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 10, 1970 ~ Gary Wayne Vernon Jr, commonly known as singer, songwriter Gary LeVox, born in Columbus, Ohio, USA ~ Best known as lead singer of Rascal Flatts, teaming up with second cousin Jay Demarcus and Joe Don Rooney. The three men first worked together backing Chely Wright and immediately felt chemistry leading to forming their own band. The band has recorded consistently since the early 2000s, starting with their eponymous Rascall Flatts debut album, and regularly reached the higher echelons of the Billboard Country charts ever since, with over a dozen of their singles reaching the No.1 spot. Well-known singles include Bless The Broken Road, What Hurts The Most, Take Me There, Here Comes Goodbye, and Why Wait. The group had an uncommon young demographic for country music, doing especially well with teens and young adults. They are also known for their philantropy, supporting various charities. The band's 2006 single My Wish was used for the soundtrack to the ESPN series that follows the Make A Wish Foundation, one of the charities supported by the band, as they turn dreams into reality for children with life-threatening illnessesJuly 10, 1963 ~ Progressive rock, folk rock, hard rock keyboardist Andrew Giddings born in Pembury, UK ~ Best known as member of Jethro Tull from 1991, succeeding Maartin Allcock, through 2007. Following his departure from the band Giddings has released a solo album, Picture This released in 2010, and wrote and recorded music for film and TV
July 10, 1960 ~ Rock guitarist Martyn P Casey, full name Martyn Paul Casey, born in Chesterfield, UK ~ Best known for his association with Nick Cave, joining Cave's backing band the Bad Seeds in 1990 as replacement for Kid Congo Powers. Present on pivotal Cave albums such as Murder Ballads, The Boatman's Call and No More Shall We Part. Has also worked with Grinderman, the Triffids, and with the Blackeyed Susans
July 10, 1958 ~ Harvey Charles Goering, commonly known as Chicago blues, electric blues pianist, singer, songwriter Barrelhouse Chuck, born in Columbus, Ohio, USA ~ Influenced by Pinetop Perkins, the longtime pianist for Muddy Waters. As a solo artist recorded about a dozen albums, especially noted for 2002's Prescription For The Blues. Also particularly known for collaborating with Mud Morganfield and Kim Wilson on the 2012 For Pops (A Tribute To Muddy Waters) album. Other notable associations include Jimmy Rogers, Eddie Taylor, Hubert Sumlin, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Otis Big Smokey Smothers, Mississippi Heat, SP Leary, Calvin Fuzz Jones, Nick Moss, and Willie Big Eyes Smith ~ Goering passed away in 2016
July 10, 1958 ~ Banjoist Béla Fleck, full name Béla Anton Leos Fleck, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Acclaimed banjo virtuoso drawing from and playing a wide of genres including bluegrass, jazz, classical and world music. Best known for his recordings with his backing unit the Flecktones and with the New Grass Revival. In-demand collaborator, worked with the Dave Matthews Band, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stanley Clarke, Tasty Licks, Spectrum, Tony Trischka, Mark O'Connor, Chick Corea, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the Chieftains, Phish, Jorma Kaukonen, Gov't Mule, Nelly Furtado, Jerry Garcia, and Bootsy Collins
July 10, 1958 ~ Siblings the Everly Brothers record Bird Dog ~ Written by Boudleaux Bryant. Released as a single, b/w Devoted To You, later the same month it would reach top 10 Billboard R&B, Billboard Country and Billboard Hot 100. Notably covered by glam rock outfit Mud for their 1975 Use Your Imagination album, as well as by the Bellamy Brothers three years laterJuly 10, 1957 ~ Vaudeville actress, singer Anna Chandler passed away in El Sereno, California, USA ~ First to introduce Lovesick Blues, penned by Cliff Fiend/Irving Mills, in the 1922 Oh Ernest musical. The song would later become most closely associated with country singer Hank Williams, who recorded the tune in 1948, nearly instantly making it a country classic ~ Chandler was born in 1884
July 10, 1957 ~ Daryl L Cameron, commonly known as funk, R&B singer, bassist Captain Sky, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Recorded three albums at the tail end of the 1970s, The Adventures Of Captain Sky, Pop Goes The Captain, and Concerned Party No.1. Known best for songs such as Dr Rock, Sir Jam A Lot, You Bring Me Up, and his signature song Super Sporm. The latter would be referenced in the early hip hop classic The Message, it would also be sampled by numerous artists including Boogie Down Productions, Public Enemy, Salt-n-Pepa, and De La SoulJuly 10, 1957 ~ Dermot Fergus Grehan, commonly known as rock guitarist Derry Grehan, born in St Catharines, Canada ~ Guitarist for Honeymoon Suite which he co-dounded with singer Johnnie Dee. The band is best known for songs such as New Girl Now and Feel It Again, both used in the 1980s TV series Miami Vice. Songs such as What Does It Take, Love Changes Everything, and Lookin' Out For Number One would also chart well in the band's native Canada
