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 19, 2025 ~ R&B singer, keyboardist Cavin Yarbrough, full name Cavin Leon Yarbrough, passed away ~ Closely associated with Alisa Peoples, a childhood friend who shared a piano teacher and sang in the same church choir. The two would regularly team up as backing singers including with the Gap Band on the albums The Gap Band II and The Gap Band III, formed Grand Theft in which both sang and played keyboards, and recorded four well-received albums as Yarbrough & Peoples. Through the mid 1980s, the duo would score about half a dozen top 20 hits on the Billboard R&B charts. They are best known for their debut single Don't Stop The Music which became their first of two to top the Billboard R&B charts, crossed over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at No.19, and reached top 10 in both the Netherlands and the UK. Subsequent hits would include Heartbeats, Feels So Good, their second and final Billboard R&B No.1 Don't Waste Your Time, Guilty, and I Wouldn't Lie. After marrying in 1987 the couple returned to their native Dallas and started the music production company Yarbrough And Peoples Productions. Upon his passing of complications from heart disease, Alisa Peoples stated: “He was the love of my life, my protector. Now he's my guardian angel” ~ Yarbrough passed away in 1954
June 19, 2025 ~ Keyboardist James Prime passed away ~ Prime got his start in music as a session and touring keyboardist in the early 1980s, notably touring America with new wave, post-punk the Altered Images. However, he would rise to fame as co-founding member of Deacon Blue, considered one of the most beloved and longrunning bands to come out of Scotland. Prime was present on all of the band's album from their 1987 Raintown debut album through 2025's The Great Western Road, the latter released just a few months prior to his death at age 64 after a short battle with cancer. The band has scored well over a dozen UK top 40 hits, primarily during the 1980s and early 1990s, of which Real Gone Kid, I'll Never Fall In Love Again, and Twist And Shout all reached top 10. Prime was also an educator, teaching at the University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow, UK. Upon hearing of Prime's passing, former bandmate bassist Ged Grimes stated: “I am so shocked to hear the news of my friend Jim's passing. Not only was Jim a superb musician but his wit and huge personality were legendary” ~ Prime was born in 1960
June 19, 2023 ~ Ragtime pianist, composer, actor, author, radio and TV presenter Max Morath passed away in Duluth, Minnesota, USA ~ Dubbed “Mr Ragtime” for his extensive studies of ragtime and role in bringing early Americana to a younger and wider audience, and particularly helpful in the ragtime revival of the 1970s. Devotee of specifically Eubie Blake and Scott Joplin. Recorded well over two dozen albums from the 1950s onwards. Became well known for his role in Ragtime Era, a series of 26 TV programs for PBS aired from 1959 through 1961. Has toured with number of theater shows, notably the acclaimed 1969 one-man show At The Turn Of The Century. Morath would continue to record and perform well into the 2000s. Authored or co-authored a number of books on ragtime music ~ Morath was born in 1926
June 19, 2022 ~ Rock, hard rock, glam metal keyboardist Brett Tuggle passed away ~ Best known for his association with David Lee Roth, backing Roth on tour and record including on the 1988 Skyscraper album. The album would feature several songs co-written by Tuggle, perhaps most notably the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Just Like Paradise. Tuggle has also worked with Steppenwolf, Rick Springfield, Fleetwood Mac, Steve Lukather, Chris Isaak, and Whitesnake ~ Tuggle was born in 1951
June 19, 2022 ~ Singer, guitarist, mandolinist Jim Schwall passed away in Tucson, Arizona, USA ~ Best known as co-leader of the Siegel-Schwall Band, co-founded with Corky Siegel. Though not as popular as contemporaries the Paul Butterfield Blues Band or John Mayall the band would still be able to fill the larger venues. They are noted for becoming the first blues band to collaborate with a classical orchestra, recording the William Russo-penned Three Pieces For Blues Band And Symphony Orchestra in 1972 with the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Seiji Ozawa ~ Schwall was born in 1942
June 19, 2018 ~ Soul singer Lowrell Simon passed away in Newton, Mississippi, USA ~ Member of the Vondells. Member of Lost Generation. Wrote Dance Master for Willie Henderson. Wrote All About The Paper for Loleatta Holloway. As a solo artist best known for Mellow Mellow Right, a modest hit in 1979 and sampled by numerous artists including Massive Attack, Imagination and Common ~ Simon was born in 1943
June 19, 2015 ~ Saxophonist, pianist, composer, arranger, producer Harold Battiste, full name Harold Raymond Battiste Jr, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Widely revered for his arrangements on recordings by Sam Cooke, Joe Jones, Lee Dorsey, Sonny & Cher, and Dr John. Also, in a variety of roles, worked with artists such as Ed Blackwell, Barbara George, and Tom Waits ~ Battiste was born in 1931
