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.
August 10, 1966 ~ Shaun Shiller Fequiere, commonly known as hip-hop rapper Kangol Kid, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of early pioneering rap group UTFO, known best for their 1984 hit Roxanne Roxanne. The group would remain popular throughout the end of the decade. Fequiere also wrote Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam's Private Property. Served as manager for the rap group Whistle ~ Fequiere passed away in 2021
August 10, 1965 ~ Swing, boogie-woogie pianist, bandleader Freddie Slack, full name Frederick Charles Slack, passed away in Hollywood, California, USA ~ Co-wrote, recorded House Of The Blue Lights with Ella Mae Morse as lead singer, later covered by Chuck Miller, the Andrews Sisters, Chuck Berry, and by Jerry Lee Lewis. Worked with Will Bradley including the piano solo on Beat Me Daddy Eight To The Bar, arguably one of the first white boogie-woogie hits. Also worked with Henry Halstead, Earl Burtnett, Lennie Hayton, Ben Pollack, Jimmy Dorsey, T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Turner, Johnny Mercer, Margaret Whiting, and Liza Morrow ~ Slack was born in 1910
August 10, 1965 ~ Composer, author, child actor Kenneth Casey passed away in Cornwall, New York, USA ~ Best remembered for co-writing Sweet Georgia Brown with Ben Bernie and Maceo Pinkard. The first recorded version would be Bernie's, but the song would become a standard recorded by numerous artists including Bing Crosby, Charlie Parker, Brother Bones, Anita O'Day, Tony Sheridan, Nancy Sinatra, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Roberta Flack ~ Casey was born in 1899
August 10, 1965 ~ Pop, world music kora player Toumani Diabaté born in Bamako, Mali ~ One of the internationally most recognised African artists. Son of Sidiki Diabaté, brother of Mamadou Sidiki Diabaté, both renowned kora players. Diabaté is strongly rooted in Malian traditional music, yet is also known for numerous cross-cultural collaborations including with flamenco group Ketama, blues guitarist Taj Mahal, jazz trombonist Roswell Rudd, Icelandic rock singer Björk, banjoist Béla Fleck, and jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock ~ Diabaté passed away in 2024
August 10, 1964 ~ Singer, songwriter Aaron Hall born in New York, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of Guy, along with producer Teddy Riley and songwriter Timmy Gatling. Hall sang lead on Guy-classics such as Groove Me, I Like, and Piece Of My Love. Hall has also released solo albums and singles including a number of notable collaborations such as It's Gonna Be Alright with Charlie Wilson, Toss It Up with K-Ci & JoJo, Much Too Soon with Cedric K-Ci Hailey and Al B Sure, and Bye Baby with rapper Nas
August 10, 1964 ~ Jazz saxophonist Kåre Kolve born in Voss, Norway ~ Brother of vibraphonist Ivar Kolve. Best known as leader, releasing a number of albums with his quartet which also included Espen Berg, Jo Fougner and Magnus Forsberg. Has also worked with Terje Tysland, Lava, Mezzoforte, and Espen LindAugust 10, 1964 ~ Singer, songwriter Patsy Moore, full name Patsy Alexis Moore, born on Antigua, Antigua & Barbados ~ First gained attention writing Talk About Life recorded by Kim Hill. Also known for penning I Remember and Goodbye, both recorded by Dianne Reeves. As a singer debuted in 1992 with her Regarding The Human Condition album
August 10, 1963 ~ Guitarist, singer Jeff McDonald born in Hawthorne, California, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member of alternative rock band Redd Kross, which also included his brother bassist Steven Shane McDonald. Married to the Go-Go's guitarist, keyboardist Charlotte Caffey. Has worked with Anarchy 6, Tater Totz and Ze Malibu Kids
August 10, 1963 ~ Songwriter Stuart Gorrell, full name Stuart Graham Steven Gorrell, passed away in Ridgewood, New Jersey, USA ~ Remembered for co-writing Georgia On My Mind, composed and first recorded by Hoagy Carmichael. The song has become a standard recorded by numerous artists, notably Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Willie Nelson. Gorrell wrote the lyrics in a single night after hearing Carmichael play the new composition at a party and never wrote another lyric in his life ~ Gorrell was born in 1901
August 10, 1962 ~ Jazz, pop singer, songwriter Julia Fordham born in Portsmouth, UK ~ Sang backup for the likes of Mari Wilson and Kim Wilde before venturing out on her own, releasing her eponymous Julia Fordham debut album in 1988. Know for her sophisticated jazz-influenced pop. Especially acclaimed for her 2002 Concrete Love album. Has collaborated with singers Beverley Craven and Judie Tzuke on the 2018 Woman To Woman collaborative album, consisting of a selection of each of the trio's own past solo songs sung together in harmony along with new material
August 10, 1962 ~ Sakari Hietala, commonly known as heavy metal, power metal guitarist Zachary Hietala, born in Tervo, Finland ~ Co-founding member, guitarist for heavy metal unit Tarot with whom he recorded over a dozen albums, starting with The Spell Of Iron released in 1986. The band would also include his baby brother bassist Marko Hietala. Hietala also appeared on Marenne's 2009 The Past Prelude albumAugust 10, 1961 ~ Rock, pop rock keyboardist, drummer, singer Jon Farriss, full name Jonathan James Farriss, born in Perth, Australia ~ Co-founding member of INXS. Co-wrote songs such as Red Red Sun, The Gift, Deepest Red, Faith In Each Other, Back On Line, Never Let You Go and Disappear
