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 31, 1984 ~ Percussionist, composer Manu Delago born in Innsbruck, Austria ~ Worked with Zabine, Michael Tschuggnall, Nadine Beller, the Jazzwerkstatt Wien, Anoushka Shankar, Shpongle, Bugge Wesseltoft, Giannis Haroulis, Nitin Sawhney, Stuart McCallum, Boris Grevenschikov, George Breinschmid, Björk, and the Cinematic Orchestra
July 31, 1978 ~ Bandleader, producer, engineer Enoch Light passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Classically trained violinist. Led various dance bands from the late 1920s onwards, most notably the Light Brigade. Pioneered the use of stereo recording and as a result received little airplay early on in his career, most stations broadcasting on the mono AM band ~ Light was born in 1907
July 31, 1978 ~ Indie folk singer, guitarist, bassist, percussionist, songwriter José González, full name José Gabriel González, born in Gothenburg, Sweden ~ Released his Veneer solo debut album in 2003 and has recorded to warm reception since. Internationally especially acclaimed for his 2015 Vestiges And Claws album. Has collaborated with Junip, Zero 7, Jori Hulkkonen, the Books, and the Gotheburg String Theory
July 31, 1978 ~ Drummer, keyboardist, songwriter Will Champion born in Southampton, UK ~ Member of Fat Hamster. Last bandmember to join Coldplay in late-1997. Has been with the band since. Has also guested on Magne Furuholmen's first solo album Past Perfect Future Tense and on Brian Eno's Someday World
July 31, 1978 ~ Singer, guitarist Zac Brown, full name Zachry Alexander Brown, born in Cumming, Georgia, USA ~ Lead singer, eponym of country, country-rock outfit the Zac Brown Band, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums starting with the band's The Foundation debut album released in 2008. The band would consistently reach the higher echelons of the Billboard Country charts throughout the 2010, songs such as Chicken Fried, Toes, Highway 20 Ride, Free, As She's Walking Away featuring Alan Jackson, Colder Weather, Knee Deep featuring Jimmy Buffett, and Keep Me In Mind would all top the country charts.July 31, 1976 ~ Tango pianist, composer Francisco de Caro passed away in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Considered the most important representative of tango romanza. Brother of conductor, violinist, composer Julio de Caro. Influenced by Juan Carlos Cobián, Roberto Firpo, Eduardo Arolas. The latter would offer Julio a position in his orchestra after an impromptu performance in 1917. Francisco would later join him, as well as collaborate in other ensembles ~ De Caro was born in 1898
July 31, 1975 ~ Edward Lamonte Franklin, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Guitar Pete Franklin passed away in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Best known for songs such as Guitar Pete's Blues and Casey Brown Blues. Influenced by guitarist Scrapper Blackwell and pianist Leroy Carr. Has worked with St Louis Jimmy Oden, Jazz Gillum, John Brim, Sunnyland Slim, Tampa Red ~ Franklin was born in 1928
July 31, 1973 ~ Geraldo Rivera Rodriguez, commonly known as salsa singer, songwriter Jerry Rivera, born in Humucao, Puerto Rico ~ Actively recording since his teens, debuting in 1989 with the album Empezando A Vivir, earning him the nickname “the Baby of Salsa”. Known best for songs such as De La Cabeza A Los Pies, Me Estoy Enloqueciendo Por Ti, Suave, Ese, Quiero, Vuela Muy Alto, Solo Pienso En Ti and El Amor Existe
July 31, 1971 ~ Singer, songwriter, arranger Claudia Acuna born in Santiago, Chile ~ Debuted in 1999 with the album The Wind From The South. Has collaborated with Peck Almond, George Benson, Joey Calderazzo, Avishai Cohen, Mark Elf, Tom Harrell, Antonio Hart, Arturo O'Farrill, Guilermo Klein, Billy Childs, David Gilmore, Susie Ibarra, Willie Jones III, Jason Lindner, Fabrizio Soti, and Louie Vega
July 31, 1971 ~ Pop rock guitarist, percussionist Harri Mänty born in Vasterås, Sweden ~ Lead singer of short-lived hardcore punk band No Security. Best known as member of alternative rock outfit Kent from 1996 through 2006, joining the band after the departure of Martin Roos
