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.
March 1, 1986 ~ In its 11th week on the charts, Kyrie by Mr Mister hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ “Kyrie eleison” is Greek for “Lord, have mercy” and is used as a prayer in both Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox services. Contrary to a persistent rumor, the song is not about lead singer Richard Page being attacked. Lyricist John Lang, who co-wrote Kyrie with Page and keyboardist Steve George would later explain to the Chicago Sun-Times: “Page did write the music and melody, but I am the one who wrote the lyrics. I got the inspiration from singing it as a kid in an Episcopal church in Phoenix. Also, Kyrie had nothing to do with Richard being assaulted, mainly because it wasn't Richard who was assaulted, it was me! But that happened three years before writing Kyrie, and had nothing to do with that song.” Issued as the second single off their sophomore album, Kyrie would become the band's second and final Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit after its direct predecessor Broken Wings off the same album. Is It Love, the third single off Welcome To The Real World, would peak at No.8, the band's third and final American top 10 hit
March 1, 1985 ~ Psychedelic pop, indie pop singer, keyboardist Tyler Parkford, full name Tyler Davis Parkford, born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Formed the indie pop trio the Mini Mansions in 2009 with schoolmate Zach Dawes and the Queens Of The Stone Age-bassist Michael Shuman. The trio released their eponymous Mini Mansions debut album the following year, their style compared to the Beatles, Elliott Smith, and Fountains Of Wayne though the comparisons drew criticism from Shuman. Parkford also formed the lounge pop duo Mister Goodnite, layering vocals over samples of retro pop, progressive and psychedelic rock records. Parkford has also guested on recordings by Brody Dalle, Kimbra, the Last Shadow Puppets, Albert Hammond Jr, Arctic Monkeys (Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino), Miles Kane, and Lana Del Rey
March 1, 1982 ~ Trumpeter, bandleader Charlie Spivak passed away in Greenville, South Carolina, USA ~ Served as sideman in bands led by Paul Specht, Ben Pollack, the Dorsey Brothers, Ray Noble, Glenn Miller, Raymond Scott, Bob Crosby, Jack Teagarden. Started his own band by the end of the 1930s, remaining one of the most popular bandleader through the late 1950s, employing sidemen such as Dave Tough, Jimmy Middleton, Les Elgart, Paul Fredricks, Don Raffell, Jimmy Knepper, June Hutton, and Irene Daye, marrying the latter in 1950 ~ Spivak was born in 1907March 1, 1981 ~ Guitarist Sean Woolstenhulme born in Gilbert, Arizona, USA ~ Member of the Calling from 1996 through 2002, present on the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Wherever You Will Go taken of the band's Camino Palmero debut album. After departing the band in 2002 Woolstenhulme has worked with Lifehouse, which also included his brother drummer Rick Woolstenhulme
March 1, 1980 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, Daydream Believer by Anne Murray peaks at No.3 Billboard Country ~ Originally a 1967 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 for the Monkees after both We Five and Spanky & Our Gang had passed on the song. Over the years, the song would be covered by over an estimated hundred artists, but perhaps most memorably by Anne Murray. Due to its cheerful and light-hearted nature, one may easily underestimate how vocally challenging the song is. Yet, as a technically proficient singer, Murray's performance is flawless, a feat for which she may not have gotten enough creditMarch 1, 1976 ~ Jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, guitarist, producer Andreas Mjøs born in Tønsberg, Norway ~ Worked with Jagga Jazzist, Rotoscope, In The Country, Anne Grete Preus, and Susanna & the Magical Orchestra
March 1, 1976 ~ Folk rock, indie rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Jonathan Meiburg born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Lead singer, songwriter of Shearwater, best known for their 2006 acclaimed Palo Santa album. Has also worked with Okkervil River, Bill Callahan, Blue Water White Death, Sharon van Etten, Wye Oak, Thor Harris, Hospital Ships, Whu Gnu, and Loma
March 1, 1975 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, I'm A Woman by Maria Muldaur peaks at No.12 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Other than her signature song and Billboard Hot 100 No.6 hit Midnight At The Oasis off her eponymous debut album, I'm A Woman off her sophomore Waitress In A Donut Shop album would be the only Muldaur solo single to reach the Billboard Hot 100. The song was first recorded by Christine Kittrell in 1962, yet is best known as recorded by Peggy Lee shortly thereafter, with Lee's rendition becoming a signature song and the definite version. The song struck a chord with more mature women, as it was issued in the middle of a wave of girl group records and offered a more empowering message of what it's like to be a woman. About a decade later, Muldaur delivered a more tender vocal than Lee, prompting Mike Stoller, who co-wrote the song with Jerry Leiber, to comment her rendition wasn't anything like Peggy Lee's but it was marvelous. Maria Muldaur herself has told Rolling Stone in a 1974 interview she related to the song musically, not politically, adding for her the song is “a positive statement of feminine self-reliance”, usually singing it as “a proclamation, a boast, not a wish or a dream”
March 1, 1974 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Bobby Timmons passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Undervalued pianist and composer. Helped developed the soul jazz style. Well-known for his tenure with Art Blakey, for whom he wrote or co-wrote several classics including Moanin' and Dat Dere. As a sideman, Timmons has also worked with jazz greats such as Pepper Adams, Arnett Cobb, Maynard Ferguson, Art Farmer, Dexter Gordon, Gloria Lynne, Hank Mobley, Anthony Ortega, Dizzy Reece, and Cannonball Adderley, including on the latter's 1959 live LP The Cannonball Adderley Quintet In San Francisco, arguably one of the finest jazz live albums of the era. Timmons also recorded extensively as a leader from late 1950s to late 1960s, backed by musicians such as Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Cobb, Ron Carter, Albert Tootie Heath, and Butch Warren ~ Timmons was born in 1935
March 1, 1970 ~ Lucille Nelson, commonly known as singer Lucille Hegamin, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Married to pianist, composer Bill Hegamin, with whom she also worked. In 1920 became the second African-American blues singer to record, after Mamie Smith. Known for songs such as Arkansas Blues, Easy Going Mamma (Don't Play Hard To Get With Me), and Jazz Me Blues. Worked with the Leonard Harper Minstrel Stock Company, Tony Jackson, Jelly Roll Morton, the Blue Syncapotors, Jimmy Wade, Clarence Williams, and Willie The Lion Smith ~ Nelson was born in 1894
March 1, 1969 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, You Showed Me by the Turtles peaks at No.6 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by Gene Clark and Roger McGuinn of the Byrds, the song tells of the singer being taught some tricks that made him fall for the girl who taught him. Once he learned the tricks, he used them on her and she falls for him too. After the Turtles single became a hit, the Byrds included an earlier demo on their 1969 Preflyte compilation album. Two decades later, without proper permission De La Soul sampled the Turtles track on Transmitting Live From Mars from their acclaimed 3 Feet High & Rising album. This did not go well with the Turtles who sued, the case would be settled out of court for a reported $1.7 million
March 1, 1964 ~ British pop, rock group the Beatles record I'm Happy Just To Dance With You at EMI Studios, London, UK ~ Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Produced by George Martin. Written for use in their feature film A Hard Day's Night, and written specifically to be sung by George Harrison who also plays lead guitar. I'm Happy Just To Dance With You was also used as the B-side to I'll Cry Instead, which reached top 30 Billboard Hot 100
March 1, 1963 ~ Andrew Jacob Hiebert, commonly known as neo-swing singer Big Rude Jake, born in St Catharines, Canada ~ Acquired a dedicated following as a cult hero on the Toronto music scene. Primarily categorized as a neo-swing irony-laden troubadour, drawing from blues, rock, rockabilly, jazz, and other idioms. Some 10 albums to his name, starting with Butane Fumes & Bad Cologne released in 1993. Noteworthy is also 2002's Live Faust Die Jung which was never officially released. Semi-retired from music for a while in the 2000s. Hiebert has briefly used the moniker Chet Valiant aiming to keep a low profile ~ Hiebert passed away in 2022
March 1, 1958 ~ Singer, songwriter Nik Kershaw, full name Nicholas David Kershaw, born in Bristol, UK ~ Best known for his first two albums, Human Racing and its follow-up The Riddle both released in 1984 and spawning a string of UK top 10 hits including Wouldn't It Be Good, I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, The Riddle and Wide Boy. Kershaw has also written or co-written for other artists, notably the UK No.1 hit The One And Only for Chesney Hawkes
March 1, 1957 ~ Siblings the Everly Brothers record Bye Bye Love at RCA Studios, Nashville, Tennessee ~ Written by husband and wife team Boudleaux Bryant and Felice Bryant. Released later the same month as the Everly's debut single, b/w I Wonder If I Care As Much, and included on the eponymous The Everly Brothers album. Backing musicians: Chet Atkins, Floyd Chance, and Buddy Harman. The song would become a classic of the era and be covered by numerous artists, perhaps most notably by George Harrison on his 1974 Dark Horse album with some changes to the melody and additional lyrics, lashing out at his wife Patty Boyd who would eventually divorce him and marry Eric Clapton
