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 23, 1962 ~ Heavy metal drummer Kirk Arrington born ~ Member of the Metal Church from 1982 through 1995, rejoining in later years. Present on some of the band's best known and most acclaimed albums including the band's eponymous Metal Church debut album, Blessing In Disguise, and The Human Factor ~ Arrington passed away in 2023
January 23, 1962 ~ Singer Tony Bennett records I Left My Heart In San Francisco at CBS 30th Street Studio, New York, New York ~ Originally written for Claramae Turner, who regularly performed the song but never got around to recording it. Offered to Tennessee Ernie Ford, who declined. Tony Bennett actually first sang the song in San Francisco during a performance in December 1961 at The Fairmont Hotel. Recorded the next month, the song would be issued as the B-side of Once Upon A Time released in February 1962. Radio DJ's would pass on the A-side but the B-side was regularly played and the single would reach top 20 Billboard Hot 100, achieve gold status and receive a Grammy Award. It would become one of his best known songs. Bennett would perform the song throughout his career, and always include it in the set during his performances at the Fairmont. Decades later a statue of Bennett would be erected outside the hotel and the block would be renamed Tony Bennett Way in 2016, in honor of the singer
January 23, 1956 ~ Greg Hinz, commonly known as hard rock, heavy metal drummer Fritz Hinz, born ~ Longtime member of Canadian heavy metal outfit Helix, present on most of the band's best known including their Walking The Razor's Edge album which spawned Rock You, their biggest hit. Hinz remained with the band from 1983 through 1996, rejoining in 2009. Hinz quietly retreated from the band in 2023 as cancer treatments began, his medical condition kept quiet at his request. Following his death, Helix frontman Brian Vollmer described Hinz as a brother, the funniest guy you'd ever want to meet, and the consummate rock drummer: “He loved his drums and he loved drumming and performing. He took great pride in everything he did.” ~ Hinz passed away in 2024
January 23, 1956 ~ Jazz, avant-garde, experimental rock singer, saxophonist, clarinetist Ralph Carney born in Akorn, Ohio, USA ~ Plays a multitude of instruments, including the obscure and unusual. Perhaps best known as Tom Waits's hornist, present on albums such as Rain Dogs, Bone Machine, and Mule Variations. Founding member of experimental rock outfit Tin Huey, best known for their 1979 Contents Dislodged During Shipment album. Recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Happiness Finally Came To Them released in 1987. In-demand sideman, present on recordings by Randy Vanwarmer, the B52's, Elvis Costello (King Of America), Galaxie 500, Marc Ribot, Oranj Symphonette, and Grant Lee Buffalo ~ Carney passed away in 2017
January 23, 1955 ~ Bassist Earl Falconer, full name Earl Acton Falconer, born in Meriden, UK ~ Best known as longtime member of UB40, present on all the band's best known including King, Red Red Wine, I Got You Babe featuring Chrissie Hynde, Don't Break My Heart, Sing Our Own Song, Kingston Town, and I Can't Help Falling In Love
January 23, 1954 ~ Singer, songwriter Franco de Vita born in Caracas, Venezuela ~ Debuted in 1984 with the eponymous Franco de Vita album, spawning the hits Somos Tres, No Hay Cielo and Un Buen Perdedor. First gained international attention in 1990 with No Basta of his Extranjero and has since regularly reached the higher echelons of the Billboard Latin singles charts. Has collaborated with Alejandro Fernández, Diego el Cigala, Wisin & Yandel, and Tony Bennett
January 23, 1954 ~ Singer, songwriter Greg Guidry, full name Gregory Mark Guidry, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Staff songwriter at CBS Records. Artists who have recorded his songs include the Climax Blues Band, Robbie Dupree, Exile, Johnnie Taylor, Sawyer Brown, and Reba McEntire. As a solo artist, Guidry is known for the hit singles Goin' Down and Into My Love, the latter a duet with his sister Sandy Guidry ~ Guidry passed away in 2003
January 23, 1954 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Michal Ambroz born in Havlickuc Brod, Czechoslovakia ~ Co-founded Jasná Páka in 1981 with Vladimir Albrecht. The band would be banned from performing in public in 1984 and instead of going underground Ambroz would form Hudba Praha with some of the original members while others pursued other intrests. In 2008 Ambroz would reinstate Jasná Páka with drummer, singer David Koller as the only other original member. Six years later the band released their sole official studio album Cerna Deska ~ Ambroz passed away in 2022
