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, 1953 ~ Jean Marcopoulos, commonly known as singer, composer Jean Marco, passed away in Connerre, France ~ Best known as lead singer for Jacques Hélian's orchestra from 1947 to Hélian passing in 1953. One of the first to perform C'Est Si Bon, as early as 1948, a song later made famous by Eartha Kitt, also recorded either in French or English by Yves Montand, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Barbra Streisand, Dr Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, and Abbey Lincoln ~ Marcopoulos was born in 1923June 24, 1950 ~ Reggae, dub singer Derrick Duckie Simpson born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Sole constant member of Black Uhuru, acclaimed for their 1981 Red album which is considered by some to be one of the best albums of the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as General Penitentiary, Guess Who's Coming To Dinner and Shine Eye Gal. The latter featured the Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards
June 24, 1947 ~ Drummer Mick Fleetwood born in London, UK ~ Co-founding and besides bassist John McVie the only other constant member of Fleetwood Mac, occasionally dabling in side projects. Active since the late 1960s the band would become best known for a number of 1970s and 1980s album including Rumours, Tusk, and Tango In The Night. Songs such as Go Your Own Way, Dreams, Don't Stop, You Make Loving Fun, Tusk, Sara, Hold Me, Big Love, and Little Lies would reach top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts
June 24, 1945 ~ Rock, pop singer Colin Blunstone, full name Colin Edward Michael Blunstone, born in Hatfield, UK ~ Rose to fame as lead singer of 1960s outfit the Zombies, known for songs such as She's Not There, Tell Her No, She's Coming Home and Time Of The Season. As a solo artist known for songs such as Say You Don't Mind and What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted. Lead singer on several songs by the Alan Parsons Project, notably Old And Wise. Has also guested on recordings by Mike Batt, the Crowd, Don Airey, Duncan Browne, and Steve Hackett
June 24, 1944 ~ Psychedelic rock, eperimental rock, progressive rock, shock rock singer, songwriter Arthur Brown born in Whitby, UK ~ Best known for his 1968 album The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown under the group moniker the Crazy World Of Arthur Brown and its single Fire which reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. Though he had little other chart succes both the album and single would establish him as pioneer of shock rock and influence artists such as Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Kiss, Marilyn Manson, King Diamond and Bruce Dickinson
June 24, 1944 ~ Richard John Whitney, commonly known as rock, blues rock guitarist, pianist, violinist, banjoist Charlie Whitney, born in Skipton, UK ~ Co-founding member and along with Roger Chapman principal songwriter of the Family, known best for their 1971 In My Own Time UK top 10 hit. Following the band's disbandement in 1973 the duo formed the Streetwalkers, with whom they recorded through 1977. Whitney formed Axis Point in 1978
June 24, 1944 ~ Flutist, saxophonist, keyboardist, songwriter Chris Wood, full name Christopher Gordon Blandford Wood, born in Quinton, UK ~ Co-founded Traffic with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, and Dave Mason. The band would launch the career of especially Winwood and is acclaimed for their 1968 eponymous Traffic and their 1971 The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys albums. Wood has also worked with Jimi Hendrix, appearing on the Electric Ladyland album, as well as with Free, the Small Faces, Ginger Baker's Air Force, and Chicken Shack ~ Wood passed away in 1983
June 24, 1944 ~ Geoffrey Arnold Beck, commonly known as rock guitarist Jeff Beck, born in Wallington, UK ~ Though not the first rock guitarist to experiment with distortion, considered a pioneer helpful in redefining the sound and role of the electric guitar in rock. Member of the Yardbirds in 1965 and 1966, present on the albums For Your Love, Having A Rave Up and Roger The Engineer. Over a dozen albums as a solo artist or with the Jeff Beck Group, starting with the acclaimed Truth released in 1968. Also acclaimed for the albums Beck-Ola, Blow By Blow, and Wired. Member of short-lived supergroup Beck Bogert & Appice, alongside bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice. Has also notably collaborated with Jed Leiber on the 1992 Frankie's House soundtrack, with the Big Town Playboys, and with Johnny Depp ~ Beck passed away in 2023June 24, 1942 ~ Michele Lee Dusick, commonly known as actress, singer Michele Lee, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for her role as Karen Cooper Fairgate MacKenzie on the prime-time soap oper Knots Landing from 1979 through 1993. Starred in both the Broadway and the film version of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Nominated for a Tony Award for her role in the 1974 Seesaw musical
June 24, 1939 ~ Avant-garde singer Brigitte Fontaine born in Morlaix, France ~ Prolific in numerous styles including rock & roll, folk, jazz, electronica, spoken word and world music. Has collaborated with Stereolab, Michel Colombier, Jean-Claud Vannier, Areski, the Gotan Project, Sonic Youth, Antoine Duhamel, Grace Jones, Noir Désir, Archie Shepp, Arno, and the Art Ensemble Of ChicagoJune 24, 1937 ~ Lorenzo Giovanni Arbore, commonly known as singer, actor, director, radio and TV personality Renzo Arbore, born in Foggia, Italy ~ Best known as a radio and TV host. As a musician known for founding the Orchestra Italiana, specializing in Neapolitan music. Director of the the Umbria Jazz Festival
