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, 1955 ~ Pianist, arranger, songwriter Rolf Løvland, full name Rolf Undsæt Løvland, born in Kristiansand, Norway ~ Half of the Secret Garden, the other half being singer, violinist Fionnula Sherry, known for winning the 1995 Eurovision Songfestival with their performance of Nocturne representing Norway
April 19, 1955 ~ Jazz pianist Rune Klakegg born in Skien, Norway ~ Brother of guitarist Bjorn Klakegg. Has worked with Oslo 13, Cutting Edge, Fuzzy Logic, Out To Lunch, Søyr, Espen Rud, Morten Halle, Bjorn Kellemyr, Tine Asmundsen, Lars Martin Myhre, and Eldbjørg RaknesApril 19, 1952 ~ Punk, punk rock, garage rock bassist, singer, producer Andy Shernoff born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Founding member of seminal New York punk outfit the Dictators, also writing the majority of the band's material. Guested on the Ramones singer Joey Ramone's 2002 Don't Worry About Me album. Has also worked with Manitoba's Wild Kingdom, the Master Plan, the Ramones, has recorded as a solo artist and is an in-demand producer and songwriter
April 19, 1949 ~ Manley Augustus Buchanan, commonly known as DJ, singer Big Youth, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Best known for his 1973 album Screaming Target. Has worked with a host of producers over his career, including Jimmy Radway, Lee Scratch Perry, Phil Pratt, Gussie Clarke, Prince Buster, Glen Brown, the Abyssinians, Yabby You, Bunny Wailer and Joe Gibbs
April 19, 1947 ~ Rodolfo Olivares, commonly known as cumbia saxophonist Fito Olivares, born in Ciudad Camarago, Mexico ~ Well known for his recordings with backing unit La Pura Sabrosura, which also included his brothers singer Javier Olivares and keyboardist Jaime Olivares. The band was active from the early 1980s and had their breakthrough by the end of the decade. Known for songs such as La Gallina, Juana La Cubana, La Negra Catalina, La Ranita, Cupido Bandido, Juana Maria, and El Colesterol ~ Olivares passed away in 2023
April 19, 1947 ~ Singer, guitarist, tambourinist, keyboardist Mark Volman, full name Mark Randall Volman, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding and constant member of the Turtles, known for their 1967 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Happy Together. While in the band it had been reported that Volman had his distinctive frizzy hair insured for $100,000 against fire, theft or loss due to illness. Formed the 1970s rock duo Flo & Eddie with bandmate Howard Kaylan, using the moniker Flo which is short for Phlorescent Leech. Also well known for his association with Frank Zappa, including on the pivotal 200 Motels album released in 1971 ~ Volman passed away in 2025
April 19, 1947 ~ Pianist, conductor Murray Perahia, full name Murray David Perahia, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Internationally acclaimed as one of the 20th century's greatest pianists. Leading interpreter of Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Domenico Scarlatti, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven and Robert Schumann
April 19, 1947 ~ Conductor, violinist Yan Pascal Tortelier born in Paris, France ~ Son of renowned cellist Paul Tortelier. Best known as principal conductor of the Ulster Orchestra from 1989 through 1992, and subsequently the BBC Philharmonic through 2003, recording the complete works of Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Albert Roussel, and Henri Dutilleux. Other notable orchestras conducted by Tortelier include the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Orquestra Sinfonica do Estado de São Paulo, and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra
April 19, 1945 ~ Dawn Silver, commonly known as folk singer, actress Dawn Lindberg, born in Durban, South Africa ~ Formed the duo Des & Dawn with her husband Des Lindberg, known for protest songs such as The Seagull's Name Was Nelson and This Land Is Your Land. The duo's 1967 Folk On Trek debut album actually was censored by authorities with copies of the record destroyed and the Lindbergs would continue to brush with the authorities throughout their career ~ Silver passed away in 2020April 19, 1945 ~ Folk, folk pop, folk rock guitarist, producer Michael Stewart, full name Michael Gassen Stewart, born ~ Member of folk pop group We Five, known for their 1965 Billboard top 10 hit You Were On My Mind. As a producer known for producing Piano Man, Billy Joel's breakthrough album, as well as for his work with Tom Jones, and Kenny Rankin ~ Stewart passed away in 2002
