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 27, 2026 ~ Beverley Kutner, commonly known as folk, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Beverley Martyn, passed away ~ Fronted jug band the Levee Breakers, with whom she played the folk circuit in south east England during the mid 1960s. Subsequently, she has released several singles as a solo artist, including notably Happy New Year, which featured Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, I Love My Dog, and the Donovan produced Museum. In 1969, Martyn would marry John Martyn. The couple have released two duo albums, Stormbringer and The Road To Ruin, before John Martyn's record label urged him to resume his solo career as they believed there was more public interest in solo acts. However, Beverley Martyn would continue to contribute to her husband's solo records until their divorce in 1980. Following her divorce, Martyn has toured with Loudon Wainwright III, released the albums No Frills and The Phoenix And The Turtle, the latter of which featured the Counting Crows bassist Matt Malley and Los Lobos drummer Victor Bisetti ~ Kutner was born in 1947April 27, 2025 ~ Jazz bassist Odd Magne Gridseth passed away in Ørsta, Norway ~ Member of Soundtrip, which also included Ove Bjørken, Ernst-Wiggo Sandbakk and Jan Gunnar Hoff. Has also worked with the DumDum Boys, Frode Fjellheim, James Knudsen, Gustav Lorentzen, Henning Sommerro, and others ~ Gridseth was born in 1959
April 27, 2025 ~ Raymond Ronald Jones, commonly known as folk singer, guitarist Wizz Jones, passed away ~ Cited as an influence by Keith Richards, Thurston Moore, Eric Clapton, and Rod Stewart, and once characterised as “the most underrated guitarist ever” by frequent collaborator Bert Jansch. In his youth, Jones was given the nickname “Wizz” by his mother for the Beano comic strip character “Wizzy the Wiz” because of his love for magic. When Jones formed his first band, the Wranglers, the name stuck. Jones would go on to record well over a dozen albums as a solo artist, collaborated with the likes of John Renbourn, Sue Draheim, Pete Stanley, and Ralph McTell, and has been acknowledged as one of the premier British folk artists. Jones is especially acclaimed for his 1972 Right Now album, considered a landmark album in British folk and folk-rock, drawing from Delta blues, early Anglo and Celtic minstrel cultures, classical Indian music, and country ~ Jones was born in 1939
April 27, 2023 ~ Charles William Harris, commonly known as rock & roll, pop singer Wee Willie Harris, passed away in London, UK ~ Enjoyed popularity in his native UK during the 1950s and early 1960s, despite none of his singles reaching the charts. Dubbed “Britain's wild man of rock & roll” for his flamboyant appearance and stage presence. Became a popular performer on TV shows, though many in the media would express concern for the BBC promoting teenage decadence. Best known for his 1957 self-penned Rockin' At The 2 I's debut single. Harris would resurface in the 1970s as a nostalgia act after being referenced by Ian Dury in the song Reasons To Be Cheerful Part 3. Harris would later record the album Twenty Reasons To Be Cheerful ~ Harris was born in 1933April 27, 2022 ~ Singer Judy Henske, full name Judith Anne Henske, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Dubbed “the Queen of the Beatniks” by producer Jack Nitzsche. Joined the Whiskeyhill Singers in 1961, noted for their 1962 Dave Guard & The Whiskeyhill Singers album. Member of Rosebud. As a solo artist best known for her 1969 Farewell Aldebaran album drawing from folk, psychedelia and arty pop, with her then-husband Jerry Yester ~ Henske was born in 1936
April 27, 2020 ~ Obediah Donnell Jessie, commonly known as R&B, rock & roll, jazz singer, songwriter Young Jessie, passed away ~ Perhaps best remembered for penning and first recording Mary Lou, which he originally recorded in 1955. The song would later be notably covered by Billy Lee Riley, Steve Miller, Bob Seger, and Gene Clark. Founding member of Debonaires, with whom he recorded I Had A Love. The band also included Richard Berry, and would later be renamed the Flairs. Also briefly a member of the Coasters in 1957, providing harmony vocals to Searchin' and their best known Young Blood ~ Jessie was born in 1936
April 27, 2018 ~ Jazz pianist, organist Gildo Mahones, full name Hermengildo Mahones, passed away ~ Recorded sporadically as a leader, especially known for his 1965 The Great Gildo album. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Frank Foster, Les Jazz Modes (Jazzville), Julius Watkins, Bennie Green (Walkin' & Talkin'), Jimmy Witherspoon, Jon Hendricks, Lambert Hendricks & Ross, Charlie Rouse (Unsung Hero), Pony Poindexter (Pony's Express), Ted Curson, Frank Wess, Booker Ervin (The Blues Book), Lou Rawls, and Big Joe Turner ~ Mahones was born in 1929
