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, 1960 ~ Country singer, guitarist, mandolinist, pianist, songwriter Marcus Hummon, full name Marcus Spencer Hummon, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Debuted as a solo artist in 1995 with the All In Good Time album. In-demand songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Alabama (The Cheap Seats), Suzy Bogguss, the Dixie Chicks (Cowboy Take Me Away), Sara Evans, Hal Ketchum, Wynonna Judd (Only Love), Lauren Lucas, Tim McGraw, One Flew South, SheDaisy, Steve Wariner (Road Trippin'), Western Flyer, Bryan White, and Chely Wright (Jezebel)
December 28, 1960 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Marty Roe born in Lebanon, Ohio, USA ~ Member of Diamond Rio since 1984, present on all the band's albums. The band scored well over a dozen top 10 singles on the Billboard Country charts, mostly in the 1990s, including Meet In The Middle, Norma Jean Riley, Love A Little Stronger, Walkin' Away, How Your Love Makes Me Feel, and Unbelievable
December 28, 1960 ~ Saxophonist Ted Nash born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Son of trombonist Dick Nash. Nephew of saxophonist Ted Nash. Leader and sideman. Worked with Quincy Jones, Louie Bellson, Don Ellis, Gerry Mulligan, Charlie Shoemake, Mel Lewis, Wynton Marsalis, Joe Lovano, Ben Allison, the Herbie Nichols Project, Wycliffe Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Freddie Hubbard, Linda Eder, Vince Giordano, Tom Postillo, and Paul Weston
December 28, 1959 ~ Pop, synth-pop, new wave singer Ana Torroja, full name Ana Torroja Fungairino, born in Madrid, Spain ~ Member of Mecano, one of the all time best selling Spanish bands with over 25 million records sold. The band is known for songs such as La Fuerza Del Destino, Hijo De La Luna, Cruz De Navajes, Une Femme Avec Une Femme and El 7 De Septiembre
December 28, 1958 ~ Blues, blues-rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Buddy Whittington born in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Fronts the Buddy Whittington Band. Gigged the Dallas area starting at age 14 in local bands such as Short Change and the Sidemen, which he formed. Invited by John Mayall to fill the vacant spot, first appearring on the Spinning Coin album, when Coco Montoya left John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers in 1993 to pursue a solo career. Teamed up with Pete Stroud and Roger Cotton when Mayall eventually disbanded the Bluesbreakers. Also collaborated with Ray Sharpe, Dr Wu, and Point Blank
December 28, 1958 ~ Jazz pianist, composer, arranger David Berkman born ~ Worked with Sonny Stitt, Hank Crawford, Carter Jefferson, Joe Lovano, Jamey Haddad, Greg Bandy, Brian Blade, Dave Douglas, Ray Drummond, Dick Oatts, Tony Malaby, Scott Wendholt, Lenny White, Scott Colley, Steven Bernstein, Dave Stryker, David Fathead Newman, Jane Monheit, and Tom Harrell
December 28, 1958 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Joe Diffie, full name Joe Logan Diffie, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Debuted in 1990 with the A Thousand Winding Roads album and would regularly reach the higher echelons of the country charts throughout the 1990s. Known for songs such as Home, If The Devil Danced In Empty Pockets, Third Rock From The Sun, Pickup Man and Bigger Than The Beatles, all of which topped the Billboard Country charts. In-demand songwriter, written or co-written songs recorded by Holly Dunn, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina. In-demand collaborator, worked with artists such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, George Jones, and Marty Stuart ~ Diffie passed away in 2020
December 28, 1956 ~ Jazz guitarist Joe Cohn, full name Joseph Mark Cohn, born in Flushing, New York, USA ~ Son of saxophonist Al Cohn. Father of cornetist Shaye Cohn. Leader and sideman. Worked with Nick Brignola, Bob Mover, Freddy Cole, Buddy DeFranco, Artie Shaw, Dick Johnson, Carmen Leggio, Bill Crow, Harry Allen, Peter Beets, Al Grey, Jay Leonhart, Grant Stewart, Totti Bergh, Kenny Davern, Joe Temperley, Bob Dorough, George Gee, Jesse Green, Eddie Higgins, Dave McKenna, Ken Peplowski, Dayna Stephens, Doug Webb, Frank Wess, and Claude Williams
