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 26, 1978 ~ Myron Lavell Avant, mononymously known as R&B singer, songwriter Avant, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Debuted in 2000 with his My Thoughts album. Best known for songs such as Separated, My First Love featuring Keke Wyatt, Makin' Good Love and Read Your Mind
April 26, 1977 ~ Svavar Pétur Eysteinsson, commonly known as singer, songwriter Prins Póló, born in Reykjavik, Iceland ~ Co-founding member of alternative rock outfit Skakkamanage, known best for their 2008 All Over The Face sophomore album. Has also enjoyed a parallel solo career, recording half a dozen albums, starting with Jukk released in 2010 ~ Eysteinsson passed away in 2022
April 26, 1976 ~ Drummmer, producer, songwriter Adam Deitch, full name Adam David Deitch, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Hip-hop, jazz, funk drummer. Member of Lettuce, member of Break Science. Has also worked with Talib Kweli, Soulive, the Average White Band, guitarist John Scofield, rappers such as Wax, 50 Cent, Pharoahe Monch, Redman & Xzibit, and with R&B and jazz singer Ledisi
April 26, 1976 ~ Folk, rock singer, guitarist, mandolinist, keyboardist, songwriter Declan O'Rourke born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Has recorded over half a dozen albums, starting with Since Kyabram released in 2004. Admired by peers, counting the likes of Ronnie Wood, Chris Rea, Paul Brady, and Paul Weller, the latter once exclaiming O'Rourke's Galileo (Someone Like You) was the song he most wished he'd writtenApril 26, 1976 ~ Drummer José Antonio Pasillas II born in Calabasas, California, USA ~ Influenced by 311's Chad Sexton, the Police's Stewart Copeland, Primus's Tim Alexander. Drummer, co-founding member of alternative rock band Incubus, known for songs such as Drive, Megalomaniac, Anna-Molly and Love Hurts. Self-taught, Pasillas has never received any formal drum training which he considers has both positives and negatives
April 26, 1976 ~ Pop rock group the Steve Miller Band release Take The Money And Run, lifted off their Fly Like An Eagle album ~ The song tells of a Bonnie & Clyde type story, where a young couple are on the run from the police after a robbery. Miller is specifically vague about the details, but in the end the young lovers slip away and are still on the loose. Peaking at No.11 Billboard Hot 100, Take The Money And Run would be the band's second American top 20 hit, preceded by the charttopper The Joker. The band would score several more hits, notably the charttoppers Rock'n Me and Abracadabra, before falling out of fashion near the mid 1980s. In 2001, Run-DMC did a rap reworking of Take The Money And Run. Their song tells a different story, but samples Miller's original. It would be the first time Miller, who had previously turned down numerous requests, allowed a song of his to be sampledApril 26, 1976 ~ Country singer, songwriter Tim Spencer, full name Vernon Harold Timothy Spencer, passed away in Apple Valley, California, USA ~ Founded pivotal country group the Sons Of The Pioneers with Bob Nolan and Roy Rogers, known for songs such as Cool Water, Room Full Of Roses and Tumbling Tumbleweeds. Spencer remained with the group through 1949 ~ Spencer was born in 1908
April 26, 1975 ~ In its 13th week on the charts, Hey Won't You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song by BJ Thomas hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by Larry Butler and Chips Moman, the latter also serving as producer. Lifted off the Reunion album, Hey Won't You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song would become a signature song for BJ Thomas and his second and final Billboard Hot 100 charttopper, after Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head at the turn of the decade. Hey Won't You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song earned Thomas a Grammy Award for Best Country Song
April 26, 1975 ~ Heavy metal, nu metal, groove metal, alternative metal drummer Joey Jordison, full name Nathan Jonas Jordison, born in Des Moines, Iowa, USA ~ Cites Keith Moon, John Bonham, Peter Criss, Gene Krupa, and Buddy Rich as main influences. Best known as co-founding member of Slipknot, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Slipknot and Vol.3 (The Subliminal Verses). Jordison has also worked with Ministry, Murderdolls, Scar The Martyr, Vimic, and Sinsaenum ~ Jordison passed away in 2021
