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 7, 1967 ~ Jacqueline Neal, commonly known as blues singer Jackie Neal, born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA ~ Daughter of blues guitarist Raful Neal, sister of blues guitarist Kenny Neal. Jackie recorded four albums during her career, starting with The Blues Won't Let You Go released in 1995, before her untimely death at age 37, shot and killed by an ex-boyfriend. She is best known for songs such as Right Thang Wrong Man, The Way We Roll, and Down In The Club ~ Neal passed away in 2005
July 7, 1967 ~ Jonathan Sutter, commonly known as singer, rapper Tenor Fly, born in Brixton, UK ~ Recorded solo and as member of the Freestylers. Best known for his collaborations with artists such as Rebel MC, Top Cat, Daddy Freddy, Prizna, Pendulum, Barrington Levy, and the Sir Coxson Sound ~ Sutter passed away in 2016
July 7, 1966 ~ R&B bassist, singer Ricky Kinchen born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Member of R&B outfit Mint Condition, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums. The band enjoyed popularity in the 1990s, until fading from view after the emergence of new jack swing and hip-hop. The singles Forever In Your Eyes, U Send Me Swingin', What Kind Of Man Would I Be, and If You Love Me would all reach top 10 on the Billboard R&B charts. Their best known, Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes) lifted off the band's 1991 Meant To Be Mint debut album, would also reach top 10 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No.6
July 7, 1964 ~ Jazz fusion, experimental rock flutist, saxophonist, clarinetist Theo Travis born in Birmingham, UK ~ Member of Gong from 1999 through 2010. Member of Soft Machine Legacy since 2006. About a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, leader, starting in the early 1990s. Has also worked with Mark Hewins, Steve Lawson, Robert Fripp, John Foxx, Jade Warrior, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Masami Tsuchiya, Indigo Falls, Francis Dunnery, Harold Budd, No-Man, Porcupine Tree, the Tangent, David Sylvian, and David Gilmour
July 7, 1963 ~ Singer, pianist, bassist, guitarist, songwriter, actress Vonda Shepard born in New York, New York, USA ~ First gained attention for her role as resident bar singer in the TV series Ally McBeal. Known for her 1998 recording of the show's theme, Searchin' My Soul, as well as for her rendition of the Holiday classic Everybody's Waitin For The Man With The BagJuly 7, 1962 ~ Pop, rock bassist Mark White born in the Bronx, New York, New York ~ Co-founding member of the Spin Doctors, leaving the band in 1998 sometime during the recording of the band's fourth album Here Comes The Bride. Present on the band's best known including Two Princes which reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic
July 7, 1961 ~ Alan Chesnovitz, commonly known as trumpeter, hornist Alan Chez, born in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA ~ Worked with the CBS Orchestra, the Garfield Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps, Jon Bon Jovi, the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps, the Cadets, Tower Of Power, the Robert Cray Band, Dave Edmunds, Dion, Graham Parker, Kim Wilson, Sting, Flavor Flav, the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, and David Bowie
July 7, 1961 ~ Clive Jackson, commonly known as glam rock, new wave, pop rock singer the Doctor, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Fronted Doctor & the Medics, best known for their 1981 Norman Greenbaum-cover Spirit In The Sky which would top the charts in their native UK. Subsequent charting singles would include Burn and Waterloo
July 7, 1959 ~ Siblings the Everly Brothers record Till I Kissed You at RCA-Victor Studios, Nashville, Tennessee ~ Written by Don Everly. Produced by Archie Bleyer. Backing musicians include Chet Atkins, Sonny Curtis, Floyd Chance, Jerry Allison, Floyd Cramer. Released as a single later the same year, paired with Oh What A Feeling on the flip side
