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 12, 2025 ~ Maria del Pilar Garrido Corrales, commonly known as singer, actress, comedienne Pilita Corrales, passed away in Manila, Philippines ~ Dubbed “Asia's Queen of Songs”, Corrales, widely celebrated for her vocal range and technique, sweet voice and longevity, has recorded well over a hundred albums over a career spanning six decades starting in the late 1950s. Well known songs include A Million Thanks To You, Rosas Pandan, and Kapantay Ay Langit ~ Corrales was born in 1939
April 12, 2025 ~ Engineer, producer, arranger, songwriter Roy Thomas Baker passed away in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA ~ Began his career at age 14 at Decca Records, to quickly become second engineer aiding producers, engineers Gus Dudgeon and Tony Visconti on recordings by the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, the Who, and Nazareth. By the turn of the 1970s, Baker had become chief engineer working on hits such as Free's All Right Now and T.Rex's Bang-a-gong (Get It On). Baker would become especially known for producing the first five albums by Queen, including the classic anthem Bohemian Rhapsody, and the first four albums by the Cars, which spawned hits such as Just What I Needed, My Best Friend's Girl, and Shake It Up. Following his hit success with Queen, Baker signed with CBS Music and relocated to America. Over the course of his career, Baker has produced albums by Hawkwind, Journey (Infinity), Foreigner, Ronnie Wood, Alice Cooper, Mötley Crüe (Too Fast For Love), Cheap Trick, Devo, Dokken, Joe Lynn Turner, Jon Anderson, Slade, Ozzy Osbourne (No Rest For The Wicked), Dusty Springfield, the Stranglers, and the Smashing Pumpkins. In 2016, the Cars frontman Ric Ocasek has said of Baker: “He was an electronics whiz, a sound guy with a classical background for mic-ing the room's sound. He got harmony. And he took things in stride. A very upbeat, elegant man. Spontaneous, too” ~ Baker was born in 1946
April 12, 2024 ~ Producer, songwriter Rico Wade, full name Rico Renard Wade, passed away ~ Helped define the Atlanta sound. Co-founding member of pioneering production and songwriting team Organized Noize, with whom he worked on hit songs such as Waterfalls by TLC, Don't Let Go (Love) by En Vogue, and Saturday (Oooh Ooooh) by Ludacris, the former two both reaching top 10 Billboard Hot 100. The production team is especially known for their work with fellow Atlanta natives OutKast, producing some of their best known including the acclaimed albums Aquemini and Stankonia ~ Wade was born in 1972
April 12, 2022 ~ R&B singer Charles McCormick passed away ~ Member of Bloodstone, known for songs such as Natural High, Never Let You Go, Outside Woman, My Little Lady and We Go A Long Way Back, all of which reached top 10 on the Billboard R&B charts between 1973 and 1982 ~ McCormick was born in 1946
April 12, 2022 ~ Indie rock singer, guitarist David Freel passed away in Oregon City, Oregon, USA ~ Co-founded Swell with drummer Sean Kirkpatrick in 1989. Influenced by a wide array of artists and genres ranging from Pink Floyd to Ennio Morricone the band would release close to a dozen albums over the following two decades including the acclaimed Well, Too Many Days Without Thinking and For All The Beautiful People ~ Freel was born in 1958April 12, 2020 ~ Lars Falkowsky, commonly known as glam rock, indie rock, alternative rock keyboardist Luminor, passed away ~ Member of Cinema Bizarre through 2008, leaving the band for health reasons. Present on the band's 2007 Final Attraction debut album. Has also worked with DNR (Dreams Not Reality) and with Roberto Romagnoli ~ Falkowsky was born in 1985
April 12, 2017 ~ Engineer Tom Coyne, full name Thomas J Coyne, passed away ~ Renowned engineer with a career spanning over five decades. With positions at Wayne Mastering Labs, the Hit Factory, and Sterling Sound, having purchased the latter by the late 1990s, Coyne has worked on albums by the Bee Gees, Uriah Heep, Otis Rush, Kool & the Gang, Michael Jackson (Thriller), Koko Taylor, Burning Spear, Sade (Diamond Life), Giorgio Moroder, Solomon Burke, Ellis Marsalis, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Delbert McClinton, Boogie Down Productions, Kool Moe Dee, De La Soul, Brendan Croker (The Great Indoors), Aaliyah, Vanilla Ice, LL Cool J, Erykah Badu, A Tribe Called Quest, Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, Destiny's Child, the Roots (Phrenology), Amy Winehouse, Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé, Pink, Joss Stone, Paloma Faith, Taylor Swift (Red), One Direction, Ariana Grande, and Adele ~ Coyne was born in 1954
