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 26, 2023 ~ Country rock, pop rock bassist, guitarist, singer, songwriter Randy Meisner, full name Randall Herman Meisner, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of Poco, appearing on the band's 1969 Pickin' Up The Pieces but departing the band before its release. Leaving in high spirits his image was removed from the painting on the album's cover and replaced with a dog. Member of the Stone Canyon Band, present on the albums In Concert At The Troubadour 1969 and Rudy The Fifth. Best known for co-founding the Eagles, for whom he wrote or co-wrote and sang lead on songs such as Take It To The Limit, Try And Love Again, Is It True, Take The Devil, Tryin', and Certain Kind Of Fool. Citing “exhaustion” Meisner left the band in 1977. Meisner released his eponymous Randy Meisner solo debut album the following year ~ Meisner was born in 1946
July 26, 2023 ~ Alternative rock, pop rock singer Sinéad O'Connor, full name Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor, passed away in London, UK ~ Rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion And The Cobra and its follow-up I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. Perhaps best known for the Prince-penned Nothing Compares 2 U, which topped the charts in numerous countries including America, the UK and the Netherlands. Has collaborated with U2's the Edge, Jah Wobble, Peter Gabriel, Willie Nelson, Manu Dibango, Shane MacGowan, Zucchero, Massive Attack, Elaine Page, and Danny O'Reilly ~ O'Connor was born in 1966
July 26, 2022 ~ Author, music journalist, blues scholar Paul Garon, full name Paul Arthur Garon, passed away ~ Noted for his writings on surrealist works. To blues audiences best known as founding editor of the Living Blues magazine in 1970, which in time would become to be considered an authority on blues music. Authored several books on blues and blues musicians, including A Woman With Guitar (Memphis Minnie's Blues) on Memphis Minnie and The Devil's Son In-Law (The Story Of Peetie Wheatstraw And His Songs) on Peetie Wheatstraw ~ Garon was born in 1942
July 26, 2021 ~ Heavy metal, nu metal, groove metal, alternative metal drummer Joey Jordison, full name Nathan Jonas Jordison, passed away in Des Moines, Iowa, USA ~ Cites Keith Moon, John Bonham, Peter Criss, Gene Krupa, and Buddy Rich as main influences. Best known as co-founding member of Slipknot, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Slipknot and Vol.3 (The Subliminal Verses). Jordison has also worked with Ministry, Murderdolls, Scar The Martyr, Vimic, and Sinsaenum ~ Jordison was born in 1975
July 26, 2013 ~ John Weldon Cale, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter JJ Cale, passed away in San Diego, California, USA ~ Revered by peers including iconic artists such as Mark Knopfler, Neil Young, and Eric Clapton. As a songwriter Cale had his songs recorded by Clapton (After Midnight, Cocaine), Lynyrd Skynyrd (Call Me The Breeze), Captain Beefheart (I Got The Same Old Blues), Lucinda Williams (Magnolia), Johnny Rivers (Crazy Mama), Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings (Clyde), Pat Travers, Bryan Ferry. Beck, Kansas, Santana (The Sensitive Kind), George Thorogood (Devil In Disguise), Widespread Panic (Traveling Light), Freddie King, Joan Shelley, Francis Cabrel, and Phish ~ Cale was born in 1938July 26, 2011 ~ Tenor, soprano saxophonist, flutist, arranger, composer Frank Foster passed away in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for his association wth Count Basie. Has also worked with Frank Wess, Jimmy Smith, Pepper Adams, Lorez Alexandria, Elvin Jones, Kenny Burrell, Donald Byrd, Earl Coleman, Matthew Gee, Elmo Hope, Milt Jackson, Quincy Jones, Thelonious Monk, Woody Shaw, Cedar Walton, and George Benson ~ Foster was born in 1928
July 26, 2010 ~ Singer, songwriter Al Goodman passed away in Hackensack, New Jersey, USA ~ Landed a job with record producer Sylvia Robinson's All Platinum Records studio. Robinson discovered Goodman's voice while he was singing to himself and teamed him up with Billy Brown and John Morgan forming a revamped line-up of the Moments. They would go on to make records such as All I Have and Sexy Mama. Also worked with Vipers, Carvettes, and was one third of Ray Goodman & Brown ~ Goodman was born in 1943
