Chuck Schuldiner

Charles Michael (Chuck) Schuldiner (May 13, 1967, Long Island, New York ? December 13, 2001) was an American musician. He is best known for being the founder, singer, virtuoso, rhythm/lead guitar player and main song writer of Death, which he founded in 1983 as Mantas. Much later, in 1998, he founded the band Control Denied. He was also an innovator and pioneer of death metal (even though the creation of the genre can be attributed to a few bands that preceded Death/Mantas) and was one of the most influential metal guitarists in history.

Schuldiner died on December 13, 2001, at approximately 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time., suffering from cancer (pinched nerve in the neck). Chuck is also considered the Father of Death Metal.