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 21, 2021 ~ Music director Ad van 't Veer passed away in Middelburg, the Netherlands ~ Co-founded the Xenakis Ensemble. Best known as music director and thriving force behind the Festival Nieuwe Muziek held in Middelburg, the Netherlands since the mid 1970s ~ Van 't Veer was born in 1941
June 21, 2021 ~ Percussionist, drummer Mamady Keïta passed away in Brussels, Belgium ~ Guinea-born master of the djembe. Appeared in the 1967 Africa Dance film alongside Harry Belafonte. Key member, lead soloist of the Djoliba National Ballet for nearly two decades, serving as artistic director from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s. Has taught internationally and published an impressive amount of instructional material for djembe players ~ Keita was born in 1950
June 21, 2016 ~ Singer, TV host Pierre Lalonde passed away in Hudson, Canada ~ Son popular 1940s singer Jean Lalonde. Pierre sings in both English and French starting in the early 1960s, has also recorded under the moniker Peter Martin and is known for a variety of TV shows including Le Jeunesse D'Aujourd'hui, The Peter Martin Show, Music Hop ~ Lalonde was born in 1941
June 21, 2016 ~ R&B, soul trumpeter Wayne Jackson, full name Wayne Lamar Jackson, passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Member of the Mar-keys, singing lead on the 1961 hit single Last Night. Studio musician for Stax/Volt, appearing on numerous records by Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Sam & Dave. Formed the Memphis Horns with Andrew Love, the duo employed by artists such as Neil Diamond, Elvis Presley, Al Green, Dusty Springfield, the Doobie Brothers, and the Robert Cray Band ~ Jackson was born in 1941
June 21, 2015 ~ Conductor, hornist, flutist, composer Gunther Schuller, full name Gunther Alexander Schuller, passed away in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Worked with the American Ballet Theatre, the Cincinnati Symphony, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, John Lewis, the Houston Grand Opera, Dizzy Gillespie, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Charles Mingus, Gerard Schwarz, Gigi Gryce, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Johnny Mathis, Gerry Mulligan, and Julius Watkins ~ Schuller was born in 1925
June 21, 2015 ~ Rapper Tinie Tempah releases Not Letting Go featuring Jess Glynne, lifted off his Youth album ~ Tinie Tempah and Jess Glynne kept bumping into eachother and had planned to collaborate for quite a while. When they finally did, it give Tempah his sixth UK No.1 hit, breaking Dizzee Rascal's record for most number-one singles by a British rapper. For Glynne, it became her fourth appearance at the top spot, as she was previously featured on Route 94's My Love and Clean Bandit's Rather Be and had also reached the top spot with her own Hold My Hand
June 21, 2014 ~ Jimmy Yves Newman, commonly known as country, cajun singer, guitarist, songwriter Jimmy C Newman, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Influenced by Cajun music, the C in his artist name stands for Cajun. Enjoyed popularity in country scenes from the early 1950s through the 1960s. Regular performed at the Grand Ole Opry. Known for songs such as Cry Cry Darling, A Fallen Star, A Lovely Work Of Art, and DJ For A Day, all of which reached top on the Billboard Country charts ~ Newman was born in 1927
June 21, 2013 ~ Blues, soul, jazz singer Wendy Saddington, full name Wendy June Saddington, passed away in Melbourne, Australia ~ Member of Chain, Copperwing, and the James Taylor Move, and eponym of the Wendy Saddington Band. As a solo artist best known for her 1972 Looking Through A Window single. Portrayed the role of the Nurse in a 1970s production of the rock opera Tommy. Took the name Gandharvika Dasi after adopting Krishna consciousness in the 1970s ~ Saddington was born in 1949
June 21, 2004 ~ Jazz, R&B clarinetist, saxophonist Clifford Solomon passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Active since the late 1940s Solomon has played with T-Bone Walker, Pee Wee Crayton, Roy Porter, Lionel Hampton, Floyd Ray, Art Farmer, Annie Ross, Gigi Gryce, Clifford Brown, Charles Brown, Roy Milton, Onzy Matthews, Ike & Tina Turner, Johnny Otis, Lou Rawls, Preston Love, Mel Brown, Maxine Weldon, Billy Brooks, Esther Phillips, John Mayall, and with Big Joe Turner ~ Solomon passed away in 1931
June 21, 2002 ~ Singer, pianist, bandleader, arranger, songwriter Matt Dennis, full name Matthew Loveland Dennis, passed away in Riverside, California, USA ~ Active since the early 1930s. Served as pianist and singer in Horace Heidt's orchestra. Vocal coach, accompanist for Martha Tilton. Best known for his association with Tommy Dorsey, writing a number of early 1940s hits for Dorsey including Everything Happens To Me, Let's Get Away From It All, Will You Still Be Mine, and Violets For Your Furs ~ Dennis was born in 1914
