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 3, 2026 ~ Oboist, composer Rolf Riehm passed away ~ Member of the Sogenanntes Linksradikales Blasorchester from 1976 through 1981, a political wind band for which Riehm also wrote arrangements. Riehm is also known as a music teacher and composer for stage and orchestral works, most noted for his 2014 opera Sirenen which drew from the major Greek epic poem Odyssey ~ Riehm was born in 1937
January 3, 2025 ~ Alfred Jesse Smith, commonly known as soul, R&B, pop singer, keyboardist, songwriter Brenton Wood, passed away in Moreno Valley, California, USA ~ Influenced by Sam Cooke and Jesse Belvin. Best known for his two 1967 hits The Oogum Boogum Song and the self-penned Gimme Little Sign, the latter of which peaked at No.9 Billboard Hot 100. Wood would continue to record through the 1970s, notably the duet album Kid Games & Nursery Rhymes with Shirley Goodman released in 1969, yet despite his skilful smooth delivery and infectious grooves, he never again repeated the success of his two major hits. Nevertheless, both The Oogum Boogum Song and Gimme Little Sign are considered among the finest of 1960s R&B and remain popular to this day. Wood remained a popular live act on the oldies circuit and released his final album of original material, This Love Is For Real, in 2001 ~ Smith was born in 1941
January 3, 2023 ~ Post-punk, synth-pop, new wave keyboardist, guitarist Alan Rankine passed away ~ Member of cabaret band Caspian, which would evolve into post-punk, new romantic outfit the Associates. The band would be best best known for their 1980 The Affectionate Punch album and their critically acclaimed Sulk masterpiece released in 1982. Following his departure from the band on the eve of the Sulk tour Rankine would establish himself as a producer for the likes of Paul Haig, the Cocteau Twins, and the Pale Fountains. Has also recorded as a solo artist in the late 1980s ~ Rankine was born in 1958
January 3, 2023 ~ Joseph Koo Kar-fai, commonly known as composer, songwriter Joseph Koo, passed away in Vancouver, Canada ~ One of the most respected composers to come out of Hong Kong. Helped define Cantopop. Music director for the TV network TVB for about two decades starting in the early 1970s until migrating to Canada. Has written well over 1,000 songs, film and TV themes, notably the theme songs for series such as The Legend Of The Condor Heroes and Five Easy Pieces and the soundtrack to the 1986 film A Better Tomorrow ~ Koo was born in 1931
January 3, 2021 ~ Gerard Marsden, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Gerry Marsden passed away in Liverpool, UK ~ Lead singer, frontman of Merseybeat outfit Gerry & the Pacemakers, alongside Les Chadwick, Arthur McMahon and his brother Freddie Marsden, known for a string of 1960s UK hits such as How Do You Do It, I Like It, You'll Never Walk Alone, I'm The One, Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying and Ferry Cross The Mersey ~ Marsden was born in 1942
January 3, 2021 ~ Classical violist Tasso Adamopoulos passed away in Paris, France ~ Became violist soloist at the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra at age 19. Has also worked with the Gulbenkian Orchestra, the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, the Orchestre National de France, and the Sartory Trio ~ Adamopoulos was born in 1944
January 3, 2019 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer Steve Ripley passed away in Pawnee, Oklahoma, USA ~ Active since the mid 1970s. Best known as co-founding member and frontman of mid 1990s country outfit the Tractors. Has also worked as a producer, recording engineer and studio musician with artists such as Bob Dylan (Shot Of Love), JJ Cale (Shades, 8, Roll On), Clarence Gatemouth Brown and Roy Clark. Founded Ripley Guitars in 1982, building guitars for Steve Lukather, Ry Cooder, Jimmy Buffett, and Eddie Van Halen ~ Ripley was born in 1950
