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 18, 1992 ~ Peter Richard Woolnough, commonly known as pop singer, pianist, songwriter Peter Allen passed away in San Diego, California, USA ~ First gained attention as half of the Allen Brothers, the other half being Chris Bell and actually not his brother. As a solo artist best known for his 1976 hit I Go To Rio of his Taught By Experts album. Also known for co-writing Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do), an Academy Award-winning 1981 hit for Christopher Cross used in the film Arthur starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli ~ Woolnough was born in 1944
June 18, 1990 ~ Singer Janet Jackson releases Come Back To Me, lifted off her Rhythm Nation 1814 album ~ Written and produced by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the sultry ballad Come Back To Me talks about the desire to rekindle a romance that faded away long ago. The song would be critically acclaimed as the New York Times called it “a glistening ballad for adult outlets”, Soul Train hailed it as “one of the more memorable songs (of) the 1990s”, and Slant Magazine labeled it “the quintessential song in the key of heartbreak”. Come Back To Me would reach No.2 Billboard Hot 100, making it the fifth of seven consecutive top 5 singles off the Rhythm Nation 1814 album
June 18, 1987 ~ Odis Oliver Flores, commonly known as rapper OT Genasis, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Influenced by Cutty Ranks, Buju Banton, TI, Ludacris, Tupac Shakur, 50 Cent. Best known for songs such Touchdown and Cut It featuring Young Dolph. Has guested on recordings by Mustard, Afrojack, Snoop Dogg, T-Pain, Lil Wayne and Lil' Keed
June 18, 1984 ~ Jazz singer Frida Ånnevik born in Hamar, Norway ~ Daughter of folk singer Tor Karseth. Acclaimed for her 2010 Synlige Hjerteslag debut album and has recorded consistently since. Also well known for collaborating with the trio In The Country on the collaborative Skogens Sang album released in 2014
June 18, 1984 ~ Sibling outfit the Jacksons release State Of Shock featuring Mick Jagger, lead single off their Victory album ~ By the early 1980s an established solo artist, singer Michael Jackson and Queen-frontman Freddie Mercury had recorded three tracks together, Victory, There Must Be More Than This, and the original version of State Of Shock. The first would become the unreleased title track of the Jacksons' album, the second would be recorded by Mercury for his solo album, and the third became a hit when Jackson and his siblings re-recorded the song with Mick Jagger. No explanation was given as to why the original version with Mercury was canned. The song is credited to Randy Hansen and Michael Jackson, with no mention of Mercury who most likely did have a role though in composing the track. State Of Shock would be a massive hit, reaching top 10 in several countries including peaking at No.3 on the Billboard Hot 100
June 18, 1983 ~ Pop, pop rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Philipp Poisel born in Ludwigsburg, West Germany ~ First gained attention with his sophomore Bis Nach Toulouse album released in 2010. Subsequently would reach top 10 in his native Germany with the singles Eiserner Steg, used for the film What A Man, and the Max Herre-duet Wolke 7June 18, 1983 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, Affair Of The Heart by Rick Springfield peaks at No.9 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Noted for its heavy use of synthesizers, uncharacteristic of Rick Springfield's usual style, Affair Of The Heart was issued as the lead single off his multi-platinum Living In Oz album. The song would be a modest hit in the singer's native Australia, yet found more appeal in America where it became his fourth of five top 10 hits and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, an award that would go to Beat It by Michael Jackson
June 18, 1982 ~ Rock, blues-rock, alternative rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Nathan Cavaleri born in Sydney, Australia ~ Child actor, child prodigy. Played with Mark Knopfler at age 9, toured with BB King at age 13. Released his solo debut single, the Elvis Presley-cover Little Egypt, in 1992. A full-length album, Jammin' With The Cats, followed in 1993. Worked with the Dirty Skanks, Electric Mary, Jimmy Barnes, Diesel, guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel, Teddy Andreadis, Sweet Pea Atkinson, Curt Bisquera, Jeff Berlin, Robben Ford, and Aaron Neville
