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, 1973 ~ Jazz singer, guitarist Lionel Loueke born in Cotonou, Benin ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by George Benson, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery. Worked with Terence Blanchard, Wayne Shorter, Avishai Cohen, Charlie Haden, Francisco Mela, Gretchen Parlato, Brian Blade, Terri Lyne Carrington, Vinnie Colaiuta, Kenwood Dennard, George Garzone, Roy Hargrove, Marcus Miller, Dianne Reeves, Santana, Sting, Jeff Tain-Watts, and Cassandra Wilson
April 27, 1972 ~ Musical actor, singer Bobby Howes, full name Charles Robert William Howes, passed away in London, UK ~ Leading figure in London's West End theatres during the 1930s and 1940s. Would continue to star in musicals, including on Broadway, and work for film and TV until retiring from the entertainment industry by the late 1960s. Perhaps best known for his leading role in a 1960 production of Finian's Rainbow ~ Howes was born in 1895
April 27, 1970 ~ Rock, alternative rock bassist John Collins, full name John Andrew Collins, born ~ Co-founding and constant member of Powderfinger, with whom he has recorded close to a dozen albums from the mid 1990s through the late 2000s, six of which have reached the top spot in their native Australia. The singles My Happiness, (Baby I've Got You) On My Mind and Lost And Running would all reach top 10 on the Australian singles charts. During the band's hiatus in the mid 2000s, Collins guested on The Way Out, an album by bandmate Darren Middleton's side project Drag, and joined Powderfinger lead guitarist Ian Haug in the Predators, with whom he recorded the EP Pick Up The Pace. In 2024, Collins was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for “significant service to the arts through music, and to the community”April 27, 1967 ~ Jazz, swing, classical saxophonist Tommy Smith, full name Thomas William Ellis Smith, born in Edinburgh, UK ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Terje Gewelt, John Scofield, Eddie Gomez, Jack DeJohnette, Arild Andersen, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Kenny Wheeler, Murray McLachlan, Joe Lovano, Hue & Cry, and Kurt Elling
April 27, 1962 ~ Drummer, songwriter Brian MacLeod, full name Brian Oliver MacLeod, born ~ Closely associated with Sheryl Crow, appearing on the Tuesday Night Music Club and co-writing several of her best known songs including Everyday Is A Winding Road, Strong Enough and A Change Would Do You Good. Has also worked with Group 87, Wire Train, Toy Matinee, Madonna, Leonard Cohen, Tears For Fears, Seal, Chris Isaak, Melissa Etheridge, Pink, Christina Aguilera, Kevin Gilbert, Jewel, Stevie Nicks, Ziggy Marley, Rosanne Cash, Sara Bareilles, John Hiatt, Ronan Keating, Shelby Lynne, and Ilse de Lange
April 27, 1962 ~ Robin Stone, commonly known as house, dance-pop singer Robin S born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Best known for her 1993 Show Me Love debut single, which reached top 20 across Europe, top 10 in both the UK and America. Subsequent singles, notably the sophomore Luv 4 Luv, would chart reasonably well in Europe but fail to reach top 40 in the USAApril 27, 1959 ~ Jazz bassist Odd Magne Gridseth born 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 passed away in 2025
April 27, 1959 ~ Saxophonist, flutist Scott Robinson bornm in Pompton, New Jersey, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Lionel Hampton, Anthony Braxton, John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Ella Fitzgerald, Paquito d'Rivera, Sting, Maria Schneider, Elton John, Buck Clayton, the New York City Opera, Ruby Braff, John Fedchock, Marty Grosz, Keith Ingham, Frank Kimbrough, Bob Mintzer, John Pizzarelli, Frank Mantooth, Joe Roccisano, Randy Sandke, Louie Bellson, Rebecca Kilgore, Paquito d'Rivera, James Chirillo, Carol Sloane, Jim McNeely, Lea DeLaria, Tom Postilio, Peter Ecklund, Dave Van Ronk, Ron Carter, David Bowie, and Rufus ReidApril 27, 1959 ~ Sheena Shirley Orr, commonly known as pop singer, songwriter Sheena Easton born in Bellshill, UK ~ One of the most popular female British singers of the 1980s. Known for songs such as Modern Girl, Morning Train (9 To 5), the James Bond-theme For Your Eyes Only and a number of high-profile duets such as Me Gustas Tal Como Eres with Luis Miguel, We've Got Tonight with Kenny Rogers and U Got The Look with Prince
