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 17, 1944 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Chris Spedding, full name Christopher John Spedding, born in Staveley, UK ~ One of the UK's most in-demand studio musicians with a career spanning five decades. Member of several rock bands including Battered Ornaments, Nucleus, and Greedy Bastards. Produced the very first demos for the Sex Pistols. Over a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Songs Without Words released in 1970. Scored the 1975 UK top 20 hit Motor Bikin'. Guested on albums by the likes of Jack Bruce (Songs For A Tailor), Mike Batt, Julie Driscoll, Elton John (Madman Across The Water), Linda Lewis, Harry Nilsson, Donovan, Brian Eno (Here Come The Warm Jets), John Cale, Jim Capaldi, Ginger Baker, Bryan Ferry, Art Garfunkel, Joan Armatrading (Me Myself I), Nina Hagen, Paul McCartney (Tug Of War), and Roger Daltrey
June 17, 1943 ~ Barry Alan Pincus, commonly known as soft rock singer, pianist, songwriter Barry Manilow born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Scored over four dozen top 40 singles on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts during a decade spanning five decades. Sold over 85 million records. Best known for songs such as Mandy, Could It Be Magic, I Write The Songs, Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again, Looks Like We Made It, Can't Smile Without You and Copacabana (At The Copa). Has served as producer for Bette Midler, Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson and Sarah Vaughan
June 17, 1940 ~ Charles Walter Rainey III, commonly known as pop, rock, jazz fusion, R&B bassist, singer Chuck Rainey born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Session musician. First gained attention sessioning on various recordings by the Young Rascals, first and perhaps most notably on the band's 1967 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Groovin'. Has also recorded as a solo artist and guested on recordings by Louis Armstrong, Gato Barbieri, George Benson, Donald Byrd, Joe Cocker, the Crusaders, King Curtis, Aretha Franklin, Gene Harris, Etta James, Quincy Jones, David Fathead Newman, Steely Dan, Sadao Watanabe, Ernie Wilkins, Cannonball Adderley, Mose Allison, Brook Benton, Randy Brecker, James Brown, Tim Buckley, Paul Butterfield, Valerie Carter, Fats Domino, Roberta Flack, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Albert King, Al Kooper, Nils Lofgren, Melissa Manchester, Bette Midler, Ry Cooder, and Blue Mitchell
June 17, 1939 ~ Drummer James Gadson, full name James Edward Gadson, passed away ~ One of the most-recorded drummers in history. Member of Charles Wright's Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, with whom he recorded three albums during the late 1960s. Along with other members of Wright's band, Gadson would appear on several hit records of Dyke & the Blazers. However, Gadson would come truly into his own, becoming an in-demand session drummer over the following decade. In the early 1970s, Gadson may have been most closely associated with Bill Withers, notably present on hits such as Ain't No Sunshine, Lean On Me, and Use Me, and co-producing Withers' highly acclaimed Still Bill breakout album. Gadson has played on several of the 1970s most memorable R&B hits, including Dancing Machine (the Jackson 5), Don't Leave Me This Way (Thelma Houston), I Want You (Marvin Gaye), Love Hangover (Diana Ross), and I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor), and remained a highly sought-after session drummer for decades. Over the course of his lengthy career, Gadson has played on albums by the likes of Tavares, the Temptations, Quincy Jones (Body Heat), Yvonne Fair (The Bitch Is Black), Herbie Hancock, Kenny Rankin (Inside), Sonny Criss, Albert King, Leon Ware (Musical Massage), Phoebe Snow, Gene Harris, Randy Crawford, Natalie Cole, Rose Royce, the Emotions (Rejoice), Gary Bartz, the Pointer Sisters, Lenny Williams (Choosing You), Jimmy Smith, Sylvester, Yvonne Elliman (Night Flight), Pharoah Sanders, Smokey Robinson, Melissa Manchester, Aretha Franklin, the Gap Band, Patrice Rushen, Paulinho Da Costa, Donna Summer (Bad Girls), Bobby Womack (The Poet), Teena Marie, Leonard Cohen, BB King, Paul McCartney, and Justin Timberlake. In a 2007 interview with Modern Drummer, Gadson stated most grooves, especially for dance music, are very simple, however the trick is to slow them down: “A lot of times we do all these rudimental things to see how fast we