June 18, 1978 ~ Indie rock, melodic hardcore, post-hardcore, punk rock bassist, guitarist Joseph Simmons, full name Joseph Lee Simmons, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Not to be confused with his namesake Run-DMC rapper Joseph Simmons. Active since the mid 1990s, initially working with bands such as Dinner Time and Lock Down. Member of Birds Of Ill Omen, and notably metalcore outfit Morning Again known for their sole As Tradition Dies Slowly album released in 1998. Simmons would go on to work with Culture, Some Sort Of Radio, As Friends Rust, Salem, and Rot In Coffins
June 18, 1977 ~ In its 13th week on the charts, Feels Like The First Time by Foreigner peaks at No.4 Billboard Hot 100 ~ This was the song that landed the band, then known as Trigger, a record deal in America. When a demo reached Atlantic Records executive John Kaldoner, he went to see the band perform and subsequently signed the band. The deal worked out for the label. Issued as the rechristened band's debut single, Feels Like The First Time would reach the American top 10. Its follow-up single, Cold As Ice, off the same album would peak at No.6 Billboard Hot 100. Guitarist Mick Jones, who wrote the song, would later tell Songfacts how the song came to be: “People probably thought, well, this is a song that he's written specifically for this album. In hindsight I guess that's a natural feeling, but to me it was signifying a new start. I'd met somebody, I got re-married and moved with her to America, and that was the song that described that experience”
June 18, 1976 ~ Country singer Blake Shelton, full name Blake Tollison Shelton, born in Ada, Oklahoma, USA ~ Rose to fame with his eponymous 2001 Blake Shelton debut album, its lead single Austin reaching the No.1 spot on the Billboard Country charts. Has recorded to critical acclaim and commercial success since. Well known songs include The Baby, Some Beach, All About Tonight, Honey Bee, Sure Be Cool If You Did, Boys 'Round Here featuring the Pistol Annies, Sangria, God's Country, and Nobody But You featuring Gwen Stefani
June 18, 1976 ~ Christoff de Bolle, commonly known as singer Christoff, born in Ninove, Belgium ~ Member of schlager boy band Klubbb 3 alongside Florian Silbereisen and Jan Smit. As a solo artist active since the early 1990s and best known for songs such as Koning Clown, Verslaafd Aan Jou, Als Ik In Je Blauwe Ogen Kijk, Een Ster, Alles Kan Een Mens Gelukkig Maken with René Froger, Voor Jou, Stapel Op Jou
June 18, 1976 ~ Glam rock, hard rock, pop rock outfit Queen release You're My Best Friend, lifted off their A Night At The Opera album ~ The band's bassist John Deacon was only just learning to play the piano, and wrote the song for and about his wife Veronica Tetzlaff on a Wurlitzer electric piano. The single, issued on the heels of their monster hit Bohemian Rhapsody, reached top 10 in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the band's native UK, top 20 on the American Billboard Hot 100. You're My Best Friend has since become a concert favorite, the piano part usually played by Freddie Mercury on a grand piano rather than a Wurlitzer, with Deacon playing the bass. Deacon and Tetzlaff have been married since 1975 and have six children
June 18, 1975 ~ Jazz pianist Earl Washington passed away in Evergreen, Illinois, USA ~ Classically trained. Dubbed “the Ghost” for his light complexion. First gained attention in the late 1940s backing Red Saunders, remaining with Saunders through 1954. Subsequently led his own ensemble, collaborated frequently with Quincy Jones, composed jingles and soundtracks, and wrote for several Motown artists ~ Washington was born in 1921
June 18, 1975 ~ Vyshonne King Miller, commonly known as rapper Silkk The Shocker, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Member of the 504 Boyz. Released his The Shocker debut album in 1996. Best known for his 1998 It Ain't My Fault single featuring Mystikal. Has also worked with Master P, O'Dell, Mya, Snoop Dogg, Montell Jordan (Let's Ride), Lil Italy, Soulja Slim, and Lil' Romeo
June 18, 1971 ~ Elizabeth Lloyd Holzman, commonly known as actress, singer, civil rights activist Libby Holman, passed away in Stamford, Connecticut, USA ~ Became known as “the premier torch singer of Broadway” for her performances starting in the mid 1920s. Best known for her signature song Moanin' Low from the 1929 revue The Little Show ~ Holzman was born in 1904
