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.
July 1, 2024 ~ Bluegrass guitarist, mandolinist, singer Cliff Waldron, full name Clifford Waldron, passed away in Virginia, USA ~ Formed the duo Emerson & Waldron with banjoist Bill Emerson. The band is best known for recording the first bluegrass rendition of Fox On The Run, which later became a bluegrass standard after the Country Gentlemen recorded it. Other well known songs in Emerson & Waldron's repertoire included If I Were A Carpenter, Early Morning Rain, and Spanish Grass. Waldron is also specifically known for founding the New Shades Of Grass, one of the prime 1970s bluegrass groups, with whom he recorded several acclaimed albums before releasing two gospel albums as a solo artist, eventually retiring from music by the mid 1970s to work for the National Park Service. In the mid 1990s, Waldron returned on the music scene, releasing several more albums through the early 2000s ~ Waldron was born in 1941
July 1, 2022 ~ Flavia Pozzaglio, commonly known as singer, actress, TV personality Irene Fargo, passed away in Brescia, Italy ~ Best known for her early 1990s singles La Donna Di Ibsen and Come Una Turandot, the latter inspired by Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot. Both singles would reach top 20 in her native Italy ~ Pozzaglio was born in 1962
July 1, 2021 ~ Composer, pianist Louis Andriessen, full name Louis Joseph Andriessen, passed away in Weesp, the Netherlands ~ Son of composer Hendrik Andriessen. Brother of composers Jurriaan Andriessen and Caecilia Andriessen. Co-founded Orkest de Volharding and Hoketus. Also worked with the Schonberg Ensemble, ASKO, and Icebreaker ~ Andriessen was born in 1939
July 1, 2021 ~ Mbaqanga, soul, jazz, pop singer, songwriter Steve Kekana, full name Tebogo Steve Kekana, passed away in Johannesburg, South Africa ~ Actively recording since the late 1970s with well over three dozen albums to his name. Best known for songs such as the Bushman, Feel So Strong and Raising My Family ~ Kekana was born in 1958
July 1, 2020 ~ Violinist Ida Haendel passed away in Pembroke Park, Florida, USA ~ Child prodigy. Won numerous prestiguous award well before her teens such as for instance the Warsaw Conservatory Gold Medal for her performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's Violin Concerto or the Huberman Prize in 1933, at only 5 years old. Would go on to perform the world over and work on numerous acclaimed recordings during a career spanning seven decades. Notable recordings include Johann Sebastian Bach's Sonatas And Partitas For Solo Violin and Johannes Brahms' Violin Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sergiu Celibidache ~ Haendel was born in 1928
July 1, 2020 ~ Country, rockabilly guitarist Joe Pennington, full name Joseph Lephmon Pennington, passed away ~ Best known as member of Hank Williams' backing unit the Drifting Cowboys through 1949. Has subsuquently worked with Lefty Frizzell. As a solo artist known for a number of 1950s rockabilly singles under the moniker Joe Penny, notably Bip A Little (Bop A Lot) released in 1958 ~ Pennington was born in 1928July 1, 2020 ~ Singer, keyboardist, songwriter Max Crook, full name Maxfield Doyle Crook, passed away ~ Best known for his association with Del Shannon, co-writing several of Shannon's hits and notably present on the 1961 Runaway single ~ Crook was born in 1936
July 1, 2013 ~ Singer, comedian, songwriter Maarten van Roozendaal passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Mainly performed his own songs, yet also a fine interpreter of Cornelis Vreeswijk. Collaborated with Paul de Munnik, Egon Kracht, Wouter Planteijdt, Marcel de Groot, Willem Ennes, and Kim Soepnel ~ Van Roozendaal was born in 1962
July 1, 2013 ~ John Riley Brown, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Texas Johnny Brown, passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Active since the late 1940s, initially as a member of the Aladdin Chickenshackers known for regularly backing artists such as Amos Milburn and Ruth Brown. Perhaps best known for penning Two Steps From The Blues, notably recorded by Bobby Blue Bland as the title track of the pivotal 1961 Two Steps From The Blues soul-blues album. As a solo artist especially known among blues aficionados for songs such as The Blues Rock, There Goes The Blues and Bongo Boogie. Over the course of his career Brown has collaborated with numerous artists including Junior Parker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Joe Hinton, Goree Carter, Roy Gaines, and Clarence Hollimon ~ Brown was born in 1928
