Chase, a well-loved New Orleans restaurateur, died on November 22. His restaurant was a popular staple in the Treme neighborhood––frequented by political figures from Martin Luther King Jr. to President Barack Obama.
2. Bernie Worrell, 72
Bernie Worrell, one of the cofounders of the band Parliament-Funkadelic, died of lung cancer on June 24.
3. Prince, 57
The musical icon was found dead in his Paisley Park estate on April 21.
4. Bob Adelman, 85
Bob Adelman, widely known for his photography of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement, died Saturday, March 19 at his home in Miami.
5. Gil Hill, 84
Gil Hill, who battled respiratory issues, died Wednesday February 17 at DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit.
6. Tony Burton, 78
Tony Burton, who played the corner man to both Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers in the Rocky film saga, died Thursday, February 25.
7. Vanity, 57
Denise Matthews, who as Vanity fronted the group Vanity 6, died in early February at a hospital in Fremont, California.
8. Maurice White, 74
Singer Maurice White, founder of Earth, Wind & Fire, died on February 4 at his Los Angeles home, said his brother, Verdine White. The 74-year-old artist started the popular R&B group in the late 1960s, and went on to sell more than 90 million albums across the globe.
9. Natalie Cole, 65
Cole, the daughter of music icon Nat King Cole, passed away of heart failure induced by lung disease. The singer created her own footprint in the world of R&B and soul with her powerful voice and rendition of her father’s song, “Unforgettable.”
10. David Bowie, 69
The iconic singer and songwriter died January 10 after a quiet 18-month battle with cancer. Bowie was beloved for his inventive sound and ever-changing looks.
11. Nicholas Caldwell, 71
Caldwell, the co-founding member of the legendary R&B group The Whispers, died of congestive heart failure. Caldwell also wrote some of the group’s hit singles, including “Lady.”
