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 12, 1976 ~ R&B, pop singer, actress, model, songwriter Tracie Spencer, full name Tracie Monique Spencer, born in Waterloo, Iowa, USA ~ First gained attention as junior contestant on the talent show Star Search in 1987, landing her a record deal with Capitol Records. Released her eponymous Tracie Spencer debut album in 1988. Best known for songs such as Symptoms Of True Love, Save Your Love, This House, Tender Kisses, This Time Make It Funny
July 12, 1976 ~ Joseph Michael Poole, commonly known as horror punk, hevy metal, glam metal, glam punk singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter Wednesday 13, born in Lexington, North Carolina, USA ~ Best known as frontman of Murderdolls. Has also recorded as a solo artist and worked with acts such as Maniac Spider Trash, Bourbon Crow, and Gunfire 76July 12, 1973 ~ Melvin Barcliff, commonly known as rapper Magoo, born in Norfolk, Virginia, USA ~ Best known for his association with Timbaland, scoring late 1990s, early 2000s hits under the moniker Timbaland & Magoo such as Up Jumps Da Boogie featuring Missy Elliott & Aaliyah, Clock Strikes featuring Skillz, and All Y'All featuring Tweet. Has also worked with Swing Mob, Jodeci, DeVante Swing, and Playa ~ Barcliff passed away in 2023
July 12, 1972 ~ Drummer Brett Reed, full name Brett Adam Reed, born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Best known as the original Rancid drummer, playing with the band from 1991 through 2006. Reed would be replaced by Branden Steineckert. Reed was also a member of the Devil's Brigade and drummed on Pink's 2003 Try This album
July 12, 1970 ~ Songwriter L Wolfe Gilbert, full name Louis Wolfe Gilbert, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for writing Down Yonder, first recorded by the Peerless Quartet in 1921, and for co-writing Ramona, first recorded by Paul Whiteman in 1928. Both songs have become standards, covered by numerous artists. Other well known songs written or co-written by Gilbert include Waitin' For The Robert E Lee (Al Jolson), If I Didn't Know Your Husband And You Didn't Know My Wife (Whispering Jack Smith), Lucky Lindy (Vernon Dalhart), and Jeannine I Dream Of Lilac Time (Gene Austin) ~ Gilbert was born in 1886
July 12, 1969 ~ Grindcore, death metal guitarist Jesse Pintado, full name Jesus Ernesto Pintado Andrade, born in Sonora, Mexico ~ Best known as a member of grindcore band Napalm Death, joining the band in 1989 as replacement for Bil Steer. Pintado remained with the band through 2004 and appears on about half a dozen of the band's albums, including the critically acclaimed Fear Emptiness Despair. Pintado has also worked with Terrorizer, Nausea LA, Lock Up, Resistant Culture, and Brujeria. Pintado passed away at age 37 of liver failure ~ Pintado passed away in 2006
July 12, 1968 ~ Pop rock sibling outfit the Bee Gees record I've Gotta Get A Message To You ~ Written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb. Produced by the band with their manager Robert Stigwood. Released the following August as a single, b/w Kitty Can, it would become their first Billboard Hot 100 charttopper and their second UK No.1 hit, Massachusetts being their firstJuly 12, 1968 ~ Carl Edward Thompson Jr, commonly known as hip-hop, R&B producer Chucky Thompson, born in Washington DC, USA ~ In-house producer with Bad Boy Entertainment. Has worked with artists such as Usher, Born Jamericans, the Notorious BIG (Ready To Die), Mary J Blige, Total, Faith Evans (Faith), Brian McKnight, Puff Johnson, Mya, Nas (8 Mile), Lil' Mo, Juvenile, Ne-Yo, and Busta Rhymes ~ Thompson passed away in 2021
