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.
February 12, 1979 ~ Sibling outfit the Jacksons release Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground), lifted off their Victory album ~ Warmly welcomed by critics, Cashbox describing the track as a “rippling rhythm section, solid beat and stunning chorus”, while Record World stated it “has a bit of gospel in the beat”. Written by Randy Jackson and Michael Jackson, featuring the latter on lead vocals, Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground) would be their most successful single during their tenure at Epic Records and reach top 10 in several countries including America and the UK. The track, as much of the parent album, was arranged by Greg Phillinganes, a young session keyboardist brought in by producer Bobby Colomby who hadn't done much arranging yet. Phillinganes would go on to become a close ally of Michael Jackson, working on several of Michael's solo albums and serving as his music directorFebruary 12, 1979 ~ R&B singer, songwriter Jade Jones born in Finchley, UK ~ Lead singer of boy band Damage, known for a number of late 1990s, early 2000s hits including the UK top 10 singles Forever, Love Guaranteed, Wonderful Tonight, and Ghetto Romance. Following the band's disbandement in 2001 has worked with CherryBlackStone. Jones has been in an on-and-off relationship with the Spice Girls singer Emma Bunton since 1998, the couple have two children and were officially married in 2021
February 12, 1977 ~ New wave, post-punk, pop rock band the Police record Fall Out at Pathway, London, UK ~ Issued as the band's debut single, paired with Nothing Achieving on the flip side. The single is the only recording featuring original guitarist Henri Padovani. Due to his nervousness in the studio, Padovani would only play the guitar solos for both sides while Stewart Copeland, the band's drummer, played the other guitar parts. The single did not chart, initially, though a 1979 re-release would reach the low 40s in the band's native UK. Fall Out was not included on any original studio albums, but has shown up on later compilation albums and live setsFebruary 12, 1976 ~ Lloyd Vernon Martin, commonly known as jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, orchestrator Skip Martin, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ For most of the 1940s, Martin served as arranger, and sometimes reedist, for some of the most popular swing bands of the era, working with Count Basie, Charlie Barnet, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller. During the 1950s, Martin worked in Hollywood, co-orchestrating or co-arranging for musical films such as Singing In The Rain, Kiss Me Kate, Funny Face, and Guys And Dolls. Notably served as sole orchestrator for 1954's A Star Is Born, Judy Garland's comeback vehicle. Recorded several albums as a leader or co-leader, notably Scheherajazz released in 1959. Martin has also worked with the likes of Les Brown, Tony Martin, the Pied Pipers, the Andrews Sisters, Cole Porter, Frank Sinatra, and Solomon Burke ~ Martin was born in 1916
February 12, 1975 ~ Benjamin Hozer, commonly known as songwriter, composer, arranger Ben Homer passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing a number of 1940 hits for bandleader Les Brown, notably My Number One Dream Came True and Sentimental Journey, both originally recorded by Brown in the mid 1940s with singer Doris Day. The latter song would become a standard covered by well over 300 artists including Ella Fitzgerald, the Chordettes, Conway Twitty, the Ink Spots, and the Platters ~ Homer was born in 1917February 12, 1974 ~ Indie pop singer, violinist, guitarist, flutist Sarah Martin born in Blackburn, UK ~ Joined Belle & Sebastian in 1996 just prior to recording the If You're Feeling Sinister album. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Waiting For The Moon To Rise, Asleep On A Sunbeam, Heaven In The Afternoon, I Didn't See It Coming, The Power Of Three, and The Same Star
February 12, 1971 ~ Keyboardist, producer Keri Lewis born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Co-founding member of Mint Condition, remaining with the band until their first hiatus in the late 1990s. Present on the band's best known including Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Eyes), Forever In Your Eyes, U Send Me Swingin', What Kind Of Man Would I Be, and If You Love Me, all of which reached top 10 Billboard R&B
