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 2, 2025 ~ Guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter, producer Billy Nichols, full name William Lee Nichols, passed away ~ Best remembered for penning the BT Express classic Do It ('Til You're Satisfied), which reached No.2 Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. Inspired by his father, who played guitar in his spare time, and the blues musicians he heard on the radio, Nichols taught himself guitar at a young age. By his mid teens he was playing professionally. Nichols has worked as a session musician with Martha & the Vandellas, served as musical director for Marvin Gaye, led the house band at The Crystal Ballroom in New York, co-wrote Millie Jackson's Ask Me What You Want, recorded a number of albums with Bernard Pretty Purdie including the highly acclaimed Soul Is Pretty Purdie, and produced the late 1970s rap singles The Adventures Of Super Rhymes by Jimmy Spicer, arguably the first true storytelling rap, and Rhythm Rap Rock by Count Coolout. Despite his extensive resume, Nichols remains most closely with BT Express, penning and at times producing several of their best known including Can't Stop Groovin', Shout It Out, and most notably Do It (Till You're Satisfied). The latter stands as one of the classic dance tracks of the era and has been sampled numerous times including by NWA (Alwayz Into Somethin'), Tevin Campbell, MC Lyte, Beyoncé (Déjà Vu), Snoop Dogg, and Faith Evans ~ Nichols was born in 1940December 2, 2024 ~ Musical composer, conductor Marvin Laird passed away in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA ~ Best known for writing the dance arrangements for the 1969 film Hello Dolly, a romantic comedy based on the 1964 Broadway musical of the same name. Though at the time the film would be critically well-received, earning no less than seven Academy Award nominations of which it won three, and opened strongly the film would be somewhat of a disappointment at the box office. Laird is also well known for composing the music to the off-Broadway all-female Ruthless musical, its lyrics and book by his life partner Joel Paley, which spoofed musicals such as Gypsy and Mame. Laird was survived by regular collaborator and life partner director, lyricist, playwright Joel Paley, who passed away six weeks later ~ Laird was born in 1939
December 2, 2022 ~ Folk rock singer, songwriter, playwright, screenwriter Jo Carol Pierce passed away in Austin, Texas, USA ~ Schoolmate of Butch Hancock and Joe Ely, the latter encouraging her to become a songwriter. High school sweatheart of Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Widely acclaimed for her 1995 Bad Girls Upset By The Truth debut album ~ Pierce was born in 1944
December 2, 2021 ~ Music manager, tour manager Richard Cole passed away ~ Best known as tour manager for Led Zeppelin from 1968 until its dissolution in 1980. Drew ire from the band for several bold statements about their behavior, most infamously in the Stephen Davis-penned Zeppelin-biography Hammer Of The Gods. Has also worked for bands such as Unit 4+2, the Who, the New Vaudeville Band, Vanilla Fudge, the Yardbirds, Eric Clapton, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Uhuru, and Three Dog Night ~ Cole was born in 1946
December 2, 2019 ~ Andrew McArthur Smith, commonly known as new wave, rock singer, keyboardist, songwriter Greedy Smith, passed away in Sydney, Australia ~ Joined Mental As Anything shortly after its formation in 1976 and remained with the band until his death. Wrote or co-wrote a vast amount of the band's material including Live It Up, a top 10 hit in the band's native Australia as well as across Europe after its inclusion in the film Crocodile Dundee. Smith has also worked with Greedy's People and with the Space Shuttle Ramblers ~ Smith was born in 1956December 2, 2019 ~ Blues producer, promoter Jacques Morgantini passed away in Pau, France ~ Married to Marcelle Morgantini. The duo served as producers and promoters of previously underrated and little- or unrecorded American blues artists including Andrew Odom, Willie Kent, Luther Guitar Junior Johnson, Eddy Clearwater, Magic Slim, and John Littlejohn ~ Morgantini was born in 1924
December 2, 2019 ~ James Cavallo, commonly known as R&B saxophonist Jimmy Cavallo, passed away in Pompano Beach, Florida, USA ~ Shortly after his discharge from the Army, around the end of World War II, founded the Jimmy Cavallo Quartet, one of the first white R&B blues bands, playing originals as well as covers of Wynonie Harris and Louis Jordan. Best known for fronting Jimmy Cavallo & his House Rockers, noted for appearing in the 1956 film Rock Rock Rock playing The Big Beat and the film's title track Rock Rock Rock. The band is also noted for being the first white band to play the Apollo Theatre in Harlem promoting the movie ~ Cavallo was born in 1927December 2, 2016 ~ Chelsea Faith Dolan, commonly known as electronic music producer, DJ, radio host Cherushii, passed away in Oakland, California, USA ~ Classically trained. Champion of women in electronic music. Starting in the early-2010s released a number of EPs and a sole full-length album, the acclaimed Memory Of Water, before dying at age 33 in a fire in an venue where she was to perform that night ~ Dolan was born in 1983
