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 16, 1983 ~ Radio and television broadcaster Arthur Godfrey, full name Arthur Morton Leo Godfrey, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Popular in the mid 1950s. Known for musical radio and TV shows such as Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts ~ Godfrey was born in 1903
March 16, 1983 ~ Ernest Andrew Royal, commonly known as trumpeter Ernie Royal, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Brother of clarinetist, saxophonist Marshal Royal. Active since the late 1930s, serving under bandleaders such as Les Hite, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington. Would go on to become an in-demand session musician, perhaps best known for his association with Miles Davis appearing on albums such as Miles Ahead, Porgy & Bess, and Sketches Of Spain. Other notable credits include Coleman Hawkins, Sarah Vaughan (In The Land Of Hi-Fi), Manny Albam, Ernie Wilkins, Coleman Hawkins, Dinah Washington, Oscar Pettiford, Art Farmer, Chubby Jackson, Ray Charles (The Genius of Ray Charles), Bob Brookmeyer, Oliver Nelson (Afro-American Sketches), Joe Morello, Charles Mingus, Shirley Scott (For Members Only), Freddie Hubbard, Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett, Lee Morgan, Aretha Franklin (I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You), Freddie King, Al Kooper, Roberta Flack (Chapter Two), Quincy Jones, BB King, Yusef Lateef, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and Freddie Hubbard ~ Royal was born in 1921March 16, 1983 ~ Singer, songwriter, music video director, graphic designer Yoann Lemoine, also known as Woodkid, born in Tassin-la-Demi-Lune, France ~ As a music video director known for videos such as Katy Perry's Teenage Dream, Taylor Swift's Back To December, Lana Del Rey's Born To Die, and Harry Styles's Sign Of The Times. Lemoine als records as a chamber pop musician, his The Golden Age debut album released in 2013
March 16, 1978 ~ Nicholas Carter, commonly known as rapper Murs, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Formed the trio the 3 Melancholy Gypsys. The group would team up with Mystik Journeymen to form the collective the Living Legends. Formed the hip-hop duo Felt with Slug. Has also worked with Melrose, the Invincibles, Whole Wheat Bread, and with the White Mandingos. Has recorded well over a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with F'Real released in 1997
March 16, 1977 ~ Singer, drummer, keyboardist, bassist, guitarist, producer, songwriter Richard Swift born in California, USA ~ In-demand collaborator, producer for artists such as the Shins, Damien Jurado, David Bazan, Foxygen, Jessie Baylin, Nathaniel Rateliff, Lucius, Lonnie Holley, the Mynabirds, Wake Owl, Laetitia Sadier, Gardens & Villa, Cayucas, Guster, the Arcs, and the Black Keys ~ Swift passed away in 2018
March 16, 1976 ~ Singer Diana Ross releases Love Hangover, lifted off her eponymous 1976 album ~ Motown was slow to embrace disco, and Diana Ross wasn't that keen on recording Love Hangover. When she did, however, it briefly established Diana Rosss as a disco diva. Label executive Berry Gordy Jr had Ross put out I Thought It Took A Little Time (But Today I Fell In Love) as the album's lead single, a ballad akin to her earlier hit ballads such as Touch Me In The Morning and Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To). Yet, when the 5th Dimension put out their version of Love Hangover, Gordy was quick to release Ross' rendition. It would become her fourth Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit, by far surpassing the earlier the 5th Dimension version which stalled at No.80, and earned the singer a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Ross would later comment, as cited in the 2007 Diana biography: “It was a spontaneous thing that we captured on record and if I had to go back in and do it again, I couldn't have. The music was me and I was the music. Things came out of my mouth that I didn't even expect”
March 16, 1975 ~ Aaron Thibeaux Walker, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist, bandleader T-Bone Walker, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Pioneer and innovator of jump blues and electric blues. Quintessential to development of early rock & roll. Known best for his signature tune They Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday's Just As Bad), written and first recorded by Walker in 1947, later covered by a wide array of artists from all genres. Rock & roll icon Chuck Berry cites Walker as one of his two main influences, the other being Louis Jordan ~ Walker was born in 1910
