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 19, 1989 ~ Blues singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Floyd Jones passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Known for a number of late 1940s, early 1950s sides considered pivotal to the development of Chicago blues, including notably Stockyard Blues, Hard Times, Schooldays, and On The Road Again. The latter would later serve as the basis for a song of the same name by Canned Heat, which reached top 10 in the UK, top 20 on the American Billboard Hot 100. Over the course of his career, Jones has worked with Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, Snooky Pryor, Moody Jones, Johnny Man Young, David Honeyboy Edwards, Sunnyland Slim, Big Walter Horton, and Kansas City Red. Jones remained active until his death at age 72 ~ Jones was born in 1917
December 19, 1987 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, Is This Love by Whitesnake peaks at No.2 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by David Coverdale and John Sykes, Is This Love became the band's second biggest American hit and final Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, following Here I Go Again which had reached No.1 two months earlier. Some two decades after it's release, the band's singer Coverdale confirmed the long-standing rumor that Is This Love at one point had been considered to be given to Tina Turner. However, in the end he decided to keep it for himself, so persuaded by label executive David Geffen: “Before I'd left (for the south of France) a friend at EMI Records had asked me for any ideas that would work for Tina Turner. So that was where the original idea for Is This Love came from”December 19, 1983 ~ Indie rock, post-hardcore, progressive rock guitarist, keyboardist, singer Casey Crescenzo born ~ Member of the Receiving End Of Sirens from 2004 through 2006. Member of the Dear Hunter since 2005. Has also worked with Falling Up, the Brobecks, the River Empires, Forgive Durden, the Woods Brothers, and the Jon Hill Project
December 19, 1980 ~ Jim Jin-tae, commonly known as rapper, producer Verbal Jint, born in Seoul, South Korea ~ Regarded as pioneering rapper in South Korean rap, establishing himself as one of the most popular underground rappers of the 2000s before achieving mainstream success. Member of Shown 'n Prove prior to venturing out on his own by the late 1990s. Well-known for his 2001 mini-album Modern Rhymes, considered pivotal to the development of South Korean rap. Broke through to mainstream with his 2008 full-length Framed albumDecember 19, 1980 ~ R&B duo Yarbrough & Peoples release Don't Stop The Music, lifted off their The Two Of Us album ~ Produced by Jonah Ellis and Lonnie Simmons, who co-wrote the song with Alisa Peoples, Don't Stop The Music would be the husband and wife duo's first major hit. Ellis had come up with the basic track: “I was thinking when people go to a dance and it's over, my idea was that a guy wants to take this girl home and turn her on again. It was like a throwaway song.” However, the single spent five consecutive weeks atop the Billboard R&B charts, knocking Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) by labelmates the Gap Band off the top spot. The latter was also produced by Simmons, head of the Total Experience Records label
December 19, 1979 ~ Guitarist, bassist, singer, songwriter Kevin Devine born in Staten Island, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Neutral Milk Hotel, Elliott Smith, Pavement, Nirvana, Bob Dylan. Debuted in 2002 with the Circle Gets The Square album
December 19, 1978 ~ Indie folk, alternative country guitarist Samuel Flynn Scott born in Wellington, New Zealand ~ Founded the Phoenix Foundation with Luke Budda and Conrad Wedde in 1997. Has also worked with Bunnies On Ponies, released several solo albums starting with The Hunt Brings Us Life in 2006, and has composed for commercials and movies