December 28, 1956 ~ Crossover violinist, violist Nigel Kennedy born in Brighton, UK ~ Has been criticised as “the Liberace for the 1990s”. Debuted in 1984 with his rendition of Edward Elgar's Elgar's Violin Concerto recorded with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Especially known for his 1989 album of Antonio Vivaldi's Vivaldi The Four Seasons with the English Chamber Orchestra, which would sell over 2 million copies. Has expanded into jazz, pop, rock, klezmer and other genres including collaborations with Robert Plant, Jaz Coleman, the Who, Kate Bush, Sarah Brightman, Kroke, Ron Carter, and Jack DeJohnette
December 28, 1956 ~ Rock, punk rock drummer Sam Henry, full name Samuel William Henry, born in Oregon City, Oregon, USA ~ Co-founding member of punk rock outfit the Wipers alongside Greg Sage and Dave Koupal, known for the singles Better Off Dead and Alien Boy. Henry would leave the band by 1979 to join the husband-wife team Fred Cole and Toody Cole in Rats. Has also worked with Napalm Beach and Jenny Don't & the Spurs ~ Henry passed away in 2022
December 28, 1953 ~ Singer, songwriter, actress Martha Wash born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ First drew attention as half of Two Tons Of Fun, the other half being Izora Armstead. Two Tons originally sang backup for Sylvester and later renamed themselves the Weather Girls, best known for the 1982 smash hit It's Raining Men. The duo continued to back Sylvester but released five studio albums before disbanding in 1988December 28, 1953 ~ Singer Ray Price records I'll Be There If You Ever Want Me at Castle Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee ~ Written by Ray Price and Rusty Gabbard. Produced by Don Law. Paired with Release Me on the flip side it would reach top 10 of Billboard Country charts and later be covered by Cowboy Copas, Connie Smith, Ronnie Milsap, Willie Nelson, Nick Lowe, and JJ Cale
December 28, 1953 ~ Film composer Richard Band, full name Richard Howard Band, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Film composer with over 140 movies to his name including all of Puppet Masters series, Re-Animator, Stargate SG-1, From Beyond and Exorcism At 60,000 Feet
December 28, 1953 ~ Philippe Pagès, commonly known as easy listening, new age pianist Richard Clayderman, born in Paris, France ~ Best known for his easy listening arrangements of pop and popular classical music. Closely associated with producer, composer duo Paul de Senneville and Olivier Toussaint. Has accompanied French singers such as Johnny Hallyday, Thierry Le Luron and Michel Sardou
December 28, 1951 ~ Singer, drummer, songwriter Louis McCall, full name Louis A McCall Sr, born in Alameda, California, USA ~ Member of funk outfit Con Funk Shun, known for 1970s, 1980s hits such as Ffun, Chase Me, Baby I'm Hooked Right Into Your Love. Murdered in a home invasion robbery at age 45 ~ McCall passed away in 1997
December 28, 1950 ~ Singer Alex Chilton born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ First gained attention fronting the Box Tops while still in his teens, scoring hits with songs such as The Letter, Neon Rainbow, Cry Like A Baby, and Soul Deep. Would go on to front the seminal power pop band Big Star, recording three albums in the 1970s, influential on artists as diverse as Kiss's Paul Stanley, REM, Teenage Fanclub, the Replacements, Primal Scream, Matthew Sweet, and Velvet Crush ~ Chilton passed away in 2010
December 28, 1950 ~ Bassist Hugh MacDonald, full name Hugh John McDonald, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Not to be confused with the Australian guitarist Hugh Macdonald. Hugh John McDonald is best known for his session work and for being an official member of Bon Jovi since 2016. Previously a member of the Dave Bromberg Band. Has also been recording and releasing solo albums since the turn of the millenium. As a session or touring musician has worked with Willie Nelson, Cher (Just Like Jesse James), Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Steve Goodman, Ringo Starr, Lita Ford, Michael Bolton, Alice Cooper (on the 1989 LP Trash and 1991's Hey Stoopid), Ricky Martin, Michael Bublé, Bret Michaels, and Shania Twain
