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 13, 2024 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Greg Kihn, full name Gregory Stanley Kihn, passed away ~ Active since the early 1970s. Frontman and eponym of the Greg Kihn Band, known best for The Breakup Song (They Don't Write) and the 1981 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Jeopardy. Kihn's backing unit at one time included guitarist Joe Satriani. Kihn is also known as an author, having penned several horror fiction novels starting with Horror Show published in 1996 ~ Kihn was born in 1949
August 13, 2023 ~ Music manager, label executive Clarence Avant, full name Clarence Alexander Avant, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Dubbed “the Black Godfather” for his influence on music. Served as manager for artists such as Little Willie John, Sarah Vaughan, Luiz Bonfá, Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy Smith, and film composer Lalo Schifrin. Founded Sussex Records, for whom he signed artists such as Bill Withers, Dennis Coffey, and Gallery. Founded Avant Garde Broadcasting, known for operating the first African-American owned FM radio station KAGB-FM airing from Inglewood, California ~ Avant was born in 1931August 13, 2023 ~ Melvin Barcliff, commonly known as rapper Magoo, passed away ~ Best known for his association with Timbaland, scoring late 1990s, early 2000s hits under the moniker Timbaland & Magoo such as Up Jumps Da Boogie featuring Missy Elliott & Aaliyah, Clock Strikes featuring Skillz, and All Y'All featuring Tweet. Has also worked with Swing Mob, Jodeci, DeVante Swing, and Playa ~ Barcliff was born in 1973
August 13, 2021 ~ Folk, country folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Nanci Griffith, full name Nanci Caroline Griffith passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Actively recording since the late 1970s. Best known for a number of 1990s albums, notably 1993's Other Voices Other Rooms and 1994's Flyer. First to record From A Distance, later popularized by Bette Midler. Similarly, Griffith wrote or co-wrote and first recorded songs later hits for others such as Love At The Five And Dime which was covered by Kathy Mattea and Outbound Plane which would later be one of Suzy Bogguss' biggest hits ~ Griffith was born in 1953
August 13, 2020 ~ Jazz fusion, hard bop saxophonist Steve Grossman passed away in Glen Cove, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Miles Davis, Elvin Jones, Don Alias, Gene Perla, Marcio Montarroyos, Jan Hammer, Alessio Urso, Patrice Caratini, Mark Egan, Marcus Miller, Lenny White, Jiuni Boot, Joe Chambers, Hugh Lawson, Cedar Walton, Walter Booker, Masahiro Yoshida, Art Taylor, Tom Harrell, Cecil McBee, Harold Land, Johnny Griffin, Alvin Queen, the Stone Alliance, Elvin Jones, Art Taylor, McCoy Tyner, Willie Pickens, Harold Land, and Johnny Griffin ~ Grossman was born in 1951
August 13, 2016 ~ Jazz pianist Connie Crothers passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sidewoman. Studied under Lennie Tristano and founded the Lennie Jazz Foundation in his honour. Has worked with artists such as Max Roach, Richard Cabris, Cameron Brown, Roger Mancuso, Lenny Popkin, Bob Casanova, Jessica Jones, and Pauline Oliveros ~ Crothers was born in 1941August 13, 2013 ~ Beatrice Bertha Benjamin, commonly known as jazz, vocal jazz, soul jazz singer Sathima Bea Benjamin, passed away in Cape Town, South Africa ~ Active since the 1950s. Influenced by Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald. Closely associated with Duke Ellington. Worked with Arthur Klugman, Kippie Moeketski, Carlos Ward, Stephen Scott, Kenny Barron, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Ben Riley, and with her husband Dollar Brand ~ Benjamin was born in 1936
August 13, 2012 ~ Singer Taylor Swift releases We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, lifted off her Red album ~ The scornful yet fun song, written and produced by Taylor Swift with Shellback and Max Martin, was inspired by an incident in the studio when a friend of the singer's former lover walked in: “(My friend) starts talking about how he's heard (my ex and I) were getting back together and that was not the case. When he leaves, Max and Johan are like, ‘So what's the story behind that?’ And so I start telling them the story of break up, get back together, break up, get back together, just, ugh, the worst.” Swift has never revealed who the ex in question was, yet it is assumed the former lover she is singing about is actor Jake Gyllenhaal. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together reached top 10 in some dozen countries, including the No.1 spot in Canada, New Zealand, and America, and earned the singer a Grammy Award nomination for Record of the Year, an award that would go to Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye. The Red parent album included two more songs co-written and produced by Swedish hitmakers Max Martin and Shellback, 22 and I Knew You Were TroubleAugust 13, 2007 ~ Jerome Haynes, commonly known as guitarist Jah Jerry, passed away ~ Worked woth the Jocelyn Trott Orchestra, Val Bennett, Prince Buster, Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid, King Edwards, Lyndon Pottinger, the Skatalites, Rico Rodriguez, Tommy McCook, Supersonics, Fred Locks, Cornell Campbell, the Abyssinians, the Drumbago All-Stars, Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, Millie Small, Alton Ellis, Delroy Wilson, Toots & the Maytals, Derrick Morgan, and Stranger Cole ~ Haynes was born in 1921
