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, 1971 ~ Multi-instrumentalist, producer Jay Demarcus born in Columbus, Ohio, USA ~ Produced for James Otto, Jo Dee Messina, Austins Bridge, Chicago, and Michael English. Co-founded East To West. Best known as member of Rascal Flatts
April 28, 1971 ~ Ellerton Oswald White, commonly known as jazz pianist Sonny White, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Jesse Stone, Willie Bryant, Sidney Bechet, Teddy Hill, Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke, Frankie Newton, Billie Holiday, Artie Shaw, Benny Carter, Big Joe Turner, Lena Horne, Dexter Gordon, Hot Lips Page, Harvey Davis, Wilbur de Paris, Eddie Barefield, and Jonah Jones ~ White was born in 1917
April 28, 1968 ~ Rockers Fleetwood Mac record Need Your Love So Bad at CBS Studios, London, UK ~ Written and previously recorded by Little Willie John, his brother Mertis John Jr receiving co-writing credit. Produced by Mike Vernon. Fleetwood Mac initially released Need Your Love So Bad as a single In July 1968, paired with Stop Messin' Round recorded on the same day on the flip side. A 1973 reissue, a double A-side single paired with Albatros, would reach the UK top 10
April 28, 1966 ~ Todd Anthony Shaw, commonly known as rapper Too $hort, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Pioneered West Coast rap. Active since the mid-1980s. First gained serious attention with his 1989 Life Is Too Short album. Has collaborated with E-40, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Twista, French Montana, Wiz Khalifa, and G-Eazy
April 28, 1962 ~ Michael Damian Weir, commonly known as actor, singer Michael Damian, born in Bonsalie, California, USA ~ Best known as an actor, notably portraying the role of Danny Romalotti on the daytime soap opera The Young & The Restless from 1980 through 1998, returning from time to time in later seasons. As a singer best known for his single Rock On, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989April 28, 1961 ~ Anna Hoxha, commonly known as singer, actress, TV personality Anna Oxa, born in Bari, Italy ~ Gained attention eventually reaching mainstream for a number of performances at the San Remo music festival. Best known for songs such as Un'emozione Da Poco, E Tutto Un Attimo, Ti Lascero and Donna Con Te
April 28, 1961 ~ Drummer, keyboardist, producer Mark Cawthra born in Hertfordshire, UK ~ Member of the Cardiacs, notably present on the 1981 cassette release Toy World. Has subsequently held a variety of jobs in music including touring with bands such as Immaculate Fools, It's Immaterial and Then Jericho as a live sound engineer, worked as studio engineer and remixer, and has released a number of solo recordings
April 28, 1959 ~ Pianist, fiddler, songwriter John Morris Rankin born in Mabou, Canada ~ Original member of sibling outfit the Rankin Family, known for a string of country hits in their native Canada starting in the early 1990s. Well known songs include Orangedale Whistle, Fare Thee Well Love, Gillis Mountain, North Country, and The Roving Gypsy Boy. Rankin's daughter Molly Rankin is also a musician, lead singer and guitarist of indie pop band Alvvays ~ Rankin passed away in 2000
April 28, 1956 ~ James Dixon Swan, commonly known as singer Jimmy Barnes, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Living in Australia since age 5 Barnes would become one of the most popular and best-selling Australian artists recording over a dozen albums with Cold Chisel and about the same number of records as a solo artist. To date 17 albums have reached the No.1 spot on the Australian album charts. Internationally best known for his collaboration with INXS on the 1986 Good Times of The Lost Boys soundtrack, a top 10 hit in Australia and New Zealand, and a UK top 20 hit upon its 1990 re-release
April 28, 1955 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Tobin Sprout born in Dayton, Ohio, USA ~ Member of Guided By Voices from 1986 through 1997 and again from 2010 through 2014. Present on the band's most acclaimed albums including 1994's Bee Thousand and its 1995 follow-up King Shit & The Golden Boys. Songs written or co-written by Sprout include It's Like Soul Man, Awful Bliss, and Atom Eyes. Has recorded about half a dozen solo albums, starting with Carnival Boy released in 1996, and has collaborated with Eyesinweasel, and Airport 5April 28, 1954 ~ Jazz drummer Frank Jacobsen born in Bergen, Norway ~ Worked with the Bergen Big Band, Son Mu, Dag Arnesen, Knut Kristiansen, Vigleik Storaas, Olav Dale, Jan Kåre Hystad, Cutting Edge, Thorgeir Stubø, Knut Riisnæs, Paul Weeden, Guttorm Guttormsen, Søyr, Rune Klakegg, Rob Waring, and Carl Morten Iversen
April 28, 1953 ~ Conductor, violinist, composer Arnie Roth born ~ Member of neo-classical new age ensemble Mannheim Steamroller. Principal conductor of the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra. As a composer known for soundtracks such as 2002's animated feature film Barbie As Rapunzel
April 28, 1953 ~ Country singer, songwriter Fred Knobloch, full name James Frederick Knocloch, born in Jackson, Mississippi, USA ~ Member of Let's Eat. One third of S-K-O, alongside Paul Overstreet and Thom Schuyler. Best known as a solo artist and songwriter, especially known for his single Why Not Me, co-written with Carson Whitsett, a hit in 1980. Artists who recorded Knoblochs songs include the Everly Brothers, Faith Hill, Chely Wright, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, and Confederate Railroad
April 28, 1953 ~ Bassist, guitarist, singer Kim Gordon, full name Kim Althea Gordon, born in Rochester, New York, USA ~ Best known for co-founding Sonic Youth with Thurston Moore in 1981. The couple would marry three years later and divorce in 2013. The band are considered pioneers in noise rock, critically acclaimed especially for the late 1980s albums Sister and Daydream Nation. Also founded Free Kitten with Julia Cafritz. Produced Hole's 1991 Pretty On The Inside debut album. Ventured into fashion and acting and worked as a visual artist throughout her musical careerApril 28, 1953 ~ Folk, country guitarist, singer, songwriter Pat Donohue born in St Paul, Minnesota, USA ~ Admired fingerpicker with some dozen albums to his name. Influenced by Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Bob Dylan, Steve Goodman, John Prine. Had his songs covered by Chet Atkins, Suzy Bogguss, Kenny Rogers, and Chet Atkins
