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 24, 2025 ~ Robert John Pedrick Jr, commonly known as singer Robert John, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Enjoyed on-and-off chart success from the late 1950s through the 1970s, starting with White Bucks And Saddle Shoes under his given name Bobby Pedrick back in 1958 at a mere age 14, followed by the minor 1963 hit My Jelly Bean as lead singer of Bobby & the Consoles, and his 1971 Billboard Hot 100 No.3 solo hit The Lion Sleeps Tonight, the latter originally a charttopper for the Tokens a decade earlier. However, Pedrick scored his biggest success with Sad Eyes, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979. Reminiscent of the 1950s doo-wop ballads, Sad Eyes was one of a select few non-disco, or disco-influenced, tunes to top the charts in 1979. At the time, Pedrick was working a day job in construction and at the urging of producer John Tobin, Pedrick wrote the song using Toby Beau's My Angel Baby as a frame of reference. As Tobin later clarified: “That's the kind of song Robert should be doing. (…) Robert wrote Sad Eyes and rewrote it for about three months. Every time he'd write it I'd go, Nah, change this and change that.” It became the biggest hit of the singer's career, fondly remembered to this day as one of the most enduring ballads of its day. Sad Eyes also featured Darlene Love on backing vocals ~ Pedrick was born in 1946
February 24, 2025 ~ R&B, soul singer Roberta Flack, full name Roberta Cleopatra Flack, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Best known for The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Killing Me Softly With His Song, both Grammy Award-winners in respectively 1973 and 1974. Debuted in 1969 with the album First Take and has recorded steadily since to critical acclaim and commercial success. Well known songs include Feel Like Makin' Love, You Are Everything and Making Love. Also scored a number of duet hits, notably The Closer I Get To You with Donny Hathaway, Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You with Peabo Bryson, and Set The Night To Music with Maxi Priest ~ Flack was born in 1937February 24, 2022 ~ Michael O'Donnell, commonly known as singer, guitarist Don Craine, passed away ~ Co-founded the Downliners, which would evolve into the iconic UK R&B outfit the Downliners Sect especially acclaimed for their 1964 The Sect debut album. Both Steve Marriott and Rod Stewart had auditioned for the band yet were turned down ~ O'Donnell was born ca.1946
February 24, 2020 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, percussionist Jahn Teigen passed away in Ystad, Sweden ~ Member of Popol Vuh and subsequently Popol Ace during the 1970s. Member of the comedy musical trio Prima Vera, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums from 1977 through 1984. Represented his native Norway at the Eurovision Songfestival three times, reaching 20th place in 1978 with Mil Etter Mil, duetting with his future wife Anita Skorgan in 1982 reaching 12th place with Adieu, and in 1983 reaching 9th place with Do-re-mi ~ Teigen was born in 1949
February 24, 2018 ~ Willem Claes, commonly known as songwriter, producer Wim Claes, passed away in Bocholt, Belgium ~ Internationally perhaps best known for co-writing Like The Wind for Vanessa Chinitor. The song served as the Belgian entry for the 1999 Eurovision Songfestival, where it reached twelfth place. Claes also co-wrote Oui Oh Oui and Lilali for Kim Kay, both of which reached top 10 in Belgium. Other artists who recorded his songs include Clouseau, Dana Winner, Günther Neefs, Sam Gooris (Ik Heb De Zon Zien Zakken In De Zee), Luc Steeno, and Salim Seghers ~ Claes was born in 1961February 24, 2016 ~ Singer, saxophonist Lennie Baker passed away in Weymouth, Massachusetts, USA ~ Member of 1950s rock group Danny & the Juniors. Member of Sha Na Na, touring with the band and appearing on the TV series of the same name. Also appears in Grease, singing lead vocals on the band's performance of Blue Moon ~ Baker was born in 1946
February 24, 2016 ~ Composer Miguel Angel Coria, full name Miguel Angel Coria Varela, passed away in Madrid, Spain ~ Contemporary classical composer influenced by impressionism and post-modernism. Wrote works for orchestra, chamber music, electronic music, vocal music, ballet and opera ~ Coria wqas born in 1937
February 24, 2014 ~ Francis Eugene Beecher, commonly known as guitarist Franny Beecher, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known as member of the Comets, backing Bill Haley. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Blue Comet Blues, Goofing Around, Week-End, and Shaky. Also worked with Benny Goodman, and Buddy Greco ~ Beecher was born in 1921
February 24, 2012 ~ R&B, jazz guitarist Ernest McLean passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with producer Dave Bartholomew playing in the house band for Cosimo Matassa's studio. Worked with artists such as Fats Domino (The Fat Man), Little Richard, Smiley Lewis, Lloyd Price (Lawdy Miss Clawdy), Shirley & Lee, Earl Bostic, Herbert Hardesty, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and Earl Palmer ~ McLean was born in 1925
