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 30, 2026 ~ Singer, guitarist, drummer Alex Ligertwood, full name Alexander John Ligertwood, passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Ligertwood, especially praised for his four-octave vocal range, had been singing from an early age onwards, drawing inspiration from the likes of Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, and Curtis Mayfield. Ligertwood first gained serious attention in the late 1960s as a member of white soul cover band the Senate, which also included Robbie McIntosh of future the Average White Band fame. Throughout the 1970s, Ligertwood was a member of jazz-rock unit the Oblivion Express, including on the acclaimed albums Second Wind and Closer To It. Ligertwood would also appear on albums by André Ceccarelli, Lenny White, and Carly Simon. Internationally, however, Ligertwood would become best known as on-and-off lead singer of Santana from 1979 through 1994, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums, singing lead on songs such as All I Ever Wanted, You Know That I Love You, and the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hits Winning and Hold On, and performed with the band at their 1985 Live Aid appearance in Philadelphia. Ligertwood also co-wrote several Santana songs during his various stints with the band, most notably Brightest Star, The Nile, and Somewhere In Heaven. Upon hearing of Ligertwood's passing, Brian Auger, Ligertwood's bandmate in the Oblivion Express, stated: “To me, Alex aka ‘Wee Eck’ was simply the best singer to ever do it. In all my years of music, I never heard anyone who possessed that kind of range or that effortless, carefree ability to soar through a melody. He didn't just sing songs, he lived them” ~ Ligertwood was born in 1946
April 30, 2026 ~ Electric blues guitarist, songwriter, producer Bobby Murray passed away ~ Influenced by Albert Collins and BB King. Best known for his association with Etta James, a member of James' backing unit for over two decades starting in 1988. Recorded a number of solo albums, starting with The Blues Is Now in 1996. Has also worked with Albert King, Johnny Guitar Watson, Taj Mahal, Percy Mayfield, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Lowell Fulson ~ Murray was born in 1953
April 30, 2024 ~ Guitarist Duane Eddy passed away in Franklin, Tennessee, USA ~ One of the most popular guitarists of the 1950s and 1960s, known for his distinctive twangy sound. Helped popularize surf music. Cited as an influence by artists as diverse as George Harrison, Dave Davies, Hank Marvin, John Entwistle, Bruce Springsteen, Adrian Belew, and Mark Knopfler. Well known songs include Rebel Rouser, Cannonball, Forty Miles Of Bad Road, Because They're Young, and Dance With The Guitar Man ~ Eddy was born in 1938April 30, 2023 ~ Composer, music critic, musicologist Anthony Payne passed away in Islington, UK ~ Best known for completing Edward Elgar's unfinished Third Symphony. Praised as a prolific composer in his own right, having written orchestral and choral works and specifically chamber music. Well-known compositions include First Sight Of Her And After, Visions, and Journeys ~ Payne was born in 1936
April 30, 2023 ~ Rock, blues, country rock singer, guitarist, banjoist Broderick Smith passed away ~ Appeared in a 1973 Australian production of rock opera Tommy, portraying the role of Mr Walker. Member of the Adderley Smith Blues Band, the Dingoes, and Carson. Perhaps best known for his 1981 hit Faded Roses with Broderick Smith's Big Combo ~ Smith was born in 1948
April 30, 2022 ~ Diana Ellen Judd, commonly known as country singer Naomi Judd, passed away near Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Mother of Wynonna Judd, with whom she formed the successful country duo the Judds. The duo scored numerous No.1 hits on the Billboard Country charts throughout the early 1990s, including Mama He's Crazy, Why Not Me, Have Mercy, Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days), I Know Where I'm Going and Let Me Tell You About Love ~ Judd was born in 1946
April 30, 2022 ~ Rock guitarist Ray Fenwick, full name Raymond John Fenwick, passed away ~ Member of the Syndicats, joining the band in 1964 replacing future Yes guitarist Steve Howe. Member of Dutch outfit the Tee Set. Member of the Spencer Davis Group from 1967 through 1969. Member of Fancy, known for the surprise hits Wild Thing and Touch Me. Also notably worked with Ian Gillan, Jon Lord, and with Bo Diddley on the latter's The London Bo Diddley Sessions album ~ Fenwick was born in 1946April 30, 2020 ~ Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen, full name Tony Oladipo Allen, passed away in Paris, France ~ Rose to fame in the 1970s as a member of Fela Kuti's Africa '70. Would go on to collaborate with King Sunny Adé, Ray Lema, Manu Dibango, Sébastien Tellier, Damon Albarn and the Good The Bad & The Queen, Zap Mama, Flea, Rocket Juice & the Moon, and Oumou Sangaré ~ Allen was born in 1940
