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 4, 2025 ~ Florence Catherine Currier, commonly known as singer, actress Jane Morgan passed away in Naples, Florida, USA ~ In-demand actress. As a singer has six gold albums to her name. Known for late 1950s, early 1960s songs such as Fascination, The Day The Rains Came and With Open Arms ~ Currier was born in 1924
August 4, 2025 ~ Singer, guitarist Terry Reid, full name Terrance James Reid, passed away ~ Passed up the opportunity to sing lead for what would become Led Zeppelin, preferring to tour as a support act for Cream's 1968 American tour. Recommended Robert Plant, as well as John Bonham, to Jimmy Page who was putting together the new band. Reid has also performed as an opening act on tours by the Rolling Stones, Jethro Tull, and Fleetwood Mac ~ Reid was born in 1949
August 4, 2023 ~ Rock keyboardist John Gosling, also known as John the Baptist Gosling, passed away in Berkhamsted, UK ~ Member of the Kinks from 1970 through 1978, replaced by Gordon Edwards. Gosling recorded over half a dozen albums with the band, including the acclaimed Muswell Hillbillies released in 1971 ~ Gosling was born in 1948
August 4, 2023 ~ Rock, indie rock guitarist, keyboardist, clarinetist, singer Tom Pintens passed away ~ As a solo artist best known for In Charleroi of his 2009 Winter Maakt Ons Vrolijk sophomore album. Pintens has been active since the mid 1990s, working with bands such as Flowers For Breakfast, Think Of One, Het Zesde Metaal, and perhaps most notably Zita Swoon ~ Pintens was born in 1974
August 4, 2022 ~ Schlager, pop singer Margot Eskens passed away in Carinthia, Austria ~ Popular during the 1950s and 1960s. Sold over 40 million records. Known for songs such as Moulin Rouge, Ich Mochte Heut Ausgehn, Tiritomba and perhaps her biggest hit Cindy Oh Cindy. Represented Germany in the 1966 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 10th place with Die Zeiger Der Uhr written by Walter Dobschinski and Hans Bradtke ~ Eskens was born in 1939
August 4, 2021 ~ David Lee Jr, commonly known as jazz drummer, composer David Lee, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Got his start in music in the late 1960s, backing Dizzy Gillespie. Closely associated with Sonny Rollins, appearing on several of the tenor saxophonist's albums including Next Album and The Cutting Edge. Has also guested on recordings by Joe Zawinul (Concerto Retitled), Leon Thomas, Albert Dailey (The Day After The Dawn), Lonnie Liston Smith, Charlie Rouse, Richard Wyands (Then Here And Now), Professor Longhair, Earl Tubinton, Ron Levy, Snooks Eaglin (Out Of Nowhere), Lowell Fulson, Grady Gaines, and Ellis Marsalis ~ Lee was born in 1941
August 4, 2020 ~ Heavy metal, groove metal drummer Tony Costanza passed away ~ Influenced by Dave Lombardo, Gene Hoglan, Terry Bozzio. Best known as original drummer of Machine Head, playing with the band in 1992 and 1993. Has also worked with Papsmear, Debris Inc, Crowbar, Area 51, and Crisis ~ Costanza was born in 1968
August 4, 2018 ~ Lawrencine May Collins, commonly known as country, rockabilly, rock singer, guitarist Lorrie Collins passed away in Reno, Nevada, USA ~ Girlfriend of singer and teen idol Ricky Nelson during the late 1950s, both on the TV show The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet and in real life. Sister of Larry Collins, with whom she performed through the 1960s under the moniker the Collins Kids and best known for their signature song Just Because ~ Collins was born in 1942
August 4, 2015 ~ Producer, songwriter Billy Sherrill passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Influenced by Phil Spector, Don Law, Chet Atkins. Helped define the Countrypolitan sound. Frequent writing collaborator of Norro Wilson, George Richey, and Glenn Sutton. Wrote or co-wrote many of country's most enduring classics including David Houston's Almost Persuaded, Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man, and Charlie Rich's The Most Beautiful Girl. Others who recorded his songs include George Jones, Barbara Mandrell, Sandy Posey, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, Lacy J Dalton, Ray Conniff, Bob Luman, Johnny Duncan, Jim & Jesse, Moe Bandy, Joe Stampley, Charlie Walker, Barbara Fairchild, and Mickey Gilley ~ Sherrill was born in 1936
