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 9, 1941 ~ Vivian Martin Prince, commonly known as drummer Viv Prince, born in Loughborough, UK ~ Perhaps best known as early member of the Pretty Things, appearing on the band's eponymous 1965 The Pretty Things debut album and its follow-up Get The Picture released later the same year. Known for his wild and eccentric behaviour, Prince is said to have inspired the Who-drummer Keith Moon. Following his departure from the Pretty Things, Prince has worked with Chicago Line, Bunch Of Fives, and Denny Laine ~ Prince passed away in 2025
August 9, 1939 ~ William Henderson, commonly known as singer, songwriter Billy Henderson, born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Founding member of the Spinners, known for songs such as Could It Be I'm Falling In Love, the Dionne Warwick collaboration Then Came You, The Rubberband Man and It's A Shame co-written with Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright and Lee Garrett and notably reworked by Monie Love to It's A Shame (My Sister) in 1991 ~ Henderson passed away in 2007August 9, 1939 ~ Edward Rudolph Warren Jr, commonly known as jazz bassist Butch Warren, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Kenny Dorham, Charles Davis, Tommy Flanagan, Buddy Enlow, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Hank Mobley, Donald Byrd, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Jackie McLean, Stanley Turrentine, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Clark, Elmo Hope, Don Wilkerson, Grant Green, Slide Hampton, Booker Ervin, Bobby Timmons, and Walter Bishop Jr ~ Warren passed away in 2013
August 9, 1939 ~ James Timothy Shaw, commonly known as R&B, soul, funk singer, songwriter, producer Mighty Hannibal, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ As a solo artist known for The Biggest Cry, I Need A Woman (Cause I'm A Man), Baby Please Change Your Mind, I'm Coming Home, Hymn No.5, The Truth Shall Make You Free. Worked with the Overalls, Johnny Otis, and Leon Russell ~ Shaw passed away in 2014
August 9, 1939 ~ Odd Børre Sørensen, commonly known as pop singer Odd Børre, born in Harstad, Norway ~ Active mostly from the early 1960s until semi-retiring from music in 1970. Internationally best known for representing his native Norway in the 1968 Eurovision Songfestival contest, reaching thirteenth place with Stress ~ Sørensen passed away in 2023
August 9, 1928 ~ Coloratura soprano, musical theater singer Dolores Wilson, full name Dolores Mae Wilson born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Opera singer from the 1950s onwards working with the Metropolitan Opera, the Central City Opera, the Teatro Massimo, the Teatro Municipal, and the Opera De Nice. Turned to musical theater in the mid 1960s, starting with the original Broadway production of Fiddler On The Roof in 1965 ~ Wilson passed away in 2010
August 9, 1912 ~ Jazz, pop, film composer Bojan Adamic born in Ribnica, Austria ~ Member of the Slovenian resistance during World War II. First conductor of the RTV Slovenia Big Band, established in 1945. As a composer would venture from jazz to film scores, composing scores for over an estimated 200 films ~ Adamic passed away in 1995