February 12, 1970 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter Jim Creeggan, full name James Raymond Creeggan, born in Scarborough, Canada ~ Along with his brother Andrew Creeggan co-founding member of Barenaked Ladies. Wrote and sang lead on the band's Spider In My Room and In The Drink. Creeggan was also a member of the Creeggan Brothers, and has notably collaborated with the Ottawa Valley Heavy Pucks and Kevin HearnFebruary 12, 1969 ~ Singer, actress Anneli Drecker, full name Anneli Marian Drecker, born in Tromsø, Norway ~ Best known for fronting dream pop outfit Bel Canto. Also records as a solo artist, starting with her Tundra album in 2000, and is an in-demand collaborator working with artists including Motorpsycho, Jan Bang, Savoy, A-ha, Röyksopp, Jah Wobble, Ketil Bjørnstad, Simon Raymonde, Mental Overdrive, Illumination, and Hector Zazou
February 12, 1967 ~ Double bassist, songwriter Jon Thorne born in Bishop's Stortford, UK ~ Closely associated with Jon Thorne and Suhail Yusuf Khan, releasing several albums as a trio starting with 2016's Everything Sacred. Member of Lamb, present on the band's best known including Grécki of their 1996 eponymous Lamb debut album. Also recorded as a solo artist and has collaborated with Malojian, Liam Bailey, Kathryn Williams, Robert Miles, and Lou Rhodes
February 12, 1967 ~ Jazz drummer, producer Stein Inge Brækhus born in Trondheim, Norway ~ Key musician of the Bergen jazz scene, active since his mid-teens in bands such as Chippie, Celeste, and perhaps most notably Cutting Edge. Would go on to become an in-demand collaborator and session drummer, working with the likes of Night & Day, Hot Cargo, Jan Eggum (Dacapo), Ivar Kolve, Kenneth Sivertsen, Ole Amund Gjersvik, Vamp (En Annen Sol), Karl Seglem, Subtrio, the Bergen Big Band (Seagull), Karoline Krüger, Tone Lise Moberg, Olav Dale, and Line Horneland
February 12, 1966 ~ Rock band the Who record Substitute at Olympic Studios, London, UK ~ Pete Townshend was inspired by The Tracks Of My Tears, a recent hit for the Miracles, which contained the line “although she may be cute, she's just a substitute”. Townshend felt the word deserved a song of its own, and wrote Substitute. The single, released the following month, reached top 10 in their native UK. Despite positive reviews, it did not chart in the USAFebruary 12, 1960 ~ Trombonist Matt Finders born in Livermore, California, USA ~ Best known as a member of Tonight Show With Jay Leno's house band. Also worked with Natalie Cole, Harry Connick Jr, Sting, Branford Marsalis, Woody Herman, Clark Terry, Benny Goodman, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Loren Schoenberg, Debbie Gibson, Bob Mintzer, Jim Hall, Tony Macalpine, Buckshot LeFonque, Diane Schuur, Joe Roccisano, and Bryan Duncan
February 12, 1959 ~ Leonard Nelson Hubbard, commonly known as hip-hop, funk, R&B bassist Hub, born ~ Classically trained. Best known as bassist, upright bassist, member of the Roots from 1992 through 2007, notably present on albums such as Things Fall Apart and The Tipping Point ~ Hubbard passed away in 2021
February 12, 1959 ~ Drummer, percussionist Neil Conti born in Luton, UK ~ Best known as member of Prefab Sprout. Also an in-demand session drummer for a wide array of artists including David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Annie Lennox, Cher, Level 42, Laurie Anderson, Steve Winwood, Paul Young, Youssou n'Dour, Brian Eno, Robert Palmer, Deep Forest, and Will Young
February 12, 1959 ~ Drummer Omar Hakim born in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with the Weather Report, David Bowie, the Foo Fighters, Sting, Madonna, the Dire Straits, Journey, Kate Bush, George Benson, Miles Davis, Daft Punk, Mariah Carey, and Céline Dion
