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 3, 2025 ~ Guitarist Steve Cropper, full name Steven Lee Cropper, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Member of the Mar-keys, known for the pivotal 1961 Last Night hit single. Would go on to become a member of noted Stax/Volt house band Booker T & the MG's, appearing on hundreds of recordings by Otis Redding (Respect), Rufus Thomas, William Bell, Sam & Dave (Hold On I'm Coming), Carla Thomas, Albert King (Born Under A Bad Sign), Johnnie Taylor, and Bill Withers. Co-wrote and produced (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay, a posthumous Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit for Redding. Other songs co-written by Cropper include Eddie Floyd's Knock On Wood and Wilson Pickett's In The Midnight Hour. Cropper also played with the Blues Brothers and was prominently featured in both the original The Blues Brothers film released in 1980 and its sequel Blues Brothers 2000 ~ Cropper was born in 1941
December 3, 2023 ~ Miles Francis Goodwin, commonly known as rock, pop, hard rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Myles Goodwyn, passed away in Halifax, Canada ~ Lead singer, main songwriter, co-founding and sole constant member of April Wine, with whom he recorded well over a dozen albums. The band would enjoy popularity especially during the 1970s and early 1980s, moving from garage rock to commercially viable rock, hard rock. They are best known for hits such as Tonite Is A Wonderful Time To Fall In Love, The Whole World's Goin' Crazy, and You Won't Dance With Me, all of which reached top 10 in their native Canada. The singles You Could Have Been A Lady, Roller, and Just Between You And Me would also reach top 40 Billboard Hot 100. Goodwyn released his eponymous Myles Goodwyn solo debut album in 1988 ~ Goodwin was born in 1948December 3, 2022 ~ Folk singer Alexandre Zelkine, also known as Sasha Zelkin, passed away in Le Mans, France ~ Known best for a number of 1960s folk albums, starting with Sasha Sings Folk Songs Of Russia released in 1965 using the moniker Sasha Zelkin. Zelkine would record through the mid 1970s, singing in French, Yiddish, Spanish, and Russian ~ Zelkine was born in 1938
December 3, 2022 ~ Robert Naughton, commonly known as jazz vibraphonist, pianist Bobby Naughton, passed away ~ Over half a dozen albums as a leader, starting with Nature's Consort released in 1969. As a sideman closely associated with Wadada Leo Smith, including on the acclaimed Divine Love album, and with Anthony Braxton. Also present on albums by Roscoe Mitchell, the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, and the Creative Orchestra ~ Naughton was born in 1944December 3, 2022 ~ Singer, guitarist, drummer, songwriter Jamie Freeman passed away ~ Member of alt-country outfit Salter Cane. Backed his brother singer Tim Freeman in the pop rock band the Frazier Chorus, both as a touring member and appearing on the band's 1995 Wide Awake album. Recorded about half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting in the early-2010s ~ Freeman was born in 1965
December 3, 2022 ~ Music manager Janis Hunter passed away in Rhode Island, USA ~ Married to singer Marvin Gaye from 1977 until 1981, with whom she has two children including singer, actress Nona Gaye. After first meeting Gaye in 1973 Hunter became the inspiration for several of the R&B singer's songs, most notably the track Jan included on his 1974 Marvin Gaye Live live album. Gaye's entire 1976 I Want You studio album is also considered a romantic tribute to Hunter ~ Hunter was born in 1956December 3, 2022 ~ Sven Ove Hedlund, commonly known as pop singer Svenne Hedlund, passed away in Värnamo, Sweden ~ Member of the Clifftones and perhaps most notably the Hep Stars, the latter propelling Hedlund to national fame. The band is known for 1960s hits such as Farmer John, Cadillac, Bald Headed Woman, Sunny Girl, Wedding, Consolation, and Malaika. Hedlund was married to bandmate Lotta Hedlund from 1969 through 2014, the couple also forming the musical duo Svenne & Lotta ~ Hedlund was born in 1945
December 3, 2021 ~ R&B, funk drummer Melvin Parker passed away in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Best known for his association with James Brown, his drum rhythms a key element of Brown's 1960s funk innovations. Present on recordings such as Out Of Sight, Papa's Got A Brand New Bag and I Got You I Feel Good. Parker would be drafted by the mid 1960s, replaced in the band by Clyde Stubblefield and John Jabo Starks, and would briefly rejoin by the end of the decade in time for the recording of the Sex Machine album. After his final departure from the band would join his brother saxophonist Maceo Parker's backing band ~ Parker was born in 1944December 3, 2020 ~ Conductor, pianist, arranger, composer André Gagnon passed away in Montreal, Canada ~ Known for fusing classical music with pop and disco influences. Acclaimed for the albums Neiges, Movements, Le Saint-Laurent and Piano. Composed the opera Nelligan, premiered in 1990. Also known as a film composer, films such as Phobia, The Hot Touch and notably The Pianist to his credit ~ Gagnon was born in 1936
December 3, 2020 ~ Rognvald Andrew Mathewson, commonly known as jazz double bassist, bass guitarist Ron Mathewson, passed away in London, UK ~ Mentored by folk guitarist, bassist Peerie Willie Johnson. Closely associated with Kenny Clarke and Francy Boland in the 1960s and subsequently Tubby Hayes through the early 1970s. Mathewson has also appeared on albums by Ray Russell, Gordon Beck, Ray Nance (Huffin' & Puffin'), Charles Tolliver (Impact), Phil Woods, Michel Legrand, Benny Waters (When You're Smiling), Flavio Ambrosetti, Bud Freeman, Gary Windo, and the Chitinous Ensemble ~ Mathewson was born in 1944December 3, 2017 ~ James Todd Smith, commonly known as rapper LL Cool J, receives the Kennedy Center Honors, making him the first rapper to do so ~ For his contributions to “the musical and cultural phenomenon that is today hip hop” over a career starting in the mid-1980s with ten consecutive platinum-plus selling albums to his name, LL Cool J is awarded the Kennedy Center Honors, considered one of the most prestigious arts honors. Humbled and delighted, the rapper, at age 49 also the youngest honoree, would comment: “To knock the door down for a new genre, the word is just ‘dope’. To be able to to come from the corner of Farmers Boulevard in Queens, banging on a garbage can, all the way to the Kennedy Center Honors, that's a long journey.”