January 23, 1954 ~ Bassist, songwriter, engineer Richard Finch, full name Richard Raymond Finch, born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Best known as bassist, co-founding member of KC & the Sunshine Band. Co-wrote some of the band's biggest hits with Harry Wayne Casey including (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty, Get Down Tonight, Please Don't Go, Boogie Shoes and I'm Your Boogie Man. The duo had also written hits for Betty Wright (Where is The Love) and George McCrae (Rock Your Baby)
January 23, 1953 ~ Singer Robin Zander, full name Robin Wayne Zander, born in Rockford, Illinois, USA ~ Lead singer, rhythm guitarist of arena rock outfit Cheap Trick, known for songs such as I Want You To Want Me (Live), The Flame, Don't Be Cruel, and Can't Stop Fallin' Into LoveJanuary 23, 1952 ~ Blues singer, guitarist Charley Booker records No Ridin' Blues ~ Backed by Houston Boines on harmonica, Ike Turner piano, and Jesse Cleanhead Love on drums, Charley Booker records No Ridin' Blues and Rabbit Blues for Modern Records. Eventhough the single sold well locally Booker would retire from music the next year
January 23, 1951 ~ Singer Angela Carrasco, full name Angela Altagracia Carrasco, born in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic ~ First gained attention in the 1970s playing Maria Magdalena alongside Camilo Sesto in the first Spanish version of Jesus Christ Superstar. Would go on to score hits in Europe, Latin America and the USA with songs such as Carino Mio, Quererte A Ti and perhaps her best known Boca Rosa
January 23, 1950 ~ William Cunningham, commonly known as bassist, keyboardist Bill Cunningham, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Founding member of the Box Tops through 1969, leaving the band to return to school to get a music degree. Would go on to work in classical music, notably the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, while sessioning for artists such as Eddy Arnold, Van Cliburn, Isaac Hayes, and Dionne Warwick throughout his college days
January 23, 1950 ~ Rock, pop rock keyboardist, organist, accordionist Danny Federici, full name Daniel Paul Federici, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Closely associated with Bruce Springsteen throughout his career, serving in Child and Steel Mill, both of which featured Springsteen, prior to becoming a founding member of Springsteen's longtime backing unit the E Street Band. Present on several of Springsteen's key albums including Born To Run, The River, and Born In The USA. Federici has also appeared on albums by Graham Parker, Joan Armatrading (Me Myself I), Garland Jeffreys, Gary US Bonds, Little Steven, Carla Olson, Joe Esposito, and Kevin Gordon ~ Federici passed away in 2008
January 23, 1949 ~ Big band, jazz trumpeter Dave Stahl born in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. To pop rock audiences perhaps best known for his association with Blood Sweat & Tears from 1995 through the turn of the milennium. Has worked with Woody Herman, Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, and Chaka KhanJanuary 23, 1949 ~ Twin brothers Noel Duggan and Pádraig Duggan born in Gweedore, Ireland ~ Both singers and guitarists, Pádraig also played mandolin. Rose to fame as members of Clannad, known best for Theme From Harry's Game which reached top 10 in both the UK and the band's native Ireland. The brothers took a hiatus after the band's acclaimed 1998 Landmarks album, releasing their own Rubicon album in 2005 to critical acclaim featuring guests such as Moya Brennan, Finbar Furrey and Orla Fallon ~ Pádraig passed away in 2016, Noel passed away in 2022
January 23, 1948 ~ Singer Anita Pointer, full name Anita Marie Pointer, born in East Oakland, California, USA ~ Founding member of sibling outfit the Pointer Sisters, known for songs such as Yes We Can Can, Fairytale, Fire, He's So Shy, Slow Hand and I'm So Excited. Pointer also duetted with Earl Thomas Conley on Too Many Times, a Billboard Country top 10 hit in 1986. Released a solo album, Love For What It Is, the following year which included the Philip Bailey-duet The Pledge and the moderately successful singles Overnight Success and More Than A Memory ~ Pointer passed away in 2022
