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 5, 2026 ~ Pub rock, punk rock, pop punk bassist Andrew Bodnar passed away ~ Best known for his association with Graham Parker, with whom he recorded well over half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Squeezing Out Sparks released in 1979. ~ Bodnar was born in [artist-andrew-bodnar]
January 5, 2024 ~ Derek Peter Palmer, commonly known as engineer, bassist, singer Del Palmer, passed away ~ Best known for his work with Kate Bush, with whom he was also romantically involved for a little over a decade starting in the late 1970s. Played bass on or engineered albums such as Lionheart, Hounds Of Love, The Sensual World, and The Red Shoes. Palmer has also worked with Midge Ure, Roy Harper, Alan Stivell, and Billy Sherwood. Later on in his career, Palmer recorded a handful of albums as a solo artist starting with Leap Of Faith released in 2007 ~ Palmer was born in 1952January 5, 2023 ~ R&B, pop singer Gordy Harmon passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founded the Whispers in 1963. After injuring his larynx in a driving accident in 1973 Harmon retired from music and was replaced by Leaveil Degree ~ Harmon was born ca.1943
January 5, 2022 ~ Classical hornist Dale Clevenger passed away in Italy ~ Best known as principal hornist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1966 through 2013. Has also notably worked with the American Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Leopold Stokowski, Symphony Of The Air and the Kansas City Philharmonic ~ Clevenger was born in 1940
January 5, 2019 ~ Drummer Alvin Fielder, full name Alvin Leroy Fielder, passed away in Jackson, Mississippi, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Association For The Advancement Of Creative Musicians, of Black Artists Music Society, and of Improvisational Arts. Played with Sun Ra, Muhal Richard Abrams, Eddie Harris, Kalaparushe, Fred Anderson, Lester Lashley, Roscoe Mitchell, Clifford Jordan, Kidd Jordan, Ahmed Abdullah, Charles Brackeen, Joel Futterman, Andre Lamb, and Peter Kowald ~ Fielder was born in 1935
January 5, 2019 ~ Music industry executive Don Grierson passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ British-born label executive best known for promoting the Beatles in America as promotions manager for Capitol Records from 1966 to 1969, and for signing Céline Dion her first US recording contract. Grierson has worked for several labels including Apple Records, Chess Records, MGM Records and worked with a wide range of artists such as Michael Johnson, Kim Carnes, Kate Bush, Cliff Richard, the J Geils Band, Dottie West, Heart, Joe Cocker, Melissa Morgan, Steve Vai, Megadeth, Tina Turner, Bob Seger, the Motels, Duran Duran, Cyndi Lauper, the Jacksons, the Allman Brothers Band, Gloria Estefan, Living Colour, Alice Cooper, and Joe Satriani ~ Grierson was born ca.1942January 5, 2011 ~ Composer Roland Kayn passed away in Nieuwe Pekela, the Netherlands ~ Co-founded the Gruppo Di Improvvisazione Di Nuova Consonanza, a pivotal free improvisation group active in the mid 1960s. As a solo artist known for his lengthy works of cybernetic music, most notably his 14-hour composition A Little Electronic Milky Way Of Sound posthumously released on 16 CDs in 2017 ~ Kayn was born in 1933
January 5, 2010 ~ Singer, producer, label exective Willie Mitchell, full name William Lawrence Mitchell, passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ A popular bandleader Mitchell signed to Hi-Records as both a producer and as a recording artist best known for he 1968 single Soul Serenade. His greatest claim to fame came however by taking over the reins at the label in 1970 and establishing the “Hi Sound”. As a label executive and producer Mitchell was pivotal to the careers of OV Wright, Syl Johnson, Ann Peebles, Quiet Elegance and especially Al Green. Mitchell produced or co-produced albums such as Peebles' 1974 I Can't Stand The Rain album, noted for the title track I Can't Stand The Rain and I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down, as well as just about every single one of Green's 1970s albums containing hits such as Tired Of Being Alone, Let's Stay Together, I'm Still In Love With You, and Call Me (Come Back Home) ~ Mitchell was born in 1928January 5, 2006 ~ Alexis Clair Snouffer, commonly known as guitarist Alex St Clair, passed away in Lancaster, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with Captain Beefheart, appearing on the Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band's first two albums, 1967's Safe As Milk and 1968's Strictly Personal ~ Snouffer was born in 1941
