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, 1972 ~ Pop singer Mark Owen born in Oldham, UK ~ Member of boy band Take That, known for a string hits starting in the early 1990s including the UK No.1 hits Pray, Relight My Fire featuring Lulu, Babe, Everything Changes, Sure, Back For Good, Never Forget, How Deep Is Your Love, Patience, Shine, The Greatest Day, and These Days
January 27, 1970 ~ Baroque, classical, jazz flutist Emmanuel Pahud born in Geneva, Switzerland ~ Worked with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Australia Chamber Orchestra, and the Kansas City Symphony
January 27, 1969 ~ Country singer Merle Haggard releases Hungry Eyes, lifted off his A Portrait Of Merle Haggard album ~ Widely considered a classic of the genre, and seen by some as one of the all-time greatest country songs, Hungry Eyes tells of Oklahomans and others who lived in labor camps during the Great Depression. According to historian Bill Malone, the song is “Merle Haggard's way of commemorating a whole generation of Okies who persisted through persecution and suffering to transplant their culture to California.” Although the song is not autobiographical, as Haggard's family was not interned in labor camps, Hungry Eyes is dedicated to his mother and the sacrifices she made for her family as a single mother. The original single reached No.1 Billboard Country and has remained one of Haggard's best known songs. Over the years, it has been covered by dozens of artists including Conway Twitty, Jack Greene, Melba Montgomery, and Emmylou Harris
January 27, 1968 ~ Country singer, songwriter Tracy Lawrence born in Atlanta, Texas, USA ~ Draws from neotraditional and honky-tonk. Over a dozen albums to his name, most notably 1993's Alibis and 1996's Time Marches On both of which reached double Platinum certification. Best known for songs such as Sticks And Stones, Alibis, Can't Break It To My Heart, My Second Home, If The Good Die Young, Texas Tornado, Time Marches On, Find Out Who Your Friends Are featuring Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney, all of which topped Billboard's country chartsJanuary 27, 1968 ~ Adrian Nicholas Matthews Thaws, commonly known as producer, rapper, actor Tricky, born in Bristol, UK ~ Best known as member of Massive Attack, acclaimed for their 1991 Blue Lines debut album. The band would regularly hit the charts throughout the remainder of the 1990s. Well known songs include Unfinished Sympathy, Risingson and Teardrop
January 27, 1967 ~ Folk, pop singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Luigi Tenco passed away in Sanremo, Italy ~ Also known under the alias Gigi Mai. Member of I Cavaliere, alongside Giampiero Reverberi and Enzo Jannacci. Debuted as a solo artist in 1961 with the single Quando, followed by the full-length album Baliate E Canzoni the next year. Became an icon of love and despair after his alleged suicide at age 28, the exact circumstances of his death still questioned to this day ~ Tenco was born in 1938January 27, 1964 ~ Jazz drummer Trond Sverre Hansen born in Narvik, Norway ~ Son of jazz trombonist Viggo Hansen. Considered one of the premier Norwegian bebop drummers. Has worked with Thorgeir Stubø, Jørn Øien, Øystein B Blix, Kjell Bartholdsen, Øystein Norvoll, Ernst-Wiggo Sandbakk, Konrad Kaspersen, Knut Kristiansen, Ragnar Olsen, Sverre Kjelsberg, and Marit Sandvik
January 27, 1961 ~ New wave guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Gillian Gilbert, full name Gillian Lesley Gilbert, born in Manchester, UK ~ Best known as member of Joy Division-offshoot New Order, founded in 1980 after singer Ian Curtis's suicide. Would marry bandmate Stephen Morris in the early 1990s, with whom she has two daughters. Also recorded two albums with her husband under the moniker the Other Two, 1993's The Other Two & You and 1999's Super Highways
January 27, 1961 ~ Alternative country, alternative folk singer Margo Timmins born in Montreal, Canada ~ Lead singer of the Cowboy Junkies, which also included her brothers guitarist Michael Timmins and drummer Peter Timmins. Timmins has stated it took her ten years to get comfortable singing in front of an audience yet is widely praised for her ethereal voice, a key component of the band's sound
