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.
December 10, 1957 ~ Producer, songwriter, keyboardist Paul Hardcastle, full name Paul Louis Hardcastle, born in London, UK ~ Best known for 19, a hit in 1985 which reached the top 20 in America and topped the charts in numerous countries including the UK and the Netherlands. Also known for a series of smooth jazz albums. Has worked with First Light, Carol Kenyon, Jaki Graham, and Ryan FarishDecember 10, 1955 ~ Maria Guadalupe Araujo, commonly known as Latin pop, Latin rock, mariachi singer, songwriter Ana Gabriel, born in Guamúchil, Mexico ~ Released over 20 albums, several of which topped the Billboard Latin pop albums charts. Best known for songs such Ay Amor, Es Demasiado Tarde and Quien Como Tu
December 10, 1955 ~ Goran Ivandic, commonly known as rock, progressive rock, hard rock, folk rock, pop rock drummer Ipe Ivandic, born in Vares, Yugoslavia ~ Member of Jutro which changed their name to Bijelo Dugme in 1974. Present on the band's two most successful albums, 1974's Kad Bi' Bio Bijelo Dugme and its follow-up Sta Bi Dao Si Na Mom Mjestu the next year, before being conscripted to serve in the Army. After his discharge, Ivandic rejoined the band in 1977 ~ Ivandic passed away in 1994
December 10, 1955 ~ Saxophonist, flutist Paul Speare, full name Paul George Speare born in Romford, UK ~ In-demand session and touring musician. Briefly a member of Dexys Midnight Runners in 1981 through 1982, including on the singles Plan B, Show Me, Celtic Soul Brothers and the band's biggest hit Come On Eileen. Would later found the horn section the TKO Horns with Dexys bandmates Jim Paterson and Brian Maurice, notably present on Elvis Costello's 1983 Punch The Clock albumDecember 10, 1954 ~ Jazz singer, pianist Diane Schuur born in Tacoma, Washington, USA ~ Discovered by drummer, bandleader Ed Shaughnessy at age 22. Some two dozens albums to her name. Artists who have guested on her albums include Barry Manilow, José Feliciano, Maynard Ferguson, Stan Getz, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, and BB King
December 10, 1954 ~ Jazz bassist Edvard Askeland born in Bergen, Norway ~ Backed Dag Arnesen in various bands for most of the 1970s. Member of Cutting Edge in the 1980s. Has also worked with EIM, Søyr, Frode Thingnæs, Bassonova, Jan Eggum, Van Morrison, Wenche Myhre, Harald Heide-Steen Jr, Anne-Marie Kvien, Anne Frimstad Fjeld, Tor Endresen, and Rune Larsen
December 10, 1954 ~ Jeremy Allan Ryder, commonly known as guitarist, keyboardist, singer Jack Hues, born in Gillingham, UK ~ Fronted UK new wave outfit Wang Chung, which enjoyed popularity especially in America the mid-1980s. Aided by heavy rotation on MTV, the band's Dance Hall Days would reach top 20 in America, where it peaked at No.16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984. The song would earn the band a nomination for Best New Artist at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards, losing to Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) by Eurythmics. Subsequently the band provided the track Fire In The Twilight for the soundtrack of the cult coming-of-age film The Breakfast Club the following year, and scored two more major hits with Everybody Have Fun Tonight and Let's Go both reaching top 10 Billboard Hot 100. In the 1990s, Hues teamed up with Genesis-keyboardist Tony Banks for the one-off Strictly Inc, worked on several soundtracks, and recorded his The Anatomy Lesson solo debut album which remains shelved to this day
December 10, 1954 ~ Engineer Tom Coyne, full name Thomas J Coyne, born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA ~ Renowned engineer with a career spanning over five decades. With positions at Wayne Mastering Labs, the Hit Factory, and Sterling Sound, having purchased the latter by the late 1990s, Coyne has worked on albums by the Bee Gees, Uriah Heep, Otis Rush, Kool & the Gang, Michael Jackson (Thriller), Koko Taylor, Burning Spear, Sade (Diamond Life), Giorgio Moroder, Solomon Burke, Ellis Marsalis, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Delbert McClinton, Boogie Down Productions, Kool Moe Dee, De La Soul, Brendan Croker (The Great Indoors), Aaliyah, Vanilla Ice, LL Cool J, Erykah Badu, A Tribe Called Quest, Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, Destiny's Child, the Roots (Phrenology), Amy Winehouse, Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé, Pink, Joss Stone, Paloma Faith, Taylor Swift (Red), One Direction, Ariana Grande, and Adele ~ Coyne passed away in 2017December 10, 1953 ~ Jazz, classical saxophonist, flutist Eugenio Colombo born in Rome, Italy ~ A well-regarded improviser and composer, Colombo draws from classical, opera, ancient Mediterranean roots, and African-American influences. As a leader, Colombo is especially acclaimed for Tales Of Love And Death, considered one of the most original European jazz albums from the 1990s. Colombo is also known as co-founding member of experimental big band the Italian Instabile Orchestra, for whom he wrote Scongiuro, one of the ensembles most-performed pieces, and with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Litania Sibilante. An in-demand sideman, Colombo has appeared on recordings by Silvana Licursi, the SIC Trio, Giorgio Occhipinti (The Kaos Legend), Ekkehard Joost, Piero Milesi, and progressive rock, jazz fusion outfit Area
