About maketodayrock.com: We celebrate musicians' birthdays, remember those we've lost, and highlight key moments in music such a release dates, chart peak dates, or anything else tied to a specific date. Pick any day from the menu in the top right. The front page shows recent obituaries.
September 23, 2026 ~ Clifton Jackson, commonly known as ska, rocksteady, reggae bassist Jackie Jackson, passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Learned to play the piano before taking up the bass, inspired after watching Lloyd Brevett play with the Skatalites. Also influenced by Motown stalwart James Jamerson. Jackson would go on to become one of the most revered session bassists in Jamaica, recording prolifically especially during the 1960s and 1970s. Early on in his career Jackson worked with Ty & the Titans and the Cavaliers, prior to joining Supersonics. The latter was formed by saxophonist Tommy McCook after the disbandement of the Skatalites and would serve primarily as house band for producer Duke Reid's Treasure Island studios. By the turn of the 1970s, Jackson had established himself as one of the premier session bassists, alongside guitarists Lynn Taitt and Hux Brown, keyboardists Gladstone Anderson and Winston Wright, and drummer Winston Grennan, Jackson was part of a generation of session players considered pivotal to the development of rocksteady and reggae. Jackson has been notably present on several iconic songs including Girl I've Got A Date (Alton Ellis), Little Nut Tree (the Melodians), Queen Majesty (the Techniques), Pressure Drop (Toots & the Maytals), Israelites (Desmond Dekker), and The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff). Other notable associations include Nicky Thomas, Bob Marley, Paul Simon, Ken Boothe, Herbie Mann, Garland Jeffreys, and Toots Hibbert, playing with the latter both on tour and record for decades starting in the early 1970s. Jackson has been said to be a major influence on bassists such as Aston Barrett and Robbie Shakespeare. Jackson was awarded the Order of Jamaica in 2012 by the Jamaican government, and honored by JaRIA, the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association, in 2018 for exceptional contributions to reggae. Upon receiving the latter honor, Jackson commented: “It is nice to know that you are honoured in your own country, and while you are alive” ~ Jackson was born in 1947
September 21, 2026 ~ Gary Stephen Anderson, commonly known as singer, guitarist Angry Anderson, passed away in Sydney, Australia ~ Best known as frontman, lead singer of blues-infested hard rock outfit Rose Tattoo, considered one of the premier Australian rock acts. Anderson fronted the band from its inception in 1976 through 1987, their most successful period, and in later years rejoined on occassion. Anderson has recorded about half a dozen albums with the band, well known songs recorded during Anderson's tenure with the band include Bad Boy For Love, We Can't Be Beaten, I Wish and Calling. Prior to rising to fame with Rose Tattoo, Anderson has worked with Buster Brown and the Party Boys. Anderson has recorded two albums as a solo artist, of which his 1987 Beats From A Single Drum debut album spawned his biggest solo hit. The uncharacteristic ballad Suddenly, lead single off his debut album would be used in the TV series Neighbours for the wedding scene featuring Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue, after which the single would reach top 5 in Australia, the UK and Ireland. Anderson has guested on recordings by Slash, John Farnham, and Saxon, and ventured into acting for film, TV, and stage, perhaps most notably in the 1985 action film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and in the role of Vladimir Lenin in the 1987 stage musical Rasputin. Upon hearing of Anderson's passing, former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach called Anderson “the most gifted vocalist lyricist performer up until the day (he) fucking died” ~ Anderson was born in 1947
