2016 Year In Review: In Memoriam of Those We Lost…

Published: Sunday 1st Jan 2017 by Rashad
celebrity-deaths-thatgrapejuice-2016

Scribbled in history books for some good and not-so-good reasons, 2016 brought with it some of modern music’s most memorable moments.

Now, as the year draws to a close, TGJ is reflecting on 31 moments that rocked – and to some degree shaped – the Urban and Pop musical landscape as we know it.

Lastly, we say our final farewell to a number of legendary acts whose timeless contributions to music and entertainment will never be forgotten.

See more inside:



These are the notable celebrities who died in 2016, according to Legacy.com and CNN:

  1. Robert Stigwood, 81
  2. Pierre Boulez, 90
  3. Kitty Kallen, 93
  4. Angela “Big Ang” Raiola, 55
  5. Pat Harrington Jr., 86
  6. Angus Scrimm, 89
  7. Keith Emerson, 71
  8. Phife Dawg, 45
  9. Mike Minor, 75
  10. David Bowie, 69
  11. Harper Lee, 89
  12. Sir George Martin, 90
  13. Vilmos Zsigmond, 85
  14. David Huddleston, 85
  15. Alan Rickman, 69
  16. Kevin Meaney, 60
  17. René Angélil, 73
  18. Dan Haggerty, 74
  19. Noreen Corcoran, 72
  20. Monte Irvin, 96
  21. Abe Vigoda, 94
  22. Glenn Frey, 67
  23. Paul Kantner,74
  24. Maurice White, 74
  25. Katie May, 34
  26. Denise Matthews, known as Vanity, 57
  27. Matt Roberts, 38
  28. Cara McCollum, 24
  29. Fred Hellerman, 89
  30. George Kennedy, 91
  31. Pat Conroy, 70
  32. Joey Feek, 40
  33. Garry Shandling, 66
  34. Patty Duke, 69
  35. Zaha Hadid, 65
  36. James Noble, 94
  37. Bob Elliott, 92
  38. Merle Haggard, 79
  39. Daisy Lewellyn, 36
  40. Doris Roberts, 90
  41. Chyna, real name Joan Marie Laurer, 46
  42. Prince, 57
  43. Billy Paul, 80
  44. Pete Fountain, 86
  45. Jon Polito, 65
  46. Richard Libertini, 82
  47. Madeleine Lebeau, 92
  48. Guy Clark, 74
  49. Morley Safer, 84
  50. Nick Menza, 51
  51. Gordie Howe, known as “Mr. Hockey,” 88
  52. Muhammad Ali, 74
  53. George Gaynes, 98
  54. Christina Grimmie, 22
  55. Lee Reherman, 49
  56. Theresa Saldana, 61
  57. Ann Morgan Guilbert, 87
  58. Ron Lester, 45
  59. Anton Yelchin, 27
  60. Bernie Worrell, 72
  61. Bill Cunningham, 87
  62. Bill Nunn, 63
  63. George Burton, 78
  64. Stanley Dural Jr., known as Buckwheat Zydeco, 68
  65. Curtis Hanson, 71
  66. Ryan Jimmo, 34
  67. Jim Harrison, 78
  68. Larry Drake, 66
  69. Frank Sinatra Jr., 72
  70. Bud Spencer, 86
  71. Buddy Ryan, 85
  72. Juan Gabriel, 66
  73. Attrell Cordes, 46
  74. Pat Summitt, 64
  75. Elie Wiesel, 87
  76. Michael Cimino, 77
  77. Michu Meszaros, 77
  78. Michelle McNamara, 46
  79. Noel Neill, 95
  80. Garry Marshall, 81
  81. Gloria DeHaven, 91
  82. Jerry Doyle, 60
  83. John Saunders, 61
  84. Kenny Baker, 81
  85. John McLaughlin, 89
  86. Steven Hill, 94
  87. Scotty Moore, 84
  88. Gene Wilder, 83
  89. Anna Dewdney, 50
  90. Ken Howard, 71
  91. Alexis Arquette, 47
  92. Charmian Carr, 73
  93. W.P. Kinsella, 81
  94. Kimbo Slice, 42
  95. Edward Albee, 88
  96. The Lady Chablis, 59
  97. Hugh O’Brian, 91
  98. Jean Shepard, 82
  99. Jose Fernandez, 24
  100. Arnold Palmer, 87
  101. Michael Massee, 64
  102. Phil Chess, 95
  103. Dylan Rieder, 28
  104. Julie Gregg, 79
  105. Leonard Cohen, 82
  106. Robert Vaughn, 83
  107. Leon Russell, 74
  108. Gwen Ifill, 61
  109. Ron Glass, 71
  110. Florence Henderson, 82
  111. Joseph Mascolo, 87
  112. Fritz Weaver, 90
  113. Tommy Ford, 52
  114. Gloria Naylor, 66
  115. Margaret Whitton, 67
  116. Dr. George Nichopoulos, 88
  117. Dave Mirra, 41
  118. Van Williams, 82
  119. William Schallert, 93
  120. Andrew Sachs, 86
  121. George Alaskey, 63
  122. Alan Young, 96
  123. Darwyn Cooke, 53
  124. Will Smith, former New Orleans Saints’ player, 34
  125. Billy Chapin, 72
  126. Greg Lake, 69
  127. Sharon Jones, 60
  128. Alan Thicke, 69
  129. Bernard Fox, 89
  130. Craig Sager, 65
  131. Ricky Harris, 54
  132. Zsa Zsa Gabor, 99
  133. Richard Adams, 96
  134. George Michael, 53
  135. Carrie Fisher, 60
  136. Debbie Reynolds, 84

