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 7, 2026 ~ Jazz singer Rebecca Kilgore passed away in Portland, Oregon, USA ~ Worked with Dave Frishberg, Dan Barrett, Harry Allen, Tom Grant, Lyle Ritz, NIcki Parrot, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Sheridan, Lars Estrand, and others ~ Kilgore was born in 1949
January 7, 2025 ~ Singer, guitarist Peter Yarrow passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Formed the folk trio Peter Paul & Mary with Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers. Co-wrote Puff The Magic Dragon, one of the band's biggest hits. Has released a number of solo albums, starting with 1972's Peter, but would be unable to reach the same level of succes as with the trio ~ Yarrow was born in 1938
January 7, 2024 ~ Guitarist, songwriter Tony Clarkin, full name Anthony Michael Clarkin, passed away in Birmingham, UK ~ Guitarist, sole songwriter for Magnum, known best for their 1988 Wings Of Heaven album and its 1990 follow-up Goodnight LA. Well known songs include Days Of No Trust, Start Talking Love, It Must Have Been Love and Rockin' Chair, all of which reached top 40 in the band's native UK. The band folded in 1995, yet Clarkin and the band's lead singer Bob Catley would record two more albums through the end of the decade going by the moniker Hard Rain ~ Clarkin was born in 1946January 7, 2023 ~ Gospel singer, music director Kevin Lemons passed away Union City, Georgia, USA ~ Best known for founding and leading the gospel choir Higher Calling, which eventually would grow to a 70+ member powerhouse choir. The group has been active since the mid 1990s and is best known for their The Declaration album released in 2013 ~ Lemons was born in 1978
January 7, 2023 ~ Singer Tony Pantano passed away in Australia ~ Active since his mid-teens. Fronted Isy & the Dynamics during the mid 1960s, known for the single One Night. Fronted Sammy &; the Dolphins, with whom he recorded the EP The Dolphins At Sergio's Rendezvous. As a solo artist known for the early 1970s singles Every Time You Touch Me and Tonight, both of which became modest hits in his adopted homeland Australia ~ Pantano was born in 1948
January 7, 2022 ~ Guitarist Bobby Harrison, full name Robert Leslie Harrison, passed away ~ Early member of Procol Harum who, along with guitarist Ray Royer, left the band shortly after recording the 1967 hit single A Whiter Shade Of Pale to form the band Freedom ~ Harrison was born in 1943
January 7, 2022 ~ Arthur Edmonds, commonly known as blues harpist, singer Harpdog Brown, passed away in Alberta, Canada ~ Performing professionally since age 15. About half a dozen albums to his name, starting with Beware Of Dog released in 1993. Especially acclaimed for the albums Home Is Where The Harp Is released in 1994 and What It Is released in 2014 ~ Brown was born in 1962
January 7, 2022 ~ Richard Dean Taylor, commonly known as singer R Dean Taylor, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Had his first taste of success in his early twenties, the singles At The High School Dance and I'll Remember enjoying some popularity in his native Canada. In an attempt to boost his career, he relocated to Detroit, where he became one of the first white singers signed by Motown. Initially, Taylor had little success as a singer, yet he co-wrote several songs for labelmates including perhaps most notably Love Child and I'm Livin' In Shame for the Supremes, the former a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit for the girl group in 1968. Other songs co-written by the Canadian include All I Need (the Temptations), I Know Better (Gladys Knight & the Pips), I'll Turn To Stone (the Four Tops), and Just Look What You've Done (Brenda Holloway). As a singer, he scored one major hit for the label with the self-penned, self-produced Indiana Wants Me, which reached No.5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970 as well as top 10 in Canada, the UK, and Ireland. Several follow-ups were less sucessful, yet eventually have become appreciated by British R&B aficionados including There's A Ghost In My House, later covered by Graham Parker, and Gotta See Jane, later notably covered by the Fall and the Golden Earring. Taylor has been quoted as saying: “Most of my work was bigger in England. Thank God for the English people who embraced me” ~ Taylor was born in 1939January 7, 2022 ~ Classical pianist, composer Stéphane Blet passed away in Geneva, Switzerland ~ Disciple of Byron Janis. Assistant of Vladimir Horowitz. Noted interpreter of Franz Liszt. Prolific composer, having written over 300 works for piano, violin, orchestra, and voice. Authored over a dozen books on Frédéric Chopin, Erik Satie, and Robert Schumann ~ Blet was born in 1959
