Remembering the musicians we lost in 2025

"A MARTINEZ, HOST: As we finish this year, let's listen to some of the musicians we lost in 2025. Sam Moore was half the R&B powerhouse Sam & Dave. He sang on smashes such as "Hold On, I'm Comin'," "I Thank You" and this one. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SOUL MAN") SAM AND DAVE: (Singing) I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man. MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: We also lost the guitarist on that song, Steve Cropper. He defined the sound of Memphis soul with the Stax Records House Band. He appeared on hits by Otis Redding, Booker T. & The M.G.'s and Wilson Pickett."

"MARTINEZ: Sly Stone was one of the forefathers of funk. With the Family Stone, he played Woodstock and the Summer Of Soul. They scored three No. 1 songs, including this one. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "EVERYDAY PEOPLE") SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE: (Singing) I am everyday people. Yeah, yeah. MARTIN: Still a must at every cookout. MARTINEZ: Oh, yeah. MARTIN: No relation to Sly, Angie Stone helped usher in the age of neo soul in the 2000s. She died in March. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "WISH I DIDN'T MISS YOU") ANGIE STONE: (Singing) I wish I didn't miss you anymore."

"MARTINEZ: A one-time partner of Angie Stone's, D'Angelo only released three albums in his lifetime, but he changed the game each time, and he was just 51. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "UNTITLED (HOW DOES IT FEEL)") D'ANGELO: (Singing) How does it feel? MARTINEZ: And, Michel, I think he inspired millions of men to start doing sit-ups. MARTIN: The last original member of The Band died in 2025. Garth Hudson played keyboards from their early days backing up Bob Dylan, all the way to their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. MARTINEZ: One of the leading women of the British Invasion, singer Marianne Faithfull, died at the beginning of the year at the age of 78. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "AS TEARS GO BY") MARIAN"

Several prominent musicians died in 2025 across soul, funk, neo-soul, and rock. Sam Moore, half of Sam & Dave, sang hits including "Hold On, I'm Comin'" and "I Thank You." Steve Cropper, guitarist with the Stax Records House Band, shaped the sound of Memphis soul and played on recordings by Otis Redding, Booker T. & the M.G.'s and Wilson Pickett. Sly Stone and Sly and the Family Stone were foundational to funk and scored multiple No. 1 songs. Angie Stone and D'Angelo were central to neo-soul, with D'Angelo dying at 51. Garth Hudson and Marianne Faithfull also passed away.

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