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 22, 2024 ~ Skiffle, rock & roll pianist John Lowe, full name John Charles Duff Lowe, passed away in Liverpool, UK ~ By invite of Paul McCartney, Lowe played with the Quarrymen from 1958 through 1960, a band that would evolve into the Beatles. Lowe, known to friends as “Duff”, was present on the recordings of That'll Be The Day and In Spite Of All The Danger, for which he retained ownership. Lowe sold the songs to McCartney in 1981, the two tracks would be included on the Beatles Anthology Vol.1 compilation album released in 1995 ~ Lowe was born in 1942
February 22, 2024 ~ Veronica Loretta Stoneman, commonly known as banjoist, actress, comedian Roni Stoneman, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Dubbed “the First Lady of Banjo”. Daughter of guitarist Ernest Stoneman, one of the earliest country music stars. Member of family outfit the Stonemans for over a decade, with whom she has performed at the White House, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Grand Ole Opry. Stoneman is especially known as a cast member of the Hee Haw country music variety TV show for nearly two decades starting in the early 1970s. While she occasionally picked banjo and sang on the show, it was her comedic talent that garnered more attention, specifically in the character of Ida Lee Nagger. As a musician, Stoneman continued to perform into the 2020s, either as a solo artist or with her sister mandolinist Donna Stoneman ~ Stoneman was born in 1938
February 22, 2022 ~ Alternative rock, grunge, hard rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Mark Lanegan passed away in Killarney, Ireland ~ Frontman, lead singer, co-founding member of psychedelic grunge band Screaming Trees. Has recorded as a solo artist, starting with The Winding Sheet released in 1990. Frequent collaborator of the Queens Of The Stone Age. Formed the Gutter Twins with Afghan Whigs singer Greg Dulli. Member of Mad Season alongside Alice In Chains singer Layne Staley and Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready. Lanegan has also guested on recordings by Melissa Auf Der Maur, Creature With The Atom Brain, Moby, and the Manic Street Preachers ~ Lanegan was born in 1964
February 22, 2017 ~ Country singer Carly Pearce releases Every Little Thing, lead single off her Every Little Thing debut album ~ Penned by Carly Pearce, Emily Shackelton, and Busbee, the latter also serving as producer. Warmly received by critics, Taste Of Country remarking that Pearce “recalls some of country music's most vulnerable female vocalists, the heartbreaking ballad is as raw as the singer's emotions”, Every Little Thing reached top 10 Billboard Country. Pearce released the full-length album of the same name the following October, which peaked inside the top 10 on the Billboard Country charts, and inside the top 40 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 200
February 22, 2016 ~ James Hugh Loden, commonly known as country, country pop singer, guitarist Sonny James, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Dubbed the “Southern Gentleman”, known best for his 1957 hit single Young Love, considered by some the first teenage country crossover hit, topping both the pop and country charts. James would regularly reach the higher echelons of the Billboard Country charts into the 1970s, well known songs including First Date First Kiss First Love, Uh-huh-mm, The Minute You're Gone, Baltimore, You're The Only World I Know, I'll Keep Holding On Just To Your Love, Behind The Tear, Take Good Care Of Her, Room In Your Heart, and I'll Never Find Another You ~ Loden was born in 1928
February 22, 2012 ~ Guitarist, songwriter Billy Strange, full name William Everett Strange, passed away in Franklin, Tennessee, USA ~ Teamed up with singer, songwriter Mac Davis, co-writing several songs recorded by Elvis Presley including A Little Less Conversation and Memories. In-demand session musician, member of the Wrecking Crew, and present on recordings by the Ventures, the Beach Boys (Sloop John B), Jan & Dean, Willie Nelson, the Everly Brothers, Wanda Jackson, Randy Newman, Nat King Cole. Arranged and conducted for Frank Sinatra, Duane Eddy, and notably Nancy Sinatra, including all of the latter's Reprise albums as well as the hit These Boots Are Made For Walkin' ~ Strange was born in 1930February 22, 2012 ~ Jazz accordionist, pianist, bandleader Eivin One Pedersen passed away in Stavanger, Norway ~ Released his Solo Mio solo debut album in 1984. Perhaps best known as an early member of jazz trio Detail alongside Frode Gjerstad and John Stevens, and for his collaborations with the likes of Katja Medbøe, Calling Signals, Ciwan Haco, and Morten Abel ~ Pedersen was born in 1956
