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 11, 2025 ~ Calvin George Scott, commonly known as reggae, roots reggae singer, songwriter Cocoa Tea, passed away in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA ~ Released his first single in 1974, at the age of 14. However, when Searching In The Hills failed to become a hit, the youngster became disillusioned and departed the music industry, only to return to recording and become a star about a decade later. Over the course of his career, Scott would record over two dozen albums, enjoying popularity both in his native Jamaica and abroad especially during the 1980s and 1990s. Well known songs include Rocking Dolly, I Lost My Sonia, Young Lover, Children Of The Ghetto, and Rikers Island, the latter an adaptation of John Holt's 1977 recording of Up Park Camp. In the mid 1990s, Scott founded the Roaring Lion Records label, which included artists such as Buju Banton, Capleton, Cutty Ranks, and Sizzla on its roster. In America, Scott is perhaps best known for his 2008 song Barack Obama in support of the presidential candidate of the same name ~ Scott was born in 1959
March 11, 2023 ~ Constantinos Tsobanoglou, commonly known as amapiano, Afrobeat, Afro pop singer, rapper Costa Titch, passed away in Johannesburg, South Africa ~ Known for hits such as Nkalakatha, Activate, Ayeye, and Big Flexa. Notably collaborated with Senegalese-American rapper Akon on a remix of the latter. Tsobanoglou passed away at age 27 after collapsing on stage while performing at the Ultra South Africa music festival in Johannesburg ~ Tsobanoglou was born in 1995March 11, 2022 ~ Ramón Eduardo Cedeño, commonly known as jazz, rock, world music guitarist, bassist, percussionist Guayo Cedeño, passed away in Tegucigalpa, Honduras ~ Married to singer Gaby Flores, the couple have one daughter. In-demand sideman, has worked with artists such as Andy Palacio, the Garifuna Collective, and Aurelio Martínez. Released his sole solo album, Coco Bar, in 2015. Died of respiratory failure at age 48 ~ Cedeño was born in 1974
March 11, 2022 ~ R&B, soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter Timmy Thomas passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Best known for the self-penned Why Can't We Live Together, which topped the Billboard R&B charts in 1972 and reached top 10 on the pop charts on both sides of the Atlantic. The song would be covered by a wide array of artists including Tinga Stewart, Sade, Joan Osborne, Maria Muldaur, Lucky Peterson, and Ronnie Earl. Thomas would record well throughout the 1980s, songs such People Are Changin', What Can I Tell Her and Gotta Give A Little Love (Ten Years After) all reaching top 30 on the Billboard R&B charts ~ Thomas was born in 1944
March 11, 2021 ~ Rock & roll, rockabilly double bassist Ray Campi, full name Raymond Charles Campi, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Active since the mid 1950s. Resurged in the early 1970s. Best known for songs such as Caterpillar, You Gambled Me, and for The Ballad Of Donna And Peggy Sue. Has toured extensively, especially throughout Europe. Worked with Mae West, Rosie Flores, Bobby Fats Mizell, Ian Whitcomb, Kevin Fennell, and Rip Masters ~ Campi was born in 1934
March 11, 2019 ~ Harold Simon Belsky, commonly known as drummer Hal Blaine, passed away in Palm Desert, California, USA ~ One of the most recorded drummers in history, appearing on over an estimated 35,000 recordings and well over 150 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits including He's A Rebel (the Crystals), I Get Around (the Beach Boys), Mr Tambourine Man (the Byrds), I Got You Babe (Sonny & Cher), These Boots Are Made For Walkin' (Nancy Sinatra), Strangers In The Night (Frank Sinatra), Mrs Robinson (Simon & Garfunkel), (They Long To Be) Close To You) (the Carpenters), Cracklin' Rosie (Neil Diamond), Annie's Song (John Denver), Love Will Keep Us Together (Captain & Tennille), and Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) (Diana Ross) ~ Blaine was born in 1929March 11, 2017 ~ Folk, Nueva Cancion singer, songwriter Angel Parra, full name Luis Angel Cereceda Parra, passed away in Paris, France ~ Son of singer Violeta Parra, brother of singer Isabel Parra, father of guitarist Angel Parra Jr. Leading figure in Nueva Cancion genre ~ Parra was born in 1943
