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 30, 2024 ~ Isaac Freeman III, commonly known as rapper, hype man, promoter, radio and TV personality Fatman Scoop, passed away in Hamden, Connecticut, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for Be Faithful released in 2003. The track heavily sampled from Chic and Faith Evans, would become a club favorite and topped the charts in the UK and Ireland. Freeman has also notably guested on Missy Elliott's Lose Control and Mariah Carey's It's Like That, which respectively reached top 10 and top 20 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Freeman has also guested on tracks by Bone Thugs 'n Harmony, Chingy, David Guetta, B'witched, Kat DeLuna, Skrillex, Ciara (Level Up), Hardwell, and Lil' Mo. Freeman passed away at age 53 after collapsing on stage during a performance in Hamden, Connecticut ~ Freeman was born in 1971
August 30, 2023 ~ Rock guitarist Jack Sonni passed away ~ Fronted the Leisure Class, a Monday night fixture at Kenny's Castaways, New York. Best known as guitarist for the Dire Straits during the mid-1980s. Present on the Brothers In Arms album, noted especially for his guitar synthesizer play on The Man's Too Strong. Sonni also played with the band at the 1985 Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium, London. Following the birth of his twin daughters in 1988 Sonni retired from music to pursue a career in marketing ~ Sonni was born in 1954August 30, 2022 ~ Patrinell Wright, commonly known as choir leader, singer, pastor Pat Wright, passed away ~ Led the Total Experience Gospel Choir from its inception in 1973 until its disbandement in 2018. The choir has toured extensively throughout well over a dozen countries, and performed at the funeral of Jimi Hendrix, as well as for presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama ~ Wright was born in 1944
August 30, 2021 ~ Gospel singer, bassist Lee Williams passed away ~ Lead singer of vocal quartet Lee Williams & the Spiritual QC's, originally started as the Spiritual QC's. After Willie Ligon's departure from the group Williams took over lead duties and the band was renamed to include his name. Broke through with the hit I've Learned To Lean of their 1990 Jesus Is Alive And Well debut album. The group would go on to become one of the most beloved contemporary gospel quartets, their albums regularly reaching the higher echelons of the Christian charts ~ Williams was born in 1946August 30, 2021 ~ Andrea Cosima Carle, commonly known as pop singer Maggie Mae, passed away in Melbourne, Australia ~ Debuted in 1974 with the single Ich Hab' Spass Am Leben. Also well known for her cover of Millie Small's My Boy Lollypop released the following year. Dubbed “the Mad Hen” for her young age and funky appearance. Retired from music by the 1980s ~ Carle was born in 1960
August 30, 2016 ~ Singer Eleanor Barooshian, also known as Chelsea Lee or Eleanor Baruchian, passed away ~ Member of 1960s group the Cake. Toured with Dr John. Member of Ginger Baker's Air Force. Collaborated with Tetsu Yamauchi. The Kevin Ayers-song Eleanor's Cake (Which Ate Her) of the 1970 LP Joy Of A Toy is about Barooshian ~ Barooshian was born in 1950
August 30, 2016 ~ Hubert Dwane Hester, commonly known as bluegrass, country fiddler Hoot Hester, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Member of the Bluegrass Alliance. Co-founding member of Western swing outfit the Time Jumpers. Longtime member of the Grand Ole Opry staff band. In-demand backing musician for acts such as Alabama, Hank Williams Jr, Conway Twitty, Randy Travis, Vern Gosdin, and Earl Scruggs. Outside country circles, Hester has also worked with Ray Charles and with the Manhattan Transfer ~ Hester was born in 1951
