Passages in 2012: Notable Deaths in Music

Dave Brubeck, 91, whose smooth approach to jazz brought it into the mainstream during the 1950s and 1960s. His Time Out was the first million-selling jazz album. No cause given, Dec. 5.

Pete Cosey, 68, innovative guitarist who brought his distinctive distorted sound to recordings with Miles Davis, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters. Cosey took a creative approach to stringing and tuning his guitars, and he liberally applied the distortion pedal to his licks. Complications from surgery, May 30.

Nick Curran, 35, guitarist who played with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, the Lowlifes and the Flash Boys, among other groups. In 2008, Curran performed four songs on the HBO show True Blood. Tongue cancer, Oct. 6.

Donald “Duck” Dunn, 70, bass player, songwriter and a member of Booker T. and the MGs and the Blues Brothers band. Dunn performed on recordings with Eric Clapton, Neil Young and many others and specialized in blues, gospel and soul. He played himself in the 1980 hit movie The Blues Brothers. In his sleep, May 13.