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.
June 1, 2025 ~ Pop, R&B, soul, blue-eyed soul singer Marcie Jones passed away ~ Jones had performed with Normie Rowe and recorded several singles in the mid 1960s as a solo artist prior to teaming up with the sibling outfit the Cookies, which consisted of sisters Margaret Cook, Beverley Cook, and Wendy Cook. Although the girl group, billed as Marcie & the Cookies, issued only two singles, All Or Nothing and White Christmas both released in 1968, they would enjoy popularity as a support act for the likes of Tom Jones, the Monkees, and Gene Pitney. The girl group initially split around the turn of the 1970s, but have reconvened from time to time, touring the oldies circuit, while Jones pursued a parallel solo career. Jones would score several minor hits as a solo artist in her native Australia, perhaps most notably the Curtis Mayfield-penned Gonna Get Married lifted off her 1974 That Jones Girl album ~ Jones was born in 1945
June 1, 2024 ~ Drummer Ed Mann passed away in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known for his association with Frank Zappa, appearing on over 30 of his albums including Sheik Yerbouti, Joe's Garage Acts I II & III, Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar and Them Or Us. Mann has also worked with Tommy Mars, Banned From Utopia, Project Object, Agent Moosehead, and Desert Rain. Mann has also recorded several albums as a solo artist, perhaps most notably Global Warming released in 1995. Upon hearing of his death, fellow Zappa alumnus Chad Wackerman described Mann as a masterful and brilliant percussionist, adding Mann “could play anything Zappa threw at him and I never once heard him make a mistake” ~ Mann was born in 1954
June 1, 2023 ~ Songwriter Cynthia Weil passed away in Beverly Hills, California, USA ~ Formed the songwriter duo Mann/Weil with her husband Barry Mann. Songs written by the couple have been recorded by artists such as Gene Pitney (Looking Through The Eyes Of Love), Deniece Williams, Paul Revere & the Raiders (Kicks), Eydie Gormé, the Ronettes (Walking In The Rain), the Crystals (Uptown), Tony Orlando, Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt (Don't Know Much), the Monkees, BJ Thomas, Elvis Presley (I Just Can't Help Believing), Dusty Springfield (Just A Little Lovin' Early In The Morning), Gladys Knight (Nobody But You), the Drifters (On Broadway), George Benson, Jay & the Americans, Peter Paul & Mary, Ray Charles (None Of Us Are Free), the Everly Brothers, the Animals (We Gotta Get Outta This Place), Arthur Alexander, and the Righteous Brothers (You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin') ~ Weil was born in 1940June 1, 2023 ~ Pop rock singer, bassist Roy Taylor passed away ~ Lead singer of Jump The Gun. The band is best known for representing their native Ireland at the 1988 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 8th place with Take Him Home ~ Taylor was born ca.1957
June 1, 2022 ~ Gospel singer Deborah McCrary passed away ~ Member of traditional black gospel, contemporary urban gospel outfit the McCrary Sisters alongside siblings Ann McCrary, Regina McCrary and Alfreda McCrary. The group has recorded a number of albums, starting with Our Journey released in 2010, as well as provided backing vocals for artists such as Carrie Underwood (Choctaw County Affair), Margo Price (Do Right By Me), and Allison Russell (All Of The Women) ~ McCrary was born in 1954
June 1, 2020 ~ Joey Poole, commonly known as punk rock drummer Joey Image, passed away ~ Member of the Misfits from 1978 through late 1979, present on singles such as Horror Business and Night Of The Living Dead. Has also worked with the Whorelords, Human Buffett, the Mary Tyler Whores, the Bell Ringers, the Evil Doers, the Hooples, Jersey Trash, the Hollywood 77s, and the Undead ~ Poole was born in 1957
June 1, 2020 ~ Majekodunmi Fasheke, commonly known as roots reggae, rock singer, songwriter Majek Fashek, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for his 1988 single Send Down The Rain. Has collaborated with Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé ~ Fasheke was born ca.1963
