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 19, 2026 ~ Guitarist, bassist, singer Dave Mason, full name David Thomas Mason, passed away ~ Rose to fame as member of rock outfit Traffic, present on the albums Mr Fantasy and its follow-up Traffic. Also notably played with Jimi Hendrix, including 12-string acoustic guitar on the Bob Dylan-cover All Along The Watchtower and backing vocals on Crosstown Traffic. Present on the Rolling Stones album Beggars' Banquet. Present on George Harrison's All Things Must Pass album. Other collaborations include Cass Elliott, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, David Crosby, Fleetwood Mac, Leon Russell, and Deep Feeling. As a solo artist known for the moderate 1970 Only You Know And I Know hit, the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit We Just Disagree, and the Michael Jackson-duet Save Me of his 1980 Old Crest On A New Wave album ~ Mason was born in 1946April 19, 2023 ~ Funk, R&B, pop singer, guitarist Otis Redding III passed away in Macon, Georgia, USA ~ Son of iconic R&B singer Otis Redding. Formed the Reddings with brother Dexter Redding and Mark Lockett, known best for Remote Control of their 1980 The Awakening debut album. The single remains a radio staple in Europe to this day ~ Redding was born in 1963
April 19, 2021 ~ Producer, songwriter Jim Steinman, full name James Richard Steinman, passed away in Danbury, Connecticut, USA ~ Best known for his association with Meat Loaf, notably on the albums Bat Out Of Hell and Bat Out Of Hell II (Back Into Hell). Also worked with Bonnie Tyler (Total Eclipse Of The Heart), Air Supply (Making Love Out Of Nothing At All), Sisters Of Mercy (This Corrosion), Barry Manilow (Read 'Em And Weep), Céline Dion (It's All Coming Back To Me Now), and Boyzone (No Matter What) ~ Steinman was born in 1947April 19, 2018 ~ Pop, rock pianist, bassist, producer Stuart Colman, full name Ian Stuart Colman, passed away in Cheltenham, UK ~ First gained attention as member of Pinkerton's Assorted Colours and its successor the Flying Machine, known for their 1969 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Smile A Little Smile For Me. Colman would go on to become an in-demand producer, notably for Shakin' Stevens scoring hits such as This Old House, Green Door, Oh Julie. Produced the 1980s remake Living Doll, a collaborative effort of the Young Ones and Cliff Richard. Has also worked with Paul Kennerley, Claire Hamill, the Revillos, Kim Wilde, Alvin Stardust, Victoria Shaw, and Nanci Griffith ~ Colman was born in 1944
April 19, 2016 ~ Jazz trumpeter Dick Collins, full name Richard Harrison Collins, passed away in Hesperia, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with Les Brown, recording and touring with the saxophonist for about a decade starting in 1957. Previously Collins had worked with Dave Brubeck, Cal Tjader, Paul Desmond, Nat Pierce (Kansas City Missouri), and Woody Herman (Blues Groove). Following his tenure with Brown, Collins rarely performed, focusing on his day job as a music librarian instead ~ Collins was born in 1924
April 19, 2016 ~ Mandolinist, guitarist, bassist, saxophonist, flutist, singer Pete Zorn passed away in London, UK ~ Best known for his longtime association with Richard Thompson. Also a member of Steeleye Span, of the Albion Band, and of Driver 67. Has collaborated with Gerry Rafferty (including on the LP Snakes & Ladders), Elaine Page, Barbara Dickson, and Chris Rainbow ~ Zorn was born in 1950
April 19, 2015 ~ Ricardo Anthony Btesh, commonly known as pop singer Richard Anthony, passed away in Pégomas, France ~ Popular 1960s, 1970s pop singer, best known for French covers of English-language songs, including Tu M'Etais Destinée (Paul Anka's You Are My Destiny), C'Est Ma Fête (Lesley Gore's It's My Party), Et J'Entend Siffler Le Train (Bobby Bare's 500 Miles), and Fille Sauvage (the Rolling Stones' Ruby Tuesday) ~ Btesh was born in 1938
April 19, 2012 ~ Mark Lavon Helm, commonly known as drummer, singer Levon Helm, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Drummer and singer for the Band, known for their association with Bob Dylan as well as for songs such as The Weight, Up On Cripple Creek, and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. Also worked with the Hawks, Paul Butterfield, Fred Carter Jr, Emmaretta Marks, Steve Cropper, Donald Duck Dunn, Booker T Jones, Dr John, Lou Marini, Howard Johnson, Tom Bones Malone, Paul Kennerley, Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren, his daughter Amy Helm, Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Jim Weider, Jimmy Vivino, Mike Merritt, Brian Mitchell, Erik Lawrence, Steven Bernstein, Jay Collins, Byron Isaacs, Little Sammy Davis, Warren Haynes, and Bob Weir ~ Helm was born in 1940April 19, 2011 ~ Engineer, producer Jim Dickson passed away ~ Discovered the Dillards, producing the albvums Back Porch Bluegrass, Live Almost and Pickin' And Fiddlin'. Worked with Lord Buckley, the Greenbriar Boys, Dian James, Glen Campbell, the Hillmen, the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and the Barracudas ~ Dickson was born in 1931