December 19, 1978 ~ Juan Luis Morera Luna, commonly known as reggaeton rapper, singer, producer Wisin, born in Cayvey, Puerto Rico ~ Forms the duo Wisin & Yandel with Yandel, known for songs such as Llamé Pa' Verte (Bailando Sexy), Pam Pam, Sexy Movimento, Me Estas Tentando, Abusadora, Gracias A Ti featuring Enrique Iglesias, Tu Olor, Follow The Leader featuring Jennifer Lopez, and Alog Me Gusta De Ta featuring Chris Brown & T-Pain,December 19, 1977 ~ Elisa Toffoli, mononymously known as singer, songwriter Elisa, born in Trieste, Italy ~ One of the few Italian artists to write and record mainly in English. Draws from pop, alternative rock and trip-hop. Internationally best known for Come Speak To Me, Dancing as used in the 2006 and 2007 editions of the TV show So You Think You Can Dance, and for her Ennio Morricone-collaboration Ancora Qui featured in the Django Unchained soundtrack
December 19, 1972 ~ Grindcore, heavy metal drummer, singer Matt Skitz Sanders born in Ballarat, Australia ~ Founded metal outfit Damaged, described by critics as hatecore, fuelled by hatred and speed and merging elements of death metal, grindcore and hardcore. Sanders has also worked with Deströyer 666, Sadistik Execution, Blood Duster, Abramelin, Noir Macabre, Atomizer, Walk The Earth, the Suicide Bombers, Meatpond, Funeray Pit, Hellspawn, the King Parrot, the Kill Squad, and Terrorust
December 19, 1970 ~ Singer, guitarist, drummer, songwriter Eddie Glass born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with punk band Olivelawn and the stoner bands Nebula and Fu Manchu. Alongside Hagop Najarian and Neil Blender member of short-lived 1980s trio Worked WorldDecember 19, 1970 ~ Alternative rock, power pop, pop punk, punk rock singer, guitarist, drummer, producer Stacy Jones, full name Stacy Glen Jones, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter of American Hi-Fi. Drummer of Letters To Cleo. Musical director of Miley Cyrus. In-demand producer for Hey Violet, Matt Nathanson, Laura Marano, the Downtown Fiction, Ingrid Michaelson, Low vs Diamond, Meg & Dia, and Plain White T's
December 19, 1969 ~ Patricia Rodriguez, commonly known as singer, songwriter, actress, activist Patricia Vonne, born in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Released her eponymous Patricia Vonne debut album in 2003 and has recorded consistently since. Well known for The Texicana Mamas album, a collaborative effert with Stephanie Urbina Jones and Tish Hinojosa, in 2020. Touring member of Tito & Tarantula. As an actress best known for her role as Dallas in the 2005 film Sin City
December 19, 1966 ~ Comedienne, singer, pianist, actress Mylou Frencken born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Best known for the cabaret shows Visch En Fruit and Varkens Wassen with then-husband the late Bert Klunder. Has also worked with Purper alongside Gerrie van der Klei, Anouk van Nes and Celine Purcell, performed in her own cabaret shows, authored the autobiographical novel Zonder Bert, written for the Dutch version of Sesame Street, and written or co-written songs for Angela Groothuizen and Marjolijn Touw
December 19, 1964 ~ Rock group the Who release their I Can't Explain debut single, paired with Bald Headed Woman on the flip side ~ The band had released the single Zoot Suit b/w I'm The Face earlier the same year as the High Numbers before renaming themselves the Who. When they released their first single as the Who, the band had just begun their Tuesday night residency at the famed London club the Marquee Club, breaking attendance records. I Can't Explain would reach top 10 in April 1965. Its success led to national tours, with the first concerts outside the UK given by September. Guitarist, singer Pete Townshend, who penned the tune, would later refer to the song as “a song, written by some 18-year-old-kid, about the fact that he can't tell his girlfriend he loves her because he's taken too many Dexedrine tablets.”