can play. I think you have to slow it all down and simplify it. Then you can kind of feel whether it's danceable or not” ~ Gadson passed away in 2026June 17, 1937 ~ Identical twin brothers vocal pop singers Ed Farran and Fred Farran born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA ~ Members of the Arbors, known for a number of 1960s recordings including Symphony For Susan, Just Let It Happen, Graduation Day and perhaps their best known The Letter, the latter a Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit in 1969 and originally a charttopper for the Box Tops three years earlier. The vocal pop quartet is also noted for their follow-up album, Featuring I Can't Quit Her The Letter featuring vocal pop interpretations of songs originally by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Doors, Blood Sweat & Tears, and Simon & Garfunkel ~ Ed passed away in 2003, Fred in 2011
June 17, 1935 ~ Margaret Seeger, commonly known as folk singer, banjoist, guitarist, pianist Peggy Seeger born in New York, New York, USA ~ Daughter of folklorist Charles Seeger and modernist composer Ruth Porter Crawford. Sister of singer Mike Seeger, half-sister of singer Pete Seeger. Married to singer Ewan MacColl, with whom she frequently collaborated, from 1977 until MacColl's death in 1977. Actively recording since the mid 1950s. Advocate of women's rights, many of her songs such as I'm Gonna Be An Engineer becoming anthems of the women's movementJune 17, 1933 ~ Gospel singer Mosie Burks, also known as Mosie Mama Burks, born in Forest, Mississippi, USA ~ Lead singer of quintessential contemporary gospel outfit the Mississippi Mass Choir, with whom she toured internationally and recorded over half a dozen albums from the mid 1990s until her retirement from music in 2020. The ensemble is especially acclaimed for their Emmanuel (God With Us) album, released in 1999. Burks released her sole sole album, Mama Burks, in 2005. Upon hearing off her lifelong friend's passing, Lannie Spann McBride, who had sung in church with Burks during their childhood, commented: “She wasn't just a woman who had a voice, but she had a spirit, and she had a heart. And when you put that heart and that spirit together, you get purpose” ~ Burks passed away in 2025
June 17, 1930 ~ Guitarist Cliff Gallup born in Norfolk, Virginia, USA ~ Member of Gene Vincent's backing unit the Blue Caps through late 1956, appearing on some 35 tracks including Race With The Devil, Blue Jean Bop and Be-bop-a-lula. Regarded as one of early rock & roll's most technically proficient electric guitarists. Influential on Eric Clapton, Brian Setzer and Jeff Beck. At the request of his widow obituaries in local newspapers made no mention of his time with Vincent ~ Gallup passed away in 1988June 17, 1920 ~ Pianist, keyboardist, bandleader Aubrey Adams, full name Aubrey Wellington Adams, born in St Andrew Parish, Jamaica ~ Worked with the Dewdroppers, Clue J & the Blues Blasters, Tommy McCook, Sonny Bradshaw, Roland Alphonso, Clancy Eccles, Pat Kelly, the Soul Defenders, Coxsone Dodd, Sonia Pottinger, Lynn Taitt, and Rico Rodriguez ~ Adams passed away in 1990
June 17, 1916 ~ Singer, songwriter Terry Gilkyson born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Wrote and first recorded Cry Of The Wild Goose, later a hit for Frankie Laine. Wrote Tell Me A Story for Jimmy Boyd. Sang with the Weavers (On Top Of Old Smokey, Across The Wide Missouri). Formed the Easy Riders with Richard Dehr and Frank Miller, known for their major hit Marianne. Worked as Walt Disney Studios songwriter, including for animated movies Jungle Book and The Aristocats ~ Gilkyson passed away in 1999June 17, 1911 ~ Walter D Williams Jr, commonly known as producer, label executive Dootsie Williams, born in Mobile, Alabama, USA ~ Leader of the Harlem Dukes in the 1940s. Would found the Blue Records label by the end of the decade. Has worked with Papa John Creach, the Penguins (Earth Angel), Redd Foxx, and the Medallions ~ Williams passed away in 1991
