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 28, 2025 ~ Singer, actress Brigitte Bardot, full name Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot, passed away in Saint-Tropez, France ~ One of the best known sex symbols of the 1950s and 1960. Appeared in close to 50 films, the most famous being And God Created Woman, several musicals and recorded over 50 songs. Retired from the entertainment industry in the early 1970s but remained a popular culture icon. Also known as an animal activist. Would become a controversial figure in later years for her support for hardright politics and fined repeatedly for inciting racial hatred ~ Bardot was born in 1934
December 28, 2024 ~ Jazz bassist, double bassist Barre Phillips passed away in Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA ~ Considered a prime bass improviser. Over two dozen albums to his name as leader or co-leader. Specifically noted for the 1971 Music From Two Basses, a collaborative album with Dave Holland. Member of influential 1970s outfit the Trio alongside saxophonist John Surman and drummer Stu Martin. Regularly recorded with the London Jazz Composers Orchestra during the 1980s and 1990s, including on the acclaimed Theoria album. Other notable associations include Eric Dolphy, Lee Konitz (Zo-Ko-Ma), Mal Waldron, Gong, Terje Rypdal, Charlie Mariano, Gunter Hampel (Jubilation), Peter Brötzmann, Michel Montanaro, Paul Bley (Chaos), Masashi Harada, Jeanette Lambert, and Joe Morris ~ Phillips was born in 1934
December 28, 2024 ~ Henk Bruysten, commonly known as rock bassist, singer Hank the Knife, passed away ~ Frontman, eponym, sole constant member of Hank the Knife & the Jets, a band formed around former members of Long Tall Ernie & the Shakers. The retro rock & roll outfit recorded two albums from the mid- through the late 1970s and are best known for their 1975 Dutch No.2 hit Guitar King, a staple of the era cherished to this day. Other charting songs include Stan The Gunman, Yesterday Star, Crazy Cat, and Crazy Guitar. Bruysten was also known as a graphic artist and co-creator of the comic series Jan Jammerdan with Tati Lentjes ~ Bruysten was born ca.1946
December 28, 2024 ~ Jazz, show tunes, classical guitarist, pianist, singer Lars Martin Myhre passed away ~ Perhaps best known for his association with Odd Børretzen. Enjoyed a career spanning three decades as in-demand collaborator, film, musical and theater composer, bandleader, and solo artist. Founded the Salgen Big Band in the late 1970s, which he conducted for about a decade ~ Myhre was born in 1956
December 28, 2023 ~ Samuel David Bailey, commonly known as jazz drummer Dave Bailey, passed away ~ Has recorded a number of albums as a leader during the early 1960s, especially acclaimed for Reaching Out. Closely associated with Gerry Mulligan, appearing on about a dozen of the saxophonist's albums including At Storyville, Songbook, and What Is There To Say. Bailey has also appeared on albums by Lee Konitz (Tranquility), Bob Brookmeyer, Lou Donaldson (Blues Walk), Curtis Fuller, Ben Webster (The Soul Of Ben Webster), John Mehegan, Charlie Rouse (Unsung Hero), Tubby Hayes, Grant Green (Green Street), Clark Terry, Vi Redd, Marian McPartland, Helen Merrill (The Artistry Of Helen Merrill), Zoot Sims, Lucky Thompson, and Nappy Brown. Bailey retired from music by the late 1960s to work as a flight instructor ~ Bailey was born in 1926
December 28, 2022 ~ Leroy Calliste, commonly known as calypso singer Black Stalin, passed away in San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago ~ Given his stage name by fellow Calypso singer Lord Blakie. Known for his lyrics against European colonial oppression. Well known songs include Caribbean Man, Play One, Ism Schism, and Mr Panmaker ~ Calliste was born in 1941
December 28, 2022 ~ Teolinda Joaquina de Sousa Lanca, commonly known as folk, fado, pop singer Linda de Suza, passed away in Gisors, France ~ Best known for Tiroli Tirola, a top 10 hit in France in 1980. Sings in Portuguese and French, the language of her adopted homeland since the 1970s. Dubbed “the Amália of France” after fado singer and influence Amália Rodrigues, to whom she paid tribute in her song Amália. Recorded over a dozen albums since the late 1970s. Especially acclaimed for her A L'Olympia live album, released in 1983 ~ De Sousa was born in 1948
December 28, 2021 ~ Michael Chung, commonly known as reggae keyboardist, guitarist, percussionist, arranger, producer Mikey Chung or Mao Chung, passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ In-demand session musician active since the late 1960s. Best known for his associations with Sly & Robbie and with producer Lee Scratch Perry. Appeared on albums such as Peter Tosh's Mystic Man and Bush Doctor, and Black Uhuru's Grammy Award-winning Anthem. International collaborations include Grace Jones (Nightclubbing), the Rolling Stones, Serge Gainsbourg, Bette Midler, the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, James Brown, Joe Cocker (Sheffield Steel), and Sinéad O'Connor ~ Chung was born ca.1950
