Phil Spector - January 16 - Influential producer known for his вЂњWall of SoundвЂќ recording technique. Tim Bogert - January 13 - Bassist with Vanilla Fudge, Cactus and the supergroup Beck, Bogert & Appice. Sylvain Sylvain - January 13 - Guitarist with the influential glam-punk band The New York Dolls. Died after a long battle with cancer at age 74. Michael Fonfara - January 8 - Keyboardist for The Electric Flag and Rhinoceros, also played on many Lou Reed albums. Gerry Marsden - January 3 - Frontman of popular Liverpool, U.K., band Gerry and the Pacemakers.

Here are many of the music figures who died in 2021, in chronological order: ZZ TopвЂ™s longtime guitar tech, Elwood Francis, had been tapped to fill in for Dusty, and heвЂ™s has continued to play bass with the group. At the time of his death, Hill was forced to take a break from the bandвЂ™s 50th anniversary tour to attend to a medical issue with his hip. Hill joined the legendary Texas trio in 1970, shortly after the bandвЂ™s formation. Less than a month before WattsвЂ™ death, on July 28, ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill passed away at his home in Houston at age 72. Veteran session drummer Steve Jordan was handpicked by Charlie to step in for him on the trek. Shortly before his death, it was announced that Watts had undergone a medical procedure that would likely force him to miss the Stones planned 2021 U.S. Watts played his first show with the band in February 1963 and went on to keep the beat for the British rock legends for more than 58 years.

On August 24, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts died at the age of 80. The music world said goodbye to many influential and beloved artists in 2021, including two Rock & Roll Hall Fame inductees who both spent more than a half century with their respective bands.

Jim Dyson/Getty Images Phillip Massey/Getty Images

Zz top greatest hits rolling stone