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 23, 2023 ~ R&B, funk drummer Isaac Wiley Jr passed away ~ Member of funk outfit the Dazz Band from its inception in 1977 through 1985. The band also included his brother bassist Michael Wiley and is known best for their 1982 Let It Whip Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit. Wiley is also present on songs such as On The One For Fun, Keep It Live (On The KIL), Joystick, Swoop (I'm Yours), and Let It All Blow, all of which reached top 20 on the Billboard R&B charts. Wiley has also backed jazz artists such as Najee, Stanley Clarke, and Bob James ~ Wiley was born ca.1954
April 23, 2023 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Keith Gattis passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ As a solo artist known for his single Little Drops Of My Heart of his 1996 eponymous Keith Gattis debut album. Wrote or co-wrote songs recorded by Charlie Robison, Kenny Chesney (El Cerrito Place). George Strait (I Got A Car), and by Randy Houser (What Whiskey Does). Played with George Jones, Dwight Yoakam, Willie Nelson, Kid Rock, Randy Houser, Gary Allan, Ashley Monroe, Allison Moorer, Waylon Payne, Miranda Lambert, Wade Bowen, Sara Evans, Brandy Clark, the Randy Rogers Band, Randy Travis, and the Eli Young Band ~ Gattis was born in 1970
April 23, 2022 ~ Arnold Charles Ernest Hintjens, commonly known as singer, songwriter Arno, passed away in Brussels, Belgium ~ Known for his raspy voice. Rose to fame in the 1980s as frontman of TC Matic, one of the most important Belgian rock bands known for songs such as Oh La La La, Qua Pasa and Putain Putain. Debuted as a solo artist with the eponymous Arno album in 1986. Especially acclaimed for his Idiots Savant album, released in 1993. Sang the Dutch version of Randy Newman's You've Got A Friend In Me, retitled Je Bent Een Vriend Van Mij, for a Dutch-language version of Pixar's 1995 Toy Story animated film ~ Hintjens was born in 1949
April 23, 2021 ~ Country songwriter, producer Charlie Black, full name Charles Frank Black, passed away ~ First gained attention penning Girl You Eased My Mind for Tommy Overstreet. Others who have recorded his songs include Anne Murray, Gary Morris, Earl Thomas Conley, Johnny Paycheck, Phil Vassar. Married to songwriter Dana Hunt ~ Black was born in 1949
April 23, 2021 ~ Maria Ilba Biolcati, commonly known as singer, actress, TV personality Milva, passed away in Milan, Italy ~ Dubbed “La Rossa”, the Redhead, for the colour of her hair and for her leftist political views. Popular stage and musical singer, actress. Has worked with orchestras such as La Scala, the Deutsche Oper, and the Paris Opera. Actvely recording as a solo artist since the early 1960s, drawing from a wide array of genres including pop, schlager, chanson. Acclaimed as interpreter of the oeuvre of singer Edith Piaf. Has collaborated with composers, songwriters such as Ennio Morricone, Mikis Theodorakis, Enzo Jannacci, Vangelis and Franco Battiato ~ Biolcati was born in 1939April 23, 2018 ~ Jazz pianist Art Simmons, full name Arthur Eugene Simmons, passed away in Beckley, West Virginia, USA ~ Worked with Charlie Parker, Kenny Clarke, Aaron Bridgers, Don Byas, Robert Mavounzy, Nelson Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Bertice Reading, Michel Gaudry, Pierre Cullaz, Elek Bacsik, Carmen McRae, Billie Holiday, and Art Taylor ~ Simmons was born in 1926
April 23, 2016 ~ Singer Bruce Springsteen opens his Brooklyn, New York, show with a rendition of Purple Rain in honor of the recently deceased Prince ~ Bruce Springsteen honors Prince, who had died two days earlier of an accidental fentanyl overdose, opening the show with a rendition of Purple Rain, one of the late singer's best known, guitarist Nils Lofgren prominently playing the guitar solo. For the occasion, deviating from their usual black Springsteen's backing unit the E Street Band is dressed in purple, a color closely associated with Prince
April 23, 2016 ~ Rock, blues rock guitarist Vjatseslav Kobrin, also known as Slavka Kobrin, passed away in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica ~ Considered one of the premiere guitarists to come out of Russia. Founded rock group Rok-Steyabr in the late 1970s. Would go on to collaborate with Yuri Shevchuk, DDT, the Magnetic Band, and Jaak Joala. Co-founding member, songwriter for Ultima Thule, one of the most influential Estonian bands of the 1980s and 1990s ~ Kobrin was born in 1958
April 23, 2012 ~ William Taylor Bryans, commonly known as funk, rock, world drummer, singer, engineer, producer, songwriter, film composer Billy Bryans, passed away in Toronto, Canada ~ Cited by renowned producer Daniel Lanois as an inspiration. Well-known for his association with the Downchild Blues Band, including producing the band's first notable hit Flip Flop & Fly. Co-founding member of the Parachute Club. Especially noted for producing Lillian Allen's award-winning albums Revolutionary Tea Party and Conditions Critical. Co-wrote the soundtrack to the 1989 thriller Office Party. Also noted for helping promote Latin music in Canada in the 2000s, advancing the careers of Laura Fernandez, Aline Morales, and Alex Cuba ~ Bryans was born in 1947
