Monk has been an avant-garde musical icon for decades thanks to her unusual vocal style and creative compositions.

Monk attended Sarah Lawrence before launching a dance/musical troupe, The House and soon began experimenting with a singing technique called "extended vocal range," which incorporates various non-verbal sounds and generally avoids actual lyrics. In 1981, Monk recorded her first album, Dolmen Music; she later branched out into film and site-specific performance art. Since the 1980s, she's directed films, staged concerts around the world, written orchestral scores, and recorded a slew of notable albums including Atlas, Volcano Songs, Our Lady of Late, and Mercy.

Known for her long, braided hair and Asian-style garb, Monk's music has long influenced a number of musicians across different genres. Her vocal technique has been copied by a number of artists, most notably Bjork. Monk's partner of 22 years, choreographer Mieke van Hoek, died of cancer in 2002. [Image via Getty]