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, 1969 ~ Rock band Deep Purple record Child In Time at IBC Studios, London, UK ~ The song started with organist Jon Lord playing It's A Beautiful Day' 1969 song Bombay Calling, which the band then re-arranged and changed the structure. Lead singer Ian Gillan had never heard the original before, and created lyrics about the Cold War to fit the music, later saying it reflected the mood of the moment: “the words came easily because we were all aware of the nuclear threat looming over us at what was probably the height of the Cold War.” The song would become a concert staple for the band, and one of heavy metal's best known anthemsDecember 4, 1969 ~ John Wesley Vivian Payne, commonly known as dance bandleader Jack Payne, passed away in Kent, UK ~ Rose to prominence during the British band dance era of the late 1920s and 1930s. Bandleader of the first BBC dance band starting in 1928. Known for songs such as Blue Pacific Moonlight, Underneath The Spanish Stars, Pagan Serenade and his signature tune Say It With Music ~ Payne was born in 1899
December 4, 1969 ~ Shawn Corey Carter, commonly known as rapper, producer, songwriter Jay-Z, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Known for a number of critically acclaimed albums including his 1996 Reasonable Doubt debut album, 2001 The Blueprint, and 2003's The Black Album. Sold over 50 million records. Married to Beyoncé since 2009. Known for hits such as Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem), Big Pimpin' featuring UGK, Izzo Hova, Excuse Me Miss featuring Pharrell Williams, 99 Problems, Run This Town featuring Kanye West and Rihanna, Empire State Of Mind featuring Alicia Keys, and Holy Grail featuring Justin Timberlake. Also collaborated with Big Daddy Kane, Foxxy Brown, Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland, Memphis Bleek, P Diddy, Mya, Talib Kweli, Missy Elliott, Lenny Kravitz, Bun B, Jeezy, and Mariah CareyDecember 4, 1969 ~ Duval Clear, commonly known as rapper, MC Masta Ace, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ First gained attention as a member of the Juice Crew, notably appearing on the classic 1988 the Juice Crew track The Symphony. Released his full-length solo debut album, Take A Look Around, in 1990. Has collaborated with eMC, Marco Polo, Eminem, Koolade, Son Of Sam, and DJ Premier
December 4, 1967 ~ Fingerstyle guitarist Eric Roche born ~ Briefly worked as an accountant prior to enrolling at London Musicians Institute, studying classical guitar. After his degree would become head of its guitar department. As a guitar player known for his percussive style involving drumming on the body of guitar. Has released about half a dozen albums, starting with Perc U Later ~ Roche passed away in 2005
December 4, 1963 ~ Alternative rock bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer Danny Weinkauf born ~ Perhaps best known for his association with They Might Be Giants, joining the band in the late 1990s. The band is known for their unique style, humorous lyrics, experimental sttles and use of unconvential instruments. Weinkauf has written a number of songs for the band, all for their children's albums, namely Where Do They Make Balloons, Number Two, I Am A Paleonthologist and Elephants
December 4, 1960 ~ Composer, conductor Walter Goehr passed away in Sheffield City Hall, UK ~ Married to pianist Laelia Goehr, the couple's son was composer Alexander Goehr. Studied with Arnold Schoenberg. Of Jewish descent forced to seek employment outside Germany. Staff conductor for EMI. Conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra for the 1937 premiere recording of Georges Bizet's Symphony In C. Conducted the BBC Theatre Orchestra for the premiere performance of the radio play The Dark Tower with music by Benjamin Britten. As a composer known for the 1931 opera Malpopita, which would not be performed live until 2004 ~ Goehr was born in 1903
December 4, 1955 ~ Drummer Brian Prout born in Troy, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of Diamond Rio, known for a string of successful country hits in the 1990s and early 2000s including Meet In The Middle, Norma Jean Riley, In A Week Or Two, Love A Little Stronger, How Your Love Makes Me Feel, Unbelievable, One More Day, Beautiful Mess and I Believe. Prout actually came up with the band name. For a while dated Mary Bono, widow of singer Sonny Bono. Married to singer, songwriter Stephanie Bentley since 2001, who's best known for co-writing Faith Hill's 1999 hit BreatheDecember 4, 1955 ~ Singer Cassandra Wilson born in Jackson, Mississippi, USA ~ Influenced by Miles Davis, Abbey Lincoln and Betty Carter. Worked with M-Base Collective, Steve Coleman, Wynton Marsalis, the Roots, Don Byron, Terence Blanchard, Terri Lyne Carrington, Regina Carter, Olu Dara, Kurt Elling, Robin Eubanks, Charlie Haden, Javon Jackson, Meshell Ndegeocello, Courtney Pine, David Sánchez, Steve Turre, and Luther Vandross
