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 31, 2022 ~ Electronic music keyboardist, composer Mark Shreeve passed away ~ Well over a dozen albums to his name, starting with Embryo released in 1980. Has also composed for film and formed the 1990s group Redshift, which also included his brother Julian Shreeve. To pop audiences best known for co-writing Touch Me (I Want Your Body), a mid-1980s top 10 hit for Samantha Fox on both sides of the Atlantic ~ Shreeve was born in 1957
August 31, 2012 ~ Walter William Bygraves, commonly known as comedian, actor, singer Max Bygraves, passed away in Hope Island, Australia ~ Known for his catchphrase “I wanna tell you a story” which became an integral part of his act although it originated with comedian Mike Yarwood impersonating Bygraves. Opened for Abbott & Costello and for Judy Garland before scoring a string of UK top 10 hits starting in the early 1950s, including Heart Of My Heart, Meet Me On The Corner and You Need Hands ~ Bygraves was born in 1922August 31, 2011 ~ Folk singer Ray Fisher, full name Ray Galbraith Fisher passed away in North Shields, UK ~ Critically acclaimed folk singer, hailed by the Scotsman as “perhaps the best known Scots folksinger of her generation” and by the Guardian as “one of Britain's great interpreters of traditional song” ~ Fisher was born in 1940
August 31, 2009 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Eddie Higgins, full name Edward Haydn Higgins, passed away in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Coleman Hawkins, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Stitt, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Lewis, Harry Sweets Edison, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Jack Teagarden, Al Grey, Meredith D'Ambrosio, Warren Vaché Jr, Chuck Hedges, Cy Touff, Jack Teagarden, Betty Dickson, and Wes Montgomery ~ Higgins was born in 1932
August 31, 2004 ~ Colin David Tooley, commonly known as singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist Carl Wayne passed away in Pyrford, UK ~ Influenced by Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent. Best remembered as lead singer of the Move, known for 1960s hits such as Night Of Fear, I Can Hear The Grass Grow, Flowers In The Rain, The Fire Brigade and perhaps their best known Blackberry Way. Has also worked with the Vikings, the Hollies, and the Electric Light Orchestra. As a solo artist known for the minor hit You're A Star and for rejecting Sugar Baby Love, which then served as breakout hit for the Rubettes ~ Wayne was born in 1943
August 31, 2002 ~ Vibraphonist, pianist, bandleader Lionel Hampton, full name Lionel Leo Hampton, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Renowned bandleader, known for employing a great deal of future jazz stars early on in their career including Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus and Quincy Jones. Especially noted for his 1942 recording of Flying Home, featuring Illinois Jacquet's saxophone solo often cited as the first R&B sax solo ~ Hampton was born in 1909August 31, 2000 ~ R&B, blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Saunders King, full name Saunders Samuel King, passed away in San Rafael, California, USA ~ Sang with the Southern Harmony Four. Switched to blues by the early 1940s, releasing the self-penned SK Blues in 1942 which would become a nationwide hit and one of the first recordings prominently featuring the electric guitar. Other well known songs include Empty Bedroom Blues and Stay Gone Blues ~ King was born in 1909
August 31, 1996 ~ Jazz trumpeter, bandleader, singer Milt Larkin passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Got his start in the 1930s with minor territory bands backing Chester Boone and Giles Mitchell. Perhaps most acclaimed for leading his own band from the mid 1930s through the mid 1940s, with whom he toured the Midwest and Southwest as well as held a nine-month residency at the Rhumboogie Café, Chicago, Illinois, where on occasions they backed T-Bone Walker. Larkin was offered the opportunity to record but declined, in part of the low wages labels offered to black musicians, a decision that haunted later jazz fans because of the many young sidemen in the band who would later rise to fame in their own right, including saxophonists Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, and Tom Archia, pianists Cedric Haywood and Wild Bill Davis, and drummers Alvin Burroughs, Joe Marshall and Roy Porter. Larkin disbanded the group when he himself enlisted, but following his stint in the US Army would continue to lead several ensembles well into the 1990s, most notably the non-profit group Get Involved Now giving hundreds of performances for crippled and burned children, special needs children, mentally ill patients and elderly audiences, mostly around the Houston, Texas, area ~ Larkin was born in 1910
