Billboard has reported that Jim Burns, co-creator of MTV’s celebrated series MTV Unplugged, has died at age 65. Burns was walking his dog in New York City on December 23rd when he was struck by a taxi cab. He was sent to a hospital where he later passed away.
Burns created MTV Unplugged alongside Robert Small back in 1989. The music performance show was dedicated to showcasing musicians playing acoustic sets, allowing audiences to experience iconic songs in stripped-down versions. Some famous guests include Elton John, Eric Clapton, Nirvana, Bob Dylan, and Paul McCartney, among an array of other celebrated artists.
The series became especially popular in the 90s and featured one Kurt Cobain’s last performances aired on television. Recordings of the MTV Unplugged shows sold well and continually boosted the popularity of the musicians who played as guests.
MTV Unplugged has since gone through several reboots, with stars such as Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performing in episodes in the early 2000s. Shawn Mendes appeared as the first star in the latest iteration of the concert series, which was brought back earlier this fall.
In addition to working on MTV Unplugged, Burns had a passion for writing and producing.