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 17, 1991 ~ Pop, folk-pop singer, songwriter Ed Sheeran, full name Edward Christopher Sheeran, born in Halifax, UK ~ Influenced by Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Elton John, the Beatles, Damien Rice. Emerged in the early-2010s on the strength of his Youtube videos to dominate the charts throughout the remainder of the decade both as a singer and as an in-demand collaborator and songwriter for other artists. Has sold over 150 million records, making him one of the world's best-selling artists. Known for songs such as Sing, Thinking Out Loud, Castle On The Hill, The Shape Of You, Perfect, Take Me Back To London, and AfterglowFebruary 17, 1989 ~ Indie pop, indie rock singer, guitarist Albert Cerny born in Trinex, Czechoslovakia ~ Lead singer of both Charlie Straight and Lake Malawi. With the latter Cerny represented his native Czechoslavakia at the 2019 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 11th place with Friend Of A Friend
February 17, 1988 ~ Alexander Vargas Blay, commonly known as aAlternative rock, soul singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter, producer Alex Vargas, born in Horsholm, Denmark ~ Founding member of Vagabond, disbanding the band in 2010 to pursue a solo career. As a solo artist best known for songs such as More and Shackled Up. Has collaborated with Above & Beyond, co-writing a number of songs of their We Are All We Need album. Also co-wrote Kristian Kostov's Beautiful Mess, Bulgaria's entry for the 2017 Eurovision Songfestival which reached 2nd place
February 17, 1986 ~ Singer Kate Bush releases Hounds Of Love, lifted off the album of the same name ~ The song uses the imagery of somebody being chased by a pack of hounds as a metaphor for an aversion to love. The song was partly inspired by the cult classic film Night Of The Demon in which demons hid waiting in trees, the song's opening line “it's coming, it's in the trees” taken directly from the film. Kate Bush would later reveal: “The hounds of love are an image really, someone who's afraid of being captured by love; and the imagery is love taking the form of hounds that are hunting them, so they run away because they're afraid of being caught by the hounds and ripped to shreds.” The single would reach No.18 in the singer's native UK. Its parent album of the same name features a picture of Kate Bush's own dogs, Bonnie and Clyde.February 17, 1984 ~ Blues bassist, singer, songwriter Andrew McMahon, also known as Andrew Blueblood McMahon, passed away in Monroe, Louisiana, USA ~ Closely associated with Howlin' Wolf, backing the Wolf for over a decade starting in 1960. As a solo artist known for songs such as Lost In The Jungle, Special Agent, Potato Diggin' Man and Worried All The Time ~ McMahon was born in 1926
February 17, 1983 ~ Digby George Richards, commonly known as rock & roll singer, songwriter, TV personality Dig Richards, passed away in Sydney, Australia ~ Fronted the R'Jays during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Arguably the first Australian rock & roll artists to record a full-length album, namely his eponymous Dig Richards solo debut album in 1959. Would venture into country later on. Best known for songs such as My Little Lover, A Little Piece Of Peace, People Call Me Country, and Do The Spunky Monkey ~ Richards was born in 1940February 17, 1982 ~ Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, commonly known as rapper Lupe Fiasco, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Released his full-length Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor debut album in 2006. Known for songs such as Superstar featuring Matthew Santos and The Show Goes On. Has worked with Japanese Cartoon, Da Pak, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z, Joy Denalane, Dan the Automator, and Guy Sebastian
February 17, 1982 ~ Jazz, cool jazz, bebop, hard bop pianist, composer Thelonious Monk, full name Thelonious Sphere Monk, passed away in Englewood, New Jersey, USA ~ Second-most-recorded jazz composer, after Duke Ellington, known for standards such as Round Midnight, Blue Monk, Straight No Chaser, Ruby My Dear, In Walked Bud and Well You Needn't ~ Monk was born in 1917
