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 4, 2022 ~ Krautrock, electronic, minimalistic, ambient, experimental guitarist, songwriter Manuel Göttsching passed away in Berlin, Germany ~ One of the most influential krautrock guitarists. Best known as leader of Ash Ra Tempel, co-founded with Klaus Schulze. The band is especially acclaimed for their 1972 Schwingungen sophomore album. After the group disbanded by the mid 1970s Göttsching recorded as a solo artist and with Ashra ~ Göttsching was born in 1952
December 4, 2021 ~ Country singer, guitarist Stonewall Jackson passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Popular 1950s honky-tonk, country singer. Broke through in 1958 with Life To Go, penned by George Jones. Also known for songs such as Waterloo, Why I'm Walkin', A Wound Time Can't Erase, Leona, BJ The DJ, Don't Be Angry and Stamp Out Loneliness, all of which reached top 10 Billboard Country ~ Jackson was born in 1932
December 4, 2020 ~ Jazz saxophonist Ed Xiques, full name Edward F Xiques Jr, passed away in Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA ~ Worked with Jaki Byard, Herb Pomeroy, Buddy Morrow, Les Elgart, Larry Elgart, Duke Pearson, Woody Herman, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Ten Wheel Drive, Frank Foster, Bill Watrous, McCoy Tyner, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Liza Minnelli, the Westchester Jazz Orchestra, Mario Bauzá, and Maria Schneider ~ Xiques was born in 1939
December 4, 2017 ~ Carles Santos Ventura, commonly known as pianist, composer Carles Santos, passed away in Vinaros, Spain ~ Active since the early 1960s, starting his career as a pianist performing works by Béla Bartók, Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern. Would venture into avant-garde music, working with artists such as John Cage. From the 1970s onwards active as a film composer, eventually also turning to directing his own movies ~ Santos was born in 1940December 4, 2016 ~ Keyboardist, trombonist, producer Larry Muhoberac, full name Lawrence Gordon Muhoberac Jr, passed away in Erina, Australia ~ Best known as the original keyboardist in Elvis Presley's latter day backing unit the TCB Band. Replaced by Glen Dee Hardin in 1970. Would go on to play with Neil Diamond, Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Ray Conniff, Barbra Streisand, arrange and conduct for Seals & Crofts (including on the albums Summer Breeze and Diamond Girl) and the Archers, and relocate to Australia in the mid-1980s where Muhoberac would work with artists such as Keith Urban, Rick Price, Grace Knight, Silverchair, and Col Joye ~ Muhoberac was born in 1937
December 4, 2016 ~ Rock, jazz fusion guitarist, songwriter, producer Radim Hladik passed away in Czechoslovakia ~ Regarded as a pioneer of electric blues-rock in Czechoslovakia, strongly influenced by Jimi Hendrix. Playing professionaly since age 15, staarting with rock group Komety. Would go on to join the Matadors. Co-founded Blue Effect with singer, guitarist Vladimir Misik, a band that moved from beat via R&B to jazz fusion and eventually progressive rock. The band is best known for the Hladik-penned instrumental Cajovna (Tearoom) of the 1975 Modry Efekt & Radim Hladek album ~ Hladik was born in 1946
December 4, 2011 ~ Blues, Chicago blues guitarist, singer Hubert Sumlin, full name Hubert Charles Sumlin, passed away in Wayne, New Jersey, USA ~ Best known for his longtime association with Howlin' Wolf, backing the blues singer from the late 1950s up to Wolf's death in 1976. Sumlin would continue with other Wolf sidemen under the moniker the Wolf Gang through 1980 as well as release solo albums, at times collaborating with Henry Gray, Calvin Fuzz Jones, Sam Lay, Colin Linden, Pinetop Perkins, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Levon Helm, David Johansen, James Cotton, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd ~ Sumlin was born in 1931
December 4, 2009 ~ Folk singer Liam Clancy passed away in Cork, Ireland ~ Youngest member of sibling outfit the Clancy Brothers, regarded as Ireland's first pop stars. Sang lead on Brothers songs such as The Leaving Of Liverpool, The Wild Rover, The Shoals Of Herring, Port Lairge, Juice Of The Barley, The Patriot Game, Gallant Forty Twa and Peggy Gordon. Duetted with Tommy Makem in Makem & Clancy, known for their 1976 hit single And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda ~ Clancy was born in 1935
