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 14, 2024 ~ Pop, rock guitarist, songwriter George Cummings passed away ~ Best known as co-founding member of 1970s, 1980s rock outfit Dr Hook & the Medicine Show. Sang lead on songs such as Makin' It Natural, Penicillin Penny and I Got Stoned And I Missed It. Also worked with the Chocolate Papers ~ Cummings was born in 1938
December 14, 2021 ~ Music manager Ken Kragen, full name Kenneth Allan Kragen, passed away in Brentwood, California, USA ~ Personal manager to artists such as Lionel Richie, Trisha Yearwood, Travis Tritt, Dottie West, Kenny Rogers. To pop audiences perhaps best known for his pivotal role in the mid-1980s charity project, album and single We Are The World, bringing together a group of pop musicians under the moniker USA For Africa ~ Kragen was born in 1936
December 14, 2021 ~ Rock, reggae guitarist, bassist Phil Chen, full name Phillip David Chen, passed away in California, USA ~ Member of the Vagabonds. Would go on to become an in-demand session musician, present on albums such as Jeff Beck's Blow By Blow, Donovan's Cosmic Wheels, Joan Armatrading's Back To The Night. Has also worked with the Butts Band, Rod Stewart, Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, Ray Charles, Desmond Dekker, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Jackson Browne, Dave Edmunds, Ray Manzarek, and Robby Krieger ~ Chen was born in 1946
December 14, 2021 ~ Clarence Edward Mauldin, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist, bassist Sonny Rhodes, passed away ~ Influenced by T-Bone Walker, LC Robinson, Pee Wee Crayton, BB King, Percy Mayfield. Active since the late 1950s. Backed artists such as Freddie King and Albert Collins. As a solo artist especially acclaimed for a number of 1990s albums, notably 1991's Disciple Of The Blues, 1992's Livin' Too Close To The Edge and 1996's Out Of Control ~ Mauldin was born in 1940
December 14, 2020 ~ Singer, percussionist Paulo César dos Santos, also known by the moniker Paulinho, passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Member of Roupa Nova, which he co-founded in 1970. Sang lead on some of band's best known including Cançao De Verao, Pra Mim, Linda Demais, Meu Universo É Você, Maria Maria, and Retrato Rasgados. In 2009 the band's Roupa Nova Em Londres, recorded at EMI Studios, was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Brazilian Contemporary Pop Album. One track, the Beatles-cover She's Leaving Home, was recorded a cappella accompanied by a string octet inside a London cathedral ~ Dos Santos was born in 1952December 14, 2019 ~ Jazz, swing, blues saxophonist, composer Irv Williams passed away in St Paul, Minnesota, USA ~ Backed artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Fletcher Henderson, Mary Lou Williams, Billy Eckstine. Turned down offers to tour with Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, preferring to play locally in the Twin Cities area and teach in public schools. Would continue to play at every local venue, backing visiting artists including Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Hodges. Would release a string of albums in his eighties, notably 2006's Duo with regular collaborator pianist Peter Schimke ~ Williams was born in 1919
December 14, 2018 ~ Bassist Joe Osborn passed away in Greenwood, Louisiana, USA ~ Session bassist best known as member of both the Wrecking Crew and the Nashville A-Team. Over the course of his career Osborn worked with Dale Hawkins, Bob Luman, Roy Buchanan, James Burton, Ricky Nelson (Traveling Man), Lou Adler, Bones Howe, the Mamas & the Papas (California Dreamin'), the Association, the Grass Roots (Midnight Confession), the 5th Dimension, Simon & Garfunkel (Bridge Over Troubled Water), America (Ventura Highway), Neil Diamond, the Carpenters, Nancy Sinatra, Kenny Rogers, Mel Tillis, Hank Williams Jr, Johnny Rivers (Memphis), and Richard Harris (MacArthur Park) ~ Osborn was born in 1937
December 14, 2016 ~ Pop singer Bunny Walters, full name Bunny Te Kokiri Miha Waahi Walters, passed away in Hamilton, New Zealand ~ Scored a number of hits in New Zealand during the 1970s, often covers of international hits. Well known releases include Just Out Of Reach, Brandy, Take The Money And Run, Home Isn't Home Anymore, and Quando Quando ~ Walters was born in 1953December 14, 2015 ~ Musical actor, singer Edmund Lyndeck passed away in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Performed in regional theater for over a decade before making his Broadway debut in 1969, starring in the original production of 1776. Other notable credits include Into The Woods, Mrs Warren's Profession, A Doll's Life, Merlin and perhaps his best known role as Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd ~ Lyndeck was born in 1925
