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, 1976 ~ Alice Josephine Pons, commonly known as operatic soprano, actress Lily Pons, passed away in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ French-American soprano particularly associated with the title roles in Lakme Opera and Lucia di Lammermoor. Concert singer. Savvy at making herself into a marketable cultural icon. Guested internationally at many well known opera houses. Darling of the the New York Metropolitan Opera where she performed nearly 300 times between 1931 and 1960 ~ Pons was born in 1898
February 13, 1974 ~ Pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Robbie Williams, full name Robert Peter Williams, born in Stoke-on-Trent, UK ~ Rose to fame as a member of boy band Take That, known for songs such as Pray, Babe and Back For Good. Became a superstar in UK and Europe as a solo artist, known for songs such as Let Me Entertain You, She's The One, Rock DJ, The Road To Mandalay, Radio, Rudebox, and Candy
February 13, 1972 ~ Bassist, songwriter Todd Harrell born in Escatawpa, Mississippi, USA ~ Member of 3 Doors Down, with whom he recorded five albums including the band's 2000 The Better Life debut album which spawned the hit Kryptonite hit. Harrell would be fired from the band in 2013 after being charged with wehicular homicide, and was replaced by Justin Biltonen. While under the influence of prescription medication Harrell had caused an accident driving at high speed on I-40, which cause the death of 47 year old Paul Shoulders Jr. Harrell would be sentenced to two years imprisonment and six years probation
February 13, 1969 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Bob Dylan records I Threw It All Away ~ Penned by Bob Dylan. Produced by Bob Johnston. Included on the 1969 Nashville Skyline album. Released as a single, b/w Drifter's Escape, the following April. Dylan is backed by Charlie Daniels on bass, Bob Wilson on organ and Kenny Buttrey on drums. Singer Nick Cave would later cite I Threw It All Away as the one song he “he wished he had written”
February 13, 1969 ~ Touch Me by the Doors, lead single off their The Soft Parade album and a No.3 Billboard Hot 100 hit for the band, receives Gold certification ~ Critical reviews were mixed, some accusing the band of selling out by adding horns and strings, atypical for the band, while others acknowledged the blend of pop and psychedelic rock, a combination unique at the time. Lead singer Jim Morrison had called it “the first rock song with a sax solo,” courtesy of session musician Curtis Amy, while drummer John Densmore claimed the band had always envisioned themselves incorporating jazz into their sound, insinuating that was the direction they would have continued if the band stayed together and specifically mentioned Touch Me as a necessary experiment
February 13, 1969 ~ Caron Nimon Rayford, commonly known as soul blues singer, songwriter Sugaray Rayford, born in Smith County, Texas, USA ~ Member of Aunt Kizzy's Boys, present on the albums Trunk Full Of Blues and its follow-up It's Tight Like That. Self-released his Blind Alley debut album in 2010 and has continued to record to critical acclaim backed by guests such as Kim Wilson, Kid Andersen, Sugar Ray Norcia, and Bob Corritore. Rayford has also worked with the Mannish Boys, notably on the band's 2013 Double Dynamite debut album
February 13, 1966 ~ Karl Karlsson, commonly known as accordionist, songwriter Calle Jularbo, passed away in Nacka, Sweden ~ Most famous accordionist of hist his time. Pivotal to forming Swedish accordion tradition. Extremely productive, recording over 1,500 songs during his career. Wrote and first recorded Livet i Finnskogarna, a song that would later be adapted by the Pinetoppers member George Vaughn Horton. The English version is known as Mocking Bird Hill and would be recorded by Les Paul & Mary Ford, popularized by Patti Page who scored a 1951 Billboard pop No.2 hit with it and later recorded by numerous others ~ Karlsson was born in 1893
February 13, 1965 ~ Jazz saxophonist Ole Mathisen born in Sandefjord, Norway ~ Brother of bassist Per Mathisen, guitarists Nils Mathisen and Hans Mathisen. Worked with artists such as Paula Cole, Louie Vega, Omar Hakim, Darryl Jones, Hiram Bullock, Tom Coster, Mark Egan, Mino Cinélu, Peter Erskine, Eddie Gomez, Badal Roy, Rufus Reid, Ron Carter, Grady Tate, Claudio Roditi, Will Lee, Lavern Baker, Abraham Laborile Sr, Randy Brecker, Gil Goldstein, Lew Soloff, Tiger Okoshi, Michael Gibbs, Harvie Swartz, Jon Christensen, Gary Husband, Bill Bruford, Kenny Barron, Bob Moses, Jeff Berlin, Hilton Ruiz, Peter Wettre, Adam Nussbaum, Frankie Valli, and Dream Theater
