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 15, 2021 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter, engineer, producer Tim Thorney passed away in Collingwood, Canada ~ Co-wrote most of Lisa Dal Bello's 1981 Drastic Measures album. Singer, keyboardist for the Front, known for the early 1980s albums Gina's At A Party and Underworld. Has recorded as a solo artist, most notably the 1993 Fortunate Home single which reached top 20 of the Canadian country charts. Co-produced Jimmy Rankin's 2001 Song Dog debut album and its follow-up Handmade. Co-produced Alanis Morissette's 2004 So-Called Chaos album ~ Thorney was born in 1955June 15, 2020 ~ James Kwaka Tuffour, commonly known as highlife singer, songwriter Nana Tuffour, passed away in Kumasi, Ghana ~ Over a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, starting with Highlife Romance released in 1979. Known for songs such as Aketekyiwa, Abeiku and Owupo Sei Fie. Has worked with Alex Konadu, the Wanto Wazuri Band, the Waza Africo Band, and King Sunny Adé ~ Tuffour was born in 1954
June 15, 2018 ~ Conductor Enoch zu Guttenberg passed away in Munich, Germany ~ Influenced by Bernhard Paumgartner, Antal Doráti, and Karl von Feilitzsch. Formed several musical ensembles for choral works and choirs including the famed Chorgemeinschaft Neubeurern in 1967. Guttenberg is also an environmental activist, particularly known for co-founding BUND, a German non-profit organization dedicated to protect the natural environment ~ Zu Guttenberg was born in 1946
June 15, 2018 ~ Matthew Tyler Murphy, commonly known as guitarist Matt Guitar Murphy passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Best known for his associations with Memphis Slim, Howlin' Wolf, and with the Blues Brothers. Also worked with Little Junior Parker, Ike Turner, Chuck Berry, Etta James, Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, and Sonny Boy Williamson II ~ Murphy was born in 1929
June 15, 2018 ~ The 49th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 1 of 3. Mostly sunny, this year's edition would draw some 113,500 visitors in total. Included on today's, Friday the 15th's bill would be Lil' Kleine, BLØF, Snow Patrol, Pearl Jam, Jess Glynne, Oh Wonder, the Offspring, Walden, the Last Internationale, Blaudzun, Oliver Heldens, Slydigs, the Academic, and Aicha Cherif
June 15, 2015 ~ Samuel McClain, commonly known as soul-blues singer, songwriter Mighty Sam McClain, passed away in New Hampshire, USA ~ Got his first success with the releases Give It Up To Love in 1992 and Keep On Movin' in 1995. Earned critical praise for his 2000 album Blues For The Soul. Went on to collaborate with Iranian singer Mahsa Vahdat and later Ramy Essam ~ McClain was born in 1943
June 15, 2015 ~ Saxophonist, composer Ornette Coleman passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Free jazz pioneer, a genre he actually named. Saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter. Best known for his 1959 landmark album The Shape Of Jazz To Come. Father of jazz drummer Denardo Coleman. Worked with Pee Wee Crayton, Don Cherry, Billy Higgins, Walter Norris, Don Payne, Paul Bley, Charlie Haden, Scott LaFaro, Jimmy Garrison, Freddie Hubbard, Eric Dolphy, Elvin Jones, Dewey Redman, Ed Blackwell, David Izenzon, Charles Moffett, Albert Ayler, Yoko Ono, Jerry Garcia, and Pat Metheny ~ Coleman was born in 1930June 15, 2013 ~ The 44th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 2 of 3. Sunny and pleasant with an occasional splash of rain, this year's edition would draw some 60,000 visitors in total. Included on today's, Saturday the 15th's bill would include La Pegatina, Passenger, the Opposites, Thirty Seconds To Mars, the Kings Of Leon, Douwe Bob, .fun, Gaslight Anthem, Phoenix, Palma Violets, Graveyard, Miles Kane, Ellie Goulding, and C2C
June 15, 2012 ~ Singer, actress Emi Ito passed away in Tokyo, Japan ~ Formed the pop duo the Peanuts with identical twin Yumi Ito, enjoying popularity from the late 1950s until disbanding in 1975. The duo started out singing Japanese covers of standards and international hits yet over time would add more originals to their repertoire, working with songwriters such as Koichi Sugiyama and Rei Nakanishi. Well-known songs include Kawaii Hana, Koi No Vacance, Souvenirs From Tokyo, Bye Bye Yokohama, and Furimukanaide ~ Ito was born in 1941June 15, 2012 ~ Jazz guitarist, composer Rune Gustafsson, full name Rune Urban Gustaffson, passed away in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Composed the scores to a number of Swedish films including The Man Who Quit Smoking, Release The Prisoners To Spring and Sunday's Children. Leader and sideman. Worked with Jan Johansson, Georg Riedel, Cornelis Vreeswijk, Egil Johansen, Red Mitchell, Ed Thigpen, Zoot Sims, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Arne Domnérus, and Jan Allan ~ Gustafsson was born in 1933