February 17, 1979 ~ Albert Irving Silverman, commonly known as songwriter, lyricist Al Stillman, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing I Believe, recorded by Jane Froman, Mahalia Jackson, Elvis Presley, the Rascals, and Loretta Lynn, and for co-writing Home For The Holidays, recorded by Perry Como, Lorne Greene, Johnny Tillotson, and the Carpenters. Others who recorded his songs include Ray Kinney, Tommy Dorsey, the Four Lads, Pat Boone, and Cher ~ Silverman was born in 1901
February 17, 1978 ~ Singer Nick Lowe releases I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass, lifted off his Jesus Of Cool solo debut album ~ The first ever single to be released by the UK label Radar Records. In order to not offend Christians, the American release of the parent album Jesus Of Cool was issued under the title Pure Pop For Now People. The single was Nick Lowe's biggest hit, peaking at No.7 on the British charts, yet Lowe rarely performed the song live. In 2011, the singer told QC Magazine the song could not be effectively performed solo: “If I played it with just an acoustic guitar, the audience would probably give me a little clap in recognition, but by verse two, they'd be looking at their fingernails, waiting for the next one”
February 17, 1975 ~ Charles Scruggs Jr, commonly known as Wish Bone, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Founding member of hip-hop group Bone Thugs 'n Harmony, which also included Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone and Flesh-n-Bone. The group would be discovered by NWA's Eazy E and release a debut EP in 1994 which spawned the hit Thuggish Ruggish Bone featuring Shatasha Williams. Subsequent hits included 1st Of Da Month, Tha Crossroads, Look Into My Eyes and I Tried featuring AkonFebruary 17, 1974 ~ Country singer, songwrier Bryan White, full name Bryan Shelton White, born in Lawton, Oklahoma, USA ~ Debuted in 1994 with the eponymous Bryan White album. Both his debut and the 1996 follow-up Between Now And Forever would reach Platinum status. Known for songs such as Someone Else's Star, Rebecca Lynn, So Much For Pretending and Sittin' On Go
February 17, 1972 ~ Pop, surf outfit the Beach Boys record Marcella ~ Written by Brian Wilson, Tandyn Almer, Jack Rieley. Reportedly the lyrics were inspired by Wilson's fixation with a a local massage therapist. Included on the 1972 Carl & The Passions album. Alse released as a single featuring Hold On Dear Brother on the flip side
February 17, 1972 ~ Singer, guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Lead singer, lead guitarist of punk rock outfit Green Day, co-founded with Mike Dirnt, known for songs such as American Idiot, Boulevard Of Broken Dreams and Wake Me Up When September Ends
February 17, 1972 ~ Death metal, groove metal singer Lars-Göran Petrov born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Influenced by Iron Maiden, Bathory, Mercyful Fate, Voivod. First gained attention as drummer in extreme metal band Morbid, then fronted by singer Dead. Would go on to work with Nihilist, from which he was fired for making a pass at the girlfriend of bandmate drummer Nicke Andersson. Rejoined the band in 1992, now renamed to Entombed. Also served as lead singer of metal supergroup Firespawn from 2012 until his death ~ Petrov passed away in 2021
February 17, 1972 ~ Alternative rock, punk rock, post-grunge drummer Taylor Hawkins, full name Oliver Taylor Hawkins born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Influenced by Phil Collins, Stewart Copeland, Stephen Perkins, Jim Gordon, and Neil Peart. Rose to fame as drummer of the Foo Fighters, with whom he recorded eight albums including the acclaimed The Colour And The Shape, There Is Nothing Left To Lose, and Wasting Light. Hawkins has also recorded three albums with his own band, Taylor Hawkins & the Coattail Riders, starting with the eponymous Taylor Hawkins & the Coattail Riders released in 2006, served as touring drummer for Sass Jordan and Alanis Morissette, and recorded with Birds Of Satan, Perry Farrell, Cat Power (You Are Free), Eric Avery, and Coheed & Cambria. Hawkins passed away at age 50 while scheduled to perform with the Foo Fighters later that night. The band later performed two tribute concerts in his honor, featuring an extensive list of guest musicians including John Paul Jones, Alex Lifeson, Paul McCartney, Lars Ulrich, Queen, Rush, Miley Cyrus, Joan Jett, and Alanis Morissette ~ Hawkins passed away in 2022
