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 8, 2024 ~ Francis Rodney Zambon, commonly known as singer, songwriter Mark James, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Though a formidable singer in his own right, achieving some success especially in the late 1960s, James is best known for writing or co-writing several songs made into hits by others. Wrote Hooked On A Feeling, a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit for his childhood friend BJ Thomas. Wrote and first recorded Suspicious Minds, best known as recorded by Elvis Presley in 1969. Presley recorded several more of his songs including It's Only Love, Raised On Rock, and Moody Blue. His greatest claim to fame, however, was Always On My Mind, co-written with Johnny Christopher and Wayne Carson. The song was first recorded by Brenda Lee in 1972, and became a hit about a decade later when Willie Nelson covered the track. The Nelson hit would earn the songwriting team a Grammy Award, and the song has become a standard, recorded by over an estimated 400 artists. Other songs written or co-written by James would be recorded by Merrilee Rush, the Box Tops, Lou Rawls, Mac Davis (One Hell Of A Woman), and Roy Drusky ~ Zambon was born in 1940
June 8, 2023 ~ Georg Peter Brandt, commonly known as singer, actor Peter Belli, passed away ~ Active since the late 1950s. Considered Denmark's first rock star. Opened for both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones with his 1960s rock unit Les Rivals. Has recorded well over three dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with the eponymous Peter Belli album released in 1967. Well-known songs include Bliv Væk Fra Vort Kvarter, Ingen Regning, and Er Det Sådan ~ Brandt was born in 1943June 8, 2022 ~ Conductor David Lloyd-Jones, full name David Matthias Lloyd-Jones, passed away ~ Specialized in British and Russian music, including translating Russian operas. Best known as co-founder of the Opera North, serving as its director and conductor from 1978 through 1990. Has also worked with the Royal Opera House, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Opera Company, the Welsh National Opera, and the Scottish Opera ~ Lloyd-Jones was born in 1934
June 8, 2022 ~ Jazz percussionist, drummer Wolfgang Reisinger passed away ~ Jazz percussionist also active in free improvisation and classical music. Perhaps best known as member of the Vienna Art Orchestra, present on acclaimed albums such as A Notion In Perpetual Motion, The Minimalism Of Erik Satie, and Tango From Obango. Reisinger can also be heard on recordings by Jean-Paul Céléa, Franz Hautringer, Steve Lacy, Harry Sokal, and David Liebman ~ Reisinger was born in 1955
June 8, 2021 ~ Philip Anastasi, commonly known as pop, soul singer, actor Dean Parrish, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Known for a number of moderately successful mid 1960s singles, notably Tell Her, Determination, Bricks Broken Bottles And Sticks and most likely his best known I'm On My Way. The latter single would be rediscovered by English DJ Russ Winstanley who would regularly play it during sets at the Wigan Casino. Its popularity would lead to a UK re-release reaching the top 40 in 1975 and continued intrest among Northern Soul aficionados. Parrish himself would remain unaware of the renewed interest until 2000 ~ Anastasi was born in 1942
June 8, 2020 ~ Patricia Eva Pointer, commonly known as singer Bonnie Pointer passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of sibling outfit the Pointer Sisters. Co-wrote Fairytale, a 1974 Billboard top 20 hit for the band, with Anita Pointer. Left the band in 1977 to pursue a solo career. Scored a top 20 hit with 1978's Heaven Must Have Sent You ~ Pointer was born in 1950
June 8, 2020 ~ Country, folk singer, guitarist, songwriter James Hand, also known as James Slim Hand, passed away in Waco, Texas, USA ~ Actively performing since his late teens, playing honky-tonks and roadhouses across Texas rising to regional fame, yet would not release a solo album until well into his 40s. Recorded about half a dozen albums, especially acclaimed for The Truth Will Set You Free and its follow-up Shadow On The Ground released respectively in 2006 and 2009. Hand played a fictional version of himself in the independent film Thank You A Lot released in 2014 ~ Hand was born in 1952June 8, 2019 ~ The 50th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 1 of 3. Included on today's, Saturday the 8th's bill would be SYML, Mt Atlas, Bazart, Grace Carter, the Golden Earring, Yungblud, George Ezra, Badflower, Cage The Elephant, Davina Michelle, Soham De, Anouk, Hippo Campus, Jacob Banks, Halestorm, Jamiroquai, Jacin Trill & Leafs, Elbow, San Holo, and Mumford & Sons
