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, 1979 ~ Actress, singer, songwriter, producer, director Jennifer Love Hewitt born in Waco, Texas, USA ~ Started as a child actress. Would go on to feature in various films and TV. As a pop singer has released a number of albums, starting with 1992's Love Songs released at age 12. Would not chart in the US until her fourth album, 2002's Barenaked, spawned the modest hit How Do I Deal
February 21, 1978 ~ Synth-pop, new wave, dream pop singer, keyboardist, songwriter Helen Marnie born in Glasgow, UK ~ Classically trained pianist. Influenced by artists as diverse as Kate Bush, Maria Callas and Joni Mitchell. Lead singer of Ladytron, co-founded with Mira Aroyo. Released her solo debut album, Crystal World, in 2013
February 21, 1978 ~ Jazz, classical, experimental violinist Sara Caswell born in Bloomington, Indiana, USA ~ Worked with 9 Horses, Esperanza Spalding, David Krakauer, Joseph Brent, Shawn Conley, Skitch Henderson, Cynthia Sayer, Roseanna Vitro, Monika Herzig, Bucky Pizzarelli, Ike Sturm, Oran Etkin, Krista Detor, and Brad Mehldau
February 21, 1977 ~ Folk, old-time, country, bluegrass, rock singer, fiddler, banjoist, violist, songwriter Rhiannon Giddens born in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA ~ Lead singer of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, drawing from country, blues and old-time music. Has recorded as a solo artist, starting with 2015's Tomorrow Is My Turn. Has notably collaborated with Francesco Turrisi on There Is No Other and Calling Me Home released in respectively 2019 and 2021. Has also worked with Gaelwynd, New Basement Tapes, Our Native Daughters, Cheryse McLeod Lewis, Renée Fleming, Alison Krauss, and Ben Harper
February 21, 1976 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, Good Hearted Woman by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson hits No.1 Billboard Country ~ Waylon Jennings originally recorded the song for his 1971 album of the same name, inspired by a newspaper ad for Ike & Tina Turner which read “Tina Turner singing songs about good-hearted women loving good-timing men.” The phrase stuck and Jennings wrote the song, aided by pal Willie Nelson, with both singers trading lyrics while Nelson's wife wrote them down. Jennings' solo version peaked at No.3 Billboard Country in 1972, but it became a massive hit when the pair issued the song as a duet a few years later. This time it would top the Billboard Country charts, earn the pair a CMA Award for Single of the Year, and cross over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 where it reached No.25, giving the singers recognition among mainstream audiences. The 1976 “duet” re-recording was actually based on a live version Jennings had recorded for his Waylon Live album with Nelson's voice mixed in: “I just took my voice off and put Willie's on in different places. Willie wasn't within 10,000 miles when I recorded it”February 21, 1973 ~ Justin Cathal Geever, commonly known as punk rock, hardcore punk, skate punk, anarcho punk singer, guitarist Justin Sane, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Lead guitarist, singer, co-founding member of punk rock outfit Anti-Flag, a band active since the mid 1990s and known for its outspoken leftist views. Has also released a number of solo albums, starting with Life Love And The Pursuit Of Justice released in 2002
February 21, 1973 ~ Thaddeus Arwood Kinchla, commonly known as bassist Tad Kinchla born in Princeton, New Jersey, USA ~ Best known as member of jam band Blues Traveler joining the band in 1999 replacing the late Bobby Sheehan. The band also included his brother Chan Kinchla. Tad also worked with Smit-Haus, Dowdy Smack, and with the John Popper Project
February 21, 1971 ~ Heavy metal singer, songwriter Randy Blythe, full name David Randall Blythe, born in Franklin, Virginia, USA ~ Best known as lead vocalist, lyricist of Lamb of God. Also fronts side-project Halo Of Locusts and guested on records by Cannabis Corpse, Overkill, Eyehategod, Ekuveitie, Bad Brains, and Soulfly
February 21, 1970 ~ Bassist Eric Wilson, full name Eric John Wilson, born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Member of Sublime from 1988 through 1996. Member of Long Beach Dub All-Stars from 1997 through 2002. Has also worked with Del Noah & the Mt Ararat Finks, Long Beach Shortbus and with Sublime with Rome
February 21, 1969 ~ Staffan Olsson, commonly known as pop, dance-pop singer, songwriter Bosson, born in Kiruna, Sweden ~ Released his full-length The Right Time debut album in 1998. First gained serious international attention with its follow-up, 2002's One In A Million, the title track reaching top 10 across Europe and featured in the Miss Congeniality film. Has collaborated with Emma Anderson, Elizma Theron, Sunbeat, Baby Bash, and has written for Amy Grant
