Revered Drummer Dies of Heart Failure: Jack DeJohnette Was 83 | By Samantha Whidden, Suggest | Jack DeJohnette, a well-known jazz drummer, passed away over the weekend from congestive heart failure. He was 83 years old. The late musician’s wife and manager, Lydia, confirmed the news, telling NPR that he died on Oct. 26 at HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston, New York.
Born in 1942, Jack DeJohnette began playing drums professionally at 14. He is best known for his collaborations with musicians such as Charles Lloyd, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, and Joe Henderson.
He replaced Tony Williams in Davis’ live band and was the primary drummer for B-tches Brew.
Along with jazz, DeJohnette also played R&B and hard bop, occasionally performing with Sun Ra and his Akestra group.
Among the awards he won over the years were the NEA Jazz Master and Fellow of United States Artists. He also scored two Grammy Awards, one for Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Skyline and Best New Age Album for Peace Time. He received six additional Grammy Award nominations.
In a video profile for his 2012 induction as an NEA Jazz Master, DeJohnette stated, “The best gift that I have is the ability to listen. Not only listen audibly but also listen with my heart.”
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Read more about drummer and pianist Mr. DeJohnette here:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/revered-drummer-dies-of-heart-failure-jack-dejohnette-was-83/
OTHER NOTABLE MUSICIANS’ DEATHS
KISS Loses Another Member Days After Ace Frehley’s Death
By Kayla Aldecoa, Men’s Journal | KISS’ longtime security guard Danny Francis has died, Paul Stanley confirmed via X on Sunday, October 26.
“Danny Francis, my dear friend, assistant and so much more for 30 years of tours and life has died after a brutal fight with liver cancer,” Stanley wrote alongside a photo. “He was loved by Erin and all my children and his kindness was given to everyone he came in contact with. My condolences to his entire family.”
Posting for my Veteran/singer/songwriter/musician friend Troy Hoss: Heavy on my heart so here goes: This is a very real problem … 22 Veterans a day surrender to their demons. #SuicideAwareness | Call Veteran’s Hotline: 988 #1 or 844-647-1354
From Care2 via Jock Bartley on Facebook: Trump shut down our LGBTQ+ suicide and mental health hotline, but CANADA opened a US toll-free number to theirs… so our citizens can get help anytime, at no cost: 1-877-330-6366
Kindness & empathy have no borders.
Warning Signs of Suicide – National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or if you want to discuss, call the old numbers at 800-273-TALK or 800-273-8255 for English and 888-628-9454 for Spanish. Learn the signs of someone who may be contemplating suicide.
If you want to know more about any of the musicians we lost, please check them out at http://www.wikipedia.com
October 2025
29: Pierre Robert, 70, American disc jockey (WMMR); James Senese, 80, Italian jazz saxophonist (Napoli Centrale), singer-songwriter, and actor (No Thanks, Coffee Makes Me Nervous, Zora the Vampire), complications from pneumonia.
28: Richard Bonnot, 67, French singer, musician and actor (Les Charlots).
27: Vivian Jones, 68, Jamaican-born British reggae singer.
26: Jack DeJohnette, 83, American jazz drummer (Miles Davis Quintet), pianist and composer, Grammy winner (2009, 2022), congestive heart failure.
25: Gérard Badini, 94, French jazz saxophonist; Floria Márquez, 75, Venezuelan singer, stroke; Peace, American rapper (Freestyle Fellowship).
24: Marcie Free, 71, American singer (King Kobra, Unruly Child); Benita Valente, 91, American soprano.
23: Sabesh, 68, Indian music director, composer and playback singer; David Wilde, 90, English pianist.
22: David Ball, 66, English musician (Soft Cell, The Grid); Willis Patterson, 94, American bass-baritone.
21: Zdeněk Bláha, 95, Czech composer, music editor and bagpiper; Davey Langit, 38, Filipino singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, spondylodiscitis; Achille Mouebo, 54, Congolese singer-songwriter; Dionysis Savvopoulos, 80, Greek singer-songwriter, heart attack; Paulina Tamayo, 60, Ecuadorian singer, respiratory failure.