June 19, 2014 ~ Gerald Goffin, commonly known as songwriter, lyricist Gerry Goffin, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Half of the Goffin & King songwriter duo, the other half being his wife singer, songwriter Carole King, known for songs such as Will You Love Me Tomorrow for the Shirelles, Take Good Care Of My Baby for Bobby Vee, Go Away Little Girl for Steve Lawrence, and The Loco-motion for Little Eva. After their divorce Goffin collaborated with songwriters such as Barry Goldberg and Michael Masser, writing hits such as Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) for Diana Ross and Saving All My Love For You for Whitney Houston. Others who have recorded Goffin's songs include Tony Orlando, Billy Fury, the Chiffons, the Cookies, Herman's Hermits, the Animals, Maxine Brown, Dusty Springfield, the Byrds, Aretha Franklin, the Monkees, Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack, and George Benson ~ Goffin was born in 1939
June 19, 2013 ~ Ottis Dewey Whitman Jr, commonly known as singer, songwriter Slim Whitman, passed away in Orange Park, Florida, USA ~ Enjoyed a career spanning seven decades. Known for his yodeling and his high falsetto. Sold over 70 million records. Best known for songs such as Indian Love Call, Keep It A Secret, My Heart Is Broken In Three, Rose Marie, More Than Yesterday, and Something Beautiful To Remember. Opened for Elvis Presley in the 1950s ~ Whitman was born in 1923
June 19, 2007 ~ Singer, songwriter, actor, film producer Antonio Aguilar, full name Jose Pascual Antonio Aguilar Marquez Barraza, passed away in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Acted in over 120 films. Over 150 albums to his name. Sold over 25 million copies. Dubbed “Mexico's Horseman” for being an avid equastrian. Known for songs such as Gabino Barrera, Caballo Prieto Azabche, Albur De Amor and Un Puno De Tierra ~ Barraza was born in 1919
June 19, 2006 ~ Southern rock, hard rock, boogie rock, jam rock guitarist Duane Roland passed away in St Augustine, Florida, USA ~ Key member of Molly Hatchet from its inception in the mid 1970s until the band's initial breakup in 1990, and the only member of the band's classic line-up to appear on all of the band's first seven albums including the acclaimed eponymous Molly Hatchet debut album and its follow-up Flirtin' With Disaster. Roland has also co-written a number of the band's best known including Bloody Reunion and Boogie No More. Roland has been quoted as saying it was a specific concert that triggered his decision to become a professional musician: “I was at the West Palm Beach Music Festival (West Palm Beach, Florida) and the line up was Johnny Winter, Vanilla Fudge, Janis Joplin, King Crimson, and the Rolling Stones. It had rained and I was laying on a piece of plastic. King Crimson was late so Johnny Winter, Janis Joplin and Vanilla Fudge got up and jammed and I came straight up off that plastic and said, ‘That’s what I wanna do!’ I watched Johnny play and that was it for me” ~ Roland was born in 1952
June 19, 2006 ~ Singer Janet Jackson releases Call On Me featuring Nelly, lead single off her 20 YO album ~ Akin to Carole King's You've Got A Friend and Bill Withers' Lean On Me, the mid-tempo ballad Call On Me, sung as a duet by Janet Jackson and Nelly talks about calling on a person when a friend is needed to offer support. Issued as the lead single off the singer's ninth studio album, it would be met with mixed critical reception as some called it one of the highlights of the album, while others did acknowledge its playful melody and warm energy but ultimately felt the song was easily forgettable. In some territories, such as New Zealand, the song would be Jackson's biggest hit since All For You half a decade earlier, while in the singer's native America it was a moderate yet respectable hit peaking at No.25 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. The song also spent six non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard R&B charts, making it her 13th charttopper on the tally. Jackson's then-fiancé Jermaine Dupri, who co-wrote and co-produced the track, has referred to Call On Me as a ‘friend record’ in an interview with MTV News: “It's really just a record about when you need a friend, somebody you need to talk to, just call on a person. It's a friend record. It ain't really a boyfriend-girlfriend record. The way Nelly and Janet are talking is more girlfriend-boyfriend, but it really goes out to friends”
June 19, 2003 ~ Michael Andrew Hucko, commonly known as big band clarinetist Peanuts Hucko, passed away in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Noted for his clarinet solo on Cole Porter's What Is This Thing Called Love. Worked with Charlie Spivak, Benny Goodman, Ray McKinley, Eddie Condon, Jack Teagarden, Louis Armstrong, Al Cohn, Warren Covington, and the Lawson-Haggart Band. Led the Glenn Miller Orchestra in the 1970s ~ Hucko was born in 1918
June 19, 2003 ~ Bassist, pianist, producer, engineer Ralph Burns Kellogg passed away in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Also known under the alias Ethan James. Member of Blue Cheer. Member of Mint Tattoo. Engineered or produced albums by Black Flag, the Bangles, the Rain Parade, Dos, and notably engineered the Minutemen's acclaimed Double Nickels On The Dime album ~ Kellog was born in 1946
