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 10, 2025 ~ Songwriter, producer Beau Dozier, full name Beau Alexandré Dozier, passed away ~ Son of renowned Motown producer and songwriter Lamont Dozier of Holland-Dozier-Holland. Dozier reportedly co-wrote his first song at age seven, I Cry For You recorded by Ben E King for his 1987 Save The Last Dance For Me album. By the end of the 1990s, Dozier would found the production company Beautown Entertainment, and produce and write for artists such as Christina Milian, the Backstreet Boys, Boyz II Men, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, 3LW, PYT, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Dr Luke, and Fifth Harmony. Well-known songs written or co-written by Dozier include Anything for JoJo, Lie About Us for the Pussycat Dolls, Kryptonite for Guy Sebastian and Spoiled for Joss Stone. Dozier is best known for his association with the talent show American Idol ~ Dozier was born in 1979March 10, 2025 ~ R&B, dance, pop singer, dancer, choreographer Stedman Pearson passed away in London, UK ~ Eldest member of sibling outfit Five Star, managed by patriarch Buster Pearson. The band, often compared to the Jackson 5, would enjoy moderate success on the American Billboard Dance and Billboard R&B charts, yet albeit it briefly were immensely popular in their native UK. Especially the band's first two albums, 1985's Luxury Of Life and its 1986 follow-up Silk & Steel, spawned several hits. Songs such as System Addict, Can't Wait Another Minute, Find The Time, Rain Or Shine, Stay Out Of My Life, and The Slightest Touch would all reach top 10 in the UK. In addition to providing backing vocals and occasionally co-writing some of their songs, Stedman played an integral part in the band's success by choreographing the band's dance routines and designing the siblings' trademark matching glittering costumes. Beyond the band's heyday, Stedman continued to perform with a slimmed down line-up of the band, as well as teach dance at his own London dance school ~ Pearson was born in 1964
March 10, 2024 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Eric Carmen, full name Eric Howard Carmen, passed away in Lyndhurst, Ohio, USA ~ Rose to fame as frontman and primary songwriter of power pop unit the Raspberries, known best for Go All The Way, I Wanna Be With You, and Overnight Sensation (Hit Record). Following the band's disbandement in the mid 1970s, Carmen embarked on a solo career, scoring several soft rock hits through the late 1980s including Never Gonna Fall In Love Again, Change Of Heart, Hungry Eyes, and Make Me Lose Control. Carmen's best known, the 1975 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit All By Myself, would be covered by over 150 artists including Carmen McRae, Stanley Turrentine, Hank Williams Jr, Brotherhood Of Man, Shirley Bassey, Sheryl Crow, and Céline Dion. Carmen also wrote Hey Deanie, a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit for Shaun Cassidy, and co-wrote Almost Paradise, a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit for Ann Wilson & Mike Reno lifted off the Footloose soundtrack ~ Carmen was born in 1949
March 10, 2024 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, drummer Karl Wallinger, full name Karl Edmond De Vere Wallinger, passed away in Hastins, UK ~ Revered songwriter drawing from British heritage such as the Beatles as well as from Americans such as Bob Dylan. Key member of the Waterboys from 1983 through 1985, present on the albums A Pagan Place and the highly acclaimed This Is The Sea. Following his departure from the band Wallinger recorded as World Party, basically Wallinger's one-man-band at times employing session musicians where needed, known for Ship Of Fools, Way Down Now, Is It Like Today and She's The One, the latter later covered by over a dozen artists including Robbie Williams. Wallinger was also especially helpful in advancing Sinéad O'Connor's career, prominently involved in O'Connor's early demos that landed the then-unknown singer a record deal with Ensign Records ~ Wallinger was born in 1957
