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 21, 1967 ~ Heavy metal, thrash metal guitarist, bassist, banjoist Jim Adams born ~ Best known as member of Defiance, joining the band in 1986 and present on key albums such as Product Of Society, Void Terra Firma and Beyond Recognition. Also worked with Inner Threshold, Fat Freddie's Cat, Freeload, and Severed Fifth
December 21, 1966 ~ Pop singer Marco Borsato, full name Marco Roberto Borsato, born in Alkmaar, the Netherlands ~ Active since the early 1990s, initially solely in Italian, broke through after switching to Dutch. Became one of the most popular Dutch singers from the mid 1990s through the 2000s. Best known for songs such as De Meeste Dromen Zijn Bedrog, Je Hoeft Niet Naar Huis Vannacht, Vrij Zijn, De Waarheid, De Bestemming, Binnen and Rood. Has collaborated with Trijntje Oosterhuis, Sita Vermeulen, Do, Ali B, and Andrea Bocelli
December 21, 1964 ~ Pop rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist Jussi Hakulinen, full name Jussi Pekka Hakulinen, born in Pori, Finland ~ Original member of Yö, one of the best selling bands in Finland. Present on the band's first two albums Varietee and Nuoalia Tanssija. Departed the band in 1985 to pursue a solo career though in later years from time to time guested with the band and wrote material for them. Five albums as a solo artist, starting with Vaaleanpunaien Majatolo released in 1985 ~ Hakulinen passed away in 2022December 21, 1959 ~ Percussionist, drummer, keyboardist, bassist, producer Tim Powles, full name Timothy Guy Gerard Powles, born in Wellington, New Zealand ~ Started in the Venetians. Member of the Church, first appearing on the 1994 Sometime Anywhere album. Sang lead on the band's Take Your Place. Released Tyg's In Space, his solo album, in 1999. Has also worked with Divinyls, Rose Tattoo, Dragon, and the Maybe Dolls
December 21, 1958 ~ Rock, pop guitarist, songwriter Kevin Archer born in Birmingham, UK ~ Member of punk rock group the Killjoys alongside Kevin Rowland. The duo would found Dexys Midnight Runners in 1978, present on the band's 1980 Searching For The Young Soul Rebels debut album. Archer wrote or co-wrote the tracks The Teams That Meet In Caffs, Geno, Keep It, and There There My Dear. Following his departure from the band in 1981 Archer formed the Blue Ox Babes
December 21, 1958 ~ Jazz guitarist, bandleader Ray Norris passed away in Toronto, Canada ~ Led the Ray Norris Quintet, which at times included Fraser MacPherson and Phil Nimmons early on in their careers. Also known for Serenade In Rhythm, a radio show on CBC which ran until 1950. Founded the Rhythm Pals shortly before his death ~ Norris was born ca.1916
December 21, 1956 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Lee Roy Parnell born in Abilene, Texas, USA ~ Known for a string of 1990s country hits such as What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am), Love Without Mercy, Tender Moment, On The Road, I'm Holding My Own, A Little Bit Of You and Heart's Desire, all of which reached top 10 Billboard CountryDecember 21, 1955 ~ Contemporary classical composer, conductor, teacher David Hamilton, full name David Blair Hamilton, born in Napier, New Zealand ~ Best known as a choral composer with over an estimated choral pieces to his name. Also wrote chamber music and orchestral works. Known for compositions such as Lux Aeterna, Double Percussion Concerto, ERebus and Elysian Fields
December 21, 1955 ~ Noise, ambient, electro-acoustic, drone composer Kim Cascone born in Albion, Michigan, USA ~ Assistent music director on the Twin Peaks TV series. Actively recording since the late 1990s with over 50 albums to his name, using several monikers including Khem One, PGR, the Heavenly Music Corporation. Has collaborated with the Thessalonians, the KGB Trio, and Spice Barons
