In MemoriamJames Blood Ulmer, avant-garde electric guitarist and singer, has died at 86Nate Chinen • Jun 8, 2026The fearless free-funk and jazz artist, a student of Ornette Coleman's Harmolodics concept, followed his unorthodox path to a singular five-decade career.
In MemoriamTwin Cities punk legend Steve Almaas of Suicide Commandos, Beat Rodeo has diedReed Fischer • Jun 5, 2026The founding member of Twin Cities punk pioneers Suicide Commandos, has died due to complications of recurrent cancer. He was 69.
In MemoriamSonny Rollins, colossus of the saxophone, has died at 95Howard Mandel • May 26, 2026The legendary jazz saxophonist, who revolutionized the art of improvisation, died Monday at his home in Woodstock, N.Y.
In Memoriam'It Takes Two' rapper Rob Base, who helped bring hip-hop mainstream, dies at 59The Associated Press • May 23, 2026Rapper Rob Base has died after a battle with cancer. He was 59. His team shared the news of his death on his Instagram page. Base was one half of the Harlem hip-hop duo Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock.
In MemoriamTwin Cities experimental rock pioneer Michael Yonkers has diedReed Fischer • Apr 30, 2026The groundbreaking Twin Cities musician, dancer, electrician, and performer has died at the age of 78. His record titled Microminiature Love, recorded in the late ‘60s, was released in the early aughts to critical acclaim, and he later collaborated with the Blind Shake.
In MemoriamHip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa dies at age 68The Associated Press • Apr 10, 2026Afrika Bambaataa, a man widely considered one of the main pioneers of hip-hop, died in Pennsylvania of prostate cancer on Thursday, according to his lawyer.
In MemoriamCountry Joe McDonald, anti-war singer who electrified Woodstock, dies at 84Willem Marx • Mar 8, 2026Country Joe and the Fish's best-known song, "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag," captured the growing anti-war sentiment of the Vietnam era.
In MemoriamWillie Colón, salsa pioneer, has died at 75Felix Contreras • Feb 21, 2026The South Bronx bandleader took the Latin genre to new heights while recording for Fania Records.
In MemoriamBob Weir, guitarist and founding member of the Grateful Dead, has died at 78Felix Contreras • Jan 11, 2026For three decades with the Grateful Dead and three more after the group ended following the 1995 death of his bandmate Jerry Garcia, Weir helped build and sustain the band's legacy across generations.
In MemoriamRemembering Minnesota music community members we lost in 2025Reed Fischer • Dec 29, 2025The Minnesota music community lost several important individuals in 2025, including Jellybean Johnson, Beej Chaney, and Conrad Sverkerson.
