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 6, 2023 ~ Anthony Charles McPhee, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Tony TS McPhee, passed away ~ Given his nickname “TS” for “Tough Shit” by producer Mike Vernon. Co-founding and sole constant member of rock outfit the Groundhogs. The band has recorded since the early 1960s, is especially acclaimed for the early 1970s albums Thank Christ For The Bomb and Live At Leeds '71, and backed both John Lee Hooker and Champion Jack Dupree on mid 1960s UK tours. McPhee has recorded about a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Ain't Gonna Cry No More released in 1966, and collaborated with John Dummer, Hapshash & the Coloured Coat, and Jo-Ann Kelly ~ McPhee was born in 1944
June 6, 2022 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Jim Seals, full name James Eugene Seals, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Member of the Champs. Wrote It's Never Too Late, recorded by Brenda Lee as the B-side of her 1961 You Can Depend On Me single. Best known as half of the duo Seals & Crofts, the other being Dash Crofts, scoring 1970s Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits with Summer Breeze, Diamond Girl and Get Closer ~ Seals was born in 1942June 6, 2021 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Michele Merlo, also known as Mike Bird, passed away in Bologna, Italy ~ First gained attention in 2017 as contestant on the Italian talent show Amici. Following his success on the show, Merlo released his debut album, Cinemaboy, in 2019 and a sophomore album, Cuori Stupidi, in 2020. Merlo's career was cut short by his death at age 28 following complications related to leukemia ~ Merlo was born in 1993
June 6, 2019 ~ Malcolm Rebennack Jr, commonly known as pianist, singer, songwriter Dr John, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Mixes blues, pop, jazz, boogie-woogie, rock & roll and more into a highly energetic voodoo and cajun-infused hybrid. Influenced by King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Little Richard, Guitar Slim and Professor Longhair. Started as a session musician, mostly guitar, in the late 1950s working with the likes of James Booker, Earl King and Jimmy Clanton. Starting with his 1969 debut album Gris Gris built a zydeco, voodoo, cajun and Louisiana heritage on stage persona ~ Rebennack was born in 1941June 6, 2018 ~ Heavy metal, thrash metal, death metal guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, songwriter Ralph Santolla passed away in Tampa, Florida, USA ~ Cited Phil Lynott as major influence. Worked with Millenium, Iced Earth, Deicide, Obituary, Gary Hughes, Sebastian Bach, and Memorain. Santolla has also recorded as a solo artist, perhaps most notably the Shaolin Monks In The Temple album released in 2002 ~ Santolla was born in 1966
June 6, 2018 ~ Edward Victor Johnson, commonly known as singer Teddy Johnson, passed away in Twickenham, UK ~ Formed a duo with his wife Pearl Carr. Prior to their marriage in 1955 both had been successful solo performers, but teamed up they would enjoy their greatest success as regular performers on stage and in a variety of British TV shows throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. Internationally the couple are best known for representing their native UK at the 1959 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching second place with Sing Little Birdie. Later Johnson commented that upon winning the national finals, they had never heard of the international contest and had no idea they were going to have to represent their country: “We had no idea whatsoever. They gave us the dates for Cannes and I just hoped we had them available. As it happened, we did.” ~ Johnson was born in 1919June 6, 2017 ~ Classical, avant-garde violinist, conductor Paul Zukofsky passed away in Hong Kong ~ Known for his association with some of the finest composers of contemporary classical music including Milton Babbitt, Easley Blackwood Jr, John Cage, Morton Feldman, Artur Schnabel, Roger Sessions, Stefan Wolpe, Charles Wuorinen, and Iannis Xenakis ~ Zukofsky was born in 1943
June 6, 2017 ~ Barbara Alexandra Reemer, commonly known as singer Sandra Reemer, passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Half of Sandra & Andres, the other half being Andres Holten. The duo, representing the Netherlands would reach 4th place at the 1972 Eurovision Songfestival with Als Het Om De Liefde Gaat. As a solo artist Reemer would also compete in the 1976 edition with The Party's Over, which reached ninth place, and the 1979 edition with Colorado, which reached 12th place ~ Reemer was born in 1950
June 6, 2013 ~ Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist Bert Wilson passed away in Olympia, Washington, USA ~ Though he never achieved much mainstream success, Wilson is regarded as a creative improvisational player by jazz aficionados. Especially acclaimed for the albums Live At The Zoo released in 1988 and Endless Fingers six years later. Wilson has also appeared on albums by Sonny Simmons, James Zitro, Smiley Winters (Smiley Etc), and Essra Mohawk ~ Wilson was born in 1939