April 28, 1952 ~ Charles Alfred Leavell, commonly known as keyboardist Chuck Leavell, born in Birmingham, Alabama, USA ~ Member of the Allman Brothers Band from 1972 through 1976, notably present on the tracks Ramblin' Man and Jessica. Co-founding member of Sea Level, known best for the 1976 eponymous Sea Level debut album and its 1977 Cats On The Coast follow-up. Also well known for his association with the Rolling Stones, performing with the band on tour and as a session musician present on nearly every album since the early 1980s. Leavell has also worked with the Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Gov't Mule, Train, Tinsley Ellis, the Black Crowes, Aretha Franklin, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Montgomery Gentry, John Mayer (Born And Raised), Miranda Lambert, and Blues TravellerApril 28, 1952 ~ Magdalena Thora, commonly known as jazz, jazz fusion, world music guitarist, singer Leni Stern, born in Munich, Germany ~ Married to jazz guitarist Mike Stern. Active since the mid-1980s and recording prolifically since, especially acclaimed for her 1989 Closer To The Light album. Has worked with drummer Paul Motian and guitarist Bill Frisell
April 28, 1951 ~ Singer Silvi Vrait born in Kehra, Estonia ~ Active since the early 1970 in several pop outfits including Viker 5, Initsiaal, Fix, and Ultima Thule. Starred in a number of musicals and operas such as productions of Porgy & Bess, The King & I, and The Sound Of Music. Represented her native Estonia at the 1994 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 24th place with Nagu Merelaine ~ Vrait passed away in 2013
April 28, 1950 ~ Steelpan player Robert Greenidge born in Success Village, Trinidad ~ Best known as a member of Jimmy Buffett's backing unit the Coral Reefer Band. Also guested on recordings by Grover Washington Jr, Taj Mahal, Michael Utley, and Dennis de Souza
April 28, 1950 ~ William Anthony Colón Román, commonly known as salsa, bolero singer, trombonist, producer, arranger Willie Colón born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Influential figure in Latin jazz, merging traditional Latin music with jazz and rock. Actively recording since the late 1960s including successful collaborations with Ismael Miranda, Celia Cruz, Soledad Bravo, Rubén Blades, Johnny Pacheco, the Fania All-Stars, and David Byrne. Also an activist on social issues and active in politics, having served as special assistant, spokesperson, running for several public offices including in the Democratic primaries for Congress in 1994 and for New York City Public Advocate in 2001, losing both elections ~ Colón passed away in 2026April 28, 1949 ~ Singer, jug blower Earl McDonald passed away in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Active mostly from the early-1900s through the 1930s. Helped popularize jug music performing and recording with bands such as the Original Louisville Jug Band, the Old Southern Jug Band, the Dixieland Jug BLowers and Ballard Chefs ~ McDonald was born in 1885
April 28, 1948 ~ Contemporary classical composer Mark Abel born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA ~ Active on the rock scene in 1970s and 1980s, producing bands such as the Feelies and the Bongos, playing on albums by Television's Tom Verlaine and the Left Banke's Michael Brown. Accepted a day job in journalism in the mid-1980s. Emerged in the early 2000s as a classical composer, especially noted for his The Dream Gallery album released in 2012
April 28, 1947 ~ Radio DJ, TV host, singer, songwriter Ad Visser born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Best known as radio DJ starting in 1968 with the Superclean Dreammachine on Hilversum 3 starting in 1968 and notably as TV host presenting the Dutch pop charts on AVRO's Toppop from 1970 through 1985, setting the bar for other music shows. Prior, parralel and subsequent to his career as a DJ, TV host has recorded as a singer, perhaps best known for his Parade Van De Hemelse Tragedie, a single song consisting of about a 1,000 verses and a length of over 8 hours. Has also performed in the theatre, authored books and worked as a label executiveApril 28, 1947 ~ Singer Francine Peaches Hurd born in Washington DC, USA ~ Best known as the original “Peaches” in Peaches & Herb, present on late 1960s recordings such as Let's Fall In Love, Close Your Eyes, For Your Love and Love Is Strange. During this period Hurd also issued a number of solo recordings, using the moniker Francine Barker, including Angels In The Sky and Mister DJ ~ Hurd passed away in 2005
April 28, 1947 ~ Jazz trumpeter, saxophonist Glenn Zottola, full name Glenn Paul Zottola, born in Port Chester, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman appearing on over 50 albums. Best known for his associations with Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, Bob Wilber. Accompanied singers such as Mel Tormé, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald. Has also worked with Butch Miles, Mousey Alexander, Phil Bodner, George Masso, and Maxine Sullivan
April 28, 1947 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, pop guitarist Steve Khan born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Member of the Brecker Brothers band with Randy Brecker and Michael Brecker. Also worked with Ashford & Simpson, Rupert Holmes, Billy Joel (52nd Street), Larry Coryell, Rick Marotta, Steve Gadd, Wayne Shorter, Steely Dan (Gaucho), Luther Allison, Patti Austin, Gato Barbieri, George Benson, Jimmy Cobb, Donald Fagen (The Nightfly), Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin (Who's Zoomin' Who), Michael Franks, Grant Green, Lou Rawls, and Joe Zawinul