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.
January 15, 2023 ~ Doris Svensson, mononymously known as pop, soul, funk singer Doris, passed away in Gothenburg, Sweden ~ Known for her sole Did You Give The World Some Love Today album released in 1970. A late 1990s re-release would attract international attention, critics hailing the album as an overlooked rarity of Swedish pop ~ Svensson was born in 1947January 15, 2022 ~ Carmela Bizman, commonly known as singer, actress Carmela Corren, passed away in Hollywood, Florida, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria since the early 1960s. Represented Austria in the 1963 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 7th place with the song Vielleicht Geschieht Ein Wunder. Corren would record well over a dozen albums through the late 1970s ~ Bizman was born in 1938
January 15, 2022 ~ A&R executive, songwriter Jon Lind, full name Jonathan G Lind, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Classically trained guitarist. Member of Howdy Moon. Member of the Fifth Avenue Band. A&R executive at Hollywood Records. Best known as a songwriter, songs written or co-written by Lind recorded by the likes of the Emotions, Jennifer Holliday, DJ Rogers, Atlantic Starr, Ramsey Lewis, Madonna (Crazy For You), the Temptations, Vanessa Williams (Save The Best For Last), Cheap Trick, Cher, and perhaps most notably Earth Wind & Fire (Boogie Wonderland) ~ Lind was born in 1948
January 15, 2022 ~ Country music radio DJ, TV host Ralph Emery, full name Walter Ralph Emery, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ First gained attention as late-night DJ on Nashville's WSM radio station, a mecca for country music. Best known for hosting the nationally syndicated TV shows Pop Goes The Country from 1974 to 1980 and Nashville Now from 1983 to 1993. Remembered by Mickey Newbury in The Night You Wrote That Song of his 1979 The Sailor album. Emery occasionally released music of his own, notably the 1961 single Hello Fool which reached top 10 on the Billboard Country charts ~ Emery was born in 1933January 15, 2019 ~ Actress, singer, dancer, comedian Carol Channing passed away in Rancho Mirage, California, USA ~ Best known as an actress in Broadway and film musicals, also making appearances in feature films and TV series. Received numourous awards and nominations, notably a number of Tony's (including for the lead role of Dolly in 1949's Broadway performance of Hello Dolly) and a 1968 Oscar-nomination for Best Supporting Actress in Thoroughly Modern Millie ~ Channing was born in 1921
January 15, 2018 ~ Singer, songwriter Dolores O'Riordan, full name Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan, passed away in London, UK ~ Influenced by Gregorian chants, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, Jim Reeves, Bing Crosby. Rose to fame fronting the Cranberries, becoming one of the most recognizable voices in 1990s rock with songs such as Linger, Zombie, and Salvation. Released her Are You Listening solo debut album in 2007. Duetted with Jah Wobble (The Sun Does Rise), Zucchero (Pure Love), Giuliano Sangiorgi (Senza Fiato). Married to former Duran Duran tour manager Don Burton from 1994 to 2014, with whom she has three children ~ O'Riordan was born in 1971
January 15, 2015 ~ Producer, manager Kim Fowley passed away in Hollywood, California, USA ~ Best known for his role behind a number of cult pop singles including Alley Oop (the Hollywood Argyles), Like Long Hair (Paul Revere & the Raiders), and Popsicles And Icicles (the Murmaids), as well as the manager for Joan Jett's outfit the Runaways ~ Fowley was born in 1942
January 15, 2013 ~ Singer Bruno Mars releases When I Was Your Man, lifted off his Unorthodox Jukebox sophomore album ~ In this emotional heartbreak ballad, Bruno Mars looks back on a failed relationship, regretting failing to do all the things he should have done. Mars has stated it was the most honest song he ever written, as he once told MTV: “I remember writing that and it's the simple things, the little things. Like, I should have bought you flowers; I should have just let you know when I had the chance. And that was probably the most difficult song to write just because you know I'm so naked on that song, out of all the sexual songs I'm singing about, that's the one I'm most vulnerable.” Preceded by Adele's Someone Like You in 2011, When I Was Your Man would be only the second song ever with just vocals and piano to top the American Billboard Hot 100January 15, 2012 ~ Singer, songwriter Terry Dolan passed away in Novato, California, USA ~ Founder, frontman of Terry & the Pirates. Influenced by Leadbelly, Hank Williams, Wanda Jackson, Carl Perkins. Opened for artists such as Taj Mahal, Blue Cheer, BB King, and Elvin Bishop ~ Dolan was born in 1943
