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 27, 1954 ~ Progressive rock keyboardist Mark Stanway born in Sutton Coldfield, UK ~ Best known as keyboardist of Magnum from 1980 through 2016. Also worked with Phil Lynott, Snakecharmer, the Company Of Snakes, and with the Kingdom Of Madness
July 27, 1950 ~ Guitarist Mick Vaughan, full name Robert Michael Vaughan, born in Sheffield, UK ~ Lead guitarist for 1970s outfit Paper Lace, with whom he scored the UK hits Billy Don't Be A Hero, The Black-Eyed Boys, and The Night Chicago Died. All three would reach top 20 in the band's native UK, the latter would also top the American Billboard Hot 100
July 27, 1949 ~ Jazz, pop, rock, country rock flutist, saxophonist, keyboardist David Muse born in Rome, Georgia, USA ~ Best known as member of Firefall, joining the band just prior to recording their eponymous Firefall debut album. The band would score hits such as You Are The Woman, Just Remember I Love You and Strange Way. Subsequently recorded as a solo artist, worked with the Marshall Tucker Band, replacing original member Jerry Eubanks in 1996, and founded the Boulder County Conspiracy in 2012 ~ Muse passed away in 2022July 27, 1949 ~ Melbourne James, commonly known as reggae DJ Jah Stitch, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Reggae DJ debuted with Danger Zone, produced by Errol Holt. Has also worked with producer Bunny Lee, with Yabby You, Trevor Douglas, and Jah Woosh ~ James passed away in 2019
July 27, 1949 ~ Singer Maureen McGovern born in Youngstown, Ohio, USA ~ Singer, TV, film, Broadway actress known for movie themes such as The Morning After (from The Poseidon Adventure), We May Never Love Like This Again (from The Towering Inferno), and Different Worlds (the theme from TV series Angie)
July 27, 1949 ~ Roderick Macdonald, commonly known as bassist, singer Rory Macdonald, born in Dornoch, UK ~ Bassist of Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig from 1973 through 2018, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums. Coming from a traditional folk background and over time venturing towards a more pop oriented folk rock sound, the band has enjoyed popularity especially in their native UK during the late 1980s and 1990s. As of the late 1990s, following Canadian singer Bruce Guthro's entry into the band, they have also built a following in Canada. The band is especially acclaimed for their Once In A Lifetime album, released in 1988. Calum and his bandmate and brother drummer Calum Macdonald have been the only two constant members of the band and wrote the bulk of their songs
July 27, 1948 ~ Hendrikus Cornelis Jacoba Vrienten, commonly known as singer, bassist, songwriter, film composer Henny Vrienten, born in Hilvarenbeek, the Netherlands ~ Rose to fame as co-lead singer of Doe Maar, joining the band in 1980. The band spearheaded a resurgence of Dutch pop music and is best known for songs such as Nederwiet, 32 Jaar (Sinds 1 Dag Of 2), Is Dit Alles, De Bom, Pa and 1 Nacht Alleen. After the band folded in 1984 Vrienten has recorded as a solo artist, duetted with Herman Brood (Als Je Wint), and composed for dozens of films (Left Luggage, Abeltje), as well as for TV (het Klokhuis, Sesamstraat) ~ Vrienten passed away in 2022July 27, 1947 ~ Pop, rock keyboardist, songwriter Andy McMaster born in Calton, UK ~ Member of Ducks Deluxe. Member of the Motors, co-wrote Dancing The Night Away with Nick Garvey, wrote Airport and Forget About You. Also wrote or co-wrote songs recorded by Anita Harris, Alex Harvey (Broken Hearted Fairytale), and James Dewar
July 27, 1944 ~ Jazz, jazz-rock, classical saxophonist, composer Barbara Thompson, full name Barbara Gracey Thompson, born in Oxford, UK ~ Studied saxophone and classical composition yet her love of Duke Ellington and John Coltrane shifted her towards jazz. Best known for her association with Neil Ardley as a member of Ardley's the New Jazz Orchestra. Married to Colosseum-drummer Jon Hiseman from 1967 until his death in 2018, with whom she has two children. Founded and fronted Paraphernalia and a key member of the United Jazz+Rock Ensemble, both of which also included Hiseman. Worked closely with Andrew Lloyd Webber on several projects including the musical Cats and the 1978 classical-fusion Variations album. Has also collaborated with the She Trinity, Keef Hartley, Manfred Mann, and Marti Webb ~ Thompson passed away in 2022
