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 24, 2025 ~ Clementine Dinah Hitching, commonly known as jazz, pop singer, actress Cleo Laine, passed away in Wavendon, UK ~ Married to bandleader Johnny Dankworth from 1958 until Dankworth's death in 2010. Known for her scat singing and impressive three-octave vocal range. The only female performer to have received Grammy Award nominations in the jazz, popular and classical music categories. Has collaborated with James Galway, Nigel Kennedy, Julian Lloyd Webber, Ray Charles and Arnold Schoenberg ~ Hitching was born in 1927
July 24, 2025 ~ Swamp pop singer, keyboardist, bassist, fiddler, percussionist, songwriter Tommy McLain, full name Thomas Murray McLain, passed away in Hessmer, Louisiana, USA ~ Spent the 1950s and 1960s playing in a number of regional bands, including most notably the Vel-tones and the Boogie Kings. As a solo artist, McClain would become best known for his rendition of Sweet Dreams, written and first recorded by Don Gibson. Prior to McClain's rendition, which reached No.15 Billboard Hot 100 in 1966 and briefly elevated the singer to national fame, the song had been recorded by Faron Young, Patsy Cline, and the Everly Brothers. McLain would remain a popular live act over the next couple of years, touring nationally with some of the biggest acts of the era, before fading from view. However, the Louisiana native would remain a popular regional act, eventually earning him the nickname “the King of Swamp Pop” and an induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. In 2022, McClain would release his first full-length album in over 40 years, I Ran Down Every Dream, which earned universal critical acclaim and featured guests and longtime fans such as Ivan Neville, Van Dyke Parks, Nick Lowe, and Elvis Costello, the latter of which has once described McLain as “one of the great unsung heroes of American vocalizing” ~ McLain was born in 1940
July 24, 2023 ~ Pop rock, alternative rock, jam rock bassist, saxophonist, clarinetist Brad Houser, full name John Bradley Houser, passed away ~ Co-founding member of the New Bohemians, fronted by singer Edie Brickell. Present on the band's acclaimed and best known album Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars released in 1988. Also co-founded Critters Buggin with Mike Dillon, Skerik, and Bohemians bandmate Matt Chamberlain. In-demand collaborator, has also worked with Patrice Pike, Steve Wedemeyer, Zydeco Blanco, the Mingtones, and Aimee Bobruk ~ Houser was born in 1960
July 24, 2022 ~ Rock bassist Bob Heathcote passed away ~ Briefly a member of crossover thrash outfit Suicidal Tendencies during the late 1980s, present on the 1988 How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today album and some tracks of the 1989 Controlled By Hatred (Feel Like Shit/Déjà Vu) follow-up album. Previously Heathcote has worked with Los Cycos ~ Heathcote was born in 1964
July 24, 2022 ~ Progressive rock, hard rock, rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Vittorio de Scalzi passed away in Imperia, Italy ~ Key figure in Italian progressive rock. Member of the Trolls and co-founder of its successor the New Trolls. The latter would breakthrough after opening for the Rolling Stones on the Italian leg of their 1967 tour. They would release their debut single Sensazione later the same year, a full-length debut album Senza Orario Senza Bandiera issued the next year. Acclaimed for their 1971 Concerto Grosso Per I New Trolls album, merging early symphonic rock with classical arrangements, and considered a landmark in Italian progressive rock. The band would continue to record and release records into the 2000s ~ De Scalzi was born in 1949
July 24, 2016 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Keith Gemmell passed away in Beltinge, UK ~ Best known as member of art rock band Audience. Also a member of the short-lived Sammy, whose sole album Sammy was produced by Deep Purple's Ian Gillan. Has also worked with Roy Young, Eddie Thornton, Rico Rodriguez, and the Pasadena Roof Orchestra ~ Gemmell was born in 1948
July 24, 2014 ~ Producer, DJ Christian Falk passed away ~ Member of Madhouse, founding member of post-punk outfit Imperiet. Best known as DJ, producer emerging in the early 1990s Swedish hip-hop, soul and club scene. Worked with Papa Dee, the Stonefunkers, Petter, Timbuktu, the Teddybears, Kayo. Internationally known for the 2008 hit Dream On featuring Robyn. his 2000 single Make It Right featuring Demetreus, and for producing the Neneh Cherry/Youssou n'Dour collaborative single 7 Seconds which topped the charts in several countries in 1994 ~ Falk was born in 1962
July 24, 2011 ~ Guitarist, bassist, singer Dan Peek, full name Daniel Milton Peek, passed away in Farmington, Missouri, USA ~ Member of folk rock band America, alongside Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, known for songs such as A Horse With No Name. Peek wrote or co-wrote several of the band's singles, Woman Tonight, Don't Cross The River, Today's The Day and Lonely People. Post-America Peek would record solo turning to contemporary Christian music, starting with the album All Things Are Possible in 1979 ~ Peek was born in 1950July 24, 2009 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Warren Suttles passed away ~ Co-founded the Ravens with lead singer Jimmy Ricks. The doo-wop group would become one of the the most influential vocal quartets of the 1940s and early 1950s, known for songs such as Honey, Ole Man River, Write Me A Letter and Rock Me All Night Long ~ Suttles was born in 1925
