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Jimi Hendrix
(Singer/Guitarist)
27 November 1942 – 18 September 1970 (Aged 27)
Hendrix was a legendary influential American guitarist and singer.
He is recognized by Rolling Stone magazine as the greatest guitarist of all time, as well as being one of the great all-time artists.
Widely seen as a pioneer of the electric guitar, Hendrix became a rock superstar in a career that spanned less than a decade.
The highlight of his career was undoubtedly his headlining of the famous Woodstock Festival in 1969.
At the age of only 27, Hendrix died from drug-related asphyxia in London, England.
Charles de Gaulle
(French President)
22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970 (Aged 79)
De Gaulle was an army general during World War II, before being made a government minister, and then leading the Free French movement.
In the early 1950’s he retired from political life before returning as the French government fell into turmoil.
In 1958, he established the Fifth Republic of France and was elected President, serving until his resignation in 1969.
Before he got to finish his memoirs, de Gaulle died from a ruptured blood vessel just shy of his 80th birthday.
De Gaulle is remembered as one of the most influential men of the 20th century and a French hero, who led them through the great war.
Sonny Liston
(Boxer)
8 May 1932 – 30 December 1970 (Aged 38)
Liston was an American heavyweight boxing world champion, known for his powerful punches, winning most of his fights by knockout.
He lost his title to Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, before after a controversial first-round knockout in a rematch.
Throughout his life, Liston had many personal issues, suffering scars from an abusive alcoholic father, and serving time in jail after taking part in armed robberies.
It was in jail that he learned how to box.
Liston died from heart failure after a suspected heroin overdose.
He is thought to have been dead for a week before being found by his wife after she returned from a holiday.
Janis Joplin
(Singer)
19 January 1943 – 4 October 1970 (Aged 27)
Joplin was an American rock singer, seen as one of the most influential and popular female vocalists of all time.
Among her short career highlights was her performance at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, while her hugely successful album second solo album, ‘Pearl’, was only released after her death.
After a long-term struggle with alcohol and drug addiction, Joplin died from an accidental heroin overdose at the age of 27.
Joplin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.
Vince Lombardi
(NFL Coach)
11 June 1913 – 3 September 1970 (Aged 57)
Lombardi was a legendary American Football coach.
He led the Green Bay Packers to three NFL championships, before winning the first two Super Bowls in 1967 & 1968.
Recognized as one of the great managers in sports history, Lombardi was also admired for his unprejudiced nature, respecting players of any race or sexuality.
He died from aggressive colon cancer aged 57.
The Super Bowl trophy was renamed in his honor not long after his death.
James B. Donovan
(Lawyer)
29 February 1916 – 19 January 1970 (Aged 53)
Donovan was an American lawyer who became renowned for his work as a negotiator in international diplomatic disputes.
He is most famous for his role in negotiating the exchange of Soviet spy Rudolf Abel for American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers.
In 1963, he was also responsible for negotiating the release of nearly 10,000 U.S. prisoners from Cuba after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion.
At the age of just 53, he died from heart failure. His role in the exchange of Abel and Powers was portrayed by Tom Hanks in the 2015 film ‘Bridge of Spies’.
