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 23, 2026 ~ Joseph Montanez Junior, commonly known as singer Monti Rock or Disco Tex, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ One of the first disco artists to cross over into mainstream with Disco Tex & his Sex-o-lettes, a collaboration with producer Bob Crewe and Sugarloaf's Jerry Corbetta and known for the hits Get Dancin' and I Wanna Dance Wit Choo (Doo Dat Dance). Montanez would later appear in the music film Saturday Night Fever as the DJ ~ Montanez was born in 1939
February 23, 2023 ~ Rock guitarist Junnosuke Kuroda passed away ~ Member of indie rock outfit Sumika, best known for their 2016 Lovers/Dengon Uta single which reached top 20 in their native Japan. The band's full-length Familia debut album released the following year would reach top 10 ~ Kuroda was born in 1988
February 23, 2022 ~ Classical, jazz guitarist, arranger Carlos Barbosa-Lima, full name Antonio Carlos Barbosa-Lima, passed away ~ Worked with Sharon Isbin, Laurindo Almeida, Charlie Byrd, Thiago de Mello, Eddie Gomez, and others ~ Barbosa-Lima was born in 1944
February 23, 2022 ~ Rikhado Muziwendlovu Makhado, commonly known as rapper, singer, songwriter Riky Rick, passed away in Johannesburg, South Africa ~ Active since the mid-2010s, debuting with the single Barbershop featuring Da LES. Would release his acclaimed full-length Family Values debut album in 2015, featuring guests such as Cassper Nyovest, Okmalumkoolkat and Black Motion. Known for songs such as Sondela, Silukotini, and Oh Lord. Battling depression Makhado commited suicide at age 34 ~ Makhado was born in 1987
February 23, 2019 ~ Singer Ariana Grande becomes the first artist since the Beatles in 1964 to occupy the top 3 of the Billboard Hot 100 ~ With Thank U (Next) at No.3 up from No.7 the previous week, Grande's new single Break Up With Your Girlfriend (I'm Bored) debuting at No.2, and 7 Rings holding the top spot for its fourth week, Ariana Grande becomes the first artist in over five decades to hold all three top spots on the chart. In April 1964 the Beatles occupied the top 3 with She Loves You, Twist & Shout and Can't Buy Me LoveFebruary 23, 2019 ~ Singer Dorothy Masuka passed away in Johannesburg, South Africa ~ Zimbabwe-born South African jazz singer popular in the 1950s. When her songs became more serious, such as Dr Malan mentioning controversial laws it was banned. Eventually Matsuka would be exiled for over 30 years starting in 1961 ~ Matsuka was born in 1935
February 23, 2019 ~ Rock singer, guitarist Johnnie Lovesin passed away ~ Active since the late 1960s as lead singer of several bands, most notably the Invisible Band. As a solo artist known for a number of 1980s albums, starting with 1980s Set The Night On Fire, before a brain aneurysm would temporarily halt his career, Lovesin returned in 1996 with the album Ready To Rumble and would continue to perform, albeit it less frequent, well into the 2010s ~ Lovesin was born in 1949
February 23, 2017 ~ Hard bop and post-bop pianist, composer Horace Parlan passed away in Korsor, Denmark ~ As a baby stricken with polio, resulting in the partial crippling of his right hand. The handicap contributed to the development of his unique left-hand chord voicing style, while comping highly rhythmic phrases with the right. Noted for his work on the seminal Charles Mingus albums Mingus Ah Uhm and Blues & Roots. Well over two dozen to his name as leader or co-leader, especially acclaimed for his early 1960s albums Up & Down, Back From The Gig and Happy Frame Of Mind. Has also appeared on albums by Booker Ervin, Dave Bailey, Stanley Turrentine, Lou Donaldson, Dave Bailey, Dexter Gordon (Doin' Allright, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Ben Webster, Houston Person (The Truth), Idrees Sulieman (Bird's Grass), Clark Terry, Thad Jones, and Michal Urbaniak ~ Parlan was born in 1931February 23, 2016 ~ Reinaldo Hierrezuelo, commonly known as trova singer, guitarist Rey Caney, passed away in Havana, Cuba ~ Led the the Cuarteto Patria. Replaced Compay Segundo in Los Compadres. Best known for performing and recording with his brother Lorenzo Hierrezuelo for three decades. Has also worked with his sister guaracha singer Caridad Hierrezuelo. Led the Vieja Trova Santiaguera ~ Hierrezuelo was born in 1926
