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 21, 2026 ~ Drummer Mark Kennedy passed away in Clayton, Australia ~ Worked with Spectrum, Doug Parkinson, Leo de Castro, King Harvest, Ayers Rock, Marcia Hines, Men At Work, Renée Geyer, Jimmy Barnes, and others ~ Kennedy was born in 1951
February 21, 2026 ~ William Anthony Colón Román, commonly known as salsa, bolero singer, trombonist, producer, arranger Willie Colón passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Influential figure in Latin jazz, merging traditional Latin music with jazz and rock. Actively recording since the late 1960s including successful collaborations with Ismael Miranda, Celia Cruz, Soledad Bravo, Rubén Blades, Johnny Pacheco, the Fania All-Stars, and David Byrne. Also an activist on social issues and active in politics, having served as special assistant, spokesperson, running for several public offices including in the Democratic primaries for Congress in 1994 and for New York City Public Advocate in 2001, losing both elections ~ Colón was born in 1950February 21, 2025 ~ Gwen Mosley, commonly known as R&B, soul, disco, funk singer Gwen McCrae, passed away ~ Best known for Rockin' Chair, a hit in 1975 ~ Mosley was born in [artist-gwen-mccrae]
February 21, 2024 ~ Classical, neoclassical metal, progressive metal pianist, composer Vitalij Kuprij passed away ~ Regarded a keyboard virtuoso by both classical and heavy metal, progressive metal critics. Received numerous awards in the classical world, notably winning prestigious competitions such as the All-Union Chopin Competition, the Kiev Conservatory Competition and the Cleveland Piano Competition. To metal audiences known for founding progressive metal band Atlantis Rising, which evolved into Artension, as a member of Yngwie Malmsteen's neoclassical, power metal unit Ring Of Fire, as a regular collaborator of the highly influential Finnish metal outfit the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and as a solo artist. Kuprij has recorded about a dozen albums as a solo artist, both classical music and neoclassical metal ~ Kuprij was born in 1974
February 21, 2023 ~ Rock, jazz guitarist Jesse Gress passed away ~ Editor for Guitar Player magazine. Authored about half a dozen books. As a musician has recorded and toured extensively with Todd Rundgren. Has also worked with bassist Tony Levin, notably on the 2001 Pieces Of The Sun album, as well as with Levin's brother keyboardist Pete Levin, Jerry Marotta, and Utopia. Served as music director for the 2008 Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band tribute album It Was 40 Years Ago Today, a collaborative all-star effort which featured Rundgren, Lou Gramm, Christopher Cross, and Denny Laine ~ Gress was born in 1956February 21, 2023 ~ Rock keyboardist Ron Altbach, full name Ronald Steven Altbach, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Member of King Harvest, noted for his Wurlitzer electric piano intro on Dancing In The Moonlight. The single would reach top 20 Billboard Hot 100. Altbach has also sessioned for the Beach Boys, for whom he co-wrote Belles Of Paris, She's Got Rhythm, and Alone On Christmas Day. Member of Celebration, led by Mike Love ~ Altbach was born in 1946
February 21, 2022 ~ Jazz, blues, pop singer Ernie Andrews, full name Ernest Mitchell Andrews Jr, passed away in Conroe, Texas, USA ~ Started as a member of the Harry James Orchestra in the late 1950s. His career declined in the 1960s and 70s but would rebound in the 1980s, recording with the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut Band, Gene Harris, Jay McShann, and the Harper Brothers. Andrews also played with Kenny Burrell, Gene Harris, Saskia Laroo, Plas Johnson, the Legacy Band, and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra ~ Andrews was born in 1927February 21, 2021 ~ Chanson singer, songwriter Hélène Martin passed away in Cordemais, France ~ Started singing in cabarets in the 1950s. Known for setting poems by various renowned poets, notably René Char and Louis Aragon, to music. Well known songs include Chanson A Tuer Le Temps, Le Feu, Le Plaisir Dieu, Chanson Noire and Oh La Guitare ~ Martin was born in 1928
February 21, 2021 ~ Classical pianist Mireya Arboleda, full name Maria Mireya Arboleda Cadavid, passed away in Bogota, Colombia ~ Protegé of conductor Nadia Boulanger and pianist Vlado Perlemuter. Acclaimed as a soloist, concert pianist selling out venues such as the Isabelle Stewart Gardner Museum, New York City Hall, the Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex and the Centre For Fine Arts ~ Arboleda was born ca.1928
