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 28, 1975 ~ Keyboardist, guitarist, singer Jeff Heisholt, full name Jeffrey Thoralf Heisholt, born in Thunder Bay, Canada ~ Co-founding member of the Burt Neilson Band, with whom he recorded four albums through the mid 2000s starting with the eponymous Burt Neilson Band released in 1998. The band has toured their native Canada extensively, establishing themselves as one of Canada's prime jambands. Heisholt is also well known for his association with soul-rocker Peter Elkas, including on the 2007 Wall Of Fire album, and since 2008 with the Trews, with whom he has recorded about a dozen albums. Heisholt has also appeared on albums by Steven Elmo Howard, Trevor Howard, Carrie Catherine, Mark Crissinger, the Ragged Bankers, Karyn Ellis, the Skydiggers, Meredith Shaw, Rufus Wainwright, Sarah Jane Scouten, and Current FantasyJuly 28, 1974 ~ Rapper, singer, songwriter Afroman, full name Joseph Edgar Foreman born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Catapulted to fame on the strength of his 2001 single Because I Got High, produced by Tim Ramenofsky, which cracked the Billboard top 20 and topped the charts in numerous countries. The follow-up single, Crazy Rap would reach the British top 10. Afroman continues to record to this day but never reached the same level of chart success
July 28, 1973 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, What About Me by Anne Murray peaks at No.20 Billboard Country ~ Murray had recorded What About Me, written by singer Scott McKenzie, for her 1968 debut album of the same name, an album which initially was only released in her native Canada, where it failed to chart. About half a decade later, however, Anne Murray included the song as a live track on her Danny's Song album. The big hit of said album was its title track, issued as the album's lead single. However, its follow-up What About Me would still reach a respectable No.20 on the Billboard Country charts. Songwriter McKenzie is best known for penning and recording the 1967 hit San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair), which became an anthem of the flower power generation
July 28, 1972 ~ Opera, concert, nightclub, cabaret singer Helen Traubel, full name Helen Francesca Traubel, passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Dramatic soprano best known for her roles in operas composed by Richard Wagner, notably as Brunnhilde in Die Walküre and as Isolde in Tristan Und Isolde. Trauble is most closely associated with the Metropolitan Opera, singing with the orchestra from 1937 to 1953. The singer also enjoyed a parallel career singing lighter repertoire in nightclubs, musical theatre, TV and film ~ Traubel was born in 1899
July 28, 1972 ~ Rock outfit Mott The Hoople release All The Young Dudes, lifted off the album of the same name ~ The band had a cult following in the UK, but didn't sell many records and were about to breakup when David Bowie, a big fan of the band, offered to produce their next album and gave them All The Young Dudes, a song he had originally intended to record himself for his upcoming album The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars. It became the biggest hit for the band, peaking at No.3 in their native UK, and their sole American top 40 hit, reaching No.37 on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition to writing and producing the hit single, Bowie also played guitar, sang backup and provided claps on All The Young Dudes. The hit would be the band's breakthrough and they would score several more hits until guitarist Mick Ralphs departed the band to form Bad Company. Bowie would later recall in an interview with Mojo: “I thought they were a fair little band, and I almost thought, ‘This will be an interesting thing to do, let's see if I can write this song and keep them together.’ It sounds terribly modest now, but you go through that when you're young”
July 28, 1971 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock, post-grunge guitarist, songwriter Billy Sawilchik, full name William Craig Sawilchik, born in Oak Lawn, Illinois, USA ~ Influenced by Jimmy Page, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Social Distortion, and Face To Face. Best known as lead guitarist and backing vocalist of Lovehammers, a mainstay on the Chicago rock scene, with whom he recorded half a dozen albums including the acclaimed 2006 Marty Casey & the Lovehammers album. Sawilchik is particularly noted for his experimental style, most apparent in his live performances where he often improvises and retools his solos and riffs