February 23, 2010 ~ Trombonist, singer Bill Pearce passed away in Xenia, Ohio, USA ~ First gained serious attention working with evangelist Percy Crawford. Following a stint in the Army during World War II returned to college before turning to music yet again, working as a soloist and collaborating with the likes of Kurt Kaiser and the Melody Four, performing well into the 1990s ~ Pearce was born in 1926
February 23, 2010 ~ Robert Crafton III, commonly known as keyboardist, rapper Bob Chilly B Crafton, passed away ~ Member of old-school hip-hop act Newcleus, which initially failed to make a serious dent in the charts but over time would be regarded as one of the early quintessential hip-hop acts acclaimed especially for their 1984 Jam On Revenge debut album. Well known songs include Where's The Beat, Computer Age and Jam On It ~ Crafton was born in 1962February 23, 2004 ~ Luigi Francisco Varlaro, commonly known as jazz, traditional pop singer Don Cornell, passed away in Aventura, Florida, USA ~ Backing guitarist for Red Nichols and vocalist in Sammy Kaye's band while still in his teens. As a solo artist enjoyed popularity during the 1950s, scoring hits with songs such as I'll Walk Alone, I'm Yours, Hold My Hand, and The Bible Tells Me So ~ Cornell was born in 1919
February 23, 2004 ~ Composer, pianist, author Neil Ardley, full name Neil Richard Ardley, passed away in Milford, UK ~ Author of over 100 books on science, technology, and music. As a musician worked with the New Jazz Orchestra, Denis Preston, Ian Carr, Nucleus, Tony Coe, Norma Winstone, Trevor Tomkins, and John Martyn ~ Ardley was born in 1937
February 23, 2003 ~ Howard Norman Epstein, commonly known as bassist, guitarist, mandolinist, singer Howie Epstein, passed away in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA ~ Best known for his tenure with Tom Petty for some two decades starting in 1982, including on the Billboard Hot 200 top 10 albums Long After Dark, Southern Accents, Full Moon Fever, and Wildflowers. Epstein was romantically involved with singer Carlene Carter in the early 1990s, and produced Carter's I Fell In Love album, for which he also co-wrote the title track. An in-demand collaborator and session musician, Epstein has also appeared on albums by John Hiatt (Two Bit Monsters), Cher, Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan (Empire Burlesque), the Textones, Warren Zevon, Roy Orbison, John Prine, Johnny Cash (Unchained), Carl Perkins, John Fogerty (Blue Moon Swamp), and Linda Ronstadt ~ Epstein was born in 1955February 23, 2001 ~ Saxophonist, songwriter Guy Wood passed away in East Hampton, New York, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Till Then with Eddie Seiler and Sol Marcus, a hit for the Mills Brothers and covered by numerous artists including Ray Peterson, Sammy Davis Jr, James Brown, Al Martino, Pat Boone, Ruby & the Romantics, and Michael Bublé ~ Wood was born in 1911
February 23, 2000 ~ Singer, actress Ofra Haza, full name Bat-Sheva Ofra Haza, passed away in Ramat Gan, Israel ~ Dubbed “the Israeli Madonna” or the prima donna of late 20th century Israeli pop. Represented her native Israel in the 1983 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 2nd place with Hi. Critically acclaimed for albums such as Yemenite Songs co-produced by Thomas Dolby, Shaday, and Desert Wind (Middle East). Has collaborated with artists such as Sisters Of Mercy, Paula Abdul, Sarah Brightman, and Iggy Pop ~ Haza was born in 1957
February 23, 1998 ~ Country singer Faith Hill releases This Kiss, lead single off her Faith album ~ Written by Beth Nielsen Chapman, Robin Lerner, and Annie Roboff, initially as a keyboard-driven straight-up pop song, with singers such as Patti LaBelle, Brandy, or Britney Spears in mind. The songwriters didn't even pitch the song to country, yet when they heard Faith Hill was recording a new album, they stripped the song down and re-recorded a demo with steel guitars. Chapman would later explain: “When you do that, you give the song a chance to be heard in a different, and then right away it was cut by Faith.” The song would be a massive crossover hit, top the Billboard Country charts, peak at No.7 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, and established Hill as one of the definitive female country crossover singers of the day. This Kiss would be nominated for two Grammy Awards, Best Female Vocal Country Performance and Best Country Song, losing in both categories to You're Still The One by Shania TwainFebruary 23, 1998 ~ K-pop singer Kevin Moon born in Gwangju, South Korea ~ First gained attention as a contestant on the 6th and final season of the talent show Kpop Star. Though eliminated from the contest early on would go on to sing for the soundtrack of Saimdang (Light's Diary) the following year. Best known as a member of K-pop boy band the Boyz, present on the 2021 hit Maverick
