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, 1982 ~ Pepijn Adriaan Lanen, commonly known as rapper Faberyayo, born in Utrecht, the Netherlands ~ Member of de Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig, known best for their 2005 hit Watskeburt. Also worked with de Spaarndammerbuurtkliek, Le Le, SLBMG, Yous & Yay, records as a solo artist starting with 2012's Coco and is an author with over half a dozen publications to his name
August 4, 1982 ~ R&B, pop singer, songwriter, actor Quindon Tarver, full name Quindon Dan Tarver, born in Plano, Texas, USA ~ Best known for When Doves Cry and Everybody's Free, both covers respectively of Prince and Rozalla and both used on the soundtrack of the 1996 William Shakespeare's Rome & Juliet soundtrack. Released a sole album, Quindon, the same year ~ Tarver passed away in 2021
August 4, 1980 ~ Operatic, concert tenor singer Daniel Johansson, full name Daniel Mattias Johansson, born in Braås, Sweden ~ Closely associated with the Norwegian Opera since the early-2010s. Has also worked with the Norrlandsoperan, Malmo Live Konserthus, and the Theater an der Wien
August 4, 1980 ~ Jazz, rock saxophonist, flutist Pekka Pöyry, full name Pekka Juhani Pöyry, passed away in Helsinki, Finland ~ Influenced by Charlie Parker. Leader and sideman. Worked with Eero Ojanen, Teppo Hauta-aho, Reino Laine, Pia Skaar, Tassavallan Presidentti, Wigwam, and Heikki Sarmanto ~ Pöyry was born in 1939August 4, 1977 ~ Singer Antonio Machín, full name Antonio Abad Lugo Machín, passed away in Madrid, Spain ~ Perhaps best known for his 1930 rendition of El Manisero (The Peanut Vendor), recorded with Don Azpiazú's orchestra. It would become the first recording for a Cuban artist to sell a million copies ~ Machín was born in 1903
August 4, 1975 ~ Dixieland, bebop trumpeter Fumio Nanri passed away ~ Enjoyed popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with his ensemble the Hot Peppers. One of the first Japanese jazz musicians to become known outside Japan. Nicknamed “the Satchmo of Japan” by Louis Armstrong ~ Nanri was born in 1910
August 4, 1972 ~ Pop rock, folk pop, country singer, guitarist, songwriter John Paul White born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, USA ~ Forms the Civil Wars with Joy Williams. The duo is best known for their collaboration with Taylor Swift on Safe & Sound, used in the soundtrack for the 2012 film Hunger Games. White has also recorded as a solo artist and guested on recordings by Emmylou Harris, and Rodney Crowell
August 4, 1970 ~ Indie rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Patrice Pike, full name Patrice Rene Pike, born in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Co-founded Sister 7 with Wayne Sutton, known best for their modest hit Know What You Mean. Following the band's disbandement Pike has performed as a duo with Sutton and as a solo artist
August 4, 1970 ~ George Dorman Carry, commonly known as jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Scoops Carry, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Brother of guitarist, bandleader Ed Carry. Has worked with Cassino Simpson, the Midnight Revellers, Boyd Atkins, Lucky Millinder, Zutty Singleton, Fletcher Henderson, Roy Eldridge, Art Tatum, Horace Henderson, Darnell Edward, and Earl Hines ~ Carry was born in 1915
August 4, 1969 ~ Drummer, bandleader, songwriter Dylan Howe, full name Dylan Lee Howe, born in Finchley, UK ~ Son of Yes guitarist Steve Howe, brother of keyboardist, drummer Virgil Howe. Member of the Blockheads, both during Ian Dury's lifetime and after. Fronted his own jazz quintet the Dylan Howe Quintet. Also worked with Wilko Johnson, the Subterraneans, Paul McCartney, Ray Davies, Tom Jones, Gabrielle, Nick Cave, Hugh Cornwell, David Gilmour, Mick Jones, Damon Albarn, Beth Gibbons, Alison Moyet, and Sarah BrightmanAugust 4, 1969 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Max Cavalera, full name Massimiliano Antonio Cavalera, born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil ~ Best known for co-founding heavy metal outfit Sepultura with his brother Igor Cavalera, serving as the band's lead singer, rhythm guitarist from 1984 until his departure in 1996. Has also worked with Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy, Killer Be Killed, and Nailbomb
August 4, 1968 ~ Jazz saxophonist Eric Alexander born in Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Classically trained. Actively recording since the early 1990s. Has collaborated with Harold Mabern, Kenny Barron, Cecil Payne, Cedar Walton, Charles Earland, Jon Faddis, David Hazeltine, the New York All-Stars, One For All, Irene Reid, and Jim Rotondi
August 4, 1965 ~ Jazz drummer, singer, composer, producer Terri Lyne Carrington born in Medford, Massachusetts, USA ~ Active since the early 1980s, played with Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Clark Terry, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joe Sample, Al Jarreau, the Yellowjackets, Lester Bowie, Stan Getz, James Moody, David Sanborn, Pharoah Sanders, Cassandra Wilson, Geri Allen, Jonathan Asperil, James Genus, Everette Harp, Josh Harri, Bob Hurst, Nona Hendryx, Robert Irving III, Munyungo Jackson, Ingrid Jensen, Andrew Marzotto, Aruán Ortiz, Greg Phillinganes, Tineke Postma, Patrice Rushen, Mats Sandahl, Negan Santos, Dwight Sills, Esperanza Spalding, Helen Sung, Gary Thomas, Gerald Albright, Hiram Bullock, Greg Osby, Carlos Santana, John Scofield, Wayne Shorter, Grover Washington Jr, Wallace Roney, Walter Beasley, George Duke, Everette Harp, Chuck Loeb, and Christian McBrideAugust 4, 1964 ~ Jonathan Darbyshire, commonly known as guitarist, bassist, cellist, singer Mr Dibs, born ~ Spent about a decade starting in 1997 as a member of Hawkwind's road crew before becoming a full member, replacing Alan Davey. Previously Darbyshire has played with underground space rock bands Krel and Spacehead
