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 7, 2024 ~ R&B, soul singer Henry Fambrough, full name Henry Lee Fambrough, passed away in Sterling, Virginia, USA ~ Last surviving original member of the Spinners, at times known as the Detroit Spinners or the Motown Spinners to avoid confusion with other groups. The group had been recording since the early 1960s, and enjoyed popularity especially during the 1970s. Well known songs include It's A Shame, I'll Be Around, Could It Be I'm Falling In Love, Ghetto Child, the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Then Came You with Dionne Warwick, The Rubberband Man, and Working My Way Back To You. The band would be inducted in the 2023 class of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, acknowledging them as “one of the most beloved R&B vocal groups in the world, (who) came to define the Philadelphia sound despite their Motor City origins.” ~ Fambrough was born in 1938
February 7, 2024 ~ Neill Kirby McMillan Jr, commonly known as rockabilly, cowpunk, psychobilly singer Mojo Nixon, passed away in San Juan, Puerto Rico ~ Teamed up with Skid Roper in the 1980s, the duo releasing about half a dozen albums through the end of the decade. They are perhaps best known for Elvis Is Everywhere off their 1987 Bo-Day-Shus album, the single becoming an alternative staple on MTV. Nixon released his Otis solo debut album in 1990 and recorded throughout the mid 2000s before retiring from music. McMillan has also collaborated with Jello Biafra, Dave Alvin, and Country Dick Montana, and acted in about half a dozen films including portraying the role of drummer Jimmy Van Eaton in the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic Great Balls Of Fire ~ McMillan was born in 1957February 7, 2023 ~ Birrell Josef Mendelson, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter, painter Mendelson Joe, passed away in Emsdale, Canada ~ Also known as a painter and political activist, his art used to express political themes. As a musician active since the mid 1960s. Formed early 1970s group the McKenna Mendelson Mainline with guitarist Mike McKenna. Mendelson would depart the blues group in 1972, to be replaced by up-and-coming talent Rick James. Mendelson has also collaborated with the likes of Ben Mink, Gwen Swick, and Colin Linden ~ Mendelson was born in 1944
February 7, 2023 ~ Poet, composer Richard Kell, full name Richard Alexander Kell, passed away ~ Best known as a poet, writing since his early teens. Widely known for the poem Pigeons. Also wrote a limited amount of music, noted for his 1976 Symphonic Elegy commemorating the death of his wife Muriel, and Variations On A Notorious Theme ~ Kell was born in 1927
February 7, 2021 ~ Engineer, producer Elliot Mazer passed away in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Worked with acts such as Chubby Checker, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Crosby Stills & Nash, Y&T, Barclay James Harvest, Mike d'Abo, James Cotton, Area Code 615, and the Tymes. Notable production credits include Big Brother & the Holding Company's Cheap Thrills, Neil Young's Harvest and Tonight's The Night, and the Band's The Last Waltz ~ Mazer was born in 1941
February 7, 2020 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Steve Weber passed away in Mount Clare, West Virginia, USA ~ Best known for co-founding psychedelic folk outfit the Holy Modal Rounders with singer, fiddler Peter Stampfel. The band has recorded over half a dozen albums and earned a cult following with their unique blend of folk and psychedelia. Reportedly the track Hesitation Blues of their 1964 eponymous The Holy Modal Rounders was the first song to include the word “psychedelic” in its lyrics. Weber and Stampfel have also briefly played with the Fugs ~ Weber was born in 1943February 7, 2017 ~ Jazz violinist, vibraphonist, singer Svend Asmussen passed away in Dronningmolle, Denmark ~ Known as “the Fiddling Viking,” Asmussen played with artists including Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Stéphane Grappelli. Early on in his career Asmussen worked the cruise ships supporting artists such as Josephine Baker and Fats Waller. Asmussen also recorded and played with Alice Babs, Ulrik Neumann, Lionel Hampton, Ray Nance, Toots Thielemans, Putte Wickman, and Stuff Smith ~ Asmussen was born in 1916
February 7, 2012 ~ Max Rosen, commonly known as harpist, songwriter Robert Maxwell, passed away ~ Best remembered for co-writing Shangri-La recorded by the Four Coins and by the Lettermen, and for co-writing Ebb Tide, recorded by Frank Chacksfield, Vic Damone, Ella Fitzgerald, the Platters, the Righteous Brothers, Tom Jones, and by numerous others ~ Rosen was born in 1921
