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 23, 1973 ~ Vibraphonist, percussionist Stefon Harris born in Albany, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known as member of the Classical Jazz Quartet. Active since the early 1990s, recording as a leader since his 1998 A Cloud Of Red Dust debut album. Has worked with Charlie Hunter, Steve Turre, Jacky Terrasson, David Sánchez, Christian Scott, Joe Henderson, Jason Moran, Greg Osby, Kurt Elling, Janis Siegel, Diana Krall, Raul Midón, Ry Cooder (My Name Is Buddy), and Courtney Pine
March 23, 1972 ~ Singer, songwriter Guus Meeuwis, full name Gustaad Stephanus Modestus Meeuwis, born in Mariahout, the Netherlands ~ Rose to fame with his 1995 Het Is Een Nacht debut single. Has recorded to commercial succes since, both as a solo artist and with his backing unit Vagant. Other well known songs include Brabant, the André Hazes-cover Geef Mij Je Angst, Per Spoor (Kedeng Kedeng) and Tranen Gelachen
March 23, 1972 ~ Comedian, actor, beatboxer, singer Reggie Watts, full name Reginald Lucien Frank Roger Watts, born in Stuttgart, West Germany ~ Watts refers to himself as a “disinformationist”, aiming to disorient his audience in a comedic fashion. Perhaps best known for leading the house band on the CBS talkshow The Late Late Show With James Corden from 2015 through 2023. Has released about half a dozen albums as a singer, beatboxer, starting with Simplified in 2003. Co-founding member of neo-soul outfit Maktub, acclaimed for their 2000 Subtle Ways debut album
March 23, 1971 ~ Jazz pianist, producer, film composer Leszek Mozdzer born in Gdansk, Poland ~ As a film composer collaborated with Jan AP Kaczmarek and Zbigniew Preisner. As a jazz pianist closely associated with Lars Danielsson and Zohar Fresco. Has also worked with Marcus Miller, David Gilmour, Lester Bowie, Archie Shepp, Arthur Blythe, Tomasz Stańko, Pat Metheny, Phil Manzanera, Zbigniew Namyslowski, Michal Urbaniak, and Cæcilie Norby
March 23, 1971 ~ Indie rock, alt-country singer, songwriter, author, painter Will Johnson born in Kennett, Missouri, USA ~ Regarded as one of the most prolific artists in American indie rock. Lead singer for Centro-Matic and subsequently South San Gabriel. Has released over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Murder Of Tides in 2002, and worked with artists such as Funland, Jason Molina, the Undertow Orchestra, the Monsters Of Folk, Jay Farrar, and Overseas. Debuted as a novelist with If Or When I Call, released in 2021
March 23, 1968 ~ Alternative rock, Britpop, art pop singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Damon Albarn born in London, UK ~ Lead singer of Blur, known for merging Madchester and shoegazing. The band rose to fame in the 1990s scoring UK top 10 hits such as Girls & Boys, Parklife, Country House, The Universal, Stereotypes, Charmless Man, Beetlebum, On Your Own, Tender and Out Of Time. Also known as primary force, along with Jamie Hewlett, behind the virtual band Gorillaz, known for the 2005 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Feel Good Inc featuring De La Soul. Member of supergroups the Good The Bad & The Queen and Rocket Juice & the Moon
March 23, 1967 ~ Pop rock sibling outfit the Bee Gees record Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You ~ Written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb. Produced by Robert Stigwood and Ossie Byrne. In the USA, Australia and Canada, the song would be used as the B-side of Holiday released the following September, which reached Billboard Hot 100 top 20. As with several of the band's earliest releases rumors kept floating around and the brothers Gibb felt compelled to deny the Beatles played on the record. Recorded during the same session were the tracks Please Read Me, In My Own Time and the unreleased Life
March 23, 1967 ~ Guitarist, drummer, singer John Strohm born in Bloomington, Indiana, USA ~ Co-founded the Blake Babies in 1986 with Juliana Hatfield and Freda Love. Fronted Velo-Deluxe, known for their sole Superelastic album released in 1994. Member of the Lemonheads from 1987 through 1997. Fronted indie rock band Antenna. Released a solo album, Everyday Life, in 2007. Practiced law from 2011 through 2017, focusing on the music industry. President of Rounder Records since 2017
March 23, 1967 ~ Kermit Holden Johnson, commonly known as boogie-woogie, jazz pianist Pete Johnson, passed away in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Helped make boogie-woogie popular in the late 1930s. Played with Big Joe Turner (including on Roll 'Em Pete, generally seen as one of the first rock & roll records), Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons, JC Higginbotham, JC Heard, Chuck Berry, and Big Maybelle. Johnson also wrote and recorded Rocket '88 Boogie, the inspiration for Ike Turner's Rocket '88 two years later in 1951 ~ Johnson was born in 1904
