Cancer Musicians

English musician, singer, and songwriter, Ringo Starr, gained international fame as the drummer for the rock band, the Beatles. Raised by a single mother, he had a difficult childhood. He sought solace in music and it became his vocation. After finding success with the Beatles, he embarked on a solo career as well.

Queen guitarist and singer-songwriter Brian May is also a PhD in astrophysics. One of Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time and Guitar World’s second-greatest guitarist, he received a CBE. He was a Chancellor of Liverpool at John Moores University, has worked with NASA, and fights for animal rights.

Singer, songwriter, and musician Chris Cornell rose to fame as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. One of the key figures of the 1990s grunge movement, he also had a successful solo career. Unfortunately, he suffered from depression and died of suicide at the peak of his career.

Louis Armstrong was an American trumpeter and singer who played an important role in the development of jazz. Thanks to his playing, trumpet became known as a solo instrument and jazz, which was previously known as a collectively improvised folk music, became a soloist's art form. Not surprisingly, Louis Armstrong is widely accepted as the embodiment of jazz. 

Kris Kristofferson is a popular singer-songwriter and actor. Over the years, Kris has played a major role in the success of many famous singers, having contributed to their musical albums as a songwriter. For his achievements in the field of music, Kris Kristofferson was made a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee in 2004.

Guitarist Carlos Santana rose to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s with his rock band Santana. He introduced elements of Latin American jazz in his rock music to create unique songs. He is the recipient of ten Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards. Rolling Stone magazine listed him on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists in 2015.

Don Henley is an American record producer, singer, songwriter, and musician. A founding member of Eagles, Henley contributed immensely to the success of the band. Don Henley has also been successful as a solo artist, selling more than 10 million albums and winning two Grammy Awards. In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine named him among the greatest singers of all time.

Todd Rundgren is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He is credited with forming popular rock bands, such as Utopia and Nazz. Regarded as a pioneer in the fields of progressive rock, electronic music, Internet music delivery, and music videos, Todd Rundgren's works, such as A Wizard, a True Star remain influential in the world of music.

Beck is an American musician and record producer. He came into prominence for creating musical collages of several genres. Beck has been applauded by music lovers and critics as being one of the most idiosyncratically creative musicians of alternative rock. Two of his albums were named in the 500 greatest albums of all time list by Rolling Stone magazine. 

The White Stripes guitarist and vocalist Jack White had begun playing drums at 6. He made it to Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list. With 12 Grammys, he is now considered one of the main forces in the revival of the garage rock genre in the 2000s.

Canadian musician, songwriter, and film composer Robbie Robertson became popular following his association as lead guitarist and songwriter with the rock group, The Band. He is credited for playing a key role in popularizing the Americana music genre. He also had a successful career as a solo artist. As a film composer, he has often collaborated with director Martin Scorsese.

Austro-Bohemian Romantic composer and conductor Gustav Mahler symbolized the transition of 19th-century Austro-German music to early-20th-century modernism. His music was banned during the Nazi era but was rediscovered later. Famous for his Eighth Symphony, he had also been the director of the Hofoper (Vienna Court Opera).

R&B singer Gabriella “Gabi” Wilson, better known to her fans as H.E.R., had initially released a few works under her real name. However, she gained fame only after the release of her first EP, H.E.R. Volume 1, in 2016. The two-time Grammy-winner performed at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Award ceremony.

A woman of many talents, June Carter Cash was an American singer-songwriter, author, comedian, actress, and dancer. In 2003, she was named in Country Music Television's 40 Greatest Women of Country Music list. Her relationship with Johnny Cash inspired the 2005 film Walk the Line, where she was portrayed by Reese Witherspoon. June was also a well-known philanthropist.

British singer, Cat Stevens, has released more than 15 studio albums and has churned out many hit songs. He converted to Islam in 1977 and adopted the name Yusuf Islam. He was slammed for reportedly backing the death fatwa on author Salman Rushdie. He has also been accused of allegedly having ties with terrorist organisations, a charge he has vehemently denied.

A Swedish electric guitarist/ neo-classical metal artist, Yngwie Johann Malmsteen rose to popularity in the 1980s and has, since then, released over 22 studio albums in his four decades of career till now. His solo debut album Rising Force, which won a nomination at the 1986 Grammy Awards, is regarded a significant release in the shred and neoclassical metal genres.

American singer, Elle King, made her mark in showbiz when her debut single Good To Be A Man was released in March 2012 as a digital download. Her 2014 single Ex's & Oh's became one of the top songs in US. Under the Influence, America's Sweetheart, Good Girls, Different for Girls, Wild Love are some of her other popular songs.

