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 10, 2019 ~ The 50th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 3 of 3. Included on today's, Monday the 10th's bill would include the BossHoss, Indian Askin, Jett Rebel, Coldrain, Bring Me The Horizon, the 1975, Coely, Tenacious D, the Pretenders, David Keenan, Slash, Palaye Royale, the Dropkick Murphys, Duncan Laurence, Bastille, the Marcus King Band, Major Lazer, Michael Kiwanuka, and Fleetwood Mac
June 10, 2018 ~ Oseloke Augustine Onwubaya, commonly known as reggae singer Ras Kimono, passed away in Lagos, Nigeria ~ Member of the Jastix. Shot to immediate stardom with his 1989 solo debut album Under Pressure spawning continental hits Under Pressure, Natty Get Jail and Rhumba Style ~ Onwubuya was born in 1958June 10, 2016 ~ The 47th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 1 of 3. Mostly sunny and warm, this year's edition would draw some 116,750 visitors in total. Included on today's, Friday the 10th's bill would be the Common Linnets, Bastille, James Bay, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gary Clark Jr, Years & Years, Major Lazer, Storsky, Lukas Graham, the Bear's Den, de Staat, the Struts, Sara Hartman, One Ok Rock, Skip & Die, and Clean Pete
June 10, 2012 ~ Producer Will Hoebee passed away in Hasselt, Belgium ~ Started in Dutch radio, assisting Joost den Draaijer on 3FM. Would go on to work for various labels, notably Phonogram working closely with Peter Koelewijn. Has produced or co-produced recordings by Saskia & Serge, Rob de Nijs, Anny Schilder, André van Duin, Nana Moskouri, Vicky Leandros, and Gheorghe Zamfir. Best known as producer for girl pop trio Luv', later marrying the band's José Hoebee with whom he has one son ~ Houbee was born in 1947
June 10, 2009 ~ Keyboardist, producer Barry Beckett, full name Barry Edward Beckett, passed away in Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA ~ Co-founded the famed Muscle Shoals Studios and served as member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Appears on recordings by Etta James, Bob Seger, Joan Baez, Vince Gill, Kim Carnes, Boz Scaggs, Mark Knopfler, Mavis Staples, Wilson Pickett, Steve Cropper, Levon Helm, Aretha Franklin, John Prine, Kenny Chesney, Chely Wright, Paul Simon, JJ Cale, Rosanne Cash, Michael Martin Murphey, Rod Stewart, Linda Ronstadt, and Bob Dylan. A&R executive for Warner Bros Records, Nashville division in the 1980s ~ Beckett was born in 1943June 10, 2009 ~ Composer Henri Bourtayre passed away in Yvelines, France ~ Operettas, film composer, songwriter. Had his songs recorded by Tino Rossi, Raymond Legrand, Georges Guétary, Marie José, Maurice Chevalier, Luis Mariano, Elyane Célis, Charles Trenet, Jacques Hélian, Guy Berry, Lina Margy, Jean Faustin, André Dassary, Robert Lamoureux, and Yvonne Printemps ~ Bourtayre was born in 1915
June 10, 2009 ~ Jazz, swing, dixieland singer, banjoist, guitarist Huey Long passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Active since the mid 1920s. Worked with the Louisiana Jazz Band Houston, Texas Guinan, Lil' Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson. Briefly a member of renowned vocal group the Ink Spots, replacing Bernie Mackey and remaining with the band for about 9 months in 1945. Long would later be involved with several Spots tribute bands during the 1960s before retiring from music ~ Long was born in 1904June 10, 2009 ~ Jazz saxophonist Jack Nimitz passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Dubbed “the Admiral” and active since the 1950s, initially serving in ensembles led by Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and Herbie Mann. Co-founding member of the Charlie Parker tribute band Supersax, remaining with the band for about two decades starting with its inception in the early 1970s. As a session musicians remained in-demand from the 1960s well into the 1990s, appearing on albums by Nat Pierce, Quincy Jones (This Is How I Feel About Jazz), Charles Mingus, the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Oliver Nelson, the Monkees, Neil Diamond, Horace Silver, Captain & Tennille, Herbie Hancock, Prince (Parade (Music From The Motion Picture Under The Cherry Moon)), Toni Tennille, and Diane Schuur ~ Nimitz was born in 1930
June 10, 2004 ~ Guitarist Graeme Kelling, full name Graeme Hunter Kelling, passed away in Glasgow, UK ~ Original guitarist with pop band Deacon Blue, present on all the band's four albums before their initial split. Co-wrote Loaded, the band's sophomore single taken of the Raintown debut album ~ Kelling was born in 1957
