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 16, 1952 ~ Singer Fabienne Thibeault born in Montreal, Canada ~ Close to two dozen albums to her name, starting with De Laine Et De Bois released in 1976. Especially acclaimed for her 1978 Starmania album. Has collaborated with the likes of Plume Latraverse, Sylvain Lelièvre, Clan Murphy, Yves Duteil, and with her husband Jean-Piere Debarbat
June 16, 1952 ~ Pop, soft rock singer, songwriter Gino Vannelli born in Montreal, Canada ~ Known for a string of late 1970s, 1980s singles, notably I Just Wanna Stop, Living Inside Myself and Wild Horses
June 16, 1950 ~ Singer James Smith born in New York, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Stylistics remaining with the band through 1981, known for 1970s soul hits such as You Are Everything, Betcha By Golly Wow, I'm Stone In Love With You, Break Up To Make Up and You Make Me Feel Brand New
June 16, 1949 ~ Mario Ruben Gonzalez Pierotti, copmmonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Jairo, born in Cordoba, Argentina ~ Sings in Spanish, French and Italian. Has recorded over 500 songs during a career starting in the 1960s. Well known songs include Tu Aima Golondrina, Por Si Tu Quieres Saber, Tristeza, De Pronto Sucedio, El Valle Y El Volcan, Si Vuelve Sera Cansancio, Revolver and Me Encanta Esta Hora Del Dia
June 16, 1949 ~ Robert Wickens Thompson, commonly known as folk rock singer, guitarist Robbin Thompson, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Member of Steel Mill, which also included a then-unknown Bruce Springsteen. Debuted as a solo artist with his 1976 eponymous Robbin Thompson album. Had artists such as Melissa Manchester, Steve Cropper, Waddy Wachtel, Bruce Hornsby and Ellen McIlwaine guest on his recordings. Scored a minor hit with Brite Eyes in 1980 ~ Thompson passed away in 2015
June 16, 1948 ~ Jazz, classical drummer, percussionist Fredy Studer born in Lucerne, Switzerland ~ Formed the acclaimed jazz fusion quartet OM with Christy Doran, Urs Leimgruber and Bobby Burn. Would go on to collaborate with the likes of Franco Ambrosetti, George Gruntz, Joe Henderson, Miroslav Vitous, Larry Schneider, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Pierre Favre, Dom Um Romão and David Friedman. Member of Red Twist & Tuned Arrow. Member of the Singing Drums. Played in Robyn Schulkowsky's ensemble, interpreting modern classical works by Charles Ives, John Cage, and Edgard Varèse ~ Studer passed away in 2022
June 16, 1947 ~ Classical violinist Bronislaw Huberman passed away in Corsier-sur-Vevey, France ~ Praised for his tone color, expressiveness, flexibility. Founded the Palestine Philharmonic Orchestra, renamed after the establishment of the State of Israel to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra ~ Huberman was born in 1882June 16, 1946 ~ Ian Matthews Macdonald, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Ian Matthews born in Scunthorpe, UK ~ Member of Pyramid. Member of Fairport Convention from 1967 through 1969, present on the albums Fairport Convention and What We Did On Our Holidays. Formed and fronted Matthews Southern Comfort, known best for the Joni Mitchell-cover and 1970 UK no.1 hit Woodstock. Formed and fronted Plainsong
June 16, 1946 ~ Rock drummer, guitarist, singer Malcolm Tomlinson born in Isleworth, UK ~ Member of mid 1960s outfit Motivation, known for touring as support act for the likes of Lee Dorsey, Edwin Starr, Alvin Robinson, and the Coasters. The band would eventually change their name to Penny Peeps and later still evolve into Gethsemane ~ Tomlinson passed away in 2016
June 16, 1945 ~ Pianist, songwriter Ivan Lins born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Multiple Grammy winner. Has recorded as a performer since the early 1970s. Has seen his songs covered by artists such as Patti Austin, David Benoit, George Benson, Michael Bublé, Eliane Elias, Ella Fitzgerald, Dave Grusin, Shirley Horn, Quincy Jones, Steve Kuhn, the Manhattan Transfer, Sérgio Mendes, Jane Monheit, Mark Murphy, Carmen McRae, Joe Pass, Lee Ritenour, Sarah Vaughan, Diane Schuur, Sting, Barbra Streisand, Take 6, Toots Thielemans, and Nancy WilsonJune 16, 1944 ~ Rock keyboardist, organist Mick Weaver, full name Michael Weaver, born in Lancashire, UK ~ Worked with the Butts Band, Buddy Guy, David Gilmour, Joe Cocker, Eric Burdon, Frankie Miller, Roger Chapman, Steve Marriott, Gary Moore, Taj Mahal, the Blues Band, Martha Veléz, Keef Hartley, Shawn Phillips, Miller Anderson, Juicy Lucy, Tony Hazzard, Jess Roden, Andy Fairweather Low, Henry McCullough, John Lodge, Iain Matthews, Ralph McTell, Andy Desmond, Alexis Korner, Alvin Lee, Otis Grand, Ronnie Lane, and Buddy Guy
