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, 1984 ~ Alternative rock, post-hardcore, progressive rock singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboardist Kurt Travis, full name Kurt Thomas Travis, born in Scotsdale, Arizona, USA ~ Active since the early 2000s. First gained serious attention as lead singer of rockers O The Joy, present on the 2008 Zen Mode album. Member of Dance Gavin Dance from 2008 through 2010, present on the albums Dance Gavin Dance and Happiness. Best known for his work with A Lot Like Birds from 2011 through 2016 and as member of Royal Coda. Has also worked with Five Minute Ride, There & Back Again, No Not Constant, Eternity Forever, Push Over, Gold Necklace, and Strawberry GirlsJanuary 16, 1981 ~ Indie rock, garage rock revival, rock guitarist Nick Valensi born in New York, New York, USA ~ Lead and rhythm guitarist of rock band the Strokes. Also founded CRX, for which he serves as lead singer and guitarist, debuting with the album New Skin, in 2016. Has written for and sessioned with various artists including Sia, Regina Spektor and Kate Pierson
January 16, 1979 ~ Singer Aaliyah Dana Houghton, commonly known simply as Aaliyah, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ First gained attention at age 10 appearing on Star Search singing alongside Gladys Knight. Signed to Jive Records at age 12. Debuted in 1994 with the Age Ain't Nothing But A Number, produced by R Kelly. Would go on to work with producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott on her 1996 sophomore album One In A Million. Best known for Billboard top 20 hits such as At Your Best (You Are Love), The One I Gave My Heart To, Try Again, and Miss You. Killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas ~ Houghton passed away in 2001January 16, 1979 ~ Funk, jazz, hip-hop, rock trumpeter Rashawn Ross born in St Thomas, Virgin Islands ~ Best known as touring member and session trumpeter with the Dave Matthews Band. Has also worked with Soulive, Yerba Buena, Lettuce, DJ Quik, Ninja Sex Party, the Fugees, Maceo Parker, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Roy Hargrove, Questlove, Common, Nate Dogg, Kelly Price, Meshell Ndegeocello, the String Cheese Incident, Taj Mahal, Ariana Grande, and Willie Nelson
January 16, 1976 ~ Rock, pop bassist Stuart Fletcher, full name Stuart Michael Fletcher, born in York, UK ~ Best known as member of the Seahorses, recruited by frontman John Squire who spotted Fletcher playing in a local pub blues band filling in for the band's regular bassist. Has also worked with the Yards, the Happy Mondays, Saint Etienne, Chris Helme, We Could Be Astronauts, and with Hurricane No.1
January 16, 1975 ~ Keyboardist Paul Beaver, full name Paul Henry Beaver Jr, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Pioneering electronic musician. Closely associated with Bernie Krause, recording under the moniker Beaver & Krause. Has also played the Moog synthesizer on songs such as the Monkees' Star Collector and the Byrds' Goin' Back. Member of Scientology and a right-wing Republican ~ Beaver was born in 1925
January 16, 1974 ~ Heavy metal, hard rock, progressive rock guitarist, banjoist, singer Brent Hinds, full name William Brent Hinds, born in Helena, Alabama, USA ~ Best known as member of metal outfit Mastodon, sharing guitar duties with Bill Kelliher and vocal duties with Troy Sanders and Brann Dailor. Lead guitarist, singer for surfabilly outfit Fiend Without A Face. Hinds has also worked with the Blood Vessels, West End Motel, Four Hour Fogger, the Last Of The Blue Eyed Devils, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, and the Legend Of The Seagullmen ~ Hinds passed away in 2025January 16, 1974 ~ Pianist, composer Roy Bargy, full name Roy Fredrick Basrgy, passed away in Vista, California, USA ~ Reportedly, in 1928 became the first pianist to record George Gershwin's Piano Concerto In F. Has worked with Charley Straight, the Benson Orchestra Of Chicago, Isham Jones, Paul Whiteman, and Jimmy Durante ~ Bargy was born in 1894
January 16, 1973 ~ Singer Clara Ward, full name Clara Mae Ward, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Led family gospel outfit the Ward Singers, active since the 1930s and a major influence on singers such as Aretha Franklin. The group has backed up artists such as Mahalia Jackson, sang on Broadway and entertained troops during Vietnam tours ~ Ward was born in 1924
