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 3, 2024 ~ Classical cellist Antônio Meneses passed away in Basel, Switzerland ~ 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 was born in 1957
August 3, 2024 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, gospel, R&B clarinetist, keyboardist, music director Shaun Martin passed away 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 was born in 1978August 3, 2023 ~ Conductor, composer Carl Davis passed away in Oxford, UK ~ Best known as prolific composer for film and TV, notably the 1981 drama film The French Lieutenant's Woman and the 1995 BBC TV series Pride & Prejudice. To pop audiences perhaps best known for collaborating with Paul McCartney on the 1991 Liverpool Oratorio album, McCartney's first foray into classical music ~ Davis was born in 1936
August 3, 2022 ~ Heavy metal, hard rock singer, keyboardist, guitarist Nicky Moore, full name Nicholas Charles Moore, passed away ~ Best known as a member of Samson, joining the band in 1982 replacing Bruce Dickinson and first appearing on the Before The Storm album. Member of Mammoth. Has also worked with Hackensack, Mister Big Stuff, and From Behind. Would gravitate towards a more bluesy sound with his own bands the Nicky Moore Band and especially Nicky Moore's Blues Corporation ~ Moore was born in 1947August 3, 2021 ~ Engineer, producer Allan Blazek passed away in Michigan City, Indiana, USA ~ Mentored by producer Bill Szymczyk. Engineered the Eagles' pivotal Hotel California album. Would go on to produce albums by Glenn Frey, REO Speedwagon, the J Geils Band (Bloodshot), Fandango, Elvin Bishop (Struttin' My Stuff), and the Outlaws ~ Blazek was born in 1950
August 3, 2020 ~ Rock, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Michael Peter Smith passed away ~ On par with John Prine and Steve Goodman, though never became a household name. Best known for penning and first recording The Dutchman, popularized by Goodman and covered by numerous artists including Suzy Bogguss, John McDermott, the New Kingston Trio, Tom Russell, and Jerry Jeff Walker. Over a dozen albums to his name including collaborations with Anne Hills, James Lee Stanley, Jamie O'Reilly and several with Barbara Barrow ~ Smith was born in 1941August 3, 2019 ~ Producer, songwriter Henri Belolo passed away in Paris, France ~ Most active during the disco era. Club DJ, A&R representative. Best known as producer and songwriter who, along with Jacques Morali, was behind the chart-busting acts Ritchie Family and the Village People ~ Belolo was born in 1936
August 3, 2016 ~ Singer Ricci Martin passed away in Kansas, Utah, USA ~ Son of singer Dean Martin. Fronted the Pack. Collaborated with the Beach Boys singer Carl Wilson. One third of Ricci Desi & Billy, the other two being Desi Arnaz Jr and Billy Hinsche who had previously worked with Martin's late brother Dean Paul Martin under the moniker Dino Desi & Billy ~ Martin was born in 1953
August 3, 2014 ~ Pianist Kenny Drew Jr passed away in St Petersburg, Florida, USA ~ Son of Kenny Drew. Cited Thelonious Monk as influence. Leader and sideman. Worked with Bob Berg, Charnett Moffett, Al Foster, Terence Blanchard, Cody Moffett, Buster Williams, Marvin Smitty Smith, Christian McBride, Winard Harper, Wallace Roney, Ralph Moore, George Mraz, David Sánchez, Lewis Nash, Joshua Redman, Eddie Gomez, Bill Stewart, Lynn Seaton, Michael Philip Mossman, Ravi Coltrane, Steve Nelson, Tony Reedus, Peter Washington, Larry Coryell, Jon Burr, Hal Melia, the Mingus Big Band, Carl Allen, Steve Slagle, Stanley Turrentine, Daniel Schnyder, Jack Walrath, Ron McClure, Bubba Brooks, Warren Vaché Jr, Paul F Kendall, Johnny Griffin, Butch Miles, Jeff Rupert, Paquito d'Rivera, Richard Drexler, and Kevin Celebi ~ Drew was born in 1958August 3, 2011 ~ Progressive metal singer Andrew McDermott passed away ~ Best known as a member of Threshold, joining the band in 1998 replacing Damian Wilson. Has also worked with Sargant Fury, Yargos, Swampfreaks, and with Powerworld ~ McDermott was born in 1966
August 3, 2011 ~ Pianist Nikolai Petrov, full name Nikolai Arnoldovich petrov, passed away in Moscow, Russia ~ Son of cellist Arnold Ferkelman. Classically trained from an early age. Internationally renowned pianist. Has worked with conductors such as Mariss Jansons, Kirill Kondrashin, Gennnady Rozhdestvensky, Yevgeny Svetlanov, and Yuri Temirkanov ~ Petrov was born in 1943
August 3, 2010 ~ Robert Von Hebb, singer, commonly known as Bobby Hebb, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best remembered for his 1966 hit Sunny. Other notable songs include A Satisfied Mind and Love Me. Started working professionally with country artists such as Roy Acuff, and sang backup on Bo Diddley's Diddley Daddley, and replaced Mickey Baker in Mickey & Sylvia ~ Hebb was born in 1938August 3, 2008 ~ Singer Erik Darling passed away in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA ~ Influential figure in the late 1950s, early 1960s folk scene. As a solo artist best known for his 1961 True Religion sophomore album. Founded the Tarriers, known for their 1956 rendition of The Banana Boat Song. Worked with the Kossy Sisters on their 1956 Bowling Green. Joined the Weavers in 1958, replacing Pete Seeger. Member of the Rooftop Singers ~ Darling was born in 1933
August 3, 2008 ~ Rock, blues-rock guitarist Roger Dean, full name David Roger Bryan Dean, passed away ~ Briefly a member of John Mayall's backing unit the Bluesbreakers, present on the 1965 John Mayall Plays John Mayall album. Also worked with the Nu Notes, Spike Island, the Bluejays, PP Arnold, and Jonathan King ~ Dean was born in 1943
