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 2, 2026 ~ Drummer James Gadson, full name James Edward Gadson, passed away ~ One of the most-recorded drummers in history. Member of Charles Wright's Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, with whom he recorded three albums during the late 1960s. Along with other members of Wright's band, Gadson would appear on several hit records of Dyke & the Blazers. However, Gadson would come truly into his own, becoming an in-demand session drummer over the following decade. In the early 1970s, Gadson may have been most closely associated with Bill Withers, notably present on hits such as Ain't No Sunshine, Lean On Me, and Use Me, and co-producing Withers' highly acclaimed Still Bill breakout album. Gadson has played on several of the 1970s most memorable R&B hits, including Dancing Machine (the Jackson 5), Don't Leave Me This Way (Thelma Houston), I Want You (Marvin Gaye), Love Hangover (Diana Ross), and I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor), and remained a highly sought-after session drummer for decades. Over the course of his lengthy career, Gadson has played on albums by the likes of Tavares, the Temptations, Quincy Jones (Body Heat), Yvonne Fair (The Bitch Is Black), Herbie Hancock, Kenny Rankin (Inside), Sonny Criss, Albert King, Leon Ware (Musical Massage), Phoebe Snow, Gene Harris, Randy Crawford, Natalie Cole, Rose Royce, the Emotions (Rejoice), Gary Bartz, the Pointer Sisters, Lenny Williams (Choosing You), Jimmy Smith, Sylvester, Yvonne Elliman (Night Flight), Pharoah Sanders, Smokey Robinson, Melissa Manchester, Aretha Franklin, the Gap Band, Patrice Rushen, Paulinho Da Costa, Donna Summer (Bad Girls), Bobby Womack (The Poet), Teena Marie, Leonard Cohen, BB King, Paul McCartney, and Justin Timberlake. In a 2007 interview with Modern Drummer, Gadson stated most grooves, especially for dance music, are very simple, however the trick is to slow them down: “A lot of times we do all these rudimental things to see how fast we can play. I think you have to slow it all down and simplify it. Then you can kind of feel whether it's danceable or not” ~ Gadson was born in 1939
April 2, 2024 ~ Band manager, producer, songwriter Jerry Abbott, full name Jerry Bob Abbott, passed away in Denton, Texas, USA ~ Father of heavy metal band Pantera founders drummer Vinnie Paul and guitarist Dimebag Darrell. Has served as his sons band's manager and produced a number of their early albums. Abbott has also produced artists such as blues guitarist Bugs Henderson, and worked as songwriter and producer for the likes of Gene Watson, Freddy Fender, Buck Owens (Play Together Again Again), and Emmylou Harris ~ Abbott was born in 1942
April 2, 2023 ~ Label executive Seymour Stein passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Had the opportunity to sign Jimi Hendrix in 1966, yet decided against it after seeing Hendrix smash his guitar on-stage and argue with Stein's friend, model Linda Keith, on successive occasions. After positions at King Records and Billboard, Stein co-founded Sire Records with Richard Gottehrer in the mid 1960s. Would be incremental to the careers of pop, rock, and new wave artists of the 1970s and 1980s including the Ramones, Talking Heads, the Pretenders, Depeche Mode, the Cure, Ice-T, and Echo & the Bunnymen. Stein remained active with Sire Records and Warner Bros Records until his retirement in 2018 ~ Stein was born in 1942
April 2, 2021 ~ Composer Simon Bainbridge passed away ~ As a composer known for intricate and sensuous textures, drawing from idioms as diverse as minimalism and be-bop. Well known works include 1983's Concerto In Moto Perpetuo and the 1994 Miles Davis-tribute For Miles. Head of composition at the Royal Academy Of Music in London from 1999 through 2007, the UK's oldest and perhaps most renowned conservatory. Married to soprano, vocal coach Lynda Richardson ~ Bainbridge was born in 1952