February 21, 2019 ~ Hildegard Zadek, commonly known as operatic soprano Hilde Zadek, passed away in Karlsruhe, Germany ~ As a Jew fled Germany in 1934 to Palestine. Returned to Europe in 1945. Soprano best known for her association with the Vienna State Opera, staying with the orchestra from her critically acclaimed 1947 debut starring in Giuseppe Verdi's Aida through 1971. Has also sang with the Munich State Opera, the Berlin State Opera, the Royal Opera House, the Paris Opera, La Scala, and the Bolshoi Theatre ~ Zadek was born in 1917February 21, 2019 ~ Singer Jackie Shane passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Contributor to the Toronto sound. Best known for her 1962 recording Any Other Way. Faded out of spotlight in the early 1970s. Turned down an offer to join Sly & the Family Stone. Long labeled a drag queen and ambiguous about her own identity Shane came out as a transgender woman in a 2017 interview ~ Shane was born in 1940
February 21, 2019 ~ Peter Halsten Thorkelson, commonly known as guitarist Peter Tork passed away in Mansfield, Connecticut, 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 was born in 1942
February 21, 2015 ~ Swing, bebop trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer Clark Terry, full name Clark Virgil Terry Jr, passed away in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA ~ Pioneered flugelhorn in jazz. Appeared on over an estimated 900 recordings, over 50 as leader or co-leader. Especially acclaimed for the albums In Orbit, Color Changes and Tread Ye Lightly. Has backed artists such as Duke Ellington, Dinah Washington, Charlie Barnet, Quincy Jones (The Birth Of A Band), Ray Charles (The Genius of Ray Charles), Charles Mingus, Buddy Tate, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Tubby Hayes, Art Farmer, Gene Roland, Willie Bobo, Herbie Mann, Cal Tjader (Soul Sauce), Wilson Pickett (In The Midnight Hour), the Modern Jazz Quartet, Thelonious Monk, Oliver Nelson, Jimmy Rushing, Sarah Vaughan, George Benson (Blue Benson), Bunky Green, and Freddie Hubbard ~ Terry was born in 1920February 21, 2013 ~ Singer Cleotha Staples passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Oldest sibling considered the backbone of family outfit the Staple Singers, best known for 1970s hits drawing from R&B and gospel. The group scored two Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits with 1972's I'll Take You There and 1973's If You're Ready (Come Go With Me) ~ Staples was born in 1934
February 21, 2013 ~ Morris Holt, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist Magic Slim, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Worked with Magic Sam, John Primer, Billy Branch, Popa Chubby, Joe Carter, Sunnyland Slim, James Cotton, Elvin Bishop, Lil' Ed Williams, Lonnie Brooks, Otis Clay and with his son Shawn Holt. Recorded a number of singles starting in 1966 with Scuffling, recorded his first full-length solo album, Born Under A Bad Sign, in 1977 ~ Holt was born in 1937
February 21, 2011 ~ Neville Beckford, commonly known as DJ, producer Jah Woosh, passed away ~ Half of Neville & George, the other half being Reggae George. As a solo artist known for a number of Rupie Edwards produced albums, starting with 1974's eponymous Jah Woosh. Beckford would turn to self-producing from 1976 forward as well as produce other artists including Bim Sherman, Horace Andy, and Larry Marshall ~ Beckford was born ca.1952February 21, 2008 ~ Joel Arthur Gibbs, commonly known as reggae producer Joe Gibbs, passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Worked with Bunny Lee, Roy Shirley (Hold Them), the Pioneers, Errol Dunkley, Ken Parker, Lynn Taitt, the Hippy Boys, Nicky Thomas (Love Of The Common People), the Ethiopians, Delroy Wilson, the Heptones, Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar, Dennis Brown, Jacob Miller, Sylford Walker, the Mighty Diamonds, Gregory Isaacs, Prince Alla, Junior Byles, Marcia Aitken, Althea & Donna, John Holt, Barrington Levy, Cornell Campbell, Dean Fraser, Beres Hammond, Ranking Joe, Prince Jazzbo, Dillinger, Prince Far I, June Lodge (Someone Loves You Honey), and Sydney Crooks ~ Gibbs was born in 1942
February 21, 2004 ~ Glam rock, pop singer, pianist Les Gray, full name Thomas Leslie Gray, passed away in Lagos, Portugal ~ Co-founding member of Mud, known for 1970s hits such as Lonely This Christmas, Tiger Feet and Oh Boy, the latter a cover of the classic Buddy Holly-song. Gray would score a solo hit with A Groovy Kind Of Love in 1977, originally recorded by Diane & Annita ~ Gray was born in 1946
