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 15, 2023 ~ Teófilo Augusto de Barros Neto, commonly known as jazz violist, songwriter Théo de Barros, passed away in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Co-founded the Trio Novo with Heraldo do Monte and Airto Moreira, a group created initially to accompany singer Geraldo Vandré. With the addition of flutist Hermeto Pascoal the influential group would be renamed the Quarteto Novo and release their sole eponymous The Quarteto Novo album in 1967. The group would serve as a launching pad for its members, its most famous member being Moreira. De Barros wrote Menino Das Laranjas for Vandré. Co-wrote Disparada with Vandré, first recorded by Jair Rodrigues. Both songs have become classics and have been covered numerous times ~ De Barros was born in 1943
March 15, 2022 ~ Avant-garde jazz, free jazz trumpeter Dennis González passed away in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Well over two dozen albums as a leader, starting in the late 1970s. Hosted Miles Out on Dallas radio station KERA-FM for over two decades. To younger audiences perhaps best known for forming the trio Yells At Eels with his sons bassist Aaron González and drummer, vibraphonist Stefan González. The trio has backed Ariel Pink in the early-2010s on the albums Before Today and Ariel Pink With Added Pizzazz ~ González was born in 1954
March 15, 2021 ~ Pop, rock singer, guitarist Doug Parkinson, full name Douglas John Parkinson, passed away in Northern Beaches, Australia ~ Active since the mid 1960s fronting bands such as Strings & Things, the Questions, Fanny Adams, the Southern Star Band (I'll Be Around), and the Doug Parkinson Band. Has also acted in several musical plays, perhaps most notably in the role of Hawker in an Australian production of the Who rock opera Tommy in 1973 alongside Daryl Braithwaite, Bobby Bright, Jim Keays and Broderick Smith ~ Parkinson was born in 1946
March 15, 2015 ~ Bassist Mike Porcaro, full name Michael Joseph Porcaro, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Son of jazz drummer Joe Porcaro, brother of drummer Jeff Porcaro and keyboardist Steve Porcaro. Member of Toto, first appearing on the 1982 Toto IV album playing cello on Good For You. Porcaro would remain with the band through 2007, retiring from the band for medical reasons. Porcaro has also worked as a session bassist for numerous artists and toured with the likes of Michael Franks, Seals & Crofts, Larry Carlton, and Boz Scaggs ~ Porcaro was born in [artist-mike-porcaro]March 15, 2014 ~ Pop, rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Cees Veerman passed away in Jogjakarta, Indonesia ~ Influenced by the Kinks. Rose to fame as co-founding member, guitarist, singer of the Cats, pivotal to the development of the Paling sound and known for hits such as Be My Day, One Way Wind and perhaps their best known Sure He's A Cat. Recorded a sole solo album, Another Side Of Me released in 1976 ~ Veerman was born in 1943
March 15, 2011 ~ Nathaniele Dawayne Hale, commonly known as singer Nate Dogg passed away in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Member of the hip-ho trio 213, alongside Snoop Dogg and Warren G. Best known for duetting with Warren on Regulate, a hit in 1994. Also worked with Dr Dre (The Chronic), 50 Cent, Eve, Thug Life, Kurupt, Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Shade Heist, Fabolous, Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine Dupri, WC, Mark Ronson, Memphis Bleek, Tupac Shakur, Eminem, and Don Diablo ~ Hale was born in 1969March 15, 2008 ~ Michael George Campbell, commonly known as reggae singer, producer Mikey Dread, passed away in Stamford, Connecticut, USA ~ Known for songs such as Dread At The Controls, Barber Saloon, Rasta Born Baby, Positive Reality, Roots & Culture. Produced the Clash's Bankrobber and guested on the 1980 Sandinista album. Has also worked with Junior Murvin, Roots Radics, Seal, Izzy Stradlin, Sugar Minott, Earl Sixteen, and Edi Fitzroy ~ Campbell was born in 1954
March 15, 2002 ~ Marshall Philip Leibowitz, commonly known as guitarist, singer Marshall Leib, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as member of the Teddy Bears, which also included a then-unknown Phil Spector, known for their 1958 hit To Know Is To Love Him. The song would mark the beginning of Spector's hit-making career as a producer and songwriter ~ Leibowitz was born in 1939
March 15, 1999 ~ Singer Bruce Springsteen is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame ~ Praised by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame as “a voice of the underdogs and the working class, thanks to his unsparing observations about what life was really like for those with no access to a silver spoon”, Bruce Springsteen is inducted into this year's class. Other inductees include Curtis Mayfield, Del Shannon, Dusty Springfield, Paul McCartney, the Staple Singers, and Billy Joel
