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 21, 2025 ~ Organist, keyboardist, saxophonist, accordionist Garth Hudson, full name Eric Garth Hudson, passed away in Woodstock, New York, USA ~ Member of the Band, known for songs such as The Weight and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. In-demand session musician. Cited as influence by Elton John. Released his The Sea To The North solo debut album in 2001 ~ Hudson was born in 1937
January 21, 2023 ~ Bernard Greene, commonly known as Eurodance, hip house, techno rapper, singer BG The Prince Of Rap, passed away in Wiesbaden, Germany ~ Enjoyed modest succes in Germany, where he lived after being posted by the US Army. Best known for his 1991 hit This Beat Is Hot. Other well known songs include Take Control Of The Party, The Power Of Rhythm, Can We Get Enough, The Colour Of My Dreams, and Stomp ~ Greene was born in 1965January 21, 2022 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Emil Mangelsdorff passed away in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany ~ Imprisoned by the Gestapo for playing jazz and eventually forced to enlist in Hitler's army. Brother of trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff. Has worked with Joe Klimm, Jutta Hipp, Atilla Zoller, and George Gruntz ~ Mangelsdorff was born in 1925
January 21, 2022 ~ Southern rock, hard rock singer, keyboardist Kelly Holland, full name Kelly Dean Holland, passed away in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA ~ Best known as frontman of Cry of Love from the band's inception in 1989 through 1994. Present on the band's Brother debut album, which spawned the modest hit Peace Pipe ~ Holland was born in 1968January 21, 2022 ~ Music journalist, A&R executive Terry Tolkin passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ As a music journalist credited with coining the term “alternative music” while a writer for the trade publication Rockpool. As an executive, A&R executive associated with several labels including Touch & Go Records, Rough Trade Records, his own indie No.6 Records and perhaps most notably Elektra Records, signing acts such as Stereolab, Afghan Whigs and Nada Surf to the latter. Also especially remembered for producing the 1988 Neil Young-tribute album The Bridge (A Tribute To Neil Young) featuring covers performed by then-unknown upcoming bands such as the Pixies, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, the Flaming Lips and Soul Asylum. The album's proceeds would be donated to the Bridge School, a charity for children suffering from Cerebral Palsy run by Young and his wife Pegi Young ~ Tolkin was born in 1959
January 21, 2021 ~ Country singer, songwriter Randy Parton, full name Randel Huston Parton, passed away in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, USA ~ Brother of singers Stella Parton and Dolly Parton, having backed the latter on albums such as New Harvest First Gathering and Rhinestone. As a solo artist best known for being the first to record Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler), a 1984 Billboard Country No.1 hit for Alabama ~ Parton was born in 1953
January 21, 2019 ~ Keyboardist, organist Edwin Birdsong passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Enjoyed little chart success but remembered for a handful of experimental funk, disco recordings including Cola Bottle Baby and Rapper Dapper Snapper, sampled by respectively Daft Punk in Harder Better Faster Stronger and Gang Starr in Skills. Birdsong also produced three Roy Ayers albums ~ Birdsong was born in 1941
January 21, 2019 ~ Country singer Maxine Brown, full name Ella Maxine Brown, passed away in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA ~ One third of 1950s country outfit the Browns, alongside siblings Jim Ed Brown and Bonnie Brown, known for songs such as I Take The Chance, I Heard The Bluebirds Sing and perhaps their biggest hit The Three Bells. The trio disbanded in 1967 after which Maxine recorded a sole solo album Sugar Cane County ~ Brown was born in 1931
January 21, 2017 ~ Adèle Maria Hameetman, commonly known as actress, comedienne, singer Adèle Bloemendaal, passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Best known as an actress for stage and TV. As a singer has worked with Piet Römer and Leen Jongewaard, noted for songs such as We Benne Op De Wereld Om Mekaar Te Helpen and Het Zal Je Kind Maar Wezen. As a solo singer best known for the single Als Je Maar Gezond Bent and Hallelujha Kameraden ~ Hameetman was born in 1933
January 21, 2017 ~ Walter Morrison, commonly known as R&B, funk keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, trumpeter, percussionist, singer, songwriter Walter Junie Morrison, passed away in London, UK ~ Keyboardist of the Ohio Players from 1970 through 1974, present on the 1972 Pleasure album which spawned the hit single Funky Worm. Closely associated with George Clinton as a member of Parliament- Funkadelic, including on the quintessential 1978 One Nation Under A Groove album ~ Morrison was born in 1954
