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 9, 2025 ~ Violinist Roberto Cani, full name Roberto Salvatore Cani, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Upon completion of his musical studies, Cani would win several prestigious awards early on in his career including the 1990 Paganini Competition and the 1994 Tchaikovsky International Competition. Cani would be acknowledged as a versatile soloist and chamber musician, performing the world over. Over the course of his career, Cani has worked with La Scala, the American Youth Symphony, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Cani also formed the Hollywood Piano Trio with pianist Inna Faliks and cellist Robert DeMaine, has collaborated with artists such as Justus Frantz, Jeffrey Swann, Lynn Harrell, and Jason Vieaux, was a faculty member of the California State University, and served as concertmaster of the Los Angeles Opera from 2011 until his death. The last two years of his life, Cani battled pancreatic cancer yet continued to perform ~ Cani was born in 1967April 9, 2025 ~ Upright bassist Terje Venaas passed away ~ Worked with his brother Age Venas, Geir Schumann, Svein Jens Thorso, Jan Garbarek, Espen Rud, Carl Magnus Neumann, Per Husby, Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon, Toots Thielemans, Michel Petrucciani, and others ~ Venaas was born in 1947
April 9, 2024 ~ Jazz, big band, easy listening trumpeter Bob Lanese passed away in Hamburg, Germany ~ Active since the early 1960s, first gaining serious attention as a member of the house band at the Alpine Village, a popular nightclub in his native Cleveland, Ohio. Following a European tour with the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1971, then under the direction of Buddy DeFranco, Lanese would become enamored with the city of Hamburg and relocate to Germany, where he became an in-demand trumpeter and flugelhornist. Best known as a longtime member of James Last's orchestra, serving as the ensemble's lead trumpeter for some three decades starting in 1972. Lanese has also worked with several other German bandleaders, including Kai Warner, Frank Valdor, Max Greger, and Bert Kaempfert, and sporadically recorded as a leader. To pop audiences, Lanese is perhaps best known for his trumpet playing on the 2000 Sing When You're Winning album by Robbie Williams ~ Lanese was born in 1941
April 9, 2024 ~ Singer, drummer Max Werner passed away in Laren, the Netherlands ~ Co-founding member of progressive rock, art rock outfit Kayak, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums as lead singer and several more after switching to drums. The band enjoyed popularity in their native Netherlands especially during the 1970s and are best known for songs such as Lyrics, Mammoth, Starlight Dancer, and Ruthless Queen. Werner has also recorded as a solo artist, notably the 1981 hit Rain In May, and with Ekseption on the Dance Macabre album ~ Werner was born in [artist-max-werner]
April 9, 2023 ~ Jazz pianist, conductor Karl Berger, full name Karl Hans Berger, passed away in Albany, New York, USA ~ About two dozen albums to his name as a leader, especially acclaimed for Transit released in 1987. Closely associated with Don Cherry and Ornette Coleman, founding the Woodstock-based Creative Music Studio study center with the latter in 1972. In-demand sideman, present on albums by the likes of Gato Barbieri, Lee Konitz, John McLaughlin, Marzette Watts, Sly & Robbie, Joe Lovano, Jeff Buckley (Grace), Better Than Ezra, Bill Laswell, Natalie Merchant (Ophelia), Angélique Kidjo, and Lil Haydn ~ Berger was born in 1935April 9, 2021 ~ Songwriter, TV personality Shay Healy passed away in Dublin, Ireland ~ Wrote Johnny Logan's What's Another Year, Ireland's 1980 Eurovision Songfestival winner. Wrote or co-wrote several musicals, notably 2005's The Wiremen and 1977's The King, the latter about the life of Elvis Presley and premiered just two month's after Presley's death ~ Healy was born in 1943
April 9, 2020 ~ Double bassist Andy González passed away in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Brother of trumpeter, percussionist Jerry González, with whom he regularly worked including in Conjuncto Libre co-founded by the siblings. An in-demand sideman from the 1970s onward, González has also appeared on albums by Chico O'Farrill, Ray Barretto (Together), George Benson, Eddie Palmieri (Superimposition), Harlem River Drive, Charlie Palmieri, Mongo Santamaria (Ubane), David Amram, Ismael Miranda, Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Patato Valdés, Daniel Ponce, David Byrne (Rei Momo), Kenny Kirkland, Hilton Ruiz, Justo Betancourt, Charlie Sepulveda (Algo Nuestro (Our Thing)), Steve Turre, Conrad Herwig, Tom Harrell, Ronny Jordan (A Brighter Day), Jack Bruce, and Of Montreal ~ Gonzalez was born in 1951