June 18, 1971 ~ Singer Nathan Morris, full name Nathan Bartholomew Morris, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Co-founding member of R&B boy band Boyz II Men, known for the 1990s Billboard Hot 100 charttoppers End Of The Road, I'll Make Love To You, On Bended Knee and 4 Seasons Of Loneliness. The band also collaborated with Mariah Carey on the 1995 hit One Sweet Day and with LL Cool J on Hey Lover later the same year
June 18, 1968 ~ Pop rock sibling outfit the Bee Gees record When The Swallows Fly ~ Written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb. Produced by the band and their manager Robert Stigwood. Included on the 1968 Idea album. Released as a 1971 single in the Netherlands, b/w Give Our Best, where it reached top 20 in two weeks. The song's opening line is taken from William Wordsworth poem I Wandered Lonely As A CloudJune 18, 1967 ~ Rock drummer Frank Lenz born in San Leandro, California, USA ~ Over half a dozen albums to his name, including the soundtracks to Strictly Background and Holy Rollers. As a band member has worked with the Lassie Foundation, Duraluxe, Charity Empressa, and Fold Zandura. In-demand studio musician and occasional producer, present on albums by the Dingees, Peter Shambrook, Michael Knott, Promise Keepers, and Crystal Lewis
June 18, 1966 ~ Rockabilly, roots rock singer, guitarist, pianist Dexter Romweber, full name John Michael Dexter Romweber, born in Batesville, Indiana, USA ~ Iconic figure in underground roots rock, rockabilly circles since the mid-1980s. Cited by the White Stripes guitarist Jack White as a major influence. Best known for founding rockabilly revivalists Flat Duo Jets with Chris Crow Smith, naming themselves after Gene Vincent's Gretsch Duo Jet guitar. The band recorded close to a dozen albums, and are especially acclaimed for their 1990 eponymous Flat Duo Jets album, and its 1992 follow-up Go Go Harlem. Romweber also formed Dex Romweber Duo with his older sister drummer Sara Romweber, their full-length Ruins Of Berlin debut album released in 2009, and has recorded several albums as a solo artist ~ Romweber passed away in 2024
June 18, 1963 ~ Darren Arthur Reed, commonly known as hard rock, heavy metal keyboardist, guitarist, singer Dizzy Reed born in Hinsdale, Illinois, USA ~ Longtime member of Guns 'n Roses, joining the band in 1990 and a key member since. Co-wrote songs such as Chinese Democracy, Street Of Dreams, and Oh My God. Reed released his Rock 'n Roll Ain't Easy solo debut album in 2018, has worked with the Dead Daisies, and guested on recordings by Duff McKagan, Slash's Snakepit, Motörhead, Tommy Stinson, the Backyard Babies, and Armored Saint
June 18, 1962 ~ Singer Connie Francis records Vacation ~ Written by Francis, Hank Hunter, Gary Weston. Produced by Danny Davis and Jim Vienneau. Connie Francis released the song later the same year, b/w The Biggest Sin Of All. It would reach top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic
June 18, 1961 ~ Pop, synth-pop singer, ongwriter Alison Moyet, full name Genevieve Alison Jane Moyet, born in Basildon, UK ~ Known for her powerful, blues-contralto voice. Rose to fame as lead singer of synth-pop duo Yazoo alongside Vince Clarke, known for early 1980s songs such as Only You, Don't Go and Nobody's Diary. Released her Alt solo debut album in 1984, which spawned the UK top 10 hits Love Resurrection and All Cried Out. Would regularly reach the higher echelons of the charts throughout the end of the decade. Well known songs include That Ole Devil Called Love, Is This Love, Weak In The Presence Of Beauty, Love Letters and Whispering Your Name
June 18, 1960 ~ Rock, pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Jude Cole, full name Jude Anthony Cole, born in Moline, Illinois, USA ~ About half a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, his eponymous Jude Cole debut released in 1987. Well known songs include 1990s Baby It's Tonight and 1992's Start The Car. Session musician present on recordings by Moon Martin, Peter Noone, Billy Thorpe, Ted Nugent, Del Shannon, Jewel, Travis Tritt, Billie Myers, Kendall Payne. Produced for Paola Turci, Clay Davidson, Lindsay Pagano, Beth Orton, Honeyhoney, Jim Stapley and especially Lifehouse, also serving as the latter's manager and songwriter
June 18, 1958 ~ Oud player, guitarist, mandolinist, singer, songwriter Ara Dinkjian born in New Jersey, USA ~ Considered one of the premier oud players. Founder of Night Ark. As a songwriter had his songs recorded by Sezen Aksu, Ahmet Kaya, and by Eleftheria Arvanitaki, the latter notably performing the multi-platinum Dinkjian-penned hit Dinata at the closing ceremony of the 2004 Olympics held in Athens