December 3, 2017 ~ R&B group Rak-Su win The X-Factor UK ~ Rak-Su win the 14th edition of British talent show The X-Factor. Runner-ups would be the singer, songwriter Grace Davies in 2nd place, singer Kevin Davy White in 3rd. Following their win on the show, the group's coronation single Dimelo would reach No.2 on the UK charts held off the top spot by Ed Sheeran's Perfect. The group followed up with an eponymous EP in 2018
December 3, 2016 ~ Classical guitarist Antonio Membrado passed away in Kaysersberg, France ~ Mentored by Andrés Segovia. Known for his renditions of works by Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Heitor Villa-Lobos. Noted for accompanying Paco Ibáñez on his 1964 Paco Ibáñez debut album released in 1964. Also regarded a master of the laúd, an instrument of the cittern family popular in Spanish folk ~ Membrado was born in 1935
December 3, 2016 ~ Producer, label executive Harry Balk passed away in Oak Park, Michigan, USA ~ Discovered acts such as Little Willie John, Johnny & the Hurricanes, Rodriguez. Co-produced Del Shannon's Runaway. Noted for pushing Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, a career-changing and era-defining song disliked by Motown head Berry Gordy Jr but released partly thanks to Balk's insistence. Also pivotal to the career of Rare Earth ~ Balk was born in 1925
December 3, 2016 ~ Tenor saxophonist, trumpeter Herbert Hardesty passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Best known for his association with pianist Fats Domino and producer Dave Bartholomew. Has also worked with artists such as Papa Celestin, Sidney Desvigne, Chick Webb, Chubby Newsom, Earl Palmer, Ernest McLean, Cosimo Matassa, Jewel King, Tommy Ridgley, Lloyd Price (sax on Lawdy Miss Clawdy), Shirley & Lee, Smiley Lewis, T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Turner, Little Richard, Hank Jones, Count Basie, Tom Waits, Plas Johnson, and Mitch Woods ~ Hardesty was born in 1925
December 3, 2016 ~ Following a spike in sales after his death the previous month, Leonard Cohen enters the Billboard Hot 100 at No.59 with his original version of Hallelujah, originally released in 1984 ~ The Canadian singer, actively recording since 1967, makes his debut on the Billboard Hot 100 charts with his best known composition. The single would be Leonard Cohen's sole charting single in America, peaking at No.17. Originally released as a single off his 1984 Various Positions album, the song would become a signature song for Cohen, a concert favorite, and is also especially known for its numerous cover versions, recorded by over an estimated 300 artists including most notably Jeff Buckley. Initially, thinking the album was not commercially viable Columbia Records refused to release Cohen's Various Positions album, which also included Dance Me To The End Of Love, another Cohen classic. The company's president Walter Yetnikoff had called Cohen to say: “Look, Leonard, we know you're great, but we don't know if you're any good”
December 3, 2015 ~ Pianist, organist, keyboardist, singer Gladstone Anderson, also known as Gladdy Anderson, passed away in Jamaica ~ Helped define the ska sound and rocksteady beat. Said to have coined the term “rock steady.” As a solo artist perhaps best known for his 1972 It May Sound Silly album, considered a landmark album in Jamaican music. In-demand session musician from the 1950s onwards, working with producers such as Duke Reid, Coxsone Dodd and Leslie Kong. Appeared on key recordings including Take It Easy by Hopeton Lewis, Hold Them by Roy Shirley, and Girl I've Got A Date by Alton Ellis. Leader of Gladdy's All-Stars, best known for their 1969 instrumental hit The Liquidator. The All-Stars have also been known under a variety of pseudonyms including the Aggrovators, Rupies All-Stars, the Crystallites and the Upsetters, served as backing band for numerous artists, and at times included the likes of Jackie Jackson, Winston Grennan, Hux Brown, and Winston Wright ~ Anderson was born in 1934December 3, 2014 ~ Edward Jessie Bivins Jr, commonly known as R&B, soul singer, songwriter Edward Sonny Bivins passed away in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, USA ~ Member of the Manhattans, best known for their 1976 hit Kiss And Say Goodbye. Wrote the band's There's No Me Without You, a 1973 Billboard R&B top 10 hit ~ Bivins was born in 1936
