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 23, 1978 ~ Indie rock, alternative rock, garage rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, bassist, songwriter Julian Casablancas, full name Julian Fernanda Casablancas, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced by the Doors, Lou Reed, Bob Marley, Nirvana, Pearl Jam. Frontman and primary songwriter of the Strokes, known for songs such as Last Nite, Juicebox and Bad Decisions. Formed Voidz in 2013. Has collaborated with the Queens Of The Stone Age, Daft Punk, Santigold, Pharrell Williams, Danger Mouse, and the Exhibition
August 23, 1978 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, gospel, R&B clarinetist, keyboardist, music director Shaun Martin born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Closely associated with Kirk Franklin, with whom he recorded since still in high school including the Grammy Award-winning albums Hero and The Fight Of My Life. Member of Snarky Puppy since 2010, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums starting with Tell Your Friends. An in-demand sideman, arranger, and producer, Martin has collaborated with the likes of Guru, Erykah Badu (Mama's Gun), N'Dambi, Donnie McClurkin, Myron Butler, Fred Hammond, Tamela Mann, Crystal Aikin, Amber Bullock, Tasha Page-Lockhart, Alicia Keys (Here), and Ledisi. Martin has also recorded three solo albums, starting with the jazz-infused 7 Summers in 2015. Martin has served as Minister of Music at the Friendship West Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas. Upon his death at age 45 of an undisclosed illness, which he had been battling for some time, Snarky Puppy issued a statement, saying: “Yesterday, we lost a music legend and, more importantly, a beautiful, luminous human being. Martin touched so many people during his life and through the beautiful immortality of music, will continue to do so” ~ Martin passed away in 2024August 23, 1975 ~ In its 11th week on the charts, Spring by Tanya Tucker peaks at No.18 Billboard Country ~ Country singer Tanya Tucker had an impressive start in the early 1970s, scoring about half a dozen consecutive Billboard Country top 10 hits in just two years starting with her Delta Dawn debut single in 1972. After three successful albums, Tucker moved from Columbia Records to MCA Records, yet her old label continued issuing some of her older, shelved material. Spring, written by John Tipton and produced by Billy Sherrill, was one of those. The single would spend fifteen weeks on the Billboard Country charts and peak at No.18. Though it would have been a respectable hit for others, obviously it was lesser material for Tucker. Her first two singles for her new label, Lizzie & The Rainman and San Antonio Stroll released around the same time, both reached the No.1 spot. Spring was her first single not to reach top 10
August 23, 1974 ~ Seth Brooks Binzer, commonly known as rap rock, alternative rock singer, rapper Shifty Shellshock, born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, USA ~ Frontman of Crazy Town, with whom he recorded three albums. The band is best known for Butterfly lifted off their The Gift Of The Game 1999 debut album. The single reached top 10 in well over half a dozen countries, including the No.1 spot on the American Billboard Hot 100. During the band's hiatus, Binzer guested on Paul Oakenfold's Starry Eyed Surprise, which reached top 10 in the UK, and recorded a sole album, Happy Love Sick, as a solo artist ~ Binzer passed away in 2024
August 23, 1970 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Brad Mehldau born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Started as a member of Joshua Redman's mid 1990s quartet, alongside bassist Christian McBride and drummer Brian Blade. Would go on to lead his own ensembles working with sidemen such as Larry Grenadier, Jorge Rossy, Perico Sambeat, Jeff Ballard, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Jim Keltner, Jon Brion, Matt Chamberlain, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Kurt Elling. Would incorporate Beatles-esque elements in jazz, branch out to rock as well as classical music, working with and writing for Renée Fleming and tour with guitarist Pat MethenyAugust 23, 1968 ~ Alessandro Britti, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Alex Britti, born in Rome, Italy ~ Worked with Buddy Miles, Billy Preston, Louisiana Red. Debuted in 1998 with the album It Pop and has been recording regularly since
