95 21 February – Ron Grainer, Australian-born electronic music pioneer and composer involved with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, 58 (spinal cancer) 10 March – Bill Hopkins, pianist, composer and critic, 37 (heart attack) 7 April – Kit Lambert, manager and producer, 45 8 April – Eric Rogers, composer, 59 14 April – Christian Darnton, composer, 75 21 April – Ivor Newton, pianist and accompanist, 88 28 April – Steve Currie, bassist of T.Rex, 33 (car crash) 12 May – Frank Weir, orchestra leader and jazz musician, 70 23 September – Sam Costa, dance band singer and DJ, 71 15 October – Elsie Randolph, actress, dancer and singer, 77 13 December – Cornelius Cardew, experimental music composer, 45 (hit-and-run car accident) date unknown – Albert Ernest Sims, composer, conductor and music director of The Central Band of H.M. Royal Air Force, 85 See also 1981 in British radio 1981 in British television 1981 in the United Kingdom List of British films of 1981 References British music British music by year