April 19, 1944 ~ Funk, R&B keyboardist Bernie Worrell, full name George Bernard Worrell Jr, born in Long Branch, New Jersey, USA ~ Founding member of Parliament and Funkadelic. Frequently worked with Talking Heads for much of the 1980s, including on the 1984 Stop Making Sense concert film. Guested on Mtume's hit song Juicy Fruit. Member of Black Jack Johnson alongside Mos Def, Will Calhoun, Doug Wimbish, and Dr Know. Also worked with Bill Laswell, Les Claypool, Fela Kuti, the Golden Palominos, Ginger Baker, Pharoah Sanders, Robben Ford, and Science Faxtion, and recorded as a solo artist ~ Worrell passed away in 2016
April 19, 1944 ~ Jazz, Dixieland clarinetist Jimmie Noone passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Admired by Benny Goodman and Maurice Ravel, the latter reportedly basing his famous Boléro partly on one of Noone's live improvisations. One of the big three to emerge from the New Orleans music scene in the 1920s, the other two being Johnny Dodds and Sidney Bechet. Founded the Young Olympia Band with Buddy Petit. Also closely associated with Freddie Keppard, including in the Original Creole Band. Perhaps best known for leading the Apex Club Orchestra. Has also worked with Kid Ory, Papa Celestin, King Oliver, and the Tuxedo Brass Band ~ Noone was born in 1895
April 19, 1942 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter Alan Price born in Fatfield, UK ~ Original keyboardist of the Animals, remaining with the band through 1965. Eponym and frontman of the Alan Price Set, known for the UK top 20 hits Simon Smith & The Amazing Dancing Bear, The House That Jack Built, and Don't Stop The Carnival. Notably scored the 1971 hit Rosetta, a collaboration with Georgie Fame. Also worked with boogie-woogie pianist Rob Hoeke on the 1977 Two Of A Kind collaborative album and with Trevor Peacock on the 1982 Andy Capp soundtrack album for the musical of the same name
April 19, 1942 ~ Hilario D Ramos Jr, commonly known as guitarist, banjoist, singer, songwriter Larry Ramos, born in Waimea, Hawaii, USA ~ Member of the New Christy Minstrels from 1962 through 1966, including on the band's The Exciting New Folk Chorus debut album. Following his departure from the band has worked as a studio musician and back-up singer and released the 1966 solo single It'll Take A Little Time prior to joining the Association in 1967 as replacement for Jules Gary Alexander, present at the band's performance at the Monterey International Pop Festival held in Monterey, California, in 1967. Ramos also sang co-lead on the singles Windy and Never My Love ~ Ramos passed away in 2014
April 19, 1941 ~ Roberto Carlos Braga, commonly known as singer, songwriter Roberto Carlos born in Cachoeiro do Ilapemirim, Brazil ~ Influenced by Elvis Presley and 1950s rock & roll. Considered one of the most influential singers in 1960s Brazilian music. Closely associated with Erasmo Carlos with whom he co-authored the majority of his songs. Known for recordings such as A Estoria Do Homem May (Old Man Moses), Eu Nao Quero Ver Voce Triste, Lobo Mau, and De Vale Tudo Isso
April 19, 1940 ~ Singer, songwriter Bobby Russell born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ As a singer known for the crossover pop hit Saturday Morning Confusion. As a songwriter best known for The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia, a hit for his then-wife Vicki Lawrence. Russell also wrote songs such as Little Green Apples (OC Smith, Roger Miller), Honey (Bobby Goldsboro), Do You Know Who I Am (Elvis Presley), and The Joker Went Wild (Brian Hyland) ~ Russell passed away in 1992
April 19, 1939 ~ Country singer, songwriter Bill Rice, full name Wilburn Steven Rice, born in Dalto, Arkansas, USA ~ As a singer charted about half a dozen singles on the Billboard Country charts throughout the 1970s, most notably Travelin' Minstrel Man which reached top 40. Best known as a songwriter though, his songs recorded by the likes of Johnny Paycheck, Jeannie C Riley (Back Side Of Dallas), Reba McEntire (I'm Not That Lonely Yet), Mickey Gilley (Here Comes The Hurt Again), Charley Pride, Elvis Presley (The Girl Next Door Went A-Walking), Hank Williams Jr, Patty Loveless (Lonely Too Long), and Jerry Lee Lewis ~ Rice passed away in 2023
