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 22, 1995 ~ Songwriter, music promoter Dave Clark passed away ~ Promoter for major African-American record labels from the late 1930s onwards, including for Decca Records, Duke/Peacock, Chess Records, Aladdin, Apollo, United, and Stax. As a songwriter perhaps best remembered for co-writing Why I Sing The Blues, recorded by BB King ~ Clark was born in 1909July 22, 1995 ~ Pop, R&B, doo-wop tenor singer Jimmy Keyes passed away ~ Member of the Chords, best known for their 1954 doo-wop classic Sh-boom, co-written by Keyes. Canadian vocal quartet the Crew Cuts would successfuly cover the song the same year. Keyes was also a member of the Four Notes and of the Tunestoppers ~ Keyes was born in 1930
July 22, 1995 ~ Sertanejo singer, guitarist, songwriter Marilia Mendonça, full name Marilia Dias Mendonça, born in Cristianópolis, Brazil ~ Broke through with Infiel taken of her 2016 Marilia Mendonça Ai Vivo debut album. Has written songs for artists such as João Neto & Frederico, Wesley Safadão, Henrique & Juliano, Matheus & Kauan, Jorge & Mateus, and Cristiano Araujo. Mendonça's career was cut short when, along with several of her entourage, she perished in a plane crash at age 26 ~ Mendonça passed away in 2021July 22, 1995 ~ Trumpeter, bandleader Percy Humphrey, full name Percy Gaston Humphrey, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Brother of clarinetist Willie Humphrey and trombonist Earl Humphrey. Worked with the Eureka Brass Band, Sweet Emma Barrett, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Emanuel Paul ~ Humphrey was born in 1905
July 22, 1992 ~ Singer, actress Selena Gomez, full name Selena Maria Gomez, born in Grand Prairie, Texas, USA ~ Rose to prominence as actress on the Disney TV shows Barney & Friends and The Wizards Of Waverly Place. Debuted as a singer with her 2009 Kiss & Tell album, spawning the modest hit Naturally. Would go on to reach the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 with songs such as Come & Get It, The Heart Wants What It Wants, Good For You featuring A$AP Rocky, Same Old Love, Hands To Myself, It Ain't Me featuring Kygo, and Lose You To Love MeJuly 22, 1992 ~ Singer Vanessa Williams releases Work To Do featuring Dres, lifted off her The Comfort Zone sophomore album ~ Originally an early 1970s track by the Isley Brothers, telling of a troubled situation between two lovers, concerning the lack of quality time they are able to have together, Vanessa Williams' 1992 cover would surpass the original as the former Miss America took the song to No.3 Billboard R&B, whereas the original narrowly missed the top 10 at No.11. Williams version is noted for being one of the earliest tracks to team up a female R&B singer with a rapper, Dres of Black Sheep providing the counterpoint vocals, a practice that would later become much more common. Prior to Williams cover, the Isley Brothers track had also been recorded by Scottish funk and R&B outfit the Average White Band for their 1974 AWB sophomore album
July 22, 1987 ~ Brazilian pop, soft rock singer, songwriter Morris Albert found guilty of plagiarizing the 1956 Pour Toi song ~ In a plagiarism suit the court would find Morris Albert guilty, his 1974 hit Feelings found to be similar to Loulou Gasté's Pour Toi as used in the 1957 film Le Feu Aux Poudres. Gasté would receive approximately half a million US dollars and co-writing credit
July 22, 1985 ~ Pop-reggae, dub outfit UB40 release I Got You Babe featuring the Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde, lead single off their Baggariddim album ~ Written by Sonny Bono, and originally a mid 1960s No.1 hit for Sonny & Cher on both sides of the Atlantic. The UB40 single would reach top 10 across Europe, including the No.1 spot in the Netherlands, Ireland, and their native UK, making it the band's second British charttopper after Red Red Wine off their previous albumJuly 22, 1983 ~ Jazz pianist, organist Andreas Ulvo born in Kongsvinger, Norway ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with the Shining, Ingrid Olava, Mathias Eick, Solveig Slettahjell, the Slow Motion Orchestra, Karl Seglem, Thom Hell, the Eple Trio, Frøy Aagre, Ellen Andrea Wang, and Lena Nymark
July 22, 1983 ~ Blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Bobby King, full name Robert L King, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ In-demand session musician. Worked with Hank Ballard, Bobby Blue Bland, Lee Shot Williams, Eddy Clearwater, Freddie King, Lonnie Johnson, the Aces, and Sonny Thompson. As a solo artist best known for his 1962 single Thanks Mr Postman, an answer song to Please Mr Postman by the Marvelettes, and for his sole solo album Chaser released in 1975 ~ King was born in 1941
