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 20, 1948 ~ Keyboardist Craig Frost born in Flint, Michigan, USA ~ Perhaps best known as member of Bob Seger's backing unit Silver Bullet Band for over two decades, starting on the 1980 Against The Wind album replacing Robyn Robbins. Has previously played with Grand Funk Railroad until its disbandement in 1977, including on most of the band's best known such as The Loco-Motion and We're An American Band. Also worked with the shortly-lived Flint and with Terry Knight & the Pack
April 20, 1948 ~ Folk, blues harpist, guitarist, singer Dave Peabody born in Southall, UK ~ Debuted as a solo artist in 1973 with the album Peabody Hotel. As a guitarist known for his fingerpicking style. Has worked with Polly Floskin, Tight Like That, early incarnations of Savoy Brown and Fleetwood Mac, Alan Glen, and with blues luminaries such as Charlie Musselwhite and Big Joe DuskinApril 20, 1948 ~ Jazz, hard bop, modal jazz pianist Joe Bonner born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA ~ Influenced by McCoy Tyner and Art Tatum. Over a dozen albums as a leader, especially acclaimed for 1981's Impressions Of Copenhagen. Appears on albums by Pharoah Sanders (Black Unity), Roy Haynes, Azar Lawrence (Bridge Into The New Age), Shirley Scott, and Fred Wesley ~ Bonner passed away in 2014
April 20, 1947 ~ Murray Franklin Cannon, commonly known as country songwriter, producer Buddy Cannon, born in Lexington, Tennessee, USA ~ Father of songer Melonie Cannon and of songwriter Marla Cannon Goodman. Best known as producer for Kenny Chesney. As a songwriter, Cannon had his work recorded by artists such as Vern Gosdin, George Strait (Give It Away), Billy Ray Cyrus, and Mel Tillis. As a producer he has worked with Chely Wright, Reba McEntire, George Jones, Louise Mandrell, Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard
April 20, 1945 ~ Rock keyboardist, guitarist Jimmy Winston, full name James Edward Winston Langwith, born in Stratford, UK ~ Original keyboardist for the Small Faces, replaced in late 1965 by Ian McLagan. Winston is present on the band's first two singles, Whatcha Gonna Do About It, which reached No.14 in their native UK, and its follow-up I've Got Mine. Winston has since only recorded sporadically as a solo artist and with Winston's Fumbs, and has made some appearances as an actor for film and TV series ~ Winston passed away in 2020April 20, 1944 ~ Bluegrass, country, gospel singer, mandolinist Doyle Lawson born in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for fronting Quicksilver, acclaimed for the 1981 Rock My Soul album considered a landmark album in bluegrass gospel. Self-taught on mandolin, later also learning banjo and guitar. Active since the early 1960s. Has worked with Jimmy Martin, JD Crowe, the Country Gentlemen, and the Bluegrass Album Band
April 20, 1940 ~ Bassist Tim Drummond, full name Timothy Lee Drummond, born in Bloomington, Illinois, USA ~ In-demand touring and session musician. Closely associated with Jim Keltner, forming the session rhythm duo Tim & Jim. Wrote or co-wrote several songs of the artists he worked with including To Lay Down Beside You (Joe Simon), Sip The Wine (Rick Danko), Saddle Up The Palomino (Neil Young), Down In Hollywood (Ry Cooder), Saved (Bob Dylan), and Satisfy Susie (Lonnie Mack). Other notable credits include Mother Earth, JJ Cale, Ronnie Hawkins, Graham Nash, Michelle Phillips, Bette Midler, David Crosby, Neil Diamond, Eric Clapton, and Jewel ~ Drummond passed away in 2015
April 20, 1938 ~ Pop, country pop singer, songwriter Johnny Tillotson born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Known for a string of 1960s Billboard top 10 hits including Poetry In Motion, Without You, Talk Back Trembling Lips and perhaps his best known the self-penned It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin', the latter notably covered by Elvis Presley on his acclaimed 1969 From Elvis In Memphis album. It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin' has also been recorded by over 50 others including Dean Martin, Eddy Arnold, Albert West, Conway Twitty, and Billy Joe Royal ~ Tillotson passed away in 2025
April 20, 1937 ~ Singer, songwriter, actor, screenwriter Björn Skiffs, full name Björn Nils Olof Skiffs, born in Vansbro, Sweden ~ Known as co-founding member of 1960s pop bands the Slam Creepers and Blåblus, and perhaps most notably as lead singer of 1970s otufit Blue Swede known for their 1974 Billboard No.1 hit Hooked On A Feeling, originally recorded by BJ Thomas in 1968. As a solo artist known for his 1975 Schiffz, which included the Anni-Frid Lyngstad-duet Med Varann. Also known for representing Sweden twice in the Eurovision Songfestival, namely in 1978 with Det Blir Alltid Värre Framåt Natted reaching 14th place, in 1981 with Fångad I En Drö reaching 10th place
