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 16, 2025 ~ Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, commonly known as pop, traditional pop, vocal jazz, rock & roll, country pop singer Connie Francis, passed away in Deerfield Beach, Florida, USA ~ Popular 1950s, 1960s pop singer known for songs such as Who's Sorry Now, My Happiness, Lipstick On Your Collar, My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own, Where The Boys Are, Don't Break The Heart That Loves You, and others. In the 1980s, Francis was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to head a task force on violent crime. The singer also served as a spokeswoman for Mental Health America's trauma campaign and was involved with USO and UNICEF ~ Franconero was born in 1937
July 16, 2024 ~ Bernice Johnson, commonly known as a capella singer, songwriter, social activist Bernice Johnson Reagon, passed away in Washington DC, USA ~ Member of the Freedom Singers, which she co-founded with Cordell Reagon whom she would latter marry. The quartet fused vblack a capella church singing with popular contemporary songs as well as protest songs and chants. They are best known for We Shall Not Be Moved, the quartet's rendition becoming an anthem of the Civil Rights movement. Johnson also co-founded Sweet Honey In The Rock, with whom she has recorded since the early 1970s including the highly acclaimed Feel Something Drawing Me On album released in 1985. Johnson is also known as a scholar, historian, professor of American history, and as a longtime curator at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC ~ Johnson was born in 1942
July 16, 2024 ~ Jazz, free improvisation pianist, drummer Irène Schweizer passed away in Zurich, Switzerland ~ Considered one of the leading Swiss jazz musicians and an advocate of the women's movement, active since the mid 1960s. Member of all-female avant-garde jazz collective the Feminist Improvising Group. As a solo artist especially acclaimed for her 1978 Tuned Boots album. Well known for her collaborations, usually as a duo, with a series of drummers including Pierre Favre, Günter Sommer, Andrew Cyrille, Han Bennink, Joey Baron, and Hamid Drake. Other notable associations include Manfred Schoof, John Tchicai, Rüdiger Carl, Henry Cow, Louis Moholo, Marilyn Crispell (Overlapping Hands (Eight Segments)), the London Jazz Composers Orchestra, Peter Kowald, Jon Rose, Les Diaboliques (Splitting Image), and Don Cherry. Schweizer is also known as co-founder of the long-running annual cross-border Taktlos Festival in Zurich, Switzerland, and as co-founder of the Intakt Records jazz label. Schweizer continued to perform into her 80s, retiring from the stage for health reasons in 2021 ~ Schweizer was born in 1941
July 16, 2023 ~ Actress, singer, songwriter, model Jane Birkin, full name Jane Mallory Birkin, passed away in Paris, France ~ Best known as an actress emerging from the mid 1960s London counterculture scene with roles in Blowup and Kaleidoscope. To pop audiences best known for the 1969 duet Je T'Aime (Moi Non Plus) with Serge Gainsbourg. The song would be banned from radio for its sexual innuendo, including in the UK, yet would make it to the No.1 spot on the British charts. Known for a number of longterm high-profile romances, married to film composer John Barry and later romantically involved with singer, actor Gainsbourg and subsequently with film director Jacques Doillon. Two of her three daughters, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Lou Doillon, have followed in their mother's footsteps acting and singing ~ Birkin was born in 1946
July 16, 2021 ~ Marcel Theo Hall, commonly known as hip hop singer, rapper, beatboxer Biz Markie, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for Just A Friend, a 1989 hit in numerous countries and considered today as one of the classic hip-hop songs. Worked with the Juice Crew and with Flip Squad. Appeared in the 2002 Men In Black II feature film, essentially playing an alien parody of himself speaking in an alien tongue mimicking beatboxing. Also known as member of the Juice Crew ~ Hall was born in 1964
July 16, 2020 ~ Drummer, songwriter Jamie Oldaker passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Worked with the Rogues Five, Bob Seger, Leon Russell, Eric Clapton Band, Frehley's Comet, the Tractors, the Bellamy Brothers, Asleep At The Wheel, Peter Frampton, Stephen Stills, Freddie King, the Bee Gees, Vince Gill, JJ Cale, Willie Nelson, Ronnie Dunn, and Bonnie Bramlett ~ Oldaker was born in 1951July 16, 2019 ~ Horatios Adolphus Kelly, commonly known as rocksteady, reggae singer Pat Kelly, passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Influenced by Sam Cooke. Replaced Slim Smith in the Techniques. Also worked with producers such as Bunny Lee, Lee Scratch Perry, Duke Reid, and Phil Pratt. As a solo artist best known for his 1969 recording of How Long Will It Take ~ Kelly was born in 1944
July 16, 2016 ~ Boruch Alan Bermowitz, commonly known as singer Alan Vega passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Co-founded the electronic protopunk outfit Suicide with Martin Reverby. Releasing solo records since the early 1980s. Has worked with producers such as Chris Lord-Alge and Ric Ocasek. Has collaborated with Mercury Rev, Alex Chilton, Stephen Lironi, and with Lydia Lunch ~ Vega was born in 1938
