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, 1983 ~ Singer Michael Jackson's 14 minute video for Thriller debuts on MTV ~ Directed by John Landis, the 14 minute video shows Michael Jackson turning into a werewolf and leading a dance routine with various undead creatures. The album of the same name released about a year earlier, Jackson's sixth solo album, became his first Billboard Hot 200 No.1, and would sell over 30 million copies in its first year making it one of the all-time best-selling albums. All six of the album's singles would reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100, with Billie Jean and Beat It both reaching No.1December 2, 1983 ~ Rock outfit Status Quo release Marguerita Time, lifted off their Back To Back album ~ A bit of an oddity for Status Quo, known for their straightforward rockers, the uncharacteristically sweet ballad Marguerita Time still managed to make it to No.3 in their native UK. However, the band's bassist Alan Lancaster hated the song so much, once stating it was “like hearing Mick Jagger sing Humpty Dumpty”, he refused to perform the song on the British TV show Top Of The Pops. Jim Lea of Slade would fill in for Lancaster
December 2, 1981 ~ Pop, teen pop singer, songwriter Britney Spears, full name Britney Jean Spears, born in McComb, Mississippi, USA ~ Signed at age fifteen. The single most important singer to define late 1990s, 2000s teen girl pop, particularly with her first two albums, Baby One More Time and its follow-up Oops I Did It Again. Managed to stay relevant, building and renewing her fanbase as she grew older, and recording over half a dozen albums since with record sales over her entire career totalling over 150 million copies. Well known for feuding with her management and family, who managed not only the business side but details of her personal life as well. While in a lengthy series of highly-publicized lawsuits to regain control, a support movement would grow among her fans using the tag “#freebritney”. Spears regained full control in the early-2020sDecember 2, 1981 ~ Orchestrator, conductor, arranger, composer Hershy Kay passed away in Danbury, Connecticut, USA ~ One of the most in-demand orchestrators for Broadway shows, closely associated with once-classmate Leonard Bernstein. Orchestrated several of Bernstein's musicals including On The Town, Peter Pan and Candide. Has also orchestrated musicals for Marc Blitzstein, Harvey Schmidt, Cy Coleman, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. To jazz audiences perhaps best known for conducting the orchestra on Stan Getz's 1961 Focus album ~ Kay was born in 1919
December 2, 1978 ~ In its 6th week on the charts, the duet single You Don't Bring Me Flowers by Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Originally intended as the theme song to the daily sitcom All That Glitters, the show's creator changed the concept of the show and the song was no longer appropriate. Neil Diamond reworked the track from its original 45 seconds to a full three minutes, and included it as a solo performance on his I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight album. Subsequently Barbra Streisand covered the track for her 1978 Songbird album. The two recordings were spliced and mixed by different radio stations. The popularity of several unofficial duet versions of the song prompted the singers to record an official duet, which spent two weeks at the top of the charts
December 2, 1978 ~ Rock bassist Chris Wolstenholme, full name Christopher Tony Wolstenholme, born in Rotherham, UK ~ Co-founding member of Rocket Baby Dolls. The band would be renamed to Muse in 1994, and have recorded over half a dozen albums since. They are known best for songs such as Plug-in Baby, Time Is Running Out, Hysteria, Butterflies & Hurricanes, Supermassive Black Hole, Knights Of Cydonia and Uprising, all of which reached the UK top 20. Wolstenholme mostly plays with his fingers, rather than a plectrum, as he prefers the sound. Producer Rich Costey would comment: “He hits the strings really goddamn hard. It sounds that way because that's the way he plays.”
