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 21, 1974 ~ John Kirkland Reid, commonly known as country singer, songwriter Johnny Reid, born in Lanark, UK ~ Debuted in 1997 with the album Another Day Another Dime. First gained attention with his eponymous sophomore album, 2000's Johnny Reid, which spawned the minor hits Given Up On Me, Runnin' Wild and She Don't Wanna Hear, all of which barely missed the Canadian country top 40. In 2004 You Still Own Me, lead single of Reid's Born To Roll, would be his first single to reach top 20. More would follow. Country-rockers Emerson Drive covered Reid's You Still Own Me in 2007
August 21, 1974 ~ Christian rapper Shai Linne born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ An atheist for most of his childhood Linne would go on to become an in-demand collaborator in Christian hip hop, working with the likes of Lecrae, Trip Lee, Timothy Brindle, and notably 116 Clique, appearing on the latter's 2007 13 Letters album. As a solo artist perhaps best known for his controversial 2013 Fal$e Teacher$ single, criticizing prosperity theology naming well known TV preachers such as Joel Osteen and Paula White. Linne has recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with The Soilus Christus Project released in 2005
August 21, 1970 ~ Pop rock sibling outfit the Bee Gees record Lonely Days at IBC Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb. Produced by the band and their manager Robert Stigwood. Reportedly one of the erliest songs, alongside How Can You Mend A Broken Heart written after their reunion, the band having broken up over a year earlier. Included on the 1970 2 Years On album. The single, paired with Man For All Seasons on the flip side, would be the first release to make it to the American top 5. Bary would re-record the song with Little Big Town for his 2021 Greenfield solo albumAugust 21, 1970 ~ Jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer Marlon Jordan born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Son of saxophonist Kidd Jordan and pianist Edvidge Jordan. Brother of flutist Kent Jordan, violinist Rachel Jordan and of jazz singer Stephanie Jordan. Worked with Branford Marsalis, Dennis González, Miles Davis, George Benson, Alvin Batiste, Maynard Chatters, and Jonathan Bloom
August 21, 1970 ~ Simone Larsen, commonly known as jazz, soul singer, guitarist Simone Eriksrud, born in Freiburg, West Germany ~ Lead singer of D'Sound with whom she recorded about half a dozen albums since the band's inception in 1993. Following her departure from the band the two remaining members, bassist Jonny Sjo and drummer Kim Ofstad, continued as a duo collaborating with a wide array of international artists. Eriksrud released her Last Days And Nights solo album in 2005, and has collaborated with the likes of Savoy, A-ha (Minor Earth Major Sky), Bjørn Eidsvåg, Donkeyboy, Eric Saade, and Marion RavenAugust 21, 1968 ~ Producer, multi-instrumentalist Jan Bang born in Kristiansand, Norway ~ Has released albums as a solo artist and has worked with artists such as Morten Harket, Sidsel Endresen, David Sylvian, Nils Petter Molvær, Arild Andersen, Bugge Wesseltoft, Arve Henriksen, Erik Honoré, Bertine Zetlitz, Bel Canto, Eivind Sarset, and Tigran Hamasyan
August 21, 1964 ~ Jazz drummer, pianist, vibraphonist Jorge Rossy born in Barcelona, Spain ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Woody Shaw, Kenny Wheeler, Jack Walrath, David Schnitter, Sal Nistico, Sean Levitt, Paquito d'Rivera, Mark Turner, Chris Cheek, Seamus Blake, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Brad Mehldau, Ethan Iverson, Reid Anderson, Avishai Cohen, Joe Martin, Freddie Bryant, the Bloom Daddies, Joshua Redman, Bill McHenry, Bruce Barth, Mike Kanan, Ben Monder, Nat Su, Steve Wilson, Larry Grenadier, Ben Street, Albert Sanz, Lee Konitz, Charlie Haden, Carla Bley, Joe Lovano, Chick Corea, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Peter Bernstein, and Doug Weiss
August 21, 1962 ~ DJ, producer David Morales born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Spent the 1980s DJ-ing at several New York, New Jersey clubs, including his own. Co-founded Def Mix Productions with renowned DJ Frankie Knuckles to manage their own work. Morales has remixed and produced numerous recording for artists including Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey (nominated for a Grammy Award for his work on Daydream), Eric Clapton, Seal, the Pet Shop Boys, Jamiroquai, Jocelyn Brown, Róisín Murphy, Ultra Naté, and Janice RobinsonAugust 21, 1962 ~ Salsa, bolero singer, bandleader Gilberto Santa Rosa, full name Gilberto Santa Rosa Cortes, born in Santurce, Puerto Rico ~ Dubbed “the Gentleman of Salsa” with over two dozen albums to his name. Recorded with Mario Ortez Orchestra and La Grande Orchestra before venturing out on his own in the 1980s. Known for songs such as Good Vibrations, De Amor Salsa, Punto De Vista, Vivir Sin Ella and Perspectiva
