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 28, 2025 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Mike Peters, full name Michael Leslie Peters, passed away in Manchester, UK ~ Lead singer of new wave band the Alarm, co-founded with guitarist Dave Sharp. The band recorded about half a dozen albums through the early 1990s, merging folk-punk with soaring rock, and is especially acclaimed for their 1985 Strength sophomore album. Well known songs include 68 Guns, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Rain In The Summertime, and Sold Me Down The River. After the band's disbandement in 1991 Peters has recorded as a solo artist starting with the album Breathe in 1995, formed Coloursound, worked with supergroup Dead Men Walking, and toured with Big Country ~ Peters was born in 1959
April 28, 2023 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Claude Gray passed away in Skokie, Illinois, USA ~ Paved the way for pop-oriented country artists. Dubbed “the Tall Texan”, Gray would become best known for his 1960 hit Family Bible, penned by Willie Nelson. Other well known songs include I'll Have Another Cup Of Coffee (Then I'll Go), My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About), Knock Again True Love, I Never Had The One I Wanted and How Fast Them Trucks Can Go ~ Gray was born in 1932April 28, 2023 ~ Hard rock, melodic hard rock guitarist Helge Engelke passed away ~ Influenced by Uli Jon Roth and Michael Schenker. Member of Fair Warning, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums starting in the early 1990s. Following the band's initial disbandement in 2000 formed Dreamtide. Engelke has also guested on albums by Zeno, Mind Odyssey, and Thomsen ~ Engelke was born in 1961
April 28, 2023 ~ Rock guitarist, singer Tim Bachman, full name Timothy Gregg Bachman, passed away in Winnipeg, Canada ~ Co-founding member of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, present on the band's first two albums Bachman Turner Overdrive and Bachman Turner Overdrive II. The latter would spawn the singles Let It Ride and Takin' Care Of Business, both of which reached top 10 in the band's native Canada ~ Bachman was born in 1951
April 28, 2021 ~ Alternative rock, post-punk singer, keyboardist, songwriter Anita Lane, full name Anita Louise Lane, passed away ~ Best known for her stints as a member of Nick Cave's backing units the Bad Seeds and the Birthday Party. Cave and Lane were romantically involved from 1977 through 1983. Lane has co-written several of Cave's songs, notably From Her To Eternity, and Cave in turn has co-written several of Lane's solo songs. She has released two solo albums, 1993's Dirty Pearl and 2001's Sex O'Clock ~ Lane was born in 1960April 28, 2021 ~ Organist, harpsichordist Liuwe Tamminga passed away in Bologna, Italy ~ Acclaimed for his performances of Renaissance and Baroque music. Helped rediscovery of lesser-known composers such as Fiorenzo Maschera, Marco Antonio Cavazzoni and Jacques Buus ~ Tamminga was born in 1953
April 28, 2019 ~ Melbourne James, commonly known as reggae DJ Jah Stitch, passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Reggae DJ debuted with Danger Zone, produced by Errol Holt. Has also worked with producer Bunny Lee, with Yabby You, Trevor Douglas, and Jah Woosh ~ James was born in 1949
April 28, 2014 ~ Singer Ariana Grande releases Problem featuring Iggy Azalea, lifted of her My Everything album ~ An uptempo dance-pop and R&B song with funk influences, Problem has been described by Ariana Grande as a song about “the feeling of being absolutely terrified to re-approach a relationship that's gone sour, but you want to more than anything.” The song notably featured rapper Iggy Azalea, who would later say of working with Grande:“We'd actually been talking about doing a collaboration for about a year. We spoke about me being on her first album and it didn't end up happening and so it's great to be on Problem. It's a cool song, really good vibe.”. Although undredited, rapper Big Sean also appears on the track, whispering in the chorus. Problem would peak at No.2 Billboard Hot 100, making it Grande's biggest hit, held off the top spot by Azalea's FancyApril 28, 2013 ~ Cellist János Starker passed away in Bloomington, Indiana, USA ~ Child prodigy. Closely associated with the Budapest Opera, the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra ~ Starker was born in 1924
