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 28, 1981 ~ Producer, band manager Guy Stevens passed away in South London, UK ~ Perhaps best remembered for producing London Calling, the third studio album by the Clash. The album, released in 1979, would reach top 10 in the band's native UK, and was the band's first to crack the top 30 on the American Billboard Hot 200 album chart. Associated with several labels over the course of his career, notably Sue Records and Island Records, other acts produced by Stevens include Alex Harvey, Larry Williams, Lee Dorsey, and Hapshash & the Coloured Coat, with Stevens also serving as the latter's manager. Stevens is also remembered for coming up with the band names for Procol Harum and Mott The Hoople ~ Stevens was born in 1943August 28, 1981 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Jake Owen born in Vero Beach, Florida, USA ~ Released his debut album, Startin' With Me, in 2006. It would include the hit single Yee Haw. Has opened for artists such as Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Little Big Town and Sugarland early on his career. Well known songs include Something About A Woman, Barefoot Blue Jean Night, Alone With You, American Country Love Song and Homemade
August 28, 1981 ~ Rockabilly singer, songwriter Ronnie Self passed away in Springfield, Missouri, USA ~ As a singer known for his sole charting single, Bop A Lula, a modest hit in 1958. Best known as a songwriter, responsible for songs such as I'm Sorry, Sweet Nothin's and Everybody Loves Me But You all of which were hits for Brenda Lee ~ Self was born in 1938
August 28, 1980 ~ Melodic death metal singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer Antony Hämäläinen born in Hameenlinna, Finland ~ Critically compared to singer Tomas Lindberg of At The Gates. Played bass, drums, and sang for a succession of bands in the 1990s and 2000s, before gaining serious attentionm with Nightrage starting on the 2009 Wearing A Martyr's Crown album. Would go on to sing wirh Meridian Dawn, Armageddon, and Crystal Tears. Hämäläinen has also guested on recordings by Landmine Marathon, Rising Pain, Nervosia, Earthward, Sense Of Noise, and Ancient SettlersAugust 28, 1979 ~ Traditional violinist, fiddler Caoimhin O Raghallaigh born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Developed a fiddle style heavily influenced by uilleann pipes and the music of the Sliabh Luachra region. Well-known for collaborating with piper Mick O'Brien on the 2003 Kitty Lie Over album. Member of the Gloaming, member of This Is How We Fly. Has collaborated with a host of mostly traditional artists including Brendan Begley, Larla O Lianaird, Amiina, Sam Amidon, and the Waterboys
August 28, 1978 ~ Heavy metal, alternative metal, alternative rock drummer Jess Margera, full name Jesse Phillip Margera, born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member of post-grunge, stoner rock outfit CKY, with whom he has recorded about half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Infiltrate Destory Rebuild released in 2002. Previously, Margera and the band's singer, guitarist Deron Miller had paired up in Foreign Objects. Margera has also worked with Gnarkill and Fuckface Unstoppable, both of which included his brother keyboardist Bam Margera, as well as with Viking Skull, the Company Band, the Evesdroppers, and Sovereign EagleAugust 28, 1978 ~ Singer, bassist, songwriter Max Collins, full name James Maxwell Stuart Collins, born ~ Co-founded alternative rock outfit Yakoo, which would be renamed to Eleventeen, and later still to Eve 6 prior to issuing their eponymous Eve 6 debut album in 1998. The band is best known for the singles Inside Out and Here's To The Night, both of which reached top 30 Billboard Hot 100. Collins has also worked with side projects the Sugi Tap and Fitness, and released his Honey From The Ice Box solo album in 2014, an album fully funded by crowdfunding from fans. Collins' brother is guitarist Johnny Collins of Controlling The Famous
August 28, 1977 ~ Progressive metal, progressive black metal guitarist Arve Isdal, also known by the moniker Ice Dale, born in Bergen, Norway ~ Influenced by King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, and Kiss. Known best for his association with the bands the Enslaved and Audrey Home, recording over half a dozen albums with each starting in the mid 2000s. Isdal has also served as engineer, producer or co-producer for the likes of Octavia Sperati, Syrach, Demonaz, and the GatheringAugust 28, 1975 ~ Marva Jean Cooks II, commonly known as rap, hardcore rap, gangsta rap rapper Marvaless, born in Sacramento, California, USA ~ Has recorded about half a dozen albums, starting with Ghetto Blues in 1994 which prominently featured C-Bo. Over the course of her career, Cooks would continue to regularly collaborate with C-Bo, including notably on his Billboard R&B top 10 albums Tales From The Crypt and One Life 2 Live, released respectively in 1995 and 1997. Other notable collaborations include Luni Coleone, Master P, Killa Tay, Lil Ric, Messy Marv (Bonnie And Clyde), Husalah, and the Jacka