September 20, 2026 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock, emo-pop, pop punk guitarist, singer Chad Gilbert, full name Chad Everett Gilbert, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Co-founding member of New Found Glory, considered one of the premier pop-punk bands to emerge in the early 2000s, praised for bringing humor and relentless energy to the then-thriving pop-punk scene. Influenced by peers as well as by acts such as the Buzzcocks, the Pixies, the Clash, and Mission Of Burma, New Found Glory recorded over a dozen albums and are especially acclaimed for their 1999 Nothing Gold Can Stay debut album, 2006 alternative rock-tinged Coming Home, 2014's Resurrection, and 2020's Forever And Ever x Infinity. Well-known songs include originals such as their debut single Hit Or Miss which remains one of their best known, My Friends Over You, and All Downhill From Here, as well as pop-punk covers of Stay (Lisa Loeb) and Don't You Forget About Me (the Simple Minds). Josh Martin, bassist for the Wonder Years, has stated New Found Glory was one of the three most influential pop-punk bands, alongside Blink-182 and Green Day. Upon Gilbert's passing at age 45 of cancer, his wife Lisa Cimorelli and his bandmates issued a joint statement which in part read: “Chad's guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive helped shape New Found Glory for nearly three decades. Through more than a dozen albums, endless tours around the world, and more accolades than we ever could have imagined, Chad challenged all of us to grow as musicians, performers, and human beings” ~ Gilbert was born in 1981
September 17, 2026 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Duncan Sheik, full name Duncan Scott Sheik, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Has recorded over half a dozen albums, starting with his 1996 critically acclaimed eponymous debut album which spawned the Grammy Award-nominated Billboard Hot 100 No.16 hit Barely Breathing. The song would be used in TV series such as Party Of Five, Glee, Girls, and Cold Case. Other songs by Duncan Sheik have been used in TV shows such as ER (Reasons For Living), Friends, Birds Of Prey, and 90210. Bursting onto the musical scene in the age of Nirvana and Soundgarden, a sound once described by Sheik as “this kind of monolithic distorted guitar sound”, Sheik's carefully crafted literate adult pop songs were warmly received by critics and earned him a devoted following, particulary among female listeners, yet he traded a path to pop stardom to compose music for plays, musicals, and film soundtracks. Sheik is particularly noted for composing the music for the 2006 coming-of-age rock musical Spring Awakening, which would win eight Tony Awards including for Best Orchestration, Best Original Score, and Best Musical, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. Other notable credits including composing the music for a 2002 production of Twelfth Night and a 2016 production of The Taming Of The Shrew, both of which adaptations of works by William Shakespeare, composing the music for the 2012 musical Alice By Heart, an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, and writing both music and lyrics for a somewhat overlooked 2013 musical adaptation of American Psycho based on the Bret Easton Ellis novel of the same name. Sheik would continue to release studio albums of his own songs, warmly received by both critics and a devoted female-tilting fanbase who embraced Sheik as a troubled troubadour and thoughtful romantic akin to Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake and Elliott Smith, yet Sheik never sought the pop stardom critics initially expected him to reach. In a 2022 interview with the Houston Chronicle, Sheik commented: “I thought, I'm not going to win this game of trying to be Justin Timberlake. Maybe I should try and do something different” ~ Sheik was born in 1969
September 5, 2026 ~ Andrew Williams, commonly known as metalcore guitarist Andy Williams, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Co-founding and constant member of pioneering metalcore outfit Every Time I Die, with whom he recorded nine albums before the band disbanded in the early 2020s. The band burst onto the metal scene in the early 2000s with their Last Night In Town debut album, at the time described by Lambgoat as “as peppy as tough, crazy hardcore can get“ while Punknews stated the album brought “the terms ‘rhetoric’ and ‘caustic’ each to a whole new level.” Over the course of two decades, the band became an institution of metalcore known for their energetic live shows and constantly-evolving sound merging hardcore punk with Southern rock-tinged alternative metal. Retrospectively, Kerrang has acknowledged the band for having “shaped the cutting edge of modern metalcore.” Following the band's disbandement, Williams formed Atomic Rule with bassist Travis Bennington, with whom he recorded a three-song demo and an EP in late 2025. Shortly before his untimely death, Williams spoke of having finished writing and recording new music. Williams was also active as a professional wrestler, going by the stage name the Butcher. Williams collapsed following a match at an Enjoy Wrestling event in