February 21, 1996 ~ Pianist, composer, conductor Morton Gould passed away in Orlando, Florida, USA ~ Child prodigy. Has composed Broadway musicals such as Billion Dollar Baby and The Arms And The Girl, for films such as Delightfully Dangerous and Windjammer, for TV series such as World War One, written ballet scores such as All River Legend and I'm Old Fashioned, conducted all of the major American orchestras and received a Pullitzer Award for Stringmusic, an orchestral composition for string commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra ~ Gould was born in 1913
February 21, 1995 ~ Rapper Tupac Shakur releases Dear Mama, lead single off his Me Against The World album ~ In Dear Mama, arguably one of the first popular rap songs dedicated to the artist's mother, Tupac Shakur praises his mother's perseverance while recognizing her struggles and the at times negative effect it may have had, arguing his love and respect for her supersede bad memories. The song would reach No.9 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, Shakur's highest-charting up to this point in his career, has been acknowledged as one of his best and especially most honest, vulnerable, and emotionally resonant songs, and both at the time of its release and retrospectively has earned wide critical acclaim. Furthermore, in 2009 Dear Mama was inducted into the the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, a first for a solo hip hop recording, as the organization called the song “a moving and eloquent homage to both the murdered rapper's own mother and all mothers struggling to maintain a family in the face of addiction, poverty and societal indifference”February 21, 1990 ~ At the 32nd Grammy Awards, R&B, new jack swing, dance-pop duo Milli Vanilli are awarded the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, only to have it revoked later the same year ~ All five singles of the duo's All Or Nothing debut album, repackaged and issued as Girl You Know It's True in the USA, had reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100, with Baby Don't Forget My Number, Blame It On The Rain, and Girl I'm Gonna Miss You all reaching the No.1 spot. However, eventually producer Frank Farian admitted the duo's Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus actually had not sung a single line on the album, and lip-synced all songs during performances. Their success turned to infamy, and the duo had their Grammy Award revoked, a first in the history of the Awards
February 21, 1986 ~ Charlotte Maria Reed, commonly known as singer Charlotte Church, born in Llandaff, UK ~ Classical, classical crossover singer in her childhood before venturing into pop music by the mid 2000s, going on to sell over 10 million records. Released her The Voice Of An Angel debut album in 1998. To pop audiences best known for Crazy Chick, Call My Name, Even God Can't Change The Past and Moodswings, all UK top 20 hits of her 2005 Tissues And Issues album. Church is also known as an actress, TV presenter and political activist, among others advocating against the music industry's sexist culture
February 21, 1983 ~ Singer Tracey Ullman releases Breakaway, lifted off her You Broke My Heart In 17 Places debut album ~ Written by Jackie DeShannon and Sharon Sheeley, the upbeat song was first recorded by Irma Thomas, who issued the song on the flip side of her 1964 hit Wish Someone Would Care. For the British comedienne-actress Tracey Ullman, the cover would become a major hit and signature song in her native UK, where it was released as her debut single and reached No.4. Across Europe and especially in the UK, Ullman's cover remains popular to this day. In America, where the song was issued as her second single after the Billboard Hot 100 No.8 hit They Don't Know, Breakaway did considerably less. Despite receiving heavy rotation on the then-fledgling MTV, the single stalled at No.70 Billboard Hot 100 marking her final appearance on the American chartsFebruary 21, 1980 ~ Singer Janet Vogel passed away in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Original member of doo-wop outfit the Skyliners, known for songs such as This I Swear, Pennies From Heaven, It Happened Today, Close Your Eyes, Comes Love and their best known Since I Don't Have You, the latter reaching the Billboard top 20 in 1958 ~ Vogel was born in 1941
February 21, 1980 ~ Rock, experimental rock double bassist, bass guitarist Nat Baldwin born in Rochester, New Hampshire, USA ~ Debuted as a solo artist in 2003 with the album Solo Contrabass and has recorded regularly since. Has worked with the Dirty Projectors, the Department Of Eagles, Vampire Weekend, and with Grizzly Bear
February 21, 1980 ~ Pop, R&B, blue-eyed soul singer, songwriter, producer Tiziano Ferro born in Latina, Italy ~ Sings in Italian, English, French and Spanish. Debuted in 2001 with the album Rosso Relativo, which included the international hit Perdono. Writes and produces for other artists including Giusy Ferreri, Alessandra Amoroso, and Baby K