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 29, 1978 ~ R&B, funk, soul, neo soul singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Javier Colon born in Stratford, Connecticut, USA ~ Toured with Derek Trucks Band during the early 2000s. Departed the group in 2002 to pursue a solo career, releasing his Javier debut album in 2003. It would reach top 20 on the Billboard R&B album charts. Has recorded steadily since. Gained serious exposure in 2011, overwhelmingly winning the NBC talent contest The Voice. Would reach Billboard Hot 100 top 20 the same year with the single Stitch By Stitch
April 29, 1975 ~ Folk rock, country rock, indie rock singer, guitarist, drummer, songwriter Garrison Starr, full name Julia Garrison Starr, born in Hernando, Mississippi, USA ~ Recorded about a dozen albums as a solo artist since the early 1990s. Perhaps best known for her 1997 Eighteen Over Me album, which would contain her signature song Superhero and would lead to an invitation to tour with the all-female festival tour Lilith Fair. Starr's songs have been used in TV series such as Life Unexpected, Pretty Little Liars, The Fosters, and Grey's Anatomy. Starr also co-founded Among The Oak & Ash with Josh Joplin, known for their 2009 eponymous Among The Oak & Ash album. Also a member of Plover, with whom she recorded the eponymous Plover album the same yearApril 29, 1974 ~ Anggun Ciptun Sasmi, mononymously known as singer, pianist, songwriter Anggun, born in Jakarta, Indonesia ~ Started performing at age 7. Released a number of rock-influenced albums in Indonesia starting in the mid-1980s before relocating to Europe to pursue an international career. Internationally best known for songs such as In Your Mind, Saviour, and I'll Be Alright. Represented France in the 2012 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 22nd place with Echo (You & I)
April 29, 1974 ~ James Kimball Gannon, commonly known as songwriter, lyricist Kim Gannon, passed away in Lake Worth, Florida, USA ~ Collaborated with songwriters such as J Fred Coots, Walter Kent, Josef Myrow, Max Steiner, Jule Styne, Mabel Wayne, Luckey Roberts. Well known songs co-written by Gannon include Moonlight Cocktail (Glenn Miller), I Understand (Jimmy Dorsey), A Dreamer's Holiday (Perry Como), I'll Be Home For Christmas (Bing Crosby), and I Want To Be Wanted (Brenda Lee) ~ Gannon was born in 1900
April 29, 1973 ~ Alternative rock, post-grunge, pop drummer Cheney Brannon born ~ Best known as member of Collective Soul, present on the band's eponymous 2009 Collective Soul album. Has also worked with Cheap Thrills, Riley Biederer, John Corabi, and Joel Kosche
April 29, 1970 ~ Pop, rock singer, songwriter China Forbes born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA ~ Co-lead singer of Pink Martini since 1995. The band is noted for its collaborations with numerous artists, notably Saori Yuki and the Von Trapps, and had many of its songs featured in films such as Josie & The Pussycates, Hitch and Mr & Mrs Jones as well as TV series such as The Sopranos, The West Wing and Sherlock
April 29, 1969 ~ Percy Robert Miller, commonly known as rapper, producer, actor Master P, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ As a solo artist known for his 1995 single Mr Ice Cream Man and notably his 1997 single Make 'Em Say Uhh, the latter featuring Fiend, Silkk The Shocker, Mia X & Mystikal and reaching Billboard top 20. Has also worked with Miller Boyz, TRU, Pimp C, Sons Of Funk, and Webbie
April 29, 1969 ~ Jazz bassist Thomas Winther Andersen born in Oslo, Norway ~ Married to jazz singer Henriette Andersen. Active as a leader since the late 1990s, working with Winther-Storm, Line-Up, and Sketch. Also a valued sideman, notably with Axel Hagen, Robert Rook, Olaf Zetsloot, and Simone Honijk
April 29, 1968 ~ Singer Carnie Wilson born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of pop group Wilson Phillips, which also included Wendy Wilson and Chyna Phillips, known for a string of 1990s hits notably the Billboard Hot 100 charttoppers Hold On, Release Me and You're In Love. All three band members are daughters of famous musicians, sisters Carnie and Wendy of the Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson, Chyna is the daughter of the Mamas & the Papas-members John Phillips and Michelle PhillipsApril 29, 1968 ~ Rock guitarist Janne Halmkrona born in Tornio, Finland ~ Influenced by the Sex Pistols, Judas Priest, Yes, and Genesis. Best known as a member of Finnish rock band CMX, joining the group in 1990 as replacement for Kimmo Suomalainen and first appearing on the band's 1991 Veljeskunta sophomore album. Has also worked as an A&R manager for Sony BMG Finland