January 23, 1948 ~ Rock bassist, talent manager Glenn Wheatley, full name Glenn Dawson Wheatley, born in Brisbane, Australia ~ First gained attention as member of pop-rock band Masters Apprentices from 1968 through 1972, present on some of the band's best known songs including Turn Up Your Radio and Because I Love You. As a talent manager best known for managing John Farnham. Wheatley mortgaged his own house to finance Farnham's 1986 comeback album Whispering Jack, the album would spend nearly half a year on the number one spot on the Australian album charts and spawn the international hit single You're The Voice ~ Wheatley passed away in 2022
January 23, 1941 ~ Perry Carlton Buie, commonly known as songwriter, music promotor, manager Buddy Buie, born in Marianna, Florida, USA ~ Closely associated with Roy Orbison, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, and perhaps most notably with Classics IV for whom he wrote or co-wrote songs such as Spooky, Stormy and Traces, all considered classics of the era. Other artists who recorded his songs include Tommy Roe (Party Girl), Gloria Estefan, Wynonna Judd, Garth Brooks (Mr Midnight), Travis Tritt, David Sanborn, Santana, and John Legend ~ Buie passed away in 2015
January 23, 1940 ~ Areski Belkacem, monomonously known as avant-garde, experimental singer, songwriter Areski, born in Versailles, France ~ Dubbed “the Prince consort of French chanson,” Areski is considered one of the foremost French composers. Influenced by his Algerian roots, free jazz, and rock, he utilized an eclectic mix of traditional, classical and modern instruments throughout his career ranging from percussion including traditional African drums, guitar, woodwinds, accordion, and keyboards. Best known for his association with Jacques Higelin, with whom he recorded the collaborative album Higelin & Areski released in 1969, and with singer Brigitte Fontaine, his long-time spouse and musical partner with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums since the turn of the 1970s starting with Comme A La Radio which featured backing from the Art Ensemble Of Chicago. Areski has recorded a handful of solo albums and usually in partnership with his son Ali Belkacem has composed and performed soundtracks, including notably for the films A Mort La Mort and Jeunesse Dorée, and works for the stage. Songs written or co-written by Areski have been recorded by the likes of Pierre Barouh, Georges Moustaki (J'Ai Vu Des Rois Serviles), Juliette Gréco, Marc Moulin (Comme A La Radio), Maurane, Paradis, Christophe, Jarvis Cocker (Il Pleut Sur La Gare), and Aurélien Merle ~ Belkacem passed away in 2026
January 23, 1940 ~ Funk, R&B, soul singer Jimmy Castor, full name James Walter Castor, born in Manhattan, New York, 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 passed away in 2012
January 23, 1940 ~ Songwriter, singer Joe Dowell born in Bloomington, Indiana, USA ~ Best known for his 1961 rendition of Wooden Heart, the first US No.1 single for Smash Records. Followed up with the lesser hits The Bridge Of Love and Little Red Rented Rowboat. Dowell wanted to be a songwriter in his own right but was contractually required to sing music owned by his label's parent company Mercury Records. Dowell was eventually dropped by the label and has recorded sporadically since including folk and gospel ~ Dowell passed away in 2016
January 23, 1940 ~ John Bright Russell, commonly known as singer, songwriter, comedian Johnny Russell, born in Moorhead, Mississippi, USA ~ Best known for co-writing Act Naturally, made famous by Buck Owens, later one of the few covers ever done by the Beatles. Other artists who have recorded Russell's songs include Burl Ives, Jim Reeves, Jerry Garcia, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and George Strait. As a singer Russell is mostly known for songs such as Rednecks White Socks & Blue Ribbon, The Baptism Of Jesse Taylor, Catfish John, and Hello I Love You ~ Russell passed away in 2001
January 23, 1934 ~ Jazz trombonist, bandleader, arranger Raymond Droz born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland ~ Worked with Claude Albert, Charly Antolini, Jean-Pierre Bionda, Raymond Court, Pierre Favre, Kurt Edelhagen, Ted Haenzi, Clark Terry, Heinz Kretschmar, Bill Ramsey, Buck Clayton, Rex Stewart, Othella Dallas, Gabriela Schaaf, and the New Zurich Jazztet ~ Droz passed away in 2000
January 23, 1933 ~ Dolores Conchita Figueros Del Rivero, commonly known as actress, dancer, singer Chita Rivera born in Washington DC, USA ~ Known for roles in Broadway musicals such as West Side Story, Chicago and Kiss Of The Spider Woman. Three-time Tony Award-recipient, including one for Lifetime Achievement.. First Latino-American to receive a Kennedy Center Honor