June 21, 2001 ~ Blues singer, guitarist, songwriter John Lee Hooker passed away in Los Altos, California, USA ~ Hugely influential and iconic blues guitarist, singer managed to stay relevant throughout the decades and appeal to younger generations while staying rooted in traditional blues idioms particularly boogie-woogie, Delta blues and Hill country blues. Hooker has recorded prolifically since the late 1950s, and is especially acclaimed for early 1960s albums such as I'm John Lee Hooker, Plays And Sings The Blues, Burnin', and the 1964 live album John Lee Hooker At Newport. Hooker managed to find appeal with younger audiences after appearing in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers and through a series of 1990s albums featuring renowned guests including Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, and Van Morrison. Two of his songs, Boogie Chillen and Boom Boom, are included on the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's list of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. Other well known songs include Crawling King Snake, Dimples, One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer, I'm In The Mood, and The Healer ~ Hooker was born in 1917
June 21, 1997 ~ Jazz, R&B singer Arthur Prysock passed away in Hamilton, Bermuda ~ First gained attention in the 1940s as lead vocalist with bandleader Buddy Johnson, singing lead on songs such as They All Say I'm The Biggest Fool, Jet My Love, I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone and Because. Ventured out on his own in the early 1950s, over the years earning a reputation as an emotive balladeer recording both originals and covers. Known for R&B hits such as I Didn't Sleep A Wink Last Night, Good Rockin' Tonight, The Very Thought Of You and It's Too Late Baby It's Too Late. Recorded well into the 1980s ~ Prysock was born in 1924
June 21, 1990 ~ Shirley Luster, commonly known as jazz, cool jazz singer June Christy, passed away in Sherman Oaks, California, USA ~ Sang with the orchestras of Boyd Raeburn, Benny Strong, and notably Stan Kenton, including on the latter's How High The Moon and his biggest hit Tampico. As a solo singer, Christy is best known for her 1954 Something Cool solo debut album, with backing from Pete Rugolo's orchestra which included her husband Bob Cooper and Bud Shank. Though somewhat forgotten over time, the album sparked the vocal cool movement of the 1950s. Christy would later comment it was “the only thing I've recorded that I'm not unhappy with” ~ Luster was born in 1925
June 21, 1985 ~ Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, commonly known as barqoue pop, dream pop singer, songwriter Lana Del Rey born in Lake Placid, New York, USA ~ Debuted in 2010 with her eponymous Lana Del Rey debut album and has recorded consistently since, noted for her stylized, cinematic quality and exploration of themes of sadness, tragedy and melancholia. Well known song include Young & Beautiful, Summertime Sadness with Cedric Gervais, West Coast, Don't Call Me Angel with Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus
June 21, 1985 ~ Singer Tina Turner releases We Don't Need Another Hero, recorded for the soundtrack to Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome starring Mel Gibson and Turner ~ Tina Turner, who had enjoyed massive success with her then-husband Ike Turner through the mid 1970s, and made a remarkable comeback with her highly acclaimed multi-platinum Private Dancer the year before she was cast as Aunty Entity in the third part of the Mad Max film franchise. Besides acting in a major role, Turner also sang the film's opener One Of The Living, which reached No.15 Billboard Hot 100 and earned her a Grammy Award, and We Don't Need Another Hero, which was played over the end credits. The latter was written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, the same team that had written her comeback hit What's Love Got To Do With It, and would become one of her biggest hits. The single peaked at No.2 Billboard Hot 100, held off the top spot by John Parr's St Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion), No.3 in the UK, and reached top 10 across the globe including the top spots in Australia, Canada, and Germany. We Don't Need Another Hero also earned the singer a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song, losing out to Lionel Richie's Say You Say Me from White Knights, and a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, losing out to Whitney Houston's Saving All My Love For You
June 21, 1982 ~ Girl group Bananarama release Shy Boy (Don't It Make You Feel Good), lifted off their Deep Sea Skiving debut album ~ Right from the start, Bananarama would become well known in their native UK and regularly appear on TV and in the media. However, as Shy Boy (Don't It Make You Feel Good) was still one of their earlier hits, peaking at No.4 on the British charts, the girls weren't used to being recognized in public. Member Sarah Elizabeth Dalin recalled one such occurence: “I remember once on the Number 8 bus coming back from Top Shop, these little kids behind us started singing Shy Boy (Don't It Make You Feel Good) and it was really embarrassing. That's the first time it ever happened”
