THE BEST SELLERS’ LIST- Gone Too Soon: Ranking the musicians with the biggest impact who left this earth before 31

By Thomas Sellers Jr.
On Sept. 7, an important anniversary will take place.
That Tuesday will mark 25 years since the shooting of legendary rapper 2Pac or Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas. Shakur died six days later from his wounds.
For my generation 2Pac’s passing was earth-shattering. It was like our John Lennon or the “Day Music Died.”
On Feb. 3, 1959, American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and “The Big Bopper” J. P. Richardson were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. Also perishing on that fatal flight was pilot Roger Peterson.
When musicians die young, it freezes a moment in time for those who loved their music and creations. Music is a life source for us providing us with a soundtrack to milestones in our life. Whether it was a wedding, funeral, birth or graduation, we crank up the tunes.
My heart beats to the rhythm of the music when I exercise. I use music to clean the house and music helps me to go to sleep some nights.
Music is vital for life. So those blessed to deliver vocals or instrumentals that shape our life hold a special place in our soul.
This is the ideal time to recognize a few legends from the music industry who left us too soon. I’m ranking my top 10 music artist who passed at the age of 30 or younger. They were in their prime but manage to leave an amazing legacy with timeless tunes. Before I get into my Best Sellers’ List, a quintet of honorable mention is Otis Redding (26), Ritchie Valens (17), Jim Morrison (27), Amy Winehouse (27) and Tammi Terrell (24).
10. Hank Williams
(1923-1953)
I grew up to the rowdy vocals of Hank Williams Jr. on Monday nights. Before several Monday Night Football games, Williams asked me was I ready for some football? Of course once I heard that jingle. But I wonder why he had Jr. on the end of his name. There was a Hank Williams Sr. And he passed away at the age of 30. The elder Williams is regarded as one of the most prolific country singers of all-time. The Alabama native grew up under rough circumstances. In the 1940s he became a country music star paving the way for those to come later. He produced a lot of quality in a short amount of time with 35 singles reaching the top 10 of the best sellers chart. It was alcoholism and drug use that claimed his life too soon.
9. Aaliyah (1979-2001)
For my female peers, Aaliyah was the standard of grace, beauty, style and vocals. I was not a big fan of her music, but I have to admit Aaliyah had a huge impact on the women of my age group. Many of their daughters have some form of Aaliyah in their name. When Aaliyah’s plane went down Aug. 25, 2001, I quickly realized how much they loved her.
A Detroit native, Aaliyah was on the tip of greatness. She was still a raising star with several years in the game. The R&B/pop singer started on the TV show Star Search as a child. Then Aaliyah emerged as a star in a market full of talent.
She was one in million and her songs are still popping on the radio today. Aaliyah was on the verge of being a movie star too but that plane crash in the Bahamas took her away at the tender age of 22.
8. Eazy-E (1964-1995)
Whether you love gangster rap or hat the genre of music, Easy-E Eric Wright is a pioneer in the music industry. His leadership and involvement with N.W.A. sparked a cultural shift still being felt around the world. Easy-E brought West Coast rap to the masses and gave a soundtrack to life in the inner city and the dangers.
Easy-E used his lyrics and production skills to tackle topics like social-economics, racial tension, and political issues. He packed in a lot of work before his death form AIDS complications at the age of 30.
7. Selena (1971-1995)
Another sad passing in 1995 was up the up-and-coming Tejano sensation Selena. A beautiful creation from God, I fell in love with from first sight. Then I heard her sing and my heart was captured. Groomed to be a music star at a young age, Selena was living up to her potential before she was murdered at the age of 23.
Selena grew up in Texas in a music family and she was crowned the queen of Tejano music.
Selena released two English songs I encourage all of you to check out. They are precious musical gems because she was taken away from us before we had a library of greatness.
6. Janis Joplin
(1943-1970)
Anybody who studies music’s rich history knows about the infamous “27 Club.” The queen of the group is Janis Joplin. Other who have tragically been added to the Club are Hendrix, Winehouse, Morrison, and Cobain. Joplin, a native of Texas, started her journey to legendary status in her early 20s. It was a move to San Francisco that shaped the sound and musical style of Joplin.
She offered a funky, blues blend with psychedelic arrangements. Upon reaching her 27th birthday, Joplin passed due to a drug overdose.
5. Jimi Hendrix
(1942-1970)
The Hendrix mention in the previous entry was James Marshall Hendrix. Most know him as Jimi. The most gifted guitarists ever. What he did at Woodstock in 1969 with our National Anthem is iconic. He could play by ear and feel on his guitar.
His legendary classics are “Purple Haze,” “Voodoo Child,” and “The Wind Cries Mary.” Of course Hendrix passed at the age of 27, from a suspected drug overdose in London.
4. Buddy Holly
(1936-1959)
His face will be a part of music history forever. Charles Holley is known better to the world as the legendary Buddy Holly. He was just 22 years old the day music came crashing down to earth. Holly was revolutionary to rock and roll. He was inspired by country and blues music. He took that blend and gave it some juice to attract a younger audience. Holly’s style and band featured the ensemble of a drummer, guitarists, and a bassist. That format is still used today by rock groups.
Whether it is his music, his eyeglasses or that plane crash, the name Buddy Holly is linked to rock and roll forever.
3. Notorious B.I.G.
(1972-1997)
Mature subject matter and an unmistakable delivery, Christopher Wallace will be on the Mt. Rushmore of greatest rappers until the end of time. He was known to the rap world as Notorious B.I.G. and will be connected with Tupac forever with the East Coast vs. West Coast Rap War.
Biggie represented the East and the entire coast proudly celebrates his contributions to the rap game. Biggie was clever on the mic, gave great punchlines and brought the hard truth in his lyrics.
Like his former friend turn rival Tupac, Notorious B.I.G. was mysteriously gunned down by an unknown assailant on the West Coast. The New York native was only 24 that March night.
2. Kurt Cobain
(1967-1994)
I wore flannel shirts prior to the stardom of Kurt Cobain and his group Nirvana. But by the time Cobain helped make grunge music the top genre in the United States in the early 1990s, it was finally cool for me to wear it daily.
When I started listening to Nirvana, I heard the genius of Cobain. Coming out of Washington state, Cobain ushered in the musical niche which is still enjoyed today. Cobain is the Godfather of Grunge.
Despite his music reaching mainstream, Cobain was still battling demons inside. Cobain battling his mental health died at the age of 27 from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
1. Tupac Shakur
(1971-1996)
I gave away my No. 1 in the preluded. Written as 2Pac on his albums, the man known as Tupac Shakur was a comet to the music industry. Like a flash, Tupac shot through the sky, landed and exploded leaving his mark.
His impact on pop culture is still seen and heard today. In his 25 years on this earth, Shakur worked hard and played hard. Some of contributions to culture came through acting, producing, rapping and even dance.
He was a poet and it became evident whenever he was on a microphone. His wardrobe, “Thug Life” approach and harsh tone taints his legacy.  But his brilliance and undeniable impact on rap and music overall pushes 2Pac to the top of my list.
Tupac would rally you up to go fight and in the next breath have to trying to solve the fatherless issues in the community. As a good actor, which persona was real and which one was all an act? Tupac left us with too many questions, like is he still alive. But the definite answer to “Is 2Pac a cultural legend,” is a resounding yes.
THOMAS SELLERS JR. is the editor of The Millington Star and both the sports editor and a weekly personal columnist for West 10 Media/Magic Valley Publishing. Contact him by phone at (901) 433-9138, by fax to (901) 529-7687 and by email to [email protected].