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 15, 2025 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Joe Ely passed away in Taos, New Mexico, USA ~ Admired by peers. Draws from honky-tonk, country, tex-mex, and rock & roll. Member of cult outfit the Flatlanders alongside regular collaborators Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock. As a solo artist well over a dozen albums to his name, especially acclaimed for Honky Tonk Masquerade released in 1978. Sang backing vocals on the Clash single Should I Stay Or Should I Go taken of the band's 1981 Combat Rock album. Has also frequently worked with supergroup Los Super Seven, and appeared on recordings by Robert Earl Keen, Kimmie Rhodes, Syd Straw, Uncle Tupelo, the Chieftains, Rosie Flores, and James McMurtry ~ Ely was born in 1947
December 15, 2024 ~ Zakir Hussain Allarakha Qurashi, commonly known as tabla player Zakir Hussain, passed away in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Considered a classical hero in his native India and an ambassador for world music beyond. To western audiences perhaps best known for his association with John McLaughlin, including in the acclaimed group Shakti. Also especially noted for his contributions to Shankar's 1980 Who's To Know album, and for the 1988 collaborative album Tabla Duet with his father Alla Rakha. Other notable collaborations inckude Mickey Hart, George Harrison (Living In The Material World), John Handy, Earth Wind & Fire (Powerlight), Narada Michael Walden, Airto Moreira, and Neal Schon ~ Qurashi was born in 1951
December 15, 2023 ~ Rock drummer Colin Burgess, full name Colin John Burgess, passed away ~ Member of Masters Apprentices from 1968 until its disbandement in 1972, present on most of the band's best known including the hit singles 5:10 Man, Think About Tomorrow Today, Turn Up Your Radio, and Because I Love You. Following the band's disbandement Burgess would serve as the original drummer for AC/DC, remaining with the band joining the band late 1973 and fired early 1974 for appearing drunk on stage ~ Burgess was born in 1946
December 15, 2022 ~ Drummer Dino Danelli passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Member of Joey Dee & the Starliters. Best known as original drummer for the Young Rascals, later renamed the Rascals, remaining with the band through its initial disbandement. The band is known for Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits such as Groovin', A Girl Like You, How Can I Be Sure, A Beautiful Morning, and People Got To Be Free. After the band disbanded in 1972 Danelli formed Bulldog with bandmate Gene Cornish, recording two albums through 1975. Subsequently worked with Leslie West, Fotomaker, and Little Steven & the Disciples Of Soul ~ Danelli was born in 1944December 15, 2022 ~ Country, jazz singer, songwriter Shirley Eikhard, full name Shirley Rose Eikhard, passed away in Orangeville, Canada ~ Well over a dozen albums to her name, starting with the eponymous Shirley Eikhard album released in 1972. Had her songs recorded by the likes of Anne Murray (It Takes Time), Emmylou Harris (Good News), Bonnie Raitt (Something To Talk About), and Cher (Born With The Hunger) ~ Eikhard was born in 1955
December 15, 2021 ~ José Ángel Hernández, commonly known as producer Flow La Movie, passed away near Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic ~ Perhaps best known for producing Te Boté, a collaborative hit for Casper Magico, Nio Garcia & Darell. Has also notably worked with Bad Bunny and Ozuna. Hernández passed away at age 36 in a plane crash, which also killed his wife and their 4-year-old son ~ Hernández was born in 1985
December 15, 2021 ~ Indie rock, post-punk guitarist, bassist, singer Ian Worang passed away ~ Co-founding, sole constant member of Toronto-based indie rock band Uncut, known for the albums Those Who Were Hung Hang Here, Modern Currencies and Infinite Repeats. Has also worked with the Two Koreas, Bishop Morocco, and Diableros ~ Worang was born ca.1974
