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, 1985 ~ Singer Bryan Adams releases Heaven, lifted off his Reckless album ~ Written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance while touring as support act for Journey, Heaven was strongly influenced by Journey's Faithfully. Halfway through the recording session, drummer Mickey Curry had to split as he had warned Adams of his limited availabilty that day, so Journey drummer Steve Smith stepped in to complete the recording. Heaven would first be used for the soundtrack to A Night In Heaven soundtrack, and later issued as a single off of the Canadian's own Reckless. It would become his first American charttopper, reaching No.1 Billboard Hot 100 over a year and a half after it first appeared on record. In the 1990s, Adams would record several more songs specifically for soundtracks, (Everything I Do) I Do It For You would be used for Robin Hood (Prince Of Thieves), All For Love with Rod Stewart and Sting was used for The Three Musketeers, and Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman found its way to the Don Juan DeMarco soundtrack
April 9, 1980 ~ Albert Louis Hammond III, commonly known as indie rock, garage rock guitarist Albert Hammond Jr, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Rhythm, lead guitarist of the Strokes, with whom he has recorded about half a dozen albums starting with Is This It released in 2001. The band is especially known for songs such as Last Nite, Juicebox, Under Cover Of Darkness and Bad Decisions. Hammond has also released several acclaimed solo albums, starting with Yours To Keep in 2006, his solo outings characterised by a more eclectic approach than his work with the Strokes. Hammond Jr is the son of revered songwriter Albert Hammond, whose songs have been recorded by the likes of Cliff Richard, Cilla Black, the Carpenters, Julio Iglesias, Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Whitney Houston, and Tom Jones
April 9, 1978 ~ Singer, actress, TV personality Rachel Stevens, full name Rachel Lauren Stevens, born in Southgate, UK ~ Member of girl group S Club 7 from 1999 through 2003. Released her Funky Dory solo debut album in 2003, which spawned the UK top 10 hit Sweet Dreams My LA Ex, Some Girls and More More More
April 9, 1976 ~ Singer, songwriter Phil Ochs, full name Philip David Ochs passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Influential 1960s, 1970s protest singer known for his wit, political activism and insightful lyrics with eight albums to his name. Influenced by Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Bob Gibson, Faron Young, Merle Haggard. Some of his best known songs include I Ain't Marching Anymore, Changes, Cricifixion, Draft Dodger Rag, Love Me I'm A Liberal, Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends, The Power And The Glory, There But For The Fortune and War Is Over ~ Ochs was born in 1940April 9, 1973 ~ Punk rock, alternative rock guitarist Andy Stamets born ~ Co-founding and constant member of Rocket From The Crypt, an influential San Diego based rock group known for merging punk rock with a horn section and especially acclaimed for their 1992 Circa Now. During the band's hiatus Stamets formed the Sultans, releasing an EP and the full-length Ghost Ship album in 2000
April 9, 1972 ~ Pop, surf outfit the Beach Boys record Cuddle Up ~ Written by Dennis Wilson and Daryl Dragon of future Captain & Tennille-fame. Included on the 1972 Carl & The Passions album, which initially started as a solo project by Dennis. Cuddle Up would bge issued as the B-side of You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone, the album's lead single. Despite warm reception, the single failed to chart
April 9, 1970 ~ Drummer, percussionist, keyboardist, engineer John McEntire born in Portland, Oregon, USA ~ Key figure on the Chicago post-rock scene, known as a member of numerous bands including notably the jazz-tinged pop outfit the Sea And Cake, fusion experimentalists Tortoise, and indie rockers the Red Krayola, and as an in-demand collaborator, engineer, producer, remixer and studio owner of Soma Electronic Music Studios. In one capacity or another, McEntire has worked on albums by Eleventh Dream Day, Freakwater (Old Paint), Loud Lucy, Trans Am, Run On (Start Packing), Rome (Rome), Red Snapper, Seely, Calliope (I Can See You With My Eyes Closed), Stereolab (Emperor Tomato Ketchup), Tony Conrad, Kim O'Rourke (Bad Timing), Snowpony, Richard Buckner, the Spinanes, Isotope 217, Stephen Prina (When Push Comes To Love), the Chicago Underground Duo (Synesthesia), Mary Timony, and Teenage Fanclub. McEntire has attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio, initially as a percussion major, but eventually switched to study in the school's then newly created program for Technology in Music and Related Arts. McEntire is a pioneer in the use of modern digital audio workstation software, employing Pro Tools as early as 1997 on the Sea And Cake album The Fawn and Stereolab's Dots And Loops
