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, 1972 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist Leo Green born ~ As a saxophonist perhaps best known for his association with Van Morrison, appearing on several mid- to late 1990s albums including Days Like This and The Healing Game. Has also appeared on albums by Jeff Beck, Beverley Knight, Lisa Stansfield, Jools Holland, Daniel Bedingfield, Dannii Minogue, and Jack Savoretti. Green also led the Leo Green Orchestra, known for accompanying artists such as Tom Chaplin and Imelda May
August 30, 1971 ~ Katarzyna Nosowska, commonly known as rock singer Kasia Nosowska, born in Szczecin, Poland ~ Lead singer of rock outfit Hey, with whom she has recorded about a dozen albums since the early 1990s. The band had an exceptional streak of chart succes starting in the mid 2000s with four albums, starting with 2005's Echosystem, all reaching top 5 in their native Poland as well as Platinum or multi-Platinum certification. Nosowska enjoys a parallel solo career generally aimed more at electronica with about half a dozen albums to her name, four of which would top the album charts
August 30, 1963 ~ Arranger, orchestrator, conductor, songwriter Axel Stordahl passed away in Encino, California, USA ~ In-demand arranger, credited with helping bring pop into the modern age. As a songwriter, Stordahl is remembered for co-writing I Should Care, first recorded by Tommy Dorsey, and Day By Day, first recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1945. Both songs have gone on the become often-covered standards. Stordahl is one of the first to tailor his accompaniments to the vocal qualities of a specific singer, and is best known for working extensively with Sinatra for most of the 1940s. Other associations include Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Eddie Fisher, Dinah Shore, Nat King Cole, and Dean Martin. Stordahl was married to singer June Hutton of the Pied Pipers from 1951 until his death twelve years later ~ Stordahl was born in 1913
August 30, 1963 ~ Thrash metal, hardcore punk, punk rock, shock rock, heavy metal, comedy rock singer, guitarist, bassist Dave Brockie, full name David Murray Brockie, born in Ottawa, Canada ~ Frontman of GWAR. The highly theatrical band has been described as thrash metal's answer to the more mainstream Spinal Tap, the band best known for its grotesque costumes and controvery-baiting live performances. They have recorded some dozen albums, and are perhaps noted most for their Scumdogs Of The Universe sophomore effort released in 1990. Brockie has also worked with Death Piggy, X-Cops, and the Dave Brockie Experience, and starred in the comedy horror TV show Holliston. Following his death at age 50 of a heroin overdose, several more famous musicians paid hommage to Brockie, including Lamb of God singer Randy Blythe and the Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl. Brockie was given a traditional Viking funeral ~ Brockie passed away in 2014
August 30, 1963 ~ Jazz, pop guitarist, songwriter Dewa Budjana born in Waikabubak, Indonesia ~ Co-founded pop, rock outfit Gigi with Armand Maulana. Regarded as one of Indonesia's top guitarists, fusing jazz, rock and traditional Balinese influences. Beside collaborations with a host of Indonesian artists Budjana has also played with international stars including Vinnie Colaiuta, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante, Peter Erskine, Antonio Sánchez, Joe Locke, Gary Husband, Jack DeJohnette, Tony Levin, Bob Mintzer, and Asia guitarist Guthrie GovanAugust 30, 1961 ~ Pop singer, actress, model Denise Gyngell born in Porth, UK ~ Member of early 1980s pop outfit Tight Fit, present on the UK top 10 hits The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Fantasy Island. Gyngell would later marry producer Pete Waterman of Stock-Aitken-Waterman fame. The couple would remain married from 1991 through 1999 and have two children
August 30, 1956 ~ Worldbeat, Afro-pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Ismaël Lô born in Dogondoutchi, Niger ~ Dubbed “the Bob Dylan of Africa”. Member of Super Diamono, venturing out on his own by the mid-1980s. Internationally best known for his eponymous 1990 Ismaël Lô album, which included the hit single Tajabone. Other well known songs include the Marianne Faithfull-duet Without Blame and Jammu Africa, the latter being used as the opening song of the 2007 Shake Hands With The Devil film about the Rwandan genocide
August 30, 1956 ~ Jazz guitarist Rodney Jones born in New Haven, Connecticut, USA ~ About a dozen albums as a leader, especially noted for The Undiscovered Few released in 1999. Closely associated with Jimmy McGriff and Maceo Parker, recording several acclaimed albums with each. Other notable credits include sessioning on albums by Dizzy Gillespie, Chico Hamilton, Kenny Burrell, Lena Horne, Hilton Ruiz, Victor Bailey, Ruth Brown, Fred Wesley, Houston Person, Donald Harrison, Dr Lonnie Smith, Ann Hampton Callaway, and Marchie BakerAugust 30, 1955 ~ Avant-garde jazz pianist Anthony Coleman born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for his association with John Zorn, including on acclaimed albums such as Kristallnacht and Spillane. Has also worked with Elliott Sharp, Guy Klucevsek, David Krakauer, Marc Ribot, and Roy Nathanson