April 2, 2017 ~ Singer Mo Jamil wins The Voice UK ~ Mo Jamil wins the sixth season of talent show The Voice UK aired on ITV, landing him a record deal with Polydor Records. The other finalists were Into The Ark, Jamie Miller and Michelle John. Jamil's debut single Unsteady released following his success on the show would peak in the low 70s on the UK charts. A full-length debut album, Evolve, released the following year reached top 40 but failed to produce any hit singles
April 2, 2016 ~ Leandro Barbieri, commonly known as jazz clarinetist, tenor saxophonist, bandleader Gato Barbieri, passed away in New York, USA ~ Rose to fame during the free jazz movement in the 1960s. Known for his latin jazz recordings of the 1970s. Influenced by John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, Pharoah Sanders. Mixed Latin rhythms, free jazz, avant-garde, soul jazz, jazz-pop and smooth jazz. Film composer, awarded a Grammy for his Last Tango In Paris soundtrack. Worked with Lalo Schifrin, Don Cherry, Charlie Haden (Music Liberation Orchestra), Oliver Nelson, Alan Shorter, Antonello Venditti, and Carla Bley. Recorded as a leader from the late 1960s well into the 1980s ~ Barbieri was born in 1932April 2, 2016 ~ Rock drummer, guitarist, singer Malcolm Tomlinson passed away in Toronto, Canada ~ Member of mid 1960s outfit Motivation, known for touring as support act for the likes of Lee Dorsey, Edwin Starr, Alvin Robinson, and the Coasters. The band would eventually change their name to Penny Peeps and later still evolve into Gethsemane ~ Tomlinson was born in 1946
April 2, 2015 ~ Rock, pop rock singer Jacques Kloes passed away in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands ~ Thriving force behind the Dizzy Man's Band, remaining with the band through 1978, known for songs such as The Show, The Opera, Rio, Matter Of Facts and Tickatoo, the latter an adaptation of Creedence Clearwater Revival's Down On The Corner. As a solo artist Kloes would have some moderate succes, notably the 1979 hit You Make It Alright with Patricia Paay, Once Or Twice and Fantastische Vrouw, before retiring from music in the 1990s ~ Kloes was born in 1948April 2, 2010 ~ Cool jazz trombonist, bass trumpeter, singer Mike Zwerin passed away in Paris, France ~ Leader and sideman. Perhaps best known for his association with Miles Davis, present on Davis's Birth Of The Cool sessions. Has also worked with Maynard Ferguson, Claude Thornhill, Archie Shepp, George Gruntz, Alexis Korner, Alan Silva, and Sugar Blue ~ Zwerin was born in 1930
April 2, 2009 ~ Clifford Everett Shank, commonly known as saxophonist, flutist Bud Shank, passed away in Tucson, Arizona, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Rose to prominence playing with Stan Kenton. Sessioned for the Mamas & the Papas, playing alto flute solo on California Dreamin'. Formed the LA 4 in the 1970s, teaming up with Ray Brown, Shelly Manne and Laurindo Almeida. Also played with Shorty Rogers, Bill Perkins, Frank Morgan, Chet Baker, Elmer Bernstein, Buddy Bregman, Charlie Byrd, Gene Clark, Nat King Cole, Buddy Collette, Ron Elliott, Maynard Ferguson, Clare Fischer, Jimmy Giuffre, Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne, Sérgio Mendes, Hugo Montenegro, Gerry Mulligan, Oliver Nelson, Harry Nilsson (on the 1975 LP Duit On Mon Dei), Anita O'Day, Patti Page, extensively with Pete Rugolo, with Boz Scaggs, Lalo Schifrin, Ravi Shankar, and Duke Ellington ~ Shank was born in 1926
April 2, 2006 ~ Bernard Seigal, commonly known as guitarist, music critic Buddy Blue passed away in La Mesa, California, USA ~ Founding member of roots country, rock & roll outfit the Beat Farmers. Fronted the Buddy Blue Band. Member of the Jacks. Music critic for a number of newspapers including the San Jose Mercury News and the Los Angeles Times ~ Blue was born in 1957
April 2, 2003 ~ Charles Hatcher, commonly known as R&B singer Edwin Starr, passed away in Chitwell, UK ~ Active since the mid 1960s, scoring hits with Agent Double-O-Soul, I'll Love You Forever, 25 Miles and his best known, the 1970 Vietnam-war protest song War reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Would continue to record to moderate success throughout the funk and disco era, enjoying popularity in the UK throughout the end of the 1970s, notable singles being Eye To Eye Contact and HAPPY Radio ~ Hatcher was born in 1942
