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 4, 2025 ~ Worldbeat guitarist, singer Amadou Bagayoko passed away in Bamako, Mali ~ Formed Amadou & Mariam with his wife Mariam Doumbia, the duo widely acknowledged as one of Africa's leading duos and one of the continent's most successful musical export products. The couple's early recordings, starting in the 1980s, merged traditional Mali music with rock guitars, Latin, Middle-Eastern and Indian influences, a style once described as “a thrilling mix of blues and rock with traditional African rhythms” by the Times. After gaining popularity in Europe in the 2000s, especially France, the duo would gain the attention of Mano Negra's Manu Chao who would produce their critically acclaimed Dimanche à Bamako album. The couple would become a popular live act, touring the world and opening for the likes of the Scissor Sisters, Coldplay, and Blur ~ Bagayoko was born in 1954April 4, 2025 ~ Blues, blues-rock singer Chris Youlden, full name Christopher Thomas Youlden, passed away ~ Best known as a member of Savoy Brown from 1967 through 1970. Has since released a number of solo albums, starting with Nowhere Road released in 1973 ~ Youlden was born in 1943
April 4, 2024 ~ Dream pop guitarist Graeme Naysmith passed away ~ Co-founding member of shoegazing, dream pop, indie pop outfit Pale Saints, with whom he recorded three albums through the mid 1990s. The band is best known for their The Comforts Of Madness debut album, which reached top 40 in their native UK. Following the band's break-up in 1996, Naysmith formed Lorimer and the Terminals, both of which included his Saints bandmate drummer Chris Cooper, and has worked with X-Ray Eyes. Upon hearing of his death, 4AD co-founder Ivo Watts Russell issued a statement saying: “Naysmith was one of only a handful of musicians I worked with who wasn't afraid of a good guitar solo. In tribute I simply recommend digging out Henry from Pale Saints' final album Slow Buildings” ~ Naysmith was born in 1967
April 4, 2023 ~ Keyboardist Vivian Trimble, full name Vivian Elizabeth Trimble, passed away ~ Key member Luscious Jackson, an all-female outfit named after a mispronounciation of basketball player Lucious Jackson's name. Considered a distinct 1990s phenomenon, once described by Mike D of the Beastie Boys as “somewhere between Hole and the Indigo Girls”, the group may have been a bit too eclectic to break through to mainstream audiences, yet they were a critics darling from the git-go. Trimble recorded two albums with the band, their 1992 Natural Ingredients debut album and its highly acclaimed Fever In Fever Out follow-up, produced by Daniel Lanois, released four years later, before departing the band in 1998. During Trimble's tenure with the band, they only scored one Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit, Naked Eye peaking at No.36, yet Here of their debut album and Why Do I Lie of their sophomore album have both been featured in soundtracks, respectively for the coming-of-age teenage comedy Clueless and the drama film Good Will Hunting. Trimble has also formed the Kostars with Luscious Jackson bandmate Jill Cunniff, resulting in the 1996 album Klassics With A K, and formed the duo Dusty Trails with the Breeders' Josephine Wiggs, releasing their sole eponymous album in 2000. Musically little has been heard from Trimble since, who worked as a booker at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, New Hampshire, although she did guest on former bandmate Jill Cunniff's 2007 solo album City Beach, as well as on albums by Russell Simins and Luna. Trimble passed away at age 59 due to cancer-related complications ~ Trimble was born in 1963
April 4, 2022 ~ Journalist, author, media critic Eric Boehlert passed away in Montclair, New Jersey, USA ~ Staff writer at both Salon and Billboard. To music and media audiences perhaps best known for a series of articles investigating corporate malfeasance in the music business following Pearl Jam's 1994 official complaint with the US Justice Department again Ticketmaster in 1994. In the Trump era, through regular appearances on news networks Boehlert became well known outside music circles as a firm and vocal critic of president Donald J Trump ~ Boehlert was born in 1965
April 4, 2022 ~ Jazz, R&B guitarist Joe Messina, full name Joseph Lucian Messina, passed away in Northville, Michigan, USA ~ Influenced by Charlie Parker, Les Paul and George Barnes. While a studio musician at ABC television, Messina accompanied artists such as Sonny Stitt, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Jack Teagarden, Lee Konitz, Jimmy Giuffre, Pepper Adams, Donald Byrd, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Frank Rosolino, and Dizzy Gillespie. Recruited in the late 1950s by Berry Gordy Jr for Motown houseband the Funk Brothers. Appears on recordings by the Supremes (Someday We'll Be Together), the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops (I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)), Stevie Wonder (For Once In My Life), the Miracles, and Martha & the Vandellas (Dancing In the Street) ~ Messina was born in 1928
