Heart attacks. Plane crashes. Car crashes. Drug overdoses. Murder. Over the years, these have become some of the most common causes of the often shocking deaths in the music industry. On a lighter note, some might argue that even ham sandwiches have been involved.

Regardless of the cause, take a look back at these musical icons that have left us way, way, way too soon - yet have left us with legacies that will live on forever. The majority of these deaths, in addition to being sudden and shocking, were in some way either ironic or just completely messed up. Rock on...

Michael Jackso...

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - Buddy Holly's widow is trying to keep the woman whose name was made famous by the 1950s hit song ''Peggy Sue'' from selling a book about her friendship with the rocker.

Maria Elena Holly says Peggy Sue Gerron's ''Whatever Happened to Peggy Sue?'' is unauthorized and will harm her late husband's name, her own reputation and that of her company, Holly Properties.

''It's very interesting that this woman makes up all these stories,'' Maria Elena Holly said Friday from her home in Dallas. ''He never, never considered Peggy Sue a friend.''

Gerron, who lives in...

Columbia Records released "August Rush - Music From The Motion Picture," the soundtrack album from the widely-anticipated Warner Bros. Pictures film, on Tuesday, November 13.

"August Rush - Music From The Motion Picture" is a showcase of sounds from the music-driven drama starring Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers with Terrence Howard and Robin Williams. The soundtrack album includes original tracks by John Legend ("Someday"), John Ondrasik ("King of the Earth") and female guitar virtuoso Kaki King ("Bari Improv," "Ritual Dance"); covers by Chris Botti & Paula ...

Happy Birthday to Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney (1985), singer Monica (1980), supermodel Caprice Bourret (1974), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actor B.D. Wong (1962), comedic and dramatic actor Kevin Kline (1947), Amadeus actor F. Murray Abraham (1939), '50s teen hearthrob David Nelson (1936), bass player for The Rolling Stones Bill Wyman (1936), and J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson (1930; d. 1959), rock legend killed in the plane crash that also took the lives of Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.

Happy Birthday to "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" actor Robert Pattinson, (1988), Oakland A's pitcher Barry Zito (1978), "The Libertine" actress Samantha Morton (1977), Hootie & The Blowfish singer Darius Rucker (1966), TV host/comedian Stephen Colbert (1964), former basketball player Dennis Rodman (1961), prolific singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder (1950), La Bamba singer Ritchie Valens (1941; d. 1959), "Reservoir Dogs" actor Harvey Keitel (1939), director Herbert Ross (1927; d. 2001), "Golden Girl" Bea Arthur (1923), boxing's "Brown Bomber" Joe Louis (1914; d. 1981), and Canadian jazz ...

Happy Birthday to Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney (1985), singer Monica (1980), supermodel Caprice Bourret (1974), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actor B.D. Wong (1962), comedic and dramatic actor Kevin Kline (1947), Amadeus actor F. Murray Abraham (1939), '50s teen hearthrob David Nelson (1936), bass player for The Rolling Stones Bill Wyman (1936), and J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson (1930; d. 1959), rock legend killed in the plane crash that also took the lives of Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.

Happy Birthday to "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" actor Robert Pattinson, (1988), Oakland A's pitcher Barry Zito (1978), "The Libertine" actress Samantha Morton (1977), Hootie & The Blowfish singer Darius Rucker (1966), TV host/comedian Stephen Colbert (1964), former basketball player Dennis Rodman (1961), prolific singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder (1950), La Bamba singer Ritchie Valens (1941; d. 1959), "Reservoir Dogs" actor Harvey Keitel (1939), director Herbert Ross (1927; d. 2001), "Golden Girl" Bea Arthur (1923), boxing's "Brown Bomber" Joe Louis (1914; d. 1981), and Canadian jazz ...

Los Lobos embody East L.A.'s cultural diversity with an ever-changing mix of traditional Mexican music, Tex-Mex, and roots rock. On Valentine's Day, Rhino Records salutes the band with corazón with the group's first single-disc hits collection. "Wolf Tracks: The Best Of Los Lobos" is available February 14.

"Wolf Tracks: The Best Of Los Lobos" contains more than an hour of wildly eclectic music by David Hidalgo on vocals/guitar/accordion, Conrad Lozano on bass/vocals, Louie Pérez on drums/guitar, Cesar Rosas on guitar/bajo sexto/vocals, and Steve Berlin on saxophone/keyboards. The albu...

Happy Birthday to Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney (1985), supermodel Caprice Bourret(1974), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actor B.D. Wong (1962), comedic and dramatic actor Kevin Kline (1947), Amadeus actor F. Murray Abraham (1939), '50s teen hearthrob David Nelson (1936), bass player for The Rolling Stones Bill Wyman (1936), and J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson (1930; d. 1959), rock legend killed in the plane crash that also took the lives of Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.