This has been a doozy of a year for R&B, soul and rap/hip-hop celebrity deaths. The sheer caliber of talent on this list, compiled December 1, was already awesome as it features seminal names such as Billy Preston, Ruth Brown and Lou Rawls.

Added to the list late in the game was unarguably the most influential groundbreaking music icon of our time, Mr. James Brown. It has been updated to reflect the most recent information.
1. James Brown
2. Billy Preston
3. Ruth Brown
4. Wilson Pickett
5. Lou Rawls
6. Gerald Levert
7. J Dilla 
8. Proof
9. June Pointer

More R&B/Soul And Rap/Hip-hop Deaths