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 27, 2025 ~ Fanny Biascamano, mononymously known as pop singer Fanny, passed away ~ Became known by performing on the Sacrée Soirée TV show at age 12, and subsequently scoring a No.7 hit in France with the Edith Piaf cover L'Homme à La Moto issued as her debut single. The follow-up single Un Poète Disparu would reach No.16. Biascamano would continue to record, yet failed to equal the success of her debut single. Internationally, Fanny is perhaps best known for representing her native France at the Eurovision Songfestival in 1997, where she reached seventh place with Sentiments Songes ~ Biascamano was born in 1979
December 27, 2022 ~ Vibraphonist Harry Sheppard passed away ~ Got his professional start as a musician in his late teens, working in Sol Yaged's ensemble. Would go on to become an in-demand concert and session vibraphonist throughout the 1950s, backing artists such as Cozy Cole, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Ben Webster, and Coleman Hawkins, and became closely associated with Benny Goodman during the 1960s. Sheppard is also well known as co-creator of the electric vibraphone, an instrument he developed with Claire Omar Musser. Later on in his career, Sheppard has recorded a handful of albums as a leader, perhaps most notably Points Of View released in 1992. Upon hearing of his death, Randall Jamail, who had produced several of Sheppard's albums, commented: “There was nobody like him. Aside from the musicianship, which was phenomenal, he was such a great spirit” ~ Sheppard was born in 1928
December 27, 2022 ~ Joseph Marley, commonly known as reggae singer Jo Mersa Marley, passed away in Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA ~ Son of reggae singer Stephen Marley. Co-wrote and sang on his father's Revelation Party. Released his Comfortable debut EP in 2014, leading up to a full length album Eternal in 2021 featuring guests such as Busy Signal, Kabaka Pyramid, and Melii. Best known for his 2019 recording Burn It Down. Marley also guested on the 2015 Grammy Award-winning Strictly Roots album by Morgan Heritage ~ Marley was born in 1991
December 27, 2019 ~ Jazz trombonist, singer, composer Garrett List passed away in Liège, Belgium ~ Leader and sideman. Member of Musica Elettronica Viva. Has worked with artists such as Anthony Braxton, Willem Breuker, Johnny Copeland, Arthur Russell, Frederic Rzewski, Keshavan Masiak, La Monte Young, Marianne Schroeder, Morton Feldman, Yoshi Wada, and Christian Wolff ~ List was born in 1943
December 27, 2015 ~ Singer, banjoist, mandolinist, whistler, songwriter Andy M Stewart, full name Andrew McGregor Stewart, passed away ~ Fronted Silly Wizard for over a decade, with whom he recorded well over half a dozen albums. Considered the premiere Celtic folk act during its day, they are especially acclaimed for 1981's Wild & Beautiful album. Stewart has also recorded as a solo artist, as well as with Manus Lunny, the duo especially noted for their 1987 Dublin Lady collaborative album ~ Stewart was born in 1952
December 27, 2014 ~ Claus Johannes Frank, commonly known as pianist Claude Frank, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Of Jewish descent as a child fled Germany with his family, first settling in Paris and by 1940 relocating to America. Married to pianist Lilian Kallir, with whom he regularly collaborated. Also worked extensively with their daughter violinist Pamela Frank, notably recording the complete Ludwig van Beethoven sonatas for violin and piano. Member of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players. Has also worked with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Berliner Philharmoniker ~ Frank was born in 1925
December 27, 2010 ~ Maureen Theresa Lehane Wishart, commonly known as mezzo-soprano Maureen Lehane, passed away in Great Elm, UK ~ Married to composer Peter Wishart from 1966 until his death in 1984. Perhaps best known for performing in a 1974 production of George Frideric Handel's Ariodante with the Handel Opera Society. Lehane's repertoire over the years also included Claudio Monteverdi, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, and Richard Wagner ~ Lehane was born in 1932
December 27, 2008 ~ Delaine Alvin Bramlett, commonly known as singer, songwriter Delaney Bramlett, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for forming Delaney & Bonnie with then-wife Bonnie Bramlett. Taught George Harrison slide guitar. Produced and co-wrote Eric Clapton's 1970 eponymous solo debut Eric Clapton album. Duetted with Jerry Lee Lewis on the latter's 2006 Last Man Standing album. Also worked with Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix, King Curtis, Duane Allman, Rita Coolidge, Carl Radle, Jim Keltner, and Gram Parsons ~ Bramlett was born in 1939December 27, 2007 ~ Carlos Guillermo Cascales, commonly known as saxophonist, bandleader Chuck Cabot, passed away ~ Brother of jazz, big band arranger Johnny Richards. As a bandleader enjoyed popularity during the 1940s and 1950s, known for songs such as Psychopathic Sally From The San Fernando Valley, Part-Time Sweetheart, In San Francisco (Long Ago), and Come Into My Arms. Co-founded the Hollywood International Talents talent agency. From the early 1960s until shortly before his death worked as booker, concert promoter, noted for organizing the Rolling Stones first West Coast concert tour ~ Cascales was born in 1915