January 27, 1960 ~ James Pond, commonly known as metal, hard rock singer, drummer Jaime St James, born in Portland, Oregon, USA ~ Briefly served as Warrant lead singer during Jani Lanes hiatus. Best known as frontman and primary songwriter of glam metal outfit Black 'n Blue. Also worked with Freight Train Jane, the Glorious Things, Kiss tribute band Cold Gin, the Hard Rock All-Stars, and Let It Rawk
January 27, 1959 ~ Amelia McMahon, commonly known as singer, songwriter Amy Rigby, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Member of the Shams. Member of the Last Roundup. Released her debut album, Diary Of A Mod Housewife, in 1996 and recording steadily since to critical acclaim but limited commercial success. Had her songs recorded by Ronnie Spector, Sara Hickman, Laura Cantrell. Married to Wreckless Eric with whom she also works. Previously married to the dB's-drummer Will Rigby with whom she has a daughterJanuary 27, 1957 ~ Rock guitarist Klaus Heuser, also known as Klaus Major Heuser, born in Leverkusen-Wiesdorf, Germany ~ Influenced by Keith Richards, Rory Gallagher, Eric Clapton, the Golden Earring, and Gary Moore. Lead guitarist for rock unit BAP, for whom he wrote or co-wrote several of the band's best known including Verdamp Lang Her, Frau Ich Freu Mich, Ne Schone Jrooss, Kristallnaach, Alles Em Lot, and Nix Wie Bessher
January 27, 1955 ~ Country, bluegrass, gospel singer Cheryl White born in Abilene, Texas, USA ~ Married to singer Ricky Skaggs. Member of the Whites, which also includes her sister Sharon White and father Buck White, known for 1980s hits such as You Put The Blue In Me, Give Me Back That Old Familiar Feeling, If It Ain't Love Let's Leave It Alone, and Hometown Gossip
January 27, 1955 ~ Paul Maddox, commonly known as jazz drummer Pheeroan Aklaff, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with DejaVu, Bill Baron, Wadada Leo Smith, Oliver Lake, Jump Up, Andrew Hill, Cecil Taylor, Reggie Workman, Geri Allen, Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, Jay Hoggard, Craig Harris, Don Byron, Julius Hemphill, Sonny Sharrock, Mal Waldron, and Yosuke Yamashita
January 27, 1953 ~ Jazz saxophonist, bandleader, composer, arranger Bob Mintzer, full name Robert Alan Mintzer, born in New Rochelle, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Buddy Rich, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Sam Jones, Peter Erskine, the Yellowjackets, Jaco Pastorius, Miroslav Vitous, Bobby McFerrin, Toninho Horta, Kurt Elling, Dewa Budjana, and Roberto TolaJanuary 27, 1953 ~ Country songwriter Tom Douglas, full name Thomas Stevenson Douglas, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Songs written or co-written by Douglas have been recorded by Collin Raye (Little Rock), Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack (Something Worth Leaving Behind), Tim McGraw (Grown Men Don't Cry), Lady Antebellum (I Run To You), Miranda Lambert (The House That Built Me), Neal McCoy, George Strait, and John Michael Montgomery
January 27, 1951 ~ Drummer Brian Downey, full name Brian Michael Downey, born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Co-founding member and along with Phil Lynott the only other constant member of Thin Lizzy until the band's breakup in 1983. Wrote or co-wrote several of the band's best known including The Rocker, Cowboy Song, Emerald, Bad Reputation, and Thunder & Lightning. Has also worked with Greedy Bastards, Funky Junction, John Sykes, the Baby Snakes, Gary Moore, and Grand SlamJanuary 27, 1949 ~ Singer, songwriter Djavan, full name DJavan Caetano Viana, born in Macelo, Brazil ~ As a songwriter had his songs recorded by Al Jarreau, Carmen McRae, the Manhattan Transfer, Aaron Goldberg, Loredana Bertè, Eliane Elias, Bob Baldwin, Lee Ritenour, Gal Costa, Dori Caymmi, Nana Caymmi, Lenine, João Bosco, Chico Buarque, Daniela Mercury, Ney Matogrosso, Dominguinhos, Caetano Veloso, and Maria Bethânia
