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 28, 2023 ~ Odd Børre Sørensen, commonly known as pop singer Odd Børre, passed away ~ Active mostly from the early 1960s until semi-retiring from music in 1970. Internationally best known for representing his native Norway in the 1968 Eurovision Songfestival contest, reaching thirteenth place with Stress ~ Sørensen was born in 1939
January 28, 2023 ~ Thomas Miller, commonly known as punk rock, art punk, post-punk singer, guitarist, songwriter Tom Verlaine, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Stan Getz, Miles Davis, the Velvet Underground, the Rolling Stones. Formed the Neon Boys with Richard Hell and Billy Ficca, quickly disbanding after failing to attract a second guitarist despite auditions from both the Ramones' Dee Dee Ramone and Blondie's Chris Stein. Rose to fame as frontman of Television, their acclaimed 1977 Marquee Moon debut album considered one of the defining albums of the post-punk era. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the eponymous Tom Verlaine album released in 1979. Notably collaborated with once-girlfriend Patti Smith including on her Horses debut album. Tapped to produce Jeff Buckley's second studio album, a project that never materialized due to Buckley's untimely death. Verlaine was also a member of supergroup the Million Dollar Bashers alongside Lee Ranaldo, Nels Cline, and John Medeski ~ Miller was born in 1949January 28, 2021 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, songwriter César Isella passed away ~ Joined Los Fronterizos in 1956 replacing Carlos Barbarab, remaining with the group through 1966. Wrote a number of the band's best known including La Fiera, Guittarreando and Un Abrazo A Corrientes. As a solo artist perhaps best known for co-writing Cancion Con Todos with poet, lyricist Armando Tejada Gómez, considered a Latin American anthem recorded by numerous artists ~ Isella was born in 1938
January 28, 2021 ~ Blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Sherman Robertson passed away ~ Draws from zydeco, swamp blues, electric blues, R&B. First gained serious attention backing Clifton Chenier during the 1980s, notably present on the albums Live At The and San Francisco Blues Festival. Guested on Paul Simon's Graceland album. Following Chenier's death in 1987 Robertson would work with Rockin' Dopsie and Terrance Simien before venturing out on his own. As a solo artist best known for the album I'm The Man released in 1994 ~ Robertson was born in 1948January 28, 2021 ~ Classical, opera, jazz, traditional singer Sibongile Khumalo passed away ~ Active since the early 1990s until her death, about half a dozen albums to her name. Noted for singing at the 75th birthday of Nelson Mandela in 1993 and his Presidential inauguration the following year. Has worked with the Bach Choir, Jack DeJohnette, and Hugh Masekela ~ Khumalo was born in 1957
January 28, 2019 ~ Rock, blues rock, hard rock, acid rock drummer Paul Whaley, full name Paul Gene Whaley, passed away in Regensburg, Germany ~ Son of country singer Paul Edward Whaley. Member of the Oxford Circle, present on the live album Live At The Avalon 1966. Best known as drummer for rock band Blue Cheer, present on some of the band's best known including the 1968 singles Summertime Blues and Just A Little Bit ~ Whaley was born in 1947January 28, 2019 ~ Singer, drummer, guitarist, songwriter Pepe Smith, full name Joseph William Feliciano Smith, passed away in Rizal, Philippines ~ Rose to prominence as member of pioneering Filipino rock band the Juan de la Cruz Band, alongside guitarist Wally Gonzales and bassist Mike Hanopol. When drummer Edmon Fortuno joined the trio a few years later Smith would switch to playing guitar ~ Smith was born in 1947
January 28, 2017 ~ Hard rock keyboardist, bassist, guitarist, singer Geoff Nicholls, full name Geoffrey James Nicholls, passed away ~ Best known as member of Black Sabbath from 1979 through 2004, first appearing on the 1980 Heaven & Hell album. Has also worked with the Boll Weevils, the Seed, Johnny Neal & the Starliners, Quartz and the World Of Oz ~ Nicholls was born in 1944
