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 8, 1983 ~ Pop-reggae, dub outfit UB40 release Red Red Wine, lead single off their Labour Of Love album ~ Taken off the band's fourth studio album, their first consisting solely of covers, Red Red Wine would be their first major international hit. The single reached top of the charts in over half a dozen countries, including America and their native UK, a first in both countries. Neil Diamond has stated that UB40's Red Red Wine is among his favorite covers of his songs, and frequently performs the song live using the UB40 reggae arrangement rather than that of his own original version
August 8, 1981 ~ Singer, rapper, producer Bradley McIntosh, full name Bradley John McIntosh, born in Lambeth, UK ~ Member of S Club 7, known for a number of UK hits starting in 1999, notably Bring It All Back, You're My Number One, Never Had A Dream Come True, Don't Stop Movin' and Have You Ever
August 8, 1980 ~ British punk rockers the Clash release their Bankrobber single ~ Stand-alone single, later included on compilation sets. Reached top 20 in the band's native UK, Ireland, and New Zealand. The accompanying videoclip depicts the band recording the song in the studio, interspered with images of roadies Baker and Green wearing bandanas over their faces, seemingly about to perform a bank heist in Lewisham in the greater London area. During the filming, they were stopped and questioned by the police, who thought they were genuine bankrobbers
August 8, 1977 ~ Rock, pop rock, metal guitarist, songwriter Dave Pino born in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA ~ Founding member of Waltham, with whom he has recorded since the early 2000s. Has recordedd the 2003 From The Attic with his side project Damone. Pino has also worked with Powerman 5000, notably co-producing the 2014 single How To Be Human, and is co-owner of a tattoo parlor, Pinos Bros Ink in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with his brother Frank Pino Jr
August 8, 1977 ~ Gospel, R&B, funk, soul pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, full name Robert Jermaine Randolph, born in Irvington, New Jersey, USA ~ Acclaimed steel guitarist active since the early 2000s, usually with his backing unit the Family Band. Influenced by secular artists such as Earth Wind & Fire and Sly & the Family Stone. Has opened for Eric Clapton and worked with producers such as T-Bone Burnett. Has guested on recordings by Soulive, the Dave Matthews Band, Buddy Guy, Ringo Starr, Third Day, Robbie Robertson, Randy Bachman, and Sawyer BrownAugust 8, 1976 ~ Singer, songwriter Drew Lachey born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Member of 98°, which also included his brother Nick Lachey. The band is known for a string of late 1990s hits including Because Of You, The Hardest Thing, Thank God I Found You featuring Mariah Carey & Joe and Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche), all of which reached top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
August 8, 1976 ~ Joshua Scott Chasez, commonly known as pop, dance-pop dancer, singer JC Chasez, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Cast member of Mickey Mouse Club. Rose to fame as member of late 1990s boy band NSYNC, known for songs such as I Want You Back, (God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You, Music Of My Heart with Gloria Estefan, It's Gonna Be Me and This I Promise You. After the band folded in the early 2000s, Chasez has written and produced for artists such as Girls Aloud, Basement Jaxx, David Archuleta and Matthew Morrison, and has recorded as a solo artist starting with Schizophrenic released in 2004
August 8, 1975 ~ Julian Edwin Adderley, commonly known as jazz, hard bop, soul jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, passed away in Gary, Indiana, USA ~ Best known for his 1966 soul jazz single Mercy Mercy Mercy, which became a surprise crossover hit reaching top 20 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Closely associated with Miles Davis, notably on the quintessential jazz albums Milestones and Kind Of Blue. Davis in turn backed Adderley on his acclaimed 1958 Somethin' Else album. Adderley has also worked with his brother Nat Adderley, Charles Lloyd, Yusef Lateef, Bobby Timmons, Victor Feldman, Joe Zawinul, George Duke, Walter Booker, and Victor Gaskin ~ Adderley was born in 1928
August 8, 1975 ~ Pop rock singer Rod Stewart releases Sailing, lead single off his Atlantic Crossing album ~ Rod Stewart's then-girlfriend Dee Harringtoon caught the Sutherland Brothers on a TV show, and recommended them to Stewart. After seeing them perform, Stewart became a fan and had the brothers co-write two tracks for his Atlantic Crossing album. The tracks didn't make the cut, but Stewart did cover Sailing, originally recorded by the siblings in 1972. Stewart's single would become his biggest UK hit, spending four consecutive weeks atop the charts in 1975. It also reached top 10 in several other countries, including No.1 in the Netherlands, but failed to reach the top half of the American Billboard Hot 100
