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 24, 2025 ~ Singer, guitarist, actor Bobby Sherman, full name Robert Cabot Sherman Jr, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Got his start in music when he was cast in the ABC rock and roll variety show Shindig in the mid 1960s and the squeaky clean shaggy-haired singer and actor quickly became one of the era's most endearing teen idols. Sherman would record well over a dozen albums through the mid 1970s, and regularly reached the charts with over half a dozen of his singles reaching gold status. The singles Little Woman, La La La (If I Had You), Easy Come Easy Go, and Julie Do Ya Love Me would all reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100. During his heyday, Sherman appeared in numerous TV shows including Here Comes The Bride, Honey West, The Monkees, The Partridge Family, and several musical variety shows, and at some point was the most popular entertainer on ABC, receiving more fanmail than any other performer. Sherman retired from music in the 1970s for a career as a paramedic and a deputy sheriff and trainer with the LAPD, but into the 1990s on occassion would perform on stage, TV, and in films. Upon his passing, Sherman's wife Brigette Poublon Sherman issued a statement which among others read: “He was a man of service. He traded sold-out concerts and magazine covers for the back of an ambulance, becoming an EMT and a trainer with the LAPD. He saved lives. He showed us what real heroism looks like; quiet, selfless, and deeply human” ~ Sherman was born in 1943
June 24, 2024 ~ Seth Brooks Binzer, commonly known as rap rock, alternative rock singer, rapper Shifty Shellshock, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Frontman of Crazy Town, with whom he recorded three albums. The band is best known for Butterfly lifted off their The Gift Of The Game 1999 debut album. The single reached top 10 in well over half a dozen countries, including the No.1 spot on the American Billboard Hot 100. During the band's hiatus, Binzer guested on Paul Oakenfold's Starry Eyed Surprise, which reached top 10 in the UK, and recorded a sole album, Happy Love Sick, as a solo artist ~ Binzer was born in 1974June 24, 2019 ~ Mandolinist, singer Jeff Austin passed away in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Member of the Bluegrassholes. Best known as co-founding member of progressive bluegrass outfit the Yonder Mountain String Band from 1998 through 2013. Austin has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with the likes of Chris Castino, Keller Williams, Keith Moseley, and Brendan Bayliss ~ Austin was born in 1974
June 24, 2018 ~ Bolero coloratura-soprano singer Xiomara Alfaro passed away in Coral Gables, Florida, USA ~ Firstt gained attention starring in the original cast of Batamú, a musical revue composed by Obdulio Morales. Would go on to become a beloved bolero singer of the 1950s Cuban music scene dubbed “the Nightingale of Music” for her warm, soulful interpretations. Looking back on her career, Alfaro would comment on her career in a 2007 interview: “I try to transmit to my audience when I sing. God gave me a gift. And when God gives you something, you use it” ~ Alfaro was born in 1930June 24, 2016 ~ Rock, blues guitarist Asim Can Gunduz passed away in Icmeler, Turkey ~ Outside of his native Turkey also known as Awesome John. Member of Zacharia, which also included Harry Zaverdas and Robert Gottfried. Best known for his 1998 Bir Sevgi (A Work Of Love) album, consisting of Turkish language version of blues singles ~ Gunduz was born in 1955
June 24, 2016 ~ Funk, R&B keyboardist Bernie Worrell, full name George Bernard Worrell Jr, passed away in Everson, Washington, USA ~ Founding member of Parliament and Funkadelic. Frequently worked with Talking Heads for much of the 1980s, including on the 1984 Stop Making Sense concert film. Guested on Mtume's hit song Juicy Fruit. Member of Black Jack Johnson alongside Mos Def, Will Calhoun, Doug Wimbish, and Dr Know. Also worked with Bill Laswell, Les Claypool, Fela Kuti, the Golden Palominos, Ginger Baker, Pharoah Sanders, Robben Ford, and Science Faxtion, and recorded as a solo artist ~ Worrell was born in 1944