August 30, 2015 ~ Jazz, hard bop bassist, composer Hugo Rasmussen passed away in Frederiksberg, Denmark ~ Best known for his 1978 album Sweets To The Sweet. Worked with Teddy Wilson, Ralph Sutton, Horace Parlan, Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon, Oliver Nelson, Tom Waits, Al Grey, Wild Bill Davison, Harry Sweets Edison, Doug Raney, Ole Kock Hansen, Svend Asmussen, Jesper Thilo, Norbert Susemihl, Jakob Dinesen, Kasper Trandberg, Andrew Hyhne, Heine Hansen, Kresten Osgood, and Eddie Lockjaw Davis ~ Rasmussen was born in 1941August 30, 2009 ~ Åse Carola Helmersen, commonly known as pop, schlager singer Åse Wentzel, passed away ~ Married to violinist Odd Wentzel-Larsen. Their daughter is singer, guitarist Magni Wentzel. Wentzel enjoyed popularity during the 1950s and 1960s with songs such as Domino, Du Du Du, Vaya Con Dios with Thor Raymond and Midnattstango with Jan Høiland, the latter topping the charts in Norway in 1963 ~ Wentzel was born in 1924
August 30, 2009 ~ Marie Roach, commonly known as gospel, R&B singer Marie Knight, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for her association with Sister Rosetta Tharpe touring with Tharpe throughout the 1940s. Notably present on the response and call duet Up Above My Head (I Hear Music In The Sky) recorded in 1947 ~ Roach was born in 1920
August 30, 1995 ~ Guitarist, bassist Sterling Morrison, full name Holmes Sterling Morrison Jr, passed away in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Velvet Underground, present on the band's first four albums starting with the acclaimed Velvet Underground & Nico debut album released in 1967. Unlike his bandmates Lou Reed, John Cale, Moe Tucker, and Nico, Morrison has never recorded as a solo artist ~ Morrison was born in 1942
August 30, 1991 ~ Constantina Allen, commonly known as singer Connie Allen, passed away ~ Best known for her 1951 recording Rocket '69, backed by Todd Rhodes and his Orchestra. Other well known songs include Your Daddy's Doggin' Around, Sugar In My Bowl and You'll Never Change Me ~ Allen was born in 1926August 30, 1991 ~ Erick Orrosquieta, commonly known as producer, DJ Deorro, born in West Covino, California, USA ~ Best known for his 2015 single Five More Hours, a top 20 hit in several countries including the UK. Has collaborated with Elvis Crespo, Steve Aoki, Diplo, Danny Avila, and Hardwell. Has remixed tracks by Laidback Luke, Gareth Emery, and Armin Van Buuren
August 30, 1991 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Farid Mammadov born in Baku, Azerbaijan ~ Internationally best known for representing his native Azerbaijan in 2013 edition of Eurovision Songfestival with the song Hold Me. The song, written by Dimitris Kontopoulos, Ralph Charlie and Ace Of Base producer John Ballard, would rank 2nd place, losing to Denmark's Only Teardrops performed by Emmelie de Forest
August 30, 1991 ~ Jazz, rock bassist Vladimir Padrunek passed away in Prague, Czechoslovakia ~ Rose to fame in the early 1970s as member of Jazz Q, with whom he recorded the albums Pozorovateina and Symbiosis. Was forbidden to travel to non-communist countries due to his father's previous involvement in the political upheaval of 1968, and would be replaced on tours to the West. Co-founded Energit with Vladimir Misik, known for their eponymous 1976 Energit debut album. Has also worked with Exit, Ota Petrina, Abraxas, and Moby Dick ~ Padrunek was born in 1952
August 30, 1989 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer Bebe Rexha born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Started as a songwriter, including for Shinee, Selena Gomez, Eminem (The Monster), Nick Jonas. Debuted as a solo artist with the EP I Don't Wanna Grow Up in 2015, spawning the modest hits I Can't Stop Drinking About You and I'm Gonna Show You. Best known for several successful collaborative singles such as 2015's Me Myself & I featuring G-Eazy, 2016's In The Name Of Love with Martin Garrix, and 2017's Meant To Be with Florida Georgia Line. Also worked with Nicki Minaj, Louis Tomlinson, the Black Cards, Cardi B, the Chainsmokers, and David Guetta
August 30, 1989 ~ Anthony Tremaine Dixson, commonly known as rapper, songwriter Westside Boogie, born in Compton, California, USA ~ Active since the mid-2010s, releasing several mixtapes leading up to his Everything's For Sale debut album released in 2019. Perhaps best known for his 2015 single Oh My. Dixson has also guested on recordings by the Game, Royce da 5'9", Reason, Cassper Nyovest, and Lute
