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 27, 2024 ~ Bjørn Falk Nilsen, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Lillebjørn Nilsen, passed away in Oslo, Norway ~ Formed the late 1960s duo the Young Norwegians with Bjørn Morisse, the latter also referred to as Storebjørn. Recorded consistently as a solo artist since the early 1970s. Considered “the Voice of Oslo” for having written numerous songs about the city. Befriended and worked with his idol Pete Seeger, whose My Rainbow Race he translated to Banr Av Regnbuen. Terrorist Anders Breivik, who killed over 70 people in the 2011 Oslo and Utøya attacks, stated he hated the song. In response, over 40,000 Norwegians sang it publicly outside Breivik's trial. Nilsen was also a member of supergroup Gitarkamaratene ~ Nilsen was born in 1950
January 27, 2023 ~ Drummer Floyd Sneed, full name Floyd Chester Sneed, passed away ~ Member of Three Dog Night, remaining with the band from its inception in 1968 until its disbandement in 1977. Sang backup on only one song, Joy To The World taken of their 1970 Naturally album. The band is known for numerous 1970s hits including the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles One, Mama Told Me (Not To Come), Black & White, Shambala, and The Show Must Go On ~ Sneed was born in 1943
January 27, 2022 ~ Composer Alain Bancquart passed away ~ Musical director for ORTF and subsequently the Orchestre National de France, having previously served as violinist in the latter. As a composer has written symphonies, concertos, operas, and chamber music ~ Bancquart was born in 1934January 27, 2022 ~ Miguel Atilio Boccadoro Hernandez, commonly known as pop singer, guitarist, trumpeter, bandoneon player Diego Verdaguer, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Married to singer Amanda Miguel. Well over a dozen albums to his name, known best for songs such as Volveré, Corazón De Papel, Usted Qué Haria, La Ladrona, and Voy A Coonquistarte ~ Boccadoro was born in 1951
January 27, 2016 ~ Singer Rihanna releases Work featuring Drake, lifted off her Anti album ~ On this sparse ballad, Rihanna again teamed up with Canadian rapper Drake who wrote and recorded a verse. The single would be the third collaboration for the couple, who allegedly were briefly a romantic item around the turn of the 2010s, as they had previously teamed up for Rihanna's 2010 single What's My Name, the first Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit for Drake, and for Take Care released in 2011. Work would reach top 10 in over two dozen countries, including the No.1 spot in both Canada and America, and earned the duo Grammy Award nominations for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The synthesizers at the beginning of the song were sampled from Alexander O'Neal's 1985 single If You Were Here Tonight
January 27, 2014 ~ Singer, songwriter Pete Seeger passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of the Almanac Singers. Member of pivotal folk outfit the Weavers, known for The Hammer Song and for their 1950 hit recording Goodnight Irene. As a solo artist Seeger would become one of the premier folk singers and prolific songwriters of the 1960s, perhaps best known for penning and first recording Where Have All The Flowers Gone which would be covered by well over 150 artists including Bobby Darin, Eddy Arnold, Johnny Rivers, Harry Belafonte, Joan Baez, and Earth Wind & Fire ~ Seeger was born in 1919
January 27, 2012 ~ Kathryn Elizabeth Wimp, commonly known as jazz singer Kay Davis, passed away in Apopka, Florida, USA ~ Best known for her tenure, from 1944 through 1950, with Duke Ellington including on tours of the UK and Europe, and notably the 1948 Carnegie Hall concert where she premiered Lush Life. Wimp retired from music by the early 1950s ~ Wimp was born in 1920
January 27, 2009 ~ Soul, R&B singer Chrisette Michele releases Epiphany, lead single off the album of the same name ~ Written by Shaffer Smith, more commonly known as Ne-Yo, and Chuck Harmony, the latter also serving as the song's sole producer, Epiphany would become Chrisette Michele's biggest hit and only one to reach top 20 Billboard R&B, peaking at No.14. Michele would later tell Billboard the song struck a chord with her: “I heard the song that Ne-Yo had written titled Epiphany, and the word just stood out to me. It stood out to me because I'd been through a lot in my last relationship, and the word ‘epiphany’ exemplified exactly what happened in the end when I realized I didn't have to put myself through it anymore.” The relationship she referenced was with her former manager Douglas Ellison who Michele sued for embezzlement and harassment in 2008, charges she would later drop
January 27, 2009 ~ Pioneering electronic musician Klaus Wiese passed away in Ulm, Germany ~ Briefly a member of krautrock outfit Popol Vuh, playing tamboura on the albums Hosianna Mantra and Selingpreisung. Best known as a solo artist, one of the great ambient and space music artists and a master of the Tibetan singing bowl. Has regularly collaborated with artists such as Al Gromer Kahn, Mathias Grassow, Oöphoi, Tau Ceti, Saam Schlamminger, Ted de Jong, and Deuter ~ Wiese was born in 1942