January 5, 2005 ~ Music manager, author Danny Sugerman, full name Daniel Stephen Sugerman, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as music manager for the Doors, replacing the band's original manager Bill Siddons after the death of lead singer Jim Morrison. Sugerman has also authored several books about the band and Morrison, most notably No One Here Gets Out Alive co-penned with Jerry Hopkins and published in 1980. Sugerman has also managed Ray Manzarek's post-Doors solo career, Iggy Pop, and glam punk band the Joneses ~ Sugerman was born in 1954
January 5, 2004 ~ Drummer John Guerin, full name John Payne Guerin, passed away in West Hills, California, USA ~ Briefly a member of the Byrds in the early 1970s. Member of Joni Mitchell's backup outfit the LA Express. Also had an affair with Mitchell who later wrote the song Hejira about him. As a session musician Guerin backed artists such as Frank Sinatra, George Harrison, Frank Zappa, the Animals, Them, Thelonious Monk, Lou Rawls, Ray Conniff, George Shearing, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Linda Ronstadt, Nelson Riddle, Oscar Peterson, Jon Faddis, Jimmy Heath, Ray Charles, Sonny Rollins, Justin Morell, Andreas Pettersson, David Bass, David Garfield, Gary Lemel, and Mike Melvoin ~ Guerin was born in 1939
January 5, 2003 ~ Richard Alfred Newell, commonly known as blues harpist, guitarist, singer King Biscuit Boy, passed away in Hamilton, Canada ~ Once dubbed “the Canadian Paul Butterfield.” Member of the Barons and the Mid-Knights during the 1960s. Backed Ronnie Hawkins at the turn of the 1970s. Formed Crowbar, present on the band's 1970 King Biscuit & Crowbar debut album. Has since recorded as a solo artist, noted for his eponymous 1974 King Biscuit Boy album produced by New Orleans-stalwart Allen Toussaint ~ Newell was born in 1944
January 5, 2001 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter Milan Hlavsa, also known as Milan Mejla Hlavsa, passed away in Prague, Czechoslovakia ~ Influenced by the Velvet Underground and Frank Zappa. Co-founding member and primary songwriter for the Plastic People Of The Universe, a band that notably served as inspiration for the anti-establishment movement Charter 77. Two years after its inception the band would be stripped of their professional license to perform, effectively outlawing them, and most of its members would be arrested and tried. These arrests and trials helped convice Vaclav Havel to take action against the communist government, leading to the foundation of Charter 77 which aimed to persuade the government to follow the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the Helsinki Accords. Following their release from prison the band would perform discreetly. In 1988 all restrictions against the band would be lifted ~ Hlavsa was born in 1951
January 5, 2000 ~ Big band, swing, jazz, traditional pop bandleader, arranger, composer Vic Schoen, full name Victor Schoen, passed away in Newport Beach, California, USA ~ Worked with Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Les Brown, Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, George Shearing, Jimmie Lunceford, Ray McKinley, Benny Carter, Louis Prima, Russ Morgan, Guy Lombardo, Carmen Cavallaro, Carmen Miranda, Gordon Jenkins, Joe Venuti, Victor Young, Arthur Fiedler, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Rosemary Clooney, Dick Haymes, Ella Fitzgerald, Maurice Chevalier, Mildred Bailey, Peggy Lee, Patti Page, the McGuire Sisters, and Kay Starr ~ Schoen was born in 1916
January 5, 1998 ~ Salvatore Phillip Bono, commonly known as producer, singer, songwriter Sonny Bono, passed away in Stateline, Nevada, USA ~ Half of Sonny & Cher, the other half being his wife Cher, known for songs such as I Got You Babe, The Beat Goes On, Little Man, Baby Don't Go, All I Ever Need Is You, and A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done. As a solo artist known for his sole US hit Laugh At Me, a Billboard Top 10 hit. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Little Things You Do (Sam Cooke) and Needles And Pins (Jackie DeShannon). Served as Republican mayor of Palm Springs, California, from 1988 through 1992 and as Congressman from 1995 up to his death in 1998 ~ Bono was born in 1935
