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 8, 1967 ~ Singer Sandie Shaw wins the 12th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Vienna, Austria ~ Representing the UK, Sandie Shaw wins with the song Puppet On A String written by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter. Runner-ups would be Ireland's Sean Dunphy in 2nd place with If I Could Choose, and France's Noëlle Cordier in 3rd with Il Doit Faire Beau Là-Bas
April 8, 1966 ~ Bénédicte Grimault, commonly known as actress, singer, songwriter Belle du Berry, born in Berry-Boux, France ~ Lead singer of Paris Combo, known for blending chanson, pop, jazz, swing, world music. The band broke through with their sophomore Living Room album released in 2000 and have toured in France, Australia and America ~ Grimault passed away in 2020
April 8, 1964 ~ Marcel Theo Hall, commonly known as hip hop singer, rapper, beatboxer Biz Markie, born in Harlem, New York, USA ~ Best known for Just A Friend, a 1989 hit in numerous countries and considered today as one of the classic hip-hop songs. Worked with the Juice Crew and with Flip Squad. Appeared in the 2002 Men In Black II feature film, essentially playing an alien parody of himself speaking in an alien tongue mimicking beatboxing. Also known as member of the Juice Crew ~ Hall passed away in 2021
April 8, 1964 ~ Singer Connie Francis records Be Anything (But Be Mine), marking her return to traditional pop songs ~ Written by Irving Gordon. Arranged by Alan Lorber, produced by Danny Davis. Released later the same year, b/w Tommy, it would be Connie Francis' last single to reach top 40 Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No.25. The song had previously been recorded Ruth Brown, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan, and Timi Yuro, and originally by Eddy Howard in 1952
April 8, 1964 ~ Drummer Dave Rowntree, full name David Alexander de Horne Rowntree, born in Colchester, UK ~ Member of several regional bands alongside Graham Coxon. After being introduced to Damon Albarn by Coxon joined what would become Blur, one of the most successful Britpop bands of the 1990s, known for UK top 10 hits such as There's No Other Way, Girls & Boys, Country House, Beetlebum, and Out Of Time
April 8, 1964 ~ R&B girl group the Supremes record Where Did Our Love Go at Hitsville USA, Detroit, Michigan ~ Released the following June as the fourth single of the album of the same name, it would be the first Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit for the girl group. The single would also kick off a string of five consecutive charttoppers, the others being Baby Love, Come See About Me, Stop In The Name Of Love, and Back In My Arms Again, all penned by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland Jr. Initially the group were not particularly fond of the song, yet after hearing the song's playback an excited lead singer Diana Ross rushed to Berry Gordy Jr's office and told him to come to the studio to listen. At the end of the playback, a satisfied Gordy told the producers and the group the song had the potential to reach top 10April 8, 1963 ~ Singer Julian Lennon born in Liverpool, UK ~ Son of the Beatles singer John Lennon and Lennon's first wife. At age 11 played drums on his Ya-ya of his father's 1974 Walls And Bridges album. Released his Valotte solo debut album in 1984, produced by Phil Ramone. Known for songs such as Too Late For Goodbyes, Now You're In Heaven and Saltwater
April 8, 1962 ~ Jeffrey Dean Isbell, commonly known as rock, hard rock singer, guitarist Izzy Stradlin, born in Lafayette, Indiana, USA ~ Co-founding member of Guns 'n Roses and present on the band's first four albums. Left the band in 1991 at the height of their fame to pursue a solo career. Would release his solo debut album, Izzy Stradlin & the Ju-ju Hounds, the following year and has recorded as a solo artist consistently since
April 8, 1960 ~ Actor, singer, guitarist John Schneider, full name John Richard Schneider, born in Mount Kisco, New York, USA ~ Actor, best known for portraying Bo Duke on The Dukes Of Hazzard TV show. Also an accomplished country singer known for songs such as I've Been Around Enough To Know, Country Girls, What's A Memory Like You, You're The Last Thing I Needed and his 1981 debut single the Elvis Presley cover It's Now Or NeverApril 8, 1955 ~ Rock, pop bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter Glen Burtnik born in Irvington, New Jersey, USA ~ Active a solo artist since the mid-1980s. Joined Styx in 1990, in time for the band's critically acclaimed Edge Of The Century including co-writing Love Is The Ritual and Love At First Sight, remaining with the band through 2003. Co-wrote Beth Hart's Delicious Surprise. Co-wrote Patty Smyth's Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough. Co-wrote Don Henley's Spirit Of A Boy (Wisdom Of A Man)