January 28, 2016 ~ Singer, guitarist Paul Kantner, full name Paul Lorin Kantner, passed away in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Co-founding member, lead singer of the Jefferson Airplane, a pivotal act in San Francisco's late 1960s counterculture peak. The band is best known for Somebody To Love and White Rabbit of their quintessential Surrealistic Pillow sophomore album. Both singles would reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100. Kantner has also been involved with several Airplane side projects and spin-offs including Hot Tuna, the KBC Band, and Jefferson Starship ~ Kantner was born in 1941January 28, 2016 ~ Singer Signe Anderson passed away in Beaverton, Oregon, USA ~ Original singer for the Jefferson Airplane. Present on their debut album Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, notably on her signature song Chauffeur Blues. Left the band in late 1966, replaced by Grace Slick ~ Anderson was born in 1941
January 28, 2015 ~ Evangelina Orico, commonly known as actress, singer Vanjo Orico, passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Known best for her role in the 1953 adventure western O Cangaceiro, the first Brazilian movie to score internationally. As a singer known for first recording Eu Não Existo Sem Você in 1957, penned by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes and covered by over four dozen artists ~ Orico was born in 1931January 28, 2014 ~ Composer, conductor John Cacavas, full name John Harry Cacavas, passed away in Beverly Hills, California, USA ~ Best known for his work for TV and film including on TV series such as Hawaii Five-O, The Bionic Woman and Kojak, as well as television films such as Superdome, The Time Machine and The Executioner's Song ~ Cacavas was born in 1930
January 28, 2011 ~ Soprano singer Margaret Price, full name Margaret Berenice Price, passed away in Celbwr, UK ~ First gained attention in the early 1960s as a member of the Ambrosian Singers, remaining only briefly with the ensemble. Would go on to work with the Royal Opera House, initially as an understudy yet rising to fame overnight filling in for Teresa Berganza in the role of Cherubino in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Marriage Of Figaro. Price has also notably worked with the English Opera Group, the Cologne Opera, the Bavarian State Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera ~ Price was born in 1941January 28, 2010 ~ Folk singer Alistair Hulett passed away in Glasgow, UK ~ Frontman and founder of folk punk band Roaring Jack. Has also worked with Fairport Convention's Dave Swarbrick, released a number of solo albums and formed the Malkies with whom he released one album ~ Hulett was born in 1951
January 28, 2009 ~ Keyboardist Billy Powell, full name William Norris Powell, passed away in Orange Park, Florida, USA ~ Best known as member of Southern rock outfit Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2009. Present on the band's best known starting with the acclaimed 1973 Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd debut album. Has also worked with Vision, 38 Special and the Rossington-Collins Band ~ Powell was born in 1952
January 28, 2005 ~ Nicola James Capaldi, commonly known as rock, progressive rock, soft rock singer, percussionist, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Jim Capaldi, passed away in Westminster, UK ~ Best known for co-founding Traffic, co-writing the majority of the band material with bandmate Steve Winwood. Co-wrote Love Will Keep Us Alive, recorded by the Eagles on their 1994 Hell Freezes Over album. As a solo artist best known for songs such as It's All Up To You and Love Hurts, the latter a UK top 10 hit in 1974. An in-demand collaborator, Capaldi has also worked with Deep Feeling, the Hellions, Eric Clapton, Hawkwind's Robert Calvert, Carlos Santana, George Harrison, and Paul Weller ~ Capaldi was born in 1944
January 28, 2004 ~ Peter Leslie Dines, commonly known as keyboardist Dino Dines, passed away ~ Best known as member of T.Rex frim 1974 until the band's dissolution in 1977 after the death of frontman Marc Bolan, present on hits such as Light Of Love, New York City and I Love To Boogie. Had previously played with Apostolic Intervention, known for Tell Me Have You Ever Seen Me, and with the Keef Hartley Band ~ Dines was born in 1944
January 28, 2002 ~ Country singer Alan Jackson releases Drive (For Daddy Gene), lifted off his Drive album ~ In this endearing self-penned ballad, Alan Jackson recalls the time he spent with his late father Eugene driving around in an old beat up truck they fixed up together, as well as driving a boat around the lake. Drive (For Daddy Gene) was met with critical acclaim, Billboard stating Jackson delivers the song with “the same honesty, integrity, and emotional warmth that has always made listeners powerfully connect to his work.” The single reached No.1 Billboard Country
