1 / 10
Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley, best known for songs like 'No Woman No Cry' and 'Is This Love?', died in 1981. The music star lost the battle to a type of malignant melanoma under his right toe, which he was diagnosed with in 1977.
He died at age 36.
2 / 10
Rockabilly and pop star Buddy Holly was just 22 years old when he died on February 3, 1959.
The 'Look at Me' hitmaker was killed in a plane crash, along with musicians Ritchie Valens (17), J.P. Richardson (28) and pilot Roger Peterson (21). The aircraft in which they were traveling crashed near Clear Lake, Iowa.
The tragic event is now known as 'The Day the Music Died', after singer Don McLean referenced to it in his song 'American Pie'.
3 / 10
Singer Karen Carpenter, known for being the half of the super successful duo The Carpenters, died at age 32 on February 4, 1983, following a long battle with an eating disorder.
While it was initially believed that the 'Close To You' singer had died from an overdose, the autopsy reports informed that she died of "emetine cardiotoxicity due to or as a consequence of anorexia nervosa."
4 / 10
Hip-hop rising star Christopher Wallace aka The Notorious B.I.G, died on March 9, 1997 in Los Angeles.On March 8, the 'Big Poppa' rapper was shot while traveling in the passenger seat of a GMC Suburban, after leaving the Soul Train Awards ceremony. He was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead a couple hours later.He was 24.
5 / 10
The music industry mourned the loss of R&B singer Aaliyah on August 25, 2001.
Shortly after finishing filming the music video for her song 'Rock the Boat', the 'Try Again' singer boarded a plane in the Bahamas, expected to land in Florida. Sadly, the plane crashed, killing all nine passengers.
Aaliyah was 22.
6 / 10
One of the most notable members of the 27 Club is Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.
On April 4, 1995, the grunge music star's body was found in his Seattle home. While it was initially especulated that the 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' hitmaker had been killed, authorities then informed that he had taken his own life.
7 / 10
Also known as the "Queen of Tex-Mex", singer Selena Quintanilla died on March 31, 1995.
Her longtime friend and manager, Yolanda Saldívar, shot her in their Corpus Christi-based Days Inn hotel room. The 'Amor prohibido' singer managed to run to the hotel lobby and was rushed the Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital.
She was pronounced dead shortly after, at age 23.
8 / 10
On July 23, 2011, news about Amy Winehouse's death broke, leaving music enthusiasts deeply saddened.
The 'Back to Black' singer died of alcohol poisoning in her London's Camden district home.
Amy was 27.
9 / 10
Born Tim Bergling, Swedish DJ Avicii died at age 28 on April 20, 2018 in Muscat, Oman.
In the beginning, it was believed that the 'Wake Me Up' star had been killed. Eventually, no evidence of foul play was found, with 'TMZ' reporting that he had taken his own life by using a broken wine bottle.
10 / 10
American rapper Mac Miller passed away on September 7, 2018.
Malcolm James McCormick died of an accidental cocaine, alcohol and fentanyl overdose in his Studio City, Los Angeles home, with his personal assistant finding his unresponsive body.
The 'Small Worlds' star was pronounced dead at the scene at age 26.
Over the past years, the music industry has mourned the loss of countless rising stars. From plane crashes to accidental drug overdoses, these musicians died at a very young age.
We've put together a series of pictures to remember the music stars who died before turning 40.