June 16, 1942 ~ Singer Eddie Levert born in Bessemer, Alabama, USA ~ Original member of the O'Jays, known for songs such as Back Stabbers, Love Train, and I Love Music (Part I)June 16, 1942 ~ Bassist, songwriter John Rostill, full name John Henry Rostill, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Best known as bassist of the Shadows from 1963 through 1970, present on songs such as The Rise And Fall Of Fingel Bunt, Mary Anne and Don't Make My Baby Blue ~ Rostill passed away in 1973
June 16, 1941 ~ Songwriter, producer Lamont Dozier born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ One third of renowned Motown songwriting, production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, responsible for numerous hits by artists such as Martha & the Vandellas (Heat Wave), the Andantes, the Supremes (Stop In The Name Of Love), Mary Wells, the Four Tops, the Isley Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Brenda Holloway, Marvin Gaye (How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)), the Elgins, and Honey Cone ~ Dozier passed away in 2022June 16, 1940 ~ Lyricist, author, comedian, singer Hans Dorrestijn born in Ede, the Netherlands ~ Known for his dark, gloomy sense of humor. Lyricist, songwriter for artists such as Herman van Veen, Adèle Bloemendaal, Don Quishocking. Authored numerous books ranging from poetry to children's books. Wrote for several TV shows including De Stratemakeropzeeshow and the Dutch edition of Sesamstraat
June 16, 1940 ~ Singer Robbie Montgomery born in Columbus, Mississippi, USA ~ First gained attention as an original member of the Ikettes, the backing choir for Ike & Tina Turner. After the split from Ike Turner in 1965, the group would rename themselves to Mirettes and record a number of singles including the 1968 Billboard R&B top 20 hit In The Midnight Hour. Montgomery would go on to provide backing vocals for a wide array of pop, rock, and R&B artists including Dr John, Bryan Ferry, José Feliciano, Bonnie Raitt, and Van MorrisonJune 16, 1939 ~ Jazz pianist Albert Dailey, full name Albert Preston Dailey, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Dexter Gordon, Roy Haynes, Sarah Vaughan, Charles Mingus, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Herman, the Jazz Messengers, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Elvin Jones, Archie Shepp, Charlie Rouse, Benny Bailey, Buster Williams, Gary Bartz, Larry Coryell, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, and Harold Vick ~ Dailey passed away in 1984
June 16, 1939 ~ Billy Wayne Craddock, commonly known as country, rockabilly singer Billy Crash Craddock born in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA ~ Dubbed “the King of Country Rock” for his uptempo rock-influenced style. Known for a number of early 1960s rockabilly songs, notably Boom Boom Baby and One Last Kiss before switching to country scoring a string of 1970s hits including Knock Three Times, Dream Lover, I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door, Rub It In, Ruby Baby, Broken Down In Tiny Pieces and I Cheated On A Good Woman's Love
June 16, 1939 ~ William Henry Webb, commonly known as jazz, swing drummer, bandleader Chick Webb, passed away in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Influenced Buddy Rich. Leading figure of swing. One of the first bandleaders to work with Ella Fitzgerald, who sang with Webb's orchestra from the mid 1930s while still in her teens until his death at the end of the decade, notably on songs such as A-tisket A-tasket ~ Webb was born in 1905June 16, 1939 ~ Leslie Arthur Gare, commonly known as free jazz saxophonist Lou Gare, born in Rugby, UK ~ Best known for his association with AMM, appearing on about half a dozen of the ensemble's albums including the acclaimed Ammmusic released in 1966