June 21, 1982 ~ Actor, TV personality, singer, songwriter Rob Mills born in Melbourne, Australia ~ First gained attention in 2003, reaching the finals of the talent contest Australian Idol. Would release his sole album, Up All Night, the following year. The album spawned Ms Vanity, which reached top 10 in his native Australia. Mills would go on to work mostly in TV as a hostm actor, and singer for a variety of TV shows, ranging from hidden camera shows to TV quizzes. Mills has also worked in the musical theatre, portraying roles in productions of Grease, Hair, and Wicked
June 21, 1981 ~ Demetrius Lee Stewart, commonly known as producer, rapper, songwriter Shawty Redd, born ~ Trap pioneer known for his horror-influenced melodies. Has worked with artists such as Gucci Mane, Drama, Yo Gotti, Young Jeezy, Lil' Jon, TI, Snoop Dogg, Pusha T, Tha Dogg Pound, Pastor Troy, and Hurricane Chris
June 21, 1977 ~ Pop group Brotherhood Of Man release Angelo, lifted off their Images album ~ Construed as a modern day Romeo & Juliet romance, the song tells of a shepherd who falls in love with a rich girl. Both aware that her family will never approve, the two run away together and eventually commit suicide. Lead vocals are shared by the quartet's two female singers, Nicky Stevens and Sandra Stevens, no relation. Angelo would be the group's second of three UK No.1 hits, preceded by Eurovision Songfestival-winner Save Your Kisses For Me and succeeded by Figaro. All three of the quartet's UK charttoppers were written by the same team of producer Tony Hiller, Lee Sheridan, and singer Martin Lee
June 21, 1977 ~ Pop, pop rock, art rock singer, songwriter, actress Sarah Slean born in Pickering, Canada ~ Has recorded over half a dozen albums, ranging from cabaret-influenced as on her independently released 1998 Blue Parade debut album to adult contemporary and classical on the 2020 Sarah Slean & Symphony Novia Scotia album. Specifically acclaimed for her 2004 Day One album and its 2008 follow-up The Baroness
June 21, 1976 ~ Singer, songwriter Jarle Bernhoft, full name Jarle Norman Bernhoft-Sjødin, born in Nittedal, Norway ~ Member of Explicit Lyrics and subsequently of Span, recording two albums with each. Active as a solo artist since 2008, his first three solo albums all reaching top 5 in his native Norway. Well-known songs include Streetlights, the Tears For Fears-cover Shout, Choices, C'mon Talk, and Stay With Me
June 21, 1976 ~ Alternative rock, alternative metal, nu metal guitarist, songwriter Mike Einziger, full name Michael Aaron Einziger, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of Incubus, a band known for merging hard rock riffs with pop-flavored melodies. The band has recorded over half a dozen albums since the mid 1990s, and is especially acclaimed for their 2001 album Morning View and its 2004 follow-up A Crow Left Of The Murder. The single Drive of their 1999 Make Yourself would reach No.9 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Einziger has also co-written DJ Avicii's Wake Me Up, and has collaborated with a wide array of artists including Agent Sparks, Thirty Seconds To Mars, MellowHype, the Internet, Chuck Inglish, David Guetta, Tyler the Creator, Joy Williams, and Damian Marley
June 21, 1972 ~ Alt country, folk, rock, roots pop singer, songwriter Allison Moorer born in Mobile, Alabama, USA ~ Sister of Shelby Lynne. Released her Alabama Song debut album in 1998. its lead single, A Soft Place To Fall, would be used in the soundtrack of The Horse Whisperer and be nominated for an Academy Award. Has recorded to critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase since. Has collaborated with Kid Rock, Steve Earle, David Byrne, the Chieftains, and Josh Turner
June 21, 1970 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Eric Reed born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Wynton Marsalis, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Black Note, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Robert Stewart, Irvin Mayfield, Cassandra Wilson, Mary Stallings, Clark Terry, Dianne Reeves, Elvin Jones, Ron Carter, Paula West, Benny Carter, Christian McBride, and the Arkadia Jazz All-Stars
June 21, 1970 ~ Peter I Phillips, commonly known as producer, DJ, rapper Pete Rock, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Half of acclaimed duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth, the other half being CL Smooth, known for their 1991 EP All Souled Out and its full length follow-up 1992's Mecca & The Soul Brothers Album. Renowned producer, remixer, collaborator played a pivotal role from the 1990s forward merging jazz and hip-hop. Has worked with artists such as YG'z, Heavy D & the Boyz, Brand Nubian, EPMD, Public Enemy, Doug E Fresh, Redman, K Solo, House Of Pain, Run-DMC (incuding the pivotal 1993 song Down With The King), Naughty By Nature, Nas (The World Is Yours), AZ, Jamal, Rakim, Monica, Common, Lost Boyz, Slick Rick, Inspectah Deck, Phife Dawg, Busta Rhymes, Spinderella, Keith Murray, Mr Cheeks, Roc Marciano, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Keyshia Cole, Talib Kweli, Skyzoo, Termanology, Method Man, Ras Kass, Cypress Hill, Kurupt, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Torae, NORE, Mack Wilds, Sadat X, the LOX, and De La Soul