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 23, 1976 ~ Delta blues singer, guitarist Boyd Gilmore passed away in Fresno, California, USA ~ Though Gilmore's recording career was brief, he is remembered by blues aficionados for two early 1950s recordings, 1952's Ramblin' On My Mind and Believe I'll Settle Down recorded the following year. The former, a cover of the classic Robert Johnson song, features a young Ike Turner on piano, whereas the latter featured pianist Pinetop Perkins, guitarist Earl Hooker, and drummer Willie Nix. Though Gilmore never achieved much fame during his lifetime, he did enjoy some regional popularity touring Delta juke joints, before settling down in California ~ Gilmore was born in 1905
December 23, 1975 ~ Singer, songwriter Katie Underwood born in Adelaide, Australia ~ First gained attention as member of Bardot, a girl group created through the 2000 edition of the Australian talent contest Popstars. Present on the band's eponymous Bardot debut album, which spawned the hit single Poison, before departing the band in 2001. Has recorded as a solo artist since, releasing a number of moderately successful singles throughout the remainder of the decade, leading up to her full-length Ain't Nobody's Baby album released in 2009
December 23, 1974 ~ Sibling outfit the Jackson 5 release I Am Love, lifted off their Dancing Machine album ~ A two-section song running well over the usual length of a pop song, I Am Love was part soul ballad, led by Jermaine Jackson, and part funk dance anthem, led mostly by Michael Jackson. The album version would run well over seven minutes, while the track was cut in its two distinct sections for the single, sprawled across both sides. I Am Love would be their last major hit for Motown, peaking at No.15 Billboard Hot 100, No.5 Billboard R&B. After the song's success, the band would release one more album, Moving Violation, before leaving the label for Epic Records, where they continued as the Jacksons
December 23, 1972 ~ Country, country-pop singer Anne Murray releases Danny's Song, lifted off the album of the same name ~ Written by Kenny Loggins as a gift to his brother for the birth of his son. First recorded by Gator Creek. Loggins himself included the song on the 1972 Loggins & Messina album Sittin' In, the song not issued as a single yet the album track received significant airplay following the album's release. The best known version, however, would be Anne Murray's hit version which reached No.10 Billboard Country, and No.7 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Both the Loggins & Messina and Anne Murray versions remain staples of classic rock radio to this day. Danny's Song would go on to be recorded by over 50 artists
December 23, 1970 ~ Pop, country pop singer Glen Campbell records Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream) at TTG Recording Studio, Hollywood, California ~ Originally recorded by Roy Orbison in 1962. Written by Cindy Walker. Produced by Campbell's regular producer Al De Lory. Released as the lead single of Glen Campbell's 1971 The Last Time I Saw Her album, paired with Here & Now on the flip side
December 23, 1970 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Karine Polwart born in Stirlingshire, UK ~ First gained attention in the early 2000s as lead singer of Malinky. As a solo artist debuted in 2003 with her Faultlines album. Has also worked with the Battlefield Band, Idlewild singer Roddy Woomble, Paolo Nutini, the Burns Unit, Dean Owens, Kris Drever, the Fruit Tree Foundation, and Songs of Separation
December 23, 1968 ~ Quincy Delight Jones III, commonly known as producer QDIII, born in London, UK ~ Son of renowned musician, producer Quincy Jones and singer, actress, model Ulla Jones. Co-produced the bio documentary The Carter about the life of rapper Lil Wayne. As a recording artist known for his 1991 Soundlab album. Jones has also served as producer for artists such as Everlast, Justin Warfield, Jazzy D, Tevin Campbell, LL Cool J, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and Mark RonsonDecember 23, 1967 ~ Model, chanson, pop singer, songwriter Carla Bruni born in Turin, Italy ~ Wrote several songs for Julien Clerc's 2000 album Si J'Etais Elle. Released her own debut, Quelque Un Ma Dit, in 2002. The album would spend 34 weeks in the French top 10. Bruni has been recording and releasing steadily to commercial succes and critical acclaim