December 14, 2014 ~ Singer Ben Haenow wins the 11th season of the talent contest The X-Factor UK, aired on ITV ~ Leaving rapper, singer, songwriter Fleur East in 2nd place, and singer Andrea Faustini in 3rd, Ben Haenow takes the win. Haenow's Something I Need debut single, a cover of the One Direction hit, would be released the same day and debuted at No.1 in the UK. Its follow-up, Second Hand Heart featuring Kelly Clarkson, reached top 30. Haenow's 2015 eponymous full-length Ben Haenow debut made the top 10. Haenow would prove unable to sustain his success, his 2018 Alive sophomore album failing to chart
December 14, 2014 ~ Joseph Allen Carr, commonly known as guitarist, mandolinist, songwriter Joe Carr, passed away in Levelland, Texas, USA ~ Worked with local Texas bands such as Roanoke in the 1970s and Country Gazette in the 1980s. Formed and fronted his own the Texas Lone Star Band from 1987 onwards. Penned a number of instructional books for mandoliin, western swing and flat-picking guitar, banjo and ukulele. Regular contributor to Flatpicking Guitar Magazine and Mandolin Magazine ~ Carr was born in 1951
December 14, 2011 ~ Billie Jean Moore, commonly known as singer Billie Jo Spears, passed away in Vido, Texas, USA ~ Recorded well over a dozen albums from the late 1960s through the 1980s. Scored her first hit in 1969 with Mr Walker It's All Over, a tale of a secretary standing up against sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Best known for her 1975 Billboard Country No.1 hit Blanket On The Ground. Other well known songs include What I've Got In Mind, Misty Blue, If You Want Me, and '57 Chevrolet ~ Spears was born in 1938
December 14, 2009 ~ Guitarist, banjoist, mandolinist Tim Hart passed away in La Gomera, Spain ~ Co-founding member of Steeleye Span. Along with singer Maddy Prior Hart formed the backbone of the band, recording close to a dozen albums with them, before departing in 1982. Present on most of the band's best known, including the acclaimed albums Parcel Of Rogues, Commoner's Crown, and Rocket Cottage. Though the band only charted a few singles, notably 1972's Gaudete and 1975's All Around My Hat both reaching the UK top 20, they are considered extremely influential in bringing traditional-influenced folk-rock to mainstream audiences ~ Hart was born in 1948December 14, 2007 ~ Jazz saxophonist Frank Morgan passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ A leading figure in the jazz revival of the 1980s who over a five decades spanning career recorded with wide array of seminal artists including Milt Jackson, Kenny Clarke, Lyle Murphy, Wardell Gray, Mark Murphy, Terry Gibbs, Art Farmer, Ben Sidran, and Abbey Lincoln ~ Morgan passed away in 1933
December 14, 2006 ~ Producer, songwriter, label executive Ahmet Ertegun passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Co-founded, along with Herb Abramson, of Atlantic Records in the late 1940s. The label would prove pivotal in the developement of R&B and soul. Helped advance the careers of artists including Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, the Clovers, the Drifters, the Coasters, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Ben E King. By the late 1960s, early 1970s the label would expand into rock and pop, including artists such as Crosby Stills & Nash, Led Zeppelin, and Yes in its stable ~ Ertegun was born in 1923December 14, 2005 ~ Diana Geraldine Whitburn, commonly known as jazz, cabaret singer Gery Scott, passed away in Canberra, Australia ~ First Western jazz singer to tour the then Soviet Union in 1961. Married her musical director Igo Fischer in Moscow the same year. Known for songs such as This Is Life, The Dum De De Dum Song, Summer Love and Stay With Me ~ Scott was born in 1923
December 14, 2005 ~ Bagpiper, whistler, songwriter Gordon Duncan passed away in Pitlochry, UK ~ Son of bothy singer Jock Duncan. Influential piper best known for his associations with the Tannahill Weavers, Wolfstone, Ceolbeg, and Dougie MacLean. Recorded three solo albums, starting with Just For Seumas released in 1994, and composed over a 100 songs, including Andy Renwick's Ferret ~ Duncan was born in 1964