December 15, 2021 ~ R&B, soul, pop singer Wanda Young, full name Wanda LaFaye Young, passed away in Garden City, Michigan, USA ~ Member of pivotal Motown girl group the Marvelettes. Sang backup on Please Mr Postman. Lead vocalist on songs such as Don't Mess With Bill, I'll Keep Holding On, and The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game. Young retired from music when the group disbanded in 1972 ~ Young was born in 1943
December 15, 2018 ~ Bassist Arthur Maia passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Draws from samba, jazz, funk, and reggae. Played drums as a child before taking up the bass in his mid-teens. Well known as a member of Cama de Gato, with whom he recorded five albums including their Dança da Lua masterpiece. Maia has also recorded a handful of acclaimed albums as a solo artist, starting with Maia in 1990, two collaborative albums with respectively Gilson Peranzzetta and Hiram Bullock, and widely praised for his innovative rhythms has been an in-demand session musician present on albums by the likes of Gilberto Gil (Refazenda), Milton Nascimento, Chico Buarque, Toninho Horta, Djavan (Djavan), Robertinho Silva, Caetano Veloso (Circuladô), Pascoal Meirelles (Considerações), Marisa Monte, Torcuato Mariano, Carlinhos Brown, Claudio Roditi, Leo Gandelman (Black Pearls), Zé Ramalho (Nacao Nordestina), Ney Matogrosso, Beto Guedes, Celso Fonseca (Rive Gauche Rio), Ana Carolina, and Leila Pinheiro ~ Maia was born in 1962
December 15, 2018 ~ Songwriter Jerry Chesnut passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Revered songwriter known for songs such as A Good Year For The Roses (Alan Jackson, George Jones, Elvis Costello). T-R-O-U-B-L-E (Elvis Presley, Travis Tritt), A Dime At A Time (Del Reeves), Another Place Another Time (Jerry Lee Lewis), It's Four In The Morning (Faron Young), Holding On To Nothing (Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton), Miles And Miles From Nowhere (Arthur Alexander), They Don't Make 'Em Like My Daddy (Loretta Lynn), and Weakness In A Man (Waylon Jennings, Roy Drusky) ~ Chesnut was born in 1931December 15, 2018 ~ Jazz pianist John Thomas Williams passed away ~ Started as a member of Mal Hallett's band. Later played with Johnny Bothwell, Teddy Kotick, Charlie Parker, Charlie Barnet, Stan Getz, Sal Salvador, Charlie Mariano, Cannonball Adderley, Jimmy Cleveland, Phil Woods, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Jimmy Raney, and Lon Norman ~ Williams was born in 1929
December 15, 2017 ~ Jazz pianist John Critchinson, full name John William Frank Critchinson, passed away ~ Worked with Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes, Jimmy Deuchar, Chet Baker, George Coleman, James Moody, Joe Henderson, Johnny Griffin, Dick Morrisey, Jim Mullen, Martin Drew, Ron Mathewson, Art Themen, Dave Green, Dave Barry, Pat Crumley, and Simon Spillett ~ Critchinson was born in 1934
December 15, 2015 ~ Gospel singer Jordan Smith wins the ninth season of talent contest The Voice, aired on NBC ~ Singer Jordan Smith wins the talent show beating Emily Ann Roberts in the show's finals. His performances from the show, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Hallelujah, and Mary Did You Know would all reach top of the Billboard Christian charts. Smith had auditioned for the show once before, but was rejected. Even when he was accepted for the show, he had his doubt until the reactions started pouring in: “I thought, ‘Wow, people see something in me that honestly I didn't think was there.’ I thought I had fooled everyone! It took a lot of convincing for me to finally start seeing myself as an artist.”December 15, 2013 ~ Singer Sam Bailey wins The X-Factor UK ~ Sam Bailey wins the 10th edition of British talent show The X-Factor. Runner-ups would be singer Nicholas McDonald in 2nd place, singer Luke Friend in 3rd. Following her success on the show, Bailey's coronation single Skyscraper, a cover of the Demi Lovato song, would become the UK Christmas No.1 single. Her full-length The Power Of Love debut album was released the next year
