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 18, 2026 ~ Guitarist, pianist Ralph Towner passed away in Rome, Italy ~ Classically trained. Served as pianist with world music pioneer Paul Winter, prior to moving towards jazz, eventually establishing himself as one of the few jazz guitarists to focus primarily on the acoustic guitar. Recorded over two dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, noted specifically for his 1975 Solstice album, demonstrating his versatility. Recorded over two dozen albums with Oregon, which he founded. An in-demand collaborator, Towner has guested on albums by Duke Pearson, Cyrus Faryar, Tim Hardin (Bird On A Wire), the Weather Report (I Sing The Body Electric), Larry Coryell, John Abercrombie, Jan Garbarek, Kenny Wheeler, Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette, Norma Winstone (Somewhere Called Home), Gary Burton, Nick Brignola (Raincheck), Vince Mendoza, Gary Peacock, Pino Daniele, Robben Ford, Bill Bruford, and Trilok Gurtu ~ Towner was born in 1940January 18, 2026 ~ Reggae, reggae fusion guitarist, cellist Stephen Cat Coore passed away ~ Along with Richard Daley the only constant member of reggae, reggae fusion outfit Third World, known best for songs such as Now That We Found Love, Cool Meditation, Dancing On The Floor and Try Jah Love ~ Coore was born in 1956
January 18, 2025 ~ Trombonist, tubist Dave Bargeron, full name David Wayne Bargeron, passed away in Athol, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known as a member of jazz-rock outfit Blood Sweat & Tears, joining the band in 1970 and first appearing on the Blood Sweat & Tears 4 album. Has also worked with Clark Terry, Doc Severinsen, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Mick Jagger, James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, David Sanborn, Carla Bley, Pat Metheny, George Gruntz, Jaco Pastorius, George Russell, and James Ingram ~ Bargeron was born in 1942
January 18, 2023 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter David Crosby, full name David Van Cortlandt Crosby, passed away in Santa Ynez, California, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member of Crosby Stills & Nash, a pivotal group emerging from the 1960s and noted especially for their harmonies. The trio would on occasion be joined by guitarist Neil Young, including on the seminal 1970 Déjà Vu album for which Crosby wrote Almost Cut My Hair and Déjà Vu. Also a member of the Byrds, for whom he wrote or co-wrote songs such as Lady Friend, Why and Eight Miles High. Recorded about half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with If I Could Only Remember My Name released in 1971. Formed CPR with guitarist Jeff Pevar and his son James Raymond ~ Crosby was born in 1941January 18, 2023 ~ Marcel Zannini, commonly known as jazz clarinetist, bandleader Marcel Zanini, passed away in Paris, France ~ Best known for Tu Vuex Ou Tu Veux Pas, an adaptation of Wilson Simonal's Nem Vem Que Não Tem. Worked with Léo Missir, Georges Arvanitas, and Eddy Louiss. Father of writer, painter, jazz guitarist Marc-Edouard Nabe, with whom he occasionally worked ~ Zannini was born in 1923
January 18, 2022 ~ Richard Bernard Halligan, commonly known as pianist, trombonist, flutist, producer, arranger Dick Halligan, passed away in Rome, Italy ~ Co-founding member of Blood Sweat & Tears. Wrote Redemption and Lisa Listen To Me. Trombonist on the band's 1968 Child Is Father To The Man debut album, switched to piano and flute after Al Kooper left. Remained with the band through 1971, leaving after the BS&T 4 album. Worked as a film composer and performer since ~ Halligan was born in 1943
January 18, 2021 ~ Violinist, composer Daniel Kobialka passed away ~ Best known as second violinist with the San Francisco Symphony from 1975 through 2008. As a composer known for Concerto For The Zeta-Polyphonic Violin, which premiered in 2021. Had Ben Weber's Violin Concerto No.1 dedicated to him. Guest violinist on rock band Ambrosia's 1975 eponymous Ambrosia album, noted for his violin solo on the track Holdin' On To Yesterday ~ Kobialka was born in 1943January 18, 2021 ~ Singer, actor Jimmie Rodgers, full name James Frederick Rodgers, passed away in Palm Desert, California, USA ~ Best known for his 1957 Honeycomb hit single, penned by Bob Merrill and previously recorded by Georgie Shaw. Would go on to have a successful run throughout the 1960s with country-pop and crossover songs including Kisses Sweeter Than Wine, Oh-oh I'm Falling In Love Again, Secretly and Are You Really Mine ~ Rodgers was born in 1933