March 10, 2024 ~ Thomas Michael Stevens, commonly known as pop rock bassist TM Stevens or occasionally as Shaka Zulu, passed away ~ Recorded about half a dozen albums as a solo artist, perhaps most noted for Shocka Zooloo released in 2002. Member of Space Cadets, known for their eponymous Space Cadets album released in 1981. In-demand session and touring musician from the late 1970s onwards, present on albums by Narada Michael Walden, Stacy Lattisaw, David Sancious, Grandmaster Flash, Gregory Abbott (Shake You Down), the Pretenders (Get Close), Bob Geldof, Joe Cocker, Nona Hendryx, Cyndi Lauper, Tina Turner (Simply The Best), Curtis Stigers, Whitney Houston (The Bodyguard), Steve Vai, and Billy Joel ~ Stevens was born in 1951
March 10, 2023 ~ Lindel Beresford English, commonly known as reggae singer Junior English, passed away ~ Released a handful of mid 1960s singles in Jamaica before relocating to the UK. Member of the Magnets, and subsequently the Nighthawks, appearing on the latter's 1969 Man It's Reggae album. Restarted his solo career, releasing his The Dynamic Junior English album in 1974, and scoring hits through the 1980s. Well-known songs include Daniel, Never Lose Never Win, Love & Key, and Natural High ~ English was born ca.1951March 10, 2023 ~ Jerrold Samuels, commonly known as singer, songwriter, producer Napoleon XIV, passed away in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, USA ~ One-hit wonder known for the 1966 novelty hit They're Coming To Take Me Away (Ha Haa), the single would be an an instant success reaching top 10 in several countries including the UK, Canada and America. Previously Samuels had co-written As If I Didn't Know, a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit for Adam Wade in 1961, and The Shelter Of Your Arms for Sammy Davis Jr which would reach top 20 in 1964 ~ Samuels was born in 1938
March 10, 2023 ~ José Abelardo Gutiérrez Alanya, commonly known as cumbia, chicha, parody singer Tongo, passed away in Lima, Peru ~ Active since the 1980s as a cumbia singer. Would rise to fame in the 2000s on the surprise succes of La Pituca, featuring purposely goofy English. Its succes would mark a shift for Gutiérrez, going on to score a string of hits with intentionally comedic cover versions of well known pop rock songs originally by Justin Bieber, Psy, System Of A Down, the Beatles (Lady Bi), Eminem, Michael Jackson (Bili Yin), and the Eagles ~ Gutiérrez was born in 1957March 10, 2022 ~ Annerose Boeck, commonly known as concert pianist Annerose Schmidt, passed away ~ Noted for recording all of the Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart piano concertos with Kurt Masur and the Dresden Philharmonic. Her repertoire also included Ludwig van Beethoven, Béla Bartók, Frédéric Chopin, Maurice Ravel, and the entire piano works of Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms ~ Boeck was born in 1936
March 10, 2022 ~ Country pianist, singer Bobbie Nelson, full name Bobbie Lee Nelson, passed away in Austin, Texas, USA ~ Married to singer, comedian Bud Fletcher, with whom she also worked, until the mid 1950s after which the band dissolved. Best known as member of her brother Willie Nelson's backing unit on tour and record, including on pivotal albums such as Shotgun Willie, Red Headed Stranger and The Willie Nelson Family. Released her first solo album, Audiobiography, in 2008 at age 76 mainly consisting of ragtime standards alongside her brother's Crazy reimagined as a lounge number ~ Nelson was born in 1931March 10, 2022 ~ Jazz pianist, bassist, percussionist, songwriter Jessica Williams, full name Jessica Jennifer Williams, passed away ~ Influenced by Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Over three dozen albums to her name, starting in the late 1970s. Especially acclaimed for albums such as And Then There's This, Arrival, and In The Pocket. Collaborated with the likes of Richie Cole, Buck Hill, Mickey Fields, Eddie Harris, Stan Getz, Bobby Hutcherson, Charlie Haden ~ Williams was born in 1948
