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 22, 1985 ~ Dennis Dale Boon, commonly known as singer, guitarist D Boon passed away in Arizona, USA ~ Guitarist, lead singer of punk rock outfit the Minutemen, known best for their critically acclaimed 1984 double album Double Nickels On The Dime. Boon was killed in a car crash at age 27. Shortly thereafter the band would be disbanded ~ Boon was born in 1958December 22, 1982 ~ Rock guitarist Neal Tiemann, full name Neal Andrew Tiemann, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Closely associated with David Cook, appearing on Cook's solo albums, and serving alongside Cook in both the Anthemic and the Midwest Kings. Tiemann has also worked with DevilDriver, Bryan Jewett, Burn Halo, Uncle Kracker, and deathcore outfit Carnifex
December 22, 1977 ~ Choral conductor, organist, composer Fritz Werner passed away in Heilbronn, Germany ~ Best known for founding the Heinrich-Schütz-Chor Heilbronn in 1947, serving as its conductor until 1973. The ensemble is noted for its vast collection of recordings, especially the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, and for its impressive rotating roster of soloists including Agnes Giebel, Claudia Hellmann, Kurt Huber, Maurice André, and Marie-Claire Alain ~ Werner was born in 1898
December 22, 1973 ~ In its 12th week on the charts, Hello It's Me by Todd Rundgren peaks at No.5 Billboard Hot 100 ~ First recorded by Todd Rundgren with his late 1960s band the Nazz, which stalled at No.66 Billboard Hot 100, the re-recorded solo version taken off his Something/Anything album would become Rundgren's highest charting and sole American top 10 hit. In the self-penned Hello It's Me, Rundgren opts for an unusual format for a breakup song, as we hear one side of a telephone conversation in which the singer calls his girlfriend to break up with her. Rundgren has stated it was the first song he ever wrote, and although a fictionalized account of the actual story inspired by a real-life experience when a highschool girlfriend broke up with him, instead of the other way around, a few days after her father turned the hose on him and chased him away as “no hippie kid was going to date his daughter”
December 22, 1972 ~ Singer, actress, model Vanessa Paradis, full name Vanessa Chantal Paradis, born in St-Maur-des-Fosses, France ~ Rose to international stardom in 1987 at age 14 with the single Joe Le Taxi, written by Franck Langolff and Etienne Roda-Gil. The song would top the charts in her native France. It also became a hit across Europe including top 10 positions in Ireland and the UK, an uncommon feat for French-language songs. Paradis would remain successul in France and score another international hit in 1992 with Be My Baby, her first recording in English, written by then-boyfriend Lenny KravitzDecember 22, 1970 ~ Country, rock, R&B keyboardist, trombonist, singer Matt Hubbard born ~ Best known for his work with Willie Nelson since the late 1990s, including producing Nelson's 2001 Rainbow Connection album. Has worked with Ray Price, Archie Bell, Calvin Russell, Carolyn Wonderland, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, Kurt Nilsen, Fastball, and Tony Scalzo. Member of the 7 Walkers since 2009, which also includes Bill Kreutzmann, George Porter Jr, Papi Mali
December 22, 1967 ~ Beatrice C Palmer, commonly known as singer, dancer Bee Palmer, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Sometimes credited as the inventor of the “shimmy” dance. Toured with artists such as Emmett Hardy, Leon Roppolo, Santo Pecora, and her husband Al Siegel. Reportedly co-wrote the Gene Austin pop standard Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone, later also recorded by Mose Allison, Sammy Davis Jr, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Connie Francis, Bill Haley, Helen Humes, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Leon Redbone, Rita Reys, Piano Red, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday ~ Palmer was born in 1894December 22, 1967 ~ Rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards born in Blackwood, UK ~ Rhythm guitarist, lyricist of alternative rock band the Manic Street Preachers, present on songs such as You Love Us, Roses In The Hospital, Faster. Edwards went missing in February 1995 and is presumed to be deceased ~ Edwards disappeared in [artist-richey-edwards]