January 5, 1997 ~ Burton Levy, commonly known as pianist, songwriter, lyricist Burton Lane, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Credited with discovering Judy Garland. Co-wrote the Broadway-musicals Finian's Rainbow and On A Clear Day You Can See Forever. Well known songs written or co-written by Lane include I Hear Music (Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Anita O'Day), Old Devil Moon (Charlie Spivak, Gene Krupa, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra), How Are Things In Glocca Morra (Ella Logan, Martha Tilton, Dick Haymes), Too Late Now (Jane Powell, Dinah Shore, Peggy Lee), and On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (Louis Jordan, Sarah Vaughan, Johnny Mathis) ~ Levy was born in 1912January 5, 1996 ~ Clarinetist, saxophonist, flutist Gus Bivona, full name Gus Peter Bivona, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ In-demand studio and session musician, especially known for his work on numerous film scores. Worked with the Leo Scalzi Brunswick Orchestra, Bunny Berigan, Will Hudson, Teddy Powell, Benny Goodman, Jan Savitt, Les Brown, Tommy Dorsey, Red Mitchell, Alvin Stoller, Skip Martin, Frank Sinatra, Harry Sweets Edison, and Shorty Sherock ~ Bivona pwas born in 1915
January 5, 1995 ~ Singer Sara Diamond, full name Sara Maxine Diamond, born in Montreal, Canada ~ Member of girl group the Clique Girlz, known for the singles Then I Woke Up and Smile. The group disbanded in 2009 after the departure of Sara Diamond. Diamond would subequently release the singles Just Give In and Firestorm
January 5, 1994 ~ Coely Mbueno, mononymously known as hip-hop, soul singer, rapper Coely, born in Antwerp, Belgium ~ Debuted in 2012 with the single Ain't Chasing Pavements, making her a favorite of Studio Brussel radio station. Would go on to release a debut EP, The Soulful Yeah, the following year spawning the singles Nothing On Me and All I Do. A full-length debut album, All I Do, followed in 2017
January 5, 1987 ~ Singer Steve Winwood releases Back In The High Life Again, lifted off the album of the same name ~ In this song Steve Winwood is confident he will soon be “back in the high life”, a commonly used phrase meaning “to be back on top”. The singer was right, the song's parent album of the same name would be his commercially most successful peaking at No.3 on the Billboard Hot 200 album charts, while all four singles reached top 20 on the American charts. Its lead single Higher Love would be his first No.1 hit and earned the singer two Grammy Awards, while subsequent singles Freedom Overspill, Back In The High Life Again, and The Finer Things respectively reached No.20, No.13, and No.8. Back In The High Life Again notably featured James Taylor on harmony vocals
January 5, 1987 ~ Pop-reggae, dub outfit UB40 release Rat In Mi Kitchen, lifted off the band's Rat In The Kitchen album ~ A top 20 hit in the UK, top 10 in Ireland and the Netherlands. The track features a guest appearance from Herb Alpert on trumpet. Credited to the entire band, but written primarily by the band's toaster Astro, based on a true story. When lead singer Ali Campbell moved into a new home, he found it to be troubled by rodents. Campbell later explained to the Telegraph: “One day Astro came to see me and asked if I had any ideas for a song. At the time, I had a rat in the kitchen. I tried to shoot it and hit it but it ran away. I was pissed off about that and told him: ‘Oh God, I don't care about the album for a minute, I've got a rat in the kitchen!’ Astro went away and wrote the song Rat In Mi Kitchen.”
January 5, 1983 ~ Singer, rapper, producer, songwriter Marlon Roudette, full name Marlon Rosegold McVery Roudette, born in London, UK ~ First gained attention as half of the duo Mattafix, the other half being Preetesh Hirji, known for their 2006 hit Big City Life. Subsequently scored a number of solo hits, notably New Age and When The Beat Drops. Has also written or co-written for others including Wiley, Tory Lanez, Bad Gyal, Busy Signal, Sinéad Harnett and his half-sister Mabel McVeyJanuary 5, 1982 ~ Piper, singer Séamus Ennis passed away in Naul, Ireland ~ Widely regarded as one of the greatest uilleann pipers of all time. Helped revive interest in the uillean pipes as co-founder of Na Piobairi Uilleann, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of the instrument and its music ~ Ennis was born in 1919
January 5, 1981 ~ Joel Zimmerman, commonly known as house, progressive house, electro house producer, DJ Deadmau5 born in Niagara Falls, Canada ~ Released his full-length debut album, Get Scraped, in 2005. Best known for songs such as Move For Me and I Remember both with Kaskade, Ghosts 'n' Stuff featuring Rob Swire, The Veldt, Pomegranata with the Neptunes. Has also collaborated with DJ, producers such as MC Flipside, Wolfgang Gartner, Steve Duda, Tommy Lee, and DJ Aero
January 5, 1979 ~ Jazz, hard bop, bebop, post-bop, free-jazz, avant-garde bass virtuoso, pianist, songwriter Charles Mingus passed away in Cuernavaca, Mexico ~ Easily counted among the most important and influential jazz musicians, composers of all time, easily. Known for compositions such as Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, Hora Decubitus, and Epitaph. Has collaborated with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Dannie Richmond, and Herbie Hancock ~ Mingus was born in 1922