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 3, 1974 ~ Rock keyboardist, drummer, bassist, singer Anders Hunstad born in Norway ~ Best known for his associations with SOT, Satyricon and especially Sarke. Has also worked with Ravana, Professor Balthazar, Autopulver, El Caco, Surferosa, Tulus, and Meanderthals
February 3, 1973 ~ Andriamananentena Paul Razafinkarefo, commonly known as songwriter, lyricist Andy Razaff, passed away in North Hollywood, California, USA ~ Remembered for co-penning songs such as Honeysuckle Rose (Bert Stock, Mildred Bailey, Louis Jordan, Horace Henderson), S'posin' (Bob Haring, Rudy Vallée, Erskine Hawkins, the Chordettes), Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now (Louis Armstrong, Lee Wiley, Dinah Washington, Barbra Streisand), Stompin' At The Savoy (Judy Garland, Stan Kenton, Maxine Sullivan), You're Lucky To Me (Ethel Waters), The Joint Is Jumpin' (Fats Waller), and Ain't Misbehavin' (Margaret Simms & Paul Bass, the Charleston Chasers, Chester Gaylord) ~ Razafinkarefo was born in 1895February 3, 1970 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Richie Kotzen born in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA ~ As a solo artist well over a dozen albums to his name starting in the late 1980s, especially acclaimed for his sophomore album Fever Dream released in 1990. Member of glam metal outfit Poison from 1991 through 1993, pop rock band Mr Big from 1999 through 2002, frontman of supergroup Winery Dogs since 2012
February 3, 1970 ~ Stephanie Salas Banquelis, commonly known as pop singer, actress Stephanie Salas, born in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Made her show business debut at age eight singing alongside her mother Silvia Pasquel on the TV show Noche A Noche. Would first turn to acting, featured in several popular telenovas. As a singer released her ful-length Ave Maria in 1992 and has been both acting and recording steadily since, with hiatuses to focus on her family life
February 3, 1968 ~ Rock, pop rock guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, percussionist, singer, songwriter Eric M Fowler born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA ~ Member of the Boxing Gandhis, first appearing on the band's 1996 Howard sophomore album. As a session musician has worked with artists such as Sting, UB40, Rosanne Cash, Clint Black, and George Clinton
February 3, 1967 ~ Robert George Meek, commonly known as producer Joe Meek, passed away in London, UK ~ Pioneered space age pop and recording practices such as overdubbing, sampling and reverberation. One of the first producers, engineers to be recognized for his individual identity as an artist. Wrote and produced the Tornados's Telstar, the first single by a British rock group to reach No.1 on the American Billboard Hot 100. Other singles produced by Meek include Johnny Remember Me for John Leyton, Just Like Eddie for Heinz, Angela Jones for Michael Cox, Have I The Right for the Honeycombs and Tribute To Buddy Holly for Mike Berry ~ Meek was born in 1929February 3, 1965 ~ Pop rock guitarist Nick Hawkins born in Luton, UK ~ Best known as guitarist for Big Audio Dynamite II from 1990 through 1997, including on the hits Rush and Globe. Hawkins would also work as a producer, including for his wife Jo Beng, and as a film composer. At the time of his death of a heart attack at age 40, Hawkins was working on a still unreleased solo album titled Dusk Till Dawn, scheduled to be released in 2006 ~ Hawkins passed away in 2005
February 3, 1964 ~ Country singer, songwriter Matraca Berg, full name Matraca Maria Berg, born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ As a solo artist known best for Baby Walk On and The Things You Left Undone. Has written songs for TG Sheppard, Karen Brooks, Trisha Yearwood (The Wrong Side Of Memphis), Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker, Ray Price, Gretchen Wilson, Marie Osmond, the Sweethearts Of The Rodeo, Deana Carter (Strawberry Wine), Patty Loveless (You Can Feel Bad), Reba McEntire (The Last One To Know), Suzy Bogguss, Linda Ronstadt, Patricia Conroy, Sara Evans (Fool I'm A Woman), Mindy McCready, and Kenny ChesneyFebruary 3, 1964 ~ Drummer, songwriter, producer Simon Hanson born in Grantham, UK ~ Best known as drummer for Death In Vegas from 1998 through 2004, first appearing on the The Contino Sessions album released in 1999. Has also worked with Delusion, the Aloof, Rick Wakeman, Ozzy Osbourne, Glenn Tilbrook, the Boy Least Likely To, Squeeze, Secret Affair, and the Quireboys
February 3, 1963 ~ R&B singer Antoine TCD Lundy born in Harlem, New York, USA ~ Best known as a member of the Force MD's, scoring a string of 1980s hits including their best known 1985's Tender Love, featured in the film Krush Groove and reaching the Billboard top 10 ~ Lundy passed away in 1998
February 3, 1961 ~ Singer, musical actress Linda Eder born in Tucson, Arizona, USA ~ Won a Theater World Award for Best Broadway Debut for her leading role of Lucy Harris in a 1997 production of Jekyll & Hyde, a role which also won her nominations for Drama Desk Award and Outer Critic's Circle. As a solo artist has been recording since the early 1990s, starting with the 1991 eponymous Linda Eder album
February 3, 1959 ~ Laurence Andrew Tolhurst, commonly known as post-punk, alternative rock, new wave drummer, keyboardist Lol Tolhurst, born in Horley, UK ~ Founding member of the Cure, remaining with the band through 1989 and present on some of the band's best known songs including A Forest, The Walk, The Love Cats, Caterpillar and In Between Days. Has also worked with the short-lived Presence recording a sole album, 1993's Inside. In the early 2000s founded Levinhurst with Cindy Levinson, his second wifeFebruary 3, 1957 ~ Avant-garde, industrial, dark ambient; noise singer, producer Steven Stapleton, full name Steve Peter Appleton, born in Finchley, UK ~ Considered a pioneer of British industrial music. Draws from a wide range of influences including improvisation, folk and Latin American dance. Sole constant member of Nurse With Wound. In-demand collaborator and producer. Has worked with David Tibet, Tony Wakeford, the Nodding Folk, Current '93, Foetus, Whitehouse, and Earthmonkey
