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, 1954 ~ Pop singer, actress Fiorella Mannoia born in Rome, Italy ~ Well over a dozen albums to her name, starting with Mannoia Foresi & Co, a collaborative effort with Memmo Foresi released in 1972. Broke through to mainstream with the song Caffé Nero Bollente in 1981, followed by E Muovito Un Po released later the same year. Would establish her reputation with the acclaimed album Canzoni Per Parlare, which contained the hits Quello Che Le Donne Non Dicono and Le Notti Maggio
April 4, 1954 ~ Classical, jazz pianist, composer Michel Camilo born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver, Art Tatum, Scott Joplin. In-demand sideman. Emerged as a star in his own right in the mid-1980s. Has worked with Tito Puente, Paquito d'Rivera, Toots Thielemans, Chuck Mangione, Stanley Turrentine, George Benson, Eddie Palmieri, Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, Chucho Valdes, Roy Hargrove, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Biréli Lagrène, Marian McPartland, Béla Fleck, and Lou Marini
April 4, 1952 ~ Guitarist, singer Gary Moore, full name Robert William Gary Moore, born in Belfast, Northern Ireland ~ Influenced by Jeff Beck, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, John Mayall, Albert King, BB King, Peter Green and Eric Clapton. Closely associated with Phil Lynott. Member of Skid Row from 1968 through 1971, present on the band's Skid debut album and its follow-up 34 Hours. On-and-off member of Thin Lizzy from 1974 through 1979, first appearing on the album Nightlife taking lead guitar on the track Still In Love With You. Has also worked with jazz fusion outfit Colosseum II, G-Force, power trio BBM alongside Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, and Greedy Bastards. As a solo artist best known for songs such as Still Got The Blues For You, Cold Day In Hell and perhaps his best known, the signature song Parisienne Walkways ~ Moore passed away in 2011
April 4, 1952 ~ Singer Maria Mendiola born in Madrid, Spain ~ Formed the duo Baccara with Mayte Mateos, best known for their 1977 debut single Yes Sir I Can Boogie. The single would reach the higher echelons of the charts throughout Europe and eventually sell over 18 million copies. Subsequent hits would include Sorry I'm A Lady and Darling. The duo would also represent Luxembourg at the 1978 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 7th place with Parlez-Vous Francais ~ Mendiola passed away in 2021April 4, 1951 ~ Singer, songwriter Francesco de Gregori born in Rome, Italy ~ Known for the elegance of his lyrics, earning him the nickname “Il Prinicipe dei cantautori”, the Prince of the Songwriters. Influenced by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and by Fabrizio de André. De Gregori debuted in 1972 with Theorius Campus. The album, a joint effort with Antonello Venditti, initially sold poorly but did include Signora Aquilone which is considered to be an early masterwork
April 4, 1951 ~ Singer, guitarist, accordionist, songwriter Terje Tysland born in Namsos, Norway ~ Member of rock outfit Prudence from 1969 through 1976. Has recorded over a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Stakkars Klovn released in 1977. Best known for songs such as Ringdans and Heile Livet
April 4, 1951 ~ Singer Tony Bennett records Because Of You at Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York, New York ~ Written by Arthur Hammerstein and Dudley Wilkinson. First recorded by Larry Clinton. Tony Bennett's 1951 recording would be his first major hit, reaching the top of the pop charts. Due to its importance in establishing his fame, Bennett continued to perform the song for the rest of his career
April 4, 1950 ~ Country singer David Thompson born in Kapuskasing, Canada ~ As a solo artist known for a string of singles from the late 1970 through the mid-1980s including Rachel I'm Just Not That Strong, My Broken Old Heart and perhaps his best known I Never Figured On This. Joined Thunder Road in 1984 as lead singer ~ Thompson passed away in 2010
April 4, 1950 ~ Phillip Pyle, commonly known as drummer Pip Pyle, born in Sawbridgeworth, UK ~ Closely associated with the 1960s, 1970s Canterbury scene, best known for his work in bands such as Gong, Hatfield & the North and National Health. Has also worked with Chicken Shack, Steve Hillage, Robert Wyatt, Daevid Allen, Bridget St John, Soft Heap, Bash, Delivery, Pip Pyle's Equip' Out, and Brainville ~ Pyle passed away in 2006
