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 17, 1969 ~ Singer Donnie Wahlberg, full name Donald Edmond Wahlberg Jr, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Co-founding member of boy band New Kids On The Block, known for a string of 1980s, early 1990s hits including the Billboard Hot 100 charttoppers I'll Be Loving You (Forever), Hangin' Tough, and Step By Step
August 17, 1969 ~ Kelvin Mercer, commonly known as singer, rapper Posdnuos, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Considered one of the most underrated MCs of all time. Member of De La Soul, widely acclaimed for their 1989 3 Feet High & Rising album. Has guested on recordings by Common, the Propellerheads, Mint Royale, Gorillaz, Masta Ace, Statik Selektah, Black Eyed Peas, and Phife DawgAugust 17, 1969 ~ Saxophonist Robert Stewart born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Worked with Roy Hargrove, Max Roach, McCoy Tyner, Bobby Hutcherson, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Marsalis (Blood On The Fields), Milt Jackson, Billy Higgins, Jimmy Smith, Black Note, Delfeayao Marsalis, Winard Harper, Jeff Tain-Watts, Reginald Veal, Pharoah Sanders, Jon Faddis, Buddy Conner, and Paul Tillman Smith
August 17, 1968 ~ R&B, soul, hip hop singer Dave Hollister, full name David Le Chaine Hollister, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Member of Blackstreet, joining the band as replacement for original member Joseph Stonestreet prior to the release of their 1994 eponymous Blackstreet album. The band would reach Billboard Hot 100 top 10 with the singles Before I Let You Go and No Diggity featuring Dr Dre & Queen Pen. Hollister also guested on the Tupac Shakur singles Brenda's Got A Baby and Keep Ya Head Up. As a solo artist best known for his 2000 Chicago '85 (The Movie) album
August 17, 1968 ~ Blue-eyed soul group the Rascals, formerly known as the Young Rascals, release People Got To Be Free, lifted off their Freedom Suite album ~ The band's third and final No.1 hit, having previously reached the top spot with Good Lovin' and Groovin', People Got To Be Free would become their biggest hit, spending five weeks atop the charts and selling over 4 million copies. An upbeat plea for tolerance and freedom, written by Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati, the song was perceived by some as related to the assasinations of Martin Luther King Jr and Robert F Kennedy earlier the same year, yet it was recorded before the latter's death. Actually, the song was partly a reaction to an encounter wherein the then-long-haired group was threatened by a group of rednecks, after their tour vehicle broke down in Florida. The song would be notably covered by Dionne Warwick for her Soulful album released in 1969August 17, 1967 ~ Kevin Max Smith, commonly known as Christian pop, alternative rock singer Kevin Max, born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA ~ Best known as a member of DC Talk. Following the band's indefinite hiatus has released about a dozen albums as a solo artist. Fronted Audio Adrenaline from 2012 through 2014
August 17, 1966 ~ Singer, bassist, songwriter Jill Cunniff born in New York, New York, USA ~ Formed Luscious Jackson with singer, guitarist Gabby Glaser in 1991, Cunniff serving as the band's main songwriter, bassist, lead singer. Member of the Kostars, known for the 1996 Klassics With A K album. Formed Cooler Kids in 2002. Released her City Beach solo debut album in 2007
August 17, 1964 ~ Colin James Munn, commonly known as rock, blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Colin James, born in Regina, Canada ~ Got his big break opening for Stevie Ray Vaughan in 1984, given only a few hours notice as the scheduled act did not show. Following the performance Vaughan invited him to stay on for the remainder of the tour. James would release his eponymous Colin James debut album in 1988, produced by Vaughan, and has recorded well over a dozen albums since. Best known for songs such as Voodoo Thing, Just Came Back, Cadillac Baby, Surely (I Love You), Freedom, and Saviour, all of which reached top 20 in the singer's native Canada