July 27, 1942 ~ Roberta Lee Streeter, commonly known as singer Bobbie Gentry, born in Chakasaw County, Mississippi, USA ~ Rose to international fame with her 1967 hit Ode To Billy Joe. Initially intended for the flip side, the song would spend four weeks at the Billboard Hot 100 top position. Its accompanying album of the same name, Ode To Billy Joe, would hit the top position on the albums charts as well
July 27, 1942 ~ Producer, manager Kim Fowley born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for his role behind a number of cult pop singles including Alley Oop (the Hollywood Argyles), Like Long Hair (Paul Revere & the Raiders), and Popsicles And Icicles (the Murmaids), as well as the manager for Joan Jett's outfit the Runaways ~ Fowley passed away in 2015
July 27, 1930 ~ Drummer Andy White, full name Andrew McLuckie White, born in Stranraer, UK ~ Perhaps best remembered for temporarily filling in for the Beatles-drummer Ringo Starr on the band's Love Me Do and PS I Love You, respectively the A and B-side of their 1962 debut single. The band had recorded the songs earlier both with original drummer Pete Best and newcomer Starr, but all takes would leave manager George Martin dissatisfied. Starr is present on both recordings though, playing tambourine, maracas, bongos, but White serves as the main drummer. White would go on to session for a wide array of artists including Billy Fury, Herman's Hermits, Tom Jones (It's Not Unusual), Lulu, Rod Stewart, Anthony Newley, and Bert Weedon ~ White passed away in 2015July 27, 1930 ~ Pianist, composer Einar Iversen born in Mandal, Norway ~ Worked with Rowland Greenberg, Dizzy Gillespie, Anthony Ortega, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Dexter Gordon, Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Griffin, Svend Asmussen, Stuff Smith, Putte Wickman, Monica Zetterlund, Povel Ramel, Bjarne Nerem, Egil Johansen, Totti Bergh, Nora Brockstedt, Ditlef Eckhoff, Tor Hauge, and Jon Christensen ~ Iversen passed away in 2019
July 27, 1929 ~ Singer, producer, label executive Harvey Fuqua born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Member of the Marquees. Member of the Moonglows. Distributed the first Motown hit Barrett Strong's Money (That's What I Want). Founded Anna Records which would sign the Spinners, Junior Walker, and Shorty Long. Head of Motown's Artist Development, left in 1971. Discovered and produced acts such as the Weather Girls and Sylvester (Dance (Disco Heat), You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)). Produced Marvin Gaye's 1982 Midnight Love album ~ Fuqua passed away in 2010
July 27, 1928 ~ Rockabilly singer, guitarist, songwriter Curtis Gordon born near Moultrie, Georgia, USA ~ Reportedly, after winning a radio talent show Gordon dropped out of high school to pursue a career in music, only to have his parents make him return to school. However, he would moonlight with his band Pee Wee Mills & the Twilight Cowboys. Later, Gordon toured the Southeast with a Western swing band, and at age 21 would be signed as a solo artist by RCA Records producer Steve Sholes, who would later sign Elvis Presley. Heavily influenced by Ernest Tubb, Bob Wills, and Jimmie Rodgers, at the time Gordon's style merging country, Western swing and rockabilly may have been a little too much rock & roll for country lovers and a little too much country for rock & roll audiences. Unfortunately, Gordon may have never achieved the recognition he deserved, as his records charted poorly, if at all, yet he is fondly remembered by rockabilly aficionados as one of the most endearing artists of the 1950s, songs such as Rompin' And Stompin', Caffeine And Nicotine, Play The Music Louder, and Baby