Chicago’s music community is mourning bassist Andrew King, a musician originally from Des Moines, Iowa, who reportedly died unexpectedly on Sunday, August 23, 2026. King had built a growing reputation in Chicago as a gifted bass player and had close ties to Columbia College Chicago, where fellow musicians remembered sharing several formative years with him. His performances crossed R&B, soul and jazz settings, and professional music credits show him working with artists including Megan Hammond and other Chicago musicians. The sudden nature of the Andrew King Chicago obituary has left friends and fellow performers searching for answers, but his cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. No reliable medical or official report located so far explains what led to his death.
Andrew King, a Chicago-based bassist originally from Des Moines, Iowa, reportedly died unexpectedly on August 23, 2026. He studied and performed within the Columbia College Chicago music community and later appeared in professional performances around the city. His cause of death has not been publicly confirmed, and speculation should be avoided until family or medical authorities release further information.
Andrew King Dies Unexpectedly in Chicago
News of Andrew King’s death began circulating among musicians, former classmates and friends during the week following August 23.
The reaction has been marked by shock, particularly because those close to him described him as a young musician whose career still appeared to be developing.
Tributes consistently focused on his musicianship, personality and connection with other artists.
Eric Butler described Andrew as “one of the greats” and said he would be deeply missed.
Typhanie Monique remembered four years shared with Andrew at Columbia College Chicago and described him as brilliant, funny, loving, soulful and funky.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Andrew King |
| Residence | Chicago, Illinois |
| Originally from | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Date of death | August 23, 2026 |
| Profession | Bass player / musician |
| College connection | Columbia College Chicago |
| Known for | Bass performances in Chicago music scene |
| Cause of death | Not publicly disclosed |
| Nature of death | Reported as sudden and unexpected |
Who Was Andrew King?
Andrew King was a bassist active in Chicago’s contemporary music scene.
His talent is documented through multiple established music sources.
Columbia College Chicago identified Andrew as the bassist in musician Megan Hammond’s band in a 2024 feature about Hammond’s Lollapalooza appearance. Hammond described the musicians in her group as fellow Columbia students and specifically called Andrew an “incredible” bassist.
Andrew’s work extended well beyond school performances.
Audiotree’s April 2025 live release for m.e.h. listed:
Megan Hammond on vocals,
Hannah Pope on guitar,
Andrew King on bass,
and Taylor O’Neal on drums.
That live recording provides clear professional documentation of Andrew’s role as an active Chicago bassist.
Columbia College Chicago Music Community Mourns Him
Andrew’s years at Columbia College Chicago appear to have played an important role in his musical development and friendships.
Tributes shared after his death repeatedly refer to people who studied or performed alongside him there.
Typhanie Monique said she was grateful to have shared four years at Columbia with Andrew.
Her tribute also reached out to Chicago’s music community, noting how reflective posts about Andrew showed the joy that music and human connection had brought into his life.
Independent Columbia College reporting likewise documents Andrew as part of the institution’s music scene.
A Columbia Chronicle article about musician Liam Taylor identified Andrew King as bassist in a Chicago-based band largely made up of Columbia music students.
A Bass Player With a Distinctive Connection to His Instrument
Among the most emotional tributes came from Noey Budde, who remembered first meeting Andrew during an important period in life.
Budde described calling Andrew merely a “great bass player” as an understatement.
The tribute remembered the way Andrew connected with his instrument during classes at Columbia, portraying his bass playing as something deeply intuitive and expressive.
That description closely matches the professional evidence of his work.
Andrew was not simply someone who occasionally played bass.
He was repeatedly credited as the bassist in established Chicago ensembles and recordings.
His musical contribution was a defining part of how friends and collaborators knew him.
Andrew King Performed With m.e.h.
One of Andrew’s clearest professional associations was with Chicago singer-songwriter m.e.h., the project led by Megan Hammond.
Audiotree recorded the group for an official live session released on April 4, 2025.
Andrew King was credited as the bass player throughout the session.
Shazam’s credits for m.e.h.’s 2025 song “Her Eyes” also identify Andrew King on bass guitar, alongside Taylor O’Neal on drums and Hannah Pope on guitar.
Those credits show that Andrew had begun establishing a recorded body of work in addition to live performance.
From R&B and Soul to Jazz
Andrew’s musical activity was not restricted to one style.
While his work with m.e.h. placed him within an R&B and soul-oriented setting, he also performed in Chicago’s jazz scene.
The Whistler in Chicago advertised a December 17, 2025 performance by the Steve Bomar Trio with Leon Lewis-Nicol on piano, Andrew King on bass and Steve Bomar on drums.