April 23, 2012 ~ Bassist, pianist Chris Ethridge, full name John Christopher Ethridge, passed away in Meridian, Mississippi, USA ~ Best known for his association with Gram Parsons, serving as a member of the International Submarine Band and the Flying Burrito Brothers. Co-wrote Hot Burrito No.1 and Hot Burrito No.2 for the latter. Ethridge would go on to become an in-demand session and touring musician for numerous country-tinged acts, including eight years with Willie Nelson. Ehtridge has also worked with the likes of Nancy Sinatra, Judy Collins, Johnny Winter, Ry Cooder, Leon Russell, Randy Newman, Linda Ronstadt, the Byrds, and Jackson Browne ~ Etheridge was born in 1947April 23, 2011 ~ Producer, label executive Huey P Meaux, full name Huey Purvis Meaux, passed away in Winnie, Texas, USA ~ Has worked with artists such as the Sir Douglas Quintet (She's About A Mover), Freddy Fender (Before The Next Teardrop Falls, Wasted Days And Wasted Nights), Barbara Lynn (You'll Lose A Good Thing), Sunny & the Sunliners (Talk To Me), and Gene Summers (Big Blue Diamonds) ~ Meaux was born in 1929
April 23, 2010 ~ Garage rock, punk blues, indie rock duo the Black Keys release Tighten Up, lead single off their Brothers breakthrough album ~ The only track off the album produced by Danger Mouse. The single would be their first to chart on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No.87. The song was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song, losing out to Neil Young's Angry World, and receive a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal, making it the last song to receive the award
April 23, 2005 ~ Jazz bassist Jimmy Woode, full name James Bryant Woode, passed away in Linderwold, New Jersey, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Flip Phillips, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Nat Pierce, Sidney Bechet, Billie Holiday, Jaki Byard, Earl Hines, Jimmy Witherspoon, Clark Terry, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Kenny Clarke, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Art Farmer, Svend Asmussen, and Mal Waldron ~ Woode was born in 1926
April 23, 2005 ~ Conductor, trumpeter, composer, arranger Robert Farnon passed away in Guernsey, Channel Islands ~ Revered by his peers. Influential on Quincy Jones. Called “the greatest writer for strings in the world” by André Previn. Arranged and conducted for artists such as Frank Sinatra (Frank Sinatra Sings Great Songs From Great Britain), Lena Horne (Lena (A New Album), Tony Bennett (Snowfall), and Sarah Vaughan (Vaughan With Voices). Composed scores for over 40 movies. ~ Farnon was born in 1917
April 23, 2001 ~ R&B singer Blu Cantrell releases Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops), lead single off her So Blue debut album ~ Label executive LA Reid had asked renowned hitmaker Dallas Austin, who had previously worked with After 7, Boyz II Men (Motownphilly), TLC (Creep), Monica, and Madonna, to come up with material for Blu Cantrell. Austin and Cantrell had hit the studio, yet nothing was working and it was only after the singer left the studio that Austin came up with Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops), inspired by an unlikely source as he happened to catch a 1936 Merrie Melodies cartoon on a TV in the studio, where an owl sings the song I Love To Singa. The next day Austin played Cantrell a demo version of what he had written. It would become her one major hit, reaching top 20 in over half a dozen countries including No.12 in the UK and No.8 in the Netherlands. In the singer's native America, the song reached No.6 Billboard R&B, No.2 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, and earned the singer a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Performance. Cantrell would release several more singles and one more album through the mid 2000s, her 2004 Bittersweet sophomore album earning the singer her second and final Grammy nomination, yet Cantrell failed to repeat the success of her debut single Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops), a song she initially disliked
April 23, 1999 ~ Jazz trombonist, arranger, composer Melba Liston passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ First woman trombonist to play the 1940s big bands. Eventually better known as an arranger, particularly for Randy Weston. Also arranged for Motown and Stax/Volt. Performed and recorded with Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Quincy Jones, Milt Jackson, Clark Terry, Johnny Griffin, Betty Carter, Jimmy Smith, Dinah Washington, Bennie Green, Jimmy Cleveland, Babs Gonzales, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Cannonball Adderley, Mark Murphy, Sam Jones, Junior Mance, Oliver Nelson, Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones, and Kim Weston ~ Liston was born in 1926April 23, 1996 ~ John Rufus Sharpe III, commonly known as songwriter, music publisher, author Jack Sharpe, passed away in Santa Cruz County, California, USA ~ Best remembered for writing So Rare with Jerry Herst. The song was first published in 1937 and is perhaps best known as a late-career hit for Jimmy Dorsey just months before his death in 1957. Others who have recorded the song include Carl Ravell, Gus Arnheim, Ella Fitzgerald, King Curtis, Chet Atkins. Sharpe has also written lyrics for other songs, notably Margaret Whiting's The Dream Peddler's Serenade with music by composer Johnny Mercer, and formed the music publishing company Rondo Music in the mid 1960s ~ Sharpe was born in 1909