April 29, 1967 ~ Jazz saxophonist Benny Krueger passed away in Orange, New Jersey, USA ~ Briefly played with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, appearing on a number of early 1920s recordings. Would go on to become a musical director and conductor for radio and TV working with artists such as Rudy Vallée and Bob Crosby. As a solo artist best known for I Cried For You and Wang Wang Blues (Saxopation). Also wrote Sunday, recorded by Pat Boone, Louis Jordan and most notably Lester Young ~ Krueger was born in 1899April 29, 1967 ~ Blues guitarist, singer JB Lenoir passed away in Urbana, Illinois, USA ~ Influenced by Blind Lemon Jefferson, Arthur Crudup, Lightnin' Hopkins. Known for songs such as Korea Blues, Let's Roll, Mojo and Mama Talk To Your Daughter. Worked with Sonny Boy Williamson II, Elmore James, Memphis Minnie, Big Maceo Merriweather, Muddy Waters, Sunnyland Slim, Leroy Foster, JT Brown, Willie Dixon, and Fred Below ~ Lenoir was born in 1929
April 29, 1963 ~ Country singer, songwriter Stephanie Bentley, full name Stephanie Kay Bentley, born in Thomasville, Georgia, USA ~ First gained attention duetting with Ty Herndon on Heart Half Empty in 1996. It would be included on both Herndon's What Mattered Most debut album and Bentley's sole Hopechest album. Best known as a songwriter. Wrote or co-wrote songs for Céline Dion, Faith Hill (Breathe), Pam Tillis, Martina McBride (Concrete Angel), and Jo Dee Messina
April 29, 1961 ~ Gilbert Vandine Houston, commonly known as folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Cisco Houston, passed away in San Bernardino, California, USA ~ Closely associated with Woody Guthrie, touring with Guthrie as early as the late 1930s and joining him in the Almanac Singers later. As a solo artist known for songs such as Great July Jones, Crazy Heart, What Did The Deep Blue Sea Say and Dollar Down. Influential on later folk singers, some of which recorded tribute songs such as Tom Paxton (Fare Thee Well Cisco), Peter La Farge (Cisco Houston Passed This Way) and Tom McGrath (Blues For Cisco Houston) ~ Houston was born in 1918April 29, 1961 ~ Irving Milfred Mole, commonly known as trombonist Miff Mole, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Known for recordings such as Slippin' Around, Red Hot Mama, Miff's Blues and There'll Come A Time (Wait And See). Worked with the Original Memphis Five, Sophie Tucker, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Sam Lanin, Eddie Lang, Jimmy Dorsey, Red Nichols, Vic Berton, and the Charleston Chasers ~ Mole was born in 1898
April 29, 1961 ~ Singer Wanda Jackson records In The Middle Of A Heartbreak in Nashville, Tennessee ~ Written by Laurie Christenson, Pat Franzese and Wanda Jackson. Produced by Ken Nelson. It would be released the next September as a single, featuring I'd Be Ashamed on the flip side. The single would become Jackson's second top 10 hit on the Billboard Country charts, where it reached No.6. During the same session Jackson also recorded the Hank Cochran-penned Little Bitty Tear, her next single
April 29, 1960 ~ Alternative rock, noise pop, shoegazing bassist Phil King born in London, UK ~ Best known as bassist for Lush, joining the band in 1992 as replacement for Steve Rippon. Also closely associated with the Jesus & Mary Chain, serving as the band's touring bassist, guitarist from 2007 through 2015. Has also worked with Felt, Biff Bang Powl, Servants, and the Fallen Leaves
April 29, 1957 ~ Bella Becker, commonly known as singer, actress, radio host Belle Baker, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Popular 1910s, 1920s ragtime, torch singer, actress. Popularized a number of Irving Berlin songs such as Blue Skies and My Yiddishe Mama. Hosted her own radio show in the 1930s ~ Becker was born in 1893April 29, 1956 ~ Jazz bassist Ira Coleman born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Has played with artists such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Laurent de Wilde, Milt Jackson, Ulf Wakenius, John Esposito, Joanne Brackeen, Herbie Hancock, Sting, Tony Williams, Ayo, and Antonio Farao
