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, 1977 ~ In its 19th week on the charts, Don't Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Thelma Houston had been recording since the 1960s, but despite critical acclaim and being given quality material and at times working with top-notch musicians and producers, she would not break through to the charts. In 1974 she earned a Grammy Award for the track You've Been Doing Wrong So Long, and shortly thereafter she recorded the original version of Do You Know Where You're Going To, her version unreleased as the song was then given to Diana Ross. It was Don't Leave Me This Way, however, originally an album track for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, that made her a household name. Houston continued to record, but would be unable to repeat the success of Don't Leave Me This Way, reaching the Billboard Hot 100 only twice moreApril 23, 1976 ~ Keyboardist Aron Magner born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Classically trained as a pianist. Influenced by jazz and classical music as well as by the likes of David Bowie, Pink Floyd, and the Doors. Co-founding member of Disco Biscuits, a band credited with bringing improvisational electronic music to the forefront of the live music scene.
April 23, 1975 ~ Jon Por Birgisson, commonly known as post-rock singer, guitarist, bassist, banjoist, keyboardist Jónsi, born in Iceland ~ Known for his use of a cello bow on guitar. Lead singer and instrumentalist for post-rock outfit Sigur Rós. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with 2010's Go, and collaborated with Alex Somers and Carl Michael Von Hauswolff
April 23, 1974 ~ Christian techno, trance, electronic DJ, producer Andy Hunter born in UK ~ Active as a sound engineer since the early 1990s, working with artists such as Suede and the Wonder Stuff. As a solo artist has recorded about a dozen albums since the early 2000s, especially noted for his 2002 Exodus album
April 23, 1974 ~ Bassist, actor Carlos Dengler born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Best known as Interpol bassist through 2010
April 23, 1972 ~ Amira Dedic, commonly known as singer Amira Medunjanin, born in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina ~ Described as one of the great voices of sevdalinka, a traditional form of regional folk music. First gained attention guesting on the Mostar Sevdah Reunion's 2003 A Secret Gate album. Would released her Rosa solo debut album in 2005 and has recorded consistently since, with over half a dozen albums to her name. Besides praise at home, the singer's albums have also been well received in the UK. Medunjanin's sound has been described by Uncut as “(hovering) enticingly between East and West”April 23, 1969 ~ Krysztod Trzcinski, commonly known as jazz pianist, composer Krzysztof Komeda, passed away in Warsaw, Poland ~ Perhaps best known for his film scores, notably for Rosemary's Baby, and for his 1965 album Astigmatic, generally considered one of the most important European jazz albums ~ Trzciński was born in 1931
April 23, 1965 ~ Hard rock, heavy metal, nu metal guitarist, singer, songwriter Al B Romano born in Yonkers, New York, USA ~ Taught to play the guitar by Mountain's Leslie West. Briefly a member of Belladonna, fronted by former Anthrax singer Joey Belladonna. Co-founded supergroup Sun Red Sun, known for their sole eponymous Sun Red Sun album. Romano has also worked with Ian Gillan, John McCoy, and the Dali Gaggers, and is a vintage collector with guitars previously owned by Jimi Hendrix. Ace Frehley, Eddie Van Halen, and Eric Clapton in his collection
April 23, 1965 ~ Guitarist John McBain born in New Jersey, USA ~ Member of Monster Magnet, known for their 1991 Spine Of God album. Co-founded Hater, which also included Brian Wood and Soundgarden's Matt Cameron and Ben Shepherd. Briefly played with the Queens Of The Stone Age, for whom he also co-wrote Regular John of their eponymous Queens Of The Stone Age debut album. Co-founded Wellwater Conspiracy. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with The In-Flight Feature released in 2006April 23, 1965 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones kick off their North American tour at the Maurice Richard Arena, Montreal, Canada ~ In support of their The Rolling Stones Now album, the band play close to two dozen shows through the end of May across Canada and the USA. Included on the set list are Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, Off The Hook, Little Red Rooster, It's All Over Now, and The Last Time