August 4, 2012 ~ Electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Johnnie Bassett, full name Johnnie Alexander Bassett, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Cites Billy Butler, Tiny Grimes, Albert King, BB King, T-Bone Walker as influences. Sessioned for decades for artists such as Big Joe Turner, Ruth Brown, Nolan Strong, André Williams, the Miracles, John Lee Hooker, Alberta Adams, Lowell Fulson, Dinah Washington, Tina Turner, and Little Willie John. Recorded as a leader since the mid 1990s ~ Bassett was born in 1935
August 4, 2011 ~ Krautrock, electronic, experimental keyboardist, cellist, violinist, percussionist Conrad Schnitzler passed away in Berlin, Germany ~ Early member of Tangerine Dream, playing with the band in 1969 and 1970. Co-founding member of Kluster. Member of Eruption. Has also recorded prolifically as a solo artist and was an in-demand collaborator, notably working with Gen Ken Montgomery ~ Schnitzler was born in 1937
August 4, 2007 ~ Producer, singer, songwriter Lee Hazlewood, full name Barton Lee Hazlewood, passed away in Henderson, Nevada, USA ~ Widely acclaimed as genius, ranked among America's all-time greatest songwriters. Best known for his work producing Duane Eddy in the 1950s and collaborating with Nancy Sinatra in the 1960s including producing and writing These Boots Are Made For Walkin'. As a solo artist best known for his output in the 1960s, often described as cowboy psychedelia. Once described as the world's cheeriest fatalist, especially due to his 1969 masterpiece Trouble Is A Lonesome Town. Hazlewood would retire from music by the early 1970s ~ Hazlewood was born in 1929August 4, 2006 ~ Hard rock, rock keyboardist John Locke, full name John Tilden Locke, passed away in Ojai, California, USA ~ Co-founded Spirit with guitarist Randy California. Guested on the 1970 Tom Rush album The Wrong End Of The Rainbow. Worked with Nazareth in the early 1980s, appearing on the albums The Fool Circle, Snaz and 2XS. Guested on the Stray Cats album Gonna Ball, released in 1981 ~ Locke was born in 1943
August 4, 2005 ~ James Milton Campbell Jr, commonly known as R&B, electric blues, soul, funk singer, guitarist Little Milton, passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for Who's Cheating Who, Let Me Down Easy, That's What Love Will Do, So Mean To Me, What It Is, and perhaps his best known the 1959 hit record We're Gonna Make It. Influenced by T-Bone Walker. Worked with the Rhythm Aces, and Ike Turner. As a producer, Campbell helped bring Albert King and Fontella Bass to fame ~ Campbell was born in 1934August 4, 1998 ~ Kimetrius Christopher Foose, commonly known as rapper, singer, songwriter Lil Skies, born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Influenced by Lil Wayne, Eminem, Wiz Khalifa, 50 Cent. Active since the mid-2010s, leading up to his full-length Shelby debut album released in 2019. Known best for the singles Red Roses, Nowadays, and I. Has collaborated with the likes of Yung Bans, Lil Gnar, Hoodrich Pablo Juan. Lil Durk, Juicy J, and PnB Rock
August 4, 1997 ~ Alexander Young, commonly known as rock singer George Alexander, passed away in Hamburg, Germany ~ Brother of the Easybeats guitarist George Young and AC/DC's Malcolm Young and Angus Young. Co-founding member, bassist of Grapefruit, known for the late 1960s albums Around Grapefruit and Deep Water ~ Young was born in 1938
August 4, 1993 ~ Pianist Kenny Drew, full name Kenneth Sidney Drew, passed away in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ A severely underrated jazz pianist, Drew is perhaps best known for appearing on John Coltrane's seminal Blue Train album issued in 1957. Drew has also recorded prolifically as a leader, and appeared as a sideman on numerous albums by Sonny Stitt, Sonny Rollins, Buddy DeFranco, Zoot Sims, Paul Quinichette, Clifford Brown (Caravan), Dexter Gordon, Donald Byrd, Art Farmer (Farmer's Market), Chet Baker (Chet Baker Sings), Jackie McLean, Art Blakey, and Johnny Griffin. Drew moved to Europe in the early 1960s, and lived in France and Denmark where he became a well known figure recording extensively with Danish bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. Drew has a street named after him, Kenny Drew Vej, in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Drew was born in 1928