Millvale, Pennsylvania. After being rushed to the hospital, Williams was pronounced dead at age 48. The remainder of the wrestling event was cancelled. Upon hearing of Williams' passing, fellow metal stalwarts Between The Buried And Me issued a statement which in part read: “To some, he was the Butcher. To others, the big scary-looking guitarist of Every Time I Die with the crazy mustache. But for the past 27 or so years, to us, he was just Andy Williams. Full name, always. He lived so much life in his 48 years, but he deserved so much more time. And we all deserved more time with him. More riffs, more wrestling matches, more jokes, more conversations about ‘nasty riffers’, guitars, and gear” ~ Williams was born in 1977
September 4, 2026 ~ Terence Perkins, commonly known as rock & roll, pop singer Craig Douglas, passed away ~ While still in his teens, Douglas shot to fame in the late 1950s as a romantic balladeer. Early on in his career, Douglas was known as “the Singing Milkman” for his day job. Shortly after the Beatles, then still unknown, issued their debut single, the Fab Four backed Douglas at two shows at the Liverpool Empire, only to surpass Douglas in both fame and chart success within the year. Douglas would score about half a dozen UK top 10 hits through the early 1960s with pop covers of American hits. Best known for his sole UK No.1 hit Only Sixteen, which by far outsold Sam Cooke's original. Other well known pop covers include A Teenager In Love (Dion & the Belmonts), Pretty Blue Eyes (Steve Lawrence), A Hundred Pounds Of Clay (Gene McDaniels), Time (Jerry Jackson), and When My Little Girl Is Smiling (the Drifters). With the drastically changed musical tastes at the turn of the 1960s, Douglas' time in the spotlights lasted only a few years, yet as perhaps the last and in his day certainly the most popular of a certain breed, the clean-cut crooner, at times Douglas would sell more records than Elvis Presley or Frank Sinatra. Douglas semi-retired from music by the mid 1960s, yet continued to perform from time to time in night clubs and cruise ships well into the next century ~ Perkins was born in 1941
September 1, 2026 ~ Cassandra Fowlkes, commonly known as singer Cassandra Wilson, passed away ~ Widely regarded as one of the most innovative jazz singers of her day, drawing from idioms outside of jazz including blues, country, and pop. Influenced by Miles Davis, Abbey Lincoln, and Betty Carter. Mentored by Alvin Batiste and Ellis Marsalis Jr. Closely associated with Steve Coleman, with whom she co-founded the M-Base Collective. Recorded well over a dozen albums as a solo artist including the highly acclaimed Blue Light 'Til Dawn, New Moon Daughter, and Loverly, the latter two of which both were awarded a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Over the course of her lengthy career, Wilson has been an in-demand collaborator and sidewoman appearing on albums by the likes of Greg Osby, Robin Eubanks, Rod Williams, Vinx, Bob Belden, Courtney Pine (Modern Day Jazz Stories), David Sánchez, Steve Turre, the Roots (Illadelph Halflife), Javon Jackson (A Look Within), Kurt Elling, Wynton Marsalis (Blood On The Fields), Pat Martino, Angélique Kidjo (Oremi), Luther Vandross (I Know), Bill Frisell, Doug Hammond, Regina Carter, David Sanborn, Howard Mandel, Don Byron, Olu Dara, Terence Blanchard, Tom Harrell, Meshell Ndegeocello, Judith Owen, Terri Lyne Carrington (The Mosaic Project), Charlie Haden, Nicholas Payton (Bitches), Grégoire Maret, and Gerry Gibbs. Other than for her own originals, Wilson was particularly known for blending jazz with pop music reportoire and has covered tracks, usually with a refreshing, unusual spin, by a wide array of artists, including Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Ann Peebles, Prince, Neil Young, U2, Hank Williams, and the Monkees. In a 2001 interview with TIME, Wilson commented: “From Steve Coleman, I learned to tear a piece of music apart and get away from standard approaches. I learned about cycles of rhythm, being able to hear cues in the rhythms instead of chords. And I learned to hear the layering of rhythms. Before that, I had been only studying chords and standard A-A-B-A structured songs. But after Steve, I was able to return to standard material whenever I wanted to and find so many other things to do that I couldn’t have imagined before” ~ Fowlkes was born in 1955