July 7, 1957 ~ Singer, guitarist Berry Sakharof born in Izmir, Turkey ~ Dubbed “the Prince of Israeli rock” and regarded as one of the most important Israeli rock guitarists. As a solo artist has over a dozen albums to his name, starting in the early 1990s. Has also worked with Cosmic Dream, Minimal Compact, Rea Mochiach, Fortisakharof, Rami Fortis, Foreign Affair, and Micha ShitrtitJuly 7, 1957 ~ Jazz, art rock, world music, progressive rock, rock guitarist, pianist, event organizer Dennis Rea born in Utica, New York, USA ~ Influenced by artists as diverse as King Crimson, Soft Machine, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Jimi Hendrix. Member of Earthstar, known for the albums Salterbury Tales, French Skyline, and Atomkraft Nein Danke. Fronted progressive rock quintet Moraine. Collaborated with Jeff Greinke in LAND. Other notable collaborations include Stackpole, Iron Kim Style, Savant, and Flame Tree
July 7, 1956 ~ Jazz bandleader, violinist Alex Hyde passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Founded dance band the Romance Of Rhythm Orchestra, popular in the 1920s. Has worked with Howard McFarlane, Walker O'Neill, Eddie Grosso, Gene Sedric, and Mike Danzi ~ Hyde was born in 1898
July 7, 1955 ~ Jazz pianist John Campbell born in Bloomington, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Actively recording since the late 1980s. Worked with Buddy DeFranco, Terry Gibbs, Stan Getz, Eddie Harris, James Moody, Charles McPherson, Clark Terry, Mel Tormé, Greg Gisbert, Denise Jannah, the Jump 'n the Saddle Band, Randy Stonehill, and Cy Touff
July 7, 1954 ~ Singer Cherry Boone, full name Cheryl Lynne Boone, born in Denton, Texas, USA ~ Daughter of singer-actor Pat Boone and has recorded with her siblings as the Boones, scoring modest hits with the Supremes-cover When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes in 1975 and the ABBA-cover Hasta Mañana in 1977
July 7, 1954 ~ Ram Ephraim Fortis, commonly known as rock, punk rock singer Rami Fortis, born in Tel Aviv, Israel ~ Pioneer of Israeli rock. Influenced by the Clash, the Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop, the Ramones. Released his Plonter debut album in 1978, initiallty to little succes yet later hailed as an influential cult album. Member of alternative rock outfit Minimal Compact since 1984
July 7, 1952 ~ Country, folk singer, guitarist, songwriter James Hand, also known as James Slim Hand, born in Waco, Texas, USA ~ Actively performing since his late teens, playing honky-tonks and roadhouses across Texas rising to regional fame, yet would not release a solo album until well into his 40s. Recorded about half a dozen albums, especially acclaimed for The Truth Will Set You Free and its follow-up Shadow On The Ground released respectively in 2006 and 2009. Hand played a fictional version of himself in the independent film Thank You A Lot released in 2014 ~ Hand passed away in 2020
July 7, 1951 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, R&B, funk, soul, pop singer, bassist, saxophonist, producer Michael Henderson born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, USA ~ Influenced by Motown house bass guitarist James Jamerson. First gained attention backing Stevie Wonder on tours. Made his name playing on a number of pivotal 1970s Miles Davis jazz fusion albums, notably Live/Evil and Agharta. Would go on to work with artists such as Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, the Dramatics, and Dr John. Has also recorded as a solo artist, releasing over half a dozen albums starting with Solid in 1976 ~ Henderson passed away in 2022July 7, 1951 ~ Drummer, percussionist Sue Evans born in New York, New York, USA ~ In-demand session percussionist working in a wide array of genres including jazz, pop and classical. Has worked with Steve Kuhn, Art Farmer, George Benson, Urbie Green, the New York Pops, the New York Philharmonic, Michael Franks, Suzanne Vega, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Sting, James Brown, Blood Sweat & Tears, Philip Glass, Don Sebesky, Sadao Watanabe, Randy Brecker, David Sanborn, Terence Blanchard, Lalo Schifrin, and Jeremy Steig
