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 15, 2026 ~ Barbara Jean Crosby, commonly known as blues, soul blues singer Barbara Carr, passed away ~ Although at times she enjoyed some regional popularity, intermittently recording a handful of solo singles starting in the mid 1960s and singing with a string of Missouri based groups, Barbara Carr would toil around in relative obscurity for decades prior to receiving wider acknowledgment in the late 1980s and 1990s, her full-length Good Woman Go Bad debut album issued over three decades after her professional start in music. Carr started singing at a young age, starting in the church choir, and continuing on with sibling gospel outfit the Crosby Sisters, as well as through grade and high school. While still in her teens, Carr co-founded the vocal cover band the Comets, and was a member of girl group the Petites, with whom she opened for the Miracles. Her break came when she joined Oliver Sain's ensemble, succeeding Fontella Bass, and through his connections landed a record deal with Chess Records. Carr would intermittently release a handful of singles, notably Good Woman Go Bad, yet as she was poorly promoted left the music industry to raise a family ~ Crosby was born in 1941
April 15, 2023 ~ Jazz, R&B bassist Peter Badie, full name Peter Chuck Badie, passed away ~ Active since the early 1950s, performing and recording with Roy Brown, Paul Gayten, and Dave Bartholomew. Member of Lionel Hampton's orchestra during the mid 1950s. Would go on to work with Hank Crawford, Edward Frank, June Gardner, Dizzy Gillespie, and Zoot Sims. Retired from music by the 1970s for medical reasons. Reemerged in the 1990s as member of Dr John's backing unit ~ Badie was born in 1925
April 15, 2022 ~ Arthur Goldberg, commonly known as label executive, producer Art Rupe, passed away in Santa Barbara, California, USA ~ Founded Specialty Records in the mid 1940s, a pivotal record label in the development of R&B, blues and early rock & roll. Perhaps best known for his association with Little Richard, starting with 1955's Tutti Frutti which is widely considered one of the records that defined rock & roll. Other notable artists on the label's roster include gospel acts such as the Soul Stirrers which featured Sam Cooke, the Swan Silvertones, Alex Bradford, Wynona Carr and R&B and rock & roll artists including Lloyd Price, Guitar Slim, Don & Dewey, Roy Montrell, and Roddy Jackson ~ Goldberg was born in 1917April 15, 2020 ~ Andres Holten, commonly known as singer, songwriter Dries Holten, passed away in Roosendaal, the Netherlands ~ Half of Sandra & Andres, the other half being Sandra Reemer. The duo would reach 4th place at the 1972 Eurovision Songfestival, representing the Netherlands, with their performance of Als Het Om De Liefde Gaat. Holten would later team up with Rosy Pereira forming the duo Rosy & Andres ~ Holten was born in 1936
April 15, 2020 ~ Jazz double bassist Henry Grimes passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leading bassist in free jazz. Recorded and performed with artists such as Gerry Mulligan, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, Anita O'Day, Benny Goodman, Charles Mingus, Cecil Taylor, Don Cherry, Steve Lacy, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, and Albert Ayler. His career halted in the late 1960s, he was often presumed dead, but Grimes resurfaced in the early 2000s ~ Grimes was born in 1935
April 15, 2020 ~ Bebop, cool jazz, avant-garde jazz alto saxophonist Lee Konitz passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Influenced Paul Desmond and Art Pepper. Worked with Teddy Powell, Lennie Tristano, Claude Thornhill, Gil Evans, Miles Davis (Birth Of The Cool), Stan Kenton, Elvin Jones, Sonny Dallas, Dave Brubeck, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, Attila Zoller, Brad Mehldau, Charlie Haden, and Paul Motian ~ Konitz was born in 1927
April 15, 2017 ~ Jazz fusion, progressive rock guitarist Allan Holdsworth passed away in Vista, California, USA ~ Cited as influence by Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Yngwie Malmsteen and Tom Morello. Described as “the John Coltrane of the guitar” by Robben Ford. First gained attention as member of Igginbottom, known for their sole album Igginbottom's Wrench. Has also worked with Sunship, Nucleus, Tempest, Soft Machine, Tony Williams Lifetime, Pierre Moerlen, Jean-Luc Ponty, Bill Bruford, UK, Gordon Beck, Frank Gambale, Derek Sherinian, Alan Pasqua, Level 42, Gongzilla, Soft Works, and Stanley Clarke ~ Holdsworth was born in 1946
