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 2, 1964 ~ Country, country-pop singer Jim Reeves' body recovered from his plane wreck ~ The bodies of Jim Reeves and his manager Dean Manuel are recovered from his Beechcraft Debonair crashed near Brentwood, TN, in a thunderstorm two days earlier. Reeves had piloted the small aircraft while en route to Nashville on real estate business. Close friends Ernest Tubb and Marty Robbins had joined the intense search party. Thousands would pay their respects at Jim's funeral days two days laterAugust 2, 1963 ~ Blues, jazz, ragtime, boogie-woogie pianist William Ezell passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Known best for Pitchin' Boogie, Heifer Dust and Barrel House Woman, all seen as classic early boogie-woogie recordings. Has worked with Elzadie Robinson, Charlie Spand, Lucille Bogan, Ora Brown, Bertha Robinson, Blind Roosevelt Graves, and Slim Tarpley ~ Ezell was born in 1892
August 2, 1961 ~ Jazz saxophonist, composer David Binney born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Leader and sideman, recording actively since the early 1990s. Known as a member of ensembles such as Lost Tribe, Jagged Sky, Lan Xang. Has also worked with Uri Caine, John Escreet, Alex Sipiagin, Ben Perowsky, Donny McCaslin, Bobby Previte, Cecil McBee, Kenny Wollesen, Lonnie Plaxico, Nate Wood, Miles Okazaki, Nguyên Lê, Dr Anthony Branker, Medeski Martin & Wood, Tim Lefebvre, Wayne Krantz, Afinidad, and Simone Graziano Frontal
August 2, 1961 ~ Post-punk, alternative rock drummer, songwriter Pete de Freitas, full name Peter Louis Vincent de Freitas, born in Port Of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago ~ Best known as drummer of Echo & the Bunnymen, present on the band's first five albums and some of the band's best known singles including the UK top 20 hits The Cutter, Never Stop, The Killing Moon and Seven Seas. De Freitas would rejoin in later years, yet only as a part-time member. Has also worked with the Wild Swans and the Sex Gods. De Freitas passed away in a motorcycle accident at age 27 ~ De Freitas passed away in 1989August 2, 1960 ~ Alternative rock, post-hardcore singer, actor David Yow, full name David Lambeth Yow, born in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Best known as lead singer for noise rock bands Scratch Acid and subsequently the Jesus Lizard. Yow released his Tonight You Look Like A Spider solo album in 2013. Yow has also guested on recordings by Pigface, the Melvins, Geronimo, Qui, IDLES, and Skating Polly
August 2, 1959 ~ Singer, actress, model, talent manager Apollonia Kotero, full name Patricia Appollonia Kotero, born in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Best known for her association with Prince, notably present on the single Take Me With U. Dated David Lee Roth during the filming of Purple Rain. Replaced lead singer Vanity in the trio Vanity 6 which was renamed to Apollonia 6 for the film, known for their 1984 single Sex Shooter. Released her sole eponymous Apollonia album in 1988, spawning the minor hits Since I Fell For You, Mismatch, and The Same Dream
August 2, 1959 ~ Jonathan Kemp, commonly known as R&B, new jack swing singer Johnny Kemp, born in Nassau, the Bahamas ~ As a singer best known for his 1988 smash hit Just Got Paid. Also worked as a session musician and songwriter, notably for BB&Q Band writing several tracks of their All Night Long album, and for Change co-writing Take You To Heaven from their Sharing Your Love album ~ Kemp passed away in 2015
August 2, 1957 ~ Neill Kirby McMillan Jr, commonly known as rockabilly, cowpunk, psychobilly singer Mojo Nixon, born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA ~ Teamed up with Skid Roper in the 1980s, the duo releasing about half a dozen albums through the end of the decade. They are perhaps best known for Elvis Is Everywhere off their 1987 Bo-Day-Shus album, the single becoming an alternative staple on MTV. Nixon released his Otis solo debut album in 1990 and recorded throughout the mid 2000s before retiring from music. McMillan has also collaborated with Jello Biafra, Dave Alvin, and Country Dick Montana, and acted in about half a dozen films including portraying the role of drummer Jimmy Van Eaton in the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic Great Balls Of Fire ~ McMillan passed away in 2024August 2, 1956 ~ R&B singer, guitarist, trumpeter, songwriter Gregg Martinez, full name Gregory John Martinez, born in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA ~ Influenced by Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Johnny Adams. Well over half a dozen albums as a solo artist. Initially primarily a Christian artist, yet would turn to secular music by the mid 1990s. Also well known for his association with the Boogie Kings
August 2, 1956 ~ Singer Isabel Pantoja, full name Maria Isabel Pantoja Martin, born in Seville, Spain ~ Actively performing since childhood. Recording since her teens, initially focusing on copla venturing into pop by the 1980s. Well known songs include El Pajaro Verde, Garlochi, El Senorito, En La Niebla, and Nada
