Prince is latest in string of music legends who’ve left us in 2016

Pop artist Prince’s death on Thursday was the latest in a string of deaths in 2016 of popular, influential musicians.

David Bowie, the rocker who appropriated from and influenced glam rock, soul, disco, new wave, punk rock and haute couture, and whose edgy, androgynous alter egos invited fans to explore their own dark places, died in January. He was 69.

Merle Haggard, the legendary country music singer whose hits included “Okie From Muskogee,” died in April. He was 79.

Glenn Frey, who co-founded the Eagles and with Don Henley became one of history’s most successful songwriting teams with such hits as “Hotel California” and “Life in the Fast Lane,” died in January. He was 67.

Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White, whose horn-driven band sold more than 90 million albums and made hits like “September,” “Shining Star” and “Boogie Wonderland,” died in February. He was 74.

Paul Kantner, a founding member of Jefferson Airplane who stayed with the seminal San Francisco band through its transformation from 1960s hippies to 1970s hit makers as the eventual leader of successor group Jefferson Starship, died in February. He was 74.

Prince was 57.

Other celebrities who have died in 2016:

Garry Shandling, whose comedic career spanned decades and who most recently appeared in “Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War” and “Iron Man 2,” as well as in cameo bits in “The Dictator” and “Zoolander,” died in March. He was 66.

Doris Roberts, a five-time Emmy winner best known for her work as Mamma Barone on “Everybody Loves Raymond,” died in April. She was 90.

George Kennedy, the veteran actor who built his early career playing heavies and won an Academy Award in 1968 for his supporting role as the tough Southern prison-camp convict who grew to hero-worship Paul Newman’s defiant title character in “Cool Hand Luke,” died in February. He was 91.

Character actor Abe Vigoda, whose leathery, sunken-eyed face made him ideal for playing the over-the-hill detective Phil Fish in the 1970s TV series “Barney Miller” and the doomed Mafia soldier in “The Godfather,” died in January. He was 94.

Patty Duke, an Oscar-winning actress renowned at midcentury as a child star of stage, film and television, who, amid public struggles with bipolar disorder, went on to cultivate a respected screen career in adulthood, died in March. She was 69.

Alan Rickman, the British actor who brought an erudite dignity to film roles like Hans Gruber, the nefarious mastermind of “Die Hard,” and Severus Snape, the dour master of potions in the “Harry Potter” series, died in January. He was 69.

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 2:20 PM with the headline "Prince is latest in string of music legends who’ve left us in 2016."