December 2, 2016 ~ Pop, country singer, keyboardist Mark Gray, full name Mark Eugene Gray, passed away in Lebanon, Tennessee, USA ~ Member of Exile from 1979 to 1982, for whom he co-wrote The Closer You Get, You're Good For Me and Take Me Down, the latter later notably covered by Alabama. Also wrote Janie Fricke's It Ain't Easy Bein' Easy, Gary Morris' Second Hand Heart, and Aretha Franklin's Whatever It Is. As a solo artist, Gray would enjoy success as a country artist through the mid-1980s, the singles The Left Side Of The Bed, If All The Magic Is Gone, Diamond In The Dust, the Tammy Wynette duet Sometimes When We Touch, and Please Be Love all reaching top 10 Billboard Country ~ Gray was born in 1952
December 2, 2014 ~ Saxophonist Bobby Keys, full name Robert Henry Keys, passed away in Franklin, Tennessee, USA ~ In-demand touring and session musician. Longtime associate of the Rolling Stones noted for his saxophone solo on the 1971 Stones hit Brown Sugar. Also present on albums such as Let It Bleed, Exile On Main St, Goat's Head Soup, Emotional Rescue, and No Security. Involved with several Stones side projects and solo albums, notably Keith Richards's, including with the New Barbarians and the X-Pensive Winos. Has also worked with Delaney & Bonnie, Joe Cocker, George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, BB King, Barbra Streisand, Carly Simon, Chuck Berry, Dr John, Eric Clapton, Keith Moon, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and John Hiatt ~ Keys was born in 1943December 2, 2013 ~ Murvin Junior Smith, commonly known as singer Junior Murvin, passed away in Port Antonio, Jamaica ~ Known for songs such as Solomon, Miss Kushie, and Police & Thieves. The latter would be covered by the Clash on their debut album. Worked with Sonia Pottinger, the Hippy Boys, the Mighty Falcons, the Tornadoes, Lee Scratch Perry, Joe Gibbs, Alvin Ranglin, Errol Thompson, Mikey Dread, Henry Jujo Lawes, Prince Jammy, and King Tubby ~ Smith was born ca.1946
December 2, 2013 ~ R&B keyboardist, singer Rex Garvin passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Although he had little commercial success at the time, Garvin is fondly remembered by soul aficionados for a number of 1960s singles including most notably Sock It To 'Em JB released in 1966, its title a nod to both James Brown and the then-popular James Bond film franchise. Other well known songs include Oh Yeah, Soul Food, I Gotta Go Now (Up On The Floor), and You Don't Need No Help (You Can Sock It To Yourself). Garvin is also known for writing Over The Mountain (Across The Sea), a 1957 hit for Johnnie & Joe, later covered by over a dozen artists including the Crew Cuts, the Orlons, and Bobby Vinton ~ Garvin was born in 1940
December 2, 2009 ~ Aaron Harold Schröder, commonly known as songwriter, producer, publisher Aaron Schroeder, passed away in Englewood, New Jersey, USA ~ Founded Musicor Records. Discovered and managed Gene Pitney. Penned or co-penned over 1500 songs. Had his first success as a songwriter with At A Sidewalk Penny Arcade, a 1948 hit for Rosemary Clooney. Wrote or co-wrote several hits for Elvis Presley, including the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits I Got Stung, A Big Hunk O' Love, It's Now Or Never, Stuck On You, and Good Luck Charm. Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Schroeder include Guy Mitchell, Johnnie Ray (No Wedding Today), Carl Perkins, Conway Twitty, the Isley Brothers (I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door), Gene Vincent, Brook Benton, Bobby Vee (Rubber Ball), and Dusty Springfield ~ Schroeder was born in 1926December 2, 2009 ~ Singer, songwriter, keyboardist, artist manager Eric Woolfson passed away in London, UK ~ Best known for his close association with Alan Parsons, practically being co-creator and only other key member of the Alan Parsons Project. Previously worked as a songwriter for artists including Marianne Faithfull, Frank Ifield, Joe Dassin, the Tremeloes, Marmalade, Dave Berry, and Peter Noone. Turned to music management, his first two signings being Carl Douglas and Parsons ~ Woolfson was born in 1945
December 2, 2008 ~ Odetta Holmes, mononymously known as gospel, folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Odetta, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Influential on key figures of the folk revival including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Mavis Staples, and Janis Joplin . Icon of the civil rights movement. Described as “the Queen of American folk music” by Martin Luther King Jr. Drew from folk, blues, jazz, and spirituals. Over a dozen albums to her name since the mid 1950s, especially acclaimed for Sings Ballads And Blues and Odetta And The Blues. Best known for Take This Hammer, which is regularly named as one of the 20th century's greatest songs ~ Holmes was born in 1930
December 2, 2006 ~ Singer Mariska Veres passed away in The Hague, the Netherlands ~ Best known as lead singer of Shocking Blue, joining the band in 1968 as replacement for Fred de Wilde, and present on hits such as Send Me A Postcard, Never Marry A Railroad Man and their best known Venus. The latter would reach No.1 in numerous countries, including topping the American Billboard Hot 100, and be notably covered by Bananarama in 1986 ~ Veres was born in 1947December 2, 2004 ~ Alternative rock, new wave singer, guitarist Kevin Coyne passed away in Nuremberg, Germany ~ Overlooked by the public. Anti-star admired by peers including Sting and Johnny Rotten. Reportedly turned down a chance to meet with label executive Jac Holzman to discuss replacing the late Jim Morrison in the Doors, alleging he “did not like the leather trousers” ~ Coyne was born in 1944