February 7, 2006 ~ Country duo the Wreckers release Leave The Pieces, lifted off their Stand Still Look Pretty album ~ Singer Michelle Branch, to pop audiences perhaps best known for guesting on Santana's 2002 Billboard Hot 100 No.5 hit The Game Of Love, put her solo career on hold to form the Wreckers with Jessica Harp in 2004. The duo recorded one album, but as their label was in flux the album was delayed and by the time Stand Still Look Pretty was finally released the duo weren't on speaking terms anymore. Nevertheless, the heartbreaker Leave The Pieces became a Billboard Country No.1 hit and earned the duo a Grammy Award nomination. The follow-up single My Oh My would also reach top 10, peaking at No.9. The duo only recorded the one album, and both Branch and Harp resumed their solo careers after breaking up
February 7, 2001 ~ Lucille Wood Smith, commonly known as singer, actress, songwriter Dale Evans passed away in Apple Valley, California, USA ~ Third wife of singing cowboy Roy Rogers, with whom she formed a successful on- and off-screen team starring in numerous films. The couple remained married until Rogers' death in 1998 ~ Smith was born in 1912
February 7, 2000 ~ Christopher Lee Rios, commonly known as East Coast hip hop, gangsta rap, boom bap rapper Big Pun, passed away in White Plains, New York, USA ~ Discovered by Fat Joe, guesting on the 1995 album Jealous One's Envy. Released his solo debut Capital Punishment, in 2017, the first solo hip-hop album by a Latino artist to go Platinum. Has worked with the Full-A-Clips, Lyrical Assassin, the Beatnuts, Terror Squad, Noreaga, Donell Jones, Ashanti, his son Chris Rivers, Shaquille O'Neal, Easy Mo Bee, Delinquent Habits, and Heavy D ~ Rios was born in 1971
February 7, 2000 ~ Hard rock, blues rock, boogie rock guitarist, singer, songwriter Dave Peverett, also known as Lonesome Dave Peverett, passed away in Orlando, Florida, USA ~ Member of blues rock outfit Savoy Brown from 1967 through 1970, including on the acclaimed albums Blue Matter and Raw Sienna. Best known as lead singer, co-founding and constant member of Foghat, known best for their 1975 Fool For The City album which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Slow Ride ~ Peverett was born in 1943
February 7, 1999 ~ Pop singer, actress Bea Miller, full name Beatrice Annika Miller, born in Maplewood, New Jersey, USA ~ First gained attention in 2012, reaching 9th place in season 2 of The X-Factor USA aired on Fox. A debut EP, Young Blood, would follow in 2014, her full-length Not An Apology released the next year. The latter would spawn the modest hit Fire n Gold, which peaked in the low 70s on the Billboard Hot 100
February 7, 1999 ~ Jazz pianist, singer, songwriter, actor Bobby Troup, full name Robert Wesley Troup Jr, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Released over a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting in the early 1950s. Best remembered for writing (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66, first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1946, and covered by over an estimated 400 artists including Louis Jordan, Chuck Berry, the Rolling Stones, Dr Feelgood, and Asleep At The Wheel. As an actor best known for portraying the role of Dr Joe in the TV series Emergency opposite his wife Julie London. Prior to marrying London in 1959, Troup has also produced her 1955 hit Cry Me A River ~ Troup was born in 1918February 7, 1997 ~ Drummer Ashwin Sood and singer Sarah McLachlan marry in Negril, Jamaica ~ Ashwin Sood is known primarily for backing Sarah McLachlan on her best known albums, prior to, during, and after their marriage, including on the acclaimed albums Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, Good Enough, and Shine On. The couple have two daughters, India and Taja, and divorced in 2008
February 7, 1995 ~ Country, country-pop, pop singer Shania Twain releases her The Woman In Me sophomore album ~ Shania Twain's 1993 debut album had made little impact, yet while promoting the album doing small gigs she encountered veteran producer and songwriter Robert John Mutt Lange. The two instantly clicked and would marry the same year. Deviating from her earlier sound, Twain's sophomore album, with significant contributions from her now-husband Lange, made her a superstar. The Woman In Me would sell 4 million copies within a year and all singles made top 10 on the country charts in her native Canada. Six of the album's singles topped the country charts in Canada, four would also top the American Billboard Country chart. The album reached top 10 in Canada, Norway, the UK, and on the American Billboard Hot 200
