In Memoriam: Stars We Lost in the Past Year

B.B. King, Chinx and more.

B.B. King, September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015 - We lost an American treasure with the passing of The King of Blues. The musician was a legend on the guitar and the prodigal son of Indianola, Mississippi, where he was born and ultimately laid to rest. An advocate for diabetes prevention since the early 1980s, King succumbed to various health problems at the age of 89. (Photo: L. Busacca/WireImage)

1 / 13

B.B. King, September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015 - We lost an American treasure with the passing of The King of Blues. The musician was a legend on the guitar and the prodigal son of Indianola, Mississippi, where he was born and ultimately laid to rest. An advocate for diabetes prevention since the early 1980s, King succumbed to various health problems at the age of 89. (Photo: L. Busacca/WireImage)

Chinx, December 3, 1983 – May 17, 2015 - The Queens native, born Lionel Pickens, was shot and killed near his home last month at the age of 31. As police continue to search for his killer, his family, fans and collaborators in the hip hip community mourn the loss of a talent gone too soon.  (Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images for BET)

2 / 13

Chinx, December 3, 1983 – May 17, 2015 - The Queens native, born Lionel Pickens, was shot and killed near his home last month at the age of 31. As police continue to search for his killer, his family, fans and collaborators in the hip hip community mourn the loss of a talent gone too soon.  (Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images for BET)

Ben E. King, September 28, 1938 – April 30, 2015 - The soulful balladeer, who could bring us to tears with those first few notes of "Stand by Me," passed away this year at 76. After gaining acclaim as a member of The Drifters, King went solo in 1960 and had 25 Top 40 hits over the course of his career. The singer/songwriter was still performing just months before he died. (Photo: Paul Natkin/WireImage)

3 / 13

Ben E. King, September 28, 1938 – April 30, 2015 - The soulful balladeer, who could bring us to tears with those first few notes of "Stand by Me," passed away this year at 76. After gaining acclaim as a member of The Drifters, King went solo in 1960 and had 25 Top 40 hits over the course of his career. The singer/songwriter was still performing just months before he died. (Photo: Paul Natkin/WireImage)

A$AP Yams, November 13, 1988 – January 18, 2015 - The founding member and visionary behind A$AP Mob succumbed to drug addiction this January. The Harlem native, born Steven Rodriguez, was known by his peers as having an encyclopedic knowledge of hip hop and as a relentlessly ambitious businessman. Though the mainstream may not have known Yams, it was that combination that brought the world A$AP Rocky. (Photo: Chad Batka/Getty Images)

4 / 13

A$AP Yams, November 13, 1988 – January 18, 2015 - The founding member and visionary behind A$AP Mob succumbed to drug addiction this January. The Harlem native, born Steven Rodriguez, was known by his peers as having an encyclopedic knowledge of hip hop and as a relentlessly ambitious businessman. Though the mainstream may not have known Yams, it was that combination that brought the world A$AP Rocky. (Photo: Chad Batka/Getty Images)

Jimmy Ruffin, May 7, 1936 – November 14, 2014 - The Motown great gave us such hits as "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" and "Hold On (To My Love)" left us at age 78. Born in Mississippi to a family brimming with talent (his younger brother David Ruffin sang with The Temptations), Ruffin was signed by Berry Gordy in 1966 and scored a number of hits over the next decade and a half. Ruffin became an anti-drug advocate in the 1990s after his brother died of an overdose. (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images)

5 / 13

Jimmy Ruffin, May 7, 1936 – November 14, 2014 - The Motown great gave us such hits as "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" and "Hold On (To My Love)" left us at age 78. Born in Mississippi to a family brimming with talent (his younger brother David Ruffin sang with The Temptations), Ruffin was signed by Berry Gordy in 1966 and scored a number of hits over the next decade and a half. Ruffin became an anti-drug advocate in the 1990s after his brother died of an overdose. (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Charmayne 'Maxee' Maxwell, January 11, 1969 – February 28, 2015 - The Brownstone singer died earlier this year after what her mother described as a "freak fall" involving a wine glass that cut her neck. The R&B singer, who was 46, left behind a husband and son.(Photo: Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

6 / 13

Charmayne 'Maxee' Maxwell, January 11, 1969 – February 28, 2015 - The Brownstone singer died earlier this year after what her mother described as a "freak fall" involving a wine glass that cut her neck. The R&B singer, who was 46, left behind a husband and son.(Photo: Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Andraé Crouch, July 1, 1942 – January 8, 2015 - The seven-time Grammy winner, who pioneered gospel into the mainstream, died of a heart attack at age 72. Crouch's music influenced artists across the decades and genres, and he is perhaps best-known to the mainstream for his work on Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror." (Photo:  Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images)