April 26, 1973 ~ Country, bluegrass singer Melonie Cannon born in Jackson, Tennessee, USA ~ Daughter of songwriter, producer Buddy Cannon, sister of songwriter Marla Cannon Goodman. Sang backup for artists such as John Michael Montgomery, George Jones, and Kenny Chesney starting at age 14. Duetted with Sammy Kershaw on Cry Cry Darling at age 16. Released eponymous debut LP, Melonie Cannon, in 2004 featuring guests including Stuart Duncan, Dan Tyminski, Barry Bales, Rob McCoury, Rob Ickes, Randy Kohrs, Jerry Douglas. Has also worked with Willie Nelson, Ronnie Bowman, Sonya Isaacs, Adam Steffey, Randy Kohrs, Tim Stafford, Wyatt Rice, Aubrey Haynie, Jody King, and Deanie Richardson
April 26, 1972 ~ Folk rock, folk pop outfit America release I Need You, lifted off their eponymous debut album ~ A tender piano ballad originally written by band member Gerry Beckley when he was just 16 years old. The band had intended to issue it at the lead single off their eponymous debut album. However, at the last minute with the album already pressed the band chose to write a new song for the single instead, which became their A Horse With No Name hit not included on early pressings. A Horse With No Name reached No.1 Billboard Hot 100. I Need You would be released as the albums's second single and reached No.9 on the same chart. Singer Harry Nilsson would record a notable cover of I Need You, included on his 1976 That's The Way It Is albumApril 26, 1971 ~ Giorgia Todrani, mononymously known as singer, songwriter Giorgia, born in Rome, Italy ~ One of the most popular Italian singers praised for her vocal range spanning 4 octaves, drawing comparisons to Whitney Houston. Regarded as an ambassador for Italian pop fairly well known across Europe, Canada and Latin America. Major hits include Come Saprei, Un'ora Sola Ti Vorrei, Girasole, and Di Sole E D'Azzurro, the latter penned by Zucchero
April 26, 1970 ~ Cory McKay, commonly known as rapper, songwriter Cormega, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ First gained attention in the early 1990s, appearing on tracks by Hot Day (Going Straight Up), and Blaq Poet (Set It Off). About half a dozen albums to his name, starting with The Realness released in 2001. Well known for his 2005 The Testament album, initially recorded for Def Jam Records in the mid 1990s intended as his debut album but the project would be shelved
April 26, 1970 ~ Pop singer Ruth Ann Boyle born in Sunderland, UK ~ Formed the band Olive with producers Tim Kellett and Robin Taylor Firth, known for the 1997 single You're Not Alone. Also worked with Enigma, singing lead vocals on Gravity Of Love and Silence Must Be Heard. Also worked with Grand Theft Audio and with Kojak. Released a solo album, What About Us, in 2007, available only on iTunesApril 26, 1970 ~ Drummer Shane Evan born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Original drummer of Collective Soul. Fired from the band in 2005. Previously a member of Marching Two Step, alongside Michele Rhea Caplinger, Ed Roland and Matt Serletic
April 26, 1970 ~ Tionne Tenese Watkins, commonly known as singer, actress Tionne T-Boz Watkins, born in Des Moines, Iowa, USA ~ Best known as a member of TLC, known for hits such as Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg, What About Your Friends, Creep, Waterfalls, and No Scrubs. As a solo artist known for songs such as Touch Myself and My Getaway, as well as for collaborations with Da Brat (Ghetto Love), the Society Of Soul (Changes), Keith Sweat (He Say She Say), Raphael Saadiq (Different Times), and Paula Cole (Be Somebody)
April 26, 1969 ~ José Henrique Castanho de Gody Pinheiro, commonly known as producer, DJ Zé Gonzales, born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ First gained attention as DJ for Planet Hemp, one of the top hip hop acts to come out of Brazil in the 1990s. Also well known for his collaboration with Sam Spiegel on the NASA project, the moniker an acronym of “North America South America” to reflect the duo's different origins. Both with and without Spiegel, Gonzales would go on to work with the likes of Sepultura, Kanye West, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, John Frusciante, MIA, and Major LazerApril 26, 1968 ~ House, techno singer, songwriter, producer Curtis Jones, full name Curtis Alan Jones, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Active since the early 1990s under various monnikers including Cajmere and Green Velvet. Best known for his 1992 Percolator and the Dajae-collaboration Brighter Days the same year. Released his full-length Constant Chaos debut album in 1999
