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 16, 2025 ~ Jeffrey Glenn Myers, commonly known as rock, heartland rock bassist, singer, songwriter Toby Myers, passed away in Nashville, Indiana, USA ~ Founding member of pomp rock outfit Roadmaster, with whom he recorded four albums. When the band disbanded in the early 1980s, dropped by their label for lacking sales, Myers joined John Mellencamp's backing unit and remained with the singer for over a dozen years, including on key albums such as Uh-Huh, Scarecrow, and The Lonesome Jubilee. The band, which also included Larry Crane, Mike Wanchic, and Kenny Aronoff, would be described as “one of the most powerful and versatile live bands ever assembled” by Rolling Stone. Over the course of his career, Myers has also guested on albums by James McMurtry (Too Long In The Wasteland), Henry Lee Summer, Sue Medley, Caroline Doctorow, Lisa Germano (Happiness), Kenny Marks, Marc Cohn, and Jimmy Ryser ~ Myers was born in [artist-toby-myers]
January 16, 2024 ~ Blues-rock drummer, singer Ralph Kinsey passed away ~ Member of the Kinsey Report, which included his brothers Donald Kinsey and Kenneth Kinsey, family friend Ron Prince and led by patriarch Big Daddy Kinsey. The band recorded about half a dozen albums in the 1980s and 1990s, starting with 1988's Edge Of The City, and has toured with Albert King, and Muddy Waters ~ Kinsey was born in 1952January 16, 2023 ~ Producer, artist manager Gary Smith passed away ~ Active since the mid-1980s. First gained attention producing early recordings by the Pixies, including their 1987 Come On Pilgrim EP. Other notable credits include Throwing Muses, Tanya Donelly, the Blake Babies, the Connells, Juliana Hatfield, Scrawl, 10,000 Maniacs, and Billy Bragg ~ Smith was born in 1958
January 16, 2021 ~ Pekka Juhani Maijanen, commonly known as singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, drummer Pave Maijanen, passed away ~ Best known as member of the Hurriganes in the 1970s, and of Dingo in the 1980s. Has also worked with the Royals, the Rock 'n Roll Band, Pepe & Paradise, Albert Järvinen, and Pave's Mistakes. Represented his native Finland at the 1992 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching last place with the song Yamma Yamma ~ Maijanen was born in 1950
January 16, 2021 ~ Producer Phil Spector, full name Harvey Philip Spector, passed away in Stockton, California, USA ~ One of the most influential producers in pop music history, known for his Wagnerian approach to rock & roll. Active since the late 1950s, co-founding member, guitarist of the Teddy Bears and writing their 1958 Billboard No.1 hit To Know Is To Love Him. Founded Phillies Records in 1960, at the time becoming the youngest label owner to date at age 21. Scored numerous hits throughout the 1960s as writer, co-writer, producer of acts such as the Ronettes, the Crystals, the Righteous Brothers and Ike & Tina Turner. Produced the Beatles final album, Let It Be. Continued his chart succes in the 1970s with artists such as Leonard Cohen, Dion and the Ramones. Sentenced in 2009 to 19 years to life for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson ~ Spector was born in 1939
January 16, 2018 ~ Rock, hard rock, heavy metal drummer Dave Holland passed away in Lugo, Spain ~ Member of Trapeze from 1969 through 1979, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums including Medusa and You Are The Music (We're Just The Band). Following his departure from the band in 1979, Holland joined Judas Priest, first appearing on the highly acclaimed British Steel album. Holland has also worked with Finders Keepers, Pinkerton's Assorted Colours, Blue Jays, Glenn Hughes (Play Me Out), Justin Hayward (Songwriter), Robin George, Leonor Marchesi, Tony Iommi, and Al Atkins ~ Holland was born in 1948January 16, 2018 ~ Singer Javiera Muñoz, full name Javiera Margarita Odija Ubal Muñoz, passed away in Gothenburg, Sweden ~ Has recorded two albums, Javiera released in 2001 and True Love released three years later. Best known for the songs Varje Timma (Var Minut) and No Hay Nada Más. Muñoz passed away at age 40 after a decade long struggle with anorexia nervosa ~ Muñoz was born in 1977