December 22, 1967 ~ Lawrence Fewell Roberts II, commonly known as rock & roll singer Rockin' Robin Roberts, passed away in San Mateo County, California, USA ~ Member of rock & roll outfit the Wailers. As a solo artist best known for the Richard Berry-cover Louie Louie and Rockin' Robin ~ Roberts was born in 1940
December 22, 1966 ~ Alessandro Guido Baroni, commonly known as pop singer, balladeer Alex Baroni, born in Milan, Italy ~ Developed a passion for music from a young age onward, turned to singing when bed-ridden for a year after a motorcycle accident at age 17. Drew from funk, soul, and blues. Released four albums during his lifetime, starting with Fuorimetrica in 1994. Following his death at age 35, after a second severe motorcycle accident, several more albums would be released posthumously ~ Baroni passed away in 2002December 22, 1965 ~ Drummer Michael Dahlquist born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Best known as member of indie rock band Silkworm, influential on artists such as Jeff Tweedy, Stephen Malkmus, and Clint Conley. After Dahlquist's death in 2005 the band would disband. Bandmates Andy Cohen and Tim Midvett would subsequently continue under the moniker Bottomless Pit. Dahlquist has also worked with the Crust Brothers, appearing on the 1998 Marquee Mark album ~ Dahlquist passed away in 2005
December 22, 1964 ~ Peter Wagner, commonly known as heavy metal bassist, singer Peavy Wagner, born in Herne, West Germany ~ Influenced by Motörhead's Lemmy Kilmister. Lead singer, bassist of the Rage. Has also worked with the Bassinvaders, Mekong Delta, Axel Rudi Pell, Mob Rules, Victor Smolski, and Darksun
December 22, 1962 ~ Jazz saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart born in Les Abymes, France ~ Worked with Roy Hargrove, D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Eric Benét, Meshell Ndegeocello, James Hurt, Danilo Pérez, Ari Hoenig, David Gilmore, the Gwoka Jazz Project, Malcolm Braff, Laurent David, and Stephane Galland
December 22, 1962 ~ In its 8th week on the charts, Telstar by the Tornados hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Named after the Telstar communications satellite launched into orbit earlier the same year, the instrumental Telstar is probably one of the earliest pop songs influenced by science fiction. The song is noted specifically for its then-novice use of sound effects and futuristic electronics, producer Joe Meek trying to emulate the feel of The Happy Organ, an organ-driven instrumental hit by Dave Baby Cortez. Telstar would be a near-immediate hit on both sides of the Atlantic, only the fourth single by any British artist to reach the top of the American charts, preceded by Vera Lynn's Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart, Laurie London's He's Got The Whole World In His Hands, and Acker Bilk's Stranger On The Shore, and the first single by a British group to reach No.1 Billboard Hot 100, preceding I Want To Hold Your Hand by the Beatles by a little over a year. Meek would be sued by French composer Jean Ledrut who claimed the tune of Telstar had been copied off his score for the 1960 Austerlitz film, the case eventually settled in Meek's favor a year after Meek's suicide in 1967December 22, 1960 ~ Country, country-rock guitarist, singer Chuck Meade, full name Charles Lynn Mead, born in Nevada, Missouri, USA ~ Founded BR549, known for the single Cherokee Boogie of their eponymous 1996 BR549 debut album. Musical director, supervisor, arranger for the Tony Award-winning 2006 Broadway production The Million Dollar Quartet. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Journeyman's Wager released in 2009
December 22, 1960 ~ Trip hop, house, acid jazz, alternative dance bassist, keyboardist, guitarist, producer, songwriter Mark Brydon, full name Mark Errington Brydon, born in Sunderland, UK ~ Formed Moloko with singer Róisín Murphy, known for 1990s, early 2000s songs such as Fun For Me, Sing It Back, The Time Is Now, and Familiar Feeling. Has also worked with Krush, Chakk, Cloud 9, Fon Force, and Funky Worm. Active as a remixer under a number of pseudonyms including DJ Plankton
