Jim Burns, the co-creator of MTV's iconic Unplugged series, has sadly passed away at the age of 65. According to a report from Billboard, Burns was walking his dog on fifth avenue in the upper East Side of Manhattan, where he was struck by a taxi cab. The accident left Burns in critical condition, and he sadly passed away at the New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center later that afternoon. Burn's death was confirmed by somebody close to the Burns family.
In 1989, Jim Burns and Robert Small teamed up to create one of MTV's most legendary series - Unplugged. Featuring stripped down performances from Aerosmith, Nirvana, Elton John, and more, Unplugged went on to spawn several reboots and revivals. Even Jay-Z turned in a memorable performance in 2001, which was ultimately recorded and released in album format. There was something about Unplugged that seemed to bring out something in artists; both Eric Clapton and Nirvana turned in some of their strongest and most iconic work during their appearances.
While MTV ended up moving away from music in later years, it doesn't change the fact that Burns helped create one of the channel's most enduring and respected series. Rest in peace Jim Burns.