February 17, 1972 ~ Yuki Kuramochi, mononymously known as singer, songwriter Yuki, born in Hakodate, Japan ~ Lead singer of Judy And Mary, formed in the early 1990s. Active as a solo artist since the 2000s, scoring numerous top 10 hits in her native Japan including Nagia Yume, Dramatic, Hoshikuzu Sunset, Wonder Line, and Futari No Story. Kuramochi also was a member of all-female rock outfit Mean Machine, known for their sole Cream album released in 2001February 17, 1971 ~ John McKeown, commonly known as indie rock singer, guitarist Jackie McKeown, born in Belshill, UK ~ Co-founding member, lead singer of Yummy Fur, remaining with the band throughout its entire existence from 1992 through 1999. Has since worked with the short-lived electronic pop band Girls which also included Yummy-bandmate and Franz Ferdinand-frontman Alex Kapranos as well as with Mars Hotel, the 1990s and Trans
February 17, 1970 ~ Film composer, arranger, conductor Alfred Newman passed away in Hollywood, California, USA ~ Has scored the music for over 200 feature films from the 1930s until his death four decades later. Nominated for an Academy Award over 40 times, winning nine times including with 1943's The Song Of Bernadette and 1955's Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing. Other notable scores include The Diary Of Anne Frank, How The West Was Won, and The Greatest Story Ever Told ~ Newman was born in 1900
February 17, 1969 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Bob Dylan records I'll Be Staying Here With You ~ Penned by Bob Dylan. Produced by Bob Johnston. Included on the 1969 Nashville Skyline album. Released as a single, b/w Country Pie, the following October. Generally regarded as one of Dylan's greatest love songs, its lyrics marking a change from earlier love songs which often expressed restlessness or had a bitter undertone
February 17, 1969 ~ Jon Randall Stewart, commonly known as country producer, songwriter, singer, guitarist Jon Randall, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ First gained attention as backing guitarist for Emmylou Harris, notably present on the 1992 Live At The Ryman album. Has recorded a number of solo albums, starting with What You Don't Know released in 1995. Co-wrote Whiskey Lullabye, recorded by Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss. Co-wrote Tin Man, recorded by Miranda Lambert. Has served as producer for the likes of Dierks Bentley, Darden Smith, Dwight Yoakam, Jack Ingram, Parker McCollum, and Chase Bryant
February 17, 1969 ~ Jazz drummer, songwriter Paul Barbarin, full name Adolphe Paul Barbarin, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Founded the Onward Brass Band. Also worked with the Silver Leaf Orchestra, the Young Olympia Band, Freddie Keppard, King Oliver, Luis Russell, Red Allen, Sidney Bechet, Art Hodes. Died while playing snare drums during a Mardi Grass parade ~ Barbarin was born in 1899
February 17, 1967 ~ Singer, actress, songwriter Chanté Moore, full name Chanté Torrane Moore, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Known for a number of hits on the R&B charts starting in the early 1990s, including Love's Taken Over, It's Alright, Old School Lovin', and Chante's Got A Man, the latter also reaching the top 10 of the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 in 1999. Has sessioned or guested on recordings by El DeBarge, Damion Hall, Boyz II Men, Will Downing, the Isley Brothers (notably on the 2001 top 20 hit Contagious), Kenny G, Everette Harp, Bobby Brown, George Duke, Patrice Rushen, Toni Braxton, Chaka Khan, and Dionne Warwick
February 17, 1962 ~ Bruno Schlesinger, commonly known as conductor, pianist, composer Bruno Walter, passed away in Beverly Hills, California, USA ~ Widely considered one of the great conductors of the 20th century. Fled Germany in 1933, naturalized French citizen in 1938, settled in America the next year. Has worked closely with Gustav Mahler. Held positions at prestigious orchestras including the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Salzberg Festival, the Vienna State Oper, and the Deutsche Oper Berlin ~ Schlesinger was born in 1876
February 17, 1962 ~ Rock singer, guitarist, songwriter David McComb, full name David Richard McComb, born in Perth, Australia ~ Fronted the Triffids from 1976 through 1989, known for songs such as Wide Open Road and Bury Me Deep In Love. Subsequently worked with the Blackeyed Susans in the late 1980s and early 1990s. McComb struggled with bouts of alcoholism and substance abuse throughout his career which greatly affected his health, eventually needing a heart transplant in 1996. McComb passed away just two weeks shy of his 37th birthday ~ McComb passed away in 1999