April 23, 1993 ~ Dingilizwe Dumile, commonly known as hip-hop, alternative hip-hop DJ, rapper, producer DJ Subroc, passed away in Nassau County, New York, USA ~ Member of KMD, co-founded with his brother MF Doom, known for their 1991 Mr Hood album. The group would also serve as producing team for the likes of 3rd Bass, MF Grimm, and Kurious. Dumile's 1993 death in a traffic accident effectively halted the group's production of Black Bastards, although the album would be released posthumously in 2000. Dumile's brother Doom would dedicate his 2004 track Kon Karne to his late brother referencing him in the lyrics as “the hip-hop Jimi Hendrix” ~ Dumile was born in 1973
April 23, 1986 ~ Hyman Arluck, commonly known as songwriter Harold Arlen, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing several songs for the 1939 film Wizard Of Oz with lyricist Yip Harburg including Over The Rainbow. Arlen wrote or co-wrote over 500 songs, some of its best known include That Old Black Magic (Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald), I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (Lillian Shade, Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke), Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (Aida Ward, Louis Armstrong, Carmen McRae), Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive (Johnny Mercer, Bing Crosby, Ella Mae Morse), Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home (Ruby Hill, Pearl Bailey, Barbra Streisand), Let's Take The Long Way Home (Jo Stafford, Dinah Shore, the Ames Brothers), and One For My Baby And One More For The Road (Lena Horne, Fred Astaire, Harry Belafonte) ~ Arluck was born in 1905
April 23, 1986 ~ Indie rock singer, guitarist Yannis Philippakis, full name Yannis Barnabas Emanuel Philippakis, born in Karpathos, Greece ~ Co-founding member, lead singer of UK indie rock outfit Foals, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums starting with the acclaimed Anitdotes released in 2008. The band merges dance-rock, new wave, and post-rock and is best known for songs such as My Number and Mountain At My Gates
April 23, 1984 ~ William McKinley Garland Jr, commonly known as pianist Red Garland, passed away in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Best known for his association with Miles Davis, backing Davis in the 1950s as a pivotal member of the Miles Davis Quintet. Leader and sideman. Has worked with Paul Chambers, Art Taylor, John Coltrane, Donald Byrd, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Blue Mitchell, Philly Joe Jones, Arnett Cobb, Curtis Fuller, Jackie McLean, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, and Art Pepper ~ Garland was born in 1923
April 23, 1983 ~ Singer Corinne Hermès wins the 28th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Munich, West Germany ~ Representing Luxembourg, Corinne Hermès wins with the song Si La Vie Est Cadeau written by Jean-Pierre Millers and Alain Garcia. Runner-ups would be Israel's Ofra Haza in 2nd place with Chai and Sweden's Carola in 3rd with Framling
April 23, 1983 ~ Singer Taio Cruz born in Sussex, UK ~ Cruz was part of Tricky Stewart's songwriting collective, responsible for hits such as Will Young's 2004 Your Game, before releasing his solo debut, Departure, in 2008. Cruz has also written or co-written songs for David Guetta (Little Bad Girl, Without You), Jennifer Lopez (I'm Into You), Olly Murs (Kiss Me), Tinchy Stryder (Never Leave Me), and for Cheryl (Stand Up)April 23, 1981 ~ Country singer George Strait releases Unwound, lead single off his Strait Country debut album ~ Dean Dillon and Frank Dycus originally wrote Unwound for Johnny Paycheck but as Paycheck was in jail at the time he was unable to record it. When producer Blake Mevis came calling looking for songs for this “new kid from Texas” they gave him Unwound. Issued as Strait's debut single, it would reach No.6 Billboard Country. George Strait would go on to score over 80 Billboard Country top 10 hits, about half of which reached the top spot. Over the years, Dillon would co-write dozens of hits for Strait including the No.1 hits The Chair, Ocean Front Property, I've Come To Expect It From You, and Easy Come Easy Go
April 23, 1979 ~ Alternative rock singer Lauri Ylönen, full name Lauri Johannes Ylönen, born in Helsinki, Finland ~ Co-founder, frontman of alternative rock outfit the Rasmus, known for Finnish No.1 hits such as F-f-f-falling, Heartbreaker/Days, No Fear, and Living In A World Without You. Internationally, the band is best known for their 2003 single In The Shadows, which reached top 10 across Europe including No.1 in Germany
April 23, 1979 ~ Bassist, guitarist, singer Ryan Sinn born in San Diego, California, USA ~ Bassist for the Distillers, joining the band in 2000 replacing Kim Chi and first appearing on the band's Sing Sing Death House sophomore album. After departing the band in 2005 joined Angels & Airwaves, present on We Don't Need To Whisper. Has also worked with the Innocent, Blackpool, and Bhorelorde