August 2, 1955 ~ Drummer, percussionist Jimmy Lowe born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Original member of country-rock outfit the Pirates Of The Mississippi, with whom he recorded five albums until the band's initial disbandement in 1996. Comprised of Nashville session musicians, the band are best known for their eponymous Pirates Of The Mississippi debut album, which spawned the Billboard Country top 30 hits Honky Tonk Blues, Feed Jake, and Speak Of The Devil, all of which also did well in Canada. The single Til I'm Holding You Again off their Walk The Plank sophomore album also did well. Despite failing to score further significant hits, the band remained a concert draw and recorded three more albums before disbandingAugust 2, 1953 ~ Singer, guitarist Donnie Munro born in Uig, UK ~ Best known as lead singer of Runrig. Much of his work is in Scottish Gaelic. Left Runrig in 1997 to pursue a career in politics, running for elections twice but wasn't elected. Munro has been releasing solo albums since the late 1990, starting with On The West Side
August 2, 1951 ~ Pop, pop rock, soft rock singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter Andrew Gold, full name Andrew Maurice Gold, born in Burbank, California, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for a number of 1970s hits, notably Lonely Boy, Thank You For Being A Friend and Never Let Her Slip Away. Formed the duo Wax with Graham Gouldman. Has also worked with Bryndle, Linda Ronstadt, Cher, and Vince Gill ~ Gold passed away in 2011
August 2, 1951 ~ Hard rock, pop rock, heavy metal, glam metal singer Joe Lynn Turner born in Hackensack, New Jersey, USA ~ Influenced by Frank Sinatra, Enrico Caruso, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and Free. Member of Fandango, with whom he recorded four albums during the 1970s. After the band's disbandement, Turner joined Rainbow appearing on some of the band's best known including the hits I Surrender, Can't Happen Here, and Stone Cold. When the band folded in 1984, Turner issued his first solo album, Rescue You, before enjoying a brief spell with Deep Purple to resume his solo career thereafter. From the mid-1980s onward Turner has also been a regular backing singer, appearing on recordings by Michael Bolton, Cher, Bonfire, Bonnie Tyler, Paul Carrack, Billy Joel, Lita Ford, and Bloodline
August 2, 1950 ~ David Alan Turner, commonly known as rock guitarist Ted Turner, born in Sheldon, UK ~ Prior to rising to fame with Wishbone Ash, Turner had been a member of King Biscuit and auditioned to join Colosseum but did not make the cut. Wishbone Ash was formed when bassist, lead singer Martin Turner, no relation, and drummer Steve Upton set out to find a guitarist and a keyboardist for what was to become their new band. At the end of the auditions, Martin Turner and Upton could not decide between guitarists Ted Turner and Andy Powell, so they decided to hire both. The band would establish themselves as one of the definitive rock bands to come out of the UK in the 1970s, bridging hard rock and progressive rock, their twin lead guitar setup an important factor in the band's pioneering sound. Early on in the band's career, Melody Maker described Powell and Turner as “the most interesting two-guitar team since the days when Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page graced the Yardbirds.” Turner would record four albums with Wishbone Ash before departing the band at the height of its fame. Wishbone Ash would continue on, with the classic line-up reuniting in the mid 1980s to record several more albums. Outside Wishbone Ash, Turner has spent most of his time with local bands, either in the UK or America. However, he did appear on John Lennon's Imagine album, has sessioned for Stewart Copeland, Gene October, and Brian James, toured with Badfinger, released his Eclektic solo album in 2010, and recorded two albums with his wife Majella Turner, starting with Better Together in 2017. Both Turner and fellow Wishbone Ash guitarist Andy Powell have repeatedly been included in all-time best guitarists lists, often as a pair. Wishbone Ash, undoubtedly in part due to the two-guitar team, has been cited as an influence by artists as diverse as the Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Thin Lizzy, Metallica, and Dream TheaterAugust 2, 1948 ~ Pop, pop rock singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Andy Fairweather Low born in Cardiff, UK ~ Co-founding member of 1960s pop outfit Amen Corner, known for hits such as Bend Me Shape Me, (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice and Hello Susie. Would go on to work with Roy Wood, Leo Sayer, Fair Weather, Gerry Rafferty, Helen Watson, the Who, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, the Gaddabouts, Willie & the Poor Boys, and the Lemonheads
