Marvin Gaye – The soul icon was infamously murdered by his own father Marvin Sr. Relations between Gaye and his family reached breaking point after he moved back in with his parents in 1984. Gaye was shot by his father after he intervened during a row between his parents over misplaced business documents. The gun used was a present given to Marvin Sr by his son. Marvin Sr. was sentenced to five years probation after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Charges of first-degree murder were dropped after it was claimed that Marvin Sr. had been beaten by Marvin Jr. before the killing. Gaye was just 44-years-old.

Sam Cooke - One of the pioneers of soul music, Sam Cooke was tragically murdered in 1964 aged just 33. Motel owner Bertha Franklin admitted that she had shot Cooke in self-defence. Cooke's body was found in Franklin's home wearing just shoes and a jacket. The killing was adjudged to be 'justified homicide.'

Dimebag Darrell - Pantera and Damageplan guitarist Darrell 'Dimebag' Abbott was sensationally murdered on stage whilst performing in Ohio. Taking to the stage with Damageplan, Dimebag was shot by a crazed fan called Nathan Gale. Dimebag's security guard Jeff 'Mayhem' Thompson was also killed trying to intervene. Gale killed four people that night and wounded a further seven. It was later discovered that Gale had paranoid schizophrenia and mistakenly believed that Dimebag's former band Pantera had stolen songs from him and were mocking him with their success.

Proof - As a member of Detroit hip-hop crew D12, rapper Proof had great success with the single 'Purple Pills' and was best friends with Eminem. On April 11, 2006, Proof died from a gunshot wound at a club in Detroit, Michigan, after fatally shooting Keith Bender, Jr following an argument over a game of pool. Proof was then shot by the bouncer Mario Etheridge, Bender's cousin. Eminem has since had Proof's name tattooed on his left forearm.

Jam Master Jay (right) - Run DMC star Jam Master Jay was murdered in Queens, New York in 2002. In 2003 Kevin 'Supreme' McGriff was investigated under suspicion of murder. It is alleged that Jay was murdered after defying an industry black list by working with 50 Cent. 50 and McGriff were sworn enemies following the 50 Cent track 'Ghetto Qu'Ran' which discusses McGriff's history in the illegal drug trade. In 2009 Jay was posthumously inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Felix Pappalardi - Best known for being the bass player in Eric Clapton’s psychedelic rock band Cream, Pappalardi was shot and killed by his wife in 1983 aged 43. Despite pleading her innocence, Gail Pappalardi was sentenced to sixteen months in prison for the crime after being found guilty of criminally negligent homicide.

Carlton Barrett – The influential reggae drummer played with Bob Marley's Wailers during the 1970's as well as Lee 'Scratch' Perry's house band The Upsetters. In 1987 Barrett was murdered in his home town of Kingston, Jamaica. Aged just 36 he died of two gun shots to the head. His wife, her lover and two other men were arrested and tried on charges of conspiracy and murder. In 1992 all parties were released from prison having served for just one year.

Peter Tosh - As well as being a core member of Bob Marley's band, The Wailers, Peter Tosh also had a successful solo career and won a Grammy in 1987. Sadly, however, that same year Tosh was murdered by a gang looking to extort money from him. The leader of the gang was a man Tosh had helped rehabilitate following his release from prison.

Suzanne Tamim - The body of Lebanese star Suzanne Tamim was found with multiple stab wounds in a luxury hotel in Dubai, UAE in July 2008. In May 2009 the two murder suspects - Tycoon Hisham Talaat Moustafa and retired police officer Mohsen al-Sukkari - were sentenced to death by hanging in an Egyptian court.

Notorious B.I.G. - The heavyweight rapper was murdered after a VIBE magazine after party in 1997 at the mere age of 24. Leaving the event in Los Angeles, Notorious was shot four times in the chest by an assailant using a 9mm blue steel pistol. There are countless rumours regarding the murder ranging from gang wars between the Bloods and The Crips and famous Death Row CEO Marion 'Suge' Knight conspiring with the LAPD to have the hit carried out.

Tupac Shakur - Another superstar rapper slain in his prime. Tupac was attacked on September 7th 1996, aged 25. Similar to Notorious B.I.G the attack is thought to be gang related. Unlike that case however Tupac survived for six days before he finally passed away. Despite having made over 50% recovery, Shakur died of internal bleeding on September 13th 1996.

Dolla - Atlanta-based rapper Dolla was fatally shot in the head whilst on an afternoon shopping trip in Los Angeles on May 18, 2009. The 21-year-old, real name Roderick Anthony Burton II, was killed at around 3.10pm while he and fellow rapper DJ Shabbazz waited in a car-park at the Beverly Centre in West Hollywood. He had earlier been involved with an altercation whilst aboard a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles. A 23-year-old male, Aubrey Louis Berry, was charged with the crime – a charge he denies.

Jaco Pastorius - Following a drunken night out in which he tried to storm the stage at a Carlos Santana concert, famed bass player and jazz musician Jaco Pastorious tried to gain entry to Florida’s Midnight Bottle Club. When denied entry, Pastorius clashed with the clubs doormen and was admitted to hospital with multiple facial and head injuries. Despite showing signs of improvement, a fatal brain haemorrhage ended his life on September 21st 1987. He was 35.

Rhett Forrester - Rhett Forrester was the lead singer with the band Riot from 1981 to 1984. Driving through Atlanta, Georgia in 1994 Forrester was the victim of an attempted car-jacking. After refusing to hand over his car the thieves shot and killed Forrester, who was aged 37. The crime remains unsolved to this day.

