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 25, 2024 ~ Jean-Jacques Pascal, commonly known as pop singer, songwriter Pascal Danel, passed away in Melun, France ~ When injuries from a fall ended his career as a tightrope walker, Pascal turned to songwriting. After a handful of moderate hits, Pascal would break through with La Plage Aux Romantiques in 1965, which reached No.1 in his native France, followed by Kilimandjaro the following year. The latter would be an international hit, recorded by Pascal in about half a dozen languages and remains popular to this day, regarded as one of the most endearing French standards of the era. Pascal went on to record over a dozen albums through the 1980s. Well known songs include Comme Une Enfant, Mamina, Je Suis Un Avonturier, Le Petit Prince N'Est Pas Mort, and Rotterdam. Pascal's son, Jean-Pierre Danel, would follow in his father's footsteps and become a professional guitarist and singer ~ Pascal was born in 1944
July 25, 2024 ~ Nu jazz, acid jazz, jazz funk, trip hop DJ, producer Tadashi Yabe passed away ~ Formed United Future Organization with fellow club DJs Toshio Matsuura and Raphael Sebbag, the trio considered pioneers of the Japanese acid-jazz sound. They are perhaps best known for their debut 12" I Love My Baby (My Baby Loves Jazz) and its follow-up Loud Minority, the latter an international cult favorite on club circuits in the early 1990s. The trio would follow up with about half a dozen albums through their disbandement in the early 2000s, starting with No Sound Is Too Taboo released in 1994 ~ Yabe was born in 1965July 25, 2023 ~ Pop rock singer, songwriter Andreas Tsoukalas passed away in Athens, Greece ~ Known for the albums Stous Kairous Tous Ponirous and its follow-up Mia Kainouria Mera. The latter would contain one of his best known, Antio, a translation of Brian Hyland's 1960s hit Sealed With A Kiss ~ Tsoukalas was born in 1963
July 25, 2020 ~ Operatic bass-baritone Bernard Ladysz passed away in Warsaw, Poland ~ Member of the Polish resistance during World War II. Performed in the world premiere of The Devils Of Loudon with the Hamburg State Opera. Appeared alongside Maria Callas in a 1959 recording of Lucia Di Lammermoor conducted by Tullio Serafin. Played title roles in Don Giovanni and Boris Gudonov ~ Ladysz was born in 1922
July 25, 2020 ~ Peter Allen Greenbaum, commonly known as guitarist Peter Green passed away in Canvey Island, UK ~ Best known as co-founding Fleetwood Mac member, wrote or co-wrote songs such as Albatros, Black Magic Woman, Oh Well and The Green Manalishi With The Two Prong Crown. Also worked with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Eddie Boyd, Duster Bennett, Gordon Smith, Otis Spann, Clifford Davis, Jeremy Spencer, Peter Bardens, Memphis Slim, BB King, Dave Kelly, Country Joe McDonald, Toe Fat, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Peter Gabriel, and with the Peter Green Splinter Group ~ Green was born in 1946
July 25, 2018 ~ Composer, conductor, producer Glen Roven, full name Glen Paul Roven, passed away ~ Musical director of the Broadway-production of Sugar Babes at a mere age 19. Conducted the inaugural concerts of Bill Clinton and of George W Bush. Conducted the last TV appearance of Frank Sinatra. Has also worked with artists such as Julie Andrews, Anita Baker, Michael Bolton, Bono, Ray Charles, Denyce Graves, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, and Trisha Yearwood ~ Roven was born in 1957
July 25, 2018 ~ Composer, arranger, conductor Patrick Williams passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Oscar-nominated, Emmy- and Grammy-winning film and television composer, conductor, arranger responsible for composing music for TV shows such as Columbo, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Streets Of San Francisco, and Sports Challenge. Composed jazz and orchestral works, including Concerto In Swing for clarinetist Eddie Daniels, Romances For Jazz Soloist And Orchestra for saxophonist Tom Scott and Theme For Earth Day for John Williams and the Boston Pops ~ Williams was born in 1939