January 18, 2021 ~ Songwriter, arranger, producer Perry Botkin Jr passed away in Burbank, California, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Nadia's Theme (The Young And Restless), originally titled Cotton's Dreams, with Barry Devorzon, who performed the song. Nadia's Theme (The Young And Restless) was originally used for the soundtrack of the 1971 Bless The Beasts And The Children film but would become best known as the theme to the soap opera The Young & The Restless since its premiere in 1973. The song would be informally retitled to Nadia's Theme after it became associated with gymnast Nadia Comaneci during and after the 1976 Summer Olympics. Botkin is also closely associated with the Incredible Bongo Band, and has served as arranger for Bobby Darin, Harry Nilsson, Gary Crosby, the Lettermen, Ed Ames, and Harper's Bizarre. Botkin Jr was the son of jazz guitarist, banjoist and composer Perry Botkin ~ Botkin was born in 1933January 18, 2020 ~ Composer John Burke, full name John Joseph Burke, passed away in Marmora, Canada ~ Mainly composed for chamber enembles. Best known for works such as Six Regions For Piano, Spectre For Tenor Instruments and perhaps his best known Firewind published in 1980. The latter would notably be recorded by Bruce Mather and Pierrete LePage ~ Burke was born in 1951
January 18, 2019 ~ Singer Ariana Grande releases 7 Rings, lifted off her Thank U (Next) album ~ The song was inspired by a shopping spree when six of Ariana Grande's friends, including the song's co-writers Victoria Monét and Tayla Parx, took Grande to Tiffany's for some retail therapy after her split from boyfriend Pete Davidson. Grande bought herself and her girlfriends matching rings, and subsequently penned 7 Rings. Grande actually bought ten rings that day, but her mother, grandmother and friend Hannah Lux Davis received theirs after the song was finished. 7 Rings would reach No.1 in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and America. When the single hit No.1 Billboard Hot 100, Grande became the first artist since the Beatles back in 1964 to occupy the top three as Break Up With Your Girlfriend (I'm Bored) and Thank U (Next), both lifted off the same album, sat at respectively No.2 and No.3
January 18, 2018 ~ Drummer Steve Nisbett, also known as Steve Grizzly Nisbett, passed away in Birmingham, UK ~ Longtime drummer for UK reggae outfit Steel Pulse, with whom he recorded well over half a dozen albums including the Grammy Award-winner Babylon The Bandit released in 1986. Nisbett remained with the band from its inception in 1977 until retiring from music altogether in 2001 for health reasons. Prior to his tenure with Steel Pulse, Nisbett has worked with soul outfits such as Penny Black, Rebel, and Roy Gee & the Stax Explosion ~ Nisbett was born in 1948
January 18, 2017 ~ Drummer Mike Kellie, full name Michael Alexander Kellie, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Member of VIP's, Spooky Tooth, and the Only Ones, including on the latter's Another Girl Another Planet which though not a hit was once described by AllMusic as “arguably, the greatest rock single ever recorded”. An in-demand drummer throughout his career, Kellie has appeared on albums by Traffic (The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys) Joe Cocker, Andy Leigh, Andy Roberts, Luther Grosvenor, Steve Gibbons, Three Man Army, Peter Frampton (Wind Of Change), Jerry Lee Lewis, Splinter, the Who (Tommy), and Paul Kossoff. Kellie released his sole solo album, Music From The Hidden, in 2014 ~ Kellie was born in 1947
January 18, 2016 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist Glenn Frey, full name Glenn Lewis Frey, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Formed the duo Longbranch Pennywhistle with JD Souther, known for their sole eponymous 1969 Longbranch Pennywhistle album. Frey would rise to fame as co-lead singer of the Eagles alongside Don Henley. Frey co-wrote a vast amount of the band's best known, at times with old pal Souther, and sang lead on songs such as Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Tequila Sunrise, Already Gone, Lyin' Eyes, New Kid In Town, and Heartache Tonight. After the band disbanded in 1980, Frey ventured out on his own, starting with his No Fun Aloud solo debut album in 1982. As a solo artist, Frey is known for hits such as The One You Love, The Heat Is On, and You Belong To The City, the latter two both peaking at No.2 Billboard Hot 100. Frey has also occasionally acted in films and TV series ~ Frey was born in 1948
January 18, 2015 ~ Drummer Dallas Taylor, full name Dallas Woodrow Taylor Jr, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of late 1960s psychedelic rock band Clear Light. Best known for appearing on Crosby Stills & Nash's 1969 eponymous Crosby Stills & Nash debut album and its follow-up acclaimed 1970 landmark Déjà Vu album. Has also worked with Stephen Stills, including in Manassas, guested on the Byrds' 1973 The Byrds reunion album, played with Van Morrison at the 1974 Montreux Festival, and toured with Paul Butterfield ~ Taylor was born in 1948
January 18, 2014 ~ Rock, pop rock, progressive rock singer, songwriter Dennis Frederiksen, full name Dennis Hardy Frederiksen, passed away in Mound, Minnesota, USA ~ Briefly lead singer for Toto, appearing on the 1984 Isolation album which spawned the hit Stranger In Town. For the album Frederiksen co-wrote Angel Don't Cry, Isolation, Mr Friendly and Change Of Heart. Has also sung lead for Trillion, Angel, and Leroux. Sang backup on Survivor's Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Eye Of The Tiger and the top 20 follow-up American Heartbeat ~ Frederiksen was born in 1951January 18, 2012 ~ Tabla player Keshav Sathe passed away ~ Pivotal to Indo-jazz fusion. Collaborated with the Asian Music Circle, Joe Harriott, John Mayer, Irène Schweizer, Barney Wilen, Manfred Schoof, John Renbourn, Danny Thompson, Julie Felix, Bhaskar Chandavarkar, Larry Adler, Tony Roberts, Alisha Sufit, and Suns Of Arqa ~ Sathe was born in 1928
