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 9, 2024 ~ Country, gospel singer Joe Bonsall, full name Joseph Sloan Bonsall Jr, passed away in Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA ~ Bonsall first gained attention in the late 1960s as a member of gospel group the Keystone Quartet, alongside Richard Sterban. Through the gospel world, Sterban and Bonsall met up with William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys. When the band found themselves in need of a bass and tenor singer, they enlisted the pair. Looking back on joining the band, Bonsall later commented the Oak Ridge Boys were “the most innovative quartet in gospel music, they performed gospel with a rock approach, had a full band, wore bell-bottom pants and grew their hair long, things unheard of at the time”. Bonsall remained with the band until his death some five decades later, retiring from performing in early 2024 for medical reasons. The band enjoyed popularity especially from the late 1970s through the early 1990s, with over half a dozen of their albums reaching top 10 Billboard Country. Well known songs include Trying To Love Two Women, Elvira, (I'm Settin') Fancy Free, Bobbie Sue, I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes, Touch A Hand (Make A Friend), and It Takes A Little Rain (To Make Love Grow). Bonsall is also known as an author with close to a dozen books to his name, including his I See Myself memoir released the year before his death ~ Bonsall was born in 1948
July 9, 2022 ~ Jazz, jazz-rock, classical saxophonist, composer Barbara Thompson, full name Barbara Gracey Thompson, passed away ~ Studied saxophone and classical composition yet her love of Duke Ellington and John Coltrane shifted her towards jazz. Best known for her association with Neil Ardley as a member of Ardley's the New Jazz Orchestra. Married to Colosseum-drummer Jon Hiseman from 1967 until his death in 2018, with whom she has two children. Founded and fronted Paraphernalia and a key member of the United Jazz+Rock Ensemble, both of which also included Hiseman. Worked closely with Andrew Lloyd Webber on several projects including the musical Cats and the 1978 classical-fusion Variations album. Has also collaborated with the She Trinity, Keef Hartley, Manfred Mann, and Marti Webb ~ Thompson passed away in 1944July 9, 2018 ~ Singer, songwriter Stefan Demert passed away in Kungsbacka, Sweden ~ As a solo artist or occasionally duetting with his wife actress and singer Jeja Sundstrom known for songs such as Balladen Om Den Kaxiga Myran, Till Sj, and Anna Anaconda. Demert was also a member of Visor & Bockfot alongside his wife Sundström, Sid Jansson, and Bjorn Stabi ~ Demert was born in 1939
July 9, 2015 ~ Songwriter, producer Michael Masser, full name Michael William Masser, passed away in Rancho Mirage, California, USA ~ Best known for writing or co-writing songs such as Touch Me In The Morning, Last Time I Saw Him and Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) (Diana Ross), Didn't We Almost Have It All and Greatest Love Of All (Whitney Houston), In Your Eyes (George Benson), Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You (Glenn Medeiros), Hold Me (Teddy Pendergrass), Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You (Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson), and Miss You Like Crazy (Natalie Cole) ~ Masser was born in 1941
July 9, 2013 ~ Label executive Jim Foglesong passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Active from the 1950s through the 1990s working for major labels and their subsidiaries such as Columbia Records, ABC Records, Dot Records and MCA Records. Known as one of the gentlest, kindest people in the music business. Signed and helped advance the careers of artists such as Barbara Mandrell, Don Williams, Garth Brooks, Donna Fargo, Reba McEntire, the Oak Ridge Boys, Con Hunley, George Strait, Tanya Tucker, Sawyer Brown, Suzy Bogguss, and Kevin Morris ~ Foglesong was born in 1922
July 9, 2012 ~ George Lowen Coxhill, commonly known as saxophonist Lol Coxhill, passed away in London, UK ~ Emerged from the 1960s Canterbury scene to become a highly in-demand sideman. Reportedly inspired Joni Mitchell's song For Free while busking solo on a London bridge. Has worked as a solo artist and worked with Kevin Ayers, Carol Grimes, Delivery, Mike Oldfield, Morgan Fisher, Brotherhood Of Breath, Coxhill-Bedford Duo, the Dedication Orchestra, Django Bates, the Damned, Hugh Metcalfe, Derek Bailey, Hybrid Kids, Trevor Watts Moiré Music, Mick Audsley, Heidi Berry, Caravan, Eugene Chadbourne, Shirley Collins, Lindsay Cooper, the Flying Padovanis, Alexis Korner, the Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Gary Windo, Robert Wyatt, and Penny Rimbaud ~ Coxhill was born in 1932