December 23, 1966 ~ Jazz, worldbeat singer, guitarist, percussionist, songwriter Badi Assad born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Renowned classically trained fingerstyle guitarist. Daughter of mandolinist Jorge Assad, sister of classical guitarists Sérgio Assad and Odair Assad. Sings in English and Portuguese. Recorded over a dozen albums since the late 1980s to critical acclaim, including the collaborative album Three Guitars with John Abercrombie and Larry Coryell. Other associations include Gilli Moon, Carlinhos Antunes, Toquinho, Eduardo Isaac, Ataulfo Alves, Yo-Yo Ma (Songs Of Joy & Peace), Tom Zé, and Arooj AftabDecember 23, 1965 ~ Guitarist, songwriter Doug Gillard born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Began in Ohio punk bands such as Suspect Device, Children's Crusade, and Starvation Army. Has worked with Richard Buckner, Yuji Oniki, My Dad Is Dead, Mice, Bill Fox, Fence Lions, Zest Of Yore, Stewart Pack, the Oranges Band, Mascott, Sally Crewe, Sudden Moves, Guided By Voices (full member from 1997 to 2004), Gem, Bambi Kino, Cobra Verde, Nada Surf, and Death of Samantha
December 23, 1964 ~ Edward Louis Severson III, commonly known as alternative rock, grunge singer, guitarist, songwriter Eddie Vedder, born in Evanston, Illinois, USA ~ Lead singer, guitarist of Pearl Jam, known for songs such as Spin The Black Circle, I Got Id, Given To Fly, and Last Kiss. Member of supergroup Temple Of The Dog. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with artists such as Hovercraft, Supersuckers, Bad Religion, 7 Worlds Collide, Neil Young, the Ramones, Pete Townshend, Wellwater Conspiracy, Crowded House, and REM
December 23, 1959 ~ R&B outfit the Drifters record This Magic Moment ~ Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. Produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Lead singer: Ben E King. Session musicians: Phil Bodner sax, Ernie Hayes piano, George Barnes and Bucky Pizzarelli guitars, George Duvivier bass, Shep Shepherd drums. Reelased as a single the following January, b/w Baltimore, it would reach top 20 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and top 10 Billboard R&B. Notably covered in 1968 by Jay & the Americans
December 23, 1957 ~ Singer, actor Dan Bigras born in Montreal, Canada ~ Discovered by rock singer Gerry Boulet. Released his Ange Animal debut album in 1990 and has recorded to mixed reception since. Spokesman of Refuge des Jeunes de Montréal, an agency to help homeless and at-risk youth
December 23, 1955 ~ Bassist Dave Allen, full name David Geoffrey Allen, born in Kendal, UK ~ Rose to fame as original member of quintessential post-punk group Gang Of Four, with whom he recorded two albums before departing the band in the early 1980s. Although the band seldom reached the singles charts, their highest-charting being At Home He's A Tourist which peaked at No.58 on the British charts, they are considered hugely influential on later alternative rock acts including REM, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Melvins, and Nirvana, the latter's frontman Kurt Cobain once stating his band started as “a Gang Of Four and Scratch Acid ripoff”. In particular Gang Of Four's 1979 Entertainment debut album is regularly cited as one of the premier politically conscious post-punk albums of its day, with the band's popularity resurging in the early 2000s. Following his departure from the band, Allen formed Shriekback with Barry Andrews, founded the World Domination Recordings label, served as vocalist and primary songwriter for the Elastic Purejoy, played bass guitar in Low Pop Suicide, and formed King Swamp with several regular collaborators. In later years, Allen has served in several roles on the business side of the music industry, including at companies such as Apple Music and Beats Music. Allen has on occasion reunited with Gang Of Four during the mid to late 2000s ~ Allen passed away in 2025December 23, 1951 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist Anthony Phillips born ~ Best known as original lead guitarist of Genesis, remaining with the band from 1967 through 1970 and present on the albums From Genesis To Revelation and Trespass. Has since released a number of solo records, starting with 1976's The Geese & The Ghost, and has collaborated with Harry Williamson, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, Andrew Latimer, Iva Twydell, and Steve Hackett
December 23, 1949 ~ Robert Steven Belew, commonly known as progressive rock, experimental rock, new wave guitarist, drummer, keyboardist, singer Adrian Belew born in Covington, Kentucky, USA ~ Member of King Crimson from 1981 through 2009. Has also worked with Discipline, Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Laurie Anderson, Nine Inch Nails, Paul Simon, and Gizmodrome. As a solo artist best known for his 1989 single Oh Daddy and his 2005 Grammy Award-nominated Beat Box Guitar