June 1, 2018 ~ Conductor Andrew Massey passed away in Vermont, USA ~ Perhaps best known as principal conductor of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra based in Toledo, Ohio, from 1990 through 2001, occasionally serving as guest conductor thereafter. Massey is remembered in the Toledo community for bringing audiences works across eras and styles, ranging from Ludwig van Beethoven, Gustav Mahler, and Edward Elgar to contemporary composers such as John Adams and Toledo native Stanley Cowell, as well as for several firsts with the orchestra including performances of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem and Edward Elgar's choral work The Dream Of Gerontius, and the world premiere of Charles Wuorinen's The Mission Of Virgil with the composer in attendance. Upon hearing of his passing, close friend and longtime board member of the orchestra Richard Anderson would comment: “Every music director brings something special. He definitely brought a British flavor. The orchestra grew and prospered under that.” The British-born Massey would spend the majority of his professional career in America, starting in 1978, and besides his tenure with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra has conducted the Cleveland Orchestra, the Fresno Philharmonic, the New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. Reportedly, while living in Ohio, Massey had a personalized license plate which read “MAHLER” ~ Massey was born in 1946
June 1, 2016 ~ Singer, keyboardist, guitarist, producer, songwriter Roger Cotton, full name Roger Allen Cotton, passed away in Kent, UK ~ Worked with Buddy Whittington, Peter Green (wrote the Peter Green Splinter Group's Big Change and Real World). Clockwork Orange, Bandwagon, the Brothers Grimm, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Carlos Santana, Papa Lightfoot, Soul Survivor, Paul Cox, Eric Bibb, Dr Feelgood, the Barcodes, the Incredible Blues Puppies, the Downliners Sect, Sonny Black, and Derek Nash ~ Cotton was born ca.1946
June 1, 2015 ~ Classical, world, new age composer, pianist Kirill Pokrovsky, full name Kirill Vladimirovich Pokrovsky, passed away in Ghent, Belgium ~ Keyboardist for heavy metal acts Aria and Master before venturing out on his own. Known for his BRUGGE solo album. Best known as a composer for video games, notably writing the score to the Divinity series of video games ~ Pokrovsky was born in 1962June 1, 2009 ~ The 40th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 3 of 3. Dry and warm, this year's edition would draw a total of some 90,000 visitors. Included on today's, Monday the 1st's bill would include Gaslight Anthem, Novastar, Amy MacDonald, Franz Ferdinand, Anouk, Snow Patrol, Shinedown, Mando Diao, Billy Talent, de Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig, the Kooks, All-American Rejects, the Hollywood Undead, the Script, Katy Perry, and the Ting Tings
June 1, 2008 ~ The 39th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 3 of 3. To mixed weather this year's edition would draw a total of some 94,000 visitors. Included on today's, Sunday the 1st's bill would include Fiction Plane, Gavin Degraw, Racoon, Alanis Morissette, the Queens Of The Stone Age, Rage Against The Machine, the Wombats, Cavalera Conspiracy, the Hives, Serj Tarkian, the Counting Crows, Patrick Watson, Kate Nash, Saybia, and Róisín Murphy
June 1, 2007 ~ Singer, songwriter Tony Thompson, full name Anthony Ulysses Thompson Jr, passed away in Waco, Texas ~ Best known as a member of Hi-Five best known for their eponymous debut, 1990's Hi-Five, which went platinum and spawned the hits I Like The Way (The Kissing Game), I Can't Wait Another Minute, and Just Another Girlfriend. Thompson released a sole solo album, Sensational, in 1995 ~ Thompson was born in 1975
June 1, 2006 ~ Maria Del Rocío Trinidad Mohedano Jurado, commonly known as singer, actress Rocío Jurado, passed away in La Moraleja, Spain ~ One of the all-time best-selling Spanish female singers with over 16 million records sold. Best known for songs such as Como Una Ola, Como Yo Te Amo, Ese Hombre, Se Nos Rompio El Amor and Vibro ~ Jurado was born in 1944
June 1, 2000 ~ Ernesto Antonio Puente Jr, commonly known as timbales player, vibraphonist, bandleader Tito Puente passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Dubbed “the King of the Timbales” and considered one of the most important and influential artists in Latin music with a career spanning 5 decades. To rock audiences best known for penning and first recording Oye Como Va, notably covered by Santana ~ Puente was born in 1923June 1, 1999 ~ Jazz vibraphonist, accordionist Geo Daly passed away in Sete, France ~ Became house vibraphonist at the Club St Germain in 1952. Worked with Don Byas, Bill Coleman, Bernard Peiffer, Marcel Bianchi, Claude Bolling, Michel de Villers, Roy Eldridge, Duke Ellington, Andre Persiany, Dave Pochonet, Lester Young, Boulou Ferré, les Petits Francais, Moustache, and Michel Attenoux ~ Daly was born in 1923