July 9, 2011 ~ Rodolfo Enrique Cabral Camiñas, commonly known as singer, songwriter Facundo Cabral, passed away in Guatemale City, Guatemala ~ Protested military dictatorships throughout Latin America through his music and activism from the 1970s onwards. Exiled from Argentina after the 1976 military coup. Named UNESCO Messenger of Peace in 1996. Well-known for songs such as No Soy De Aqui (Ni Soy De Allá) and Vuele Bajo. Had his songs covered by Jorge Cafrune, Alberto Cortez, Juan Luis Guerra, and Joan Manuel Serrat ~ Cabral was born in 1937
July 9, 2011 ~ Michael Richard Burston, commonly known as metal, hard rock guitarist Würzel, passed away ~ Best known as Motörhead guitarist from 1985 through 1995, playing on six studio albums, starting with 1986's Orgasmatron, and two live-albums. Has since guested with the band on occasion, released a modest amount of solo recordings, and was reportedly working on new material at the time of his death ~ Burston was born in 1949July 9, 2006 ~ Guitarist Míchael O Dhomhnaill passed away in Dublin, Ireland ~ Major influence on traditional Irish musicians, especially through his innovative work with Skara Brae and with the Bothy Band. The former would be the first group to record vocal hrmonies in Irish language songs, the latter is widely regarded as one of the most important groups in Irish traditional music. Has also workled with Kevin Burke, Relativity and with Nightnoise ~ Domhnaill was born in 1951
July 9, 2006 ~ Pianist, producer, songwriter Milan Williams passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Best known as founding member of R&B outfit the Commodores. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Machine Gun, Bump, Rapid Fire, Better Never Than Forever, Mary Mary, Wonderland, You Don't Know That I Know, Let's Get Started and one of the band's biggest hits Brick House ~ Williams was born in 1948
July 9, 2004 ~ Ersel O'Hickey, commonly known as rockabilly singer, guitarist, songwriter Ersel Hickey, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Best known for his self-penned 1958 hit Bluebirds Over The Mountain, notably covered by Ritchie Valens, the Echoes, the Beach Boys, Ronnie Hawkins, and Robert Plant ~ O'Hickey was born in 1934
July 9, 1998 ~ Bassist, songwriter Aldo Stellita, full name Aldo Salvatore Stelita, passed away in Udine, Italy ~ Co-founded Matia Bazar, which also included Piero Cassano, Antonella Ruggiero, Giancarlo Golzi and Carlo Marrale, known for songs such as Ma Perché, Solo Tu, Stasera Che Sera, Mister Mandarino, and perhaps their best known Tio Sento ~ Stellita was born in 1947July 9, 1995 ~ William Sebastian Lewis, commonly known as jazz pianist, bandleader, arranger Sabby Lewis, passed away in Middleburg, North Carolina, USA ~ Popular during the 1930s annd 1940s. Worked with Dinah Washington, Billy Eckstine. Employed sidemen such as Paul Gonsalves, Alan Dawson, Cat Anderson, Sonny Stitt, Roy Haynes, Idrees Sulieman, and Joe Gordon ~ Lewis was born in 1914
July 9, 1993 ~ R&B trio SWV release Right Here (Human Nature Remix), lifted off their It's About Time debut album ~ Initially, Right Here was issued as the trio's debut single some two months ahead of the album. The single would do well on the Billboard R&B charts, where it reached No.16. However, it barely scratched the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, stalling at No.92. When two subsequent singles of the same album, I'm So Into You and Weak, quickly climbed the charts, a remix was made, interpolating Right Here with Michael Jackson's 1992 hit Human Nature. The trio initially felt the remix was boring and would not be a hit. They were wrong, as Right Here (Human Nature Remix) would reach top 10 in Ireland, the UK, and their native America, where it peaked at No.2 Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard R&B chart. The track would be included as a bonus track on re-releases of their It's About Time debut albumJuly 9, 1990 ~ Pianist Hélène Boschi passed away in Strasbourg, France ~ Had a dual career as both a teacher and performer, recording artist for most of her career. Closely associated with the French national TV station RTF, serving as soloist with the network's orchestra from 1955 through 1965. Had several works written especially for her including Luigi Dallapiccola's Quaderno Musicale De Annalibera, Fernando Lopes-Graça's 3rd Sonata, Claude Ballif's 4th Sonata, and Karel Husa's Piano Concertino ~ Boschi was born in 1917
July 9, 1990 ~ Elmer Dunham, commonly known as trumpeter, trombonist Sonny Dunham, passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Starting in the late 1920s Dunham worked with bandleaders such as Ben Bernie, Paul Tremain, Glen Gray (as a member of the Casa Loma Orchestra) as a trombonist, trumpeter, singer and arranger. Dunham repeatedly tried his luck as a bandleader, forming mostly short-lived ensembles untill the late 1950s. ~ Dunham was born in 1911
July 9, 1986 ~ Singer, rapper, dancer, actress Kiely Williams born in Alexandria, Virginia, USA ~ Member of 3LW, known for their No More Baby (I'ma Do Right) hit single of their eponymous 2000 3LW debut album. Member of the Cheetah Girls. Released her Circle Game debut album in 2008