June 10, 2004 ~ Ray Charles Robinson, commonly known as pianist, singer, songwriter Ray Charles, passed away in Beverly Hills, California, USA ~ Hugely influential R&B, soul pianist. Influenced by Nat King Cole, Louis Jordan and Charles Brown. Pioneered soul by drawing from blues, jazz, R&B, pop and gospel music. Discovered Betty Carter. Discovered Stevie Wonder. Has recorded over 40 albums, starting with the eponymous Ray Charles in 1957. Especially acclaimed for the albums Ray Charles At Newport, The Genius of Ray Charles, and Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music. Well-known songs include I Got A Woman, What'd I Say, Hallelujah I Love Her So, Georgia On My Mind, Hit The Road Jack, One Mint Julep, and Unchain My Heart ~ Charles was born in 1930June 10, 2000 ~ The 31st edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 1 of 3. Extremely sunny and warm, this year's edition would draw a crowd of in total 66,300 visitors. Included on today's, Saturday the 10th's bill would be Tea Party, Bush, Oasis, Dead Punk Society, the Get Up Kids, and Caesar
June 10, 1998 ~ Country guitarist, keyboardist, mandolinist, banjoist, singer Steve Sanders passed away in Cape Coral, Florida, USA ~ Best known as member of the Oak Ridge Boys, joining the band in 1987 replacing William Lee Golden and remaining through 1995. Present on songs such Gonna Take A Lot Of River, Bridges And Walls, Beyond Those Years and Lucky Moon ~ Sanders was born in 1952
June 10, 1995 ~ Jazz, rock drummer, actor Bruno Lawrence, full name David Charles Lawrence, passed away in Wellington, New Zealand ~ Founded Blerta in the early 1970s, a theatrical co-operative touring New Zealand and Australia. Has also worked with Max Merritt & the Meteors, Quincy Conserve, and the Crocodiles. Also well known as an actor for TV, short films, and feature films, notably in the 1981 Smash Palace drama ~ Lawrence was born in 1941
June 10, 1993 ~ Colaratura soprano Arleen Auger, full name Joyce Arleen Auger, passed away in Leusden, the Netherlands ~ Associated with the Vienna State Opera, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York City Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera ~ Auger was born in 1939
June 10, 1992 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Hachidai Nakamura passed away ~ Chinese-born Japanese pianist and composer. Member of the Big Four, alongside Hidehiko Matsumoto, George Kawaguchi, and Mitsuru Ono. Has composed for Kyu Sakamoto and Saburo Kitajima. Known in the US mostly for co-penning Sakamoto's Sukiyaki, a 1963 Billboard No.1 hit ~ Nakamura was born in 1931
June 10, 1992 ~ Pianist, arranger Nat Pierce, full name Nathaniel Pierce Blish Jr, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Perhaps best known for his association with Woody Herman, serving as Herman's pianist and arranger from 1951 through 1955. Has also worked with Charlie Mariano, Pee Wee Russell, Lester Young, Emmett Berry, Ruby Braff, Buck Clayton, Gus Johnson, Paul Quinichette, Quincy Jones, and Coleman Hawkins ~ Pierce was born in 1925
June 10, 1990 ~ New jack swing vocal group Bell Biv DeVoe release Do Me, lifted off their Poison debut album ~ Up to this point, many R&B songs would contain thinly veiled sexual innuendo. Do Me, however, was unapologetically sexual with some critics even dismissing the song as juvenile. Regardless, the song became a hit and set a new standard for sexually explicit lyrics, something that would become much more common thereafter. Issued on the heels of their Poison hit debut single, Do Me would reach No.4 Billboard R&B and one spot higher on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, making it the trio's second and final top 10 hit on the pop charts. The song was not the first to be written around the phrase “do me”, as Meli'sa Morgan had scored a Billboard R&B No.1 hit with Do Me Baby four years earlier, which was written and first recorded by Prince for his Controversy album
June 10, 1989 ~ Eurodance singer, songwriter Alexandra Stan, full name Alexandra Ioana Stan, born in Constanta, Romania ~ Internationally best known for her 2010 hit single Mr Saxobeat which would be included on her Saxobeats debut album released the next year. Known in her native Romania for top 20 hits such as Lollipop (Param Pam Pam), Get Back (ASAP), 1,000,000 featuring Carlprit, I Did It Mama, Ecoute featuring Havana and Obsessi