December 23, 1947 ~ Hard rock, heavy metal, power metal, pop metal singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Graham Bonnet born in Lincolnshire, UK ~ In-demand singer known for his powerful voice, yet also capable of singing frail ballads. Also known for his flashy visual style, unlike most metal singers often dressed in sharp suits. Formed the late 1960s duo the Marbles with Trevor Gordon, scoring a UK top 10 hit with Only One Woman penned by the Bee Gees-siblings Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb. Bonnett would spend most of the 1970s singing jingles and work as a solo artist before joining Rainbow in 1979 as replacement for Ronnie James Dio. The move marked a change in musical style, switching from pop and soft rock to hard rock. Would go on to work with the Michael Schenker Group, Alcatrazz, Blackthorne, Impellitteri, and Zak StarkeyDecember 23, 1946 ~ Rock bassist Luther Grosvenor born in Evesham, UK ~ Member of Deep Feeling, alongsie Jim Capaldi of future Traffic-fame. Member of VIP's, more commonly known through a few namechanges as Spooky Tooth. Member of Mott The Hoople and co-founding member of Widowmaker, going by the moniker Ariel Bender. Briefly a member of Stealers Wheel
December 23, 1946 ~ Rock, hard rock guitarist Ray Tabano, also known as Crazy Raymond, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of Aerosmith, replaced in 1971 by Brad Whitford. Would remain associated with the band through 1979 running the band's fan club and line of merchandise
December 23, 1946 ~ Robert Dupuis, commonly known as pop rock, soft rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Robbie Dupree, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known for the hit singles Hot Rod Hearts and Steal Away, the latter a Billboard top 10 hit of his eponymous 1980 Robbie Dupree debut album
December 23, 1945 ~ Julio Manuel Acevedo Lanuza, commonly known as singer Julio Angel, born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico ~ Emerged in the 1960s, initially as frontman of the teen group Julito & the Latin Lads, to become one of the nueva olas teen idols in Puerto Rico. Would go on to sing with visiting American artists such as Neil Sedaka and Frankie Avalon. Scored a hit with the doo-wop song Nunca and subsequently with El Diamante, the latter making him a household name across Latin America. Internationally, Angel is also well known for the hit Tan Bonita Como Tu ~ Acevedo passed away in 2015December 23, 1945 ~ Psychedelic rock, acid rock, hard rock drummer, guitarist Ron Bushy born in Washington DC, USA ~ Early member of Iron Butterfly, replacing original drummer Bruce Morse in 1966. Noted for his drum solo on the band's iconic song In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. Bushy is the only band member to appear on all of the band's six studio albums ~ Bushy passed away in 2021
December 23, 1943 ~ Actor, comedian, writer, singer, voice actor, director, producer Harry Shearer, full name Harry Julius Shearer, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ To rock audiences best known for co-writing and starring in the satirical rockumentary This Is Spinal Tap about the fictional rock band Spinal Tap. Former child actor. Member of radio comedy group the Credibility Gap. Cast member of Saturday Night Live at the turn of the 1980s. Voice actor for animated sitcom The Simpsons. Appeared in The Truman Show. Directed the films Teddy Bears' Picnic and The Big Uneasy. Longtime radio host of Le Show, incorporating news, satire, music and sketch comedyDecember 23, 1943 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Merrell Fankhauser, full name Merrell Wayne Fankhauser, born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ First gained attention with local surf band the Impacts, known for songs such Blue Surf, Steel Pier, Lisa. Would go on to enjoy a cult following throughout the 1970s following working with bands such as Fapardokly, HMS Bounty, MU, the Mavi Band, John Cipollina, and Pete Sears
December 23, 1942 ~ Singer Declan Cluskey born ~ Founding member of the Bachelors, which also included his brother Conleth Cluskey. The band would enjoy popularity in the UK during the 1960s and are best known for their 1964 UK No.1 hit Diane. Subsequently I Believe, Ramona, I Wouldn't Trade You For The World, No Arms Can Ever Hold You, Marie, and Sound Of Silence would also reach top 10