August 17, 1964 ~ Singer Maria McKee, full name Maria Luisa McKee, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Half-sister of Love's Bryan MacLean. Co-founded cowpunk outfit Lone Justice, with whom she recorded two albums. Wrote A Good Heart, a UK No.1 hit for Feargal Sharkey. Sang backup for Robbie Robertson on his eponymous 1987 Robbie Robertson album. As a solo artist recorded about half a dozen albums, starting with Maria McKee released in 1989. Best known for her 1990 hit Show Me Heaven and If Love Is A Red Dress (Hang Me In Rags), used respectively for the films Days Of Thunder and Pulp Fiction
August 17, 1962 ~ Hard rock, heavy metal guitarist, singer Gilby Clarke, full name Gilbert J Clarke, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ First gained attention in the 1980s as lead guitarist for Candy. Probably best known for his 3-year stint with Guns 'n Roses, joining the band in 1991 as replacement for Izzy Stradlin and present on The Spaghetti Incident album. Would go on to record as a solo artist, as well as collaborate with Slash's Snakepit, Kat Men, Heart, Nancy Sinatra, Kathy Valentine, and MC5, and form supergroup Rock Star SupernovaAugust 17, 1961 ~ Saxophonist Everette Harp born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Best known as a member of Jazz-Funk-Soul, a trio which also included guitarist Chuck Loeb and keyboardist Jeff Lorber and known for their eponymous [title-jazz-funk-soul jazz-funk-soul-album] album released in 2014. Has also guested on recordings by Marcus Miller, Kenny Loggins, Billy Joel, Regina Belle, and Yolanda Adams
August 17, 1960 ~ Pianist, keyboardist Lisa Coleman born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Backed Prince from 1979 through 1986, including on albums such as Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain, and Around The World In A Day. Formed the duo Wendy & Lisa with Wendy Melvoin, known for the hit single Waterfalls of their 1987 eponymous Wendy & Lisa album. Has also worked with Doyle Bramhall II, kd Lang, Neil Finn (Try Whistling This), Los Lobos, and Gwen Stefani
August 17, 1960 ~ Jazz singer, guitarist, composer, arranger Maria Pia de Vito born in Naples, Italy ~ Worked with the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, Michael Brecker, Uri Caine, Peter Erskine, Paolo Fresu, Billy Hart, Maria João, Dave Liebman, Gianluigi Trovesi, Steve Turre, Miroslav Vitous, Joe Zawinul, Colin Towns, John Taylor, Rito Marcotulli, Arto Tuncboyaciyan, Danilo Rea, Enzo Pietropaoli, Paolo Damiani, Pietro Tonolo, Giorgio Gaslini, Diederik Wissels, and David Linx
August 17, 1960 ~ Singer Stephan Eicher born in Munchenbuchsee, Switzerland ~ Influenced by Jacques Dutronc, Georges Brassens, Serge Gainsbourg, Patti Smith, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan. Member of Grauzone. Also worked with Philippe Dijan, Manu Katché, and Pino Palladino
August 17, 1959 ~ Fiddler Sue Draheim born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Worked with the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, the Bay Area Women's Philharmonic, Frank Zappa, Gael Alcock, Jim Bamford, Mac Benford, Will Spires, Sam Chatmon, the California Sheiks, John Renbourn, Keshav Sathe, Jacqui McShee, Wizz Jones, Marc Ellington, John Martyn, Albion Country Band, Steve Ashley, John Cohen, David Grisman, Jody Stecher, Craicmore, Stuat Rojstaczer, the Golden Bough, Gwydion Pendderwen, Richard Thompson, and Kathy Kallick ~ Draheim passed away in 2013
August 17, 1958 ~ Singer, drummer Belinda Carlisle, full name Belinda Jo Carlisle, born in Hollywood, California, USA ~ Member of punk rock outfit the Germs, going by the moniker Dottie Danger. Rose to fame as co-founding member of all-female rock, new wave outfit the Go-Go's, best known for their 1981 Beauty & The Beat album which is considered a landmark album in American new wave. After the band folded in 1985 Carlisle ventured out on her own scoring radio-friendly hits such as Mad About You, Heaven Is A Place On Earth, I Get Weak and Circle In The SandAugust 17, 1957 ~ Rock singer Alen Islamovic born in Bihal, Yugoslavia ~ Fronted Divlje Jagode from 1979 through 1986. Fronted Bijelo Dugme from 1986 through 1989. Has also recorded as a solo artist worked with Sanja Dolezal, Lepa Brena, Indira Radic, and Srcani Udar