March 15, 1987 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer Don Gant, full name Donald W Gant, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Co-founded Neon Philharmonic with Tupper Saussy, known for their 1969 hit Morning Girl. Also in-demand songwriter, producer, executive associated with Acuff/Rose, MGM Records and with ABC Records, worked with Joe Melson, Jimmy Buffett, Lefty Frizzell, Eddy Raven, and Roy Orbison ~ Gant was born in 1942
March 15, 1986 ~ Singer, stage actor Carlos Rivera born in Huiamantla, Mexico ~ Rose to fame as winner of the third season of the talent show La Academia in 2004. Would go on to star in several musicals, notably portraying the role of Simba in a production of The Lion King, release several solo recordings and collaborate with artists such as Mario Domm, Franco de Vita, Leonel Garcia, Thalia, José José, and Laura Pausini
March 15, 1984 ~ Country singer Meredith Edwards, full name Meredith Leigh Edwards, born in Clinton, Mississippi, USA ~ At age 5 a member of the traveling choir the Mississippi Show Stoppers alongside Lance Bass of future NSYNC fame. As a solo artist released her Richard Marx-produced Reach debut album in 2001, which spawned the singles A Rose Is A Rose and The Bird Song. Despite moderate succes Edwards has not recorded since
March 15, 1982 ~ Maria Luca Sanchez Benitez, commonly known as flamenco, copla, pop singer Malu, born ~ Actively recording since the late 1990s, her Aprendiz debut album reaching multiple Platinum certification. Especially popular successful during the 2010s, all of her albums reaching the No.1 spot in her native Spain. Well known songs include Como Una Flor, Toda, Diles, Si Estoy Lova and No Voy A Cambiar
March 15, 1978 ~ Hard rock, alternative rock, post-grunge singer, guitarist, pianist Marshal Dutton born in Tulia, Texas, USA ~ Co-lead singer, guitarist for Faktion. Forms the country duo Drankmore with singer Jarrod Denton. Lead singer for rock band Hinder since 2015. Member of side projects Dangerous Hippies alongside Cody Hanson, and Gunfighter's Delimma
March 15, 1977 ~ R&B singer Marvin Gaye releases his Got To Give It Up single ~ With disco reaching its commercial peak, Motown kept pressuring Marvin Gaye to do a disco album. Gaye, however, adamantly refused, feeling the genre lacked substance. After months of holding off on recording anything closely resembling disco, he wrote Got To Give It Up as a parody of the genre. Released as a single, the song cut across two parts, Got To Give It Up would become his third Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit, a feat he had previously accomplished with 1968's I Heard It Through The Grapevine and 1973's Let's Get It On. The full-length studio version, running nearly twelve minutes, would be included on his Live At The London Palladium album, the only studio track on the albumMarch 15, 1976 ~ Filip Willy Mariette Cauwelier, commonly known as singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Flip Kowlier, born in Izegem, Belgium ~ As a solo artist known for singing in West-Vlaams dialect active since the early 2000s and best known for De Grotste Lul Van 't Stad and Donderdagnacht. Member of hip-hop group 't Hof Van Commerce. Also worked with My Velma and with Ertebrekers
March 15, 1975 ~ In its 13th week on the charts, Black Water by the Doobie Brothers hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ As producer Ted Templeman figured the song wouldn't become a hit, initially Black Water was featured on the flip side off Another Park Another Sunday, the lead single off the band's What Where Once Vices Are Now Habits album. However, as that one only reached No.32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and its follow-up Eyes Of Silver failed to reach the top half of the chart, the label decided to re-issue Black Water as an A-side. It became the band's first Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit. Black Water is noted for its melodious a capella section, with the lines “I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty mama, come and take me by the hand” forming the song's distinctive hook. Templeman has stated he got the idea from an old producer of his, referencing his stint as lead singer of Harper's Bizarre who used an a capella section on their 1967 rendition of the Simon & Garfunkel composition The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy). At the end of the decade, the Doobie Brothers would score their second and final Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit when What A Fool Believes made it all the way to the top of the charts
March 15, 1975 ~ William James Adams Jr, commonly known as rapper, producer will.i.am born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Rose to fame as founding member and co-lead singer of Black Eyed Peas, with whom he has recorded over half a dozen albums. Initially an alternative hip hop trio, also featuring Apl de Ap and Taboo, the band rebranded themselves as a more marketable pop-rap act in the 2000s, starting with their 2003 album Elephunk, the band expanded with singer Fergie. The band has sold over an estimated 80 million records, making them one of the all-time best selling hip hop acts and are best known for hits such as Where Is The Love, Don't Phunk With My Heart, My Humps, Boom Boom Pow, I Gotta Feeling, Meet Me Halfway, Imma Be, and Just Can't Get Enough, all of which reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100. During his time with Black Eyed Peas, will.i.am enjoyed a parallel solo career, starting with the album Lost Change released in 2001. Following the band's initial disbandement in the early 2010s, he has focused on his solo career producing and collaborating with the likes of Usher, Rita Ora, Britney Spears, Robin Thicke, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, and Justin Bieber