December 28, 2020 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter Armando Manzanero, full name Armando Manzanero Canché, passed away in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Son of singer Santiago Manzanero and string player Juanita Canché Baqueiro. Regarded as one of Mexico's finest romantic composers. Known best for songs such as Nunca En El Mundo, Cuando Estoy Contigo and Somos Novios. The latter would be translated to English by Sid Wayne and recorded by numerous artists, notably Perry Como, as It's Impossible. Others who recorded the song include Elvis Presley, Andy Williams, Shirley Bassey, Jerry Vale and Simply Red's Mick Hucknall ~ Manzanero was born in 1935
December 28, 2020 ~ Composer Paul-Heinz Dittrich passed away in Berlin, Germany ~ Considered one of the most influential contemporary composers of Germany. Choral conductor of the FDGB Ensemble. Composed for orchestra, chamber music, cantatas and lieder, often inspired by poetry. Some of his compositions muxes electronic instruments or tape with more conventional instruments and voice. Known for compositions such as Concert Avec Plusieurs Instruments and Requiem Of Reconciliation, the latter commemorating the 50 year anniversary of the end of World War II ~ Dittrich was born in 1930
December 28, 2019 ~ Athanasios Mikroutsikos, commonly known as entekhno pianist Thanos Mikroutsikos, passed away in Athens, Greece ~ Considered one of the most important contemporary Greek composers. Known for his left-leaning politics and activism, persecuted by the Greek military junta, serving as politician including as Deputy Minister of Culture after the restoration of democracy. As a recording artist released his Politika Tragoudia debut album in 1975. Would continue to record to critical acclaim and become an in-demand composer, his songs recorded by the likes of Maria Dimitriadi, Haris Alexiou, Manolis Mitsias, Dimitris Mitropanos, George Dalaras, and Vasilis Papakonstantinou ~ Mikroutsikos was born in 1947December 28, 2018 ~ Singer, guitarist, label founder Al Hawkes passed away in Westbrook, Maine, USA ~ Bluegrass pioneer. Radio DJ. Formed Allerton & Alton with Alton Myers, the first interracial bluegrass duo. Founded Event Records in 1956, home to many high-profile artists such as Dick Curless, Hal Lone Pine, Charlie Bailey, Lenny Breau, and Curtis Johnson. The label continued until 1962 when a warehouse fire bankrupted the company ~ Hawkes was born in 1930
December 28, 2017 ~ Jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist Melton Mustafa passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Active since the late 1960s, starting out backing R&B artists such as Sam & Dave, Betty Wright, Latimore, the Marvelettes, Joe Simon. Over time progressed towards jazz, working with Jaco Pastorius, George Cables, John Hicks, Eric Allison, Jon Faddis, Benny Golson, Grover Washington Jr, Wallace Roney, Billy Cobham, Herbie Mann, Clark Terry, and Randy Brecker ~ Mustafa was born in 1947
December 28, 2016 ~ Singer, actress Debbie Reynolds passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Perhaps best known for portraying Helen Kane in the 1952 musical film Singing In The Rain. Reynolds has also starred alongside Gene Kelly in the films How The West Was Won and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, the latter earning her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. As a recording artist, Reynolds scored a 1957 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit with Tammy from the the film Tammy And The Bachelor. Other well known songs include A Very Special Love and Am I That Easy To Forget. Reynolds has also performed in cabaret and in stage musicals, including on Broadway ~ Reynolds was born in 1932
December 28, 2015 ~ Paul Dudley Walden, commonly known as acid house, house, techno DJ Guru Josh, passed away on Ibiza, Spain ~ Rose to fame with his 1989 debut single Infinity, later included on his sole album of the same name, which became a club hit across Europe and reached top 10 in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, and Walden's native UK. Over the years, the song has been re-released several times in various remixes. Other well known songs include Freaky Dreamer, Holographic Dreams, Whose Law (Is It Anyway), and Frozen Teardrops. Walden died by suicide at age 51, following struggles with substance abuse, depression, and a break-up with his girlfriend ~ Walden was born in 1964
December 28, 2015 ~ Jazz, R&B saxophonist Joe Houston, full name Joseph Abraham Houston, passed away in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Worked with King Kolax, Amos Milburn, Big Joe Turner, Betty Roché, and Wynonie Harris. Fronted his own band, Joe Houston & the Rockers, known best for the early 1950s R&B hits Worry Worry Worry and Hard Time Baby. Also a member of the Defrosterz ~ Houston was born in 1926
December 28, 2015 ~ Ian Fraser Kilmister, commonly known as heavy metal, hard rock singer, bassist Lemmy Kilmister, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Founder, lead singer, bassist, primary songwriter of Motörhead, a pivotal British hard rock act known for the hit single Ace Of Spades and the UK charttopping album No Sleep Till Hammersmith. Prior to his rise to fame with Motörhead, Kilmister had worked as a roadie for both Jimi Hendrix and the Nice, and was a member of Hawkwind through the mid 1970s, including singing lead vocals on their hit Silver Machine. Other notable associations include the Rocking Vickers, Sam Gopal, Robert Calvert, Head Cat, Keli Rave, and Wendy O Williams ~ Kilmister was born in 1945
