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, 1968 ~ Nicholas Barber, commonly known as psychedelic trance DJ, producer Doof, born ~ Released a number of singles and an EP before issuing his first full-length album, Let's Turn It On, in 1996. It would become a landmark album and help define early psy-trance. Barber continued to record into the 2010s, reverting to his given name by the late 2000s
August 31, 1968 ~ In its 6th week on the charts, Mama Tried by Merle Haggard hits No.1 Billboard Country ~ Although not entirely autobiographical, Merle Haggard drew on his own experiences to convey the shame and disappointment he caused his mother, ending up in jail. While the song's protagonist was sentenced to life without parole, Haggard served only three times in prison for robbery, yet the sentiment in the song was the same as expressed in the lyrics “in spite of all my Sunday learning, towards the bad I kept on turning, 'til mama couldn't hold me anymore.” At the time of its release, Mama Tried became his biggest hit, spending four weeks atop the Billboard Country charts, while over time the song would become acknowledged as a cornerstone of his career. Over the years, the song has been covered by over a hundred artists including Conway Twitty, the Everly Brothers, the Grateful Dead, Hank Snow, Reba McEntire, David Allan Coe, and Randy TravisAugust 31, 1967 ~ Singer, bassist, songwriter Gerard Love born in Motherwell, UK ~ Co-founding member of Teenage Fanclub, remaining with the band from its inception in 1989 through 2018. The band is best known for the albums Grand Prix, Songs From Northern Britain and Here, all of which reached top 10 in their native UK. Love has also recorded as a solo artist, issuing the Electric Cables album in 2012 under the moniker Lightships
August 31, 1963 ~ DJ, singer, producer Greg Broussard, also known as the Egyptian Lover, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Part of Los Angeles dance and rap scene in the early 1980s. Worked with Uncle Jamm's Army and the Radio Crew. Best known for his his recording Egypt Egypt, a hit in 1984
August 31, 1961 ~ Eiko Kawashima, commonly known as J-pop, city pop singer, actress Anri, born in Yamato, Japan ~ Recorded well over two dozen albums, starting with Apricot Jam in 1978. Enjoyed popularity especially during the 1980s and 1990s, becoming one of the era's best-selling Japanese acts. Best known for Cat's Eye, theme song to the anime series of the same name, and Kanamishi Ga Tomaranai. Other well known songs include Summer Candles and Dolphin Ring, both wedding reception staples.Has collaborated with jazz fusion guitarist Lee Ritenour, who appeared on and produced her 2002 Smooth Jam Quiet Storm album
August 31, 1961 ~ Singer Brenda Lee records Fool No.1 ~ Written by Kathryn R Fulton. Produced by Owen Bradley. Released as a single the following October, paired with Anybody But Me on the flip side, it would be a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit for Brenda Lee, peaking at No.3. Over the years, the song would be covered by several artists including Johnny Tillotson, Loretta Lynn, Connie Smith, and Marie Osmond
August 31, 1961 ~ Folk, country, pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Bruce Guthro born in Cape Breton Island, Canada ~ Father of singers Dylan Guthro and Jodi Guthrie. Lead singer of celtic rock band Runrig from 1998, first appearing on the band's In Search Of Angels album, until the band's disbandement in 2018. Has also recorded as a solo artist, noted for his Of Your Son album released in 1998. Three of the album's singles, Walk This Road, Falling, and Ivey's Wall would reach top 20 on the Canadian country charts ~ Guthro passed away in 2023
