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, 1981 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Alex Band, full name Alexander Max Band, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influenced by Pearl Jam, Bon Jovi, Live, Train, and U2. Frontman of the Calling, known for Adrienne, Our Lives and perhaps their best known the 2001 hit Wherever You Will Go. Featured vocalist on Carlos Santana's Why Don't You & I. Has also collaborated with Yasmin Lucas and with Gabriela Spanic
June 8, 1981 ~ Heavy metal bassist Pär Sundström born in Falun, Sweden ~ Co-founded Sabaton with lead singer Joakim Brodén in 1999. The band has recorded over a dozen albums and established themselves as a major force in power metal. Best known for their 2010 Coat Of Arms album. Sundström and Brodén are the last two remaining original members of the band
June 8, 1981 ~ The 12th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Geleen, the Netherlands ~ Cloudy with occasional drizzle, some 50,000 visitors show up for this edition's bill which includes Ian Dury & the Blockheads, UB40, Madness, Fischer-Z, U2, the Michael Schenker Group, and the New Adventures
June 8, 1980 ~ Pop singer, actress Sita Vermeulen, full name Sita Maria Vermeulen, born in Ilpendam, the Netherlands ~ First gained attention in 2001 becoming a member of K-otic through the talent contest reality show Starmaker, scoring hits with Damn I Think I Love You and I Was Made To Love You. Released her Happy solo debut album in 2002 which spawned the Dutch charttoppers Happy and Lopen Op Het Water, the latter a duet with Marco Borsato
June 8, 1979 ~ Blues, rock, southern rock, jazz guitarist Derek Trucks born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Child prodigy, giving his first paid public performance at age nine. Frontman and eponym of Derek Trucks Band, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums most notably the acclaimed mid 2000s albums Live At The Georgia Theatre and Songlines. Forms the Tedeschi-Trucks Band with his wife blues, blues rock singer, guitarist Susan Tedeschi. Trucks has also appeared on albums by Eric Clapton, Tinsley Ellis, Bruce Hampton, Junior Wells, Gregg Allman, Jazz Is Dead, Gov't Mule, the Allman Brothers Band, and Béla Fleck
June 8, 1979 ~ Violinist, singer Jenny Scheinman born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Established herself as a valued violinist in avant-garde jazz and roots-oriented music. Over half a dozen albums to her name as a solo artist, especially noted for her 2005 12 Songs album. Closely associated with Bill Frisell, appearing on well over half a dozen of Frisell's albums. Has also appeared on recordings by Scott Amendola, Norah Jones (Come Away With Me), Pharaoh's Daughter, Carla Bozulich, Christian McBride, Lucinda Williams (West), Ani DiFranco, Bruce Cockburn, Robbie Fulks, and Todd SickafooseJune 8, 1978 ~ Singer, actor, songwriter Sturgill Simpson, full name John Sturgill Simpson, born in Jackson, Tennessee, USA ~ Member of country, rock outfit Sunday Valley. Released his solo debut album, High Top Mountain, in 2013. Cites Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Keith Whitley, and Marty Robbins as influences. Has worked with Dave Cobb, Hargus Pig Robbins, Robby Turner, Margo Price, Chuck Bartels, Bobby Emmett, Miles Miller, Kevin Black, and Laur Joamets
June 8, 1977 ~ Singer, rapper, songwriter Kanye West, full name Kanye Omari West, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Influential in development of early 2000s mainstream hip-hop. Acclaimed for his 2004 The College Dropout album. Suffering from bipolar disorder West would taint his legacy in later years with bouts of mental instability, flirting with conspiracy theories, controversial political statements including some bordering on anti-semitism, his devout support of Donald J Trump, a presidental run in the 2020 elections, and a seemingly never-ending public feud with his ex-wifeJune 8, 1974 ~ Country singer Tanya Tucker releases The Man That Turned My Mama On, lifted off her Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone) album ~ Written by Ed Bruce, produced by Billy Sherrill. The narrator tells of her wish that she could have known more about her father, a traveling salesman who met her mother and quickly married. Unlike other songs where the father is absent, in The Man That Turned My Mama On the father died of illness when she was five. Tanya Tucker's single reached No.4 Billboard Country, the seventh consecutive top 10 hit on the country charts since her Delta Dawn debut single. In 1978, Tucker would yet again score a top 10 hit with a Bruce song, namely Texas (When I Die) written by Ed Bruce, Patsy Bruce and Bobby Borchers