December 27, 2006 ~ Pierre Charles Marcel Napoleon Leroyer, commonly known as songwriter Pierre Delanoë passed away in Poissy, France ~ Wrote thousands of songs recorded by Dalida, Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Petula Clark, Johnny Hallyday, Joe Dassin, Michel Sardou, Mireille Mathieu. Co-wrote Et Maintenant with Gilbert Bécaud, its translation What Now My Love was recorded by Agnetha Fältskog, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, the Supremes, Sonny & Cher, the Temptations. Co-wrote Je T'Appartiens, translated to Let It Be Me recorded by the Everly Brothers, Tom Jones, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and Nina Simone ~ Delanoë was born in 1918
December 27, 2004 ~ Walter Louis Garland, commonly known as country, rock & roll, jazz guitarist Hank Garland passed away in Orange Park, Florida, USA ~ Scored the million-seller Sugarfoot Rag at age 18. Best known for his association with Elvis Presley from 1958 through 1961, incuding on songs such as I Need Your Love Tonight, A Big Hunk O' Love, I Got Stung, Stuck On You, Little Sister, and I Feel So Bad. Also worked with Don Gibson (Sweet Sweet Girl), Little Jimmy Dickens (I Got A Hole In My Pocket), Benny Joy (Bundle Of Love), Brenda Lee, Mel Tillis, Patsy Cline (Let The Teardrops Fall), Marty Robbins, Lefty Frizzell (You're Humbuggin' Me), Faron Young (Alone With You), the Everly Brothers, Johnnie Strickland, Boots Randolph, Roy Orbison, Conway Twitty, and Moon Mullican. Recorded a jazz album, 1961's Jazz Winds From A New Direction, before a car crash later the same year cut his career short ~ Garland was born in 1930
December 27, 2003 ~ Richard Gosting, commonly known as singer Dick St John, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Formed the duo Dick & Dee Dee with Dee Dee Phelps, known for a number of 1960s recordings such as Young And In Love, Turn Around, Thou Shalt Not Steal and their best known The Mountain's High, the latter reaching the top 10 in 1961 ~ Gosting was born ca.1941
December 27, 2000 ~ John Vivian McVea, commonly known as swing, blues, R&B saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader Jack McVea, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Son of banjoist Satchel McVea. Led the Black & White Records house band. Well known for co-writing and first recording Open The Door Richard, a hit for McVea in 1946 and later covered by Louis Jordan, Hot Lips Page, Count Basie, and Billy Lee Riley. McVea also appeared on the quintessential T-Bone Walker track They Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday's Just As Bad), and backed artists such as Lionel Hampton, Slim Gaillard, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and BB King ~ McVea was born in 1914
December 27, 1998 ~ Emani Johnson, commonly known as R&B singer Emani 22, born ~ First gained attention in 2018 collaborating with Trippie Redd on the tracks Emani's Interlude and Fire Starter. As a solo artist known for songs such as Heartbreak Hotel, Better Days and Dripomatic. Ironically died at age 22, the same number she used in her stage name, having released her full-length The Color Red debut album just the year before ~ Johnson passed away in 2021
December 27, 1997 ~ Country songwriter Kent Robbins, full name Kent Marshall Robbins, passed away in Chilton County, Alabama, USA ~ Songs written or co-written by Robbins were recorded by Barbara Mandrell, Trace Adkins (Every Light In The House), Gary Allan, John Anderson (Straight Tequila Night), the Judds (Love Is Alive), Janie Fricke, Kathy Mattea, Ronnie Milsap ((I'm A) Stand By My Woman Man), Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, George Straitt (Write This Down), Tanya Tucker, Steve Wariner (Heart Trouble), Don Williams, Trisha Yearwood, and Shania Twain ~ Robbins was born in 1947
December 27, 1996 ~ John Leroy Eastman Jr, commonly known as singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter Johnny Heartsman, passed away in Sacramento, California, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for his 1957 R&B hit Johnny's House Party. Also known for songs such as Paint My Mailbox Blue and Heartburn. Has backed artists such as Jimmy McCracklin, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Big Mama Thornton, Roy Agee, Jimmy Wilson, Johnny Fuller, Al King, Tiny Powell, and Joe Simon. As a songwriter wrote for artists such as Jesse James (Are You Gonna Leave Me), Roy Buchanan (Goose Grease), John Hammond Jr (Got To Find My Baby), and Amos Garrett (Move On Down The Line) ~ Eastman was born in 1936