December 28, 1949 ~ Progressive rock drummer Clive Brooks, full name Clive Colin Brooks, born in Bow, UK ~ Member of Uriel, Arzachel, the Egg. Subsequently worked with the Groundhogs, present on the albums Hogwash and Solid. Member of Liar, present on the albums Straight From The Hip and Set The World On Fire. Drum tech for Toto, Robbie Williams, and notably Pink Floyd from the early 1980s through the mid 1990s ~ Brooks passed away in 2017
December 28, 1949 ~ Jazz singer Ivie Anderson passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for her association with Duke Ellington, remaining with the orchestra for over a decade starting in 1931. Present on recordings such as It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing, I've Got The World On A String, When My Sugar Walks Down The Street, Solitude, Stormy Weather, and Mood Indigo ~ Anderson was born in 1904
December 28, 1948 ~ Singer Mary Weiss, full name Mary Louise Weiss, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Leader of 1960s R&B girl group the Shangri-Las. Sang lead on Remember (Walking In The Sand), Give Him A Great Big Kiss and Out In The Streets. Sang co-lead on the band's biggest hit, The Leader Of The Pack, in tandem with Elizabeth Weiss. Following the band's disbandement in 1968, Weiss mostly disappeared from the music scene for decades, reemerging in 2007 with her first and only solo album, the critically acclaimed Dangerous Game album ~ Weiss passed away in 2024
December 28, 1948 ~ Joseph Modeliste, commonly known as drummer Ziggy Modeliste, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Considered a funk pioneer and innovator helpful in bringing New Orleans grooves to mainstream music. Best known as co-founding member of the Meters with whom he recorded from the mid 1960s through the mid 1970s, the band especially acclaimed for their 1969 Look-Kay Py Py album. They would also serve as regular backing unit for a host of artists including Dr John, Lee Dorsey, and Betty Harris. Has recorded as a solo artist, starting with Zigaboo.com released in 2000, and guested on albums by Allen Toussaint, Ian McLagan, Professor Longhair, Robbie Robertson, Nicky Skopelitis, and Axiom Funk. Modeliste's beats have also had a profound influence on rap, much of his work regularly sampled by the likes of Run-DMC, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, and Queen Latifah
December 28, 1947 ~ Dingeman Adriaan Henry van der Sluijs, commonly known as bassist Dick Diamonde, born in Hilversum, the Netherlands ~ Co-founding member of the Easybeats, known for songs such as She's So Fine, Wedding Ring, Come And See Her, Sorry and Heaven And Hell, all of which reached the Australian top 20. Internationally best known for the 1966 single Friday On My Mind which topped the Australian charts, reached the UK top 10, reached the Billboard top 20
December 28, 1947 ~ Rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Jess Roden born in Kidderminster, UK ~ Member of the Raiders and the Shakedown Sound prior to joining the Alan Bown Set as lead singer in 1966, remaining through 1969 and present on their best remembered Emergency 999. Co-founded Bronco, present on the band's first two albums. Appeared on Mott The Hoople's 1971 Wildlife. Member of the Butts Band alongside the Doors-alumni drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger. Also worked with the Jess Roden Band, the Rivits, Grace Jones (backup vocals on Pull Up To The Bumper), Jim Capaldi, Keef Hartley, Sandy Denny, Peter Green, and Luther Grosvenor
December 28, 1946 ~ Rock, blues rock, boogie rock singer, keyboardist, saxophonist, percussionist, guitarist, songwriter Edgar Winter, full name Edgar Holland Winter, born in Beaumont, Texas, USA ~ Brother of guitarist Johnny Winter. Best known as frontman, eponym of the Edgar Winter Group, scoring hits with the instrumental Frankenstein and Free Ride. In-demand session musician, notable credits include Meat Loaf's All Revved Up And Nowhere To Go, Tina Turner's Simply The Best and David Lee Roth's Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody.
December 28, 1943 ~ Charles Nicholas Hodges, commonly known as rock, pop, rockney singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, banjoist Chas Hodges, born in Edmonton, UK ~ Formed the duo Chas & Dave with Dave Peacock, best known for the singles Rabbit and Ain't No Pleasing You. Hodges has also worked with the Outlaws, Heads Hands & Feet, the Rebel Rousers, the Tornados, the Lancasters, and recorded as a solo artist ~ Hodges passed away in 2018