December 10, 1951 ~ Juan Raoul Davis Rodriguez, commonly known as country, outlaw country singer, guitarist, songwriter Johnny Rodriguez, born in Sabinal, Texas, USA ~ One of the most popular country singers of the 1970s and early 1980s, known for infusing his music with Latin sounds. Encouraged to pursue a career in music by Bobby Bare and Tom T Hall, the latter arranging an audition for him with Mercury Records which led to a record deal. Rodriguez has recorded well over two albums, starting with the warmly received Introducing in 1973. Rodriguez would regularly reach the higher echelons of the Billboard Country charts, especially through the mid 1970s, of which You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me), Ridin' My Thumb To Mexico, That's The Way Love Goes, I Just Can't Get Her Out Of My Mind, Just Get Up And Close The Door, and Love Put A Song In My Heart all reached No.1 Billboard Country ~ Rodriguez passed away in 2025December 10, 1949 ~ Singer, pianist Fats Domino records The Fat Man at J&M Music, New Orleans, Louisiana ~ Issued the same month as the B-side to Detroit City Blues, which reached No.2 Billboard R&B. Written by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew, heavily drawing from Champion Jack Dupree's 1940 song Junker Blues, which also served as the basis for Lloyd Price's Lawdy Miss Clawdy and Professor Longhair's Tipitina. Domino's The Fat Man with Domino's rollicking boogie-woogie piano backed by Earl Palmer's distinct back beat drumming is often cited as one of the first rock & roll songs, and is one of four Domino songs inducted in Grammy Hall of Fame, alongside Blueberry Hill, Walking To New Orleans, and Ain't It A Shame. Though widely considered one of the first rock & roll records, even before the term was coined, Domino himself was not convinced that his work was of a new genre. In 1956 he would comment: “What they call rock and roll is rhythm and blues, and I've been playing it for 15 years in New Orleans”
December 10, 1947 ~ Twin brothers guitarist Chris Koerts and keyboardist Gerard Koerts born in Leiden, the Netherlands ~ Co-founding members and primary songwriters of pop rock outfit Earth & Fire, known for a string of 1970s hits. Songs such as Seasons, Ruby Is The One, Wild And Exciting, Invitation, Storm And Thunder, Memories, Maybe Tomorrow Maybe Tonight, Love And Life, Thanks For The Love, and Weekend would all reach top 10 in the band's native Netherlands ~ Chris passed away in 2022, Gerard passed away in 2019
December 10, 1946 ~ Christopher John Kefford, commonly known as guitarist, bassist, singer Ace Kefford, born in Moseley, UK ~ Core member of the Move which he co-founded with Trevor Burton in 1965. Present on the UK top 10 hits Night Of Fear, I Can Hear The Grass Grow, Flowers In The Rain and The Fire Brigade. Kefford left the band in 1968 after a period of heavy experimentation with LSD and extensive touring, including a package tour with Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd, eventually leading to a panic attack. After his departure Kefford teamed up with producer Tony Visconti recording a number of tracks including an Simon & Garfunkel-cover Save The Life Of My Child featuring future Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, but had a nervous breakdown and walked out before the project was finished, the tapes remaining unreleased until 2003
December 10, 1946 ~ Drummer, singer Walter Orange born ~ Member of the Commodores joining the band in 1972 as replacement for James Ingram. Orange is present on most of the band's best known including the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Sweet Love, Just To Be Close To You, Easy, Brick House, Three Times A Lady, Sail On, Still, Lady You Bring Me Up, and NightshiftDecember 10, 1945 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter Marek Grechuta, full name Marek Michel Grechuta, born in Zamosc, Poland ~ Formed the cabaret group Anawa with Jan Kanty Pawluskiewicz, acclaimed for their 1967 Anawa album. Active as a solo artist since the early 1970s with about a dozen albums to his name ~ Grechuta passed away in 2006