February 22, 2012 ~ Jazz pianist, composer, arranger Mike Melvoin passed away in Burbank, California, USA ~ Closely associated with Bill Henderson, Herb Ellis, Plas Johnson. Has worked on about half a dozen of Lalo Schifrin's soundtracks, including Music From Music Impossible and Bullit. Also present on albums by Nancy Wilson, the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Oliver Nelson, Mason Williams, Peggy Lee, the Ventures, Cal Tjader, the Partridge Family, Tavares (Check It Out), Quincy Jones, Edwin Starr (Hell Up In Harlem), Tom Waits (The Heart Of Saturday Night), Thelma Houston, Ahmad Jamal, Natalie Cole, and Michael Bublé ~ Melvoin was born in 1937
February 22, 2011 ~ William Hargis Bowman Jr, commonly known as R&B, soul, funk singer, drummer Beau Dollar, passed away in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Discovered by James Brown, under whose direction the Dapps fronted by Dollar would record their It's A Gas single. It would be shelved though due to disputes with the King record label. With the help of Hank Ballard the band would release two other singles, There Was A Time and Bringing Up The Guitar, in 1967 before disbanding shortly thereafter ~ Bowman was born in 1941February 22, 2011 ~ Actress Gwyneth Paltrow and country singer Tim McGraw release Me And Tennessee, recorded for the Country Strong soundtrack ~ Since the mid 2000s, Tim McGraw had ventured into acting including appearing as one of the main characters in the 2011 drama film Country Strong opposite Gwyneth Paltrow. The film would be a critical and commercial disappointment, yet the song Me And Tennessee would be a modest hit on the Billboard Country charts, peaking at No.34. McGraw said that he had difficulty recording the song with Paltrow, usually an actress, because he thought that “it's such a moving song” and said that he wanted to sing as well on it as she did. The song was written by Paltrow's then-husband Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay
February 22, 2011 ~ Singer Jean Dinning passed away in Garden Grove, California, USA ~ Formed the Dinning Sisters with twin sister Ginger Dinning and older sister Lou Dinning.The sibling trio is known for late 1940s top 20 hits such as My Adobe Hacienda, I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now, I Beg Your Pardon and Buttons And Bows ~ Dinning was born in 1924
February 22, 2007 ~ Drummer, percussionist Ian Wallace, full name Ian Russell Wallace, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Perhaps best known for his associations with progressive rock band King Crimson, David Lindley and Don Henley. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with the Warriors, Snape, the Quireboys, Johnny Hallyday, Billy Burnette, Alexis Korner, Alvin Lee, Labi Siffre, Bob Dylan, Ronnie Wood, Stevie Nicks, Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, the Traveling Wilburys, and Rodney Crowell ~ Wallace was born in 1946
February 22, 2005 ~ Singer, rapper Akon releases Lonely, lifted off his Troubles debut album ~ Building upon a sample off of Bobby Vinton's Mr Lonely, the song tells of a boyfriend taking his girl for granted only to miss her when she's gone. The song would be a massive hit for Akon, topping the charts in over half a dozen countries including the Netherlands and the UK. In America, it would reach No.4 Billboard Hot 100, making it his second top 10 hit after Locked Up
February 22, 2002 ~ Jazz drummer Ronnie Verrell, full name Ronald Thomas Verrell, passed away in Kingston-upon-Thames, UK ~ Influenced by Benny Goodman. Member of two of the UK's most celebrated big bands, serving in the orchestras led by Ted Heath and Syd Lawrence. Played the drum parts for The Muppet Show's Animal. Has also worked with Tommy Whittle, Johnny Claes, Cyril Stapleton, Winifred Atwell, the Alan Clare Trio, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Petula Clark, and Strawbs ~ Verrell was born in 1926
February 22, 2001 ~ Singer, guitarist John Fahey passed away in Salem, Oregon, USA ~ Influential fingerstyle guitarist. Draws from folk, blues, classical, world music. Would fade in and out of poverty and obscurity during the course of his career but was always held in the highest acclaim by peers and resurge in the late 1990s finding a new audience among the alternative crowd with both new listeners and fellow musicians including Sonic Youth and Cul De Sac ~ Fahey was born in 1956
February 22, 1999 ~ Singers Barbra Streisand and Vince Gill record the duet If You Ever Leave Me ~ Written by Richard Marx. Produced by Marx and David Foster. Included on Barbra Streisand's 1999 A Love Like Ours album. Critically acclaimed, some critics would rank this luscious power ballad with Vince Gill among Streisand's best alongside Comin' In And Out Of Your Life and A Woman In Love
February 22, 1994 ~ John Henry Creach, commonly known as violinist Papa John Creach, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Sideman to Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Stuff Smith, Charlie Christian, Big Joe Turner, T-Bone Walker, Nat King Cole, and Roy Milton. Rediscovered in the mid 1960s, after which he would frequently collaborate with rock, psychedelic rock acts of the day, perhaps most notably the Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna ~ Creach was born in 1917February 22, 1991 ~ Pop singer Robin Stjernberg, full name Robin James Olof Stjernberg, born in Hässleholm, Sweden ~ Member of boy band What's Up. Internationally best known as a solo artist, representing Sweden in the 2013 Eurovision Songfestival with the song You, reaching 14th place. Also co-wrote Robin Bengtsson's I Can't Go On, Sweden's 2017 Eurovision Songfestival entry which reached 5th place