March 15, 1972 ~ Pop punk, skate punk, pop rock, alternative rock singer, bassist, songwriter Mark Hoppus, full name Mark Allan Hoppus, born in Ridgecrest, California, USA ~ Bassist, co-lead singer for Blink-182, best known for All The Small Things of their 1999 Enema Of The State. The single would reach top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. Member of supergroup 44. Formed the duo Simple Creatures with Alex Gaskarth. Has served as producer for artists such as Idiot Pilot, New Found Glory, the Matches, Motion City Soundtrack, and PAWS
March 15, 1971 ~ Singer Neil Diamond releases I Am I Said, lifted off his Stones album ~ Unless you have heard the album, you may not realise this song is comprised of two halves. On the album, the first half opens side one, while the second half closes side two. The song was reassembled for the single release, which reached No.4 Billboard Hot 100. In the autobiographical I Am I Said, one of his most intensely personal efforts, Neil Diamond delves into his deepest inner self. Diamond has repeatedly claimed he wrote the song, which took him four months, to find himself and time and time again performing the song is an exhausting experience. In a 2008 interview with Mojo, Diamond explained: “It was consciously an attempt on my part to express what my dreams were about, what my aspirations were about and what I was about. And without any question, it came from my sessions with the analyst”March 15, 1969 ~ Power metal, symphonic metal, neoclassical metal singer Timo Kotipelto, full name Timo Antero Kotipelto, born in Lappajärvi, Finland ~ Fronts Kotipelto. Member of Stratovarius and of Cain's Offering. Also worked with Gamma Ray, Tarot, Tunnelvision, Warmen, Sonata Arctica, Klamydia, Ayreon, Ella & Aleksi, the Leningrad Cowboys, Amberian Dawn, Hevisaurus, and Soulspell
March 15, 1968 ~ Reggae, dancehall singer Nadine Sutherland born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Active since the late 1970s, first drawing attention from Bob Marley who would sign her to his Tuff Gong label where she recorded Starvation On The Land at age 11. Would record a handful of Christian reggae singles throughout the remainder of the decade. Struggled to get decent exposure as a solo artist. Best known for her 1993 hit Action produced by Donovan Germain. Also known for her 2007 Call My Name albumMarch 15, 1967 ~ Garage punk, punk blues, rock & roll singer, guitarist, songwriter Jack Yarber born in Corinth, Mississippi, USA ~ Co-founding member of a number of garage bands, perhaps most notably the Compulsive Gamblers and the Oblivians. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with the Panther Burns, the Knaughty Knights, the Cool Jerks, and the Natural Kicks
March 15, 1963 ~ R&B singer Wilson Pickett records If You Need Me, co-written by Pickett with Robert Bateman and Sonny Sanders ~ Wilson Pickett's first single after leaving the Falcons. The song would become a bigger hit for Solomon Burke, who recorded the song shortly after Pickett. While Burke's version reached No.2 Billboard R&B and No.37 Billboard Hot 100, while Pickett's original stalled at respectively No.30 and No.64, Burke nevertheless broke rank and supported his rival: “I would go to the radio stations and say, ‘Hi, I'm Solomon Burke and I'm here promoting the new record If You Need Me by Wilson Pickett’”
March 15, 1962 ~ Synth-pop, dance-pop, new wave percussionist Steve Coy born in Liverpool, UK ~ Co-founding and key member of Dead Or Alive, known best for the mid-1980s hits You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) and Brand New Lover. Along with singer Pete Burns the only member to stay with the band throughout its entire existence
March 15, 1962 ~ Terence Trent Howard, commonly known as pop rock singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, percussionist Terence Trent d'Arby born in New York, New York, USA ~ Rose to fame in 1987 with his debut album Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby, which spawned the hits Sign Your Name, Dance Little Sister and Wishing Well. Not hindered by modesty D'Arby himself described the album as “the best thing since Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band”March 15, 1962 ~ Jazz bassist, composer Ugonna Okegwo born in London, UK ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Lou Blackburn, Joe Newman, Oliver Jackson, Major Holley, Jon Hendricks, Jacky Terrasson, Leon Parker, Tom Harrell, Kenny Barron, Michael Brecker, Benny Carter, Johnny Griffin, Wynton Marsalis, Clark Terry, Pharoah Sanders, Lionel Hampton, and Kurt Rosenwinkel