December 4, 1952 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Rabon Delmore passed away in Athens, Alabama, USA ~ Formed the duo the Delmore Brothers with his brother Alton Delmore. The duo is known for songs such as Freight Train Boogie, Brown's Ferry Blues, Donna (Lay Down My Old Guitar), Fifteen Miles From Birmingham and perhaps their best known Blues Stay Away From Me. Artists who covered their songs include Johnny Burnette, Gene Vincent, the Louvin Brothers, Les Paul, Doc Watson, and the Everly Brothers ~ Delmore was born in 1910
December 4, 1951 ~ Blues rock, boogie rock, southern rock guitarist Gary Rossington, full name Gary Robert Rossington, born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Last surviving original member of quintessential southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Especially noted for his lead guitar work on Tuesday's Gone and slide guitar on Free Bird. Also co-founded the Rossington-Collins Band with bandmate guitarist Allen Collins ~ Rossington passed away in 2023
December 4, 1949 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Robert Williams, full name Robertos Konstantinos Williams, born in Athens, Greece ~ Co-founding member of pioneering Greek pop group Poll, known for their 1971 Anthrope. The album included the hit Anthrope Agapa (Ti Fotia Stamata) which is regarded as the first anti-war protest song in the history of Greek rock, dubbed “perhaps the most hippie hymn for the Greeks” and released during the junta years. Following the band's disbandement Williams has recorded as a solo singer, noted for his 1976 hit single Talk To Me, and for representing Greece at the 1977 Eurovision Songfestival alongside singers Pascalis, Marianna Toli and Bessy Argyraki reaching 5th place with the song Solfege ~ Williams passed away in 2022
December 4, 1948 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Mikael Rickfors born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Member of late 1960s pop group Bamboo. Member of the Hollies during the early 1970s, joining the band as replacement for Allan Clarke and present on the band's Romany and Out On The Road albums. Active as a solo artist since his 1975 eponymous Mikael Rikfors debut album. Songs written by Rikfors have also been recorded by Richie Havens, Carlos Santana (Daughter Of The Night), Jim Capaldi, Cyndi Lauper (Yeah Yeah), Carla Olson, and Percy Sledge (Blue Night)
December 4, 1948 ~ Rock, pop, blue-eyed soul singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Southside Johnny born in Neptune, New Jersey, USA ~ Sometimes referred to as “the Grandfather of the New Jersey sound”. Cited by Bon Jovi as an influence. Frontman of Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, known for songs such as I Don't Wanna Go Home, Fever, Talk To Me, This Time It's For Real and Love On The Wrong Side Of TownDecember 4, 1947 ~ Jazz pianist, arranger, composer Andy Laverne born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Jerry Bergonzi, Mike Richmond, Bob Magnusson, John Abercrombie, Eddie Gomez, Peter Erskine, Danny Gottlieb, Rick Margitza, Chuck Loeb, Clifford Carter, Tim Hagans, Steve LaSpina, Anton Fig, John Patitucci, Jeff Hirschfield, Randy Brecker, George Mraz, Ted Curson, and Stan Getz
December 4, 1945 ~ Henk Leeuwis, commonly known as singer Henkie, born in Elst, the Netherlands ~ Known for the novelty, surprise hits Lief Klein Konijntje and Mijn Goudvis, the former reaching top of the charts in Belgium in 2006 ~ Leeuwis passed away in 2022
December 4, 1945 ~ Singer, guitarist Robb Huxley, full name Robert William Huxley, born in Gloucester, UK ~ Pioneer of Israeli rock for his work in Israel with his band the Churchills and his collaborations with artists such as Arik Einstein. Also a member of the Tornados from 1965 until the band's disbandement in 1968, notably present on the 1966 singles Pop-Art Goes Mozart and Is That A Ship I Hear