June 1, 1998 ~ The 29th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 3 of 3. Mostly a sunny and warm weekend this year's edition would draw some 51,500 visitors. Included on today's, Monday the 1st's bill would be Eagle Eye Cherry, the Deftones, Anouk, NOFX, K's Choice, the Smashing Pumpkins, the Verve, Ocean Colour Scene, Faithless, Tori Amos, Junkie XL, Garbage, the Artificial Joy Club, Grandaddy, Spiritualized, 16 Horsepower, and the Tindersticks
June 1, 1996 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, singer Alan Blakley, full name Alan David Blakley, passed away in London, UK ~ Founding member of the Tremeloes, staying with the band from 1958 through 1972, the band's most successful period scoring UK hits such as Do You Love Me, Candy Man, I Want Candy, Silence Is Golden, and Even The Bad Times Are Good ~ Blakley was born in 1942
June 1, 1996 ~ Pianist, songwriter, producer Don Grolnick passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader, sideman, in-demand session musician. Member of Steps Ahead and of Dreams, in both alongside Michael Brecker. Present on albums by John Scofield, Bonnie Raitt (Streetlights), Gato Barbieri, Harry Chapin, Bette Midler, Steely Dan (Aja), Marcus Miller, the Manhattan Transfer, Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Roberta Flack (Blue Lights In The Basement), Chaka Khan, Ringo Starr, Paul Simon (One Trick Pony), and Aaron Neville ~ Grolnick was born in 1947
June 1, 1996 ~ Margherita Maria Francesca LaCentra, commonly known as contralto singer Peg LaCentra, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for her association with Artie Shaw. Also worked with Leo Reisman, Phil Spitalny, Johnny Green, appeared on Broadway in the 1943 The Patriots musical and ghost sang for a number of feature films ~ LaCentra was born in 1910
June 1, 1993 ~ Singer David Bowie releases Black Tie White Noise, lifted off the album of the same name ~ Inspired by Bowie's stay in Los Angeles the previous year, when the city saw race riots following the Rodney King incident. Produced by Nile Rodgers, with whom David Bowie had also worked for his 1983 Let's Dance hit album, Black Tie White Noise was one of Bowie's most jazz- and soul-influenced tracks on the album. Both the parent album and in particular its title track would be warmly received, most critics praising its funky and soulful vibe, with the Orlando Sentinel pointing out how “Bowie's cool, detached voice is nicely partnered by that of (duet partner) soul singer Al B Sure”. The single would be a modest hit in the UK, where it peaked at No.36, yet somehow it was overlooked by American audiences as it did not make the charts. The parent album would top the UK charts, peaked inside the top 10 in several countries including the Netherlands, Italy, and New Zealand, and reached top 40 on the American Billboard Hot 200 charts, peaking at No.39June 1, 1992 ~ Joseph Marshall Jr, commonly known as jazz drummer Joe Marshall, passed away in Teaneck, New Jersey, USA ~ Worked with Milt Larkin, Duke Ellington, Jimmie Lunceford, Ben Webster, Harold Baker, Cyril Hines, Bill Pemberton, Al Sears, Don Abney, Wally Richardson, and Wendell Marshall ~ Marshall was born in 1913
June 1, 1991 ~ Davis Eli Ruffin, commonly known as R&B, soul singer David Ruffin, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Brother of singer Jimmy Ruffin. Best known as member of the Temptations from 1964 through 1968, singing lead on songs such as My Girl, Ain't Too Proud To Beg, (I Know) I'm Losing You and I Wish It Would Rain. Debuted as a solo artist in 1969 with the album My Whole World Ended. Known for songs such as My Whole World Ended The Moment You Left Me, I Lost Everything I've Ever Loved, I'm So Glad I Fell For You, Walk Away From Love, Heavy Love, Everything's Coming Up Love and Sexy Dancer. Also recorded with his brother Jimmy, notably the 1970 I Am My Brother's Keeper album, spawning the modest hits When My Love Hand (Comes Tumbling Down) and Your Love Was Worth Waiting For ~ Ruffin was born in 1941
June 1, 1986 ~ Oliver Dene Jones, commonly known as dubstep producer, DJ Skream, born in Bromley, UK ~ Son of jungle DJ Dijak. Released his full-length eponymous Skream debut album in 2006. Also formed Magnetic Man with longtime collaborators Artwork and Benga
June 1, 1984 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Nate Nelson passed away in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Member of doo-wop outfit the Flamingos, joining the band in late 1954 as replacement for Sollie McElroy. First appeared on the 1955 single I'm Yours. Has also worked with the Platters, joining the group in 1965 replacing Paul Robi ~ Nelson was born in 1932