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, 1956 ~ Rock, glam rock singer, drummer, guitarist, saxophonist Steve Whiteman born in Piedmont, West Virginia, USA ~ Lead singer of KIX, with whom he recorded seven albums. The band is best known for their 1989 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 power ballad Don't Close Your Eyes. Following the band's initial disbandement Whiteman co-founded and fronted Funny Money
August 28, 1955 ~ Reggae lovers rock singer, toaster Beres Hammond, full name Hugh Beresford Hammond, born in Annotto Bay, Jamaica ~ Lead singer of Zap Pow from 1975 to 1979, known for the 1978 Jamaican hit single The System. As a solo artist reached the Jamaican charts with the ballad One Step Ahead in 1976 and the Joe Gibbs-produced I'm In Love in 1978. Internationally first gained attention with mid-1980 songs such as Groovy Little Thing and Settling Down. Would go on to establish himself as leading artist in the lovers rock genre in the 1990s
August 28, 1955 ~ Rigobert Bamundele, commonly known as soukous guitarist, songwriter Rigo Star, born ~ In-demand session guitarist on the French and African world music scenes from the mid-1980s onward. Appeared on albums by Koffi Olomidé, Papa Wemba, M'bilia Bel (Yalowa), Oliver N'Goma, Guy Lobe, Bibi Dens, Elles, and Madilu System. Notably present on Paul Simon's acclaimed 1990 The Rhythm Of The Saints album. Star has occasionally recorded as a solo artist, noted for his 1998 Attention album featuring singer Sam Mangwana ~ Bamundele passed away in 2023
August 28, 1953 ~ Michael Gregory Jackson, commonly known as jazz, avant-garde, R&B guitarist Michael Gregory, born in New Haven, Connecticut, USA ~ Recorded both under his full name and as Michael Gregory, the latter to avoid confusion with the pop singer Michael Jackson. First gained attention backing Oliver Lake in the mid 1970s, with whom he would record several albums. Over a dozen albums to his name as a leader, noted especially for Gifts released in 1979. Jackson has also appeared on albums by Nona Hendryx (The Heat), Al Jarreau, Clyde Criner, Amina Claudine Myers, Robert Hooks, Matthew Shipp, and Fiona Renshaw
August 28, 1951 ~ Singer, producer, songwriter Keiichi Suzuki born in Tokyo, Japan ~ Co-founded the Moonriders, considered one of Japan's most innovative rock bands. Formed the duo the Beatniks with Yukihiro Takahashi. Member of trio the Three Blind Moses. Also well known as an actor, composer for film, notably The Blind Swordsman, Uzumaki and the Outrage trilogy, and for video games
August 28, 1949 ~ Alternative rock, new wave, punk rock, post-punk singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter, author Hugh Cornwell, full name Hugh Alan Cornwell, born in London, UK ~ Fronted the Stranglers, one of the most successful and beloved bands to emerge from the UK's late 1970s punk pop scene. Cornwell is present on most of the band's best known, including UK top 10 hits such as Peaches, No More Heroes, and Golden Brown, before departing the band in 1990 over artistic differences with the band's bassist and co-lead singer Jean-Jacques Burnel. Following his departure from the band, Cornwell has worked with Roger Cook and Andy West under the monniker CCW, known for their sole eponymous CCW album, has recorded over half a dozen solo albums, most notably Hi Fi released in 2001, and has written several books including The Stranglers (Song By Song) guiding the reader through the Stranglers catalogue
August 28, 1949 ~ Jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, music journalist Mike Metheny born in Lee's Summit, Missouri, USA ~ Originally a classical music trumpeter, Metheny unlike his more famous brother Pat Metheny has never become a household name, yet is acclaimed for about a dozen jazz albums as a leader, notably his 1982 Blue Jay Sessions debut album, and as a valued sideman on recordings by his brother Pat (Secret Story), Karrin Allyson, Gary Sivils, the Leonard Brothers, Paul Hofmann, and Megan Birdsall. Metheny has also worked as a music journalist since the early 1990s, serving as editor or contributor for magazines such as Jazz Ambassador, KC Magazine, and Jazziz
August 28, 1948 ~ Drummer Danny Seraphine, full name Daniel Peter Seraphine, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Cites drummers Buddy Rich, Elvin Jones, Grady Tate, Ringo Starr, Mitch Mitchell, and Hal Blaine as influences. Best known as co-founding and longtime member of Chicago, one of the longest-running and most successful pop rock outfits. During Seraphine's two decades plus tenure with the band, they racked up some dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits including the No.1 hits If You Leave Me Now, Hard To Say I'm Sorry, and Look Away. Other well known songs include 25 Or 6 To 4, Saturday In The Park, Take Me Back To Chicago, and No Tell Lover, the latter two co-written by Seraphine. Seraphine also co-wrote Street Player with Rufus-keyboardist Hawk Wolinski, first recorded by Rufus with Chaka Khan in 1978, and by Chicago the following year. Upon his departure from the band in 1990, Seraphine retired from music only to resurface over a dozen years later with California Transit Authority, the band name a nod to Chicago's original name Chicago Transit Authority, playing both Chicago classics and new originals. In 2015, the city of Chicago, Illinois, renamed the 3500 block of North Normandy Avenue to Honorary Danny Seraphine Way in honor of Seraphine