January 27, 2006 ~ R&B, soul singer, producer, songwriter Gene McFadden passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ First teamed up with John Whitehead in the 1960s forming the Epsilons, a group which eventually toured with Otis Redding. The duo would later help define Philly soul, writing and producing numerous hits for others, including Back Stabbers for the O'Jays, Wake Up Everybody (Part 1) for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and I'll Always Love My Mama for the Intruders. The duo also scored a Billboard R&B charttopper on their own with Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now, released in 1979 ~ McFadden was born in 1949
January 27, 2003 ~ Synth-pop duo Erasure release their Other People's Songs album ~ Reportedly originally conceived as a solo album for singer Andy Bell, yet Vince Clarke jumped in, making Other People's Songs the duo's tenth studio album and their only one consisting entirely of covers. It would give the duo their first UK top 10 hit in nearly a decade, their cover of Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill solo debut single peaking at No.10, surpassing the original. The album's other single, a cover of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel's 1975 Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) hit reached top 20. Other artists covered on the album include Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, the Ronettes, and the Three Degrees
January 27, 2003 ~ Reggae, dancehall singer, DJ Sean Paul releases Get Busy, lifted off his Dutty Rock album ~ While Sean Paul's previous release, his Gimme The Light debut single, took over half a year to become a hit, the dancehall banger Get Busy was remarkably quicker, taking less than half the time to reach No.1 Billboard Hot 100. A top 10 hit in over a dozen countries, the banger is specifically noted for its use of “Diwali riddim”, a style frequently used in Jamaican music where instrumental accompaniment, in this case handclaps, provide the rhythm, or “riddim”, for a vocal, usually a rap. When Paul recorded the song, his girlfriend, whom he later married, and her friend asked Paul to mention them in the song. And he did, as he later recalled: “I went in there, did the song, and I was trying to find an intro. And usually in Jamaica, we kind of talk an intro out and introduce the song. Well, this time I just decided to sing. I was like ‘I'm going to put their name in it and freak them out.’ I did do it and to this day they're still good friends”January 27, 2000 ~ Classical, jazz pianist, composer Friedrich Gulda passed away in Steinbach-am-Attersee, Austria ~ Revered interpreter of the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. Other than for his accomplishments in the classical world, Gulda is also known to jazz audiences, specifically for his work with the likes of Cecil Taylor, Barre Phillips, Ursula Anders, John Surman, Albert Mangelsdorff, Stu Martin, and Fritz Pauer ~ Gulda was born in 1930
January 27, 1993 ~ Jazz double bassist Eddie Calhoun passed away in Paradise Lake, Mississippi, USA ~ Closely associated with Erroll Garner, touring and recording extensively with the pianist for about a decade including on the acclaimed Concert By The Sea album released in 1955. An in-demand sideman, Calhoun is also present on recordings by Ahmad Jamal (Piano Scene Of Ahmad Jamal), Willis Jackson, Roger Ramirez, and Horace Henderson ~ Calhoun was born in 1921January 27, 1991 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Dylan Guthro born in Cape Breton Island, Canada ~ Son of singer Bruce Guthro. Dylan released his solo debut album, All That's True, in 2012. In 2015 formed the trio Port Cities with fellow Halifax singers Carleton Stone and Breagh MacKinnon. Has served as producer and songwriter for acts such as Quake Matthews, Neon Dreams, Tim Chaisson, Ria Mae, Donovan Woods, Maura Whitman, Walker Hayes, and Banners
January 27, 1990 ~ Country singer, songwriter Luke Bell born in Lexington, Kentucky, USA ~ Critically compared to Buck Owens and Roger Miller. Draws from honky-tonk and classic country. Acclaimed for his third and final studio album, the eponymous Luke Bell released in 2016. Known best for the singles Where Ya Been and the John Lennon-cover Jealous Guy. Bell disappeared in August 2022, his body discovered nine days later ~ Bell passed away in 2022January 27, 1990 ~ Soufiane Nouhi, commonly known as urban pop, R&B, rap singer, guitarist, pianist, violinist, percussionist Souf, born in Nancy, France ~ First gained attention through his online releases, mostly covers of well known songs. Guested on Ridsa's 2014 My Baby single. Released his Alchimie debut album in 2016, which spawned the modest hit Mi Amor