April 23, 1961 ~ Jazz drummer Gene Calderazzo born in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of the Partisans, alongside Julien Siegel, Phil Robson, and Thad Kelly. Also worked with Steve Lacy, Steve Grossman, Eddie Henderson, NDR, Mike Gibbs, Bheki Mseleku, UMO, Sting, Radiohead, James Moody, Phil Woods, Benny Golson, Ulf Wakenius, Gary Husband, Wayne Krantz, Bobby Watson, Eddie Gomez, Evan Parker, Randy Brecker, and with his brother Joey Calderazzo
April 23, 1960 ~ Indie rock, indie pop, alternative rock, jangle pop singer, guitarist David Gedge born in Bramley, UK ~ Co-founding member, lead singer, primary songwriter for the Wedding Present, known best for a string of early 1990s hits including the UK top 20 hits Three, Silver Shorts, Come Play With Me, Loveslave, and Sticky. Also formed Cinerama, initially a duo with Sally Murrell, known for merging soundtrack-like arrangements with string and woodwind accompaniment and later gravitating more toward a rock-oriented soundApril 23, 1960 ~ Jazz alto saxophonist Jamie Talbot, full names James Robert Talbot, born in London, UK ~ Worked with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Clark Tracey, Stan Tracey, Jack Sharpe, Johnny Dankworth, Colin Towns, Guy Barker, Richard Niles, Shorty Rogers, Michael Nyman, Bud Shank, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, George Michael, Mel Tormé, Nelson Riddle, Gil Evans, and Quincy Jones
April 23, 1960 ~ Hard rock, glam metal, heavy metal guitarist Steve Clark, full name Stephen Maynard Clark, born in Hillsborough, UK ~ Member of Def Leppard from 1978 until his death of alcohol poisoning in 1991. Present on most of the band's best known including the acclaimed albums Pyromania and Hysteria. Co-wrote songs such as Bringing On The Heartbreak, Photograph, Love Bites, and Pour Some Sugar On Me ~ Clark passed away in 1991
April 23, 1959 ~ Guy Allison Steiner, commonly known as pianist, singer, songwriter Guy Allison, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Touring keyboardist for the Doobie Brothers from 1996 through 2015, also appearing on the band's Sibling Rivalry album released in 2000. Has also worked with Lodgic, the Moody Blues, World Trade, Air Supply, Unruly Child, Don Henley (Building The Perfect Beast), Boz Scaggs, Bobby Kimball, Nick Kamen, and Carlene Carter
April 23, 1958 ~ Jazz singer, guitarist Kendra Shank born in Woodland, California, USA ~ Mentored by Shirley Horn. Over half a dozen albums to her name, starting with Afterglow released in 1994 featuring Larry Willis and Gary Bartz. Has also worked with Peter Leitch, Ben Monder, John Stowell, and Geoffrey Keezer
April 23, 1958 ~ Pianist, guitarist, singer Yul Anderson born in Sacramento, California, USA ~ Son of singer John Kassandra. Influenced by Mahalia Jackson, BB King, Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Johann Sebastian Bach. Opened for Earthquake, Eddie Money and Ray Charles while still in his early teens. Known for merging gospel, blues, R&B, adding elements of classical music. Social activist, organized several intercultural events. Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 ~ Anderson passed away in 2021
April 23, 1956 ~ Benjamin Albert Rolfe, commonly known as trumpeter, bandleader, radio personality, film producer BA Rolfe passed away in Walpole, Massachusetts, USA ~ Known as “the Boy Trumpet Wonder” would go on to become a film director, best known for acquiring Dyreda Art Film Company in 1915. The company's last production was the mystery series The Master Mystery starring renowned magician Harry Houdini ~ Rolfe was born in 1879April 23, 1953 ~ Bassist, keyboardist, songwriter Gareth Williams, full name Gareth John Williams, born in Cardiff, UK ~ Best known as member of experimental rock, punk outfit This Heat, present on the band's eponymous This Heat debut album. Has subsequently played with the Flaming Tunes and Mind The Gap ~ Williams passed away in 2001
