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 8, 1981 ~ Blues harpist Big Walter Horton passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ One of the premier modern blues harpists, alongside Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson II. Among the first to be recorded by Sun Records founder Sam Phillips. Has worked with the Memphis Jug Band, Little Buddy Doyle, Phineas Newborn Jr, Eddie Taylor, Johnny Shines, Sunnyland Slim, Willie Dixon, Fleetwood Mac, Johnny Winter, Homesick James, and Muddy Waters ~ Horton was born in 1921
December 8, 1980 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter John Lennon, full name John Winston Lennon, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Quarrymen which eventually evolved into the Beatles, generally regarded as one of the most important acts in the history of pop-rock music. Active as a solo artist since 1968, most notably collaborating with his second wife Yoko Ono using the moniker the Plastic Ono Band. Well known for songs such as Give Peace A Chance, Instant Karma, Imagine and Happy Xmas (War Is Over). Shot and killed by Mark David Chapman, a deranged fan, at age 40 ~ Lennon was born in 1940
December 8, 1979 ~ Justin Cross, commonly known as hip-hop producer Bronze Nazareth, born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA ~ Best known for his associations with the Wu-Tang Clan and Wisemen. Has produced recording for RZA, Masta Killa, Immortal Technique, Vinnie Paz, and RaekwonDecember 8, 1979 ~ Folk-pop, indie pop, indie folk singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, full name Ingird Ellen Michaelson, born in Staten Island, New York, USA ~ Debuted in 2005 with the Slow The Rain album. Best known for the singles The Way That I Am and Girls Chase Boys
December 8, 1976 ~ Singer, songwriter Naimee Coleman born in Dundrum, Ireland ~ Extensively toured Europe, the USA and Japan, enjoying popularity especially in Japan for her 1996 Silver Wrists and its 2001 follow-up Bring Down The Moon. In the UK best known for appearing on Aurora's 2001 Duran Duran-cover Ordinary World, and 2003's Tasmin Archer-cover Sleeping Satellite, the former a UK top 10 hit
December 8, 1974 ~ Pop singer Cristian Castro, full name Christian Sáinz Valdés Castro, born in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Son of actress, singer Verónica Castro. Well over a dozen albums to his name, starting with 1992's Agua Nueva. Has gone on to become one of the best-selling Latin artists. Best known for songs such as Nunca Voy A Olvidarte, Manana, Con Tu Amor, Azul Gris, Amor, Lo Mejor De Mi and Te Buscaria. Collaborated with José Alfredo Jiménez, Olga Tañón, Grupo Limite, José Feliciano, Vicente Fernández, Tamara, Yanni, José José, Leonel Garcia, Aleks Syntek, and Rocio DúrcalDecember 8, 1974 ~ Jazz critic, producer, impresario Hugues Panassié passed away in Montauban, France ~ Influential yet controversial figure. Founded the Hot Club De France in the early 1930s, an organization to promote jazz, swing and blues. Produced sessions by Mezz Mezzrow and Tommy Ladnier. During World War II managed to keep broadcasting jazz standards fooling the occupying Nazis by submitting obtuse French translations of the titles to censors and relabeling records although many of them were American jazz ~ Pannassié was born in 1912
December 8, 1974 ~ Power metal bassist, guitarist Johan Larsson born in Gothenburg, Sweden ~ First gained attention as bassist of In Flames, remaining with the band from 1993 through 1997. Briefly played with Hammerfall in 1993 and 1994, quitting before the band released any material. Has also worked with Seance, Purgamentum, Powerpig, Carnal Grief, Witchery, and Carrion Carnage