April 12, 2016 ~ Rock, pop, jazz drummer Robbie Brennan passed away in Nenagh, Ireland ~ Early member of Phil Lynott's Grand Slam, touring with the band in the mid-1980s. Member of Scullion, present on the 1985 Spin album. In-demand session and touring musician, has worked with Stepaside, Christy Moore, Skid Row, the Fleadh Cowboys, Hotfoot, Auto Da Fé, Paul Brady, Clannad, and the Chosen Few ~ Brennan was born ca.1947
April 12, 2014 ~ Fred Wei-han Houn, commonly known as saxophonist, composer Fred Ho, passed away in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Though mostly associated with Asian-American jazz, Houn resented the categorization. Known for merging traditional Chinese elements with African influences. The first to combine Chinese opera with traditional African-American music. Especially acclaimed for his 1993 Underground Railroad To My Heart album. Founded and fronted the Monkey Orchestra. Founded and fronted the Afro-Asian Music Ensemble ~ Houn was born in 1957April 12, 2012 ~ Saxophonist Andrew Love passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Noted session musician. Member of the Memphis Horns alongside longtime compadre trumpeter Wayne Jackson. Has backed artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Neil Diamond, Elvis Presley, and Dusty Springfield. Has toured with the Doobie Brothers, Jimmy Buffett, and Robert Cray ~ Love was born in 1941
April 12, 2010 ~ Country outfit the Zac Brown Band release Free, lifted off their The Foundation album ~ Preceded by Chicken Fried, Toes, and Highway 20 Ride, Free would be the fourth single off the band's major label debut album to reach No.1 Billboard Country, making the Zac Brown Band the first to have four No.1 hits off a debut album since Brooks & Dunn's Brand New Man in 1992. Free earned Grammy Award nominations for Best Country Performance and Best Country Song, losing out both to Lady Antebellum's Need You NowApril 12, 2007 ~ Composer, pianist, trombonist, conductor Andrzej Kurylewicz, full name Andrzej Roma Kurylewicz, passed away in Konstancin-Jeziorna, Poland ~ Composed chamber music, orchestral music, and music for stage, ballet, and films. Pioneered Polish jazz. Well known for writing the score for the Polish TV series Polskie Drogi. Has collaborated with Tomasz Stańko, Pat Metheny, Kasia Nosowska, and Magda Umer ~ Kurylewicz was born in 1932
April 12, 1996 ~ Pop rock singer, pianist Randy Newman releases You've Got A Friend In Me, used as the theme to the Toy Story film ~ Along with Short People and I Love LA, one of Randy Newman's best known songs. The song would be first used in the first part of the animated Toy Story feature film and has since been used as a musical leitmotif throughout the entire franchise. You've Got A Friend In Me has been covered by over a hundred artists including notably as a duet by George Jones and Kathy Mattea shortly after the original release, and by Michael Bublé for his 2013 To Be Loved album. Newman recorded two versions for the first Toy Story film, once by Newman solo, and once as a duet with Lyle Lovett. The original version would be nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award
April 12, 1996 ~ Larry Cummings Kiala, commonly known as hip-hop, R&B, afroswing rapper, singer Yxng Bane, born in London, UK ~ Influenced by Michael Jackson, Drake, Future, PartyNextDoor, 50 Cent, Tinie Tempah, and WizKid. Released his Full Moon debut EP in 2016. Guested on a remix of Ed Sheeran's The Shape Of You. Guested on Yungen's UK top 10 hit Bestie. Collaborated with D-Block Europe on the 2018 Any Minute Now album. As a solo artist perhaps best known for his 2019 UK top 20 single How It Is which featured Roddy Ricch, Chip & the PlugApril 12, 1995 ~ Jazz trombonist Chris Pyne, full name Christopher Norman Pyne, passed away in London, UK ~ Elder brother of pianist Mick Pyne. Worked with Fat John Cox, Alexis Korner, John Stevens, the London Jazz Orchestra, Humphrey Lyttelton, Johnny Dankworth, Ronnie Scott, Stan Tracey, Mike Gibbs, Frank Sinatra, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, John Surman, Philly Joe Jones, Maynard Ferguson, Tony Coe, Bobby Lamb, Ray Premru, Ronnie Ross, Barbara Thompson, Norma Winstone, Alan Cohen, Gordon Beck, Charlie Watts, Jon Anderson, Miquel Brown, Delegation, Curved Air, Bryan Ferry, Albert Finney, Goodies, Tubby Hayes, Elton John, Salena Jones, Everything But The Girl, Jack Sharpe, the Nice, Peter Sinfield, Jasper van 't Hof, and Loudon Wainwright III ~ Pyne was born in 1939