December 2, 1978 ~ Singer, songwriter Nelly Furtado, full name Nelly Kim Furtado, born in Victoria, Canada ~ Rose to fame with her trip hop inspired 2000 Whoa Nelly debut album. Has recorded to critical acclaim and commercial succes since. Known for songs such as I'm Like A Bird, Powerless (Say What You Want), Try, Promiscuous featuring Timbaland, and Say It Right. Collaborated with Flo Rida, Estella Marie Thompson, NERD, Missy Elliott, Dave Stewart, Paul Oakenfold, the Roots, Bryan Adams, and Andrea BocelliDecember 2, 1977 ~ Twin brothers keyboardist James Martin and guitarist Tom Martin born in York, UK ~ Both brothers have worked with Kyrah, Alistair Griffin, the Station Club, and VEGA. The twins have also formed a songwriting partnership with Griffin, notably penning Angel By My Side for Do which reached top 10 in the singer's native Netherlands. Others who have recorded their songs include the House Of Lords, Ted Poley, Tommy Funderburk, Khymera, and Sunstorm
December 2, 1972 ~ Singer Brenda Lee records Nobody Wins at Bradleys Barn, Mt Juliet, Tennessee ~ Written by Kris Kristofferson. Brenda Lee released the song the following January, paired with We Had A Good Thing Going on the flip side, it would reach top 5 of the country charts both in the USA and Canada
December 2, 1972 ~ Bandleader, songwriter Moe Jaffe passed away in Englewood, New Jersey, USA ~ Has co-written over 250 songs including Collegiate (Waring's Pennsylvanians, the Revelers, the Crew Cuts), If I Had My Life To Live Over (Larry Vincent), The Gypsy In My Soul (Jack Harris, Margaret Whiting, Anita O'Day), If You Are But A Dream (Jimmy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Screamin' Jay Hawkins), and Bell Bottom Trousers (the Jesters, Louis Prima) ~ Jaffe was born in 1901
December 2, 1972 ~ Jazz rock unit Steely Dan make their debut on the Billboard Hot 200 as their Can't Buy A Thrill debut album enters the chart at No.197 ~ The only Steely Dan album to feature David Palmer as lead vocalist. Drummer Jim Hodder sang lead on Midnite Cruiser. The album would reach top 20 Billboard Hot 200, peaking at No.17, bolstered by the success of the singles Do It Again and Reelin' In The Years. The album title is derived from the Bob Dylan song It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry, which includes the lyrics “Well, I ride on a mailtrain, baby, can't buy a thrill.”December 2, 1969 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones make a stop at Muscle Shoals Studios, Sheffield, Alabama, to record Wild Horses, You Gotta Move, and Brown Sugar over the course of three days ~ With some time to spare between the end of their 1969 North American tour and the added fateful gig at the Altamont Speedway Free Festival, the Stones record the traditional You Gotta Move, usually attributed to Mississippi Fred McDowell and Gary Davis, as well as the originals Brown Sugar and Wild Horses. As the Stones felt the latter was not good enough to record fully, they gave it to the Flying Burrito Brothers who included the track on their 1970 Burrito Deluxe album. Eventually all three tracks would end up on the Rolling Stones 1971 album Sticky Fingers. The single Brown Sugar reached No.1 Billboard Hot 100
December 2, 1967 ~ Bassist Bill Wyman releases his In Another Land single, lead single off the Rolling Stones album Their Satanic Majesties Request ~ Wyman showed up at the studio, only to find out the rest of the Rolling Stones were a no-show as the session was canceled. Everybody but Bill knew. Engineer Glyn Johns, who was in the studio, asked him if he had anything to record, and Bill Wyman replied that he had been messing with this song. So they recorded it. When Johns later played the tape to Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Brian Jones, they decided to include it on the album. Wyman is the sole songwriter, sang lead, and played bass and organ. Although the rest of the band, as well as Ronnie Lane and Steve Marriott of the Small Faces, also contributed to the final cut, the single was issued under Wyman's name, instead of the band's. The B-side featured The Lantern, credited to the band
December 2, 1966 ~ Clarence Lavonne Fitzgerald, commonly known as pop singer Barry Young, passed away in Los Angeles, USA ~ Known for two singles and one full-length album, all released in 1966. His rendition of He'll Have To Go would only chart moderately in Canada, where it peaked in the low 60s. One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart), however, previously a Billboard Country No.1 in 1948 for Jimmy Wakely, reached top 20 Billboard Hot 100. Sadly, his success would be shortlived, his career cut short by his death in December at age 35 of a brain abscess ~ Fitzgerald was born in 1931December 2, 1963 ~ Singer Connie Francis records In The Summer Of His Years for immediate release, following the assassination of President John F Kennedy ~ Within hours after learning of the Kennedy assassination on November 22, songwriters Herbert Kretzmer and David Lee finish the tribute song In The Summer Of His Years, premiered the following day by UK singer Millicent Martin during a special BBC broadcast. The show would be re-broadcast in the USA and several major artists recorded the song, most notably Connie Francis. Radio stations were reluctant to play the song, some feeling it inappropriate to capitalize on the tragedy while others claimed the public simply didn't care for it. Francis' version nevertheless charted, peaking at No.46 Billboard Hot 100. All the proceeds of the single and subsequent album of the same name were donated to the family of JD Tippit, a police officer who was also fatally shot in the same tragedy. The single and album are considered some of the earliest charity records
