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 24, 2023 ~ Rock, blues rock, hard rock guitarist, singer Bernie Marsden, full name Bernard John Marsden, passed away ~ Member of Whitesnake from 1978 through 1982, for whom he co-wrote several of the band's best known including Fool For Your Loving, Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues, She's A Woman, Lovehunter, Trouble, Child Of Babylon, Rough And Ready, and Here I Go Again. Marsden has also worked with UFO, Cozy Powell, Babe Ruth, Paice Ashton Lord, Alaska, and the Company Of Snakes, and recorded over a dozen solo albums ~ Marsden was born in 1951
August 24, 2021 ~ Rock, jazz, blues drummer Charlie Watts, full name Charles Robert Watts, passed away in London, UK ~ Influenced by jazz artists such as Max Roach, Chico Hamilton, and Jelly Roll Morton. Best known as member of the Rolling Stones, joining the band in 1963 and appearing on all the band's albums until his death nearly sixty years later. In-demand collaborator and leader in a number of mostly jazz-focused side projects, notably Rocket 88 and the ABCD Of Boogie-Woogie. Back in 1964 while still in art school, the Stones not yet famous, Watts authored and illustrated a small book, Ode To A Highflying Bird, for a class project. A tribute to one of his biggest heroes, Charlie Parker also known as “Bird”, Watts portrayed the iconic saxophone player as an actual bird, complete with sunglasses and sax, in simple, child-like sketches along with light-hearted text: “Soon everybody was digging what Bird blew. His nest was made.” ~ Watts was born in 1941August 24, 2021 ~ Pop keyboardist, singer, songwriter Fritz McIntyre passed away ~ Co-founding member, keyboardist of Simply Red from 1985 through 1995, leaving the band after the completion of the Life album. Co-wrote a vast amount of the band's material, sang lead on Wonderland. Has recorded as a solo artist since leaving the band, including the Christian worship album First Fruits, but would fail to reach the same level of succes ~ McIntyre was born in 1958
August 24, 2021 ~ Jazz pianist, arranger John Sheridan passed away ~ Got turned on to jazz at age 8, hearing a recording of Benny Goodman's famed 1938 Carnegie Hall concert. Best known for his association with Jim Cullum, performing and recording with the cornetist for some two decades starting in the late 1970s. Has recorded about a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, noted especially for his 1997 Something Tells Me debut album and the 2004 Thanks A Million collaborative album with trumpeter Bob Barnard. Other notable collaborations include Banu Gibson (Livin' In A Great Big Way), Duke Heitger, Brian Ogilvie, Randy Reinhardts (As Long As I Live), and Ron Hockett ~ Sheridan was born in 1946
August 24, 2020 ~ Anthony George Chalk, commonly known as keyboardist, singer, producer Tony Colton passed away ~ Member of Heads Hands & Feet, known for a handful of early 1970s album starting with their eponymous Heads Hands & Feet debut album released in 1971. The band has served as opening act for Deep Purple in early 1971. Colton and bandmate Ray Smith also co-wrote and co-produced for artists such as Richard Harris and Shirley Bassey, and notably wrote and performed the soundtrack for the 1970 BBC documentary The World Of Georgie Best ~ Chalk was born in 1942
August 24, 2018 ~ Producer James Mallinson passed away ~ First classical producer to be awarded a Grammy Award for Producer of the Year in the Classical category, recording several Johannes Brahms symphonies with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1980. Best known for his association wqith the London Symphony Orchestra, producing over 60 of the ensemble's recordings starting in 2000 ~ Mallinson was born ca.1943
August 24, 2017 ~ Fitzroy Marshall, commonly known as ska, rocksteady, reggae singer Larry Marshall, passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Half of Larry & Alvin, the other half being Alvin Leslie, known for songs such as Nanny Goat. As a solo artist debuted in 1973 with the album Presenting Larry Marshall and known for songs such as A Promise Is A Comfort To A Fool, I've Got Another Girl, and Please Stay. Worked with Philip Yaz, Coxsone Dodd, Prince Buster, Enid Cumberland, Burning Spear, and King Tubby ~ Marshall was born in 1941August 24, 2017 ~ Bluegrass banjoist, songwriter, publisher Pete Kuykendall passed away in Warrenton, Virginia, USA ~ Co-founded Bluegrass Unlimited in 1966 becoming its main editor in 1970. Instrumental in the formation of the International Bluegrass Music Association in 1985. As a musician best known as a member of the Country Gentlemen in the late 1950s and for penning a number of bluegrass standards including Down Where The Still Waters Flow, I Am Weary (Let Me Rest) and Remembrance Of You ~ Kuykendall was born in 1938