December 15, 2012 ~ Jazz tenor saxophonist Dick Hafer passed away in La Costa, California, USA ~ Active since the late 1940s, starting out with Charlie Barnet. Would go on to become an in-demand sideman, present on albums by Nat Pierce, Ruby Braff, Charlie Byrd, Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, Charles Mingus (The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady), and Johnny Hartman. Has sporadically recorded as a leader later on in his career, acclaimed for Prez Impressions released in 1994 ~ Hafer was born in 1927
December 15, 2011 ~ Trombonist, pianist Bob Brookmeyer, full name Robert Edward Brookmeyer, passed away in New London, New Hampshire, USA ~ Established himself as leading trombonist in cool jazz and a superb arranger, influenced by modern classical music. Regularly collaborated with Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Jimmy Giuffre, and Manny Albam. Recorded well over two dozen albums as leader or co-leader, starting in the mid 1950s. Guested on albums by Chet Baker, Teddi King (Now In Vogue), Oscar Pettiford, Zoot Sims, Teddy Charles, Terry Gibbs, Mel Lewis, Maynard Ferguson (Maynard Fergusn And His Birdland Dream Band), Jimmy Raney, Ray Charles (The Genius of Ray Charles), Harry Lookofsky, Al Cohn, George Russell (Jazz In The Space Age), Anita O'Day, Jack Teagarden, Carol Sloane (Out Of The Blue), Joe Morello, Junior Mance, Freda Payne (After The Lights Go Down Low And Much More), Gary Burton, and Tubby Hayes ~ Brookmeyer was born in 1929
December 15, 2008 ~ David Michael Gordon Graham, commonly known as folk guitarist Davey Graham or Davy Graham, passed away in London, UK ~ Although he never became a household name and faded into obscurity by the 1970s, Graham was one of the most influential guitarists pre-dating the British folk boom, and some have understandably even argued acts such as Fairport Convention or Pentangle would have never been without Graham. Anji, which the fingerstyle guitarist wrote while still a teen, included on his The Guitar Player debut album, would become a seminal guitar instrumental to be learned and mastered by any self-respecting guitarist of the era. Graham, who drew from folk, blues, jazz, and world music including Middle Eastern rhythms, drew acclaim and admiration for his superior technique and compositional style, and influence a wide array of artists, many of whom would later become guitar icons in their own right. Pentangle guitarist John Renbourn has stated Graham was so far ahead of just about any would-be picker that it was practically miraculous, while Bert Jansch has called him “my absolute hero, always will be.” Others who have cited Graham as a profound influence include Richard Thompson, Martin Carthy, Paul Simon, Jimmy Page, Neil Young, Tim Buckley, and Nick Drake. Graham is especially noted for his first five albums, released between 1963 and 1968, and would record several more through the turn of the 1970s before slowing down. He recorded and performed sporadically after the 1970s, though many have tried to persuade him to return to the stage, as Graham preferred to devote the main thrust of his time to travel, charity work, and studying guitar and languages in private. Graham resurfaced in the mid 2000s after a BBC radio interview prompted renewed interest in his catalogue, and released his Broken Biscuits final album in 2007, the year before his death ~ Graham was born in 1940
December 15, 2007 ~ Singer Leon Jackson wins The X-Factor UK ~ Jackson wins the 4th edition of British talent show The X-Factor. Runner-ups would be baritone singer, musical actor Rhydian Roberts in 2nd place, bubblegum pop duo Same Difference in third. Following his win on the show, Jackson's coronation single When You Believe became the Christmas No.1 in the UK. His full-length Right Now debut album released the following year would reach No.7 in Ireland and No.4 in the UK
December 15, 2001 ~ Rock, punk rock, hard rock bassist, singer Bianca Halstead, also known as Bianca Butthole, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Bassist and lead singer of punk band Butt Trumpet and the all-female hard rock outfit Betty Blowtorch. Killed in a car accident when she accepted a ride from a drunk driver. A substance abuse center in Los Angeles, opened in 2008, was named the Bianca Center For Substance Abuse in her honor ~ Halstead was born in 1965