June 24, 1935 ~ Charles Romuald Gardès, commonly known as tango singer, songwriter, actor Carlos Gardel, passed away in Medellin, Colombia ~ Dubbed “the King of Tango” and generally acknowledged as the most popular tango singer of the first half of the 20th century. Noted for his baritone voice and dramatic phrasing. Co-wrote a vast amount of his material with lyricist Alfredo Le Pera, many songs becoming staples of the genre. Well known songs include El Dia Que Me Quieras, Por Una Cabeza and Volver. Died at the height of his fame in an airplane crash, alongside frequent collaborator Le Pera, becoming the archetypical tragic hero ~ Gardès was born in 1890June 24, 1935 ~ Keyboardist, saxophonist, composer Terry Riley born in Colfax, California, USA ~ Pioneering minimalist composer known for his innovative use of repetition, tape technique and delay systems. Best known for his 1969 A Rainbow In Curved Air album, considered a landmark album of the genre and influential on electronic music on experimental rock. Has collaborated with the Kronos Quartet, La Monte Young, the Rova Saxophone Quartet, the ARTE Quartett and with his son guitarist Gyan Riley
June 24, 1932 ~ Mezzo-soprano singer Heli Laats born in Kunersaare, Estonia ~ Married to conductor, pianist Peeter Saul. Best known for songs such as Laats Tsirkus, Kaunid Balerlinid, and Oma Laulu Ei Leia Ma Ules. Worked with the Emil Laansoo Ensemble, the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, the Eesti Raadio Women's Trio, Mikk Mikiver, Uno Loop, and Jaak Joala ~ Lääts passed away in 2018
June 24, 1931 ~ Percussionist Anthony Williams born in Port Of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago ~ Pioneer of the steel pan. Best known as founding member of Sun Valley and subsequently the Trinidad All-Steel Percussion Orchestra. Has also worked with Five Graves To Cairo, the Harlem Nightingale Steelband, and the Pan Am North Stars ~ Williams passed away in 2021
June 24, 1925 ~ Singer Gene Mumford, full name Eugene Mumford, born ~ Lead singer of vocal group the Larks, known for early 1950s songs such as When I Leave These Prison Walls, Eyesight To The Blind and Little Side Car. Mumford would briefly sing with the Golden Gate Quartet before returing with a renewed incarnation of the Larks ~ Mumford passed away in 1977
June 24, 1923 ~ James Lewis Carter Ford, commonly known as guitarist, singer T-Model Ford, born ~ Merged Delta blues, Chicago blues, juke joint blues. Influenced by Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. Signed to Fat Possum Records in the mid 1990s opening for Buddy Guy, releasing his Pee-wee Get My Gun debut album in 1997 ~ Ford passed away in 2013
June 24, 1922 ~ Saxophonist, composer, producer Manny Albam born in Samana, Dominican Republic ~ Dropped out of school to join Muggsy Spanier. Was mentored in arranging by fellow bandmember Budd Johnson while in Georgie Auld's band. Went on to play with bandleaders such as Charlie Barnet and Charlie Spivak, then on to jazz collaborating, both as a sideman and as leader, with Count Basie, Stan Getz, Bob Brookmeyer, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Hank Jones, Mel Lewis, Art Farmer, Urbie Green, and Milt Hinton. Arranged Leonard Bernstein's score for West Side Story in 1959. Albam would continue to work as an arranger, but would turn more and more to teaching ~ Albam passed away in 2001
June 24, 1917 ~ Thomas Scott, commonly known as country, rockabilly singer, guitarist Ramblin' Tommy Scott, born in Toccoa, Georgia, USA ~ Worked with Charlie Monroe and Curly Seckler. As a solo artist known for a number of 1950s, early 1960s recordings venturing more into rockabilly, notable singles including Rockin' And Rollin', Dance With Her Henry and Dig Me Little Mama ~ Scott passed away in 2013
June 24, 1909 ~ Conductor, violinist, violist Milton Katims born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Member of the NBC Symphony Orchestra from the mid 1940s through the mid 1950s, developing a special relationship with conductor Arturo Toscanini. Best known as music director of the Seattle Symphony for over two decades starting in 1954. Katims has also conducted renowned orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Boston Symphony, the London Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Montreal Symphony ~ Katims passed away in 2006June 24, 1904 ~ Singer, bandleader Phil Harris born in Linton, Indiana, USA ~ As a singer scored the 1950 novelty hit The Thing. Best known as a bandleader for radio sitcoms, notably with The Jack Benny Program and his own The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show which he co-hosted with his wife actress and singer Alice Faye ~ Harris passed away in 1995
June 24, 1900 ~ Lemeul Eugene Lucas, commonly known as singer, songwriter Gene Austin, born in Gainesville, Texas, USA ~ One of the first crooners. Best known for his 1928 hit My Blue Heaven, which sold 5 million copies making it the all-time best-selling record. Other well known recordings include his 1925 breakthrough hit When My Sugar Walks Down The Street which he recorded with Aileen Stanley and 1927's The Lonesome Road, both co-written by Austin and becoming jazz and pop standards recorded by numerous artists ~ Lucas passed away in 1972
June 24, 1882 ~ Composer, pianist Joachim Raff, full name Joseph Joachim Raff, passed away in Frankfurt, Germany ~ Largely self-taught. Worked as a schoolteacher and sent some of his composition to Felix Mendelssohn who helped him get his work published. Worked as Franz Liszt's assistent in the early 1850s. Would go on to become one of Germany's most popular composers. Best known for his Symphony No.3 (In The Forest) which by the end of the century would become one of the most played orchestral pieces ~ Raff was born in 1822