June 16, 1938 ~ Conductor, pianist Edoardo Müller born in Trieste, Italy ~ Best known for his lengthy association with the San Diego Opera. Has also conducted the Metropolitan Opera, the Dallas Opera, the Houston Grand Opera, the Bavarian State Opera, La Scala, the Opera De Nice, the Teatro Colón, and other orchestras. As a pianist accompanied singers such as Carlo Bergonzi, Renato Bruson, Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Leyla Gencer, and Elena Obraztsova ~ Müller passed away in 2016
June 16, 1938 ~ Blues singer Tampa Red records Love Her With A Feeling in Chicago, Illinois ~ Written by Tampa Red. Released later the same year, featuring When I Had A Good Woman on the flip side. Would become a blues standard quickly covered by numerous fellow bluesman including Merline Johnson in 1938, Little Sonny Jones in 1939, Tommy McClennan in 1940 and Brownie McGhee in 1946. In 1960 Freddie King changed the arrangements and changed the title to You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling. It would be King's first single to chart as well as become the best known version. Most of the later covers would follow King's arrangement. Over the course of his career Red re-recorded the song several timesJune 16, 1936 ~ Trumpeter, film composer Fred Karlin, full name Frederick James Karlin, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Wrote and arranged for the likes of Benny Goodman, Harry James, Chubby Jackson. Best known as a film composer with well over a hundred scores to his name starting with 1967's Up The Down Staircase. Perhaps best known for co-writing the song For All We Know for the 1970 film lovers And Other Strangers which earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The film version was sung by Larry Meredith, a cover by the Carpenters would reach the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts ~ Karlin passed away in 2004
June 16, 1934 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer, songwriter David Johnson born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Member of Little Caesar & the Romans, known for their 1961 Those Oldies But Goodies (Remind Me Of You) Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit. Having released only one full-length album the band broke up in 1962, in part due to an argument between lead singer Carl Burnett and Johnson as to which of them should be called Little Caesar. Johnson would later found and front the short-lived Little Caesar & the Consuls ~ Johnson passed away in 2018
June 16, 1933 ~ Walfredo de los Reyes III, most commonly known as Latin jazz, descarga percussionist, timbalero Walfredo de los Reyes Sr, born in Havana, Cuba ~ Son of trumpeter Walfredo de Los Reyes II. To distinguish the two during their mutually active career through the early 1960s, Walfredo II was called Senior and Walfredo III Junior. With the senior's retirement, and the onset of his own son's career, Walfredo III took the moniker Walfredo de los Reyes Sr. De los Reyes was known best for creating a bigger beat by adding hand percussion instruments to his drum kit. De los Reyes would later explain his signature style of playing both at the same time originally was born out of necessity as he didn't have enough money to hire both a singer and a conga player for his band: “I had to decide between a conga and a singer. I got the singer, because you always need a singer. Then I started putting congas on the left side of my drum set.” As a leader De los Reyes is perhaps best known for his 1960 Cuban Jazz album. De los Reyes has performed with a host of international artists including Tito Puente, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Rita Moreno, Ben Vereen, and Dionne Warwick. Two of his sons have followed in their father's footsteps. Walfredo Reyes Jr is best known as longtime drummer of Chicago, while his younger brother Daniel de los Reyes has drummed with Earth Wind & Fire, and the Zac Brown Band ~ De los Reyes passed away in 2025