Other notable public figures who died in 2016 include:

  1. Nancy Reagan, 94
  2. Janet Reno, 78
  3. Tom Hayden, 76
  4. Youree Dell Harris, 53
  5. Fidel Castro, 90
  6. Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 88
  7. Rob Ford, 46
  8. Uhmberto Eco, 84
  9. John Glenn, 95
  10. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, 93
  11. Antonin Scalia, 79
  12. Edgar Mitchell, 85
  13. Dale Bumpers, 90
  14. Mike Oxley, 71
  15. Mother Mary Angelica, 92
  16. Robert Leo Hulseman, 84

Your thoughts?

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Comments 13

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  1. LmfaoHoe January 1, 2017

    2016 was something else honestly smh, may everyone have a great year thid time around cause the last was truly rough.

    • LmfaoHoe January 1, 2017

      *this

    • Beybey January 1, 2017

      Rip zaha hadid ❤️

  2. Um. January 1, 2017

    I swear the worst people live the longest. We lost Prince, Ali, Bowie, and 2016 had to go out with a bang and also claim Carrie Fischer and Debbie Reynolds in just 2 days. Meanwhile the tangerine and his Russian lover are still breathing. Good riddance, 2016! Fvck you, from the bottom of my heart. Anyways, Happy new year, everybody. I’m low key psychic y’all, and 2017 is gonna be a good one.

  3. Weezy Tha Goat/Zayn is ? January 1, 2017

    I still can’t believe that Prince is gone.

  4. JOHNVIDAL January 1, 2017

    When it comes to music obviosuly Prince, David Bowie and George Michael were the huge losses. Prince and Davis are no doubt icons and such amazing musicians. But don´t underestimate George. His voice was so beautiful and classy and s*** and he has many true quality classics. The album Faith is so damn unique and fresh till this day (80s) and songs like “Jesus to a Child” form the 90s are such brilliant bodies of work. You know, the type of music taht rarely gets any shine in mainstream nowadays.

    • S****** Blonde January 1, 2017

      “Jesus to a Child” is my favorite song of him, he has a phenomenal discography, unknown to many.

  5. Qwerty January 1, 2017

    136 people in a 12 month period really

  6. S****** Blonde January 1, 2017

    2016 was truly merciless for everyone. The deaths of Bowie and Prince were a low blow, couldn’t get worse than that.

  7. Angela Wesley January 1, 2017

    I did know that so many celebrities died this year. A
    hundred and thirty six is a lot. The biggest deaths that
    surprise everyone were Prince, George Micheal, David
    Bowie, and Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds.

  8. BangBang January 1, 2017

    Thank GOD 2016 is over! Everyone have a Happy New Year! May this year be way better than the last!???

  9. 4u2see January 2, 2017

    I’m glad Stevie Wonder don’t see the sick s*** they did to the music industry. It’s a joke now, that’s why everyone was icons . Nothing like the originals. R.I.P.

  10. We Nowqd Redv dimnobut it ash trjoan ivy blobukz Need UK timely Ukuno eremxil January 6, 2017

    Wow happy new year’s

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