February 13, 1961 ~ Henry Lawrence Garfield, commonly known as hardcore punk, alternative metal singer Henry Rollins, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Member of short-lived hardcore punk band State Of Alert. Fronted Black Flag from 1981 through 1986, leading 1980s LA punk outfit acclaimed for their Damaged debut album. Starting in the mid-1980s has released well over two dozen albums as a solo singer, a spoken word artist, and with the Rollins Band. Also known as an actor and activist for various causes, most vocally for gay rightsFebruary 13, 1958 ~ Bassist, mandolinist, guitarist David McLaughlin born in Washington DC, USA ~ Incorporated Bill Monroe's style into progressive bluegrass. Worked with Johnson Mountain Boys, Lynn Morris, Josh Crowe, the Springfield Exit, the Stony Point Quartet, the McCoury Brothers, Hazel Dickens, Tony Trischka, Gloria Belle, Marshall Wilborn, and Patrick McAvinue
February 13, 1956 ~ Peter Woodhead, commonly known as post-punk, new wave, alternative rock, synth-pop, alternative dance bassist Peter Hook, born in Salford, UK ~ Co-founding member of Joy Division, known best for their 1980 Love Will Tear Us Apart single. Following lead singer Ian Curtis's suicide the band would continue as New Order, scoring UK top hits such as Blue Monday, True Faith, and World In Motion. Has also toured with Durutti Column, and recorded with Revenge, Monaco, and Satellite Party, notably present on the latter's tracks Wish Upon A Dogstar and Kinky
February 13, 1955 ~ Akiko Suzuki, commonly known as jazz, funk, pop, synth-pop singer, keyboardist Akiko Yano, born in Tokyo, Japan ~ Debuted in 1976 with the album Japanese Girl and has recorded prolifically since. Drew comparisons to Kate Bush and regarded as one of major musical talents of Japanese pop. Has worked with the Yellow Magic Orchestra, Swing Out Sister, Pat Metheny, the Chieftains, Lyle Mays, David Sylvian, Toninho Horta, Mino Cinélu, Charlie Haden, Peter Erskine, Anthony Jackson, Bill Frisell, Thomas Dolby, Quruli, and Rei HarakamiFebruary 13, 1955 ~ Frederick Brandon Williams, commonly known as hip-hop, dance rapper, singer Freedom Williams, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Lead vocalist of 1990s dance outfit C+C Music Factory, known for hits such as Here We Go (Let's Rock & Roll), Things That Make You Go Hmmm and their best known Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
February 13, 1952 ~ Bassist Ed Gagliardi, full name Edward John Gagliardi, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Original bass player for Foreigner, present on the albums Foreigner and Double Vision, fired in 1979. Co-founded the band Spys in 1981 with former Foreigner-keyboardist Al Greenwood. Spys released just two albums, Spys and Behind Enemy Lines, but would be widely acclaimed for setting the tone for many 80s synth-rock bands. Gagliardi, who was right-handed, played the bass left-handed out of admiration for Paul McCartney ~ Gagliardi passed away in 2014February 13, 1952 ~ Bassist Paul Jeffreys, full name Paul Avon Jeffreys, born in Oxford, UK ~ Member of Cockney Rebel from 1972 through 1974, present on the albums The Human Menagerie and The Psychomodo. Jeffreys subsequently played with Be Bop Deluxe, the Warm Jets and the Electric Eels. Newlyweds Jeffreys and Rachel Jeffreys were among the over 250 killed in the Lockerbie plane bombing, just as they embarked on their honeymoon ~ Jeffreys passed away in 1988
February 13, 1950 ~ Singer, keyboardist, flutist Peter Gabriel, full name Peter Brian Gabriel, born in London, UK ~ Rose to fame in the 1970s as lead singer of progressive rock band Genesis, leaving the band in 1975. Released his solo debut album Peter Gabriel/Car in 1977. Best known for songs such as Solsbury Hill, Games Without Frontiers, Shock The Monkey, Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up with Kate Bush, and SteamFebruary 13, 1949 ~ Judith Aileen Dyble, commonly known as singer, pianist, songwriter Judy Dyble, born in London, UK ~ Best known as co-founding member of Fairport Convention, present on the band's 1968 eponymous Fairport Convention debut album. Also worked with Giles Giles & Fripp and made up half of the duo Trader Horne, the other half being Jackie McAuley ~ Dyble passed away in 2020
