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 13, 2024 ~ Edward Sturgis, commonly known as DJ Eddie Cheba, passed away ~ Fixture on the New York scene during the 1970s. One of the earliest rapping DJ's, considered pivotal to the development of hip hop. Influential on Kurtis Blow, close friend DJ Hollywood, and Def Jam Recordings co-founder Russell Simmons, the latter inspired to pursue a career in music after hearing Cheba perform. The year before his passing, Cheba suffered a series of strokes. Upon hearing of his ailing health, Simmons stated, recalling the hey days: “The absolute facts are as follows. If you couldn't get Hollywood, you got Cheba. If you couldn't get Cheba, you got Lovebug Starski. Again, this is actual facts. If you got all three, the number of tickets would skyrocket and you could pay the bar guarantee. They were the rap stars and the biggest money makers and draws.” ~ Sturgis was born in 1956
February 13, 2023 ~ Jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist Guido Basso passed away in Toronto, Canada ~ One of Canada's premier jazz trumpeters. Toured with Pearl Bailey and her husband drummer Louie Bellson during the late 1950s. About half a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, especially acclaimed for his 1986 eponymous Guido Basso album. Frequently collaborated with Rob McConnell. Also present on albums by Jean-Pierre Ferland, Peter Appleyard, Stratavarious, the THP Orchestra, the Hi-Lo's, Sammy Nestico, Anne Murray, Raffi, Marc Jordan, Dione Taylor, Chantal Chamberland, and Diana Panton ~ Basso was born in 1937
February 13, 2023 ~ Huey Pierce Smith, commonly known as R&B pianist Huey Piano Smith, passed away in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA ~ Helped develop a distinctive New Orleans piano sound. Influentual on artists such as Dr John and the Meters. Known for songs such as Little Liza Jane, Everybody's Whalin', The Rocking Pneumonia & The Boogie-Woogie Flu, Genevieve, Don't You Just Know It and Pop-eye. Backed Little Richard on his early Specialty Records recordings. Also worked with Guitar Slim, Lloyd Price, Earl King, Smiley Lewis, Bobby Marchan, and Dave Bartholomew ~ Smith was born in 1934
February 13, 2023 ~ Soul, deep soul, gospel singer Spencer Wiggins passed away ~ Formed the R&B group the Four Stars fresh out of high school, which also included a then-unknown David Porter. Enjoyed regional popularity as a solo artist throughout the early 1970s, known for recordings such as Lovers' Crime, Uptight Good Woman, I Never Loved A Woman (The Way I Love You) which featured Duane Allman on guitar, and Double Lovin'. Since the mid 1970s Wiggins has served as deacon and choir director, releasing gospel recordings throughout the 2000s ~ Wiggins was born in 1942
February 13, 2023 ~ Power metal, heavy metal singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, drummer Tim Aymar, full name Timothy Lee Aymar, passed away in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, USA ~ First gained attention as member of Triple X, present on the band's 1991 Bang album. Member of progressive metal band Control Denied from 1997 through 2001, present on the band's 1999 The Fragile Art Of Existence debut album. Lead singer for Pharaoh, with whom he recorded five albums including the acclaimed Be Gone released in 2008. Aymar has also worked with Psycho Scream, Vicious Cycle, Advent Of Bedlam, and 313 ~ Aymar was born in 1963
February 13, 2021 ~ Keyboardist, arranger, conductor Louis Clark passed away in Elyria, Ohio, USA ~ To pop audiences best known for his association with the Electric Light Orchestra, starting on the band's 1974 Eldorado album. Also present on subsequent albums such as A New World Record, Face The Music and Out Of The Blue conducting and assisting Jeff Lynne and Richard Tandy in writing arrangements. Has also worked with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the English Pops Orchestra, Roy Orbison, Ozzy Osbourne, Roy Wood, Kiki Dee, Mike Berry, and Renaissance ~ Clark was born in 1947February 13, 2021 ~ Music critic, author Peter G Davis, full name Peter Graffam Davis, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as music critic for the magazine New York from 1980 through 2007. Has also worked for the New York Times, Musical America, Opera News. Authored the book The American Opera Singer, released in 1997 ~ Davis was born in 1936
February 13, 2021 ~ Singer Sydney Devine passed away in Ayr, UK ~ Considered by some as Scotland's most enduring entertainer akin to America's Lawrence Welk and Pat Boone and by others as perpetuator of Scottish cultural stereotypes. Active since the late 1950s with a three-decade career highlighted by successes such as I Can't Stop Loving You, Lovesick Blues, A Tear Fell, Forty Shades Of Green, The Tennessee Waltz, and Road To Dundee ~ Devine was born in 1940