January 7, 2021 ~ Biserka Katusic, commonly known as mezzo-soprano, contralto singer Biserka Cvejic, passed away in Belgrade, Serbia ~ Closely associated with the Vienna State Opera, singing with the orchestra for two decades starting in 1959. Has also worked with the Belgrade Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, the Teatro Colón, and the Royal Opera House ~ Katusic was born in 1923
January 7, 2021 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Jamie O'Hara, full name James Paul O'Hara, passed away in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA ~ Noted for penning Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days), a 1986 Grammy Award-winning hit for the Judds. Formed the duo the O'Kanes with Kieran Kane, known for songs such as Can't Stop My Heart From Loving You. Has also recorded as a solo artist and written for artists such as Shelby Lynne, Ronnie McDowell (Older Women), Gary Allan, and Trisha Yearwood ~ O'Hara was born in 1950
January 7, 2020 ~ Drummer Neil Peart, full name Neil Ellwood Peart, passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Influenced by Keith Moon, John Bonham, Gene Krupa, and Buddy Rich. Longtime drummer, primary lyricist for rock, symphonic rock outfit Rush, joining the band in 1974 as replacement for original drummer John Rutsey. Peart has also authored about half a dozen books on his travels and personal stories, and co-authored three steampunk fantasy novels based on the band's final album, 2012's Clockwork Angels. Retired from music in 2015 for health reasons. Peart was widely revered for his technical proficiency, The New Yorker once commenting: “Watching Peart play the drums gave the impression that he might possess several phantom limbs” ~ Peart was born in 1952
January 7, 2019 ~ Singer Clydie King, occasionally known as Brown Sugar, passed away in Monovia, California, USA ~ Discovered by songwriter Richard Berry. Active since the mid 1950s starting fronting Little Clydie & the Teens, as a member of Ray Charles' backup singers Raelettes, and working as a session singer for Phil Spector in the early 1960s. Also recorded solo singles before becoming an in-demand session singer from the late 1960s onwards providing backing vocals for artists such as Humble Pie, BB King, the Rolling Stones, Steely Dan, Barbra Streisand, Crabby Appleton, Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, Joe Cocker, Dickey Betts, Joe Walsh, Neil Diamond, Les Dudek, Martha Reeves, Diana Ross, Dusty Springfield, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, notably present on the latter's Sweet Home Alabama ~ King was born in 1943January 7, 2019 ~ Singer Houari Manar passed away in Hydra, Algeria ~ Blends upbeat rai with modern pop music. Released his debut album, Aachkek Mon Traitement, in 2006 and would go on to become a major force in the Mediterranean since. Best known for songs such Ha Mhayni and Hya ~ Manar was born in 1981
January 7, 2019 ~ Radio, TV host, singer, entertainer Jimmy Hannan passed away in Bayview, Australia ~ Started out as a teen idol, best known for the 1963 Roger McGuinn-penned Beach Ball, originally recorded by the City Surfers. Would go on to become a popular variety show host of the 1960s and 1970s, regularly appearing on the variety show In Melbourne Tonight, and hosting Tonight With Jimmy and Saturday Date ~ Hannan was born in 1934January 7, 2019 ~ Classical composer John Joubert, full name John Pierre Herman Joubert, passed away ~ Music academic associated with the universities of Hull and Birmingham. Composed over 160 works including symphonies, concertos, and operas. Best known for the carols Torches and There Is No Rose Of Such Virtue and the anthem O Lorde The Maker Of All Thing ~ Joubert was born in 1927
January 7, 2018 ~ Mark John Hough, commonly known as guitarist, drummer Buster Stiggs, passed away in Perth, Australia ~ Member of After Hours, the first band of a teenage Neil Finn. Would subsequently follow Finn joining Split Enz. Member of Swingers, known for the early 1980s hits One Good Reason and Counting The Beat. Has also worked with Fang, the Suburban Reptiles, and the Models ~ Hough was born in 1954