July 28, 1969 ~ Heavy metal, groove metal, rap metal, harcore punk singer, guitarist Billy Graziadei, full name William Graziadei, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Lead singer, guitarist, co-founding member of Biohazard. Has also worked with Powerflo, Suicide City, Roadrunner United, and Blood For BloodJuly 28, 1968 ~ Carl Ravazza, commonly known as violinist, singer, bandleader Carl Ravell, passed away in Reno, Nevada, USA ~ Best known for his 1937 version of So Rare written by Jerry Herst and Jack Sharpe, presumed to be the first recorded version of what was to become a standard later recorded by over 50 artists including Guy Lombardo, Don Cherry, Ella Fitzgerald, and most notably Jimmy Dorsey ~ Ravazza was born in 1910
July 28, 1967 ~ Rock bassist Taka Hirose, full name Takashi Hirose, born in Mizuho, Japan ~ Co-founding member of alternative rock, post-grunge outfit Feeder, acclaimed for their 1997 Polythene debut album. Among the band's best known songs are Buck Rogers, Just A Day, Forget About Tomorrow, Tumble And Fall and Lost And Found
July 28, 1965 ~ Daniela Mercuru de Almeida, commonly known as Latin pop, axé, samba singer, actress, songwriter, TV personality Daniela Mercury, born in Salvador, Brazil ~ Lead singer of Cheiro De Amor. Lead singer of Companhia Clic. Sang backup for Gilberto Gil. Actively recording as a solo artist since the early 1990s. Scored about a dozen No.1 hits in her native Brazil. Sold over 20 million records. Internationally best known for her 2006 Bale Mulato (Ao Vivo) album. Among her greatest hits are songs such as Swing Da Cor, O Cante Da Cedade, Rapunzel, Maimbe Danda and Sol Du SulJuly 28, 1965 ~ Trombonist Delfeayao Marsalis born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Leader and sideman. To pop audiences best known for his work with Buckshot LeFonque. Son of jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr, brother of trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, saxophonist Branford Marsalis, drummer Jason Marsalis. Has collaborated with Elvin Jones, Benny Green, Kermit Ruffins, Ruth Brown, Jeff Tain-Watts, Donald Harrison, Wycliffe Gordon, Monty Alexander, and Ana Popovic
July 28, 1963 ~ Pop singer, keyboardist, songwriter Beverley Craven born in Colombo, Sri Lanka ~ Influenced by Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and in particular Kate Bush. Best known for her first two albums, the eponymous Beverley Craven released in 1990 and its follow-up Love Scenes released three years later. Her Promise Me debut single initially failed to gain much attention in her native UK, though after becoming a hit across continental Europe a 1991 re-release would reach the UK top 10. Craven would record several more albums into the 2010s, notably the collaborative Woman To Woman with Judie Tzuke and Julia Fordham in 2018, but failed to repeat her earlier chart success
July 28, 1963 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Katharina Franck born in Düsseldorf, Germany ~ Rose to fame as lead singer, frontwoman of the Rainbirds, known best for their 1987 German top 10 hit Blueprint. After the band disbanded has worked with Stein in the 1990s and recorded as a solo artist starting with the Hunger album released in 1997July 28, 1963 ~ Pop, rock singer, guitarist, trumpeter Shaunna Hall, full name Shaunna Elizabeth Hall, born in Modesto, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of the 4 Non Blondes remaining with the band through 1992, for which she wrote or co-wrote songs such as Morphine & Chocolate and Spaceman. Has also worked with Bad Dog Play Dead, Alcohol Of Fame, Eric McFadden, Tribe 8, the Crash Puppies and notably backed funk icon George Clinton on tour