Please Come Home considered lost gems of the era. Financially, Gordon did manage to stay aflout though, touring with the Grand Ole Opry, opening for the likes of Ernest Tubb and Hank Snow, and later owning and operating a popular club in Mobile, Alabama, where he would continue to perform and enjoyed a solid regional following. Singer George Jones would record I've Aged Twenty Years In Five, written by Gordon and Bobby Parrish, for his 1980 I Am What I Am album, at the time regarded a comeback album for Jones and retrospectively acknowledged as one of the all-time greatest country albums. Gordon himself also briefly resurfaced in the 1980s, following a resurgence in rockabilly ~ Gordon passed away in 2004
July 27, 1927 ~ Country guitarist Velma Williams, also known as Velma Smith, born in Epleys, Kentucky, USA ~ Lone female member of a select group of Nashville sessions musicians. Present on classics such as Eddy Arnold's Make The World Go Away, Jim Reeves' I Love You Because, and Hank Locklin's Please Help Me I'm Falling ~ Williams passed away in 2014
July 27, 1924 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer, teacher, author Ferruccio Busoni, full name Ferruccio Dante Michelangiolo Benvenuto Busoni, passed away in Berlin, Germany ~ Revered yet controversial pianist. Enjoyed an international career as a virtuoso concert pianist. Sought-after teacher of composition. Has worked closely with the leading figures of his day. As a composer wrote for piano, notably the Piano Concerto In C Major Op.39 premiered in 1904, as well as chamber music, vocal and orchestral works, and operas ~ Busoni was born in 1866
July 27, 1922 ~ Producer Bob Thiele born in Sheepshead Bay, New York, USA ~ Married to singer Teresa Brewer. Founded Signature Records which had Lester Young, Erroll Garner, and Coleman Hawkins until the label folded in 1948. Also worked at other labels, Impulse, Decca Records and ABC Records, as well as from time to time run his own, Flying Dutchman Records, Red Barron Records. Co-wrote, along with George David Weiss, the Louis Armstrong hit What A Wonderful World. Worked as producer on array of quintessential albums including ones by John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, and BB King (Lucille) ~ Thiele passed away in 1996July 27, 1919 ~ Conductor, musical director Jonathan Sternberg born in New York, New York, USA ~ Revered conductor who worked with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Alfred Brendel, the Halifax Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Flemish Opera, the Harkness Ballet, the Atlanta Opera & Ballet, and other noted orchestras ~ Sternberg passed away in 2018
July 27, 1917 ~ André Robert Raimbourg, commonly known as actor, singer André Bourvil, born in Prétot-Vicqueare, France ~ Best known as an actor closely associated with Louis De Funes. Also known as a singer with some 300 songs to his name, including La Tendresse, Salade De Fruits and La Tactique Du Gendarme ~ Raimbourg passed away in 1970
July 27, 1908 ~ Songwriter Nancy Hamilton born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Wrote sketches and lyrics for revues such as The New Faces Of 1934 (1934), One For The Money (1939), and Three To Make Ready (1946). Perhaps best known as co-writer of How High The Moon, initially for the 1940 Broadway revue show Two For The Show, and later recorded by Benny Goodman, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Don Byas, Al Casey, June Christy, Larry Clinton, Stéphane Grappelli, Emmylou Harris, Harry James, Marvin Gaye, Gloria Gaynor, the Manhattan Transfer, Oscar Peterson, and Phish ~ Hamilton passed away in 1985July 27, 1892 ~ Close harmony singer Lewis James, full name Lewis Lyman James, born in Scio, Michigan, USA ~ Active as a soloist and as a member of the Revelers, the Shannon Four and of the Criterion Trio. One of the most recorded artist from the end of World War I through the 1930s. Known for songs such as My Baby Boy, Till We Meet Again, What I'll Do, All Alone and Pal Of My Cradle Days ~ James passed away in 1959