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 26, 1979 ~ Guitarist Allison Robertson, full name Allison Rae Robertson, born in North Hollywood, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of all-female rock outfit the Donnas, known best for the early 2000s singles Take It Off and Fall Behind Me. Also formed the sibling duo Elle Rae with her sister Emily Robertson, and was a member of the Chelsea Girls during the late 2000s
August 26, 1976 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Amaia Montero, full name Amaia Montero Saldias, born in Irun, Spain ~ Lead singer of pop outfit La Oreja De Van Gogh from 1996 through 2007, wrote some of the band's best known including La Playa, Mariposa and Puedes Contar Conmigo. Released her eponymous Amaia Montero debut album in 2008 and has guested on recordings by Alex Ubago (Sin Miedo A Nada), El Canto De Loco, José Luis Perales, Rocio Dúrcal, Alejandro Fernández, Eros Ramazzotti (Está Pasando Noviembre), Presuntos Implicados, Miguel Bosé, Tiziano Ferro, and Franco de Vita
August 26, 1975 ~ Flamenco guitarist Amir John Haddad born in Freiburg im Breisgau, West Germany ~ Member of Radio Tarifa since the late 1990s, an ensemble merging flamenco with Arabic and Moorish influences. Also well known for collaborating with Thomas Vogt and Héctor Tellini on the album 9 Guitarras released in 2013, which includes Haddad's best known compositions Suena El Viento, Punta Y Tacon, Recuerdos, and Dos Palomas VuelanAugust 26, 1972 ~ Gospel, jazz singer, pianist, organist Kim Burrell born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ First gained serious attention as featured singer on Ricky Dillard's Jesus Paid It All of the Worked It Out album. As a solo artist best known for her acclaimed 1999 Everlasting Life album. Notable guest appearances include R Kelly's 2004 3-Way Phone Call alongside Kelly Price, George Clinton's 2008 Mathematics Of Love and Pharrell Williams' 2016 I See A Victory
August 26, 1971 ~ Christian rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Pete Orta, full name Pete Thelonious Orta, born in Port Lavaca, Texas, USA ~ Member of Christian rock outfit Petra from 1996 through 2000, present on the albums God Fixation and Double Take. Released his sole solo album, Born Again, in 2001. Has also guested on recordings by Jaci Velasquez, Steven Delopoulos, Rachael Lampa, and Michael Cook
August 26, 1971 ~ Ron Christopher Watts, commonly known as hip-hop MC Phat Kat, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Especially known for his association with J Dilla. Released his full-length The Undeniable LP solo debut album in 2004. Has collaborated with Jay Dee, BR Gunna, Slum Village, and Lil' Skeeter
August 26, 1971 ~ Ariadna Thalia Sodi Mirandi Mottola, commonly known as singer, actress, songwriter, producer Thalia, born in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Sometimes referred to as “the Queen of Latin pop.” Collaborated with Tony Bennett, Michael Bublé, Robbie Williams, Marc Anthony, Laura Pausini, Romeo Santos, Carlos Vives, Maluma, Prince Royce, Becky G, Natti Natasha, Gente De Zona, and Lali
August 26, 1969 ~ Drummer, percussionist, producer Drew Hester born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Perhaps best known for his association with the Foo Fighters, notably present on the Grammy Award-winning Echoes Silence Patience & Grace album released in 2007. Has worked with a wide array of artists including Common Sense, Joe Walsh, Lisa Marie Presley, Jewel, Chicago, Beck, and Stevie Nicks
August 26, 1966 ~ Guitarist Dan Vickrey born in Walknut Creel, California, USA ~ Member of the Counting Crows since 1994, first appearing on the band's sophomore Recovering The Satellites album. Co-wrote the band's Accidentally In Love, used in the 2004 animated feature film Shrek 2. Formed the side project the Tender Mercies in 2011 with Crows-bandmate drummer Jim Bogios, Patrick Winningam and Kurt Stevenson
August 26, 1966 ~ Country guitarist, banjoist Jimmy Olander born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Core member of Diamond Rio, joining the band in 1985 replacing Larry Beard. The band would become the first act to reach the top position on the Billboard Country charts with their debut single, namely Meet In The Middle of their 1991 eponymous Diamond Rio album. Subsequent hits would include How Your Love Makes Me Feel, One More Day, Beautiful Mess and I Believe
