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, 1971 ~ Rock, funk metal, alternative metal, blues rock drummer Jean-Paul Gaster born in Frederick, Maryland, USA ~ Influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Cream, ZZ Top, and ZZ Top, as well as jazz drummers such as Elvin Jones and Jack DeJohnette. Best known as co-founding member of Clutch, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums since the early 1990s. The band merges elements of funk, Led Zeppelin, and heavy metal, and is best known for songs such as Careful With That Mic, The Mob Goes Wild, and Electric Worry. Gaster was also involved in the side-project the Bakerton Group, and has collaborated with Scott Weinrich, Mark Stanley, and Mark Morton
June 19, 1968 ~ Drummer John Hollenbeck born in Binghamton, New York, USA ~ Well-known for the The Claudia Quintet leading the the Claudia Quintet released in 2001, and for his 2005 album A Blessing. In-demand collaborator, present on albums by Theo Bleckmann, Bob Brookmeyer, Florian Ross, Cuong Vu (Pure), Meredith Monk, Fred Hersch (Leaves Of Grass), Junk Box, Sound Assembly, Tony Malaby, and Anna Webber
June 19, 1967 ~ Singer, saxophonist, guitarist, songwriter David Arthur Brown born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Saxophonist in Beck's backing band from 1997 through 2000. Probably best known as lead singer, guitarist, primary songwriter for Brazzaville, with whom he recorded about a dozen albums since the late 1990s
June 19, 1966 ~ Jazz singer, songwriter Silje Nergaard born in Steinkjer, Norway ~ Married to singer Heine Totland. One of Norway's best-selling jazz artists, gained international attention with Tell Me Where You're Going featuring Pat Metheny. Has also worked with Al Jarreau, Toots Thielemans, het Metropole Orkest, Morten Harket, Tord Gustavsen, Jane Vespestad, Vince Mendoza, John Scofield, Georg Wadenius, Knut Reiersrud, Nils Petter Molvær, and Thomas Stronen
June 19, 1964 ~ R&B girl group Martha & the Vandellas record Dancing In the Street at Hitsville USA, Detroit, Michigan ~ Written by Marvin Gaye, Ivy Jo Hunter and William Mickey Stevenson, the latter also serving as producer. Released as a single the next month, b/w There He Is. It would reach top 10 of the pop charts on both sides of the Atlantic, become one of the Vandellas staples, and be covered by a wide array of artists including the Kinks, the Mamas & the Papas, Little Richard, Van Halen, and as a duet by David Bowie and Mick Jagger
June 19, 1963 ~ Drummer Simon Wright born in Oldham, UK ~ Best known for his work with AC/DC, appearing on the mid-1980s albums Fly On The Wall, Who Made Who, and Blow Up Your Video, and his stints with Dio from 1990 through 1991 and again from 1998 through 2010. Wright has also appeared on albums by John Norum, UFO, Michael Schenker, Rhino Bucket, and Operation Mindcrime
June 19, 1962 ~ Pop, dance-pop singer Paula Abdul, full name Paula Julie Abdul, born in San Fernando, California, USA ~ Discovered by the Jacksons. Choreographed videos for Janet Jackson. Debuted in 1988 with the Forever Your Girl album, which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits Straight Up, Forever Your Girl, Cold Hearted and Opposites Attract. Would continue to record throughout the mid 1990s, well known songs being Rush Rush, Blowing Kisses In The Wind and Vibeology
June 19, 1961 ~ Singer, keyboardist, guitarist Bill DeLoach born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Member of the Four Seasons, joining in 1971 as replacement for Al Ruzicka and remaining with the band through 1973. Also served as music director for singer Danny Gans
June 19, 1961 ~ Singer Bobby Darin records Things ~ Written by Bobby Darin. Produced by Ahmet Ertegun. Released in 1962 as a single, featuring Jailer Bring Me Water on the flip side. It would later be sung as a duet by Nancy Sinatra and Dean Martin on a 1967 TV special, and put to record by Ronnie Dove in 1975, by Anne Murray the next year and by Robbie Williams for his swing album Swing When You're Winning released in 2001