April 28, 2012 ~ John Joseph Kelson Jr, commonly known as saxophonist Jackie Kelso, passed away in Beverly Hills, California, USA ~ Active since the 1940s, initially in jazz backing the likes of Barney Bigard, Lucky Thompson, Kid Ory, Benny Carter, Benny Goodman, and Lionel Hampton, later venturing into other genres. To rock & roll audiences perhaps best known for his assocation with Gene Vincent, playing on several of the singer's key late 1950s recordings including Say Mama, She She Little Sheila, and Ac-centu-ate he Positive. Kelso also provided the flute solo, though uncredited, on Walk Away Renee by the Left Banke, backed Elvis Presley on his Elvis '68 Comeback Special, took part in the 1971 all-star The Concert For Bangladesh charity concert organized by George Harrison, and worked with Johnny Otis, Lowell Fulson, Shuggie Otis (Here Comes Shuggie), Rita Coolidge, Todd Rundgren (Something/Anything), Albert Hammond, Bobby Blue Bland, Kris Kristofferson, José Feliciano, the Four Tops, John Prine, the Manhattan Transfer, Steely Dan (Aja), Mink DeVille, Dr John, Christopher Cross, and Michael Omartian ~ kelson was born in 1922
April 28, 2010 ~ Corrado Codarini, commonly known as singer Connie Codarini, passed away ~ Original member of vocal quartet the Four Lads, remaining with the group till 1962 and replaced by Johnny D'Arc. Present on songs such as Istanbul (Not Constantinopel), Skokiaan, Moments To Remember, No Not Much, Standing On The Corner, Who Needs You and Put A Light In The Window, all of which would reach the American top 10 ~ Codarini was born ca.1930
April 28, 2008 ~ Singer Katy Perry releases I Kissed A Girl, lifted off her One Of The Boys album ~ In this song, Katy Perry tells of experimenting with a girl. She admits to liking it, but it isn't anything meaningful, and besides, she has a boyfriend. The label took a chance with Katy Perry's debut single and its bi-curious theme, as Capitol Records executive Chris Anokute explained to HitQuarters: “People said, This is never going to get played on the radio. How do we sell this? How's this going to be played in the Bible Belt?” However, the single reached top of the Billboard Hot 100 within two months and catapulted the young singer to national fame. Two subsequent singles off the same album, Perry's major label debut, would also reach top 10. Hot n Cold reached No.3 and Waking Up In Vegas peaked at No.9
April 28, 2006 ~ Sambista, singer, songwriter Guilherme de Brito, full name Guilherme de Brito Bollhorst, passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ About half a dozen albums to his name as a recording artist. Best known as a songwriter, having written some 150 songs, most of them samba, frequently in partnership with Nelson Cavanquinho. Well known songs co-written by De Brito include Raul Moreno's A Flor E O Espinho, Beth Carvalho's Folhas Secas, and Quando Eu Me Chamar Saudade first recorded by Cavaquinho ~ De Brito was born in 1922
April 28, 2005 ~ Jazz, cool jazz bassist, double bassist Percy Heath passed away in Southampton, New York, USA ~ Brother of saxophonist Jimmy Heath and drummer Albert Heath, with whom he formed the Heath Brothers. Best known as key member of the Modern Jazz Quartet for over four decades starting in the 1950s, an all-star ensemble especially acclaimed for albums such as Fontessa, Odds Against Tomorrow, Pyramid and Third Stream Music. Heath is also present on albums by Milt Jackson, Clifford Brown (Brownie Eyes), Sonny Rollins, Elmo Hope, Horace Silver, JJ Johnson, Thelonious Monk (Monk), Art Farmer (Evening In Casablanca), Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis (Round About Midnight), Jim Hall, Ray Charles (Ray Charles), Benny Golson, Gigi Gryce, Wes Montgomery (The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes Montgomery), and Bud Powell ~ Heath was born in 1923
April 28, 2000 ~ Ella Lucille Dinning, commonly known as singer Lou Dinning, passed away ~ Member of sibling outfit the Dinning Sisters, alongside Jean Dinning and Ginger Dinning, known for late 1940s top 20 hits such as My Adobe Hacienda, I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now, I Beg Your Pardon and Buttons And Bows ~ Dinning was born in 1920
April 28, 1991 ~ Curtis Wain Gates, commonly known as singer, actor Ken Curtis, passed away in Fresno, California, USA ~ Best known as actor, notably portraying the role of Festus Haggen on the CBS western TV series Gunsmoke. Sang with Tommy Dorsey's band in the early 1940's joining the ensemble as replacement for Frank Sinatra. Also lead singer of pivotal country group the Sons Of The Pioneers from 1949 through 1952 including on the hits Room Full Of Roses and Ghost Riders In The Sky ~ Gates was born in 1916
April 28, 1990 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, Without You by Mötley Crüe peaks at No.8 Billboard Hot 100 ~ A tender power ballad seemingly somewhat out of character for a band best known for their raunchy hair metal rockers, Without You would become the band's second-highest charting single. Issued as the third single lifted off Dr Feelgood, it peaked at No.8 Billboard Hot 100, two spots lower than the title track and lead single of the same album. Bassist Nikki Sixx, who co-wrote the song with the band's guitarist Mick Mars, would later tell Rolling Stone how Without You was inspired by their bandmate Tommy Lee's relationship with actress Heather Locklear: “That was a very simple idea for a song, which I had written a lyric about Heather and Tommy. They were coming over to my place all the time. I thought to myself one day, Without You, coming from Tommy's perspective, life would not be the same. It was a good relationship at that time. It was sort of a romantic moment. I apologize for that”
