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 22, 2023 ~ Salvatore Cutugno, commonly known as singer, pianist, guitarist, saxophonist, drummer, songwriter Toto Cutugno passed away in Milan, Italy ~ One of the most popular Italian singers and one of the most successful Italian songwriters of all time with sales reportedly exceeding 100 million globally. As a performer internationally best known for the 1983 worldwide hit L'Italiano, initially intended for Adriano Celentano who turned it down, and for the 1990 Eurovision Songfestival-winner Insieme 1992. Songs written or co-written by Cutugno have been recorded by Joe Dassin, Claude François, Michel Sardou, Domenico Modugno, Miguel Bosé, and Dalida ~ Cutugno was born in 1943
August 22, 2023 ~ Christine Clements, commonly known as dubstep, ambient, IDM singer, keyboardist, programmer, producer Vaccine, passed away ~ One of the first women to be signed to a dubstep related label, Hotflush Recordings, a genre dominated by males. Influenced by Nine Inch Nails, Akira Yamaoke, Portishead, Massive Attack, and Tricky. Has been releasing 12" recordings since the mid 2000s, starting with Wishful Thinking b/w Signal To Noise, leading up to her Decryption EP in 2014 ~ Clements was born in 1979August 22, 2022 ~ Composer, pianist Franz Hummel passed away in Regensburg, Germany ~ Virtuoso pianist extensively performing and recording standard reportoire from classical, Romantic and contemporary music through the 1970s before focusing on composition. Wrote operas, symphonies, ballets and chamber music, noted for his 1996 Gesualdo opera ~ Hummel was born in 1939
August 22, 2022 ~ Jazz, classical drummer, percussionist Fredy Studer passed away ~ Formed the acclaimed jazz fusion quartet OM with Christy Doran, Urs Leimgruber and Bobby Burn. Would go on to collaborate with the likes of Franco Ambrosetti, George Gruntz, Joe Henderson, Miroslav Vitous, Larry Schneider, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Pierre Favre, Dom Um Romão and David Friedman. Member of Red Twist & Tuned Arrow. Member of the Singing Drums. Played in Robyn Schulkowsky's ensemble, interpreting modern classical works by Charles Ives, John Cage, and Edgard Varèse ~ Studer was born in 1948August 22, 2022 ~ Jazz trumpeter Jaimie Branch, full name Jaimie Breezy Branch, passed away in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Leader and sidewoman. Cites Don Cherry, Axel Dörner, Booker Little and Miles Davis as influences. Formed the trio Princess with bassist Toby Summerfield and drummer Frank Rosaly. Has also worked with Ken Vandermark, Atlas Moth, Chad Taylor, Weasel Walter, Josh Berman, Jason Nazary, and Jeb Bishop ~ Branch was born in 1983
August 22, 2022 ~ Rock & roll, rockabilly drummer Jerry Allison, full name Jerry Ivan Allison, passed away in Lyles, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for backing Buddy Holly as a member of the Crickets. Credited as a co-writer on the hits That'll Be The Day and Peggy Sue. The latter was originally titled Cindy Lou but renamed to charm Allison's girlfriend, and future wife, Peggy Sue ~ Allison was born in 1939
August 22, 2022 ~ Rock, pop singer Margaret Urlich, full name Margaret Mary Urlich, passed away in Southern Highlands, Australia ~ Ranks as one of New Zealand's most popular artists. Lead singer of new wave outfit Peking Man, known for songs such as Good Luck To You, Lift Your Head Up High and perhaps their best known Room That Echoes. Member of all-girl group When The Cat's Away. Debuted as a solo artist in 1989 with the Robyn Smith-produced Safety In Numbers album, which spawned the New Zealand No.1 hit Escaping ~ Urlich was born in 1965
August 22, 2022 ~ Rock drummer Piotr Szkudelski passed away in Warsaw, Poland ~ Member of Perfect, one of the best known Polish rock, hard rock acts active on and off since the early 1980s and known for songs such as Nie Placz Ewka, Choemy Byc Soba, Autobiografia and Kolysanka Dia Nieznajomej ~ Szkudelski was born in 1955
August 22, 2021 ~ Saxophonist, arranger Brian Travers passed away in Mosely, UK ~ Co-founding member of UB40, best known for a string of UK hits, mostly during the 1980s and early 1990s including Red Red Wine, If It Happens Again, the Sonny & Cher-cover I Got You Babe featuring Chrissie Hynde, Rat In The Kitchen and the Elvis Presley-cover I Can't Help Falling In Love ~ Travers was born in 1959
August 22, 2021 ~ Lyric tenor Charles Burles passed away in Marseille, France ~ Active since the late 1950s. Best known for his association with the Opera De Marseille, debuting as Almaviva in The Barber Of Seville in 1959. Has also notably worked with the Opera-Comique and the Paris Opera. As a recording artist best known for a number of EMI opera and operetta recordings usually partnering with Maddy Mesplé ~ Burles was born in 1936August 22, 2021 ~ Heavy metal singer Eric Wagner passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Best known as founding member, lead singer of Trouble, considered a pioneer in the doom metal genre. Wagner left he band in 1997 to rejoin in 2000, then leaving again in 2008 to be replaced by Kory Clarky. Wagner has also worked with Lid, Blackfinger, and the Skull ~ Wagner was born in 1959