February 7, 1994 ~ Conductor, composer Witold Lutoslawski, full name Witold Roman Lutoslawski, passed away in Warsaw, Poland ~ Among the major 20th century composers. Critically acclaimed as possibly the greatest Polish composer since Karol Szymanowski and possibly the greatest since Frédéric Chopin. Known best for his symphonies and concertos, notably Variations On A Theme By Paganini, and Concerto For Orchestra ~ Lutoslawski was born in 1913February 7, 1991 ~ Bluegrass banjoist, guitarist, mandolinist, bassist, singer Jessie Baker born in Indiana, USA ~ Has worked with Karl Shiflett, Michael Cleveland, Marty Raybon, David Peterson, Cody Shuler, and Doyle Lawson. Released his Yessir solo debut album in 2009. Also notably present on the Dailey & Vincent albums Brothers Of The Highway, Alive In Concert and Patriots And Poets
February 7, 1986 ~ Pop rock singer, bassist Sting releases Moon Over Bourbon Street, lifted off his The Dream Of The Blue Turtles solo debut album ~ A modest hit in the UK, peaking just outside the top 40, Moon Over Bourbon Street named for the renowned Bourbon Street in New Orleans was inspired by the Anne Rice-novel Interview With A Vampire, given to him by the Police guitarist Andy Summers. However, Sting would later remark Rice's novel may have been “the direct inspiration for this song, but there was one moonlit night in the French Quarter of New Orleans where I had the distinct impression that I was being followed”February 7, 1985 ~ Terrence Edward Parsons, commonly known as easy listening, pop singer Matt Monro, passed away in London, UK ~ Dubbed “the Man with the Golden Voice” with a career spanning three decades. Known best for hits such as Portrait Of My Love, My Kind Of Girl, Softly As I Love You, Walk Away, and the Beatles-cover Yesterday, all of which reached the British top 10 ~ Parsons was born in 1930
February 7, 1983 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer Sam Martin, full name Samuel Denison Martin, born in New York, New York, USA ~ First gained attention working with David Guetta, co-writing and singing on songs such as Lovers On The Sun and Dangerous. Also known for writing songs such as Want To Want Me (Jason Derülo) and Daylight (Maroon 5). Key member of Con Bro Chill. Has also worked with Ziggy Marley, One Direction, Nick Jonas, Zedd, Flo Rida, Prince Royce, the Chainsmokers, Pitbull, Jon Bellion, Snoop Dogg, TI, Armin Van Buuren, and G-EazyFebruary 7, 1981 ~ R&B, soul singer, actor, songwriter Jimmie Wilson born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Represented San Marino in the 2017 Eurovision Songfestival, duetting with Valentina Monetta on Spirit Of The Night which failed to reach the finals. Sung and acted in the late 1990s Michael Jackson-produced stage musical Sisterella. Played the title role of Barack Obama in the 2010 German musical Hope (Das Obama Musical)
February 7, 1979 ~ Herbert Lee Holland, commonly known as swing trumpeter Peanuts Holland, passed away in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Worked with Alphonso Trent, Al Sears, the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra, Willie Bryant, Jimmie Lunceford, Coleman Hawkins, Fletcher Henderson, Charlie Barnet, Don Redman, Don Byas, Buck Clayton, Guy Lafitte, Mezz Mezzrow, Don Redman, Stuff Smith, and Kay Starr ~ Holland was born in 1910
February 7, 1979 ~ Latin pop singer, actor Sergio O'Farrill, also known by the moniker Moroccoblue, born in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Active since his mid-teens. Member of Kabah, known for hits such as Vive, La Vida Que Va, Mai Mai, Te Necesito, Al Pasar, Una Illusion, Antro, Al Final, La Calle De Las Sirenas, and Amigas Y Rivales. Following the band's disbandement O'Farrill has recorded as a solo artist, releasing songs through his Soundcloud page
February 7, 1975 ~ Rock guitarist, singer Wes Borland, full name Wesley Louden Borland, born in Richmond, Virginia, USA ~ Member of Limp Bizkit, joining the band in 1995 and present on the band's best known including the band's first three albums Three Dollar Bill Y'All, Significant Other, and Chocolate Starfish & The Hot Dog Flavored Water. Lead singer, guitarist for industrial rock outfit Black Light Burns. Co-founding member of experimental metal band Big Dumb Face. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the album Crystal Machete released in 2016, and collaborated with Eat The Day, Goatslayer, the Damning Well, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Combichrist, and From First To Last