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Following the ruling of the LA County coroner that Michael Jackson's death on 25 June 2009 was Homicide, we have put together a list of the top 10 most unexpected murders in music.
10. Peter Tosh
9. Jam Master Jay
At nine is Jam Master Jay, founding member of groundbreaking New York hip-hop trio, Run DMC, who have since been described by Public Enemy's Chuck D as "hip-hop's Beatles." Jay was shot and killed in 2002, at a Queens, NY, studio at the age of 37. The shooter has yet to be arrested.
8. Robert Johnson
King of the blues, Robert Johnson, is at eight. His influence on contemporary music has been vast after he sold his soul to the devil down at the crossroads in return for the spirit of the blues, and without him the likes of the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin would never have existed. His death in August 1938, aged 27, is still the subject of debate but the most common consensus is that he was poisoned by a juke joint owner after flirting with the man's wife.
7. The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G. is at seven. The Brooklyn-born rapper sold millions of records during his brief, five-year career. His prophetically titled debut release, Ready to Die, has sold more than four million records, reached No. 13 on the Billboard top-200 list and is regarded as a must-have CD for hip-hop fans. Biggie, aged 24, was slain just six months after his arch rival 2Pac was killed. Theories abound about his death, but the crime remains officially unsolved.
6. Marilyn Monroe
At six is Marilyn Monroe. One of the most popular and iconic figures in modern popular culture, Norma Jeane Baker enjoyed huge success as an actress, singer and model during the 1950s, but the final years of her life were marred by illness and personal problems. She was found dead at her LA home in August 1962, aged 36. The death was recorded as "probable suicide" after a concoction of drugs were found in her system but many theories suggesting Mafia and CIA assisted murder have never been ruled out.
5. Sam Cooke
Number five in the list is Sam Cooke. The singer is widely credited as being one of the the founding fathers of soul music following hits such as Wonderful World, Chain Gang and You Send Me . He was murdered at the age of 33 in an LA motel by its manager, Bertha Franklin. The incident was eventually ruled as Justifiable Homicide after Franklin told police that she acted in self defence after Cooke had threatened her.
4. 2Pac
Fourth is the top-selling hip-hop artist of all time, 2Pac, who has sold over 75 million albums to date. His life was cut short when he was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, hours after a Mike Tyson fight. The crime remains unsolved, but t is suggested that it stemmed from a confrontation earlier in the evening with a member of the Crips gang, sworn enemies of 2Pac's Death Row label CEO, Suge Knight.
3. Marvin Gaye
At three is Motown megastar, Marvin Gaye. Gaye was shot at his LA home by his father following an argument in April 1984. He was pronounced was pronounced dead on arrival at California Hospital Medical Centre. The pair had suffered a turbulent relationship throughout Marvin's life. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll hall of fame in 1987.
2. John Lennon
At number two is John Lennon who was murdered in December 1980, returning home to his apartment from a recording session in New York. Shot outside the now-legendary Dakota building in Manhattan by crazed fan Mark Chapman, Lennon had just come out of a self-imposed retirement and had recently released his Double Fantasy album. The record would go on to pick up a Grammy and Chapman was subsequently imprisoned for life.
1. Michael Jackson
The King of Pop has gone in at number one on the list of murdered pop stars. But who else is on the list, and how did their untimely demises come out about?