December 4, 2007 ~ Carlos Valdés, commonly known as conga player Patato Valdés, passed away in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Especially acclaimed for the 1967 collaborative Patato & Totico album with Totico. Once named “the greatest conguero alive today” by Tito Puente, whom he backed on over a dozen albums including Cuban Carnival and Dance Mania. Co-wrote Epistrophy, recorded by Thelonious Monk. Co-wrote Syeeda's Song Flute, recorded by John Coltrane. An in-demand sideman, Valdes has guested on albums by Kenny Dorham (Afro-Cuban), Art Blakey, Machito (Latin Soul Plus Jazz), Cannonball Adderley, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Mann, Art Taylor (AT's Delight), Max Roach (Percussion Bitter Sweet), Grant Green, Herbie Mann, Charlie Rouse, Dave Pike (Manhattan Latin), Cal Tjader, Johnny Lytle, Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones (Mr Jones), Cachao, Ismael Miranda, Jorge Dalto, and Mario Bauzá (The Tanga Suite) ~ Valdés was born in 1926
December 4, 2007 ~ Chad Lamont Butler, commonly known as rapper Pimp C, passed away in Hollywood, California, USA ~ Formed the rap duo UGK with Bun B. The pair has recorded over half a dozen albums since the early 1990s, noted especially for 1992's Ridin' Dirty, and had guested on tracks such as Jay-Z's hit Big Pimpin', as well as on Three 6 Mafia's hit Spin On Some Syrup ~ Butler was born in 1973December 4, 2005 ~ Walter Stanley Scuffham, commonly known as pop balladeer, producer Don Charles, passed away in Herstmonceux, UK ~ As a singer best known for Walk With Me My Angel and Bring Your Love To Me. Also noted for his work with the Tornados, producing songs such as Space Walk and Goodbye Joe ~ Scuffham was born in 1933
December 4, 2002 ~ Drummer Bernie Dwyer passed away in Cheshire, UK ~ Co-founding member of Freddie & the Dreamers, known for hits such as If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody, I'm Telling You Now, You Were Made For Me and I Understand. The band would be grouped as part of the Merseybeat sound, generally associated with Liverpool, yet came from Manchester ~ Dwyer was born in 1940December 4, 2000 ~ Drummer Joe Nanini, full name Oliver Joseph Nanini, passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Founding member of 1980s new wave group Wall Of Voodoo. Percussionist known to play unusual instruments such as pots, pans and other objects. Played in several 1970s punk bands including Black Randy & Metrosquad, Plugz and Bags. Member of Lonesome Strangers ~ Nanini was born ca.1955
December 4, 2000 ~ Guitarist, songwriter Julián Infante, full name Julián Infante Martin-Nieto, passed away in Madrid, Spain ~ Rose to fame as member of Tequila, Spanish-Argentine rock group influenced by Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones. They were active from the late 1970s through the early 1990s and are best known for songs such as Quiero Besarte, Me Vuelvo Loco and Rock And Roll En La Plaza Del Pueblo. Member of Los Rodriguez in the 1990s, which also included Tequila bandmate Ariel Rot, known for merging flamenco, rumba, bolero, ranchera, milonga, funk and blues and credited with revitalizing Spanish-language rock ~ Infante was born in 1957December 4, 1998 ~ Jazz drummer, composer, arranger Egil Johansen passed away in Nykoping, Sweden ~ Nicknamed “Bop” for his profiency at playing bebop jazz. Father of singer Jan Johansen. Worked with Einar Stenberg, Egil Monn-Iversen, Kjell Johansen, Rowland Greenberg, Arne Domnérus, Bengt Hallberg, Rune Gustafsson, Georg Riedel, Jan Johansson, Radiojazzgrupen, Rune Ofwerman, Quincy Jones, the Bazz Brothers, Benny Golson, Lee Konitz, Herbie Mann, and Jimmy Witherspoon ~ Johansen was born in 1934
December 4, 1990 ~ Singer Whitney Houston releases All The Man That I Need, lifted off her I'm Your Baby Tonight album ~ Written by Dean Pitchford and Michael Gore, the song was first recorded in the early 1980s by disco singer Linda Clifford and subsequently by Sister Sledge as a duet with David Simmons. Clifford's original rendition was never released as a single, as the label didn't think it would be a hit, and subsequently Sister Sledge cover failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100. Following the two releases, the song's lyricist Pitchford figured the song was just one of those songs that was going to get cut a number of times and not ever have its day. However, when Whitney Houston recorded the song for her I'm Your Baby Tonight album, it received wide critical acclaim and actually did become a hit. The single, produced by Narada Michael Walden and featuring a guest appaerance from Kenny G, held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks and earned Houston a Grammy Award nomination. A few years later, singer Luther Vandross who had arranged and sung backup on the 1981 Linda Clifford original recorded a gender-reversed version, All The Woman I Need, for his Songs albumDecember 4, 1985 ~ Rock drummer Iwan Griffiths born in Cardiff, UK ~ Influenced by drummers such as Muse's Dominic Howard, Led Zeppelin's John Bonham, Phil Collins, the Police's Stewart Copeland, and Bill Bruford. Co-founding member of the Automatic, known for their UK top 10 hit Monster of their 2006 Not Accepted Anywhere debut album
