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 25, 2024 ~ Jazz, blues singer Jewel Brown passed away ~ Fixture on the Texas jazz and blues scene. Active since an early age, Brown would become best known for her stints with Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, and notably Louis Armstrong, working with the latter for most of the 1960s. Though internationally renowned for her vocal versatility, Brown preferred family over fame and fortune and eventually returned to her native Houston, Texas, to care for her parents. Brown recorded a handful of solo albums later on in her career, notably Show Time released in 1988. Looking back on her lengthy career, Brown told the Houston Chronicle in 2015: “Baby, I grew up on it all. I've done country and western, ballads, torch songs, blues and jazz. They call me a bluesy jazz singer and a jazzy blues singer. Give a song to me. If it's good, I'll do it” ~ Brown was born in 1937
June 25, 2021 ~ Wes Madiko, mononymously known as pop singer Wes, passed away in Alençon, France ~ Best known for In Youpendi of The Lion King II soundtrack and Alane, the latter reaching top 10 across Europe in 1997 including No.1 spots in France and the Netherlands. Has also worked with French world fusion outfit Deep Forest ~ Madiko was born in 1964
June 25, 2018 ~ Composer Bo Nilsson passed away in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Classified as a serialist composer akin to Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen, though Nilsson himself rejected the label. Self-taught. Best known for compositions such as Zwei Stucke, Audiogramme, Entrée, Quantitäten, and for film and TV scores including Hemsöborna ~ Nilsson was born in 1937
June 25, 2017 ~ William Evans, commonly known as bluegrass singer, banjoist, songwriter Dave Evans, passed away in Morehead, Kentucky, USA ~ Noted for his powerful vocals and for bridging traditional and contemporary bluegrass. Has recorded well over half a dozen albums as a solo artist and with his backing unit the River Bend. Has collaborated with the likes of Larry Sparks, Josh Graves, Ralph Stanley, and Jim Lauderdale ~ Evans was born in 1950
June 25, 2009 ~ Singer Michael Jackson, full name Michael Joseph Jackson, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Considered one of the most important cultural icons of the twentieth century. Dubbed “the King of Pop”. Child star as a member of sibling oufit the Jackson 5, known for songs such as I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save and I'll Be There. Debuted as a solo artist with 1972's Got To Be There, quicly followed by Ben, its title track Ben becoming a massive global hit. Shot to mega stardom in the late 1970s with the Off The Wall containing songs such as Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough and Rock With You. Dominated the 1980s with a string of subsequent hit albums which to this day still rank among all-time best-selling albums, notably Thriller and Bad, spawning numerous hit singles and it's accompanying music videos transforming the medium music video to an art form. Well known songs from this period include Billie Jean, Wanna Be Startin' Something, PYT (Pretty Young Thing), Thriller, Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, Dirty Diana and Smooth Criminal. Jackson would continue to hit the charts well into the 1990s scoring hits with Black Or White, Remember The Time, You Are Not Alone, You Rock My World, but starting in the late 1980s his career would be overshadowed by an array of controversies over his changing appearance, extravagant behavior earning him the nickname “Wacko Jacko” such as having a personal theme park and zoo built or allegedly sleeping in a bubble, never-proven allegations of child abuse and legal and financial battles ~ Jackson was born in 1958
June 25, 2005 ~ Vincent John Cernuto, commonly know as big band singer Bob Vincent, passed away in Fullerton, California, USA ~ Best known as featured vocalist on Al Trace's You Call Everybody Darlin', a No.1 hit in 1948. Later turned to management, working as a theatrical agent working with artists such as Wayne Newton ~ Cernuto was born in 1918June 25, 2003 ~ Josiah Alexander Sila, commonly known as jazz pianist Joey Alexander, born in Denpasar, Indonesia ~ Child prodigy. Influenced by John Coltrane, Harry Connick Jr, Herbie Hancock. Known for his 2015 debut album My Favorite Things. Has worked with Wynton Marsalis, Larry Grenadier, Dan Chmielinski, Ulysses Owens, and Chris Potter
June 25, 2000 ~ Singer Wilson Simonal, full name Wilson Simonal de Castro, passed away in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Popular 1960s singer relatively unknown outside of South America. Best known for his recordings of Pais Tropical and Sá Marina, both covered by Sérgio Mendes with the latter translated to English (Pretty World) ~ De Castro was born in 1938
June 25, 1997 ~ Singer, drummer, songwriter Louis McCall, full name Louis A McCall Sr, passed away in Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA ~ Member of funk outfit Con Funk Shun, known for 1970s, 1980s hits such as Ffun, Chase Me, Baby I'm Hooked Right Into Your Love. Murdered in a home invasion robbery at age 45 ~ McCall was born in 1951June 25, 1997 ~ Violist, arranger Watson Forbes, full name Watson Douglas Buchanan Forbes, passed away in Moreton-in-Marsh, UK ~ Got his start in music playing with the Stratton Quartet, renamed to the Aeolian String Quartet after the departure of George Stratton. Co-leader of the London Symphony Orchestra at the start of World War II. Professor of viola and chamber music at the Royal Academy Of Music conservatory. Head of music for BBC Scotland, credited for safeguarding and expanding the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. As a recording artist perhaps best known for Arthur Bliss' Viola Sonata and Alan Richardson's Sussex Lullaby. Father of composer Sebastian Forbes and singer Rupert Forbes ~ Forbes was born in 1909
