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 19, 1969 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Clay Walker, full name Ernest Clayton Walker Jr, born in Beaumont, Texas, USA ~ Has charted over 30 singles on the Billboard Country charts since releasing his eponymous Clay Walker debut album in 1993, including the No.1 hits Live Until I Die, Dreaming With My Eyes Open, This Woman And This Man and Rumor Has It
August 19, 1969 ~ Nathaniele Dawayne Hale, commonly known as singer Nate Dogg born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA ~ Member of the hip-ho trio 213, alongside Snoop Dogg and Warren G. Best known for duetting with Warren on Regulate, a hit in 1994. Also worked with Dr Dre (The Chronic), 50 Cent, Eve, Thug Life, Kurupt, Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Shade Heist, Fabolous, Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine Dupri, WC, Mark Ronson, Memphis Bleek, Tupac Shakur, Eminem, and Don Diablo ~ Hale passd away in 2011
August 19, 1968 ~ Clarinetist, arranger Bill Stegmeyer passed away in Long Island, New York, USA ~ Worked with Austin Wylie, Glenn Miller, Bob Crosby, Billy Butterfield, Yank Lawson, the Lawson-Haggart Band, Bobby Hackett, Will Bradley, Billie Holiday, Bob Haggart, Jimmy McPartland, and Ruby Braff ~ Stegmeyer was born in 1916August 19, 1968 ~ Rock drummer, percussionist Jeff Burrows, full name Jeffrey John Burrows, born in Windsor, Canada ~ Influenced by jazz drummers such Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa and Max Roach, Gene Krupa, Max Roach, and rock drummers such as Rush's Neil Peart and the Police's Stewart Copeland. Member of Canadian rock outfit Tea Party, known for songs such as Temptation, Psychopomp, Heaven Coming Down and The Messenger. Also worked with Crash Karma
August 19, 1967 ~ Songwriter Jimmy Campbell, full name James Alexander Campbell-Tyrie, passed away in London, UK ~ Frequent songwriting, music publishing partner of Reg Connelly, the pair at times publishing or writing music under the common moniker Irving King. The pair wrote or co-wrote a number of oft-covered 1920, 1930s songs including Show Me The Way To Go Home (the New Princes Toronto Band, the California Ramblers, Julie London), If I Had You (the Piccadilly Players, Ben Selvin, Art Tatum), Goodnight Sweetheart (the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, Ruth Etting, Dean Martin, the Flamingos, Connie Francis), By The Fireside (Buddy Campbell, Vera Lynn, Jo Stafford), Try A Little Tenderness (Jack Payne, Frank Sinatra, Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding), and Just An Echo In The Valley (Bing Crosby, Ray Noble, Rudy Vallée) ~ Campbell was born in 1903
August 19, 1966 ~ Country, neo-traditionalist country, country-pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Lee Ann Womack born in Jacksonville, Texas, USA ~ Best known for her 2000 crossover hit I Hope You Dance. Debuted in 1997 with the eponymous Lee Ann Womack album which reached Platinum status and spawned the Billboard Country top 10 singles The Fool and You've Got To Talk To Me. Has recorded to critical acclaim and commercial succes since. Has collaborated with Willie Nelson, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Vince Gill, Asleep At The Wheel, Rhett Akins, George Strait, Dolly Parton, Gene Watson, Joe Nichols, Alan Jackson, Randy Houser, Martina McBride, Rodney Crowell, Don Henley, and John PrineAugust 19, 1964 ~ British pop group the Beatles privately meet singer Bob Dylan for the first time ~ While staying at the Hotel Delmonico, New York, during their American tour, the Beatles are introduced to Bob Dylan. Later Dylan would recall: “I just kept it to myself that I really dug them. Everybody elsde thought they were for the teenyboppers, that they were gonna pass right away. But it was obvious to me that they had staying power.”