December 3, 2014 ~ Keyboardist Ian McLagan, full name Ian Patrick McLagan, passed away in Austin, Texas, USA ~ Member of the Small Faces, for whom he wrote Up The Wooden Hills To Bedforshire and Long Agos And Worlds Apart, and its successor the Faces. In-demand session and touring keyboardist, perhaps most notably for the Rolling Stones including playing electric piano on the Billboard Hot 100 charttopper Miss You of their 1978 Some Girls album. Close friend of Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, regularly serving in Wood's side projects including the New Barbarians. McLagan has also worked with artists such as Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Izzy Stradlin, John Hiatt, Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, and the Georgia Satellites ~ McLagan was born in 1945December 3, 2011 ~ Philip Burrell, commonly known as producer, label founder, label executive Philip Fatis Burrell, passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Produced Sugar Minott's More Dogs To The Bone in 1984, founding his first label later the same year. Would go on to manage and produce some of the hottest reggae acts of the 1980s and 1990s, churning out records by Yellowman, Sanchez, Gregory Isaacs, Dean Fraser, Glen Ricks, Sly & Robbie, Luciano, Beres Hammond, Ninjaman, Ini Kamoze, Sizzla, and Tony Rebel ~ Burrell was born in 1954
December 3, 2009 ~ Salvatore Zito, commonly known as pianist, conductor Torrie Zito, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Married to singer Helen Merrill, with whom he also worked. Stepfather of singer, songwriter Alan Merrill. Brother of drummer Ronnie Zito. Acclaimed for conducting and arranging on the pivotal Morgana King Miss Morgana King album. To pop audiences, Zito is perhaps best remembered for arranging the strings on John Lennon's 1971 Imagine album ~ Zito was born in 1933
December 3, 2005 ~ Singers Brody Dalle of the Distillers and Josh Homme of the Queens Of The Stone Age get married ~ Having previously met at Lollapalooza, Chicago, where Dalle was to see her then-boyfriend Tim Armstrong's band Rancid perform, Brody Dalle and Josh Homme reconnect in 2003 and begin dating. Married in 2005, the couple would have three children, before divorcing in 2019. Much of the Queens Of The Stone Age's 2023 In Times New Roman album deals with their messy divorce
December 3, 1999 ~ John Paul Larkin, commonly known as singer Scatman John, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for his 1990s hits Ski-ba-bop Ba-dop-bop and Scatman's World mixing scat singing and dance music. Suffered from a severe stutter from childhood forward. Recipient of the American Speech Language Hearing Associatios Annie Glenn Award for outstanding service to the stuttering community. Inducted in the National Stuttering Association Hall Of Fame ~ Larkin was born in 1942
December 3, 1992 ~ Keith Richards and Mick Jagger confirm rumors that bassist Bill Wyman will be leaving the Rolling Stones after thirty years with the band ~ The bass player had been with the band since its very beginning, joining the band in 1962. Over the years Bill Wyman has released several solo albums on the side, notably Stone Alone in 1976, yet until now remained with the band throughout. Post-Stones he would be best known for his work with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, recording about half a dozen highly rhytm & blues-infested albums with a revolving all-star cast starting with Struttin' Our Stuff released in 1997. Wyman would return for a guest performance playing bass on Live By The Sword off the Rolling Stones album Hackney Diamonds released in 2023
December 3, 1991 ~ Hard rock, glam metal outfit Guns 'n Roses release Live And Let Die, lifted off their Use Your Illusion I album ~ Originally written by Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney, and recorded with Wings as the theme song to the 1973 James Bond film of the same name. Glam metal rockers Guns 'n Roses would record their rendition for their third studio album. The cover would go over well especially in Europe, including reaching the No.5 spot in the UK, surpassing the original which had peaked at No.9. In their native America, Live And Let Die reached No.33, and earned the band a Grammy Award nomination. Guitarist Slash later commented on how they came to record the song: “It's one of those songs, like Knockin' On Heaven's Door that Axl Rose and I have always loved. It's always been a really heavy song, but we'd never discussed it, and didn't know that we each liked it. We were talking one night about a cover song and that came up, and we were like, ‘Yeah! Let's do it!’ So I went to rehearsal with Izzy Stradlin and Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan, just to see whether we could sound good playing it, and it sounded really heavy.” While the original had specifically been written and performed for a film, the Guns 'n Roses cover would also end up in a movie, used about half a decade after its release for the soundtrack to the Grosse Pointe Blank black comedy film