June 25, 1990 ~ Pop, blue-eyed soul singer Dusty Springfield releases her Reputation album ~ Following a string of commercially disappointing albums through the 1970s and 1980s, the Pet Shop Boys would invite Dusty Springfield to duet with them on What Have I Done To Deserve This. The single, released in 1987, was a huge success and resurged interest in Springfield. The duo would again team up with Springfield for her Reputation album, with Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant co-writing and co-producing the majority of the album. Reputation, recorded over some 18 months, became her best-selling album in the UK since 1970's From Dusty With Love and spawned the UK top 20 hit singles Nothing Has Been Proved and In Private
June 25, 1989 ~ Alternative rock, glam metal, metalcore, hard rock, pop rock, pop singer Sam Ryder born in Maldon, UK ~ Best known for representing his native UK at the 2022 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 2nd place with Space Man. His solo debut album, There's Nothing But Space Man, released the same year would top the British album charts. Has previously co-founded the Morning After, fronted rock band Blessed By A Broken Heart, and worked with Close Your Eyes, appearing on the latter's Line In The Sand album released in 2014
June 25, 1988 ~ Funk rock, punk rock, alternative rock guitarist, sitarist, singer Hillel Slovak passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, departing the band before the recording of their debut album, rejoining for the next two albums Freaky Styley and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. Following Slovak's overdose death at age 26 the band have written several songs as tributes to Slovak, including Knock Me Down, My Lovely Man, and Feasting On The Flowers ~ Slovak was born in 1962
June 25, 1987 ~ Diadorius Boudleaux Bryant, commonly known as songwriter Boudleaux Bryant, passed away ~ Songwriter, usually in partnership with his wife Felice Bryant. Together they wrote some of Nashville's most enduring hits for artists such as Jimmy Dickens (Country Boy), Buddy Holly (Raining In My Heart), Gram Parsons (Love Hurts), Emmylou Harris (Like Strangers), Ricky Van Shelton (Loving Proof), Johnny O'Keefe (She Wears My Ring), and perhaps most extensively for the Everly Brothers (Bye Bye Love, Problems, Wake Up Little Susie). Other artists who have recorded their songs include Tony Bennett, Frankie Laine, Sonny James, Eddy Arnold, Bob Moore, Charley Pride, Nazareth, Jim Reeves, Leo Sayer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Simon & Garfunkel, Sarah Vaughan, the Grateful Dead, Elvis Costello, Count Basie, Dean Martin, Ray Charles, Joan Jett, Roy Orbison, Solomon King, Sue Thompson, and Dillard & Clarke ~ Bryant was born in 1920
June 25, 1984 ~ Singer Prince releases Purple Rain, the album that would catapult him to international fame ~ Previously, Prince had had some success, scoring a little over half a dozen top 20 hits on the Billboard R&B charts, with Little Red Corvette and Delirious also reaching top 10 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts. But is was Purple Rain, the album and accompanying semi-autobiographical film, that catapulted him to international fame, near instantly making him an icon of the 1980s. Both the album and the film would be a smash international success, with four of the five album's singles reaching top 10 Billboard Hot 100, including the No.1's When Doves Cry and Let's Go Crazy. The title track earned Prince a Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, while the album won a 1985 Academy Award for Best Original Score. Both at the time of its release and retrospectively, Purple Rain earned universal critical acclaim. It has been listed among the best albums of the decade, best soundtracks, and all-time best albums
June 25, 1982 ~ Pop rock outfit Toto release Africa, lifted off their Toto IV album ~ By far the band's best known and their sole Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit, Africa initially almost didn't make the album cut. The song was conceived by the band's keyboardist David Paich, inspired by a late night documentary depicting African plight and suffering. Paich imagined a man enamored with the continent, but he must leave if he is going to be with the girl who came to see him. Guitarist Steve Lukather would later comment to Rock Eyez: “I thought it was the worst song on the album. It didn't fit, the lyrics made no sense and I swore that if it was a hit record, I'd run naked down Hollywood Boulevard. That's how good I am at picking singles! I mean I love the song now but, to be honest with you, at the time I thought it was really the odd ball song on the album. It almost didn't make the record and it was a No.1 worldwide single and still gets played everywhere today. No matter where I go in the world, people know that song, it's bizarre!”