April 9, 2020 ~ Composer, keyboardist Richard Teitelbaum, full name Richard Lowe Teitelbaum, passed away in Hawthorne, New York, USA ~ Pioneered brain-wave music. Known for his live electronic performances. Draws from worlds music using a variety of instruments. Especially acclaimed for Time Zones, a collaborative album with Anthony Braxton. Formed Musica Elettronica Viva with Alvin Curran and Frederic Rzewski, known best for their 1977 Unified Patchwork Theory exploring electro-acoustic and free improvisation jazz. Teitelbaum has also notably guested on recordings by Leroy Jenkins, Andrew Cyrille, Luc Houtkamp, Steve Lacy, and Alvin Lucier ~ Teitelbaum was born in 1939April 9, 2017 ~ Bassist Alan Henderson passed away in Big Lake, Minnesota, USA ~ Original member of Them, present on songs such as Baby Please Don't Go and Here Comes The Night. The band is best known for launching the career of Van Morrison, and despite a brief recording career they are considered influential on a wide array of acts including the Doors ~ Henderson was born in 1944
April 9, 2017 ~ Saxophonist, flutist Stan Robinson passed away ~ Praised for his full-toned delivery, agile technique and harmonic detail. Influenced by Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson. First gained attention in the early 1960s playing at the famed Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London, often in a quartet which included a then-unknown Ginger Baker of later Cream fame. Closely associated with Tubby Hayes, who has been cited as saying Robinson was “among the most promising British tenor saxophonists of the day”, the pair going on to work in a variety of settings. Robinson would also work with the Jazzmakers, Phil Seamen, Long John Baldry, Humphrey Lyttelton, Eric Burdon, Don Rendell, Maynard Ferguson, and Charlie Watts, as well as tour with visiting American jazz and R&B acts including King Curtis, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, and Tony Bennett ~ Robinson was born in 1936
April 9, 2016 ~ Singer Kevin Simm wins The Voice UK ~ Singer Kevin Simm wins the 5th season of talent show The Voice UK aired on BBC One, beating the other finalists Jolan, Cody Frost and Lydia Lucy. Previously, during the early to mid 2000s Simm had sung with Liberty X, a group comprising runner-up contestants of the Popstars reality TV music competition with whom he scored hits such as Thinking It Over, Got To Have Your Love, Song 4 Lovers, Holding On For You, and their best known Just A Little, the latter a UK No.1 hit in 2002
April 9, 2009 ~ R&B singer Randy Cain, full name Herbert Randal Cain III, passed away in Maple Shade, New Jersey, USA ~ Best known as a member of the Delfonics, including on the 1970 Grammy-winning Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit. Cain left the group in 1971 to be succeeded by Major Harris ~ Cain was born in 1945
April 9, 2009 ~ John Rockford Hill, commonly known as guitarist, bassist Rocky Hill passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Older brother of ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill, with whom he worked in the acid rock band American Blues. Rocky subsequently played with John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Freddie King and Jimmy Reed. His 1982 solo debut Texas Shuffle featured guests Johnny Winter and Dr John. Has also worked with Townes Van Zandt, Don Sanders, and with Joe Miranda ~ Hill was born in 1946
April 9, 2008 ~ Producer Dr George Butler passed away in Hayward, California, USA ~ Spearheaded Blue Note's transition into commercial mainstream during the 1970s. Signed and launched the careers of Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr, and Nnenna Freelon. By the late 1970s Butler would move on over to Columbia Records, accepting the position of Vice President, where he helped persuade Miles Davis to return to recording and proved pivotal to the careers of fusion and soul-jazz acts such as Bob James, Billy Cobham, and Grover Washington Jr. Produced or co-produced albums by acts such as Horace Silver, Grant Green, Elvin Jones, Donald Byrd (Black Byrd), Shirley Bassey, Ronnie Foster (The Two-Headed Freap), Alphonse Mouzon (Mind Transplant), Bobby Hutcherson, Moacir Santos, Jimmy Witherspoon, Earl Klugh (Earl Klugh), Noel Pointer, Maynard Ferguson, Rodney Franklin, Max Roach (M'Boom), and Freddie Hubbard ~ Butler was born in 1931
April 9, 2004 ~ Big band singer, saxophonist, drummer Harry Babbitt passed away in Aliso Viejo, California, USA ~ Joined the orchestra of Kay Kyser in 1936. Sang lead on hits such as Three Little Fishies, Slow Boat To China, Jingle Jangle Jingle and The White Cliffs Of Dover. Featured in a number of Kyser films. Also sang on the 1948 Spike Jones novelty hit All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth ~ Babbitt was born in 1913April 9, 2002 ~ Krautrock, proto-punk, art rock drummer, guitarist, singer Thomas Dinger passed away in Düsseldorf, Germany ~ Member of pivotal krautrock unit Neu, alongside his brother Klaus Dinger, and present on the 1975 Neu 75 album. Subsequently worked with La Düsseldorf, again with his brother Klaus, appearing on the band's first three albums La Düsseldorf, Viva and Individuellos ~ Dinger was born in 1952