August 30, 1988 ~ Jazz drummer James Black, full name James Norbert Black, passed away ~ Active since late 1950s, started out in New Orleans R&B ensembles to eventualy gravitate towards jazz. Worked with artists such as Nat Perrilliat, Roy Montrell, Ellis Marsalis Jr (notably writing Monkey Puzzle and Dee Wee), Nat Adderley, Cannonball Adderley, Joe Jones, Horace Silver, Lionel Hampton, Yusef Lateef, Freddie Hubbard, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Charles Neville, Earl Tubinton, the Dukes Of Dixieland, Eddie Bo, Cassandra Wilson, Frank Tapani, Wynton Marsalis, Germaine Bazzle, and Finger Eleven ~ Black was born in 1940August 30, 1985 ~ Alternative rock, electronic, j-pop singer, guitarist, drummer, bassist, keyboardist Joe Inoue born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Debuted in 2007 with the In A Way EP, following up with the full-length Me Me Me album in 2009. Generally plays all instruments on his recordings. Best known for the singles Closer and Kaze No Gotoku
August 30, 1985 ~ Jazz, blues, alternative rock singer Rachael Price born in Sydney, Australia ~ Married to Canadian singer, songwriter Taylor Ashton. Lead singer for Lake Street Dive, with whom she recorded over half a dozen albums starting with In This Episode released in 2006. As a solo artist noted for her 2003 Dedicated To You debut album and its 2008 follow-up The Good Hours
August 30, 1983 ~ Rock, glam rock singer, songwriter Jonne Aaron Liimatainen born in Tampere, Finland ~ Best known as lead singer of glam rock outfit Negative. The band's first four albums, starting with their War Of Love debut album would all reach top 5 in their native Finland. Liimatainen has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the 2013 Onnen Vuodet album
August 30, 1982 ~ Dominique Flemons, commonly known as guitarist, banjoist, singer Dom Flemons, born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA ~ Member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops from their inception in 2005 to 2013. Released his solo debut, Dance Tunes Ballads & Blues, in 2007. Draws from old-time music, piedmont blues, neotraditionalist country and just about every roots genre available. Also worked with Mike Seeger, Joe Thompson, Martin Simpson, Boo Hanks, Taj Mahal, the Old Crow Medicine Show, Guy Davis, and the Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
August 30, 1982 ~ Heavy metal, folk metal singer, bassist, guitarist Mathias Lillmåns, also known as Mathias Vreth Lillmåns, born in Jakobstad, Finland ~ Best known as lead singer of folk metal outfit Finntroll, with whom he has recorded since the mid 2000s. The band is most acclaimed for their 2010 Nifelvind album. Lillmåns has also formed the death metal side project Decomposter with his bandmate Samuli Ponsimaa. Lillmåns has also worked with Chthonian, the Iniquity Descent, And Oceans, and Alestorm
August 30, 1977 ~ Georgios Kollias, commonly known as gothic metal, heavy metal drummer George Kollias, born in Corinth, Greece ~ Influenced by Lars Ulrich, Dave Lombardo, Igor Cavalera, Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Gadd, and Mike Mangini. Best known as a member of death metal unit Nile. Kollias joined the band in 2004 as replacement for Tony Laureano, and has recorded about a dozen albums with the band since including Annihilation Of The Wicked and Those Whom The Gods Detest. Kollias has also worked with Extremity Obsession which included his brother guitarist Iraklis Kollias, Nightfall, Sickening Horror, and Contrarian
August 30, 1977 ~ Power metal guitarist Jens Ludwig born in Fulda, West Germany ~ Co-founding member, lead guitarist of power metal band Edguy, with whom he recorded well over half a dozen albums since the late 1990s. The band is especially acclaimed for their 1999 Theater Of Salvation album. Starting in the mid 2000s, several of their albums have reached top 10 in the band native Germany including Rocket Ride. Ludwig has also notably worked with bandmate singer Tobias Sammet's side project Avantasia, resulting in the album The Metal Opera and its sequel The Metal Opera Part II released in the early 2000s