April 23, 1953 ~ Jazz, pop pianist, songwriter Peter De Rose passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for penning Deep Purple as a piano instrumental, first recorded by Paul Whiteman in 1934. Lyrics would later be added by Mitchell Parish. The song would be recorded by well over 200 artists including Guy Lombardo, Art Tatum, Duke Ellington, Billy Ward & the Dominoes, and Toots Thielemans. The band Deep Purple had named themselves after the song, a favorite tune of Ritchie Blackmore's grandmother. Other artists who recorded songs written or co-written by De Rose include Fletcher Henderson, Ted Lewis (Have You Ever Been Lonely), Billie Holiday, Vaughn Monroe, Louis Prima (Buona Sera (Good Night)), and Bing Crosby ~ De Rose was born in 1896
April 23, 1951 ~ Engineer, producer, label executive Rob Fraboni, full name Robert Alan Fraboni, born in California, USA ~ Active since the early 1970s. Considered one of the most important engineers, producers in the history of rock. Has worked with labels such as Elektra Records, Warner Bros Records, Arista Records, RSO Records, and Island Records. Notable credits include engineering the soundtrack to the Band concert film The Last Waltz and accompanying album. Has also worked with the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones (Goat's Head Soup), Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker, Wayne Shorter, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt (Green Light), Tim Hardin, Melissa Etheridge, U2, John Martyn, Phoebe Snow, Ivan Neville, Keith Richards, and Hubert Sumlin
April 23, 1949 ~ John Errington, commonly known as rock, pop rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist John Miles, born in Jarrow, UK ~ Member of local band the Influence, which also included future Roxy Music-drummer Paul Thompson and future Geordie guitarist Vic Malcolm. Active as a solo artist since the eary 1970s, best known for Highfly, Slowdown and Music, the latter a UK top 10 hit in 1975 and a radio staple since. Would go on to back artists such as Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, and Stevie Wonder ~ Errington passed away in 2021April 23, 1949 ~ Bassist, producer Mans Groundstroem, full name Måns Ivar Åkesson Groundstroem, born in Finland ~ Rose to prominence as member of a number of pivotal Finnish rock bands, notably the Blues Section, Tasavallan Presidentti and Wigwam. Would go on enjoy a lengthy and prolific career as producer and engineer for artists such as Jukka Tolonen, Jim Pembroke, Pekka Pohjola, Dave Lindholm, Albert Järvinen, the Hurriganes, and Kaseva
April 23, 1948 ~ Sandra Elayne Hurvitz, commonly known as avant-garde jazz, folk-jazz, blues singer, pianist, guitarist, mandolinist Essra Mohawk, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Signed to Reprise Records after being discovered by label executive Mo Ostin, which resulted in the highly acclaimed Primordial Lovers album released in 1970, featuring top-notch backing musicians such as Doug Hastings, Dallas Taylor, and James Zitro. Though never becoming a household name, Mohawk has recorded well through the 2000s to critical acclaim and a devoted following. Best known for songs such as Sufferin' Till Suffrage and Interjections. Songs written or co-written by Hurvitz have been recorded by the likes of Vanilla Fudge, Bobby & the Midnites (Haze), Cyndi Lauper (Change Of Heart), Tina Turner, Lorrie Morgan, Diana Ross, and Rita Coolidge (What's It Gonna Be) ~ Hurvitz passed away in 2023April 23, 1947 ~ Jazz pianist Alan Broadbent born in Auckland, New Zealand ~ Leader, sideman, arranger. Has worked with Charlie Haden, Woody Herman, Chet Baker, Irene Kral, Sheila Jordan, Natalie Cole (won a Grammy for arranging Cole's When I Fall In Love), Warne Marsh, Bud Shank, Putter Smith, Frank Gibson Jr, Joe LaBarbera, Peter Erskine, Michael Feinstein, Scott Hamilton, Percy Faith, Barbra Streisand, Lee Ritenour, Toots Thielemans, and Karrin Allyson
April 23, 1947 ~ Country songwriter Kent Robbins, full name Kent Marshall Robbins, born in Mayfield, Kentucky, USA ~ Songs written or co-written by Robbins were recorded by Barbara Mandrell, Trace Adkins (Every Light In The House), Gary Allan, John Anderson (Straight Tequila Night), the Judds (Love Is Alive), Janie Fricke, Kathy Mattea, Ronnie Milsap ((I'm A) Stand By My Woman Man), Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, George Straitt (Write This Down), Tanya Tucker, Steve Wariner (Heart Trouble), Don Williams, Trisha Yearwood, and Shania Twain ~ Robbins passed away in 1997