April 8, 1953 ~ Drummer, songwriter Adam Woods born in London, UK ~ Co-founding member of pop outfit the Fixx, with whom he has recorded about a dozen albums since the band's inception. Dubbed by some as the quintessential new wave group, polishing synth pop and art rock with an eye on American audiences, they enjoyed popularity especially during the early 1980s and despite never cracking the top 40 in their native UK, they were a significant presence on MTV and AOR radio in America. The band is especially acclaimed for their 1983 Reach The Beach sophomore album, which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 No.4 hit One Thing Leads To Another. Other well known songs include Deeper And Deeper, which would be used for the soundtrack of the Streets Of Fire action crime neo-noir film, Are We Ourselves, Secret Separation, and Driven Out. Their trademark sound of new wave fell out of fashion by the late 1980s, yet the band continued to record and perform well into the new millenium, one of the few new wave outfits of the era to do so
April 8, 1952 ~ Pop, schlager singer Karin Glenmark, full name Karin Margareta Glenmark, born in Tomelilla, Sweden ~ Formed the sibling duo Gemini with her brother Anders Glenmark, best known for their 1985 eponymous Gemini solo album. Much of the material was written by ABBA songwriters Benny Anderson and Björn Ulvaeus, the album's Just Like That lead single a moderate hit across Europe. Previously both siblings had worked with the Glenmarks, which also included their uncle Bruno Glenmark and his wife Ann-Louise Hanson, known best for their 1971 single Gammaldags MusikApril 8, 1951 ~ Rock bassist Mel Schacher, full name Melvin George Schacher, born in Owosso, Michigan, USA ~ Got his first break working with ? & the Mysterians, replacing original bassist Frank Lugo. Best known as member of Grand Funk Railroad, known for the Billboard Hot 100 charttoppers We're An American Band and The Loco-Motion. Subsequently Some Kind Of Wonderful and Bad Time would also reach the top 10
April 8, 1951 ~ Radio host, historian, archivist Phil Schaap, full name Philip van Noorden Schaap, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Historian and archivist specialized in Charlie Parker. Archivist for Savoy Jazz involved with re-issuing tapes of Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington, earning several Grammy Awards for his work as producer, engineer and historical writing. As a broadcaster, radio host known for hosting Bird Flight and Traditions In Swing on WKCR for four decades starting in 1981 ~ Schaap passed away in 2021April 8, 1950 ~ Singer Bing Crosby records I Didn't Slip I Wasn't Pushed I Fell ~ Composed by George Wyle with lyrics by Edward Pola. Both Doris Day and Jo Stafford each also recorded the song the same year. Bing Crosby's version would be the most popular, briefly peaking at No.22 on the pop charts
April 8, 1949 ~ Doreen Jones, commonly known as singer Donna Jones, born in Manchester, UK ~ Best known under the moniker Pussyfoot, her mid 1970s soft rock hit The Way That You Do It causing her to become a sex symbol in Australia. In her native UK the single had been banned by BBC for its suggestive lyrics. A re-release, retitled Ooh Na Na Hiya, would be issued in 1976 but fail to make the British charts. After splitting with producer and songwriter Mick Flinn in the late 1970s Jones would join folk pop outfit the New SeekersApril 8, 1949 ~ Keyboardist Philip Aaberg born in Havre, Montana, USA ~ Classically trained. Active since the mid-1980s. Draws for classical, jazz, bluegrass, rock, experimental music. Guested on over 200 albums. Collaborated with artists as diverse as New Grange, Peter Gabriel, the Doobie Brothers guitarist Tom Johnston, Bernie Krause, and the Boston Pops Orchestra