That appearance is significant because it shows Andrew moving comfortably between different musical environments.
His fellow musicians’ tributes likewise describe him as soulful, funky and highly expressive.
Fellow Musician Jeremiah Collier Remembers Andrew
Musician Jeremiah Collier shared a particularly personal tribute after Andrew’s death.
Collier remembered the friendship they had developed in a relatively short period and described Andrew as both an amazing friend and musician.
He said there had been gigs they hoped to play together and expressed sadness that those performances would never happen.
Most painfully, he reflected that Andrew appeared to have an entire career ahead of him that was only beginning.
That sentiment has been repeated throughout the response to Andrew’s passing.
Friends were not remembering someone whose musical story felt complete.
They were mourning someone they believed still had far more to give.
Andrew King’s Career Was Still Growing
Evidence from the years immediately before Andrew’s reported death supports that perception.
In 2022, music coverage credited Chicago bassist Andrew King with helping create Liam Taylor’s debut single “Wasting Time.”
By 2024, Columbia College was highlighting him as a member of Megan Hammond’s band.
In 2025, he appeared in the Audiotree Live session with m.e.h. and received a credited bass performance on recorded music.
Near the end of that year, he was still appearing in Chicago jazz listings with the Steve Bomar Trio.
Together, those appearances paint the picture of a bassist whose professional activity was expanding.
What Was Andrew King’s Cause of Death?
The Andrew King cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
Friends have described his passing as sudden, and several tributes express confusion over how and why he died.
However, no reliable source located at the time of writing identifies:
a medical condition,
an accident,
a drug-related death,
suicide,
or any other specific cause.
There is also no publicly available medical examiner report or family announcement giving a cause.
Because of that absence of verified information, none of those possibilities should be suggested as an explanation.
A medical examiner or family statement may eventually provide additional information, but until then, the cause should simply be listed as undisclosed or unknown.
Was Andrew King From Des Moines, Iowa?
Community information identifies Andrew as originally from Des Moines, Iowa, before living and pursuing music in Chicago.
His professional public footprint, however, is much clearer in Chicago than in Iowa.
Multiple independent sources document his work as a bassist in Chicago, particularly through Columbia College, Audiotree and live venues.
Further biographical information about his childhood or time in Des Moines has not yet appeared in an authoritative obituary.
For that reason, detailed claims about his early life should be limited until family information becomes available.
“You Had a Whole Career Ahead of You”
Perhaps the most painful theme running through tributes to Andrew is the feeling of unrealised potential.
His friends described a musician who was deeply connected to his craft.
They remembered someone funny, loving and soulful.
They spoke of gigs that would never happen and music that would never be created.
And they repeatedly emphasised the impact Andrew made in a relatively short time.
Those comments carry added weight when viewed alongside his professional credits.
His career was not simply an aspiration.
Andrew was already recording, performing and collaborating with recognised Chicago musicians.
Funeral and Memorial Information
No authoritative funeral-home notice or public memorial announcement for Andrew King was located at the time this article was prepared.
Details regarding visitation, funeral services or a celebration of life should therefore not be assumed.
If his family later announces services, those arrangements can be added once confirmed.
Until then, friends and members of Chicago’s music community continue to remember Andrew through performances, photographs and personal stories about the musician they knew.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Andrew King of Chicago?
Andrew King was a Chicago-based bass player originally reported to be from Des Moines, Iowa. He was connected with Columbia College Chicago and performed with musicians including Megan Hammond’s m.e.h. project. Columbia College and Audiotree independently document his work as a bassist.
What was Andrew King’s cause of death?
Andrew King’s cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. Friends have described his passing as sudden and unexpected, but no authoritative medical report, family statement or coroner information currently identifies a specific cause.
When did Andrew King die?
Community tributes report that Andrew King died on Sunday, August 23, 2026. Public music sources independently confirm his professional career but, at the time of publication, an authoritative obituary confirming the death date had not yet surfaced.
Conclusion
The Andrew King Chicago obituary is being shaped largely by the musicians and friends who knew him best.
Their memories describe a bassist with an unusually deep connection to his instrument, a generous personality and a career that appeared to be gaining momentum.
Independent music sources confirm that Andrew played bass with m.e.h., participated in Columbia College Chicago’s music community, appeared in Audiotree sessions and performed in Chicago jazz settings.
His reported death on August 23 has therefore left more than a personal absence.
It has removed a musician whose collaborators believed he still had years of performances, recordings and creative growth ahead of him.
For now, the circumstances surrounding his death remain private and unclear. Until an official medical or family statement provides answers, Andrew King is best remembered not through speculation about how he died, but through the music, friendships and performances he left behind.