April 29, 1954 ~ Punk rock, post punk, new wave singer Debora Iyall, full name Debora Kay Iyall, born in Soap Lake, Washington, USA ~ Lead singer of Romeo Void, with whom she recorded three albums. The band is best known for the songs Never Say Never and A Girl In Trouble (Is A Temporary Thing), the latter reaching Billboard Hot 100 top 40. Following the band's disbandement in 1985 Iyall has recorded as a solo artist, starting with her 1986 Strange Language debut album
April 29, 1953 ~ Singer, producer Bill Drummond born in Butterworth,South Africa ~ Best known for forming the techno, pop duo the KLF with Jimmy Cauty, one of the worldwide best-selling acts of 1991, scoring sample-rich hits such as 3AM (Eternal), Train To Trancentral, America (What Time Is Love) and Justified & Ancient featuring Tammy Wynette. The duo also recorded under several other monikers including the Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu, Disco 2000 and notabaly scoring the 1988 UK No.1 hit Doctorin' The Tardis under the moniker the Timelords. In 1995 the duo burned £1 million in an art project for their the K Foundation
April 29, 1953 ~ Composer, film composer Jan AP Kaczmarek, full name Jan Andrzey Pawel Kaczmarek, born in Kontin, Poland ~ Has written scores for over 70 films and documentaries, including 2004's Finding Neverland for which he received an Academy Award. Other notable soundtrack credits include Washington Square, Unfaithful, The Visitor, Hachi (A Dog's Tale), and The Karamazovs. Outside the film industry most acclaimed for writing Cantata For Freedom to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Solidarity movement, and Oratorio 1956 commemorating the 50th anniversary of an uprising against the totalitarian government in Poznan, both works premiered live on Polish television ~ Kaczmarek passed away in 2024
April 29, 1952 ~ Latin jazz, smooth jazz, crossover jazz flutist Dave Valentin, full name David Peter Valentin, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Active since his early teens. Started on conga and timbales, switched to flute to get to known a girl in school who played the flute. Mentored by Hubert Laws. Recorded close to two dozen albums as a solo artist or leader, drawing from pop, R&B, Brazilian music to create a slick and accessible form of crossover jazz. Especially acclaimed for his 1988 Live At The Blue Note live album, and for his 1990 Two Amigos collaborative album with Herbie Mann. Has also worked with Noel Pointer, Patti Austin, Lee Ritenour, David Benoit, Eliane Elias, the GRP All-Star Big Band, Scott Cossu, and Nnenna Freelon ~ Valentin passed away in 2017
April 29, 1951 ~ Arthur Hendrickson, commonly known as ska revival, 2 tone singer Arthur Gaps Hendrickson, born ~ Co-founding and key member of the Selecter. Though their success was brief, they are considered one of the most influential early 1980s bands helpful in ushering in the ska revival in their native UK. The band recorded two albums, Too Much Pressure and its follow-up Celebrate The Bullet, before disbanding in 1982. They are best known for their 1979 UK top 10 hit On My Radio, and the subsequent top 30 hits Three Minute Hero and Missing Words. The band has reformed several times in various incarnations, and continued to record well into the 2000s but failed to repeat their earlier success. Hendrickson sang with the band until diagnosed with cancer in 2023. Following his death, Hendrickson's family issued a statement: “Gaps was known the world over for singing the title track on the Selecter's debut album Too Much Pressure, he brought a captivating angst and frustration to the track as he described the trials and tribulations of daily life for the working man” ~ Hendrickson passed away in 2024
April 29, 1951 ~ Bossa nova, jazz singer, guitarist, drummer, songwriter Vinicius Cantuária born in Manaus, Brazil ~ As a leader over a dozen albums to his name since the early 1980s, especially acclaimed for his 2004 Horse & Fish album. Wrote Lua E Estrela, recorded by Caetano Veloso in 1981. Since relocating to the USA Cantuária has become a fixture in the New York jazz scene, and guested on albums by Arto Lindsay, David Byrne (Feelings), Ryuichi Sakamoto, Los Super Seven, Laurie Anderson, Angélique Kidjo, and Bill Frisell