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 7, 1976 ~ Folk rock, alternative country, indie rock singer, songwriter Eric D Johnson, full name Eric Donald Johnson, born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA ~ Best known as frontman and sole constant member of Fruit Bats, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Spelled In Bones album released in 2005. Member of the Shins from 2007 through 2011, present on the albums Wincing The Night Away and Port Of Morrow. Johnson has also collaborated with Califone, Sally Timms, Matt Berry, Nina Persson, Anna Ternheim, and Bonny Light HorsemanJune 7, 1976 ~ Ron Raphael Braunstein, commonly known as underground rapper Necro, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Brother of rapper Ill Bill. Released his I Need Drugs solo debut album in 2000 and has recorded over half a dozen albums since. Has worked with the Secret Society, the Godfathers, Circle Of Tyrants, and Kool G Rap
June 7, 1976 ~ The 7th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Geleen, the Netherlands ~ Sunny and hot, some 40,000 visitors show up for this edition's bill which includes Uriah Heep, Little Feat, the Outlaws, the Streetwalkers, the Chieftains, the Jess Roden Band, and Sido Martens
June 7, 1976 ~ New York magazine runs a cover story called Tribal Rites Of The New Saturday Night, describing the disco-fueled nightclub scene. The article gives the Bee Gees manager Robert Stigwood the idea for Saturday Night Fever ~ Both the film featuring John Travolta and the accompanying soundtrack album would be smash hits, he album at the time breaking the record for all-time best-selling album. Saturday Night Fever, built around an idea Robert Stigwood had picked up, would epitomize the disco phenomenon, top the charts in over a dozen countries including the Netherlands, America, and the UK, and spawn four Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits, How Deep Is Your Love, Stayin' Alive and Night Fever by the Bee Gees, and If I Can't Have You by Yvonne Elliman
June 7, 1973 ~ Andrew Derek Cocup Sr, commonly known as DJ, producer Andy Cato born in Barnsley, UK ~ Chose his stage name “Cato” for Cato Road, where he lived. Formed the duo Groove Armada with Tom Findlay, known best for I See You Baby featuring Gram'ma Funk, Superstylin', Get Down and Song 4 Mutya (Out Of Control) featuring Mutya Buena. Also worked with Rachel Foster under the group moniker the Weekend Players
June 7, 1973 ~ R&B outfit Sly & the Family Stone release If You Want Me To Stay, lifted off their Fresh album ~ In If You Want Me To Stay, lead singer Sly Stone pleads with a lover to accept him for who he is and not try to change him. If she can do that, he'll gladly stay. Reportedly, the song was written as an apology to his then-wife Kathleen Silva. Silva would later recall: “I used to wait for him and he would come home, be tired, and want to go to bed because he had been recording all night. I would be upset: I don't like this. He made a song up: ‘If you want me to stay, I'll be around today, I'll be available’.” Besides being credited as the song's sole songwriter and singing lead vocals, Stone also plays guitar, bass guitar, piano, and organ. Peaking at No.12 Billboard Hot 100, If You Want Me To Stay would be the band's sixth and final Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit. The band disbanded about two years later
June 7, 1971 ~ Drummer, bandleader Ben Pollack passed away in Palm Springs, California, USA ~ Popular bandleader from the mid 1920s forward employing musicians such as Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Glenn Miller, Jimmy McPartland, and Harry James. Co-wrote the jazz standard Tin Roof Blues. Has also worked, either as leader or in serving roles, with Harry Bastin, the New Orleans Rhytm Kings, the Venice Ballroom Orchestra, Gil Rodin, Irving Mills, Matty Matlock, Charlie Teagarden, Eddie Miller, Irving Fazola, Chico Marx, Dick Cathart, Frank Teschemacher, Freddie Slack, Joe Marsala, Muggsy Spanier, and Yank Lawson ~ Pollack was born in 1903June 7, 1971 ~ Jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer, arranger Håvard Fossum born in Mysen, Norway ~ Worked with Tommy Dorsey, John Surman, Staffan William-Olsson, Jens Wendelboe, Anders Aarum, Jarle Vespestad, Funky Butt, the New Swing Generation, the Inge Stangvik Quintet, Erling Wicklund, and Marvin Charles