August 25, 2026 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Dolly Parton, full name Dolly Rebecca Parton, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ One of the most successful female country artists with a global crossover appeal. Trailblazer for independent women in music. Wrote or co-wrote over 3,000 songs during a career spanning seven decades. Best known for songs such as Dumb Blonde, Jolene, Coat Of Many Colors, Here You Come Again, Heartbreaker, 9 To 5, I Will Always Love You. Has collaborated with Porter Wagoner, Kenny Rogers, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Gail Davies, Julio Iglesias, Hal Ketchum, George Jones, Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Solomon Burke, and Ronnie Milsap ~ Parton was born in 1946
August 22, 2026 ~ Benjamin William Latimore, mononymously known blues, R&B singer, pianist, songwriter Latimore, passed away ~ Known for songs such as the 1973 T-Bone Walker-cover Stormy Monday, the 1974 gender-modified Gladys Knight-cover If You Were My Woman and perhaps his best known Let's Straighten It Out later the same year. Would score a number of moderate single hits throughout the mid-1980s and release albums well throughout the 2010s. Has also worked as a session pianist, notably on the Joss Stone albums The Soul Sessions and Mind Body & Soul ~ Latimore was born in 1939
August 17, 2026 ~ Drummer Frank Beard, full name Frank Lee Beard, passed away in Richmond, Texas, USA ~ Longtime drummer of ZZ Top, named in part after blues singer ZZ Hill, with whom he recorded well over a dozen albums since the early 1970s. The band quickly attracted devoted following with their unique hybrid, merging blues-infested boogie rock with raunchy guitar and funky bass. In the 1980s, the band became a household name after reinventing themselves to include new wave influenced synthesizers without abandoning their blues roots while sporting a rock-chic cool appearance, signature look with two of the three members sporting long bushy beards and a series of made for MTV videos. The band has sold over 50 million records, and is best known for songs such as La Grange, Tush, Gimme All Your Lovin', Legs, Sleeping Bag, Rough Boy. Upon their induction in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, Keith Richards commented: “These cats know their blues and they know how to dress it up. When I first saw them, I thought, I hope these guys are not on the run, because that disguise is not going to work.” Although the band's popularity faded a bit in the 1990s, the band remained a popular live act well into the 2020s ~ Beard was born in 1949
August 6, 2026 ~ R&B singer Ann Bogan, sometimes credited as Anne Bogan, passed away ~ Although she had prior been a member of several R&B vocal groups, Bogan first gained serious attention singing with the Andantes, a Motown session group which performed backing vocals for the likes of Mary Wells, the Four Tops, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and notably Brenda Holloway. The group recorded a handful singles of their own, including notably the 1964 (Like A) Nightmare modest hit which featured Ann Bogan on lead vocals. Bogan would however become best known as a member of the Marvelettes, which she joined in 1967 after the departure of lead singer Gladys Horton. Bogan recorded three well-received albums with the Marvelettes, namely Sophisticated Soul, In Full Bloom, and The Return Of The Marvelettes. Bogan sang lead on I'm Gonna Hold On As Long As I Can and Everybody Knows (But You). Following the disbandement of the Marvelettes at the turn of the 1970s, Bogan sang with New Birth and its subgroup Love Peace & Happiness before retiring from music to raise her children. In 2004 the Marvelettes were inducted in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame ~ Bogan was born in 1941
August 6, 2026 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, songwriter, author, actor Francesco Guccini passed away in Sambuca Pistoiese, Italy ~ Despite initial criticism and lukewarm reception, Guccini would become one of the premier songwriters of the 1970s, his lyrics praised for their poetic and literary value and used in schools to this day as examples of modern poetry akin to the likes of Bob Dylan, Jacques Brel, and Fabrizio de André. Guccini has recorded close to two dozen albums, including the acclaimed Folk Beat N.1 and Radici, authored or co-authored over a dozen novels and a handful of comic books, and on occassion dabbled in acting. Recurring themes in Guccini's songs include social justice, workers' rights, secularism, civil liberties, and resistance to authoritarianism. Well-known songs include Dio È Morto, La Locomotiva, Auschwitz, L'Avvelenata, and Canzone Per Un'Amica. Songs written and first recorded by Guccini have been covered by the likes of Cesare Basile, Petra