February 24, 2008 ~ Clarinetist Phil Bodner passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Gil Evans, Brass Ring, Oliver Nelson, JJ Johnson, Oscar Peterson, Yusef Lateef, Peanuts Hucko, Wild Bill Davison, Ralph Sutton, Van McCoy (The Hustle), Marty Napoleon, Mel Lewis, George Duvivier, Milt Hinton, Bobby Rosengarden, Derek Smith, and Johnny Varo ~ Bodner was born in 1917
February 24, 2007 ~ Avant-garde jazz, contemporary classical violinist, violist, composer Leroy Jenkins passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. First gained attention playing with the loose collective the Association For The Advancement Of Creative Musicians in the mid 1960s, led by Muhal Richard Abrams. First recorded in 1967, appearing on Abrams' Levels And Degrees Of Light. Would team up with Anthony Braxton and Wadada Leo Smith recording Braxton's 3 Compositions Of Jazz album the following year. Would go on to collaborate with Creative Construction Company, Archie Shepp, Philly Joe Jones, Alan Silva, Don Cherry, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Paul Motian, Dewey Redman, Andrew Cyrille, and Cecil Taylor. As a composer gapped the bridge between several idioms including jazz, classical and rap, and perhaps best known for his 1994 Fresh Faust jazz-rap opera. At the time of his death Jenkins was working on two new operas, Bronzeville and Minor Triad, the latter a musical drama about the lives of Paul Robeson, Lena Horne and Cab Calloway ~ Jenkins was born in 1932February 24, 2004 ~ Aaron Corthen, commonly known as blues saxophonist AC Reed, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Worked with Earl Hooker, Willie Mabon, Dennis Binder, Lillian Offitt, Ricky Allen, Junior Wells, Son Seals, and Albert Collins. Best known for backing Buddy Guy from 1967 through 1977. His 1987 album, I'm In The Wrong Business, featured cameos by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Bonnie Raitt ~ Corthen was born in 1926
February 24, 2004 ~ Guitarist, bandleader Alvino Rey passed away in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ~ Married the King Sisters singer Luise King. Worked with Horace Heidt, Al Cohn, Ray Conniff, Neal Hefti, Zoot Sims, Billy May, Herbie Stewart, Dave Tough, Nelson Riddle, Johnny Mandel, George Handy, Jack Costanzo, George Cates, and Esquivel. Rey is also the grandfather of Arcade Fire members Win Butler and William Butler ~ Rey was born in 1908February 24, 2004 ~ Stax co-founder Estelle Axton passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Founded Satellite Records with her brother Jim Stewart, to record local country and rockabilly artists. Changed its name to Stax after it was discovered another label already used the name. Axton worked with artists such as Rufus Thomas, Otis Redding, Booker T & the MG's, and Isaac Hayes ~ Axton was born in 1918
February 24, 2003 ~ Pianist, conductor, arranger, film composer Walter Scharf passed away in Brentwood, California, USA ~ Helped orchestrate the George Gershwin Broadway-musical Girl Crazy, accompanied singer Helen Morgan, pianist and arranger for singer Rudy Vallée. Hollywood film composer, music director since the early 1930s, with over 100 film credits to his name including The Nutty Professor, several Elvis Presley films starting with Loving You, Barbra Streisand's Funny Girl, and the original 1971 version of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Composed for dozens of TV series ~ Scharf was born in 1910
February 24, 2002 ~ Vibraphonist Arthur Lyman, full name Arthur Hunt Lyman, passed away in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA ~ Dubbed “the King of Lounge Music”, Lyman is considered one of the architects of what would later become known as exotica. Lyman briefly played with Martin Denny in the 1950s before venturing out on his own and has recorded well over two dozen albums since, perhaps most notably Taboo, Hawaiian Sunset, and I Wish You Love. Lyman's music would be rediscovered in the 1990s space age pop boom. Lyman continued to perform in Hawaii until a year before his death at age 70, and is especially remembered for songs such as Taboo, Love For Sale, and Yellow Bird ~ Lyman was born in 1932
February 24, 1998 ~ Alternative rock, post-grunge singer, guitarist Alanis Morissette releases Uninvited, lead single off the City Of Angels soundtrack ~ Written by Alanis Morissette, produced by Morissette and Rob Cavallo, for the City Of Angels soundtrack. At the time, following the success of her 1995 Jagged Little Pill critical and commercial breakthrough album, Morissette was considered one of the biggest stars. As the song was not officially released as a physical single in the USA, it did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the song did earn the singer Grammy Awards for Female Rock Vocal and Best Rock Song