December 27, 1993 ~ Singer, songwriter Michael Callen passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Diagnosed with AIDS in the early 1980s became a pioneering activist raising awareness of the disease. Member of a capella quintet the Flirtations. Has recorded two solo albums, Purple Heart released in 1988 and Legacy released posthumously in 1996 ~ Callen was born in 1955December 27, 1989 ~ Saxophonist, songwriter George Weidler, full name George William Weidler, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Second husband of singer Doris Day, the couple were married from 1946 to 1949. Has worked with Freddie Slack, Les Brown, Charlie Barnet, Ike Carpenter, the Delta Rhythm Boys, Stan Kenton, the Metronome All-Stars, Charlie Barnet and with his brothers Warner Weidler and Walter Weidler, both of whom also played saxophone ~ Weidler was born in 1926
December 27, 1988 ~ Singer Bobby Brown releases Roni, lifted off his sophomore Don't Be Cruel album ~ The name ‘Roni’ comes from ‘Tenderoni’, a popular brand of macaroni in the 1950s and 1960s, and refers to a girl too tender, or rather too young, to be messing around with. It had been used in black slang earlier, but it was Bobby Brown's song that definitely brought it into the R&B and hip hop lexicon. The song was written by Kenneth Babyface Edmonds and then-bandmates Darnell Bristol and LA Reid in the early 1980s, some half a decade before it was given to Brown. Daryl Simmons, a frequent collaborator of Edmonds, would later recall to Songwriter Universe: “Kenny wrote this song called Roni about this girl we met in Florida that loved Kenny, she loved Babyface, but she was too young. We were saying, ‘She's a Roni. Man, she's a Tender Roni, you can't mess with her.’ So that's how that song came about.” Brown's single would reach No.3 Billboard Hot 100, his third consecutive top 10 hit off the album, and No.2 Billboard R&B
December 27, 1986 ~ Metal guitarist, graphic designer Chris Rörland born ~ Best known as member of Swedish heavy metal outfit Sabaton, joining the band in 2012 alongside Thorbjörn Englund as replacements for Rikard Sundén and Oskar Montelius. First appeared on the 2014 Heroes album. Previously Rörland had worked with TME, Cronan, and Nocturnal Rites
December 27, 1986 ~ Etienne Stephen Jean Gustave Combe, commonly known as jazz drummer Stuff Combe, passed away in Morges, Switzerland ~ Worked with Philippe Brun, Eddie Brunner, Ernest Hollerhagen, Hazy Osterwald, Paul Kuhn, Fats Sadi, Kurt Edelhagen, Lucky Thompson, Francy Boland, Benny Bailey, and the Groupe Instrumental Romand ~ Combe was born in 1924
December 27, 1984 ~ Marcus Ramone Cooper Sr, commonly known as R&B, hip-hop, pop singer, keyboardist, songwriter Pleasure P, born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Member of Pretty Ricky through 2007, known for a number of mid 2000s hits including Grind With Me, Your Body and On The Hotline. Released his The Introduction Of Marcus Cooper solo debut album in 2009, which spawned the Billboard R&B top 10 hits Boyfriend #2 and Under. Cooper reunited with Pretty Ricky in 2014
December 27, 1983 ~ Walter Simon Notheis, commonly known as rock & roll singer Walter Scott, disappeared, later to be found murdered ~ Lead singer of Bob Kuban & the In-Men known for Look Out For The Cheater, a Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit in 1966. After the band disbanded Notheis pursued a solo career but would be unable to achieve the same level of success. Notheis disappeared in 1983, his body found by police four years later. His wife and her lover would be found guilty of his murder ~ Notheis was born in 1943
December 27, 1981 ~ Hoagland Howard Carmichael, commonly known as pianist, bandleader, songwriter Hoagy Carmichael passed away in Rancho Mirage, California, USA ~ Revered songwriter. Wrote or co-wrote classics such as Stardust (the Chocolate Dandies, Benny Goodman, Erroll Garner, Willie Nelson), Georgia On My Mind (Frankie Trumbauer, Billie Holiday, Ray Charles), The Nearness Of You (Chick Bullock, Glenn Miller, Sarah Vaughan), Heart And Soul (Larry Clinton, Sue Raney, Jan & Dean, Betty Carter), Lazy Bones (Glen Gray, Kay Starr, the Supremes, Leon Redbone), Skylark (Gene Krupa, Dinah Shore, Earl Hines), Ole Buttermilk Sky (Kay Kyser, Paul Weston, Connee Boswell), and In The Cool Cool Cool Of The Evening (Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Henry Mancini) ~ Carmichael was born in 1899
December 27, 1980 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, (Just Like) Starting Over by John Lennon hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ John Lennon had departed the music industry about half a decade earlier, his last album Rock 'n Roll issued in 1975 consisting solely of covers, and had chosen (Just Like) Starting Over as lead single off his upcoming Double Fantasy album not because he felt it was the best track, but because it was the most appropriate, “just like starting over”. Sadly, it would be the singer's last single released during his lifetime as he would be shot and killed in early December in the archway of his New York residence by Mark David Chapman. About three weeks after his death, (Just Like) Starting Over would become Lennon's second American No.1 as a solo artist, having previously reached the top spot with Whatever Gets You Thru The Night in 1974. Chapman pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years to life. He currently remains incarcerated at Green Haven Correctional Facility, Beekman, New York