August 24, 2017 ~ Singer Taylor Swift releases Look What You Made Me Do, lifted off her Reputation album ~ Written and produced by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff, Look What You Made Me Do draws from electropop, dance-pop and synth-punk with elements of hip hop, electroclash, and industrial. The song is noted for interpolating Right Said Fred's 1991 hit I'm Too Sexy, which earned the songwriters of that track co-writing credit. Interpolating I'm Too Sexy, a massive hit in the UK, may have helped push Swift's single to the top of the charts in the UK, a first for the American singer. Right Said Fred frontman Richard Fairbrass would later comment to NME: “What's weird about I'm Too Sexy is that when people sing it, they sing the verse, not the chorus (…) In Taylor's song they adapt that rhythm and attitude of the I'm Too Sexy verse as a chorus, so they've just interpolated it differently, that's all it is. I'd be an idiot to complain about it. We've been really lucky to have been picked by somebody like Taylor, who is obviously very cool and very successful and open-minded and relaxed about it. She's not like some people”August 24, 2011 ~ Label executive Esther Gordy Edwards passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. Served as staff member and associate of her younger brother. Dubbed “the Mother of Motown” for taking on a motherly role towards some of the label's younger acts. Founder and director of the Motown Historical Museum ~ Gordy was born in 1920
August 24, 2006 ~ Bonnie Campbell, commonly known as country singer Bonnie Owens, passed away in Bakersfield, California, USA ~ Married to Buck Owens, later to Merle Haggard. Revered singer known for a number of 1960s country recordings including Why Don't Daddy Live Here Anymore, Don't Take Advantage Of Me, and Just Between The Two Of Us, the latter a duet with then still future husband Haggard ~ Campbell was born in 1929August 24, 2005 ~ Singer Harold Kalin, full name Harold Ross Kalin, passed away in Waldorf, Maryland, USA ~ Half of the Kalin Twins, the other half being his twin brother Herbie Kalin, known for their 1958 When hit, reaching top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. The follow-up single Forget Me Not, released shortly thereafter, also reached top 20 Billboard Hot 100. The siblings continued to record regularly through the early 1960s, but were unable to repeat their success ~ Kalin was born in 1934
August 24, 2004 ~ Noble Watts, commonly known as blues, jump blues, R&B saxophonist Noble Thin Man Watts, passed away in Deland, Florida, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with the Griffin Brothers, Nat Adderley, Lionel Hampton, Paul Williams, Dinah Washington, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, the Everly Brothers, Johnny Mathis, Rufus Thomas, Lucky Peterson, Raful Neal, and Floyd Miles ~ Watts was born in 1926
August 24, 1999 ~ Classical guitarist, composer Alexandre Lagoya passed away in Paris, France ~ Married to guitarist Ida Presti, with whom he regularly collaborated. Known for a number of transcriptions to guitar based on works by Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel and Niccolò Paganini. Also had a number of contemporary compositions written for him or for the Presti-Lagoya duo by composers such as Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur, André Jolivet, and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco ~ Lagoya was born in 1929
August 24, 1999 ~ Bandleader, arranger Warren Covington passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Played with Isham Jones, Les Brown, Gene Krupa, and as staff musician for CBS Radio. Played briefly with Tommy Dorsey in 1950. Took over from Eddie Gray as leader of the Commanders in 1956. Led Tommy Dorsey Orchestra after Dorsey's death. Also backed Charles Mingus, Randy Weston, Bobby Hackett, George Benson, Yusef Lateef, and Don Sebesky ~ Covington was born in 1921August 24, 1998 ~ Conductor, arranger, producer Gene Page, full name Eugene Edgar Page Jr, passed away in Westwood, California, USA ~ Emerged from the 1960s to become one of the most in-demand and recognizable pop, funk, and disco conductors, arrangers of the 1970s, 1980s. Early on in his career, Page drew attention arranging for hits such as the Righteous Brothers' You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', Solomon Burke's Got To Get You Off My Mind, and Dobie Gray's The In-Crowd, the latter penned by his brother Billy Page. Page would rise to fame as go-to collaborator of Barry White, including for White's side project Love Unlimited, and Johnny Mathis. Page released over half a dozen albums, including the acclaimed Blacula soundtrack, and has worked in one capacity or another on albums by the Supremes, Ike & Tina Turner, Al Wilson, Big Joe Turner, the Four Tops, Barbra Streisand (Stoney End), the Jackson 5, Cher, Marvin Gaye (Let's Get It On), Smokey Robinson, Stanley Turrentine (Pieces Of Dreams), Nancy Wilson, Betty Everett, Mongo Santamaria, Leo Sayer, Elton John (Blue Moves), the Manhattan Transfer, Seals & Crofts, Shalamar, Hall & Oates, Herb Alpert (Rise), and Gladys Knight ~ Page was born in 1939