December 2, 2002 ~ Guitarist Richard Dangel passed away ~ Lead guitarist for the Wailers, generally credited as one of the first, if not the first, American garage bands, best known for their debut single Tall Cool One, a Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit in 1959. Encouraged by its success the band would record a full-length album, The Fabulous Wailers, released by the end of the year. A second instrumental single, Mau-Mau, would chart moderately. A third, Wailin', failed to chart. However, the band continued to perform regionally in the Pacific Northwest, and according to the band's keyboardist Kent Morrill counted a young and then-unknown Jimi Hendrix among their fans ~ Dangel was born in 1942
December 2, 2001 ~ Singer Valorie Jones passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ One third of sibling outfit the Jones Girls, alongside Shirley Jones and Brenda Jones. Served as backup singers for Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, Aretha Franklin, Linda Clifford, and Tower Of Power. On their own they would score a number of modest hits on Billboard's R&B charts from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s including You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else, Dance Turned Into Romance and I Just Love The Man ~ Jones was born in 1956
December 2, 1998 ~ Dixieland, swing, jazz bassist Bob Haggart, full name Robert Sherwood Haggart, passed away in Venice, Florida, USA ~ First gained attention in the mid-1930 working with Bob Crosby, including co-writing songs such as Big Noise From Winnetka and What's New. Would go on to work with Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald. Co-founded the Lawson-Haggart Band with Yank Lawson, the pair also subsequently co-leading the World's Greatest Jazz Band through 1978 ~ Haggart was born in 1914December 2, 1998 ~ Jarad Anthony Higgins, commonly known a rapper, singer, songwriter Juice WRLD, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known for songs such as All Girls Are The Same, Lean Wit Me, Wasted, Armed And Dangerous, and Lucid Dreams. Has collaborated with Benny Blanco, BTS, Ellie Goulding, Halsey, Marshmello, the Weeknd, Eminem, and Kodak Black ~ Higgins passed away in 2019
December 2, 1997 ~ New acoustic, world, new age guitarist Michael Hedges, full name Michael Alden Hedges, passed away in Mendocino County, California, USA ~ Classically trained. Influenced by John Martyn, the Beatles, Igor Stravinsky, Edgard Varèse, Anton Webern. Briefly a member, playing guitar and flute, of the Lotus Band before venturing out on his own playing as a solo acoustic guitarist. Signed to Windham Hill, the preeminent New Age label, by William Ackerman in 1980. Would release his acclaimed 1981 Breakfast In The Field debut album, its 1984 follow-up Aerial Boundaries and the 1985 Watching My Life Go By album ~ Hedges was born in 1953
December 2, 1990 ~ Composer, conductor Aaron Copland passed away in Tarrytown, New York, USA ~ Acclaimed contemporary classical composer, referred to as “the Dean of American Composers” by peers and critics. Began writing songs at the age of eight. Best known for Appalachian Spring, Fanfare For The Common Man, and Third Symphony ~ Copland was born in 1900December 2, 1987 ~ Singer, conductor, songwriter Trygve Henrik Hoff passed away in Drammen, Norway ~ Acclaimed songwriter and storyteller known to focus on the life in northern Norway. Wrote Har EnDrøm and El Hand Å Holde i, major hits for Jørn Hoel. Others who have recorded his songs include Solfrid Hoff, the Bodø-oktetten and notably Sissel Kyrkjebø ~ Hoff was born in 1938
December 2, 1986 ~ Saxophonist Paul Bascomb passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Bama State Collegians, at the height of their fame led by Erskine Hawkins, and well known for hits such as Tuxedo Junction. The band also included his brother, trumpeter Dud Bascomb. Bascomb would remain with the band through the mid 1940s, apart from a brief interval in the late 1930s, where he played with Count Basie ~ Bascomb was born in 1912December 2, 1986 ~ Metal singer, guitarist, songwriter Ragnar Zolberg born in Reykjavik, Iceland ~ Founding member of the Sign, releasing five albums with the band starting with Vindar Og Breytingar in 2001. Joined Pain Of Salvation in 2011, present on the band's Falling Home, Remêdy Lane Re:Lived and In The Passing Light Of Day. Has also recorded as a solo artist, releasing his Upplifun debut album in 1998 at a mere 11 years old
December 2, 1986 ~ Rock, blues rock, indie rock, jazz fusion, funk bassist, guitarist, singer Tal Wilkenfeld born in Sydney, Australia ~ As a solo artist known best for her 2007 Transformation debut album, released while still in her teens. Has collaborated extensively with a host of international stars including Herbie Hancock, Macy Gray, Lee Ritenour, Jackson Browne, Trevor Rabin, Wayne Krantz, Toto's Steve Lukather, Ryan Adams, Todd Rundgren, Jeff Beck, and Prince