April 30, 2019 ~ Rowland Charles Gould, commonly known as guitarist, bassist, saxophonist, singer Boon Gould passed away in Dorset, UK ~ Best known as lead guitarist and co-founding member of Level 42. Medical reasons caused Boon to depart the band in 1988, having played on all the band's albums up to and including the 1987 album Running In The Family. Brother of drummer and bandmate Phil Gould ~ Gould was born in 1955
April 30, 2018 ~ Progressive metal, neoclassical metal guitarist, bassist Tim Calvert, full name Timothy T Calvert, passed away in Twain Harte, California, USA ~ Known for his dark, moody style of songwriting and his neoclassical guitar playing, characterised by an abundance of arpeggios and sweep-picking. Member of Forbidden from 1989 until the band's initial disbandement nearly a decade later, present on the albums Twisted Into Form, Distortion, and Green. Subsequently briefly a member of Nevermore, appearing on the 1999 Dreaming Neon Black album, before retiring from music to pursue a career as a commercial airline pilot. Calvert passed away at age 52 due to complications of ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease ~ Calvert was born in 1965
April 30, 2015 ~ Singer Ben E King passed away in Hackensack, New Jersey, USA ~ Best known for Stand By Me, Don't Play That Song (You Lied), and Supernatural Thing (Part I). Former lead singer of the Drifters, singing lead on songs such as There Goes My Baby, Save The Last Dance For Me, and on I Count The Tears ~ King was born in 1938
April 30, 2014 ~ Hilario D Ramos Jr, commonly known as guitarist, banjoist, singer, songwriter Larry Ramos, passed away in Clarkston, Washington, USA ~ Member of the New Christy Minstrels from 1962 through 1966, including on the band's The Exciting New Folk Chorus debut album. Following his departure from the band has worked as a studio musician and back-up singer and released the 1966 solo single It'll Take A Little Time prior to joining the Association in 1967 as replacement for Jules Gary Alexander, present at the band's performance at the Monterey International Pop Festival held in Monterey, California, in 1967. Ramos also sang co-lead on the singles Windy and Never My Love ~ Ramos was born in 1942April 30, 2014 ~ Southern rock, rock bassist Paul Goddard passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Atlanta Rhythm Section, remaining with the band from its inception through 1983 and rejoining in later years. Present on the band's best known including So Into You, I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight and Imaginary Lover ~ Goddard was born in 1945
April 30, 2010 ~ William Reese Owsley III, mononymously known as power pop, rock, bluegrass singer, guitarist Owsley, passed away in Franklin, Tennessee, USA ~ Influenced by Kiss, Todd Rundgren, Chet Atkins, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Johnson. Founded the Semantics with Millard Powers, a power pop outfit that also included Jody Spence and Ringo Starr's son Zak Starkey. Critically acclaimed for a handful of solo albums starting with the eponymous Owsley album in 1999. Served as touring guitarist with Amy Grant and Shania Twain. Has also worked with Vince Gill, Michael W Smith, Chris Rodriguez, DC Talk, the Neville Brothers, Wynonna Judd, Faith Hill, Michael McDonald, Charlotte Church, Natalie Grant, James Ingram, Rodney Crowell, the Katinas, Graham Colton, and Kenny Loggins ~ Owsley was born in 1966
April 30, 2009 ~ Ronald Richard Pratley, commonly known as producer, manager, promoter Ron Richards, passed away in Watford, UK ~ Best known for discovering British pop, baroque pop group the Hollies, signing them to Parlophone in 1963. Pratley would produce most of the band's output from the early 1960s through the late 1970s, including their 1969 cross-Atlantlic top 10 hit He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother ~ Pratley was born in 1929
April 30, 2007 ~ Zoletta Lynn Taylor, commonly known as singer Zola Taylor, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as the first female member of the Platters, remaining with the group from 1954 to 1962. Present on recordings such as Maggie Doesn't Work Here Anymore, Mean To Me, My Prayer, Twilight Time, He's Mine, Indiff'rent, The Great Pretender and Only You (And You Alone) ~ Taylor was born in 1938