August 22, 2021 ~ Singer, songwriter Powell St John, full name Rayward Powell St John, passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Member of local trio the Waller Creek Boys, which also included Lannie Wiggins and a then-unknown Janis Joplin. Founding member of Mother Earth, present on the band's first two albums. Also remembered as a songwriter, his songs recorded by Big Brother & the Holding Company (Bye Bye Baby), the 13th Floor Elevators (You Don't Know How Young You Are), Boz Scaggs (I'll Forever Sing), and Roky Erickson (Right Track Now) ~ St John was born in 1940
August 22, 2018 ~ Guitarist Ed King passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Founding member of Strawberry Alarm Clock. Member of Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 to 1975, and again from 1987 to 1996. King initially replaced bassist Leon Wilkeson in 1972 but switched to guitar when Wilkeson regretted leaving the band and came back. This resulted in a three-guitar line-up, King, Allen Collins and Gary Rossington. The band would refer to the new line-up as the “three guitar army” ~ King was born in 1949
August 22, 2018 ~ Leslie Johnson, commonly known as blues harpist, singer Lazy Lester, passed away in Paradise, California, USA ~ Known for songs such as I'm A Lover Not A Fighter, I Hear You Knocking and Sugar Coated Love. Worked with Slim Harpo, Lightning Slim, Katie Webster, Mike Buck, Sue Foley, Gene Taylor, Kenny Neal, Lucky Peterson, Jimmie Vaughn. Had his songs covered by the Kinks, the Flamin' Groovies, Freddy Fender, Dwight Yoakam, Dave Edmunds, Raful Neal, Anson Funderburgh, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds ~ Johnson was born in 1933
August 22, 2017 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, free jazz guitarist John Abercrombie, full name John Laird Abercrombie, passed away in Cortlandt Manor, New York, USA ~ Became an in-demand session musician starting in the late 1960s with artists such as Gato Barbieri, Barry Miles, Gil Evans, the Brecker Brothers, Billy Cobham, Dreams. Closely associated with Jack DeJohnette. Over 50 albums to his name as leader or co-leader including 1976's Gateway and 1979's Abercrombie Quartet. Has worked with Jan Hammer, Ralph Towner, Richie Beirach, George Mraz, John Scofield, Tal Farlow, Vince Mendoza, Arild Andersen, Adam Nussbaum, Kenny Wheeler, Peter Erskine, John Patitucci, Marc Copland, Joe Beck, Robert Balzar, Franco Ambrosetti, Rudy Linka, Enrico Rava, Dr Lonnie Smith, Jan Garbarek, and Bob Mintzer ~ Abercrombie was born in 1944
August 22, 2016 ~ Jean Baptiste Frederic Isidor Thielemans, commonly known as harmonica player, guitarist, composer Toots Thielemans, passed away in Braine Lalleud, Belgium ~ Preeminent jazz harmonica player. Closely associated with friend, fan, frequent collaborator Quincy Jones. Best known for his composition Bluesette, for a number of soundtracks, and for his many collaborations. Over the course of his career Thielemans has worked with Sidney Bechet, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Max Roach, Benny Goodman, Dinah Washington, George Shearing, Ella Fitzgerald, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Stéphane Grappelli, JJ Johnson, Oscar Peterson, Shirley Horn, Joe Pass, Bill Evans, Peggy Lee, Elis Regina, Billy Joel, Julian Lennon, John Denver, Dizzy Gillespie, Urbie Green, Brook Benton, James Last, Joe Lovano, and Paul Simons ~ Thielemans was born in 1922
August 22, 2015 ~ Country, bluegrass, zydeco, jazz, rock banjoist, guitarist, fiddler, mandolinist Billy Constable, full name William Tarcisius Constable III, passed away in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, USA ~ Known for his distinctive three-finger-picking banjo technique. Has backed bluegrass and country greats such as Josh Graves, Doug Dillard, Kenny Baker, and Vassar Clements, and worked with jam bands such as Leftover Salmon, and the String Cheese Incident ~ Constable was born in 1959August 22, 2014 ~ Jazz bassist John Ore passed away ~ Worked with Tiny Grimes, George Wallington, Lester Young, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Elmo Hope, Bud Powell, Freddie Redd, Thelonious Monk, Double Six, Teddy Wilson, Earl Hines, Sun Ra, Hank Mobley, Cecil Payne, Charles Tyler, Eric Alexander, Billy Bang, Andrew Cyrille, Marva Josie, Steve Lacy, and Hampton Hawes ~ Ore was born in 1933
August 22, 2013 ~ Junko Abe, commonly known as enka singer, actress Keiko Fuji, passed away in Shinjuju, Japan ~ Married to producer Teruzane Utada. The couple married and divorced seven times and have one daughter, singer Hikaru Utada. Debuted in 1970 with the Shiunjuku No Onna Enka (No Hoshi Fuji Keiko No Subete) in 1970 ~ Abe was born in 1951