December 4, 1944 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Anna McGarrigle born in Montreal, Canada ~ Best known for performing with her sister Kate McGarrigle as Kate & Anna McGarrigle, debuting with the critically acclaimed eponymous Kate & Anna McGarrigle album in 1976. The duo has collaborated with artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, the Chieftains, and Marianne Faithfull
December 4, 1944 ~ Guitarist, bassist, singer, songwriter Chris Hillman born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Byrds. Following Gene Clark's departure from the band Hillman would establish himself as one of the key songwriters, writing or co-writing songs such as Have You Seen Her Face, Thoughts And Words, The Time Between, and Girl With No Name. Co-lead vocalist, along with Roger McGuinn, on So You Want To Be A Rock 'n Roll Star. Hillman was especially notably present on the 1967 Younger Than Yesterday album and its 1968 The Notorious Byrd Brothers follow-up. Member of the Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas and the Desert Rose Band, all quintessential to the development of country rock. Also worked with the Scottsville Squirrel Barkers, the Hillmen, the Souther Hillman Furay Band alongside Richie Furay and JD Souther, McGuinn Clark & Hillman, Down Home Praise, Herb Pedersen, and Larry Rice, as well as record as a solo artist
December 4, 1944 ~ Drummer, singer Dennis Wilson, full name Dennis Carl Wilson, born in Inglewood, California, USA ~ Co-founding member, drummer of the Beach Boys. The only one in the band who actually surfed. Wrote or co-wrote tracks such as All I Want To Do, Got To Know The Woman, Friends, Little Bird, Forever. Released his sole solo album, Pacific Ocean Blue, in 1977 ~ Wilson passed away in 1983
December 4, 1944 ~ Lynford Brown, commonly known as rocksteady, reggae guitarist Hux Brown, born in Port Antonio, Jamaica ~ In-demand session guitarist appearing on key recordings such as Girl I've Got A Date (Alton Ellis), Ba Ba Boom (the Jamaicans), Bangarang (Lester Sterling), Rivers Of Babylon (the Melodians), and The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff). Outside Jamaican music played lead guitar on Paul Simon's Mother And Child Reunion. Touring member of Toots & the Maytals for over three decades ~ Brown passed away in 2020
December 4, 1942 ~ Singer, bassist, songwriter Bob Mosley, full name James Robert Mosley born in San Diego, California, USA ~ Best known as member of 1960s outfit Moby Grape, notably present on songs such as Mr Blues, Come In The Morning and Lazy Me. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with artists such as the Frantics, Chris Darrow, and Neil YoungDecember 4, 1940 ~ Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr, commonly known as ock & roll singer, guitarist Freddy Cannon, born in Lynn, Massachusetts, USA ~ Influenced by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard. Known for songs such as Tallahassee Lassie, Way Down Yonder In New Orleans, Palisades Park and Abigail Beecher. Plays lead guitar on the G-Clefs' 1956 hit Ka-ding-dong. Rhythm guitar and lead vocals on the Spindrifts' Cha-cha-do, a hit in 1958
December 4, 1939 ~ Oliver Lee Rodgers, commonly known as electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Sonny Rodgers, born in Hughes, Arkansas, USA ~ Influenced by BB King, Robert Nighthawk, Muddy Waters. On-and-off active as a backing musician since the late 1950s, working with the likes of Forest City Joe, Joe Hill Louis, Joe Willie Wilkins, Eddie Boyd, Lazy Bill Lucas, and Willie Cobbs. As a solo artist best known for his 1990 single Cadillac Baby, awarded a WC Handy Award. Would release his acclaimed They Call Me The Cat Daddy debut album the same year, only to have his promising solo career cut short by his death of heart failure at age 50 ~ Rodgers passed away in 1990
December 4, 1936 ~ Soul blues, electric blues singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Larry Davis, full name Larry Charles Davis, born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing and first recording Texas Flood in 1958, later covered by Moses Whispering Smith, Roomful Of Blues and perhaps most notably Stevie Ray Vaughan. Reaching little commercial succes as a solo artist Davis would join Albert King's backing band, playing bass. A motorcycle accident in 1972 would leave him temporarily paralyzed, hindering his career. Returning to music a decade later Davis would record a handful of underpromoted albums, known only to blues aficionados ~ Davis passed away in 1994