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 20, 2025 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, pianist, saxophonist, drummer Jerry Butler passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Original lead singer of the Impressions, which at the time also included a then-unknown Curtis Mayfield. Present on the acclaimed For Your Precious Love, later covered by numerous artists including Otis Redding, Jackie Wilson, Count Basie and Aaron Neville. After his departure from the band in 1960 Butler would reach chart succes with songs such as He Will Break Your Heart, Moon River, Make It Easy On Yourself and the Betty Everett-duet Let It Be Me. Butler co-penned his highest-charting hit, 1969's Only The Strong Survive reaching No.4 Billboard Hot 100, with future Philly soul architects Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The song would notably be covered by Elvis Presley, Skeeter Davis and Billy Paul ~ Butler was born in 1939
February 20, 2024 ~ Pianist, singer David Libert passed away ~ Co-founding member of pop group the Happenings. The band was known for adding their own distinctive style to hits originally recorded by others, and enjoyed popularity especially during the mid 1960s. See You In September, Go Away Little Girl, I Got Rhythm, and My Mammy all reached top 20 Billboard Hot 100. Libert briefly served as manager for Rare Earth, and subsequently as tour manager for Alice Cooper during the first half of the 1970s, a time span generally considered Cooper's key period. After relocating to Los Angeles in 1976, Libert became a representative for artists such as George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Brian Auger, Vanilla Fudge, and Living Colour ~ Libert was born in 1943
February 20, 2023 ~ Rock bassist Bruce Barthol passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Original bassist for Country Joe & the Fish, present on the albums Electric Music For The Mind And Body, Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die, and Together. Barthol departed the band in 1968, staying on in England following a tour. Barthol has subsequently worked with Formerly Fat Harry, Energy Crisis, and political satire theatre group the San Francisco Mime Troupe ~ Barthol was born in 1947
February 20, 2023 ~ Blues singer, keyboardist, guitarist, hornist Victor Brox passed away ~ Fronted the Victor Brox Blues Train. Named “favorite white blues singer” by Jimi Hendrix. Best known for his performance as Caiaphas on the original 1970 recording of Jesus Christ Superstar. Has collaborated with numerous artists including Eric Clapton, Ritchie Blackmore, Graham Bond, Alexis Korner, John Mayall, Keith Moon, and Aynsley Dunbar, notably singing lead and playing keyboards and organ in the latter's late 1960s blues, rock band the Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation. Brox also appeared as a Leonardo da Vinci look-alike in the 1998 Ever After film ~ Brox was born in 1941
February 20, 2022 ~ Giovanna Carmella Babbo, commonly known as traditional pop singer Joni James, passed away in West Palm Beach, Florida, USA ~ Recorded prolifically through the mid 1960s. Best known for a string of 1950s hits starting with Why Don't You Believe Me, a 1952 hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Other well known songs include Have You Heard, Your Cheatin' Heart, Almost Always, My Love My Love, How Important Can It Be, and You Are My Love ~ Babbo was born in 1930
February 20, 2022 ~ Rock, punk rock drummer Sam Henry, full name Samuel William Henry, passed away in Portland, Oregon, USA ~ Co-founding member of punk rock outfit the Wipers alongside Greg Sage and Dave Koupal, known for the singles Better Off Dead and Alien Boy. Henry would leave the band by 1979 to join the husband-wife team Fred Cole and Toody Cole in Rats. Has also worked with Napalm Beach and Jenny Don't & the Spurs ~ Henry was born in 1956
February 20, 2021 ~ Boogie rock, boogie woogie pianist Gene Taylor passed away in Austin, Texas, USA ~ Briefly a member of Canned Heat from 1974 through 1976. Has also worked with Big Joe Turner, T-Bone Walker, James Harman, the Blasters, the Downchild Blues Band, the Fabulous Thunderbirds (Roll Of The Dice), the Red Devils, Kim Wilson (That's Life, Tiger Man), Charlie Musselwhite, Jackson Delta, Amos Garrett, Dwight Yoakam (Guitars Cadillacs Etc Etc), and John Hammond Jr ~ Taylor was born in 1952February 20, 2019 ~ Operatic, choral composer Dominick Argento passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Wrote fourteen operas, including Miss Havisham's Fire Opera, Masque Of The Angels, and Aspern Papers Opera, orchestral works, major song cycles, of which From The Diary Of Virginia Woolf won him the 1975 Pullitzer Prize for Music, and choral works. Married to soprano singer Carolyn Bailey, whom he often referred to as his muse ~ Argento was born in 1927