December 19, 1963 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, drummer Dan Brenner, full name Daniel Abraham Brenner, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of Razor Magnet from 1985 through 1988, which also included his brother filmmaker Evan Brenner. Subsequently worked with Green Fuse, the Love Monsters, the Gunga Din. Film composer, starting with 1995's Rhythm Thief. Released his Little Dark Angel solo album in 2011, backed by guitarist Larry Campbell, bassist Will Lee, drummer Shawn Pelton, and Morphine-saxophonist Dana Colley
December 19, 1962 ~ Singer Tony Bennett records The Good Life at Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York, New York ~ Originally La Belle Vie, recorded by French singer Sacha Distel, the song would become known best in the English-speaking world via Tony Bennett's translation with English lyrics provided by Jack Reardon. Releases in April 1963, paired with Spring In Manhattan on the flip side, it would reach top 20 Billboard Hot 100 and become one of Bennett's staple songs. Bennett has recorded the song several times, including for his 1994 MTV Unplugged album and as a duet with Billy Joel for 2006's Duets (An American Classic). Others who have recorded the song include Billy Eckstine, Tony Orlando, the Drifters, and in 2004 as a duet by Distel and Dionne WarwickDecember 19, 1961 ~ Rock & roll, pop singer Cliff Richard records Do You Want To Dance at EMI Studios, London, UK ~ Written and originally recorded by Bobby Freeman. Produced by Norrie Paramor. Cliff Richard would use the song for the B-side of I'm Lookin' Out The Window, a 1962 UK No.2 hit
December 19, 1958 ~ Singer Bobby Darin records Mack The Knife at Fulton Studios, New York, New York ~ Translated from a 1928 song, Die Moritat Von Mackie Messer, originally written by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht for the musical drama The Threepenny Opera. English lyrics written by Marc Blitzstein. Previously a hit for Louis Armstrong, and recorded numerous times after Darin's version, the song would become most closely associated with Bobby Darin. Singer Frank Sinatra who also recorded the tune on his final studio album, 1984's LA Is My Lady, would refer to Darin's version as the “definitive” versionDecember 19, 1958 ~ Christopher Hamill, commonly known as Limahl, born in Wigan, UK ~ Rose to fame as lead singer of new wave outfit Kajagoogoo, known best for their 1983 hit Too Shy. As a solo artist best known for Neverending Story, the theme song for the film of the same name
December 19, 1956 ~ Producer, songwriter Jimmy Cauty, full name James Francis Cauty, born in Wirral, UK ~ Formed the KLF with Bill Drummond, known for songs such as What Time Is Love, Train To Trancentral and Justified Aand Am. The same duo had previously recorded under different monikers including the Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu, Disco 2000 and the Timelords, scoring a 1988 hit with Doctorin' The Tardis. Co-founded the Orb, known for their pioneering The Orb's Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld debut album released in 1991. Married Thompson Twins singer Alannah Currie in 2011
December 19, 1954 ~ Free improvisation guitarist John Russell born in Kent, UK ~ Leader and sideman. Founded the loose collective Quaqua in 1981. Collaborated with Roger Turner, Stefan Keune, Phil Minton, Evan Parker, Luc Houtkamp, Martin Archer, Henry Kaiser, Terry Day, Mats Gustafsson, Radu Malfatti, and Jon Rose ~ Russell passed away in 2021
December 19, 1953 ~ Sanford Mead Sylvan, commonly known as baritone singer Sanford Sylvan, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Studied under Phyllis Curtin. Performed with leading conductors, opera companies and orchestras including the Houston Grand Opera, the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and with the Concertgebouw Orchestra ~ Sylvan passed away in 2019
December 19, 1952 ~ Pianist, arranger, songwriter Walter Murphy, full name Walter Anthony Murphy Jr, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for his 1976 hit A Fifth Of Beethoven, an adaptation of Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, included on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Subsequent classical-disco adaptations followed, including Flight '76, Rhapsody In Blue, Toccata And Funk In D Minor, Bolero and Mostly Mozart, but Murphy would be unable to replicate the success of A Fifth Of BeethovenDecember 19, 1951 ~ Doo-wop outfit the Clovers record One Mint Julep at Atlantic Studios, New York, New York ~ Written by Rudy Toombs. Released as a single, coupled with The Middle Of The Night on the B-side, the next March. One of the first pop songs featuring a saxophone solo. Important step for the then fledging Atlantic Records in establishing themselves as a hot R&B, pop label. Notably covered as an instrumental by Ray Charles in 1961. Others who adapted the song include Chet Atkins, Duane Eddy, Freddie Hubbard, the Ventures, Richard Groove Holmes, and Tommy Emmanuel
December 19, 1951 ~ Blues, blues-rock, rock guitarist Gerry McAvoy, full name John Gerrard McAvoy, born in Belfast, Northern Ireland ~ Closely associated with Rory Gallagher, backing the Irish guitarist on record and on tour for two decades starting in 1970. Subsequently a member of Nine Below Zero until 2011