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 28, 2024 ~ Pop, country pop singer Betty Veldpaus, also known as Betty Dragstra-Veldpaus, passed away ~ Member of 1970s pop group Pussycat, which also included her siblings Marianne Veldpaus, and Toni Willé, with whom she scored about half a dozen top 10 hits in their native the Netherlands from the mid 1970s through the early 1980s including the top 5 hits Georgie, Smile, and My Broken Souvenirs. The band's best known, their 1975 Mississippi debut single would reach No.1 in over a dozen countries, including their native Netherlands and the UK, and sell over 5 million copies ~ Veldpaus was born in 1952
June 28, 2024 ~ Producer, arranger, engineer Peter Collins, full name Peter Julian Alexander Collins, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Briefly a pop performer and jingle writer before becoming a producer in the 1980s, starting with UK acts such as Musical Youth, Tracey Ullman, and Nik Kershaw. After relocating to the USA, Collins would establish himself as an in-demand producer working with a wide array of artists including Queensrÿche, Voice Of The Beehive, the Indigo Girls (Indigo Girls), Gary Moore, Alice Cooper (Hey Stoopid), Suicidal Tendencies (The Art Of Rebellion), Nanci Griffith, Bon Jovi, Billy Squier, Sneaker Pimps, Letters To Cleo, the Brian Setzer Orchestra (The Dirty Boogie), Shawn Mullins, the Cardigans, Jewel, LeAnn Rimes, and Lisa Loeb. Upon hearing of his passing, guitarist Alex Lifeson of Rush, for whom he produced four albums, commented: “Collins will forever live in my memory as Mr. Big, sitting at his control center beside a recording console with his ubiquitous tools: a legal pad, an ashtray and a Monte Cristo No.2” ~ Collins was born in 1951June 28, 2021 ~ Pianist Burton Greene passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Leader and sideman. Emerged from New York's 1960s avant-garde and free-jazz scene. Has worked with Alan Silva, Marion Brown, Cecil Taylor, Rashied Ali, Albert Ayler, Gato Barbieri, Byard Lancaster, Patty Waters, Maarten Altena, Willem Breuker, Roy Campbell Jr, Paul Smoker, and Klezmokum ~ Greene was born in 1937
June 28, 2021 ~ Paul Koulaksezian, commonly known as composer Paul Koulak, passed away in Paris, France ~ Best known for his work for various TV broadcasts and game shows, notably Fort Boyard. To pop audiences known for writing Souviens-toi De Moi for singer Marie-France Dufour and Sans Toi for Martine Clémenceau, the latter France's entry for the 1973 Eurovision Songfestival which reached 15th place ~ Koulaksezian was born in 1943
June 28, 2020 ~ Jazz bassist, composer Simon H Fell passed away ~ Primarily known as free improviser and composer of ambitously complex post-serialist works. Active since the early 1970s. Closely associated with Paul Hession, Alan Wilkinson, and Badland. As a composer best known for his Compilation series, especially the 1998 Composition No.30 (Compilation III) album. Has appeared on albums by Lol Coxhill, Mick Beck, Charles Wharf, Something Else, the London Improvisers Orchestra, and SFQ ~ Fell was born in 1959
June 28, 2017 ~ Jazz trumpeter, harpist, cornetist, hornist, saxophonist Phil Cohran, full name Kelan Phil Cohran, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ First gained attention backing Sun Ra during the late 1950s and early 1960s, present on the albums Interstellar Low Ways, Holiday For Soul Dance, In A Pleasant Mood and Angels And Demons At Play. Co-founded the Association For The Advancement Of Creative Musicians in 1965. Has recorded over half a dozen albums as a leader, starting with On The Beach with his backing unit the Artistic Heritage Ensemble released in 1968 ~ Cohran was born in 1927June 28, 2015 ~ Country keyboardist, clavinetist, songwriter Steve Hardin, full name Stephen Joseph Hardin, passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Best known as a songwriter. Penned songs such as I Love My Truck for Glen Campbell and Breakin' Down for Waylon Jennings. Member of Point Blank, for whom he wrote the concert favorite Mean To Your Queenie ~ Hardin was born in 1946