March 1, 1956 ~ Jazz drummer Kenwood Dennard, full name Kenwood Marshall Dennard, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Learned piano as a child, took up drumming at age nine. Early on in his career worked with Dizzy Gillespie, and notably with Pat Martino including on the 1976 Joyous Lake album. Would go on work with the likes of Brand X, Davitt Sigerson, Lew Soloff, Jaco Pastorius, Bob Moses, Sting (Nothing Like The Sun), Toninho Horta, Miles Davis, Stanley Jordan, Maceo Parker (Life On Planet Groove), Vanessa Williams, and Dave Bargeron, and led several ensembles including Just Advance, the Meta Funk All-Stars, and Quintessence. Dennard has also served as professor at the Berklee College of Music, Boston, his alma materMarch 1, 1956 ~ Singer Ray Price records Crazy Arms ~ Though the song's origins are disputed, the song is usually credited to Ralph Mooney and Charles Seals who published it in 1949. Ray Price's version, paired with You Done Me Wrong on the flip side, would reach the top of the Billboard Country charts giving Price his first No.1 hit and is regarded as one of a select few that defined honky-tonk. It would later be recorded by a wide array of artists including Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Chuck Berry, the Andrews Sisters, Gram Parsons, Patsy Cline, Trini López, Patty Loveless, Marie Osmond, and as a duet by Van Morrison and Linda Gail Lewis
March 1, 1955 ~ Jazz bassist Harrison Bankhead, full name Harrison Napoleon Bankhead III, born in Waukegan, Illinois, USA ~ Avant-garde leaning bassist. As a leader known for his acclaimed Morning Sun Harvest Moon album released in 2011. Closely associated with Malachi Thompson, backing the trumpeter on over half a dozen albums starting in the early 1990s. Has also frequently worked with 8 Bold Souls, including on the ensemble's 2000 Last Option masterpiece, and guested on albums by Edward Wilkerson Jr, Michael Mason, Don Bennett, Joel Brandon, and Fred Anderson ~ Bankhead passed away in 2023March 1, 1954 ~ Flamenco, jazz bassist Carles Benavent born in Barcelona, Spain ~ Founded Musica Urbana. Known for creating a new form of playing the electric bass flamenco style and for popularizing the use of the fretless bass in flamenco music. Benavent has also collaborated with Paco de Lucia, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Camarón de la Isla, Diego Carrasco, Nguyên Lê, and Inaki Sandoval
March 1, 1951 ~ Producer, guitarist, saxophonist, clarinetist, composer Elliott Sharp born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Leading figure in New York's avant-garde and experimental scene since the 1970s. Over 80 albums to his name, drawing from classical, jazz, experimental, noise, no wave and electronic music. Pioneered the use of computers in live sets. Sharp has also collaborated with the likes of Orchestra Carbon, Art Baron, Olu Dara, the Boodlers, Hoosegow, Slan, the Soldier String Quartet, Terraplane, Hubert Sumlin, Zeena Parkins, Bobby Previte, Nels Cline, and MofungoMarch 1, 1949 ~ Country singer Hank Williams records Mind Your Own Business at Herzog, Cincinnati, Ohio ~ Written by Hank Williams. Produced by Fred Rose. Paired with There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight on the B-side released the next July. Recorded You're Gonna Change Or I'm Gonna Leave You, My Son Calls Another Man Daddy and Honky Tonk Blues during the same session
March 1, 1949 ~ Samba, pagode singer, guitarist, banjoist, songwriter Jorge Aragão born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Active since the early 1970s. Founding member of Fundo de Quintal. Released his eponymous Jorge Aragão solo debut album in 1982. Known for songs such as Amigos Amantes, Do Fundo Do Nossa Quintal, Enredo De Meu Samba and Coisinho Do Pai
March 1, 1949 ~ Rock, hard rock drummer Ray Phillips, full name Raymond Anthony Phillips, born in Ely, UK ~ Best known as the original drummer for Budgie, remaining with the band through 1973 and present on the band's first three albums. Subsequently worked with Woman, Tredegar, Six Ton Budgie. Phillips released his sole solo album, Judgement Day, in 2011
March 1, 1946 ~ Joseph Gaétan Robert Gérald Boulet, commonly known as rock singer, keyboardist, guitarist, trumpeter Gerry Boulet, born in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada ~ Co-founding member, lead singer of Quebec-based progressive rock band Offenbach, with whom he recorded about a dozen albums including the acclaimed Never Too Tender and Caricatures. Boulet has also recorded two albums as a solo artist, Preque 40 Ans De Blues released in 1985 and its follow-up Rendez-Vous Doux released a year before his death ~ Boulet passed away in 1990March 1, 1946 ~ Keyboardist, singer Tony Ashton, full name Edward Anthony Ashton, born in Blackburn, UK ~ Rooted in soul, jazz, blues. Formed Ashton Gardner & Dyke with drummer Roy Dyke and bassist Kim Gardner, known for the 1971 UK top 10 hit Resurrection Shuffle. Briefly a member of the Family, notably present on the band's last album It's Only A Movie released in 1973. Ashton has also worked with Jon Lord, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice ~ Ashton passed away in 2001
March 1, 1946 ~ Jazz, avant-garde gazz, free jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist, hornist, bassoonist, composer Vinny Golia born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Over a dozen albums to his name, especially noted for Spirits In Fellowship, Slice Of Life, and Out For Blood. Golia has also guested on albums by Tim Berne, John Rapson, Richard Grossman, George Gruntz, Mark Harvey, and Kaoru, and served as producer for several artists, including notably producing Nels Cline's 1988 Angelica album