June 25, 1976 ~ Songwriter, singer Johnny Mercer passed away in Hollywood, California, USA ~ Wrote or co-wrote over 1500 songs. Co-founded Capitol Records with Buddy DeSylva and Glenn E Wallichs. Well known songs co-written by Mercer include I Wanna Be Around (Wynona Carr, Aretha Franklin, Brenda Lee), Day In Day Out (Bob Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Buddy Rich), In The Cool Cool Cool Of The Evening (Dean Martin, Jo Stafford, Rosemary Clooney), Jeepers Creepers (Ethel Waters, Louis Armstrong, the Dells), Lazy Bones (Glen Gray, the Supremes, Leon Redbone, Dr John), One For My Baby And One More For The Road (Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Billie Holiday, Etta James), Trav'lin Light (Paul Whiteman, Carmen McRae, Ella Fitzgerald), Midnight Sun (Lionel Hampton, Sarah Vaughan, Kate Ceberano), You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby (Tommy Dorsey, Perry Como, Maurice Chevalier), Tangerine (Vaughn Monroe, Ray Nance, Harry Connick Jr), and That Old Black Magic (Glenn Miller, Charlie Barnet, the Platters) ~ Mercer was born in 1909June 25, 1974 ~ Drummer Mario Calire born in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Spent about a decade drumming with Ozomatli, starting in 2003 first appearing on the Coming Up EP. Also closely associated with the Wallflowers, present on albums such as Bringing Down The Horse, and Red Letter Days. Has also worked with Marty Grebb, Phil Cody, Rusty Truck, Liz Phair (Liz Phair), Rickie Lee Jones, Minnie Driver, and Lyle Workman
June 25, 1969 ~ British pop group the Hollies record He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother at EMI Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Bob Russell and Bobby Scott. Recorded earlier the same year by Kelly Gordon. It was the Ron Richards-produced Hollies-version however that would become the biggest hit, reaching top 10 on both side of the Atlantic. Elton John, then a session musician, backed the band on piano. The song would also be covered by Neil Diamond, who'd scratch the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 the following year. Other notable covers include Donny Hathaway for his 1971 eponymous Donny Hathaway album, Olivia Newton-John in 1975, and Bill Medley for the Rambo III soundtrack in 1988June 25, 1969 ~ Singer, actress, songwriter Storm Large, full name Susan Storm Large, born in Southborough, Massachusetts, USA ~ Rock singer. Branched out into theater and cabaret later in her career. Has been writing songs since she was five years old. Gained widespread attention as a contestant on the talent show Rock Star Supernova in 2006. Has worked with Storm Inc, the Mermen, Dan the Automator, Dave Navarro, and Pink Martini
June 25, 1968 ~ Sean Hegarty, commonly known as pop singer Marc Roberts, born in Crossmolina, Ireland ~ Internationally perhaps best known for representing his native Ireland at the 1997 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 2nd place with Mysterious Woman behind the UK's Katrina & the Waves with Love Shine A Light. Roberts released his eponymous Marc Roberts debut album later the same year and has recorded from time to time since. Also known as a radio host, and a songwriter notably co-writing the moderate 2006 Daniel O'Donnell hit Crush On YouJune 25, 1968 ~ Alternative metal, groove metal, nu metal guitarist, songwriter Tom Maxwell born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Member of Nothingface, with whom he recorded four albums through the early 2000s. Co-founding member of alternative metal supergroup Hellyeah, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums starting with 2007's eponymous Hellyeah debut album. Member of Knives Out
June 25, 1964 ~ Pop, surf outfit the Beach Boys record The Man With All The Toys ~ Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the former also credited as producer. Brian on piano and bass sharing lead vocals with Love. Released as a single, b/w Blue Christmas, it would initially sell poorly but over successive Christmases has built sales and is listed on Billboard list of Top 100 selling Christmas songs in history. In 1968 Canadian singer Renée Martel would record a French-language version, titled As Tu Vu Père Noël
June 25, 1963 ~ Singer, songwriter Georgios Panayiotou, commonly known as George Michael, born in East Finchley, UK ~ Rose to fame as half of pop duo Wham, the other half being Andrew Ridgeley, known for songs such as Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, Young Guns, and Wham Rap. In 1984 Wham became the first Western pop act to release an album in China, their sophomore Make It Big, and subsequently tour the Orient nation. Embarked on a highly successful solo career in 1987 with Faith, which topped the US album chart for 12 weeks, and has been recording, touring and scoring hits since ~ Panayiotou passed away in 2016June 25, 1961 ~ Post-bop pianist Bill Evans performs at the Village Vanguard, New York, New York ~ Bill Evans and his trio, Scott LaFaro on bass and Paul Motian on drums, perform at the Village Vanguard. The concert would be released on vinyl later the same year as Sunday At The Village Vanguard, the album critically regarded as one of the all-time best jazz sessions. This trio is widely considered his finest, largely because of the symbiotic interplay between its members. Sadly bassist LaFaro would be killed in a traffic accident 10 days after the concert