April 27, 2018 ~ Rock & roll singer, pianist Roy Young, full name Roy Frederick Young, passed away in Oxford, UK ~ Toured with Chuck Berry. Sessioned on David Bowie's Low album, released in January 1977. Other notable associations include the John Barry Seven, Tony Sheridan, the Beat Brothers, Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers, future Foreigner member Dennis Elliott, future the Average White Band member Onnie McIntyre, Long John Baldry, Ian Hunter, Howie Casey, John Gustafson, and Jimi Magnole ~ Young was born in 1934April 27, 2012 ~ Singer Bob Dylan receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor awarded to a civilian, from President Barack Obama ~ The singer is presented with the Medal of Freedom, making him the 29th musician to receive this honor, previous recipients include Irving Berlin, Frank Sinatra, and Aretha Franklin. President Obama would remark Bob Dylan's gravely voice helped redefine “not just what music sounded like, but the message it carried and how it made people feel”
April 27, 2010 ~ Drummer, percussionist, keyboardist, songwriter, composer Morris Pert, full name Morris David Brough Pert, passed away in Balchrick, UK ~ Worked in jazz-rock, as a session musician, and as a contemporary classical composer composing symphonies, choral music and sonic landscapes. As a composer cites Arne Nordheim, Karlheinz Stockhausen and Iannis Xenakis as influences. Has worked with Stomu Yamashta, Isotope, Brand X, Paul McCartney, Andrew Lloyd Webber, John Williams, Kate Bush (The Kick Inside), Elkie Brooks, Chris De Burgh, Mike Oldfield (QE2), Marianne Faithfull (Broken English), Peter Gabriel, Jon Anderson, Elvis Costello (Punch The Clock), John Martyn, Bryan Ferry, Talk Talk (It's My Life), Rod Argent, Lucio Battisti, Colin Blunstone, Donovan, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and Alexis Korner ~ Pert was born in 1947
April 27, 2001 ~ Pub rock, roots rock, folk singer, guitarist Ernie Graham passed away in London, UK ~ First gained attention in the mid 1960s playing with Tony & the Telstars. Member of Eire Apparent, known for their 1969 sole Sunrise album produced by Jimi Hendrix. Released his sole solo album, Ernie Graham, in 1971. Graham has also worked with the People, Help Yourself, and Clancy ~ Graham was born in 1946
April 27, 2000 ~ Pop, R&B, disco singer Vicki Sue Robinson passed away in Wilton, Connecticut, USA ~ Best known for her 1976 disco hit Turn The Beat Around. Had previously worked as a stage actress, singer debuting on Broadway performing in the original 1970 production of Hair at age 16. Also played in the 1973 cast of Jesus Christ Superstar. Sang backup on Todd Rundgren's acclaimed 1972 Something/Anything album. Robinson would spend most of the 1980s recording as a solo artist, jingle singer, and as a session backing vocalist, notably on Irene Cara's 1980 hit Fame, as well as with artists such as Michael Bolton and Cher ~ Robinson was born in 1954
April 27, 1999 ~ Trumpeter Alois Maxwell Hirt, commonly known as Al Hirt, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Best remembered for his 1964 smash hit Java and for the theme music to The Green Hornet. Hirt was given a trumpet at age 6, playing professionally at age 16. Studied with Dr Frank Simon, a former soloist with John Philip Sousa Orchestra. Did a stint in the US Army during World War II, playing the bugle. Performed with various swing bands following the war, including with Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and with Ina Ray Hutton. Hirt also played with Horace Heidt and Monk Hazel before being signed as a bandleader himself by RCA-Victor. As a bandleader twenty-two of Hirt's albums made the Billboard charts ~ Hirt was born in 1922
April 27, 1995 ~ Virtuoso guitarist, composer Raphael Rabello, full name Rafael Baptist Rabello passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Considered one of the best acoustic guitar players. Founded Os Carioquinhas. Worked with Camerate Carioca, Radamés Gnattali, Elizete Cardoso, Jaques Morelenbaum, Laurindo Almeida, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Ney Matogrosso, Paulo Moura, Paco de Lucia, Armandinho, Romero Lubambo, and Déo Rian ~ Rabello was born in 1962
April 27, 1992 ~ Country singer Garth Brooks releases The River, lifted off his Ropin' The Wind album ~ A mid-tempo ballad in which a river is used as a analogy for the pursuit of one's dreams, The River was written by Garth Brooks and Victoria Shaw. The single would become his ninth Billboard Country No.1 concluding an impressive run of thirteen consecutive top 10 hits, starting with his 1989 Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old) debut single. The River was met with universal critical acclaim, Entertainment Weekly considering it a standout track on the album, adding the song “showcased his ability to imbue baleful country ballads with complex, soulful emotions.” Brooks himself has stated that the song was inspired by his childhood hero singer James Taylor
April 27, 1992 ~ Singer, songwriter kd Lang releases Constant Craving, lead single off her Ingénue sophomore album ~ The song earned kd Lang a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Performance. In 1997, Lang and co-writer Ben Mink were given co-writing credit for the Rolling Stones single Anybody Seen My Baby, initially credited solely to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Jagger and Richards claimed they had not heard Lang's song before, not consciously anyway, but their refrain was practically similar. Richards would later explain in his Life memoir: “My daughter Angela and a friend were at Redlands and I was playing the record and they start singing this totally different song over it. They were listening to Constant Craving. It was Angela and her friend that recognized it.”