January 21, 2010 ~ Robert Lester, commonly known as singer Robert Squirrel Lester, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Longtime member of the Chi-lites, best known for their 1972 Oh Girl Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit single. Other well known songs include (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People, Have You Seen Her, Stoned Out Of My Mind, and Homely Girl ~ Lester was born in 1942January 21, 2009 ~ Michael Richard Gee, commonly known as rock & roll guitarist Mickey Gee, passed away in Cardiff, UK ~ Influenced by Chet Atkins and Elvis Presley guitarist Scotty Moore. Served as musical director for the Senators, the backing unit for Tom Jones. Would go on to appear on tracks by Joe Cocker, Dave Edmunds (I Hear You Knocking), Shakin' Stevens, Andy Fairweather Low, Willie & the Poor Boys, and Nick Lowe ~ Gee was born in 1944
January 21, 2008 ~ Jazz, blues drummer Francis Clay passed away in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Influential on British Invasion musicians such as Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood. Best known for his associations with Muddy Waters and James Cotton. Also worked with Gypsy Rose Lee, Jay McShann, Charlie Parker, Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Otis Spann ~ Clay was born in 1923
January 21, 2007 ~ Joseph P Lippman, commonly known as pop, jazz pianist, conductor, arranger, composer Joe Lipman, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Composed and arranged for Bunny Berigan, Jimmy Dorsey, Sarah Vaughan, Charlie Parker, Glenn Miller (Blue Evening), and Perry Como. Has also worked with Benny Goodman, Vincent Lopez, Irving Aaronson, Artie Shaw, Nathaniel Shilkret, Nat King Cole, Mel Tormé, Eileen Barton, Kay Thompson, Vic Damone, Betty Madigan, Kay Armen, Bill Tabbert, Jan August, Ginny Gibson, Ella Mae Morse, Fran Warren, and Bob Crosby ~ Lippman was born in 1915
January 21, 2005 ~ Singer, actor Steve Susskind, full name Steven Robert Susskind, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Formed the Roommates with Bob Minsky, then both aged 15. The duo would become a quartet with the addition of Jack Carlson and Felix Alvarez. The band would record a number of unnoticed singles, until teaming up with singer Cathy Jean for Please Love Me Forever. Billed as Cathy Jean & the Roommates the single would reach top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. Susskind would go on to become a well known actor for film and TV, mostly in supporting roles, appearing in TV series such as Married With Children, Seinfeld, and Friends, and films such as Friday The 13th (Part III) and Star Trek V (The Final Frontier) ~ Susskind was born in 1942
January 21, 2002 ~ Norma Deloris Egstrom, commonly known as singer, actress, songwriter Peggy Lee, passed away in Bel Air, California, USA ~ Pop, jazz, standards singer. Among one of the few who at the time welcomed and embraced the music of a younger generation. Also a popular actress and respected songwriter and lyricist ~ Egstrom was born in 1920
January 21, 2001 ~ Sanford Irving Beresofsky, commonly known as actor, singer, songwriter Sandy Baron, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as an actor for stage, making his Broadway debut in the 1962 romantic comedy Tchin-Tchin, TV and film. Has occasionally written music including co-writing Adam Wade's 1962 The Writing On The Wall Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit and Lou Rawls' 1971 top 20 hit A Natural Man ~ Beresofsky was born in 1936
January 21, 1999 ~ Singer, pianist Charles Brown passed away in Oakland, California, USA ~ Influential on artists such as Floyd Dixon, Cecil Gant, Ivory Joe Hunter, Percy Mayfield, Johnny Ace, and Ray Charles. Known for a string of late 1940s, early 1950s top 10 hits including Drifting Blues, Hard Times, and Merry Christmas Baby. Member of Johnny Moore's the Three Blazers. Married to singer Mabel Scott from 1949 through 1951, with whom he also worked including on the 1948 Elevator Boogie hit ~ Brown was born in 1922
January 21, 1994 ~ Omar David Hernandez Colon, commonly known as reggaeton, urban pop singer, actor Darkiel, born in Lares, Puerto Rico ~ Influenced by Daddy Yankee and Don Omar. Best known for his role in the biographical Nicky Jam El Ganador series aired on Netflix of Nicky Jam, portraying the younger version of the latter. As a singer best known for songs such as Ella Me Oculta, Aqui Estas Tu, Si Me Apagan El Sol and Montate Y Zumba