July 31, 1971 ~ John William Lowery, commonly known as singer, guitarist John 5, born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, USA ~ Worked with David Lee Roth, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie. As a solo artist debuted with the album Vertigo in 2004 and has recorded steadily since. Staff writer for Chrysalis Records having worked with Matt Ball, Avril Lavigne, Rob Halford, kd Lang, Garbage, Meat Loaf, the Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Fefe Dobson, Steve Perry, and Lynyrd Skynyrd
July 31, 1966 ~ Earl Rudolph Powell, commonly known as pianist Bud Powell, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Pivotal to the development of bebop. Played with Cootie Williams, Oscar Pettiford, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Socolow, Sarah Vaughan, Dexter Gordon, JJ Johnson, Sonny Stitt, Fats Navarro, Kenny Clarke, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Tommy Potter, Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Ray Brown, George Duvivier, Percy Heath, Lloyd Trotman, Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke, Osie Johnson, Buddy Rich, Richie Powell, JJ Johnson, and Clifford Brown ~ Powell was born in 1924July 31, 1964 ~ John Richard Keith Townshend, commonly known as drummer, TV personality Fuzz Townshend, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Best known as a TV personality, co-hosting Car SOS. As a drummer has worked with General Public, with Pop Will Eat Itself, and has released a number of solo recordings starting with the single Hello Darlin' in 1996, a modest hit in the UK
July 31, 1964 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist Jim Corr, full name James Steven Ignatius Corr, born in Dundalk, Ireland ~ Member of sibling outfit the Corrs, alongisde his younger sisters Andrea Corr, Sharon Corr, Caroline Corr. The band scored hits with songs such as Runaway, Only When I Sleep, Dreams and Breathless, all of which reached top 10 in the band's native Ireland. Corr is also known as a conspirary theorist and blogger, running a 9/11 truther website through 2015 when one day all content disappeared and the site's URL redirected to the band's official site
July 31, 1964 ~ Country, country-pop singer Jim Reeves, full name James Travis Reeves, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Charted records from the 1950s through the 1980s. Dubbed “Gentleman Jim”. Instrumental in creating the lush Nashville sound, reaching audiences outside country circles. First gained attention with the single Mexican Joe in 1953. Frequently worked with producer Steve Sholes early on in his career. Known for songs such as Welcome To My World, I Guess I'm Crazy, Blue Side Of Lonesome, and Make The World Go Away ~ Reeves was born in 1923July 31, 1963 ~ Hard bop, West Coast jazz double bassist Curtis Counce passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Active since the mid 1940s. Leader and sideman. Worked with Shorty Rogers, Stan Kenton, Shelly Manne, Lyle Murphy, Teddy Charles, Clifford Brown, Harold Land, Jack Sheldon, Carl Perkins, Frank Butler, Elmo Hope, Buddy Collette, Maynard Ferguson, Jimmy Giuffre, Illinois Jacquet, Stan Kenton, and Johnny Otis ~ Counce was born in 1926
July 31, 1963 ~ Singer Denise Johnson born in Manchester, UK ~ Best known for her association with Primal Scream singing backup for the band from 1990 through 1995. Sang co-lead on the single Don't Fight It (Feel It) taken of the quintessential 1991 Screamadelica album. Johnson has also worked with New Order, the Pet Shop Boys, and A Certain Ratio, and has recorded as a solo artist ~ Johnson passed away in 2020
July 31, 1963 ~ Norman Quentin Cook, commonly known as producer, DJ Fatboy Slim, born in Bromley, UK ~ Bassist of the Housemartins in the 1980s, best known for the single Caravan Of Love. Helped popularize the big beat genre in the 1990s. Formed Beats International, known for hits such as Dub Be Good To Me. Enjoyed succes with his own records, scoring hits such as The Rockafeller Skank, as well as being a sought-after remixer reworking songs by Cornershop, the Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, Groove Armada, and Wildchild