Luke Bryan is an American singer and songwriter. As a songwriter, Bryan has contributed to the success of songs recorded by musicians like Billy Currington and Travis Tritt. He is also an acclaimed singer with many prestigious awards under his belt. Also known for his philanthropic activities, Bryan has supported various charities, such as Red Cross and City of Hope.

One half of the popular actor duo The Two Coreys, Corey Feldman started out as a child actor before establishing himself as a popular star in the American film industry. An ardent advocate against child molestation, Feldman was summoned to testify against Michael Jackson in the latter's child molestation trial; being Jackson's close friend, he did not testify against Jackson.

Much appreciated for his introspective songwriting, singer-songwriter, Post Malone ,is the first-ever solo artist to top both the Billboard Rap Airplay and Adult Contemporary charts as a lead artist. His music covers a range of genres including country, grunge, rap, and R&B. He has been accused of  "appropriating" African-American culture and has been called a “culture vulture".

Jessica Simpson is an American singer, fashion designer, and actress. Her journey from being a teen idol to a sex symbol has been quite inspirational so far. Also a well-known philanthropist, Jessica Simpson has worked with several nonprofit organizations, such as Make-A-Wish Foundation. She has also performed at many benefit concerts.

Debbie Harry is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She is credited with co-founding the popular rock band Blondie, which pioneered the American punk rock and later the new wave genre. Also a well-known philanthropist, Debbie Harry works with charities that fight against endometriosis and cancer.

Jeff Beck is a British rock guitarist renowned for his association with popular rock bands like The Yardbirds, Beck, Bogert & Appice, and The Jeff Beck Group. Regarded as one of the greatest and most influential players in history, Beck has won several awards like the Grammy Awards. He has also appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine thrice.

Ed Westwick is best known for his Teen Choice Award- and Young Hollywood Award-winning portrayal of Chuck Bass in Gossip Girl. Fans also loved him in the series White Gold and the films S. Darko and Billionaire Ransom. He was also part of the punk band The Filthy Youth.

Courtney Love is an American singer-songwriter, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the alternative rock and grunge music scenes of the last three decades. Known for her distinctive style and confrontational lyrics, Love has been a major influence on aspiring female rock musicians across the world. She is also an ardent supporter of LGBT rights.

Dan Reynolds is an American singer, record producer, and songwriter. He is credited with founding the popular pop-rock band, Imagine Dragons, for which he serves as the lead vocalist. Also known for his philanthropic efforts, Reynolds helped form The Tyler Robinson Foundation, which helps young people battling cancer. He also supports people struggling with mental health.

Soul and R&B legend Bill Withers is best remembered for hits such as Ain't No Sunshine and Lean on Me. The three-time Grammy Award-winner also inspired the documentary Still Bill. A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Bill moved on to other jobs after his 15-year music career. 

Dave Navarro is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and guitarist. Over the years, Dave Navarro has contributed immensely to the success of the popular band Jane's Addiction. Best known for his guitaring skills, Dave Navarro is often cited as alternative rock's first guitar hero. In July 2010, Epiphone Guitars released its Dave Navarro Artist Acoustic.

Michiel Huisman is a Dutch musician and actor who achieved international fame after taking over the role of Daario Naharis in the popular HBO series Game of Thrones in 2014. Michiel Huisman is also known for his association with the band Fontane, which was later renamed Michiel Huisman.

Harry Dean Stanton was an American musician, singer, and actor. A self-made man, Stanton established himself as an actor by playing supporting roles in popular films, such as The Godfather Part II and Alien. A lovable person, Harry Dean Stanton was celebrated by singer Deborah Harry and the music band Pop Will Eat Itself.

Elijah Blue Allman is an American musician. The son of Gregg Allman and Cher, Allman followed in the footsteps of his parents to establish himself in the American music industry. Elijah Blue Allman is credited with founding the popular industrial rock/industrial metal band Deadsy for which he serves as the lead vocalist and guitarist.

Paul D. DelVecchio Jr., also popular as Pauly D and DJ Pauly D, soared to fame with the MTV reality show Jersey Shore. He was also part of the A Double Shot at Love. After bagging a three-album deal with G-Unit Records, he released hits such as Back to Love.

Cyndi Lauper is an American singer-songwriter, activist, and actress. Apart from her distinctive appearance, Lauper is also known for her achievements; having won three of the four major entertainment awards (Grammy, Emmy, Tony), she is consistently named in lists like 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll. Cyndi Lauper is also celebrated for her humanitarian work and charitable efforts.