January 16, 1973 ~ Jazz saxophonist, violinist Edgar Sampson, full name Edgar Melvin Sampson, passed away in Englewood, New Jersey, USA ~ Active since the mid 1920s, working with the likes of Duke Ellington, Bingie Madison, Billy Fowler, Fletcher Henderson, and Rex Stewart. Best known for his brief tenure with Chick Webb's ensemble from 1933 through 1936, during which time Sampson also co-wrote several of Webb's best known, including If Dreams Come True, Don't Be That Way, and Stompin' At The Savoy. The latter would become a standard, covered by over an estimated 400 artists including Coleman Hawkins, Cozy Cole, Art Pepper, and Charlie Byrd. Other well known songs co-written by Sampson include Blue Lou, first recorded by Benny Carter, and Lullaby In Rhythm, first recorded by Benny Goodman. Following his tenure with Webb, Sampson has worked with Artie Shaw, Red Norvo, Teddy Wilson, and Ella Fitzgerald, and from the late 1940s onwards Latin jazz artists such as Marcelino Guerra, Tito Puente, and Tito Rodriguez ~ Sampson was born in 1907
January 16, 1972 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, actor Greg Page, full name Gregory John Page, born in Sydney, Australia ~ Best known as lead singer, co-founder of children's music group the Wiggles from 1991 through 2006, rejoining in later years. Has also recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with the eponymous Greg Page album released in 1998
January 16, 1970 ~ Drummer Brendan O'Hare born ~ Member of Teenage Fanclub from 1989 through 1994, appearing on all the band's albums through Thirteen. Briefly played with Mogwal. Also worked with the Telstar Ponies, Macrosmica, Dave Barker, Liminal, and the Plimptons, as well as released a number of solo works starting with Ad Astra album in 1997January 16, 1970 ~ William van Enckevort, commonly known as accordionist, keyboardist Tren van Enckevort, born in Sevenum, the Netherlands ~ Best known as member of Rowwen Hèze. In-demand session musician appearing on records by Acda & De Munnik, Anouk, Manuela Kemp, Guus Meeuwis. Has also produced Away From Here, the 2005 debut album of singer Stevie Ann
January 16, 1969 ~ Per Yngve Ohlin, commonly known as heavy metal singer, songwriter Dead, born in Vasterhaninge, Sweden ~ Influenced by Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Motörhead, and Metallica. One of the most prominent frontmen in metal, known for his morbid personality and obsesssion with death. Ohlin rose to fame in the metal scene as lead singer of black metal outfit Mayhem from 1988 until his death in 1991. Prior to his tenure with Mayhem, Ohlin co-founded and fronted Morbid, with whom he recorded a handful of demo albums. From the beginning of his career, Ohlin would wear so-called “corpse paint” in an attempt to look like a corpse, making him the first black metal artist to do so. According to Mayhem bandmate bassist Necrobutcher “it wasn't anything to do with the way Kiss and Alice Cooper used makeup, Dead actually wanted to look like a corpse, he didn't do it to look cool.” Struggling with depression throughout his life, Dead's personality and demeanor would only become more withdrawn over time leading up to his suicide at age 22. Some have speculated that Dead suffered from Cotard's Syndrome, a rare condition that manifests in believing one's body is not that of a living human but instead of a corpse ~ Ohlin passed away in 1991January 16, 1969 ~ Indie pop guitarist, singer, songwriter Stevie Jackson born in Glasgow, UK ~ Best known as member of Belle & Sebastian. Wrote a considerable amount of the band's material including Jonathan David on which Jackson also sang lead vocals. The band is best known for a number of early to mid 2000s singles, notably Legal Man, I'm A Cuckoo and Funny Little Frog. Has also worked with the Moondials and the Vaselines
January 16, 1969 ~ Vladimir Dukelsky, commonly known as composer, songwriter Vernon Duke, passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Collaborated with lyricists such as Johnny Mercer, Ira Gershwin, Ogden Nash, and Sammy Cahn. Well known songs co-written by Duke include Taking A Chance On Love from the 1940 musical Cabin In The Sky, Hal Kemp's I Can't Get Started, April In Paris from the 1932 musical Walk A Little Faster and perhaps his best known Autumn In New York from the 1934 revue Thumbs Up. The latter would become a jazz standard recorded by Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, Stan Kenton, Sarah Vaughan, and Tal Farlow ~ Dukelsky was born in 1903January 16, 1966 ~ Wilma Cosmé, commonly known as singer hip-hop, Latin dance singer Safire, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico ~ Queen of Latin dance and hip-hop. Known for dance hits such as Don't Break My Heart, Let Me Be The One, I've Been Told and her biggest hit 1989's Thinking Of You crossing over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100
