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 4, 2025 ~ Rufus Lee Cooper III, commonly known as rapper Young Noble, passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Best known for his association with Tupac Shakur, appearing on the tracks Bomb First (My Reply), Hail Mary, Life Of An Outlaw, and Just Like Dady of Shakur's 1996 Makaveli The Don (Killiminati The 7 Day Theory) album. Noble, sometimes referred to as “Marbles” by Shakur, was the last member to be added to Shakur's rap group Outlawz before the rapper's untimely death in 1996. Noble would go on to work with a wide array of rappers, most notably Bone Thugs 'n Harmony members Krayzie Bone and Layzie Bone, and recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Noble Justice released in 2002. Noble passed away at age 47 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound ~ Cooper was born in 1978
July 4, 2023 ~ Rogelia Medina Romero, commonly known as salsa, guaracha, son, guajira singer Canelita Medina, passed away ~ Mother of singer Trina Medina. Influenced by Celia Cruz. Considered one of the supreme voices in son montuno, with some two dozen albums to her name over a career spanning five decades. Well known songs include Quiéreme, Canto A La Guaira, and Triumphant Night ~ Medina was born in 1939
July 4, 2022 ~ Songwriter Alan Blaikley, full name Alan Tudor Blaikley, passed away ~ Known for a number of 1960s, 1970s UK hits, often written in partnership with Ken Howard. Notable hits include Have I The Right for the Honeycombs and The Legend Of Xanadu for Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich. Others who have recorded songs written or co-written by Blaikley include Petula Clark, Phil Collins, Sacha Distel, Engelbert Humperdinck, Eartha Kitt, Lulu, and Matthews Southern Comfort. Blaikley and Howard have also written the West End musicals Mardi Grass and The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole and composed for TV series ~ Blaikley was born in 1940
July 4, 2021 ~ Bassist Rick Laird, full name Richard Quentin Laird, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ House bassist at Ronnie Scott's famed London jazz club. Best known as member of John McLaughlin's pioneering jazz fusion outfit the Mahavishnu Orchestra, present on the albums The Inner Mounting Flame, Birds Of Fire and Between Nothingness And Eternity. Released one album as a leader, namely 1979's Soft Focus. Has also guested on albums by Prince Lasha, Almanac, Buddy Rich, Eric Kloss, Richie Cole, Atilla Zoller, Bob Mintzer, Charles Earland, and Simon Shaheen ~ Laird was born in 1941
July 4, 2009 ~ Music agent, label executive Allen Klein passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Became one of the most powerful individuals of his day in the music industry. Started representing 1950s rockabilly artists such as Buddy Knox and Jimmy Bowen. Would go on to negotiate contracts for Sam Cooke, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Also worked with Ersel Hickey, Dimitri Tiomkin, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gormé, Lloyd Price, Neil Sedaka, Bobby Darin, the Animals, Herman's Hermits, the Kinks, Lulu, Donovan, Pete Townshend, and Phil Spector ~ Klein was born in 1931
July 4, 2009 ~ James Forbes Chapin, commonly known as jazz drummer, teacher, author Jim Chapin, passed away in Fort Myers, Florida, USA ~ Did not begin playing the drums until he was 18 years old, after being inspired by iconic jazz drummer Gene Krupa. Spent two decades serving in bands led by the likes of Glen Gray, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey. Authored the drum instruction standard Advanced Techniques For The Modern Drummer published in 1948. The manual is considered the definitive study on coordinated independence for jazz drummers, and Chapin used to carry a pair of drumsticks with him at all times just in case someone would ask him to demonstrate any pattern from the book. Has taught Peter Criss after Criss left Kiss in the early 1980s. Fathered ten children including singers Harry Chapin, Tom Chapin, and Steve Chapin ~ Chapin was born in 1919
July 4, 2007 ~ Singer Bill Pinkney passed away in Daytona Beach, Florida, USA ~ Original member of the Drifters along with Andrew Thrasher, Gerhart Thrasher, Willie Ferbie and naturally Clyde McPhatter. Sang on early hits such as Money Honey, Honey Love, Adorable, and Ruby Baby. Lead on I Should Have Done Right and Steamboat ~ Pinkney was born in 1925