June 17, 1910 ~ Clyde Julian Foley, commonly known as country, gospel, rockabilly singer, guitarist, banjoist, songwriter Red Foley, born in Blue Lick, Kentucky, USA ~ Dubbed “Mr Country Music” Foley was one of the most popular country singers of the 1940s and 1950s, selling over 25 million records. His 1951 rendition of Peace In The Valley, originally recorded by Mahalia Jackson in 1937, would become one of the first gospel songs to sell over a million copies. Other well known songs include Smoke On The Water, Shame On You, New Jolie Blonde (New Pretty Blonde), Tennessee Saturday Night, Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy, Birmingham Bounce, Midnight and the Kitty Wells-duet One By One ~ Foley passed away in 1968June 17, 1910 ~ Singer, pianist, dancer Sam Costa, full name Samuel Gabriel Costa, born in London, UK ~ Popular singer, crooner during Britain's dance band era, comic actor on the 1940s, 1950s Much Binding In The Marsh radio show. Has worked with Bert Firman, Jack Jackson, Lew Stone, Harry Leader, Maurice Winnick, and Jay Wilbur. From the 1950 onwards, Costa has worked as a radio host and DJ ~ Costa passed away in 1981
June 17, 1907 ~ Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer Gene Sedric, full name Eugene Hall Cedric, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Acquired the nickname “Honey Bear” for his camelhair coat. Closely associated with Fats Waller, a member of Fats Waller's Rhythm from 1934 through 1942. Also worked with the Kentucky Jazz Band, Charlie Creath, Fate Marable, Dewey Jackson, Ed Allen, Julian Arthur, Sam Wooding, Alex Hyde, Fletcher Henderson, Mezz Mezzrow, Don Redman, Phil Moore, Hazel Scott, Pat Flowers, Bobby Hackett, Jimmy McPartland, Conrad Janis, and Dick Wellstood ~ Sedric passed away in 1963June 17, 1905 ~ Jazz pianist Don Kirkpatrick born in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA ~ Sideman, arranger. Worked with Chick Webb, Don Redman, Harry White, Elmer Snowden, Zutty Singleton, Mezz Mezzrow, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Cootie Williams, Bunk Johnson, Sidney Bechet, Wilbur de Paris, and Doc Cheatham ~ Kirkpatrick passed away in 1956
June 17, 1902 ~ Joseph Christopher Columbus Morris, commmonly known as jazz drummer Chris Columbus, born in Greenville, North Carolina, USA ~ Active since the 1930s. Worked with Louis Jordan, Wild Bill Davis, Duke Ellington, Floyd Smith, Al Grey, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Buddy Tate, Milt Buckner, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Johnny Hammond Smith. His son was Count Basie's drummer Sonny Payne ~ Morris passed away in 2002
June 17, 1902 ~ Samuel E Feinberg, commonly known as singer, pianist, songwriter Sammy Fain, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best remembered for co-writing songs such as You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me (Ted Wallace, Maurice Chevalier, Benny Goodman), When I Take My Sugar To Tea (the Melotone Boys, the Casa Loma Orchestra, Milton Brown), That Old Feeling (Virginia Verrill, Shep Fields, Count Basie), Secret Love (Doris Day, Gogi Grant, Ray Anthony), April Love (Pat Boone, Connie Francis, Johnny Mathis), Tender Is The Night (Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, Billy Eckstine), and I'll Be Seeing You (Tamara, Dick Todd, Billie Holiday) ~ Feinberg passed away in 1989
June 17, 1899 ~ Jazz saxophonist Benny Krueger born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Briefly played with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, appearing on a number of early 1920s recordings. Would go on to become a musical director and conductor for radio and TV working with artists such as Rudy Vallée and Bob Crosby. As a solo artist best known for I Cried For You and Wang Wang Blues (Saxopation). Also wrote Sunday, recorded by Pat Boone, Louis Jordan and most notably Lester Young ~ Krueger passed away in 1967June 17, 1895 ~ Pianist, bandleader Sam Wooding, full name Samuel David Wooding, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Contemporary of Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington. Best known for bringing jazz, and big band ensembles to European audiences. In 1926 Wooding became one of the first jazz artists to perform in Russia ~ Wooding passed away in 1985
June 17, 1882 ~ Composer Igor Stravinsky, full name Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky, born in Orahienbaum, Russia ~ Generally acknowledged as one of the most influential composers of the 20th century noted for his stylistic diversity. Rose to fame with three ballets, 1910's Firebird, 1911's Petrushka and 1913's The Rite Of Spring ~ Stravinsky passed away in 1971
June 17, 1818 ~ Composer Charles Gounod, full name Charles-François Gounod, born in Paris, France ~ Composed choral music, chamber music, song suites and operas, most notably Faust and Romeo Et Juliette. Influenced composers such as Jules Massenet, Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy ~ Gounod passed away in 1893