June 7, 1970 ~ Producer, DJ Kenny Dope Gonzalez born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Formed the house production duo Masters At Work with Little Louie Vega. Also co-wrote and produced the 1994 dance hit The Bomb (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind) under the moniker the Bucketheads which reached top 20 in several countries including the Netherlands and the UK
June 7, 1967 ~ Guitarist Dave Navarro, full name David Michael Navarro, born in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with Jane's Addiction, remaining with the band from 1986 through 1991 and rejoining on occasion in later years. Member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, present on the 1995 One Hot Minute album. Has also recorded as a solo artist, known for his 2001 Trust No One album, and worked with Deconstruction and Panic ChannelJune 7, 1966 ~ Drummer Eric Kretz born in San Jose, California, USA ~ Member of alternative rock, grunge outfit the Stone Temple Pilots, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums starting with Core released in 1992. The band is best known for songs such as Vasoline, Interstate Love Song, Big Bang Baby, Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart, Sour Girl, and Days Of The Week
June 7, 1964 ~ Anderson Meade Lewis, commonly known as boogie-woogie pianist Meade Lux Lewis, passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Trained on the violin as a child, switching to piano at age 16. Along with artists such as Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons, and Jimmy Yancey highly revered for a high-energy hybrid boogie-woogie that would eventually lead to rock & roll. Probably best known for penning Honky Tonk Train, his recording debut in 1927. Over the years the song would be covered by over an estimated hundred artists including Bob Crosby, Frankie Trumbauer, Keith Emerson, and Axel Zwingenberger. Lewis would later be mentioned in Kurt Vonnegut's novel Cat's Cradle, Ross Macdonald's novel The Moving Target, and in Keith Richards's autobiography Life ~ Lewis was born in 1905
June 7, 1958 ~ Prince Rogers Nelson, commonly known as singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Prince born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Known for his eclectic work and flamboyant stage performances. Wrote his first song, Funk Machine, at age 7. Incorporated just about every genre including funk, rock, R&B, new wave, soul, psychedelica and pop. Debuted at age 17 with the album For You (1978). Ruled from the 1980s onwards with albums such as Purple Rain, Parade, and Sign O' The Times ~ Prince passed away in 2016
June 7, 1957 ~ Merengue, bacata, salsa, Latin pop singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Juan Luis Guerra born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic ~ One of the best-selling Latin artists with over 30 million records sold. Active since the mid-1980s. Draws from a wide array of genres including bachata-fusion, salsa, rock & roll, gospel. Best known for Ojala Que Llueva Cafe. Other well known songs include Burbujas De Amor, Estrellitas Y Duende, El Costo De La Vida, Palomita Blanca, La Llave De Mi Corazon and Bachata En Fukuoka
June 7, 1957 ~ Patrick Joseph McAloon, commonly known as pop, new wave singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter Paddy McAloon, born in Newcastle, UK ~ Co-founding and sole constant member of Prefab Sprout, best known for their 1988 UK top 10 hit The King Of Rock 'n Roll. McAloon has been hailed by British critics as one of the most endearing British songwriters. Artists who have recorded his songs include Kylie Minogue, Cher, Wendy Matthews, Danny Seward, and Jimmy NailJune 7, 1956 ~ Singer Eugenia León born in Tialnepantla de Baz, Mexico ~ One of the most acclaimed Mexican contemporary singers, praised by artists such as Ramón Vargas, Fito Paez, Mercedes Sosa, Willie Colón. Over two dozen albums to her name starting with 1983's Asi Te Quiero and numerous collaborations
