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, 1950 ~ Singer, keyboardist, trumpeter Duncan Mackay born in Leeds, UK ~ Worked with Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel from 1975 through 1977, with 10cc from 1978 through 1981. Appears on Kate Bush's first three albums, namely The Kick Inside, Lionheart and Never For Ever. Has also recorded as a solo artist, as well as with Alan Parsons, Camel, and Budgie
July 28, 1950 ~ Jazz trombonist Hal Crook born in Providence, Rhode Island, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Joe Diorio, Take Toriyama, Thompson Kneeland, Steve LaSpina, Steve Bagby, Jerry Bergonzi, Dave Weigert, Yoral Oron, Hans Glawischnig, Phil Woods, Bill Dobbins, Chuck Israels, and Bill Goodwin
July 28, 1950 ~ Guitarist Roy Rogers born in Redding, California, USA ~ Not to be confused with the singing cowboy singer, actor Roy Rogers. Blues rock slide guitarist and producer. Founded and fronts the Delta Rhythm Kings. Played with John Lee Hooker, Linda Ronstadt, Sammy Hagar, Bonnie Raitt, Zucchero, John Gorka, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Elvin Bishop, Carlos Santana, Steve Miller, and Ray Manzarek
July 28, 1949 ~ Pop, new wave songwriter Liam Sternberg, full name Liam Hillard Sternberg, born in Akron, Ohio, USA ~ Best known for penning Walk Like An Egyptian, which would become a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 for all-female pop outfit the Bangles. Sternberg had been inspired while watching people trying to keep their balance on a ferry in rocky waters, scribbling down the words “walk like an Egyptian” in his notebook. The song would first be offered to Toni Basil, who declined, and then to Lene Lovich, who recorded a demo version shortly before taking a break from music altogether. Recorded by the Bangles, it would become a massive hit and Sternberg's greatest claim to fame. Other songs written by Sternberg have been recorded by Kirsty MacColl, Rachel Sweet (Cuckoo Clock), RATT, Fuzzbox, Riff Regan, and Baby Tuckoo. Sternberg has also written 21 Jump Street, the theme song to the TV series of the same name performed by Holly RobinsonJuly 28, 1949 ~ Rock, hard rock, blues rock drummer, guitarist, singer Simon Kirke, full name Simon Frederick St George, born in London, UK ~ Member of Free, known for their 1970 hit All Right Now. Sole constant member of Bad Company. Has also worked with Black Cat Bones, Wildlife, Ringo Starr & his All-Starr Band, and Lonerider
July 28, 1949 ~ Stephen Ross Porter, commonly known as rock, psychedelic pop singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer Steve Peregrin Took, born in London, UK ~ First gained attention as member of T.Rex alongside Marc Bolan, remaining with the band through 1969. After his split from the band would go on to work with the Pink Fairies and Shagrat ~ Porter passed away in 1980
July 28, 1948 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter Gerald Casale, full name Gerald Vincent Casale, born in Ravenna, Ohio, USA ~ Best known as co-founder, bassist for Devo. Brother of Bob Casale. Directed most of the band's videos as well as videos for other artists including the Cars, A Perfect Circle, the Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, and Silverchair. As a musician also worked with the Numbers Band, and Jihad Jerry & the Evildoers
July 28, 1946 ~ Country rock, folk rock, bluegrass singer, guitarist, songwriter Jonathan Edwards, full name John Evan Edward, born in Aitkin, Minnesota, USA ~ Best known for his Sunshine, Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit of his 1971 eponymous Jonathan Edwards debut album. The single was only released by mistake, an engineer accidentally erasing the master track of Please Find Me and having to release a subsitute single instead. Sunshine would be covered by the Isley Brothers, Juice Newton, Paul Westerberg and Izzy Stradlin
July 28, 1946 ~ Gospel singer, bassist Lee Williams born ~ Lead singer of vocal quartet Lee Williams & the Spiritual QC's, originally started as the Spiritual QC's. After Willie Ligon's departure from the group Williams took over lead duties and the band was renamed to include his name. Broke through with the hit I've Learned To Lean of their 1990 Jesus Is Alive And Well debut album. The group would go on to become one of the most beloved contemporary gospel quartets, their albums regularly reaching the higher echelons of the Christian charts ~ Williams passed away in 2021
July 28, 1944 ~ R&B, soul singer Bobby King born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA ~ Closely associated with Terry Evans. Sang backup for Ry Cooder, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Boz Scaggs. As a solo artist known for two 1980s albums, namely 1981's eponnymous Bobby King and 1984's Love In The FireJuly 28, 1944 ~ Surf, rock drummer Mike Kowalski born in Hollywood, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with early surf bands such as the Avantis and for sessioning for the Beach Boys and Sonny Bono, appearing on Bono's sole solo recording Laugh At Me. Has also worked with Sonny & Cher, Little Anthony & the Imperials, Etta James, and with several British artists including John Martyn, Dudu Pukwana, Mike Heron, and Nick Drake
July 28, 1943 ~ Rock, blues, blues-rock guitarist, singer Michael Bloomfield, full name Michael Bernard Bloomfield, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Also noted for appearing on Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited album including on the track Like A Rolling Stone. Has also worked with the Electric Flag, KGB, Barry Goldberg, Nick Gravenites, Bill Vitt, Dr John, Frank Zappa, Mother Earth, Muddy Waters, Janis Joplin, Sam Lay, and notably with Al Kooper and Stephen Stills on the acclaimed Super Session album ~ Bloomfield passed away in 1981July 28, 1943 ~ Keyboardist, singer, songwriter Richard Wright, full name Richard William Wright, born in Middlesex, UK ~ Co-founding member of Pink Floyd. Left the band after the 1981 tour to rejoin as a session musician in 1987 becoming a full-time member again in 1994 ~ Wright passed away in 2008
