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 11, 1989 ~ Alfonso Thompson, commonly known as pianist, bandleader Sonny Thompson, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Known for a number of late 1940s, early 1950s R&B hits including Long Gone (Parts I & II), Late Freight, Blue Dreams, Still Gone and I'll Drown In My Own Tears ~ Thompson was born in 1923
August 11, 1985 ~ Rapper Asher Roth, full name Asher Paul Roth, born in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Released his Asleep In The Bread Aisle debut album in 2009. Best known for his hit I Love College. Has collaborated with Big Prime, Blended Babies, Curren$y, BoB, NERD, and Lupe Fiasco
August 11, 1983 ~ Christopher James Gholson, commonly known as producer, rapper, songwriter Drumma Boy, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Son of clarinetist G James Gholson, who was the first Afro-American to hold first chair position with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. As a solo artist known best for his 2009 Welcome II My City album. As a producer active since the early 2000s, becoming one of the most sought-after hip-hop producers by the mid 2000s. Has worked with acts such as Boyz n Da Hood, Young Jeezy, Pastor Troy, Yo Gotti, Playaz Circle, TI, Gucci Mane, E-40, Soulja Boy, Gorilla Zoe, Yung Joc, 2 Chainz, Bun B, Lil' Jon, Usher, Kid Ink, Wiz Khalifa, and Young Buck
August 11, 1982 ~ Jazz arranger, composer Gene Roland passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ As a bandleader known for his sole Jazzville Vol.4 album released in 1957. Best known for his association with Stan Kenton, serving as one of only two arrangers to write for Kenton in all four decades of the band's existence, the other being Ken Hanna. Roland plays piano, trumpet, trombone, and mellophonium, and has worked with Lionel Hampton, Lucky Millinder, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Jimmy Giuffre, Woody Herman, Georgie Auld, Count Basie, Charlie Barnet, Claude Thornhill, and Artie Shaw ~ Roland was born in 1921August 11, 1982 ~ Country, roots rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Justin Wells, full name Justin William Wells, born in Bossier City, Louisiana, USA ~ Co-founding member of Fifth On The Floor, with whom he recorded the albums The Color Of Whiskey, Dark And Bloody Ground, and Ashes & Angels. Following the band's disbandement in 2015 Wells has recorded as a solo artist, starting with Dawn In The Distance released in 2016
August 11, 1977 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock, folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Gemma Hayes born in Ballyporeen, Ireland ~ Released her acclaimed Night On My Side debut album in 2002 and has recorded consistently since. Has also worked with the collective Cake Sale and with Paul Noonan's Printer Clips side project
August 11, 1976 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock, synth-pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Ben Gibbard, full name Benjmain Gibbard, born in Bremerton, Washington, USA ~ Best known as lead singer, guitarist of indie rock outfit Death Cab For Cutie. Half of electronica duo the Postal Service, the other half being producer Dntel. Has also released solo albums and worked with All-Time Quarterback, Pinwheel, Dntel, Kind Of Like Spitting, and with Jay Farrar
August 11, 1976 ~ Progressive rock, jam band guitarist, singer, songwriter Brendan Bayliss born in South Bend, Indiana, USA ~ Co-founding member of Umphreys McGee, active since the late 1990s. The band draws from a wide array of genres and is influenced by the Police, the Beatles and Led Zeppelin
August 11, 1970 ~ Alternative rock, shoegazing singer, bassist, guitarist, songwriter Andy Bell, full name Andrew Piran Bell, born in Cardiff, UK ~ Helped develop shoegaze as a key member of Ride, best known for the 1992 UK top 10 hit Leave Them All Behind. Member of Oasis from 1999 until its disbandement in 2009, first appearing on the 2002 Heathen Chemistry album. Has also recorded as a solo artist, scored the soundtrack for the 2015 short film Midnight Of My Life, served as producer for the Kynd and the Weeping Willows, and worked with Hurricane No.1 and Beady EyeAugust 11, 1969 ~ Rapper Didier Awadi born in Dakar, Senegal ~ Key figure in African hip hop. Co-founding member of Positive Black Soul alongside Amadou Barry. The group perform in English, French and Wolof, incorporate traditional Senegalese instruments, and are known for their political and social commentary. Awadi has also recorded as a solo artist