June 8, 2018 ~ Guitarist, singer Danny Kirwan passed away in London, UK ~ Member of Fleetwood Mac from 1968 through 1972. Also known as a solo artist starting with his 1975 Second Chapter album, and an in-demand collaborator having worked with Otis Spann, Chris Youlden, Tramp and appeared on former Fleetwood Mac-bandmates Jeremy Spencer and Christine McVie's solo albums ~ Kirwan was born in 1950June 8, 2018 ~ Guitarist Neil Jones passed away ~ Member of Amen Corner, known for string of late 1960s UK hits including Gin House Blues, Bend Me Shape Me, High In The Sky and perhaps their best known (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice, the latter topping the English charts in 1969 ~ Jones was born in 1949
June 8, 2015 ~ Archibald Alexander Alleyne, commonly known as jazz drummer Archie Alleyne, passed away in Toronto, Canada ~ House drummer at the Town Tavern jazz club in Toronto, Canada. Has accompanied jazz greats such as Billie Holiday, Lester Young, Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, and Ben Webster. Following a serious traffic accident, Alleyne mostly retired from music by the late 1960s, to return to music in the 1980s working with fellow Canadians such as Oliver Jones and Cy McLean. In his later years, Alleyne was known for mentoring young talent in his hard-bop unit Kollage. Longtime collaborator Brian Browne praised Alleyne for his time keeping, once commenting: “Archie's got a special snap to his time. He's got a unique, interesting, personal time feel.” ~ Alleyne was born in 1933
June 8, 2015 ~ Singer the Weeknd releases Can't Feel My Face, lifted off his Beauty Behind The Madness sophomore album ~ When Rolling Stone named Can't Feel My Face the Song of the Year, they remarked: “It was the ‘oooooh!’ that changed everything. That single ecstatic syllable, slipping out just before each chorus, transformed Abel Tesfaye (also known as the Weeknd) from a cult R&B singer to a full-on pop star.” Other critics were equally positive, many comparing the singer's sound to Michael Jackson, Spin called the song “pop perfection”, Billboard felt the song was “irresistible (and) perfectly crafted”, and Pitchfork praised the bassline “that could have come from an alternate-dimension Thriller produced by New Age composer Vangelis instead of Quincy Jones.” The song would reach top 10 in about two dozen countries, including the No.1 spot in the singer's native Canada and on the American Billboard Hot 100June 8, 2014 ~ The 45th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 2 of 3. Mostly sunny and very warm, heavy thunder on the last evening, this year's edition would draw a total of 134,000 visitors. Included on today's, Sunday the 8th's bill includes Chef Special, the Kooks, Ed Sheeran, the Editors, Arctic Monkeys, the North Mississippi Allstars, Limp Bizkit, Rudimental, Paolo Nutini, Robert Plant, Taymir, Portugal The Man, twenty one pilots, the Boxer Rebellion, John Newman, Nina Nesbitt, the Intergalactic Lovers, Brother & Bones, FS Green & MC Fit, and Flexican & MS Sef
June 8, 2011 ~ Brass player Alan Rubin passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet. Worked with the Saturday Night Live Band, the Blues Brothers, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Frank Zappa, Blood Sweat & Tears, Gil Evans, Eumir Deodato, Sting, Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Frankie Valli, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, BB King, Miles Davis, Yoko Ono, Peggy Lee, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, Dr John, Randy Weston, Hank Crawford, Johnny Hammond Smith, Hubert Laws, Odonel Levy, Don Sebesky, Gato Barbieri, Ron Carter, Dr Lonnie Smith, Patti Austin, Herbie Mann, Jimmy McGriff, Stanley Turrentine, Jimmy McGriff, Fred Lipsius, and Jimmy Buffett ~ Rubin was born in 1943
June 8, 2007 ~ R&B, jazz singer, pianist Nellie Lutcher, full name Nellie Rose Lutcher, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influenced by Earl Hines, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole. Sister of saxophonist Joe Lutcher. Named as an influence by Nina Simone. Worked with Ma Rainey, and with Clarence Hart. Known for songs such as The One I Love Belongs To Someone Else, Hurry On Down, He's A Real Gone Guy, Fine Brown Frame, Birth Of The Blues, and I Want To Be Near You ~ Lutcher was born in 1912June 8, 2004 ~ Guitarist, luthier Dan Armstrong, full name Dan Kent Armstrong, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as an instrument builder, his line of guitars, basses and amplifiers used by artists such as Randy Jo Hobbs, Keith Richards, Randy California, Lou Reed, Steve Miller, Greg Ginn, Dave Grohl, Geezer Butler, Paul McCartney, Phil Lynott, Randy Rhoads, Ronnie Wood, King Buzzo, Joe Perry, Ronnie Lane, George Kooymans, Rich Robinson, Josh Homme, Jack Bruce, and John Frusciante. Once romantically involved with singer Carly Simon, who wrote the song Dan My Fling of her 1971 eponymous Carly Simon debut album about him ~ Armstrong was born in 1934