April 27, 1957 ~ Guitarist Adrian Utley, full name Adrian Francis Utley, born in Northampton, UK ~ Formed Portishead in the mid 1990s with vocalist Beth Gibbons and multi-instrumentalist Geoff Barrow, a band credited with spearheading, popularizing, and defining trip hop, a term the band actually disliked. The band is known especially for their 1994 Dummy debut album and its eponymous follow-up, both critically acclaimed and commercially sucessful. Utley has also worked with both his bandmates on other projects, co-producing and appearing on Gibbons' 2002 Out Of Season album and teaming up with Barrow to produce both Stephanie McKay's McKay and the Coral's Invisible Invasion. Utley has also served as producer for the Flanagan-Ingham Quartet, Tom Jones (Reload), Patrick Duff, Perfume Genius, and Algiers, and guested on albums by Alain Bashung, Goldfrapp, Sparklehorse, Alison Moyet (Hometime), Marilyn Manson, Isobell Campbell, John Parish, Bat For Lashes (The Haunted Man), Torres, Anna Calvi (Hunter), and Mark Lanegan. Prior to rising to fame with Portishead, Utley had honed his chops primarily as a jazz guitarist, touring with Big John Patton and a late incarnation of Art Blakey's long-running jazz outfit the Jazz Messengers
April 27, 1956 ~ Rock singer, guitarist Bryan Harvey, full name Bryan Taber Harvey, born in Richmond, Virginia, USA ~ Formed House Of Freaks with percussionist Johnny Holt, the duo recording four albums through the early 1990s including the acclaimed Tantilla released in 1989. Harvey has subsequently worked with indie supergroup Gutterball, which also included Steve Wynn. Harvey, his wife, and their two daughters were killed in a home invasion ~ Harvey passed away in 2006April 27, 1956 ~ Douglas Pearce, commonly known as singer, guitarist Douglas P, born in Woking, UK ~ Member of UK punk band Crisis from 1977 through 1980. Founded Death In June with Crisis bandmates Tony Wakeford and Patrick Leagas. Pearce continues to perform and record under the Death In June moniker to this day, serving as its sole constant member since 1985
April 27, 1955 ~ Folk, punk rock, punk-pop bassist Alastair Donaldson born in Edinburgh, UK ~ Co-founding member of folk outfit Silly Wizard, departing the band in late 1976 after appearing on the band's eponymous debut album to be succeeded by Martin Hadden. Perhaps best known as an early member of punk rock outfit the Rezillos, where he assumed the moniker William Mysterious. Donaldson appeared on songs such as My Baby Does Good Sculptures and Flying Saucer Attack, before departing the Rezillos to resume his architecture studies at the University Of Hull. For most of his adult life, Donaldson has worked as an architect, though on occasion he guested with the Rezillos and issued the solo single Security Of Noise in 1982 ~ Donaldson passed away in 2014
April 27, 1954 ~ Volydymyr Palamarchuk, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Wally Palmar, born ~ Best known as guitarist, lead singer, founding member of the Romantics, known for What I Like About You of their 1980 Pete Solley-produced eponymous The Romantics debut album and for their 1983 hit Talking In Your Sleep. Palmar would tour with Ringo Starr & his All-Star Band in the early-2010s and co-founded the Empty Hearts, teaming up with drummer Clem Burke, bassist Andy Babiuk, guitarist Elliot Easton and pianist Ian McLaganApril 27, 1953 ~ Singer, actress, director, model Arielle Dombasle born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA ~ Broke through appearing in the 1983 film Pauline At The Beach. Would go on to appear in numerous stage productions, films and TV series, direct several movies and record about ten albums as a singer, starting with Liberta released in 2000
April 27, 1951 ~ Paul Daniel Frehley, commonly known as hard rock, heavy metal guitarist, bassist, singer Ace Frehley, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member, lead guitarist of Kiss, remaining with the band through 1982 and present on hits such as Rock & Roll All Nite, Beth, Calling Dr Love, and perhaps their best known I Was Made For Lovin' You. Frehley would rejoin the band in 1996. As a solo artist well over half a dozen albums to his name, starting with the eponymous Ace Frehley album released in 1978 ~ Frehley passed away in 2025April 27, 1949 ~ Bassist Clive Taylor born in Cardiff, UK ~ Member of late 1960s pop, rock outfit Amen Corner, known for songs such as Bend Me Shape Me, (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice and Hello Susie. After the band disbanded Taylor would go on to co-found the short-lived Fair Weather, known for their UK top 10 hit Natural Sinner, and subsequently join Strawbs
April 27, 1949 ~ Singer Herb Murrell born in Lane, South Carolina, USA ~ Member of the Percussions. Subsequently co-founding member of 1970s R&B hit machine the Stylistics, known for Billboard top 10 hits such as You Are Everything, Betcha By Golly Wow, I'm Stone In Love With You, Break Up To Make Up and You Make Me Feel Brand New
April 27, 1948 ~ New wave, rock singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, percussionist, songwriter Kate Pierson, full name Catherine Elizabeth Pierson, born in Weehawken, New Jersey, USA ~ Key member of new wave outfit the B52's, serving as singer and the band's primary keyboardist in the early years. Best known for her wide-ranging voice, a trademark of the band's sound. Guested on the Ramones's Chop Suey, REM's Shiny Happy People and duetted with Iggy Pop on the 1990 hit Candy. Released her Guitars And Microphones solo debut album in 2015