July 16, 2016 ~ Jazz pianist Claude Williamson passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Older brother of trumpeter Stu Williamson. Influenced by Teddy Wilson, Al Haig, and by Bud Powell. Worked with Teddy Edwards, Red Norvo, Charlie Barnet, June Christy, Max Roach, Art Pepper, the Lighthouse All-Stars, Bud Shank, Stan Levey, Bob Cooper, Conte Candoli, Howard Rumsey, Sonny & Cher, Sam Jones, Dizzy Reece, Pete Rugolo, Chet Baker, Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton, Barney Kessel, and Roy Haynes ~ Williamson was born in 1926
July 16, 2014 ~ Singer, guitarist Johnny Winter, full name John Dawson Winter III, passed away in Zurich, Switzerland ~ Well over a dozen albums to his name since the late 1960s. When he burst onto the music scene, Winter would be hailed as “the next Jimi Hendrix” by some critics. Though Winter never fully met those near-impossible expectations, he established himself as an exceptionally talented guitarist in his own right. Cited as influence by the likes of Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden, and Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins. Especially acclaimed for the late 1960s, early 1970s albums Johnny Winter, Second Winter, and Johnny Winter And. Winter also produced the Muddy Waters albums Hard Again, I'm Ready, and Live, all of which were awarded a Grammy Award. Winter graced the cover of the very first issue of Guitar World in 1980, and in 1988 became the first white performer to be inducted into the the Blues Hall Of Fame ~ Winter was born in 1944July 16, 2013 ~ James Lewis Carter Ford, commonly known as guitarist, singer T-Model Ford, passed away in Greenville, Mississippi, USA ~ Merged Delta blues, Chicago blues, juke joint blues. Influenced by Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. Signed to Fat Possum Records in the mid 1990s opening for Buddy Guy, releasing his Pee-wee Get My Gun debut album in 1997 ~ Ford was born in 1923
July 16, 2012 ~ Robert Andrew Kreinar, commonly known as rock, pop rock bassist Bob Babbitt, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ In-demand session musician. Best known as a member of Motown house band the Funk Brothers and for his stint in MFSB. Member of late 1960s rock band Scorpion. Has also worked with Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Gloria Gaynor, Alice Cooper, Del Shannon, Jim Croce, Dennis Coffey, Cindy Bullens, Phil Collins, and Marion James. Notably present on songs such as Edwin Starr's War, the Miracles' The Tears Of A Clown, Marvin Gaye's Inner City Blues, the Temptations' Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me), Diana Ross' Touch Me In The Morning, and Main Ingredient's Just Don't Want To Be Lonely ~ Kreinar was born in 1937
July 16, 2012 ~ Keyboardist Jon Lord, full name John Douglas Lord, passed away in London, UK ~ Best known as co-founding and key member of Deep Purple, merging rock and hard rock with classical and baroque influences. Has also worked with the Artwoods, St Valentine's Day Massacre, the Flower Pot Men, Paice Ashton Lord and with Whitesnake ~ Lord was born in 1941
July 16, 2012 ~ Muriel Elle Deason, commonly known as country singer Kitty Wells, passed away in Madison, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for her 1952 hit It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels. Also known for songs such as Release Me, the Don Everly-penned Thou Shalt Not Steal, The Lonely Side Of Town, Heartbreak USA, as well as duets with Red Foley (One By One, As Long As I Live), and duets with Webb Pierce (Oh So Many Years, Finally). Also worked with Owen Bradley, Johnny Wright, the Jordanaires, Roy Drusky, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and with Tammy Wynette ~ Deason was born in 1919
July 16, 2008 ~ Singer Jo Stafford, full name Jo Elizabeth Stafford, passed away in Century City, California, USA ~ Classically trained to become an opera singer. Became one of the best-selling female pop singers of the 1950s instead. First female singer to top the UK charts, namely with the 1952 single You Belong To Me. Worked with the Pied Pipers, Tommy Dorsey, Paul Weston, Gordon Macrae, and Frankie Laine ~ Stafford was born in 1917July 16, 2006 ~ Avant-garde jazz trumpeter Malachi Thompson passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with the Association For The Advancement Of Creative Musicians, Joe Henderson, Jackie McLean, Frank Foster, Archie Shepp, Lester Bowie, Shamek Farrah, Errol Parker, Hubert Eaves, Roland Alexander, Gil Scott-Heron, and Quincy Jones ~ Thompson was born in 1949
July 16, 2005 ~ Rapper Young Jeezy releases Soul Survivor featuring Akon, lifted off his Let's Get It (Thug Motivation 101) album ~ Coming from a disadvantaged background, Jeezy or as he was known at the time Young Jeezy, would score his biggest hit with Soul Survivor which tells of people growing up in bad neighborhoods with gang violence, crooked cops and people selling crack to stay afloat. Issued as the second single off his Let's Get It (Thug Motivation 101) major label debut album, Soul Survivor, co-written, produced and featuring Akon, would reach No.4 Billboard Hot 100. The Let's Get It (Thug Motivation 101) parent album would reach No.2 on the Billboard Hot 200 album charts. Jeezy would go on to score over half a dozen more top 10 albums through the late 2010s, including three which topped the Billboard Hot 200 album charts, yet Soul Survivor would remain his highest charting single and sole Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hitJuly 16, 1996 ~ Clifford Ian Simpson, commonly known as rapper Kevin Abstract born in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA ~ Co-founding member, frontman of hip-hop boy band AliveSinceForever, renamed to Brockhampton in 2014, best known for their 2019 Sugar single. Has also recorded as a solo artist, releasing his full-length MTV1987 solo debut album in 2014