January 3, 2018 ~ Colin James Brumby, commonly known as composer, conductor Colin Brumby passed away in Brisbane, Australia ~ Closely associated with the Queensland Opera Company, serving as its musical director from 1968 through 1971 and touring with the company performing a number of children's operettas penned by Brumby, including The Wise Shoemaker and The Prince Who Couldn't Laugh. Also remembered for penning ballets, sonates, orchestral, choral and chamber works, notably Fibonacci Variations and A Ballade For St Cecilia ~ Brumby was born in 1933January 3, 2018 ~ Composer, viola player Miroslav Miletić passed away in Zagreb, Croatia ~ Founder of the Pro Arte Zagreb Quartet, who performed at over 2000 concerts. As a composer known for his devotion to Croatian folklore and his vast oeuvre, notable for works such as Concerto Fo Viola And Orchestre, Diptych For Cello And Piano and Suite In Modo Antico For Flute And Piano ~ Miletić was born in 1925
January 3, 2017 ~ Mike Gaborno, commonly known as punk rock singer El Jefe born in Washington DC, USA ~ Member of the Cadillac Tramps. Co-founding member of Chicano punk rock supergroup Manic Hispanic, best known for their 1995 The Menudo Incident debut album containing covers of punk classics from the Buzzcocks, the Damned, Black Flag and the Clash with the lyrics humorously rewritten to reflect the band's Chicano identity. The album also included Before The Next Teardrop Falls, a notable cover of the classic Freddy Fender country hit ~ Gaborno was born ca.1966
January 3, 2016 ~ Pianist Paul Bley passed away in Stuart, Florida, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Charlie Parker, Al Levitt, Peter Ind, Ben Webster, Art Blakey, Hal Gaylor, Lenny McBrowne, Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman, Charlie Haden, Billy Higgins, Jimmy Giuffre 3, Steve Swallow, Sonny Rollins, his wife Carla Bley, Bill Dixon, Roswell Rudd, Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp, Michael Mantler, Sun Ra, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Bruce Ditmas, Lee Konitz, Dave Holland, Marion Brown, Gunter Hampel, Lester Bowie, Steve Lacy, Ran Blake, Perry Robinson, Naná Vasconcelos, John Gilmore, Chet Baker, Satoko Fujii, and Yitzhak Yedid ~ Bley was born in 1932
January 3, 2015 ~ Jazz trumpeter, conductor, arranger Ivan Jullien passed away in Étampes, France ~ To pop audiences perhaps best known for his association with Elton John, appearing on the early 1970s albums Honky Château and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player. Jullien has also played with Claude Bolling and Jacques Denjean early on in his career, led the mid 1960s ensemble the Paris Jazz All-Stars, and guested on albums by Jef Gilson, Eddy Mitchell, Didier Lockwood, Charles Aznavour, Claude Nougaro, and Raymond Fol ~ Jullien was born in 1934
January 3, 2014 ~ Singer Phil Everly, full name Philip Jason Everly, passed away in Burbank, California, USA ~ Formed the sibling duo the Everly Brothers with his brother Phil Everly. Though following in the tradition of other sibling duos, such as the Delmore Brothers, the Everly's would become one of the best known sibling duos, drawing from rock & roll, country, and pop, and influential on country-rock. They duo scored about a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits starting in the late 1950s, including the charttoppers Wake Up Little Susie, All I Have To Do Is Dream, and Cathy's Clown ~ Everly was born in 1939
January 3, 2012 ~ Guitarist, singer Bob Weston, full name Robert Joseph Weston, passed away in London, UK ~ Member of Fleetwood Mac in the early 1970s, present on the albums The Penguin and Mystery To Me. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with the likes of the Kinetic, Ashkan, Chimera, Graham Bond, Ashman Reynolds, Long John Baldry, Dana Gillespie, Sandy Denny, Adrian Wagner, Mark Ashton, Danny Kirwan, Robbie Patton, Dick Morrisey, Bob Welch, and Frank Baijens ~ Weston was born in 1947January 3, 2011 ~ Actress, singer Jill Haworth, full name Valerie Jill Haworth, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Popular actress for film and TV from the late 1950s forward. To musical audiences perhaps best known for starring in the 1966 Broadway musical Cabaret, portraying the role of Sally Bowles ~ Haworth was born in 1945