August 31, 1993 ~ Albert Joseph Feinberg, commonly known as orchestra, big band bandleader, songwriter Al Trace, passed away in Sun City West, Arizona, USA ~ Popular Big band era bandleader. Has worked with Toni Arden, Bob Vincent, the Hoosier Hot Shots, and the Korn Kobblers. Has composed over 300 songs, oft in collaboration with his brother Ben Trace, Al Hoffman, Bob Merrill or Abner Silver. Well known songs written or co-written by Trace include Eileen Barton's If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked A Cake and You Call Everybody Darlin', the latter in Trace's version a No.1 hit in 1948 and later successfuly covered by the Andrews Sisters, Smiley Wilson and by Art Lund ~ Feinberg was born in 1900
August 31, 1987 ~ Pop rock group U2 release Where The Streets Have No Name, lifted off their The Joshua Tree album ~ At the time of its release, some fans assumed the song was about Ethiopia, a country lead singer Bono had visited after performing at the Live Aid charity concert, where many streets actually don't have names. However, the lyrics actually referenced an imaginary location, as Bono later explained: “Half of it is an invocation, where you say to a crowd of people ‘Do you want to go to that place? That place of imagination, that place of soul? Do you want to go there, cos right now we can go there?’ To this day when I say those words you get hairs on the back of your neck stand up because you're going to that place”
August 31, 1985 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, Summer Of '69 by Bryan Adams peaks at No.5 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Originally the song was titled Best Days Of My Life, referencing a childhood dream of becoming a rock star, with the words “Summer of '69” appearing in the lyrics only once. The song went through a number of changes because neither Bryan Adams nor co-writer Jim Vallance thought it was good enough to be included on the Reckless album. Peaking at No.5, Summer Of '69 would become the Canadian's fourth American top 10 hit, preceded by Straight From The Heart, Run To You, and Heaven, and remains one of the singer's best known, a radio staple to this day
August 31, 1981 ~ Calvin Alan Byrd, commonly known as rapper 40 Cal, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of hip-hop group the Diplomats. As a solo artist debuted with Broken Safety in 2006. Its follow-up, 2007's Broken Safety 2, would reach top 30 on the Billboard R&B album charts. Byrd has collaborated with numerous artists, most successfuly through the early-2010s. Regular collaborators include Cam'ron, Jim Jones and JR Writer
August 31, 1977 ~ Derek Gruen, commonly known as disco, alternative pop, R&B guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter Del Marquis, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Lead guitarist of the Scissor Sisters, drawing from pop rock, glam rock, nu-disco and electro-clash and best known for songs such as Comfortably Numb, Filthy/Gorgeous and their best known I Don't Feel Like Dancin'. The latter was written by Jake Shears, Scott Hoffman and Elton John, who also play piano, and would top the UK charts. Gruen is also creator and producer of Slow Knights and has recorded as a solo artist
August 31, 1974 ~ Steel guitarist Noel Boggs, full name Noel Edwin Boggs, passed away in Granada Hills, California, USA ~ Considered a virtuoso on the electric steel guitar, Boggs helped popularize the instrument as a viable instrument in country music. Toured with Hank Penny in the mid 1930s, backed Jimmy Wakely from the late 1930s onwards, and was a member of pivotal Western swing outfit the Texas Playboys, the backing unit of Bob Wills, appearing on some of the band's most classic recordings including Roly Poly and Stay A Little Longer. Over the course of his career, Boggs is said to have appeared on well over 1,000 recordings, an in-demand sideman for the likes of by Moon Mullican, Flatt & Scruggs, Spade Cooley, Merle Travis, the Sons Of The Pioneers, the Maddox Brothers, Curtis Gordon, and Spade Cooley. Boggs has also released a handful of solo albums, and from time to time guested on albums outside his usual circles, perhaps most notably appearing on Eartha Kitt's That Bad Eartha album released in 1953 ~ Boggs was born in 1917
August 31, 1974 ~ Pop rock family outfit the Osmonds release Love Me For A Reason, lifted off the album of the same name ~ First recorded by former Motown producer Johnny Bristol for his 1974 Hang On In There Baby debut album. Bristol co-wrote the song with regular songwriting partners Wade Brown and David Jones Jr, with whom he had previously penned songs for the Supremes, Gladys Knight, and the Miracles. The best known version of Love Me For A Reason, however, would be by the Osmonds, who took the song to No.10 Billboard Hot 100, making it their fourth and final American top 10 hit. Two decades later, the song would be covered by boy band Boyzone, issued as the second single off their Said And Done debut album. It would be their breakthrough hit, reaching No.2 in the UK and No.1 in their native Ireland