James Sheppard (left) – The frontman of the sixties doo-wop group Shep and the Limelights was shot to death on the Long Island Expressway in New York on January 24th, 1970. He had been beaten and robbed before the horrific shooting. He's best remembered for his Shep and the Limelights tune 'Daddy's Home' which was later covered by Jermaine Jackson in 1972.

Lucky Dube – The 43-year-old South African reggae pioneer was shot to death in front of his own children during an attempted car-jacking in Johannesburg in October 2007. In April 2009, three men - Sifiso Mhlanga, Julius Gxowa, and Mbuti Mabe – were convicted of his murder and were ordered to serve at least 15 years each behind bars.

Big Hawk – The rapper, real name John Edward Hawkins, was a founding member of DJ Screw's rap outfit Screwed Up Click. He was killed on May 1st, 2006 in his native Houston, Texas. He went to visit an associate and was shot as he walked down the side of the house, police said. The 36-year-old was shot multiple times and died at the scene.

Selena – The Mexican-American singer was tragically murdered aged just 23 in 1995. Selena decided to fire her fan club manager Yolanda Saldivar amid claims she was embezzling money from her. The pair met in a hotel where Selena wanted to retrieve paper work and terminate the working relationship. Saldivar delayed proceedings by claiming she had been raped. Selena took Saldivar to hospital where doctors found no evidence of her claims. Returning to the motel Selena ended their friendship and, pulling a gun from her bag, Saldivar shot Selena in the back. Selena staggered to the lobby of the hotel where she gave the name of her attacker before passing away.

John Lennon - Perhaps the most famous killing of all time one time – only Jesus and JFK would possibly rank higher – Beatles legend John Lennon was gunned down by Mark Chapman in 1980 in New York. Chapman – an obsessive of the novel 'The Catcher In The Rye' - pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. He remains in prison, having been repeatedly denied parole. Lennon's body was cremated at Ferncliff cemetery in New York. Lennon was 40-years-old.

Al Jackson - The founding member of Booker T and The MG's, was killed by intruders who broke into his house when he was attending a boxing match. Returning home early, 39-year-old Jackson interrupted the assailants who shot him five times in the back. It is thought Jackson's house was being used as a meeting place for two bank robbers. In 1976 the suspected gunman was killed by a police marksman in Seattle, Washington.

King Curtis – The saxophonist was murdered in 1971 following an argument on the streets of New York with two men. Curtis, who played with The Kingpins, died of fatal stab wounds to the heart. Aretha Franklin attended his funeral and Stevie Wonder performed 'Abraham, Martin & John' at the ceremony.

Don Myrick (right) - Earth, Wind and Fire saxophonist Myrick was killed in 1993 by police during a narcotics investigation. Mistaking a lighter in Myrick's hand for a weapon the policeman searching the muscian's home fatally wounded him. He was 53. Myrick's surviving family sued the state of California and received a compensatory payment of $400,000.

Mia Zapata - Lead singer of Seattle punks The Gits, Mia Zapata was raped and murdered on her way home from a bar in 1993. Zapata was listening to music on her Walkman when she left the Comet Tavern bar at 2:00am. It is believed then that she did not hear her attacker approaching and was found dead at 3:30am by a resident who lived nearby. Zapata's body was discovered in a Christ like position, as if on a crucifix, which led to rumours the murder was carried out by a satanic cult.

Big L - New York based rapper Big L was shot and killed in his home town in 1999. Coleman was killed in the hood of Harlem on February 15, 1999 after being shot over 9 times in the face and chest. Gerard Woodley, one of Big L's childhood friends, was arrested in May 1999 for the crime. At the time of his death, Coleman had two brothers in prison. "It's a good possibility it was retaliation for something (Big L's) brother did, or (Woodley) believed he had done," said a spokesperson for the NYPD. Woodley was later released and the murder case remains unsolved

Blade Icewood - Detroit rapper Blade was first shot in 2004. Despite being shot by seven rounds Icewood refused to cooperate with police. A well known rival of his, rapper Wipeout, was found dead just days after Icewood’s release from hospital. Paralysed from the chest down, Blade Icewood was murdered in 2005 when a car pulled up alongside his house and fired seventeen rounds at him as he sat in his wheelchair outside his house. He was 28.

Bugz - In 1999 rapper Bugz (a member of D12) argued with a man over a water pistol fight as they were both picnicking in a local park. The row escalated to the point that Bugz adversary grabbed a gun from his SUV and started to fire shots. Bugz death led to Eminem rejoining D12 and subsequent Eminem and D12 albums have been dedicated to Bugz memory.

Charizma – The MC – real name Charles Hicks - best known for his work with Peanut Butter Wolf. Charizma’s life was cut short however when, in 1993, he was shot whilst being mugged in California. He was just 20-years-old.

Soulja Slim - Best known for the US #1 smash hit ‘Slow Motion’, Soulja Slim – real name James Tapp Jr. - was murdered in 2003. The rapper, aged 26 at the time of his death, was shot four times outside his mother's house in the 8th Ward area of New Orleans.

Roger Troutman - On April 25, 1999,Troutman, who was lead singer of the Zapp band, was found shot and critically wounded outside his Northwest Dayton recording studio around 7 a.m. According to doctors, the 47-year-old had been shot several times in the torso and was in critical condition; he died during surgery at the local hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital and Health Center.