June 28, 2013 ~ Singer Silvi Vrait passed away in Tallinn, Estonia ~ Active since the early 1970 in several pop outfits including Viker 5, Initsiaal, Fix, and Ultima Thule. Starred in a number of musicals and operas such as productions of Porgy & Bess, The King & I, and The Sound Of Music. Represented her native Estonia at the 1994 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 24th place with Nagu Merelaine ~ Vrait was born in 1951
June 28, 2010 ~ Roger Sanders, commonly known as jazz percussionist, drummer Montego Joe, passed away in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Worked with Babatunde Olatunji, Ted Curson, Max Roach, Monty Alexander, Phil Upchurch, Dizzy Gillespie, Willis Jackson, Herbie Mann, Harold Vick, Teddy Edwards, George Benson, Jack McDuff, Johnny Lytle, Chick Corea, Eddie Gomez, Milford Graves, Cornell Dupree, Ralph MacDonald, Curtis Mayfield, the 5th Dimension, Art Blakey, Bo Diddley, Rufus Harley, Solomon Ilori, Illinois Jacquet, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Chuck Rainey, Nina Simone, Grady Tate, and Sonny Stitt ~ Sanders was born ca.1929
June 28, 2008 ~ Jazz pianist Ronnie Mathews passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Critically compared to Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, and McCoy Tyner. As a leader best known for his 1963 Doin' The Thang album. Closely associated with drummers Max Roach and Art Blakey. Guested on albums by Bill Hardman, Roland Alexander, Junior Cook, Clifford Jordan, Sonny Stitt, Roy Haynes (Cracklin'), Freddie Hubbard (Breaking Point), Lee Morgan, Donald Byrd (Slow Drag), Jean-Luc Ponty, Abbey Lincoln (People In Me), Louis Hayes, Clark Terry, Woody Shaw, and Clifford Jordan ~ Mathews was born in 1935June 28, 1994 ~ Actor, guitarist Ulrik Neumann passed away in Malmö, Sweden ~ Father of guitarist Mikael Neumann and singer Ulla Neumann. Perhaps best known as an actor, appearing in some 20 films from 1940 through the mid 1960s. As a guitarist known as one third of the trio the Swe-Danes alongside singer Alice Babs and violinist Svend Asmussen, active during the late 1950s and early 1960s ~ Neumann was born in 1918
June 28, 1993 ~ Kevin Michael Allin, commonly known as punk rock, shock rock, outlaw country singer, drummer, guitarist, bassist GG Allin, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Controversial punk icon labeled both “the toughest rock star in the world” and “the most spectacular degenerate in rock and roll history”, recorded prolifically yet was known more for his stage antics than his music. Allin's live performances often included acts of self-mutilation, defecating on stage, and assaulting audience members, for which he was arrested several times. Other than his 1988 Freaks Faggots Drunks & Junkies album, which received critical acclaim, most of his music received negative reviews, though Allin did enjoy a cult following. Allin had promised for years to commit suicide on stage, but died age 36 of a heroin overdose instead ~ Allin was born in 1956June 28, 1993 ~ K-pop singer, actor Jung Dae-hyun born in Gwangju, South Korea ~ Lead singer of South Korean boy band BAP, enjoying popularity in Japan and South Korea with songs such as 1004 (Angel), Warrior, No Mercy, and Excuse Me. Following the band's disbandement Dae-hyun has recorded as a solo artist, starting with Chapter 2-27 released in 2019
June 28, 1991 ~ Seo Ju-hyun, commonly known as K-pop, R&B singer, actress Seohyun, born in Seoul, South Korea ~ Rose to fame as member of girl group Girls' Generation, remaining with the band through 2017 and present on hits such as Oh, Run Devil Run, The Boys, Dancing Queen, I Got A Boy and Mr Mr. Ju-hyun has released solo recordings, acted in several TV series and appeared in stage productions of musicals such as Embracing The Sun, Gone With The Wind and Mamma MiaJune 28, 1990 ~ Rock, punk rock, post-punk, gothic rock guitarist, bassist Rob Graves passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s Los Angeles punk and punk rock scene, including with acts such as Bags, the Gun Club, 45 Grave, Thelonious Monster, and the Loafin' Hyenas. Following his death from a heroin overdose Courtney Love would dedicate Hole's 1991 Pretty On The Inside to him ~ Graves was born ca.1955