August 26, 1966 ~ Alternative rock, electronic, dream pop singer, keyboardist, guitarist Shirley Manson, full name Shirley Ann Manson, born in Edinburgh, UK ~ Known for her rebellious attitude and distinctive voice. Member of Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. Recorded as a sole album, 1994's Angelfish, under the moniker Angelfish featuring contributions from Talking Heads-members Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. Best known as lead singer of Garbage, joining the band in 1995 and becoming the primary songwriter by their 1998 Version 2.0 sophomore album. Manson has also ventured into acting, cast as a Terminator in the 2008 TV series Terminator (The Sarah Connor Chronicles) aired on Fox
August 26, 1965 ~ Rockers the Yardbirds record Evil Hearted You at Advision Sound, London, UK ~ Written by Graham Gouldman. Produced by Giorgio Gomelsky and Paul Samwell-Smith. Released later the same year paired with Still I'm Sad on the flip side, the single would peak at No.3 in their native UK, making it their fourth top 10 hit. In retrospect, critics would view the song as a minor-key pop classic with guitarist Jeff Beck's solo “equal parts classical and James Bond soundtrack”. Notably covered by Human Beinz and the Pixies, the latter translating the lyrics to Spanish
August 26, 1961 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter Daniel Lévi born in Constantine, French Algeria ~ Active since the early 1980s, releasing his full-length Cocktail debut album in 1983. Duetted with Karine Costa on Ce Rêve Blue, used for the French-language version of the Disney animated feature film Aladdin. The original English-language version of the song, A Whole New World, would win an Academy Award for Best Original Song. As a solo artist Lévi is best known for his 2000 L'Envie D'Aimer hit single ~ Lévi passed away in 2022
August 26, 1960 ~ Saxophonist Branford Marsalis born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Equally at home in the fields of classical and jazz music. To pop audiences probably best known for founding Buckshot LeFonque, the band name taken from a pseudonym once used by Cannonball Adderley, merging jazz with rock and hip hop. Also well known for his association with Sting, appearing on several of the singer's album from the mid-1980s through the late 1990s including Dream Of The Blue Turtles. Has also worked with Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, the Jazz Messengers, Herbie Hancock, the Grateful Dead, and the New York Philharmonic
August 26, 1960 ~ Pop, pop rock singer Claudia Fontaine born in London, UK ~ Formed the 1980s pop group Afrodiziak, initially a duo with Caron Wheeler and later joined by Naomi Thompson. The group is best known as backing choir on recordings by Elvis Costello, the Jam (Beat Surrender), Madness, Neneh Cherry, Heaven 17, and the Hothouse Flowers. Fontaine is also noted for singing lead on the Beatmasters's 1989 Warm Love hit single, and as touring member for Pink Floyd, Robbie Williams, Joe Cocker ~ Fontaine passed away in 2018
August 26, 1958 ~ Jazz bassist David Finck born in Rochester, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Woody Herman, Annie Ross, Al Cohn, Ernestine Anderson, Rosemary Clooney, Tom Harrell, Clark Terry, Paquito d'Rivera, Steve Kuhn, Freddie Hubbard, Makoto Ozone, Joe Locke, Tom Ranier, Joe LaBarbera, Tisziji Muñoz, and André PrevinAugust 26, 1958 ~ Brian John Duffy, commonly known as rock, new wave, punk rock drummer, percussionist Jet Black, born in Ilford, UK ~ Co-founding member of the Stranglers, known for UK top 10 hits such as Peaches, No More Heroes, Golden Brown, Strange Little Girl and the Kinks-cover All Day And All Of The Night. As of 2015 Black has retired from touring with the band ~ Duffy passed away in 2022