June 19, 1960 ~ Rock, power pop singer, trumpeter, keyboardist Ian Page born ~ Founded short-lived mid 1970s power pop unit New Hearts, with whom he opened for the Jam. Subsequently formed mod revival band Secret Affair with bandmate guitarist David Cairns. The group recorded three albums through the early 1980s and is best known for the singles Time For Action and My World, both of which reached top 20 in their native UK. Following the band's disbandement in 1982 Page has released a handful of solo recordings but would become best known as a fantasy author
June 19, 1960 ~ Rock, hard rock, melodic hard rock guitarist Luke Morley born in Camberwell, UK ~ Member of Terraplane, which evolved into Thunder with whom he recorded over a dozen albums starting with Backstreet Symphony released in 1990. The band scored a UK top 20 hit with A Better Man taken of their 1882 Laughing On Judgment Day sophomore album. Morley has also released a solo album, El Gringo Retro, in 2001, and has worked with Bowes & Morley, and the Union
June 19, 1959 ~ Drummer Billy Drummond Jr born in Newport News, Virginia, USA ~ Started as a member of Out Of The Blue. Played with Horace Silver, Sonny Rollins, Carla Bley, Steve Kuhn. Sideman on over 300 records including by artists such as Nat Adderley, Ralph Moore, Buster Williams, Charles Tolliver, Lew Tabackin, Hank Jones, James Moody, Andy Laverne, Lee Konitz, Dave Stryker, George Colligan, Ted Rosenthal, Bruce Barth, Andrew Hill, Larry Willis, Toots Thielemans, Freddie Hubbard, and Sheila Jordan
June 19, 1959 ~ R&B, soul drummer, saxophonist, hornist, trumpeter, flutist Mark DeBarge born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA ~ Member of family outfit DeBarge, known for songs such as All This Love, Rhythm Of The Night and Who's Holding Donna Now. Wrote the band's Stay With Me of their 1983 In A Special Way album, later notably covered by the Notorious BIG, Ashanti, and by Mariah Carey
June 19, 1959 ~ Jazz pianist, bandleader, arranger Roberto Magris born in Trieste, Italy ~ Worked with Art Davis, Herb Geller, Albert Tootie Heath, Idris Muhammad, Ira Sullivan, Sam Reed, Brian Lynch, Tony Lakatos, Mark Colby, Eric Hochberg, Chuck Bergeron, Paul Carr, Franco Ambrosetti, Philip Catherine, Bill Molenhof, Janusz Muniak, Bosko Petrovic, Kai Winding, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Sal Nistico, Hermon Mehari, Logan Richardson, Kendall Moore, Brandon Lee, Robert Balzar, Eric Jacobsen, Shareef Clayton, Jim Mair, Matt Otto, Elisa Pruett, Peter Schlamb, Dominique Sanders, Brian Steever, Alfredo Chacon, Rodolfo Zuniga, Pablo Sanhueza, Ines Reiger, and Robert Offaviano
June 19, 1956 ~ Douglas Jackson Brooks, commonly known as country singer Doug Stone, born in Newnan, Georgia, USA ~ Released his eponymous Doug Stone debut album in 1990, which spawned the single I'd Be Better Off (In A Pine Box). Would subsequently regularly reach the higher end of the Billboard Country charts throughout the mid 1990s with songs such as In A Different Light, A Jukebox With A Country Song, Too Busy Being In Love, and Why Didn't I Think Of That
June 19, 1956 ~ Delta blues, country blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Freddie Spruell, also known as Papa Freddie or Mr Freddie, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Reportedly the first Delta bluesman to be recordedm known for songs such as Milk Cow Blues, Muddy Water Blues, Way Back Down Home, and perhaps his best known Let's Go Riding ~ Spruell was born in 1893
June 19, 1954 ~ Entrepreneur, music manager Lou Pearlman, full name Louis Jay Pearlman, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Best known as the man behind several 1990s successes, notably forming the Backstreet Boys and subsequently developing NSYNC. Both acts would be hugely successful with hundreds of millions of dollars in sales. Other acts managed by Pearlman include O-Town, LFO (Lyte Funky Ones), Take 5, Marshall Dyllon, and Innosense, the latter of which briefly included Britney Spears as a member. Pearlman would be convicted in 2008 of conspiracy, money laundering and making false statements during bankruptcy proceedings leaving $300 million in debt. Sentenced to serve 25 years, Pearlman was offered the opportunity to reduce his sentence by one month for every million dollars he helped a bankruptcy trustee recover. He died eight years later in federal prison ~ Pearlman passed away in 2016