July 1, 2012 ~ Evelyn Shulman, commonly known as operatic soprano singer, actress Evelyn Lear, passed away in Sandy Spring, Maryland, USA ~ Known for her versatility. Appeared with every major American opera company as well as several in Europe including the Stadtische Oper Berlin, the Theater an der Wien, the Metropolitan Opera, the Houston Grand Opera, and the Munich Nationaltheater ~ Lear was born in 1926
July 1, 2012 ~ Oswald Hibbert, commonly known as reggae organist, pianist, keyboardist Ossie Hibbert, passed away in Long Island, New York, USA ~ Active since the mid 1970s. Member of the Professionals, the Aggrovators, the Revolutionaries. Sessioned for artists such as Johnny Clarke, Gregory Isaacs, Jimmy London, Delroy Wilson, Linval Thompson. As a solo artist known for two 1970s albums, 1976's Crueshal Dub and 1978's Satisfaction In Dub. Served as producer for Freddie McKay, Dillinger, Carlene Davis, Pat Kelly, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Errol Dunkley, Peter Hunnigale, the Wailing Souls ~ Hibbert was born in 1951
July 1, 2010 ~ Edith Zuser, commonly known as schlager, folk singer Lolita passed away in Salzburg, Austria ~ Best known for Seemann Deine Heimat Ist Das Meer, an international hit including in America in 1960. It would be translated to various other languages including English, French and Dutch, and be covered by numerous artists. Notable covers include versions by Petula Clark, Anne Shelton, Caterina Valente ~ Zuser was born in 1931
July 1, 2005 ~ Singer Luther Vandross, full name Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr, passed away in Edison, New Jersey, USA ~ Session, backing singer for artists such as Todd Rundgren, Judy Collins, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Ben E King, and Donna Summer. Fronted Change. As a solo artist best known for songs such as Never Too Much, Here And New, Any Love, Power Of Love (Love Power), I Can Make It Better, For You To Love, Superstar, and Always And Forever. Duetted with Cheryl Lynn, Beyoncé and Mariah Carey ~ Vandross was born in 1951
July 1, 2005 ~ Singer, songwriter Renaldo Benson passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Bass singer of the Four Tops, known for hits such as I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), Reach Out I'll Be There, Keeper Of The Castle, Ain't No Woman Like The One I've Got, Bernadette, and When She Was My Girl. Co-wrote Marvin Gaye's signature song What's Going On ~ Benson was born in 1936
July 1, 2003 ~ Herbert Jay Solomon, commonly known as flutist, saxophonist, clarinetist Herbie Mann, passed away in Pecos, New Mexico, USA ~ One of the first jazz musicians to specialize on the flute. Early pioneer of merging jazz and world music. Over 80 albums to his name as leader or co-leader, starting in the mid 1950s. Has worked with artists such as Chet Baker, Art Blakey, Carmen McRae, Joe Wilder, Bobby Jaspar, Buddy Collette, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Baden Powell, Chick Corea, Duane Allman, Sonny Sharrock, Donald Duck Dunn, and the New York Jazz Quartet. To pop audiences best known for his 1975 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Hijack featuring Cissy Houston on vocals, originally recorded by Barrabás ~ Solomon was born in 1930
July 1, 1999 ~ Reggae singer, guitarist Dennis Brown, full name Dennis Emmanuel Brown, passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ First recorded while only 11 years old, to go on to release well over 50 albums over the course of his lengthy career. Dubbed “the Crown Prince of Reggae” by Bob Marley, who cited Brown as his favorite singer. Internationally, Brown is best known for songs such as Money In My Pocket, Love Has Found Its Way, Halfway Up Halfway Down and Senorita ~ Brown was born in 1957
July 1, 1999 ~ Albert George Cernik, commonly known as big band, traditional pop, country pop singer Guy Mitchell, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Active since the early 1950s. Discovered by Mitch Mitchell. Enjoyed popularity especially in the UK and Australia. Sold over 40 million records. Well known songs include My Heart Cries For You, My Truly Truly Fair, There's A Pawnshop On The Corner In Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, Singing The Blues, and Heartaches By The Number ~ Cernik was born in 1927