April 2, 2002 ~ Betty Jane Phillips, commonly known as singer Betty Jane Baker, passed away in Rancho Mirage, California, USA ~ Sang backup for Elvis Presley (Can't Help Falling In Love, A Little Less Conversation), Frank Sinatra (That's Life), Bobby Darin (Dream Lover), the Righteous Brothers (You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'), Sam Cooke (You Send Me), Lloyd Price (Stagger Lee), and the Anita Kerr Singers. Married to actor Mickey Rooney from 1944 to 1949, with whom she has two children. Married to composer Buddy Baker from 1950 to 1957. Married to jazz guitarist Barney Kessel from 1961 to 1980 ~ Phillips was born in 1927
April 2, 2001 ~ Rapper Eve releases Let Me Blow Ya Mind featuring Gwen Stefani, lifted off her Scorpion sophomore album ~ Produced by Dr Dre and Scott Storch, Let Me Blow Ya Mind would become Eve's first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, peaking at No.2, and earned Eve and Gwen Stefani the very first Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. A few years after the success of the Eve-Stefani collaboration, Eve in return guested on Gwen Stefani's Rich Girl Billboard Hot 100 No.7 hit off of Stefani's 2004 Love Angel Music Baby solo debut album
April 2, 1995 ~ Jazz, avant-garde jazz, free jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Julius Hemphill, full name Julius Arthur Hemphill, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Gerry Mulligan, studied with John Carter, and early on in his career backed Ike Turner. Founded the World Saxophone Quartet, with whom he recorded well over half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Steppin' With The World Saxophone Quartet and Plays Duke Ellington. Hemphill also recorded well over a dozen album as a leader, notably Dogon AD and Fat Man And The Hard Blues, and has guested on albums by Anthony Braxton, Lester Bowie, Baikida Carroll (Shadows And Reflections), Jean-Paul Bourelly, Bill Frisell, Darrell Katz, and Björk. Songs written by Hemphill have been recorded by Oliver Lake, Doyle Lawson (Lord To Know I Have You), Hamiet Bluiett (Mirrors), and Marty Ehrlich ~ Hemphill was born in 1938
April 2, 1994 ~ Jazz trumpeter Rowland Greenberg passed away in Oslo, Norway ~ Pivotal to Norwegian jazz in the 1940s and 1950s. Banned and jailed by the Nazis for viewing jazz films. Worked with the Hot Dogs, the Funny Boys, George Shearing, Vic Lewis, Arvid Gram Paulsen, Lulle Kristofferson, Pete Brown, Gordon Franklin, Robert Normann, Kjell Bjornstad, Frank Hansen, Lyder Vengbo, Fred Lange-Nielsen, Cecil Aagard, Thore Erling, Malte Johnson, Sam Samson, Miles Davis, Bill Coleman, Jimmy McPartland, Aimé Barelli, Egil Monn-Iversen, Leiv Flisnes, Mikkel Flagstad, Totti Bergh, Knut Young, Ivar Wefring, Bjorn Krokfoss, Ben Webster, and Teddy Wilson ~ Greenberg was born in 1920
April 2, 1991 ~ Singer Lenny Kravitz releases his Mama Said sophomore album ~ Further refining his style started on his Let Love Rule debut album, Lenny Kravitz's sophomore album would give him his first major hits. The lead single Always On The Run would be his first top 10 hit in the Netherlands, while its follow-up It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over reached top 20 at home and top 10 in the UK. Guitarist Slash guests on Always On The Run, initially a Guns 'n Roses draft, and on Fields Of Joy. The pair actually were former Beverly Hills High School schoolmates, yet never were close in school. Kravitz would later recall: “When my first album was out, I went to the American Music Awards and Guns 'n Roses were getting awards and they were sitting in front of me. He and I just kept looking at each other. Then we realized we knew each other from school. So we started talking and were excited to meet each other again, especially the fact we were both making music.”