January 16, 2017 ~ Charles Wesley Shaw, commonly known as free jazz drummer Charles Bobo Shaw, passed away in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Member of the Human Arts Ensemble. Member of the Black Artists Group. Also worked with Lester Bowie, Frank Lowe, Hamiet Bluiett, John Mixon, Oliver Lake, Anthony Braxton, Steve Lacy, Frank Wright, Alan Silva, Michel Portal, Cecil Taylor, Richard Martin, Frank Lowe, Julius Hemphill, Billy Bang, Luther Thomas, and Defunkt ~ Shaw was born in 1947January 16, 2017 ~ Bassist Steve Wright passed away in Sacramento, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Greg Kihn Band remaining with the band through 1996 known for The Breakup Song (They Don't Write) and Jeopardy, the latter a 1983 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit and radio staple since ~ Wright was born ca.1950
January 16, 2016 ~ Songwriter, lyricist, guitarist Hubert Giraud, full name Hubert Yves Adrian Giraud, passed away in Montreux, Switzerland ~ Played with Django Reinhardt's the Quintette du Hot Club, Ray Ventura and with Jacques Hélian. As a songwriter best known for co-authoring, with Pierre Delanoë, the song Dors Mon Amour, the 1958 Eurovision Songfestival winner performed by André Claveau ~ Giraud was born in 1920
January 16, 2013 ~ Bassist Nic Potter passed away in London, UK ~ Best known for his work with Van Der Graaf Generator, present on albums such as H To He (Who Am The Only One), The Quiet Zone (The Pleasure Dome), and Vital. Also appeared on over a dozen Peter Hammill albums, starting with the acclaimed Fool's Mate. Has also worked with Magna Carta, Steve Swindells, Duncan Browne, the Pool Sharks, Steve Hyams, Rare Bird, and the Misunderstood ~ Potter was born in 1951January 16, 2012 ~ Funk, R&B, soul singer Jimmy Castor, full name James Walter Castor, passed away in Henderson, Nevada, USA ~ As a solo artist or fronting the Jimmy Castor Bunch, Castor is best known for songs such as Hey Leroy Your Mama's Calling You, It's Just Begun, The Bertha Butt Boogie and his biggest hit Troglodyte (Cave Man). The latter of which reached No.4 on the Billboard R&B chart and No.6 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, making it his sole American top 10 hit, as well as No.1 in Canada. Several of the Jimmy Castor Bunch's tracks have been heavily sampled in hip hop and later pop, including by the Beastie Boys, NWA, Ice Cube, Big Daddy Kane, Method Man, and Ariana Grande ~ Castor was born in 1940
January 16, 2012 ~ Country outfit Rascal Flatts release Banjo, lifted off their Changed album ~ In this celebration of the five-stringed instrument that lends Banjo its title the narrator invites his lover to escape with him to a remote place, traveling until they hear the sound of the banjo. Songwriters Neil Thrasher and Wendell Mobley told Taste Of Country that the line “til you hear a banjo” came when Rascal Flatts lead singer Gary LeVox gave the pair directions to his farm. Although the song received mixed critical reviews, Banjo would reach No.1 Billboard Country making it their twelfth charttopper. The banjo you hear is played by Nashville session musician Ilya Toshinksy, of whom LeVox would comment: “that is the hillbilliest Russian I've ever heard in my life”January 16, 2011 ~ Drummer, guitarist, singer, songwriter Steve Prestwich, full name Steven William Prestwich, passed away in Sydney, Australia ~ Best known as co-founding member of Adelaide-based rock, pub rock band Cold Chisel, for whom he wrote When The War Is Over and Forever Now. Briefly a member of the Little River Band during the 1980s ~ Prestwich was born in 1954
January 16, 2010 ~ Honky-tonk singer Carl Smith passed away in Franklin, Tennessee, USA ~ First husband of June Carter. Father of Carlene Carter. Known for songs such as Let's Live A Little, If The Teardrops Were Pennies, Loose Talk, Are You Teasing Me, Hey Joe, You Are The One, and Air Mail To Heaven. Smith has also notably collaborated with Molly O'Day and Skeets Williamson ~ Smith was born in 1927January 16, 2009 ~ Gordon Mitchell, commonly known as jazz bassist Whitey Mitchell, passed away in Palm Springs, California, USA ~ Active since the mid 1950s. Began on clarinet and tuba before settling on bass, the same instrument as his more famous brother Red Mitchell. First gained attention playing with the New York Jazz Ensemble. Would go on to guest on albums by Pete Rugolo, Herbie Mann, Betty Roché (Take The A Train), Candido, Jimmy Raney, Oscar Pettiford, and Buck Clayton ~ Mitchell was born in 1932
