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 21, 1963 ~ Singer, pianist, guitarist Shawn Lane born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Worked with Ringo Starr, the Highwaymen, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Reggie Young, Joe Walsh, Jonas Hellborg, Black Oak Arkansas, Tommy Aldridge, Andy Tanas, Chris Craig, Savage Innocence, Billy Batte, Kinley Wolf, Jim Dandy Mangrum, the Willys, Sam Bryant, Jeff Sipe, Luther Dickinson, Anders Johansson, Wei Wei, Félix Sabal-Lecco, Steve Ferrone, Andrea Marchesini, Toy Caldwell, Jimi Jamison, Calvin Russell, Chris LeDoux, the North Mississippi Allstars, and Richard Hallebeek ~ Lane passed away in 2003
March 21, 1962 ~ Pop, rock, folk guitarist Shlomi Bracha born in Tel Aviv, Israel ~ Best known as guitarist for Mashina, considered one of the most influential Israeli pop rock bands drawing from a wide array of influences including ska, reggae, punk rock, new wave, psychedelic rock, pop rock, grunge, and Middle Eastern elements. Well known songs include Rakevet Laila Le-Kahir, basically an hommage to Madness' Night Boat To Cairo, Geveret Sarah Hashschena which drew heavily from Bob Dylan's Hurricane, Ha'Amuta Le-Heker Hatmuta, and Miflatzot Ha-Tehila. Bracha has also collaborated with Rami Fortis, and recorded as a solo artist
March 21, 1961 ~ James McDonnell, commonly known as Slim Jim Phantom, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Spearheaded the early 1980s neo-rockabilly movement as a co-founding member of the Stray Cats alongside Brian Setzer and Lee Rocker. The band is known for songs such Runaway Boys, Rock This Town, Stray Cat Strut, and She's Sexy + 17. Parallel and following the band's heyday McDonnell has worked with a wide array of artists, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Col Parker, supergroup Dead Men Walking, and rockabilly supergroup Head Cat. Married to actress Britt Ekland from 1984 through 1992, with whom he has one son. Married to the Eagles Of Death Metal touring bassist Jennie Vee since 2020March 21, 1959 ~ Jazz saxophonist Renato D'Aiello born in Naples, Italy ~ Worked with Giovanni Tommaso, Sax Appeal, Gilad Atzmon, Mark Bassey, Gene Calderazzo, John Critchinson, Keith Copeland, Eddie Duran, Art Farmer, Bruce Forman, Patrice Galas, Steve Grossman, Gary Husband, Duffy Jackson, Kirk Lightsey, Alain Jean-Marie, Sal Nistico, Roland Prince, Spike Robinson, and Clare Teal
March 21, 1956 ~ Electronic, industrial, techno keyboardist, sampler, guitarist, saxophonist, songwriter Richard H Kirk born in Sheffield, UK ~ Rose to fame in the 1970s as key member of seminal industrial group Cabaret Voltaire, remaining with the band until its disbandement in 1994. Has also enjoyed a parallel solo career, releasing his Disposable Half-Truths solo debut album in 1980. Has recorded extensively in the 1990s using a variety of monikers, prompting critics to describe him as “techno's busiest man” ~ Kirk passed away in 2021March 21, 1952 ~ Hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal drummer Andy Parker, full name Andrew Maynard Parker, born in Cheshunt, UK ~ Co-founding member of UFO, acclaimed for their 1979 Strangers In The Night album regarded by some as one of the greatest yet criminally overlooked live rock albums of the 1970s
March 21, 1952 ~ Jazz saxophonist, composer Carlo Actis Dato born in Turin, Italy ~ Leader and sideman. Has collaborated with Enrico Rava, Carlos Zingaro, Albert Mangelsdorff, Max Carletti, Pino Minafra, Enzo Rocco, and others
March 21, 1951 ~ R&B, soul, disco singer Russell Thompkins Jr, full name Russell Allen Thompkins Jr, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Original lead singer for the Stylistics, with whom he scored a string of early to mid 1970s hits including the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles You Are Everything, Betcha By Golly Wow, I'm Stone In Love With You, and Break Up To Make Up. Thompkins departed the group in 2000. Released his sole A Matter Of Style solo album in 2002. Teamed up with Blue Magic singer Ted Mills and the Delfonics singer William Poogie Hart for the album All The Way From Philadelphia released in 2007 under the moniker the 3 Tenors of Soul
