Country music world rocked by 14th death as shooting takes life of popular band leader
The country music world was rocked this week as news broke that Mark Laws, a popular drummer and band leader for singer Alex Miller, was killed in a shooting in Tennessee.
His tragic death marked at least the 14th notable name lost to country music so far in 2025.
The following is a look back at those lost so far this year as well as those lost in 2024:
Eddie Adcock
Eddie Adcock’s name might not be the first that comes to mind when it comes to country music legends, but he was a legend in his own right.
Don’t believe it? Just Google him. You can find stories calling him a “legend,” and a “master” and there are plenty of other adjectives thrown in along the way, too.
Sadly, Adcock died on March 20. He was 86.
BlueGrassToday.com called him a “five string banjo master,” while noting that he has been “suffering from multiple health issues over recent years.”
Adcock was a native of Virginia, who began performing all the way back in 1949. He joined Smokey Graves 7 His Blue Star Boys in 1953, and he played with a handful of different bands. He may be best known, though, for his time playing in The Country Gentleman. In 1996, that group became the first inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Fame.
“Eddie was a truly innovative artists and musician with a one-of-a-kind voice on the banjo – & any instrument he picked up,” The Blue Grass Situation posted on X.
Ed Askew
Ed Askew, a cult folk music singer/songwriter and painter, died on Jan. 4.
He was 84.
PEOPLE Magazine reported that Askew had been battling “ongoing health struggles” and had been in hospice.
“Ed was a brave gay songwriter from the beginning, and I hope more come to know this,” Jay Pluck, Askew’s manager and friend, told PEOPLE. “Ed’s music changed the lives of people from many generations and continues to do so.”
Askew was a native of Stamford, Connecticut, and according to PEOPLE he studied paining at Yale Art School. The site said Askew was called up for the draft in 1966 but ended up teaching at a prep school in Connecticut instead. It said that is when he began writing his songs.
PEOPLE said Askew released 11 albums during his career. His first album “Ask The Unicorn” came in 1968 and his final, “London” came in 2020. PEOPLE said he also “had a prolific painting career.”