July 24, 2001 ~ Singer Mary J Blige releases Family Affair, lifted off her No More Drama album ~ The single received universal critical acclaim, Billboard describing the song as “a finger-poppin' jam” and “a smash (hit) waiting to happen”, while the Guardian praised it as “one of the all-time great pop-R&B party bangers,” further adding how “everything about Family Affair is perfection. Dr Dre's simple but devastatingly effective production, Mary J Blige's economical, understated vocal, (and) the fact that every melody line sounds like a hook.” Family Affair became the biggest hit of Blige's career, reaching top 10 in well over a dozen countries including No.3 in the Netherlands and No.8 in the UK. In her native America, it became her sole Billboard Hot 100 No.1, spending six consecutive weeks at the top spot before being dethroned by Usher's U Got It Bad, and earned the singer a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Performance, losing out to Alicia Keys's Fallin'. The success of the single also helped make the No More Drama parent album her international breakthrough. Years later, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Blige looked back at her international breakthrough: “After my first album, What's The 411, I didn't even know I was successful. It wasn't until No More Drama in 2001 that I knew I had made it”
July 24, 1997 ~ Blues, R&B pianist, singer, songwriter Bob Gaddy passed away in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Known for recordings such as No Help Wanted, Blues Has Walked Into My Room, Rip & Run, I Love My Baby, Paper Lady and Operator, the latter penned by close friend Champion Jack Dupree. Gaddy worked with Larry Dale, Wild Jimmy Spruill, Sonny Terry and separately with Brownie McGhee ~ Gaddy was born in 1924
July 24, 1995 ~ Alternative rock, power pop outfit Gin Blossoms release Til I Hear It From You, first issued as the lead single off the soundtrack to Empire Records ~ Written by Marshall Crenshaw with Gin Blossoms band members Jesse Valenzuela and Robin Guthrie, Til I Hear It From You would become a surprise hit in Canada, reaching top of the charts, when it was used for the soundtrack of the coming-of-age comedy-drama Empire Records. At the time of its release, Billboard described the song as “the closest thing to a perfect pop song to hit radio in recent memory”. Re-released the following year as a double-A-side single paired with Follow You Down, the single also hit the American charts, where it peaked at No.9 Billboard Hot 100. The band had previously reached the American top 30 with Hey Jealousy and Found Out About You, both lifted off their New Miserable Experience sophomore album, yet Til I Hear It From You remains their biggest hit and a radio staple to this day. The band would disband in 1997 with three albums under their belt, but reunited in the early 2000s
July 24, 1987 ~ Jazz pianist Dick Wellstood, full name Richard Macqueen Wellstood, passed away in Palo Alto, California, USA ~ Regarded as one of the great boogie-woogie, stride pianists to emerge from the 1940s while his contemporaries focused on bebop. Especially known as an interpreter of the music of James P Johnson. Over two dozen albums as a leader or solo performer, especially acclaimed for the collaborative 1962 Uptown And Lowdown album with Cliff Jackson, and the mid 1970s albums This Is The One (Dig) and its follow-up Alone. An in-demand sideman and collaborator for some four decades, Wellstood has worked with Bob Wilber, Sidney Bechet (Grand Master Of The Soprano Sax And Clarinet), Conrad Janis, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge, Nancy Harrow (Wild Women Don't Have The Blues), Odetta (Odetta And The Blues), Bob Dylan (The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan), Eddie Condon, Wild Bill Davison, Doc Cheatham, and Kenny Davern ~ Wellstood was born in 1927July 24, 1986 ~ Orchestral conductor Lee Hepner passed away in Vancouver, Canada ~ Founder and music director of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, remaining with the orchestra from 1952 through 1960. Also associated with the Edmonton Pops Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Hamilton Opera Company ~ Hepner was born in 1920
July 24, 1984 ~ Pop, R&B singer Dhani Lennevald, full name John Dhani Lennevald, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Rose to prominence as member of the A-Teens, originally an ABBA-tribute band known for a number of late 1990s, early 2000s Swedish top 10 hits including Mamma Mia, Super Trouper, Upside Down and Floorfiller. Released his Girls Talk solo debut album in 2004. Has since worked as a producer, collaborating with Måns Zelmerlöw, Anton Ewald and with Carl Falk
