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 18, 2024 ~ Pop rock bassist Steve Lewinson passed away ~ Best known as a member of Simply Red, appearing on some half a dozen of the band's albums including Blue, Home, and Simplified. Lewinson had been an in-demand session musician and collaborator throughout his career, and has appeared on albums by Courtney Pine, Phillip Bent, Tim Finn (Before & After), the Spice Girls, Eurythmics (Peace), Ronny Jordan (A Brighter Day), the Sugababes, Shawn Lee, Kylie Minogue (Light Years), Beth Orton, and Kym Marsh ~ Lewinson was born ca.1966
December 18, 2022 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock keyboardist Martin Duffy, full name Martin Bernard Duffy, passed away in Brighton, UK ~ Member of indie rockers Felt. Guested on Primal Scream's first two albums, Sonic Flower Groove and Primal Scream, prior to joining the band fulltime in 1989. Worked with the Charlatans, replacing the late Rob Collins on tour and on the band's Tellin' Stories album released in 1997. Member of supergroup the Chavs alongside Tim Burgess and Carl Barât. Has also appeared on recordings by Heidi Berry, Beth Orton, Paul Weller, and the Chemical Brothers. Released his sole solo album, Assorted Promenades, in 2014 ~ Duffy was born in 1967
December 18, 2022 ~ New wave, ska, pop rock singer, songwriter Terry Hall, full name Terrence Edward Hall, passed away ~ Lead singer of the Coventry Automatics, renamed to the Specials in 1979. The band is known for songs such as Message To You Rudy, Too Much Too Young, Do Nothing, Stereotype, Rat Race, and their best known the UK No.1 hit Ghost Town. Subsequently formed the Fun Boy Three with bandmates Lynval Golding and Neville Staple, the trio known for The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum and the Bananarama collaboration It Ain't What You Do (It's The The Way That You Do It). Hall has also worked with Colourfield, Terry Blair & Anouchka, formed the duo Vegas with Dave Stewart, and recorded as a solo artist ~ Hall was born in 1959
December 18, 2021 ~ Shaun Shiller Fequiere, commonly known as hip-hop rapper Kangol Kid, passed away in Manhasset, New York, USA ~ Member of early pioneering rap group UTFO, known best for their 1984 hit Roxanne Roxanne. The group would remain popular throughout the end of the decade. Fequiere also wrote Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam's Private Property. Served as manager for the rap group Whistle ~ Fequiere was born in 1966December 18, 2021 ~ Country singer Renée Martel passed away in Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada ~ Daughter of country singer Marcel Martel. Dubbed “the Queen of Quebec Country” and best known for a number of late 1960s hits including Liverpool, Je Vais A Londres and Johnny Angel ~ Martel was born in 1947
December 18, 2019 ~ Concert pianist Abbey Simon, full name Abbey Henry Simon, passed away in Geneva, Switzerland ~ Protégé of Josef Hofmann. Worked with the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, and the Trenton Symphony Orchestra ~ Simon was born in 1920
December 18, 2019 ~ Alain Bellec, commonly known as pop, chanson singer Alain Barrière, passed away in Carnac, France ~ Active since the 1950s. Internationally best known for representing France at the 1963 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 5th place with Elle Etait Si Jolie. Would continue to record throughout the 1970s ~ Bellec was born in 1935
December 18, 2019 ~ Guitarist Arty McGlynn passed away in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland ~ Perhaps best known for backing Van Morrison, including on the acclaimed 1989 Avalon Sunset album. Released his McGlynn's Fancy solo album in 1979. Has also worked with Enya, Patrick Street, Planxty, Four Men & a Dog, Liam O'Flynn, Frankie Gavin, and his wife Nollaig Casey ~ McGlynn was born in 1944
December 18, 2019 ~ Singer, actor, songwriter Kenny Lynch passed away in UK ~ In his day one of the few black pop singers in British pop. Known for the early 1960s top 10 hits Up On The Roof and You Can Never Stop Me Loving You. Also noted for being the first to record a cover of the Beatles, namely Misery. Also wrote or co-wrote songs for Linda Thorson, the Small Faces (Sha-la-la-la-lee), and Cilla Black (Love's Just A Broken Heart) ~ Lynch was born in 1938