April 27, 1990 ~ Pop singer, guitarist, keyboardist, trumpeter Robin Bengtsson born in Svenlujunga, Sweden ~ First gained attention in 2008 as contestant on the Swedish edition of talent show Idols, finishing in third place behind winner Kevin Borg and runner-up Alice Svensson. Would subsequently reach the Swedish top 20 with his debut single Fields Of Gold and its follow-up Another Lover's Gone. Internationally best known for representing Sweden in the 2017 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 5th place with I Can't Go On
April 27, 1984 ~ Arzell Hill, commonly known as blues, soul singer ZZ Hill passed away in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Active since the mid 1960s, encouraged by Otis Redding. Influenced by Sam Cooke, BB King, Bobby Blue Bland. Known for songs such as Don't Make Me Pay For His Mistakes, Ain't Nothing You Can Do, Love Is So Good When You're Stealing It and Cheating In The Next Room ~ Hill was born in 1935April 27, 1982 ~ Drummer Alex Carapetis born in Adelaide, Australia ~ Perhaps best known as member of Voidz. Has also worked with Wolfmother, Nine Inch Nails, Julian Casablancas, Phoenix, Juliette & the Licks, Jimmy Barnes, Amel Larrieux, and Kelis
April 27, 1981 ~ Jazz, pop singer, songwriter Hilde Marie Kjersem born in Ålesund, Norway ~ Started in jazz and progressed into pop. Debuted in 2008 with the full-length A Killer For That Ache album. Has worked with Sivert Høyem, Peder Kjellsby, Jørgen Munkeby, Jon Eberson, the TUB Quartet, and Christer Knutsen
April 27, 1980 ~ Country rock, soft rock outfit Pure Prairie League release Let Me Love You Tonight, lead single off their Firin' Up album ~ The band is best remembered for Amie, yet their highest charting single would be Let Me Love You Tonight, peaking at No.10 Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by band members George Greer, Jeff Wilson, and Steve Woodard, with John Ryan serving as producer. Lead singer on the love song is Vince Gill, who recorded a few albums with Pure Prairie League and subsequently was a member of Rodney Crowell's backing unit before rising to fame as a solo country artist in the 1980s. Noted session saxophonist David Sanborn, who had previously guested on tracks such as Stevie Wonder's Tuesday Heartbreak, James Taylor's How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), and David Bowie's Young Americans, is also present on Let Me Love You Tonight. Over the course of their career, starting in the early 1970s, Pure Prairie League scored two other Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hits, 1975's Amie reached No.27, and I'm Almost Ready, issued as the follow-up to Let Me Love You Tonight, peaked at No.34April 27, 1979 ~ Alternative rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Travis Meeks, full name Travis Shane Meeks, born in Jeffersonville, Indiana, USA ~ Co-founding and sole constant member of alternative rock, acoustic rock band Days Of The New, known best for their acclaimed 1997 Days Of The New (Yellow) debut album spawning the singles Touch Peel & Stand, The Down Town and Shelf In The Room
April 27, 1978 ~ James Edward Olliges Jr, commonly known as guitarist, singer Jim James born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Lead singer, guitarist, primary songwriter of rock band My Morning Jacket, known for songs such as Holdin' On To Black Metal, Friends Again and It Makes No Difference featuring Brittany Howard. Also known as solo artist and collaborator, usually going by the moniker Yim Yames, and in-demand collaborator of artists such as Jay Farrar, the Monsters Of Folk, and Dr DogApril 27, 1976 ~ Indie pop, chamber pop, alternative rock singer, cellist, pianist, songwriter Isobell Campbell born in Glasgow, UK ~ Rose to prominence as member of Belle & Sebastian from 1996 through 2002. Has recorded as a solo artist, initially going by the moniker Gentle Waves. Notably teamed up with grunge icon Mark Lanegan resulting in the collaborative albums The Ballad Of The Broken Seas, Sunday At Devil Dirt and Hawk
April 27, 1975 ~ Jazz guitarist, songwriter, producer Fabrizio Soti born in Padova, Italy ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Ares Tavolazzi, Mauro Beggio, Lathun, Cassandra Wilson, Kyrsten, Foxxy Brown, Half Pint, K'naan, Tony Grey, Alberto Pizzo, Francesco Lomagistro, Nicola Sorato, Alessandra Salerno, and Mondo Marcio