The year 1997 was very strange as a lot of top famous people died.
These deaths were not ordinary. They shook the world and two decades after people still remember them for good or bad.
Below is a list of the top 9 famous deaths in the chilling year of 1997.
1) Mother Theresa
Saint Teresa of Calcutta passed away on September 5, 1997, at the ripe old age of 87 in India. Known all across the globe for her charitable works especially in India, gave the world hope that kindness still exists. Her life has been the subject of many films and books.
2) Princess Diana
The death of the Queen of Hearts was arguably the saddest news that year globally. Princess Diana was loved by many for her friendly demeanour even when she was a royal. The beautiful princess died on August 31, 1997, in Paris after her car crashed into a closed tunnel. For weeks there was global grief about her death. The Princess of Wales even after death is still loved.
3) Gianni Versace
The Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace passed away on July 15, 1997. Ironically, Princess Diana attended his burial. Versace was killed by American serial killer Andrew Phillip Cunanan. His legacy in fashion still lives on especially in Hip Hop.
4) Fela Anikulapo-Kuti
The Afrobeat creator passed away on August 2, 1997, after complications from HIV/AIDS. When his death was announced by his brother, Nigerians and the global music community were shocked. Fela was enigma whose larger than life personality seemed to defy death. The news of his passing away led to a celebration of his music and life. 20 years after, Fela is still vividly remembered by millions.
5) Notorious B.I.G
The passing away of the great rapper was another sad moment in 1997 and one of the ugliest moments in Hip-Hop culture. After Tupac Shakur was killed the year before, Notorious B.I.G was killed in Los Angles on March 9, 1997. A documentary about his life and times came out in August 2017. His murder still remains unsolved.
6) Mobutu Sese Seko
Known as the “leopard king”, Joseph Mobutu Sese Seko ruled Zaire from 1965 until May 1997, when he was ousted by rebel chief Laurent Desire Kabila who renamed the country Democratic Republic of CongoThe African dictator of former Zaire now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo was one of the personalities who held the world spellbound in 1997. After staying in power for 31 years, Mobutu Sese Seko was kicked out by Laurent Kabila in 1997. Four months after he was chased out of office, Kabila passed away on September 7, 1997, in Morocco. His death ended one of the most infamous dictatorships in Africa.
7 Joanna Moore
Actress Joanna Moore , Touch of EvilSouthern-bred beauty Joanna Moore certainly had a lot of things going for her when her career started off in the 50s. Armed with an entrancingly smoky voice that complemented her stunning, creamy blond beauty, Joanna played wily females in such films as Walk on the Wild Side and Son of Flubber, but she would be best remembered.
Joanna Moore Died 22 November 1997
8 Luther Allison
Luther Allison had a long career as a blues guitarist and singer, beginning as a child touring with gospel groups around the South. In the early 1950’s he moved to Chicago and took up the guitar, performing in his brother’s band and briefly forming his own band – the first to make use of the name The Rolling Stones. In 1968 he made a short-lived attempt to join the music scene in San Francisco, but Allison’s musical activity was primarily based in Chicago until a permanent move to France was made in the 1970’s.
He remained active in the European festival circuit until his death from lung cancer in 1997.
9 Richard Berry
Wrote the infamous Louie, Louie, performed by The Kingsmen. Once the subject of an annual marathon by California college radio station KFJC, it is perhaps the most-covered song in in the history of rock music.
Richard Berry Died 23 January 1997