August 23, 1968 ~ Ayub Bey, commonly known as hip-hop rapper, MC, producer, songwriter Grand Daddy IU, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Closely associated with the Juice Crew. Ghostwriter for Biz Markie and Roxanne Shanté. Has released a number of solo albums, starting with Smooth Assassin in 1990. Has worked with Das EFX, Heltah Skeltah, KRS One, Ice-T, and Tupac Shakur ~ Bey passed away in 2022
August 23, 1967 ~ Reggae singer Cedella Marley, full name Cedella Marley Minto1, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Daughter of reggae singers Bob Marley and Rita Marley. Best known for her association with brother Ziggy Marley's Melody Makers. The sibling outfit has recorded well over half a dozen albums and is perhaps best known for their Tomorrow People single of their 1988 Conscious Party album. As a solo artist Marley is best known for her 2017 single Could You Be Loved, a cover of her father's classic
August 23, 1965 ~ R&B girl group Martha & the Vandellas record My Baby Loves Me at Hitsville USA, Detroit, Michigan ~ Written by William Mickey Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter, Sylvia Moy. Produced by Stevenson and Hunter. Released as a single the following year, b/w Never Leave Your Baby's Side. The single would reach top 10 Billboard R&B. Background vocals were provided by the Andantes and the Four Tops.August 23, 1963 ~ Punk rock, skate punk, hardcore punk, pop punk bassist, guitarist, singer Steve Soto born ~ Co-founded Agent Orange in 1979, one of the first punk rock outfits to draw heavily from surf music. Would depart the band the following year to co-found the Adolescents, serving as the band's bassist and sole constant member until his death in 2018. The band is especially acclaimed for their 1981 eponymous The Adolescents debut album, providing a blueprint for many California hardcore bands. Soto has also worked with Legal Weapon, Joyride, Manic Hispanic, supergroup 22 Jacks, and Punk Rock Karaoke ~ Soto passed away in 2018
August 23, 1962 ~ Neoclassical composer Irving Fine, full name Irving Gifford Fine, passed away in Natick, Massachusetts, USA ~ Member of a group of mid-20th century composers sometimes referred to as the Boston School, which also included Arthur Berger, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Lukas Foss and Harold Shapero. Praised by Virgil Thomson for his “unusual melodic grace” and by Copland for his “elegance, style, finish and convincing continuity” ~ Fine was born in 1914
August 23, 1962 ~ R&B, soul singer Sam Cooke records Nothing Can Change This Love at RCA Studios, Hollywood, California ~ Written by Sam Cooke. Produced by Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. Released as a single, Somebody Have Mercy featured on the B-side, the following September. It would reach top 10 Billboard R&B, top 20 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Later also included on the Mr Soul albumAugust 23, 1962 ~ Singer Shaun Ryder, full name Shaun William George Ryder, born in Little Hulton, UK ~ Lead singer of the Happy Mondays, which also included his brother bassist Paul Ryder. The Madchester band is best known for songs such as best known including Step On, Kinky Afro and Loose Fit. Shaun also co-founded Black Grape
August 23, 1961 ~ Jazz singer Anita Wardell born in Guildford, UK ~ Accomplished scat singer known for vocal rendition of Moanin'
August 23, 1960 ~ Hard rock, rock, blues-rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Gary Hoey born in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA ~ Auditioned in 1988 for Ozzy Osbourne, who needed a replacement for Jake E Lee, but the job went to Zakk Wylde. Formed Heavy Bones in 1990, which also included Joel Elis, Rex Tennyson and Frankie Banali. Debuted as a solo artist with the 1993 Animal Instinct album, which spawned the hit single Hocus Pocus, originally recorded by Dutch rockers Focus. Has been recording as a solo artist steadily sinceAugust 23, 1960 ~ Lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, full name Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II, passed away in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Co-wrote over 850 songs. Best known for his writing partnership with Richard Rodgers, scoring with musicals such as Oklahoma, The King & I and The Sound Of Music. Also collaborated with composers such as Jerome Kern, Vincent Youmans, Rudolf Frimi, Richard Whiting, and Sigmund Romberg ~ Hammerstein was born in 1895