June 8, 1973 ~ Edward Brian Hayes, commonly known as jazz saxophonist, flutist, vibraphonist Tubby Hayes, passed away in London, UK ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Ronnie Scott, Jimmy Deuchar, the Jazz Couriers, Kenny Baker, Bert Ambrose, Kurt Edelhagen, Paul Gonsalves, Dave Brubeck, Johnny Dankworth, James Moody, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jack Costanzo, Victor Feldman, Dizzy Reece, and Stan Tracey ~ Hayes was born in 1935
June 8, 1972 ~ Singer Jimmy Rushing, full name James Andrew Rushing, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Blues shouter dubbed “Mr Five by Five” for his physique. Best known for his association with Count Basie, singing with Basie's orchestra from 1935 through 1948. Has also worked with Walter Page, Bennie Moten, Jelly Roll Morton, Billy King, Duke Ellington, and Humphrey Lyttelton ~ Rushing was born in 1901
June 8, 1970 ~ Jazz, free jazz, pop, rock drummer David King born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Member of Happy Apple, known best for the albums Body Popping Moon Walking Top Rocking and Please Refrain From Fronting released respectively in 1999 and 2001. Member of Bad Plus, especially acclaimed for their 2003 These Are The Vistas album. King has also collaborated with Garrison Starr, 12 Rods, Robert Skoro, Craig Taborn, the Meat Beat Manifesto, Jamie Cullum, and Steve StrongmanJune 8, 1970 ~ Jorge Mario da Silva, commonly known as samba, rock, soul, funk singer, songwriter, actor Seu Jorge, born in Belford Roso, Brazil ~ Influenced by Stevie Wonder. Praised by artists such as Beck and David Bowie. Actively recording since the early 2000s, praised for his 2005 Cru album
June 8, 1968 ~ Robert Ross, commonly known as MC Black Rob, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Spoonie Gee, Doug E Fresh, Slick Rick. As a solo artist best known for his 2000 Whoa single. Has collaborated with the Schizophrenics, Lil' Kim, Breyan Isaac, and Sean Combs ~ Ross passed away in 2021June 8, 1968 ~ Pop singer Galit Burg, full name Galit Shira Burg, born in Bat-Yam, Israel ~ Internationally perhaps best known for forming the duo Gili & Galit with Gili Netanel. The duo, featuring a then 12-year-old Netanel, represented their native Israel at the 1989 Eurovision Songfestival, where they would reach twelfth place with Derekh Hamelekh. Burg passed away age 54 in a car accident ~ Burg passed away in 2022
June 8, 1968 ~ Accordionist, fiddler Sharon Shannon born in Ruan, Ireland ~ As a solo artist best known for her 1991 eponymous Sharon Shannon debut album, which became the best-selling album of traditional Irish music in her native Ireland. Member of the Waterboys in the late 1980s and early 1990s, present on the band's Room To Roam album. Has also collaborated with Jackson Browne, Dónal Lunny, Moya Brennan, Kirsty MacColl, Sinéad O'Connor, and John Prine
June 8, 1968 ~ Jazz drummer Willie Jones III born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Black Note, Horace Silver, Roy Hargrove, Hank Jones, Cedar Walton, Arturo Sandoval, Milt Jackson, Eric Reed, Wynton Marsalis, Kei Akagi, Peter Beets, Houston Person, Jesse van Ruller, Harold Mabern, Peter Zak, and Ryan Kisor
June 8, 1965 ~ Keyboardist, organist John Medeski born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Fixture on the New York jazz scene, best known as a member of trio Medeski Martin & Wood, with whom he recorded well over a dozen albums, and with the addition of guitarist John Scofield the quartet Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood. As a solo artist noted for his 1994 Lunar Crush album, drawing from funk, hip hop, jazz, and rock. In-demand collaborator and sideman, present on albums by the Either/Orchestra, David Byrne, John Zorn (Duras Duchamp), the Klezmatics, Blues Traveler (Straight On Till Morning), John Lurie, Iggy Pop, Sean Lennon, Cibo Matto, Morphine, DJ Logic (The Anomaly), Gov't Mule, Club D'Elf, the Baby Loves Jazz Band, and Marian McPartland