December 22, 1959 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion bassist John Patitucci, full name John James Patitucci, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by Ray Brown and Ron Carter. Closely associated with Chick Corea. Has also worked with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Roy Haynes, Joey Calderazzo, Peter Erskine, Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Tavaglione, John Beasley, Tal Farlow, John Abercrombie, Bob Mintzer, Jack DeJohnette, Steve Gadd, Al di Meola, Dave Grusin, Chuck Loeb, Lee Ritenour, the Manhattan Transfer, Warren Zevon, Natalie Cole, Charlie Bisharat, Michael Brecker, Norah Jones, and the GRP All-Star Big BandDecember 22, 1959 ~ José Alberto Justiniano, commonly known as salsa singer Jose Alberto, born in Villa Consuelo, Santo Domingo ~ Sala singer became a household name in Latin America with his 1984 debut Nohes Caliente. Also especially known for his 1991 album Dance With Me, establishing a new style of salsa called salsa romantica
December 22, 1958 ~ Jazz fusion, smooth jazz, instrumental rock guitarist Frank Gambale born in Canberra, Australia ~ Well over a dozen albums to his name as a leader. In-demand sideman. Influential on Synyster Gates, Dweezil Zappa, Greg Howe, Pat Metheny, Jerry Garcia. Closely associated with Chick Corea. Has also worked with Vital Information, Allan Holdsworth, and Shawn Lane
December 22, 1958 ~ Kevin Lark Gibbs, commonly known as new age, light classical pianist, composer Kevin Kern, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Child prodigy, found playing Silent Night on the piano at a mere 18 months of age with no formal training whatsoever. Would go on to record close to a dozen albums, starting with In The Enchanted Garden released in 1996
December 22, 1957 ~ Singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Ricky Ross, full name Richard Alexander Ross, born in Dundee, UK ~ Lead singer of Deacon Blue, known for the hit singles Real Gone Kid and I'll Never Fall In Love Again both of which hit the British top 10, respecively in 1988 and 1990. The band was named after the song Deacon Blues by Steely Dan
December 22, 1954 ~ Saxophonist, composer, arranger Darcy Hepner, full name Darcy Rolston Hepner, born in Edmonton, Canada ~ Son of conductor Lee Hepner and pianist Patricia Rolston. Leader and sideman. Worked with Blood Sweat & Tears, the Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, Larry Carlton, Andy Middleton, Ian Thomas, and Tom WilsonDecember 22, 1953 ~ Pop, rock, blues guitarist Paul Warren born in Garden City, Michigan, USA ~ In-demand session and touring guitarist. Member of Ray Manzarek's Nite City, notably present on the 1978 Golden Days Diamond Nights sophomore and final album. Would go on to work with the Ventures, Tina Turner, Prism, notably Richard Marx serving as guitarist and musical director for seven years, and tour with Joe Cocker, Eros Ramazzotti, and Rod Stewart
December 22, 1949 ~ Twin brothers Maurice Gibb and Robin Gibb born in Douglas, Isle Of Man ~ Maurice and Robin are best known as two thirds of the Bee Gees, the third being their older brother Barry Gibb. The band would become one of the most successful pop rock acts. Well known songs include I've Gotta Get A Message To You, I Started A Joke, Lonely Days, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Jive Talkin', Nights On Broadway, You Should Be Dancing, How Deep Is Your Love, Stayin' Alive, Night Fever, Too Much Heaven, Tragedy, and Love You Inside Out. Maurice also worked with Tin Tin and with the Bloomfields ~ Maurice passed away in 2003, Robin in 2012
December 22, 1948 ~ Country singer Hank Williams records Lovesick Blues at Herzog, Cincinnati, Ohio ~ Written by Cliff Fiend and Irving Mills. Produced by Fred Rose. Originally recorded by Anna Chandler for the 1922 Oh Ernest musical. Most closely associated with Hank Williams though. Released the following February featuring Never Again Will I Knock On Your Door on the flip side and an instant hit for Williams