July 25, 2017 ~ Folk, folk rock, country, soft rock singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Michael Johnson, full name Michael Jay Johnson, passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Over a dozen albums to his name starting with 1973's There Is A Breeze. Best known for his 1978 hit Bluer Than Blue, which would reach top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Would continue to record and regularly reach the higher echelons of the Billboard Country charts, including the top 10 hits Give Me Wings, The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder, Crying Shame, Whisper Your Name, That's That ~ Johnson was born in 1944July 25, 2016 ~ Allan Curtis Barnes, commonly known as saxophonist, clarinetist Allan Barnes, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Founded and lead Primetime. Worked with Donald Byrd, Gil Scott-Heron, Lyman Woodard David II, Robert Guillaume, Wilson Pickett, Christian Dimaggio, Blackbyrds, Lakeside, Cen Lucas, Prince, the Mizell Brothers, Marcus Belgrave, Harold McKinney, Bootsy Collins, the Detroit Experiment, Regina Carter, Geri Allen, the Dramatics, Reggie Braxton, Sandy Patton, Dwight Adams, Sunny Wilkinson, Sunny Girl, Martha Reeves, Martha Wilson, Teddy Harris, Roy Brooks, Big John Patton, Milt Hinton, Grant Green, Pharoah Sanders, Sonny Rollins, and Billy Taylor ~ Barnes was born in 1949
July 25, 2013 ~ Percussionist Steve Berrios passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Started touring with Mongo Santamaria at age 19 and recorded several albums with the band. Co-founding member of the Fort Apache Band. Member of M'Boom. Recorded a sole album, 1996's And Then Some, as a leader. An in-demand sideman, Berrios has guested on albums by Alphonse Mouzon (Funky Snakefoot), Randy Weston, Azuquita, Larry Harlow, Héctor Lavoe (Comedia), David Amram, Patato Valdés, Hilton Ruiz (Cross Currents), Ray Mantilla, Michael Brecker (Now You See It (Now You Don't)), Sonny Fortune, Kenny Kirkland, Daniel Ponce, Charles Fambrough (Blues At Bradley's), Wallace Roney (Misterios), Ron Holloway, and Chico O'Farrill ~ Berrios was born in 1945
July 25, 2010 ~ Boy band the Wanted release All Time Low, lifted off their eponymous debut album ~ Lead singer Max George explained the song's meaning in an interview with Orange Music Store: “It's basically about a girl you can't get out of your mind. Whatever you do, you just can't. It describes how to get up from this all time low.” Digital Spy characterized the song as “fresh and fizzy indie-tinged pop gem” while the BBC praised the subtlety of their singing. Issued as the British-Irish boy band's debut single, All Time Low would reach No.13 in Ireland and top the charts in the UK. The band would score one more UK No.1 hit when Glad You Came off their Battleground sophomore album rose to the top spot the following yearJuly 25, 2008 ~ Jazz, funk, jazz fusion guitarist Hiram Bullock passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Member of the 24th Street Band. Has recorded with Will Lee, David Sanborn, Bob James, Steely Dan (Gaucho), Paul Simon (One Trick Pony), Harry Belafonte, Marcus Miller, Sting (Nothing Like The Sun), Carla Bley, Miles Davis, Billy Joel, Ruben Rada, and Gil Evans ~ Bullock was born in 1955
July 25, 2008 ~ Saxophonist Johnny Griffin, full name John Arnold Griffin III, passed away near Availles-Limouzine, France ~ Considered one of the all-time greatest tenor saxophonists and a pioneering figure in hard bop, nicknamed “the Little Giant” for his short posture and big sound. Influenced by Gene Ammons, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, and John Coltrane, while also drawing from a rich musical palette including classical and opera. Played with T-Bone Walker while still in high school. Joined the big band of Lionel Hampton, who persuaded him to trade in the alto sax for a tenor, within days of his high school graduation. Closely associated with Joe Morris and Arnett Cobb through the early 1950s, and with Pepper Adams, Max Roach, Donald Byrd, Bud Powell, Elmo Hope, Art Blakey, Thelonious Monk, and Eddie Lockjaw Davis over the next decade. Well over three dozen albums to his name as a leader or co-leader, including the highly acclaimed A Blowin' Session which featured both John Coltrane and Hank Mobley, Live At Minton's Playhouse, Salt Peanuts, and Bush Dance. Relocated to France in the early 1960s and subsequently to the Netherlands a decade and a half later, preferring the European music scene embittered by the critical acceptance of free jazz in America. Charter member of the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band, backed visiting American jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie, and collaborated with Klaus Doldinger in the fusion band Passport. Griffin remained active until the end, passing away of a heart attack at age 80 only days after his last performance in Hyères, France ~ Griffin was born in 1928