April 8, 1947 ~ Guitarist Steve Howe born in London, UK ~ Active since the mid 1960s in blues and psychedelic rock outfits such as the Syndicats, Tomorrow, and Bodast. Best known as key member of Yes, helped steer the band towards more commercial and critical success. Co-wrote several of the band's best known including Roundabout, Starship Trooper, To Be Over, and And You And I. Howe has also served as a member of Asia, GTR, and Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe. Fronts the jazz trio the Steve Howe Trio and has recorded well over a dozen solo albums since the mid 1970s, notably The Steve Howe Album released in 1979 and Not Necessarily Acoustic released in 1994
April 8, 1944 ~ Dennis Lusier, commonly known as songwriter, producer Deke Richards, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Closely associated with Motown label, member of songwriting collective the Clan, member of producer, songwriter team the Corporation. Wrote and produced for artists such as Bobby Darin, Martha & the Vandellas, the Blackberries, Stacie Johnson, Diana Ross, the Supremes, Sherlie Matthews, and the 5th Dimension ~ Lussier passed away in 2013
April 8, 1944 ~ Keith Hartley, commonly known as drummer Keef Hartley, born in Plungington, UK ~ Founder and eponym of the Keef Hartley Band, merging jazz, blues and rock. The band played the famed the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in 1969. Also known for his association with John Mayall including on the albums Crusade and The Blues Alone. Has also worked with Vinegar Joe, Dog Soldier, Rory Storm, the Artwoods, and Chicken Shack ~ Hartley passed away in 2011
April 8, 1942 ~ Band manager, producer, songwriter Jerry Abbott, full name Jerry Bob Abbott, born in Abilene, Texas, USA ~ Father of heavy metal band Pantera founders drummer Vinnie Paul and guitarist Dimebag Darrell. Has served as his sons band's manager and produced a number of their early albums. Abbott has also produced artists such as blues guitarist Bugs Henderson, and worked as songwriter and producer for the likes of Gene Watson, Freddy Fender, Buck Owens (Play Together Again Again), and Emmylou Harris ~ Abbott passed away in 2024
April 8, 1942 ~ Producer, songwriter Leon Huff born in Camden, New Jersey, USA ~ Formed the famed Gamble & Huff producer, songwriter duo with Kenny Gamble, credited with shaping the Philly soul in the 1970s. Have worked with artists such as the Intruders, Jerry Butler, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (If You Don't Know Me By Now), Joe Simon, the O'Jays (Back Stabbers), the People's Choice, Billy Paul (Am I Black Enough For You), Lou Rawls, MFSB (TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)), the Jacksons, and Teddy Pendergrass
April 8, 1942 ~ Rock, blues rock, art rock, progressive rock, pop rock singer Roger Chapman, full name Roger Maxwell Chapman born in Leicestershire, UK ~ Influenced by Little Richard and Ray Charles. Nicknamed Chappo. Co-founding member of the Roaring Sixties, renamed the Family in 1966. The band is known for songs such as No Mule's Fool, In My Own Time, and Burlesque. Following the band's disbandement in 1973 formed Chapman-Whitney with bandmate Charlie Whitney, which would evolve into the Streetwalkers with Chapman and Whitney serving as the band's primary songwriters. They are best known for their acclaimed 1976 album Red Card. Chapman subsequently recorded as a solo artist, starting with Chappo released in 1979. Guested on Mike Oldfield's Shadow On The Wall of the 1983 Crises album
April 8, 1933 ~ Jazz saxophonist, arranger Paul Jeffrey born in New York, New York, USA ~ Over half a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader. Closely associated with Thelonious Monk, backing the pianist from 1970 through 1975. Has toured with Illinois Jacquet, Elmo Hope, Big Maybelle, Wynonie Harris, and BB King, and appeared on albums by the likes of Charles Moffett (The Gift), Sam Rivers, Ricky Ford, Duke Jordan, Charles Mingus (Cumbia & Jazz Fusion), Lionel Hampton, Gerry Mulligan, and Curtis Fuller ~ Jeffrey passed away in 2015
April 8, 1932 ~ Composer John Kinsella born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Regarded as one of Ireland's most prolific symphonists of the 20th century. Closely associated with the TV channel RTE, serving as senior assistant in the music department since 1968. Co-founding member of Aosdana, an invite-only association of artists. As a composer strongly influenced by contemporary avant-garde, especially serialism. Known for works such as Two Pieces For String Orchestra, Montage and Montage II and for The Wayfarer Rhapsody On A Poem Of PH Pearse ~ Kinsella passed away in 2021