July 16, 1991 ~ Singer Lenny Kravitz releases Fields Of Joy, lifted off his Mama Said sophomore album ~ Originally recorded by the New York Rock & Roll Ensemble for their 1971 Roll Over album, Lenny Kravitz would put his own special mark on this remake, with a gentle folksy intro bursting into roaring guitars, the guitar solo provided by Guns 'n Roses guitarist Slash. Although in most territories, the single would be overlooked, Fields Of Joy did reach top 40 in the Netherlands, peaking at No.33. The Dutch would be one of the first to fully embrace the American singer. Fields Of Joy would be the American singer's fourth single to reach top 40 in the Netherlands, as opposed to having scored only one in his native America, and only two in the UK. Kravitz's debut single Let Love Rule had reached No.26 on the Dutch charts, Always On The Run peaked at No.8, making it his first top 10 hit anywhere, and It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over reached No.12
July 16, 1990 ~ British producer duo DNA release Tom's Diner (Remix) featuring Suzanne Vega, a remix of the single off Vega's 1987 Solitude Standing sophomore album ~ The British producer duo DNA had done a remix of Suzanne Vega's Tom's Diner, setting Vega's vocals onto a Soul II Soul dance beat while turning the original version's ad-libbed outro into the song's driving hook. Without permission, the remix was initially released on a limited basis to English clubs, and when A&M Records, Vega's label, got wind of it they struck a deal to release the track internationally rather than sue for copyright infringement. While Vega's original 1987 single failed to make much of an impact, the DNA remix became an international hit, reaching top 10 in over half a dozen countries, including No.1 in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. Vega would later recall her initial resentment to anyone remixing anything of hers, until she heard the result, as she told the Guardian in 2016: “To my great relief I loved what DNA had done. I thought it would be played in a few dance clubs and that would be it, but it surpassed everyone's expectations. I even got a plaque for it being one of the most played R&B songs, funny for a folk singer”
July 16, 1990 ~ Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, commonoly known as singer, rapper, songwriter WizKid, born in Lagos, Nigeria ~ Considered one of the premier modern-day Afrobeat artists, active since his early teens. Draws from Afrobeat, R&B, dancehall, and reggae. Released his full-length Superstar debut album in 2011 and has been recording to critical acclaim since. To Western audiences best known for featuring on Drake's 2016 One Dance hit single which topped the charts in several countries including the UK and USA, and for his own 2021 Essence Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit singleJuly 16, 1983 ~ Folk, rock singer, fiddler, accordionist, songwriter Tuva Syvertsen, full name Tuva Livsdatter Syvertsen, born in Oslo, Norway ~ Formed the trio the Valkyrien Allstars with Ola Hilmen and Erik Sollid, acclaimed for their eponymous Valkyrien Allstars debut album released in 2007. Syvertsen has also collaborated with Rannveig Djønne, Hildegunn Øiseth, Aasmund Nordstoga, Rita Engedalen, the DumDum Boys, and Susanna Wallumrød
July 16, 1982 ~ William Everett Justis Junior, commonly known as rock & roll composer, arranger, singer, trumpeter, saxophonist Bill Justis, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ As a solo artist known for his 1957 recording Raunchy, arguably the first rock & roll instrumental hit and successfuly covered by both Ernie Freeman and Billy Vaughn. Worked as staff musician at Sun Records, arranging for Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Charlie Rich. Played saxophone on Elvis Presley's Kissin' Cousins soundtrack. Managed Ronny & the Daytonas. Composed the scores for several films, notably Smokey & the Bandit in 1977 and The Villain in 1979 ~ Justis was born in 1926July 16, 1978 ~ Tito Joe Jackson, commonly known as R&B, pop singer TJ Jackson, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Son of Tito Jackson. Formed 3T, alongside brothers Taj Jackson and Taryll Jackson, known for their mid 1990s recordings Why featuring the trios uncle Michael Jackson, I Need You, Gotta Be You featuring Herbie Crichlow, and perhaps their biggest hit Anything
July 16, 1976 ~ Afrobeat, reggae, jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, producer Idris Rahman born in Chichester, UK ~ Best known as leader of the Soothsayers for nearly two decades, including on their best known albums. Has also worked with Anoushka Shankar, Arun Ghosh, Osibisa, Ayub Ogada, Oriole, Dodgy, with his sister Zoe Rahman, and with longtime girlfriend jazz singer Julia Biel