December 18, 2019 ~ Francisco Andión González, commonly known as singer, songwriter, actor Patxi Andión, passed away in Cubo de la Solana, Spain ~ Born to Basque parents his political beliefs led him to seek exile in Paris where he took part in the May 1968 protests and subsequently embarked on his musical career. Well over a dozen albums to his name, starting with Retratos released in 1969. Also known as an actor, starting in the mid 1970s ~ Andión was born in 1947
December 18, 2018 ~ Singer Chevel Shepherd wins NBC's The Voice ~ At a mere age 16, Chevel Shepherd wins the 15th season of NBC's talent show The Voice, runner-up would be Chris Kroeze. Following her success on the show, Shepherd's winner single Broken Hearts would reach No.24 Billboard Country. The singer has since ventured into acting and released her full-length Everybody's Got A Story debut album in 2021
December 18, 2017 ~ Label founder, executive, producer Larry Harris, full name Larry Alan Harris, passed away in Port Angeles, Washington, USA ~ Got his start in music working for Buddah. Would go on to co-found Casablanca Records in 1973. The first act they signed was rock outfit Kiss. Other notable acts on the label included Donna Summer, Parliament, Cher and the Village People ~ Harris was born in 1947
December 18, 2016 ~ Thérèse Maria Léonie Gendebien, commonly known as singer Léo Marjane, passed away in Barbizon, France ~ Noted for her warm contralto voice and clarity enjoyed popularity during the 1930s and 1940s with songs such as Begin The Beguine and Night And Day. Following the liberation of France, popular opinion abruptly turned against her for her performances on radio stations run by the Nazis. Marjane maintained she was just naive and continued to record but to little success ~ Gendebien was born in 1912December 18, 2015 ~ Pianist Andreja Preger passed away in Belgrade, Serbia ~ Of Jewish descent and member of the Yugoslav Resistance during World War II. Became a noted concert pianist after the war. Co-founded the Belgrade Trio ~ Preger was born in 1912
December 18, 2014 ~ Singer, songwriter Larry Henley passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Henley fronted 1960s pop group the Newbeats, known for songs such as The Bees Are For The Birds (The Birds Are For The Bees), Bread And Butter, Everything Is Alright and Groovin' Out On Life. Henley is perhaps best known for co-writing, with Jeff Silber, Wind Beneath My Wings, a 1988 No.1 US hit for Bette Midler. Other artists who recorded the song include Roger Whittaker, Sheena Easton, Lee Greenwood, Colleen Hewett, Lou Rawls, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and Gary Morris. Henley also wrote or co-wrote songs for Tammy Wynette (Till I Get It Right), Randy Travis (Is It Still Over), Tanya Tucker (Lizzie & The Rainman), Janie Fricke (He's A Heartache (Looking For A Place To Happen)), and Delbert McClinton (Shotgun Rider) ~ Henley was born in 1941
December 18, 2012 ~ Singer Cassadee Pope wins NBC's The Voice ~ Pope wins the third season of NBC's talent show The Voice, runner-up would be singer Terry McDermott. Cassadee Pope issued her full-lenght Frame By Frame debut album the following year, which reached topped the Billboard Country album charts and spawned the hit single Wasting All These Tears. Pope continued to record but has been unable to repeat the success of her debut album
December 18, 2011 ~ Keyboardist, percussionist, producer, songwriter Ralph MacDonald, full name Ralph Anthony MacDonald, passed away in Stamford, Connecticut, USA ~ Co-wrote Where Is The Love, a hit for Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway. Co-wrote Just The Two Of Us, a hit for Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers. Closely associated with Harry Belafonte, backing Belafonte for about a decade through 1967. Co-founded Arista Music with Bill Eaton and William Salter. Has worked in one capacity or another with a wide array of artists including Burt Bacharach, George Benson, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, Quincy Jones, Carole King, Miriam Makeba, David Sanborn, Steely Dan, Luther Vandross, Amy Winehouse, Ashford & Simpson, the Average White Band, the Brothers Johnson, Jimmy Buffett, Bob James, Ron Carter, Paul Desmond, Junior Mance, Max Roach, Shirley Scott, and Gábor Szabó ~ MacDonald was born in 1944
