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 18, 2021 ~ Mark Anthony Morales, commonly known as hip-hop, new jack swing rapper, songwriter, producer Prince Markie Dee, passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Rose to fame as member of the Fat Boys, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums. They are considered a pioneering rap group, known best for songs such as Wipeout and Twist. Following the group's disbandement, Morales has recorded two albums as a solo artist, Free issued in 1992 and Love Daddy three years later, yet he would become best known as a producer and songwriter, including notably producing Mary J Blige's acclaimed What's The 411 debut album. Other notable associations include Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Craig Mack and Marc Anthony. Morales passed away of congestive heart failure, one day short of his 53rd birthday ~ Morales was born in 1968February 18, 2019 ~ Mary Ann Janisch, commonly known as music critic Mary Ann Feldman, passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ PR advisor for the Minnesota Orchestra. Member of board of directors of Music Critics Association from 1977 until 1981. As a music critic worked for outlets such as Musical America, Opera News, the Minneapolis Star and The New Grove Dictionary Of Music And Musicians ~ Feldman was born in 1933
February 18, 2017 ~ Drummer Clyde Stubblefield passed away in Madison, Wisconsin, USA ~ Best known for backing James Brown from the mid 1960s through the early 1970s, including on songs such as Cold Sweat, There Was A Time, I Got The Feeling, Ain't It Funky Now, Mother Popcorn, and Give It Up Or Turn It Loose. Also worked with fellow the JB's members Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker and John Jabo Starks, with Steve Skaggs, Luther Allison, Cris Plat, Randy Sabien, the Common Faces, Neo, Richard Mazda, Fred Wesley, Ben Sidran, and Garbage ~ Stubblefield was born in 1943
February 18, 2016 ~ Keyboardist, guitarist, singer Paul Christian Gordon passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Keyboardist, guitarist. Best known as a member of the New Radicals and as a member of the B52's from 2007 until his death in 2016. Gordon has also worked with Natasha Bedingfield, the Goo Goo Dolls, Danielle Brisebois, Prince, Jennifer Nettles, Lisa Marie Presley, Charles & Eddie, the Devlins, Erann DD, Jeffrey Gaines, John Gregory, Nona Hendryx, Carly Hennessy, Juliet Dagger, Jill Jones, Chaka Khan, Lila McCann, Mandy Moore, Jenny Muldaur, Trine Rienne, Wild Orchid, and with David Yazbel ~ Gordon was born in [artist-paul-christian-gordon]February 18, 2015 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Willie C Jackson passed away ~ Member of the Spaniels. The band is known for Baby It's You and Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight, both of which reached top 10 Billboard R&B at the time of their release in the early 1950s. The latter remains popular to this day, frequently featured in films including American Graffiti, fondly remembered as one of the most endearing early doo-wop hits ~ Jackson was born in 1935
February 18, 2013 ~ R&B, soul singer Damon Harris, full name Otis Robert Harris Jr, passed away in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Best known as a member of the Temptations from 1971 through 1975, singing lead on songs such as Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are), Take A Look Around, Papa Was A Rollin' Stone, and Masterpiece. After leaving the group, Harris formed Impact, known for a number of minor disco hits including Happy Man and Give A Broken Heart A Break ~ Harris was born in 1950
February 18, 2013 ~ Singer, songwriter Kevin Ayers passed away in Montolieu, France ~ Important and influential figure in British progressive rock, psychedelic rock as a solo artist, in-demand collaborator and as founding and key member of Soft Machine. Worked with Brian Eno, Syd Barrett, Bridget St John, John Cale, Elton John, Robert Wyatt, Mike Oldfield, Ollie Halsall, Lol Coxhill, and Zoot Money ~ Ayers was born in 1944February 18, 2009 ~ Fird Eaglin J, commonly known as guitarist, singer Snooks Eaglin, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Worked with the Flamingoes, which also included Allen Toussaint. Has also worked with James Sugarboy Crawford, James Booker, Smokey Johnson, Ellis Marsalis, Professor Longhair, the Wild Magnolias, Henry Butler, Earl King, and Tommy Ridgley ~ Eaglin was born in 1936
February 18, 2003 ~ Donald Eugene Lytle, commonly known as singer, songwriter Johnny Paycheck passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for Take This Job And Shove It, a smash hit in 1977. Also known for Slide Of Of Your Satin Sheets, I'm The Only Hell Mama Ever Raised, Colorado Kool-aid, Me & The IRS and Friend Lover Wife. Wrote Apartment No.9, the first major hit for Tammy Wynette. Sang backup for George Jones. Also worked with Ray Price, Faron Young, Roger Miller, and Skeets McDonald ~ Lytle was born in 1938
February 18, 1995 ~ Guitarist Bob Stinson, full name Robert Neil Stinson, passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Lead guitarist, co-founding member of the Replacements, conisdered one of the most influential rock acts of the 1980s, with whom he recorded four albums, including the highly acclaimed Tim. Stinson was ousted from the band in 1985, most likely due to a power struggle with the band's singer Paul Westerberg. As Prefix Magazine later documented: “Whether he was thrown out for the way his alleged alcohol problems had destroyed his skills or he left voluntarily due to creative tension is a moot point. What matters is this: Stinson was gone, and with him went much of the band's edge.” Stinson would pass away at age 35, his overall health diminished by frequent drug use. A park bench dedicated to Stinson sits next to a quiet canal near Lake Of The Isles, Minneapolis. It was purchased by his mother Anita in his honor ~ Stinson was born in 1959February 18, 1995 ~ Singer Eddie Williams, full name Edward Earl Williams, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ First to record Saturday Night Fish Fry in 1949 with spoken vocals by its author Ellis Walsh. Before the single was out the song would be adapted by Louis Jordan who changed the rhythm, arrangements and some of the lyrics and scored a massive hit, some marking Jordan's single as one of the first rock & roll records ~ Williams was born in 1912
February 18, 1995 ~ Trumpeter Yank Lawson passed away in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Closely associated with Bob Haggart, with whom he worked in the Lawson-Haggart Band in the 1950s and in the World's Greatest Jazz Band from the late 1960s through the late 1970s. Lawson has also worked with Ben Pollack, Bob Crosby, Benny Goodman, and Tommy Dorsey ~ Lawson was born in 1911
February 18, 1986 ~ Pop, R&B, freestyle trio Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam release All Cried Out, lifted off their Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam With Full Force debut album ~ The song tells of a woman so wounded by her lover's betrayal she no more tears to cry. Singer Lisa Lisa was only 19 when All Cried Out became a hit, but had started working with the Full Force production team years before and even at a young age could relate to the emotions required for All Cried Out. Later Lisa Lisa would comment, looking back on all the feedback she had received on this song: “(What) I hear the most is from the females, ‘You helped me through my breakup with your song, All Cried Out. You kept me alive and moving.’ Well, whatever I can do to help is cool with me, because when we were doing the song, I was going through the same thing. I was 13 years old, so what the hell did I know? But we all universally go through the same first breakup experience.” All Cried Out was the first major hit for the New York trio, and would be notably covered about a decade later by girl group Allure, featuring Mariah Carey on backing vocals. The Allure cover would peak at No.4 Billboard Hot 100, surpassing the original which had reached No.8
February 18, 1986 ~ Jazz guitarist, tubist Louis Keppard passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Brother of jazz cornetist Freddie Keppard. Member of the Cherry Blossom Band. Led Magnolia, which also included King Oliver and Honore Dutrey. Has also worked with the Tuxedo Brass Band, Manuel Perez, the Olympia Orchestra, the Gibson Brass Band, the Young Excelsior Brass Band, and Wooden Joe Nicholass ~ Keppard was born in 1888
February 18, 1985 ~ Songwriter Nancy Hamilton passed away ~ Wrote sketches and lyrics for revues such as The New Faces Of 1934 (1934), One For The Money (1939), and Three To Make Ready (1946). Perhaps best known as co-writer of How High The Moon, initially for the 1940 Broadway revue show Two For The Show, and later recorded by Benny Goodman, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Don Byas, Al Casey, June Christy, Larry Clinton, Stéphane Grappelli, Emmylou Harris, Harry James, Marvin Gaye, Gloria Gaynor, the Manhattan Transfer, Oscar Peterson, and Phish ~ Hamilton was born in 1908
February 18, 1985 ~ Carel Verbrugge, commonly known as singer Willy Alberti, passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Renowned torch, pop singer, balladeer, popular from the late 1940s through the 1970s. Sang in Dutch and Italian. Father of singer Willeke Alberti. Known for songs such as Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu, Ik Zing Dit Lied Voor Jou Alleen, Marina, and De Glimlach Van Een Kind ~ Verbrugge was born in 1926