August 21, 1961 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, Tender Years by George Jones hits No.1 Billboard Country ~ Produced by Shelby Singleton, Tender Years was Jones' second Billboard Country charttopper, spending seven non-consecutive weeks at No.1. Contrary to his earlier honky-tonk hits such as White Lightning, his first Billboard Country No.1 hit, Tender Years showed a more mature, restrained vocal approach, a style George Jones would adopt and further develop for the remainder of his career. Tender Years would be covered by several artists, including Webb Pierce, Brook Benton, and Conway Twitty. Rock & roll singer Johnny Hallyday recorded a French adaptation of the song, titled Tes Tendres Années, while Dutch singer Willeke Alberti recorded a Dutch version, titled Spiegelbeeld
August 21, 1961 ~ R&B girl group the Marvelettes release Please Mr Postman, lifted off the album of the same name ~ This was the first Billboard Hot 100 hit for Motown, a label that would go on to become the number one defining force in 1960s R&B. When the Marvelettes auditioned for Motown, the label didn't yet have their songwriting machinery in full swing so they asked the girls to bring their own material. Please Mr Postman was based on a song written by a friend of the group, first reworked by band member Georgia Dobbins and subsequently fine-tuned by producers Robert Bateman and Brian Holland. A then-unknown Marvin Gaye, seeking an entry into the music business, sessioned on the original recording, playing the drums. All members of the Marvelettes had previous singing experience in choirs and glee clubs, but when they recorded Please Mr Postman it was their first time ever in a recording studio. Band member Gladys Horton would later recall how nervous they were, but Florence Ballard who sang with labelmate group the Supremes coached them through the session: “We were all tight, petrified. Florence was such as sweetheart, and what she said was dead on.”
August 21, 1961 ~ Country singer Patsy Cline records Crazy at Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee ~ Reportedly Patsy Cline did not like the song very much but pressured by producer Owen Bradley she reluctantly recorded it anyway. When the track was released as a single the following October, paired with Who Can I Count On on the flip side, it became her biggest pop hit, a signature song, and a country standard. Retrospectively by general critical consensus it has been acknowledged as one of the all-time greatest country songs. At the time of its release, Crazy reached No.2 on the Billboard Country charts and crossed over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No.9. The success of the single, along with her previous hit I Fall To Pieces, would prompt Billboard to name Cline the Favorite Female Country Artist of 1961. The success of Crazy would also be a breakthrough for the then-relatively unknown songwriter Willie Nelson, who has since gone on to become one of country music's most beloved figures. In 1992, Crazy was inducted in Grammy Hall of Fame
August 21, 1958 ~ Pop, disco, funk, pop rock singer, keyboardist, producer, songwriter Ellert Driessen born in Amsterdam ~ Brother of Fruitcake's Jan-Paul Driessen. Best known as keyboardist, singer, main songwriter of dance-pop, disco outfit Spargo, co-leading with Lilian Day Jackson, known for early to mid-1980s recordings such as Head Up To The Sky, One Night Affair, Just For You, Hip Hap Hop and their biggest hit Just For You. Has also worked as a solo artist and as a songwriter for the likes of Anita Meijer, Piet Veerman, and Rob de Nijs (Banger Hart)
August 21, 1958 ~ Actress, singer, songwriter Kate Robbins, full name Kate Elizabeth Robbins, born in Margate, UK ~ Best known as an actress active since the early 1980s. As a singer known as a member of Prima Donna, with whom she reached third place at the 1980 Eurovision Songfestival representing her native UK with the song Love Enough For Two, and for her 1981 UK top 10 solo hit More Than In Love
August 21, 1957 ~ Peter Edward Clarke, commonly known as drummer Budgie, born in St Helens, UK ~ Admired by peers including the Police's Stewart Copeland, Echo & the Bunnymen's Pete de Freitas, and U2's Larry Mullen Jr. Member of the Slits, present on the 1979 Cut masterpiece. Best known as drummer for Siouxsie & the Banshees, one of the all-time most successful post-punk, goth bands especially acclaimed for albums such as Kaleidoscope, Hyaena, and Tinderbox. Formed side project the Creatures with bandmate singer Siouxsie Sioux, dabbling in exotica-tinged rock