June 15, 2007 ~ Multi-instrumentalist Richard Bell passed away in Toronto, Canada ~ Best known as member of Janis Joplin's backing band the Full Tilt Boogie Band. Also worked with the Mid-Knights, Ronnie Hawkins, Burrito Deluxe, the Blue Aeroplanes, Crowbar, Paul Butterfield, Karen Dalton, John Sebastian, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, Bruce Cockburn, Judy Collins, the Fridge Magnets, the Cowboy Junkies, Bob Dylan, Michael Kaeshammer, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Walsh, Pyro, Jim Weider, the Convertibles, the Band, Colin Linden, and Kathleen Edwards ~ bell was born in 1946
June 15, 2004 ~ Following her win on the third season of American Idol, singer Fantasia releases her I Believe debut single ~ The Season 3 finale of the popular talent contest had Fantasia and Diana DeGarmo both performing I Believe, a song written specifically for the show. The former won the finale, and issued I Believe as her debut single, it would debut atop on the American Billboard Hot 100. She would release her Free Yourself debut album later the same year. Despite wide acclaim, critics especially praising Fantasia's energetic delivery and vocal range, the singer would be unable to repeat the success of I Believe as only two later singles reached top 40. However, over the next few years the singer did score a total of about half a dozen more top 20 hits on the Billboard R&B chartsJune 15, 2003 ~ Pianist, bandleader, composer René Touzet, full name René Touzet y Monte, passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Wrote No Te Importe Saber, which with lyrics by Mitchell Parish was recorded as Let Me Love You Tonight by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and by Dean Martin. Collaborated with Desi Arnaz, Xavier Cugat, Stan Kenton, and Gene Norman ~ Touzet was born in 1916
June 15, 2003 ~ Guitarist Volker Kriegel passed away in San Sebastian, Spain ~ Considered a key figure in European jazz-rock. Closely associated with the Dave Pike Set. As a leader especially acclaimed for his 1971 Spectrum album. Co-founding member of the United Jazz+Rock Ensemble, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums. As a sideman has collaborated with Klaus Doldinger, Emil Mangelsdorff, Don Sugarcane Harris, and Scott Hardkiss ~ Kriegel was born in 1943June 15, 1996 ~ Aurora Aksnes, mononymously known as art pop, electropop, synth-pop singer, keyboardist, bassist, percussionist, songwriter AURORA, born in Stavanger, Norway ~ Influenced by Enya, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Underworld, Björk, Kate Bush. Released her full-length All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend debut album in 2016. It would include the single Runaway, a moderate hit in the UK and a top 20 hit in her native Norway
June 15, 1996 ~ Jazz, swing, bebop, blues singer Ella Fitzgerald, full name Ella Jane Fitzgerald, passed away in Beverly Hills, California, USA ~ Often referred to as “the First Lady of Song” and praised for her vocal abilities, particularly in her scat singing. Rose to fame in the 1930s working with bandleader Chick Webb and his orchestra. After Webb's death in 1939 Fitzgerald initially took over the band to set out on a hugely successful solo career soon afterwards. Noted for her collaborations with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, the Ink Spots. Known for songs such as My Melancholy Baby, Goodnight My Love, A-Tisket A-Tasket, I Want The Waiter (With The Water), I'm Making Believe, and Baby It's Cold Outside ~ Fitzgerald was born in 1917June 15, 1995 ~ Gospel singer, pianist, songwriter Robert Anderson passed away in Hazel Crest, Illinois, USA ~ Backed Roberta Martin as a member of the Roberta Martin Singers from 1933 through 1941 and rejoining in later years. Formed and led early 1950s outfit the Caravans. As a solo artist best known for his self-penned Oh Lord Is It I, later notably covered by Mahalia Jackson ~ Anderson was born in 1919