March 11, 2017 ~ Rock, rockabilly guitarist, singer Evan Johns passed away in Austin, Texas, USA ~ Worked with guitar virtuoso Danny Gatton, performing on and writing several tracks on Gatton's 1978 Redneck Jazz including the title track. Founded and fronted Evan Johns & the H-Bombs, a band that counted the Dead Kennedys-frontman Jello Biafra among its fans. Johns has also worked with the LeRoi Brothers ~ Johns was born in 1956
March 11, 2016 ~ Keyboardist Keith Emerson, full name Keith Noel Emerson, passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Considered one of the most important British rock keyboardists and a key figure in progressive rock. First gained attention in the late 1960s as co-founding member of the Nice, blending rock, jazz and classical music. Departed the band in 1970 to form Emerson Lake & Palmer, one of the first progressive rock supergroups. The band is best known for the pivotal Emerson Lake & Palmer 1970 debut album and Brain Salad Surgery released in 1973. Following the band's initial disbandement by the end of the decade Emerson has recorded as a solo artist and composed over half a dozen soundtracks, notably Nighthawks released in 1981 ~ Emerson was born in 1944March 11, 2016 ~ Ruth Mae McMahon, commonly known as singer, actress Ruth Terry, passed away in Rancho Mirage, California, USA ~ Sang with both Paul Ash and Clyde McCoy in her early teens. Best known as an actress, singer in musical westerns alongside the likes of Gene Autry (Call Of The Canyon), Robert Livingston (Pistol Packing Mamas) and Roy Rogers (The Heart Of The Golden West) ~ McMahon was born in 1920
March 11, 2015 ~ Rock, pop keyboardist, singer, songwriter Jimmy Greenspoon, full name James Boyd Greenspoon, passed away in North Potomac, Maryland, USA ~ Member of surf outfit the New Dimensions prior to rising to fame as co-founding and key member of Three Dog Night. The band scored about a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits through their initial disbandement in the mid 1970s, of which Mama Told Me (Not To Come), Joy To The World, and Black & White all reached the No.1 spot. Greenspoon has also worked with artists such as Linda Ronstadt, America, the Beach Boys, Nils Lofgren, Stephen Stills, Steve Cropper, Leon Russell, and the East Side Kids ~ Greenspoon was born in 1948
March 11, 2002 ~ Singer Avril Lavigne releases Complicated, lead single off her Let Go debut album ~ Lavigne's debut single, issued when Avril Lavigne was just seventeen, immediately set her on a path to success. She came off as just a regular teen, goofy and fun yet with her own distinctive personal style, singing about teen girl's issues, and unlike peers such as Britney Spears would co-write a considerable amount of her material. Despite her young age and the song's typically teen girl topic, Complicated telling of how a boyfriend is great when they're alone but an idiot around his friends, the song not only struck a chord with fans her own age but older listeners as well. The single would reach top 10 in well over a dozen countries, including topping the charts in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Norway. In America it reached No.2 Billboard Hot 100, and earned the young singer Grammy Award nominations for Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The parent album would spawn two more American top 10 hits, Sk8ter Boi and I'm With You, and would become the best-selling solo album of the 2000s for any Canadian artist, an impressive feat for a debut album
