I'll venture in saying the following. Hendrix, Joplin, Elvis, Jim Reeves, Johnny Horton, Hank Williams just to name a few were artist that had they lived would have continued to bring us great music. But their patterns would have remained the same(in my opinion). I completely agree with Lowden Jameswright comment at the top of the thread. God only knows where B.Holly would have taken us on "His ride".
For the living, think what we would be asking if Dylan had left us way back then.
Beer (adrien)