June 28, 1986 ~ Alternative rock, screamo, emo, pop punk singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, percussionist, songwriter Carson Allen, full name Carson Cole Allen, born in Montana, USA ~ Co-founding member of Escape The Fate, with whom he recorded the mid 2000s albums There's No Sympathy For The Dead and Dying Is Your Latest Fashion. Has also recorded as a solo artist, and worked with Apathy Drowns Desire, Tracemyveins, On The Last Day, and Me vs Myself
June 28, 1986 ~ Country, country pop singer, songwriter Kellie Pickler, full name Kellie Dawn Pickler, born in Albemarle, North Carolina, USA ~ First gained wider audience as a contestant on the 2006 edition of American Idol, finishing in 6th place. Would release her Small Town Girl debut album later the same year and has recorded consistently since. Well-known songs include Red High Heels, I Wonder, Things That Never Cross A Man's Mind, Best Days Of Your Life co-written with Taylor Swift, and Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You, all of which reached top 20 Billboard Country
June 28, 1986 ~ Elizabeth Anne Berg, commonly known as indie rock singer, guitarist Z Berg, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Daughter of record producer, label executive Tony Berg. Lead singer of the Like, with whom she recorded the albums Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking and Release Me. Berg has also guested on albums by Kate Earl, Bright Eyes, Jakob Dylan, Bruce Hornsby, Maroon 5, John Legend, and Switchfoot. Berg released her Get Z To A Nunnery solo debut album in 2020June 28, 1982 ~ Frankie Lee Peterson, commonly known as folk, folk rock Americana singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Frankie Lee, born ~ Influenced by Nirvana, the Dead Milkmen, Tom Petty, Lucinda Williams. Released his American Dreamer debut album in 2015. Perhaps best known for Speakeasy, featured on the NBC TV series This Is Us in 2019
June 28, 1982 ~ Jazz trombonist George Matthews passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Tiny Bradshaw, Willie Bryant, Louis Armstrong, Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Erskine Hawkins, Lucille Dixon, Clark Terry, Cannonball Adderley, Ray Charles (Genius+Soul=Jazz), Lucky Millinder, and Dicky Wells ~ Matthews was born in 1912
June 28, 1981 ~ Antoine Marcel Toupin, commonly known as alternative dance, synth-pop, new wave singer, DJ, producer, songwriter Antoine Becks, born in Montreal, Canada ~ Formed Second Sun with Adam White in the early 2000s. The electronic duo is known best for working with German DJ Paul van Dyk on his hit single Crush of his 2003 Reflections album. The duo also formed CB7 with Thirty Seconds To Mars drummer Shannon Leto
June 28, 1981 ~ Singer, keyboardist Johnny Whitney born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Perhaps best known as member of post-hardcore outfit the Blood Brothers alongside Jordan Blilie. Member of post-punk group Jaguar Love. Has also worked with Glowbug, Soiled Doves, and Neo Blonde
June 28, 1979 ~ Pianist, bandleader Edgar Hayes, full name Edgar Junius Hayes, passed away in San Bernardino, California, USA ~ Led the Blue Grass Buddies, Eight Black Buddies, the Symphonic Harmonists from the mid 1920s forward. Closely associated with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, playing and arranging with the band from 1931 to 1936. Best known for his late 1930s recordings of Stardust and the original version of In The Mood, later popularized by Glenn Miller ~ Hayes was born in 1902June 28, 1977 ~ Sami Harun Tekin, commonly known as rock, alternative rock singer, guitarist, pianist Harun Tekin, born in Ankara, Turkey ~ Co-founding member of Turkish alternative rock outfit Mor Ve Otesi. The band broke through to mainstream with their Dunya Yalan Soyluyor album released in 2004. Internationally they are perhaps best known for representing their native Turkey at the 2008 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 7th place with Deli. BBC commentator would describe Tekin as “a sinister James Bond”
June 28, 1977 ~ Measha Gosman, commonly known as operatic, concert soprano singer Measha Brueggergosman, born in Fredericton, Canada ~ Drew critical acclaim for her lead rol in the opera Beatrice Chancy at age 20. Would go on to record over half a dozen albums and perform with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and the St Louis Symphony Orchestra. Performed the Olympic Hymn at the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver