BARRY LEVINE: ‘The Final Notes’ so far in 2016

“The final note.”

It’s The Old Rocker’s way of saying that a performer has gone to singers’ heaven.

An uncharacteristic number (13) of famous singers died during the first four months of 2016.

Here’s the 13 in chronological order.

Natalie Cole, 65, died on Jan. 1. The daughter of jazz/pop legend Nat King Cole, she rose to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with hits “This Will Be,” “Inseparable” and “Our Love.” Cole re-emerged as a pop artist with the 1987 album “Everlasting” and her cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Pink Cadillac.” During the 1990s, she re-recorded her father’s standards, resulting in her biggest success, “Unforgettable.”

David Bowie, 69, who died on Jan. 10, was a figure in popular music for more than five decades. The British musician sold more than 140 million records. He had 13 Top 40 singles including two No. 1 hits – “Fame” in 1975 and “Let’s Dance” in 1983. He also released 27 studio albums, nine live albums and 49 compilation albums. He also was known as a songwriter, actor and record producer.

Glenn Frey was the Eagles’ co-founder and the group’s guitarist. He died on Jan. 18 at age 67. He sang lead on many of the group’s top hits. One of the most successful groups of the 1970s, the Eagles had 14 Top 40 hits, four of which reached No. 1: “Best of My Love,” 1974; “One of These Nights,” 1975; “New Kid in Town,” 1977; and “Heartache Tonight,” 1979.

Paul Kantner, 74, was a rock musician, known for co-founding the counterculture-era rock band Jefferson Airplane and its spinoff, Jefferson Starship. The group’s guitarist, Kantner helped both groups notch eight Top 40 hits, none of which reached No. 1. Kantner and other band members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. He died on Jan. 28.

Maurice White, 74, the founder of Earth, Wind & Fire, died on Feb. 3. He and the band were nominated for 20 Grammys, winning seven. Encompassing multiple genres, EWF sold more than 100 million albums. Earth Wind & Fire had 15 Top 40 hits, with “Shining Star” reaching No. 1 in 1975.

Sonny James, 87, died on Feb. 22. Best known for his massive 1957 hit “Young Love,” the country singer was nicknamed the “Southern Gentleman” because of his congenial manner. A No. 1 hit, “Young Love” was the first teen country crossover hit and sold more than 1 million copies. In the 30-year span beginning in 1953, James had 72 chart hits.

While Gogi Grant might not be familiar to most rock ‘n’ roll fans, she played a role in the genre’s early history. Grant, who died at age 91 on March 10, had one of the biggest hits of 1956 with “The Wayward Wind,” a million-seller that remained atop the charts for six weeks. “The Wayward Wind” supplanted Elvis Presley’s first No. 1 hit “Heartbreak Hotel.” Presley then bumped “The Wayward Wind” at the top with “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You.” Grant’s only other Top 40 hit was “Suddenly There’s a Valley” in 1955.

Keith Emerson, the founding member of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, died on March 11 at age 71. The group’s keyboardist, Emerson wrote most of the group’s music during the height of its popularity during the 1970s. The British group, which concentrated on making albums more than singles, only had one Top 40 hit, “From the Beginning,” in 1972.

Lee Andrews, lead singer of one of the premier 1950s cheek-to-cheek doo-wop groups, Lee Andrews and the Hearts, died on March 16. He was 79. Andrews’ first hit, “Long Lonely Nights,” reached No. 45 in 1957. The group had its biggest hit later in 1957 when “Long Lonely Nights” reached No. 11 on the pop charts. They had their last major hit in the summer of 1958 when “Try the Impossible” rose to No. 33.

Frank Sinatra Jr., the only son of the legendary entertainer who had a long musical career, died on March 16 at age 72 at a Daytona Beach, Fla., hospital. Sinatra was on his “Sinatra Sings Sinatra” tour and was scheduled to perform in the city that night. During his father’s last years of touring, he served as the music icon’s bandleader and the two developed a closer relationship. Sinatra, whose voice and looks were similar to his father’s, released six albums, none of which sold exceptionally well.

Merle Haggard, a country music icon, died on April 6, his 79th birthday. As a teen, Haggard nurtured his musical talent that he had inherited from his father, teaching himself to play guitar. Haggard released 70 albums and 600 songs, 250 of which he had written. He was elected to the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 1977. In 1994, his wealth of achievements, including 38 No. 1 hits, earned him an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Prince, who died on April 21 at age 57, was a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, record producer, actor and movie producer. He was known for his flamboyant stage presence, extravagant dress, makeup and vocal range. His music employed a variety of styles, including funk, rock, R&B, soul and pop. He sold more than 100 million records, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He won seven Grammy Awards and an Academy Award for the film “Purple Rain.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

Grammy Award-winning soul singer Billy Paul, known for his 1972 No. 1 hit “Me and Mrs. Jones,” died on April 24 at age 80. He was one of the many artists associated with the Philadelphia soul sound created by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Thom Bell. Said Gamble & Huff after learning of Paul’s death: “Billy’s voice combined both jazz, R&B and soul vocals, making him one the great artists to come from Philly and to be celebrated worldwide. ‘Me and Mrs. Jones’ is one of the greatest love songs ever recorded.”

This week in rock history — The winners of the 5th annual Grammy Awards were announced on May 15, 1963. Record of the Year was Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” Peter, Paul & Mary’s “If I Had a Hammer” won both Best Performance by a Vocal Group and Best Folk Recording. … Mary Wells, 21, topped the charts with the Smokey Robinson penned “My Guy” on May 16, 1964. … Wilbert Harrison’s recording of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller’s “Kansas City” rose to the top of the charts on May 18, 1959.

Bobby Darin’s “Splish Splash” was released on May 19, 1958. It was the first recording made on an eight-track recorder at Atlantic Records and would eventually reached No. 3. … Bill Haley & His Comets’ “Rock Around the Clock” was released on May 20, 1954. The record had limited success until 1955, when it was included on the soundtrack of the film “Blackboard Jungle.” … Chuck Berry recorded “Maybellene,” which became his first hit record, reaching No. 5 on May 21, 1955. It was one of the few rock ‘n’ roll songs to get any radio airplay that year.

Barry Levine is an entertainment writer for The Albany Herald. He can be reached at [email protected].