December 15, 1998 ~ Singer Whitney Houston releases Heartbreak Hotel, lifted off her My Love Is Your Love album ~ Although the song offers a sentiment similar to the Elvis Presley-classic of the same name, the two are unrelated. Produced by Soulshock & Karlin, who co-wrote the song with Tamara Savage, the song was originally intended to be given to TLC for inclusion on their FanMail album. However, when the R&B trio rejected the song, it was given to Whitney Houston who made Heartbreak Hotel a hit. It earned the singer two Grammy Award nominations, sold over a million copies in America alone, peaked at No.2 Billboard Hot 100, and retrospectively has been named as one of the 50 Best Songs of the 1990s by Rolling Stone. The single notably features Faith Evans and Kelly Price offering empathic vocals in contrast to Houston's heartbreakDecember 15, 1994 ~ Songwriter, lyricist Harry Tobias passed away in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Brother of songwriters Charles Tobias and Henry Tobias, with whom he regularly collaborated. In-demand lyricist for Hollywood movies from the late 1920s through the 1940s, also co-writing numerous jazz standards. Co-wrote Sweet And Lovely, first recorded by Gus Arnheim in 1931 and covered by well over 350 artists including Sam Lanin, Joe Liggins, Patti Page, Faron Young, and Ella Fitzgerald. Other songs co-written by Tobias include Miss You (Rudy Vallée, Harry Sosnik, Bill Haley), It's A Lonesome Old Town (Since You're Not Around) (Ben Bernie, the Modernaires, Kay Starr), No Regrets (Henry King, Tommy Dorsey, Billie Holiday), and Sal Along Silv'ry Moon (Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, Slim Whitman) ~ Tobias was born in 1895
December 15, 1991 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, percussionist Alana Haim, full name Alana Mychal Haim, born in San Fernando Valley, California, USA ~ Member of sibling outfit Haim alongside Danielle Haim and Este Haim, drawing critical comparison to Fleetwood Mac and the Bangles. The band debuted in 2013 with the album Days Are Gone and has recorded consistently since. They are best known for songs such as Forever, The Wire, Want You Back, A Little Of Your Love, Now I'm In It, and Gasoline featuring Taylor Swift
December 15, 1987 ~ Billie Moore, commonly known as Western swing, country mandolinist Tiny Moore, passed away in Jackpot, Nevada, USA ~ Best known for his work with Bob Wills during the 1940s and early 1950s, earning a reputation as one of the all-time prime mandolin players. Notably present on classic Wills tracks such as Three Guitar Rag and Bubbles In My Beer. Tired of touring, Moore would mostly retire from music by the early 1950s, keeping himself occupied running a bar, and hosting a children's TV show on a local station. Later he would serve in Merle Haggard's backing unit the Strangers for a little over a decade, and record two acclaimed albums of his own, 1972's Tiny Moore Music and 1979's Back To Back with fellow mandolin virtuoso Jethro Burns. Although best known as a mandolin player, Moore also mastered fiddle, banjo, and drums. Moore would be posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1999 for his work with Wills's group the Texas Playboys ~ Moore was born in 1920
December 15, 1985 ~ Keith A Moore, commonly known as hip-hop, nerdcore rapper Beefy, born in Kennewick, Washington, USA ~ Released his full-length debut album, Tube Technology, in 2006. Has collaborated with Doctor Popular, MC Router, Shael Riley, DJ Snyder, MC Lars, the Rondo Brothers, and Adam WarrockDecember 15, 1984 ~ Jacob Pincus Perelmuth, commonly known as operatic tenor Jan Peerce, passed away in New Rochelle, New York, USA ~ Active since the early 1930, starting as a tenor soloist with Radio City Music Hall. Perhaps best known for his association with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Has also worked with the Philadelphia La Scala Opera Company, and the Metropolitan Opera ~ Perelmuth was born in 1904