December 8, 1974 ~ Indie rock, garage rock guitarist Nick Zinner, full name Nicholas Joseph Zinner, born ~ While in college, Zinner was a member of the Boba Fett Experience, named after the Star Wars character. The band would eventually change their name to the Challenge Of The Future, concerned about being sued by George Lucas. Rose to fame in the early 2000s as one third of acclaimed outfit the Yeah Yeah Yeahs alongside drummer Brian Chase and keyboardist, lead singer, frontwoman Karen O. Despite critical acclaim and several Grammy Award nominations the band would hardly make an impact on the American charts, yet reach commercial success in the UK and Europe. Well known songs include Date With The Night, Pin, Maps and Gold Lion. Zinner is also an accomplished photographer and as a musician an in-demand collaborator, having worked with acts such as Bloc Party, Scarlett Johansson, James Iha, Santigold, Head Wound City, and the Rentals
December 8, 1973 ~ J-pop singer, actor Goro Inagaki born in Itabashi, Japan ~ Member of SMAP, by far the most popular J-pop boy band to emerge from the 1990s. Over the course of their career, along the way breaking records for boy band longevity and disbanding as late as 2016, the band released over 50 singles, all of which reached top 10 with 22 of them making it to No.1. Well known songs include Beyond The Night Sky, Lion Heart, Aoi Inazuma and probably their best known The One And Only Flower In The World. Inagaki also enjoyed popularity as an actor, appearing in numerous films and TV showsDecember 8, 1972 ~ Priest Joseph Brooks, commonly known as rapper, producer Soopafly, born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ First gained attention playing on the tracks Natural Born Killaz performed by Dr Dre & Ice Cube, and Come Up To My Room performed by Jodeci, both taken of the 1994 Murder Was The Case soundtrack. Would co-produce and appear on Tha Dogg Pound's Dogg Food debut album the following year. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Dat Whoopy Woop released in 2001, and has collaborated with DPGC, Westurn Union, Daz Dillinger, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Kurupt, Warren G, Bad Azz, and Crooked I
December 8, 1971 ~ Rock, jazz drummer Pete Wilhoit born in Bloomington, Indiana, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member of Fiction Plane. Has also worked with the Cutters, Mike Doughty, Sharon Corr, Declan O'Rourke, Carrie Newcomer, Laura Critchley, Michael McDonald, Bob Dorough, Michael Brunnock, and I Blame Coco
December 8, 1970 ~ Jazz saxophonist Seamus Blake born in London, UK ~ Over a dozen albums to his name as a leader, starting in the mid 1990s. Especially acclaimed for Four Track Mind released in 1997. Guested on albums by Franco Ambrosetti, Kevin Hays (Seventh Sense), Darrell Grant (New Bop), Billy Drummond, Mark Turner, George Gruntz, the Mingus Big Band, Owen Howard, Victor Lewis (Eeeyyess), Ken Schaphorst, Conrad Herwig, Lea DeLaria (Play It Cool), Wycliffe Gordon (Dig This), Sara Gazarek, Jane Monheit, Alex Sipiagin, Helen Sung (Going Express), Opus 5 (Progression), and Eric Reed
December 8, 1968 ~ Songwriter Morgan Lewis, full name William Morgan Lewis Jr, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing How High The Moon with lyricist Nancy Hamilton, first featured in the 1940 Broadway revue Two For The Show by Alfred Drake and Frances Comstock. The song would become a jazz standard recorded by Benny Goodman, Stan Kenton, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Marvin Gaye, Gloria Gaynor, and Stéphane Grappelli ~ Lewis was born in 1906December 8, 1968 ~ Philippe Blanchard, commonly known as singer, actor, songwriter Philippe Katerine, born in Thouars, France ~ Active since the early 1990s. Known for songs such as Mon Coeur Balance, Je Vous Emmerde, and Louxour J'Adore. Performed the role of singer Boris Vian in the 1988 bio-pic Gainsbourg (A Heroic Life), a film on the life of Serge Gainsbourg. Married to singer, actress Helena Noguerra from 1999 through 2008
December 8, 1967 ~ House, R&B, pop singer, songwriter Janice Robinson born in Garfield, New Jersey, USA ~ First gained attention as lead singer with Italian house group Livin' Joy from 1994 through 1996, notably on Dreamer. Robinson co-wrote the track, which was a big mid 1990s hit in the clubs and on the charts across Europe. Robinson would leave the group by the end of the decade to pursue a solo career. Opened for Tina Turner on the American leg of Turner's 2000 hit. Would continue to record from time to time. Also known as a songwriter, artists who recorded her songs include Ashley Tisdale, Kristine W, Lucas Prata, Taylor Dayne, and Tevin Campbell