March 23, 1965 ~ Pop singer Jackie DeShannon records What The World Needs Now Is Love at Bell Sound Studios, New York, New York ~ Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the former also credited as producer. Originally offered to Dionne Warwick, who rejected the song for being “too country” and “too preachy” for her. Jackie DeShannon's single, paired with I Remember The Boy on the B-side, would reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100. The song would be covered numerous times, including twice by Warwick, the first time as early as on her 1966 Here Where There Is Love albumMarch 23, 1963 ~ The husband-wife duo singer Grethe Ingmann and guitarist Jørgen Ingmann win the 8th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in London, UK ~ Representing Denmark, Grethe Ingmann and Jørgen Ingmann win with the song Dansevise written by Otto Francker and Sejr Volmer-Sørensen. Switzerland, represented by Esther Ofarim with the song T'En Va Pas, reached second place, while Italy's Emilio Pericoli reached third place with the song Uno Per Tutte
March 23, 1961 ~ Guitarist Eivind Aarset born in Kolbotn, Norway ~ Worked with Ray Charles, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ute Lemper, Ketil Bjørnstad, Andy Sheppard, Mike Mainieri, Arild Andersen, Abraham Laboriel, Dhafer Youssef, Django Bates, Nils Petter Molvær, Bill Laswell, Jon Hassell, Jan Garbarek, David Sylvian, Marilyn Mazur, Jan Bang, Erik Honoré, Arve Henriksen, Ingar Zach, Audun Erlien, Wetle Holte, Erland Dahlen, Ketil Bjørnstad, Anneli Drecker, Food, Anne Marie Giørtz, Andy Sheppard, and Hans Ulrik
March 23, 1959 ~ Country, bluegrass, zydeco, jazz, rock banjoist, guitarist, fiddler, mandolinist Billy Constable, full name William Tarcisius Constable III, born in Avery County, North Carolina, USA ~ Known for his distinctive three-finger-picking banjo technique. Has backed bluegrass and country greats such as Josh Graves, Doug Dillard, Kenny Baker, and Vassar Clements, and worked with jam bands such as Leftover Salmon, and the String Cheese Incident ~ Constable passed away in 2015
March 23, 1959 ~ Kevin Paul Godfrey, commonly known as post-punk, indie rock, alternative rock singer, percussionist, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Epic Soundtracks, born in Croydon, UK ~ Brother of Nikki Sudden, his bandmate in post-punk outfit Swell Maps. Member of Crime & the City Solution and These Immortal Souls. Would focus on his solo career from the early 1990s onwards, especially acclaimed for the 1992 Rise Above album ~ Godfrey passed away in 1997
March 23, 1956 ~ Songwriter, lyricist Mort Dixon passed away in Bronxville, New York, USA ~ Co-wrote songs such as The Lady In Red (Xavier Cugat, Louis Prima), Nagasaki (the Ipana Troubadours, Fletcher Henderson, Nat Gonella), I Wish I Was In Peoria (the Olympic Dance Orchestra, Ed Smalle), I Found A Million Dollar Baby (Waring's Pennsylvanians, Bing Crosby, Victor Young), and Bye Bye Blackbird (Sam Lanin, Gene Austin, Irving Kaufman) ~ Dixon was born in 1892
March 23, 1953 ~ Yvette Marie Stevens, commonly known as singer Chaka Khan born in Great Lakes, Illinois, USA ~ Rose to fame as lead singer of funk outfit Rufus, known for hits such as Tell Me Something Good, Sweet Thing, Do You Love What You Feel and Ain't Nobody. Would go on to enjoy a hugely successful solo career, starting with the Chaka released in 1978. Known for songs such as I'm Every Woman, I Feel For You and Love You All My Lifetime. Has collaborated with Quincy Jones, Steve Winwood, Ray Charles, Siedah Garrett, Guru, Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight, Prince, De La Soul, and Herbie HancockMarch 23, 1953 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Phil Judd born in Hastings, New Zealand ~ Co-founding member of Split Enz, remaining with the band through 1977 and present on the band's first two albums. Succeeded by frontman Tim Finn's younger brother Neil Finn. Founded Swingers. Has recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with the Suburban Reptiles, the Enemy, the Unthinkables, and Schnell Fenster
March 23, 1951 ~ Rock drummer Billy Rankin, full name William Hector Rankin III, born ~ Best known as a constant member of Brinsley Schwarz. Following the band's disbandement in 1974 briefly joined Ducks Deluxe, present on the band's final album Last Night Of A Pub Rock Band recorded live in London. Has also worked with Dave Edmunds, appearing on the albums Subtle As A Flying Mallet and its follow-up Get It, Nick Lowe, Chilli Willi & the Red Hot Peppers, Ernie Graham, Frankie Miller, Terraplane, and Tiger
March 23, 1949 ~ Richard Theodore Otcasek, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Ric Ocasek born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Lead singer, rhythm guitarist, songwriter for the Cars. As a solo artist known for the mid-1980s hit Emotion In Motion. In-demand producer, has worked with Suicide, Bad Brains, Weezer, Nada Surf, Guided By Voices, No Doubt, Weezer, Romeo Void, Hole, Bebe Buell, Black 47, Bad Religion, Johnny Bravo, D-Generation, the Wannadies, Possum Dixon, Martin Rev, Jonathan Richman, the Pink Spiders, the Cribs, Alan Vega, Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, and Shwayze ~ Otcasek passed away in 2019