August 26, 1958 ~ Trumpet, flugelhorn player John Thirkell born ~ Worked with Level 42, Pixie Lott, Rod Stewart, George Michael, Lisa Stansfield, Jamiroquai, UB40, Cher, Tina Turner, Swing Out Sister, the Spice Girls, Phil Collins, Kylie Minogue, Tom Jones, Spandau Ballet, Tom Jones, M-People, Prefab Sprout, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Take That, ABC, Bros, the Stereo MC's, Randy Crawford, Katrina & the Waves, Culture Club, the Style Council, Lionel Richie, The The, Anastacia, Cher, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Jakko M Jakszyk, Maxi Priest, M-People, Right Said Fred, Angélique Kidjo, the Pet Shop Boys, the Beautiful South, the Hothouse Flowers, James Morrison, Paloma Faith, Jamie Cullum, Jeff Beck, and Bruno MarsAugust 26, 1958 ~ Composer Ralph Vaughan Williams passed away in London, UK ~ One of Britain's most popular symphonists, noted for his wide range of moods. Has also composed operas, ballets, chamber music, orchestral works and hymns. Best known for works such as 1910's Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis, 1914's The Lark Ascending and 1930's Job A Masque For Dancing ~ Vaughan Williams was born in 1872
August 26, 1956 ~ Trumpeter, drummer, bandleader, singer Norbert Susemihl born in Hamburg, West Germany ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by Louis Armstrong, Bunk Johnson, De De Pierce, Alvin Acorn, Jack Willis, Wynton Marsalis, Kid Thomas Valentine, Percy Humphrey. Worked with Thomas Letienne, the Shepherds, Willie Humphrey, Fred Lonzo, Lars Edegran, Orange Kellin, Frank Fields, Ernie Elly, Jason Marsalis, Louis Ford, Daniel Farrow, Kerry Lewis, Seva Venet, Wanda Rouzan, Nadia & the Rabbits, the New Orleans Delight, Al Lewis, the Savoy Ballroom Orchestra, Joyful Gumbo, and Arlington Annex
August 26, 1955 ~ Pianist, singer, bandleader, A&R executive, songwriter Bob Miller passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Orphaned at a young age, Miller has claimed he ran away in his early teens to New Orleans to pursue a career in music, eventually ending up in Memphis before the 1920s where he would gain regional recognition, serving as bandleader on the Idlewild steamship and local radio. After relocating to New York in the late 1920s, Miller began writing country songs under a variety of aliases, later also working as an A&R executive and a music publisher for both his own songs and for other artists. Miller has claimed to have written some 7,000 songs over the course of his career. Well known songs include Rockin' Alone (In An Old Rockin' Chair) (Tex Owens, Ferlin Husky, the Everly Brothers), Chime Bells (Britt & Ford, Rex Allen, Slim Whitman), and Driftwood On The River (Elton Britt, Ernest Tubb, Ray Price, Don Gibson). Others who recorded his songs include Cliff Carlisle, Odis Elder, Ray Whitley, Roy Acuff, Curley Williams, Pat Boone (There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere), and Wynn Stewart ~ Miller was born in 1895August 26, 1950 ~ Jazz trombonist Fred Lonzo born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Influenced by Kid Ory and Frog Joseph. Worked with Ernest Doc Paulin, the Young Tuxedo Brass Band, Alvin Alcorn, Doc Cheatham, Evan Christopher, Lars Edegran, Bob French, Wynton Marsalis, Teddy Riley, Michael White, Wendell Brunious, and Sammy RImington
August 26, 1949 ~ Bubblegum pop, pop rock guitarist, singer Bob Cowsill born in Newport, Rhode Island, USA ~ Member of family outfit the Cowsills, which served as an inspiration for the 1970s TV series the Partridge Family. The band is best known for their 1967 single The Rain The Park & Other Things, which reached top 10 in numerous countries including on the Billboard Hot 100
August 26, 1949 ~ Dickran Gobalian, commonly known as singer, guitarist Leon Redbone, born in Nicosia, British Cyprus ~ Jazz, blues, roots singer with over a dozen album to his name starting with 1975's On The Track. Preferred material from the Tin Pan Alley-era, circa 1890 to 1910. Upon a chance meeting in 1972 Redbone impressed Bob Dylan, the latter mentioning him in a Rolling Stone interview leading the magazine to do a profile on Redbone ~ Gobalian passed away in 2019August 26, 1948 ~ Singer, songwriter Jean-Paul Corbineau born in Nantes, France ~ Co-founding member of Tri Yann along with Jean Chocun and Jean-Louis Jossic, a folk rock band known for drawing from traditional folk ballads. Well known songs include La Jument De Michao, Dans Les Prisons De Nantes, and Bro Gosh Ma Zadou ~ Corbineau passed away in 2022