February 13, 2020 ~ Singer Billie Eilish releases No Time To Die, theme song of the James Bond film of the same name ~ Finneas O'Connell, brother, backing musician and regular songwriting partner of Billie Eilish, has stated they were given the first 20 pages of the film script, tasked with the job of having to come up with a theme song. At first, they attempted to write a song while in the studio but failed to come up with something suitable. However, when on tour, the chord progression naturally came to them, and the rough draft of the song was written while on the road. The song would be finished in the studio in a matter of mere days, with the help of noted film orchestrator and conductor Hans Zimmer and Johnny Marr, formerly of the Smiths, guesting on guitar. Preceded by Adele's Skyfall from the film of the same name and Sam Smith's Writing's On The Wall from Spectre, No Time To Die would be the third consecutive and only the third overall song from a James Bond film to be awarded an Academy Award for Best Original Song. It also earned the singer several other awards, notably a Golden Globe award and a Grammy Award, and reached top 10 in over a dozen countries, including the No.1 spot in the UK. In the singer's native America, No Time To Die peaked at No.16 Billboard Hot 100
February 13, 2018 ~ Chylow Parker, commonly known as producer, DJ, rapper Chyskillz, passed away in Queens, New York, USA ~ Member of multi-platinum rap group Onyx, discovered by Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay and noted for their 1993 debut album Bacdafucup. Parker has collaborated, often as a producer, with rap, hip-hop, pop and rock artists including the Large Professor, Biohazard, Queen, Ice Cube, Shaquille O'Neal, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Mic Geronimo, the Royal Flush, and Sticky Fingaz ~ Parker was born in 1969February 13, 2018 ~ Rock, country rock, folk singer, guitarist, fiddler Scott Boyer, full name Charles Scott Boyer II, passed away in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, USA ~ Member of 31st of February. Co-founded Cowboy with Tommy Talton in 1969, best known for Please Be With Me which was later notably covered by Eric Clapton. Member of the Decoys from 1988 until his death in 2018 ~ Boyer was born in 1947
February 13, 2018 ~ Rockabilly, rock & roll saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist William Martin Willis, full name William Martin Willis Jr, passed away in Brandon, Florida, USA ~ In-demand session and touring musician, helpful in the development of rock & roll, drawing from jazz, blues, and country. Present on quintessential 1950s songs including recordings by Conway Twitty, Billy Lee Riley, Roy Orbison (The Fools' Hall Of Fame), Bill Black (Smokie Part 2), Charlie Rich, and Jerry Lee Lewis (Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes). Willis retired from music by the mid 1960s, to eventually become a successful entrepreneur in the hotel business ~ Willis was born in 1938
February 13, 2012 ~ Singer Katy Perry releases Part Of Me, lifted off her Teenage Dream (The Complete Confection) album ~ The song was not included on the original release of Katy Perry's Teenage Dream album, as she felt it was not good enough to include. However, after a demo of the song leaked, also fuelling speculations that part of the lyrics were written by Perry's ex-boyfriend Travie McCoy of Gym Class Heroes, Perry would re-work the song and include it on a special edition of the album, titled Teenage Dream (The Complete Confection). The single would reach top 10 in over a dozen countries, including the No.1 spot in the UK and the singer's native America, making it her sixth American charttopperFebruary 13, 2011 ~ Country, country-pop outfit Lady Antebellum is the big winner at the 53rd Grammy Awards, taking home five awards ~ The acclaimed trio win Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Country Song and Best Country Performance for their cross-over hit ballad Need You Now. The album of the same, the band's sophomore album, also earned them a Grammy Award for Best Country Album, and was nominated for Album of the Year, but lost to Arcade Fire's The Suburbs. Other multiple awards winners include David Frost, John Legend, Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, and Jeff Beck, each winning three awards
February 13, 2010 ~ Guitarist, singer Delmare Allen Hawkins, commonly known as Dale Hawkins, passed away in Little Rock, Kansas, USA ~ Best known for the 1957 swamp-blues classic Susie Q. Later turned label executive and producer, responsible for songs such as the Uniques' Not Too Long Ago, Five Americans' Western Union, and Bruce Channel's Hey Baby ~ Hawkins was born in 1936
February 13, 2008 ~ Comedian, singer, guitarist Henri Salvador passed away in Paris, France ~ Recorded the first French rock & roll songs in 1957 under the moniker Henry Cording, such as Rock'n Roll Mops, Rock Hoquet Va T'Faire Cuire Un Oeuf and Dis-moi Qu'tu M'Aimes Rock, though he would consistently claim he disliked rock & roll. Also known as a TV personality and for a number of 1960s French language adaptations of pop songs including Zorro Est Arrivé and Mais Non Mais Non ~ Salvador was born in 1917
February 13, 2007 ~ Pop singer Céline Dion records Eyes On Me ~ Written by Savan Kotecha, Delta Goodrem and Kristian Lundin, the latter also serving as the track's producer. A worldbeat-infused pop ditty the song would be included on Céline Dion's 2008 Taking Chances album. Though warmly received by critics, drawing comparison to Shakira, the single, where released, would not make much of a dent on the charts