August 8, 1973 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Mark Wills, full name Daryl Mark Williams, born in Cleveland, Tennessee, USA ~ Released his eponymous Mark Wills debut album in 1996. Best known for its follow-up album 1998's Wish You Were Here, all of its five singles reaching Billboard Country top 10 including the charttopping title track Wish You Were Here. Two songs originally recorded by Wills, Somebody and What Hurts The Most, would also both reach the No.1 spot in the cover versions of respectively Reba McEntire and Rascal Flatts
August 8, 1973 ~ Anthony Scott Flippen, commonly known as post-grunge, alternative rock, alternative metal singer Scott Stapp, born in Orlando, Florida, USA ~ Lead singer of Creed, best known for With Arms Wide Open taken off their 2000 Human Clay sophomore album. The song would top the Billboard Hot 100 and earn the band a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. The band also reached top 10 in their native America with the singles Higher, My Sacrifice, and One Last Breath. The band initially disbanded in 2004, having recorded three critically and commercially successful albums, only to reunite by the end of the decade. Stapp is also known as a solo artist, his The Great Divide debut album released in 2005, and for his association with Art of Anarchy, appearing on the band's 2017 The Madness sophomore album, a supergroup previously fronted by the late Scott Weiland of the Stone Temple Pilots
August 8, 1970 ~ Gina Mary Gardiner, commonly known as singer Gina G, born in Brisbane, Australia ~ Australian singer represented England at the 1996 Eurovision Songfestival held in Oslo with the song Ooh Aah (Just A Little Bit). The song would reach 2n place, losing out to Ireland's entry of Eimear Quinn performing The Voice. Gina's Ooh Aah would top the English charts though as well as crack the American top 20. She is also known for songs such as I Belong To You, Fresh, Ti Amo and Gimme Some Love, all mid to late 1990s UK top 30 hitsAugust 8, 1964 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones play the Kurhaus, Scheveningen, the Netherlands ~ As part of a tour with dates in Northern Ireland and the UK, the Rolling Stones include a single concert outside the British Isles, appearing at the Kurhaus, a majestic venue located in Scheveningen, the Netherlands. The concert erupts in chaos, the crowd out of control, the band has to flea, and some 100 police officers are needed to restore order. The Dutch remember the concert to this day, often citing the incident as pivotal to rock history
August 8, 1962 ~ Pop, surf outfit the Beach Boys record Ten Little Indians ~ Written by Brian Wilson and Gary Usher. Produced by Nick Venet. Included on the band's 1962 Surfin' Safari debut album. Released as a single, b/w County Fair. Mike Love lead vocals and saxophone. The rest of the band: Brian Wilson bass, Dennis Wilson drums, David Marks and Carl Wilson on guitar, with all singing harmony and backing vocals
August 8, 1962 ~ Mohandas Dewese, commonly known as rapper, singer Kool Moe Dee, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced artists such as Big Daddy Kane, the Beastie Boys, KRS One, Will Smith, and Tupac Shakur. Member of 1980s outfit the Treacherous Three. Regarded as one of the pioneers of new jack swing. As a solo artist best known for songs such as Go See The Doctor, Wild Wild West, Let's Go and I Go To Work
August 8, 1961 ~ David Howell Evans, commonly known as rock, pop rock guitarist the Edge, born in Barkings, UK ~ Co-founding member of U2, known for pivotal albums such as 1987's The Joshua Tree, 1988's Rattle & Hum and 1991's Achtung Baby. By estimation the band has sold over 150 million records since their inception in the early 1980s. Evans also composed the soundtrack for The Captive released in 1986. Has co-written the song GoldenEye with bandmate Bono for the James Bond-film of the same name. The duo also wrote, and were featured on She's A Mystery To Me included on Roy Orbison's final studio album Mystery Girl recorded shortly before Orbison's untimely death
August 8, 1961 ~ Richard Allan Ream, commonly known as glam metal drummer Rikki Rocket in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Co-founding and key member of Poison. Considered the definitive hair band of the 1980s, the group would score about half a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits including the No.1 Every Rose Has Its Thorn off the Open Up And Say Ahh sophomore album, and sell over 50 million albums worldwide. Rockett guested on the early 1990s Bite Down Hard album by Britny Fox, released his Glitter 4 Your Soul solo album in 2003, and formed supergroup the Devil City Angels, known for their eponymous 2015 Devil City Angels album, with the LA Guns guitarist Tracii Guns, Cinderella bassist Eric Brittingham, and Cheap Trick rhythm guitarist Brandon Gibbs