December 21, 1953 ~ Bessie Regina Norris, commonly known as soul, R&B singer Betty Wright, born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Member of the Echoes of Joy. Sang background for Latimore, Bill Wyman, Gwen McCrae, Beverly Johnson, Stevie Wonder, Rachel Sweet, and Peter Tosh. Rose to fame in the 1970s as a solo artist known for hits such as Clean Up Woman, Where is The Love, Tonight's The Night and Dance With Me ~ Norris passed away in 2020December 21, 1951 ~ Blues harpist, guitarist Alan Glen born in Wuppertal, Germany ~ Fronts the Barcodes and the Incredible Blues Puppies. Also worked with the Yardbirds, Nine Below Zero, Little Axe, Alannah Myles, Jeff Beck, Steve Vai, Slash, John Mayall, Steve Lukather, Jeff Baxter, Lee Scratch Perry, Horace Andy, Junior Delgado, Bernie Marsden, Papa Lightfoot, Geoff Everett, Gary Fletcher, Mick Moody, Dr Feelgood, Art Themen, Pee Wee Ellis, Dub Syndicate, Paul Cox, Gypie Mayo, and Dave Peabody
December 21, 1951 ~ Alejandro Blake Fearon Jr, commonly known as post-bop bassist Alex Blake, born in Panama ~ Leader and sideman. First gained attention as member of Sun Ra's the Arkestra. Debuted as a leader in the late 1970s with the Especially For You album. Has worked with Billy Cobham, Randy Weston, Pharoah Sanders, John Hicks, the Manhattan Transfer, Kazumi Watanabe, Jimmy Buffett, Jonathan Butler, Chico Freeman, Carlos Garnett, Stan Getz, Weldon Irvine, Oran Juice Jones, Earl Klugh, the Last Poets, Carmen Lundy, Brownie McGhee, Airto Moreira, Janis Siegel, Charles Sullivan, Arif Mardin, and Lenny White
December 21, 1951 ~ Flutist Brian Dunning born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Among the first to fuse jazz and Irish traditional music. Especially acclaimed for the Alone Together album, a collaborative effort with guitarist Louis Stewart recorded live at the Peacock Theatre, Dublin, Ireland in 1979. Co-founding member of the trio Puck Fair. Best known as member of Nightnoise, with whom he recorded half a dozen albums starting with the band's 1987 Something Of Time sophomore album. Dunning also collaborated extensively with keyboardist Jeff Johnson, including on Vows off Johnson's 2000 Byzantium album, the song prominently featured in the Martin Scorcese Gangs Of New York film ~ Dunning passed away in 2022December 21, 1951 ~ Singer, songwriter Nick Gilder, full name Nicholas George Gilder, born in London, UK ~ First gained attention as frontman of glam rockers Sweeney Todd. As a solo artist best known for Here Comes The Night, You Really Rock Me and his best known Hot Child In The City, a massive hit in 1978
December 21, 1950 ~ Blues singer, pianist Charles Brown records Black Night at Radio Recorders, Los Angeles, California ~ Written by Jessie Mae Robinson. Paired with Once There Live A Fool on the B-side it would be released the next January and earn Charles Brown his second No.1 hit on Billboard's R&B charts. It would later be covered by James Booker on the album The King Of The New Orleans Keyboard, Dr John on his In A Sentimental Mood, Buddy Guy on his Damn Right I've Got The Blues, and Joe Bonamassa on Sloe Gin
December 21, 1950 ~ Bjørn Falk Nilsen, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Lillebjørn Nilsen, born in Oslo, Norway ~ Formed the late 1960s duo the Young Norwegians with Bjørn Morisse, the latter also referred to as Storebjørn. Recorded consistently as a solo artist since the early 1970s. Considered “the Voice of Oslo” for having written numerous songs about the city. Befriended and worked with his idol Pete Seeger, whose My Rainbow Race he translated to Banr Av Regnbuen. Terrorist Anders Breivik, who killed over 70 people in the 2011 Oslo and Utøya attacks, stated he hated the song. In response, over 40,000 Norwegians sang it publicly outside Breivik's trial. Nilsen was also a member of supergroup Gitarkamaratene ~ Nilsen passed away in 2024
December 21, 1949 ~ Jazz, pop, R&B singer Marilyn Scott born in Arcadia, California, USA ~ Discovered by Emilio Castillo. Worked with Tower Of Power, Spyro Gyra, the Yellowjackets, Hiroshima, Etta James, Bobby Womack, Bobby Caldwell, Dori Caymmi, George Duke, Russell Ferrante, Ricardo Silveira, Boney James, Bob James, and Jimmy Haslip. As a solo artist best known for her 1977 single God Only Knows, a cover of the Beach Boys tune, and her 1979 debut Dreams Of Tomorrow albumDecember 21, 1948 ~ Rock, pub rock, country, new wave guitarist Martin Belmont born in Bromley, UK ~ Got his start in the music business working as a roadie for Brinsley Schwarz. Would go on to co-found Ducks Deluxe. In-demand session and touring guitarist for the likes of Graham Parker, Carlene Carter, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Billy Bragg, Carl Perkins, John Hiatt, Desmond Dekker, and Johnny Cash. Released his Big Guitar debut album in 1995