April 19, 2010 ~ Keith Edward Elam, commonly known as MC, rapper Guru, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Founding member of the Gang Starr collective. As a solo artist best known for his Jazzmatazz series, collaborating with artists such as Donald Byrd, N'dea Davenport, MC Solaar, Roy Ayers, Chaka Khan, Branford Marsalis, Jamiroquai, Freddie Hubbard, Courtney Pine, and Ronny Jordan. Especially the first two of eventually four volumes, 1993's Jazzmatazz (Volume 1) and 1995's Jazzmatazz (Volume 2 A New Reality), would receive critical acclaim for fusing jazz, hip-hop and rap and later prove to be hugely influential ~ Elam was born in 1961April 19, 2007 ~ John Kenneth Albers, commonly known as jazz, traditional pop, close harmony singer, trumpeter, hornist Ken Albers, passed away in Simi Valley, California, USA ~ Best known as member of the Four Freshmen from 1956, replacing Ken Errair, hrough 1986. The band is said to have pivotal to the development of close harmony quartets, moving away from the barbershop style to include elements of jazz and in so a major influence on numerous artists. Cited by Brian Wilson as one of his major inspirations, the Beach Boys-song A Young Man Is Gone actually based on the Freshmen's 1960 recording Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring ~ Albers was born in 1924
April 19, 2005 ~ Jazz upright bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen passed away in Ishoj, Denmark ~ Worked with Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, Ben Webster, Brew Moore, Bud Powell, Count Basie, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Jackie McLean, Ella Fitzgerald, Jean-Luc Ponty, Jenny Drew, Stéphane Grappelli, Joe Pass, Rune Gustafsson, Palle Mikkelborg, Mulgrew Miller, and Alvin Queen ~ Ørsted Pedersen was born in 1946
April 19, 2005 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Richard Lewis passed away ~ Tenor singer for doo-wop outfit the Silhouettes, known best for their 1957 hit Get A Job. Originally issued as the B-side to I Am Lonely, the A-side re-release would go on to sell a million copies and be the group's only hit, topping both the pop and R&B charts ~ Lewis was born in 1933
April 19, 2005 ~ Jazz drummer Stan Levey passed away in Van Nuys, California, USA ~ Considered one of the earliest bebop drummers. Started with Dizzy Gillespie at age 16. Also worked with Stan Kenton, Howard Rumsey, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Buddy Bregman, Conte Candoli, Victor Feldman, Jimmy Giuffre, Lee Konitz, Oscar Peterson, Warne Marsh, Shorty Rogers, Sonny Stitt, Quincy Jones, and Skitch Anderson ~ Levey was born in 1926
April 19, 2003 ~ Charles Sylvan Atkinson, commonly known as singer, dancer, choreographer Cholly Atkins, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Recorded as a singer early on in his career. Best known as a dancer and choreographer, teaching dance steps to acts such as the Cadillacs, the Shirelles, Harvey & the Moonglows, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, and Little Anthony & the Imperials. In 1964, Atkins was hired by Motown's Berry Gordy Jr, to become the label's house choreographer. Atkins has developed the trademark moves of several of the label's best known artists including the Supremes, the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Marvelettes, and Gladys Knight & the Pips ~ Atkins was born in 1913April 19, 1994 ~ Soul blues, electric blues singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Larry Davis, full name Larry Charles Davis, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing and first recording Texas Flood in 1958, later covered by Moses Whispering Smith, Roomful Of Blues and perhaps most notably Stevie Ray Vaughan. Reaching little commercial succes as a solo artist Davis would join Albert King's backing band, playing bass. A motorcycle accident in 1972 would leave him temporarily paralyzed, hindering his career. Returning to music a decade later Davis would record a handful of underpromoted albums, known only to blues aficionados ~ Davis was born in 1936
