Who is the greatest musician who died before reaching his full potential?

[Romulus]

When I read the title of this thread my mind went straight to Jimi Hendrix (in regard to non Classical music), then to Jim Morrison; but the artist which I felt was cut too quickly and did not yet reach her pique was Amie Winehouse purely on the strength she wrote the song 'Back to Black'. This type of song does not appear every decade. I know she was on things most of the time she was performing and some people may have been frustrated and just getting tired of her. But she had the type of voice and style which made other people sit up and take notice. For me she was an original who followed her own influences (semi jazz) but unfortunately like a lot of other famous musicians needed substances just to survive every day. If she had the chance to live on who knows what other songs she may of written? All the artists mentioned in this thread I sadly miss and why is the age 27 so dangerous among the younger musicians?

 

[Speed King]

I didn't mention him in my original post because I wanted to list a few that no one had listed yet, but my number one pick would be Randy Rhodes. If anyone died before reaching their full potential it would be him. Two albums with Ozzy and then gone. He would've done great things had he lived.

 

[Neshabur]

Without no doubt, Duane Allman. The his last recordings stand out for feeling and creativity.

According to me also Jimi Hendrix who have would played with the great jazz arranger and conductor Gil Evans and maybe with the great soul singers of the seventies (Curtis Mayfield, Al Green and so on).

 

[RockshotsPhotos]

Randy Rhoads was incredible, especially "live" onstage.....
Palladium Theater, NYC 1981 (c)Bill O'Leary

 

[doswizard]

Coming from a Poetic point of View........

I think Jim Morrison died before reaching The End.

 

[TeleCat]

Randy Rhoads, Tommy Bolin, Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Holly.

 

[Jake T]

1. Gary Thain
2. Jim Croce (seems older, but he was only 30 when he died)
   
3. Nick Drake
4. Marc Bolan
5. John Bonham