January 3, 2005 ~ R&B singer Usher releases Caught Up, lifted off his Confessions album ~ The fifth and final single off of Usher's fourth studio album and though still a solid hit at No.8 Billboard Hot 100 the only one to not reach No.1. In Caught Up a girl has the tables turned on the singer, a new experience for him as he is usually is the one who's in control. The opening lines, “I'm the kind of brother who's been doing it my way, getting my way for years”, are a reference to Usher's 1998 Billboard Hot 100 No.2 hit My Way and its parent album of the same name
January 3, 2004 ~ Reggae singer Barry Brown passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ First gained attention in the 1970s working with producer Bunny Lee. Member of short-lived group the Aliens, alongside Rod Taylor and Johnny Lee. As a solo artist Brown became one of the most popular early artists of the dancehall era, starting with the 1979 single Step It Up Youthman Worked with noted Jamaican producers such as Lee, Linval Thompson, Winston Holness, Sugar Minott, and Coxsone Dodd. Released a staggering eleven albums between 1979 and 1984 ~ Brown was born ca.1962January 3, 2003 ~ Edmond Bacri, commonly known as songwriter Eddy Marnay, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Reportedly wrote more than 4,000 songs during his lifetime. Artists who have recorded his songs include Edith Piaf, Frida Boccara (Un Jour Un Enfant), and Céline Dion ~ Bacri was born in 1920
January 3, 2002 ~ Juan García Esquivel, commonly known as bandleader, pianist, composer Esquivel, passed away in Jiutepec, Mexico ~ Known for instrumental songs merging lounge music and jazz with a touch of Latin music. Sometimes referred to as “the King of Space Age Pop”. Best known for his rendition of Mucha Muchacha, later used in numerous movies including The Big Lebowski and Beavis And Butthead Do America ~ Esquivel was born in 1918
January 3, 2001 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Doye O'Dell, full name Allen Doye O'Dell, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for his 1952 recording Diesel Smoke Dangerous Curves, in retrospect considered a quintessential forerunner of the trucking country subgenre. Has worked with Johnny Bond, Texas Jim Lewis, Roy Lanham, and the Sons Of The Pioneers. Appeared in several Western movies alongside Roy Rogers and Tex Ritter ~ O'Dell was born in 1912January 3, 2000 ~ Harvey Blackston, commonly known as blues harpist Harmonica Fats, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Cited Sonny Terry as a major influnce. Best known for his early 1960s recordings Tore Up, a cover of a Hank Ballard song, and its follow-up Mama Mama Talk To Your Daughter For Me. Worked with the Houserockers, Johnny Dyer, Sam Cooke, Lou Rawls, Bobby Darin, Tina Turner, and Etta James ~ Blackston was born in 1927
January 3, 1997 ~ Holly Marie Miller, commonly known as Christian pop, R&B singer Hollyn, born in Waverly, Ohio, USA ~ Active since the early 2010. Guested on TobyMac's 2015 This Is Not A Test album, featured on the songs Backseat Driver and Lights Shine Bright. Hollyn released her full-length One-Way Conversations in 2015. Best known for songs such as Alone featuring TRU, Can't Live Without You and In Awe
January 3, 1995 ~ R&B, blues drummer Al Duncan passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Considered a forefather of rhythm & blues. In-demand session drummer. Has worked with Billy The Kid Emerson, Buddy Guy, Dale Hawkins, Red Holloway, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Camille Howard, and Phil Upchurch ~ Duncan was born in 1927
January 3, 1995 ~ Gary Lachlan Mack, commonly known as news anchor Byron MacGregor, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Scored a fluke hit US top 10 with Americans, a spoken version of a Toronto newspaper commentary by Gordon Sinclair set to the tune of America The Beautiful performed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Sinclair also recorded a version. MacGregor scored the US hit, peaking at No.4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sinclair's version would top the Canadian single chart ~ MacGregor was born in 1948January 3, 1995 ~ Cassietta Baker, commonly known as gospel singer, songwriter Cassietta George, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influenced by Clara Ward. Best known as a member of Albertina Walker's backing unit the Caravans. Wrote songs such as To Whom Shal I Turn, and I Believe In Thee ~ Baker was born in 1929