February 24, 1998 ~ Singer Janet Jackson releases I Get Lonely, lifted off her The Velvet Rope album ~ Produced and written by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis with additional writing by her then-husband René Elizondo Jr, I Get Lonely marked a departure from Jackson's crossover R&B-tinged dance-pop into pure soul vibe with a touch of neo-soul. Lyrically, the song tells of loneliness and the desire for an estranged lover, a theme that matched the general feel of the parent album which chronicled Jackson's personal struggles. On several occasions, Jackson has described the album as her most personal work, developed throughout her entire lifetime, once clarifying: “I never looked deeply at the pain from my past, never tried to understand that pain and work it through. It was a journey I had avoided. But one I now had to face.” Other than in its original solo version on the parent album, I Get Lonely was released on single as a duet with Blackstreet, which would top the Billboard R&B charts and peak at No.3 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, setting a record for eighteen consecutive top 10 hit on the tally. The song would also earn Jackson a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Performance
February 24, 1997 ~ Singer Whitney Houston releases Step By Step, lifted off her The Preacher's Wife album ~ Written and first recorded by Annie Lennox who first issued the song on the flip side of her 1992 Precious single, which reached top 30 in several European countries. For the soundtrack of The Preacher's Wife, a fantasy comedy-drama film which also featured Whitney Houston in a leading role opposite Denzel Washington, Houston would redo Lennox's song as a R&B pop crossover, replacing Lennox's verses with new lyrics and ommitting portions of the bridge. The Houston recording session was helmed by British producer Stephen Lipson, who would later describe working with Houston as “a complete nightmare” as the diva turned up late, didn't learn the song, and then refused to sing it. Houston herself, at least in hindsight, was more appreciative of the song, as she has been quoted as saying “Annie sent me this really beautiful, spiritual song and it fit the groove of the album right away.” Houston's cover would reach top 20 in well over a dozen countries, including the Netherlands, the UK, and Houston's native America, where it peaked at No.15 Billboard Hot 100. Reportedly, Annie Lennox sings uncredited backing vocals on Houston's cover
February 24, 1994 ~ Fannye Rose Shore, commonly known as singer Dinah Shore, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Early on in her career, Shore auditioned for by Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey and Tommy Dorsey, but would be rejected by all. However, Shore would go on to become the first female solo artist of her era to achieve major chart success scoring numerous hits from the early 1940s through the late 1950s. Well known songs include Yes My Darling Daughter, Jim, Blues In The Night, You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To, The Gypsy, The Anniversary Song, I Wish I Didn't Love You So, and Dear Hearts And Gentle People ~ Shore was born in 1916
February 24, 1994 ~ Singer, actor, songwriter Jean Sablon passed away in Cannes, France ~ One of the first French singers to embrace jazz. The first singer to record with famed guitarist Django Reinhardt. Enjoying an international career in film, stage and music he was often referred to as a French version of Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra. Known for songs such as Vous Qui Passez Sans Me Voir, In The Still Of The Night, Love Walked In, and Les Feuilles Mortes ~ Sablon was born in 1906
February 24, 1993 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Gene Porter passed away in California, USA ~ Started on cornet but switched to saxophonist and clarinetist when his instrument was stolen. Fixture on the New Orleans jazz scene from the 1930s onwards, starting in ensembles led by Papa Celestin, Joe Robichaux, Sidney Desvigne, and the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra. Porter would go on to back artists such as Jimmie Lunceford, Benny Carter, Dinah Washington (Dinah Washington Sings The Blues), Charles Mingus, Lloyd Glenn, and extensively with Walter Fuller. After relocating to California, Porter led his own ensemble playing the Bronze Room, La Mesa from the mid 1960s onwards ~ Porter was born in 1910
February 24, 1991 ~ Country, honky-tonk singer, guitarist, songwriter Webb Pierce, full name Michael Webb Pierce, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Pivotal to development of honky tonk. Known for recordings such as In The Jailhouse Now, Love Love Love, There Stands The Glass, Wondering, and Teenage Boogie. The latter would be covered by T.Rex under the name I Love To Boogie, with songwriting credits not to Pierce but to Marc Bolan. Worked with artists such as Floyd Cramer, Faron Young, Tillman Franks, Doyle Wilburn, and Kitty Wells ~ Pierce was born in 1921February 24, 1988 ~ Singer, songwriter, pianist John Chatman, commonly known as Memphis Slim, passed away in Paris, France ~ Best known for his late 1940s recording Every Day I Have The Blues, which has since become a blues standard recorded by numerous artists including Count Basie and BB King ~ Chatman was born in 1915
February 24, 1985 ~ Amir Mohamed El Khalifa, commonly known as rapper, producer Oddisee, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Member of Diamond District. Member of the Low Budget Crew. Released his full-length 101 solo debut album in 2008. Also guested on recordings by DJ Jazzy Jeff, Apollo Brown, Eric Lau, No Wyld, and L'Orange