August 31, 1960 ~ Blues-rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Chris Whitley, full name Christopher Becker Whitley, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Recorded over a dozen albums starting in the early 1990s. Known best for songs such as Living With The Law and Big Sky Country. Counted Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Don Henley, John Mellencamp, Gavin Degraw, and Keith Richards among his fans. Following Whitley's passing at age 45 of lung cancer John Mayer would comment: “His somewhat prostrated place in pop culture earned him a sidebar of an obituary, but to those who knew his work, it registers as one of the most underappreciated losses in all of music.” ~ Whitley passed away in 2005August 31, 1959 ~ Singer Tony DeFranco born in Port Colborne, Canada ~ Lead singer of bubblegum pop sibling outfit the DeFranco Family, known for a string of 1970s hits including Abra-ca-dabra, Save The Last Dance For Me and their best known Heartbeat (It's A Lovebeat), the latter reaching the Billboard top 10 in 1973
August 31, 1958 ~ Singer Hanne Boel born in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Member of 1980's funk outfit Blast. As a solo artist active since the mid-1980s drawing from pop, soul, gospel, rock and jazz to commercial success in Scandinavia. Guested on Laid Back's Bakerman, an international hit in 1989
August 31, 1957 ~ Drummer Gina Schock, full name Regina Ann Schock, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Drummer of all-female pop-rock, new wave outfit the Go-Go's, known for songs such as Our Lips Are Sealed, We Got The Beat, Vacation, and Head Over Heels
August 31, 1957 ~ New wave, power pop singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Glenn Tilbrook, full name Glenn Martin Tilbrook, born in Dulwich, UK ~ Founding member, lead singer, guitarist of Squeeze, known for a number of European hits such as Take Me I'm Yours, Cool For Cats, Labelled With Love, Tempted and Hourglass, the latter also reaching the American Billboard Hot 100 top 20. During the band's 1983 to 1985 hiatus Tilbrook would continue the songwriting partnership with bandmate Chris Difford in Difford & TilbrookAugust 31, 1956 ~ Singer Elvis Presley releases I Got A Woman b/w I'm Counting On You as a stand-alone single ~ Penned by Ray Charles and his regular trumpeter Renald Richard, and originally a 1955 hit for Charles, his first major hit, the original recording would retrospectively be acknowledged as one of the songs that defined R&B and soul. Elvis Presley recorded I Got A Woman in early 1956 for RCA-Victor and released it as a stand-alone single in August. Presley's version did not chart, yet the song remained a staple of his shows during the 1950s and again when he returned to perform live in 1969 all the way through 1977
August 31, 1956 ~ Pianist, composer Yves Nat, full name Yves Philippe Avit Nat, passed away in Paris, France ~ Encouraged to pursue his musical studies by Gabriel Fauré and Camille Saint-Saëns. Toured with Jacques Thibaud and George Enescu. Frequently appeared with Eugène Ysaÿe. Composed concertos, piano works, chamber music, and an oratorio. Included repertoire by Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, and Johannes Brahms. Also well known for recording all of Ludwig van Beethoven's piano sonatas during the early 1950s ~ Nat was born in 1890
August 31, 1955 ~ Saxophonist, mandolinist, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, drummer Anthony Thistlethwaite born in Leicestershire, UK ~ Founded the Waterboys with Mike Scott. Also a member of the Saw Doctors. Released a number of solo albums starting with Aesop Wrote A Fable in 1993. In-demand collaborator and session musician, has worked with World Party, Fairground Attraction, the Psychedelic Furs, Sharon Shannon, Bob Dylan, China Crisis, Johnny Thunders, Donovan, the Vibrators, Chris De Burgh, Bruce Foxton, the Mission, Kirsty MacColl, Mick Taylor, and Sonny Landreth
August 31, 1954 ~ Reggae singer Al Campbell, full name Alphonso Campbell, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ As a solo artist best known for a number of 1970s, 1980s hits, most notably Gee Baby and Late Night Blues. Worked with the Thrillers, Freddie McGregor, Ernest Wilson, Lincoln Thompson, the Mighty Cloud Band, Phil Pratt, Bunny Lee, Joe Gibbs, King Jammy, Mafia & Fluxy, and the UniquesAugust 31, 1949 ~ Rhythm guitarist Rick Roberts born in Clearwater, Florida, USA ~ Founder and lead singer of Firefall from 1974 to 1981. Also known for his work on the Flying Burrito Brothers 1971 eponymous Flying Burrito Brothers album as well as for his early 1970s solo albums, 1972's Windmills and 1973's She Is A Song