March 21, 1951 ~ Blues harpist, singer William Clarke born in Inglewood, California, USA ~ Worked with George Harmonica Smith, Hollywood Fats, Junior Watson, Rick Holmstrom, John Marx, Craig Printup, Steve Samuels, Joel Foy, Alex Schultz, Ronnie Earl, Al Blake, Barry Levenson, Kid Ramos, Jeff Ross, Willie Brinlee, Bill Stuve, Tyler Pederson, Jerry Monte, Brian Fahey, Perry Lopez, and Rob Rio ~ Clarke passed away in 1996
March 21, 1950 ~ Guitarist, singer Roger Hodgson, full name Charles Roger Pomfret Hodgson, born in Portsmouth, UK ~ Member of short-lived late 1960s group Argosy, which also included a then-unknown Elton John, and known best for their sole single Mr Boyd b/w Imagine. Best known as co-frontman, co-founding member for Supertramp, co-writing the majority of the band's best known with Rick Davies including Dreamer, School, Crime Of The Century, Bloody Well Right, The Logical Song, Take The Long Way Home, Goodbye Stranger, and It's Raining Again. Following his departure from the band in 1983 Hodgson has recorded as a solo artist, starting with In The Eye Of The Storm released in 1984March 21, 1949 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Åge Aleksandersen born in Namsos, Norway ~ Member of Prudence. Active as a solo artist since the mid 1970s and known best for songs such as Lys Og Varme, Fire Pills Og En Pizza and Rosalita
March 21, 1949 ~ Edward Joseph Mahoney, commonly known as pop, rock singer, songwriter Eddie Money, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Initially aimed to become a police officer, following in his father's footsteps, but dropped out of the training to pursue a career in music. At the time, the era marked by student protests and a general resentment among the younger generation against the authorities, Money was a member of the Grapes of Wrath, but would eventually be fired from the band as his bandmates “didn't want a ‘pig’ in the group”. Has recorded about a dozen albums, starting with the eponymous Eddie Money released in 1977. Well known songs include Baby Hold On, Two Tickets To Paradise, Maybe I'm A Fool, Think I'm In Love, and Shakin'. Money's biggest hits, Take Me Home Tonight and Walk On Water, the former notably featuring Ronnie Spector, both reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100, peaking respectively at No.4 and No.9 ~ Mahoney passed away in 2019
March 21, 1948 ~ Country singer, songwriter Keith Jamieson, full name Keith Ross Jamieson, born in Goondiwindi, Australia ~ Influenced by Slim Dusty, Buddy Williams, Tex Morton, Stan Coster. Has worked in manual day jobs most of his life such as coal miner and taxi driver while writing and performing his songs on the side. Actively recording since the late 1970s. Known for songs such as Good Morning Australia, Bush Ballad Rock and One Tree Plain ~ Jamieson passed away in 2022
March 21, 1947 ~ Folk, pop, rock, psychedelica singer, songwriter, producer Kazuhiko Kato born in Fushimi-ku, Japan ~ Member of the Folk Crusaders, known for their 1967 psychedelic hit Kaettekita Yopporai (I Only Live Twice). Would go on to become an in-demand producer working with the likes of Shigeru Izumiya, Mariya Takeuchi, Takuro Yoshida. Also founded the Sadistic Mika Band, which included his wife Mika Fukui, known for their 1974 landmark album Kurofune. Also founded Vitamin Q ~ Kato passed away in 2009