July 1, 1989 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, I Won't Back Down by Tom Petty peaks at No.12 Billboard Hot 100 ~ The first single officially released as a Tom Petty solo record, sans the Heartbreakers although Mike Campbell, Howie Epstein and Phil Jones did appear on the recording. Jeff Lynne, who co-wrote the majority of the songs on the Full Moon Fever parent album including I Won't Back Down, plays the synthesizer, while George Harrison guested on guitar. I Won't Back Down was written as a response to a heinous attack as an arsonist set the Petty family home on fire with Petty, his family and their housekeeper still in it. Nobody was harmed but the house burnt down, and I Won't Back Down was Petty's way of reclaiming his life and getting past the traumatizing experience. The arsonist was never caught
July 1, 1988 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter James Southwell born in Bowning, Australia ~ Influenced by Lobby Loyde, George Harrison, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Jonny Lang. Southwell left school in his mid-teens to become a professional musician, releasing his Dark Angel debut album in 2006. Southwell has since become a popular festival act, and has toured intensely since, including with former Rose Tattoo singer Angry Anderson, Kate DeAraugo, and Charlie Wooton
July 1, 1984 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Jason Reeves, full name Jason Bradfod Reeves, born in Arlington, Texas, USA ~ Best known as regular songwriting partner of Colbie Caillat, including co-penning songs such as Realize, I Never Told You, and the Billboard Hot 100 No.5 hit Bubbly. Reeves has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the album Makeshift Aircraft released in 2003, was a member of Gone West from 2018 through 2020, and has co-written songs recorded by Lenka, Katharine McPhee, and Louis Tomlinson
July 1, 1983 ~ Jazz saxophonist Sandy Mosse passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Influenced primarily by Lester Young. Started on clarinet and alto sax, before switching to tenor saxophone in the early 1950s. Mosse has appeared on recordings by Wallace Bishop, Django Reinhardt, Woody Herman, Bill Russo, Chubby Jackson, James Moody, and Cy Touff. The 1960s saw him teaming up with Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, and Dave Remington. After relocating to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in the 1970s, Mosse would record less but occasionally toured with the likes of Zoot Sims and Al Cohn. While in the Netherlands, where he lived until his death, Mosse most notably played with Volume Two, which also included Irvin Rochlin, Klaus Flenter, Evert Hekkema, Ben Gerritsen, and Lex Cohen. As a leader, Mosse recorded sporadically, best remembered for the late 1950s albums Chicago Scene and Relaxin' With Sandy Mosse ~ Mosse was born in 1929
July 1, 1982 ~ Indie rock, psychedelic rock bassist, singer Hilma Nikolaisen born in Moi, Norway ~ Member of Loch Ness Mouse, Serena-Maneesh alongside brother guitarist Emil Nikolaisen, and Umbrella. Active as a solo artist since the mid-2010s, releasing her acclaimed Puzzler debut album in 2016. Nikolaisen has a son with Mayhem singer Sven Erik Kristiansen
July 1, 1977 ~ Robert Henry Warren, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist Baby Boy Warren, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Leading figure on the 1950s Detroit blues scene. Active since the 1930s, first recording in the late 1940s. Perhaps best known for his 1954 single Stop Breakin' Down featuring pianist Boogie Woogie Red and guitarist Calvin Frazier ~ Warren was born in 1919
July 1, 1977 ~ Singer, actress Birgit Schuurman born in Utrecht, the Netherlands ~ Sister of actress, singer Katja Schuurman, with whom she worked in the band Jeunes Turcs. Released a handful of late 1990s singles, notably A Little Famous and Maybe The Wine, but lacking sales her already recorded Curious album would be indefinitely shelved. An appearance in the heavily aired Abel's Onderweg videoclip renewed interest in Schuurman, leading to the hits I Know and Few Like You, both included on her official debut album Few Like Me released in 2001
July 1, 1976 ~ Julia Liane Stanbridge, commonly known as doom metal, progressive metal, gothic metal singer, songwriter Aleah Stanbridge, born in Cape Town, South Africa ~ After relocating to Sweden, Stanbridge would become known on the Scandinavian metal scene, perhaps most for co-founding death metal, doom metal outfit Trees Of Eternity with guitarist Juha Raivio, with whom she recorded the Hour Of The Nightingale album released in 2016. Previously, she has guested on recordings by Krister Linder, Swallow The Sun, and Amorphis. Stanbridge's sole solo full-length album Aleah was released posthumously in 2020, containing newly mastered songs as well as previously unreleased material ~ Stanbridge passed away in 2016