January 15, 2011 ~ Harvey William James Harrop, commonly known as guitarist Harvey James, passed away in Melbourne, Australia ~ Member of Mississippi, notably present on the hit Will I. Member of Sherbet, present on the band's biggest hit Howzat and co-writing several other hits including Rock Me Gently, Beg Steal & Borrow and Angela. Has also worked with Ariel and with the Party Boys ~ Harrop was born in 1952
January 15, 2005 ~ Operatic lyric soprano Victoria de los Angeles passed away in Barcelona, Spain ~ Popular soprano from the mid 1950s through the 1960s. Worked with the Paris Opera, the Royal Opera House, the Metropolitan Opera, the Teatro Colón, and La Scala. Especially acclaimed for portraying Carmen in Georges Bizet's Carmen, one of her favorite roles ~ De los Angeles was born in 1923
January 15, 2003 ~ Songwriter, singer Doris Fisher passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Daughter of Fred Fisher, sister of Dan Fisher and Marvin Fisher, all respected songwriters. Doris wrote or co-wrote songs recorded by the Ink Spots (Whispering Grass, Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall), Louis Prima (Angelina (The Waitress At The Pizzeria)), Billie Holiday (That Ole Devil Called Love), Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, Pearl Bailey, the Mills Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, and Moon Mullican (You Always Hurt The One You Love), Slim Gaillard (Tutti Frutti), Stan Kenton, Ella Mae Morse, and Pearl Bailey ~ Fisher was born in 1915January 15, 2002 ~ David Largus McEnery, commonly known as Western singer, guitarist, songwriter Red River Dave, passed away in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Best known for his 1939 recording Amelia Earhart's Last Flight. Also known for playing in several westerns as a singing cowboy, including 1944's Swing In The Saddle, and 1948's Hidden Valey and Echo Ranch. Member of the Swift Boys ~ McEnery was born in 1914
January 15, 2000 ~ Anna Maria Palmen, commonly known as singer Annie Palmen, passed away in Beverwijk, the Netherlands ~ Represented her native the Netherlands at the 1963 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching tied thirteenth place with the song Een Speeldoos. The other contestant reaching thirteenth place was Laila Halme, who represented Finland with Muistojeni Laulu (The Song Of My Memories) ~ Palmen was born in 1926
January 15, 2000 ~ Charles Nelson Miller, commonly known as singer, pianist Chuck Miller, passed away in Hawaii, USA ~ As a pianist influenced by Moon Mullican and Fats Waller, as a singer by Dean Martin and Bing Crosby. Best known for his 1955 rendition of The House Of Blue Lights, originally recorded by Ella Mae Morse. Subsequent releases such as Baby Doll, The Auctioneer, and Down The Road A Piece would fail to reach the succes of his The House Of Blue Lights top 10 hit ~ Miller was born in 1924
January 15, 1999 ~ Blues, alternative rock, grunge bassist John Baker Saunders, full name John Baker Saunders Jr, passed away in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Began as a blues bassist, working with traditional artists such as Hubert Sumlin and Sammy Fender. Member of the Walkabouts. Member of grunge rock supergroup Mad Season alongside Layne Staley, Mike McCready and Barrett Martin ~ Saunders was born in 1954
January 15, 1998 ~ Amos Wells Blakemore Jr, commonly known as singer Junior Wells, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Iconic electric Chicago blues singer, blues harpist. Best known for his critically acclaimed, highly influential 1965 album Hoodoo Man Blues. Worked with artists such as Muddy Waters, Earl Hooker, and Buddy Guy. Gained attention with rock audiences by opening for the Rolling Stones ~ Wells was born in 1934
January 15, 1994 ~ Singer, songwriter Harry Nilsson, full name Harry Edward Nilsson III, passed away in Agour Hills, California, USA ~ Best known for songs such as I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City, Me And My Arrow, Jump Into The Fire, Coconut, and Spaceman. Though a respected songwriter in his own right, admired by peers, his two biggest hits were written by others, namely Fred Neil's Everybody's Talking and Badfinger's Without You both reaching the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 ~ Nilsson was born in 1941January 15, 1994 ~ Jazz trumpeter Philippe Brun passed away in Paris, France ~ Worked with Gregor, Danny Polo, Ray Ventura, Bert Ambrose, Jack Hylton, Fred Waring, Django Reinhardt, Alix Combelle, Eddie Brunner, André Ekyan, Edmond Cohanier, and Teddy Stauffer ~ Brun was born in 1908
