Artists who died in / bands disbanded in 1981

Artist Active Genre & Styles
Bob Marley 1960s - 1980s Reggae, Political Reggae, Roots Reggae, Rocksteady, Ska
Bob Marley & the Wailers 1960s - 1980s Reggae, Roots Reggae
Hoagy Carmichael 1910s - 1980s Jazz, Vocal, Stage & Screen, American Popular Song, Early Jazz, Standards, Tin Pan Alley Pop, Traditional Pop, Cast Recordings, Show Tunes
Karl Böhm 1910s - 1970s Classical, Orchestral, Opera, Symphony, Choral, Concerto
Michael Bloomfield 1960s - 1980s Blues, Pop/Rock, Electric Chicago Blues, Regional Blues, Blues-Rock, Modern Electric Chicago Blues, Jazz-Rock, Acoustic Chicago Blues, Psychedelic/Garage
Big Walter Horton 1930s - 1980s Blues, Chicago Blues, Electric Blues, Electric Chicago Blues, Electric Harmonica Blues, Electric Memphis Blues, Harmonica Blues, Juke Joint Blues, Modern Electric Blues, Regional Blues, Memphis Blues
Bill Haley 1940s - 1980s Pop/Rock, Country, Rock & Roll, Rockabilly, Western Swing
Roy Brown 1940s - 1980s R&B, Blues, Pop/Rock, Early R&B, Jump Blues, Rock & Roll, Regional Blues, West Coast Blues, Urban Blues
Wings 1970s - 1980s Pop/Rock, Album Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Soft Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Adult Contemporary, Rock & Roll, AM Pop
Mary Lou Williams 1920s - 1980s Jazz, Religious, Bop, Post-Bop, Stride, Swing, Third Stream, Big Band, Jazz Instrument, Mainstream Jazz, Piano Jazz, Black Gospel, Gospel, Spirituals
Rockpile 1970s - 1980s Pop/Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, New Wave, Pub Rock, Punk/New Wave, Rock & Roll
The Blackbyrds 1970s R&B, Funk, Jazz-Funk, Blaxploitation, Film Music
Georges Brassens 1940s - 1980s Vocal, Pop/Rock, International, French Pop, French, Western European Traditions
The Amazing Rhythm Aces 1970s - 2020s Pop/Rock, Country-Rock, Soft Rock
Furry Lewis 1900s - 1980s Blues, Acoustic Blues, Acoustic Memphis Blues, Blues Revival, Regional Blues, Piedmont Blues, Folk-Blues, Songster, Country Blues
Magazine 1970s - 2010s Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Post-Punk, New Wave, Punk/New Wave
Roscoe Holcomb 1950s - 1970s Folk, Country, International, Old-Timey, Field Recordings, Appalachian, North American Traditions, Traditional Folk
Samuel Barber 1920s - 1970s Classical, Orchestral, Vocal Music, Chamber Music, Choral, Concerto, Keyboard, Opera
The Lambrettas 1970s - 2020s Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Mod Revival, New Wave, Power Pop, Punk/New Wave
The Babys 1970s - 2010s Pop/Rock, Album Rock, Arena Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Hard Rock, New Wave, Punk/New Wave
Lotte Lenya 1920s - 1980s Vocal, Classical, Cabaret, Opera, Vocal Music
Klaatu 1970s - 2000s Pop/Rock, Album Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Prog-Rock
Rosa Ponselle 1920s - 1940s Classical, Opera, Vocal Music
Kirill Kondrashin 1940s - 1970s Classical, Orchestral, Symphony, Concerto
The Vapors 1970s - 2020s Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Mod Revival, New Wave, Power Pop, Punk/New Wave
Karl Richter Classical, Holiday, Choral, Concerto
Rafael Méndez 1940s - 1970s Classical, Latin, Chamber Music, Classical Crossover
Robert Russell Bennett 1930s - 1970s Classical, Orchestral, Band Music, Chamber Music, Choral, Vocal Music
The Pointed Sticks 1970s - 2010s Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Punk/New Wave, New Wave, Power Pop
Mafalda Favero 1930s - 1950s Classical, Stage & Screen, Opera
Harry Warren 1930s - 1940s Vocal, Stage & Screen, Jazz, Classical, Cast Recordings, Show Tunes, Tin Pan Alley Pop, Big Band, British Dance Bands, Dance Bands, Harmony Vocal Group, Swing, Traditional Pop, Vocal Pop, Vocal Music, Film Score, Show/Musical
Alan Gowen 1960s - 1980s Jazz, Jazz-Rock, Canterbury Scene, Experimental Rock, Prog-Rock, Avant-Garde Jazz, Avant-Prog
Howard Hanson 1920s - 1970s Classical, Orchestral, Symphony, Concerto, Choral
Rino Gaetano 1970s - 2000s Pop/Rock, International, Comedy Rock, Italian Music, Italian Pop, Western European Traditions
Smokey 1970s - 1980s Pop/Rock, Rock & Roll, Glam Rock, Proto-Punk, Dance-Rock, Disco
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg 1920s - 1960s Vocal, Stage & Screen, Jazz, Pop/Rock, Classical, Cast Recordings, Film Music, Show Tunes, Soundtracks, Traditional Pop, Show/Musical, Vocal Music
In Camera 1970s - 1990s Pop/Rock, Post-Punk
Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive 1980s Pop/Rock
National Wake 1970s - 1980s Pop/Rock, Post-Punk, Punk, Alternative/Indie Rock, Punk/New Wave
Billy Thermal 1970s - 1980s Pop/Rock, Punk/New Wave, New Wave, Power Pop
Ernst Pepping 1940s Classical, Choral, Keyboard, Symphony
Hugo Friedhofer 1940s - 1950s Stage & Screen, Easy Listening, Classical, Film Music, Instrumental Pop, Orchestral/Easy Listening, Soundtracks, Film Score
(Louis) Boyd Neel Classical, Concerto, Chamber Music, Choral
101 Strings 1950s - 1970s Easy Listening, Stage & Screen, Classical, Pop/Rock, Instrumental Pop, Mood Music, Movie Themes, Orchestral/Easy Listening, Soundtracks, Orchestral
4 Be 2 1970s - 1980s Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Post-Punk
Adele Astaire 1920s - 1930s Stage & Screen, Classical, Show/Musical
Adrienne Johnston 1970s Pop/Rock
Åke Kullnes Classical, Keyboard
Al Cooper 1930s - 1940s Jazz, Big Band, Swing
Alfred Victor Frankenstein Classical, Ballet, Chamber Music, Orchestral, Vocal Music, Keyboard, Symphony