Mean age at death of 168 legendary jazz musicians and 100 renowned classica
l musicians were compared to examine whether psychosocial stressors such as
severe substance abuse, haphazard working conditions, lack of acceptance o
f jazz as an art form in the United States, marital and family discord, and
a vagabond life style may have contributed to shortened life spans for the
jazz musicians. Analysis indicated that the jazz musicians died at an earl
ier age (57.2 yr.) than the classical musicians (73.3 yr.).