December 21, 1948 ~ Singer, comedian, human rights activist Willi Resetarist, also known under the moniker Dr Kurt Ostbahn, born in Stinatz, Austria ~ Member of Schmetterlinge, with whom he reached 17th place in the 1977 Eurovision Songfestival with the song Boom Boom Boomerang representing Germany. Best known for developing his alter ego Dr Kurt Ostbahn in the mid-1980s, an excessive personality with an intense stage presence. Resetarits is also known as a radio host, comedian, and a human rights activist ~ Resetarits passed away in 2022
December 21, 1947 ~ Francisco Gustavo Sánchez Gomez, commonly known as flamenco guitarist, composer, producer Paco de Lucia, born in Algeciras, Spain ~ Leading figure of the new flamenco style, updating the genre branching into classical and jazz while staying true to its roots. Admired by artists such as Richard Chapman and Eric Clapton. Known for songs such as Mediterranean, Entre Dos Aguas, La Barrosa, Emeptu, Cepa Andaluza, Gloria Al Nino Ricardo. Has collaborated with John McLaughlin, Al di Meola, Larry Coryell, Chick Corea, and Ramón de Algeciras ~ Sánchez passed away in 2014
December 21, 1946 ~ Rock, pop singer, guitarist Carl Wilson born in Hawthorne, California, USA ~ Influenced by Chuck Berry. Co-founded the Beach Boys, which also included his brothers Brian Wilson and Dennis Wilson. Initially served as the band's lead guitarist and backing vocals. Sang lead on God Only Knows, Good Vibrations and Kokomo. Would become the band's de facto leader by the early 1970s. Released a number of solo albums, starting with the eponymous Carl Wilson album in 1981 ~ Wilson passed away in 1998December 21, 1946 ~ Violinist Etienne Péclard born in Les Deux-Sevres, France ~ Best known for his associations with the Orchestra Philharmonique de Radio Frabce, the Orchestre De Paris, and the Sartory Trio. Known for his recordings of Johannes Brahms' Double Concerto, Sergei Prokofiev's Symphonie Concerto Op.125 and specifically for his 1999 recordong of Henri Dutilleux's Tout Un Monde Lointain under the direction of Hans Graf
December 21, 1946 ~ Classical, rock, progressive rock guitarist Kevin Peek born in Adelaide, Australia ~ Co-founded short-lived psychedelic pop band the James Taylor Move. Member of the Quartet, known for the single Now. Sessioned for the New Seekers, Mary Hopkin, Cliff Richard, Manfred Mann, Lulu, Tom Jones, Jeff Wayne, Shirley Bassey, and the Twilights. However, Peek is perhaps best known as a member of progressive rock outfit Sky, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums from its inception in 1979 until the early 1990s. Sky is best known for Toccata, a 1980 UK top 5 hit lifted off their Sky 2 sophomore album ~ Peek passed away in 2013
December 21, 1945 ~ Jazz double bassist Cameron Brown born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Best known for his association with Don Pullen and George Adams. Has also worked with George Russell, Don Cherry, Aldo Romano, Booker Ervin, Donald Byrd, Sheila Jordan, Roswell Rudd, Beaver Harris, Archie Shepp, 360 Degree Music Experience, Ted Curson, Lee Konitz, Chet Baker, Joe Lovano, Mal Waldron, Ricky Ford, Steve Grossman, Betty Carter, Etta Jones, Jane Ira Bloom, Dewey Redman, Connie Crothers, Houston Person, Salvatore Bonafede, Grover Washington Jr, Massimo Urbani, Tom Varner, Dave Ballou, Luciano Pavarotti, and Michael MusillamiDecember 21, 1945 ~ Opera singer, director Ian Campbell, full name Ian David Campbell, born in Brisbane, Australia ~ Renowned opera singer during the 1960s and 1970s. Retired from singing in 1974 to pursue a career in management. Sang with the Australian Opera, the State Opera Of South Australia, the Sydney Opera House, and the Santa Barbara Grand Opera. Past chairman of Opera America. General and artistic director of the San Diego Opera from 1983 through 2014