April 2, 1991 ~ Quavious Keyate Marshall, commonly known as rapper Quavo, born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA ~ Co-founding member, frontman of hip-hop group Migos, known best for their 2016 Bad And Boujee hit single featuring Lil' Uzi Vert. Other well known songs include T-Shirt, Motorsport featuring Nicki Minaj & Cardi B, Stir Fry, and Walk It Talk It featuring Drake. Released his full-length Quavo Huncho solo debut album in 2018
April 2, 1987 ~ Bernard Rich, commonly known as drummer Buddy Rich, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Arguably the first superstar drummer, influential on generations of later drummers including rock drummers such as Led Zeppelin's John Bonham, Deep Purple's Ian Paice, Phil Collins, Black Sabbath's Bill Ward, Green Day's Tré Cool, Blink-182's Travis Barker, and Queen's Roger Taylor. Well over three dozen albums as a leader, specificall acclaimed for Richcraft, Mercy Mercy and Buddy Rich In London. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Harry Sweets Edison, Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, Dizzy Gillespie, and Tommy Dorsey ~ Rich was born in 1917April 2, 1986 ~ Leon James DeWyze Junior, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Lee DeWyze, born in Mount Prospect, Illinois, USA ~ Winner of 9th season of talent show American Idol in 2010. Had previously independently released two albums, starting with So I'm Told in 2007, which did not chart. His first post-Idol album, 2010's Live It Up would reach the top 20 on Billboard's Hot 200. DeWyze has recorded steadily since, albeit it to limited chart succes
April 2, 1986 ~ Ruth-Anne Cunningham, mononymously known as singer, songwriter Ruth-Anne, born in Ireland ~ Has released a handful of recordings as a singer. Best known as a songwriter, co-writing songs for Shakaya, JoJo (Too Little Too Late), Westlife, Britney Spears, Alex & Sierra, One Direction (Where Do Broken Hearts Go), Thirdstory, Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha, Niall Horan, and Liam PayneApril 2, 1986 ~ Indie rock, folk rock, soul, funk, pop singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, drummer, songwriter Theo Katzman born in New York, New York, USA ~ Son of jazz trumpeter Lee Katzman. Member of Ella Riot. Member of funk outfit Vulfpeck. Has also recorded as a solo artist, noted for his Modern Johnny Sings (Songs In The Age Of Vibe) album released in 2020
April 2, 1983 ~ Clara Francisca Gonçalves, commonly known as samba, MPB singer Clara Nunes, passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Dubbed “the Queen of Samba”, Nunes was considered one of the greatest Brazilian singers of her day alongside Alcione Nazareth and Beth Carvalho, enjoying popularity especially during the 1970s with over a dozen albums to her name including collaborations with Vinicius de Moraes and Paulo Gracindo. Well known songs include Você Passa Eu Acho Graça, E Baiana, Conto De Areia, O Mar Serenou, Coraçãlo Leviano, Na Linha Do Mar, Morena De Angola, and Nação ~ Gonçalves was born in 1942
April 2, 1982 ~ Pop, show tunes songwriter Sam Coslow passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Known for songs such as Sing You Sinners (the Harlem Hot Chocolates, Susan Hayward, Tony Bennett), Jammin' (Abe Lyman, Mike Riley), The Moon Song (Kate Smith, Wayne King, Doris Day), I Guess It Had To Be This Way (Bing Crosby, Champ Butler), True Confession (Dorothy Lamour, Connee Boswell) ~ Coslow was born in 1902
April 2, 1982 ~ New wave, pop rock outfit the Simple Minds release Promised You A Miracle, lifted off their New Gold Dream album ~ The band had released five critically acclaimed albums since the late 1970s, but it was when they changed their style from art-rock to a more pop-oriented radio-friendly sound that they would score their first hit. Promised You A Miracle would be their first single to chart in the UK, and peaked at a respectable No.13. Lead singer Jim Kerr would later explain on the band's website: “More than anything what I needed there and then as I attempted to write our first bona-fide hit song, was to discover something that would strike clearly and was obviously catchy enough to lodge in the brain of any casual listeners who came across it on radio”.
April 2, 1982 ~ Conductor, oboist Victor Aviat born in Montpellier, France ~ Served as principal oboist with the Zurich Opera House, the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Budapest Festival Orchestra, and the Orchestra Mozart. As a conductor, Aviat is perhaps best known for conducting Jacques Offenbach's operetta Le Roi Carotte with the Opéra de Lyon which won Aviat an International Opera Award for Best Rediscovered Work in 2016. Aviat has also led the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in the late 2010s, and has composed several works, most notably Sur le Danube. Aviat passed away from a brain tumour at age 42 ~ Aviat passed away in 2025