August 3, 2006 ~ Arthur Porter Taylor, commonly known as singer, songwriter Arthur Lee, passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Rose to fame as frontman of Love, known for a number of mid- to late 1960s albums, most of which initially sold only moderately but did garner a cult following. Especially noted is the band's third album, Forever Changes, which Rolling Stone ranked as 40th greatest album of all-time in 2012 ~ Taylor was born in 1945
August 3, 2003 ~ Country singer, songwriter Redd Stewart passed away in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Member of the Golden West Cowboys which included Eddy Arnold and Pee Wee King. Best remembered for co-writing The Tennessee Waltz with King. The song would be recorded by Patti Page, Roy Acuff, the Louvin Brothers, Elvis Presley, and by numerous others. Stewart also wrote or co-wrote songs such as Jim Reeves' That's A Sad Affair, Moon Mullican's Downstream, Hawkshaw Hawkins' Slow Poke, and Ernest Tubb's Soldier's Last Letter ~ Stewart was born in 1923August 3, 2002 ~ Saxophonist Jerry Underwood passed away in Chambéry, France ~ Closely associated with John Martyn, backing the folk, folk rock guitarist on albums such as Could't Love You More and And. Perhaps best known as a member of Pentangle from 1995, first appearing on the Passe Avant album, until his death at age 45 of a brain tumor. Underwood has also guested on albums by Andy Sheppard, Carla Bley, Gail Thompson, and Tim Richards ~ Underwood was born in 1956
August 3, 1999 ~ R&B singer Donell Jones releases U Know What's Up featuring Lisa Left-Eye Lopes, lead single off his Where I Wanna Be sophomore album ~ Produced by Eddie F and Darrren Lighty, who co-wrote the song with Clifton Lighty, Balewa Muhammad, Anthony Hamilton and Veronica McKenzie, U Know What's Up would become one of Donell Jones' biggest hits, reaching top 10 in the Netherlands, Ireland, and the UK. The song would be especially popular in the UK, where it sold over 600,000 copies ands reached No.2. In his native America, the single reached No.7 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, making it his only one to reach top 10, and topped the Billboard R&B charts for eight consecutive weeks
August 3, 1999 ~ Bassist Leroy Vinnegar passed away in Portland, Oregon, USA ~ Earned the nickname “the Walker” for his trademark rhythmic walking bass line, a steady series of ascending or descending notes. Vinnegar first gained notoriety in the 1950s recording with artists such as Lee Konitz, André Previn (including on the quintessential 1956 album My Fair Lady, one of the most successful records ever produced), Stan Getz, Shorty Rogers, Chet Baker, Shelly Manne, Joe Castro, and Serge Chaloff. Vinnegar has recorded with numerous others since, including Dolo Coker, Sonny Criss, the Doors (on the 1968 album Waiting For The Sun), Kenny Drew, Teddy Edwards, Red Garland, the Jazz Crusaders, and with Van Morrison (on the critically acclaimed 1972 album St Dominics Preview) ~ Vinnegar was born in 1928August 3, 1997 ~ Markeyvius LaShun Cathey, commonly known as hip-hop, trap rapper Key Glock, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Protégé and regular collaborator of Young Dolph. Influenced by Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne, and Three 6 Mafia. First gained in 2017 with his Glock Season mixtape. Released his full-length Yellow Tape debut album in 2020
August 3, 1991 ~ Joey Vercher, commonly known as hip-hop rapper, producer, songwriter Joey Fatts, born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Active since the early-2010s, known for a number of mixtapes released with the help of A$AP Yams. Produced A$AP Rocky's Jodye. Has also worked with Aston Matthews, Vince Staples, the Cutthroat Boyz, and Snoop Dogg
August 3, 1988 ~ Shelley Marshaun Massenburg-Smith, commonly known as producer DRAM, born in Neustadt-an-der-Weinstrasse, West Germany ~ Goes by the stage name of DRAM, an acronym for Does Real Ass Music. Debuted in 2014 with the single Cha Cha which failed to chart. DRAM's sophomore single, 2016's Broccolu featuring Lil' Yachty, would reach No.5 Billboard. His debut studio album Big Baby DRAM would follow in October and reach No.19 on the albums chart. Over the course of his career DRAM has collaborated with DP, E-40, Gorillaz, Trae tha Truth, Young Dolph, Juicy J, and A$AP Rocky
August 3, 1986 ~ Jazz saxophonist, singer Joe Thomas, full name Joseph Vankert Thomas, passed away in Kansas City, Missouri, Missouri ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by Coleman Hawkins and Chu Berry. Worked with Earl Hood, Horace Henderson, Stuff Smith, Jimmie Lunceford, Johnny Grimes, and George Duvivier ~ Thomas was born in 1909August 3, 1984 ~ Ska bassist, guitarist, singer Chris Maurer born ~ Member of ska, ska punk band the Suburban Legends fronted by his brother singer Tim Maurer, joining the band in 2000 as replacement for Justin Meacham. Maurer departed the band in 2004 to continue his education
August 3, 1984 ~ Country singer, songwriter Whitney Duncan born in Scotts Hill, Tennessee, USA ~ First gained attention as contestant on the 2007 edition of the talent contest Nashville Star, reaching 5th place. Would release her eponymous Whitney Duncan debut album later the same year. Best known for the modest hits When I Said I Would and Skinny Dippin', both taken of her 2010 Right Road Now sophomore album