February 12, 1959 ~ Producer, engineer, songwriter Warne Livesey born in London, UK ~ In-demand engineer, producer active since the 1980s. Notable credits include The The's Infected, Midnight Oil's Diesel And Dust which spawned the band's biggest hit Beds Are Burning, and Deacon Blue's Raintown. Other associations include Icehouse, Julian Cope, Paul Young, All About Eve, Jesus Jones, Sarah Cracknell, Mark Hollis, Hooverphonic, and Matthew GoodFebruary 12, 1958 ~ Alternative rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Grant McLennan, full name Grant William McLennan, born in Rockhampton, Australia ~ Co-founded the Go-Betweens with Robert Forster, known for UK top 10 hits such as Lee Remick, I Need Two Heads, and Cattle And Cane. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Watershed released in 1991, formed the duo Jack Frost with Steve Kilby, and worked with the Far Out Corporation ~ McLennan passed away in 2006
February 12, 1956 ~ Guitarist Brian Robertson, full name Brian David Robertson, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Influenced by Freddie King, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Billy Gibbons. Perhaps best known as a member of Thin Lizzy, appearing on about half a dozen albums starting with Nightlife released in 1974. Has also worked with Wild Horses, Motörhead, Pat Travers, Eric Burdon, and Shane MacGowan. Robertson released his Diamonds And Dirt solo album in 2011
February 12, 1955 ~ Avant-garde, electronic, jazz, pop, reggae, rock bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, producer Bill Laswell born in Salem, Illinois, USA ~ In-demand genre-blending leader and collaborator, exploring a wide array of genres. Closely associated with artists such as Brian Eno, Fred Frith, John Zorn, Daniel Ponce, Ginger Baker, Peter Brötzmann, Kip Hanrahan, Sonny Sharrock. Well over two dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, at times using different aliases. Member of Last Exit, Praxis, Painkiller. Has served as producer for Sly & Robbie, Mick Jagger, Motörhead, the Ramones, and Iggy PopFebruary 12, 1953 ~ Singer, actor, songwriter Frans Mulder born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Member of Purper since 1985. In-demand songwriter. Artists who recorded his songs include Simone Kleinsma, Angela Groothuizen, Karin Bloemen, Gerrie van der Klei, and Adèle Bloemendaal
February 12, 1952 ~ Singer, keyboardist, songwriter Michael McDonald born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Member of the Doobie Brothers, writing or co-writing several of the band's best known including What A Fool Believes, Minute By Minute and Takin' It To The Street. Also an in-demand collaborator working with artists such as Steely Dan, Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, James Ingram, David Cassidy, Van Halen, Patti LaBelle, Lee Ritenour, the Winans, Aretha Franklin, Toto, Grizzly Bear, Joni Mitchell, and Thundercat. As a solo artist debuted in 1982 with the If That's What It Takes album which spawned the hit single I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
February 12, 1950 ~ Folk, folk-rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Angelo Branduardi born in Cuggiono, Italy ~ Classically trained as a violinist. Sings in Italian and English. Debuted in 1974 with the eponymous Angelo Branduardi '74 album, featuring arrangements by Paul Buckmaster. First gained serious attention with his 1976 Alla Fiera Dell'Est album and has recorded extensively to critical acclaim and reasonable European success since. Married to Luisa Zappa, who frequently contributes lyrics to his songsFebruary 12, 1949 ~ Latin pop, rock, trova singer, guitarist, songwriter Joaquin Sabina, full name Joaquin Ramon Martinez Sabina, born in Ubeda, Spain ~ Considered one of the premier Spanish artists. Known for songs such as Calle Melancholia, 19 Dias Y 500 Noches, Pongamos Que Hablo De Madrid, Contigo and Peces De Cludad. Has worked with La Mandragora, Viceversa, and Joan Manuel Serrat
February 12, 1948 ~ Arthur Edward Booth, commonly known as jazz double bassist Jiuni Boot, born in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Worked with Chuck Mangione, Eddie Harris, Art Blakey, Sonny Simmons, Marzette Watts, Freddie Hubbard, Gary Bartz, Shelly Manne, Tony Williams Lifetime, McCoy Tyner, Larry Young, Takehiro Honda, Masabumi Kikuchi, Hamiet Bluiett, Chico Freeman, Junior Cook, Elvin Jones, Charles Tolliver, Ernie Krivda, Beaver Harris, Steve Grossman, Joe Chambers, Franklin Kiermeyer, Sun Ra, and Joe Bonner