January 28, 2002 ~ Flautist, bassist Andy Kulberg passed away in Fairfax, California, USA ~ Played with local polka bands before emerging as a member of the Blues Project, alongside Al Kooper, Danny Kalb, Steve Katz, and Roy Blumenfeld. With their eclectic mix of blues, folk, and rock & roll, they are arguably the first rock band to come out of New York, and especially noted for their 1966 Projections album. Following the band's disbandement in 1969, Kulberg co-founded Seatrain, with whom he recorded four albums through the early 1970s including the acclaimed Seatrain (Second Album) album ~ Kulberg was born in 1944
January 28, 1998 ~ Pop, rock singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Electra Mustaine, full name Electra Nicole Mustaine, born in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA ~ Daughter of hard rock singer Dave Mustaine. Active since the mid-2010s, initially primarily penning country songs and later venturing into EDM, hip-hop and pop. First gained serious attention with the 2018 single Just Us, a collaborative effort with Said The Sky and Yuppycult. Backed her father on Megadeth's 2013 Super Collider album, providing backing vocals. Collaborated with Michael Sweet on his 2014 I'm Not Your Suicide albumJanuary 28, 1992 ~ Country singer Wynonna Judd releases She Is His Only Need, lead single off her Wynonna debut album ~ Written by veteran Nashville songwriter Dave Loggins, who had previously written songs for BW Stevenson (Please Come To Boston), Don Williams, and Alabama, She Is His Only Need told the story of a small-town boy who works overtime to afford the things his girl wants because “she is his only need”. Loggins would later recollect how Wynonna Judd and her producer Tony Brown came to his office and rejected all songs until he played them She Is His Only Need: “I swear when we played it, Wynonna just wept in her lap, and Tony, as well, went teary-eyed.” The success of the single, which reached No.1 Billboard Country, cleared any doubt the singer may have had about whether the fans would accept her as a solo singer after the mother-daughter duo the Judds disbanded due to Naomi Judd's ailing health. Two subsequent singles off the same album, I Saw The Light and No One Else On Earth, would also reach the top spot. The album would sell five million copies and reached No.4 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 200, higher than any of her albums recorded with her mother
January 28, 1988 ~ Pianist, keyboardist, composer Casimir Liberski born in Brussels, Belgium ~ Worked with Charnett Moffett, Stanley Jordan, Jeff Tain-Watts, Denardo Coleman, Rodney Holmes, Nasheet Waits, John Hebert, Greg Osby, Matthew Shipp, Mark Shim, Tony Moreno, Evan Marien, Godwin Louis, Peter Evans, Matt Garstka, and Louis de Mieulles
January 28, 1987 ~ Jazz pianist Eldar Djangirov born in Kyrgyz, Soviet Union ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with John Patitucci, Michael Brecker, Todd Strait, James Genus, Marco Panascia, Chris Botti, Roy Hargrove, Armando Gola, Ludwig Afonso, Nicholas Payton, Joshua Redman, Chris Potter, Joe Locke, JD Allen, and Ali Jackson
January 28, 1985 ~ Jermaine Lamarr Cole, commonly known as producer, MC J Cole born in Frankfurt, West Germany ~ Released his full-length debut album, Cole World (The Sideline Story), in 2011 spawning the Billboard top 20 hit Work Out. Would subsequently hit the charts with songs such as Can't Get Enough featuring Trey Songz, Power Trip featuring Miguel, Déjà Vu, Neighbors, ATM and Middle Child. Has collaborated with Trey Songz, Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, TLC, Kendrick Lamar, Amber Coffman, Sean Garrett, Wale, Elle Varner, Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, 21 Savage, and Ty Dolla $ign
January 28, 1984 ~ Clarence Albert Poindexter, commonly known as country singer, songwriter Al Dexter, passed away in Lewisville, Texas, USA ~ Best known for Pistol Packin' Mama, co-written by Dexter and a hit in 1944. It would later be covered by numerous artists including Bing Crosby, and the Andrews Sisters. Other well known Dexter songs include So Long Pal, I'm Losing My Mind Over You and Too Late To Worry ~ Dexter was born in 1905