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 24, 1980 ~ Sinéad Ni Chuinn, commonly known as pop rock singer Sinéad Quinn, born in Irvinestown, Northern Ireland ~ Contestant on the 2002 edition of the talent contest Fame Academy aired on the BBC, where she reached 2nd place. Would release her Ready To Run debut album the following year, which spawned the UK top 20 hits I Can't Break Down and What You Need Is
March 24, 1979 ~ Hard rock, alternative rock, post-grunge, grunge guitarist, singer Adam Latiff born in Orlando, Florida, USA ~ Best known as member of Puddle Of Mudd. Member of Devereux. Touring member of Eve To Adam. Latiff also served as lead singer of Nirvana-tribute band Heart-Shaped Box as well as of Vanilla Women
March 24, 1979 ~ In its 7th week on the charts, Tragedy by the Bee Gees hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Maurice Gibb wrote Tragedy this song in an afternoon off from making the Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band movie. They wrote Too Much Heaven and Shadow Dancing on the same day, the former another American No.1 hit for the trio, the latter a No.1 hit for their brother Andy Gibb. Tragedy is perhaps one of their most memorable from their disco days. The large boom heard on the song is Barry Gibb, who also sings lead, cupping his hands over a microphone while making an explosive noise with his mouth, emulating a thunderclap soundMarch 24, 1979 ~ Shamar Gardner, commonly known as rapper Vordul Mega, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Forms the underground hip hop duo Cannibal Ox with Vast Aire. Member of the Atoms Family. Released his The Revolution Of Yung Havoks solo debut album in 2004. Has guested on recordings by Billy Woods, C-Ray Walz, and Mighty Joseph
March 24, 1977 ~ Songwriter, singer Natalie Hemby born in Bloomington, Illinois, USA ~ Member of Highwomen, alongside Amanda Shires, Brandi Carlile, and Maren Morris. As a songwriter co-penned songs recorded by Lee Ann Womack, the Eli Young Band, Miranda Lambert (Only Prettier), Sunny Sweeney (Uninvited), Lady Gaga, Carrie Underwood (Play On), Kelly Clarkson (Good Goes The Bye), Sheryl Crow (Stay At Home Mother), Toby Keith (Drinks After Work), Brett Eldredge, Lady Antebellum (Downtown), Keith Urban, Little Big Town (Tornado), Amy Grant, Blake Shelton, Halestorm (What Sober Could Not Say), Jana Kramer, Kacey Musgraves (Velvet Elvis), Nelly Furtado (Tap Dancing), and Lucie Silvas
March 24, 1975 ~ Singer, bassist, guitarist, pianist, composer Dean Roberts born ~ Formed the short-lived mid 1990s free noise trio Thela with Dion Workman and Rosy Parlane, with whom he recorded the albums Untitled and its follow-up Argentina. Following the group's disbandement, Roberts has embarked on a solo career releasing some dozen albums since, the first few going by the monniker White Winged Moth before recording under his given name. Experimenting with electroacoustics, minimalism, and progressive rock, Roberts is especially acclaimed for his 2003 Be Mine Tonight album. Roberts was also a member of experimental trio Autistic Daughters, and has collaborated with the likes of Matt Valentine, Eugene Chadbourne, and Thurston Moore ~ Roberts passed away in 2024March 24, 1971 ~ Alternative rock, electronica singer, producer, songwriter JS Clayden, full name Jonathan Seth Clayden, born ~ Lead singer of Pitchshifter, co-founded in 1989 with his brother bassist Mark D Clayden. Closely associated with Dave Jerden, Jello Biafra. Has remixed for the Stereophonics, Prong, Clawfinger, and Pigface
March 24, 1970 ~ Vincent Lamont Mason Jr, comonly known as singer, rapper Pasemaster Mase, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known as one third of De La Soul alongside Posdnuos and Trugoy the Dove. The trio played a key role in the birth of jazz rap and alternative hip-hop, their 1989 3 Feet High & Rising debut album considered a landmark album and a hip-hop masterpieceMarch 24, 1970 ~ Violinist Sharon Corr born in Dundalk, Ireland ~ Best known as co-founding member of sibling outfit the Corrs, alongside Jim Corr, Caroline Corr, and Andrea Corr. Debuted as a solo artist in 2009 with the single It's Not A Dream, followed by a full-length album, Dream Of You, soon after. Has collaborated with Bryn Terfel, Alex Ubago, Jean-Michel Jarre, and Damien Leith