March 10, 2021 ~ Jazz pianist Janós Gonda passed away ~ Leader and sideman active since the early 1960s. Known for a series of Modern Jazz albums throughout the end of the decade. Led the Gonda Sextet in the 1970s, which also included Gábor Balázs and best known for the composition Shaman Song. Also branched out into other musical forms including composing soundtracks, notably 1966's Father, dance compositions and symphonic jazz works such as Australian Concerto ~ Gonda was born in 1932March 10, 2021 ~ Composer Lyudmila Lyadova, full name Lyudmila Aleskeevna Lyadova, passed away in Moscow, Russia ~ Daughter of violinist Alexei Lyadov and singer Julia Lyadova. Sang with her mother starting in World War II as entertainment for the Russian troops, continuing to perform as a duo through the early 1950s. Has since worked as a composer, often collaborating with lyricist, poets such as Sergey Mikhalkov, Yevgeny Yevtusenko, Vladimir Petrov. Known for works such as Spanish Dance, Volga Suite, Concert Polka, The Great Battle, and The Tale Of Eremu Daniel And Evil Forces ~ Lyadova was born in 1925
March 10, 2020 ~ Keiji Otsuka, commonly known as jazz drummer George Otsuka, passed away in Tokyo, Japan ~ First began playing professionally with Sadao Watanabe in the late 1950s. Member of the Four Drums, alongside Roy Haynes, Jack DeJohnette, and Mel Lewis. Formed the trio We 3 with Hiroyuki Takamoto and Hideaki Kanazawa. During the 1970s and 1980s, Otsuka worked as touring musician for the Japanese legs of tours by international artists including Elvin Jones, Kenny Kirkland, John Scofield, Naná Vasconcelos, Miroslav Vitous, and Reggie Workman ~ Otsuka was born in 1937
March 10, 2016 ~ Drummer, percussionist Daniel Buess passed away in Basel, Switzerland ~ Worked with the Ensemble Phoenix Bazel, Cortex, How2, Noisezone, Zbignieuw Karkowski, Alex Buess, Harry Bedair, Kasper T Toeplitz, John Duncan, Jurg Henneberger, Michael Wertmuller, Phill Niblock, Zev, Julio Estrada, Antoine Chessex, Christoph Bosch, Volker Heyn, Thomas Lauck, Tim Hodgkinson, Marco Papiri, Iancu Dumitrescu, Ana Maria Avram, Jerome Noetinger, and Cadlah ~ Buess was born in 1976March 10, 2016 ~ Jazz, blues singer Ernestine Anderson passed away in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Compared to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Billie Holiday. Worked with Robert Bumps Blackwell, Lionel Hampton, Gigi Gryce, Rolf Ericson, Quincy Jones, Ray Brown, the Concord All-Stars, and George Shearing ~ Anderson was born in 1928
March 10, 2016 ~ Myrtle Audrey Arinsburg, commonly known as jazz, vocal jazz, pop singer Gogi Grant, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Primarily known for the 1956 hit Wayward Wind, which topped the American pop charts and reached No.9 in the UK. Ghost sang the vocals for Ann Blyth's portrayal of Helen Morgan in the 1957 biopic The Helen Morgan Story about the life of torch singer and actress Helen Morgan. Given star billing in the 1957 musical comedy The Big Beat, which also featured musical performances by Fats Domino, the Del Vikings, the Mills Brothers, and George Shearing. Grant is also noted for being one of three solo singers featured on the first stereo LP of the classic Show Boat musical, issed in 1958. Although Grant recorded about a dozen albums through the turn of the 1970s, notable hits including Suddenly There's A Valley and Strange Are The Ways Of Love, Grant failed to repeat the success of her 1956 million-seller Wayward Wind, widely considered one of the all-time top Western songs ~ Arinsburg was born in 1924
March 10, 2010 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Micky Jones passed away in Swansea, 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 was born in 1946
