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, 1946 ~ Luis Vamilo Argúmedes Berguido, commonly known as salsa singer Azuquita, born in Colón, Panama ~ Leading salsa singer, active since the mid 1960s. Member of Cuban band Sonora Matancera. As a solo artist especially acclaimed for his 1976 Pura Salsa album. Has also collaborated with Roberto Roena, Ismael Rivera, Rafael Cortijo, Tito Puente (Ce' Magnifique), and the Fania All-Stars ~ Berguido passed away in 2022
February 18, 1946 ~ Country rock pedal steel guitarist Buddy Cage born in Concord, North Carolina, USA ~ Member of the New Riders Of The Purple Sage from 1971 through 1982, with a small hiatus during the late 1970s. In-demand session musician, has collaborated with the likes of Anne Murray, the Great Speckled Bird, Brewer & Shipley, Bob Dylan (Blood On The Tracks), David Bromberg, Solar Circus, Jorge Ferreira, Slipknot, the Brooklyn Cowboys, the Zen Tricksters, and Ronnie Penque ~ Cage passed away in 2020February 18, 1946 ~ Country engineer, producer Richard Landis born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Early on in his career, Landis recorded as a solo artist to limited success, known for his sole 1972 Natural Causes album, yet would grow to become one of the most respected producers in country music. Closely associated with Juice Newton, including producing her breakthrough 1981 album Juice which spawned the hits Angel Of The Morning, Queen Of Hearts, and the Billboard Country No.1 The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known). Other notable associations include Peter Allen, Red Rider, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the Seldom Scene, Van Stephenson, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Rogers, Eddie Rabbitt, Lorrie Morgan, Doug Supernaw, the Oak Ridge Boys, Neil Diamond, Vince Gill, and Tom Cochrane ~ Landis passed away in 2023
February 18, 1944 ~ Frederik Beekmans, commonly known as pop, rock, disco singer, guitarist Fred Bekky, born in Hoboken, Belgium ~ Co-founded pop rock unit Pebbles with Bob Baelemans, best known for their mid 1960s hit Seven Horses In The Sky. Formed disco group Trinity with singer Sofie and Baelemans, known for their 1976 hit 002-345-709 (That's My Number). Following the band's disbandement in 1978 Beekmans has primarily worked as a producer and songwriter for a wide array of Belgian and Dutch artists including Jo Vally, Garry Hagger, Yasmine, Ann Christy, Silvy de Bie, and Danny Fabry
February 18, 1941 ~ Irma Lee, commonly known as R&B, soul singer Irma Thomas, born in Pontchoula, Louisiana, USA ~ Contemporary of Aretha Franklin and Etta James. Dubbed “the Soul QUeen of New Orleans”. Known for songs such as Ruler Of My Heart, Wish Someone Would Care, and the original versions of Breakaway and Time Is On My Side. The latter two would be notably covered by respectively Tracey Ullman and the Rolling Stones
February 18, 1940 ~ Singer, songwriter Fabrizio de André, full name Fabrizio Cristiano de André, born in Genoa, Italy ~ Considered one of the most influential and important Italian songwriters with a career spanning four decades and over a dozen albums to his name. Known for his sympathies towards anarchism, left-libertarianism and pacifism as evidenced in his lyrics and subjects. Many of his songs have become classics including La Guerra Di Piero, La Ballata Deli'eroe, Il Testamento Di Tito, Via Del Campo, La Canzona Deli Amore Perduto and La Città Vecchia ~ De André passed away in 1999February 18, 1940 ~ Jazz saxophonist Rudy Wiedoeft, full name Rudolph Cornelius Wiedoeft, passed away in Flushing, New York, USA ~ Popularized the saxophone as a viable instrument. As a composer known for songs such as Valse Erica, Valse Llewellyn, Saxema, Saxophobia and Sax-o-phun ~ Wiedoeft was born 1893
February 18, 1939 ~ Robert Luke Harshman, commonly known as songwriter Bobby Hart, born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA ~ Frequent songwriting partner of Tommy Boyce, the duo writing songs for the likes of Jay & the Americans, Paul Revere & the Raiders, the Leaves, and perhaps most notably the Monkees, the latter recording songs such as Theme From The Monkees, Last Train From Clarksville, She, and Through The Looking Glass ~ Harshman passed away in 2025