March 16, 1972 ~ Andrew Dunlop, commonly known as guitarist Andy Dunlop, born in Lenzie, UK ~ Keeps his right hand fingernails long to use instead of guitar picks. Also plays banjo, piano and accordion. Best known as lead guitarist of Scottish indie pop-rockers Travis, with whom he recorded well over half a dozen albums. The band would enjoy popularity especially in the early 2000s, scoring a string of UK top 10 singles starting with Why Does It Always Rain On Me. Dunlop has written or co-written several tracks for the band including You Don't Know What I'm Like, Quite Free, Big Chair, and Parallel Lines. Dunlop also notably guested on Past Perfect Future Tense, the 2004 solo debut album by A-ha-keyboardist Magne Furuholmen
March 16, 1971 ~ Sibling outfit the Jackson 5 release Never Can Say Goodbye, lead single off their Maybe Tomorrow album ~ Originally intended for the Supremes, but given to the Jackson 5 instead. The single would occupy the No.2 position on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks, held off the top spot by Three Dog Night's Joy To The World, and top the Billboard R&B charts. Over the years, the song would be covered by over a 150 artists including Isaac Hayes, James Brown, with Massive Attack later sampling Brown's rendition, and perhaps most notably Gloria Gaynor in 1974, the latter making her cover a signature song and more famous than the originalMarch 16, 1970 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist Alex Lee born in Bristol, UK ~ Worked with Goldfrapp, Massive Attack, Suede, Placebo, Strangelove, the Blue Aeroplanes, Florence + the Machine, Marina & the Diamonds, the Royal Shakespeare Company
March 16, 1970 ~ Rock, pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Joakim Berg, full name Herbert Joakim Berg, born in Eskilstuna, Sweden ~ Lead singer of Kent, known for a string of acclaimed and commercially successful albums since the 1990s. The band is best known for songs such as Kram Sa Nara Far Ingen Ga, Om Du Var Har, Musik Non Stop, Dom Andra, Max 500, Nalens Oga, Columbus, Tontama and Gamla Ullevi, all of which reached top 10 in the band's native Sweden
March 16, 1970 ~ Thomasina Winifred Montgomery, commonly known as singer Tammi Terrell, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Member of the Sherrys. Spend two years backing James Brown as a member of the James Brown Revue. However, she is best remembered for a number of duets with Marvin Gaye, including Ain't No Mountain High Enough and You're All I Need To Get By. Terrell collapsed on stage in Gaye's arms to be later diagnosed with a brain tumor, of which she passed away at age 24 cutting her fledging career short ~ Terrell was born in 1945
March 16, 1967 ~ Indie folk, indie rock, lo fi guitarist, pianist, singer John Darnielle born in Bloomington, Indiana, USA ~ Sole constant member of the Mountain Goats, recording about two dozen albums since the mid 1990s. As a songwriter praised for his literary lyrics, dubbed “America's best non-hip-hop lyricist” by The New Yorker. The band earned a cult following, initially known for a lo-fi approach venturing into a more polished studio sound by the early 2000s. Darnielle has also collaborated with Aesop Rock, John Vanderslice, the Extra Lens, and the Bloody Hawaiians
March 16, 1967 ~ Mandolinist, singer, songwriter Ronnie McCoury born in in York County, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Son of Del McCoury, with whom he also worked as a member of the Traveling McCourys and of the Del McCoury Band. Released his solo debut album, Heartbreak Town, in 2000. Also collaborated with Tony Trischka, Lynn Morris, Dolly Parton, David Olney, Jeff Foxworthy, Steve Earle, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Charlie Daniels, Dierks Bentley, Patty Loveless, Michael Martin Murphey, Sara Watkins, Willie Nelson, Peter Rowan, Leftover Salmon, Rodney Crowell, Loretta Lynn, and Jake BuggMarch 16, 1964 ~ Hans Peter Geerdes, commonly known as techno, dance singer, guitarist HP Baxxter, born in Leer, West Germany ~ Lead singer of techno band Scooter, known for a string of European hits starting in the early 1990s. Songs such as Hyper Hyper, Move Your Ass, Ramp (The Logical Song), Nessaja, and Weekend would all reach top 10 across the continent
March 16, 1964 ~ Patricia Jean Griffin, commonly known as folk, folk rock, country folk, alternative country singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Patty Griffin born in Old Town, Maine, USA ~ Revered by peers. Had her songs covered by artists such as Emmylou Harris, Kelly Clarkson, Rory Block, and Sugarland. Actively recording since the mid 1990s, starting with 1996's Living With Ghosts, slowly building a dedicated fanbase and achieving commercial success since the mid 2000s
