Music Video)
Jonathan Larson is an eerily appropriate example of Oscar Wilde’s famous quote that “Life imitates art.” He wrote words and music for several unsuccessful theatrical productions, but he had high hopes for his rock opera, Rent, which is about poor artists struggling to live their dreams. Larson himself was almost broke, and suffering pains in his chest, by the time his magnum opus was ready to perform. On the very morning before the first live show, Larson was found dead in his apartment. Rent went on to become a huge success; and to use Larson’s own words, its story reminds us to cherish the 525,600 minutes in every year.
#7: Georges Bizet (1838-75)
Unlike many people on this list, Georges Bizet had a brilliant start to his career. He was brought up in a musical family, attended the Paris Conservatory, and even won the prestigious Prix de Rome award in composition. After that, however, Bizet met with a series of failures. Eventually he put all his hopes into Carmen, a grand opera set in Spain and filled with action, drama, and steamy romance. Unfortunately, audiences in Paris were shocked by the work, and critics denounced it. Heartbroken and ill, Bizet died a few months later - right before Carmen premiered in Vienna, and became a huge success. Today, it’s considered a masterpiece, and remains one of the most popular and most-performed operas in the genre.
#6: Tim Hardin (1941-80)
Top 10 Musicians Who Died At Their Peak
Tim Hardin had the dubious distinction of being less successful than other singers, with his own music! His songs were covered by Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, and Bobby Darin, among others; Darin made Hardin’s “If I Were a Carpenter,” famous, while Hardin countered with a cover of Darin’s “Simple Song of Freedom” - ironically, Hardin’s only hit single. After an inebriated performance at Woodstock, however, his life began to deteriorate. His wife and son left him, his record studio dropped him, and at thirty-nine, he died from an overdose. His songs were still being covered, but Hardin himself remained largely unknown - until a tribute album of his music was released in 2013, sparking new interest in his work over thirty years later!
#5: Arthur Russell (1951-92)
Arthur Russell had many interests, and his music is notoriously difficult to categorize: descriptions range from established genres like New Wave and folk to “mutant disco” and “Buddhist bubblegum”! Russell was always experimenting and revising previous songs, which didn’t lend itself to commercial success. He died essentially unknown, with only one completed album. However, his longtime partner, Tom Lee, worked with Steve Knutson of Audika records to release posthumous albums of Russell’s other music, which have inspired musicians and attracted fans ever since. Knutson refuses to advertise the albums, saying that marketing dead artists is in poor taste. Perhaps he’s right, but if more producers thought so, a lot of musicians on this list would still be unknown!
#4: Otis Redding (1941-67)
Otis Redding was a budding singer and songwriter whose career was cut short by a plane crash when he was only twenty-six. Redding had done fairly well with one R&B tune called “These Arms of Mine,” but the song that made him truly famous was “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.” Sadly, Redding himself never knew it - for just a few days after recording the song, he was lost in that fateful crash. It was the first posthumous work to reach No. 1 on a U.S. Billboard Chart. Redding is not only remembered for his songs and singing; his unique blend of folk and blues led to the invention of a new musical style: soul.
#3: Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (1959-97)
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole was fascinated by the traditional music of his native Hawaii, and in life he was not well known beyond that state. However, he achieved something quite rare for a singer: he reinvented a classic song. His version of “Over the Rainbow”, which he medleyed with “What a Wonderful World”, became the most-purchased version of the song! However, it wasn’t until the late 90s and early 2000s, after his death, that it became well-known, after being used in commercials and a slew of movies. Still, Kamakawiwo’ole had a famously cheerful demeanor, and believed that death was only passage into another form; so a friend maintains that even at his funeral, “He would have been laughing.”
#2: Jeff Buckley (1966-97)
Jeff Buckley Bio: Life and Career of the Singer-Songwriter
When discussing Jeff Buckley, one is bound to mention his father, Tim Buckley, who might also have made this list. Jeff only met his father once, but he seems to have inherited Tim’s eclectic style: his first album, Grace, features elements of folk, rock, and funk. At the time, it was mostly overlooked; now, it’s considered a masterpiece. David Bowie asserts that if he had to choose one album to bring to a desert island, Grace would be it. Not only is Buckley’s own work admired, his cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” remains one of the most popular versions of that song. But before all this popularity, Buckley drowned - dying, like his father, on the very cusp of fame.
#1: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
It may sound incredible that Bach - the Baroque master, now considered one of the most brilliant composers of Western music ever - had few compositions celebrated during his life. But it’s true! For the most part he made his living as an organist and a music teacher, sometimes getting in trouble with church leaders for improvising new parts when he played. Bach wrote music not just for himself, but for his students and even members of the nobility; still, many of his larger works were never performed in his lifetime. Bach himself must have thought the compositions had worth, though, for he saved them carefully - and one can almost imagine old J. S. in his grave now, wearing a smug smile.