February 18, 1982 ~ LaRon Louis James, commonly known as MC Juelz Santana, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of the Diplomats, an East Coast hip hop group at times also known as Dipset founded by Cam'ron. Best known for guesting on the early 2000s Cam'ron Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Oh Boy and Hey Ma. As a solo artist known for the albums From Me To U and What The Game's Been Missing, the latter spawning the hit single There It Go (The Whistle Song)
February 18, 1982 ~ Natan Schüldkraut, commonly known as composer, conductor, clarinetist, pianist Nathaniel Shilkret, passed away in Franklin Square, New York, USA ~ Child prodigy, performing professionally as clarinet soloist with the New York Boys Orchestra from ages 7 to 13. Would go on to become an in-demand conductor for records, radio, film, stage and classical orchestras. Has worked with the Dorsey Brothers, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Joe Lipman, the New York Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera, the Russian Symphony Orchestra, Victor Herbert, Arnold Volpe, Rose Bampton, Lucrezia Bori, Mary Garden, James Melton, Gladys Swarthout, and Lawrence Tibbett. As a composer best remembered for co-writing The Lonesome Road, first sung by co-author Gene Austin, popularized by Jules Bledsoe in the 1929 Show Boat film and covered by over 200 artists including Louis Armstrong, the Delmore Brothers, Frank Sinatra, Sam Cooke, and Earl Grant ~ Shilkret was born in 1889February 18, 1980 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist Paul Howard passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Sideman and leader. Active from the 1910s onwards. Played with Wood Wilson, Satchel McVea, Harry Southard, King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Sonny Clay, George Orendorff, Lionel Hampton, Lawrence Brown, Charlie Lawrence, Ed Garland, Freddie Washington, Eddie Barefield, and Charlie Echols ~ Howard was born in 1895
February 18, 1980 ~ Indie rock singer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter Regina Spektor, full name Regina Ilyinichna Spektor, born in Moscow, Russia ~ Heroine of the anti-folk scene. Debuted in 2001 with the album 11:11. Broke through with her 2006 album Begin To Hope and has consistenly reached the higher echelons of the American album charts since. In-demand collaborator, has worked with Anders Griffen, Kimya Dawson, the Strokes, Ben Folds, Thomas Dolby, the Only Son, and Gogol Bordello. Spektor married singer Jack Dishel in 2011
February 18, 1978 ~ Singer, pianist Billy Joel's album The Stranger hits No.2 Billboard Hot 200 a month after entering the charts, and some five monts after its release ~ With his two previous albums lacking commercial success, Columbia Records was on the verge of dropping Billy Joel altogether. The Stranger needed to be a hit album, and though it took a while, it was
February 18, 1975 ~ Bandleader Bob Haring passed away ~ Popular swing, dance, foxtrot bandleader of the 1920s and 1930s. Staff musician, bandleader at the Cameo Records and Brunswick Records labels, using a multitude of monnikers making his discography difficult to trace. Most closely associated with the Colonial Club Orchestrea and the Regent Club Orchestra ~ Haring was born in 1895February 18, 1971 ~ Victor James Kelly, commonly known as pop, pop rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Jimmy Kelly, born in Gamonal, Spain ~ Best known as member of family outfit the Kelly Family, wrote or co-wrote several of the band's songs including Cover The Road, Nanana, What's A Matter You People and So Many Troubles. Debuted as a solo artist in 2005 with the album Babylon and has recorded steadily since
February 18, 1970 ~ Sidney Keith Rosenthal, commonly known as songwriter, lyricist Bob Russell, passed away in Beverly Hills, California, USA ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing I Didn't Know About You first recorded by Woody Herman, and Crazy He Calls Me first recorded by Billie Holiday. Others who recorded his songs include Jimmy Dorsey, Ray McKinley, Nat King Cole (Blue Gardenia), Kay Starr, and June Christy ~ Rosenthal was born in 1914February 18, 1970 ~ Michael Anthony Maida, commonly known as singer, songwriter Raine Maida, born in Weston, Canada ~ Best known as lead singer, primary songwriter of Our Lady Peace. Has also released a number of solo albums, starting with 2007's Hunter's Lullaby. Married to singer Chantal Kreviazuk