February 21, 1969 ~ Singer, guitarist James Dean Bradfield born in Pontypool, UK ~ Best known as frontman, lead guitarist, singer for Welsh alternative rock band the Manic Street Preachers. Multi-instumentalist, plays guitar, bass, percussion, keyboards, and various other instruments. Influenced by the Clash and the Electric Light Orchestra. Learnt to play guitar by learning to play Appetite For Destruction in his parents front roomFebruary 21, 1968 ~ Jazz drummer Joe Farnsworth, full name Joseph Allen Farnsworth, born ~ Son of trumpeter, bandleader Roger Farnsworth. Leader and sideman. Worked with Junior Cook, Jon Hendricks, Jon Faddis, George Coleman, Cecil Payne, Annie Ross, Benny Green, One For All, David Hazeltine, Jim Rotondi, Benny Golson, Eric Alexander, Alex Graham, Michael Weiss, the Three Baritone Saxophone Band, Diana Krall, and Pharoah Sanders
February 21, 1967 ~ Guitarist Michael Ward born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founded School Of Fish with Josh Clayton-Felt, known for their minor hit 3 Strange Days. Perhaps best known for his work with the Wallflowers, appearing on the band's 1996 Bringing Down The Horse sophomore album, which included the Grammy Award-winning One Headlight, and its follow-up album Breach. Ward has also appeared on albums by John Hiatt (Perfectly Good Guitar), Ben Harper, Shawn Mullins, Avril Lavigne (Don't Tell Me), Shelby Lynne (Suit Yourself), Tracy Bonham, and Sara Bareilles ~ Ward passed away in 2024
February 21, 1966 ~ Pop group the Young Rascals release Good Lovin', lifted off their eponymous debut album ~ Originally recorded by doo-wop novelty group the Olympics, whose version stalled at No.81 Billboard Hot 100 in 1965. At the insistence of producer Tom Dowd, a sped-up rendition by the Young Rascals was issued as a single and became a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit. The band, at some point renamed to the Rascals, would score a total of half a dozen top 10 hits over the next few years, of which Groovin' and People Got To Be Free also reached the top spot. Retrospectively, Good Lovin' would be included on the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's list of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. When Good Lovin' became a hit, it took the band by surprise, as lead singer Felix Cavaliere later recalled: “We weren't too pleased with our performance. It was a shock to us when it went to the top of the charts”
February 21, 1963 ~ Roger Charlery, commonly known as Ranking Roger, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Best known as member of pivotal ska, ska revival band the English Beat, known for about half a dozen UK hits through the mid-1980s including the top 10 hits The Tears Of A Clown, Hands Off She's Mine, Mirror In The Bathroom and Can't Get Used To Losing You. Formed General Public in 1984 with bandmate Dave Wakeling, scoring moderate hits with 1984's Tenderness and 1994's I'll Take You There. Released his solo debut album, Radical Departure, in 1988 ~ Charlery passed away in 2019
February 21, 1962 ~ Mark Thomas McLaughlin, commonly known as grunge, alternative rock, garage punk singer, guitarist, songwriter Mark Arm, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Best known as lead singer of grunge outfit Mudhoney. Previously a member of Green River, considered one of the early grunge pioneers alongside Malfunkshun, Soundgarden and Skin Yard. Arm has also worked with Bloodloss, Seattle supergroup Monkeywrench, Thrown Ups, and Wylde Ratttz. Toured with garage rock band MC5 in 2004, standing in for the late Rob Tyner on vocalsFebruary 21, 1960 ~ Randall Desmond Archibald, commonly known as hardcore punk, heavy metal bassist, singer Randy Rampage, born in Vancouver, Canada ~ Along with Joe Keithley and Chuck Biscuits co-founded hardcore band DOA, considered pioneers of hardcore punk. Lead singer of thrash metal band Annihilator during the late 1980s, present on the band's Alice In Hell debut album, and again during the late 1990s ~ Archibald passed away in 2018