April 9, 1969 ~ Alternative rock, grunge, post-grunge, alternative metal singer, guitarist, songwriter Kevin Martin born in Elgin, Illinois, USA ~ Lead singer and along with lead guitarist Peter Klett the only other constant member of Candlebox, known especially for their 1993 eponymous Candlebox debut album. The album's success was largely due to the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Far Behind, a tribute song to iconic grunge singer the late Andrew Wood of Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone who had died of a heroin overdose. Martin has also fronted the Hiwatts, and worked with supergroup the Gracious Few
April 9, 1966 ~ Singer Dionne Warwick records I Say A Little Prayer at A&R Recording Studios, New York, released as a single the following year ~ Though Burt Bacharach usually only needed at most three takes with Dionne Warwick, this time it took ten and he still disliked the end result, feeling it rushed. The track would be shelved for over a year, first included on Warwick's The Windows Of The World album released in August 1967. When radio DJ's picked up the song, significant airplay led Scepter Records to release it as a single. It became a million-seller and peaked at No.4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It would be notably covered by Aretha Franklin about a year later, who first used the track as the B-side of her The House That Jack Built single. Over time the song would become more associated with Franklin, despite Warwick's original at the time being the bigger hit
April 9, 1963 ~ Singer Brenda Lee records My Whole World Is Falling Down ~ Written by Bill Anderson and Jerry Crutchfield. Produced by Owen Bradley. Its chorus is based on the nursery rhyme London Bridge Is Falling Down. Brenda Lee released the song as a single the following July, paired with I Wonder on the B-side, which reached No.24 Billboard Hot 100. In 1982, Lee's rendition would be used for the soundtrack of the thriller drama film Missing directed by Costa-Gavras
April 9, 1963 ~ Jazz violinist, trombonist Eddie Edwards, full name Ernest Branford Edwards, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Worked with Papa Jack Laine, Ernest Giardina, Johnny Stein. Best known as early member of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, present on Livery Stable Blues considered one of the first commercially released jazz recordings. Also noted for penning the band's Sensation Rag, later covered by Bix Beiderbecke, Fletcher Henderson, Joe Venuti and notably performed by Benny Goodman at the landmark The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert. Has also worked with Jimmy Durante, Larry Shields, Tony Sbarbaro, and J Russell Robinson ~ Edwards was born in 1891
April 9, 1962 ~ Bassist Arthur Maia born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Draws from samba, jazz, funk, and reggae. Played drums as a child before taking up the bass in his mid-teens. Well known as a member of Cama de Gato, with whom he recorded five albums including their Dança da Lua masterpiece. Maia has also recorded a handful of acclaimed albums as a solo artist, starting with Maia in 1990, two collaborative albums with respectively Gilson Peranzzetta and Hiram Bullock, and widely praised for his innovative rhythms has been an in-demand session musician present on albums by the likes of Gilberto Gil (Refazenda), Milton Nascimento, Chico Buarque, Toninho Horta, Djavan (Djavan), Robertinho Silva, Caetano Veloso (Circuladô), Pascoal Meirelles (Considerações), Marisa Monte, Torcuato Mariano, Carlinhos Brown, Claudio Roditi, Leo Gandelman (Black Pearls), Zé Ramalho (Nacao Nordestina), Ney Matogrosso, Beto Guedes, Celso Fonseca (Rive Gauche Rio), Ana Carolina, and Leila Pinheiro ~ Maia passed away in 2018
April 9, 1962 ~ R&B group the Miracles release I'll Try Something New, lifted off the album of the same name ~ Written by Smokey Robinson who co-produced the song with Motown head Berry Gordy Jr, I'll Try Something New tells of a lover trying something new to keep their love alive. The song is especially noted for showcasing the band's harmonies and Robinson's lush production style, which would later become a Robinson trademark. In 1969, the song would be notably covered by the Supremes and the Temptations for their collaborative album Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations. The cover would reach No.8 Billboard R&B, surpassing the original which stayed just outside the top 10 peaking at No.11. In 1982, twelve years into his solo career, the Miracles lead singer Robinson recorded an updated contemporary version for his Yes It's You Lady album