April 30, 2002 ~ Operatic bass-baritone Robert Mosley passed away ~ One of the first African-Americans to achieve wide success in opera, performing in numerous opera productions, recitals and concerts from the 1950s through the 1990s. Especially acclaimed for his role of Porgy in a 1976 production of George Gershwin's Porgy & Bess opera, including on Broadway, with the Metropolitan Opera and perhaps most notably a landmark performance with the Houston Grand Opera ~ Mosley was born ca.1927
April 30, 1999 ~ Drummer Darrell Sweet, full name Darrell Anthony Sweet, passed away in New Albany, Indiana, USA ~ Co-founding member of hard rock, metal outfit Nazareth, known for songs such as Broken Down Angel, This Flight Tonight and perhaps their best known Love Hurts. Sweet died of a heart attack aged 51 while on tour and would eventually be replaced by bandmate Pete Agnew's son Lee Agnew ~ Sweet was born in 1947April 30, 1998 ~ Harold Lee Chalker, commonly known as steel guitarist Curly Chalker, passed away in Henderson, Tennessee, USA ~ Worked with Lefty Frizzell including on Always Late (With Your Kisses) and Mom And Dad's Waltz. Worked with Hank Thompson including on Cryin' In The Deep Blue Sea and The Wild Side Of Life. Also backed Red Foley, Porter Wagoner, Hank Penny, Willie Nelson, Ray Price, and Bill Haley. Also guested on recordings outside country and swing such as Marie Osmond's Paper Roses and Simon & Garfunkel's 1969 hit The Boxer. Member of the Four Giants Of Swing, alongside jazz violinist Joe Venuti, guitarist Eldon Shamblin and mandolinist Jethro Burns ~ Chalker was born in 1931
April 30, 1994 ~ Singers Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan win the 39th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Dublin, Ireland ~ Representing Ireland, Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan win with the song Rock 'n Roll Kids written by Brendan Graham. It would be the third win in a row for Ireland, Linda Martin's Why Me having won in 1992 and Niamh Kavanagh's In Your Eyes in 1993
April 30, 1991 ~ R&B, new jack swing, vocal harmony group Boyz II Men release their Cooleyhighharmony debut album along with the album's lead single Motownphilly ~ The then-quartet would be launched to fame, starting with the album's first two singles, Motownphilly and its follow-up It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday, both reaching top 10 Billboard Hot 100. The following year, the band would record End Of The Road for the soundtrack of Boomerang. It would be a smash hit, spending a then-record breaking thirteen weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. As it was not included on the band's debut album, Cooleyhighharmony would be re-released to include the hit single. Eventually, the album would go on to sell some nine million copies. The title of the album, Cooleyhighharmony, actually refers to a real high school: the Cooley Vocational High School in Chicago, Illinois
April 30, 1991 ~ Country singer Garth Brooks releases The Thunder Rolls, lifted off his No Fences sophomore album ~ Written by Pat Alger and Garth Brooks, when the latter was still an unknown singer, the song was first offered to Tanya Tucker who recorded a demo but decided not to include it on her upcoming album. However, as Brooks rose to fame he asked the song back and recorded it for his No Fences album. It would become Brooks' sixth Billboard Country No.1 hit. Tucker later released her version, which includes another verse
April 30, 1989 ~ Harry Bauer Rodrigues, commonly known as EDM DJ, producer Baauer, born in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for his 2012 Harlem Shake debut single, which reached top 10 across the globe including a No.1 position on the Billboard Hot 100. Has produced songs for Just Blaze, Pusha T, Tom Morello, G-Dragon. Rodrigues has also remixed for the likes of No Doubt, Missy Elliott, Kodak Black, and Gorillaz
April 30, 1988 ~ Singer Céline Dion wins the 33rd edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Dublin, Ireland ~ Representing Switzerland, Céline Dion wins with the song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi written by Nella Martinetti and Atilla Sereftug. Runner-ups would be the UK's Scott Fitzgerald with Go in second place, and Denmark's Hot Eyes with Ka' Du Se Hva' Jeg Sa in thirdApril 30, 1988 ~ In its 15th week on the charts, It's Such A Small World by Rodney Crowell featuring his wife Rosanne Cash hits No.1 Billboard Country ~ Issued as the lead single off Rodney Crowell's Diamonds & Dirt album, the song tells of two former lovers who haven't seen eachother for years and spend a night together upon a chance meeting. The two are clear it's just a one-time thing for old times sake. In reality, Crowell and Rosanne Cash who met in 1976 would be married for about a dozen years, divorcing in 1992, and have three daughters. The Diamonds & Dirt parent album would be Crowell's most successful, with all five singles reaching No.1 on the Billboard Country charts