August 30, 1952 ~ Rock, country drummer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter, producer, artist manager Graham Bidstrup, full name Graham Leslie Bidstrup, born in Adelaide, Australia ~ As a musician first gained serious attention as member of the Angels from 1976 through 1981, present on the band's best-selling albums and co-wroting, co-producing the band's No Secrets hit with singer Doc Neeson. Has also worked, in one capacity or another, with the Australian Crawl, the Stetsons, the Party Boys, Gana Gajang, the Riptides, Richard Clapton, Broderick Smith, and James Blundell
August 30, 1952 ~ Composer Simon Bainbridge born in London, UK ~ As a composer known for intricate and sensuous textures, drawing from idioms as diverse as minimalism and be-bop. Well known works include 1983's Concerto In Moto Perpetuo and the 1994 Miles Davis-tribute For Miles. Head of composition at the Royal Academy Of Music in London from 1999 through 2007, the UK's oldest and perhaps most renowned conservatory. Married to soprano, vocal coach Lynda Richardson ~ Bainbridge passed away in 2021
August 30, 1950 ~ Guitarist Micky Moody, full name Michael Joseph Moody born in Middlesbrough, UK ~ Member of Juicy Lucy, first appearing on the band's 1970 Lie Back And Enjoy It sophomore album. Co-founding member of Snafu, with whom he recorded three albums through the mid 1970s. Perhaps best known as a member of Whitesnake from its inception until the mid-1980s, for whom he co-wrote Fool For Your Loving also appearing on the song's first recorded version. An in-demand session musician since the late 1960s, Moody has appeared on albums by Tramline, Graham Bonnet, Mike Oldfield, Michael d'Abo, Roger Chapman, Walter Trout, Alan Hull (Squire), Augie Meyers, Gerry Rafferty (City To City), and Lucinda Williams (Happy Woman Blues). Moody has also recorded half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with I Eat Them For Breakfast released in 2000August 30, 1949 ~ Country singer Hank Williams records I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry at Herzog Studio, Cincinnati, Ohio ~ Lyrics reportedly by Paul Gilley, set to music by Hank Williams. Backed by members of the Pleasant Valley Boys. Would become one of Hank's best known songs. Released early November as the B-side to My Bucket's Got A Hole In It
August 30, 1949 ~ Peter Alexander Maffay, commonly known as singer, songwriter Peter Maffay, born in Brasov, Romania ~ Rose to fame with his debut single, Du, in 1970. Also known for two million-selling albums, 1979's Steppenwolf and 1980's Revanche. Sold a total of over 40 million records in Germany, making him one of Germany's all-time best-selling artists
August 30, 1948 ~ Folk rock, rock & roll singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Yosui Inoue born in Tagawa, Japan ~ Active since the late 1960s. Drew comparisons to Paul McCartney and Roy Orbison. Best known for his 1973 Kori No Sekai album, the first Japanese album to sell over a million copies in Japan
August 30, 1946 ~ Country, country-rock drummer Jon Corneal born in Auburndale, Florida, USA ~ Though not particularly well known, Corneal has the distinction of being perhaps the first country-rock drummer, notably teaming up with Gram Parsons in the shortlived pioneering country-rock outfit the International Submarine Band in 1967, known for their sole Safe At Home album. Though at the time of its release, the album made little impact on the charts, it was revered by rock musicians with a love for country music. After the band folded, Corneal would soldier on as a session musician, as Parsons joined the Byrds. However, Parsons would call again on Corneal for his new group, the Flying Burrito Brothers. Corneal appeared on the band's highly acclaimed 1969 The Gilded Palace Of Sin debut album, but was let go from the group as other members felt he was too much country and too little rock. Corneal has also toured with Loretta Lynn, Kitty Wells, and Connie Smith, and as a session drummer has appeared on albums by the Byrds (Sweetheart Of The Rodeo), Dillard & Clark, and the Glaser Brothers
August 30, 1944 ~ William Daniel Smith, commonly known as rock, soul, jazz keyboardist William Smitty Smith, born ~ Member of Canadian soul outfit the Soul Searchers. Co-founding member of Motherlode, known for the 1969 Billboard Hot 100 No.18 hit When I Die. In-demand session musician, present on albums by the likes of the James Gang, Etta James, Domenic Troiano, Dave Loggins, Martha Reeves, Bill Wyman (Monkey Grip), Billy Joel (Streetlife Serenade), Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Rankin, Blood Sweat & Tears, Rory Block, Rare Earth, Yvonne Elliman, the Pointer Sisters, Ry Cooder (Borderline), Dionne Warwick, David Lindley, Rita Coolidge, Bob Dylan (Shot Of Love), Roberta Flack, Rod Stewart, Tracy Chapman, Linda Ronstadt, Lucinda Williams, and Solomon Burke ~ Smith passed away in 1997August 30, 1940 ~ Singer Joe Verscharen born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Original member of doo-wop outfit the Skyliners, known for songs such as This I Swear, Pennies From Heaven, It Happened Today, Close Your Eyes, Comes Love and their best known Since I Don't Have You, the latter reaching the Billboard top 20 in 1958 ~ Verscharen passed away in 2007