April 4, 1949 ~ Franklin Delano Alexander Braithwaite, commonly known as reeggae guitarist, singer Junior Braithwaite born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Best known as member of Bob Marley's famed band the Wailers through 1964. Sang lead on early Wailers tracks such as Habits, Straight And Narrow Way, Don't Ever Leave Me Alone and It Hurts To Be Alone ~ Braithwaite passed away in 1999
April 4, 1948 ~ Bassist Berry Oakley, full name Raymond Berry Oakley III, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, present on the albums The Allman Brothers Band, Idlewild South, At Fillmore East, Eat A Peach, and on two tracks on the 1973 Brothers And Sisters. Passed away due to complications following a motorcycle accident at age 24. The accident was just three blocks from where his bandmate Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident the previous year. ~ Oakley passed away in 1972
April 4, 1948 ~ Rock, pop, country drummer Bob Lanning born in Miami Shores, Florida, Florida, USA ~ Son of singer Roberta Sherwood. Best known for his brief stint with Elvis Presley's backing unit the TCB Band, appearing on the 1970 On Stage live album, including on the The Wonder Of You hit single
April 4, 1948 ~ Actress, singer Diane Guérin, also known as Belgazou, born in Lachine, Canada ~ As a singer known best for a string of 1980s recordings including Quitter Ton Ile, Entre Mozart Et Jagger and Talk About It. Duetted with her husband Christian Montmarquette under the moniker Diane & Christian ~ Guérin passed away in 2022
April 4, 1948 ~ David Withers, commonly known as drummer Pick Withers, born in Leicester, UK ~ Original drummer of the Dire Straits. Present on the band's first four albums, departing the band shortly after the release of Love Over Gold and replaced by Terry Williams. Withers has also worked with Spring, Prelude, Bob Dylan (Slow Train Coming), Gary Fletcher, Gerry Rafferty, Bert Jansch, and Brewers DroopApril 4, 1948 ~ Southern gospel singer, pianist Squire Parsons, full name Squire Enos Parsons Jr, born in Newton, West Virginia, USA ~ Following his musical education, trained on piano and bassoon, Parsons was employed as a high school teacher and served as music director of various churches. As a singer, Parsons rose to fame as a member of the Kingsmen Quartet from the mid- to late 1970s before venturing out on his own, releasing his Sweet Beulah Land debut album in 1979. Its title track would become a signature song, a classic of the genre, and be covered by numerous artists including Charlie Louvin, the Gaither Vocal Band, the Rarely Herd, and Tori Amos. Others who have recorded his songs include John Starnes, the Chuck Wagon Gang, the Florida Boys, the McPeak Brothers, Brian Free, the Kingdom Heirs, and the Greenes. Upon hearing of his passing, singer Bill Gaither commented: “If anyone ever deserves the name ‘Gentleman’ in the field of Gospel Music, it would be Squire Parsons. Squire was one of the kindest, most considerate men and an incredible singer” ~ Parsons passed away in 2025
April 4, 1947 ~ Progressive rock, jazz fusion guitarist, composer, producer Ray Russell, full name Raymond Russell, born in London, UK ~ Best known as a composer for TV. Member of early 1970s progressive rock band Mouse. Active a solo artist since the late 1960s with some two dozen albums to his name. Has collaborated with Gil Evans, Mark Isham, and Henry Kaiser
April 4, 1945 ~ Jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer Leszek Zadlo born in Kraków, Poland ~ Worked with the Orf Big Band, Erich Kleinschuster, Dexter Gordon, Friedrich Gulda, Dusko Gojkovic, Michal Urbaniak, Johannes Faber, Bob Degen, Bill Elgart, Paulo Cardoso, Ali Haurand, Alan Skidmore, Gerd Dudek, Vladislav Sendecki, Bronislaw Suchanek, Janusz Stefanski, Claus Bantzer, Klaus Weiss, Volker Kriegel, Bobby Star, Rimona Francis, Günter Lenz, Michael Naura, Werner Pirchner, Chris Beier, Rainer Glas, Biréli Lagrène, Thad Jones, Slide Hampton, and Martin SchrankApril 4, 1944 ~ Pop, schlager singer Ann-Louise Hanson born in Kristianstad, Sweden ~ Scored her first hit in 1960 with Ar Du Ensam I Kväll, a Swedish version of Elvis Presley's Are You Lonesome Tonight. Would work extensively with Bruno Glenmark and following their marriage the couple formed the family outfit the Glenmarks with the addition of Bruno's niece Karin Glenmark and nephew Anders Glenmark
