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 31, 2023 ~ Singer Charlie Thomas passed away ~ When music manager George Treadwell fired his group in 1958, the entire line-up of the the Five Crowns including Thomas would be hired to constitute the new line-up of the Drifters. Sang lead on Sweets For My Sweet and When My Little Girl Is Smiling ~ Thomas was born in 1937
January 31, 2022 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Alejandro Alonso passed away in Querétaro, Mexico ~ Influenced by BB King, Eric Clapton, and Santana, Alonso played lead guitar in several bands during his teens, playing the nightclub circuit before committing his life to Christ in the early 1970s. For much of the 1970s, Alonso dedicated his time as an evangelistic tool performing at colleges, universities, and prisons. In 1980 Alonso relocated to California, releasing his Cantico De Libertad debut album two years later. Alonso has recorded over half a dozen albums since, establishing himself as one of the most influential Mexican contemporary Christian singers. Well known songs include De Regreso A Casa, Salmo 115, Cicatrices De Amor, Tu Santidad Me Envuelve, and Hijo De Amor ~ Alonso was born in 1952
January 31, 2021 ~ Greenwood Mkandawire, commonly known as jazz, gospel, soul, world music singer, guitarist Wambali Mkandawire, passed away in Lilongwe, Malawi ~ Influenced by Congolese rhythms, South African music and Western pop. Lead singer of Sounds Pentagon, merging Malawian music with Western influences. Sang gospel with New Song in the mid-1980s. Active as a solo artist since the late 1980s. Best known for the album Zani Muwone, released in 2002 ~ Mkandawire was born in 1952January 31, 2018 ~ Leah Labelle Vladowski, commonly known as singer Leah Labelle, passed away in Studio City, California, USA ~ Sang in the Total Experience Gospel Choir during childhood. Finalist in third season of American Idol in 2004. Backup singer for Keri Hilson. Robin Thicke, Jordin Sparks, the Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears, and Eric Benét. Released a sole solo album, Pharrel Williams & Jermain Dupri Present Leah Labelle, in 2012 ~ Vladowski was born in 1986
January 31, 2017 ~ Roger Arnold Leonard, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Deke Leonard, passed away ~ Took his stage name from Deke Rivers, the character played by Elvis Presley in his 1957 Loving You film. Member of the Bystanders. Joined and left progressive rock group Man several times. Formed, fronted, disbanded, reformed his own Iceberg several times ~ Leonard was born in 1944
January 31, 2017 ~ Rock, progressive rock, hard rock, pop rock singer, bassist, guitarist, songwriter John Wetton, full name John Kenneth Wetton, passed away in Bournemouth, UK ~ Best known for his work with King Crimson, UK, and especially Asia, serving as one of the latter's main songwriters often in partnership with Geoff Downes. In-demand sideman and collaborator. Has worked with the Family, Roxy Music (Viva), Uriah Heep, Brian Eno (Here Come The Warm Jets), Wishbone Ash, Phil Manzanera, Bryan Ferry, Mogul Thrash, Gordon Haskell, Peter Sinfield, Steve Hackett, Phenomena, Icon, Ayreon, and Renaissance ~ Wetton was born in 1949January 31, 2016 ~ Hardcore punk, post-hardcore, emo, indie rock, rock singer, songwriter Jon Bunch, full name Jonathan James Esbern Bunch, passed away in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Best known for fronting post-hardcore outfit Sense Field and rock band Further Seems Forever. Has also worked with War Generation, Lucky Scars, Reason To Believe (Save Yourself), and Fields Forever ~ Bunch was born in 1970
January 31, 2015 ~ Donald James Randolph, commonly known as R&B, rock & roll, soul, pop singer, songwriter Don Covay, passed away in Franklin Square, New York, USA ~ Songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Chubby Checker, the Rolling Stones (Mercy Mercy), Booker T Jones, Steve Cropper, Etta James, Otis Redding, Little Richard (I Don't Know What You Got But It's Got Me), Gene Vincent, Wanda Jackson, Solomon Burke (I'm Hanging Up My Heart For You), Connie Francis, Steppenwolf, Bobby Womack, Gladys Knight (Letter Full Of Tears), Wilson Pickett, the Small Faces, Grant Green, Aretha Franklin (Chain Of Fools), and Peter Wolf ~ Covay was born in 1936
January 31, 2010 ~ At the 52nd Grammy Awards singer Taylor Swift, then aged 20, becomes the youngest person to win a Grammy Award for Album of the Year for her Fearless album ~ Taylor Swift had received eight nominations, and won four awards. Besides Album of the Year, Fearless also won Best Country Album. Swift's other two wins were Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song, both for White Horse. Other major winners of the night included Beyoncé, with ten nominations and six awards, breaking the record for most wins by a female artist in one night, and Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z, and the Kings Of Leon, who each won three Grammy Awards