June 8, 2003 ~ The 34th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Day 2 of 3. Mostly sunny and warm, except for today's rain, this year's edition would draw a crow of some 47,500 visitors in total. Included on today's, Sunday the 8th's bill would be Anouk, Massive Attack, Peter Pan Speedrock, Flogging Molly, Lifehouse, the Dandy Warhols, the Counting Crows, Silkstone, Ozark Henry, the Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, and Zuco 103
June 8, 2002 ~ Jazz drummer, vibraphonist Ray Alexander passed away in New Hyde Park, New York, USA ~ Best known for his association with Peggy Lee (Beauty & The Beat), and with Martin Denny (Quiet Village). Has also worked with Claude Thornhill, Bobby Byrne, the Dorsey Brothers, Stan Getz, Mel Tormé, Chubby Jackson, Charlie Barnet, Anita O'Day, and Mel Lewis ~ Alexander was born in 1925
June 8, 1998 ~ Jazz violinist Harry Lookofsky passed away in York, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Worked in both classical music, noted specifically for his tenure with the NBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Arturo Toscanini, and in jazz, regarded as one of bebop's earliest and most accomplished violinists. Critically especially acclaimed for his 1959 Stringsville album, bridging the gap between classical and jazz. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Coleman Hawkins, Lena Horne (Stormy Weather), Chris Connor, Ray Charles (The Genius of Ray Charles), Blue Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, Sarah Vaughan, Wes Montgomery (Bumpin'), Blood Sweat & Tears (Child Is Father To The Man), Antônio Carlos Jobim, Roberta Flack (Chapter Two), Hank Crawford, Bette Midler (The Divine Miss M), and Grover Washington Jr. To pop audiences Lookofsky is also known for co-producing Walk Away Renee, a 1968 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit for his son Michael Brown's band the Left Banke ~ Lookofsky was born in 1913
June 8, 1993 ~ Foster MacKenzie III, commonly known as singer, guitarist Root Boy Slim, passed away in Orlando, Florida, USA ~ Best known for founding and fronting the Sex Change Band, with whom he enjoyed a dedicated fan base in the Washington DC and adjacent Maryland area. The band is best known for their Gary Katz-produced Root Boy Slim & The Sex Change Band With The Rootettes debut album, which included their best known song Boogie Till You Puke. Following his graduation MacKenzie once climbed over the White House fence. The United States Secret service apprehended him and he told officers he was looking for the center of the universe. The incident, brought on by a psychotic break, would lead to a stay at a mental hospital and a diagnosis of schizophrenia, for which he would be medicated the rest of his life ~ MacKenzie was born in 1944June 8, 1992 ~ The 23rd edition of Pinkpop takes place in Landgraaf, the Netherlands ~ Thunder and rain, some 55,300 visitors show up for this edition's bill which includes Lou Reed, the Cult, Pearl Jam, David Byrne, Soundgarden, the Family Stand, Rowwen Hèze, PJ Harvey, Buffalo Tom, and Hallo Venray
June 8, 1992 ~ Terje Nielsen, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, songwriter Teddy Nelson, passed away in Ålborg, Denmark ~ Best known for his singles Diggy Liggy Lo, Bonde Ifrå Hamlagrø, Skilsmisseferd I Hardanger, internationally best known for his collaborations with country-pop singer Skeeter Davis ~ Nielsen was born in 1939
June 8, 1991 ~ Actress, blues, jazz singer Bertice Reading passed away in London, UK ~ First gained attention portraying blues singer Bessie Smith in the 1955 all-black revue The Jazz Train with performances in Paris and London. Earned a Tony Award for her role as nurse in the 1957 Broadway production of Requiem For A Nun ~ Reading was born in 1933June 8, 1989 ~ Electropop, dream pop singer, songwriter Anna Lotterud born in Gjøvik, Norway ~ Broke through in 2014 with her Sway debut single, recorded under the moniker Anna of the North. The single would prompt a remix by the Chainsmokers and a tour slot with Kygo. The act was originally a duo with producer Brady Daniell-Smith, Lotterud would keep the moniker after the duo split after their 2014 Lovers debut album. Lotterud has recorded consistently since
June 8, 1987 ~ The 18th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Baarlo, the Netherlands ~ A chilly and wet day, some 32,000 visitors show up for this edition's bill which includes Lou Reed, Echo & the Bunnymen, the Communards, Hüsker Dü, In Tua Nua, Chris Isaak, Iggy Pop, Lone Justice, and Fatal Flowers
June 8, 1987 ~ Lawrence Horton, commonly known as R&B, jazz, funk, rock drummer Yogi Horton, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ In-demand touring and session musician. First appeared on Dave Baby Cortez' 1972 Soul Vibration album. Has also worked with Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, John Lennon, Ashford & Simpson, David Byrne, Debbie Harry, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Kenny G, the B52's, Jean-Michel Jarre, Lonnie Liston Smith, Gloria Gaynor, George Benson, Ben E King, and Stephanie Mills ~ Horton was born in 1953