January 16, 2000 ~ Eugene Haire, commonly known as jazz, blues, soul-jazz pianist, keyboardist, organist Gene Harris, passed away in Boise, Idaho, USA ~ Influenced by Oscar Peterson and Junior Mance. Rose to fame as leader of the Three Sounds. The trio would initially be dismissed by critics as lounge-jazz, yet became one of the most popular acts on the Blue Note label in the late 1950s and 1960s, and in retrospect earned critical acclaim for their blues-infused jazz with Harris acknowledged as a unique stylist. Harris recorded prolifically with the trio through the late 1960s, including collaborative albums with Lou Donaldson (LD+3), Stanley Turrentine (Blue Hour), and Anita O'Day (Anita O'Day & the Three Sounds). After the trio disbanded, Harris continued to record under his own name until retiring in 1977, only to return to the stage after being persuaded by bassist Ray Brown in the early 1980s and record to critical acclaim until his death at age 66 ~ Haire was born in 1933
January 16, 2000 ~ Pianist, fiddler, songwriter John Morris Rankin passed away in Margaree, Canada ~ Original member of sibling outfit the Rankin Family, known for a string of country hits in their native Canada starting in the early 1990s. Well known songs include Orangedale Whistle, Fare Thee Well Love, Gillis Mountain, North Country, and The Roving Gypsy Boy. Rankin's daughter Molly Rankin is also a musician, lead singer and guitarist of indie pop band Alvvays ~ Rankin was born in 1959
January 16, 2000 ~ Will J Jones, commonly known as R&B singer Will Dub Jones passed away in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Member of the Cadets, present on the band's biggest hit Stranded In The Jungle. Along with Cornell Gunter joined the Coasters in 1958, notably present on the classics Yakety Yak and Charlie Brown. Other notable credits include singing bass or backing vocals on 1950s singles such as Richard Berry's Jelly Roll, the Crescendos' Sweet Dreams, and Jesse Belvin's My Satellite ~ Jones was born in 1928January 16, 1998 ~ Clifford Gilpin Snyder, commonly known as country singer, producer, publisher, radio and TV personality Cliffie Stone, passed away in Saugus, California, USA ~ A&R executive for Capitol Records in the 1940s. Discovered and managed Tennessee Ernie Ford. Host several radio and TV shows. As a singer, Stone recorded about half a dozen albums and is best known for the 1955 hit The Popcorn Song ~ Snyder was born in 1917
January 16, 1996 ~ Rock keyboardist, percussionist Richard Kermode passed away in Denver, Colorado, USA ~ First gained serious attention as member of Janis Joplin's backing unit the Kozmic Blues Band, present at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair performance in 1969. Following Joplin's death in 1971 joined Latin rock band Malo. Appeared on Santana's 1973 Welcome album as well as tour with the band on the Caravanserai tour. Would continue to work as a session musician, including with Betty Davis, Ned Doheny, José Areas, Patti LaBelle, and Pete Escovedo ~ Kermode was born in 1946January 16, 1995 ~ Jazz saxophonist Mickey Fields passed away in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Mentor to many local emerging talents. Mentored Paul H Brown. Member of jump blues outfit the Tilters. Local celebrity, refused to play outside the greater Baltimore area ~ Fields was born ca.1933
January 16, 1991 ~ Blues guitarist, singer John Lee Hooker inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame ~ Described by the Hall as “in a league of his own”, John Lee Hooker is inducted into this year's class. Other inductees include the Byrds, Lavern Baker, the Impressions, Wilson Pickett, Jimmy Reed, and Ike & Tina TurnerJanuary 16, 1987 ~ Actor, singer, fiddler Art Davis passed away in Bloomburg, Texas, USA ~ Accomplished fiddler by age 7. Not to be confused with the jazz bassist Art Davis. Played with Milton Brown, the Light Crust Doughboys, Bill Boyd, backed Gene Autry in movies and on tours. His last film appearance was in the 1949 film Cowboy's Holiday. Davis continued to perform into the 1980s ~ Davis was born in 1913
January 16, 1987 ~ Robert de Keersmaeker, commonly known as jazz pianist, trumpeter, bandleader Robert de Kers, passed away in Brussels, Belgium ~ Influenced by Louis Armstrong. Has worked with Fud Candrix, David Bee, Josephine Baker, Jack Kruger, Gus Clark, Eddie Tower, and Toots Thielemans ~ De Keersmaeker was born in 1906