July 31, 1962 ~ Regina Paula Martins, commonly known as singer Paula Morelenbaum, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Married to conductor, cellist Jaques Morelenbaum, with whom she also worked in the Quarteto Jobim Morelenbaum ensemble. Morelenbaum is also a member of Nova Banda, has recorded as a solo artist starting with her Berimbaum debut album released in 2004, and appears on albums by Olivia Hime, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Toninho Horta, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Gal Costa, Marina Lima, Chico Buarque, and Georges MoustakiJuly 31, 1961 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, Hats Off To Larry by Del Shannon peaks at No.5 Billboard Hot 100 ~ The song's slow intro launches into an upbeat rock & roller. Shannon's label, Bigtop Records, felt a fast-paced intro would be better, but Del Shannon put his foot down: “I had to fight for about two hours to get that the way I wanted it. They didn't want to listen to me. I was just the singer.” Issued as the followup to his Billboard Hot 100 No.1 single Runaway, the self-penned Hats Off To Larry tells of losing his girlfriend to a guy named Larry. When the singer learns Larry has broken up with her, he's willing to take her back, but not before tipping his hat to Larry, who gave the girl a taste of her own medicine
July 31, 1959 ~ Trumpeter, singer Saskia Laroo born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Dubbed “the Lady Miles Davis.” Leader and sidewoman. Has worked with Fra Fra Sound, Rosa King, Hans Dulfer, Candy Dulfer, Wynton Marsalis, Toots Thielemans, Roy Hargrove, Teddy Edwards, Warren Byrd, and Billy Preston
July 31, 1959 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion guitarist Stanley Jordan born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Michal Urbaniak, Richie Cole, the Dave Matthews Band, the String Cheese Incident, Phil Lesh, Moe, Umphrys McGee, Stanley Clarke, Charnett Moffett, Rebbie Jackson, Dionne Warwick, Ray Benson, and Will Calhoun
July 31, 1958 ~ William Thomas Berry, commonly known as rummer Bill Berry, born in Duluth, Minnesota, USA ~ Longtime member of alternative rock band REM. Though best known as the band's drummer, Berry occasionally plays guitar, piano, bass, and mandolin on their albums. Berry wrote or co-wrote some of the band's best known songs including Everybody Hurts, Man On The Moon, Perfect Circle, 8, Can't Get There From Here, and I Took Your Name. Also a member of Hindu Love Gods, alongside Warren Zevon, Bryan Cook, and REM-bandmates Peter Buck and Mike Mills
July 31, 1957 ~ Alternative rock, gothic rock, post-punk guitarist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter Daniel Ash, full name Daniel Gaston Ash, born in Northampton, UK ~ Influenced guitarists such as Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro, Soundgarden's Kim Thayil, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante. First gained attention in the late 1970s as guitarist of Bauhaus, known best for their Bela Lugosi's Dead debut single and their subbsequent debut album In The Flat Field, both considered hugely influential in goth rock and the latter cited as one of the first goth rock albums. Ash has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with 1991's Coming Down, and with acts such as Love & Rockets, Tones on Tail, Bubblemen, Poptone. His song Trouble is featured in the 2000 American Psycho filmJuly 31, 1952 ~ Jazz pianist Michael Wolff, full name Michael Blieden Wolff, born in Victorville, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Cal Tjader, Cannonball Adderley, Answering Service, Frank Sinatra, Impure Thoughts, Warren Zevon, Bobby McFerrin, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Jean-Luc Ponty, Terri Lyne Carrington, Christian McBride, Nancy Wilson, Steve Wilson, Lenny Pickett, and James Genus