August 28, 1975 ~ Jazz trombonist Warren Smith passed away in Santa Barbara, California, USA ~ Learned piano, cornet and saxophone before settling on the trombone. Active from the 1920s, starting in territory bands, through the 1960s. Has worked with Harrison's Texans, Abe Lyman, Bob Crosby, Bud Jacobsen, Bob Scobey, Jess Stacy, Lu Watters, Duke Ellington, Joe Darensbourg, Wild Bill Davison, and Red Nichols ~ Smith was born in 1908August 28, 1974 ~ Alternative rock singer, guitarist Andrew White, full name Andrew Robert White, born in Pontefract, UK ~ Co-founding member of Kaiser Chiefs, known for songs such as Oh My God, I Predict A Riot, Ruby and Never Miss A Beat, all of which reached the British top 10
August 28, 1972 ~ Heavy metal, extreme metal, progressive metal, death metal, black metal drummer Derek Roddy born in Deerfield Beach, Florida, USA ~ Earned the nickname “One Take” for his ability to record entire drum tracks in just one or two takes. Best known for his association with Hate Eternal, appearing on the band's King Of All Kings sophomore album and its successor I Monarch. Roddy has also drummed with Malevolent Creation, Divine Empire, Aurora Borealis, Council Of The Fallen, and Today Is The Day. In 2010, after original drummer Mike Portnoy departed Dream Theater, Roddy was one of seven drummers to auditioned for the vacant spot, which would go to Mike ManginiAugust 28, 1971 ~ Trombonist, violinist Lou McGarrity passed away in Alexandria, Virginia, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Benny Goodman, Eddie Condon, the Lawson-Haggart Band, the World's Greatest Jazz Band, Kenny Davern, Urbie Green, Bobby Hackett, JJ Johnson, Jimmy McPartland, Charlie Parker, and Cootie Williams ~ McGarrity was born in 1917
August 28, 1970 ~ Sherrie Veronica Krenn, commonly known as actress, country singer Sherrié Austin, born in Sydney, Australia ~ Half of Colourhaus, the other half being Phil Radford. As a solo artist debuted with her Words album in 1997. Known for songs such as Lucky In Love, Never Been Kissed and Streets Of Heaven
August 28, 1969 ~ Actor, comedian, singer, guitarist, songwriter Jack Black, full name Thomas Jacob Black, born in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Best known as an actor, notable credits include the feature films The School Of Rock and the 2005 remake of King Kong. As a singer Black is perhaps best known for founding comedy rock duo Tenacious D with longtime friend Kyle Gass, best known for the albums The Pick Of Destiny and Rize Of The Fenix which would both reach top 10 on the Billboard Hot 200 album charts
August 28, 1968 ~ British pop group the Hollies record Listen To Me at EMI Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Tony Hazzard. Produced by Ron Richards. Released as a single, b/w Do The Best That You Can, later the same year it would reach top 20 in the UK. It was the last song recorded featuring Graham Nash during his initial tenure with the band. Songwriter Hazzard would record his own version the following year for his album Tony Hazzard Sings Tony Hazzard
August 28, 1968 ~ Jazz pianist, organist, composer Larry Goldings, full name Lawrence Sam Goldings, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson, Dave McKenna, and by Red Garland. Worked with Sarah Vaughan, Harry Sweets Edison, Al Cohn, Jon Hendricks, Jim Hall, Bobby Previte's Weather Clear Track Fast, Trio Beyond, De La Soul, India Arie, Tracy Chapman, Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot, Michael McDonald, Beck, Walter Becker, Steve Gadd, Leon Russell, Rickie Lee Jones, Sia, John Mayer, Herbie Hancock, Norah Jones, Maceo Parker, John Scofield, Carla Bley, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, John Pizzarelli, Jack DeJohnette, Anthony Wilson, Jim Keltner, Mike Viola, Charlie Haden, James Taylor, Peter Bernstein, David Fathead Newman, Joshua Redman, David Sanborn, Larry Grenadier, Bill Stewart, Matt Wilson, Ben Allison, Harry Allen, Scary Pockets, Kathleen Grace, Till Brönner, Robben Ford, Steve Gadd, Jesse Harris, Jessica Molaskey, Rebecca Pidgeon, Tim Riles, Lee Ritenour, Mark Sholtez, Dave Stryker, Matt Wilson, Priscilla Ahn, Herb Alpert, Benjamin Herman, Al Jarreau, Mark Eltzel, Holly Cole, Jane Monheit, Alexi Murdoch, John Stein, Chris Potter, Eros Ramazzotti, Rod Stewart, Nikki Yanofsky, and Lyle Workman