April 4, 2021 ~ Rock, pop keyboardist, songwriter, film composer Ralph Schuckett passed away ~ Member of Todd Rundgren's 1970s progressive rock band Utopia. In-demand session musician, noted for appearing on the Carole King-albums Writer, Tapestry and Music. Also worked with Clear Light, the Peanut Butter Conspiracy, and notably Sophie B Hawkins, responsible for signing the latter while he was working as a staff producer at Columbia Records ~ Schuckett was born in 1948
April 4, 2020 ~ Singer, composer, film director Luis Eduardo Aute, full name Luis Eduardo Aute Gutiérrez, passed away in Madrid, Spain ~ Initially aimed to become an architect but left school to pursue a career in music, art and film. As a songwriter gained wider attention when Massiel recorded his Alelya No.1 in 1967. It would become a hit in America, later notably covered by Ed Ames translated to English as Who Will Answer. Aute would go on to record well over two dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Dialogos De Rodrigo Y Gimena released in 1968 ~ Aute was born in 1943
April 4, 2019 ~ Jose Alberto Garcia Gallo, commonly known as singer, songwriter Alberto Cortez, passed away in Madrid, Spain ~ Began elementary school at Conservatory at age 6. Began composing by age 12. Sang in Argentine with the Arizona Orchestra and with Mario Cardi. Sang and toured with the San Francisco Jazz Orchesetra. Moved to Belgium at age 20 and recorded his first album, Suco Suco. Eventually established himself as one of Latin America's most renowned composers ~ Cortez was born in 1940
April 4, 2018 ~ Big band, traditional pop singer Don Cherry, full name Donald Ross Cherry, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Sang with the orchestras of Jan Garber and Victor Young. Following a stint in the US Army during World War IIventured out on his own, recording through the late 1960s. Best known for his 1955 Band Of Gold single, which sold over 1 million copies and reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. Other well known songs include Wild Cherry, Ghost Town, and Namely You. Was the first to record the John D Loudermilk-penned Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye, later notably covered by the Casinos ~ Cherry was born in 1924April 4, 2016 ~ Singer Carlo Mastrangelo passed away in Boynton Beach, Florida, USA ~ Original member of the Belmonts and Dion & the Belmonts, present on recordings such as Teen-age Clementine, I Wonder Why and A Teenager In Love. Also fronted the progressive rock, jazz outfit Pulse in the 1970s ~ Mastrangelo was born in 1937
April 4, 2015 ~ Singer Stevie McCrorie wins The Voice UK ~ McCrorie wins the 4th season of talent show The Voice UK aired on BBC One. The other finalists were Lucy O'Byrne, Sasha Simone, and Emmanuel Nwamadi. Following his win on the show, McCrorie's coronation single Lost Stars would reach top 10 on the UK charts, peaking at No.6. A full-length album, Big World, would be released the following year. Prior to his success on the show, McCrorie had self-released one album, These Old Traditions in 2010, but made his living working as a firefighter
April 4, 2013 ~ Rock bassist, singer Chris Bailey, full name Christopher Mark Bailey, passed away in Adelaide, Australia ~ Best known as a member of the Angels, known in America under the moniker Angel City, during the band's key period and present on some of the band's best known including the 1979 album No Exit and its follow-up Dark Room released a year later, the latter of which spawned the Australian No.8 hit No Secrets. Other well known songs recorded during Bailey's tenure with the band include Face To Face, Take A Long Line, Into The Heat, and Night Attack. The band are little known outside their native Australia, yet at home they are acknowledged for helping redefine the Australian pub rock tradition. Bands that have cited the Angels as an influence include Cheap Trick, Great White, Guns 'n Roses, and Pearl Jam. Bailey has also worked with Headband, the Mount Lofty Rangers which included a then-unknown Bon Scott of later AC/DC fame, Gotham City, the Invisible Men, Wendy Saddington, and Ganggajang ~ Bailey was born in 1950
April 4, 2007 ~ Musical director, composer, arranger Brian Fahey, full name Brian Michael Fahey, passed away ~ Best known for composing At The Sign Of The Swinging Cymbal, the signature tune of Alan Freeman's Pick Of The Pops radion show on BBC Radio 1. Composed for film. Principal conductor of the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra from 1972 to its disbandement in 1981. Served as musical director for Shirley Bassey ~ Fahey was born in 1919
April 4, 2005 ~ R&B singer Fantasia releases Free Yourself, lifted off her debut album of the same name ~ Critically acclaimed, the song earned Fantasia Grammy Award nominations for Best R&B Song and for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, losing out to Mariah Carey's We Belong Together for both awards. Free Yourself would reach No.41 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and No.3 on the Billboard R&B charts, making it her second R&B top 10 hit after the album's lead single Truth Is. The song is especially noted for Missy Elliott's contributions, who produced the track, co-wrote it with Craig Brockman and Nisan Stewart, and provided backing vocals