July 22, 1983 ~ Kirill Aleksandrovich Tolmatsky, commonly known as hip-hop, reggae, ragga rapper, singer Detsl, born in Moscow, Russia ~ Debuted his full-length debut album Who Are You in 2000, instantly becoming a teen idol. At one time also recorded under the moniker Le Truk in an effort to distance himself from his earlier material. Has repeatedly publicly entertained the idea of faking his own death. Died unexpectedly at age 35 of a heart attack after performing at a private birthday party ~ Tolmatsky passed away in 2019
July 22, 1982 ~ Edward Hammond Boatner Jr, commonly known as bebop, hard bop saxophonist Sonny Stitt, passed away in Washington DC, USA ~ Toured relentlessly. Recorded over 100 albums. Worked with Tiny Bradshaw, Billy Eckstine, Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Parlan, Bud Powell, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Thad Jones, Chick Corea, Jimmy Jones, Johnny Richards, Quincy Jones, Hank Jones, Dolo Coker, briefly with Miles Davis (the only Stitt-Davis recordings are hard to find 1960 live sets), Jim Hall, Gene Ammons, Booker Ervin, Paul Gonsalves, Leon Spencer, Melvin Sparks, Idris Muhammad, Virgil Jones, Don Patterson, Red Holloway, George Duvivier, and Jimmy Cobb ~ Stitt was born in 1924
July 22, 1978 ~ In its 11th week on the charts, Still The Same by Bob Seger peaks at No.4 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Bob Seger's second Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, following Night Moves the previous year, seems at first to be talking up the protagonist of the song, only to learn at the end of the song this isn't the case. Some people never change, and that isn't always a good thing. The singer has explained the song isn't about a specific person, but rather a specific type: “They're just very charismatic, but they have tremendous faults, but part of the appeal is the charisma. You overlook everything because of the charisma. That's a gift and a curse.”
July 22, 1977 ~ Keyboardist, singer Marco Benevento born in Livingstone, New Jersey, USA ~ Fixture on the New York scene since the late 1990s, known for his expansive, psychedelic sound drawing from jazz, rock, jam band, and experimental music. Member of Jazz Farmers at the turn of the century. Well known for forming the instrumental indie rock duo Benevento-Russo Duo with drummer Joe Russo, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Best Reason To Buy The Sun released in 2005. Benevento has recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, notably Invisible Baby released in 2008, and has guested on recordings by Epileptic Disco, Trey Anastasio, the Foreshadowing, Garage A Trois (Always Be Happy But Stay Evil), AC Newman (Shut Down The Streets), Rich Robinson, Freeman, the Duhks, Mike Dillon, Kevin Morby, Bobby Previte, Kate Davis (Trophy), Nicole Wray, and Molly Lewis
July 22, 1977 ~ Jazz saxophonist Richie Kamuca passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Though lesser known than his contemporaries, Kamuca was one of several acclaimed Lester Young-influenced saxophonists active on the West Coast scene held in the highest regards by his peers. First gained attention as a soloist with the big bands of Stan Kenton and Woody Herman. Especially acclaimed for Tenors Head-On released in 1956, a collaborative album with fellow tenor saxophonist Bill Perkins. An in-demand sideman, Kamuca has appeared on albums by the Lighthouse All-Stars, Chet Baker, Manny Albam, Stan Levey, Nat Pierce (Kansas City Memories), Dempsey Wright, Bill Holman, Anita O'Day (Sings The Winners), Shorty Rogers, Herb Ellis (Nothing But The Blues), Buddy Bregman, Cy Touff, Annie Ross, Shelly Manne, Terry Gibbs, Betty Carter, Zoot Sims (Suitably Zoot), Kenny Burrell, Lee Konitz, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Frank Capp, and Ernestine Anderson. Kamuca remained active until his death of cancer, one day short of his 47th birthday ~ Kamuca was born in 1930
July 22, 1974 ~ Actress, singer Franka Potente born in Münster, West Germany ~ Broke through as an actress with the 1998 arthouse film Run Lola Run, the film and lead role written specifically for her. The film would be an international success. Potente also sang on the majority of the soundtrack's songs. Would go on to become an in-demand actress playing in films such as The Bourne Identity and its sequel The Bourne Supremacy, and Eichmann, as well as for TV with recurring roles in shows such as American Horror Story and Taboo