June 15, 1994 ~ Classical, entekhno, film composer, pianist, violinist, accordionist Manos Hatzidakis passed away in Athens, Greece ~ Member of the Greek Resistance during World War II. Widely recognized as one the premier Greek composers and one of the main proponents of the Entekhno genre. Closely associated with Nana Moskouri, who recorded several of his songs including Never On Sunday used as the theme song for the 1960 comedy film of the same name. The song would earn Hatzidakis an Academy Award and become a worldwide hit. In total Hatzidakis has written over two dozen soundtracks ~ Hatzidakis was born in 1925June 15, 1992 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Parker McCollum, full name Parker Yancey McCollum, born in Conroe, Texas, USA ~ Influenced by Ryan Bingham, Townes Van Zandt, and George Strait. Critically compared to fellow Texan Charlie Robison. Released his The Limestone Kid debut album in 2015, drawing from Americana, Texas country, and folk-rock, and has recorded to a growing fanbase and critical acclaim since
June 15, 1987 ~ Conductor John Farnsworth Hall passed away ~ Member, violinist of the Farmer's Trio, a 1920s pioneering radio chamber trio with Horace Keats and John Boatwright. Would go on to become a renowned conductor, notably associated with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra ~ Hall was born in 1899
June 15, 1987 ~ Synth-pop duo the Pet Shop Boys release It's A Sin, lead single off their Actually sophomore album ~ The band's second UK No.1 hit, after West End Girls off their previous album, and a top 10 hit in several countries including America. In It's A Sin, Neil Tennant reflects back on his time at the Catholic St Cuthbert's High School, at one point feeling that everything he had done or was going to do was a sin. Later Tennant said that he wrote the lyrics in a moment of frustration and anger, but that it was not something serious: “People took it really seriously. The song was written in about fifteen minutes, and was intended as a camp joke and it wasn't something I consciously took very seriously”June 15, 1985 ~ Singer, actress, model Nadine Coyle, full name Nadine Elizabeth Louise Coyle, born in Derry, Northern Ireland ~ Member of 2000s girl group Girls Aloud created through the talent contest Popstars The Rivals, with whom she scored the UK No.1 singles Sound Of The Underground, I'll Stand By You, Walk This Way, and The Promise. Coyle has also recorded as a solo artist, releasing her sole Insatiable album in 2010
June 15, 1982 ~ Arthur Edward Pepper Jr, commonly known as saxophonist Art Pepper, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ First gained attention backing Stan Kenton. Though early on his career was regularly interrupted serving several stints in prison on drug charges, Pepper overcame his addiction and would go on to become a leading figure in bop and cool jazz. Pepper has recorded prolifically as a leader or co-leader since the mid 1950s, and is especially acclaimed for albums such as Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section, Plus Eleven, and Intensity. An in-demand sideman, Pepper has appeared on albums by Shorty Rogers, Shelly Manne, Annie Ross, Stan Getz (West Coast Jazz), Joe Morello (The Joe Morello Sextet), Marty Paich, Chet Baker, Quincy Jones (This Is How I Feel About Jazz), Herb Ellis, Gerry Mulligan, Art Blakey, Barney Kessel (Some Like It Hot), Helen Humes, Buddy Rich, and Dizzy Gillespie ~ Pepper was born in 1925
June 15, 1981 ~ Singer Sheena Easton releases For Your Eyes Only, recorded as the theme to the James Bond film of the same name ~ Written by Bill Conti and Mick Leeson, the song was first offered to Blondie. However, as frontwoman Debbie Harry didn't feel comfortable with the lyrics they declined. The film's producers opted to have the then-fast rising Sheena Easton perform the song instead. Easton's single, released the same day as the film, would become a global hit and reached top 10 in over a dozen countries including the No.1 spot in the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland. Blondie, who declined the offer to record the original song, submitted their own song for the soundtrack, also titled For Your Eyes Only, which they included on their 1982 The Hunter album
June 15, 1979 ~ Post-punk outfit the Cure release their Boys Don't Cry single ~ Over time Boys Don't Cry would become to be widely regarded as one of the band's finest songs, although at the time of its initial release the stand-alone single, the band's third single after non-charters Killing An Arab and 10:15 Saturday Night, failed to reach the charts. A 1986 re-release, the track remixed with the vocals re-recorded, would do better, peaking just outside the UK top 20 at No.22. Singer Robert Smith would later reflect on the song in an interview with NME: “As an English boy at the time, you're encouraged not to show your emotion to any degree. And I couldn't help but show my emotions when I was younger. I never found it awkward showing my emotions. I couldn't really continue without showing my emotions, you'd have to be a pretty boring singer to do that.”