December 8, 1967 ~ Jazz trumpeter, singer Louis Bacon passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Zinky Cohn, Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter, Duke Ellington, Bingie Madison, Bessie Smith, Chick Webb, Willie Lewis, Freddy Johnson, Garvin Bushell, Cootie Williams, Jesse Stone, and Wilbur de Paris ~ Bacon was born in 1904
December 8, 1966 ~ Pop singer Bobby Vinton records Please Love Me Forever ~ Written by John Malone and Ollie Blanchard. Though previously recorded by Tommy Edwards in 1958 and by doo-wop pop outfit Cathy Jean & the Roommates in 1960, Bobby Vinton's single, produced by Billy Sherrill and paired with Miss America on the flip side, would become the most successful, peaking at No.6 Billboard Hot 100December 8, 1966 ~ Heavy metal, thrash metal, death metal guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, songwriter Ralph Santolla born ~ Cited Phil Lynott as major influence. Worked with Millenium, Iced Earth, Deicide, Obituary, Gary Hughes, Sebastian Bach, and Memorain. Santolla has also recorded as a solo artist, perhaps most notably the Shaolin Monks In The Temple album released in 2002 ~ Santolla passed away in 2018
December 8, 1966 ~ Alternative rock, pop rock singer Sinéad O'Connor, full name Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor, born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion And The Cobra and its follow-up I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. Perhaps best known for the Prince-penned Nothing Compares 2 U, which topped the charts in numerous countries including America, the UK and the Netherlands. Has collaborated with U2's the Edge, Jah Wobble, Peter Gabriel, Willie Nelson, Manu Dibango, Shane MacGowan, Zucchero, Massive Attack, Elaine Page, and Danny O'Reilly ~ O'Connor passed away in 2023December 8, 1964 ~ Athena Bass, commonly known as drummer, actress Athena Lee born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Sister of Mötley Crüe-drummer Tommy Lee. Has worked with Hardly Dangerous, Butt Trumpet, Femme Fatale, and Kottak
December 8, 1962 ~ Martin Adam Friedman, commonly known as metal guitarist Marty Friedman, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Best known as lead guitarist of Megadeth from 1990, first appearing on the album Rust In Peace, through early 2000. Has also worked with Cacocphony, Tourniquet, Emma Gelotte, Tinna Karlsdotter, Daniel Tompkins, and recorded as a solo artist
December 8, 1962 ~ Jazz bassist, composer Olaf Kamfjord born in Tønsberg, Norway ~ Double bassist, bass guitarist. Worked with Ab Und Zu, Herrene I Haven, Out To Lunch, Roy Nikolaisen, Anne Marie Giørtz, Rune Klakegg, Odd Børretzen, Vigleik Storaas, Halvdan Sivertsen, Lars Martin Myhre, Kjersti Stubø, and Cecilie Authen
December 8, 1959 ~ Conductor, composer Letieres Leite born in Salvador, Brazil ~ Perhaps best remembered for founding and fronting the brass and percussion ensemble the Orkestra Rumpilezz, critically acclaimed for their 2009 Letieres Leite & the Orkestra Rumpilezz album. Leite has worked with a wide array of artists including Nico Assumpção, Naná Vasconcelos, Gilberto Gil, Elba Ramalho, Lulu Santos, Hermeto Pascoal, Stanley Jordan, Carlinhos Brown, Toninho Horta, and Ivete Sangalo ~ Leite passed away in 2021
December 8, 1959 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Marty Raybon born in Greenville, Alabama, USA ~ Lead singer of Shenandoah from 1984 until its disbandement in 1997, known for singles such as The Church On Cumberland Road, Sunday In The South, Two Dozen Roses, Next To You Next To Me and If Bubba Can Dance (I Can Too), all of which topped the Billboard Country charts. Brother of Tim Raybon, with whom he formed the Raybon Brothers scoring a hit in 1997 with Butterfly Kisses. Has also released a number of solo albums, starting with the eponymous Marty Raybon album in 1995