January 27, 1946 ~ Bassist Kim Gardner born in London, UK ~ First gained attention in the mid 1960s as a member of the Birds, a band best known for the cuts No Good Without You and Leaving Here. Gardner has subsequently worked with mod outfit the Creation, Santa Barbara Machine Head which also included Jon Lord and Ronnie Wood, with jazz-rock band Ashton Gardner & Dyke known for the 1971 hit Resurrection Shuffle, and with Badger. For much of the 1970s, Gardner would be an in-demand touring and session musician working with artists as diverse as Bo Diddley and Eric Clapton ~ Gardner passed away in 2001
January 27, 1945 ~ Jazz double bassist Henri Texier born in Paris, France ~ As a leader well over two dozen albums to his name since the early 1970s. Cites Wilbur Ware as main influence. Has collaborated with Gordon Beck, John Abercrombie, Didier Lockwood, Louis Sclavis, Daniel Humair, Aldo Romano, Randy Weston, Art Farmer, Lee Konitz, Martial Solal, Guy Lafitte, Julian Lourau, Patrice Meyer, Jean-Marc Padovani, and Joe Lovano
January 27, 1944 ~ Alternative rock, new wave singer, guitarist Kevin Coyne born in Derby, UK ~ Overlooked by the public. Anti-star admired by peers including Sting and Johnny Rotten. Reportedly turned down a chance to meet with label executive Jac Holzman to discuss replacing the late Jim Morrison in the Doors, alleging he “did not like the leather trousers” ~ Coyne passed away in 2004
January 27, 1944 ~ Drummer Nick Mason, full name Nicholas Berkely Mason, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Best known as founding and sole constant member of Pink Floyd. Co-wrote songs such as Echoes, Careful With That Axe Eugene and One Of These Days. Has released a solo album, Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports, in 1981, guested on recordings by Rick Fenn and Michael Mantler, and produced recordings by Chimera, Robert Wyatt (Rock Bottom), Gong, the Damned and Steve Hillage
January 27, 1942 ~ Kathryn Louise Allen, commonly known as folk, country folk singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Kate Wolf, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Member of Wildwood Flower. Half a dozen albums to her name, starting with Back Roads. Best known for songs such as Across The Great Divide, Unfinished Life, Green Eyes, and Give Yourself To Love. Had her songs covered by John Gorka, Nanci Griffith, Laurie McClain (Cornflower Blue), the Wild Coyotes, Cathy Cowette, Lucinda Williams (Here In California), Dave Alvin, Emmylou Harris (Love Still Remains), Sherry Austin, Eric Bogle, Kathy Mattea, and Billy Bragg (One By One) ~ Allen passed away in 1986
January 27, 1941 ~ Vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influence on later vibraphonists including Steve Nelson, Joe Locke, Stefon Harris. Over three dozen albums as leader or co-leader, especially acclaimed for a string of mid 1960s releases including Stick Up, Components and Oblique. Member of the SF Jazz Collective. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Les McCann, Eric Dolphy (Iron Man), Jackie McLean, Andrew Hill, Grant Green (Idle Moments), Joe Henderson (Mode For Joe), John Handy, Lee Morgan (The Procrastinator), McCoy Tyner, Stanley Cowell (Brilliant Circles), Prince Lasha, Donald Byrd, Dexter Gordon, Roy Haynes, Pharoah Sanders (Rejoice), Woody Shaw, and Lou Rawls ~ Hutcherson passed away in 2016
January 27, 1937 ~ Steel guitarist Buddy Emmons born in Mishawaka, Indiana, USA ~ Plays country, jazz, Western swing. Widely seen as one of the leading pedal steel guitarists of his day. Member of Ernest Tubb's backing unit the Texas Troubadours. Member of Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Member of the Dillards, a band believed to be quintessential in late 1960s country-rock. In-demand session musician. Has worked with Casey Clark, George Jones, Melba Montgomery, Roger Miller, Mel Tillis, Donna Fargo, Duane Eddy, Charlie Walker, Linda Ronstadt, Gram Parsons, Bob Wills, Ray Pennington, the Everly Brothers, the Carpenters, John Hartford, Jimmy Dickens, Ray Price (notably on You Took Her Off My Hands), Judy Collins, George Strait, John Sebastian, and Ray Charles ~ Emmons passed away in 2015