August 23, 1960 ~ R&B singer, pianist Ray Charles records Ruby at Bell Sound Studios, New York, New York ~ Written by Mitchell Parish and Heinz Roemheld. Produced by Sid Feller. Released by Ray Charles as a single, paired with Hardhearted Hannah on the flip side, the next November
August 23, 1959 ~ Singer, songwriter Edwyn Collins, full name Edwyn Stephen Collins, born in Edinburgh, UK ~ Lead singer of post-punk group Orange Juice. The band would be critically acclaimed for their 1980 debut single Fallin' And Laughin', which sold only 2,000 copies, and for their 1983 UK top 10 hit Rip It Up. Pursued a solo career after the band's split in 1985. Best known for A Girl Like You, an international hit in 1995
August 23, 1957 ~ Classical cellist Antônio Meneses born in Recife, Brazil ~ 1982 Tchaikowsky Competition winner. Member of the Beaux Arts Trio from 1998 until its disbandement in 2008. Has worked with renowned orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra de la Suisse Romande, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra ~ Meneses passed away in 2024
August 23, 1957 ~ R&B, soul singer Sam Cooke records Lonely Island at Radio Recorders, Los Angeles, California ~ Written by Eden Ahbez. Produced by Robert Bumps Blackwell. Sam Cooke first issued the song as the B-side of You Were Made For Me in March 1958, a Billboard R&B top 10 hitAugust 23, 1954 ~ Jazz double bassist Avery Sharpe born in Valdosta, Georgia, USA ~ Played with Wynton Marsalis, Pat Metheny, McCoy Tyner, Archie Shepp, Yusef Lateef, Ricky Ford, and with Joe Ford
August 23, 1953 ~ Robert Alan Gubby, commonly known as pop singer Bobby G born in Epsom, UK ~ Member of Bucks Fizz, scoring hits with The Land Of Make Believe, My Camera Never Lies and perhaps their best known the 1981 Eurovision Songfestival winner Making Your Mind Up. Gubby released one solo single, 1984's Big Deal, which was used as the theme to BBC's comedy-drama show Big Deal. Previously unreleased solo recordings would be included on Bucks Fizz compilation album in 2006August 23, 1952 ~ Vasiliki Papathanasiou, commonly known as singer Vicky Leandros, born in Palaiokastritsa, Greece ~ Daughter of singer, songwriter Leo Leandros. Internationally best known for representing Luxembourg twice at the Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 4th place in 1967 with L'Amour Est Blue and winning in 1972 with Après Toi. Over the course of her career, starting in the mid 1960s, Leandros has recorded over 50 albums, singing in French, English, Spanish, and German
August 23, 1951 ~ Singer, producer, songwriter Mark Hudson, full name Mark Jeffery Anthony Hudson, born in Portland, Oregon, USA ~ First gained attenton as member of sibling outfit the Hudson Brothers alongside Bill Hudson and Brett Hudson, best known for their 1974 single So You're A Star. Would go on to work as an in-demand producer and songwriter. Co-wrote Aerosmith's Grammy Award-winning hit Livin' On The Edge. Produced a number of Ringo Starr albums, starting with 1998's Vertical Man. Also worked with Cher, the Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne, Hanson, the Baha Men, Alice Cooper, and Bon Jovi
August 23, 1947 ~ Linda Pettifer, commonly known as folk rock singer Linda Thompson, born in London, UK ~ Married to folk singer Richard Thompson, with whom she also worked. Member of the Bunch, alongsde Sandy Denny and Ashley Hutchings, known for their sole album Rock On, released in 1972
August 23, 1947 ~ Country, countrypolitan singer, guitarist, songwriter Rex Allen Jr born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Son of singing cowboy Rex Allen. Debuted in 1971 with his Todays Generation album, which did not chart. Would enjoy chart succes starting with his 1974 Another Goodbye Song sophomore album. Well known songs include Goodbye, Can You Hear Those Pioneers, Two Less Lonely People, Lonely Street, Me And My Broken Heart and the Margo Smith-duet Cup Of Tea
August 23, 1947 ~ Jazz, classical guitarist, composer Terje Rypdal born in Oslo, Norway ~ Starting out in pop rock outfit the Vanguards, Rypdal would become one of the most important guitarists in Norway's jazz scene. Especially acclaimed for 1970s albums such as Odyssey and Waves. Appears on albums by George Russell, Lester Bowie, Jan Garbarek (Afric Pepperbird), Don Sugarcane Harris (Sugar Cane's Got The Blues), Michael Mantler (The Hapless Child And Other Inscrutable Stories), Barre Phillips, Jack DeJohnette, and Ketil Bjørnstad. Married to singer Inger Lise Anderson, father of guitarist Jakob Rypdal