February 20, 2019 ~ Label executive, producer Fred Foster, full name Fred Luther Foster, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for co-penning Me & Bobby McGee with Kris Kristofferson, originally recorded by Roger Miller. The song would be covered by well over 200 artists, notably recorded by Janis Joplin mere days before her death and posthumously becoming her sole Billboard Hot 100 charttopper. Foster is also known as co-founder of Monument record label. As a label executive and producer he was helpful in advancing the careers of acts such as Kristofferson, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Billy Joe Shaver, Tony Joe White, and the Gatlin Brothers ~ Foster was born in 1931
February 20, 2019 ~ Keyboardist Gerard Koerts passed away in Perpignan, France ~ Co-founding member of Earth & Fire and along with his twin brother guitarist Chris Koerts primary songwriter of the band, known for a string of 1970s hits. Songs such as Seasons, Ruby Is The One, Wild And Exciting, Invitation, Storm And Thunder, Memories, Maybe Tomorrow Maybe Tonight, Love And Life, Thanks For The Love, and Weekend would all reach top 10 in the band's native Netherlands ~ Koerts was born in 1947
February 20, 1997 ~ Jazz guitarist Zachary Breaux, full name Zachary Charles Breaux, passed away in Miami Beach, Florida, USA ~ Influenced by George Benson and Wes Montgomery. Has recorded three albums as a leader, starting with Groovin' in 1992. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Randy Weston, Roy Ayers, Guru (Jazzmatazz Vol.1), Steps Ahead, and Ronny Jordan (A Brighter Day) ~ Breaux was born in 1960February 20, 1996 ~ Composer Toru Takemitsu passed away in Tokyo, Japan ~ Founding member Jikken Kobo, considered a highly influential experimental, avant-garde collective. Influenced by Olivier Messiaen, Claude Debussy and traditional Japanese music. Wrote several hundreds compositions, scored over 90 films, authored twenty books on aesthetics and music theory. Best known for his 1957 Requiem For String Orchestra ~ Takemitsu was born in 1930
February 20, 1993 ~ Singer Whitney Houston releases I Have Nothing, lifted off her The Bodyguard album ~ In her big screen acting debut in the romantic thriller drama film The Bodyguard, Whitney Houston plays the role of a diva singer opposite bodyguard and romantic partner Kevin Costner. The song I Have Nothing was written by David Foster and his then-wife Linda Thompson, with the latter drawing from her experience dating male diva singer Elvis Presley during the 1970s. Both the film and the accompanying soundtrack would be smash hits, cementing Houston's status as a pop culture icon. At the time of its release, I Have Nothing, as most songs of the soundtrack, would be overshadowed by the success of I Will Always Love You, the biggest hit from the soundtrack and arguably the biggest hit of Houston's career. Still, I Have Nothing reached No.4 Billboard Hot 100, received nominations both at the 65th Annual Academy Awards and the 36th Annual Grammy Awards, and received wide critical acclaim, both contemporary and retrospectively. In 2022, the general sentiment was perhaps best phrased by the Guardian who described the song as “the Whitney Houston power ballad to end all Whitney Houston power ballads, a five-minute-long emotional rollercoaster ride that surges from gentle pleading to full-on hell-hath-no-fury anger, with all the vocal trimmings thrown in”
February 20, 1989 ~ Singer Paula Abdul releases Forever Your Girl, lifted off her debut album of the same name ~ Written and produced by Oliver Leiber, who also worked on Paula Abdul's (It's Just) The Way That You Love Me, the title track off her debut album finds Abdul proclaiming her love and loyalty, and despite rumors that others may be interested in her, she vows to “forever” remain with her lover. Preceded by her smash hit Straight Up, Forever Your Girl would become Abdul's second Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit. It also reached top 20 in Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, and New Zealand, and topped the charts in Canada
February 20, 1988 ~ Robyn Rihanna Fenty, mononymously known as pop, R&B, hip-hop singer Rihanna, born in St Michael, Barbados ~ Discovered by producer Evan Rogers. Released her Music Of The Sun debut album in 2005. Known for songs such as Pon De Replay, SOS, Umbrella featuring Jay-Z, Take A Bow, Disturbia, Rude Boy, Only Girl (In The World), What's My Name featuring Drake, We Found Love featuring Calvin Harris, and DiamondsFebruary 20, 1981 ~ Guitarist, mandolinist, dobroist Chris Thile, full name Christopher Scott Thile, born in Oceanside, California, USA ~ Best known for forming the acoustic trio Nickel Creek with Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins. Member of progressive bluegrass band the Punch Brothers. Has released over half a dozen solo albums, starting with 1994's Leading Off, and collaborated with the likes of Mike Marshall, Edgar Meyer, Brad Mehldau, Yo-Yo Ma, Mutual Admiration Society, and Modern Mandolin Quartet