March 10, 2005 ~ Jacqueline Neal, commonly known as blues singer Jackie Neal, passed away in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA ~ Daughter of blues guitarist Raful Neal, sister of blues guitarist Kenny Neal. Jackie recorded four albums during her career, starting with The Blues Won't Let You Go released in 1995, before her untimely death at age 37, shot and killed by an ex-boyfriend. She is best known for songs such as Right Thang Wrong Man, The Way We Roll, and Down In The Club ~ Neal was born in 1967
March 10, 2004 ~ Singer, songwriter, author Olle Adolphson passed away in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Alongside Birger Sjöberg, Evert Taube, and Cornelis Vreeswijk considered one of the greatest Swedish songwriters of the 20th century. Known for songs such as Gustaf Lindströms Visa, Okända Djur, Mitt Eget Land, Det Gåtfulla Folker, and Trubbel ~ Adolphson was born in 1934
March 10, 2003 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Jimmy Bilsbury, full name James Robert Bilsbury, passed away in Bonn, Germany ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing the Boney M hit Belfast with Drafi Deutscher and Joe Menke. Member of the Magic Lanterns. Co-founding member of the Les Humphries Singers, present on the band's 1976 Eurovision Songfestival entry Sing Sang Song, generally considered one of the all-time worst Eurovision songs ~ Bilsbury was born in 1942
March 10, 2002 ~ Jazz, hard bop, soul jazz organist, pianist Shirley Scott passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sidewoman. Married to Stanley Turrentine from 1960 to 1971, with whom she also worked. Also closely associated with Eddie Lockjaw Davis, notably on the late 1950s hit In The Kitchen. Has collaborated with Lem Winchester, Oliver Nelson, Kenny Burrell, Gary McFarland, Buddy Tate, Clark Terry, King Curtis, Hank Crawford, Mildred Anderson, Jimmy Forrest, Al Grey, Joe Newman, and Jimmy Rushing ~ Scott was born in 1934
March 10, 1993 ~ Deasy Browning, commonly known as R&B pianist, singer, songwriter Camille Howard, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of Roy Milton's R&B outfit the Solid Senders, notably present on 1940s hits such as RM Blues and Thrill Me. Enjoyed a parallel solo career, often with Milton backing her, enjoying her first solo hit in 1948 with the self-penned X-Temporaneous Boogie. Would enjoy about a dozen more hits through the early 1950s, including You Don't Love Me, Fiesta In Old Mexico, and Money Blues (If You Ain't Got No Money I Ain't Got No Use For You). With chart success diminishing in the face of the growth of rock & roll, Howard retired from music by the mid 1950s ~ Howard was born in 1914
March 10, 1992 ~ Rock, funk rock outfit the Red Hot Chili Peppers release Under The Bridge, lifted off their Blood Sugar Sex Magik breakout album ~ The song evolved from a personal poem lead singer Anthony Kiedis had written about his days as a heroin addict. Though reluctant at first, at the insistence of producer Rick Rubin Kiedis wrote Under The Bridge, an atypical song for the band. It would become their first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, peaking at No.2, and remains one of the band's best known. Rubin would later recall: “My thinking was that the Peppers were not limited to being a funk band with rapping. And I remember Anthony was embarrassed to show the song to the other guys in the band. But he sang it to John Frusciante and John came up with his part. Then he played it for Flea and Flea came up with his part. And it ended up being a really good song, even though they didn't realize how good it was until people starting responding to it”
March 10, 1988 ~ Singer Andy Gibb, full name Andrew Roy Gibb, passed away in Oxford, UK ~ Younger brother of the Bee Gees' Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb. Known for a string of 1970s, 1980s singles including I Just Want To Be Your Everything, (Love Is) Thicker Than Water, Shadow Dancing, Everlasting Love, Our Love (Don't Throw It All Away) and Desire. Had his career cut short due to an untimely death caused by years of substance abuse ~ Gibb was born in 1958