July 25, 2008 ~ Producer, label executive Mike Berniker passed away in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, USA ~ Critically acclaimed producer with a career spanning four decades. First gained serious attention in the early 1960s producing Barbra Streisand's first three albums, the Grammy Award-winning The Barbra Streisand Album, The Second Barbra Streisand Album and The Third Album. Produced People, Streisand's first major hit. Also noted for signing Hall & Oates and Juice Newton to RCA Records. Has also worked with Perry Como, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, and Johnny Mathis ~ Berniker was born in 1935
July 25, 2005 ~ Trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff passed away in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany ~ Free jazz innovator. Brother of saxophonist Emil Mangelsdorff who introduced him to jazz during the Nazi regime while it was strictly forbidden. In the 1950s Mangelsdorff played with Joe Klimm, Hans Koller, and Jutta Hipp. Led a revered quintet in the 1960s and toured internationally. The 1970s showed expanding into new territory, experimenting with multiphonics, playing with the Globe Unity Orchestra, Peter Brötzmann, Elvin Jones, Jaco Pastorius, Alphonse Mouzon, John Surman, Barre Phillips, and Stu Martin. Co-founded the United Jazz+Rock Ensemble. Would go on to collaborate internationally in various ensembles from the 1980s onwards including with Chico Freeman, Jean-François Jenny-Clark, Eric Watson, John Lindberg, Ed Thigpen, and Ernst Reijseger ~ Mangelsdorff was born in 1928
July 25, 1995 ~ Singer, pianist Charlie Rich, full name Charles Allan Rich, passed away in Hammond, Louisiana, USA ~ Prolific singer, songwriter capable in rockabilly, jazz, blues, country, soul and gospel, widely credited with helping define the Countrypolitan sound. Dubbed “the Silver Fox”, as his hair turned white in his early 20s, Rich would become one of the most soulful country singers of the 1970s. Best known for Behind Closed Doors and its follow-up The Most Beautiful Girl. The former earned the singer an ACM Award, AMA Award, CMA Award, and a Grammy Award, the song would later also be inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame. The latter became a major cross-over hit, topped both the Billboard Country and the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts, and reached top 10 on the pop charts in Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the UK. Other well known songs include There Won't Be Anymore, A Very Special Love Song, I Don't See Me In Your Eyes Anymore, I Love My Friend, She Called Me Baby, and Rollin' With The Flow, all of which would top the Billboard Country charts. Prior to his rise to fame as a solo artist, Rich served as a session musician and occasional songwriter for Sun Records. Songs written by Rich early on in his career have been recorded by Ray Smith, Jerry Lee Lewis (Break-Up), Johnny Cash (The Ways Of A Woman In Love), Thomas Wayne, and Carl Mann ~ Rich was born in 1932
July 25, 1994 ~ Charles Artice Glenn, commonly known as country singer, songwriter Artie Glenn, passed away ~ Best remembered for writing Crying In The Chapel. The song would first be a hit as recorded by his son Darrell Glenn in 1953, despite the recording being only intended as a demo version to get it published. It would be covered by a number of artists during the 1950s, notably Ella Fitzgerald, Eddy Arnold, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The song would however become most closely associated with Elvis Presley who recorded three takes in 1960, shelved them for five years as he was unhappy with the takes and had a million-seller with the single in 1965 ~ Glenn was born in 1915