April 12, 1994 ~ K-pop, hip hop singer, rapper, actor Oh Se-hun born in Seoul, South Korea ~ Member of boy band EXO and its spinoffs. The band is known for a string of 2010s hits in their native South Korea, including the No.1 hits December 2014 (The Winter's Tale), Love Me Right, and Monster. Se-hun has also recorded as a solo artist and ventured into acting, notably playing the lead role in the 2022 film The Pirates (The Last Royal Treasure)April 12, 1992 ~ Jazz banjoist Al Lewis passed away in Galliano, Louisiana, USA ~ A big imposing performer with a joyous personality. Active from the late-1910s onwards, Lewis played the riverboats and New Orleans jazz bands, including with bandleaders such as King Oliver, until the banjo grew out of style. He retired from the music scene but was rediscovered when someone from Preservation Hall recognized him in the late 1970s. He went on to play and teach Dixieland to a new generation ~ Lewis was born ca.1902
April 12, 1992 ~ Malcolm Jamaal Davis, commonly known as rapper, singer, songwriter MadeinTYO, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA ~ Rose to prominence on the strength of his 2016 Uber Everywhere single. Released a full-length debut album, Sincerely Tokyo, in 2018. Has collaborated wit Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, A$AP Ferg, G-Eazy, and Chance the Rapper
April 12, 1988 ~ Trumpeter, singer George Rock passed away in Champaign, Illinois, USA ~ Joined Spike Jones backing unit the City Slickers in 1944. Especially noted for his ability to imitate children in a remarkably childlike voice. Present on some of the band's best known, notably singing lead vocals on the classic All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth. Other songs featuring Rock include I'm The Captain Of The Space Ship and You Wanna Buy A Bunny ~ Rock was born in 1919
April 12, 1980 ~ Singer, songwriter Brian McFadden, full name Brian Nicholas McFadden, born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Member of Irish boy band Westlife through 2004, alongside Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan and Brian McFadden, present on songs such as Swear It Again, Flying Without Wings, Fool Again, What Makes A Man, Queen Of My Heart and Hey Whatever. Debuted as a solo artist with the album Irish Son in 2004April 12, 1979 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, percussionist, banjoist, pianist, harpist, songwriter Thomas Dybdahl born in Sandnes, Norway ~ First gained attention as member of the Quadrophonics. Released his solo debut album, That Great October Sound, in 2002 and has recorded to critical acclaim since. Drew comparisons to Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley
April 12, 1978 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, banjoist, fiddler Andru Bemis born in Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA ~ Known for a minimalist lifestyle, touring through the US using train, public transportation and hitchhiking. Has released a handful of albums, starting with Plays Past His Bedtime released in 2002
April 12, 1978 ~ Bassist, songwriter Guy Berryman born in Kirkcaldy, UK ~ Member of Coldplay, known for hits such as Yellow, The Scientiest, Clocks, Speed Of Sound, Violet Hill, Viva La Vida, Paradise, Adventure Of A Lifetime and Something Just Like This featuring the Chainsmokers. Also a member of supergroup Apparatjik, alongside A-ha's Magne Furuholmen
April 12, 1975 ~ Freda Josephine McDonald, commonly known as singer Josephine Baker passed away in Paris, France ~ Starred in the Broadway revues Shuffle Along and The Chocolate Dandies during the 1920s. Among the most popular entertainers in pre-war Paris. First black woman to star in a major film, namely 1927's silent film The Siren Of The Tropics. Member of the French Resistance during World War II ~ Baker was born in 1906April 12, 1973 ~ Arthur Grossman, commonly known as lyricist, film producer Arthur Freed, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as a film producer, awarded an Academy Award for 1951's An American In Paris and one for 1958's Gigi. Producer and co-lyricist for the 1952 Singing In The Rain musical comedy ~ Grossman was born in 1894
April 12, 1973 ~ Trumpeter Ryan Kisor born in Sioux City, Iowa, USA ~ Brother of Justin Kisor, also a trumpeter with whom he regularly worked. Well over a dozen albums to his name as a leader, starting in the early 1990s. In-demand sideman, closely associated with the Mingus Big Band and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Has also worked with the Manhattan Jazz Orchestra, Ehud Asherie, Michel Camilo, Ivan Farmakovsky, Wycliffe Gordon, Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, Gerry Mulligan, Horace Silver, Bobby Watson, and Ben Wolfe