February 18, 1937 ~ Warren Schexnider, commonly known as swamp pop, country drummer, singer, songwriter Warren Storm, born in Abbeville, Louisiana, USA ~ Considered a pioneer of swamp pop, merging R&B, country, Cajun and black Creole music. Known especially for his recording of The Prisoner's Song and Mama Mama Mama (Look What Your Little Boy's Done). Member of the Shondells alongside Rod Bernard and Skip Stewart. Sessioned with artists such as Lazy Lester, Lightnin' Slim, Katie Webster, and Lonesome Sundown ~ Schexnider passed away in 2021
February 18, 1935 ~ Singer, guitarist Ciarán Bourke born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Co-founded folk band the Dubliners in 1962. Sang lead on songs such as Peggy Lettermore and Preab San Ol. Collapsed on stage in 1974 after a brain haemorrhage. A second haemorrhage would leave him paralysed on his left side ~ Bourke passed away in 1988
February 18, 1935 ~ Film composer Gennady Gladkov, full name Gennady Igorevich Gladkov, born in Moscow, Soviet Union ~ Renowned Russian film composer with well over two dozen soundtracks to his name, including for the 1969 animated 20 minute film The Bremen Town Musicians. Based on the characters of a fairy tale by the Grimm Brothers, the film would become a cult hit in the Soviet Union because of its memorable soundtrack influenced by Western rock & roll. Two sequels would be made, On The Trail Of The Bremen Town Musicians in 1973 and The New Bremen Town Musicians in 2000, both also scored by Gladkov ~ Gladkov passed away in 2023
February 18, 1934 ~ Clyde Battin, commonly known as country rock, folk rock singer, bassist Skip Battin, born in Gallipolis, Ohio, USA ~ Best known as member of the Byrds, with whom he recorded three albums from 1970 through 1973. Prior to his tenure with the Byrds, Battin formed the duo Skip & Flip with Gary S Paxton, known for the singles It Was I and Cherry Pie, both of which reached top 20 Billboard Hot 100. Battin has released several solo albums, starting with 1972's Skip, and has recorded with Gene Vincent, the New Riders Of The Purple Sage, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Pacific Steel Co, Sneaky Pete Kleinow (Sneaky Pete), Warren Zevon, and Kim Fowley ~ Battin passed away in 2003
February 18, 1928 ~ Jazz drummer Frank Butler born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ Played drums in high school bands, local jazz combos, and in USO shows during World War II. After the war, Butler would establish himself as a highly regarded sideman, honed especially for his presicion chops. Although he never became a household name, he was held in the highest regard by his peers, veteran drummer Jo Jones once proclaiming Butler “the greatest drummer in the world”. Over the course of his career, Butler has appeared on albums by Curtis Counce (You Get More Bounce With Curtis Counce), Harold Land (Harold In The Land Of Jazz), Hampton Hawes, Jimmy Witherspoon (Singin' The Blues), Art Pepper, Elmo Hope, Ben Webster, Helen Humes (Swingin' With Humes), Miles Davis (Seven Steps To Heaven), Lou Rawls, Phineas Newborn Jr, John Coltrane, and Red Garland. Butler would record sporadically as a leader, and is especially acclaimed for the albums Wheelin' And Dealin' and The Stepper recorded near the end of his life ~ Butler passed away in 1984
February 18, 1919 ~ Jazz pianist, songwriter Henry Ragas passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as founder of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, often considered to be the first jazz ensemble. Present on recordings such as Bluin' The Blues, Clarinet Marmalade, At The Jazz Band Ball, Sensation Rag, and perhaps their best known Tiger Rag. Died in the 1919 flu epidemic. The band would continue with J Russell Robinson taking Ragas' place ~ Ragas was born in 1890
February 18, 1914 ~ Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski, commonly known as country singer, accordionist, fiddler, songwriter Pee Wee King, born in Abrams, Wisconsin, USA ~ Introduced waltzes, polka and cowboy songs to country music. Co-wrote The Tennessee Waltz with Redd Stewart, which would become a country standard covered by numerous artists including Patti Page. Also co-wrote Slow Poke, and You Belong To Me ~ Kuczynski passed away in 2000