February 22, 1989 ~ At the 31st Grammy Awards ceremony held at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, singer, guitarist, songwriter Tracy Chapman wins the Grammy Award for Best New Artist ~ Tracy Chapman was turned down by a string of producers, as they did not favor her musical direction, before David Kershenbaum decided to take on the project. Recorded in a mere eight weeks, Chapman's eponymous Tracy Chapman debut album would be a massive critical and commercial success across the globe, aided by the success of its lead single Fast Car, and catapult the singer to fame. Nominated for Album of the Year, Tracy Chapman lost out to George Michael's Faith, yet it did help her secure the Grammy Award for Best New Artist
February 22, 1987 ~ Visual artist, film director, photographer, producer, band manager Andy Warhol passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as film director, painter, visual arts artist leading in art pop movement. Also produced and managed the Velvet Underground in their early days. Warhol's production role amounted to little more than paying for the band's studio time and the relationship, especially with the band's frontman Lou Reed, would be seriously frailed after the band's debut album ~ Warhol was born in 1928February 22, 1985 ~ Violinist, conductor, composer Efrem Zimbalist passed away in Reno, Nevada, USA ~ Internationally acclaimed by his early 20s. Came out of retirement in 1949 to premier Gian Carlo Menotti's Violin Concerto, dedicated to him. Also known as a composer, notably for the pieces American Rhapsody, Sarasateana for viola and piano and the 1956 opera Landara ~ Zimbalist was born in 1889
February 22, 1985 ~ Singer Whitney Houston releases You Give Good Love, lifted off her eponymous Whitney Houston debut album ~ Songwriter La Forrest Cope had written the song for Roberta Flack, but as she didn't hear back from Flack she played it for Whitney Houston and her producer Kashif. Cope would later recall to Billboard: “Before I ended the song, (Whitney) picked up on the lyrics and was singing it along with me.” Houston's debut single, Hold Me with Teddy Pendergrass had done well on the Billboard R&B charts, peaking at No.5, but You Give Good Love was intended to launch her as a solo singer to black audiences. Arista Records executive Clive Davis, who orchestrated Houston's career, was surprised You Give Good Love did as well as it did though, crossing over to the pop charts. The single peaked at No.3 Billboard Hot 100 and would be nominated for Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance. The follow-up single, Saving All My Love For You, would start an impressive run of seven consecutive Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits. Houston would enjoy popularity especially through the late 1990s and became one of the all-time best-selling artists
February 22, 1983 ~ Conductor Adrian Boult, full name Adrian Cedric Boult, passed away in London, UK ~ Associated with the Royal Opera House, the City Of Birmingham Orchestra, the BBC Sympony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra ~ Boult was born in 1889February 22, 1979 ~ Jazz bassist, double bassist Ludek Hulan passed away in Prague, Czechoslovakia ~ Pivotal figure in post-war Czech jazz. Founder or co-founder of several influential jazz ensembles including the Hootie Club, Studio 5 and the Jazz Studio. Has also worked with Gustav Brom, Milan Ulrich, Richard Kubernat, and Albert Nicholas. Initially emigrated after the 1968 Soviet invasion but quickly returned, making him “politically undesirable” which hindered his career ~ Hulan was born in 1929
February 22, 1976 ~ R&B, pop singer Florence Ballard, full name Florence Glenda Ballard, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Original member of the Supremes, remaining with the band through 1967. Present on songs such as Where Did Our Love Go, Baby Love, Back In My Arms Again, I Hear A Symphony, You Can't Hurry Love, and You Keep Me Hangin' On ~ Ballard was born in 1943
February 22, 1976 ~ Jean-Jacques Cadet, commonly known as rapper, DJ, producer J-Live, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Prince Paul, Walkin' Large, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Peshay, the Masterminds, the Unsung Heroes, the Lone Catalysts, Ambivalence, Vakill, J Rawls, Rob Swift, El Da Sensei, Richy Pitch, DJ Jazzy Jeff, 7L, Esoteric, Lifesava, the Nextmen, Soulive, Iomos Marad, Oktober, DJ Nu-Mark, Asheru, Dela, the Jazz Liberators, Apathy, Oddisee, Homecut, Illus, Homeboy Sandman, Loranger, Kool Keith, and Praverb