December 4, 1982 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, You And I by Eddie Rabbitt featuring Crystal Gayle hits No.1 Billboard Country ~ Issued as the lead single off Radio Romance, Rabbitt's eight studio album, the Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle duet, celebrating the bond of love between a man and a woman, would become one of the biggest crossover hits for both artists, first topping the Billboard Country charts and subsequently peaking at No.7 Billboard Hot 100 in early 1983. Both artists would be regulars on the Billboard Country charts, but only occasionally made it onto the pop charts. Gayle had scored a Billboard Hot 100 No.2 in the mid 1970s with Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, while Rabbitt scored four Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits in the early 1980s, the Rabbitt-Gayle duet preceded by Drivin' My Life Away, I Love A Rainy Night, and Step By Step. The Rabbitt-Gayle duet would also be the first major hit for songwriter Frank J Myers, who went on to write or co-write songs for Eddy Raven, Alabama, George Jones, Reba McEntire, Boyzone, and Jason Aldean. Apart from You And I, Myers would perhaps become best known for penning I Swear, recorded by over 60 artists including country singer John Michael Montgomery and R&B outfit All 4 OneDecember 4, 1981 ~ Singer Lila McCann, full name Lila Elaine McCann, born in Puyallup, Washington, USA ~ Debuted at age 16 with the single Down Came A Blackbird, which would reach the Billboard Country top 30 in 1997. Her sophomore single, I Wanna Fall In Love, would make it to the top 5 in the USA as well as Canada
December 4, 1977 ~ Country, country rock, alternative rock, rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Dallas Smith, full name Dallas Hendry Smith, born in Langley, Canada ~ Lead singer of hard rock outfit Default. Debuted as a solo artist in 2012 with the Jumped Right In, which spawned five singles all of which would reach the Canadian country top 10. Would go on to score hits such as Tippin' Point, Wastin' Gas, Autograph, Side Effects, Sky Stays This Blue, Sleepin' Around, Make 'Em Like You, Timeless, and Like A Man
December 4, 1976 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer Benjamin Britten, full name Edward Benjamin Britten, passed away in Aldeburgh, UK ~ Quintessential to 20th-century British music. As a child showed a keen interest in music, taking piano lessons from his mother from a young age, and composing his first compositions at age five. Well known for works such as Peter Grimes, War Requiem, and The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra ~ Britten was born in 1913
December 4, 1976 ~ Rock, hard rock, heavy metal, blues rock, funk rock, jazz fusion guitarist Tommy Bolin, full name Thomas Richard Bolin, passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Member of Zephyr from 1969 through 1971. Member of the James Gang, present on and writing or co-writing most of the material on the albums Bang and Miami. Guested on Billy Cobham's Spectrum. Member of Deep Purple, replacing Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 until the band's disbandement the next year. As a solo artist known for the pivotal 1970s albums Teaser and Private Eyes ~ Bolin was born in 1951
December 4, 1972 ~ Alternative rock, britpop drummer Justin Welch, full name Justin Steven Welch, born in Nuneaton, UK ~ Briefly an early member of Suede, departing the band in 1990 prior to their rise to fame. Member of Spitfire and of Elastica. Perhaps most notably known as co-founding member of Britpop supergroup Me Me Me alongside Blur bassist Alex James and the Lilac Time frontman Stephen Duffy, known for their sole single Hanging Around. Has also worked with Lush, Johnny Void, the Stalwart Lovers, and a latter day incarnation of the Jesus & Mary Chain
December 4, 1970 ~ Beat, blues-rock singer, bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Edgar Jones, full name Edgar William Jones, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Bassist, lead singer for the Stairs, founded in 1990 with guitarist Ged Lynn and drummer Paul Maguire, known for their sole album, 1992's Mexican R'n'B, which received cult status. Jones would go on to front acts such as the Isrites, the Big Kids, Edgar Jones & the Joneses and Free Peace. Has also recorded as a solo artist and sessioned with artists such as Echo & the Bunnymen frontman Ian McCulloch, father of Britpop Paul Weller, Saint Etienne and Ocean Colour Scene
December 4, 1970 ~ Patrick Lamont Hawkins, commonly known as rapper Fat Pat, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Brother of rapper Big Hawk, with whom he also worked. Best known for his appearance on Lil' Troy's Wanna Be A Baller, released after Hawkins' death. Has also worked with Dead End Alliance, and Screwed Up Click, the latter considered one of the premier acts in Southern rap ~ Hawkins passed away in 1998