January 27, 1989 ~ Singer, actor, songwriter Bob Haymes, full name Robert William Haymes, passed away in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for writing That's All with Alan Brandt, first recorded by Nat King Cole and covered by numerous artists including Bobby Darin, Billy Eckstine, Sam Cooke, Connie Francis, Judy Garland, Ricky Nelson, Mel Tormé, and Sarah Vaughan ~ Haymes was born in 1923January 27, 1986 ~ Jazz pianist, composer, arranger Ken Moule, full name Kenneth John Moule, passed away in Marbella, Spain ~ Got his start in his music in the 1940s, backing the likes of Johnny Dankworth, Oscar Rabin, Remo Cavalotti, Bobby Kevin, Bert Ambrose, and Frank Weir. As a composer, Moule is perhaps best known for the suite Jazz At The Toad released in 1958, based on the Kenneth Grahame children's book The Wind In The Willows. From the mid 1950s through the early 1980s, Moule led a number of ensembles employing sidemen such as Cab Kaye, George Chisholm, Lennie Bush, Allan Ganley, Don Rendell, and Kenny Wheeler. In the late 1970s, Moule notably served as the music arranger for the BBC drama series Secret Army, also appearing as Paul, the restaurant pianist, in several episodes ~ Moule was born in 1925
January 27, 1986 ~ Country singer Tanya Tucker releases One Love At A Time, lead single off her Girls Like Me album ~ Written by Paul Davis and Paul Overstreet, the song tells of a woman dating two men at once, which would be fine if only if weren't so exhausting. Tanya Tucker had enjoyed popularity throughout the 1970s, racking up over a dozen Billboard Country top 10 hits since her debut single Delta Dawn released at age 13. During the early 1980s, however, her popularity waned, she developed a drug habit, and lost her record deal. With some help from her father, Tucker relocated to Nashville and got herself together. One Love At A Time would be her comeback single, and reach No.3 Billboard Country. Subsequently, the next three singles off the same parent album would also reach top 10. Tucker would regularly reach the higher echelons of the chart through the mid 1990sJanuary 27, 1984 ~ Pop singer Cyndi Lauper releases Time After Time, lifted off her She's So Unusual debut album ~ Initially tapped as her debut single, Lauper felt such a choice might pigeonhole her as a balladeer and potentially hinder her career. Epic Records agreed and issued it instead as She's So Unusual's second single, after Girls Just Want To Have Fun which reached No.2 Billboard Hot 100. The sophomore single Time After Time hit the No.1 spot. Two more singles from the same album, She Bop and All Through The Night also reached top 5, peaking respectively at No.3 and No.5. The parent album would be heralded by critics, earned Cyndi Lauper several Grammy Award nominations and helped her win the Award for Best New Artist
January 27, 1981 ~ Singer Reverend Julius Cheeks passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Briefly a member of the Soul Stirrers. Best known as a member of the Sensational Nightingales, popular in the early 1950s and known for songs such as Somewhere To Lay My Head and The Last Mile Of The Way. Also a member of the Mighty Clouds Of Joy ~ Cheeks was born in 1929
January 27, 1976 ~ Classical violinist Renaud Capuçon born in Chambéry, France ~ Entered the Conservatory at age 4. Noted for his recordings of Johannes Brahms trios with his brother cellist Gautier Capuçon and pianist Nicholas Angelich. Has also recorded chamber works by Maurice Ravel and Franz Schubert, as well as concertos by Robert Schumann and Felix Mendelssohn. Capuçon has worked with artists such as Jérôme Ducros, Frank Braley, Hélène Grimaud, and Gérard Caussé
January 27, 1975 ~ Julia Ellen Sackett, commonly known as Broadway actress, singer Julia Sanderson, passed away in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA ~ Daughter of Broadway-actor Albert H Sackett, Sanderson got her start on the stage at an early age. Well known for roles in shows such as Brewster's Millions, Wang, The Tourists, and The Dairymaids. Teamed up with her third husband singer Frank Crumit, performing on the radio show Blackstone Plantation through the mid 1930s and on the popular quiz show The Battle Of The Sexes from 1930 until Crumit's death in 1943, after which Sanderson retired from showbiz. The Springfield theater the Julia Sanderson Theater was named after her ~ Sackett was born in 1887January 27, 1973 ~ Jazz drummer Jackie Dougan passed away in Australia ~ Worked with Tommy Whittle, Eddie Thompson, Dick Morrisey, Ronnie Scott, Malcolm Cecil, Tony Coe, Stan Tracey (Jazz Suite Inspired By Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood), Sonny Stitt, Ben Webster, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, and Wes Montgomery ~ Dougan was born ca.1930
January 27, 1973 ~ Rock band Sweet perform at the Grand Hall, Kilmarnock, UK ~ The performance did not go over well as the band were booed off the stage by the audience, resulting in a “ballroom blitz”. Although songwriters Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn downplayed the story it is likely this incident gave them the inspiration for The Ballroom Blitz, which would become one of the band's biggest hits. The single reached top 10 in over a dozen countries, including No.1 in Australia, Canada, Germany, Iceland, and Ireland. In America the single peaked at No.5 Billboard Hot 100, making it their second of four top 10 hits, preceded by Little Willy, followed by Fox On The Run and Love Is Like Oxygen. Especially in Europe, The Ballroom Blitz remains popular to this day, fondly remembered as one of the most accessible, energetic and fun songs of the glam-rock era