December 14, 2004 ~ Singer Gwen Stefani releases Rich Girl featuring Eve, lifted off her Love Angel Music Baby solo debut album ~ Stefani initially felt the song might not work for her, as she thought it was “the weirdest idea ever”, but recorded it at the suggestion of producer Dr Dre. Prior to her solo debut album, Gwen Stefani had already made some appearances outside of No Doubt, including guesting on songs by Brian Setzer, Moby, and Eve. What You Waiting For, lead single off her Love Angel Music Baby debut, did well outside her native America, reaching top 10 in France, the Netherlands, and the UK. Rich Girl, however, issued as the album's second single would be her first American top 10 hit, peaking at No.7 Billboard Hot 100. The song was a gender-reversed pop remake of If I Were A Rich Man, written by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock for the musical Fiddler On The Roof and first introduced by Zero Mostel in its 1964 Broadway production
December 14, 2003 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer François Rauber passed away ~ Best known for his association with Jacques Brel, serving as arranger, songwriter, and conductor from the late 1950s until Brel's death in 1978. Songs co-written by Rauber include Litanies Pour Un Retour, Dors Ma Mie, Les Paumés Du Petit Matin, and J'Aimais. Rauber would also serve as musical director for the 1975 musical film Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris ~ Rauber was born in 1933
December 14, 1998 ~ Neo soul, hip hop singer Lauryn Hill releases Ex-Factor, lifted off her The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill solo debut album ~ Though not as big a hit as its predecessor, Doo Wop (That Thing), Ex-Factor would still be a respectable hit, at No.21 peaking just outside the top 20 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. It also reached No.7 Billboard R&B, as well as No.4 in the UK. Written and produced by Lauryn Hill, the song is said to be about her Wyclef Jean, her former boyfriend and bandmate in the Fugees, and offers a painful dissection of a failing relationship. Since its release, Ex-Factor has been sampled numerous times, including by Lil' B, Kehlani, Omarion, Drake (Nice For What), and Cardi B, and sollicited cover versions by Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson, and John Legend
December 14, 1994 ~ Robert David Mirsky, commonly known as pop arranger, producer Robert Mersey, passed away in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Got his start in music in the 1950s, working as arranger with songwriter duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Would go on to work as arranger and producer at Columbia Records starting in the early 1960s, notably working on tracks recorded by the likes of Andy Williams (Can't Get Used To Losing You), Barbra Streisand, Bobby Vinton, Dion (You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want To Do It)), Aretha Franklin, Mel Tormé, Julie Andrews, and Patti Page (You Can't Be True Dear) ~ Mirsky was born in 1917
December 14, 1987 ~ Pop punk, emo, power pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Alex Gaskarth, full name Alexander William Gaskarth, born in Essex, Maryland, USA ~ Lead singer, primary songwriter of All-Time Low, which he co-founded in 2003 with Jack Barakat, known for songs such as Good Times and Monsters featuring Blackbear. Formed Simple Creatures in 2019, teaming up with Blink-182's singer, bassist Mark Hoppus. Has also written or co-written songs recorded by Simple Plan, 5 Seconds Of Summer, and State Champs
December 14, 1987 ~ Lyricist, playwright, poet Bixio Cherubini passed away in Milan, Italy ~ Active since the late 1920s. Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Mamma with frequent collaborator Cesare Andrea Bixio, first recorded by Beniamino Gigli in 1940 and covered by numerous artists including Connie Francis, Toni Arden, and Sergio Franchi. His songs have also been recorded by the likes of Ines Talamo (Cuore Vagabondo), Gigi Beccaria, Bruno Pallesi, Claudio Villa (Il Torrente), Carla Boni, Claudio Villa, and Narciso Parigi ~ Cherubini was born in 1899December 14, 1985 ~ Rock, electro, pop punk keyboardist, singer Alex Pennie, full name Alexander Gregor Pennie, born ~ Keyboardist for the Automatic from 2004 through 2007. Sang lead vocals on the band's Gold Digger and Epic, covers of respectively Kanye West and Faith No More. Briefly lead singer of the Decimals in 2008 and 2009. Lead singer of the Goodtime Boys from 2009 through 2015, releasing their What's Left To Let Me Go debut album in 2012
December 14, 1985 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, Sleeping Bag by ZZ Top peaks at No.8 Billboard Hot 100 ~ The band's second and final American top 10 hit, peaking at No.8 just as their previous single Legs, both tracks lifted off the Eliminator. The band's guitarist Billy Gibbons would later comment that on Sleeping Bag he got the “harshest tone” he's ever used on guitar