August 4, 1962 ~ Keyboardist, organist, mandolinist, guitarist, bassist, drummer, producer Joey Huffman, full name Joseph Rodney Huffman, born in Pikeville, Kentucky, USA ~ In-demand session and touring keyboardist, producer. Best known for his associations with Witness, Drivin' 'n Cryin', and the Georgia Satellites. Has appeared on over a 100 albums including recordings by Bowling For Soup, Skinny Molly, Miranda Lambert (Kerosene), Soul Asylum (Let Your Dim Light Shine), Meat Puppets, Matchbox Twenty, Cee Lo Green, and Izzy Stradlin
August 4, 1962 ~ New wave, synth-pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Paul Reynolds born in Liverpool, UK ~ Member of the short-lived Visual Aids. Joined A Flock Of Seagulls two months after its inception, replacing original guitarist Willie Woo, remaining with the band through 1984. Present on the band's best known including I Ran (So Far Away) and Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You)
August 4, 1962 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Salvatore Bonafede born in Palermo, Italy ~ Classically trained. Leader and sideman. Has worked with Sam Rivers, Archie Shepp, Pete Rugolo, Ernie Wilkins, Lester Bowie, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Joe Lovano, Charlie Mariano, Randy Brecker, Paul Motian, John Scofield, Norma Winstone, John Abercrombie, and Esperanza Spalding
August 4, 1959 ~ Guitarist Robbin Crosby, full name Robbinson Lantz Crosby, born in La Jolla, California, USA ~ Best known as member of glam metal outfit RATT. Co-wrote number of the band's best known including Round And Round, Wanted Man, Lay It Down and the band's You Think You're So Tough debut single ~ Crosby passed away in 2002
August 4, 1958 ~ Singer, guitarist, producer Ian Broudie born in Liverpool, UK ~ First gained attention in the late 1970s as member of short-lived punk, post-punk group Big In Japan. Would go on to become an in-demand producer for the likes of Echo & the Bunnymen, the Fall, the Coral, the Zutons, and the Subways. Formed and fronted the Lightning Seeds, initially a solo project, enjoying great popularity during the 1990s. The band is best known for Three Lions, which reached the UK No.1 spot three times, first in 1996 to mark the UK's soccer team's participation in that year's UEFA European championship, in an alternate version two years later, and as a re-entry in 2018. The song featured comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner and has become an un-official anthem of English soccer
August 4, 1958 ~ Mbaqanga, soul, jazz, pop singer, songwriter Steve Kekana, full name Tebogo Steve Kekana, born in Zebediela, South Africa ~ Actively recording since the late 1970s with well over three dozen albums to his name. Best known for songs such as the Bushman, Feel So Strong and Raising My Family ~ Kekana passed away in 2021
August 4, 1957 ~ Avant-garde jazz, folk, rock duduk player, percussionist, singer, songwriter Arto Tuncboyaciyan born in Istanbul, Turkey ~ Brother of composer, producer Onno Tunç. Has worked with the Armenian Navy Band, Sezen Aksu, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Night Ark, Yash-ar, Chet Baker, Marc Johnson, Al di Meola, the Zawinul Syndicate, Arthur Blythe, Paul Motian, Simon Nabatov, Hank Roberts, Paul Winter, System Of A Down, and Wax Poetic
August 4, 1957 ~ Reggae, jazz tenor saxophonist, singer Dean Fraser, full name Dean Ivanhoe Fraser, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Regarded as one of Jamaica's finest brass players, present on albums by Sly Dunbar, Bunny Wailer, Israel Vibration, Dennis Brown (Words Of Wisdom), Jimmy Cliff, Gregory Isaacs, Peter Tosh, Freddie McGregor, Burning Spear (Resistance), Sugar Minott, Maxi Priest, Junior Reid, Black Uhuru, Courtney Pine, Garnett Silk, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Sly & Robbie, Horace Andy, and Lauryn Hill (The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill)August 4, 1954 ~ Folk rock, new age, jazz fusion, dream pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Claire Hamill, full name Josephine Claire Hamill, born in Port Clarence, UK ~ Actively recording as a solo artist since age 17 debuting with the 1971 One House Left Standing in 1971. Has opened for John Martyn, Procol Harum, Jethro Tull. Has collaborated with Wishbone Ash, Steve Howe, Jon & Vangelis
August 4, 1953 ~ Anne Elizabeth Woods, commonly known as rock, hard rock singer Holly Woods, born in Durham, North Carolina, USA ~ Best known as lead singer for Canadian rock outfit Toronto, with whom she recorded about half a dozen albums through the mid-1980s. The band is best known for their 1982 single Your Daddy Don't Know, a top 10 hit in Canada
August 4, 1953 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Jamie James born in Toronto, Canada ~ Founded and fronted early 1980s rockabilly trio the Kingbees, known for the albums The Kingbees and The Big Rock released. Also co-founded DQ & the Sharks fronted by actor, singer Dennis Quaid
August 4, 1953 ~ Drummer Jeff Hamilton born in Richmond, Indiana, USA ~ Best known as co-leader of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra alongside John Clayton. Has also worked with Monty Alexander, Woody Herman, the LA 4, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Diana Krall, Benny Carter, Ernestine Anderson, Michael Bublé, Milt Jackson, Barney Kessel, Diane Schuur, Natalie Cole, Barbra Streisand, Renee Olstead, Céline Dion, John Pizzarelli, and Paul McCartney