January 7, 2018 ~ Isabelle Genevieve Marie Anne Gall, commonly known as singer, actress France Gall passed away in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France ~ Daughter of lyricist Robert Gall and singer Cecile Berthier. Won the 1965 edition of Eurovision Songfestival, representing France with the song Poupée De Cire (Poupée De Son). Also worked with Denis Bourgeois, Serge Gainsbourg, Alain Goraguer, Jacques Datin, Gigliola Cinquetti, and Michel Berger ~ Gall was born in 1947January 7, 2017 ~ Guitarist, singer Jerzy Kossela passed away in Gnydia, Poland ~ Co-founding member, lead singer of Czerwone Gitary, remaining with the band from 1965 through 1967, considered to be instrumental in the development of Polish rock. Has also worked with Electron, Niebiesko-Czarni, and Pieciolinie ~ Kossela was born in 1942
January 7, 2016 ~ Gary Wayne Schelton, commonly known as singer Troy Shondell, passed away in Picayune, Mississippi, USA ~ Wrote his first song at age 14. Recorded a handful of singles under the moniker Gary Shelton, including the rockabilly standard Kissing At The Drive-In. Briefly gained widespread attention in the early 1960s after he changed his stage name to Shondell with songs such as This Time and Tears From An Angel. The band Tommy James & the Shondells named themselves after Troy ~ Schelton was born in 1939
January 7, 2011 ~ Producer, songwriter Bobby Robinson passed away in Harlem, New York, USA ~ Founded or co-founded a number of record labels including Red Robin Records, Sue Records, and Fire Records. Produced hits by Champion Jack Dupree, Wilbert Harrison (Kansas City), Buster Brown, the Shirelles (Dedicated To The One I Love), Sam Myers, Bobby Lewis, Dave Baby Cortez (The Happy Organ), King Curtis (Soul Twist), his nephew Spoonie Gee, Les Cooper, Elmore James (The Sky Is Crying), Lightnin' Hopkins, Lee Dorsey (Ya-Ya), the Packmen, Gladys Knight & the Pips (Every Beat Of My Heart, Knight's first hit), the Fearless Four, Pumpkin & Friends, Funky 4+1, Kool Moe Dee, the Treacherous Three, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five (Superrappin'), and Doug E Fresh ~ Robinson was born in 1917January 7, 2006 ~ Singer, pianist Billy Joel kicks off his 2006 USA tour ~ Having not written, or at least released, any new material in over a dozen years Billy Joel kicks off his 2006 tour featuring a sample of songs from throughout his career, including major hits as well as obscure tunes like Zanzibar and All For Leyna. The tour includes 12 sold-out concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden over several months, breaking the previous record held by Bruce Springsteen who played 10 sold-out shows at the same arena
January 7, 2002 ~ Jonathan Henry Lee, commonly known as rock drummer Jon Lee, passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Best known as original drummer of Feeder. Previously a member of the Darling Buds. Died by suicide, four separate suicide notes would be found. His funeral was attended by thousands. Other than cancelling a high profile gig, headlininig at Reading Leeds Festival, the band decided to not break up. Skunk Anansie drummer Mark Richardson helped out on recordings in progress and booked live dates, becoming an official member by 2005 ~ Lee was born in 1968
January 7, 2001 ~ Singer James Carr passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Protégé of Otis Redding. Turned down by Stax/Volt. Forever remembered among R&B and soul aficionados for his 1967 original recording of The Dark End Of The Street, penned by Chips Moman and Dan Penn, and considered one of the greatest soul songs of all time. Also revered for his lesser known work such as various earlier Goldwax singles and the critically acclaimed LP You Got My Mind Messed Up. Carr suffered from bipolar disorder for most of his life which would seriously hinder his career ~ Carr was born in 1942January 7, 2001 ~ Label executive, producer Louil Silas Jr passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Founded and headed the Silas Records label, known for advancing the careers of Jesse Powell, Keke Wyatt, London Jones, Tricky Stewart, Aaron Hall, Keith Washington, and perhaps most notably Chanté Moore ~ Silas was born in 1956