January 18, 2010 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Kate McGarrigle passed away in Montreal, Canada ~ Best known for performing with her sister Anna McGarrigle as Kate & Anna McGarrigle, debuting with the critically acclaimed eponymous Kate & Anna McGarrigle album in 1976. The duo has collaborated with artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, the Chieftains, and Marianne Faithfull. Mother of singers Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright from her marriage to singer Loudon Wainwright III ~ McGarrigle was born in 1946January 18, 2007 ~ Punk rock, surf rock bassist, guitarist, singer Brent Liles, full name Brent Harold Liles, passed away in Placentia, California, USA ~ Member of Social Distortion from 1981 through 1984. Member of Agent Orange from 1988 through 1992. Retired from music by the mid 1990s running a nursing home since. Died after a traffic accident, hit by a truck while cycling ~ Liles was born in 1963
January 18, 1999 ~ Singer Virginia Verrill, full name Catherine Virginia Verrill, passed away in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA ~ Daughter of vaudeville entertainer Aimee McLean-Verrill, with whom she appeared on-stage at a mere 5 months old. Has also sung with family friend Paul Whiteman when she was 3 years old. Would go on to enjoy popularity as a big band and radio singer, hosting her own Vocals By Verrill radio show by 1937. Has worked with the orchestras of David Brockman, Johnny Green, Orville Knapp. Also ghost-sang in Hollywood films for female stars perhaps most notably for Jean Harlow in the mid 1930s films Reckless and Suzy. Verrill retired from show business in 1942 ~ Verrill was born in 1916January 18, 1998 ~ R&B singer Antoine TCD Lundy passed away in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, 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 was born in 1963
January 18, 1995 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Charles Baskerville passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of Shep & the Limelites, with whom he recorded a string of singles in the first half of the 1960s including Ready For Your Love, Three Steps From The Altar, and What Did Daddy Do. Though most of their singles failed to reach the top half of the Billboard Hot 100, the trio are acknowledged as one of the finest and most consistent doo-wop outfits. Their best known, Daddy's Home, reached the top 10, peaking at No.2 in 1961, and over the years would be covered by dozens of artists, including notably Gene Chandler, Dee Dee Sharp, Chuck Jackson & Maxine Brown, Paul Anka, and Cliff Richard ~ Baskerville was born in 1936
January 18, 1994 ~ Songwriter, violinist Arthur Altman passed away in Lake Worth, Florida, USA ~ Although Altman has co-written over an estimated 400 songs, he is best remembered for co-writing All Or Nothing At All with Jack Lawrence. The song was first recorded in 1939 by Jimmy Dorsey featuring Bob Eberly as the orchestra's lead vocalist, and has gone on to become a standard recorded by hundreds of artists including Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Morgana King, Billie Holiday, Little Anthony & the Imperials, Bobby Darin, Gloria Lynne, Shirley Bassey, and Ella Fitzgerald. Other songs co-written by Altman have been recorded by George Olsen, the Ink Spots (You're Breaking My Heart All Over Again), Jo Stafford, Teresa Brewer (Le Grand Tour De L'Amour), and Eddie Fisher ~ Altman was born in 1910
January 18, 1994 ~ Singer Janet Jackson releases Because Of Love, lifted off her Janet album ~ Written and produced by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Because Of Love peaked at No.10 Billboard Hot 100, making it Jackson's first single since 1987's Control to miss the top 5 mark. At the time of its release, Billboard stated “Jackson is at her most playful on this adorable pop funk ditty,” further adding that “the instantly memorable hook and several fun sing-along passages (…) renders it simply irresistable”
January 18, 1991 ~ Singer Amy Grant releases Baby Baby, lifted off her Heart In Motion album ~ Other than her duet with former Chicago singer Peter Cetera, The Next Time I Fall becoming a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit in 1986, Christian singer Amy Grant remained largely unknown to secular audiences. In Christian music circles, however, she enjoyed great popularity with nearly everyone of her albums reaching the top spot on the Christian charts. The pop-oriented Heart In Motion album would also do well with secular audiences, spawning four Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits including Baby Baby, her highest charting solo single, written by Grant and producer Keith Thomas for her then-recently born daughter Millie. Baby Baby topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks, and earned Grant three Grammy Award nominations