These Celebrities Died Tragically Young

John Coltrane, 40 Years Old

American jazz performer John Coltrane was an innovator within the blues and jazz communities. He played among the likes of Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. He was the bandleader for at least fifty recording sessions, and his time was highly coveted. He married pianist Alice Coltrane, and all three of their children are musicians. At the age of 40, he died from a long battle with liver cancer which stemmed from hepatitis following a stint of heavy heroin use. Many people in the music community were unaware of his illness.