August 11, 1968 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Charlie Sexton, full name Charles Wayne Sexton, born in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for his 1985 Beat's So Lonely hit. Best known as a member of rock, blues-rock outfit the Arc Angels, debuting in 1992 with the acclaimed eponymous Arc Angels album. Has also served in Bob Dylan's backing band from 1999 through 2002, including on Dylan's 2001 Love & Theft “comeback” album
August 11, 1967 ~ Enrique Ortiz De Landazuri Izarduy, commonly known as Latin rock, hard rock, indie rock singer, guitarist, bassist, percussionist Enrique Bunbury, born in Zaragoza, Spain ~ Rose to fame as lead singer for Héroes del Silencio, with whom he recorded about a dozen albums including the acclaimed Para Siempre released in 1998. The band is considered to be one of the few that have defined Spanish rock and are known for their intricate lyrics, complicated arrangements and precise rhythms. Bunbury has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the Radical Sonora album in 1997
August 11, 1967 ~ Saxophonist, composer Petter Wettre born in Sandefjord, Norway ~ Worked with Øystein Sevåg, Shirley Bassey, Graffitti, Horns For Hire, the Oslo Groove Company, the Norske Store Orkester, Torbjørn Sunde, Havard Wilk, Terje Gewelt, Per Oddvar Johansen, Jarle Vespestad, Per Oddvar Johansen, Jon Christensen, Ingebrigt Håker Flatan, Arild Andersen, Per Zanussi, Jonas Westergaard, Anders Mogensen, Erlend Slettevol, Kim Johannesen, George Garzone, Oliver Lake, Kresten Osgood, Audun Kleive, Dave Liebman, Joey DeFrancesco, Kenny Wheeler, Adam Nussbaum, Manu Katché, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Jan Garbarek, Paal Nilssen-Love, Frode Berg, Helge Sunde, and Marilyn Mazur
August 11, 1962 ~ Bassist, novelist Bragi Olafsson born in Reykjavik, Iceland ~ Bassist of the Sugarcubes, a band best known for launching the career of singer Björk. Among the band's best known are songs such as Birthday, Coldsweat and Regina. Olafsson is also known as a novelist, playwright and poet, nominated twice for the Icelandic Literature Prize
August 11, 1962 ~ Jazz double bassist Israel Crosby passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ One of the finest bass players to emerge from the 1930s, remaining relevant until his death at age 43. Credited with performing one of the first bass solos, namely on Gene Krupa's The Blues Of Israel at a mere age 16. Best known for his stint with Ahmad Jamal from the mid 1950s until his death in 1962, appearing on over a dozen of the pianist's albums including on the seminal Chamber Music Of The New Jazz, At The Pershing (But Not For Me) and Listen To The Ahmad Jamal Quintet. Crosby has also recorded with Sidney De Paris, Art Hodes, Fletcher Henderson, Lorez Alexandria, Sam Jones, Herb Ellis, and George Shearing ~ Crosby was born in 1919August 11, 1961 ~ Saxophonist Donny McCaslin, full name Donald Paul McCaslin, born in Santa Clara, California, USA ~ Over a dozen albums to his name as a leader, Appears on David Bowie's final studio album, Blackstar, recorded just prior to Bowie's death in 2016. Has also worked with Lan Xang, Dave Douglas, Fahir Atakoglu, Luis Bonilla, Tyler Collins, Terence Trent d'Arby, Steve Hass, Bobby McFerrin, Maria Schneider, Steps Ahead, Sun Kil Moon, and Luciana Souza
August 11, 1959 ~ Singer, guitarist Gustavo Cerati, full name Gustavo Adrián Cerati, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Formed pioneering Latin rock band Soda Stereo with Charly Alberti and Zeta Bosio. Influenced by the Beatles, the Police, the Cure, Television, Elvis Costello, Squeeze, Pink Floyd and Queen, the band would become the best-selling rock band in Argentina with some 25 million records sold. Well known songs include Zoom, Cuando Pase El Temblor, En La Ciudad De La Furia, Persiana America, and De Musica Ligera ~ Cerati passed away in 2014
August 11, 1958 ~ John Joseph Wardle, commonly known as bassist Jah Wobble, born in Stepney, UK ~ Rose to fame as member of reggae and world music-infused punk, punk rock group Public Image Ltd, which he co-founded with Johnny Rotten. Wrote or co-wrote a vast amount of the band's early material, notably Public Image and Dreadlock Don't Deal In Wedlock. Left the band after their 1979 Metal Box sophomore album. Would go on to work with a wide array of artists including the Human Condition, U2's the Edge, Invaders Of The Heart, Brian Eno, Baaba Maal, Chaka Demus, Damage Manual, Massive Attack, Afro Celt Sound System, and Primal Scream