July 24, 1984 ~ Jazz drummer Frank Butler passed away in Ventura, California, USA ~ Played drums in high school bands, local jazz combos, and in USO shows during World War II. After the war, Butler would establish himself as a highly regarded sideman, honed especially for his presicion chops. Although he never became a household name, he was held in the highest regard by his peers, veteran drummer Jo Jones once proclaiming Butler “the greatest drummer in the world”. Over the course of his career, Butler has appeared on albums by Curtis Counce (You Get More Bounce With Curtis Counce), Harold Land (Harold In The Land Of Jazz), Hampton Hawes, Jimmy Witherspoon (Singin' The Blues), Art Pepper, Elmo Hope, Ben Webster, Helen Humes (Swingin' With Humes), Miles Davis (Seven Steps To Heaven), Lou Rawls, Phineas Newborn Jr, John Coltrane, and Red Garland. Butler would record sporadically as a leader, and is especially acclaimed for the albums Wheelin' And Dealin' and The Stepper recorded near the end of his life ~ Butler was born in 1928July 24, 1982 ~ Christian metal guitarist, singer Ryan Helm born in Nevada, Missouri, USA ~ Member of Ascendicate, present on the band's 2009 To Die As Kings album. Subsequently joined Demon Hunter as replacement for co-founding member Don Clark, appearing on the band's 2010 The World Is A Thorn before departing on amicable terms. Helm has since worked with Damien Deadson, initially a Helm side project to take a break from guitar playing and pursue singing instead, resulting in the A Warm And Dark Embrace debut album released in 2012
July 24, 1980 ~ Metalcore guitarist, singer Joel Stroetzel, full name Joel Michael Stroetzel, born in Westfield, Massachusetts, USA ~ Influenced by Slayer, Anthrax, and Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde. Stroetzel first gained attention as a member of Aftershock, known for their 2000 Through The Looking Glass album. When the band folded, Stroetzel formed Killswitch Engage with co guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz and former Aftershock-bassist Mike D'Antonio. The band has recorded over half a dozen albums since, noted most for The End Of Heartache and the eponymous Killswitch Engage, released respectively in 2004 and 2009July 24, 1979 ~ Singer Brenda Lee records Tell Me What It's Like at Woodland Sound Studios, Nashville, USA ~ Written by Ben Peters. Produced by Ron Chancey. Arrangements by Bergen White. Brenda Lee released the following October, paired with Let Your Love Fall Back On Me on the flip side. The single would reach top 10 of the country charts in America, top 20 in Canada
July 24, 1979 ~ Jazz singer, composer Heidi Skjerve born in Rennebu, Norway ~ Worked with the Trondheim Voices, the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, and Northern Alliance prior to recording wih her own ensembles at times featuring artists such as Kjetil Elde, Ole Morten Vågan, Truls Rønning, Espen Reinertsen, Erlend Slettevol, and Roger Arntzen
July 24, 1979 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Jerrod Niemann born in Harper, Kansas, USA ~ Influenced by Whitey Shafer, Dean Dillon, Paul Overstreet. In-demand songwriter. Has co-written That Girl Is A Cowboy, Midnight Sun and the Chris LeDoux-tribute song Good Ride Cowboy for Garth Brooks. Others who have recorded his songs include Lee Brice, Blake Shelton, Diamond Rio, the Cadillac Three, Mark Chesnutt, and Neal McCoy. As a singer active since his 1999 Long Hard Road debut album. Best known for his 2012 hit Shinin' On Me and Drink To That All Night the following yearJuly 24, 1978 ~ Jazz pianist Arne Hulphers passed away in Norrköping, Sweden ~ Active from mid 1920s onwards. Founded own ensemble in 1934, which became one of Sweden's most important dance bands. It included at times, Miff Gorling, Zilas Gorling, and Thore Jederby. Married to Zarah Leander from 1956 until his death ~ Hülphers was born in 1904
July 24, 1976 ~ Indie rock, alternative rock, pop, dance singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Johnny McDaid born in Derry, Northern Ireland ~ Member of Snow Patrol, joining the band in 2011 and first appearing on the Fallen Empires album. Previously worked with Vega4, perhaps best known for Life Is Beautiful of their You And Others sophomore album. In-demand songwriter, collaborating with the likes of Birdy, Pink, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, and specifically Ed Sheeran, co-writing a vast amount of the latter's songs including Galway Girl
July 24, 1971 ~ Composer Alan Rawsthorne passed away in Cambridge, UK ~ Initially steered away from musical ambitions, Rawsthorne eventually defied his parents and became a professional musician after abortive starts at careers in dentistry and architecture. Regarding the former, Rawsthorne would later comment: “I gave that up, thank God, before getting near anyone's mouth”. Following his musical studies, Rawsthorne would get his start in music in the early 1930s, working as a pianist and teacher in Devon, the UK, before breaking through by the end of the decade with a performance of his own composition Theme And Variations For Two Violins. Rawsthorne would go on to become an acknowledged composer, praised for his distinctive style, writing chamber music, choral works, sonatas, concertos for piano, oboe, and violin, symphonies, and from the mid 1940s onwards notably a number of soundtracks ~ Rawsthorne was born in 1905July 24, 1970 ~ Singer, songwriter Anja Garbarek born in Oslo, Norway ~ Daughter of jazz saxophonist Jan Garbarek. Debuted with the album Velkommen Inn in 1992. Has been recording regularly since. Worked with Steve Wilson, Mark Hollis, Satyricon, Rita Marcotulli, Robert Wyatt, Wibutee, and Steve Jansen
July 24, 1970 ~ Ellie Papathanasopoulou, commonly known as laika, folk, dance-pop singer Elli Kokkinou, born in Athens, Greece ~ Active since the mid 1990s. Among Greece's most popular contemporary singers. Best known for her the albums Sto Kokkino released in 2003 and Ta Genethia Mou released in 2011