February 3, 1956 ~ Singer, guitarist, producer Alf Klimek, full name Alfons Joseph Klimek, born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Lead singer of new German wave rock band Spliff from 1980 through 1982. After Klimek's departure the band would revert back to singing in German, lead vocal duties shared between the remaining members. Klimek subsequently fronted the Other Ones, best known for the single Holiday of their eponymous 1986 The Other Ones debut album
February 3, 1956 ~ Guitarist Lee Ranaldo born in Glen Cove, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of pioneering noise rock outfit Sonic Youth, acclaimed for the albums Sister and Daydream Nation released respectively in 1987 and 1988. Served as producer for acts such as Babes In Toyland, You Am I, Magik Markers, and Kleg
February 3, 1949 ~ Glam rock bassist Arthur Kane, full name Arthur Harold Kane Jr, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of the New York Dolls, remaining with the band through 1975. Present on the band's key albums, 1973's The New York Dolls and 1974's Too Much Too Soon. Kane has also worked with Blackie Lawless, Sid Vicious, the London Cowboys, and the Corpse Grinders ~ Kane passed away in 2004
February 3, 1949 ~ Ferdinand van Eis, commonly known as blues singer Oscar Benton, born in Haarlem, the Netherlands ~ Duetted with Monica Verschoor on All I Ever Need Is You and Everybody's Telling Me, the latter a top 20 hit in the Netherlands in 1972. Fronted the Oscar Benton Blues Band. Best known for 1974's Roll On Sweet Mississippi and Bensonhurst Blues, the latter a hit in France after the song was included in the 1981 crime-thriller Pour La Peau D'Un Flic starring Alain Delon ~ Van Eis passed away in 2020
February 3, 1948 ~ Bassist Bruce Barlow born in Oxnard, California, USA ~ Member of Commander Cody & his Lost Planet Airmen, known for merging country, rock & roll, western swing, rockabilly, jump blues and boogie-woogie piano. The band scored a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit with Hot Rod Lincoln of their 1971 Lost In The Ozone albumFebruary 3, 1948 ~ Jazz singer Dennis Rowland born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Influenced by Joe Williams. Toured with Count Basie for seven years starting in 1977. Released a number of solo recordings and collaborated with Wendell Harrison, Ray Anthony, Joe Sample, and Frank Foster. Also known as an actor, notably in the film Real Gone Cat, released in 2006
February 3, 1948 ~ Keyboardist, singer Jim Lockhart born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Best known as member of Horslips, who initially found little success but in time would become to be regarded as founding fathers of Celtic rock best known for their 1976 The Book Of Invasions album. The band would break up in 1980 but reemerge in the 1990s as interest grew. Lockhart plays keyboards, pipes, whistles and flute
February 3, 1947 ~ Guitarist Dave Davies, full name David Russell Gordon Davies, born in Muswell Hill, UK ~ Lead guitarist, co-founding member of the Kinks, and along with his older brother Ray Davies the only constant members of the band. Wrote or co-wrote and sang lead on Party Line, The Death Of A Clown and Strangers. Has also released a number of solo albums, starting with AFL1-3603 in 1980 on which Davies played all instruments himself
February 3, 1947 ~ Melanie Anne Safka, mononymously known as folk, pop singer, guitarist Melanie, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Over two dozen albums to her name, enjoying popularity especially during the late 1960s and early 1970s emerging from New York's Greenwich Village folk scene. Best known for the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) and Brand New Key, the latter a No.1 hit in 1971, and the Rolling Stones-cover Ruby Tuesday which reached top 10 in the UK. Along with Janis Joplin and Joan Baez, Safka was one of only three solo women to perform at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in 1969, of which she later said: “An unbelievably frightening day. I never even felt like I was a hippy, I didn't like the term. If anything, I was the beat generation, people in the Village expressing themselves in so many ways, not being pigeonholed.” ~ Safka passed away in 2024
February 3, 1945 ~ Tuba player Bob Stewart born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Has worked with Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Carla Bley, David Murray, Taj Mahal, Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard, Don Cherry, Nicholas Payton, Wynton Marsalis, Charlie Haden, Lester Bowie, Bill Frisell, Arthur Blythe, Ray Anderson, Henry Butler, Uri Caine, Don Cherry, Chris Joris, and Herb Robertson
February 3, 1944 ~ Patricia Ann Ruth Noble, commonly known as singer, actress Trisha Noble, born in Marrickville, Australia ~ Enjoyed popularity in her native Australia as a teenage pop singer under the moniker Patsy Ann Noble in the early 1960s, scoring several modest hits including Good Looking Boy. Would relocate to UK and later USA, focusing on her work as an actress with guest roles in TV shows such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Columbo, The Rockford Files. Following her father's illness Noble returned to Australia in the 1980s, reestablishing herself as a theatrical actress ~ Noble passed away in 2021