August 13, 2005 ~ Singer Francine Peaches Hurd passed away in Washington DC, USA ~ Best known as the original “Peaches” in Peaches & Herb, present on late 1960s recordings such as Let's Fall In Love, Close Your Eyes, For Your Love and Love Is Strange. During this period Hurd also issued a number of solo recordings, using the moniker Francine Barker, including Angels In The Sky and Mister DJ ~ Hurd was born in 1947
August 13, 2003 ~ Singer, songwriter Ed Townsend passed away in San Bernardino, California, USA ~ Has made some records of his own, notably the 1958 hit For Your Love, but is primarily known as a songwriter and producer responsible for songs made famous by Jimmy Holiday (How Can I Forget), Theola Kilgore (The Love Of My Man), and most notably Marvin Gaye (Let's Get It On) ~ Townsend was born in 1929
August 13, 1996 ~ Experimental pianist, composer David Tudor, full name David Eugene Tudor, passed away in Tomkins, New York, USA ~ One of the leading performers of avant garde piano. Premiered Pierre Boulez's Piano Sonata No.2 in the US. Had Karlheinz Stockhausen dedicate his Klavierstuck VI to him. Closely associated with John Cage, premiering several of Cage's works including Music Of Changes, Concert For Piano And Orchestra, and 4'33. Tudor also gave early performances of works by Morton Feldman, Earle Brown, Christian Wolff, and La Monte Young ~ Tudor was born in 1926
August 13, 1993 ~ R&B, hip hop, soul group Xscape release Just Kickin' It, lead single off their Hummin' Comin' At 'Cha debut album ~ Peaking at No.2 Billboard Hot 100, the group's debut single would be the first of a about half a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits through the end of the decade. Written by Manuel Seal and Jermaine Dupri, the latter also serving as producer, from the viewpoint of what a man wanted in a woman. Some fans would criticise the song's lyrics, deeming them sexist. Group member LaTocha Scott, however, dismissed the criticism: “I've heard some females say that the song is unreal and that they can tell it was written by a man, but I don't think it makes it sexist. Shoot, everybody knows a man wants a woman who can cook.”
August 13, 1991 ~ Singer Mariah Carey releases Emotions, lead single of her sophomore album of the same name ~ The singer had released her eponymous Mariah Carey debut album the previous year, of which all four American singles, Vision Of Love, Love Takes Time, Someday, and I Don't Wanna Cry, had reached the top position on the Billboard Hot 100. When Emotions off her sophomore effort hit the No.1 position in October 1991, Mariah Carey became the first act to have her first five singles all reach the top spot. The record was previously held by the Jackson 5 who had a hit streak with their first four singles some two decades earlier. Carey would go on to reign the 1990s, and eventually became one of the all-time best selling artists with over 200 million records sold worldwideAugust 13, 1988 ~ Frederick Below Jr, commonly known as blues, rock & roll drummer Fred Below, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known for his work with Chess Records helping define Chicago blues. Closely associated with Little Walter. Backed Chuck Berry on pivotal recordings including School Days, Roll Over Beethoven, Rock & Roll Music and Johnny B Goode. Member of the Aces, which also included blues harpist Junior Wells and brothers Louis Myers and Dave Myers. Has also worked with Bo Diddley, Elmore James, Otis Rush, Howlin' Wolf, Roosevelt Sykes, and Sonny Boy Williamson II ~ Below was born in 1926
August 13, 1985 ~ Singer Whitney Houston releases Saving All My Love For You, lifted off her eponymous Whitney Houston album ~ Written by Gerry Goffin and Michael Masser, the song tells of a woman infatuated with a man who doesn't return her affections. Against her friends' advice, she holds out for him, saving all her love for him. The song was first recorded by Billy Davis Jr & Marilyn McCoo for their 1978 album Marilyn & Billy, but didn't make much impact. It was when Whitney Houston recorded it for her debut album, that the song became a hit. Arista Records executive Clive Davis had instructed Masser, who in addition to co-writing the song also produced Houston's rendition, not to make the record “too black”, so it would appeal to both black and white audiences. The single would be Houston's first Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit and the first in an impressive run of seven consecutive charttoppers, all lifted off her first two albums. Houston would go on to become one of the all-time best-selling artists, selling over 200 million records over the course of her career