August 22, 2011 ~ Songwriter Jerry Leiber passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Noted songwriter, producer, often collaborating with Mike Stoller. Together the pair wrote hits for Big Mama Thornton (Hound Dog), the Coasters (Young Blood, Yakety Yak), Wilbert Harrison (Kansas City), the Drifters (There Goes My Baby), and Elvis Presley (Jailhouse Rock, King Creole, Loving You). Other artists who recorded Leiber's songs include Peggy Lee, Charles Brown, the Robins, Ben E King, Jay & the Americans, the Exciters, the Clovers, the Dixie Cups, the Shangri-Las, Stealers Wheel, Elkie Brooks, Little Willie Littlefield, Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, Perry Como, the Clovers, Lavern Baker, Damita Jo, Chuck Jackson, Hank Snow, and Brook Benton ~ Leiber was born in 1933
August 22, 2011 ~ Pop, R&B singer, songwriter Nickolas Ashford passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Formed the husband-wife songwriter, producer and recording duo Ashford & Simpson with Valerie Simpson. The duo had teamed up with Jo Armstead, writing a number of hits for the Scepter/Wand label in the mid 1960s including for Ronnie Milsap, Maxine Brown (One Step At A Time), the Shirelles, Chuck Jackson, Ray Charles (Let's Go Get Stoned). Joined Motown in 1966 as a songwriting duo, for whom they penned classics such as Ain't No Mountain High Enough for Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell and Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand for Diana Ross. In later years the duo would also write for other labels, notably Chaka Khan (I'm Every Woman), Stephanie Mills, and Teddy Pendergrass. As recording artists the duo is best known for Solid, a top 20 Billboard hit, a top 10 hit across Europe in 1984 ~ Ashford was born in 1942August 22, 2007 ~ Jazz percussionist, composer Masahiko Togashi passed away in Kanagawa, Japan ~ Founded the Jazz Academy. Also worked with Sadao Watanabe, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Tony Scott, Yosuke Yamashita, Ornette Coleman, Blue Mitchell, Lee Morgan, Sonny Rollins, Paul Bley, Don Cherry, Jack DeJohnette, Charlie Haden, Steve Lacy, Gary Peacock, Masahiko Satoh, and Yuji Takahashi ~ Togashi was born in 1940
August 22, 2006 ~ Drummer Bruce Gary passed away in Tarzana, California, USA ~ Perhaps best known as member of the Knack, including on the hit My Sharona. Has also workled with Albert Collins, Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Stephen Stills, Rod Stewart, Bette Midler, Bang, Harry Nilsson, Sheryl Crow, Albert King, and John Lee Hooker ~ Gary was born in 1951
August 22, 2003 ~ Western swing, honky tonk singer, guitarist, songwriter Floyd Tillman passed away in Bacliff, Texas, USA ~ Instrumental in the development of Western swing and honky tonk. Influenced Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Ray Price, Frankie Miller, Connie Smith, Lawton Williams, Mel Tillis, Darrell McCall, and George Jones. Worked with Adolph Hofner, Mack Clark, Leon Selph, the Blue Ridge Playboys, Cliff Bruner, Ted Daffan, and Moon Mullican. Wrote It Makes No Difference Now, recorded by Jimmie Davis. As a solo artist known for songs such as I Love You So Much It Hurts, I'm Gonna Change All My Ways, Each Night At Nine, Slippin' Around, and perhaps his best known They Took The Stars Out Of Heaven ~ Tillman was born in 1914
August 22, 1995 ~ Singer Brandy releases Brokenhearted, lifted off her eponymous debut album ~ A heartbreak song with a remarkably mature and optimistic message. The 32-year-old Kipper Jones, who had co-written the song with Keith Crouch, would later comment: “When you write for someone, you do an assessment: Who are they? Who is their audience? What is the message they're trying to convey to that audience? What is the call to action? And with Brandy, her audience was other 14-year-old girls. And what do 14-year-old girls talk about? School and boys. When they talk about boys, what's the deal? Well, they get their hearts broken. So then what is the call to action? You get your heart broken, but you get over it, and that was the message we wanted to convey.” Sung as a duet with Boyz II Men singer Wanya Morris, Brokenhearted would be the third single off her debut album to reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No.9, preceded by I Wanna Be Down and Baby
August 22, 1995 ~ Singer Dua Lipa born in London, UK ~ Debuted in 2017 with the eponymous Dua Lipa album, spawning UK hits such as Be The One, IDGAF and New Rules, the latter reaching top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. Has since seen success with One Kiss, Electricity, Blow Your Mind (Mwah), and Scared To Be Lonely. Released her sophomore album, Future Nostalgia, in 2020. Has collaborated with Martin Garrix, Miguel, and with Calvin Harris. Prior to becoming a headlining act herself, the singer has opened for Troye Sivan, Bruno Mars, and for Coldplay