April 19, 1936 ~ R&B soul singer Ruby Johnson born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, USA ~ Enjoyed a number of local hits in the Washington DC area including Calling All Boys, Here I Go Again, Nobody Cares. Signed to Stax/Volt in 1965 where under the guidance of Isaac Hayes and David Porter recorded a number of moderately successful hits backed by musicians such as Steve Cropper, Donald Duck Dunn and Al Jackson Jr. Her I'll Run Your Hurt Away and If I Ever Needed Love would continue to be included on compilation sets to this day. Johnson retired from music in 1974 ~ Johnson passed away in 1999
April 19, 1935 ~ Actor, comedian, singer, composer Dudley Moore, full name Dudley Stuart John Moore, born in London, UK ~ Best known as leading figure in the UK's late 1960s satire boom and an in-demand comedy actor, notably in 1981's Arthur earning him an Academy Award nomination. Also an accomplished pianist, often with a satirical or comic twist and noted for the mid 1960s singles Goodbye-ee and The Ballad Of Spotty Muldoon both in collaboration with Peter Cook ~ Moore passed away in 2002
April 19, 1934 ~ Engineer, producer Bruce Swedien born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ First gained attention as engineer on the Four Seasons' 1962 hit single Big Girls Don't Cry. Would go on to become one of America's most esteemed engineers, perhaps best known for his work with Michael Jackson engineering albums such as Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad. Other notable credits include the Chi-lites, Natalie Cole (Inseparable), Quincy Jones, George Benson, Donna Summer, Roberta Flack, Michael McDonald, Barbra Streisand, the Isley Brothers, and Herbie Hancock ~ Swedien passed away in 2020
April 19, 1928 ~ Alexis Andrew Nicholas Koerner, commonly known as singer, guitarist, pianist Alexis Korner, born in Paris, France ~ Founding father of British blues. Founded Blues Incorporated, a loose-knit group which at times included Charlie Watts, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Long John Baldry, Graham Bond, Danny Thompson, Dick Heckstall-Smith, and Cyril Davies. Formed the trio Free At Last, playing with Hughie Flint and Binky McKenzie. Formed CCS, employing both blues, blues-rock musicians and jazz players including Art Themen, Mel Collins, Lol Coxhill, Dick Morrisey, John Surman, and Mike Zwerin ~ Koerner passed away in 1984
April 19, 1921 ~ Max Rosen, commonly known as harpist, songwriter Robert Maxwell, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best remembered for co-writing Shangri-La recorded by the Four Coins and by the Lettermen, and for co-writing Ebb Tide, recorded by Frank Chacksfield, Vic Damone, Ella Fitzgerald, the Platters, the Righteous Brothers, Tom Jones, and by numerous others ~ Rosen passed away in 2012
April 19, 1917 ~ Singer, producer, label executive, songwriter Johnny Hoes, full name Johannes Andreas Hoes, born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands ~ As a singer best known for songs such as Och Was Ik Maar Bij Moeder Thuis Gebleven, Sneeuwwitte Boezem, Daar Mag Je Alleen Naar Kijken, Vader Waar Is Moeder Gebleven and Waar We Heengaan (Jelle Zal Wel Zien), all of which reached top 10 in the Netherlands between 1961 and 1967. Founded the Telstar label, for which Hoes discovered and produced acts such as de Alpenzusjes, Zangeres Zonder Naam, Eddy Wally, de Heikrekels, Normaal, Doe Maar, and Henk Wijngaard. Internationally best known for producing de Electronicas' 1980 hit single De Vogeltjesdans, a remake of a 1950 accordeon song Tchip Tchip. The song would go on to become a global hit, known in English as Chicken Dance, with an estimated 370 cover versions selling some 40 million copies globally ~ Hoes passed away in 2011April 19, 1916 ~ The revue The Bing Boys Are Here starring George Robey and Violet Loraine premiers at Alhambra Theatre, London, UK ~ Music by Nat D Ayer, lyrics by Clifford Grey. The musical is perhaps best remembered for the George Robey and Violet Loraine duet If You Were The Only Girl (In The World), which has since become a standard recorded by numerous artists including Perry Como, Doris Day, Sam Cooke, and Barbra Streisand. Some female singers would cover the song as If You Were The Only Boy (In The World)
April 19, 1915 ~ Violet May Burnside, commonly known as jazz saxophonist, bandleader Vi Burnside, born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Spent much of her career in all-female bands, notably the Dixie Rhythm Girls, the Harlem Play-Girls, the International Sweethearts Of Rhythm. Led her own ensemble, Vi Burnside's All-Stars, from 1949 forward employing sidewomen such as Flo Dreyer and Pauline Brady ~ Burnside passed away in 1964