April 9, 2002 ~ Pianist, bandleader, composer, playwright, poet Weldon Irvine, full name Weldon Jonathan Irvine Jr, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Wrote or co-wrote over 500 songs including To Be Young Gifted & Black with Nina Simone, first recorded by the latter on her 1970 Black Gold album and notably covered by Aretha Franklin 2 years later. Mentor to many New York hip-hop artists including Q-Tip and Mos Def ~ Irvine was born in 1943April 9, 2000 ~ Classical crossover singer Jackie Evancho, full name Jacqueline Marie Evancho, born in Pittsburgh, USA ~ Child prodigy. Released an indie album, Prelude To A Dream, in 2009. Gained major attention in 2010 at age ten as runner up in the 5th season of America's Got Talent talent show. Has been recording steadily since
April 9, 1999 ~ Herbert Feuerman, commonly known as jazz, big band bandleader, violinist Bert Firman, passed away ~ Popular bandleader from the 1920s through the 1940s. Employed sidemen such as Sylvester Ahola, Chelsea Quealey, Frank Guarente, Arhur Lally, Danny Polo, Max Goldberg, Sam Costa, Freddy Gardner, Ivor Mairants, George Melachrino, Stéphane Grappelli, Django Reinhardt. Staff musician, musical director for Zonophone Records, recording some 750 sides for them during the 1920s alone. Guest conductor with the NBC Orchestra in 1929, becoming the first British bandleader to broadcast in America ~ Feuerman was born in 1906
April 9, 1997 ~ Songwriter Mae Boren Axton passed away in Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA ~ Known in the music industry as “the Queen Mother of Nashville” and best remembered for co-writing Elvis Presley's Heartbreak Hotel with Tommy Durden. Has also worked with Mel Tillis, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Eddy Arnold, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Tillotson, and Blake Shelton ~ Axton was born in 1914
April 9, 1997 ~ James Rachell, commonly known as country blues singer, guitarist, mandolinist, songwriter Yank Rachell, passed away in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Master of the blues mandolin. Co-wrote She Caught The Katy (And Left Me A Mule To Ride) with Taj Mahal, the latter recording it first on his 1968 The Natch'i Blues. The song would notably be covered by the Blues Brothers as the opening track for That Girl Belongs To Yesterday film released in 1980. The “Katy” refers to the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad ~ Rachell was born in 1910
April 9, 1990 ~ Singer, songwriter Darrell Glenn, full name Darrell Orvis Glenn, passed away in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Best remembered for recording the original of Crying In The Chapel at age 17 in 1953. Despite the recording being intended solely as a demo to get the song published it would be released and became an instant hit. Written by Glenn's father country singer Artie Glenn it would be covered numerous times, perhaps most notably by Elvis Presley in 1960 who shelved the song for five years. Prior to Presley's million-seller the song had been recorded by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Eddy Arnold, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Glenn would go on to become a songwriter, known for penning Indescribably Blue, recorded by Presley, and Bear With Me A Little Longer first recorded by Billy Walker and notably covered by Eddy Arnold. Glenn was also co-owner of Glendale Records and was involved in several other labels including serving as head of A&R with Pompeii Records before becoming an evangelist in the 1970s ~ Glenn was born in 1935
April 9, 1988 ~ Benjamin Peay, commonly known as singer, songwriter Brook Benton, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Popular 1950s and 1960s rock & roll, R&B, pop singer known for hits such as It's Just A Matter Of Time, Endlessly, So Many Ways, Kiddio and a number of duets with Dinah Washington such as Baby You've Got What It Takes and A Rocking Good Way (To Mess Around And Fall In Love). Scored his last major hit in 1969, topping the Billboard R&B charts with the Tony Joe White-cover Rainy Night In Georgia ~ Benton was born in 1931April 9, 1987 ~ Singer, songwriter Jazmine Sullivan, full name Jazmine Marie Sullivan, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Cites Brandy, Changing Faces, Kim Burrell, Lauryn Hill, Dorinda Clark Cole, as main influences. Debuted with a solo album, Fearless, in 2008. The lead single, Need U Bad, was produced by Missy Elliott. Other producers Sullivan has worked with include Salaam Remi, Peter Edge, Stargate, Jack Splash, Lamb, Ne-Yo, Anthony Bell, Los da Mystro, and Ryan Leslie
April 9, 1986 ~ Robert Hanley Casey, commonly known as jazz double bassist, guitarist Bob Casey, passed away in Marion, Illinois, USA ~ Regarded as a technically fine bassist, guitarist, in part due to his virtue on his first instrument, the banjo. First gained attention in the late 1920s, backing artists such as Joe Gill and Joe Reichman. After relocating to Chicago, Casey spent most of the 1930s working with Wingy Manone, the King's Jesters, Muggsy Spanier, Gus Arnheim, and Charlie Spivak. From the 1940s onwards, Casey worked in New York, teaming up with the likes of Eddie Condon, Bobby Hackett, and Art Hodes ~ Casey was born in 1909