April 15, 2017 ~ Songwriter, producer Sylvia Moy passed away in Dearborn, Michigan, USA ~ Best known as staff songwriter at Motown, especially closely associated with Stevie Wonder. Moy co-wrote songs such as My Cherie Amour, I Was Made To Love Her, and Never Had A Dream Come True for Stevie Wonder, Honey Chile and Love Bug (Leave My Heart Alone) for Martha & the Vandellas, and It Takes Two for Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston ~ Moy was born in 1938April 15, 2014 ~ Singer Little Joe Cook passed away in Framingham, Massachusetts, USA ~ Declined an offer to join the Soul Stirrers after Sam Cooke left. Fronted Little Joe & the Thrillers, known for their 1957 US hit Peanuts. Member of the Sherrys, known for Pop Pop Pop Pie, a modest 1962 hit ~ Cook was born in 1922
April 15, 2013 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Scott Miller, full name Scott Warren Miller, passed away in California, USA ~ Co-founded and fronted 1980s power pop, jangle pop outfit Game Theory, critically acclaimed for their 1986 Big Shot Chronicles and its follow-up Lolita Nation released the following year. Co-founded and fronted 1990s band Loud Family, especially known for their 1992 Plants And Birds And Rocks And Things debut album. Both bands were critics darlings, Miller's songwriting drawing comparison to Brian Wilson and Alex Chilton, and cult favorites, drawing a devout following yet never reaching mainstream succes ~ Miller was born in 1960
April 15, 2008 ~ Drummer Brian Davison passed away in Horns Cross, UK ~ Member of the Mark Leeman Five from 1963 until its disbandement in 1966. Best known for his association with pioneering progressive rock outfit the Nice from 1968 through 1969, present on the band's acclaimed 1969 eponymous Nice album. The band is also noted for launching the career of Keith Emerson. Davison has also worked with PP Arnold, Rod Stewart, Every Which Way, Refugee, and Gong ~ Davison was born in 1942
April 15, 2008 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Sean Costello passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Debuted at age 16 with the album Call The Cops, released in 1996. First gained significant exposure backing Susan Tedeschi both on record, 1998's Just Won't Burn, and on tour. Worked with BB King, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Hubert Sumlin, Levon Helm, Nappy Brown (including on the 2007 album Long Time Coming), Bobby Little, Mikael Santana, Mudcat, Jody Williams, Olabelle, Tinsley Ellis, the Cazanovas, Joe McGuinness, the Kraft Quartet, Maddy Moneypenny, and Jenni Muldaur ~ Costello was born in 1979
April 15, 2006 ~ Rapper Yung Joc releases It's Goin' Down featuring Diddy and Nitti, lifted off his New Joc City debut album ~ The young rapper's It's Goin' Down debut single, its title slang for “having a good time”, was met with mixed critical reception as some called the repetive beat infectious, while others found it boring. Nevertheless, it would become the biggest hit of his career, briefly elevating the Atlanta rapper to national fame. It sold over three million copies and topped the Billboard R&B charts, while also earning Yung Joc a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Song. Two subsequent singles off the same album would also do well, as I Know You See It featuring Brandy, credited as Ms B, reached No.5 and 1st Time featuring Marques Houston and Trey Songz peaked at No.15 Billboard R&B. Yung Joc would continue to record, yet was unable to repeat the success of his debut album. However, Yung Joc remained an in-demand collaborator guesting on tracks by other artists, including notably on T-Pain's Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin'), which topped both the Billboard R&B and all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts in 2007
April 15, 2005 ~ Ernest Harold Bailey, commonly known as trumpeter Benny Bailey, passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Influential on later musicians such as Albert Ayler, Bob Cunningham, Bobby Few, Bill Hardman, and Frank Wright. Active since the early 1940s. Felt particularly at home in big band settings though he would occasionally play in smaller settings. Stuck around in Europe after a tour with Lionel Hampton. Also worked with Bull Moose Jackson, Scatman Crothers, the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, Lionel Hampton, Kenny Clarke, Quincy Jones, Freddie Redd, Eddie Harris, Count Basie, Eric Dolphy, Stan Getz, Benny Golson, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Rouse, Sahib Shihab, and Jimmy Witherspoon ~ Bailey was born in 1925
April 15, 2001 ~ Jeffrey Ross Hyman, commonly known as punk rock singer Joey Ramone, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Became a countercultural icon as frontman of 1970s punk rock band the Ramones, known for songs such as Blitzkrieg Bop, Sheena Is A Punk Rocker, Rockaway Beach and perhaps their best known Rock 'n Roll High School ~ Hyman was born in 1951