July 10, 1954 ~ Bassist Gene Holder born ~ Member of the dB's, which though never a household name would be acclaimed as one of the most influential early 1980s jangle pop acts debuting in 1981 with the Stands For Decibels album. Holder also joined bandmates Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey in Holsapple-Stamey
July 10, 1954 ~ Keyboardist, singer Neil Tennant, full name Neil Francis Tennant, born in Gosforth, UK ~ Formed synth-pop band the Pet Shop Boys with Chris Lowe, known for songs such as West End Girls, Suburbia, It's A Sin, What Have I Done To Deserve This featuring Dusty Springfield, Always On My Mind and Go West. Tennant guested on recordings by Electronic, Boy George, Suede, Robbie Williams, and co-produced Rufus Wainwright's 2007 Released The Stars albumJuly 10, 1954 ~ Country songwriter, producer Robert Byrne, full name Robert Bellarmine Byrne, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ As a recording artist best known for co-penning and first recording That Didn't Hurt Too Bad at the tail end of the 1970s, notably covered by Dr Hook. Best known as a songwriter, his songs recorded by the likes of Wayne Newton, Captain & Tennille (No Love In The Morning), Ronnie Milsap (It's Written All Over Your Face), Michael Johnson, Taffy McElroy, Earl Thomas Conley (What I'd Say), the Forester Sisters, Lorrie Morgan (I Didn't Know My Own Strength), and Phil Vassar. As a producer, Byrne has notably worked with Shenandoah, including on the acclaimed 1989 The Road Not Taken album ~ Byrne passed away in 2005
July 10, 1954 ~ Jazz pianist, songwriter Stu Goldberg, full name Stuart Wayne Goldberg, born in Malden, Massachusetts, USA ~ Worked with Ray Brown, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Al di Meola, Freddie Hubbard, Alphonse Mouzon, Michal Urbaniak, Miroslav Vitous, Toto Blanke, Lalo Schifrin, Ira Newborn, Air Pocket, and Palle Danielsson
July 10, 1952 ~ Greenwood Mkandawire, commonly known as jazz, gospel, soul, world music singer, guitarist Wambali Mkandawire, born in Democratic Republic Of Congo ~ 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 passed away in 2021
July 10, 1951 ~ Folk, folk pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Cheryl Wheeler born in Timonium, Maryland, USA ~ Critics darling, admired by peers, over time built a dedicated cult following. Known for her well-crafted songs. Released her eponymous Cheryl Wheeler debut album in 1985. Had her songs covered by the likes of Dan Seals (Addicted), Kathy Mattea, Suzy Bogguss (Aces), Sylvia, Maura O'Connell, Garth Brooks, Peter Paul & Mary, Bette Midler (I Know This Town), Kenny Loggins, and Holly Near
July 10, 1949 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Greg Kihn, full name Gregory Stanley Kihn, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Active since the early 1970s. Frontman and eponym of the Greg Kihn Band, known best for The Breakup Song (They Don't Write) and the 1981 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Jeopardy. Kihn's backing unit at one time included guitarist Joe Satriani. Kihn is also known as an author, having penned several horror fiction novels starting with Horror Show published in 1996 ~ Kihn passed away in 2024
July 10, 1949 ~ Reggae singer, songwriter Lincoln Thompson born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Got his start in music as a member of the Tartans. After the band disbanded in 1969 taken on by producer Coxsone Dodd recording the singles Daughters Of Zion, True Experience and Live Up To Your Name. Would go on to work with Cedric Myton, Clinton Hall, and front the Rasses. Thompson's hit single Love The Way It Should Be would be notably covered by John Legend in 2010, retitled to Humanity (Love The Way It Should Be), featuring backing by the Roots ~ Thompson passed away in 1999
July 10, 1948 ~ Producer, songwriter, singer John Whitehead born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Member of 1960s group the Epsilons, discovered by Otis Redding. Half of the production, songwriter McFadden & Whitehead, the other half being Gene McFadden. Best known for their 1979 disco hit Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now. As behind the scenes figures the pair wrote and produced some of the most enduring 1970s, 1980s R&B, soul songs for artists such as Melba Moore, Freddie Jackson, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (Wake Up Everybody (Part 1)), Gladys Knight, the Jackson 5, the O'Jays (Back Stabbers), James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Pendergrass (The More I Get The More I Want), Lou Rawls, Archie Bell & the Drells (Let's Groove), and the Intruders. Whitehead was shot and killed at age 55 in an apparent case of mistaken identity, the case still unresolved ~ Whitehead passed away in 2004July 10, 1947 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Arlo Guthrie, full name Arly Davy Guthrie, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Son of protest singer Woody Guthrie. Known for his debut recording, Alice's Restaurant Massacree, and for a cover of The City Of New Orleans, his sole top 40 charting single and a cover of the Steve Goodman classic