June 8, 1964 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Alton Delmore passed away in Huntsville, Alabama, USA ~ Formed the duo the Delmore Brothers with his brother Rabon Delmore. The duo is known for songs such as Freight Train Boogie, Brown's Ferry Blues, Donna (Lay Down My Old Guitar), Fifteen Miles From Birmingham and perhaps their best known Blues Stay Away From Me. Artists who covered their songs include Johnny Burnette, Gene Vincent, the Louvin Brothers, Les Paul, Doc Watson, and the Everly Brothers ~ Delmore was born in 1908June 8, 1964 ~ Saxophonist Fabrizio Cassol born in Ougree, Belgium ~ Member of Trio Bravo alongside Michel Massot and Michel Debrullo. Also worked with Stephane Galland, Michel Hatzigeorgiou, Frederic Rzewski, Garrett List, William Shelter, Jacques Pelzer, Toots Thielemans, David Linx, Henri Pousseur, Kris Defoort, KD's Basement Party, the Nasa Na Band, Grande Formation, and Aka Moon
June 8, 1963 ~ Jazz, smooth jazz guitarist Ken Navarro born in Lafayette, Indiana, USA ~ Over two dozen albums to his name. Worked with Dave Koz, Neil Carter, Doc Severinsen, Streetwize, Dave Weckl, John Patitucci, Chad Wackerman, Brandon Fields, and Eric Marienthal. Best known for songs such Ruby Lane, When We Dance, Juliet and You Are EverythingJune 8, 1962 ~ Nicholas James Bates, commonly known as new wave, pop keyboardist Nick Rhodes born in Mosely, UK ~ Co-founding member of Duran Duran, known for songs such as Girls On Film, Hungry Like The Wolf, Save A Prayer, Is There Something I Should Know, The Reflex, A View To A Kill and Ordinary World
June 8, 1961 ~ Katerina Garbi, commonly known as laiko, dance-pop singer, actress Katy Garbi, born in Athens, Greece ~ Has recorded well over a dozen albums starting with 1989's Prova. Best known for the albums Arhizo Polemo released in 1996 and Evalthisles the next year, both among Greece's best-selling albums of the decade. Internationally best known for representing Greece in the 1993 Eurovision Songfestival with the song Ellada Hora Tou Fotos, reaching 9th place.
June 8, 1960 ~ Pop, blue-eyed soul singer, guitarist, bassist, pianist Mick Hucknall, full name Michael James Hucknall, born in Manchester, UK ~ Lead singer, songwriter for soul-influenced pop unit Simply Red with whom he recorded about a dozen albums, starting with Picture Book in 1985, and has sold over an estimated 50 million records. The band has enjoyed popularity especially in Europe, racking up a string of hits through the early 2000s. The band's original Holding Back The Years and the Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes-cover If You Don't Know Me By Now would both also top the American Billboard Hot 100. Hucknall had recorded the former with his previous band, the Frantic Elevators, to little success. Hucknall has sporadically recorded as a solo artist, starting with the Bobby Blue Bland-tribute album Tribute To Bobby released in 2008
June 8, 1958 ~ Michael Lee Curran, commonly known as singer, guitarist Jakko M Jakszyk born in Highgate, UK ~ Spent the better part of his career as a session musician and band member contributing to varying UK rock, progressive rock, and art rock bands, before gaining widespread recognition as lead singer, guitarist in a 2010s reboot of King Crimson, a band he had always been a fan of. As a solo artist has recorded about half a dozen albums starting in the 1990s, noted for his 2006 The Bruised Romantic Glee Club album. Notable collaborations include 64 Spoons, the Lodge, Dizrhythmia, Tom Robinson, Level 42, and 21st Century Schizoid BandJune 8, 1958 ~ Singer, actress Tané M McClure born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as an actress appearing in well over two dozen films. Member of Latin jazz ensemble Sweet Honesty. As a solo singer known for the 1982 Holdin' On charting hit. Married to the Babys and Journey-keyboardist Jonathan Cain from 1979 to 1984