August 21, 1957 ~ Classical conductor, composer Karin Rehnqvist born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Artistic director for the Stans Kör from 1976 through 1991. Composer-in-residence with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Svenska Kammarorkestern during the 2000s. As a composer has written chamber music, orchestral works, and particularly vocal music. Well-known works include Arktis Arktis, Pucksånger-lockrop, and SolsångenAugust 21, 1957 ~ Rock, rock pop trumpeter, singer Mark Pender born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ In-demand session musician, member of the Miami Horns. Has worked with Southside Johnny, Little Steven, Bruce Springsteen, Max Weinberg, Diana Ross, Gary US Bonds, Joe Cocker, Darlene Love, Robert Cray, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, They Might Be Giants, and Buster Poindexter
August 21, 1954 ~ Guitarist Nick Kane born in Jerusalem, Georgia, USA ~ Member of the Mavericks from 1995 through 2000, first appearing on the 1995 Music For All Occasions album. Kane released a solo album, Songs In The Key Of E, in 1999 consisting mostly of covers, and has appeared on albums by James Horner, Sonny George, Los Super Seven, and Swag
August 21, 1954 ~ Jazz, rock drummer Steve Smith born in Brockton, Massachusetts, USA ~ Over half a dozen albums as a leader. Founded and fronts Vital Information, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums starting in the early 1980s. To pop rock audiences perhaps best known as member of Journey from 1978 through 1985, occasionally rejoining the band in later years. Has also worked with Jean-Luc Ponty, Jeff Berlin, Neal Schon, Richie Kotzen, Zucchero, Steps Ahead, Vital Tech Tones, the Storm, and Wadada Leo Smith
August 21, 1953 ~ Douglas James Schlecht, commonly known as saxophonist Doug James, born in Turlock, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with Roomful Of Blues as an intermittent touring and recording member of the band from the early 1970s through the late 1990s. Present on albums such as Roomful Of Blues, the collaborative Eddie Cleanhead Vinson & Roomful Of Blues with Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, and Dance All Night. James has also appeared on several of his Roomful bandmates solo outings, most notably several of its leader Duke Robillard, released his Blow Mr Low solo album in 2001, and has subsequently recorded several collaborative albums with Sax Gordon. James has also backed artists such as Lavern Baker, Helen Humes, Colin James, Freddie King, Charlie Musselwhite, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, and Jimmy WitherspoonAugust 21, 1952 ~ Hard rock, blues rock, progressive rock guitarist, bassist, singer Glenn Hughes born in Cannock, UK ~ Best known for his association with Deep Purple, present on the albums Burn, Stormbringer and Come Taste The Band, and for briefly fronting Black Sabbath in the mid-1980s. Noted for his soulful voice. Has also worked with Trapeze, Finders Keepers, Phenomena, John Norum, Black Country Communion, Kings Of Chaos, California Breed, and the Dead Daisies
August 21, 1952 ~ John Graham Mellor, commonly known as punk rock, post-punk, alternative rock, rock singer, guitarist, bassist, pianist Joe Strummer, born in Ankara, Turkey ~ Best known as co-founding member, co-lead singer of the Clash, considered part of the punk movement yet drawing from a wide array of genres including reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, and rockabilly. The band is known for songs such as Complete Control, Tommy Gun, London Calling, Train In Vain, Bankrobber, The Magnificent Seven, Know Your Rights, Should I Stay Or Should I Go, and Rock The Casbah. Strummer has also worked with the 101-ers, the Latino Rockabilly War, the Pogues, and the Mescaleros ~ Mellor was born in 2002
August 21, 1952 ~ Richard Zito, commonly known as rock, hard rock guitarist, keyboardist, producer Richie Zito, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ One of the most in-demand session guitarists of the late 1970s and 1980s, appearing on songs such as Blondie's Call Me, Irene Cara's Flashdance (What A Feeling), Glenn Frey's The Heat Is On, and Berlin's Take My Breath Away. Other notable credits include Neil Sedaka, Diana Ross, Eric Carmen, Helen Reddy, Brian Cadd, Yvonne Elliman, Elton John, Dan Seals, Lionel Richie, Albert Hammond, Kenny Rogers, Tina Turner, Eddie Money, Joe Cocker, and the Neville BrothersAugust 21, 1950 ~ Singer, model, songwriter Patrick Juvet born in Montreux, Switzerland ~ Best known for I Love America, a 1978 Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo-produced top 20 hit throughout Europe. Also known for representing Switzerland in the 1973 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 12th place with Je Bais Me Marler Marie ~ Juvet passed away in 2021
August 21, 1949 ~ Avant-garde jazz trumpeter Malachi Thompson born in Caldwell County, Kentucky, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with the Association For The Advancement Of Creative Musicians, Joe Henderson, Jackie McLean, Frank Foster, Archie Shepp, Lester Bowie, Shamek Farrah, Errol Parker, Hubert Eaves, Roland Alexander, Gil Scott-Heron, and Quincy Jones ~ Thompson passed away in 2006