August 8, 1957 ~ Alternative rock, jangle pop keyboardist Dennis Drew, full name Dennis Arnold Drew, born in Jamestown, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member 10,000 Maniacs, known for songs such as What's The Matter Here, Trouble Me, These Are Days, Candy Everybody Wants and Because The Night. Drew, bassist Steve Gustafson and guitarist John Lombardo are the three remaining original members, playing with the band since its inception in 1981August 8, 1953 ~ Songwriter, singer Todd Cerney, full name Todd David Cerney, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Member of 1990s outfit Toast teaming up with former Bread members Jimmy Griffin, Robb Royer and Larry Knechtel. Best known as a songwriter. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as I'll Fall In Love Again (Steve Carlisle), The Blue House Of Broken Hearts (Levon Helm), Too Late (the Kendalls), I'll Still Be Loving You (Restless Heart), Notorious (Loverboy), Let Go (Cheap Trick), If Ever A Love There Was (the Four Tops), Forget About Love (Eddie Money), Don't Stop Now (the Cover Girls), No Mercy (Ty Herndon), Good Morning Beautiful (Steve Holy), Blues Is My Business (Etta James), Tell Me That You Love Me (Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton), and Keep On Rolling (Bo Bice). Cerney also played guitar, mandolin, keyboards and sang with some of the aforementioned as well as with the Dixie Chicks, and the Nashville Songwriters Band ~ Cerney passed away in 2011
August 8, 1952 ~ Drummer Anton Fig born in Cape Town, South Africa ~ In-demand session drummer. Well known for his work with Kiss, Ace Frehley and with Paul Shaffer in the house band on David Letterman's late-night TV talk show. Has also worked with Spider, Warren Zevon, BB King, Peter Frampton, Joan Armatrading, Cyndi Lauper, John Waite, Joe Bonamassa, Madonna, Gary Moore, Joe Satriani, Paul Butterfield, Chris Spedding, Paul Simon, Jennifer Rush, Mick Jagger, and Joe CockerAugust 8, 1952 ~ Country singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Gary Baker born in Niagara Falls, New York, USA ~ Member of LeBlanc & Carr's backing band. Member of country-pop outfit the Shooters. Backed Marie Osmond. Would find his greatest successes as a songwriter, especially known for co-writing I Swear with regular songwriting partner Frank J Myers. The song would be an 1993 hit for both John Michael Montgomery and R&B outfit All 4 One, later covered by numerous artists. Others who recorded songs co-written by Baker include Tanya Tucker (Wings), Gary Morris, Alabama, Tracy Lawrence, Reba McEntire (One Honest Heart), and Lonestar
August 8, 1951 ~ Trumpeter Laurie Frink, full name Laurie Ann Frink, born in Pender, Nebraska, USA ~ Worked with Mel Lewis, Gerry Mulligan, George Russell, Benny Goodman, Buck Clayton, Bob Mintzer, Maria Schneider, John Hollenbeck, Darcy James Argue, Ryan Truesdell, and Jentsch Group Large ~ Frink passed away in 2013
August 8, 1950 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Jamie O'Hara, full name James Paul O'Hara, born in Toledo, Ohio, USA ~ Noted for penning Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days), a 1986 Grammy Award-winning hit for the Judds. Formed the duo the O'Kanes with Kieran Kane, known for songs such as Can't Stop My Heart From Loving You. Has also recorded as a solo artist and written for artists such as Shelby Lynne, Ronnie McDowell (Older Women), Gary Allan, and Trisha Yearwood ~ O'Hara passed away in 2021
August 8, 1950 ~ Liberatori DeVitto, commonly known as pop, pop rock, rock drummer Liberty DeVitto, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as drummer for Billy Joel for over three decades starting on Turnstiles album released in 1976. Has also worked with Carly Simon, Phoebe Snow, Karen Carpenter, Stevie Nicks, and Meat Loaf
August 8, 1950 ~ R&B, soul, funk drummer, percussionist Willie Hall, full name Willie Clarence Halll, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Closely associated with the Bar-kays, and especially Stax/Volt, serving as session musician for the label for about a decade starting in the late 1960s. Took over for Al Jackson Jr in Booker T & the MG's following Jackson's death, appearing on the album Universal Language before the band disbanded. Well-known as a member of the Blues Brothers, including in the films The Blues Brothers and its sequel Blues Brothers 2000. Notably present on several of Isaac Hayes's most acclaimed albums including Hot Buttered Soul, Black Moses, and Shaft. Hall has also appeared on albums by Mavis Staples, Albert King, Rufus Thomas (Do The Funky Chicken), David Porter, Luther Ingram, Little Milton, Tracy Nelson, the Manhattan Transfer, Levon Helm (Levon Helm), Steve Cropper, and Al Green