January 31, 2009 ~ Walter Milton Dwayne Midkiff, commonly known as pop, rock, country drummer Dewey Martin, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of Buffalo Springfield, known best for their Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit For What It's Worth. Has previously sessioned for artists such as Carl Perkins, the Everly Brothers, Patsy Cline, Charlie Rich, Faron Young, Roy Orbison. Also worked with Sir Raleigh & the Coupons, Holy Mackerel, the Standells, the Modern Folk Quartet, and the Dillards ~ Midkiff was born in 1940
January 31, 2007 ~ Kirill Babitzin, commonly known as rock, hard rock, pop singer Kirka, passed away in Helsinki, Finland ~ One of the most popular Finnish rock, pop singers with a career spanning four decades starting in the late 1960s. Has worked with the Creatures, Danny & the Islanders (Hetki Iyo), the Blues Section, Mosaic, and Sarcofagus. His 1988 Surun Pyyhit Silmistani solo album would become one of the best-selling albums in Finnish pop, rock history. Outside Scandinavia perhaps best known for representing Finland at the 1984 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 9th place with the song Henaillaan ~ Babitzin was born in 1950January 31, 2006 ~ Punk rock, hardcore punk, skate punk singer Jason Sears, full name Jason Kemper Sears, passed away in Tijuana, Mexico ~ Best known as co-founding member of Rich Kids On LSD, a band initially associated with the nardcore scene yet over time expanding to West Coast hardcore drawing from rock and heavy metal. The band is well known for their 1987 Rock 'n Roll Nightmare album ~ Sears was born in 1968
January 31, 1989 ~ Singer Bobby Brown releases Every Little Step, lifted off his sophomore Don't Be Cruel album ~ Written and produced by Kenneth Babyface Edmonds and LA Reid, the song was first offered to Midnight Starr, who declined. As the producer duo were working on Bobby Brown's sophomore album, it was given to him instead. Reid later stated that the main inspiration for the song was singer Pebbles, his girlfriend at the time, and the inspiration for the song suddenly struck when he was driving to see her. He pulled over and quickly wrote down the lines “I can't sleep at night, I toss and turn, listening for the telephone”. Brown would take the song to No.3 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, making it the fourth consecutive top 10 hit off the album. It would also earn the singer a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, his first and only Grammy as a solo artist. Every Little Step also reached top 10 in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK
January 31, 1983 ~ Synth-pop, new wave, alternative rock outfit Depeche Mode release the stand-alone single Get The Balance Right, the first to feature Alan Wilder as an official member ~ A top 20 hit in Ireland and the band's native UK. Besides being the first single to feature Alan Wilder as an official member, it was also one of the first Depeche Mode tracks to feature a guitar. In the accompanying music video, Wilder lip-syncs the first lines of the song, even though David Gahan is the lead singer. Reportedly, the video director Kevin Hewitt assumed that Wilder was the singer and the band was too embarrassed to point out his mistake. Get The Balance Right would not be included on their following album Construction Time Again, though it was added to later re-releases of the album
January 31, 1981 ~ Singer, songwriter Justin Timberlake born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Most successful singer to emerge from boy band NSYNC's line-up. Released his Justified solo debut album in 2002 and has consistently reached the higher echelons of the charts since. Known for songs such as Cry Me A River, Rock Your Body, SexyBack, My Love, What Goes Around Comes Around, Suit And Tie, Mirrors, Can't Stop The Feeling and Say Something. Timberlake is an in-demand collaborator, appearing on songs by Reba McEntire (The Only Promise That Remains), Beyoncé, Esmée Denters, Nelly, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent (Ayo Technology), Madonna, Ciara, Black Eyed Peas, and Meek Mill
January 31, 1981 ~ Country singer, songwriter Scotty Wiseman, full name Scott Greene Wiseman, passed away in Gainesville, Florida, USA ~ Formed the duo Lulu Belle & Scotty with his wife Lulu Belle, one of the most popular country acts of the 1930s and 1940s. Lovingly dubbed “the Sweethearts of Country Music”, they are best known for Have I Told You Lately That I Love You. Penned by Wiseman, the tune would be recorded by well over 150 artists including Tex Ritter, Bing Crosby, Eddie Cochran, Jim Reeves, Elvis Presley, Patti Page, Willie Nelson, Ringo Starr, and Roger Whittaker ~ Wiseman was born in 1909
January 31, 1981 ~ Singer, actress, TV presenter Yulia Nachalova, full name Yulia Viktorivna Nachalova, born in Voronezh, Russia ~ About half a dozen albums to her name since the mid 1990s. Married to singer Dmitry Lanskoy from 2001 to 2004, with whom she collaborated on the Russian hit Lyubov Raketa. Best known for her signature song Geroy Moego Romano ~ Nachalova passed away in 2019