Magoni, Giovanni Truppi, Enrico Ruggeri, Stefano Giaccone, Antonella Serà, Carla Bruni, Stefano Bittelli, Roberto Vecchioni, Malika Ayane, and Vinicio Capossela. Guccini has received numerous awards over his career including literary awards, honorary doctorates, and the title of Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, and had a subspecies of butterfly, the Parassius mnemosyne guccinii, an asteroid, and a species of cactus named after him. Guccini is perhaps the only singer to name one of his albums, 1976's Via Paolo Fabbri 43, after what was then his private address. The house in Bologna has since become a necessary pilgrimage for anyone who admires Guccini's musical and poetic productions. Prior to emerging in the 1960s as a solo singer, Guccini has worked as a teacher and journalist, and was a member of several bands including Gatti which also included drummer Pier Farri who would later become Guccini's producer and future Equipe 84 member saxophonist Victor Sogliani. Upon hearing of his passing, BMG Italy label executive Dino Stewart stated: “Guccini was one of Italy's greatest songwriters, whose remarkable catalog has inspired audiences for generations. His songs combined literary depth with humanity, wit and social conscience, earning him a unique place in Italian culture” ~ Guccini was born in 1940
August 2, 2026 ~ David Bruce Rivkin, commonly known as producer, engineer, guitarist, songwriter David Z, passed away in Burbank, California, USA ~ Widely regarded as “the Architect of the Minneapolis Sound”, noted as a member of Lipps Inc, including on the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Funkytown, and particularly known for engineering several of Prince's early demos and key albums including Purple Rain, Parade, and Sign O' The Times, as well as producing or engineering several recordings for Prince-affiliated acts including Mazarati, Sheila E, and Jill Jones. Although Rivkin himself was quite humble about his contributions, he is widely regarded as a key element pivotal to the emergence of the distinctive Minneapolis sound in the late 1970s and 1980s, and as Billboard noted in Rivkin's obituary that “his production style and engineering techniques left a lasting imprint on funk, pop, rock, blues and soul recordings”. Upon hearing of Rivkin's passing, Owen Husney, a 1960s bandmate of Rivkin's and Prince's first manager stated: “David was the secret ingredient on many, many musical projects,. He stayed pretty silent about it. He never really talked about his work or what he did. His significance is undeniable on the Minneapolis music scene.” Prior to focusing on his career as a producer and engineer, however, Rivkin had played guitar in local groups such as the Chancellors and the High Spirits, worked as a staff songwriter for A&M Records including co-writing How Much I've Lied with Gram Parsons, and sessioned for the likes of Billy Preston. As a producer and engineer, Rivkin has also worked on albums by the likes of Jody Watley, the Fine Young Cannibals (She Drives Me Crazy), Hugh Harris, Jermaine Jackson, Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Bananarama, Terri Nunn, Angélique Kidjo, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Chris Duarte, Leo Kottke, Jonny Lang, Syl Johnson (Bridge To A Legacy), Tinsley Ellis, Dr Dan, Gov't Mule (The Deep End Vol.1), John Mayall, Tresa Street, Phoebe Snow (Natural Wonder), Tab Benoit (Fever For The Bayou), Buddy Guy (Can't Quit The Blues), Ana Popovic, and Mike Zito ~ Rivkin was born in 1948
July 22, 2026 ~ William McGlaughlin, commonly known as trombonist, conductor, composer, music educator Bill McGlaughlin, passed away ~ Award-winning classical music host for Exploring Music and Saint Paul Sunday. Orchestral trombonist for a decade. Conductor for over three decades, working with the St Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Eugene Symphony, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, and the Kansas City Symphony ~ McGlaughlin was born in 1943
July 18, 2026 ~ Alternative metal, punk rock, grunge bassist Jennifer Finch, also known as Jennifer Precious Finch, passed away ~ Best known as a member of all-female punk rock outfit L7, considered an outlier in grunge and riot grrrl music. The band is especially acclaimed for their 1992 Bricks Are Heavy album. Finch has also worked with the Pandoras, OtherStarPeople, the Shocker, and has occasionally ventured into acting. Early on in her career Finch played bass in Sugar Babydoll, which also included then-unknown Courtney Love and future Babes In Toyland-founder Kat Bjelland. Finch has also been romantically involved with Dave Grohl and Billy Corgan ~ Finch was born in 1966