July 10, 1947 ~ Producer, label executive Bruce Iglauer born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA ~ Co-founder of Living Blues magazine. Best known as founder of renowned blues label Alligator Recordss, a label he founded when his then-employer Delmark would not follow up on his suggestion to sign and record Hound Dog Taylor. Iglauer's new record company would become a thriving force in blues releasing numerous pivotal blues recordings starting with 1971's Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers. Other artists recorded by the label included Big Walter Horton, Son Seals, Koko Taylor, Albert Collins, Lonnie Brooks, Fenton Robinson, Johnny Winter, Roy Buchanan, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, Luther Allison, Shemekia Copeland, Roomful Of Blues, and Marcia Ball
July 10, 1944 ~ Elliott Small, commonly known as blues harpist, singer Grandpa Elliott, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Best known as a street-musician in New Orleans, Louisiana, preferring the streets over the studio and concert stage. Small developed the persona of Grandpa Elliott, an old man dressed in blue denim overals, bright red shirt, Santa beard and a floppy hat playing the blues harp and singing for the street traffic on his corner at Royal and Toulouse in the French quarter. Over the years has become an institution in New Orleans, recording a debut album as late as 2009 after a YouTube video of him went viral. The sudden attention would get him on The Tonight Show, The Colbert Report, at Dodger Stadium performing for a crowd of 40,000, and have Keb' Mo accompany him on his sole Sugar Sweet album ~ Small passed away in 2022
July 10, 1943 ~ Rock guitarist, singer Jerry Miller, full name Jerry A Miller Jr, born in Tacoma, Washington, USA ~ Co-founding member of Moby Grape which, though critically considered one of the most innovative to emerge from 1960s San Francisco drawing from folk, rock, blues, and country, never achieved the same level of fame as their contemporaries. The three-guitar outfit, featuring Miller on lead, is known best for the eponymous Moby Grape debut album, and has been praised by the likes of Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Taj Mahal, Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, and Jimmy Page, the latter citing the band as one of the main influences of Led Zeppelin. Following the band's initial disbandement in 1969, Moby Grape has reformed in various line-ups over the years. Miller has also formed the Rhythm Dukes, and recorded several albums as a solo artist. In 2023, looking back on the early days, Miller revealed in an interview with the Spectator the band's tumultuous career didn't faze him: “The way I see it, I'm the luckiest guy in the world. I've still got my health and my music, and I still get to do what I most love for a living. Maybe the Grape were screwed, but so what? If you haven't been ripped off, you haven't been in the music business” ~ Miller passed away in 2024
July 10, 1942 ~ Ronald James Padavona, commonly known as heavy metal, hard rock singer, songwriter Ronnie James Dio, born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA ~ Founded Elf. Lead singer of Rainbow, with whom he recorded three albums. Replaced Ozzy Osbourne as lead singer in Black Sabbath, present on the albums Heaven & Hell, Mob Rules and Dehumanizer. Founder, frontman, eponym of Dio. Founded Heaven & Hell with Tony Iommi ~ Padavona passed away in 2010July 10, 1942 ~ Folk, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Sixto Rodriguez, full name Sixto Diaz Rodriguez, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Best known for Sugar Man of his 1970 Cold Fact debut album ~ Rodriguez passed away in 2023
July 10, 1941 ~ Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, commonly known as ragtime, jazz pianist, arranger, bandleader Jelly Roll Morton passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Leading figure in early New Orleans jazz. Claimed to have invented jazz. Known for writing classics such as Jelly Roll Blues, King Porter Stomp, Wolverine Blues, Black Bottom Stomp, I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say. Employed sidemen such as Kid Ory, Omer Simeon, George Mitchell, Johnny St Cyr, Barney Bigard, Johnny Dodds, Andrew Hilaire. Has also worked with Russell Procope, Lorenzo Tio, Artie Shaw, Ward Pinkett, Bubber Miley, Johnny Dunn, Sidney Bechet, Bud Freeman, Paul Barbarin, Cozy Cole, and Zutty Singleton ~ LaMothe was born in 1890