July 22, 1974 ~ Jazz trumpeter, composer Kåre Nymark born in Langevåg, Norway ~ Plays hard-swinging jazz, drawing from hard bop, gospel, blues, and African and Caribbean rhythms. Best known for leading the Nymark Collective since the early 2000s, a quartet which also includes bassist Mats Eilertsen, drummer Kenneth Ekornes, and pianist Tord Gustavsen. Nymark has also worked extensively with the Yre Suløens Jass Ensemble, as well as with SKRUK, Funky Butt (The Glove), Gumbo, and the JazzmobJuly 22, 1974 ~ Country, gospel singer, mandolinist Sonya Isaacs, full name Sonya Melissa Isaacs, born in La Follette, Tennessee, USA ~ Released her sole album, the eponymous Sonya Isaacs, in 2000. Best known for her 2003 No Regrets Yet single. Married to singer, songwriter Jimmy Yeary since 2009, with whom she co-wrote Martina McBride's 2011 Billboard Country No.4 hit I'm Gonna Love You Through It
July 22, 1973 ~ Rock, noise rock drummer, singer Brian Chippendale born in Newburgh, New York, USA ~ Formed the duo Lightning Bolt with bassist Brian Gibson. The band is known for their guerilla-style live performances, where they typically play on the ground rather than a stage, with the crowd gathered around them. Though the band's sound is loud and agressive, they cites Philip Glass and Sun Ra as influences. The band has recorded over half a dozen albums, starting in the late 1990s, and is especially acclaimed for Wonderful Rainbow released in 2003July 22, 1973 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter Rufus Wainwright, full name Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright, born in Rhinebeck, New York, USA ~ Son of singers Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, brother of singer Martha Wainwright. Released his eponymous Rufus Wainwright debut album in 1998 and has recorded to critical acclaim since. Known best for his Leonard Cohen-cover of Hallelujah for the 2007 Shrek soundtrack
July 22, 1971 ~ LA Woman, the Doors' sixth studio album receives Gold certification ~ The last album to feature lead singer Jim Morrison, who would die three months after its release in April 1971. The album's lead single, the upbeat Love Her Madly, would reach top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Other well known tracks include the John Lee Hooker-cover Crawling King Snake, Riders On The Storm and the title track LA WomanJuly 22, 1971 ~ Theodore Salvatore Fiorito, commonly known as leader, keyboardist, composer Ted Fio Rito, passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA ~ Best known for a number of mid 1930s hits including My Little Grass Shack In Kealakekua and I'll String Along With You. Composed over a hundred songs collaborating with lyricists such as Ernie Erdman, Gus Kahn, Sam Lewis, Cecil Mack, Albert von Tilzer, and Joe Young ~ Fiorito was born in 1900
July 22, 1970 ~ Guitarist, pianist, drummer, singer Tim Bluhm born in Torrance, California, USA ~ Best known as primary singer and guitarist for rock band the Mother Hips, with whom he has recorded about a dozen albums since the early 1990s. The band merges California boogie, power pop, psychedelia, Americana, and jam rock, and are especially acclaimed for their 2001 The Green Hills Of Earth album. Bluhm has also recorded several albums as a solo artist, starting with Land & Sea Chanteys released in 1999, forms the duo the Skinny Singers with Jackie Greene, the duo the Ball-Point Birds with Greg Loiacono, and has worked with the Rhythm Devils, Brokedown In Bakersfield, and with country-tinged outfit Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers, the latter fronted by Bluhm's wife Nicki Bluhm
July 22, 1969 ~ Singer Aretha Franklin arrested for causing a disturbance in Detroit, Michigan ~ Struggling with the breakup of her marriage to Ted White, a contentious marriage marred by relationship problems, Aretha Franklin is arrested for causing a disturbance in an incident at a Detroit parking lot, reportedly slapping a police officer after a minor fender bender. Some accounts tell of Franklin paying $50 bail and hitting a highway sign immediately after her release from the policeJuly 22, 1969 ~ Despina Malea, commonly known as laiko, pop-rock, dance-pop, eurodance singer, actress Despina Vandi, born in Tubingen, West Germany ~ Best known Ipofero, released in 2000 it became the all-time best-selling single in Greece. Also known for songs such as Spania, Come Along Now, Kalanta, Opa Opa and Gia, the latter two also becoming international hits including topping the American Billboard Dance chart
July 22, 1969 ~ The soundtrack to Elvis Presley's TV Special, also known as Elvis '68 Comeback Special, is certified gold ~ Having grown discontented with merely making movies and feeling distanced from musical trends, NBC would air a live set initially intended as a Christmas special by manager Colonel Tom Parker. Elvis Presley thought it was yet another scheme by Parker, angered by the idea of singing Christmas carols. NBC-producer Steve Binder persuaded all parties to alter the original concept. The show did air in December, the 3rd, but instead of a Christmas-Elvis it would feature an updated Elvis on Elvis terms. The show would mark his return to live stage, leaving behind the film-Elvis