April 19, 1994 ~ Jazz rap, conscious rap, alternative hip hop rapper Nas releases his Illmatic debut album ~ The album debuted strongly, entering the Billboard Hot 200 at No.12, its highest position, yet sales would lack thereafter and only one of the album's five singles would reach the Billboard Hot 100 chart, It Ain't Hard To Tell peaking at No.91. Nevertheless, retrospectively the album, co-produced by Nas with a superb set of producers consisting of DJ Premier, the Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, and LES, has earned wide acclaim as a landmark album in rap, and possibly one of the all-time greatest rap albums, recognized for helping revive the New York rap scene and birthing the era of lyricism
April 19, 1993 ~ Tenor saxophonist Clifford Scott, full name Clifford Donley Scott, passed away in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Learned drums, piano and violin before switching to clarinet in his teens. Actively performing since the 1940s. Leader and sideman. Has backed artists such as Amos Milburn, Jay McShann, Lionel Hampton, Roy Milton, Bill Doggett (notably on Honky Tonk), Sonny Thompson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Gerald Wilson, Onzy Matthews, Ray Charles, Freddie King, Bobby Blue Bland, James Brown, and Little Willie John ~ Scott was born in 1928
April 19, 1993 ~ Steven Douglas Kreisman, commonly known as saxophonist Steve Douglas, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Over half a dozen albums as a leader. In-demand session musician, present on recordings by Duane Eddy (Have Twangy Guitar Will Travel), the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan (Street Legal), the Ramones, and Leonard Cohen. Douglas has also served as producer, notably producing the acclaimed Willy DeVille-album Le Chat Bleu released in 1980 ~ Kreisman was born in 1938April 19, 1993 ~ Tom Jack Johnston, commonly known as DJ, producer Thomas Jack, born in Bemboka, Australia ~ Coined the term “tropical house” in 2013. Known for tracks such as Symphony, The Final Speech, Rivers featuring Nico & Vinz, and Rise Up featuring Jasmine Thompson
April 19, 1991 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Josh Kumra born in Swindon, UK ~ Influenced by Tracy Chapman, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix. Best known for co-writing and guesting on Wretch 32's Don't Go, a UK Number 1 hit, and for his 2013 debut album Good Things Come To Those Who Don't Wait. Has also worked with Fink, Emeli Sandé, Naughty Boy, Mr Hudson, and K Koke
April 19, 1990 ~ Morris W Ricks II, commonly known as rapper, producer Mez, born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA ~ Best known for appearing on Dr Dre's 2015 Compton album, co-writing a vast amount of the album's tracks. Has also collaborated with J Cole, Rapsody, Drique London, and 9th Wonder
April 19, 1986 ~ Estelle Harris, commonly known as blues, boogie-woogie singer Estelle Yancey, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Began singing in church choirs in her youth. Married to boogie-woogie pianist Jimmy Yancey from 1925 until his death in 1951, the couple recording several notable blues songs including Make Me A Pallet On The Floor, Four O'Clock Blues, Monkey Woman Blues, Santa Fe Blues, and How Long Blues. After Jimmy's death Estelle would continue to perform and record, working with pianists such as Don Ewell, Art Hodes, and Erwin Helfer ~ Harris was born in 1896
April 19, 1984 ~ Singer Laura Branigan releases Self Control, lead single off her album of the same name ~ Internationally, Self Control would become Laura Branigan's biggest hit as it reached the No.1 spot in well over half a dozen countries and top 10 in over a dozen more. In the singer's native America, it peaked at No.4 Billboard Hot 100, making it her third and final top 10 hit, preceded by Gloria and Solitaire. Originally, Self Control was a low-tempo ballad recorded by Italian singer Raf, who co-wrote it with Giancarlo Bigazzi and Steve Piccolo. Gloria, Branigan's breakout hit, was also based on an Italian pop song co-written by Bigazzi
April 19, 1982 ~ Arthur Carl Enders III, commonly known as alternative rock, indie rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Ace Enders, born in Hammonton, New Jersey, USA ~ Lead singer, guitarist for the Early November, releasing their full-length The Room's Too Cold debut album in 2003. Also fronts I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business, originally a side project and intended to be a “one album thing” only yet the band has released about half a dozen albums since their eponymous I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business debut album released in 2004
April 19, 1982 ~ Samuel Bazawule, commonly known as hip-hop, hiplife rapper, singer, songwriter Blitz the Ambassador, born in Accra, Ghana ~ Influenced by Nas. Discovered by producer Hammer Of The Last Two. Self-released his Stereotype debut album in 2009. Has collaborated with the likes of Ben Mazue, C2C, Professor ALI, and perhaps most notably with Raekwon