March 23, 1948 ~ R&B, soul singer Sundray Tucker born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Daughter of the Dixie Hummingbirds lead singer Ira Tucker. Sister of singer Ira Tucker Jr and the Supremes singer Lynda Laurence. Sang, mostly backing vocals, with Patti LaBelle, the Three Degrees, Melissa Manchester, Stevie Wonder (Songs In The Key Of Life), and Bunny SiglerMarch 23, 1947 ~ Beat organist Don Gould, full name Donald Peter Gould, born in Solihull, UK ~ Member of the Applejacks, known for a number of mid 1960s singles including Like Dreamers Do penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Three Little Words and the UK top 10 hit Tell Me When. The band was also the first to record I Go To Sleep, written by the Kinks singer Ray Davies. Others who have recorded the song include Cher on her 1965 All I Really Want To Do solo debut album, Peggy Lee, the Pretenders, Graham Bonnet, and Soulwax
March 23, 1947 ~ Clifton Jackson, commonly known as ska, rocksteady, reggae bassist Jackie Jackson, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Learned to play the piano before taking up the bass, inspired after watching Lloyd Brevett play with the Skatalites. Also influenced by Motown stalwart James Jamerson. Jackson would go on to become one of the most revered session bassists in Jamaica, recording prolifically especially during the 1960s and 1970s. Early on in his career Jackson worked with Ty & the Titans and the Cavaliers, prior to joining Supersonics. The latter was formed by saxophonist Tommy McCook after the disbandement of the Skatalites and would serve primarily as house band for producer Duke Reid's Treasure Island studios. By the turn of the 1970s, Jackson had established himself as one of the premier session bassists, alongside guitarists Lynn Taitt and Hux Brown, keyboardists Gladstone Anderson and Winston Wright, and drummer Winston Grennan, Jackson was part of a generation of session players considered pivotal to the development of rocksteady and reggae. Jackson has been notably present on several iconic songs including Girl I've Got A Date (Alton Ellis), Little Nut Tree (the Melodians), Queen Majesty (the Techniques), Pressure Drop (Toots & the Maytals), Israelites (Desmond Dekker), and The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff). Other notable associations include Nicky Thomas, Bob Marley, Paul Simon, Ken Boothe, Herbie Mann, Garland Jeffreys, and Toots Hibbert, playing with the latter both on tour and record for decades starting in the early 1970s. Jackson has been said to be a major influence on bassists such as Aston Barrett and Robbie Shakespeare. Jackson was awarded the Order of Jamaica in 2012 by the Jamaican government, and honored by JaRIA, the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association, in 2018 for exceptional contributions to reggae. Upon receiving the latter honor, Jackson commented: “It is nice to know that you are honoured in your own country, and while you are alive” ~ Jackson passed away in 2026
March 23, 1945 ~ Mandolinist David Grisman born in Hackensack, New Jersey, USA ~ Active since the early 1960s. Member of the Even Dozen Jug Band alongside Maria Muldaur and John Sebastian. Member of bluegrass outfit the Kentuckians. Member of psychedelic rock band Earth Opera. Appeared on the tracks Friend Of The Devil and Ripple of the Grateful Dead's 1970 American Beauty album. Member of Jerry Garcia's Old & In The Way. Has recorded extensively as a solo artist and leader starting in the early 1970s. Has also worked with the Garrett Mountain Boys, Muleskinner and the Bluegrass Reunion
March 23, 1945 ~ Francesco Battiato, commonly known as singer, guitarist, pianist, film maker Franco Battiato, born in Iona, Italy ~ One of Italy's most beloved singer-songwriters drawing from a wide array of idioms including beat, new wave, progressive pop, new age, experimental, free jazz, psychedelica. Internationally perhaps best known for teaming up with singer Alice, representing Italy in the 1984 Eurovision Songfestival with the song I Treni Di Tozeur reaching 5th place despite being tapped as winner by the bookmakers ~ Battiato passed away in 2021
March 23, 1942 ~ James Miller, commonly known as producer Jimmy Miller, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known for his association with several of Steve Winwood's bands, namely the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith, and for frequently producing the Rolling Stones from the late 1960s through the early 1970s including some of their most critically acclaimed albums including Beggars' Banquet, Let It Bleed and Exile On Main St. Has also worked with artists such as Delaney & Bonnie, Eric Clapton, Bobby Whitlock, Kracker, the Plasmatics, Motörhead, Primal Scream, Johnny Thunders, and Jo Jo Laine ~ Miller passed away in 1994