June 19, 1953 ~ Lawrence Dunn, commonly known as keyboardist Larry Dunn, born in Denver, Colorado, USA ~ Member of Earth Wind & Fire from 1972 to 1983. Dunn is also known as a producer, working for artists such as Ramsey Lewis (Tequila Mockingbird), Lenny White (Streamline), Twennynine (Best Of Friends), Stanley Turrentine (Tender Togetherness), and Level 42 (Standing In The Light). As a keyboardist Dunn also guested on albums by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jennifer Holliday and Ronnie Laws
June 19, 1952 ~ Jazz, soul, jazz fusion singer, composer, actress Sidsel Endresen born in Trondheim, Norway ~ Best known for her association with Jon Eberson. Has also worked as a solo artist and with Chipahua, Nils Petter Molvær, Bugge Wesseltoft, Christian Wallumrød, Stian Westerhuis, Jon Balke, Trygve Seim, Pal Thowsen, and Jan Bang
June 19, 1950 ~ Singer, flutist Ann Wilson, full name Ann Dustin Wilson, born in San Diego, California, USA ~ Besides her sister guitarist Nancy Wilson the only other constant member of Heart. Active since the mid 1970s the band draws heavily from glam metal and hard rock and has sold over 30 million records worldwide. Well-known songs include Magic Man, Barracuda, What About Love, These Dreams, Alone, Who Will You Run To, and All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You
June 19, 1948 ~ Phylicia Ayers-Allen, commonly known as actress, singer, stage director Phylicia Rashad, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ To disco audiences known for her 1978 Josephine Superstar disco concept album, telling the life story of Josephine Baker. To TV audiences known for her role as Claire Huxtable in The Cosby Show from 1984 through 1982. Rashad has also performed in numerous stage plays, including Broadway productions, noted for her role in a 2004 production of Raisin In The Sun earning her a Tony Award for Best Actress, and feature films
June 19, 1944 ~ Francisco Buarque de Hollanda, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter, poet Chico Buarque, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Influenced by Antônio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto. One of the first MPB artists to become a popular pop star, known for his inventive wordplay and undercurrent of nostalgic tragedy. Recorded prolifically since his 1966 Chico Buarque de Hollande debut album. Also a widely acclaimed poet and author, acclaimed the prestigious Camões Prize for literature in 2019
June 19, 1943 ~ Georg Peter Brandt, commonly known as singer, actor Peter Belli, born in Kiel, Germany ~ Active since the late 1950s. Considered Denmark's first rock star. Opened for both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones with his 1960s rock unit Les Rivals. Has recorded well over three dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with the eponymous Peter Belli album released in 1967. Well-known songs include Bliv Væk Fra Vort Kvarter, Ingen Regning, and Er Det Sådan ~ Brandt passed away in 2023
June 19, 1942 ~ Elaine McFarlane, commonly known as pop singer Spanky McFarlane, born in Peoria, Illinois, USA ~ Dubbed “the Queen of Sunshine Pop” and best known for fronting late 1960s vocal pop group Spanky & Our Gang. The band is best known for their 1967 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Sunday Will Never Be The Same. Subsequent hits would include Making Every Minute Count and Lazy Day. The band would disband shortly after lead guitarist Hale's death in 1968, though their remained popularity propelled the record label to reissue compilations and shelved recordingsJune 19, 1940 ~ Folk, soul, R&B singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Paul Kelly, full name Paul Laurence Dunbar Kelly, born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Best known for Stealing In The Name Of The Lord and for Hooked Hogtied & Collared. Also wrote Personally first recorded by Jackie Moore, later notably covered by both singer Karla Bonoff and country singer Ronnie McDowell ~ Kelly passed away in 2012