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, 1974 ~ Producer, songwriter, label executive Dave Cobb born in Savannah, Georgia, USA ~ Best known as an Americana, country producer and songwriter. Worked with Highwomen, Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, John Prine, Shooter Jennings, the Oak Ridge Boys, Anderson East, and Lady GagaJuly 9, 1972 ~ Ska, punk, punk metal drummer Ara Babajian born in Hollywood, California, USA ~ Has worked with Agent 99, Leftöver Crack, the Slackers, King Django, Ruder Than You, the Trick Babys, the SKAndalous All-Stars, Sic & Mad, and Star-Fucking Hipsters
July 9, 1972 ~ Drummer Stanton Moore born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Founding member of Galactic. Has also recorded as a solo artist and is an in-demand collaborator working in a wide variety of genres ranging from jazz funk to heavy metal. Has worked with Robert Walter, Corrosion Of Conformity, Garage A Trois, Bonerama, Bobby Previte, Joe Jackson, and Walter Wolfman Washington
July 9, 1970 ~ Adesola Adesimbo Idowu, commonly known as rapper, producer, songwriter Weird MC, born in London, UK ~ Influenced by Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, Queen Latifah, Jimi Hendrix. Debuted in 1992 with the single I Wanna Make You Jack. Released a full-length album, Simply Weird, in 1996 mixing American-style hip-hop and Afrobeat. Critics would deem the commercially unsuccessful album ahead of its time. Has worked with JJC Skillz, Femi Kuti, and with KweenJuly 9, 1969 ~ John Percy Simon, commonly known as rapper Percee P, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Described as the “legendary lyricist of the subterranean” by Unkut. Percee P has collaborated with artists such as Lord Finesse, Kool Keith, the Jurassic 5, Aesop Rock, Jedi Mind Tricks, Jaylib, Wildchild, DJ Babu, and Dudley Perkins. Percee's debut album, 2007's Perseverance, was produced by Madlib and featured contributions by Diamond D, Guilty Simpson, and Prince Po
July 9, 1965 ~ Bassist, guitarist, singer Frank Bello, full name Francis Charles Joseph Bello, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Originally a roadie and guitar technician for heavy metal, thrash metal band Anthrax, becoming a full-fledged playing member soon after the release of the band's 1984 Fistful Of Metal taking over for Dan Lilker
July 9, 1964 ~ Courtney Michelle Harrison, commonly known as alternative rock, punk rock singer, songwriter Courtney Love born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Married to Nirvana-frontman Kurt Cobain from 1992 until his death in 1994. Frontwoman of Hole, known for songs such as Doll Parts, Celebrity Skin and Malibu. As an actress earned a Golden Globe award for her role as Althea Leasure in the 1996 The People vs Larry Flint feature film
July 9, 1962 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Bob Dylan records Blowin' In The Wind at Columbia Recording Studio, New York, New York ~ Penned by Bob Dylan. Produced by John Hammond Jr. Released the following year as a single featuring Don't Think Twice It's Allright on the flip side. Included on the 1963 The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan album. Posing a series of rhetorical questions about peace, war and freedom it would become one of Dylan's best known and quickly adopted as a civil rights anthem. A 1963 cover by Peter Paul & Mary would reach No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100
July 9, 1961 ~ William Franklin Bowman, commonly known as singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Ronnie Bowman, born in Mount Airy, North Carolina, USA ~ Sang gospel music from age three until his late teens alongside his siblings. Member of bluegrass outfit the Lost And Found during the late 1980s. Member of the Lonesome River Band from 1990 through 2001, with whom he recorded four albums including their acclaimed Old Country Town. During his tenure with the band, Bowman won the International Bluegrass Music Association's prestigious Male Vocalist of the Year Award three times, in 1995, 1998, and 1999. Bowman has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the album Cold Virginia Night in 1994, which featured guests such as Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, and Tony Rice, two albums with Band Of Rukhs which included former bandmates Don Rigsby and Kenny Smith of the Lonesome River Band, and has guested on albums by Petticoat Junction (Lonely Old Depot), Butch Robbins, Wyatt Rice (Picture In A Tear), Sammy Shelor, John Fogerty (Blue Moon Swamp), Suzanne Thomas, Aubrey Haynie, Rickie Simpkins, Melonie Cannon, Phil Leadbetter (Slide Effects), and the Steep Canyon Rangers. Bowman has also penned or co-penned songs recorded by Sammy Shelor, Lee Ann Womack (The Healing Kind), Brooks & Dunn (It's Getting Better All The Time), Kenny Chesney (Never Wanted Nothing More), Jake Owen, Ralph Stanley, the Grascals (Life Finds A Way), Chris Stapleton (Nobody To Blame), Curtis Wright, Josh Williams (Modern Day Man), and Irene Kelley. Upon hearing of his unexpected passing in a motorcycle accident, singer Rhonda Vincent stated: “He was one of the kindest people I've met. An incredible vocalist, prolific award-winning songwriter, but most of all just a beautiful person” ~ Bowman passed away in 2026
July 9, 1960 ~ Drummer Charles Gavin, full name Charles de Souza Gavin, born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Cites the Police's Stewart Copeland, Rush's Neil Peart, Cream's Ginger Baker, and Led Zeppelin's John Bonham as influences. Longtime member of rock band Titas, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums from 1985 through 2010 including the acclaimed Cabeça Dinossauro, O Blésq Blom, and Titas Acústico MTVJuly 9, 1959 ~ Darren Henley, commonly known as punk rock drummer DH Peligro, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Joined the Dead Kennedys in 1981 as replacement for Bruce Seslinger, appearing on the albums Plastic Surgery Disasters, Frankenchrist and Bedtime For Democracy. Briefly played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1988. Frontman and eponym of Peligro, known for the albums Peligro, Welcome To America and Sum Of Our Surroundings ~ Henley passed away in 2022
July 9, 1959 ~ Rock, post-punk, new wavbe, alternative rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, percussionist, songwriter Jim Kerr born in Glasgow, UK ~ Co-founding member, lead singer, frontman of new wave band the Simple Minds, known best for songs such as Promised You A Miracle, Waterfront, Don't You (Forget About Me), Alive And Kicking, Sanctify Yourself and perhaps their best known Belfast Child. Married to the Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde from 1984 to 1990, with whom he has one daughter. Married to actress, singer Patsy Kensit from 1992 to 1996, with whom he has one sonJuly 9, 1959 ~ Rock singer, guitarist John Eddie born in Richmond, Virginia, USA ~ Sang backup on Bryan Adams' 1984 Somebody hit single. Released his eponymous John Eddie in 1986, spawning the modest hit Jungle Boy. Frequently records with several members of the E Street Band. Occasionally sits in with Bruce Springsteen. Has opened for Bob Seger and the Kinks
July 9, 1959 ~ Mark Peter Sinclair Almond, commonly known as synth-pop, new wave singer, guitarist, songwriter Marc Almond, born in Southport, UK ~ Formed the synth-pop duo Soft Cell with Dave Ball, known for 1980s songs such as Bedsitter, Say Hello Wave Goodbye, Torch, What, and perhaps their best known Tainted Love which reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. As a solo artist best known for his 1989 Something's Gotten Hold On My Heart duet with Gene PitneyJuly 9, 1958 ~ Rock guitarist, bassist, singer Bruce Waibel, full name Bruce Kenneth Waibel, born in Livingston, New Jersey, USA ~ Started as a roadie for Gregg Allman before becoming a full band member, first on guitar, later bass guitar. Has also worked with the Marshall Tucker Band, Captain Beyond, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Derringer, and was a member of rock band Firehouse from 2000 to 2003, present on the album O2 ~ Waibel passed away in 2003
July 9, 1957 ~ Frederick John Elgersma, commonly known as alternative country singer, guitarist, songwriter Fred Eaglesmith, born in Caistor, Canada ~ Active since the early 1980s with well over a dozen albums to his name. Praised for his literate songwriting, his songs compact stories marked by plot twists and surprise endings depicting rural life, tragedy and love lost. Especially acclaimed for a string of mid- to late 1990s albums, notably 1997's Lipstick Lies & Gasoline and 1999's masterpiece 50 Odd Dollars