April 4, 1995 ~ Singer Bryan Adams releases Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman, lifted off his 18 Til I Die album ~ In the 1990s, Bryan Adams was particularly successful with songs recorded for soundtracks. Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman was written and recorded for the 1995 romantic comedy Don Juan DeMarco, and used throughout the film as a leitmotiv. Adams would also include the song on his 18 Til I Die album issued a year later. The single would reach No.1 Billboard Hot 100, making it his fourth American charttopper. Two previous ballads used for soundtracks, (Everything I Do) I Do It For You from the soundtrack of Robin Hood (Prince Of Thieves), and All For Love from The Three Musketeers, the latter a collaborative effort with Rod Stewart and Sting, had both also topped the American charts. In 1996, Adams would score another American top 10 hit when the Barbra Streisand duet I Finally Found Someone from The Mirror Has Two Faces, a film directed by and starring Streisand, peaked at No.8 Billboard Hot 100April 4, 1994 ~ Singer, actress Ginny Simms, full name Virginia Ellen Simms, passed away in Palm Springs, California, USA ~ As a singer most active from the mid-1930 through the mid 1940s, performing with big bands and with the likes of Dinah Shore, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, and Jo Stafford. As an actress appeared in some dozen movies from the late 1930 through 1951, when she retired ~ Simms was born in 1913
April 4, 1992 ~ Cellist, singer, composer Arthur Russell, full name Charles Arthur Russell Jr, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Eclectic musician known best for his work in New York's avant-garde and disco scenes. Collaborated with Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Peter Gordon, Talking Heads singer David Byrne, Walter Gibbons, Larry Levan and Nicky Siano ~ Russell was born in 1951
April 4, 1989 ~ Rockabilly, pop rock pianist, singer Dean Beard passed away in Coleman, Texas, USA ~ Dubbed “the West Texas Wild Man” and known for a number of moderately successful 1950s recordings, notably Rakin' & Scrapin' released in 1957 featuring saxophonist Jim Seals and drummer Dash Crofts of later Seals & Crofts-fame. Has also worked with the Champs ~ Beard was born in 1935
April 4, 1986 ~ Singer Janet Jackson releases Nasty, lifted off her Control album ~ As a member of the Jackson family, Janet Jackson had recorded two commercially disappointing albums under the guidance of her dominant father. However, it was when she broke free, chose her own path and teamed up with Minneapolis producer and songwriter duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis that she became a superstar. As with the title track, Nasty conveyed confidence and independence. Right from the opening line, “My name ain't baby, it's Janet, Miss Jackson if you're nasty”, the song oozed the message of a strong, confident woman not to be messed with. Nasty would be warmly received by critics, many citing the funky track as a highlight of the album, and reach No.3 Billboard Hot 100, her second consecutive top 10 hit off the album. Over time, the song has become one of Jackson's best known and a signature song popular to this day. Jackson would later look back on her decision to break free from her family to make her own destiny, as she told the Boston Globe: “I just wanted to get out of the house, get out from under my father, which was one of the most difficult things that I had to do, telling him that I didn't want to work with him again.”April 4, 1984 ~ Jessica Baldassarre, commonly known as folk, folk-pop singer, songwriter Jessie Baylin born in Gillette, New Jersey, USA ~ Draws from pop, jazz, blues, country, roots music. Influenced by Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Barbra Streisand. Released her Firesight debut album in 2008. Married to the Kings Of Leon-drummer Nathan Followill since 2009
April 4, 1981 ~ Pop-rock outfit Bucks Fizz win the 26th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Dublin, Ireland ~ Representing the UK, Bucks Fizz win with the song Making Your Mind Up written by Andy Hill and John Danter. Germany, represented by Lena Valaitis with the song Johnny Blue, would reach 2nd place. France's Jean Gabilou reached 3rd place with the song Humanahum
April 4, 1980 ~ Woodrow Wilson Sovine, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, songwriter Red Sovine passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Especially known for his truck drivin' songs, notably 1965's Giddyup Go and 1976's Teddy Bear. Had his songs covered by Del Reeves, Dave Dudley, Ferlin Husky, Boxcar Willie, Henk Wijngaard, and Tom Waits ~ Sovine was born in 1917April 4, 1979 ~ Folk guitarist Andy McKee born in Topeka, Kansas, USA ~ Fingerstyle guitarist debuted in 2001 with the Guitar Nocturne album and has recorded consistently since. Influenced by Michael Hedges, Billy McLaughlin, Pat Kirtley
April 4, 1978 ~ Lemar Obika, mononymously known as singer, songwriter Lemar, born in Tottenham, UK ~ First gained attention in 2002 as a contestant on the talent contest Fame Academy, reaching thrid place behind Sinéad Quinn and winner David Sneddon. His Dedicated debut album released the following year would receive double platinum status, and Lemar has recorded consistently since. Well known songs include Dance (With U), If There's Any Justice, Time To Grow, and The Way Love Goes