June 7, 1956 ~ Antonio Marquis Reid, commonly known as producer, songwriter LA Reid born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ As a drummer member of Pure Essence and subsequently of the Deele. Best known as a producer and label executive. Co-founded LaFace Records with Kenneth Babyface Edmonds. Noted for discovering, signing artists such as Avril Lavigne, Pink, Ciara. Helpful in Mariah Carey's comeback with the acclaimed 2005 The Emancipation Of Mimi album. Over the course of his career has produced artists such as the Whispers, Bobby Brown, Karyn White, Paula Abdul, Sheena Easton, the Jacksons, Whitney Houston, Damian Dame, Johnny Gill, Bell Biv DeVoe, Toni Braxton, Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, Usher, TLC, Donell Jones, Dru Hill, Lisa Left-Eye Lopes, Blu Cantrell, Run-DMC, Cee Lo Green, Kenny Lattimore, Young Jeezy, Ne-Yo, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Fantasia, and Mary J BligeJune 7, 1955 ~ Jazz pianist Jon Balke, full name Jon Georg Balke, born in Fumes, Norway ~ Leader and sideman. Brother of saxophonist Erik Balke. Has worked with the Magnetic North Orchestra, Arild Andersen, Oslo 13, Masqualero, Batagraf, Radka Toneff, Karin Krog, Lars Klevstrand, the Jazzpunkensemblet, Mathias Eick, and Alex Riel
June 7, 1952 ~ Keyboardist, organist, songwriter, producer Ike Stubblefield, full name Isaac Larry Stubblefield, born in Toledo, Ohio, USA ~ In-demand studio and touring Hammond B3 organist, starting his career with Motown in the late 1960s. Has worked with the Four Tops, Martha Reeves, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Rare Earth, George Benson, BB King, Ike & Tina Turner, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Bobby Caldwell, Boz Scaggs, Quincy Jones, and Phil Spector ~ Stubblefield passed away in 2021
June 7, 1951 ~ Blues-rock, folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Rainer Ptacek, full name Rainer Jaromir Ptacek, born in East Berlin, East Germany ~ Noted for his slide and finger-picking technique and use of electronic manipulation. Though never rising above cult status, Ptacek is considered influential during brief recording career, praised by artists such as Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons. Co-founded alt-country outfit Giant Sand with Howe Gelb in the late 1970s, drawing from swing, country, rock, and beatnik lyricism. As a solo artist best known for the albums DYO released in 1995 and Live At The Performance Center released posthumously in 2000. The latter was recorded in June 1997, about half a year before his death at age 46 of cancer ~ Ptacek passed away in 1997June 7, 1949 ~ Actor, singer Shiro Kishibe born in Kyoto, Japan ~ Best known as an actor, noted for his role of Sandy in the TV drama series Monkey. Prior to venturing into acting Kishibe sang and played guitar in the 1960s band the Tigers, which also included his brother bassist Ittoku Kishibe ~ Kishibe passed away in 2020
June 7, 1949 ~ Jordi Soler o Gali, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Toti Soler, born in Barcelona, Spain ~ Classically trained, yet draws from blues, jazz, and flamenco. Member of cult outfits Pic-nic in the 1960s, and OM in the 1970s. Influenced by Taj Mahal and Diego del Gastor. Critically acclaimed for albums such as L'Arxiver De Tortosa, Racconto, and Guitar Cançons I. Has collaborated with Pedro Javier González, Leo Ferré, Ovidi Montllor, Jordi Sabatés, Pascal Comelade, Maria Del Mar Bonet, and Pau Riba
June 7, 1948 ~ Robert Noonan, commonly known as folk, alternative rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Willie Nile, born in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Released his eponymous Willy Nile debut album in 1980. A follow-up, Golden Down, would be released the next year. Though both albums would be warmly received his career would suffer from personal and legal problems for a number of years. Would reemerge however by the late 1980s. Has worked with Richard Thompson, Loudon Wainwright III, Roger McGuinn, Ringo Starr, Tori Amos, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Ian Hunter, Barenaked Ladies, and Jay Dee DaughertyJune 7, 1946 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Micky Jones born in Merthyr Tydfil, UK ~ Co-founded close harmony group the Bystanders in 1962, which evolved into Man by the end of the decade when the band ventured into a more psychedelic sound. The band is most acclaimed for a srtting of albums through the mid 1970s, especially Revelation, Back Into The Future, Christmas At The Patti, and Rhinos Winos And Lunatics ~ Jones passed away in 2010
June 7, 1946 ~ Jazz violinist Zbigniew Seifert born in Kraków, Poland ~ Best known for his association with Tomasz Stańko. Also worked with Janusz Muniak, Barre Phillips, Josef Vejvoda, Urszula Dudziak, Attila Zoller, Andrzej Trzaskowksi, Volker Kriegel, Jasper van 't Hof, Stan Sulzmann, Charlie Mariano, Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Naná Vasconcelos, Glen Moore, Jan Hammer, Albert Mangelsdorff, Leszek Zadlo, and Joachim Kühn. Died of cancer at age 32 ~ Seifert passed away in 1979