January 21, 1992 ~ William Thomas Dupree, commonly known as blues, boogie-woogie pianist, singer Champion Jack Dupree, passed away in Hanover, Germany ~ Dupree was notoriously vague about his background, claiming his parents died in a house fire started by the Ku Klux Klan, at other times saying the fire was accidental. Orphaned, Dupree grew up in a New Orleans Home for Boys before making a name for himself as a boxer, a career during which he earned the nickname “Champion Jack”. Dupree turned to music by the early 1940s, and is perhaps most acclaimed for his Blues From The Gutter album released in 1958. Dupree relocated to the less racially polarized Europe by the late 1950s, where he would continue to perform and record his distinctive rowdy, rollicking boogie-woogie infused piano blues, attracting admiration from a generation of future stars including John Mayall and Eric Clapton. Dupree is well remembered for songs such as Shim Sham Shimmy, Walkin' The Blues, Mail Order Woman, Let The Doorbell Ring, My And My Mule, Nasty Boogie, and perhaps most notably his rendition of Junker's Blues, the latter one of his earliest recordings that reportedly inspired Fats Domino's 1949 The Fat Man debut single ~ Dupree was born in 1910January 21, 1989 ~ In its 15th week on the charts, She's Crazy For Leaving by Rodney Crowell hits No.1 Billboard Country ~ Written by Rodney Crowell and Guy Clark, the latter first recording the song for his 1981 The South Side Of Texas album, which was produced by Crowell. The song would also be recorded by Steve Wariner as an album track for his 1985 Life's Highway album. The most successful version, however, was Crowell's, issued as the third single off Diamonds & Dirt, Crowell's biggest album. The album was his first aimed squarely at country audiences, recorded entirely in Nashville, Tennessee, and all five of the album's singles including She's Crazy For Leaving would reach No.1 Billboard Country
January 21, 1984 ~ Singer Jackie Wilson, full name Jack Leroy Wilson Jr, passed away in Mount Holly, New Jersey, USA ~ Rose to fame as member of Billy Ward & the Dominoes. Recorded some two dozen albums as a solo artist starting in the late 1950s, becoming a key figure in the transition from R&B to soul. Dubbed “Mr Excitement” for his stage presence, his performance so energetic it reportedly made Elvis Presley, a big fan of Wilson's, want to hide under the table. In 1975 Wilson suffered a heart attack on stage performing at an event in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, ironically reaching for his chest singing the line “my heart is crying” from Lonely Teardrops, and subsequently remained in a coma until his death some nine years later. Wilson is best remembered for songs such as Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet), To Be Loved, That's Why I Love You So, Talk That Talk, Doggin' Around, Baby Workout, Whispers (Gettin' Louder), and perhaps his best known (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher, the latter a Billboard Hot 100 No.6 hit in 1967 and cherished and beloved to this day as one of the finest classics of the era ~ Wilson was born in 1934
January 21, 1983 ~ Pop duo Eurythmics release Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), lifted off the album of the same name ~ Neither the synth-pop, new wave duo's debut album, 1981's In The Garden, nor the first few singles off their sophomore Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) album, made much of a dent in the charts. It was, however, Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), issued as the fourth single off the album of the same name, that gained them attention and started a streak of hits, with half a dozen consecutive singles reaching top 10 in their native UK. Besides success at home and across continental Europe, Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) also struck a chord with American audiences, and would become their first American top 10 hit, and their sole Billboard Hot 100 No.1. The song would remain one of the duo's most favorite songs, and has been regarded as a staple of the era ever sinceJanuary 21, 1983 ~ Marianne Evans, commonly known as rapper Rapsody, born in Snow Hill, North Carolina, USA ~ Influenced by Jay-Z, Mos Def, Lauryn Hill, and MC Lyte. Worked with H20, 9th Wonder, DJ Premier, Mac Miller, Big Daddy Kane, Marsha Ambrosius, Estelle, Raekwon, Jean Grae, Murs, Big KRIT, Kendrick Lamar, Freeway, Kooley High, Skyzoo, Sean Boog, Mez, Actual Proof, Statik Selektah, Buckshot, Dilated Peoples, Musiq Soulchild, Evidence, TI, and Elle Varner
January 21, 1981 ~ Singer, songwriter Michel Teló born in Medianeira Parana, Brazil ~ Best known for Ai Se Eu Te Pego, an international hit in 2001 reaching top 10 across Europe and Latin America including No.1 positions in France, Germany, Spain and the singer's native Brazil. Previously lead singer of Grupo Tradição from 1997 through 2008
January 21, 1981 ~ Clarinetist, saxophonist Russell Procope passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for his association with Duke Ellington, remaining with the Duke Ellington Orchestra from 1946 through to Ellington's death in 1974. Has also worked with Jelly Roll Morton, Benny Carter, Chick Webb, Fletcher Henderson, Tiny Bradshaw, Teddy Hill, King Oliver, Willie Bryant, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Hodges, and Billy Strayhorn ~ Procope was born in 1908