February 13, 2002 ~ Rockabilly, country, outlaw country singer, guitarist, songwriter Waylon Jennings, full name Waylon Arnold Jennings, passed away in Chandler, Arizona, USA ~ Hired by Buddy Holly to play bass. Gave up his seat on the flight in 1959 that killed Holly, JP Richardson and Ritchie Valens. First achieved major chart success in the mid 1960s with songs such as Anita You're Dreaming, Time To Bum Again, Green River and Just To Satisfy You. Especially acclaimed for a string of 1970s albums, notably Lonesome On'ry & Mean and Honky Tonk Heroes. Collaborated with Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser and his wife Jessi Colter on the 1976 Wanted The Outlaws landmark album. Member of country supergroup Old Dogs alongside Bobby Bare, Jerry Reed and Mel Tillis. Member of country supergroup the Highwaymen with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson ~ Jennings was born in 1937
February 13, 1995 ~ Jazz saxophonist Wilton Gaynair, also known as Wilton Bogey Gaynair, passed away ~ Brother of saxophonist Ferdinand Gaynair. Played with local bands in his native Jamaica, including backing visiting musicians such as George Shearing and Carmen McRae, before relocating to Europe, eventually settling in Germany. Recorded three albums as a leader, starting with Blue Bogey released in 1959. Frequently played with the Kurt Edelhagen Radio Orchestra, including at the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, West Germany. As a session or touring musician, Gaynair has worked with Gil Evans, Shirley Bassey, the Manhattan Transfer, and Bob Brookmeyer. Retired from music in 1983, after suffering a stroke while on-stage ~ Gaynair was born in 1927
February 13, 1988 ~ Pop singer, dancer, actor Aston Merrygold, full name Aston Iain Merrygold, born in Peterborough, UK ~ Member of boy band JLS, runner-up to singer Alexandra Burke in the 2008 edition of the talent show The X-Factor. The band would score five UK No.1 hits, Beat Again, Everybody In Love, The Club Is Alive, Love You More, and She Makes Me Wanna. Merrygold has released several singles as a solo artist, notably Get Stupid reaching the top 30 in 2015. His planned solo debut album would remain shelvedFebruary 13, 1988 ~ In its 14th week on the charts, Tennessee Flat Top Box by Rosanne Cash hits No.1 Billboard Country ~ Written and first recorded by Johnny Cash, whose 1961 single peaked at No.11 on the Billboard Country charts. When Rosanne Cash recorded the song at the suggestion of her husband and producer Rodney Crowell, she was unaware it was her father's song and had assumed it was in the public domain. Randy Scruggs guested on Rosanne's rendition, playing acoustic guitar. The parent album, King's Record Shop, is widely considered the singer's masterpiece, and spawned three more Billboard Country charttoppers, The Way We Make A Broken Heart, If You Change Your Mind and Runaway Train also reaching the top spot
February 13, 1985 ~ Songwriter Al Jacobs passed away in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Regular collaborator of Jimmie Crane, with whom he wrote Hurt. The song was first recorded by Roy Hamilton in 1954, whose version did well on the R&B charts. However, it would become best known as interpreted by Timi Yuro, who recorded the song for her debut album of the same name in 1961. Yuro's Hurt would reach No.4 Billboard Hot 100, catapult Yuro to international fame and remain her best known. Over the years, the song has been recorded by well over a 100 artists including Dinah Washington, Bobby Vinton, the Manhattans, Carly Simon, and Peabo Bryson. Aside from Timi Yuro, the song is probably most associated with Elvis Presley who regularly performed the song during his Las Vegas days and whose 1976 recording has been described as “apocalyptic”. Other songs co-written by Jacobs include I Got A Misery (Henry Starr), Love I'd Give My Life To You (Fats Waller), I Need You Now (Joni James, Les Paul, Wanda Jackson), If I Give My Heart To You (Connee Boswell, Doris Day, Nat King Cole), and My Sailor Boy (Connie Francis) ~ Jacobs was born in 1903
February 13, 1979 ~ Singer, songwriter Natalie Stewart born ~ Rose to fame in the early 2000s as half of the R&B duo Floetry alongside Marsha Ambrosius. The duo is best known for the singles Floetic, Say Yes and Getting Late of their 2002 Floetic debut album and have collaborated with artists such as Jill Scott, Queen Latifah, Common, the Roots and Bilal. Stewart released her Floetic Soul solo debut album in 2010. Married to the Stone Roses-drummer Robbie Maddix in 2017February 13, 1978 ~ Doom metal, gothic metal guitarist Hamish Glencross born in UK ~ Briefly worked as an actor, notably in the children's drama Children's Ward, prior to switching to music. Best known as rhythm guitarist for metal band My Dying Bride, remaining with the band from 2000 through 2014, first appearing on the acclaimed The Dreadful Hours album
February 13, 1978 ~ Drummer, producer Stephan Ebn born in Kelheim, Germany ~ Worked with Gianna Nannina, the Middle Of The Road, Lynn Anderson, Helmut Zerlett, Kimberley Dahme, Jon Walmsley, Johan Eliasson, Wolfgang Lackerschmid, Bill Molenhof, Claus Stotter, Jorg Widmosser, and Laura Pausini