August 28, 1948 ~ Rock, garage rock, hard rock, punk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Fred Cole, full name Frederick Lee Cole, born in Tacoma, Washington, USA ~ Active from the mid 1960s well into the 2000s. First gained attention as a member of garage rock outfit the Weeds, known for their sole single It's Your Time released in 1966 and over time becoming a cult classic. The band would later be renamed to Lollipop Shoppe. Cole would go on to work with acts such as King Bee, Rats, Dead Moon, and Pierce Arrows ~ Cole passed away in 2017August 28, 1948 ~ Guitarist, arranger, songwriter Terry Taylor, full name Terence Martin Taylor, born ~ Fronted Tucky Buzzard. Last surviving member of the Arrows. Co-founded Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings with the Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman
August 28, 1945 ~ Rock singer, songwriter Bob Segarini, full name Robert Joseph Segarini, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Cult hero, known best perhaps as co-founding member of folk rock outfit the Wackers, with whom he recorded the albums Wackering Heights, Hot Wacks, and Shredder before the band disbanded in the mid 1970s. The band had earned critical acclaim during their brief lifespan, drawing comparisons to the Hollies, the Beatles, and Crosby Stills & Nash. A fourth album, Wack'n'Roll, remained unreleased. Previously, Segarini had worked with the Ratz, which included the then-unknown guitarist Gary Duncan of later Quicksilver Messenger Service fame, Roxy, and the Dudes. Following his tenure with the Wackers, Segarini recorded four solo albums, notably Gotta Have Pop released in 1978, before pursuing a career as a radio host from the mid-1980s onwards ~ Segarini passed away in 2023
August 28, 1944 ~ José Angel Amato, commonly known as singer, songwriter, actor José Angel Trelles, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ First gained attention in the musical TV show Siete Y Medio and subsequently winning the Canciorena talent contest, the latter landing him a record deal. Has recorded about two dozen albums since and collaborated with the likes of Sandro de América, Estela Raval, Rubén Juárez, Alberto Cortez, and perhaps most notably Astor Piazzolla, touring nationally and abroad with the latter as a member of his backing unit the Octeto Electronico. Has also starred in numerous stage productions, including the Piazzolla-penned operetta Maria De Buenos Aires ~ Amato passed away in 2022August 28, 1943 ~ Soprano singer Anne-Lise Berntsen born in Drammen, Norway ~ Best known for her association with Nils-Henrik Asheim, notably on the Engleskyts albums Engleskyts and Kom Regin ~ Berntsen passed away in 2012
August 28, 1943 ~ Richard David Solberg, commonly known as actor, singer David Soul, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as an actor, appearing in TV shows such as Here Comes The Bride, Magnum Force, and perhaps most notably Starsky & Hutch, portraying the role of Hutch. Solberg has also recorded as a singer, enjoying popularity during the mid 1970s especially in the UK. Well-known songs include Going In With My Eyes Open, Silver Lady, Let's Have A Quiet Night In, and Don't Give Up On Us, the latter also reaching No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 ~ Solberg passed away in 2024August 28, 1943 ~ Drummer, singer Honey Lantree born in Hayes, UK ~ At the time one of the very few female drummers, member of the Honeycombs best known for their 1964 million-seller Have I The Right, a top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic
August 28, 1941 ~ Jazz, jazz-rock, rock drummer John Marshall, full name John Stanley Marshall, born in Isleworth, UK ~ One of the UK's most renowned jazz-rock drummers. Founding member of Nucleus, noted for albums such as Elastic Rock and We'll Talk About It Later. Replaced Phil Howard when he joined Soft Machine in 1972. Has also played with the band's spin-offs Soft Works and Soft Machine Legacy. Other notable collaborations include Graham Collier, Neil Ardley, Jack Bruce (Songs For A Tailor), Centipede, Hugh Hopper, Volker Kriegel, Charlie Mariano (Helen 12 Trees), Eberhard Weber, Ian Carr, Uli Beckerhoff, and Porcupine Tree ~ Marshall passed away in 2023August 28, 1941 ~ Singer, guitarist, musical director Joseph Shabalala born in Ladysmith, South Africa ~ Best known as founder and thriving force of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the ensemble rising to stardom after collaborating with Paul Simon on the latter's acclaimed Graceland album. Shabalala retired from the group in 2015, his son Thamsanqa Shabalala taking over as leader of the group