July 28, 1962 ~ Jazz pianist, vibraphonist, composer, arranger Eddie Costa passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Known for a percussive, driving piano style. Appeared on over a 100 albums during an eight-year career, cut short by a car accident at age 31. Played under bandleaders including Manny Albam, Gil Evans, Woody Herman, Tal Farlow, Coleman Hawkins, Gunther Schuller, and Phil Woods. Costa is also particularly known for accompanying singers such as Tony Bennett and Chris Connor. Recorded five albums as a leader, starting in 1956 with Eddie Costa Vinnie Burke Trio with bassist Vinnie Burke and drummer Nick Stabulas ~ Costa was born in 1930July 28, 1961 ~ Drummer, producer, songwriter David Huff, full name David Lyndon Huff, born ~ Best known as member of hard rock outfit Giant and of Christian rock band White Heart, both of which also included his brother noted session musician and producer Dann Huff
July 28, 1961 ~ Jazz saxophonist, bandleader Derek Nash born in Stockport, UK ~ Best known as leader of Sax Appeal. Also worked with Protect The Beat, David Sanborn, Johnny Dankworth, Dick Morrisey, Spike Robinson, Roger Cotton, Humphrey Lyttelton, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Solomon Burke, Annie Lennox, Madeleine Peyroux, Roger Daltrey, Eddi Reader, Tom Jones, Don Grusin and Dave Grusin, John Ethridge, Russell Ferrante, Nelson Rangell, Snake Davis, Bob Dorough, Oscar Castro Neves, Clare Teal, Jamie Cullum, Axel Zwingenberger, Dave Green, the Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, George Melly, Jools Holland, Bob Dorough, Shakatak, Lulu, India Arie, Alison Moyet, Clark Tracey, and Digby FairweatherJuly 28, 1961 ~ Country singer, songwriter Ray Vega born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Formed the siblng duo the Vega Brothers with Robert Vega, known for their 1986 Heartache Size Of Texas single. As a solo artist recorded one country album, 1996's Remember When, and one pop album, 1999's Geography
July 28, 1959 ~ Keyboardist, producer Bjørn Ole Rasch born in Elverum, Norway ~ Member of progressive rock band Boys'Voice, known for their 1984 20 Golden Lies single. Member of jazz ensemble EtCetera. Member of traditional folk ensemble Bukkene Bruse. Has also collaborated with the Secret Garden, Randy Crawford, the Chieftains, Keith Emerson, Trilok Gurtu, Hanne Boel, José Carreras, Sinéad O'Connor, Sissel Kyrkjebø, and Sigvart DagslandJuly 28, 1955 ~ Jazz bass guitarist Gerald Veasley born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Worked with Joe Zawinul, Odean Pope, Reverie, and Grover Washington Jr. As a solo artist debuted in 1992 with Look Ahead and has releasing albums steadily since
July 28, 1955 ~ Bassist Mike Merritt, full name Michael Monroe Merritt, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Son of jazz bassist Jymie Merritt. Best known as member of the Tonight Show Band alongside Jimmy Vivino and Max Weinberg. Has also worked with Johnny Copeland and Rock Candy Funk Party
July 28, 1954 ~ Jazz singer, composer, arranger, producer Nnenna Freelon born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA ~ Has worked with artists such as Ray Charles, Ellis Marsalis, Al Jarreau, Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin, Dianne Reeves, Diana Krall, Ramsey Lewis, George Benson, Clark Terry, Herbie Hancock, and Terence Blanchard
July 28, 1954 ~ Guitarist Steve Morse born in Hamilton, Ohio, USA ~ Cited as major influence by John Petrucci. Founding member of Dixie Dregs. Lead guitarist of Deep Purple since 1994. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with acts such as Kansas, Living Loud, Angelfire, Flying Colors, and G3
July 28, 1952 ~ Guitarist, singer Tony Poole born ~ Key member of early 1970s folk rock outfit Starry Eyed & Laughing alongside Ross McGeeney. After the band disbanded in 1976 Poole would venture into producing, working with artists such as Danny & the Champions, Maddy Prior, Steeleye Span, Giles Lewin, Pentangle and the Men They Couldn't Hang
July 28, 1951 ~ Thomas Michael Stevens, commonly known as pop rock bassist TM Stevens or occasionally as Shaka Zulu, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Recorded about half a dozen albums as a solo artist, perhaps most noted for Shocka Zooloo released in 2002. Member of Space Cadets, known for their eponymous Space Cadets album released in 1981. In-demand session and touring musician from the late 1970s onwards, present on albums by Narada Michael Walden, Stacy Lattisaw, David Sancious, Grandmaster Flash, Gregory Abbott (Shake You Down), the Pretenders (Get Close), Bob Geldof, Joe Cocker, Nona Hendryx, Cyndi Lauper, Tina Turner (Simply The Best), Curtis Stigers, Whitney Houston (The Bodyguard), Steve Vai, and Billy Joel ~ Stevens passed away in 2024