In honor of the Dia De Muertos—a tradition that originated in the Southern region of Mexico more than 2,000 years ago as a means of celebrating the lives of ancestors—we wanted to take a look back at 2016 and honor the lives and work of four legendary women who pioneered new sounds and have influenced countless artists ever since.

Each of these women left an incredible mark in the history of music and their legacy will never be forgotten. Rest In Power.

Vi Subversa: June, 20th 1935 – February 19th, 2016

Born Frances Sokolov on June 20th, 1935 in London England, Subversa was much more than a musician—she was a mother, an anarchist, a pioneer and someone who broke a lot of norms to pave the way for future music and political movements. As a 40 year-old mother of two during the band’s inception in 1976, Subversa wrote songs explored gender and sexuality, and challenged convention.

Geneviéve Castrée: 1981 – July 9th, 2016

Geneviéve Castrée was a Pacific Northwest Icon and known throughout the world for her illustrations that matched the compositions reminiscent of the PNW under fog in the winter. Originally from Quebec, Canada, Castrée relocated to Anacortes, WA and released many recordings under Ô Paon and Woelv.

Jane Little: February 2nd, 1929 – May 15th, 2016

Jane Little first joined the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at 16 years-old in 1946. As a 4’11 tall woman playing one of the biggest instruments in the orchestra, observers questioned her ability to perform but once Little began to play she never looked back. Little then found herself dedicated to the Orchestra for the following 71 years until her death on May 15th, 2016.

Marlene Marder: 1954 – May 15th, 2016

Marlene Marder was the guitarist of legendary first-wave punk band, Kleenex/lilliput from Zurich, Switzerland. She was known for her angular guitar work and piercing riffs that were tastefully sparse—a style that was virtually unheard of during those times in Switzerland. Kleenex/Lilliput is credited as one of the first all-women punk bands and have continued to influence new generations of musicians.