April 15, 1998 ~ Country singer, fiddler, songwriter Rose Maddox, full name Roselea Arbana Maddox, passed away in Ashland, Oregon, USA ~ Lead singer for sibling outfit the Maddox Brothers. Following the band's disbandement in 1956 ventured out on her own, drawing from hillbilly, rockabilly and gospel, scoring Billboard Country hits throughout the mid 1960s. Well known songs include Kissing My Pillow, the Buck Owens-duets Mental Cruelty and Loose Talk, and her best known Sing A Little Song Of Heartache released in 1962 ~ Maddox was born in 1925April 15, 1991 ~ Frank Windsol Culley, commonly known as R&B saxophonist, bandleader Frank Culley or Frank Floorshow Culley, passed away in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Recorded prolifically from the 1930s onwards, notably the late 1940s hits Cole Slaw, Floorshow and After Hour Session. Leader of the first houseband at Atlantic Records, a position he held from 1948 through 1951 ~ Culley was born in 1917
April 15, 1990 ~ Sharon Kovacs, mononymously known as singer Kovacs, born in Baarlo, the Netherlands ~ Cites Betty Davis, Etta James and Tina Turner as influences. Drew critical comparison to Amy Winehouse, Portishead and Shirley Bassey. Her 2014 My Love debut EP made her a darling of radio station 3FM and subsequently of NPO Radio 6. A full-length debut album, Shades Of Black, followed the next year
April 15, 1988 ~ Singer, songwriter Andrés Cuervo born in Barranquilla, Colombia ~ Released his Tras De Ti debut album in 2008 and has recorded to commercial succes since. Known for songs such as Como Yo Te Quiero, La Receta, Viviria Bien, Te Extrano, Destino Casualidad, and Luna Cuentale ~ Cuervo passed away in 2022
April 15, 1988 ~ Eliza Sophie Caird, commonly known as soul, R&B, indie pop, pop singer, pianist, songwriter Eliza Doolittle, born in Westminster, UK ~ Debuted in 2010 with the eponymous Eliza Doolittle album which spawned the singles Skinny Genes and Pack Up, the latter of which reached the UK top 10. Also known as featured vocalist on Disclosure's You & Me, a hit in 2013
April 15, 1986 ~ Esther Renay Dean, commonly known as singer, songwriter, actress Ester Dean, born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA ~ As a solo artist known for her 2009 single Drop It Low featuring Chris Brown. Best known as a songwriter for artists such as Rihanna (Rude Boy), the Jonas Brothers, Fifth Harmony, Mary J Blige, Kelly Clarkson (Mr Know It All), Esmée Denters, Katy Perry (Firework), Christina Aguilera, OneRepublic, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj (Super Bass), and Old Dominion
April 15, 1985 ~ Indie rock, indie folk banjoist, bassist, keyboardist, guitarist, singer Chuck Criss born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Member of indie outfit Freelance Whales, acclaimed for the albums Weathervanes and Diluvia. Criss was also a member of Computer Games, which also included his brother Darren Criss, known for songs such as Every Single Night and Lost Boys For Life ~ Chris passed away in 2022
April 15, 1984 ~ Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo, commonly known as bandleader, singer, maracas player Machito, passed away in London, UK ~ Sideman and leader. In the late 1930s he played with several orchestras, including with Xavier Cugat. Formed the Afro-Cubans in the 1940s with Mario Bauzá, Machito's brother-in-law, as its musical director. Among the first to fuse Afro-Cuban rhythms with swing, jazz and big band. George Shearing, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Stan Kenton all names Machito an influence. Has recorded extensively from the 1940s to the 1980s ~ Gutiérrez was born in 1909
April 15, 1983 ~ Country singer, songwriter Margo Price, full name Margo Rae Price, born in Aledo, Illinois, USA ~ Member of Buffalo Clover. Debuted as a solo artist with the album Midwest Farmer's Daughter, in 2016. Cites Janis Joplin, Bobbie Gentry, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton as influencesApril 15, 1983 ~ Singer Matt Cardle born in Southampton, UK ~ Member of Darwyn. Member of Seven Summers. Rose to fame winning the 7th season of The X-Factor talent contest in 2010. His subsequent solo single, When We Collide, would top the charts in the UK and Ireland. Also noted for Loving You with former the Spice Girls singer Melanie C, a UK top 20 hit in 2013
April 15, 1983 ~ Pop, synth-pop, new wave, blue-eyed soul group Spandau Ballet release True, which would become their sole UK charttopper and their sole American top 10 hit peaking at No.4 Billboard Hot 100 ~ While in a relationship, guitarist Gary Kemp developed an infatuation for the Altered Images singer Clare Grogan. Struggling with his feelings, he wrote True, which became their biggest hit. It reached top 10 in numerous countries, including the USA, and would be the band's only single to top the charts in their native UK. In 2009, Kemp revealed in his autobiography that even when conveying his feelings in lyrics “he felt inhibited, shy even, so I started to write about that very thing: the fear of revealing oneself, of saying in song what was true.”