July 9, 1955 ~ Punk rock, ska punk guitarist, bassist, singer Eric Melvin, full name Eric Scott Melvin, born in California, USA ~ Co-founding member of pivotal punk rock band NOFX, noted for writing a vast amount of the band's signature guitar riffs such as the intro on Leave It Alone and for his distinctive backing vocals dubbed “the Mel Yell” by fans. Also a co-founding member of Punk Rock Karaoke alongside Steve Soto and Greg Hetson, as well as an occasional touring member of Me First & the Gimme Gimme'sJuly 9, 1955 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Jan Kåre Hystad born in Stord, Norway ~ Brother of saxophonist Ole Jacob Hystad, with whom he also worked. Leader and sideman. Worked with the Bergen Big Band, Terje Rypdal, Karin Krog, Dag Arnesen, Frank Jacobsen, Sigurd Ulveseth, Jan Eggum, and the Kaizers Orchestra
July 9, 1953 ~ Jazz guitarist Doug Munro, full name Doug Anthony Munro, born in Yonkers, New York, USA ~ Over a dozen albums to his name as a leader, especially acclaimed for his 1990 When Dolphins Fly debut album and his 1997 Shootin' Pool At Leo's album. Served as producer and arranger for artists such as Cissy Houston, the Skatalites, the SKAndalous All-Stars, Dr Lonnie Smith, and extensively for the Vitamin String Quartet
July 9, 1952 ~ Pop pianist, songwriter, TV personality John Tesh, full name John Frank Tesh, born in Garden City, New York, USA ~ Known for his grand-scale instrumental music as well as his career in radio and television, se4rving as a news and sports anchor and notably hosting Intelligence For Your Life on both radio and TV. Got his first concert experience backing his close friend Yanni, after asking him if he could join the band to learn from the experience. Tesh has recorded over two dozen albums starting in the late 1980s and is most acclaimed for 1994's Sax By The Fire and the live album Live At Red Rocks released the following year
July 9, 1951 ~ Songwriter, pianist Egbert Van Alstyne, full name Egbert Anson Van Alstyne, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Co-wrote songs such Pretty Baby (the Emerson Military Band, Morton Harvey, Sammy Kaye), Memories (John Barnes Wells, the Southerners, Gene Austin), Beautiful Love (Victor Young, Anita O'Day, Shirley Horn), and Drifting And Dreaming (George Olsen, Jack Denny, the Chordettes) ~ Van Alstyne was born in 1878July 9, 1948 ~ Actor, singer James Baskett, full name James Franklin Baskett, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Voiced the character Uncle Remus in the Disney animated film Song Of The South, including singing Zip-a-dee-doo-dah which would win an Academy Award for Best Song. Other notable credits include appearing in the 1929 Broadway revue Hot Chocolates alongside Louis Armstrong and voicing Fats Crow in the original 1941 Dumbo animated film ~ Baskett was born in 1904
July 9, 1947 ~ Singer, producer, songwriter Haruomi Hosono born in Minato, Japan ~ Rose to prominence as founding member of Happy End and the Yellow Magic Orchestra. Would go on to become one of Japan's most influential musicians and producers, helping shape the sound of Japanese pop for decades. Considered a pioneer in electronic music. Has worked as a solo artist, composed for film, and produced artists such as Miharu Koshi, Sheena & the Roketts, Sandii & the Sunsetz, Chisato Moritaka, and Seiko Matsuda
July 9, 1946 ~ Ronald Belford Scott, commonly known as hard rock singer Bon Scott born in Forfar, UK ~ Replaced Dave Evans as AC/DC lead singer in 1974 and remained with the band until his untimely death in 1980. Present on all the band's early albums, in retrospect seen as some of the band's best and classics in the genre, including 1977's Let There Be Rock and 1979's Highway To Hell. Has previously worked with acts such as the Spektors, the Valentines and Fraternity ~ Scott passed away in 1980July 9, 1946 ~ Country, folk singer, songwriter Merle Travis records Divorce Me COD at Radio Recorders, Los Angeles, California ~ Written by Merle Travis and Cliffie Stone. Produced by Lee Gillette. Released as a single b/w Missouri it would reach top 10 on the Billboard Country charts. Notably covered by the King Sisters in 1946, and by Johnny Bond the following year
July 9, 1946 ~ John Graham Mitchell, commonly known as drummer Mitch Mitchell, born in Ealing, UK ~ Best known for his association with Jimi Hendrix, chosen over Aynsley Dunbar by way of a toin coss at his audition. Backed Hendrix at the famed Monterey Pop Music Festival in 1967 and at the 1969 the Woodstock Music and Art Fair. Appeared on the albums Are You Experienced, Axis (Bold As Love), and Electric Ladyland ~ Mitchell passed away in 2008