December 18, 2001 ~ Singer, songwriter Billie Eilish, full name Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ First gained attention with her debut EP, Don't Smile At Me, released in 2017 and becoming a sleeper hit in the US and abroad. Released her full-length When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go debut album in 2019. It would become the best-performing album in the US and spawn hits such as When The Party's Over, Bury A Friend and Bad Guy
December 18, 2001 ~ Singer, songwriter Gilbert Bécaud passed away in Paris, France ~ Dubbed “Monsieur 100,000 Volts” for his energetic stage performances. Best known for Nathalie and Et Maintenant. The latter would be translated to English as What Now My Love, with lyrics from Carl Sigman, and covered by numerous artists including Eddy Arnold, Petula Clark, Lee Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Ben E King, Martha Reeves, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, the Righteous Brothers, and Sonny & Cher ~ Bécaud was born in 1927
December 18, 1996 ~ Isidor Keiser, commonly known as songwriter, lyricist Irving Caesar, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best remembered for co-writing songs such as Swanee (Al Jolson, the Peerless Quartet, Judy Garland, the Temptations), Sometimes I'm Happy (the Six Hottentots, Jack Hylton, Mildred Bailey), Crazy Rhythms (Roger Wolfe Kahn, Doris Day, Patti Page, Shirley Bassey), and perhaps his best known Tea For Two (Helen Clark, Waring's Pennsylvanians, Fats Waller, Anita O'Day) ~ Caesar was born in 1895December 18, 1991 ~ William Little, commonly known as jazz trumpeter, bandleader King Kolax passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Active from the 1930s onwards. Played with Billy Eckstine, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Sonny Parker, JT Brown, Joe Williams, Danny Overbea, Mabel Scott, Rudy Greene, Earl Pugh, Brooks & Brown, Clyde Williams, Harvey Ellington, Wilbur White, the Chanteurs, Jerry Butler, McKinley Mitchell, Otis Rush, and the Vondells ~ Little was born in 1912
December 18, 1990 ~ Jazz guitarist Bernard Addison, full name Bernard Sylvester Addison, passed away in Rockville Centre, New York, USA ~ Worked with Louis Armstrong, Adelaide Hall, Fletcher Henderson, Bubber Miley, Art Tatum, Fats Waller, Red Allen, Coleman Hawkins, Horace Henderson, Freddie Jenkins, Sara Martin, Jelly Roll Morton, Mamie Smith, Benny Carter, Mezz Mezzrow, Stuff Smith, the Mills Brothers, Billie Holiday, Sidney Bechet, the Ink Spots, and Eubie Blake ~ Addison was born in 1905December 18, 1990 ~ Sierry Kay Kusterbeck, commonly known as alternative rock, experimental singer, songwriter, model Sierra Kay, born in St Petersburg, Florida, USA ~ Rose to fame as lead singer of Versa from 2007 through 2015, known for half a dozen EPs and the full-length Fixed At Zero album released in 2010. Has also worked with indie, post-punk band Neaux and as a solo artist using the moniker Bad Daughter
December 18, 1989 ~ Felix Manuel Rodriguez, commonly known as singer, songwriter Bobby Capó, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Merged ballads with classical music also drawing from folk and world music. Best known for songs such as El Negro Bembon, Capo Sin Fe and perhaps his best known Piel Canela ~ Capó was born in 1922
December 18, 1987 ~ Tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Protégé of pianist Lennie Tristano. Member of Supersax. Leader, co-leader, sideman. Has worked with Tristano, Elek Bacsik, Chet Baker, Bill Evans, Clare Fischer, Lee Konitz, Art Pepper, Joe Albany, Lew Tabackin, and Pete Christlieb ~ Marsh was born in 1927