July 12, 1967 ~ Ralph Lee McCaughan, commonly known as indie rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Mac McCaughan, born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA ~ Best known as founding member of Superchunk, known for a string of critically acclaimed albums and especially No Pocky For Kitty released in 1991, and for his solo outlet Portastatic, known best for the 2005 Bright Ideas album. Co-founded the indie label Merge Records with regular musical collaborator Laura Ballance. McCaughan was also a member of the Slushpuppies, Wwax, Metal Pitcher, Bricks, and Seam, and notably present on the latter's 1992 Headsparks debut album. Teamed up with Guided By Voices singer Robert Pollard to form the group Go Back Snowball, known for their 2002 Calling ZeroJuly 12, 1966 ~ Jazz, classical singer, composer Luciana Souza born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Founding member of Moss, teaming up with Theo Bleckmann, Peter Eldridge, Lauren Kinhan and Kate McGarry. Also worked with Donald Brown, Joey Calderazzo, Oscar Castro Neves, Dave Kikoski, Romero Lubambo, Bob Moses, John Patitucci, Danilo Pérez, Maria Schneider, Kenny Werner, Kenny Wheeler, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, and the American Composers Orchestra
July 12, 1966 ~ Pianist Vera Franceschi passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Regarded as one of the most acclaimed interpreters of Frédéric Chopin during the late 1940s and 1950s. Has also recorded works of Muzio Clementi, Luigi Cherubini, and Domenico Cimarosa. Married to tenor Daniele Baroni, with whom she has one son ~ Franceschi was born in 1926
July 12, 1964 ~ Post-rock, avant-garde, indie pop guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Tim Gane, full name Timothy John Gane, born in Ilford, UK ~ Co-founded avant-pop act Stereolab with then-girlfriend Laetitia Sadier, considered one of the most distinctive acts of the 1990s and 2000s. The band, centered around Gane and Sadier, recorded over half a dozen albums and are most acclaimed for Transient Random-Noise Bursts With Announcements and Emperor Tomato Ketchup, released respectively in 1993 and 1996. Prior to forming the band, the duo worked together in indie pop outfit McCarthy until its disbandement at the turn of the 1990s. Gane has also formed Cavern of Anti-Matter with former Stereolab members, releasing several albums in the 2010s including notably the soundtrack to the In Fabric horror comedy filmJuly 12, 1963 ~ Daniele Gaudi, mononymously known as dub, reggae, electronica, breakbeat keyboardist, producer Gaudi, born in Bologna, Italy ~ Has recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, including the acclaimed Bass Sweat & Tears released in 2004. In-demand producer and remixer, has worked with the likes of Dub Alchemist, Jane Kumada, Diane Charlemagne, Native Soul, Elemental, Ashtech, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the Orb, Trentemøller, Horace Andy, and Dub FX
July 12, 1962 ~ Alternative rock guitarist, singer, songwriter Dan Murphy, full name Daniel David Murphy, born in Duluth, Minnesota, USA ~ Co-founding member of Soul Asylum, remaining with the band from its inception until 2012. Present on most of the band's best known including the acclaimed Grave Dancers Union album released in 1992. Murphy also co-founded supergroup Golden Smog, guested on the Replacements-drummer Chris Mars's 1992 Horseshoes And Hand Grenades solo album, and recorded as a solo artistJuly 12, 1962 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Luc de Vos, full name Luc Theophile Emile de Vos, born in Evergem, Belgium ~ Frontman of alternative rock outfit Gorki, known for songs such as Anja, Lieve Kleine Piranha and Monstertje. Also worked with Automatic Buffalo ~ De Vos passed away in 2014
July 12, 1962 ~ Saxophonist, violinist, bandleader Roger Wolfe Kahn passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Known for songs such as I'm Sitting On Top Of The World and Crazy Rhythm. Worked with Tommy Dorsey, Morton Downey, Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, Artie Shaw, Jack Teagarden, Red Nichols, Libby Holman, Gertrude Niesen, Franklyn Baur, Dick Robertson, Elmer Feldkamp, and Gene Krupa ~ Kahn was born in 1907
July 12, 1961 ~ John Dukes Schroeder, commonly known as punk rock, alternative rock, post-hardcore singer John Stabb, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Best known as co-founding and sole constant member of hardcore punk band Government Issue active from 1980 through 1989. The band emerged from DC's hardcore scene but would differ from other hardcore acts by adding elements of heavy metal, new wave, gothic and psychedelic rock. Stabb has also recorded as a solo artist and worked with acts such as Betty Blue, the Factory Incident, the Pseudo Heroes, and History Repeated ~ Schroeder passed away in 2016July 12, 1961 ~ Steven Bos, commonly known as singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter, actor Stef Bos, born in Veenendaal, the Netherlands ~ Best known for songs such as Is Dit Nu Later and Papa, the latter a hit in the Netherlands and Belgium in 1991. Has written for Ingeborg Sergeant and Clouseau. Collaborated with Raymond van het Groenewoud, Johan Verminnen, and Boudewijn de Groot