August 19, 1963 ~ Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson, commonly known as glam metal, rock, pop rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, bassist, violinist Joey Tempest, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Fronted Europe, best known for hits such as Rock The Night, The Final Countdown, Cherokee and Superstitious. Released his solo debute album, A Place To Call Home, in 1995
August 19, 1962 ~ Gypsy jazz guitarist Angelo Debarre born in St Denis, France ~ Leader and sideman. Active since the mid-1980s. Has woriked with Florin Niculescu, Tim Kliphuis, Bratsch, Thomas Dutronc, the Hot Club de Norvege, Romane, and Jimmy Rosenberg
August 19, 1959 ~ William Samuel McTier, commonly known as blues slide guitarist Blind Willie McTell, passed away in Milledgeville, Georgia, USA ~ Recorded only very little yet had a profound influence on artists such as Taj Mahal, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Chris Smither, the White Stripes and the Allman Brothers Band, the latter notably covering McTell's Statesboro Blues ~ McTell was born in 1898
August 19, 1959 ~ Heavy metal singer Steve Grimmett born in Swindon, UK ~ Member of short-lived rock outfit Medusa before rising to fame as lead singer for Grim Reaper, joining the band in 1982. Present on the band's best known including the hits See You In Hell, Fear No Evil and Rock You To Hell, all of which gained notoriety in the 1990s after being used in the popular Beavis & Butthead animated series. Grimmett has also appeared on recordings by Chateaux, Onslaught, Lionsheart, and Cradle Of Filth ~ Grimmett passed away in 2022
August 19, 1955 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, R&B, funk, rock guitarist Dean Brown born in Châteauroux, France ~ One of the most respected jazz guitarists of his generation, praised for his virtuosity and innovative approach. Has recorded five albums as a leader, starting with Here in 2000, often featuring all-star casts of regular collaborators. As a sideman, Brown has appeared on albums by Vital Information, Billy Cobham, Kirk Whalum (And You Know That), Bob James (Grand Piano Album), Steps Ahead, the Brecker Brothers, Marcus Miller (Tales), Till Brönner, Roberta Flack, Ricky Peterson (Souvenir), David Sanborn, Nelson Rangell (Always), Jason Miles, and Joe Zawinul ~ Dean passed away in 2024
August 19, 1954 ~ Jazz trumpeter, arranger, composer Tim Hagans born in Dayton, Ohio, USA ~ Influenced by Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and by Thad Jones. Worked with Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Dexter Gordon, Kenny Drew, Horace Parlan, Maria Schneider, the Yellowjackets, Steps Ahead, the Secret Society, Gary Peacock, Bob Belden, Randy Brecker, Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman, Peter Erskine, Rufus Reid, Marc Copland, Ernie Wilkins, Bob Mintzer, Maria Schneider, Steve Slagle, Vic Juris, Mark Masters, Andy Laverne, Ron McClure, Jon Gordon, John Fedchock, Orange Then Blue, Judi Silvano, Roseanna Vitro, Steve Rochinski, Kenny Burrell, Gordon Brisker, Charles Pillow, Don Braden, Jarmo Savolainen, Joey Calderazzo, Hal Galper, Jim Nolet, Rodney Jones, Don Sebesky, Nils Landgren, Scott Kinsey, Charles Blenzig, Grachan Moncur III, and Magos HerreraAugust 19, 1953 ~ Delta blues pianist Willie Love passed away in Jackson, Mississippi, USA ~ Influenced by pianist Leroy Carr. Best known for his 1951 recording Everybody's Gone Fishing. Worked with Sonny Boy Williamson II, Charley Booker, Oliver Sain, Elmore James, Joe Willie Wilkins, Little Milton, TJ Green, Junior Blackman, and Eddie Shaw ~ Love was born in 1906
August 19, 1952 ~ Pianist, organist, bassist Bruce Katz born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Has been releasing solo records since the early 1990s. Also worked with Big Mama Thornton, Barrence Whitfield, Ronnie Earl, Delbert McClinton, Duke Robillard, Joe Louis Walker, Debbie Davies, David Fathead Newman, John Hammond Jr, Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks, Randy Ciarlante, Jimmy Bennett, Marty Ballou, and Peter Bennett
August 19, 1952 ~ Country singer, songwriter Don Schlitz, full name Donald Alan Schlitz Jr, born in Durham, North Carolina, USA ~ Best known for penning The Gambler. Schlitz shopped the song around Nashville for two years, but few took notice. Bobby Bare would be the first to record it, followed by Charlie Tango, Hugh Moffatt, Johnny Cash, and Schlitz himself. However, when Kenny Rogers picked up the song, it rose to the top of the Billboard Country charts, crossed over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 where it reached No.16, at the time a rare occurence for a country song, and earned Rogers a Grammy Award. For Rogers, it became a signature song, one of his best known, while for Schlitz The Gambler proved to be his breakout hit. Schlitz has since gone on to write or co-write numerous country hits, some two dozen of which reached the top of the Billboard Country charts. Included among his best known are several hits for Randy Travis including On The Other Hand, Forever And Ever Amen and Point Of Light, the latter of which written on commission by then-President George HW Bush as the theme song for his Points of Light program, Reba McEntire's One Promise Too Late, and Keith Whitley's signature song When You Say Nothing At All, the latter later also a hit for Alison Krauss, Frank Black, and the first solo hit for Boyzone singer Ronan Keating used for the soundtrack of the romantic comedy Notting Hill. Others who have recorded songs written or co-written by Schlitz include the Kendalls, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Alabama (40 Hour Week (Workin' For A Livin')), Holly Dunn, Lynn Anderson, the Judds (Rockin' With The Rhythm Of The Rain), the Sweethearts