June 24, 2016 ~ Composer Charles Chaynes, full name Charles Augustin Chaynes, passed away in Saint-Mandé, France ~ Wrote a number of operas, chamber works and one symphony. Noted for his 1951 cantata Et L'Homme Se Vit Les Portes Rouvrir. Best known for his work for radio and TV serving as producer for RTF and as head of the channel France Musique ~ Chaynes was born in 1925June 24, 2016 ~ Conductor, pianist Edoardo Müller passed away in Milan, Italy ~ Best known for his lengthy association with the San Diego Opera. Has also conducted the Metropolitan Opera, the Dallas Opera, the Houston Grand Opera, the Bavarian State Opera, La Scala, the Opera De Nice, the Teatro Colón, and other orchestras. As a pianist accompanied singers such as Carlo Bergonzi, Renato Bruson, Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Leyla Gencer, and Elena Obraztsova ~ Müller was born in 1938
June 24, 2013 ~ Drummer Alan Myers passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with Devo, joining the band in 1976 as replacement for Jim Mothersbaugh. Myers has recorded about half a dozen albums with the band including the acclaimed Q Are We Not Men (A We Are Devo) album. Myers has also guested on albums by Ron Wood (1234), Toni Basil, and the Martini Ranch ~ Myers was born in 1954
June 24, 2010 ~ Charles A Hedges, commonly known as jazz clarinetist Chuck Hedges, passed away in Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA ~ Somewhat overlooked veteran clarinetist equally at home in swing and Dixieland. Perhaps best known for his association with George Brunies for most of the 1950s, and for spearheading the Dixieland revival during the 1960s. Over half a dozen albums to his name as a leader, specifically noted for Skylark released in 1983. A valued sideman, Hedges has appeared on albums by Barrett Deems, Betsy Kaske, Tom Saunders (Exactly Like You), Rick Fay, the Magnificent VII, Duane Thamm, toured with trumpeter Dick Ruedebusch, and frequently worked with Wild Bill Davison ~ Hedgeswas born in 1932
June 24, 2010 ~ Jazz, swing, hard bop tenor saxophonist Fred Anderson passed away in Evanston, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Rooted in swing and hard bop, incorporated elements of free jazz. Worked with the Association For The Advancement Of Creative Musicians, Vernon Thomas, Bill Fletcher, Billy Brimfield, Joseph Jarman, Douglas Ewart, Felix Blackman, Hamid Drake, Iqua Colson, Harrison Bankhead, David Boykin, Nicole Mitchell, Justin Dillard, Aaron Getsug, Josh Abrams, Fred Jackson Jr, Isaiah Sharkey, and Kidd Jordan ~ Anderson was born in 1929
June 24, 2010 ~ Peter Alexander Greenlaw Kinnis, commonly known as rock bassist Peter Quaife, passed away in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Co-founding member, bassist for the Kinks, apart from a half-year hiatus following a traffic accident remaining with the band through their 1968 Village Green Preservation Society album. Though Quaife announced his departure in early 1969, his bandmates did not believe him until they read about his new band, country-rock outfit Mapleoak, in the music press. Singer Ray Davies pleaded with him to stay, but to no avail. Quaife recorded one single, Son Of A Gun, with his new band before retiring from music altogether. Quaife did not appear on his new band's sole album, the eponymous Mapleoak released in 1971 ~ Quaife was born in 1943
June 24, 2009 ~ Rock, country singer, guitarist, songwriter Tim Krekel, full name Timothy Joseph Krekel, passed away in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Released well over half a dozen albums as a singer, starting with Crazy Me released in 1979. In-demand songwriter, his songs recorded by artists such as Dr Feelgood, Terri Gibbs (Ain't Nobody), Crystal Gayle, Alan Jackson (Anywhere On Earth You Are), Patty Loveless, Martina McBride (Cry On The Shoulder Of The Road), the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Delbert McClinton (Blues As Blues Can Get), Kim Richey, Aaron Tippin, Jason & the Scorchers (I Can't Help Myself), and Marshall Chapman ~ Krekel was born in 1950
June 24, 2008 ~ Gospel singer Ira Tucker Sr passed away in Greenville, South Carolina, USA ~ Father of singers Sundray Tucker, Ira Tucker Jr, and Lynda Laurence. Best known as a member of the Dixie Hummingbirds for some seven decades from 1938, starting while in his early teens, until his death at age 83. The gospel quartet is considered one of the most important and certainly longest-running gospel quartets, influential on a wide array of artists including Jackie Wilson and James Brown ~ Tucker was born in 1925June 24, 1999 ~ Edward Friedman, commonly known as R&B singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer Teddy Edwards, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Debuted in 2016 with the single My Name, co-written with Sabrina Teitelbaum and produced by Phredley Brown and Black Eyed Peas guitarist George Pajon