March 11, 2002 ~ Singer Mary J Blige releases Rainy Dayz featuring Ja Rule, lifted off her No More Drama album ~ Written by Irv Gotti and Jeffrey Atkins, Rainy Dayz was initially intended for TLC. The trio, however, would turn the song down, after which it was given to Blige. Several of the lyrics, such as “we're always livin' so crazy and sexy and cool” referencing the CrazySexyCool album and “baby didn't we tell you before about chasin' waterfalls” referencing the 1995 TLC hit Waterfalls, were kept in Blige's recording. Atkins, more commonly known as rapper, singer Ja Rule, also guested on Blige's recording rapping the intro and a verse. He had written the lyrics shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in his native New York. He would elaborate to MTV News about the meaning of the song: “It's basically about how we feel going through life. But inthese times, especially right now with what's going on, it kind of fits. On the record, I'm basically saying that it's these rainy days that we spend a lifetime trying to wash away. Just waiting for the sun to come and shine again. But until then, come smile for me. So that's the kind of vibe that Rainy Dayz is on.” Peaking at No.8 Billboard R&B and No.12 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, Rainy Dayz would become the third hit of her highly acclaimed No More Drama album, preceded by Family Affair and No More DramaMarch 11, 1997 ~ Jazz pianist Hugh Lawson passed away in White Plains, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Bud Powell, Hampton Hawes, and Bill Evans. Leader and sideman. Best known for his association with Yusef Lateef. Also worked with Harry Sweets Edison, Roy Brooks, Stanley Cowell, Harold Mabern, Charles Mingus, Charlie Rouse, George Adams, Kenny Burrell, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, and Doug Watkins ~ Lawson was born in 1935
March 11, 1995 ~ Over the course of two days, singer Michael Jackson records Smile for his HIStory (Past Present & Future Book I) album ~ Often cited by Michael Jackson as his all-time favorite song, this tune dates back to 1936 when Charlie Chaplin wrote the song as an instrumental for his Modern Times film. The song would become a standard covered by numerous artists, and is most closely associated with Nat King Cole who recorded the song in 1954, with lyrics added by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons. For Jackson, the single was scheduled as the seventh single of his 1995 HIStory (Past Present & Future Book I) album, but only a few copies, mostly promo versions, went into circulation before the single was pulled, making it one of the rarest and most desirable collectibles of all Jackson releasesMarch 11, 1995 ~ Alexandra Artourovna Yatchenko, commonly known as singer, songwriter Sasha Sloan, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ First gained attention as featured singer on Kaskade's 2015 Phoenix single. Wrote for artists such as Idina Menzel, Maggie Lindemann, Camila Cabello, Kygo. Released her full-length debut album, Only Child, in 2020
March 11, 1995 ~ R&B outfit Total release Can't You See, recorded for the soundtrack of the crime drama film New Jersey Drive ~ The then-unknown R&B trio had made their recording debut guesting on the Notorious BIG's tracks Juicy and One More Chance. For their own debut single, Can't You See produced by Sean Combs, the Notorious BIG would return the favor by providing an intro rap. It would give the New Jersey-based trio of Kima Raynor, Keisha Spivey and Pamela Long their first taste of chart success as the single reached No.3 Billboard R&B and No.13 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart. The trio would record two full albums through the end of decade, their eponymous 1996 Total debut album which also included Can't You See and Kima Keisha And Pam in 1998. Well known songs include No One Else, Kissin' You, What About Us, and Trippin', the latter two both featuring Missy Elliott, all of which reached top 10 Billboard R&B and top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100March 11, 1983 ~ Contralto jazz singer Lurlan Hunter passed away in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA ~ First gained attention singing with Red Saunders at Club DeLisa in Chicago and subsequently as featured vocalist with George Shearing at famed New York jazz club the Birdland Jazz Club. Would spend most of the 1950s working hotels and night clubs around the country. Released her full-length Blue And Sentimental debut album in 1961 ~ Hunter was born in 1919