March 21, 1946 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Ray Dorset born in Ashton, UK ~ Best known as founding member and primary songwriter of Mungo Jerry, writing or co-writing most of the band's material including In The Summertime, Baby Jump, Lady Rose, You Don't Have To Be In The Army To Fight The War, Long Legged Woman Dressed In Black and Hello Nadine. Also penned Feels Like I'm In Love, a 1980 UK No.1 hit for disco singer Kelly Marie
March 21, 1945 ~ Rosemary Stewart, commonly known as soul, funk, psychedelic soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter Rose Stone born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Member of Sly & the Family Stone, founded by her brothers Freddie Stone and frontman Sly Stone and known for pivotal funk hits such as Dance To The Music and Everyday People. After the band's dissolution in 1975 Rose married manager, producer Bubba Banks and has released a handful of solo recordings under the moniker Rose Banks. Has also duetted with Robbie Williams on the song Revolution of his 2002 Escapology album, and on occasion backed Elton John
March 21, 1944 ~ Rock, country rock, roots rock singer, guitarist, bassist, banjoist, mandolinist, songwriter David Lindley, full name David Perry Lindley, born in San Marino, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of Kaleidoscope, with whom he recorded four albums. Following the band's disbandement in 1970 would go on to become an in-demand touring and session musician. Closely associated with Jackson Browne, appearing on key albums such as For Everyman, Late For The Sky, The Pretender, and Running On Empty. Over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting in the early 1980s and noted especially for El Rayo X and Win This Album. Has also appeared on albums by America, Terry Reid, Linda Ronstadt (Heart Like A Wheel), Rod Stewart (Atlantic Crossing), Joe Walsh, Warren Zevon, Dolly Parton (Here You Come Again), Karla Bonoff, Marshall Crenshaw, Bob Dylan, Shawn Colvin, and Bruce Springsteen ~ Lindley passed away in 2023
March 21, 1943 ~ Victor Anthony Stanshall, commonly known as inger, trumpeter, trombonist, guitarist, mandoliinist, banjoist, keyboardist, flutist, perucssionist, songwriter Vivian Stanshall, born in Shillingford, UK ~ Member of the Bonzo Dog Band. Released his Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead solo debut album in 1974. Has had artists such as Eric Clapton, Keith Moon and John Entwistle guest on his solo recordings. Has also collaborated with Grimms, Mike Oldfield (Tubular Bells), Jim Capaldi, Ronnie Wood, Graham Bond, and Robert Calvert ~ Stanshall passed away in 1995March 21, 1942 ~ Singer Al Dexter records I'm Losing My Mind Over You at CBS Columbia Square Studio, California, USA ~ Written by Al Dexter and James B Paris. Released December 1944 as a single, paired with I'll Wait For You Dear on the flip side. During the same session Dexter also recorded Guitar Polka
March 21, 1942 ~ Jazz, blues, gospel pianist, organist, singer Amina Claudine Myers born in Blackwell, Kansas, USA ~ About a dozen albums to her name as a leader, including the highly acclaimed Salutes Bessie Smith, which featured backing from bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Jimmy Lovelace, and The Circle Of Time. Closely associated with the Association For The Advancement Of Creative Musicians. Member of jazz-funk supergroup Third Rail, which also includes James Blood Ulmer, Ziggy Modeliste, Bernie Worrell, and Bill Laswell. Over the course of her career, Myers has guested on albums by Lester Bowie (The 5th Power), Muhal Richard Abrams, Henry Threadgill, Frank Lowe (Live From Soundscape), Greg Osby, Charlie Haden, Anthony Braxton, Nicky Skopelitis, Umar Bin Hassan, Liu Sola, Axiom Funk (Funkcronomicon), Bill Laswell, James Blood Ulmer (Blue Blood), Archie Shepp, Jeanne Lee, Andrew Cyrille, and Wadada Leo Smith