August 4, 1992 ~ Alternative rock, power pop outfit Gin Blossoms release their New Miserable Experience sophomore album ~ Formed in 1987, the band had steadily grown a following in their native Arizona, and independently released their Dusted debut album in 1989. It would be their second album, however, that brought them nationwide fame, with the singles Hey Jealousy and Found Out About You both peaking at No.25 Billboard Hot 100. The band would score one more major hit when Til I Hear It From You, recorded for the soundtrack to the 1995 coming-of-age comedy-drama Empire Records, became a No.1 hit in Canada and after its re-release in 1996 reached No.9 Billboard Hot 100. Unfortunately, Gin Blossoms would prove unable to continue their success and disbanded in 1997 with three studio albums under their belt. They have reunited in the early 2000sAugust 4, 1989 ~ Manager, impresario Larry Parnes, full name Laurence Maurice Parnes, passed away in London, UK ~ First major British rock manager, especially successful during the 1950s and early 1960s. Aided the careers of artists such as Billy Fury, Vince Eager, Lance Fortune, Johnny Gentle, and Nelson Keene. His reputation would later be tarnished, many artists claiming they were exploited ~ Parnes was born in 1929
August 4, 1988 ~ Metalcore, post-hardcore, nu metal singer, guitarist, bassist, pianist, songwriter Aaron Pauley, full name Aaron Charles Pauley, born in Vacaville, California, USA ~ Best known as lead singer of rock band Of Mice & Men. Also a member of Jamie's Elsewhere and Razing Alexandria. Guested on recordings by Twenty Days With Julian, the Light Iris, the Blush Of Dawn and Eric July
August 4, 1988 ~ Pop, dance-pop singer Tom Parker, full name Thomas Anthony Parker, born in Bolton, UK ~ Member of pop, dance-pop boy band the Wanted. The boy band have recorded three albums and enjoyed popularity in the early-2010s, songs such as All Time Low, Heart Vacancy, Glad You Came, Lightning, Chasing The Sun and Show Me Love (America) all reaching the top 10 UK ~ Parker passed away in 2022
August 4, 1986 ~ Singer Prince releases Girls & Boys in Europe as a single off his Parade album ~ Previously issued as the B-side to Anotherloverholenyohead, Prince would not release Girls & Boys as a single in his native America but in Europe only, where it did well, reaching top 20 in the UK and the Netherlands. Drummer Bobby Z would later comment: “Second singles sometimes weren't right. Kiss was a complete smash and set the album up huge. In my opinion it should then have been Girls & Boys, not Mountains.”
August 4, 1985 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Kina Grannis, full name Kina Kasuya Grannis, born in Mission Viejo, California, USA ~ Has recorded about half a dozen albums, mostly self-released utilizing crowd-sourcing platforms, starting with Sincerely Me in 2006. Would gain wider attention in 2008 winning the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest with her video of Message From Your Heart, resulting in her video being displayed during the Super Bowl commercial break. Grannis is well known for songs such as Ours To Keep, used on the daytime TV series General Hospital, and Never Never and People, both used in the MTV reality series College Life
August 4, 1984 ~ Irving Russin, commonly known as saxophonist Babe Russin, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Played with a number of the best known jazz bands during the 1930s and 1940s including Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and Glenn Miller. Noted for his solo on the latter's 1941 recording of A String Of Pearls. Co-wrote Jimmy Dorsey's All The Things You Ain't, recorded by Dorsey in 1945 ~ Russin was born in 1911August 4, 1984 ~ Singer, songwriter Jack McManus born in West Wickam, UK ~ Co-wrote Groove Armada's From The Rooftops and Boyzone's Separate Cars. Toured with John Mayer, Scouting For Girls, Amy MacDonald, and with Sam Sparro. Debuted as a solo artist with the single Bang On The Piano in 2008