March 11, 1981 ~ R&B, pop singer, actress Letoya Luckett, full name Letoya Nicole Luckett, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Member of Destiny's Child from 1997 through 2000, present on hits such as No No No featuring Wyclef Jean, Bills Bills Bills, Say My Name and Jumpin' Jumpin'. As a solo artist released her debut album, Letoya, in 2006. Has collaborated with Ali & Gipp, Webbie, Mims, and Boney James
March 11, 1981 ~ Alternative rock, hard rock, post-hardcore drummer, guitarist, bassist Luke Johnson, full name Luke Anthony Johnson, born in Redditch, UK ~ Active since the late 1990s starting in punk and metal. Member of Amen from 2003 through 2005. Subsequently co-founded the Beat Union. Member of alternative metal band the Lostprophets from 2009 until its disbandement in 2013, appearing on the band's two most acclaimed albums The Betrayed and Weapons. Has since released a handful of solo singles, and founded both No Devotion and Lowlives
March 11, 1980 ~ Tango conductor, violinist, composer Julio de Caro passed away in Mar del Plata, Argentina ~ Brother of pianist, composer Francisco de Caro, with whom he regularly collaborated. Influenced by Juan Carlos Cobián, Roberto Firpo, Eduardo Arolas. The latter would offer De Caro a position in his orchestra after an impromptu performance in 1917, giving him his start in music. By the mid 1920s De Caro would lead his own band with a recording contract with RCA-Victor. Over the course of his career De Caro would work with numerous artists, notably Osvaldo Fresedo, Minotto di Cicco, Edmundo Rivero and Pedro Maffia ~ De Caro was born in 1899March 11, 1979 ~ Twin brothers guitarist Benji Madden and singer Joel Madden born in Waldorf, Maryland, USA ~ Formed pop rock formation the Madden Brothers as well as the band Good Charlotte, the latter known for hits such as Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous and Dance Floor Anthem (I Don't Want To Be In Love
March 11, 1978 ~ Pop singer, drummer, songwriter Claude François, full name Claude Antoine Marie François, passed away in Paris, France ~ Known for Comme D'Habitude, co-written with Jacques Revaux, later translated into English as My Way, best known as recorded by Frank Sinatra. Sold some 70 million records and said to be “the French equivalent of the Beatles, meaning the great talent of a generation” by former French President Valéry Giscard D'Estaing. Known for songs such as Le Téléphone Pleure, Le Lundi Au Soleil, Magnolias For Ever, Alexandrei Alexandra and Cette Année La. Accidentally electrocuted at age 39 as he was about to embark for America ~ François was born in 1939
March 11, 1974 ~ Keyboardist, guitarist Adam Wakeman born in Windsor, UK ~ Son of Yes-keyboardist Rick Wakeman, with whom he has also recorded. Recorded as a solo artist, starting with the album Soliloquy released in 1993. Formed progressive metal outfit Headspace with singer Damian Wilson. Toured and recorded with Ozzy Osbourne, notably present on the 2010 Scream. Member of Jazz Sabbath, a fictional jazz combo covering Black Sabbath songs, in which he used the moniker Milton Keanes. Has also worked with Annie Lennox, Travis, the Company Of Snakes, Strawbs, and Atomic KittenMarch 11, 1970 ~ Andre L Adams, commonly known as hip-hop, hyphy rapper Andre Nickatina, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Active since the early 1990s, recording the albums The New Jim Jones and I Hate You With A Passion using the moniker Dre Dog. Has recorded over a dozen albums since, switching to the stage name Nickatina by the end of the decade. Frequent collaborator of Equipto. Has also worked with Mac Dre, Smoov-E, and the Jacka
March 11, 1970 ~ Country songwriter Ben Hayslip born in Evans, Georgia, USA ~ Frequent songwriting partner of Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson. Songs written or co-written by Hayslip have been recorded by Brooks & Dunn (Put A Girl In It), Jack Ingram, Blake Shelton (All About Tonight), Brantley Gilbert, Joe Nichols (Gimmie That Girl), Craig Morgan, Josh Turner (All Over Me), Rodney Atkins, Martina McBride (I'm Gonna Love You Through It), Luke Bryan (I Don't Want This Night To End), Thomas Rhett, Jeff Bates (Long Slow Kisses), Jason Aldean (The Only Way I Know), and Dustin Lynch