March 21, 1940 ~ James Wesley Voight, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Chip Taylor, born in Yonkers, New York, USA ~ Although initialy Taylor set out to make it as a singer, he would become best known as a songwriter, enjoying popularity especially during the 1960s. Taylor is perhaps best remembered for penning Wild Thing, a hit for the Troggs, Angel Of The Morning, originally recorded by Evie Sands yet better known as a 1968 hit for Merrilee Rush and later PP Arnold, and Try (Just A Little Bit Harder) recorded by Janis Joplin. Others songs written or co-written by Taylor include He Sits At My Table (Bobby Goldsboro), Worry (Johnny Tillotson), Lonely Is As Lonely Does (the Fleetwoods), I Can't Let Go (Evie Sands, Linda Ronstadt), Make Me Belong To You (Barbara Lewis), I Can Make It With You (Jackie DeShannon, Pozo Seco Singers), You're Takin' Hold Of Me (José Feliciano), Any Way That You Want Me (Tina Mason, the Troggs, HP Lovecraft), Step Out Of Your Mind (the American Breed), A Strange Song (Harry Belafonte), and I See You (the Pretty Things). In a 2023 interview with the Independent, Taylor recalled a memory from childhood, visiting a Broadway show with his family: “We sat in the fourth row, where I could see the orchestra and when they started play? Chills! I felt them all over, like my body was on fire. I remember not wanting to talk to anybody afterwards. We got into the car at night, and I made my parents believe I was asleep so the conversation wouldn’t stop me from having that feeling. I knew right then. I knew: this, I want to do something to do with this.” Voight is the brother of actor Jon Voight and uncle of actress Angelina Jolie ~ Voight passed away in 2026
March 21, 1940 ~ James Solomon McDonald, commonly known as Solomon Burke, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Incremental in development of 1960s soul, especially acclaimed for a string of early 1960s albums including If You Need Me, I Almost Lost My Mind and Rock 'n Soul. Co-wrote and first recorded Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, later covered by artists such as the Rolling Stones, Wilson Pickett, and the Blues Brothers. Other well known songs include Cry To Me, Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms), and Got To Get You Off My Mind. Burke would also be one of the first R&B, soul artists to cover a Bob Dylan tune, namely Maggie's Farm which served as the flip side of the 1965 single Tonight's The Night ~ Burke passed away in 2010
March 21, 1938 ~ Folk, pop singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Luigi Tenco born in Cassine, Italy ~ Also known under the alias Gigi Mai. Member of I Cavaliere, alongside Giampiero Reverberi and Enzo Jannacci. Debuted as a solo artist in 1961 with the single Quando, followed by the full-length album Baliate E Canzoni the next year. Became an icon of love and despair after his alleged suicide at age 28, the exact circumstances of his death still questioned to this day ~ Tenco passed away in 1967March 21, 1936 ~ Beat, rock & roll singer, guitarist Brian Cassar, also known as Cass and Casey Jones, born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK ~ Active since the late 1950s fronting several short-lived Liverpool-based bands, noted most for their line-ups. Fronted Nightsounds in the early 1960s, which also included Albert Lee. Fronted Casey Jones & the Engineers, which briefly included Eric Clapton and Tom McGuinness who both left after a few performances ~ Casser passed away in 2022
March 21, 1936 ~ Jazz pianist Brian Dee, full name Brian Colin Dee, born in London, UK ~ Worked with the Jazz Five, Ben Webster, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Benny Carter, Harry Sweets Edison, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Chet Baker, Al Grey, Sonny Stitt, Victor Feldman, Joe Newman, Ted Heath, Don Lusher, Laurie Johnson, Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Johnny Mercer, Elton John, Peggy Lee, Frankie Laine, Joe Williams, Jimmy Witherspoon, Mark Murphy, Cleo Laine, and Annie Ross