August 17, 1957 ~ Oud player, composer Rabih Abou Khalil born in Beirut, Lebanon ~ Mixes traditional Arab music with jazz, rock and classical. Earned praise as a “world musician before the term became a label.” has worled with Alexander Balanescu, Luciano Biondini, Milton Cardona, Sonny Fortune, Michel Godard, Joachim Kühn, Howard Levy, Charlie Mariano, Gabriele Mirabassi, Glen Moore, Mark Nauseef, Setrak Sarkissian, Ramesh Shotham, Steve Swallow, Glen Velez, and Kenny Wheeler
August 17, 1956 ~ Producer, engineer Chris Tsangarides, full name Christopher Andrew Tsangarides, born ~ Made a name for himself in 1980s and 1990s metal and hard rock, producing albums such as Anvil's Metal On Metal, Thin Lizzy's Thunder And Lightning, and Judas Priest's Painkiller. Has also produced for artists, including outside metal, such as Money, Gary Moore, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Japan, Y&T, Lords Of The New Church, Spider, Killing Joke, Black Sabbath, Bruce Dickinson (Tattooed Millionaire), Concrete Blonde (Bloodletting), Helloween, and Yngwie Malmsteen ~ Tsangarides passed away in 2018August 17, 1955 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter Colin Moulding, full name Colin Ivor Moulding, born in Swindon, UK ~ One of the core members of rock outfit XTC, for whom he wrote some of the band's earliest hits including Life Begins At The Hop, Making Plans For Nigel, and Generals And Majors
August 17, 1955 ~ Jazz singer, composer, arranger Grazyna Augscik born in Stupsk, Poland ~ Over a dozen solo albums to her name, starting in the late 1980s. Draws from Polish folk, Latin American music and klezmer. Has collaborated with Michal Urbaniak, Jim Hall, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Jay Azzolina, John Medeski, Patricia Barber, Paul Wertico, Bobby Enriquez, Terry Callier, John McLean, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Robert Irving III
August 17, 1955 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Kevin Welch, full name Kevin Stephen Welch, born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Has written or co-written songs recorded by the likes of Reba McEntire, Bobby Bare, Mac Davis, the Judds (I Wish She Wouldn't Treat You That Way), Moe Bandy, Don Williams, Gail Davies, Jimmie Dale Gilmore (Headed For A Fall), Joy Lynn White, Kelly Willis (That'll Be Me), and Gary Morris. Co-founded the indie label Dead Reckoning Records. As a solo artist known for songs such as Stay November, Till I See You Again, and Praying For Rain. Closely associated with Fats Kaplin and Kieran Kane, the trio recording three albums starting with You Can't Save Everybody released in 2004
August 17, 1954 ~ Vaudeville, traditional pop singer Billy Murray, full name William Thomas Murray, passed away in Jones Beach, New York, USA ~ One of the most popular singers of the early 20th century. Dubbed “the Denver Nightingale” with a strong tenor voice and sometimes comical delivery. Known for songs such as You're A Grand Old Rag, Shine On Harvest Moon with Ada Jones, Stumbling and Tessie. Has also collaborated with Aileen Stanley, the Haydn Quartet, the American Quartet, and Elsie Baker ~ Murray was born in 1877
August 17, 1954 ~ Guitarist, pianist, singer, songwriter Eric Johnson born in Austin, Texas, USA ~ Renowned guitarist drawing from a wide array of idioms including rock, blues, jazz, folk, classical, new age, and country. Influenced by Mike Bloomfield, Chet Atkins, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Wes Montgomery, Jerry Reed, and Django Reinhardt. As a solo artist about a dozen albums to his name, starting with Tones released in 1986. Especially acclaimed for his 1990 Ah Via Musicom and its Grammy Award-winning single Cliffs Of Dover
August 17, 1953 ~ Singer, songwriter Kevin Rowland born in Wolverhampton, UK ~ Member of Lucy & the Lovers. Member of the Killjoys, known for their 1977 Johnny Won't Get To Heaven single. Rose to fame as lead singer, front man for Dexys Midnight Runners, scoring a string of 1980s hits including the UK top 10 hits Geno, There There My Dear, Come On Eileen, and Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)