July 4, 2007 ~ Jazz violinist, double bassist Johnny Frigo, full name John Virgil Frigo, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Perhaps best remembered for writing Detour Ahead, a jazz standard recorded by Woody Herman, Billie Holiday, Patti Page, Irene Kral, and Anita O'Day. Has worked with Ken Nordine, Holly Cole, Audrey Morris, Claiborne Cary, Buddy Greco, Skeeter Davis, Monty Alexander, Skitch Henderson, Chad Mitchell, and Pee Wee King ~ Frigo was born in 1916July 4, 2005 ~ Tenor saxophonist John Stubblefield passed away in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Worked with the World Saxophone Quartet, Reggie Workman, McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard, George Russell, Nat Adderley, Kenny Barron, Lester Bowie, the Mingus Big Band, Anthony Braxton, Stanley Cowell, Miles Davis, Billy Hart, Louis Hayes, Julius Hemphill, Joseph Jarman, Victor Lewis, and Sam Rivers ~ Stubblefield was born in 1945
July 4, 2003 ~ Singer André Claveau passed away in Brassac, France ~ Popular in his native France from the 1940s forward. Internationally best known for winning the 1958 Eurovision Songfestival with Dors Mon Amour written by Pierre Delanoë and Hubert Giraud ~ Claveau was born in 1911
July 4, 2003 ~ Singer, songwriter Barry White, full name Barry Eugene White, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Over 100 gold records worldwide. Influenced by James Cleveland, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, the Supremes, the Four Tops, and Marvin Gaye. Known for a bass-baritone smooth voice, his association with the Love Unlimited Orchestra, and for songs such as I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby, Never Never Going To Give You Up, Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe, and It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me ~ White was born in 1944
July 4, 1999 ~ R&B soul singer Ruby Johnson passed away in Lanham, Maryland, USA ~ Enjoyed a number of local hits in the Washington DC area including Calling All Boys, Here I Go Again, Nobody Cares. Signed to Stax/Volt in 1965 where under the guidance of Isaac Hayes and David Porter recorded a number of moderately successful hits backed by musicians such as Steve Cropper, Donald Duck Dunn and Al Jackson Jr. Her I'll Run Your Hurt Away and If I Ever Needed Love would continue to be included on compilation sets to this day. Johnson retired from music in 1974 ~ Johnson was born in 1936
July 4, 1995 ~ Austin Richard Post, commonly known as rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, actor Post Malone, born in Syracuse, New York, USA ~ Blends hip-hop, R&B, pop, trap, rap rock, cloud rap. First gained attention with his 2015 White Iverson debut single. Would follow up with a full-length debut album, Stoney, the following year. Has recorded to commercial succes since. Known for Billboard Hot 100 top hits such as Congratulations featuring Quavo, Rockstar, Psycho featuring Ty Dolla $ign, Better Now, Sunflower with Swae Lee, Circles, and Take What You Want featuring Ozzy Osbourne & Travis Scott
July 4, 1994 ~ Singer, songwriter Agnete Johnsen, full name Agnete Kristin Johnsen, born in Nesseby, Norway ~ Also known as Agnete Saba. Lead singer of teen punk pop outfit the BlackSheeps, best known for their 2008 Oro Jaska Beana hit single. Following the band's disbandement in 2011 Agnete has recorded as a solo artist. Internationally best known for representing her native Norway at the 2016 Eurovision Songfestival with Icebreaker, which failed to reach the finals. The song would however reach top 20 on the Norwegian singles charts
July 4, 1992 ~ Bandoneon player, composer Astor Piazzolla passed away in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Virtuoso bandoneonist. Father of Nuevo Tango. Worked with Anibal Troilo, the Orquesta Tipica, the Orquesta de Cuerdas, Jorge Sobrel, Octeto Buenos Aires, Leopoldo Federico, Enrique Mario Francini, Hugo Baralis, Juan Vasssalo, Jose Bragato, Atilio Stampone, Juan Carlos Copes, Maria Nieves, Jaime Gosis, Simón Bajour, Horacio Malvicino, Kicho Diaz, Joge Luis Borge, Edmundo Rivero, Amelita Baltar, Gerry Mulligan, Tullio de Piscopo, Roberto Goyneche, Cacho Tirao, Osvaldo Pugliese, the Kronos Quartet, and Pablo Ziegler ~ Piazzolla was born in 1921July 4, 1990 ~ Derrick Desmond Coleman, commonly known as rapper Fredo Santana, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Debuted in 2013 with the album Trapping Ain't Dad. Collaborated with his cousin Chief Keef, Lil' Reese, King Louie, Gino Marley, Frenchie, Lil' Herb, Lil' Bibby, Lil Durk, 808 Mafia, Young Chop, Migos, Juelz Santana, Soulja Boy, Young Scooter, Fat Trel, Kendrick Lamar, and Peewee Longway ~ Coleman passed away in 2018