July 9, 1985 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Luiz Henrique Rosa passed away in Florianópolis, Brazil ~ Made an instant smash with his 1963 Bossa Moderna De Luiz Henrique debut album, which contained some of his best known songs including Sambou Sambou, No Blanco Do Mar and Vou Andar Por Ai. Would remain popular until his death at 46 in a car crash. Has collaborated with Sivuca, Hermeto Pascoal, Walter Wanderley, João Gilberto, Airto Moreira, as well as with American stars such as Stan Getz, Oscar Brown Jr, Billy Butterfield and Bobby Hackett ~ Rosa was born in 1938
July 9, 1985 ~ Guitarist, banjoist, ukulele player Wout Steenhuis, full name Wouter Jan Jelmer Steenhuis, passed away in Broadstairs, UK ~ Member of the Dutch Resistance during World War II. Played in the the Dutch Swing College Band. Also a noted composer working under the pen name Jelmer. Co-wrote Stop, recorded by future Donna Summer producer Giorgio Moroder in 1966 ~ Steenhuis was born in 1923
July 9, 1984 ~ Pop rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Jacob Hoggard, full name Jacob William Hoggard, born in Surrey, Canada ~ First gained attention in 2004, reaching third place in the talent contest Canadian Idol. Would subsequently form pop rock outfit Hedley, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums. The band is best known for their On My Own debut single which would top the charts in their native Canada. Subsequent top 10 hits include For The Nights I Can't Remember, Never Too Late, Cha-ching, Perfect, Invincible, Kiss You Inside Out, Anything, and Crazy For You
July 9, 1980 ~ Marcus Vinicius da Cruz e Mello Moraes, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter, poet, essayist, playwright Vinicius de Moraes passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Helped birth bossa nova, especially as frequent songwriting partner of Antônio Carlos Jobim. Artists who have recorded their songs include Elizete Cardoso, Nara Leão, Dorival Caymmi, Oscar Castro Neves. De Moraes is also especially known for writing the playwright Orpheus Of The Conception, which would be adapted into the Academy Award-winning 1959 film Black Orpheus ~ De Moraes was born in 1913
July 9, 1977 ~ Operatic tenor Gregory Carroll born in Des Moines, Washington, USA ~ Described as an extremely promising heldentenor his career was cut short, dying at age 35 of a heart attack. Known for roles in Giuseppe Verdi's Luisa Miller with the Chautauqua Opera, Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci with the Opera Lyric Ottawa, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Magic Flute with the Canadian Opera Company. Carroll has also performed with the Seattle Opera, the Puget Sound Opera, the Opera Cleveland, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Norwegian National Opera ~ Carroll passed away in 2013July 9, 1976 ~ Folk, folk-pop rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Craig Cardiff born in Waterloo, Canada ~ As a solo artist has well over a dozen albums to his name starting with 1997's Judy Garland (You're Never Home) album. Describes his music as “folk with a dash of sing-along and storytelling,” drawing from a multitude of singer-songwriter genres including fol, country, pop, traditional pop, show tunes and rock.
July 9, 1976 ~ Alterntive rock, post-grunge guitarist Dan Estrin born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of Hoobastank, known for songs such as Running Away, Disappear, If I Were You, So Close So Far and The Reason, the latter reaching the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 in 2003
July 9, 1975 ~ John Anthony Gillis, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Jack White, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Hailed as one of the premier guitarists of the 2000s. Rose to prominence with the White Stripes, known for songs such as Seven Nation Army, The Hardest Button To Button, Icky Thump and You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told). Married to drummer Meg White from 1996 to 2000, to singer Karen Elson from 2005 to 2013. Has recorded as a solo artist, starting with the Blunderbuss album released in 2012, and with Goober & the Peas, the Raconteurs, Dead Weather, Loretta Lynn, the Von Bondies, Whirlwind Heat, the Muldoons, and Wanda Jackson
July 9, 1975 ~ Pop, dance, R&B singer Jessica Folcker, full name Jessica Elisabeth Angelique Folcker, born in Taby, Sweden ~ Released her Jessica debut album in 1998. The album would spawn her two biggest hits, Tell Me What You Like and How Will I Know Who You Are, both of which would reach top 10 in her native Sweden and chart reasonably well across Europe. Folcker is also well known as featured vocalist on Crack It (Something Going On), a 2002 top 10 hit for the Bomfunk MC's in Scandinavia and parts of Europe