July 17, 2026 ~ Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr, commonly known as ock & roll singer, guitarist Freddy Cannon, passed away in Oxnard, California, USA ~ Influenced by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard. Known for songs such as Tallahassee Lassie, Way Down Yonder In New Orleans, Palisades Park and Abigail Beecher. Plays lead guitar on the G-Clefs' 1956 hit Ka-ding-dong. Rhythm guitar and lead vocals on the Spindrifts' Cha-cha-do, a hit in 1958 ~ Picariello was born in 1940
July 16, 2026 ~ Music manager, publisher, booking agent, promoter, label executive Alan Walden passed away in Macon, Georgia, USA ~ Considered an iconic figure in the Macon music scene, and a trailblazing pioneer known for breaking racial barriers as representative of numerous black artists in the then-still highly segregated South. When his older brother Phil Walden was stationed in Germany, serving in the US Army, Walden took over the daily running of his brother's music promotion and publishing company where he managed artists such as Otis Redding, who would become a close friend, the company eventually becoming one of the largest black artists management companies in the South. Redding and the siblings also founded Redwal Music, a music publishing company to house songs such as When A Man Loves A Woman (Percy Sledge), Respect, I've Been Loving You Too Long, and (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay (Otis Redding), and Soul Man (Sam & Dave). Walden is also considered pivotal to the emergence of Southern Rock, managing and recording acts such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Outlaws. The 1976 Lynyrd Skynyrd song Cry For The Bad Man, specifically the line ‘I'd rather quit and go back home, than to deal with the money miser’, was a snub aimed at Walden, who had repeatedly urged the band to save money rather than spend it. Ronnie Van Zant would later admit that in hindsight he regretted writing the song. Over the course of his career, Walden has worked with artists such as Johnnie Taylor, Arthur Conley, Al Green, Joe Tex, ZZ Hill, Albert King, William Bell, Eddie Floyd, Etta James, Boz Scaggs, and September Hase. Looking back on her father's musical career and impact, Jessica Walden has stated: “His love of Macon was deep and wide. He could have lived anywhere the music industry called him, but he chose Macon. Here, he planted his unwavering belief that our story was far from over and that from here, anything was possible. Because of his passion for the place he called home and for the extraordinary local talent he believed in so completely, Macon made its mark on the world, and he made his mark with it” ~ Walden was born in 1943
July 16, 2026 ~ Bebop pianist René Urtreger passed away in Mortagne-au-Perche, France ~ A fixture on the Paris jazz scene since the mid 1950s. First gained serious attention backing American expatriates saxophonist Don Byas and trumpeter Buck Clayton, their 1954 Salon du Jazz performance becoming legendary. After a stint in the French Army, Urtreger would land a regular gig at the Club St Germain, a renowned jazz club on Paris' left bank, where he would be noticed by Lester Young who invited Urtreger to his touring band. Urtreger is also especially acclaimed for his contribution to Miles Davis' soundtrack Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud released in 1957. Urtreger has recorded some two dozen albums as a leader, and has guested on recordings by Chet Baker, Claude François, Bobby Jaspar, Hubert Fol, Kenny Clarke, Michel Hausser, Stuff Smith, and Nathan Davis ~ Urtreger was born in 1934
July 15, 2026 ~ Saxophonist Plas Johnson, full name Plas John Johnson Jr,passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Perhaps best known for his sax solo on Henry Mancini's The Pink Panther Theme. In-demand session musician, present on albums by Charles Brown, BB King, Johnny Otis, Maxwell Davis, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Glen Gray, Frank Sinatra, Ricky Nelson, Bobby Vee, Larry Williams, Bobby Day, Richard Berry, the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Chet Baker, Marvin Gaye (Let's Get It On), Dr John (Gris Gris), Maria Muldaur, Ry Cooder (Paradise & Lunch), Rita Coolidge, Teena Marie, Boz Scaggs, Joni Mitchell, Elton John, Liza Minnelli, Les Baxter, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Waits (Heartattack And Vine), Benny Carter, Bette Midler, Rod Stewart, Etta James, and Minnie Riperton ~ Johnson was born in 1931
July 14, 2026 ~ Owen Lennox Moncrieffe, commonly known as reggae, roots reggar singer Fantan Mojah, passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Initially known as Mad Killer in honor of reggae and dancehall DJ Bounty Killer, Moncrieffe became a Rastafarian and at the suggestion of Capleton changed his stage name to the more positive Fantan Mojah. Influenced by Burning Spear and Buju Banton, Moncrieffe emerged in the mid 2000s as one of the most successful singers of a new wave of roots reggae. In contrast to many popular dancehall artists, Moncrieffe's music empathizes positivity with recurring themes of praise for Jah, positive portrayal of women, and condemnation of ill morals. Moncrieffe has recorded four albums, starting with Hail The King in 2005, and one collaborative album, Defending The Roots, with Lutan Fyah. Well-known songs include Hail The King, Nuh Build Great Man, Corruption, and perhaps his best known Hungry, which topped the Jamaican charts for eight weeks in 2004. Besides Jamaica, Moncrieffe also enjoyed popularity in Europe, where he has undertaken several successful tours ~ Moncrieffe was born in 1976
June 26, 2026 ~ Jazz bassist Günter Lenz passed away ~ Played the guitar before taking up the bass. First gained attention in the early 1960s backing Albert Mangelsdorff. Would go on to work with Krzysztof Komeda, notably on the 1965 Astigmatic album, Barney Wilen, George Russell, Leon Thomas, Kurt Edelhagen, Peter Herbolzheimer, Chet Baker, Coleman Hawkins, Oliver Nelson, and Benny Bailey. Lenz is perhaps best known as a member of the HR Jazz Ensemble, and as a founder of 1970s jazz-fusion group Springtime. In the 2000s, Lenz served as bass professor at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart, Germany ~ Lenz was born in 1938
June 22, 2026 ~ Label executive, producer Clive Davis, full name Clive Jay Davis, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ During a six-decade career in the music industry, Davis, who had studied law at Harvard University, transitioned from a legal role at Columbia Records to eventually become one of the most important label executives and producers in the music industry. Two years after he renegogiated Bob Dylan's contract he helmed Columbia Records and over the course of a few years helped expand the label into pop and rock music. Davis would go on to found and helm Arista Records, and hold executive positions at J Records, LaFace Records, BMG, and Sony BMG. Over the course of his career, Davis had signed and managed names such as Janis Joplin, Santana, Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Aerosmith, Earth Wind & Fire, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Lou Reed, Eurythmics, Dionne Warwick, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley, and numerous others. Davis is also particularly noted for his association with Whitney Houston, orchestrating Houston's career from the get-go including producing all of her early hits. Davis was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Davis remained active as an executive until his death at age 94. In 2020, Davis looking back on the early days of his career commented to Leaders: “I learned on the spot. I accidentally discovered I had a totally unexpected and unexplained gift; ears. This was quite a surprise, but I could, and would, discover great all-time artists” ~ Davis was born in 1932
June 18, 2026 ~ Bassist Justin Cary, full name Justin Oscar Cary, passed away ~ Longtime bassist of Sixpence None The Richer, best known for Kiss Me, which reached top 10 in over a dozen countries including No.2 on the American Billboard Hot 100 and No.4 on the British charts, There She Goes and Don't Dream It's Over. Outside of Sixpence None The Richer, Cary has worked with the Counting Crows, Blue Country, Paul Brandt, Matt Wertz, Lee Brice, and Jennifer Knapp. Cary joined Sixpence None The Richer in 1997 in time for their eponymous third studio album, and remained with the band until his death. Upon hearing of his passing, Sixpence None The Richer bandmate guitarist Matt Slocum stated: “We are completely heartbroken, and the depth of our grief proves the depth of our love for this wonderful man who was our bandmate, brother-in-arms, and friend for 30 years. The past three years had been full of international tours, recording new music, and an even further deepening of the joy and love of making music together. We were planning for 30 more years. Such a tragic and untimely loss” ~ Cary was born in 1975