April 4, 1944 ~ Country songwriter Bob McDill, full name Robert Lee McDil, born in Walden, Texas, USA ~ Prolific songwriter with over 30 country No.1 hits to his name, many also covered by pop, rock and R&B artists including Ray Charles, the Grateful Dead and Joe Cocker. Songs written or co-written by McDill include Don Williams's I Recall A Gypsy Woman, Lynn Anderson's I'm Not That Good At Goodbye, Bobby Bare's If You Think I'm Crazy Now, Crystal Gayle's I'll Do It All Over Again, Ronnie Milsap's Why Don't You Spend The Night, Johnny Duncan's Married Women, Waylon Jennings's I May Be Used (But I'm Not Used Up), George Jones's If Only Your Eyes Could Lie, Sammy Kershaw's She Don't Know She's Beautiful and Lee Roy Parnell's On The Road
April 4, 1942 ~ R&B singer, songwriter Don Bryant, full name Donald Maurice Bryant, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Started as a gospel, R&B singer. Member of the Four Kings. Rose to fame as songwriter starting in the early 1960s penning I Got To Know for the 5 Royales. Would continue to record with the Kings and as a solo artist throughout the 1960s. Would focus on writing for a roster of Hi-Hat Records artists including Al Green, Otis Clay and perhaps most notably Ann Peebles from the early 1970s onwards, including 99 Pounds, Do I Need You and the 1973 hit I Can't Stand The Rain. Bryant and Peebles would marry in 1974. Bryant would focus on gospel throughout the 1980s and 1990s before retiring from music ~ Bryant passed away in 2025
April 4, 1941 ~ Bluegrass guitarist, mandolinist, singer Cliff Waldron, full name Clifford Waldron, born in Jolo, West Virginia, USA ~ Formed the duo Emerson & Waldron with banjoist Bill Emerson. The band is best known for recording the first bluegrass rendition of Fox On The Run, which later became a bluegrass standard after the Country Gentlemen recorded it. Other well known songs in Emerson & Waldron's repertoire included If I Were A Carpenter, Early Morning Rain, and Spanish Grass. Waldron is also specifically known for founding the New Shades Of Grass, one of the prime 1970s bluegrass groups, with whom he recorded several acclaimed albums before releasing two gospel albums as a solo artist, eventually retiring from music by the mid 1970s to work for the National Park Service. In the mid 1990s, Waldron returned on the music scene, releasing several more albums through the early 2000s ~ Waldron passed away in 2024
April 4, 1940 ~ Songwriter Sharon Sheeley, full name Sharon Kathleen Sheeley, born in Newport Beach, California, USA ~ At age 18 became the youngest female songwriter to score a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit when Ricky Nelson took her Poor Little Fool to the top of the charts. Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Sheeley include Ritchie Valens, Eddie Cochran (Somethin' Else), Glen Campbell, Brenda Lee (Dum Dum), Irma Thomas (Breakaway), the Fleetwoods, the Kalin Twins, Helen Shapiro, the Searchers, and the Ronettes. Was unoficially engaged to Cochran. Sheeley survived the same car accident that killed Cochran and injured Gene Vincent while touring the UK ~ Sheeley passed away in 2002
April 4, 1939 ~ Folk, rock, jazz, blues, skiffle bassist, guitarist, mandolinist, trumpeter, trombonist Danny Thompson, full name Daniel Henry Edward Thompson, born in Teignmouth, UK ~ Member of Blues Incorporated, Member of folk-jazz group Pentangle from 1967 through 1973, including on their most successful album Basket Of Light. In-demand session musician, appearing on albums by Donovan, Nick Drake, Marianne Faithfull, Davey Graham, Hunter Muskett, the Incredible String Band, Magna Carta, Rod Stewart (Every Picture Tells A Story), Bert Jansch, Ralph McTell, T.Rex, Loudon Wainwright III, Kate Bush (Hounds Of Love), Boo Hewerdine, David Sylvian, Talk Talk, Vivian Stanshall, and Peter Gabriel ~ Thompson passed away in 2025
April 4, 1939 ~ Bandleader Glenn Miller and his Orchestra record Moonlight Serenade ~ Paired with Sunrise Serenade on the A-side, released as a single later the same year. In 1991 the Glenn Miller song would be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame
April 4, 1939 ~ Trumpeter, singer Hugh Masekela born in Witbank, South Africa ~ Best known for Up Up & Away, the 1968 US No.1 Grazing In The Grass and for anti-apartheid songs such as Soweto Blues and Bring Him Back Home. Member of the Jazz Epistles, alongside Dollar Brand, Kippie Moeketski, Makaya Ntshoko, and Johnny Gertze. Also worked with Trevor Huddleston, Alfred Herbert, Paul Simon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Miriam Makeba, Ray Phiri, and Kalahari ~ Masekela passed away in 2018