One of our saddest jobs at SoulTracks is to inform SoulTrackers about the deaths of soul music artists. And 2025 is a year in which we have lost some great ones.
We feel it is part of our mission to pay tribute to the legacies of these all time greats. On this page we provide a running list of those artists who have died during 2025, and a link to our extensive tributes to them. They are shown in the order of the date we reported on their deaths during the year.
Rest in peace, friends.
Sam Moore of Sam & Dave
Brenton Wood (soul singer)
Gary Grier of The Contours
Bobby Hamilton of Choice Four
Irv Gotti (hip-hop legend)
Jerry Butler (singer and politician)
Gwen McCrae (soul and disco singer)
Tommy Hunt (soul singer)
Roberta Flack (singer and educator)
Chris Jasper (Isley Brothers and solo artist)
Angie Stone (soul singer)
Harry Elston of The Friends of Distinction
Randy Brown (singer)
Roy Ayers (jazz and R&B legend)
D’Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Tone!
Beau Dozier (musician and producer)
Stedman Pearson of Five Star
Sheri Osborne (wife and manager of Jeffrey Osborne)
Fred Jenkins of The Gap Band
Clarence “Chet” Willis of the Ohio Players
Ann Sexton (Southern Soul singer)
Lenny Welch (Pop and Soul singer)
J.T. Carter of The Crests
Eddie Fluellen of Switch
Nino Tempo of The Wrecking Crew
John Edwards of The Spinners
James Reynolds of The Edsels
Mark Greene of The Moments
Michael Sumler of Kool & the Gang
Pepe Willie (songwriter and producer)
Dr. Norman Hutchins (Gospel great)
Wayne Lewis of Atlantic Starr
Sly Stone of Sly & The Family Stone
John Reid of The Nightcrawlers
Lou Christie (singer)
Patti Drew (singer)
Cavin Yarbrough of Yarbrough & Peoples
Walter Scott of The Whispers
Brenda Wilson (singer and daughter of Jackie Wilson)
Billy Freeman of Drizabone
Malcolm-Jamal Warner (actor and musician)
Chuck Mangione (jazz and pop musician)
Dana Meyers (songwriter and producer)
Darryl Johnson of The Chairmen of the Board
Darnell Kimbrough (songwriter and guitarist)
Louis Villery, Jr. (bassist and songwriter)
Charles “Slick” Still of Sly, Slick & Wicked
Ike Turner Jr. (son of Ike and Tina Turner)
Terry Johnson of The Flamingos
Michael Beard of The Bar-Kays
D’Angelo (singer)
Erik Rico (noted singer and songwriter)
Jimmy Sommers (saxophonist)
Anthony Jackson (bassist)
Leslie Wilson of The New Birth
Jimmy Cliff (reggae pioneer)
Reggie Dozier (noted songwriter, engineer and producer)
Jellybean Johnson of The Time
Phil Upchurch (guitarist and composer)
Chubby Tavares of the group Tavares
Judy Cheeks (soul and dance singer)
Billy Nichols (singer, songwriter and producer)
Steve Cropper (legendary Stax guitarist and songwriter)
Carl Carlton (singer)
Chris Rea (singer, songwriter and guitarist)
Jean Lang (songwriter)
Tom Glide (soul and dance producer)
Don Bryant (singer and songwriter)
Jerrell Allen (indie soul manager)
Richard Smallwood (Gospel legend)