August 13, 1984 ~ James Morrison Catchpole, commonly known as soul, pop rock, alternative rock singer, guitarist, songwriter James Morrison, born in Rugby, UK ~ Influenced by Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, Van Morrison, Al Green. Debuted in 2006 with the single You Give Me Something and the full-length album Undiscovered. In-demand songwriter and collaborator. Has worked with or written for Nelly Furtado, Demi Lovato, Olly Murs, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Marco Carta, Jason Mraz, Ryan Tedder, Dan Wilson, Martin Terefe, Martin Brammer, Chris Braide, and Steve Robson
August 13, 1982 ~ Joseph Arrington Jr, commonly known as singer Joe Tex, passed away in Navasota, Texas, USA ~ Popular Southern soul singer, drew from funk, country, gospel and R&B. Best known for songs such as Hold What You've Got, Skinny Legs And All, I Gotcha and Ain't Gonna Bump No More With No Big Fat Woman ~ Tex was born in 1933
August 13, 1981 ~ Punk rock, garage rock, rock & roll singer, guitarist, bassist, pianist, drummer Dan Sartain, full name Daniel Fredrick Sartain, born ~ Active since the early 2000s. Self-released a number of recordings prior to his Dan Sartain Vs The Serpientes major label debut album in 2005. Has opened for the White Stripes and the Hives ~ Sartain passed away in 2021
August 13, 1977 ~ In its 6th week on the charts, Rock And Roll Never Forgets by Bob Seger peaks at No.41 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Seger had been struggling for a long time, and though he did enjoy popularity in his native Michigan he would be into his thirties before becoming a household name. Issued as the third single off Night Moves, which gave him his first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit with the title track, Bob Seger considered Rock And Roll Never Forgets his “thank you” to all his fans who stuck by him. Many were his age, early thirties, by this time, and could relate to the sentiment
August 13, 1976 ~ Roderick Woomble, commonly known as singer, tambourinist, guitarist Roddy Woomble, born in Irvine, UK ~ Frontman of alternative rock outfit Idlewild, with whom he has recorded over half a dozen albums since the late 1990s. The band is especially acclaimed for its 2002 The Remote Part album, which spawned the UK top 10 hit You Held The World In Your Arms, and its follow-up Warnings Promises. Woomble, celebrated for his poetic lyrics and warm baritone voice, has explored his love for Scottish folk on a series of solo albums, starting with My Secret Is My Silence released in 2006 which featured several of his bandmates as well as his wife bassist Aildh Lennon of Sons And Daughters
August 13, 1976 ~ Pop rock group the Steve Miller Band release Fly Like An Eagle, lifted off the album of the same name ~ Cut down to three minutes on the single version, Fly Like An Eagle would peak at No.2 Billboard Hot 100, making it the band's third top 10 hit following charttoppers The Joker and Rock'n Me. The track received a warm welcome from critics, Billboard describing the song as “rivetingly attention grabbing”, while Cashbox noted the single edit “preserves the high points of the original while cutting the time just about in half.” Fly Like An Eagle originated from a live jam session, and would be regularly played in concert, often running over ten minutes, well before the song was recorded. Miller has been quoted as saying: “We have always built our recordings so they have room for spontaneity. My jazz and blues influence is what started us as a jam band originally. Fly Like An Eagle was developed over a period of time as a jam. To me it's much more interesting to see a musician be spontaneous than it is to see someone perform perfectly something they do note for note the same way every night”August 13, 1974 ~ Indie rock, rock drummer Mike Marsh born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Member of emo outfit Dashboard Confessional, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums including the acclaimed The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most before departing the band by the late 2000s. Marsh has subsequently served as session and touring drummer for the Avett Brothers, starting on the 2009 I And Love And You album
August 13, 1974 ~ Harold Floyd Brooks, commonly known as hard bop, blues, funk tenor saxophonist, composer Tina Brooks, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Brother of saxophonist Bubba Brooks. Known by his nickname “Tina”, a variation of his childhood moniker “Teeny”. Enjoyed a short-lived yet impressive career during the heyday of hard bop mostly from the late 1950s through the early 1960s, appearing on key albums by Jimmy Smith (Cool Blues), Kenny Burrell, Jackie McLean (Jackie's Bag), Freddie Hubbard, and Freddie Redd. Brooks recorded a handful of albums as a leader, perhaps most notably the criminally underrated True Blue released in 1960 ~ Brooks was born in 1932August 13, 1973 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Andy Griggs, full name Andrew Griggs, born in Monroe, Louisiana, USA ~ Released his You Won't Ever Be Lonely debut album in 1999, which included the Billboard Country top 10 hits You Won't Ever Be Lonely, I'll Go Crazy and She's More. Subsequent well known singles include Tonight I Wanna Be Your Man, She Thinks She Needs Me and If Heaven. Duetted with Martina McBride on the 2002 single Practice Life