August 28, 1968 ~ Singer, guitarist, mandolinist, pianist, bassist Tom Freund, full name Thomas Hagstrom Freund, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Draws from folk rock, American and alternative rock. Has recorded well over half a dozen solo albums, especially acclaimed for North American Long Weekend released in 1998 and its follow-up Sympatico released the following year. Also noted for Pleasure & Pain, a collaborative album with then-unknown Ben Harper, and for his stint with alternative country outfit the Silos
August 28, 1967 ~ Goth rock, punk, anarcho-punk singer, guitarist William Faith born ~ Best known for co-founding Faith & the Muse with singer Monica Richards, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums. Has also worked with acts such as Christian Death, Mephisto Waltz, Wreckage, Anima Mundi, and the Bellwether Syndicate
August 28, 1965 ~ Eilleen Regina Edwards, commonly known as singer Shania Twain born in Windsor, Canada ~ Dubbed “the Queen of Country Pop”, sold over 100 million records, making her the all-time best-selling female country artist. Best known for songs such as Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under, Any Man Of Mine, (If You're Not In It For Love) I'm Outta Here, Love Gets Me Every Time, You're Still The One, That Don't Impress Me Much and Man I Feel Like A Woman. Married to producer Robert John Mutt Lange from 1993 to 2010, with whom she has one sonAugust 28, 1964 ~ Fiddler Jim Wood born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ One of the most decorated contest fiddlers, winning some estimated 160 championships, including 15 state championships from 1978 through 2001. Music director of the Tennessee Fiddle Orchestra. Also known as a regular contributor to Strings Magazine, the Devil's Box, Acoustic Guitar and Fiddler Magazine
August 28, 1964 ~ Jazz double bassist Peter Washington in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for his tenure with Art Blakey, touring with Tommy Flanagan, appearing on about a dozen of Bill Charlap's albums, and as a co-founder of the hard bop sextet One For All. An in-demand sideman, Washington has appeared on over 400 albums including recordings by Steve Turre, Ralph Moore (Rejuvenate), Robin Eubanks, Jim Snidero (Blue Afternoon), Walter Bishop Jr, Michal Urbaniak, Wallace Roney (Seth Air), Tom Harrell, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Mulgrew Miller (Time And Again), Walt Weiskopf, Mike LeDonne (Soulmates), Russell Gunnn, Javon Jackson (When The Time Is Right), David Sánchez, Jimmy Ponder, Charles McPherson (First Flight Out), Joe Magnarelli, Richard Wyands, David Hazeltine, Greg Gisbert, Marlena Shaw, Andy Laverne, Kenny Drew Jr, Nnenna Freelon (Maiden Voyage), Giacomo Gates, Byron Stripling (Stripling Now), Ralph Lalama (Music For Grown-ups), Ann Hampton Callaway, Houston Person, Randy Sandke, Don Grolnick, Bennie Wallace, Percy Heath, Jon Weber, and Mark ElfAugust 28, 1962 ~ Singer, songwriter Agustín Ramírez, full name Agustín Ramírez Sánchez, born in San Francisco del Rincón, Mexico ~ Co-founder, frontman of Los Caminantes, for whom he also co-wrote a vast amount of the band's material including Palomita Mensajera, Para Que Quieres Volver, Regresare, He Sabido, Volar Volar, Ven Y Abrazame, Una Noche, Mi Nina, and Lagrimas Al Recordar ~ Ramírez passed away in 2022
August 28, 1962 ~ Jazz trumpeter, conductor Jim Rotondi, full name James Robert Rotondi, born in Butte, Montana, USA ~ Co-founding member of One For All, with whom he recorded well over a dozen albums since the late 1990s including the acclaimed What's Going On released in 2008. Also closely associated with Eric Alexander, Charles Earland, and Irene Reid, recording several albums with each. Rotondi has recorded over a dozen albums as a leader, noted specifically for 1000 Rainbows released in 2010. As a sideman and collaborator, Rotondi has appeared on albums by Ann Hampton Callaway, Susan Tobocman, Bill Mobley, David Hazeltine (How It Is), Giacomo Gates, Dena DeRose, Mike DiRubbo (Keep Steppin'), Cecil Payne, Ned Otter, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Joe Farnsworth, Kyle Eastwood, Peter Lerner, Bob Mintzer (Swing Out), Jon Regen, and Craig Wuepper ~ Rotondi passed away in 2024
August 28, 1958 ~ Jazz composer, conductor, bandleader Dr Anthony Branker born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA ~ Led Imagine, Word Play and Ascent, working with sidemen such as Fabian Almazan, Ralph Bowen, David Binney, Adam Cruz, Kenny Davis, Tia Fuller, Mark Gross, Antonio Hart, Conrad Herwig, and Ralph Peterson Jr. As a composer saw his compositions performed or recorded by Kenny Barron, Cecil Brooks III, Sarah Jane Cion, Joe Ford, Winard Harper, and Valery Ponomarev. As a conductor has worked with Don Braden, Bryan Carrott, Benny Carter, Ted Curson, Jon Faddis, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, and Benny Powell