February 21, 1960 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Steve Wynn, full name Steve Lawrence Wynn, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for fronting neo-psychedelia outfit Dream Syndicate from 1981 through 1989, though never achieving mainstream success one of the most critically acclaimed acts to emerge from the Los Angeles underground scene especially hailed for their 1982 The Days Of Wine And Roses album. Wynn has also recorded as a solo artist and worked with Danny & Dusty, Gutterball, Smack Dab, Australian Blonde, and with supergroup the Baseball Project, the latter also including REM guitarist Peter BuckFebruary 21, 1959 ~ Keyboardist, songwriter José Maria Cano, full name José Maria Cano Andréno, born in Madrid, Spain ~ Member of Mecano, one of the all time best selling Spanish bands with over 25 million records sold. The band is known for songs such as La Fuerza Del Destino, Hijo De La Luna, Cruz De Navajes, Une Femme Avec Une Femme and El 7 De Septiembre
February 21, 1958 ~ Country, country folk, soft rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter born in Princeton, New Jersey, USA ~ Marketed as a country singer, though draws from a wide array of genres. Debuted in 1987 with the album Hometown Girl. Known for songs such as Never Had It So Good, Quittin' Time, Down At The Twist And Shout, I Feel Lucky, Passionate Kisses, He Thinks He'll Keep Her, Shut Up & Kiss Me and Tender When I Want To Be. Also wrote or co-wrote songs for other artists including Joan Baez, Tony Rice, Cyndi Lauper, Wynonna Judd (Girls With Guitars), and Trisha Yearwood
February 21, 1952 ~ Bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel born in London, UK ~ Classically trained as a guitarist. Rose to fame as bass guitarist with post-punk, new wave outfit the Stranglers, known for UK top 10 hits such as Peaches, Something Better Change, No More Heroes, Golden Brown, Strange Little Girl, European Female and the Kinks-cover All Day And All Of The Night. Has released a number of solo albums, starting with 1979's Euroman Cometh, collaborated with bandmate Dave Greenfield on 1983's Fire And Water (Ecoutez Vos Murs), guested on recordings by ARB, Polyphonic Size and Taxi Girl, and formed the R&B covers band Purple HelmetsFebruary 21, 1951 ~ Clarence C Robertson, commonly known as jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist Herb Robertson, born in Plainfield, New Jersey, USA ~ Widely acclaimed for his explorations of the avant-garde, yet equally capable of lyricism as of experimentalism, with a remarkable softness in his sound. As a leader, Robertson has recorded well over a dozen albums since the mid-1980s, earning especial acclaim for 1988's Shades Of Bud Powell and 1996's Sound Implosion. Robertson was also an in-demand collaborator and sideman, appearing on albums by Stefan Winter, Mark Helias (The Current Set), Charlie Elgart, Marc Ducret, Bobby Previte, David Sanborn, Klaus König, Andy Laster (Hydra), Lou Grassi, Guus Janssen (Noach (An Opera From Genesis)), Terry Jenoure (Auguries Of Speed), Satoko Fujii, the Fonda-Stevens Group, and Barry Guy. Upon hearing of Robertson's death, regular collaborator Tim Berne commented: “Herb was my mentor and musical sidekick for many years in the 1980s and 1990s. Every night was like a feature film full of astounding moments of beautifully inspired insanity” ~ Robertson passed away in 2024
February 21, 1951 ~ Keyboardist, singer Vince Welnick, full name Vincent Leo Welnick, born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Tubes, perhaps best known for Talk To Ya Later of their 1981 The Completion Backward Principle album. Left the band in the late 1980s to team up with Todd Rundgren and subsequently join the Grateful Dead. Has also worked with Zero, Dick Dale, Merl Saunders, and Missing Man Formation ~ Welnick passed away in 2006
February 21, 1951 ~ Jazz trumpeter Warren Vaché Jr born in Rahway, New Jersey, USA ~ Son of double bassist Warren Vaché Sr, brother of clarinetist Allan Vaché. Leader and sideman. Closely associated with Scott Hamilton. Has also worked with Jimmy Cobb, Brian Lemon, Tony Coe, Alan Barnes, Joe Puma, Howard Alden, Benny Carter, Benny Goodman, Houston Person, Bucky Pizzarelli, André Previn, George Shearing, and George Wein
February 21, 1949 ~ Singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Jerry Harrison born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA ~ Member of Jonathan Richman's cult-band the Modern Lovers. Joined Talking Heads in 1977 in time for the band's debut album Talking Heads '77. Has released a handful of solo albums, starting with The Red And The Black released in 1981. After the Heads breakup in 1991 has become an in-demand producer, working with artists such as Violent Femmes, the Von Bondies, the Crash Test Dummies, Live (Throwing Copper), Black 47, the Neurotic Outsiders, Kenny Wayne Shepherd (Trouble Is), the String Cheese Incident, No Doubt (The Return Of Saturn), and the Gracious Few