July 26, 2010 ~ Steel guitarist, producer Ben Keith passed away in La Honda, California, USA ~ Best known for his work with Neil Young, starting on 1971 LP Harvest, continues to back Young on tour and record since. Keith also worked as a session musician and producer with artists such as Terry Reid, Todd Rundgren, Lonnie Mack, the Band, Blue, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Paul Butterfield, JJ Cale, Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, Ian & Sylvia, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Anne Murray, Ringo Starr, and with Jewel, producing her debut album Pieces Of You in 1995 ~ Keith was born in 1937
July 26, 2005 ~ Jazz, bossa nova, jazz fusion drummer Dom Um Romão passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Internationally best known for his stint with the Weather Report, joining the renowned fusion outfit in 1972 as replacement for Airto Moreira, and as a solo artist with about a dozen albums to his name including the highly acclaimed eponymous Dom Um Romão album. Prior to his rise to fame on the international scene, Romão was a celebrated accompanist for the likes of Latin artists such as Elis Regina, Elizeth Cardoso, Jorge Ben, and his then-wife singer Flora Purim. An in-demand sideman, Romão has also appeared on albums by Walter Wanderley, Vince Guaraldi, Luiz Bonfá, Stanley Turrentine, Collin Walcott (Grazing Dreams), Eddie Palmieri, Herbie Mann, Helen Merrill, Roberta Flack, Roy Ayers, McCoy Tyner, Kip Hanrahan (Coup De Tête), and Bobby Watson ~ Romão was born in 1925July 26, 2002 ~ Norman Dale Baker, commonly known as composer Buddy Baker, passed away in Hollywood, California, USA ~ Known as composer who scored Disney films such as Apple Dumpling Gang, The Shaggy DA, The Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh and The Fox And Hound. Married to singer Betty Jane Baker from 1950 to 1957 ~ Baker was born in 1918
July 26, 1996 ~ Pianist, songwriter Evelyn Danzig passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Scarlet Ribbons For Her Hair with Jack Segal, recorded by Jo Stafford, Harry Belafonte, the Kingston Trio, Joan Baez, Sinéad O'Connor, the Lennon Sisters, Wayne Newton, Perry Como, and Dinah Shore ~ Danzig was born in 1902
July 26, 1993 ~ Country singer Garth Brooks releases Ain't Going Down ('Til The Sun Comes Up), lead single off his In Pieces album ~ Written by Garth Brooks, Kent Blazy and Kim Williams, the song tells of a teenage couple who defy their parents and break curfew, with the girl being grounded only to sneak out again the next evening. Ain't Going Down ('Til The Sun Comes Up) would spend two non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Country charts. While working on the song, the songwriters fretted over how Brooks would manage the machine-gun delivery live and still be able to breathe. Brooks himself would later comment: “What we didn't know as we were doing it was that the lyric was becoming the cadence of the song, it was becoming the rhythm of the thing, the beat. You know, ‘You better get your red head back in bed before the morning,’ that red head becomes a push in the song, and it's funny because the whole studio band picked up on that immediately, that the lyric was the cadence, and they followed that cadence through it all”July 26, 1993 ~ Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, commonly known as hip-hop, grime, R&B rapper, singer, songwriter Stormzy, born in Croydon, UK ~ Released his full-length Gang Signs & Prayer debut album to critical acclaim and commercial success, spawning the UK top 10 singles Big For Your Boots and Blinded By Your Grace Pt.2 featuring MNEK. Other well known songs include Vossi Bop, Own It featuring Ed Sheeran & Burna Boy and Audacity featuring Headie One
July 26, 1991 ~ Jazz violinist, saxophonist, clarinetist Johnny Russell, full name John W Russell, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Active since the mid 1920s. Perhaps best known for his work with Bobby Martin, notably present on the soundtrack to the 1938 film L'Alibi. Has also worked with Jimmy Campbell, Earle Howard, Harry White, Benny Carter, Willie Bryant, Willie Lewis, Garvin Bushell, Russell Wooding, Cecil Scott, and Eddie Cornelius. Semi-retired from music by the late 1940s, yet would continue to occasionally play club dates ~ Russell was born in 1909
July 26, 1990 ~ Tariq Devega, commonly known as rapper A$AP Nast, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of A$AP Mob. Debuted as a solo artist in 2013 with the song Trillmatic which among others featured the Wu-Tang Clan's Method Man
July 26, 1990 ~ Keyboardist Brent Mydland passed away in Lafayette, California, USA ~ Influenced by organists such as Lee Michaels, Ray Manzarek, Goldy McJohn. Best known as longtime the Grateful Dead keyboardist, serving from 1979 to 1990. Also worked with Bobby & the Midnites, Bob Dylan (on the 1988 LP Down In The Groove), and with New Frontier ~ Mydland was born in 1952