January 31, 1979 ~ Jazz guitarist, composer Grant Green passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Father of Grant Green Jr. Green Senior was influenced by Charlie Christian, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Jimmy Raney. Has recorded extensively, both as a leader and as a sideman. Made his first recordings in 1959 backing Jimmy Forrest with Elvin Jones on drums (the LPs All The Gin Is Gone and Black Forrest). Has also backed artists such as Sam Lazar, Willie Dixon, Brother Jack McDuff, Baby Face Willette, Hank Mobley, Stanley Turrentine, Lou Donaldson, Ike Quebec, Horace Parlan, Jimmy Smith, Lee Morgan, Donald Byrd, Wild Bill Davis, Reuben Wilson, and Houston Person. As a leader Green has recorded since the early 1960s, mostly for Blue Note Records, up to his death ~ Green was born in 1935January 31, 1977 ~ Jazz bassist, composer Per Zanussi born in Oslo, Norway ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with the Zanussi Five, Hamid Drake, Louis Moholo, Paal Nilssen-Love, Bobby Bradford, Sabir Mateen, Franklin Kiermeyer, Stephen O'Malley, Axel Dörner, Peter Wettre, Fred Lonberg Holm, Bugge Wesseltoft, Mats Gustafsson, Kjetil Moster, Kevin Norton, Ivar Grydeland, Ernesto Rodriguez, Tetuzi Akiyama, Havard Wilk, the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Frode Gjerstad, the Jazzmob, Jon Eberson, Marilyn Crispell, and Mette Henriette
January 31, 1976 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter, author Evert Taube, full name Axel Evert Taube, passed away in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Considered Sweden's premier troubadour carrying the torch of the Swedish ballad tradition in the 20th century. Known for songs such as Calle Schewens Vals, Brevet Från Lillan, Änglamark, Sjösala Vals and Så Långe Skutan Kan Gå. Artists such as Roger Whittaker, Sven-Bertil Taube, Martin Best and Emily Melcher have recorded English versions of his songs ~ Taube was born in 1890
January 31, 1972 ~ R&B, soul singer Al Green releases Let's Stay Together, his fourth studio album ~ Issued as the follow-up to the moderately successful Al Green Gets Next To You, Al Green's Let's Stay Together would be a major commercial and critical success and spawn his biggest hit, the title track Let's Stay Together holding the top spot on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 for one week. At the time of its release the album was met with widespread critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone calling the album “an indispensable treat”, while retrospectively it would be included on several all-time best lists. The album reached No.8 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 200 charts, his first to chart inside the top 10, and was the first of six consecutive albums to top the Billboard R&B album charts
January 31, 1970 ~ In its 12th week on the charts, I Want You Back by the Jackson 5 hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Motown had signed the sibling act in 1968, but as its primary songwriting team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland Jr had just left the label, label executive Berry Gordy Jr sought out a new team. I Want You Back was written by Freddie Perren, Fonce Mizell, and Deke Richards with Berry awarding himself co-writing credit as he was heavily involved in the song's production. I Want You Back would be the first of four consecutive singles by the Jackson 5 to reach No.1 Billboard Hot 100, propelling the siblings to stardom. Two of the three subsequent charttoppers, ABC, and The Love You Save, would be written by the same team, lovingly dubbed the Corporation by Gordy. The band would score a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hits during their tenure at the label through the mid 1970s, and serve as launching pad for several of its members, most notably Michael JacksonJanuary 31, 1970 ~ Amelia Fiona Driver, commonly known as actress, singer, songwriter Minnie Driver, born in Marylebone, UK ~ Best known as an actress for film and TV. As a singer, Driver was a member of the Milo Roth Band, sang backup on Bomb The Bass's 1994 Clear album, and has released a number of solo recordings, most notably 2007's Seastones album featuring guests such as Ryan Adams, the Cardinals and Liz Phair
January 31, 1970 ~ James Isaac More, commonly known as blues harpist, singer Slim Harpo, passed away in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA ~ Leading exponent of the swamp blues. Influenced by Jimmy Reed. Best known for songs such as I'm A King Bee, Raining In My Heart, Scratch My Back, Shake Your Hips, and I Got Love If You Want It. Slim Harpo's songs would be regularly covered by many of the British Invasion acts early in their career, including the Rolling Stones, the Pretty Things, the Yardbirds, the Kinks, Pink Floyd, and Them ~ Moore was born in 1924January 31, 1967 ~ Victor Macoggi, commonly known as roots rock, alternative rock, blues harpist, guitarist, singer Little Victor, born in Rome, Italy ~ Best known for his association with Louisiana Red, collaborating on the albums Back To The Black Bayou and Memphis Mojo. Also worked with Alex Chilton, Hubert Sumlin, Harpdog Brown, Charlie White, Rusty Zinn, Carl Sonny Leyland, Kim Wilson, the Panther Burns, and the Mighty Lo-Fi Kings. As a solo artist best known for his acclaimed Deluxe Lo-Fi album, released in 2018