The music industry is a bit of an enigma. Although there are many objective criteria of what makes music “good,” there’s also the more significant part of music that has to do with emotional connection and true feeling. Perhaps what makes music likable also has to do with cultural shifts and trends, or maybe it’s the band or artist behind the songs themselves. Either way, we sometimes don’t see the beauty of a musician’s work until after they’re gone.
These musicians are the Van Goghs of the music industry, reflecting how, as times change, their influence ends up having more of an impact on the world. The event of their death may lead to a renaissance of their music or family members and studios to release previously unreleased tracks, bringing attention to their creations. Just as we find ourselves drawn to the best online casinos in Pennsylvania after gambling became widespread, these artists who became more famous after their passing invite us to revisit their discographies.
Otis Redding
Otis Redding entered the music industry during the 1950s, a time when soul music was booming. Popular artists like Sam Cooke and Little Richard led the movement, and Redding joined them at the helm soon after. Initially part of the local Georgia band Johnny Jenkins’s Pinetoppers, he launched his solo career after singing two of his own songs during a recording session at the iconic Stax studios.
Although his incredibly powerful and emotive voice immediately resonated with listeners across the country, and he recorded one hit after the other, it was after his death in 1967 that he gained fans far and wide. It was no longer just soul fans who took a liking to his songs—he was such a staple in the industry that he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and received a Grammy Award in 1999.
Eva Cassidy
Eva Cassidy was the type of artist who transcended generations. Her soothing soprano vocals and interpretations of popular blues, folk, and jazz music were easy to love, the type of music where you’d close your eyes and feel the emotions long after the song was over. However, despite that allure, she was considered a small-time artist only known within the confines of her native city, Washington, D.C.
Cassidy passed away tragically and unexpectedly in 1996 from melanoma at the age of 33, three years after she had a malignant mole removed. While she was an American artist, she first became popular in the UK when her music was played on BBC Radio 2. Nine albums were released after her death, with songs charting within the top 10 in multiple countries.
Nick Drake
While Nick Drake doesn’t have the mainstream appeal of Otis Redding or Eva Cassidy, his music resonates strongly with the indie crowd. Like all the artists on this list, Drake had a short life, passing away at the young age of 26 in 1974. His talent and passion for music, along with his skills on the acoustic guitar, naturally got him noticed in early adulthood.
At just 20 years old, he signed with one of the largest independent record labels, Island Records. His folky sound, which went on to influence artists such as The Cure, Kate Bush, and Aimee Mann, was certainly unique, and he released three albums, with Pink Moon being his most critically acclaimed. Drake suffered from depression and often channeled these emotions into his music, creating poignant songs that explore the depths of human emotion and truth.
Lil Peep
Fast forward to more modern times, Lil Peep represented the progression of music with his experimental music dubbed as “emo revival rap-rock.” He wasn’t simply a musician or an artist but a figure who inspired many developing youth subcultures in the mid-2010s. Given that his parents were both Harvard graduates and his grandfather a Harvard University professor, it’s no surprise that Lil Peep was placed in a gifted and talented program at school. However, academics weren’t for him—it was music and fashion that always captured his interest.
During his teenage years, his parents separated, he self-medicated for his anxiety, and moved to New York, where he recorded several of his biggest singles. He was so committed to making his music career happen that he got his first face tattoo to “avoid” a regular life. Lil Peep represented the loners and the misfits but still connected with a mainstream audience. He was on the cusp of leading a brand-new movement in music when he passed away unexpectedly in 2017.
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix’s career spanned only four official years, yet he managed to become one of the greatest guitarists and rock icons in the history of music. Despite his short career, you could read pages-long articles, entire novels, and watch entire documentaries about Hendrix, and that says a lot about the musician he was. His guitar skills were so brilliant that he played with Little Richard and the Isley Brothers early on in his career and earned three top-ten hits in the UK with the Jimi Hendrix Experience in just a few months. Jimi didn’t need a lot of time to make an impact, which is what was so magical and special about him.
He was famed for using effects like the wah-wah and fuzz distortion live and in his recordings, not in a traditionally experimental way, but almost as if he was fluent in every buzz and sound. Hendrix was a true hedonist in every sense of the word, wanting to get the most out of life and enjoy himself. Unfortunately, his preoccupation with drugs and alcohol cut his life short, leaving his legacy to play out on its own. And although he was certainly famous and admired while alive, he took on legendary status following his untimely death in 1970.