August 31, 1948 ~ Saxophonist, fiddler, violinist Andy Stein born in New York, New York, USA ~ Founding member of Commander Cody & his Lost Planet Airmen. Also worked with the Guys All-Star Shoe Band, composed for several movies including Hollywood Boulevard and National Lampoon's Movie Madness, and arranged classical pieces by Franz Schubert and Ludwig van Beethoven
August 31, 1948 ~ Punk rock, rock guitarist Ricky Gardiner born in Edinburgh, UK ~ Active since the early 1960s. Formed Beggar's Opera. Best known for his work with Iggy Pop on the 1977 Lust For Life album, notably credited for coming up with the characteristic guitar riff on The Passenger, and with David Bowie on the Low album issued the same year ~ Gardiner passed away in 2022
August 31, 1947 ~ Rock guitarist, pianist, songwriter Pete Gage born in Lewisham, UK ~ Not to be confused with namesake pianist, singer Pete Gage. Best known for his association with Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band, a band praised for its energetic live performances and acclaimed especially for their live albums Hand Clappin' Foot Stompin' Funky Butt Live and Hipster Flipsters Finger Poppin' Daddies. Also co-founded Dada, which included Elkie Brooks whom he would later marry, which would evolve into Vinegar Joe. Following the band's disbandement Gage would primarily work as a producer and songwriter, notably producing Joan Armatrading's 1975 Back To The Night album
August 31, 1947 ~ Abraham John Bond Jr, commonly known as blues, country blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Son Bonds, passed away in Dyersburg, Tennessee, USA ~ Closely associated with Sleepy John Estes and Hammie Nixon. Best known for his 1934 recording Back And Side Blues, which reportedly served as the basis for Sonny Boy Williamson I's Good Morning Little Schoolgirl. Other well known Bond songs include A Hard Pill To Swallow and Come Back Home ~ Bond was born in 1909
August 31, 1946 ~ Gene Y Austin, commonly known as pianist, composer Cooper-Moore, born in Loudon County, Virginia, USA ~ Influenced by Ahmad Jamal, Charles Mingus, Jaki Byard. Leader and sideman. Frequent collaborator of artists such as David S Ware, Juma Santos, John Blum, Digital Primitives, In Order To Survive, Susie Ibarra, Darius Jones, the Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra, Planetary Unknown, and extensively with William Parker
August 31, 1945 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Bob Welch born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of Fleetwood Mac from 1971 through 1974, appearing on the albums Future Games, Bare Trees, The Penguin and Mystery To Me, and on Heroes Are Hard To Find. Helped steer Fleetwood Mac away from the blues, more towards general pop, rock sound. As a solo artist best known for a number of hits during the late 1970s including Hot Love Cold World, Ebony Eyes, Precious Love and Sentimental Lady. Has also worked with the Seven Souls, Head West and Paris ~ Welch passed away in 2012August 31, 1945 ~ Violinist, conductor Itzhak Perlman born in Tel Aviv, British Mandate of Palestine ~ Internationally renowned. Has played at the White House honoring Queen Elizabeth II and at the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama. Conducted the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Westchester Philharmonic
August 31, 1945 ~ Singer, songwriter Van Morrison, full name George Ivan Morrison, born in Belfast, Ireland ~ First gained attention as lead singer of Them, known primarily for songs such Gloria and (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66. Debuted as a solo artist in 1967 with the single Brown Eyed Girl, to this date one of his best known songs, followed by the albums Blowin' Your Mind in 1967 and Astral Weeks in 1968. Cemented his position as a major artist by 1970 with the album Moondance and has been recording to critical acclaim and commercial succes since