December 10, 1944 ~ Jazz, country, folk singer, ukulele player Johnny Marvin, full name John Senator Marvin, passed away in North Hollywood, California, USA ~ Active since the mid 1920s, recording some 50 songs for Victor Records through the end of the decade. Regarded as one of the premier ukulele players. Has also recorded for other labels, going by different monikers including Elton Spence, Ukulele Luke, and Honey Duke. Helped launch Gene Autry's career by introducing him to his friend Art Satherley of the American Record Company. In turn Autry would often employ Marvin to provide songs and orchestration for his soundtracks, though often uncredited ~ Marvin was born in 1897December 10, 1942 ~ Producer, label executive Joseph Hoo Kim born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Influenced by noted producer Bunny Lee. Co-founded Channel One Studios and several affiliated labels with his brother Ernest Kim. The studio's houseband the Revolutionaries included noted musicians drummer Sly Dunbar, bassist Robbie Shakespeare and saxophonist Tommy McCook. Kim has produced tracks for numerous Jamaican acts including Black Uhuru, Horace Andy, Stranger & Gladdy (Don't Give Up The Fight), John Holt, Junior Byles, Alton Ellis (I Dig You), the Wailing Souls, Dillinger, Leroy Smart (Blackman), the Mighty Diamonds (The Right Time), and Delroy Wilson ~ Kim passed away in 2018
December 10, 1941 ~ David Stuart Chadwick, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Chad Stuart born in Windermere, UK ~ Half of Chad & Jeremy, the other half being Jeremy Clyde, known for a string of early 1960s folk-infected pop hits including Yesterday's Gone, Willow Weep For Me, Before And After, and perhaps their best known 1964's Summer Song ~ Chadwick passed away in 2020December 10, 1941 ~ Jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer Franco Ambrosetti born in Lugano, Switzerland ~ Leader and sideman. Son of saxophonist Flavio Ambrosetti. Has worked with Kenny Clarke, Dexter Gordon, Phil Woods, Cannonball Adderley, Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker, Mike Stern, Hal Galper, Romano Mussolini, George Gruntz, Mina, Antonio Farao, Paul Heller, Enrico Intra, Quincy Jones, Dado Moroni, and Miroslav Vitous
December 10, 1941 ~ Jazz, classical, R&B, pop rock pianist Michael Lang, full name Michael Anthony Lang, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Has worked on over an estimated 2,000 film scores, working with every major film composer including Lalo Schifrin, John Williams, Henry Mancini, and Hans Zimmer. In-demand studio musician, present on albums by Hal Blaine, Frank Zappa (Lumpy Gravy), Don Ellis, Sérgio Mendes, Harry Nilsson, Seals & Crofts (Summer Breeze), Dusty Springfield, Leonard Cohen, Milt Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Tom Waits (Heartattack And Vine), Neil Diamond, Lionel Richie, Natalie Cole, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Amy Grant, and Robbie Williams ~ Lang passed away in 2022
December 10, 1941 ~ Folk pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Peter Sarstedt, full name Peter Eardley Sarstedt, born in New Delhi, British India ~ Brother of Eden Kane and Clive Sarstedt, with whom he formed the Sarstedt Brothers. As a solo artist best known for his 1969 self-penned hit Where Do You Go To (My Lovely), a UK No.1 hit and a staple of radio till this day. Sarstedt would continue to record and perform well into the 2000s but was unable to reach the same level of chart succes ~ Sarstedt passed away in 2017December 10, 1941 ~ Singer Ralph Tavares, full name Ralph Edward Vierra Tavares, born ~ Member of sibling R&B, disco outfit Tavares. The band is known for a string of 1970s hits including She's Gone, It Only Takes A Minute, Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel, Don't Take Away The Music and More Than A Woman, the latter notably featured on 1977 Saturday Night Fever soundtrack ~ Tavares passed away in 2021
December 10, 1939 ~ Jazz, rock saxophonist, flutist Pekka Pöyry, full name Pekka Juhani Pöyry, born 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 passed away in 1980
December 10, 1939 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer Wilhelm Grosz, also known as Hugh Williams, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Artistic manager of Ultraphone Gramophone company in the mid 1920s. Conductor of the Kammerspiele Theater in Vienna. Forced to flee to England by the mid 1930s because of the Nazi takeover. Has composed operas, ballets, chamber music and orchestral music. Best known for co-penning a number of standards, notably Red Sails In The Sunset (Lew Stone, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole), Harbour Lights (Roy Fox, Rudy Vallée, Guy Lombardo, Dinah Washington), and Tomorrow Night (Henry Russell, Horace Heidt, Jimmy Dorsey, Patti Page) ~ Grosz was born in 1894
December 10, 1937 ~ Jazz trombonist, keyboardist, arranger Don Sebesky born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, USA ~ Best known as in-house arranger since the early 1960s for a number of jazz labels including Verve, A&M Records, and CTI Records. Closely associated with producer Creed Taylor. Notable credits include arranging and conducting for Wes Montgomery (Bumpin'), Willie Bobo, Buddy Rich, Dionne Warwick (Promises Promises), Astrud Gilberto, Kenny Burrell, and George Benson (Shape Of Things To Come). As a leader best known for his 1973 Giant Box album. Over the course of his career Sebesky has composed several film scores, and arranged and conducted for hundreds of artists from jazz to pop, including Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Michael Bublé, Seal, and Prince ~ Sebesky passed away in 2023