April 26, 1967 ~ Rock, alternative rock, indie rock drummer, percussionist Darrin Mooney, full name Darrin Shane Mooney, born in Merton, UK ~ Best known as a member of Primal Scream, joining the band in 1997 as replacement for Paul Mulreany. First appeared on the XTRMNTR album released in 2000. Has also worked with Martin Barre, Babylon Zoo, Colin Blunstone, Gary Moore, Bent, Deepest Blue, Dust Galaxy, and Dionne Bromfield
April 26, 1966 ~ Blues, R&B, rock, rock & roll drummer, guitarist, singer John Calarco born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA ~ Worked with a number of Milwaukee based bands. Perhaps best known for backing Willy Porter, including co-writing several tracks of the acclaimed 1994 Dog Eared Dream album. Other notable collaborations include Daryl Stuermer, Greg Koch, and Mike Keane. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Pure released in 2002
April 26, 1965 ~ Radio DJ, TV personality Eddy Temple-Morris, full name Edward Owen Kayvan Temple-Morris, born in Cardiff, UK ~ Best known as a VJ and radio DJ for stations such as MTV, Channel 4, Virgin Radio UK and notably London radio station XFM, presenting The Remix for 15 years. Also forms the remixer duo the Losers with Tom Bellamy from the Cooper Temple Clause, the duo has remixed for Gossip, Rage Against The Machine, the Presets, and PlaceboApril 26, 1964 ~ Trumpeter, pianist, composer Axel Dörner born in Cologne, Germany ~ Key figure in Berlin's improvisational and experimental music scene since the mid 1990s. Leader and sideman. Forms the trio TOOT with Phil Minton and Thomas Lehn. Has also collaborated with the likes of Otomo Yoshihide, die Anreicherung, Ig Henneman, Ken Vandermark, the London Jazz Composers Orchestra, and Alexander von Schlippenbach
April 26, 1964 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Jimmy Stafford born in Morris, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as lead and rhythm guitarist for Train, remaining with the band from its inception in 1994 through 2014. Present on most of the band's best known including the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me), Hey Soul Sister, and Drive By
April 26, 1964 ~ Jazz, jazz-pop, pop singer Rebecka Törnqvist born in Uppsala, Sweden ~ Over a dozen albums to her name, starting with A Night Like This released in 1993. More of a pop singer with heavy jazz influences Törnqvist is nonetheless credited with reviving interest in female jazz singers in the 1990s. With the exception of her 2001 Vad Jag Vill album Törnqvist usually sings in English. Also noted for her collaborative albums with Sara Isaksson1, resulting in the 2006 Sara Isaksson & Rebecka Törnqvist Sing Steely Dan album, and with Johan Lindström on the Home Secretary collaborative album released in 2017April 26, 1962 ~ Arjen de Vreede, commonly known as DJ, producer DJ DNA, born in Utrecht, the Netherlands ~ Pioneering DJ. Member of Urban Dance Squad. Member of JMX. Member of Stuurbaard Bakkebaard. Has remixed for Junkie XL and for de Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig. Also worked with Palinckx, the POW Ensemble, and with Defunkt. Had Kurtis Blow, Pax, Torre Florim and Janne Schra guest on Sum Of The Sound, his 2012 solo debut album
April 26, 1962 ~ R&B, soul singer Sam Cooke records Having A Party at RCA Studios, Hollywood, California ~ Written by Sam Cooke. Produced by Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. “The session would be a very happy session. Everybody was just having a ball,” recalled engineer Al Schmitt later. Released as a single, its flip side graced by Bring It On Home To Me recorded during the same session, it would reach top 20 Billboard Hot 100, top 10 Billboard R&B. The song would become the closing song for every Cooke concert since its release in May 1962