June 6, 2011 ~ Singer Katy Perry releases Last Friday Night (TGIF), lifted off her Teenage Dream album ~ A commercial success, reaching top 10 in over a dozen countries. When the single hit No.1 Billboard Hot 100, it made Katy Perry the first female artist to have five singles off the same album reach the top spot, as California Gurls, Teenage Dream, Firework, and ET had all also reached No.1. Perry has revealed that Last Friday Night (TGIF) was partly inspired by a real-life experience, as she told Company magazine: “we had a couple of beers and danced until we died, then brought the party back to the hotel room. Most of that song is actual truth, apart from the ménage à trois, unfortunately! But, yes, streaking in the park, that's what we did, so we had to write a song about it the next day”
June 6, 2010 ~ R&B, funk, soul singer, bassist, percussionist Marvin Isley passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as a member of the Isley Brothers since the early 1970s. Co-wrote several of the band's best known including Fight The Power, The Pride, and Between The Sheets. Member of Isley-Jasper-Isley, a side project known for the 1985 hit Caravan Of Love. Isley retired from music for medical reasons by the late 1990s ~ Isley was born in 1953
June 6, 2006 ~ Keyboardist, organist, singer, songwriter Billy Preston, full name William Everett Preston, passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA ~ As a solo artist known for songs such as That's The Way God Planned It, Outa-space, Will It Go Round In Circles, Space Race, Nothing From Nothing, and With You I'm Born Again, the latter a duet with Syreeta Wright. As a session and touring musician Preston has worked with Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, James Cleveland, the Beatles, George Harrison, Sly Stone, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers ~ Preston was born in 1946June 6, 2002 ~ Guitarist Robbin Crosby, full name Robbinson Lantz Crosby, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as member of glam metal outfit RATT. Co-wrote number of the band's best known including Round And Round, Wanted Man, Lay It Down and the band's You Think You're So Tough debut single ~ Crosby was born in 1959
June 6, 2001 ~ Songwriter, lyricist Joe Darion passed away in Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA ~ Musical theater lyricist best known for the 1965 musical Man Of La Mancha. Co-wrote Changing Partners, a 1954 No.3 Billboard hit for Patti Page, with Larry Coleman. Versions by Bing Crosby, Kay Starr and Dinah Shore would also reach the top 20. A notable cover can also be found on pop singer Elvis Costello's 2009 Secret Profane & Sugarcane, serving as the album's closing track ~ Darion was born in 1911
June 6, 2001 ~ Blondel Keith Calnek, commonly known as ska, rocksteady, reggae producer Ken Lack, passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Active through the late 1960s. Produced records by the Skatalites (Outer Space), Ken Boothe, the Clarendonians, the Tartans, the Heptones (School Girls), the Slickers, Tommy McCook, Lynn Taitt, Hortense Ellis (Brown Girl In The Ring), and the Uniques ~ Calnek was born ca.1934
June 6, 1993 ~ Victor Kwesi Mensah, commonly known as hip-hop, punk rap rapper, singer, songwriter Vic Mensa, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Member of hip hop unit Kids These Days, known for their sole 2012 Traphouse Rock album produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy. Following the band's disbandement in 2013 Mensa has recorded as a solo artist, known best for his 2015 U Mad single featuring Kanye West. Mensa also co-founded hip hop collective Savemoney, which included regular collaborator Chance the Rapper
June 6, 1991 ~ Stanley Gayetzby, commonly known as cool jazz, bebop, bossa nova saxophonist Stan Getz, passed away in Malibu, California, USA ~ Dubbed “the Sound” for his warm, lyrical tone. Rose to prominence in the late 1940s as member of Woody Herman's big band. Would go on to become one of jazz's all-time greatest tenor saxophonists. Known for popularizing bossa nova, among other through collaborations with João Gilberto and Antônio Carlos Jobim and especially with the 1964 hit single The Girl From Ipanema of the collaborative Getz/Gilberto album ~ Gayetzby was born in 1927June 6, 1990 ~ Joshua Alexander Loss, commonly known as dance bandleader, violinist Joe Loss, passed away in London, UK ~ Led the Joe Loss Orchestra, one of the most popular dance bands in the UK during the 1940s and 1950s. Well known songs include In The Mood, The Stripper, Sucu Sucu, Must Be Madison, Theme From Maigret, and March Of The Mods ~ Loss was born in 1909
June 6, 1986 ~ Producer, label executive Dick Rowe, full name Richard Paul Brutton Rowe, passed away in London, UK ~ Served at Decca Records from the late 1940s until his retirement in the mid 1970s. Remembered as the executive who passed on the Beatles, yet did sign the Rolling Stones at the recommendation of George Harrison. Would become one of the most successful British executives and producers of the 1960s, signing and producing acts such as Them, the Moody Blues, the Zombies, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Tom Jones, the Small Faces, the Animals, Procol Harum, and Gilbert O'Sullivan. Rowe's son, solicitor Richard Rowe, would follow in his father's footsteps with executive positions at CBS Records and Sony Music ~ Rowe was born in 1921June 6, 1986 ~ Pop rock singer, songwriter Gin Wigmore, full name Virginia Claire Wigmore, born in Auckland, New Zealand ~ First gained attention as featured vocalist on Smashproof's 2009 single Brother, a No.1 hit in the band's native New Zealand. Wigmore would release her Holy Smoke debut album later the same year. As a solo artist best known for songs such as Under My Skin, Oh My, I Do and Black Sheep
June 6, 1985 ~ Pop, new wave outfit Mr Mister release Broken Wings, lifted off their Welcome To The Real World sophomore album ~ The band had released their debut album, I Wear The Face, the previous year and it failed to spawn any hits. For their follow-up, the band's label wanted to issue a more uptempo song as its lead single, however, the band persisted and pushed for the ballad Broken Wings to be used instead. The band won, and the single became an international hit reaching top 10 in well over half a dozen countries including the Netherlands, Ireland, and the UK. In Canada and their native America, it would reach the No.1 spot. Broken Wings took its inspiration from The Broken Wings by Kahlil Gibran, a 1912 book about a love doomed by social convention. Its theme is echoed in Broken Wings, picking up the pieces of your life and moving on. The line “take these broken wings and learn to fly” had previously been used by the Beatles in Blackbird, as Paul McCartney and John Lennon also drew from the writings of Lebanese poet Gibran. Mr Mister's Welcome To The Real World would spawn two more Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits as Kyrie became their second and final charttopper and Is It Love peaked at No.8. The parent album reached No.1 on the Billboard Hot 200 album charts and reached top 10 in over half a dozen more countries
June 6, 1982 ~ Soul, R&B singer David Oliver, full name David Lee Oliver, passed away in Orange County, Florida, USA ~ Recorded four albums, all produced by the Crusaders's Wayne Henderson, starting with Jamerican Man released in 1977. Best known for the songs Ms and Friends & Strangers, the latter later notably covered by Ronnie Laws. Also was the first to record the Cecil Womack and Gip Noble Jr-penned Love TKO in 1980, a Billboard R&B top 10 hit for Teddy Pendergrass later the same year ~ Oliver was born in 1942June 6, 1980 ~ Pop punk guitarist, pianist, singer Peter Mosely, full name Peter Michael Mosely, born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Member of Inspection 12 from 1995 through 2003, rejoining in 2007. Best known for his stint with Yellowcard during the mid 2000s, present on the albums Ocean Avenue, Lights And Sounds, and Paper Walls
June 6, 1979 ~ John Joseph Haley Jr, commonly known as vaudevillian actor, singer, dancer, radio host Jack Haley, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Probably best remembered for portraying the roles of the Tin Man and his farmhand counterpart Hickory in the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical film Wizard Of Oz starring Judy Garland. Previously Haley had worked in vaudeville as a song-and-dance comedian, released a number of records in the 1920s and early 1930s, and was seen in supporting roles alongside Shirley Temple, Frank Sinatra, and notbaly in the Irving Berlin-penned musical film Alexander's Ragtime Band. Haley would continue to work in film and Broadway stage productions throughout the 1940s, with occasional appearances thereafter ~ Haley was born in 1897
June 6, 1978 ~ Indie rock, punk rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist Carl Barât, full name Carl Ashley Raphael Barât, born in Basingstoke, UK ~ Co-frontman of the Libertines alongside Pete Doherty, best known for the UK top 10 singles Can't Stand Me Now and What Became Of The Likely Lads, both taken of the band's eponymous 2004 The Libertines sophomore album. Frontman, lead guitarist for Dirty Pretty Things, especially acclaimed for their 2006 Waterloo To Anywhere debut album which spawned the UK top 20 hits Bang Bang You're Dead and Deadwood. Barât released his eponymous Carl Barât solo debut album in 2010
June 6, 1978 ~ Country singer, songwriter Lisa Brokop, full name Lisa Ann Brokop, born in Surrey, Canada ~ Released her Daddy Sing To Me debut single at age 17. A full-length My Love album followed a year later. Would go on to regularly reach the higher echelons of the Billboard Country charts throughout the early 2000s. Known for songs such as Country Girl, Give Me A Ring Sometime, How Do I Let Go, What's Not To Love, Better Off Broken and Big PictureJune 6, 1978 ~ Lester Rallingston Collins, commonly known as jazz trumpeter Shad Collins, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ In-demand sideman from the 1930s through the 1950s. First gained attention as member of Charlie Dixon's band, which at the time also featured singer Cora LaRedd. Collins would go on to work backing the likes of Chick Webb, Benny Carter, Don Redman, Count Basie, Freddie Moore, and Lester Young. Also well known for working with Cab Calloway, joining Calloway's ensemble as replacement for Dizzy Gillespie. Collins has also worked with Buster Harding, Al Sears, Jimmy Rushing, and Sam Taylor ~ Collins was born in 1910