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.
April 1, 1958 ~ Dennis Dale Boon, commonly known as singer, guitarist D Boon, born in San Pedro, California, USA ~ Guitarist, lead singer of punk rock outfit the Minutemen, known best for their critically acclaimed 1984 double album Double Nickels On The Dime. Boon was killed in a car crash at age 27. Shortly thereafter the band would be disbanded ~ Boon passed away in 1985April 1, 1955 ~ Winston Anthony Morris, commonly known as reggae, dancehall, lovers rock singer Tony Tuff, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Formed the African Brothers with Sugar Minott and Derrick Bubbles Howard, known for songs such as Mysterious Nature, No Cup No Broke, and Party Night. After the trio disbanded in the mid 1970s, Morris has recorded as a solo artist into the 2000s. As a solo artist, Morris is perhaps best known for Water Pumpee and Mix Me Down, both produced by Henry Jujo Lawes ~ Morris passed away in 2024
April 1, 1954 ~ Pop singer, pianist, songwriter Armando Gama, full name Armando António Capelo Diniz da Gama, born in Luanda, Angola ~ Revered in his native Portugal, selling over some 5 million records. Internationally best known for Esta Balada Que Te Dou, Portugal's 1983 Eurovision Songfestival entry reaching thirteenth place ~ Gama passed away in 2022
April 1, 1954 ~ Rock, pop rock, jazz fusion drummer Jeff Porcaro, full name Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro, born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA ~ Son of jazz drummer Joe Porcaro. Member of Toto, which also included his brothers bassist Mike Porcaro and keyboardist Steve Porcaro, and best known for the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Hold The Line, Rosanna, and Africa. Besides his key role in Toto, Porcaro was one of the most in-demand session musicians present on albums by Seals & Crofts, Three Dog Night, Joe Cocker, Jackson Browne (The Pretender), Leo Sayer, Steely Dan (Katy Lied), Boz Scaggs, Carly Simon, Eric Carmen, Valerie Carter, Lee Ritenour, Diana Ross, Warren Zevon, the Pointer Sisters, Rickie Lee Jones, Pink Floyd (The Wall), the Brothers Johnson, Crosby Stills & Nash, Michael Jackson (Thriller), Donald Fagen, Paul Simon, Randy Newman (Trouble In Paradise), Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Patti Austin, Céline Dion, the Dire Straits, the B52's (Good Stuff), 10cc, and Bruce Springsteen ~ Porcaro passed away in 1992April 1, 1954 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, jazz rock guitarist, bandleader, composer Knut Værnes born in Trondheim, Norway ~ Jazz, jazz rock leader and sideman. Member of pop and rock bands such as Salt & Pepper, Shimmy, Vanessa. Worked with Morten Halle, Edvard Askeland, Danny Gottlieb, Nils Petter Molvær, Sidsel Endresen, Terje Gewelt, Jan Eggum, and the Vertavo String Quartet
April 1, 1954 ~ Rock, blues, pop rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Mats Ronander born in Sundsvall, Sweden ~ Lead singer of Blues Quality, succeeding Peps Persson. Member of Nature. Touring guitarist for ABBA, including on their 1979 world tour. About a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, starting with Hård Kärlek released in 1981. Also well known for the 1992 duet single Gör Mig Lycklig Nu with Kim Larsen
April 1, 1951 ~ Singer, guitarist, percussionist, songwriter Henry Gross born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member, original lead guitarist of Sha Na Na, leaving the band in 1970 to pursue a solo career. Backed Jim Croce on the 1973 I Got A Name album. Debuted as a solo artist with the eponymous Henry Gross album in 1972 to little succes. His sophomore album, Henry Gross (The Yellow Album), released the following year would spawn the moderately successful hits Simone, Come On Say It and Skin King. Best known for his 1975 single Shannon, a global hit reaching top 10 in Canada, New Zealand, America and elsewhere
April 1, 1951 ~ Music journalist, author Richard Havers, full name Richard John Havers, born in Carshalton, UK ~ Airline industry manager turned music promoter and author of books and articles on jazz, blues, pop music. Co-authored Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey with Bill Wyman. Co-authored several books on the Rolling Stones, starting with Rolling With The Stones published in 2003. Wrote books about the famed Blue Note and Verve record labels, the the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, and the Beatles. His articles have been published by the Daily Telegraph, The Times and Record Collector ~ Havers passed away in 2017
April 1, 1950 ~ New wave, synth-pop keyboardist, violist, violinist Billy Currie, full name William Lee Currie, born in Huddersfield, UK ~ Best known as member of Tiger Lily, which eventually would evolve into Ultravox. The band is known best for the UK top 10 hits Vienna, All Stood Still, and Dancing With Tears In My Eyes. Also noted as a member of Visage from 1978 through 1984, present on the landmark 1980 recording Fade To Grey. Currie has also worked with Gary Numan, the Armoury Show, Humania, Phil Lynott, Steve Howe, Dead Or Alive, and recorded about a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Stand Up And Walk released in 1991
April 1, 1949 ~ Singer, songwriter Gil Scott-Heron born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Influenced by Richie Havens, John Coltrane, Otis Redding, José Feliciano, Billie Holiday, Langston Hughes, Huey Newton, Nina Simone, and by longtime collaborator Brian Jackson. Hugely influential on rap, hip-hop, spoken word, and neo-soul. Debuted in 1970 with the album Small At 125th And Lenox. Known for songs such as The Bottle, Winter In America, and The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. Worked with Ron Carter, Bernard Pretty Purdie, Hubert Laws, Jerry Jemmott, David Spinozza, Horace Ott, and Ron Holloway ~ Scott-Heron passed away in 2011
April 1, 1948 ~ Folk rock guitarist, mandolinist, banjoist, keyboardist, singer Simon Cowe born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK ~ Best known as member of Lindisfarne from its inception in 1970 until 1973 and again from 1978 through 1993. Present on the band's most acclaimed albums, 1970's Nicely Out Of Tune debut album and its 1971 Fog On The Tyne follow-up. Following his initial departure from the band formed Jack The Lad with Rod Clements and Ray Laidlaw, appearing on the band's first three albums including the eponymous Jack The Lad released in 1974 ~ Cowe passed away in 2015April 1, 1947 ~ Jazz double bassist Frank Tua born ~ Worked with Paul Bley, Horace Arnold, Dave Holland, Collin Walcott, Dom Um Romão, Richard Beirach, Badal Roy, Barry Miles, Booker Ervin, Don Cherry, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Konitz, Harold Mabern, Art Blakey, Buddy Montgomery, Stan Getz, Pepper Adams, Randy Brecker, and John Abercrombie
April 1, 1947 ~ Jazz trumpeter Freddie Webster passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Dizzy Gillespie is reportedly to have characterised Webster as having “the best sound on trumpet since the trumpet was invented” and Miles Davis cites Webster as an early influence. Webster worked with Benny Carter, Cab Calloway, Earl Hines, Jimmie Lunceford, Billy Eckstine, and Sarah Vaughan. Sonny Rollins's song Strode Rode, from the 1956 LP Saxophone Colossus, is reference to the Strode Hotel in Chicago where Webster died, suspectedly of a heroin overdose ~ Webster was born in 1916
April 1, 1946 ~ Rock singer, bassist, guitarist, songwriter Ronnie Lane, full name Ronald Frederick Lane, born in Plaistow, UK ~ Co-founding member of the Small Faces, staying on after the name change to the Faces remaining with the band through 1973. Co-wrote a vast amount of the band's material, usually in partnership with Steve Marriott, including All Or Nothing, Get Yourself Together, Itchycoo Park, Lazy Sunday, and Ooh La La. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the album Anymore For Anymore released in 1974, and collaborated with Pete Townshend, Rod Stewart, and Ronnie Wood ~ Lane passed away in 1997
April 1, 1945 ~ Drummer John Barbata born in Passaic, New Jersey, USA ~ First turned to drumming following his older brother in marching bands, the rudimentary rhythms defining his drum technique throughout his career in pop rock. Member of early 1960s surf group the Sentinals, best known for their Big Surf album which spawned the regional hit Latin'ia. Member of the Turtles for the second half of the 1960s, including on hits such as Happy Together, She'd Rather Be With Me, and Elenore. Member of Jefferson Starship, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums. In late 1978, Barbata broke his neck, arm and jaw in a car crash, needing a full year to heal from the accident, forcing him to resign from Jefferson Starship. Barbata has also appeared on albums by Linda Ronstadt, Ry Cooder, Batdorf & Rodney, John Sebastian, Crosby Stills Nash & Young (4-Way Street), Stephen Stills, Neil Young (Time Fades Away), and Grace Slick ~ Barbata passed away in 2024
April 1, 1945 ~ Drummer Kenny Buttrey, full name Aaron Kenneth Buttrey, born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Working professionally since his early teens. Went on his first world tour at age 14, backing Chet Atkins. Closely associated with Charlie McCoy, Barefoot Jerry, and Area Code 615. An in-demand session musician, Buttrey has appeared on albums by Elvis Presley (He Touched Me), Joan Baez, Bob Dylan (Blonde On Blonde), Donovan, Dan Fogelberg, Neil Young (Harvest), Al Kooper, Kris Kristofferson, Jimmy Buffett, and Bob Seger. Buttrey was once quoted as saying he was most proud of drumming on Lay Lady Lay off of Dylan's 1969 Nashville Skyline album ~ Buttrey passed away in 2004
April 1, 1942 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, singer Alan Blakley, full name Alan David Blakley, born in Bromley, UK ~ Founding member of the Tremeloes, staying with the band from 1958 through 1972, the band's most successful period scoring UK hits such as Do You Love Me, Candy Man, I Want Candy, Silence Is Golden, and Even The Bad Times Are Good ~ Blakley passed away in 1996April 1, 1942 ~ Frank Daniel Garofalo, commonly known as singer Frank Gari, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Popular during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Best known for songs such as Utopia, Lullaby Of Love and Princess. Formed the duo the City Surfers with the Byrds guitarist Roger McGuinn. Would later become an in-demand composer for jingles and TV, especially known for composing themes for news shows
April 1, 1942 ~ Pop singer, drummer Phil Margo born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Member of vocal group the Tokens, which also included his brother Mitch Margo, best known for their 1961 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Other well known songs include Tonight I Fell In Love, Big Boat, and Ain't That Peculiar. Margo is also known as a producer, notably co-producing He's So Fine for the Chiffons, Denise for Randy & the Rainbows, I Got Rhythm for the Happenings, and Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree for Tony Orlando & Dawn ~ Margo passed away in 2021April 1, 1941 ~ Twin sisters singers Emi Ito and Yumi Ito born in Tokoname, Japan ~ Identical twins who formed the pop duo the Peanuts, enjoying popularity from the late 1950s until disbanding in 1975. The duo started out singing Japanese covers of standards and international hits yet over time would add more originals to their repertoire, working with songwriters such as Koichi Sugiyama and Rei Nakanishi. Well-known songs include Kawaii Hana, Koi No Vacance, Souvenirs From Tokyo, Bye Bye Yokohama, and Furimukanaide ~ Emi passed away in 2012, Yumi in 2016
April 1, 1941 ~ Folklorist, ethnomusicologist, producer Peter B Lowry born in Montclair, New Jersey, USA ~ Founded the Trix Records label, active during the 1970s and specializing in Piedmont blues with a roster including Eddie Kirkland, Willie Trice, Guitar Shorty. Robert Lockwood Junior, David Honeyboy Edwards, Baby Tate, and Boogie Woogie Red. Authored or co-authored over a dozen publications, and wrote extensively for magazines such as Blues Unlimited, Jazz Times, Penguin Eggs, and Rolling Stone ~ Lowry passed away in 2022
April 1, 1939 ~ Singer, songwriter Rudolph Isley, full name Rudolph Bernard Isley, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Co-founding member of R&B band the Isley Brothers, one of the longest-running family outfits, with whom he recorded about two dozen albums starting with Shout released in 1959. The band is known for Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits such as It's Your Thing, That Lady, and Fight The Power. Rudolph co-wrote and sang co-lead on a vast amount of the band's best known, and sang lead on songs such as It's A Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop), and You Still Feel The Need. Following the death of his brother O'Kelly Isley, Rudolph would record two more albums with the band, Smooth Sailin' and Spend The Night, before retiring from music in 1989 to become a Christian minister ~ Isley passed away in 2023
April 1, 1934 ~ Singer, songwriter Jim Ed Brown born in Sparkman, Arkansas, USA ~ Rose to fame in the 1950s as member of sibling outfit the Browns, known for hits such as The Three Bells, Scarlet Ribbons, and The Old Lamplighter. As a solo artist active since the 1970s, scoring hits with Morning, Sunday, Southern Loving, It's That Time Of The Night, as well as a streak of hit duets with Helen Cornelius including I Don't Want To Have To Marry You, I'll Never Be Free, If The World Ran Out Of Love Tonight, and Morning Comes Too Early ~ Brown passed away in 2015
April 1, 1932 ~ Mary Frances Reynolds, commonly known as singer, actress Debbie Reynolds, born in El Paso, Texas, USA ~ Perhaps best known for portraying Helen Kane in the 1952 musical film Singing In The Rain. Reynolds has also starred alongside Gene Kelly in the films How The West Was Won and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, the latter earning her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. As a recording artist, Reynolds scored a 1957 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit with Tammy from the the film Tammy And The Bachelor. Other well known songs include A Very Special Love and Am I That Easy To Forget. Reynolds has also performed in cabaret and in stage musicals, including on Broadway ~ Reynolds passed away in 2016
April 1, 1929 ~ Marcel Jean-Pierre Balthazar Miramon, commonly known as singer, actor Marcel Amont, born in Bordeaux, France ~ Hugely popular during the 1960s and 1970s. Some 30 albums to his name. Recorded about a 1,000 songs. Sold an approximate 300 million records. Renowned as interpreter of compositions by Georges Brassens, Leo Ferré, Georges Moustaki. Known for songs such as Blue Blanc Blond, L'Amour Ça Fait Passer Le Temps, Ballade Pour L'Espagnol, Le Plus Beau Tango Du Monde and perhaps his best known Le Mexicain ~ Amont passed away in 2023