March 24, 1965 ~ Pop, jazz, jazz fusion bassist Patrick Scales born in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, West Germany ~ Best known as a member of Klaus Doldinger's band Passport, joining the band in 1994. Also recorded as a solo artist and is an in-demand collaborator working with artists such as Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley, Chuck Loeb, Randy Brecker, Terri Lyne Carrington, Johnny Griffin, Benny Bailey, Bob Mintzer, Claudio Roditi, Roy Ayers, and Peter O'Mara
March 24, 1964 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Patterson Hood, full name Patterson David Hood, born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, USA ~ Best known for co-founding the Drive-by Truckers with longtime musicial buddy Mike Cooley in 1996. Also formed Downtown 13, which included a number of Truckers bandmates as well as Widespread Panic's John Bell and Todd Nance and REM's Mike Mills. Released a number of solo albums, starting with 2004's Killers & Stars. Son of longtime the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section bassist David Hood
March 24, 1963 ~ Jazz, free jazz trumpeter, composer Dave Douglas born in Montclair, New Jersey, USA ~ Leader and sideman active since the 1980s. Notable ensembles include the Dave Douglas Quintet, Sound Prints, Present Joys, High Risk, and Engage. Co-founded the Festival of New Trumpet Music, consisting of concerts and workshops over a two week period held annualy in New York since 2003. Has collaborated with the likes of Don Byron, Tim Berne, Marty Ehrlich, Uri Caine, John Zorn, Cuong Vu, New & Used, Orange Then Blue, Anthony Braxton, Suzanne Vega, Sheryl Crow, Myra Melford, and Joe LovanoMarch 24, 1963 ~ Trumpeter, producer, songwriter Eric Vloeimans born in Huizen, the Netherlands ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Mercer Ellington, Frank Foster, Marc Johnson, Joey Baron, John Taylor, Kinan Azmeh, Michiel Borstlap, Lars Danielsson, Jimmy Haslip, Joe LaBarbera, Nguyn Le, Ernst Reijseger, Bugge Wesseltoft, Kyteman, Michel Banabila, Florian Weber, and Juan Pablo Dobal
March 24, 1962 ~ Jazz, dixieland pianist, bandleader Jean Goldkette, full name John Jean Goldkette, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Led the Victor Recording Orchestra during the mid- to late 1920s, which at times included Bix Beiderbecke, Hoagy Carmichael, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Eddie Lang, Chauncey Morehouse, Don Murray, and Spiegle Willcox ~ Goldkette was born in 1893
March 24, 1962 ~ Irene Louise Rosnes, commonly known as jazz pianist, arranger, songwriter Renee Rosnes, born in Regina, Canada ~ Leader and sidewoman. Classically trained. Close to two dozen albums to her name as leader or co-leader. First gained attention in the mid-1980s, backing tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson. Would go on to work with Wayne Shorter, JJ Johnson, and notably James Moody, working with the latter for about two decades until his death in 2010. Co-founded the SF Jazz Collective. Other notable credits include the Drummonds, Ron Carter, Jon Faddis, Renée Fleming, Marian McPartland, Gerald Wilson, and Niels-Henning Ørsted PedersenMarch 24, 1961 ~ Jazz pianist, singer Freddy Johnson passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity especially in the 1930s playing mostly swing style. Previously Johnson had served as Florence Mills' accompanist in the mid 1920s before seeking out collaborations with the likes of Elmer Snowden, Billy Fowler, Henri Saparo, Noble Sissle, and Sam Wooding. Johnson spent a significant portion of his career touring and recording in Europe, including notably recording with the Quintette du Hot Club and performing with Coleman Hawkins in the Netherlands. While residing in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Johnson would be arrested in 1941 by the Nazis, who banned black music, and be interned till near the end of the war when he was repatriated to America. After the war, Johnson would most notably work with Garvin Bushell, before focusing primarily on his work as a piano and vocal coach ~ Johnson was born in 1904