December 2, 1962 ~ Mercy Davis Walton, commonly known as jump blues singer, pianist, songwriter Mercy Dee Walton, passed away in Murphys, California, USA ~ Known for a string of singles through the mid 1950s, notably Lonesome Cabin Blues, One Room Country Shack and Come Back Maybellene. The latter in reply to Chuck Berry's then-current hit and future classic Maybellene. A year prior to his death Walton released his Mercy Dee album, featuring backing from harmonica player Sidney Maiden, guitarist KC Douglas, and drummer Otis Cherry ~ Walton was born in 1915December 2, 1960 ~ Punta guitarist Andy Palacio, full name Andy Vivian Palacio, born in Barranco, British Honduras ~ Considered a cultural ambassador of Belize and an important in figure in punta rock, drawing from Garifuna pride yet influenced by R&B, jazz, and rock & roll. Acclaimed for the mid 1990s albums Keimoun (Beat On) and Til Da Mawnin ~ Palacio passed away in 2008
December 2, 1960 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Peter Blakeley born in Sydney, Australia ~ Lead singer of 1980s outfit the Rockmelons, present on Sweat It Out. As a solo artist best known for Crying In The Chapel, a hit in 1990. Also worked with Wendy Matthews, Absent Friends, Eric Clapton, Ricky Fataar, Linda Ronstadt, Siedah Garrett, Andrew Gold, Jeff Porcaro, Jim Keltner, Larry Klein, Peter Asher, the Pink Slips, and Cher
December 2, 1960 ~ Hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal bassist Rick Savage born in Sheffield, UK ~ Co-founding member of Def Leppard, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums since the late 1970s. The band hit their peak popularity in the 1980s, especially with the albums Pyromania and Hysteria. They scored about a dozen top 20 hits in their native UK, their best known being Animal, Let's Get Rocked and When Love And Hate Collide. Savage and lead singer Joe Elliott are the band's only constant members, and appear on every album
December 2, 1957 ~ Folk, new-age singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Ian Tamblyn born in Fort William, Canada ~ Over two dozen albums to his name starting with eponymous Ian Tamblyn debut album released in 1976. Best known for his 1990 Magnetic North album. Wrote the music for the first season of the animated TV series Toad Patrol which aired from 1999 through 2002, initially aimed at young children but gained popularity among teens and young adults for its dark undertones and backgrounds
December 2, 1952 ~ Singer, songwriter Peter Kingsbery born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA ~ Co-founded Cock Robin in the early 1980s, best known for songs such as The Promise You Made and Thought You Were On My Side. Has been releasing solo records since the early 1990s, both in English and French, the language of his adopted home country. Has collaborated with Pat Mastelotto, Tenor Saw, Tim Pierce, Phil Solem, Herve Coster, Stephane Belmondo, and Matthieu ChedidDecember 2, 1952 ~ Producer, arranger, conductor, pianist Rob Mounsey born in Berea, Ohio, USA ~ Session musician, producer worked with Aaron Neville, Aztec Camera, Brian Wilson, Carly Simon, Chaka Khan, Chromeo, Diana Ross, Donald Fagen, Eric Clapton, Karen Carpenter, Madonna, Michael Franks, Natalie Cole, Paul Simon, Rihanna, Steely Dan, and Simon & Garfunkel
December 2, 1950 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter John Wesley Ryles born in Bastrop, Louisiana, USA ~ Known for a number of country hits starting in 1968 through the mid-1980s including Kay, I've Just Been Wasting My Time, Once In A Lifetime Thing, Shine On Me (The Sun Still Shines When It Rains), Liberated Woman, and Perfect Strangers ~ Ryles passed away in 2025
December 2, 1949 ~ Boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Influenced by Chicago pianists Hershal Thomas and Jimmy Yancey. Ammons, along with other high-energy boogie-woogie, blues, jazz, and jump-blues musicians, helped create a hybrid which predated and paved the way for rock & roll. Ammons worked with artists such as Meade Lux Lewis, Guy Kelly, Dalbert Bright, Jimmy Hoskins, Israel Crosby, Pete Johnson, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Lena Horne, and Lionel Hampton. Ammons would be a major influence on generations of piano players to come including Jerry Lee Lewis, Dr John, Erroll Garner, Ray Bryant, Johnnie Johnson, and Axel Zwingenberger ~ Ammons was born in 1907
December 2, 1949 ~ Rudolph Dennis, commonly known as reggae singer Garth Dennis, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Co-founded Black Uhuru with Don Carlos and Derrick Duckie Simpson in 1972, leaving the band after the early recordings and rejoining in the early 1990s, first reappearing on the 1991 album Now. Had a successful run throughout the late 1980s with the Wailing Souls starting with 1979's acclaimed Wild Suspense album. Released his solo debut album, Trenchtown 19 3rd Street, in 2015 ~ Dennis passed away in 2021