July 25, 1994 ~ Acid jazz, funk, R&B outfit the Brand New Heavies release Midnight At The Oasis, lifted off their Brother Sister album ~ Written by David Nichtern, the song would originally be a Billboard Hot 100 No.6 hit for Maria Muldaur, recorded for her 1973 eponymous debut album. The remake by the Brand New Heavies revives the classic, and peaked at No.13 on the UK charts, making it the band's biggest hit until the departure of lead singer N'dea Davenport. The remake was widely critically acclaimed, with Music Week pointing out how “stripped of the stretched jazzy gliding that typified Maria Muldaur's original, this 1974 hit is speeded up somewhat but adapts perfectly to the acid jazz treatment.”July 25, 1992 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist Gary Windo passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Declined an offer to join the band from Sonny Stitt. Member of New York Gong. Half of Pam & Gary Windo. Has worked with host of jazz and rock artists including Carla Bley, Brotherhood Of Breath, Centipede, Matching Mole, Running Man, Nick Mason, the Psychedelic Furs, Robert Wyatt, and NRBQ ~ Windo was born in 1941
July 25, 1991 ~ Singer Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa get married in Los Angeles, California ~ Scialfa first met Bruce Springsteen in the early 1980s, and postponed her solo debut album when joining Springsteen's backing unit the E Street Band in time for the 1984 Born In The USA tour. After the tour, Patti Scialfa was briefly romantically involved with actor Tom Cruise, prior to starting living together with Springsteen after his divorce from actress Julianne Phillips. The couple have been married since 1991 and have three children together
July 25, 1986 ~ Lester Anthony Minnelli, commonly known as stage director, film director Vincente Minnelli, passed away in Beverly Hills, California, USA ~ To musical audiences known for directing several classic movie musicals. Both 1951's An American In Paris and 1958's Gigi would win an Academy Award for Best Picture, the latter also winning Minnelli the award for Best Director. Also notably directed Meet Me In St Louis starring Judy Garland, released in 1944 and MGM's most successful film musical of the 1940s. Minnelli and Garland would be married from 1945 until 1951, their daughter is singer Liza Minnelli. In addition to directing some of the best known musicals of his day, Minnelli has also made many comedies and melodramas ~ Minnelli was born in 1903
July 25, 1984 ~ Willie Mae Thornton, commonly known as singer Big Mama Thornton passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influenced by Memphis Minnie, Bessie Smith, the Dixie Hummingbirds, and Mahalia Jackson. Best known for first recording the Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller song Hound Dog, later made famous by Elvis Presley, and Ball And Chain, later made famous by Janis Joplin. Has performed and recorded with artists such as Buddy Guy, Fred Below, Eddie Boyd, Jimmy Lee Robinson, Big Walter Horton, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Muddy Waters, Sammy Lawhorn, James Cotton, Otis Spann, Luther Guitar Junior Johnson, Francis Clay, George Harmonica Smith, Doug Macleod, Bee Houston, Steve Wachsman, Todd Nelson, Bill Potter, Bruce Sieverson, JD Nicholson, and Aretha Franklin ~ Thornton was born in 1926
July 25, 1980 ~ Singer, songwriter, poet, actor Vladimir Vysotsky, full name Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky passed away in Moscow, Soviet Union ~ Widely known for his unique singing style and lyrics, dressing social and political commentary in humorous wit. Though largely ignored and forbidden to release his songs by the cultural establishment remained popular and had a lasting effect on Soviet culture. Has written an estimated 1,000 songs, yet as most of were passed on through amateur vinyl and tape recordings he died without any official album release. Well-known songs include Farewell To Mountains, I Don't Like, Capricious Horses, Morning Gymnastics, and The Lyrical Song ~ Vysotsky was born in 1938July 25, 1979 ~ Leonard Grant, commonly known a rapper Uncle Murda, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ First gained attention as featured vocalist on Brooklyn of Fabolous' 2007 From Nothin' To Somethin' album. Has also collaborated with French Montana, 50 Cent, Bobby Shmurda, Casanova, 6ix9ine, Statik Selektah, Memphis Bleek, Busta Rhymes, Lloyd Banks, Raekwon, Waka Flocka Flame, Styles P, Jadakiss, and E-40
July 25, 1975 ~ Big band pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger Arnold Johnson passed away in St Petersburg, Florida, USA ~ Worked with Rudy Wiedoeft, Freddy Martin, Harold Arlen, Vic Benton, Bob Chester, and Danny Polo. Johnson disbanded the band in the early 1930s and became a radio producer and director ~ Johnson was born in 1893