August 2, 1947 ~ Bassist, songwriter Aldo Stellita, full name Aldo Salvatore Stelita, born in Campobella di Mazara, Italy ~ Co-founded Matia Bazar, which also included Piero Cassano, Antonella Ruggiero, Giancarlo Golzi and Carlo Marrale, known for songs such as Ma Perché, Solo Tu, Stasera Che Sera, Mister Mandarino, and perhaps their best known Tio Sento ~ Stellita passed away in 1998August 2, 1947 ~ Maria de los Angeles Felisa Santamaria Espinosa, commonly known as pop singer, actress Massiel, born in Madrid, Spain ~ Internationally best known for winning the 1968 Eurovision Songfestival for Spain with La La La written by Manuel de la Calva and Ramón Arcusa. The British entry, Cliff Richard's Congratulations, would reach second place
August 2, 1946 ~ R&B, pop singer Mary Thomas born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Member of girl group the Crystals, present on the band's 1962 Twist Uptown debut album which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hits There's No Other Like My Baby and Uptown. Thomas was not present on subsequent recordings
August 2, 1946 ~ Bassist, pianist, producer, engineer Ralph Burns Kellogg born ~ Also known under the alias Ethan James. Member of Blue Cheer. Member of Mint Tattoo. Engineered or produced albums by Black Flag, the Bangles, the Rain Parade, Dos, and notably engineered the Minutemen's acclaimed Double Nickels On The Dime album ~ Kellog passed away in 2003
August 2, 1944 ~ Jazz double bassist Albert Stinson, full name Albert Forrest Stinson Jr, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Worked with Terry Gibbs, Frank Rosolino, Chico Hamilton, Charles Lloyd, Larry Coryell, John Handy (New View), Miles Davis, Bobby Hutcherson (Oblique), Gerald Wilson, Clare Fischer (Surging Ahead), and Joe Pass ~ Stinson passed away in 1969
August 2, 1944 ~ Nicola James Capaldi, commonly known as rock, progressive rock, soft rock singer, percussionist, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Jim Capaldi, born in Evesham, UK ~ Best known for co-founding Traffic, co-writing the majority of the band material with bandmate Steve Winwood. Co-wrote Love Will Keep Us Alive, recorded by the Eagles on their 1994 Hell Freezes Over album. As a solo artist best known for songs such as It's All Up To You and Love Hurts, the latter a UK top 10 hit in 1974. An in-demand collaborator, Capaldi has also worked with Deep Feeling, the Hellions, Eric Clapton, Hawkwind's Robert Calvert, Carlos Santana, George Harrison, and Paul Weller ~ Capaldi passed away in 2005August 2, 1944 ~ Pianist, organist Mark Naftalin born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ First gained attention as a member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, appearing on the band's first four albums including the acclaimed eponymous The Paul Butterfield Blues Band debut album and its equally praised follow-up East-West. Following his tenure with Paul Butterfield, Naftalin would go on to become an in-demand sideman and collaborator, known for his elegant, understated keyboard accompaniment, appearing on over a hundred albums including recordings by Nick Gravenites, Quicksilver Messenger Service (What About Me), Brewer & Shipley, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison (St Dominics Preview), the New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Andy Fairweather Low (Low Spider Jiving), Bill Wyman (Monkey Grip), Michael d'Abo, Otis Rush (Right Place Wrong Time), David Soul, the Rubinoos, Percy Mayfield, and Guy Davis. Naftalin is also known for hosting the long-running weekly radio show Blues Power Radio on San Francisco's KALW-FM station, producing several festivals including the Marin County Blues Festival for some two decades and the Monterey Jazz Festival for most of the 1980s, and as founder of the Winner Records label. Naftalin has continued to perform as a solo artist, mostly in the San Francisco area, often with longtime associate slide guitar virtuoso Ron Thompson
August 2, 1944 ~ Juvenal de Holanda Vasconcelos, commonly known as percussionist, singer Naná Vasconcelos, born in Recife, Brazil ~ One of the premier Brazilian percussionists, pivotal in changing the direction of Brazilian jazz in the post-bossa nova era. About two dozen albums as a leader, especially acclaimed for Saudades released in 1979. Formed the world fusion trio Codona with Don Cherry and Collin Walcott, with whom he released three albums at the turn of the 1980s. An in-demand collaborator for a wide array of Latin and international jazz artists, as well as occasionally backing pop and rock artists, Vasconcelos has appeared on albums by Luiz Bonfá, Os Mutantes, Gato Barbieri (Fenix), Milton Nascimento (Milagre Dos Peixes), Herb Alpert, Jon Hassell, Joachim Kühn, Sérgio Mendes, Terumasa Hino, BB King, Chaka Khan, Jan Garbarek, Pat Metheny, Bob Moses, Michael Franks, Pino Daniele, Talking Heads (Little Creatures), Ginger Baker (Horses & Trees), Paul Simon, Teena Marie, David Sanborn, John Zorn, Brian Eno, Aztec Camera (Dreamland), Arto Lindsay, Egberto Gismonti, and Caetano Veloso ~ Vasconcelos passed away in 2016
August 2, 1943 ~ Singer Kathy Lennon, full name Kathleen Mary Lennon, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of sibling outfit the Lennon Sisters, known for songs such as Among My Souvenirs, Moon River, Scarlet Ribbons, Tonight You Belong To Me and Sad Movies Make Me Cry