7 / 13

Andraé Crouch, July 1, 1942 – January 8, 2015 - The seven-time Grammy winner, who pioneered gospel into the mainstream, died of a heart attack at age 72. Crouch's music influenced artists across the decades and genres, and he is perhaps best-known to the mainstream for his work on Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror." (Photo:  Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images)

Henry 'Big Bank Hank' Jackson, January 11, 1956 – November 11, 2014 - As one-third of the hip hop pioneers The Sugarhill Gang, Big Bank Hank's death signified the loss of a piece of rap's history. Thankfully Hank, who died of cancer at the young age of 57, has left a legacy that flows through the rhymes of every rapper that followed in his footsteps.  (Photo:  Isaac Brekken/WireImage)

8 / 13

Henry 'Big Bank Hank' Jackson, January 11, 1956 – November 11, 2014 - As one-third of the hip hop pioneers The Sugarhill Gang, Big Bank Hank's death signified the loss of a piece of rap's history. Thankfully Hank, who died of cancer at the young age of 57, has left a legacy that flows through the rhymes of every rapper that followed in his footsteps.  (Photo:  Isaac Brekken/WireImage)

Reynaldo Rey, January 27, 1940 – May 28, 2015 - Beloved for his role as Red's father in Friday, the veteran character actor charmed the screen in over 50 films and dozens of television shows — from White Men Can't Jump to The Parent 'Hood — over his storied career. The Oklahoma native passed away after suffering complications from a stroke at the age of 75. (Photo: Provided by Production)

9 / 13

Reynaldo Rey, January 27, 1940 – May 28, 2015 - Beloved for his role as Red's father in Friday, the veteran character actor charmed the screen in over 50 films and dozens of television shows — from White Men Can't Jump to The Parent 'Hood — over his storied career. The Oklahoma native passed away after suffering complications from a stroke at the age of 75. (Photo: Provided by Production)

Stuart Scott, July 19, 1965 – January 4, 2015 - The beloved ESPN anchor, whose signature catchphrases — like, "Boo-yah" — became a part of how America talks about sports, succumbed to a lengthy battle with cancer earlier this year. (Photo:  Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

10 / 13

Stuart Scott, July 19, 1965 – January 4, 2015 - The beloved ESPN anchor, whose signature catchphrases — like, "Boo-yah" — became a part of how America talks about sports, succumbed to a lengthy battle with cancer earlier this year. (Photo:  Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Percy Sledge, November 25, 1941 – April 14, 2015 - The Alabama-born soul singer, whose hits have been a part of so many people's memories, will forever be remember for his ballad "When a Man Loves a Woman." The hit is one of Rolling Stone's Greatest Songs of All Time and earned Sledge a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Photo:  Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

11 / 13

Percy Sledge, November 25, 1941 – April 14, 2015 - The Alabama-born soul singer, whose hits have been a part of so many people's memories, will forever be remember for his ballad "When a Man Loves a Woman." The hit is one of Rolling Stone's Greatest Songs of All Time and earned Sledge a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Photo:  Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

Johnny Kemp, August 2, 1959 – April 16, 2015 - The Bahamian singer was best known for his New Jack Swing party anthem "Just Got Paid," which soared to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988 and earned him a nomination for Best R&B Song at the 1989 Grammy Awards. Though Kemp never recorded another album following his debut Secrets of Flying, he remained active on the touring front and even had several gigs booked when his body was found in the waters of Montego Bay. The cause of his death was never revealed. (Photo:  Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

12 / 13

Johnny Kemp, August 2, 1959 – April 16, 2015 - The Bahamian singer was best known for his New Jack Swing party anthem "Just Got Paid," which soared to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988 and earned him a nomination for Best R&B Song at the 1989 Grammy Awards. Though Kemp never recorded another album following his debut Secrets of Flying, he remained active on the touring front and even had several gigs booked when his body was found in the waters of Montego Bay. The cause of his death was never revealed. (Photo:  Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Louis Johnson, April 13, 1955 – May 21, 2015 - A founding member of funk band The Brothers Johnson and a talented bassist who appeared on Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," Louis Johnson earned the nickname Thunder Thumbs from his colleagues. After starting his career as backup for Quincy Jones, Johnson landed three No. 1 hits on the Billboard charts over the years: 1976's "I'll Be Good to You," their 1977 cover of Shuggie Otis's "Strawberry Letter 23" and 1980's smash "Stomp!"  (Photo: Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images)

13 / 13

Louis Johnson, April 13, 1955 – May 21, 2015 - A founding member of funk band The Brothers Johnson and a talented bassist who appeared on Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," Louis Johnson earned the nickname Thunder Thumbs from his colleagues. After starting his career as backup for Quincy Jones, Johnson landed three No. 1 hits on the Billboard charts over the years: 1976's "I'll Be Good to You," their 1977 cover of Shuggie Otis's "Strawberry Letter 23" and 1980's smash "Stomp!"  (Photo: Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images)