August 24, 1997 ~ DJ, singer, producer, songwriter Alan Walker, full name Alan Olav Walker, born in Northampton, UK ~ Best known for his 2015 single Faded, reaching platinum in 14 countries
August 24, 1994 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer, songwriter Jesse Bolian passed away ~ Member of the Artistics, best known for their 1966 I'm Gonna Miss You hit single which reached top 10 on the Billboard R&B charts. Other charting singles included This Heart Of Mine and I Need You ~ Bolian was born in 1941
August 24, 1992 ~ Ralph Gallant, commonly known as drummer Larrie Londin, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Revered session, studio, touring drummer. Worked with the Headliners, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Junior Walker & the All-Stars, Elvis Presley, the Notorious Cherry Bombs, Emmylou Harris, Diana Ross, the Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Smokey Robinson, Joe Tex, Wilson Pickett, Lionel Richie, the Carpenters, Jerry Lee Lewis, Boots Randolph, Charley Pride, Randy Travis, Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton, BB King, Albert Lee, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, Jerry Reed, Rosanne Cash, Al Green, Dan Fogelberg, Reba McEntire, Journey, Steve Perry, Adrian Belew, and the Everly Brothers ~ Gallant was born in 1943
August 24, 1991 ~ William Paden Hensley, commonly known as washboard player Washboard Willie, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Backed Eddie Guitar Burns during the early 1950s. As a solo artist enjoyed regional popularity with his backing unit the Super Suds Of Rhythm and recorded a handful of singles through the early 1960s, including Cherry Red Blues, Washboard Shuffle, and Washboard Blues Parts 1 & 2 ~ Hensley was born ca.1909August 24, 1986 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan born in New Albany, Ohio, USA ~ Worked with Semi Precious Weapons, Kevin Kinney, Tony Visconti, the New York Dolls, Everest, Jack White, Sean Lennon, Clem Burke, Ian McLagan, Nigel Harrison, and Lilly Hiatt
August 24, 1981 ~ Trumpeter Bill Coleman, full name William Johnson Coleman passed away in Toulouse, France ~ Worked with Cecil Scott, Luis Russell, Lucky Millinder, Benny Carter, Teddy Hill, Fats Waller, Django Reinhardt, Leon Abbey, Teddy Wilson, Andy Kirk, Ellis Larkins, Mary Lou Williams, John Kirby, Sy Oliver, Billy Kyle, Lester Young, Billie Holiday, and Coleman Hawkins ~ Coleman was born in 1904
August 24, 1981 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones release Waiting On A Friend, lifted off their Tattoo You album ~ The song originated from an early 1970s draft, then still titled Waiting For A Friend, recorded during the sessions for their Goat's Head Soup album released in 1973. However, it would be almost a decade before they finished the song. Waiting On A Friend is noted especially for its dreamy qualities with lead singer Mick Jagger showing a more mature of himself. The saxophone solo on the track is performed by iconic jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, who also guested on the tracks Slave and Neighbours off the same album. Jagger would later reveal he was nervous about asking Rollins: “I had a lot of trepidation about working with Sonny Rollins. This guy's a giant of the saxophone. Charlie Watts said, ‘He's never going to want to play on a Stones record!’ I said, ‘Yes he is going to want to.’ And he did and he was wonderful”
August 24, 1979 ~ Singer Prince releases I Wanna Be Your Lover, lead single off his eponymous Prince sophomore album ~ His first major hit, reaching top 20 Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Billboard R&B chart. Prince promoted the song by lip-syncing it on American Bandstand, where he gave host Dick Clark an awkward interview, answering his questions with one-word answers only. The single would also be released in the UK, where it stayed just outside of the top 40. The singer gave some shows in London but was forced to cancel due to poor attendance. It would be a few more years before he finally broke through with the Purple Rain album and accompanying film, released in 1984August 24, 1976 ~ Pianist, organist, singer, composer Michael Head, full name Michael Dewar Head, passed away in Cape Town, South Africa ~ Concert pianist, singer active since the late 1920s. Wrote a piano concerto, a tone poem and scherzo for orchestra. Best known for his song cycles Over The Rim Of The Moon and Songs Of The Countryside, the former containing his best known song The Ships Of Arcady ~ Head was born in 1900