February 20, 1976 ~ Jazz saxophonist, bassoonist, pianist Ben Wendel born in Vancouver, Canada ~ Known for his harmonically sophisticated improvisation, drawing from post-bop, classical, and post-rock. Well over half a dozen albums to his name since the mid 2000s, especially acclaimed for Simple Song released in 2009. Co-founding member of Kneebody. In-demand collaborator, present on albums by Daedelus, Taylor Eigsti (Lucky To Be Me), Todd Sickafoose, Amy Kuney, Melissa Morgan (Until I Met You), Leela James, Austin Peralta, Busdriver (Perfect Hair), Tigran Hamasyan, Julia Holter, Gerald Clayton, and Pascal Le Boeuf
February 20, 1975 ~ Singer Brian Littrell, full name Brian Thomas Littrell, born in Lexington, Kentucky, USA ~ Father of country singer Baylee Littrell. Member of boy band the Backstreet Boys, known for a string of 1990s, 2000s hits. The band's 1995 We've Got It Going On debut single would only be moderately successful in their native America yet reach top 10 across Europe. The band's eponymous Backstreet Boys released the following year would reach triple Platinum status in Europe. Subsequent hits included Quit Playing Games With My Heart, Everybody (Backstreet's Back), All I Have To Give, I Want It That Way, Show Me The Way and The Shape Of My Heart would all reach the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. As a solo artist Littrell is known as a Christian singer, a genre he described as “pop positive”, releasing his Welcome Home debut album in 2006February 20, 1972 ~ Kevin Brereton, commonly known as rapper, singer, songwriter, producer K-OS, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Alternative rapper mixing rap, funk, rock, and reggae, focusing on a positive message. The acronym k-os, stylized in lowercase is said to stand for “knowledge of self.” Growing up, k-os listened to artists as diverse as New Order, Depeche Mode, Michael Jackson, Boogie Down Productions, A Tribe Called Quest, and the Beatles
February 20, 1971 ~ Folk singer, violinist, oboist, songwriter Paul Sartin born ~ Closely associated with Paul Hutchinson, with whom he formed Belshazzar's Feast. Formed Dr Faustus, known for the albums The First Cut and Wager. Also well known as a member of Bellowhead, joining the band in 2004. Has also composed for theatre and film, notably the 2011 Streetwise Opera film opera The Hartlepool Monkey, has worked as TV presenter and co-founded Whitchurch Folk Club ~ Sartin passed away in 2022
February 20, 1970 ~ Jazz pianist, organist, keyboardist Craig Taborn, full name Craig Marvin Taborn, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader starting with The Craig Taborn Trio released in 1994 teaming up with Jaribu Shahid and Tani Tabbal. Sideman on over 100 albums, including recordings by Lotte Anker, the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, Tim Berne, David Binney, James Carter, Marty Ehrlich, Michael Formanek, Drew Gress, Innerzone Orchestra, Ingrid Laubrock, Mat Maneri, Roscoe Mitchell, Evan Parker, Chris Potter, and Wadada Leo SmithFebruary 20, 1970 ~ Jazz pianist Eric Legnini born near Liège, Belgium ~ Worked with Barney Wilen, Michel Graillier, Flavio Boltro, Stefano di Battiste, Aldo Romano, Stephane Belmondo, John Ruocco, Felix Simtaine, Michel Hatzigeorgiou, Dre Pallemearts, Emanuele Cisi, Toninho Horta, Philip Catherine, Serge Reggiani, Hein van de Geyn, Marcia Maria, Jacques Pelzer, André Ceccarelli, Eric Le Lann, and Paco Sery
February 20, 1969 ~ Conductor Ernest Ansermet, full name Ernest Alexandre Ansermet, passed away in Geneva, Switzerland ~ One of the first in the field of classical music to take jazz seriously. Founded the Orchestra de la Suisse Romande in 1918, with whom he toured extensively in Europe and America. Well known for recording Igor Stravinsky's Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra in 1930, with Stravinsky himself at the keys ~ Ansermet was born in 1883
February 20, 1967 ~ Guitarist, singer Kurt Cobain, full name Kurt Donald Cobain, born in Aberdeen, Washington, USA ~ Guitarist, singer, frontman of pivotal Seattle grunge outfit Nirvana, known for songs such as Smells Like Teen Spirit, Come As You Are, In Bloom, All Apologies and Heart-Shaped Box. Cobain would die of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 27, yet be remembered as spokesperson of the Generation X and one of the all-time most influential rock musicians ~ Cobain passed away in 1994February 20, 1966 ~ Hard bop saxophonist Mark Gross born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Worked with Lionel Hampton, Delfeayao Marsalis, Nat Adderley, Buster Williams, Dave Holland, Mulgrew Miller, Nicholas Payton, Wynton Marsalis, Nancy Wilson, Jack McDuff, Walter Booker, Jimmy Cobb, Don Braden, Vincent Gardner, Marlon Saunders, and Freddie Hubbard