August 10, 1960 ~ Post-punk, avant-funk, industrial singer, songwriter Mark Stewart born in Bristol, UK ~ Pioneer of post-punk and industrial hip-hop. Co-founding member of the Pop Group, drawing from punk, dub, funk, and free jazz, and best known for the singles She Is Beyond Good And Evil and We Are All Prostitutes. Following the band's disbandement in the early 1980s Stewart has recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with the likes of Trent Reznor, Tricky, Massive Attack, and Primal Scream ~ Stewart passed away in 2023August 10, 1960 ~ Trumpeter, hornist, saxophonist, guitarist, keyboardist Terry Edwards born in Hornchurch, UK ~ Worked with the Scapegoats, Derek Raymond, Madness, Mark Bedford, the Tindersticks, Spiritualized, the Creatures, Nick Cave, the Jesus & Mary Chain, Department S, Lydia Lunch, Snuff, Tom Waits, Jack, the Blockheads, Hot Chip, Robyn Hitchcock, Gallon Drunk, and PJ Harvey
August 10, 1960 ~ Flutist, guitarist, mandolinist, keyboardist, singer Vinnie Kilduff born in Mayo, Ireland ~ Founding member of In Tua Nua. Best known for playing traditional flutes and pipes with a number of Irish, Celtic acts including U2 (notably on Tomorrow), Clannad, the Waterboys, and Sinéad O'Connor. Has also worked with the Rocking Chairs, Patrick Cassidy, Fisher Street, Brendan O'Regan, Sean Smyth, Anthony Thistlethwaite, and Hazel O'Connor
August 10, 1959 ~ Drummer Mark Price, full name Mark Gerard Price, born in Nelson, UK ~ Best known as a member of All About Eve, joining the band halfway through the recording of their 1988 eponymous All About Eve debut album and remaining with the band through its disbandement in the early 1990s. Previously he had backed Nik Kershaw, including at the 1985 Live Aid charity concert. Price has also worked with the Cure, appearing on Mint Car, Trap, and Treasure of their 1996 Wild Mood Swings, and with Del Amitri, appearing on the 2002 Can You Do Me Good album
August 10, 1957 ~ Fred Wei-han Houn, commonly known as saxophonist, composer Fred Ho, born in Palo Alto, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Though mostly associated with Asian-American jazz, Houn resented the categorization. Known for merging traditional Chinese elements with African influences. The first to combine Chinese opera with traditional African-American music. Especially acclaimed for his 1993 Underground Railroad To My Heart album. Founded and fronted the Monkey Orchestra. Founded and fronted the Afro-Asian Music Ensemble ~ Houn passed away in 2014
August 10, 1957 ~ Actress, singer Zuhal Olcay born in Uskudar, Turkey ~ Rose to fame in the 1980s starring in a succession of films. As a singer has recorded over half a dozen albums, starting with Kucuk Bir Oyku Bu released in 1989. Would be sentenced to 10 months in prison in 2018 for insulting President Recep Erdogan in a revised version of her song Bos Vermisim Dunyayi during a 2016 concert
August 10, 1956 ~ Jazz, show tunes, classical guitarist, pianist, singer Lars Martin Myhre born in Tønsberg, Norway ~ Perhaps best known for his association with Odd Børretzen. Enjoyed a career spanning three decades as in-demand collaborator, film, musical and theater composer, bandleader, and solo artist. Founded the Salgen Big Band in the late 1970s, which he conducted for about a decade ~ Myhre passed away in 2024August 10, 1951 ~ Country singer Hank Williams records Half As Much at Castle Studio, Nashville, Tennessee ~ Written by Curley Williams. Produced by Fred Rose. Paired with Turn Back The Years as the flip side, Hank Williams would release the single the following March
August 10, 1951 ~ Per Malta Lennart Jonsson, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Plura Jonsson, born in Norrköping, Sweden ~ Best known as member of Eldkvarn. Also noted for his 2014 collaborative album Mauro & Pluras Tagluff with Mauro Scocco. As a solo artist best known for his 2010 Det Hon Vill Ha hit single
August 10, 1950 ~ R&B, pop, jazz singer Patti Austin born in New York, New York, USA ~ Made her performance debut at Apollo Theater aged 4. Has sung guest and backup vocals on songs by Yutuka Yokokura (Love Light), Quincy Jones (Razzamatazz, Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me), Roberta Flack, Billy Joel (Just The Way You Are), Angela Bofill, and Noel Pointer, and duetted with Michael Jackson (It's The Falling In Love), with George Benson (Moody's Mood For Love), and perhaps most notably with James Ingram (Baby Come To Me, How Do You Keep The Music Playing). Released her first solo album, The End Of A Rainbow, in 1976August 10, 1949 ~ Country mandolinist, fiddler, singer Gene Johnson born in Jamestown, New York, USA ~ Member of Diamond Rio, known for a number of Billboard Country top 10 hits starting in the early 1990s including Meet In The Middle, In A Week Or Two, Love A Little Stronger, Walkin' Away, How Your Love Makes Me Feel, One More Day and Beautiful Mess
August 10, 1949 ~ Singer, actor Harry Slinger born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Frontman, lead singer of Drukwerk, known for song such as Je Loog Tegen Mij, Schijn 'n Lichtje Op Mij, Marianneke and Hee Amsterdan
August 10, 1948 ~ Lucille Anderson, commonly known as classic female blues singer, Lucille Bogan passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Named as one of “the Big Three of Blues” alongside Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. Known for her provocative lyrics. Known for originals such as Sloppy Drunk Blues, Tricks Ain't Walkin' No More, and Black Angel Blues. Through a series of covers and adaptions the latter would be eventually be recorded by BB King as Sweet Little Angel in 1956. Recorded under the alias Bessie Jackson since 1933 in an attempt to conceal her identity ~ Anderson was born in 1897