August 28, 1940 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Baxter Taylor born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA ~ Formed the Wayfarers Trio with Mason Williams and Bill Cheatwood, known for their sole album Songs Of The Blue And Grey released in 1961. Became a member of the New Christy Minstrels in 1962. Co-wrote Marie Laveau with Shel Silverstein, first recorded by Dr Hook & the Medicine Show and notably covered by Bobby Bare
August 28, 1940 ~ George Ivy Hunter, commonly known as singer, songwriter, producer Ivy Jo Hunter, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Session keyboardist on a number of early Motown recordings before focusing on songwriting, mostly in partnership with William Mickey Stevenson. Artists who recorded his songs include the Spinners, Martha & the Vandellas (Dancing In the Street), the Four Tops (Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever), the Temptations, the Contours, Jimmy Ruffin, the Marvelettes (Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead), the Miracles, the Isley Brothers (Behind A Painted Smile), Brenda Holloway, Marvin Gaye (You're The One), Chuck Jackson, and Aretha Franklin (Without Love) ~ Hunter passed away in 2022
August 28, 1940 ~ Doo-wop singer Walter Ward born in Jackson, Mississippi, USA ~ Lead singer of 1950s doo-wop group the Olympics, known for songs such as Western Movies, I Wanna Dance With The Teacher, Baby Hully Gully which inspired a dance craze, and for Good Lovin' which would later be covered by the Young Rascals ~ Ward passed away in 2006
August 28, 1938 ~ Beatrice Pauline Botty, commonly known as pianist, organist Beebe Freitas, born in Youngstown, Ohio, USA ~ Best known as music director of the Hawaii Opera Theatre. Also worked with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Collegiate Chorale, the Camerata Singers, the New York Philharmonic, David Shifrin, Yo-Yo Ma, Sasha Cooke, and Frederica von Stade ~ Freitas passed away in 2018
August 28, 1937 ~ Drummer Clem Cattini born in London, UK ~ Member of the Beat Boys, Johnny Kidd & the Pirates (Shakin' All Over), and of the Tornados (Telstar). Would go on to become an in-demand session musician, appearing on recordings by the Kinks, Herman's Hermits, Dusty Springfield, the Merseys, the Bee Gees, Lulu, Marianne Faithfull, Tom Jones, the Hollies, the Wombles, Gene Pitney, Donovan, Jeff Beck, Engelbert Humperdinck, the Ivy League, Edison Lighthouse, the Yardbirds, Marc Bolan, the Flower Pot Men, Georgie Fame, Joe Cocker, Graham Gouldman, Cliff Richard, Justin Hayward, Phil Everly, Alvin Stardust, Demis Roussos, Paul McCartney, and Chris Spedding
August 28, 1937 ~ Bassist Joe Osborn born in Mound, Louisiana, USA ~ Session bassist best known as member of both the Wrecking Crew and the Nashville A-Team. Over the course of his career Osborn worked with Dale Hawkins, Bob Luman, Roy Buchanan, James Burton, Ricky Nelson (Traveling Man), Lou Adler, Bones Howe, the Mamas & the Papas (California Dreamin'), the Association, the Grass Roots (Midnight Confession), the 5th Dimension, Simon & Garfunkel (Bridge Over Troubled Water), America (Ventura Highway), Neil Diamond, the Carpenters, Nancy Sinatra, Kenny Rogers, Mel Tillis, Hank Williams Jr, Johnny Rivers (Memphis), and Richard Harris (MacArthur Park) ~ Osborn passed away in 2018August 28, 1937 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, pianist, singer Phil Shulman, full name Philip Arthur Shulman, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Eldest brother of Derek Shulman and Ray Shulman. All brothers were members of Simon Dupree & the Big Sound before forming progressive rock group Gentle Giant. Shulman remained with the group from 1970 to 1973, appearing on the albums Gentle Giant, Acquiring The Taste, Three Friends, and Octopus
August 28, 1931 ~ Martha Jane Greene, commonly known as actress, singer Jane Green, passed away in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Popular 1920s singer known for her association with Florenz Ziegfeld Jr and appearing in several Broadway productions including 1919's Nine O'Clock Review, 1923's Nitties Of 1923 and 1925's Greenwich Follies Revue. Married to songwriter Jimmy Byler from 1918 until Byler's death in 1924 ~ Greene was born in 1897
August 28, 1931 ~ Operatic bass-baritone John Shirley-Quirk, full name John Stanton Shirley-Quirk, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Member of the Purcell Singers. Closely associated with composer Benjamin Britten, who wrote several roles especially for him. Notable performances include roles in Britten's Curlew River, Canticle IV (Journey Of The Magi), and Death In Venice. Has worked with the English Opera Group, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Scottish Opera ~ Shirley-Quirk passed away in 2014