April 20, 1936 ~ William Godvin Harris, commonly known as jazz drummer, bandleader Beaver Harris, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Closely associated with Archie Shepp. Founded 360 Degree Music Experience, which at times included some of the premier artists of the day including Buster Williams, Hamiet Bluiett, Don Pullen, and Jimmy Garrison. Has also worked with Marion Brown, Dexter Gordon, the Blue Humans, Albert Ayler, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Jordan, Sheila Jordan, Lee Konitz, Thelonious Monk, Roswell Rudd, Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Stitt, Chet Baker, Doc Cheatham, Larry Coryell, Gato Barbieri, Charles Greenlee, Vincent Herring, Steve Lacy, and Massimo Urbani ~ Harris passed away in 1991
April 20, 1936 ~ Jazz drummer Billy James born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Active since the 1950s, quickly making a name for himself while still in his mid-teens backing Lionel Hampton. Highly admired by fellow drummers, contemporaries as well as later sticksmen. Recorded with Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Eric Kloss, Shirley Scott, and extensively with both Don Patterson and Sonny Stitt during the 1960s, including on the latter's masterpiece Soul People album released in 1966. Later associations would include Eddie Harris, Clarence Wheeler, and Houston Person ~ James passed away in 2009
April 20, 1935 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Ran Blake born in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA ~ Known for a dark jazz sound drawing from blues, gospel, classical and film noir. Actively recording since the early 1960s as leader, solo artist and sideman. Has worked with Jeanne Lee, George Duvivier, Anthony Braxton, Houston Person, Steve Lacy, and Enrico Rava
April 20, 1934 ~ Rock & roll, rockabilly double bassist Ray Campi, full name Raymond Charles Campi, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Active since the mid 1950s. Resurged in the early 1970s. Best known for songs such as Caterpillar, You Gambled Me, and for The Ballad Of Donna And Peggy Sue. Has toured extensively, especially throughout Europe. Worked with Mae West, Rosie Flores, Bobby Fats Mizell, Ian Whitcomb, Kevin Fennell, and Rip Masters ~ Campi passed away in 2021April 20, 1933 ~ Mary Ann Janisch, commonly known as music critic Mary Ann Feldman, born in St Paul, Minnesota, USA ~ PR advisor for the Minnesota Orchestra. Member of board of directors of Music Critics Association from 1977 until 1981. As a music critic worked for outlets such as Musical America, Opera News, the Minneapolis Star and The New Grove Dictionary Of Music And Musicians ~ Feldman passed away in 2019
April 20, 1932 ~ Classical cellist Farquhar Wilkinson, full name Farquhar Davis Wilkinson, born in Oamaru, New Zealand ~ Principal cellist with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra from 1955 through 1992. Has also worked with the New Zealand National Youth Orchestra, the Alex Lindsay String Orchestra, the Aspey String Quartet, and the London Symphony Orchestra ~ Wilkinson passed away 2022
April 20, 1932 ~ Producer, songwriter, singer Gerry Granahan born in Pittston, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for his work in the 1950s and 1960s. Demo singer for Elvis Presley. As a solo artist best known for his 1958 hit No Chemise Please. Also co-wrote and recorded Click Clack, released under the pseudonym Dickey Doo & the Dont's for contractual reasons. The single's succes would prompt Granahan to record several more using the same moniker, including Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu, Leave Me Alone (Let Me Cry) and Teardrops Will Fall. Granahan would venture into producing by the 1960s, working with artists such as Fireflies, James Ray, Patty Duke, Jay & the Americans and notably produce the original version of the Wild Ones' Wild Thing, the latter song later made famous by the Troggs ~ Granahan passed away in 2022
April 20, 1923 ~ Ernesto Antonio Puente Jr, commonly known as timbales player, vibraphonist, bandleader Tito Puente born in New York, New York, USA ~ Dubbed “the King of the Timbales” and considered one of the most important and influential artists in Latin music with a career spanning 5 decades. To rock audiences best known for penning and first recording Oye Como Va, notably covered by Santana ~ Puente passed away in 2000April 20, 1921 ~ Antonio Junius Jackson, commonly known as pianist, singer, composer Tony Jackson, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Son of freed slaves. Influenced Clarence Williams, Steve Lewis, and Jelly Roll Morton. Served as mentor to the far from modest Morton who even ranked him “the only musician better than himself”. Best remembered for Pretty Baby, written about his male lover ~ Jackson was born in 1882
April 20, 1909 ~ Vibraphonist, pianist, bandleader Lionel Hampton, full name Lionel Leo Hampton, born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Renowned bandleader, known for employing a great deal of future jazz stars early on in their career including Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus and Quincy Jones. Especially noted for his 1942 recording of Flying Home, featuring Illinois Jacquet's saxophone solo often cited as the first R&B sax solo ~ Hampton passed away in 2002