July 26, 1989 ~ Singer, pianist, dancer Travis Garland born in Lubbock, Texas, USA ~ Member of boy band NLT. The band is known for a number of singles, notably the Timbaland-produced She Said I Said (Time We Let Go). A full-length Not Like Them album was scheduled, pushed back, and eventually cancelled altogether as the band lacked success and disbanded by the late 2000s. Garland would release his eponymous Travis Garland solo debut album in 2013
July 26, 1985 ~ Leslie Jonathan Mampe Jr, commonly known as hip hop, crunk, trap rapper Da LES, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Ushered in a new fun era of rap in South Africa, characterized by his cool kid demeanor and college swag aesthetic. Member of Jozi. Best known for his 2013 solo single Heaven featuring AKA and MaggzJuly 26, 1984 ~ Folk pop, indie rock singer, songwriter Alex Parks, full name Alexandra Rebecca Parks, born in Mount Hawke, UK ~ First gained attention in 2003 winnning the talent show Fame Academy. Subsequently released her Introduction album, which reached double platinum in the UK and spawned the hit singles Maybe That's What It Takes and Cry
July 26, 1984 ~ Arthur Eversole, commonly known as hip-hop, crunk rapper, songwriter Archie Eversole, born in West Germany ~ Best known for his 2002 single We Ready taken of his lone solo album Ride Wit Me Dirty South Style. Though only a minor hit the single would be adopted as an anthem by the Kansas City Royals. In 2022, Eversole was found suffering from gunshot wounds at a gas station, later dying from his injuries. His brother, Alexander Kraus, was arrested and charged with his murder ~ Eversole passed away in 2022
July 26, 1980 ~ Alternative rock, punk rock, hardcore, skate punk, heavy metal guitarist, singer Dave Baksh, full name David Nizam Baksh, born in Ajax, Canada ~ Best known as lead guitarist for rock outfit Sum 41, present on the band's debut EP and their first three studio albums. After recording the acclaimed Chuck album, released in 2004, Baksh departed the band to form Brown Brigade. Baksh subsequently worked with Organ Thieves and Black Cat Attack, before rejoining Sum 41 in 2015
July 26, 1979 ~ Autistic savant, musical prodigy, pianist, keyboardist Derek Paravicini born in Reading, UK ~ Child prodigy. Has perfect pitch and can play any piece of music after hearing it only once. Gave his first major public performance at age 9, playing with the Royal Philharmonic Pops Orchestra at the Barbican Hall, London. Released his Echoes Of The Sounds album in 2006. Subject of various documentaries and TV shows, including an episode of Channel 5's Extraordinary People dubbing him “the Musical Genius”
July 26, 1974 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones release It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It), lead single of their It's Only Rock 'n Roll album ~ Singer Mick Jagger said that as soon as he wrote it, he knew it was going to be a single: it was his answer to everyone who took seriously what he or the band did. The single would reach top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, top 10 in their native UK. Singer David Bowie guests as backing vocalist
July 26, 1973 ~ The rock trio ZZ Top release their Tres Hombres album, their first to reach top 10 Billboard Hot 200 ~ Despite at the time lukewarm reception, the band's third studio album would prove to be their commercial breakthrough. Highlights of the album include lead single La Grange, which peaked just outside the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers which would later be notably covered by Motörhead, and Jesus Just Left Chicago, all of which became staples of the band. Frontman Billy Gibbons would later recall: “We could tell we had something special. The record became quite the turning point for us.”
July 26, 1972 ~ Music journalist Neil Kulkarni born in Coventry, UK ~ Following his tenure as a staff writer for Melody Maker from 1993 through 2000, Kulkarni freelanced for publications such as Uncut, Vox, Spin, the Guardian, te Quietus, and DJ Magazine. Kulkarni has also authored several books, starting with Hip Hop Bring The Noise (The Stories Behind The Biggest Songs) published in 2004. Kulkarni focused primarily on hip hop and metal. Upon hearing of his death at age 51, Clash Magazine called him “one of the sharpest pens of his generation” ~ Kulkarni passed away in 2024