December 28, 2013 ~ Post-bop double bassist Dwayne Burno, full name Dwayne Allen Burno, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Took up the bass in his mid-teens, to become a fixture and first-call session musician on the New York jazz scene. First gained attention in the early 1990s, barely out of his teens, backing Betty Carter. Burno would go on to appear on albums by the likes of Eric Reed, Greg Gisbert, Jesse Davis (As We Speak), Vincent Herring, Bob Belden, Digable Planets (Blowout Comb), Stephen Scott, Pete Yellin, Don Braden, Greg Osby (Zero), Justin Robinson, Benny Golson, Roy Haynes, Stefon Harris (A Cloud Of Red Dust), Xavier Davis, Eric Alexander, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Don Braden, John Hicks, Jason Lindner (Premonition), Duane Eubanks, Mike DiRubbo, Monday Michiru (4 Seasons), David Weiss, Peter Leitch, Roy Hargrove, Jeremy Pelt (November), Joe Chambers (Horace To Max), and Lisa Kirchner. Diagnosed with kidney disease in the mid 2000s, Burno would eventually receive a kidney transplant yet succumbed at age 43, two days after his last gig with his own quartet at the Small Jazz Club, New York ~ Burno was born in 1970
December 28, 2010 ~ Jazz, hard bop, avant-garde jazz, third stream pianist, composer, film composer Billy Taylor, full name William Edward Taylor Jr, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Recorded prolifically since the mid 1940s, especially acclaimed for the albums Cross Section, My Fair Lady Loves Jazz, and Live At Storyville. Taylor is also particularly well known as an educator, broadcaster, lecturer, and founder of the Jazz Foundation Of America, an organization dedicated to saving the homes of jazz and blues musicians. According to jazz critic Leonard Feather, Taylor is “almost indisputably the world's foremost spokesman for jazz.” ~ Taylor was born in 1921
December 28, 2009 ~ James Owen Sullivan, commonly known as drummer, keyboardist, singer the Rev, passed away in Huntington Beach, California, USA ~ Influenced by Frank Zappa, King Crimson, Vinnie Paul, Mike Portnoy, Dave Lombardo, Lars Ulrich, Terry Bozzio. Best known as drummer, singer, co-founding member of heavy metal outfit Avenged Sevenfold, for whom he wrote or co-wrote songs such as A Little Piece Of Heaven, Afterlife, Unbound (The Wild Ride), and Welcome To The Family. Lead singer for avant-garde metal band Pinkly Smooth. Also briefly played the drums for ska punk group the Suburban Legends during the late 1990s ~ Sullivan was born in 1981December 28, 1991 ~ Howard William Johnson, commonly known as swing alto saxophonist Howard Johnson, passed away ~ Member of the Harlem Blues & Jazz Band. Member of the Savoy Sultans. Also worked with Billy Cato, James P Johnson, Fess Williams, Benny Carter, Teddy Hill, Claude Hopkins, Maxine Sullivan, Dizzy Gillespie, Red Norvo, Bessie Smith, and Panama Francis ~ Johnson was born in 1908
December 28, 1990 ~ Singer, actor, songwriter David Archuleta, full name David James Archuleta, born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Participated in talent contests from age 7. Released his eponymous David Archuleta debut album in 2008, spawning the hit Crush. Has collaborated with Hannah Montana, Dapo, James The Morrison, and Madilyn Paige
December 28, 1989 ~ Poet, lyricist Ricardo López Méndez passed away in Cuernavaca, Mexico ~ Founded several radio stations, including XHRLM-FM which still bears his initials. As a songwriter perhaps best remembered for co-writing Amor with Gabriel Ruiz, first recorded by Chucho Martínez Gil in 1940 and covered by well over 100 artists including Xavier Cugat, Cliff Richard, and Trini López ~ López was born in 1903
December 28, 1989 ~ Singer Salvador Sobral, full name Salvador Vilar Braamcamp Sobral, born in Lisbon, Portugal ~ Best known for winning the 2017 Eurovision Songfestival with Amar Pelos Dois, giving Portugal, its first ever win leaving Bulgaria's Kristian Kostov with Beautiful Mess in second place, and Moldova's the SunStroke Project with Hey Mamma in third. Amar Pelos Dois would reach top the charts in Portugal, and reach top 10 in several other countries. Sobral continued to record throughout the 2020s, but would be unable to repeat his earlier success, his 2017 Eurovision Songfestival winner remaining his sole major hit
December 28, 1987 ~ Singer Sinéad O'Connor releases Mandinka, lifted off her The Lion And The Cobra debut album ~ While Sinéad O'Connor's Troy debut single had been a top 10 hit in the Netherlands, it would be its follow-up Mandinka that was the first to chart in the UK, where it reached No.17, as well as in the singer's native Ireland, where it reached top 10, peaking at No.6. The TV miniseries Roots, teling of an African man captured and sold into slavery, inspired the singer to write Mandinka. As she would later reveal in her memoirs: “I was a young girl when I saw it, and it moved something so deeply in me, I had a visceral response. I came to emotionally identify with the civil rights movement and slavery, especially given the theocracy I lived in and the oppression in my own home”