January 16, 1963 ~ Jazz saxophonist Ike Quebec, full name Ike Abrams Quebec, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with the Barons Of Rhythm, Frankie Newton, Hot Lips Page, Roy Eldridge, Trummy Young, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Carter, Coleman Hawkins, Cab Calloway, Sonny Clark, Grant Green, Jimmy Smith, and Dodo Greene ~ Quebec was born in 1918
January 16, 1962 ~ Nigel Hunter, oommonly known as singer, keyboardist Danbert Nobacon, born in Burley, UK ~ Co-founding member, lead singer of Chumbawamba, remaining with the band from 1982 through 2004, present on the band's best known such as Tubthumping and its follow-up Amnesia
January 16, 1962 ~ Robert William Athas, commonly known as hard rock, glam metal, heavy metal singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboardist Kane Roberts, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known for backing Alice Cooper from 1985 through 1988, present on the albums Constrictor and Raise Your Fist And Yell. Also notably present on the 1986 Rod Stewart-album Every Beat Of My Heart. Co-wrote Take It Off of the 1992 Kiss-album Revenge. Released his eponymous Kane Roberts solo debut album in 1987. Has also worked with Phoenix Down, Berlin, SouthGang, Dudes Of Wrath, Desmond Child, and Steve VaiJanuary 16, 1962 ~ Singer Maxine Jones born in Paterson, New Jersey, USA ~ Founding member of R&B group En Vogue. singing lead on songs such as My Lovin' (You Never Gonna Get It) and Don't Let Go (Love). Released her solo debut album, To The Max, in 2014. Would reunite with a new En Vogue reincarnation in 2015. Teamed up with Dawn Robinson in 2019, touring under the moniker the Funky Divas
January 16, 1962 ~ Bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, percussionist Paul Webb, full name Paul Douglas Webb, born in London, UK ~ Best known as founding member, bassist of Talk Talk, remaining with the band through 1988 and present on the band's best known including It's My Life, Such A Shame, Life's What You Make It and Living In Another World. Webb's composition Another Word is the only Talk Talk song not written or co-written by the band's singer Mark Hollis. Webb also founded 1990s outfit O.rang, worked with Beth Gibbons on the collaborative album Out Of Season, produced James Yorkston's The Year Of The Leopard album, and has released a number of solo recordings
January 16, 1961 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter, comedian Kenneth Sivertsen born in Bomlo, Norway ~ Formed his first band, One Two Three, while still in primary school. Would go on to become a renowned guitarist and composer with over a dozen albums, internationally most acclaimed for Remembering North and One Day In October. Sivertsen also composed numerous symphonic works, perhaps most notably Symfoni Nr.1 and Timeglaset Og Morgonstjerna (Symfoni Nr.2), both of which premiered by the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, composed for film, and collaborated with the likes of Michael Brecker, Mike Mainieri, Tony Levin, and Bob Mintzer. Sivertsen has also worked with singer, actress Herborg Kråkevik, with whom he was romantically involved during the 1990s ~ Sivertsen passed away in 2006January 16, 1961 ~ Bassist Paul Raven, full name Paul Vincent Raven, born in Wolverhampton, UK ~ Best known as a member of post-punk outfit Killing Joke, including on their UK top 20 hit Love Like Blood of their 1985 Night Time album. Has also worked with Neon Hearts, Kitsch, Dogs D'Amour, Tony McPhee, Murder Inc, Prong, Zilch, Society 1, Ministry, and Pigface ~ Raven passed away in 2007
January 16, 1960 ~ Helen Folasade Adu, commonly known as singer Sade Adu, born in Ibadan, Nigeria ~ Former fashion student and model. Backup singer in Pride. Frontwoman, founder and eponym of Sade. Credited as one of the most successful, as well as most influential, British female vocalists in history. Debuted in 1983 with the Diamond Life album, which became the best-selling album ever by a British female singer and spawned hits such as Your Love Is King and Smooth Operator. The latter would reach the Billboard Hot 100 top 10. Subsequent albums would spawn more American top 10 hits through the remainder of the 1980s, The Sweetest Taboo and Never As Good As The First Time, and top 20 in the early 1990s, No Ordinary Love and Kiss Of Life