Of The Rodeo, Janie Fricke, Ronnie Milsap, Ricky Van Shelton, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks (Learning To Live Again), Mary Chapin Carpenter (He Thinks He'll Keep Her), the Forester Sisters, George Strait, Lee Ann Womack (Why They Call It Falling), and Sara Evans. Schlitz, acknowledged as one of country music's finest story-tellers of his generation, is inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame ~ Schlitz passed away in 2026August 19, 1948 ~ Jazz guitarist Ron Escheté, full name Ronald Patrick Escheté, born in Houma, Louisiana, USA ~ Influenced by Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, Howard Roberts. Leader and sideman. Worked with Ray Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson, Diana Krall, Dave Pike, Ernestine Anderson, Joey DeFrancesco, the Four Freshmen, Warne Marsh, Jack McDuff, Don Rader, Charlie Shoemake, Andy Simpkins, and Keely Smith
August 19, 1948 ~ Susan Pesklevits, commonly known as pop, easy listening, country pop singer, songwriter Susan Jacks, born in Saskatoon, Canada ~ Rose to fame with the Poppy Family, a pop trio which also included Terry Jacks with whom she would be married from 1967 through 1973. The band is best known for their 1969 single Which Way You Going Billy, a top 10 hit across the globe including America and the UK. Following the band's disbandement in 1972, both Pesklevits and Jacks would record as solo artists, the pair on occasion guesting on eachother's solo outings. As a solo artist Pesklevits is best known for the singles You Don't Know What Love Is and I Thought Of You Again, both reaching the top 10 in her native Canada ~ Pesklevits passed away in 2022August 19, 1947 ~ Progressive rock keyboardist Alan Gowen born in North Hampstead, UK ~ Important figure in Canterbury scene. Best known for founding Gilgamesh in 1973 and founding National Health in 1975, departing the latter in 1977 but briefly returning for their 1978 eponymous National Health debut album. Has also worked with Assagai, Sunship, and Soft Heap. Gowen passed away of leukaemia at age 33 ~ Gowen passed away in 1981
August 19, 1947 ~ Symphony conductor, trumpeter Gerard Schwarz born in Weehawken, New Jersey, USA ~ Closely associated with the Seattle Symphony with whom he made over 100 recordings including works composed by Walter Piston, Howard Hanson and Alan Hovhaness
August 19, 1945 ~ Pop rock, psychedelic rock, jazz rock guitarist Brian Godding born in Monmouth, UK ~ Member of 1960s rock outfits the Blossom Toes and BB Blunder before John McLaughlin's Extrapolation album turned him to jazz. Member of Keith Tippett's 1970s band Centipede. Member of jazz fusion group Mirage. Frequent collaborator of Mike Westbrook. Frequent songwriting partner of Kevin Coyne. Has also worked with Julie Driscoll, Solid Gold Cadillac, Annette Peacock, and Lol Coxhill. Godding released his sole solo album, Slaughter On Shaftesbury Avenue, in 2004 ~ Godding passed away in 2023
August 19, 1945 ~ Singer Ian Gillan born in Chiswick, UK ~ Known for his powerful and wide-ranging vocals. Lead singer for Deep Purple, remaining with the band from 1969 through 1973, from 1984 through 1989, and rejoining in 1992. Has recorded over a dozen albums with the band including a string of acclaimed early to mid 1970s albums such as Deep Purple In Rock, Fireball, Machine Head, and Made In Japan. Has recorded over a dozen albums as a solo artist or with backing units the Ian Gillan Band and Gillan. Briefly a member of Black Sabbath, present on the 1983 Born Again album. Sang the role of Jesus on the original 1970 album recording of Jesus Christ Superstar, recording his entire vocal contributions in a mere three hours
August 19, 1945 ~ Roberto Sánchez-Ocampo, commonly known as singer Sandro de América, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Considered a pioneer of Argentine rock for being one of the first rock artists to sing in Spanish. Has recorded well over 40 albums since the mid 1940s. Well-known songs include Dame Fuego, Penumbras, Mi Amigo El Puma, Tengo, Una Muchacha Y Una Guitarra, and perhaps his biggest hit Rosa Rosa, the latter selling two million copies. At the height of his popularity, Sánchez-Ocampo would be critically compared to Elvis Presley in his native Argentina ~ Sánchez-Ocampo passed away in 2010
August 19, 1944 ~ Edward Garvin Futch, commonly known as country singer, songwriter Eddy Raven born in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA ~ Enjoyed his biggest popularity from the mid to late 1980s. Draws from country, country pop, Cajun, reggae. Has written for Don Gibson, Randy Cornor, Jeannie C Riley, Connie Smith, the Oak Ridge Boys. As a singer best known for I Got Mexico, Shine Shine Shine, I'm Gonna Get You, Joe Knows How To Live, In A Letter To You and Bayou Boys, all of which topped the Billboard Country charts
August 19, 1944 ~ Jazz guitarist Peter Leitch, full name Peter John Leitch, born in Montreal, Canada ~ Influenced by Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, and Kenny Burrell. Honed his skills in the 1970s, backing artists such Oscar Peterson, Jimmy Forrest and Sadik Hakim on the Toronto jazz scene, before relocating to New York by the early 1980s. Recorded well over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, and especially acclaimed for the mid to late 1980s albums On A Misty Night, Exhilaration and Red Zone. Leitch has guested on albums by the New York Jazz Guitar Ensemble, Woody Shaw, Jed Levy, Jeri Brown, Dominique Eade, and Pete Yellin, and served as producer for the likes of Benny Green, Mike LeDonne, Steve Nelson, and Billy Drummond. Citing medical issues, Leitch retired from performing in the mid-2010s, yet continued to arrange and compose and released his final album, New Life, in 2020 ~ Leitch passed away in 2024