August 31, 1973 ~ Rock outfit Mott The Hoople release All The Way From Memphis, lead single off their Mott album ~ Written by band member Ian Hunter, reportedly All The Way From Memphis was based on a true story where the guitar of Mick Ralphs was misplaced by the airline while en route to a gig in Memphis, Tennessee. The loss of the guitar is also mentioned in the lyrics of Ballad Of Mott The Hoople, which was featured on the flip side. The single would reach No.10 in their native UK. For his 1998 Another World album Queen guitarist Brian May would notably cover All The Way From Memphis, featuring a guest appearance from Ian HunterAugust 31, 1973 ~ Rock outfit Status Quo release Caroline, lifted off their Hello album ~ The song was originally written as a slow shuffle, but then Rick Parfitt sped up his guitar and made the song an energetic rocker. Although the band had already scored three UK top 10 hits, it was Caroline, which peaked at No.5, that made the band Status Quo or as Melody Maker phrased it in a contemporary review: “Status Quo have finally hit the big time with their raw and rorty brand of rock and roll.” The song became a concert favorite, often used as the opener, and Parfitt's guitar intro became a signature sound throughout the band's career. Lead singer Francis Rossi, who co-wrote Caroline with Bob Young, would later recall in an interview with the Guardian how Parfitt came up with the guitar intro: “(Rick) came up with the riff during a rehearsal, and I played against it. That always happens between us; it's like a conversation on guitars. We recorded it sitting in a semi-circle, doing take after take after take, thinking we'd get it right eventually. It wasn't about finesse. It was about capturing something”
August 31, 1972 ~ Drummer, bandleader Hideo Shiraki passed away in Tokyo, Japan ~ Famed for his hard bop beginnings in the 1950s venturing into fusing world music with jazz. Employed sidemen such as Hidehiko Matsumoto, Terumasa Hino, Yuzura Sera. Especially acclaimed for his 1961 album In Fiesta and his 1965 album Sakura Sakura. Has guested on Toshiko Akiyoshi's 1961 album Toshiko Meets Her Old Pals and accompanied John Coltrane on his 1996 Japanese tour ~ Shiraki was born in 1933
August 31, 1971 ~ Singer, songwriter Alicia Villarreal, full name Martha Alicia Villarreal Esparza, born in San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico ~ Rose to fame as lead singer of Grupo Limite from the mid 1990s through the early 2000s. As a solo artist best known for her debut album Soy Lo Prohibido and its follow-up Cuando El Corazon Se Cruza, released respectively in 2001 and 2005 and both reaching top of the charts in her native Mexico
August 31, 1971 ~ Lars Erik Dapello, commonly known as singer, guitarist Lars Frederiksen, born in Campbell, California, USA ~ Best known as guitarist, singer for punk rockers Rancid. Also fronts Old Firm Casuals and has played with Oxley's Midnight Runners, Stomper 98, the Last Resort and briefly with the UK Subs. In-demand producer for artists such as the Dropkick Murphys, Agnostic Front, the Business, the Swingin' Utters, Marky Ramone & the Intruders, the Anti-Heros, Pressure Point, and the ForgottenAugust 31, 1971 ~ Rock bassist Neal Langford born ~ Member of indie rock outfit the Shins during the early 2000s, present on the band's Oh Inverted World debut album released in 2001. Langford had also worked with the band's 1990s predecessor Flake Music ~ Langford passed away in 2023
August 31, 1970 ~ Tenor saxophonist Booker Ervin, full name Booker Telleferro Ervin II, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Hard bop player characterised by strong sound and blues phrasing. Over a dozen albums as leader or co-leader, especially acclaimed for the albums Cookin' and That's It. Closely associated with Charles Mingus, including on the highly acclaimed Mingus Ah Uhm. Has also appeared on albums by Horace Parlan, Pony Poindexter, Jaki Byard, Randy Weston, Don Patterson, Sonny Stitt (Soul People), Andrew Hill (Grass Roots), and Isaac Hayes (Black Moses). Ervin passed away of kidney disease at age 39 ~ Ervin was born in 1930
August 31, 1970 ~ Singer, actress, producer, songwriter Debbie Gibson born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known for Foolish Beat, the first Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit written, produced and performed by a female artist. Also known for songs such as Lost In Your Eyes, Say Goodbye, Shake Your Love, Out Of The Blue, and No More Rhyme. Has also starred in musicals, both on and off Broadway, performing in stage versions of Les Miserables, Beauty & The Beast, The King & I and GreaseAugust 31, 1970 ~ Experimental rock, post-rock, progressive rock guitarist, keyboardist Ian Williams born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Known for his one-handed guitar playing technique, frequently playing keyboards with the other hand simultaneously. Member of Don Caballero from 1992 through 2000. Member of Storm & Stress from 1997 through 2000. Williams would form Battles in 2002, the band would become critically acclaimed as one of the most innovative math rock bands praised for its unique sound
August 31, 1969 ~ Jazz clarinetist, composer Evan Christopher born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with AJ Croce, Jim Cullum, Lars Edegran, Lionel Ferbos, Mark Isham, Tom McDermott, Irvin Mayfield, Arnold McCuller, Trevor Richards, and Terry Waldo