June 19, 2001 ~ Jazz, rock bassist, double bassist, cellist Lindsay L Cooper passed away in Edinburgh, UK ~ Influenced by Thelonious Monk, King Oliver, Derek Bailey. Regularly worked as a ship's musician before settling in London, finding employ as an in-demand session musician. Present on the 1973 Mike Oldfield album Tubular Bells, Has also worked with Evan Parker, Keith Tippett, Kenny Wheeler, Ken Colyer, Talisker, Amalgam, the Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Bobby Bradford, Lol Coxhill, and Day & Taxi ~ Cooper was born in 1940
June 19, 2000 ~ Dance-pop, trap singer, songwriter Daniel Skye, also mononymously known as Skye, born in Hollywood, Florida, USA ~ First gained attention through various online channels including Instagram and Youtube, landing him a record deal with RCA Records in 2014. Known for songs such as Maybe, All I Want, and We Got Us
June 19, 1997 ~ Country, rockabilly, rock & roll singer, guitarist Bobby Helms, full name Robert Lee Helms, passed away in Martinsville, Indiana, USAs ~ Best known for his 1957 hit single Jingle Bells Rock, a Holiday favorite to this day. Also reached the higher end of the Billboard Country charts with songs such as Fraulein, My Special Angel, Just A Little Lonesome and Jacqueline ~ Helms was born in 1933
June 19, 1993 ~ Olajide Olayinka Wiliams Olatunji, commonly known as rapper, singer, actor KSI, born in Watford, UK ~ Gained a large following through his Youtube channels, initially posting gaming commentary videos and later diversifying to include vlog and comedy-style videos. Released his Dissumulation debut album in 2020 and its follow-up All Over The Place the following year. Both albums would debut in the top 5 in his native UK. Well-known songs include Really Love, Patience, Holiday, and Not Over Yet. Has also collaborated with Anne-Marie and Digital Farm Animals on Don't Play
June 19, 1990 ~ Rock, pop rock guitarist Antonio Martinez Salas passed away in Colmenar Viejo, Spain ~ Member of Los Bravos, known for their 1966 Black Is Black hit. It would reach top 10 across the globe, including a No.1 spot in the band's native Spain and top 5 in both the UK and the USA ~ Martinez was born in 1945
June 19, 1990 ~ Soul, pop singer, songwriter John Newman, full name John William Peter Newman, born in Settle, UK ~ Co-wrote and sang on Rudimental's Feel The Love and Giving In. Also worked with Calvin Harris on Blame. As a solo artist known for Love Me Again, a UK No.1 hit in 2013June 19, 1983 ~ Jazz double bassist Al Lucas, full name Albert Bennington Lucas, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Kaiser Marshall, the Royal Sunset Orchestra, Hot Lips Page, Coleman Hawkins, Eddie Heywood Jr, Duke Ellington, Mary Lou Williams, James P Johnson, JJ Johnson, Ben Webster, Erroll Garner, Eddie South, Illinois Jacquet, Sonny Stitt, Leo Parker, Charles Thompson, Maurice Simon, Shadow Wilson, Ruby Braff, Charlie Byrd, Teddy Wilson, Bill Doggett, Dexter Gordon, and Oliver Nelson ~ Lucas was born in 1912
June 19, 1980 ~ Marco Antonio Rodriguez Diaz Jr, commonly known as producer, DJ, songwriter Infamous born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Founding member of The-Allies DJ Crew, which also included DJ Craze, DVLP, and A-Trak. Best known as a producer, closely associated with rapper Lil Wayne. Other acts produced by Diaz include Drake, Jay-Z, Meek Mill, Fat Joe, Nas, Lupe Fiasco, and Kendrick Lamar
June 19, 1979 ~ Post-hardcore guitarist, keyboardist Scott Gross, full name Scott Eric Alexander Gross, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ First gained an interest in music after listening to the Pearl Jam album Ten and his mother bought him a guitar for Christmas. Best known as a member of From Autumn To Ashes during the early 2000s. After being booted from the band due to ongoing personal problems and substance abuse, would take a break from music before turning to studio work and production. Has since notably worked with Lullaby The Storm, Emergency, and a wide array of up and coming rappers
June 19, 1978 ~ Mabel Wimpfheimer, commonly known as songwriter, pianist, singer Mabel Wayne, passed away in Glen Cove, New York, USA ~ Noted as one of the first female songwriters to have her songs published. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as In A Little Spanish Town (Paul Whiteman, the Revelers, Pérez Prado), I Understand (Jimmy Dorsey, Bert Ambrose, Keely Smith), It Happened In Monterey (Jack Hylton, Billy Cotton, Ruth Etting), and Little Man You've Had A Busy Day (Les Allen, Connee Boswell, Isham Jones) ~ Wimpfheimer was born in 1890
June 19, 1972 ~ Punk rock, garage rock, indie rock singer, guitarist, bassist, percussionist Dennis Lyxzen, full name Sven Olov Dennis Lyxzen, born in Umea, Sweden ~ Member of the Refused, best known for the critically acclaimed and influential The Shape Of Punk To Come album released in 1998. Lyxzen has also worked with INVSN, the International Noise Conspiracy, and Fake Names
June 19, 1972 ~ Singer, songwriter Snatam Kaur, full name Snatam Kaur Khalsa, born in Trinidad, Colorado, USA ~ Actively recording since the early 2000s. Perhaps best known for touring the world as a peace activist, performing in North and South America and Europe at schools, hospices, juvenile detention centers, and other facilitities on her perpetual Celebrate Peace Tour from 2003 through 2009