April 9, 1961 ~ Rock & roll, pop singer Billy Fury records Halfway To Paradise at Decca Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. Earlier the same year recorded by Tony Orlando, scoring a modest hit in the USA peaking in the low 30s on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Billy Fury's version, paired with Cross My Heart on the B-side, would earn him a UK top 10 hit. Others who have recorded the song include Bobby Vinton, Tina Charles, and Nick LoweApril 9, 1961 ~ Keyboardist Mark Kelly, full name Mark Colbert Kelly, born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Longtime member of Marillion, joining the band in 1981 as replacement for original keyboardist Brian Jelliman. Kelly has appeared on all of the band's albums. The band is known best for the UK top 10 hits Kayleigh and Lavender of their acclaimed 1985 Misplaced Childhood album. The track Incommunicado of the equally acclaimed follow-up album Clutching At Straws also reached top 10
April 9, 1959 ~ Rock, hard rock guitarist Andrzej Nowak born in Opole, Poland ~ Founded hard rock, metal band TSA in 1979, known for songs such as Zwierzenia Kontestatora and Marsz Wilkow. The former would be used in the 1984 documentary Behind The Iron Curtain which documents the first visit of Iron Maiden to Poland ~ Nowak passed away in 2022
April 9, 1957 ~ Jazz pianist, arranger, songwriter, actor André Manoukian, full name André Antranik Manoukian, born in Lyon, France ~ About half a dozen albums to his name, starting with Inkala released in 2008, as well as about half a dozen soundtracks. In-demand composer and producer for the likes of Liane Foly, Viktor Lazlo, Malia, Charles Aznavour, Gilbert Bécaud, Diane Dufresne, Gérard Darmon, Myriam Abel, and Natasha St-Pier. Also well known as a judge on Nouvelle Star, a talent contest aired on M6 modeled after the international Pop Idol franchiseApril 9, 1956 ~ Violinist, film composer Mark Thomas born in Penclawdd, UK ~ Served as violinist for the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Royal Ballet Orchestra. Would venture into composing for TV and film by the early 1990s, with over two dozen soundtracks to his name including Twin Town, The Final Curtain and Agent Cody Banks 2 (Destination London) ~ Thomas passed away in 2023
April 9, 1955 ~ Punk rock bassist Merle Allin born in Lancaster, New Hampshire, USA ~ Brother of punk rock singer GG Allin, whom he backed in Malpractice, the AIDS Brigade, and the Murder Junkies. Member of the City Thrills. Member of Cheater Slicks, present on the band's 1989 On Your Knees debut album
April 9, 1954 ~ Lori Black, commonly known as rock bassist Lori Lorax Black born in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Daughter of 1930s child actress, singer Shirley Temple. First gained attention as member of Clown Alley. Best known for replacing Matt Lukin, who had left to form Mudhoney, in pioneering grunge outfit the Melvins. Black has recorded about half a dozen albums with the band, starting with Ozma released in 1989
April 9, 1953 ~ Country singer, guitarist Hal Ketchum, full name Hal Michael Ketchum, born in Greenwich, New York, USA ~ Earned critical acclaim and peer admiration for his poignant and literate yet unadorned story-telling. Released close to a dozen albums, starting with Threadbare Alibis in 1988. Though never a major star, Ketchum did find mainstream success mostly during the 1990s with about a dozen Billboard Country top 40 hits, his best known Small Town Saturday Night, Past The Point Of Rescue, and Hearts Are Gonna Roll all peaking at No.2. Ketchum retired from music in 2019 following a diagnosis of dementia ~ Ketchum passed away in 2020April 9, 1948 ~ Nicoletta Strambelli, commonly known as pop, pop rock, chanson singer, pianist Patty Pravo, born in Venice, Italy ~ Over two dozen albums to her name. Enjoyed popularity from the mid 1960s through the 1970s, reemerging as a star during the 1990s. Debuted with the single Ragazzo Triste, an Italian-language cover of Sonny & Cher's But You're Mine. Best known for songs such as La Bambola, Pazza Idea, Pensiero Stupendo, and E Dimmi Che Non Vuoi Morire
April 9, 1948 ~ Drummer, singer Phil Wright, full name Philip Wright, born in St Ann's, UK ~ Drummer and lead singer for 1970s outfit Paper Lace, with whom he scored the UK hits Billy Don't Be A Hero, The Black-Eyed Boys, and The Night Chicago Died. All three would reach top 20 in the band's native UK, the latter would also top the American Billboard Hot 100
April 9, 1948 ~ Salsa singer Tito Gómez, full name Humberto Luis Gómez Rivera, born in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico ~ Co-lead singer of Sonora Poncena from 1967 through 1973, rejoining later in the 1970s. Co-founding member of La Terrifica. As a solo artist known for a string of popular 1990s albums and the hit Dejala. Gómez has also notably worked with Ray Barretto and Grupo Niche ~ Gómez passed away in 2007
April 9, 1946 ~ Glam rock, pop singer, pianist Les Gray, full name Thomas Leslie Gray, born in Carshalton, UK ~ Co-founding member of Mud, known for 1970s hits such as Lonely This Christmas, Tiger Feet and Oh Boy, the latter a cover of the classic Buddy Holly-song. Gray would score a solo hit with A Groovy Kind Of Love in 1977, originally recorded by Diane & Annita in 1965 ~ Gray passed away in 2004