August 30, 1938 ~ Ragtime, march, waltz pianist, organist, bandleader, composer, arranger James Scott, full name James Sylvester Scott, passed away in Kansas City, Kansas, USA ~ Along with Scott Joplin and Joseph Lamb regarded as one of the most important composers of ragtime. Known for songs such as Frog Legs Rag, Grace & Beauty, Sunburst Rag, Ragtime Oriole and perhaps his best known Climax Rag ~ Scott was born in 1885
August 30, 1937 ~ Jazz, blues singer Jewel Brown born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Fixture on the Texas jazz and blues scene. Active since an early age, Brown would become best known for her stints with Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, and notably Louis Armstrong, working with the latter for most of the 1960s. Though internationally renowned for her vocal versatility, Brown preferred family over fame and fortune and eventually returned to her native Houston, Texas, to care for her parents. Brown recorded a handful of solo albums later on in her career, notably Show Time released in 1988. Looking back on her lengthy career, Brown told the Houston Chronicle in 2015: “Baby, I grew up on it all. I've done country and western, ballads, torch songs, blues and jazz. They call me a bluesy jazz singer and a jazzy blues singer. Give a song to me. If it's good, I'll do it” ~ Brown passed away in 2024
August 30, 1934 ~ Lucious Brinson Johnson, commonly known as blues, electric blues guitarist, singer Luther Snake Boy Johnson, born in Davisboro, Georgia, USA ~ Member of gospel group the Milwaukee Supreme Angels before gravitating towards blues. Backed Elmore James, John Lee Hooker, Otis Spann and Muddy Waters throughout the 1960s. Half a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, starting with Come On Home released in 1968, an album fondly remembered by blues aficionados for featuring several backing musicians closely associated with Muddy Waters ~ Johnson passed away in 1976August 30, 1933 ~ Folk singer, actress Dora María, full name Dora María Pérez Vidal, born in Villahermosa, Mexico ~ Dubbed “the Golden Shorty” for her stature. First Mexican singer to perform in Las Vegas. Known for songs such El Pochitoque Jahuactero, Mis Blancas Mariposas, and Amanecer De Mi Tierra. Pérez has also ventured into acting ~ Pérez passed away in 2023
August 30, 1924 ~ Charles Nelson Miller, commonly known as singer, pianist Chuck Miller, born in Wellington, Kansas, USA ~ As a pianist influenced by Moon Mullican and Fats Waller, as a singer by Dean Martin and Bing Crosby. Best known for his 1955 rendition of The House Of Blue Lights, originally recorded by Ella Mae Morse. Subsequent releases such as Baby Doll, The Auctioneer, and Down The Road A Piece would fail to reach the succes of his The House Of Blue Lights top 10 hit ~ Miller passed away in 2000
August 30, 1924 ~ McKinley Howard Dorham, commonly known as bop, hard bop trumpeter Kenny Dorham, born in Fairfield, Texas, USA ~ Known for his understated, subtle approach, specifically on ballads. Wrote the jazz standard Blue Bossa, first recorded by Joe Henderson in 1964 and since covered by well over a hundred artists. Dorham has recorded well over a dozen albums as leader or co-leader, specifically acclaimed for Afro-Cuban, Quiet Kenny, and Whistle Stop. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Art Blakey, Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie (In Paris), Thelonious Monk (Genius Of Modern Music Vol.1), Sonny Rollins, Joe Gordon (Introducing Joe Gordon), Hank Mobley, Max Roach (Max Roach Plus Four), Gil Melle, Louis Prima (The Wildest), Oscar Pettiford (Deep Passion), John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard (Goin' Up), Eric Dolphy, Andrew Hill (Point Of Departure), Dexter Gordon, and Toshiko Akiyoshi ~ Dorham passed away in 1972
August 30, 1919 ~ Muriel Elle Deason, commonly known as country singer Kitty Wells, born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for her 1952 hit It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels. Also known for songs such as Release Me, the Don Everly-penned Thou Shalt Not Steal, The Lonely Side Of Town, Heartbreak USA, as well as duets with Red Foley (One By One, As Long As I Live), and duets with Webb Pierce (Oh So Many Years, Finally). Also worked with Owen Bradley, Johnny Wright, the Jordanaires, Roy Drusky, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and with Tammy Wynette ~ Deason passed away in 2012