July 12, 1958 ~ Singer, songwriter Lynn Davis born in Jamestown, California, USA ~ Influenced by Chaka Khan, Marvin Gaye, Earth Wind & Fire, and mentor George Duke. Rose to prominence in the late 1970s singing with the latter, including lead vocals on hits such as I Want You For Myself, Party Down and Reach Out. Has also worked with pop, R&B and funk artists such as Tracie Spencer, La Toya Jackson, Patrice Rushen, Anita Baker, Billy Preston, Toshinobu Kubota, Go West, Eros Ramazzotti, Céline Dion, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Laura Pausini
July 12, 1957 ~ Trumpeter Eddie Allen born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA ~ Over half a dozen albums as a leader, especially noted for his 2000 Summer Days album. Frequent sideman to Lester Bowie, Mongo Santamaria, Vanessa Rubin, and Muhal Richard Abrams. Has also worked with M'Boom, Nancie Banks, Cyrus Chestnut, Louis Hayes, Etta Jones, Bobby Previte, Charlie Persip, Marty Ehrlich, Houston Person, Natalie Merchant, and Musiq Soulchild
July 12, 1957 ~ Bassist, guitarist James Calvin Wilsey born in Logansport, Indiana, USA ~ Bassist for San Francisco punk band the Avengers. Better known as lead guitarist in Chris Isaak's backing band, playing on Isaak's albums Silvertone (1985), Chris Isaak (1986), Heart Shaped World (1989), and San Francisco Days (1993). Wilsey recorded one solo album, 2008's El Dorado, paying homage to influences such as Duane Eddy, Billy Strange, James Burton and Link Wray ~ Wilsey passed away in 2018July 12, 1956 ~ Rock, rockabilly guitarist, singer Evan Johns born in McLean, Virginia, USA ~ Worked with guitar virtuoso Danny Gatton, performing on and writing several tracks on Gatton's 1978 Redneck Jazz including the title track. Founded and fronted Evan Johns & the H-Bombs, a band that counted the Dead Kennedys-frontman Jello Biafra among its fans. Johns has also worked with the LeRoi Brothers ~ Johns passed away in 2017
July 12, 1956 ~ Julie Anne Griffin, commonly known as country, alt country singer, guitarist, songwriter Julie Miller born in Waxahachie, Ohio, USA ~ Married to singer Buddy Miller since 1981, a frequent collaborator and notably on the acclaimed 2001 Buddy & Julie Miller album. As a solo artist best known for a number of early 1990s Christian-tinged albums. Has also guested with a wide range of country, folk, rock artists including Dennis Agajanian, Wes King, Nina Åström, Kate Miner, Lee Ann Womack, Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, Tim Finn, John Hiatt, the Chieftains, Jim Lauderdale, and Levon Helm
July 12, 1956 ~ Sandra Faye Petty, commonly known as Christian music singer, pianist Sandi Patty, born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA ~ Soprano singer praised for her wide vocal range and flexibility earning her the nickname “the Voice”. One of the most popular Christian artists of the 1980s. Fell out of grace with Christian audiences after her extramarital career with her backup singer Don Peslis but sought forgiveness and would rebuild her career in the 1990s performing pop songs with renowned orchestras including the New York Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Pops, and the Dallas Symphony
July 12, 1952 ~ Bassist, singer Phil Kramer, full name Philip Taylor Kramer, born in Youngstown, Ohio, USA ~ Member of hard rock band Iron Butterfly from 1974 through 1980. Kramer went missing after a flurry of frantic calls in 1995. His disappearance would lead to a massive search, numerous news reports and TV show segments including on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Unexplained and Unsolved Mysteries. His remains were found in a car wreck at the bottom of Decker Canyon near Malibu in 1999 ~ Kramer's remains were discovered in 1999