August 11, 1956 ~ Chicago blues, electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Billy Flynn born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA ~ Influenced by Luther Allison, John Littlejohn, and by Mighty Joe Young. Worked with Bryan Lee, Little Smokey Smothers, Mark Hummel, Willie Kent, Snooky Pryor, Big Bill Morganfield, John Brim, Jody Williams, Little Arthur Duncan, Deitra Farr, Billy Boy Arnold, Sunnyland Slim, Bob Stroger, and Barrelhouse Chuck
August 11, 1954 ~ David Ian Jackson, commonly known as singer, pianist, saxophonist, songwriter Joe Jackson, born in Burton-upon-Trent, UK ~ Well over a dozen albums to his name, starting with Look Sharp released in 1979. Over the course of his career Jackson has straddled new wave, pop rock, jazz-oriented pop, jump blues, and film music, while remaining critically acclaimed throughout. Well-known songs include Sunday Papers, Is She Really Going Out With Him, It's Different For Girls, Jumpin' Jive, Steppin' Out, Breaking Us In Two, and You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want. Jackson also produced The Keys Album, the sole album of power pop group the Keys released in 1981, guested on Joan Armatrading's 1985 Secret Secrets album, and collaborated with Suzanne Vega on the single Left Of Center as used in the Pretty In Pink soundtrackAugust 11, 1954 ~ Vibraphonist Steve Nelson born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Has recorded as a leader since the mid-1980s. Has worked with Dave Holland, Kenny Barron, Mulgrew Miller, David Fathead Newman, Johnny Griffin, Jackie McLean, the Arkadia Jazz All-Stars, Cyrus Chestnut, Billy Drummond, Ray Drummond, Houston Person, James Spaulding, and Chip White
August 11, 1949 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Eric Carmen, full name Eric Howard Carmen, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Rose to fame as frontman and primary songwriter of power pop unit the Raspberries, known best for Go All The Way, I Wanna Be With You, and Overnight Sensation (Hit Record). Following the band's disbandement in the mid 1970s, Carmen embarked on a solo career, scoring several soft rock hits through the late 1980s including Never Gonna Fall In Love Again, Change Of Heart, Hungry Eyes, and Make Me Lose Control. Carmen's best known, the 1975 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit All By Myself, would be covered by over 150 artists including Carmen McRae, Stanley Turrentine, Hank Williams Jr, Brotherhood Of Man, Shirley Bassey, Sheryl Crow, and Céline Dion. Carmen also wrote Hey Deanie, a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit for Shaun Cassidy, and co-wrote Almost Paradise, a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit for Ann Wilson & Mike Reno lifted off the Footloose soundtrack ~ Carmen passed away in 2024
August 11, 1946 ~ Country singer John Conlee, full name John Wayne Conlee, born in Versailles, Kentucky, USA ~ Worked as a mortician and radio DJ before pursuing a career as a singer. Has recorded about a dozen albums, starting with Rose Colored Glasses released in 1978. Would regularly reach the higher echelons of the Billboard Country charts, the singles Lady Lay Down, Backside Of Thirty, Common Man, I'm Only In It For The Love, In My Eyes, As Long As I'm Rockin' With You, and Got My Heart Set On You all reaching the No.1 spot
August 11, 1946 ~ Rock, blues keyboardist, organist Michael Fonfara born in Stevensville, Canada ~ Classically trained pianist, known for his association with the short-lived and underrated unit the Electric Flag, including on the acclaimed A Long Time Comin' album, Rhinoceros, with whom he recorded three albums, and as a sideman for Lou Reed for most of the 1970s including on the albums Coney Island Baby and The Bells, generally considered two of Reed's best. A versatile and in-demand sideman throughout his career, Fonfara has also appeared on albums by the likes of David Ackles, Alan Gerber, Foreigner (Records), Amos Garrett, Andrew Odom (Goin' To California), the Downchild Blues Band, Snooky Pryor, Willie Big Eyes Smith, and Fathead ~ Fonfara passed away in 2021
August 11, 1944 ~ Saxophonist, flutist Davey Payne, full name David Stanley Payne, born in Willesden, UK ~ Best known as a member of Ian Dury's backing unit Blockhead, noted for his saxophone solo on Hit Me With Your Rhythm Sticks. Has also worked with Wreckless Eric, Kilburn & the High Roads, and with singer Nico, appearing on the latter's 1981 Drama Of Exile album