July 7, 1950 ~ Theodore Navarro, commonly known as jazz, bebop trumpeter Fats Navarro, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Pioneering bebop improviser. Influential on players such as Clifford Brown and JJ Johnson. Worked with Snookum Russell, Charlie Parker, Andy Kirk, Billy Eckstine, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Kenny Clarke, Tadd Dameron, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Coleman Hawkins, Illinois Jacquet, Howard McGhee, Bud Powell, Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis ~ Navarro was born in 1923July 7, 1947 ~ Singer David Hodo born in San Andreas, California, USA ~ Best known as the “construction worker” in disco otufit the Village People from 1978 through 1982 and again from 1987 through 2013. Also worked in musical theatre, making his Broadway debut in 1975 in Doctor Jazz and acted in a variety of TV shows including Married With Children and The Love Boat
July 7, 1947 ~ Singer, songwriter Victor Manuel, full name Victor Manuel San José Sánchez, born in Mieres, Spain ~ Along with his wife, singer and actress Ana Belén considered symbols of the Spanish Transition from the Francoist dictatorship, who would ban his songs, to a consititional monarchy. Over a dozen albums to his name, especially acclaimed for his Todos Tenemos Un Precio released in 1974
July 7, 1944 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist Warren Entner born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Member of rock & roll band the Grass Roots, writing or co-writing a vast amount of the band's songs including Feelings and Come On And Say It. Would eventually become a manager for rock, hard rock acts such as Angel, Quiet Riot, Faith No More, Rage Against The Machine, the Deftones, and Nada Surf
July 7, 1943 ~ Salvatore Cutugno, commonly known as singer, pianist, guitarist, saxophonist, drummer, songwriter Toto Cutugno born in Fodinovo, Italy ~ One of the most popular Italian singers and one of the most successful Italian songwriters of all time with sales reportedly exceeding 100 million globally. As a performer internationally best known for the 1983 worldwide hit L'Italiano, initially intended for Adriano Celentano who turned it down, and for the 1990 Eurovision Songfestival-winner Insieme 1992. Songs written or co-written by Cutugno have been recorded by Joe Dassin, Claude François, Michel Sardou, Domenico Modugno, Miguel Bosé, and Dalida ~ Cutugno passed away in 2023
July 7, 1942 ~ Alexander William Roberton, commonly known as label executive, music publisher, producer Sandy Roberton born in Edinburgh, UK ~ Member of several pop, beat groups before venturing into music production and publishing. As a producer first gained attention working with UK pop band the Chocolate Watch Band featuring Gary Osborne. Ran several of Chess Records' UK subsidiaries including Arc Music, Regent Music and Jewel Music before forming his own company September Productions. Noted for producing the first three Steeleye Span albums, Hark (The Village Wait), Please To See The King and Ten Man Mop (Or Mr Reservoir Butler Rides Again). Also worked with acts such as the Liverpool Scene, Iain Matthews, Decameron, Shirley Collins, Plainsong, and John Martyn. Roberton also formed Rockburgh Records and Worlds End Producer Management Company ~ Roberton passed away in 2022
July 7, 1941 ~ Robert Lee Romero, commonly known as rock & roll singer, guitarist Chan Romero, born in Billings, Montana, USA ~ Best remembered for penning and first recording Hippy Hippy Shake. The song failed to make the American Billboard Hot 100 charts, but would be a hit overseas and has remained popular throughout the decades. The song has been used in several films, and would be covered by over 50 artists including the Swinging Blue Jeans, Billy Fury, Mud, the Beatles, the Georgia Satellites, Shane MacGowan, and Die Toten Hosen. In 2019, a bill to make Romero's Hippy Hippy Shake the official state rock & roll song of his native state Montana failed to pass the Legislature. Regardless, Romero is remembered as one of the state's greatest musicians ~ Romero passed away in 2024
July 7, 1941 ~ Bassist Jim Rodford, full name James Walter Rodford, born in St Albans, UK ~ Best known as founding member of Argent, known for songs such as Hold Your Head Up and God Gave Rock & Roll To You. Following the band's disbandement in 1976 would work with the Kinks from 1978 through 1997, and with later-day incarnations of 1960s UK bands such as the Zombies and the Swinging Blue Jeans ~ Rodford passed away in 2018