February 13, 1947 ~ Country singer Hank Williams records My Love For You Has Turned To Hate ~ Penned by Hank Williams. Produced by Fred Rose. Paired with I Don't Care If Tomorrow Never Comes on the flip side released as a single the next April. During the same session Williams would also record Pan American, used for his fourth and final single on Sterling Records before moving to MGM
February 13, 1942 ~ Peter Halsten Thorkelson, commonly known as guitarist Peter Tork, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Best known as a member of mid- to late 1960s sit-com and band the Monkees. Post-Monkees Tork has worked as an actor, collaborated with George Harrison, released a notable 1994 album (Stranger Things Have Happened), and toured with his blues band Shoe Suede Blues ~ Thorkelson passed away in 2019
February 13, 1941 ~ Fulton Allen, commonly known as singer, guitarist Blind Boy Fuller, passed away in Durham, North Carolina, USA ~ One of the most popular Piedmont blues artists. Known for a number of 1930s recordings, perhaps most notaby his rendition of Rag Mama Rag. Other well known songs include I Want Some Of Your Pie, Truckin' My Blues Away and Get Yer Yas Yas Out. The latter's title would be adapted by the Rolling Stones for their 1970 Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out live album ~ Fuller was born in 1907February 13, 1938 ~ Carmela Bizman, commonly known as singer, actress Carmela Corren, born in Tel Aviv, Mandatory Palestine ~ Enjoyed popularity in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria since the early 1960s. Represented Austria in the 1963 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 7th place with the song Vielleicht Geschieht Ein Wunder. Corren would record well over a dozen albums through the late 1970s ~ Bizman passed away in 2022
February 13, 1938 ~ Country, folk singer Larry Cunningham born in Clooneen, Ireland ~ Leading figure of the 1960s, 1970s showband scene. First Irish artist to break into the UK charts, his Tribute To Jim Reeves with the Mighty Avons reaching the top 10 in 1965. Their Lovely Leitrim released later the same year would reach No.1. Cunningham would front the Country Blue Boys from 1969 through the mid 1970s, scoring hits with songs such as Slaney Valley and This Time Of The Year ~ Cunningham passed away in 2012
February 13, 1928 ~ Singer Dorothy McGuire, full name Ruby Christine McGuire, born in Middletown, Ohio, USA ~ Formed the sibling outfit the McGuire Sisters with Christine McGuire and Phyllis McGuire. The close-harmony vocal trio would first gain attention in 1952 through Arthur Godfrey's talent contest Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, after which Godfrey hired them for several of his other TV shows. The trio remained active through the late 1960s, and are well known for songs such as Goodnight Sweatheart Goodnight, Muskrat Ramble, It May Sound Silly, Something's Gotta Give, and He. The sisters would top the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice, first with Sincerely in 1955, and again with Sugartime two years later. They have performed for five American presidents, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George HW Bush ~ McGuire passed away in 2012
February 13, 1928 ~ Conductor, oboist, TV, film composer Gerald Fried born in New York, New York, USA ~ Well known for composing music for a number of 1960s, 1970s TV shows such as Gilligan's Island, The Man From UNCLE, Shotgun Slade, Star Trek, and notably Roots, receiving an Emmy Award for the latter. Composed for over a dozen feature films, among them several of Stanley Kubrick's early movies including Fear And Desire, Killer's Kiss, and Paths Of Glory ~ Fried passed away in 2023
February 13, 1927 ~ Bluegrass, country, gospel guitarist, singer Jim McReynolds, full name Jesse Lester McReynolds, born in Coeburn, Virginia, USA ~ Formed the duo Jim & Jesse with his brother Jesse McReynolds, recording and performing from the 1950s until Jim's death in 2002. The brothers were backed by the Virginia Boys, which at times included musicians such as Vassar Clements, Allen Shelton, Carl Jackson, and Randall Franks ~ McReynolds passed away in 2002