January 15, 1993 ~ Samuel Cohen, commonly known as lyricist, pianist, violinist, songwriter Sammy Cahn, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Mostly a lyricist, frequently partnered up with composers such as Saul Chaplin, Jimmy van Heusen and Jule Styne, co-wrote numerous hits including Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow (Vaughn Monroe), Three Coins In The Fountain (Dinah Shore), Ain't That A Kick In The Head, Day By Day, Saturday Night Is The Loneliest Night Of The Week and Love & Marriage (Frank Sinatra), Because You're Mine (Mario Lanza), It's Magic and It's A Great Feeling (Doris Day), I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry (Kitty Kallen) and Teach Me Tonight (Dinah Washington) ~ Cohen was born in 1913
January 15, 1992 ~ David Murray Oates, commonly known as bassist Dee Murray passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Briefly a member of the Spencer Davis Group. Best known for backing Elton John through 1975, first appearing on the 1970 Tumbleweed Connection album. Would go on to work with the Mirage, Rick Springfield, Procol Harum, Alice Cooper, Yvonne Elliman, Shaun Cassidy, Kiki Dee, Stefanie Faines, Barbi Benton, Jimmy Webb, Ronnie Hawkins, Lewis Storey, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and John Prine ~ Oates was born in 1946
January 15, 1990 ~ Country singer Alan Jackson releases Here In The Real World, lifted off his debut album of the same name ~ The song finds Alan Jackson, who co-wrote the song with Mark Irwin, lamenting on how the real world is nothing like what you see in the movies, where the good guys always win and the boy always gets the girl. While Jackson's debut single Blue Blooded Woman stalled at No.45 Billboard Country, its follow-up Here In The Real World reached No.3 and kicked off an impressive run of over two dozen consecutive top 10 hits through 1997. Initially, Here In The Real World was left off the album, but Arista Records executive Tim Dubois felt there was something missing and asked to hear any songs that didn't make the cut. When he heard Here In The Real World, he insisted it be included. The song earned the singer several nominations and helped him land the 1991 ACM Award for Top New Male Vocalist, beating Travis Tritt and Doug Stone. Here In The Real World would be covered by several artists including notably Charley Pride, Glen Campbell, and George Jones
January 15, 1988 ~ Sonny John Moore, commonly known as DJ, producer, singer Skrillex, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influenced by artists as diverse as Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, the Doors, Aphex Twin, and Daft Punk. Lead singer of post-hardcore outfit From First To Last, present on the albums Dear Diary (My Teen Angst Has A Body Count) and Heroine leaving the band in 2007. Member of Dog Blood. Formed the duo Jack Ü with Diplo. Active as a solo artist, remixer, producer going by the moniker Skrillex since the late 2000s. As a producer, Skrillex has worked on tracks by MIA, Craig David, Incubus, Justin Bieber (Where R U Now), the Weeknd, XXXTentacion, Ed Sheeran (Take Me Back To London), Lady Gaga, and Juice WRLD
January 15, 1987 ~ Pop-rock, celtic folk, country singer, songwriter Andrea Begley born in Pomeroy, Northern Ireland ~ Winner of the 2nd series of talent show The Voice UK aired on BBC One in 2013. Following her success on the show, Begley released her full-length The Message debut album later the same year, which reached top 10 in the UK. The album also included her winner single My Immortal, which reached No.30 on the British singles charts
January 15, 1985 ~ R&B, soul, funk, pop outfit the Commodores release their Nightshift album ~ The band's last album for Motown before their switch to Polydor Records would spawn the band's biggest hit of its post Lionel Richie-era, its Nightshift title track reaching No.3 Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Billboard R&B charts. The single also earned the band a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. The album, the first featuring lead singer JD Nicholas, formerly of Heatwave, would also top the Billboard R&B album charts and reach No.12 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 200, making it their last top 20 album