February 23, 1998 ~ Ollie Marie Givens, commonly known as gospel, R&B singer Marie Adams, passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Known for songs such as I'm Gonna Play The Honky Tonks, My Search Is Over and the Johnny Ace-cover My Song. Worked with Sadie McKinley and Francine McKinkey as Three Tons Of Joy. Worked with Johnny Otis, including on Ma He's Making Eyes At Me and Bye Bye Baby ~ Givenswas born in 1925
February 23, 1997 ~ Drummer Tony Williams, full name Anthony Tillmon Williams, passed away in Daly City, California, USA ~ Well over a dozen albums to his name as a leader. First gained attention backing Miles Davis from 1963 onwards, including on the acclaimed Filles de Kilimanjaro album released in 1968. Noted for leading Tony Williams Lifetime, a pioneering jazz fusion trio which included guitarist John McLaughlin and organist Larry Young and especially acclaimed for their 1969 Emergency album which is considered one of the landmark albums in jazz-rock and jazz-fusion. Member of VSOP in the mid 1970s alongside Davis alumni Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Wayne Shorter. Other notable collaborations include Hank Jones, Chet Baker, Tommy Flanagan, Sonny Rollins, Eric Dolphy (Out To Lunch), Dexter Gordon, Terumasa Hino, Branford Marsalis, and Marcus Miller ~ Williams was born in 1945February 23, 1996 ~ Jazz drummer Alan Dawson passed away in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Booker Ervin, Dave Brubeck, Sonny Rollins, Jaki Byard, Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon, Lee Konitz, Quincy Jones, Charles Mingus, Tal Farlow, Arnett Cobb, Frank Foster, Lionel Hampton, Illinois Jacquet, Hank Jones, Junior Mance, Quincy Jones, Charles McPherson, James Moody, Houston Person, Buddy Tate, and Eddie Cleanhead Vinson ~ Dawson was born in 1929
February 23, 1995 ~ David Melvin English, commonly known as R&B singer Melvin Franklin, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Bass singer, founding member of Motown group the Temptations, remaining with the band until 1994. Along with Otis Williams the only one to never leave the group. Sang lead on songs such as I Truly Truly Believe, Silent Night, The Prophet and Ol' Man River ~ English was born in 1942
February 23, 1987 ~ Herbert Anthony Stevens IV, commonly known as rapper Ab-Soul, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of hip-hop group Black Hippy alongside Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q. Released his full-length Longterm Mentality solo debut album in 2011. Also collaborated with Action Bronson, Jesse Medina, Nikki Jean, Murs, Childish Gambino, Talib Kweli, Chance the Rapper, and Lupe Fiasco
February 23, 1986 ~ Pop singer Ola Svensson, full name Ola Nils Hakan Svensson, born in Lund, Sweden ~ First gained attention as contestant on the talent show Swedish Idol in 2005, reaching 8th place. Released his debut album, Given To Fly, the following year. Best known for songs such as Rain, Natalie, SOS, Sky's The Limit, Unstoppable (The Return Of Natalie) and Overdrive
February 23, 1986 ~ Singer Patti LaBelle releases On My Own, a duet with Michael McDonald lifted off her Winner In You album ~ Written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager, who at the time were married, the song tells of a couple who are now separated. Duetting with Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers, On My Own would be a major hit for Patti LaBelle, spending three consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single also reached top 10 in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the UK. To Labelle, the success of the single was unexpected, as she told NME: “I don't record for commercial value. With On My Own I went into the studio thinking, I'm gonna record something I love. Usually if I love it, it bubbles under. And I was surprised it made a hit”February 23, 1986 ~ Holly Brook Hafermann, commonly known as singer, songwriter Skylar Grey, born in Mazomanie, Wisconsin, USA ~ Debuted in 2006 with the album Like Blood Like Honey. Co-wrote Love The Way You Lie, a 2010 hit for Eminem and Rihanna. Has guested on recordings by Fort Minor, Dr Dre, Nicki Minaj. Has written for artists such as Kehlani, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Nick Jonas, Céline Dion, and Cee Lo Green