June 10, 1989 ~ In its 15th week on the charts, Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Initially written as a mid-tempo song by Nashville songwriters Jeff Silber and Larry Henley, slowed down to a ballad by their music publisher, Silbar and Henley would have a hard time finding anyone to record the song. It would be a full year before Roger Whittaker recorded it for his 1982 album of the same name. The following year both Lou Rawls and Gary Morris recorded their respective covers, the former scoring a minor hit with it on the Billboard R&B charts while the latter's reached No.10 Billboard Country. However, when Bette Midler covered the song for the soundtrack of Beaches, a comedy-drama in which she also starred, it became a worldwide hit and reached top 10 in several countries. Midler's definitive hit version would also win Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Wind Beneath My Wings would be Midler's first and only Billboard Hot 100 charttopper
June 10, 1988 ~ Pop duo Boy Meets Girl releases Waiting For A Star, lifted off their Reel Life album ~ Boy Meets Girl consisted of husband-wife duo George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, who had enjoyed some regional success prior to landing a deal as songwriters. They would become best known for writing How Will I Know and I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) for Whitney Houston, both of which reached No.1 Billboard Hot 100. The couple actually wrote Waiting For A Star after seeing a falling star during a Whitney Houston concert at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. They first offered the song to Houston, but Arista Records executive Clive Davis felt it did not suit her. Belinda Carlisle would record the song as a demo for her 1987 Heaven On Earth album, yet the song did not make the cut. Merrill and Bainbridge then decided to record it themselves, and issued it as the lead single off their sophomore album. It would become the duo's sole Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, peaking at No.5. Waiting For A Star, produced by veteran producer Arif Mardin also reached top 10 in Canada, Ireland, and the UK. Although the husband-wife duo only scored one major hit as recording artists, they remained in-demand songwriters throughout their career. Artists who have recorded their songs include Phyllis Hyman, Deniece Williams, Dolly Parton & Smokey Robinson (I Know You By Heart), Herb Alpert, Paul Young, and Sheena EastonJune 10, 1988 ~ Rock guitarist Junnosuke Kuroda born in Kawasaki, Japan ~ Member of indie rock outfit Sumika, best known for their 2016 Lovers/Dengon Uta single which reached top 20 in their native Japan. The band's full-length Familia debut album released the following year would reach top 10 ~ Kuroda passed away in 2023
June 10, 1987 ~ Mitchell W Wood, commonly known as jazz trombonist Booty Wood, passed away in Dayton, Ohio, USA ~ Active since the late 1930s. Sporadically recorded as a leader. Closely associated with Duke Ellington and Count Basie, recording over half a dozen albums with each. Has also guested on albums by Willis Jackson, Jimmy Hamilton (Swing Low Sweet Clarinet), Johnny Hodges, Maria Muldaur, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lionel Hampton ~ Wood was born in 1919
June 10, 1985 ~ R&B, pop, bluegrass bassist, singer, songwriter Bridget Kearney, full name Bridget Ellen Kearney, born in Iowa City, Iowa, USA ~ Co-founding member of Lake Street Dive, with whom she recorded over half a dozen albums starting with In This Episode released in 2006. Kearney has also worked with Joy Kills Sorrow, the Fundies, Benjamin Lazar Davis, and BB Wisely, and recorded as a solo artist, releasing her Won't Let You Down solo debut album in 2017June 10, 1983 ~ Alexis Vélez Alberio, commonly known as Christian hip-hop, reggaeton rapper, songwriter Alex Zurdo, born in Trujillo, Puerto Rico ~ Wrote his first rap song at age 11. Took up the piano at age 13. Over a dozen albums to his name, starting with Nada Es Mio released in 2004. Especially noted for his 2018 album Quién Contra Nosotros, which earned Zurdo a Dove Award and a Latin Grammy Award nomination
June 10, 1982 ~ R&B singer Addie Harris passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Member of 1960s girl-group the Shirelles, known for songs such as Will You Love Me Tomorrow, Dedicated To The One I Love, Mama Said, Baby It's You, Soldier Boy and Foolish Little Girl ~ Harris was born in 1940