June 24, 1997 ~ R&B trio SWV release Someone, lifted off their Release Some Tension album ~ Issued as the third single off the trio's third album, Someone would be their last single to reach top 20 Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at No.19. It featured a guest appearance from rapper Sean Combs, who co-produced the track with Jay Dub. The track also paid tribute to the Notorious BIG, who had been shot and killed just months earlier, by sampling his tracks Ten Crack Commandments and The World Is Filled. SWV had complained the parent album was rushed and recorded while they were still busy promoting their previous album. Nevertheless, the album was warmly received by critics who welcomed the trio's return to their hip hop roots, abandoning the slick urban sound of their earlier work. The trio would disband the following year, with all members each going on to solo projects. They have since reconvened, yet would be unable to reach the same level of success as with their earlier workJune 24, 1993 ~ Jazz bandleader, composer, arranger Rich Matteson, full name Richmond Albert Matteson, passed away in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Worked with Bob Scobey, the Dukes Of Dixieland, Harvey Phillips, the Matteson-Phillips Tubajazz Consort, and Louie Bellson ~ Matteson was born in 1929
June 24, 1987 ~ John Herbert Gleaon, commonly known as actor, comedian, singer Jackie Gleason, passed away in Lauderhill, Florida, USA ~ Best known as actor and comedian, notably in The Honeymooners and his own The Jackie Gleason Show. Also a singer known for a string of million-seller “mood music” albums, starting with Music For Lovers Only released in 1957 ~ Gleason was born in 1916
June 24, 1987 ~ Timothy Cornell Patterson, commonly known as rapper, producer, songwriter Mozzy, born in Sacramento, California, USA ~ Went by the monniker Lil' Tim during the 2000s. Released his 1 Up Top Ahk debut album in 2017 and has recorded consistently since. Perhaps best known for his 2021 Last One Standing single
June 24, 1987 ~ Singer, songwriter Trixie Whitley born in Ghent, Belgium ~ Daughter of singer, songwriter Chris Whitley. Worked with artists such as Black Dub, Marc Ribot, Robert Plant, Stephen Barber, Marianne Faithfull, Joe Henry, Craig Street, Malcolm Burn, Brian Blade, Daniel Lanois, Thomas Bartlett, and Kid Koala
June 24, 1983 ~ Singer, keyboardist, drummer, songwriter Brandon Saller, full name Brandon Kyle Saller, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Lead singer and along with guitarist Dan Jacobs primary songwriter of metalcore outfit Atreyu, noted for his melodic singing. Saller has also fronted Hell Or Highwater, resulted out of Saller's solo material the band released their Begin Again debut album in 2011June 24, 1983 ~ Jazz drummer, songwriter Gard Nilssen born in Skien, Norway ~ Leader and sideman, noted for his role in smaller ensembles since the mid 2000s including with Bushman's Revenge, Puma, and Acoustic Unity. Has also collaborated with Marita Røstad, Elvira Nikolaisen, Arild Andersen, and Maciej Obara
June 24, 1981 ~ Pop singer, actor Tilky Jones, full name Tilky Montgomery Jones, born in Charleston, South Carolina, USA ~ Member of Take 5, with whom he recorded the albums Take 5 and Against All Odds. The boy band was conceived by music promoter Lou Pearlman and would disband in 2001, failing to match the success of Pearlman's other outfits such as the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. Following the band's disbandement, Jones would venture into acting for film and TVJune 24, 1978 ~ Ariel Marcus Rosenberg, commonly known as lo-fi singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter Ariel Pink, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influenced by Cabaret Voltaire, the Cure, Fleetwood Mac, Michael Jackson, Lou Reed, Steely Dan, Frank Zappa. Acclaimed for the albums The Doldrums and Before Today. Has collaborated with Weyes Blood, Dam-funk, Sky Ferreira, Charli XCX, Miley Cyrus, Theophilus London, and MGMT
June 24, 1975 ~ Bassist Justin Cary born in Catskills Mountains, New York, USA ~ Member of Sixpence None The Richer from 1997 through 2004 and rejoining in 2008. Present on the band's best known album, 1998's eponymous sophomore Sixpence None The Richer which included the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Kiss Me