July 4, 1986 ~ Edward Shulman, commonly known as swing saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter Eddie Shu, passed away in St Petersburg, Florida, USA ~ Worked with Tadd Dameron, George Shearing, Johnny Bothwell, Buddy Rich, Les Elgart, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Barnet, Chubby Jackson, Gene Krupa, Jackie Paris, Bobby Byrne, Mel Powell, Louis Armstrong, and Joe Bonner ~ Shulman was born in 1918July 4, 1985 ~ Pop rock bassist, guitarist, keyboardist Toy Valentine born ~ First gained attention as member of all-female trio the Faders alongside lead singer, lead guitarist Molly Lorenne and drummer Cherisse Osei. The band is best known for their 2005 UK top 20 hit No Sleep Tonight of their sole Plug In And Play album
July 4, 1984 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Jimmie Spheeris passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Initially a folk singer, songwriter, later drawing from jazz, rock and fusion. Recorded four albums in the 1970s, working with renowned producers such as Paul Leka, Felix Cavaliere, Henry Lewy and David Campbell. Backed by notable musicians including Jane Getz, Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar, Bobbye Hall, Chick Corea, and Chuck Findley. Longtime friend Jackson Browne sang backing vocals on Spheeris' fourth and final album Ports Of The Heart, the recordings completed shortly before Spheeris' death in a motorcycle accident ~ Spheeris was born in 1949
July 4, 1983 ~ Melanie Fiona Hallim, commonly known as singer, songwriter Melanie Fiona, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Began her career in 2002 as part of Juno Award winning girl group X-Quisite. Wrote or co-wrote songs for Rihanna and Kardinal Offishal. Released her debut solo album, The Bridge, in 2009. Opened for Alicia Keys on the Freedom Tour in 2010. Collaborated with artists such as Future Cut, Vada Nobles, the Stereotypes, J Phoenix, Peter Wade Keutsch, and Cee Lo Green. Hallim cites Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Sam Cooke, Sade, Amy Winehouse, India Arie, Patsy Cline, and Bob Marley as influencesJuly 4, 1978 ~ Singer, songwriter Stephen McNally, full name Stephen Patrick McNally, born in Liverpool, UK ~ One third of Bbmak, alongside Mark Barry and Stephen McNally, known for a string of hits from the late 1990s through the band's disbandement in 2003. McNally joined 10 Reasons To Live as lead singer in 2009. Has also worked with Michael Scout, Koele Vaten, and Bert Van Engle
July 4, 1977 ~ Heavy metal, industrial metal singer, guitarist, bassist, producer Jonas Kjellgren, full name Per Jonas Kjellgren, born in Sweden ~ Best known as co-founder, guitarist for Scar Symmetry. Lead singer for Carnal Forge and Dellamorte. Guitarist for Centinex, Bassist for October Tide. In-demand producer for acts such as Sonic Syndicate, Zonaria, the Absence, Steel Attack, 21Lucifers, and Darzamat
July 4, 1976 ~ Progressive metal, progressive rock guitarist, singer Daniel Mongrain born in Trois-Rivières, Canada ~ Co-founding member of Martyr. Member of Voivod since 2008, replacing the late Denis D'Amour. Has also worked with Cryptopsy, Gorguts, Alcoholica, Capharhaum, Dan Bigras, Breen Leboeuf, and Bruno Pelletier
July 4, 1974 ~ Indie pop, shoegaze, synth-pop, pop singer, bassist, guitarist, songwriter Inara George, full name Inara Maryland George, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Formed the duo the Bird & the Bee with Greg Kurstin. Member of Merrick. One third of the Living Sisters alongside Eleni Mandell and Becky Stark. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with All Rise released in 2005, and collaborated with Lode, Ben Wendel, Idlewild, Mike Viola, Har Mar Superstar, Jason Mraz, the Foo Fighters, and SuperfruitJuly 4, 1973 ~ Gakuto Oshiro, commonly known as singer, pianist, songwriter, producer GACKT, born in Okinawa, Japan ~ Classically trained pianist. Cites Frédéric Chopin as a main influence. Active since the early 1990s, initially as frontman for shortlived indie band Cains-Feel and subsequently visual kei rock outfit Malice Mizer before venturing out on his own by the end of the decade. Has recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Mars released in 2000
July 4, 1973 ~ Electronic, house, trance keyboardist, guitarist Simon Greenaway born ~ Formed the house duo Aurora with keyboardist, guitarist Sacha Collisson, known best for their 2001 Ordinary World, Duran Duran-cover featuring guest vocalist Naimee Coleman, a UK top 10 hit