July 28, 1939 ~ Jazz trumpeter Jim Knapp, full name James Donald Knapp Jr, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Recorded a handful of albums as a leader, noted particularly for On Going Home released in 1995. Taught at the Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, for over four decades starting in 1971. Director for the chamber ensemble the Composers And Improvisers Orchestra from 1977 through 1985, presenting compositions by the orchestra's members and guest composers including Carla Bley, Anthony Braxton, Gil Evans, and Sam Rivers. Founded the Chamber Groove Orchestra in the late 1990s. As a sideman has appeared on albums by Jay Clayton, Pax Wallace, Steve Korn, and Carolyn Graye ~ Knapp passed away in 2021July 28, 1938 ~ Pop, rock guitarist, songwriter George Cummings born in Meridian, Mississippi, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member of 1970s, 1980s rock outfit Dr Hook & the Medicine Show. Sang lead on songs such as Makin' It Natural, Penicillin Penny and I Got Stoned And I Missed It. Also worked with the Chocolate Papers ~ Cummings passed away in 2024
July 28, 1935 ~ Blues pianist, singer Pinetop Sparks records Every Day I Have The Blues in Chicago, Chicago, Illinois ~ Written by Pinetop Sparks with his brother Milton Sparks. The song would become a blues standard after Memphis Slim's 1949 rendition. Over the years four different versions would reach top 10 on the Billboard R&B charts. Two versions, namely by Count Basie and BB King, would be inducted in the Grammy Hall of FameJuly 28, 1931 ~ Sidney Selby, commonly known as blues harpist, guitarist, singer Guitar Crusher, born in Hyde County, North Carolina, USA ~ Recording since the 1960s. Relocated to Germany in the 1980s, finding popularity across Europe playing clubs and festival across Europe with his backing unit the Midnight Rockers. Has worked with artists such as Katie Webster, Detroit Gary Wiggins, Alvin Lee, Benny Bailey, and Thomm Jutz ~ Selby passed away in 2020
July 28, 1930 ~ Mamadou Ndiaye, commonly known as drummer, bandleader, composer Doudou Ndiaye Rose, born in Dakar, Senegal ~ One of the first to bring Senegalese traditional music to a global audience. A virtuoso percussionist, he has been called “the Jimi Hendrix of the drum skin”. Perhaps best known for his 1994 Djabote album, recorded with no less than 50 drummers and an 80-member female choir. Over the course of his lengthy career Rose has toured with Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and the Rolling Stones, and recorded with artists as diverse as Peter Gabriel, Alan Stivell, David Murray, Aka Moon, and Nine Inch Nails. In 2006, he was declared a “living cultural treasure” by the UN Cultural Agency for keeping alive traditional rhythms ~ Ndiaye passed away in 2015
July 28, 1925 ~ Kenneth Alwyn Wetherell, commonly known as conductor, composer Kenneth Alwyn, born in Croydon, UK ~ Active since the early 1950s, starting with the Sadler's Wells theater Ballet, moving on to the the Royal Opera House in 1957. Would go on to work with numerous renowned orchestras. Especially known for his long association with the BBC, both as a conductor and as presenter of programs, perhaps most notably Friday Night Is Music Night and The Orchestra ~ Wetherell passed away in 2020July 28, 1923 ~ Contemporary classical composer Chou Wen-Chung born in Yantai, China ~ Chinese-American credited as one of the first to translate authentic oriental melo-rhythms into modern Western music. Protégé of Edgard Varèse. Also known as founder of the the Center For US-China Arts Exchange to promotoe mutual understanding between the two countries through the channel of culture ~ Wen-chung passed away in 2019
July 28, 1923 ~ Producer, songwriter Ray Ellis born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Orchestrated Billie Holiday's Lady In Satin album. Arranged many 1950s and 1960s hits, including for Johnny Mathis (A Certain Smile), Sarah Vaughan (Broken-hearted Melody), and the Four Lads (Standing On The Corner). Produced Emmylou Harris' 1970 debut album Gliding Bird. As arranger or conductor Ellis has also worked with Chris Connor, Joe Castro, Barbra Streisand, Lena Horne, Liza Minnelli, Esther Phillips, Ben E King, Harold Land, and Herbie Mann ~ Ellis passed away in 2008July 28, 1922 ~ Albert Atkinson, commonly known as jazz composer, arrenger AK Salim, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Played with King Kolax, Jimmy Raschel, Tiny Bradshaw. Stopped playing after a jaw injury and arranged, sometimes composed for Lucky Millinder, Cab Calloway, Jimmie Lunceford, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Tito Puente, Machito, and Dizzy Gillespie
July 28, 1901 ~ Hubert Prior Vallée, commonly known as singer, actor, saxophonist Rudy Vallée, born in Island Port, Vermont, USA ~ Started in the mid 1920s playing with the Savoy Havana Band. Became one of the first crooners. Became one of the first teen idol pop stars. Founded the Connecticut Yankees. Vallée's vocal phrasing would inspire artists such as Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Perry Como, to model their voices on jazz instruments. Best known for songs such as Stein Song, Vieni Vieni and 99 Out Of A 100 ~ Vallée passed away in 1986
July 28, 1741 ~ Composer, violinist, priest Antonio Vivaldi, full name Antonio Lucio Vivaldi, passed away in Vienna, Austria ~ Baroque composer influential on Johann Sebastian Bach. Virtuoso violinist. Composed over 40 operas. Also known for his concertos and choral works. Perhaps best remembered for his violin concertos, most notably The Four Seasons ~ Vivaldi was born in 1678