March 16, 1963 ~ Hard rock, heavy metal, hardcore punk drummer Jimmy Degrasso born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Drummed with Mama's Boys and Lita Ford prior to stints with Y&T and notably Megadeth. Has sessioned and toured with the likes of White Lion, Fiona, Suicidal Tendencies, MD 45, Alice Cooper, David Lee Roth, Ministry, Dokken, RATT and Black Star Riders
March 16, 1963 ~ In its 11th week on the charts, The Gypsy Cried by Lou Christie peaks at No.24 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Twyla Herbert and Lou Christie wrote the song in just 15 minutes and it would become Christie's first hit. The Gypsy Cried was first issued by Pittsburgh-based C&C Records, who gave Lugee Sacco the stage name Lou Christie without consulting the singer, and it became a regional hit. When Roulette Records picked up the song, it would go on to sell a million copies and reach No.24 Billboard Hot 100, jump starting Christie's career. The follow-up single Two Faces Have I would reach top 10, peaking at No.6 Billboard Hot 100. Herbert and Christie would continue their songwriting partnership and have co-written most of Christie's best known including Lightnin' StrikesMarch 16, 1961 ~ Singer Connie Francis records Eine Insel Für Zwei ~ Written especially in German by Charly Niessen and Joachim Relin. Produced by Gerhard Mendelsohn. Connie Francis released the song as a single later the same year, b/w Das Ist Zuviel. It would reach top 10 on the German pop charts
March 16, 1959 ~ William Jonathan Drayton Jr, commonly known as rapper Flavor Flav, born in Roosevelt, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of rap group Public Enemy, known for quintessential rap albums such as 1988's It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back and 1990's Fear Of A Black PlanetMarch 16, 1959 ~ Bassist, composer John Lindberg born in Royal Oak, Michigan, USA ~ Recorded over two albums as a leader. Co-founding member of String Trio Of New York alongside violinist Billy Bang and guitarist James Emery, mostly active in the 1980s. In-demand sideman, appearing on recordings by Anthony Braxton, the Human Arts Ensemble, Susie Ibarra, Kevin Norton, Wadada Leo Smith, and Bauhaus Quartet
March 16, 1959 ~ Pianist, keyboardist Stan Thorn born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA ~ Co-founding member of country outfit Shenandoah, remaining with the band from 1984 through 1995. Present on Billboard Country charttoppers such as The Church On Cumberland Road, Two Dozen Roses, Next To You Next To Me and If Bubba Can Dance (I Can Too)
March 16, 1956 ~ Classical bassist, double bassist Robert Black, full name Robert Alan Black, born in Denver, Colorado, USA ~ Co-founding member of contemporary classical sextet the Bang On A Can All-Stars, formed in 1992. Studied under Gary Karr. Served on the board of the International Society Of Bassists for about a decade. Has worked with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the Ciompi String Quartet, the Miami String Quartet, Elliott Carter, John Cage, and Paquito d'Rivera. Well-known for his 2019 The Not-Doings Of An Insomniac (Bass Partita And Poetry) album, a work commissioned from and produced by Philip Glass ~ Black passed away in 2023
March 16, 1954 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion bassist Brian Torff born in Hinsdale, Illinois, USA ~ Worked with Mark O'Connor, Dave Grusin, Regina Carter, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Union, Milt Hinton, Mary Lou Williams, Marian McPartland, Stéphane Grappelli, Erroll Garner, Oliver Nelson, George Shearing, George Shearing, and Sonny Stitt
March 16, 1954 ~ James Michael Aloysius, commonly known as singer, actor, songwriter Jimmy Nail, born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK ~ As a singer best known for Crocodile Shoes, Love Don't Live Here Anymore, and his biggest hit Ain't No Doubt. Had artists such as Gary Moore, David Gilmour, Elliott Randall, George Harrison and Mark Knopfler guest on his albums
March 16, 1954 ~ Rock, folk rock, hard rock guitarist, singer, songwriter Nancy Wilson, full name Nancy Lamoreux Wilson, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Member of Heart, fronted by her older sister Ann Wilson. Sings lead on These Dreams, the band's first Billboard Hot 100 charttopper. Active since the 1970s the band has sold over 30 million records and is known for songs such as Magic Man, Barracuda, Straight On, Tell It Like It Is, What About Love, Never, Nothin' At All, Alone, Who Will You Run To, All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You, and Stranded