April 28, 1988 ~ Louis Charles Stevenson, commonly known as country pop singer, guitarist, songwriter BW Stevenson or Buckwheat Stevenson, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Considered a one-hit-wonder for his 1973 Billboard Hot 100 No.9 hit My Maria, which Stevenson co-wrote with Daniel Moore. About a dozen years later Brooks & Dunn covered the song, taking it to the top of the Billboard Country charts. Stevenson scored several other minor hits throughout the 1970s, including Shambala, River Of Love, and Down To The Station, but none did as well as My Maria. Three Dog Night would score a 1973 Billboard Hot 100 No.3 with their cover of Shambala, which first appeared on the charts one week after Stevenson's original ~ Stevenson was born in 1949April 28, 1988 ~ Metal, alternative rock, indie rock producer, mixer, engineer Taylor Larson born in Bethesda, Maryland, USA ~ Worked with Asking Alexandria, Periphery, From First To Last, Veil Of Maya, Within Temptation, the Dangerous Summer, Conditions, Sky Eats Airplane, the Evening, I The Breather, Capture, the Darkest Hour, Toothgrinder, and the Word Alive
April 28, 1987 ~ Singer Whitney Houston releases I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me), lifted off her Whitney sophomore album ~ Songwriters George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, a husband-wife duo who were in the middle of recording their own album, had asked Arista Records executive Clive Davis if they could have the song back if he wasn't going to use it for Whitney Houston. Davis, however, loved the song and had Houston issue I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) as the lead single off her Whitney sophomore album. Despite mixed critical reception, the single became a smash global hit, topping the charts in over a dozen countries including the Netherlands, the UK, and America, and earning Houston a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Over time, the single would sell over 3 million copies in America alone, and over 10 million worldwide, making it one of the all-time best-selling singles. For Houston's previous album Merrill and Rubicam had written How Will I Know, another Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit
April 28, 1982 ~ Jazz trombonist, saxophonist Murray McEachern passed away ~ Best known for his associations with Benny Goodman including on the pivotal 1937 recording of Sing Sing Sing (With A Swing) and with the Casa Loma Orchestra. Also worked with Lucio Agostini, Percy Faith, Jack Hylton, and Phil Moore ~ McEachern was born in 1915
April 28, 1981 ~ Rock bassist Steve Currie passed away near Vale De Parra, Portugal ~ Best known as member of T.Rex, joining in 1970 and remaining through 1976. Present on most of the band's best known including Hot Love, Bang-a-gong (Get It On), Telegram Sam and Metal Guru ~ Currie was born in 1947
April 28, 1980 ~ Bassist, guitarist, drummer, singer Tommy Caldwell, full name Thomas Michael Caldwell, passed away in Moore, South Carolina, USA ~ Bassist of Southern rock outfit the Marshall Tucker Band from its inception in 1973 until his death from injuries sustained in a car accident, succeeded by Franklin Wilkie. The 1980 Full Moon by the Charlie Daniels Band is dedicated to Caldwell ~ Caldwell was born in 1949April 28, 1977 ~ Jazz guitarist Asbjorn Lerheim born in Ålesund, Norway ~ Member of Chrome Hill alongside Jørgen Munkeby, Torstein Lofthus and Roger Arntzen. Also worked with Subtonic, Lisa Dillan, and the Quite Quiet Project
April 28, 1973 ~ Actor, singer Alejandro Ibarra, full name José Alejandro Ibarra de Llano, born in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Son of actress, singer Julissa and actor, singer Benny Ibarra Sr, brother of singer, actor Benny Ibarra. Best known as an actor, mostly in supporting roles, since the late 1980s, notably in the telenovelas Alcanzar Una Estrella and Amorcito Corazón
April 28, 1973 ~ Cameron Gipp, commonly known as rapper Big Gipp, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Founding member of Goodie Mob, which also included Khujo, Cee Lo Green and T-Mo. known for their critically acclaimed Soul Food debut album released in 1995. Forms the duo Ali & Gipp with Ali. Also closely associated with Nelly and St Lunatics. Recorded as a solo artist, starting with 2003's Mutant Mindframe album. Has also collaborated with Dungeon Family, Daz Dillinger, OutKast, Mack 10, Lil' Flip, Three 6 Mafia, Kurupt, Xzibit, Pharoahe Monch, NORE, Too $hort, Bubba Sparxxx, and Lil' Jon