April 27, 1947 ~ R&B, soul, Memphis soul singer Ann Peebles, full name Ann Lee Peebles, born in East St Louis, Illinois, USA ~ Sang in her her father's church as a child, with the sibling group the Peebles Choir which opened for Mahalia Jackson and the Soul Stirrers, and with bandleader Oliver Sain before being signed by Hi-Hat Records-executive and producer Willie Mitchell. Released her full-length debut album, This Is Ann Peebles, in 1969 and would score a number of the label's most emotive and lasting 1970s hits including Part-time Love, I Pity The Fool, Breaking Up Somebody's Home and her two best known I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down and I Can't Stand The Rain. Peebles co-wrote a vast amount of her material with staff songwriter Don Bryant, whom she would marry in 1974
April 27, 1947 ~ Pop, rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Pete Ham, full name Peter William Ham, born in Swansea, UK ~ Co-founding member of mid 1960s rock outfit Iveys. Starting with their 1969 Paul McCartney-penned Come And Get It single the band would go by the name Badfinger. Well known hits include No Matter What, Day After Day, Baby Blue and Without You, penned by Ham and Tom Evans. The latter would be covered by over 180 artists, including notably Harry Nilsson. Despite commercial succes Ham would suffer dire financial straits, ripped off by music management, and broke, depressed and disappointed with the music industry Ham committed suicide at age 27. The emotional scar of his death would also be a factor in bandmate Evans' suicide some eight years later ~ Ham passed away in 1975
April 27, 1946 ~ Singer, pianist, keyboardist Frank Robson born in Bradford-on-Avon, UK ~ Active in the 1960s London music scene, including with the Small Faces, where a chance meeting with some Finnish musicians led to exchanging phone numbers. A few years later Robson visited Finland, reconnected with the musicians and as demand for native English singers was high Robson joined Mosaic as lead singer, replacing Kirill Babitzin. Robson would subsequently rise to fame as lead singer of Finnish progressive rock, jazz fusion outfit Tasavallan Presidentti, with whom he recorded the eponymous Tasavallan Presidenti debut album and its followup Tasavallan Presidenti II before being fired from the group in 1972. Although he has from time to time rejoined the band, Robson would be most prolific as a solo artist, recording some five albums starting with Robson in 1974, most of which were well received in his now adopted homeland Finland ~ Robson passed away in 2024April 27, 1946 ~ Bassist Gordon Haskell born in Bournemouth, UK ~ School friend of Robert Fripp, with whom he also worked. First gained serious attention as member of Les Fleur De Lys. Subsequently briefly played with King Crimson, appearing on the albums In The Wake Of Poseidon and Lizard. As a solo artist best known for the 2001 hit How Wonderful You Are ~ Haskell passed away in 2020
April 27, 1945 ~ Free jazz bassist Dominic Duval born in New York, New York, USA ~ As a leader has well over two dozen albums to his name, notably 2008's The Last Dance Volumes 1 & 2 featuring Cecil Taylor. Has also worked with Trio X, Joe McPhee, Matthew Shipp, Steve Swell ~ Duval passed away in 2016
April 27, 1944 ~ Singer Cuba Gooding Sr born in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of Main Ingredient, remaining with the band through 1977. Sang lead on some of the band's greatest hits including Everybody Plays The Fool and Just Don't Want To Be Lonely. Gooding joined the band as a backing singer and took over lead vocals after lead singer Donald McPherson passed away of leukemia in 1971. Gooding released two solo albums in the late 1970s through early 1980s ~ Gooding passed away in 2017
April 27, 1944 ~ Country, bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, folk rock, country rock guitarist, banjoist, singer Herb Pedersen born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Closely associated with Chris Hillman, bandmate in the Desert Rose Band. In-demand collaborator. Has worked with John Fogerty, Mudcrutch, the Pine Valley Boys, Michael Martin Murphey, Earl Scruggs, the Dillards, the Kentucky Colonels, Old & In The Way, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Country Gazette, Vassar Clements, Gram Parsons (Grievous Angel), Emmylou Harris (Pieces Of The Sky, Elite Hotel), Skip Battin, Tony Rice, Dan Fogelberg, Stephen Stills, Laurel Canyon Ramblers, the Bluegrass Reunion, Linda Ronstadt, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, Jackson Browne, John Denver, John Jorgenson, Leland Sklar, and Rita Coolidge