June 15, 2026 ~ Adolph Johannes Brand, commonly known as jazz, bebop, post-bop, folk pianist, saxophonist, cellist Dollar Brand or Abdullah Ibrahim, passed away in Prien am Chiemsee, Germany ~ Leading figure in Cape Jazz, drawing from gospel and traditional African music as well as from Western jazz. Influenced by Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington. Active since the early 1960s, initially leading the Jazz Epistles. Best known for Mannenberg recorded in 1974, which would become an anti-apartheid anthem. Has collaborated with international stars such as Max Roach, Carlos Ward, Randy Weston as well as with numerous renowned classical orchestras. Married to singer Sathima Bea Benjamin. Their daughter Jean Grae is also a musician, rising to fame in the late 1990s New York underground rap scene ~ Brand was born in 1934
June 13, 2026 ~ Keyboardist, clarinetist, arranger Dee Palmer born in Hendon, UK ~ Arranged Bert Jansch's Nicola album released in 1967. Would go on to arrange and conduct for Jethro Tull, starting with the band's This Was 1968 debut album and subsequently all albums through the mid 1970s. Would become a full band member, performing keyboards and arranging, starting on the 1977 Songs From The Wood album. In the late 1990s Palmer, born David Victor Palmer, came out as transgender and legally change her name to Dee ~ Palmer was born in 1937
June 2, 2026 ~ Robert Peapo Bryson, commonly known as R&B, soul, smooth jazz singer Peabo Bryson, passed away in Marietta, Georgia, USA ~ While still in his teens, Bryson started as a backup singer and as several of the artists he worked with had trouble pronouncing the name ‘Peapo’, the singer adopted the stagename ‘Peabo’ with a ‘b’. As a solo artist, Bryson has recorded well over a dozen albums, including the acclaimed Reaching For The Sky, Crosswings and Straight From The Heart. Although Bryson, consistently critically regarded as a superb balladeer with an impressive range and smooth delivery, enjoyed a devoted fanbase and had half a dozen of his albums reach top 10 Billboard R&B, to the general public he is best known for a number of romantic duets with female singers. Notable duets include Gimme Some Time and What You Won't Do For Love (Natalie Cole), Here We Go (Minnie Riperton), Make The World Stand Still and Tonight I Celebrate My Love (Roberta Flack), Lovers After All (Melissa Manchester), and Without You (Regina Belle). The duet singles Beauty And The Beast (Céline Dion) and A Whole New World (Regina Belle), used respectively in the soundtracks of the animated feature films Beauty & The Beast and Alladin, each won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group. As a solo artist, Bryson has scored about a dozen Billboard R&B top 20 hits from the mid 1970s through the 1990s, including Reaching For The Sky, I'm So Into You, Let The Feeling Flow, and If Ever You're In My Arms Again. At the turn of the 1990s, two of Bryson's singles would top the Billboard R&B charts as both the Al Wilson cover Show And Tell and the original Can You Stop The Rain reached No.1. Upon hearing of Bryson's passing, Céline Dion, who scored her first UK and USA top 10 hit with their 1991 Beauty And The Beast duet, stated she was heartbroken, adding Bryson's “incredible voice and kind spirit embodied the beauty of song and performance” ~ Bryson was born in 1951
June 1, 2026 ~ Areski Belkacem, monomonously known as avant-garde, experimental singer, songwriter Areski, passed away ~ Dubbed “the Prince consort of French chanson,” Areski is considered one of the foremost French composers. Influenced by his Algerian roots, free jazz, and rock, he utilized an eclectic mix of traditional, classical and modern instruments throughout his career ranging from percussion including traditional African drums, guitar, woodwinds, accordion, and keyboards. Best known for his association with Jacques Higelin, with whom he recorded the collaborative album Higelin & Areski released in 1969, and with singer Brigitte Fontaine, his long-time spouse and musical partner with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums since the turn of the 1970s starting with Comme A La Radio which featured backing from the Art Ensemble Of Chicago. Areski has recorded a handful of solo albums and usually in partnership with his son Ali Belkacem has composed and performed soundtracks, including notably for the films A Mort La Mort and Jeunesse Dorée, and works for the stage. Songs written or co-written by Areski have been recorded by the likes of Pierre Barouh, Georges Moustaki (J'Ai Vu Des Rois Serviles), Juliette Gréco, Marc Moulin (Comme A La Radio), Maurane, Paradis, Christophe, Jarvis Cocker (Il Pleut Sur La Gare), and Aurélien Merle ~ Belkacem was born in 1940Page 1 ~ Page 2