March 24, 1961 ~ Punk rock, hardcore punk, alternative rock, indie rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Kevin Seconds born in Sacramento, California, USA ~ Lead singer, co-founding member and along with his baby brother Steve Youth sole constant member of influential outfit 7 Seconds, arguably the first band to describe themselves as hardcore punk. The band would be active from 1979 through 2018. Also enjoyed a lengthy parallel solo career and has collaborated with the likes of the Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba and Lay It On The Line's Mike Scott
March 24, 1960 ~ Gabriele Susanne Kerner, commonly known as pop singer Nena, born in Hagen, West Germany ~ One of the most successful exponents of the Neue Deutsche Welle in the 1980s. Known for hits such as Nur Getraumt, 99 Luftballons and Irgendwie Irgendwo Irgendwann
March 24, 1957 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Carson Robison, full name Carson Jay Robison, passed away in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA ~ Though largely forgotten, Robison played an important role in the early development of country music, especially noted for his years with pianist Frank Luther scoring hits from the late 1920s through the early 1930s. Robison also performed and recorded as a solo artist, and is reportedly one of the first country artists to tour UK from the early 1930s onward. Robison's 1942 reworking of the standard Turkey In The Straw, with new lyrics relating to World War II, would be one of the major hits of the year. In his native America, Robison is perhaps most known for his 1948 recording of Life Gets Tee-jus Don't It. Robison is also specifically noted for accompanying Vernon Dalhart, including notably on the landmark recordings The Wreck Of The Old '97 and The Prisoner's Song ~ Robison was born in 1890March 24, 1955 ~ Progressive rock guitarist Mark Hewins born ~ Active since the early 1970s. Closely associated with many Canterbury scene musicians. Released his solo debut album, The Electric Guitar, in 1987. Has worked with Phil Collins, John Martyn, Richard Sinclair, Soft Heap, Gong, Caravan Of Dreams, Dennis González, Andrew Cyrille, Tritonik, Fred Frith, and Dudu Pukwana
March 24, 1954 ~ Jazz cellist, singer Hank Roberts born in Terre Haute, Indiana, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Emerged from the 1980s New York jazz scene, merging rock, jazz, avant-garde, folk and classical influences. Closely associated with Bill Frisell and Tim Berne. Has also worked with the Arcado String Trio, Miniature, Alex Cline, Marilyn Crispell, Edmar Casteñeda, Buffalo Collision, and Donald Rubinstein
March 24, 1954 ~ Jazz bassist Steve LaSpina, full name Steven Frank LaSpina, born in Wichita Falls, Texas, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Bunky Green, Larry Novak, Joe Daly, Chet Baker, Marian McPartland, Mel Lewis, Stan Getz, Jim Hall, Andy Laverne, Benny Carter, Toots Thielemans, Joe Williams, Dave Liebman, Richie Beirach, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Pat Martino, Tommy Flanagan, Marc Copland, Billy Drewes, Jim McNeely, Dave Ballou, Fred Hersch, Bem Moeder, Nick Brignola, John Tchicai, and Marlene VerplanckMarch 24, 1954 ~ Singer Wanda Jackson records You Can't Have My Love in Hollywood, California ~ Written by Billy Gray, Chuck Harding, Marty Roberts and Mark Thompson. Produced by Tom Mack. Released as single, with Lovin' Country Style on the flip side, the following May. The single would reach the top 10 of Billboard's country chart. At the time Wanda Jackson was just 17 years old
March 24, 1952 ~ Protopunk, hard rock, synth-pop singer, guitarist, bassist Ian North born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of glam, power pop outfit Milk 'n Cookies, known for their 1974 eponymous Milk 'n Cookies album which initially failed to make an impact, strained by a record company unsure of how to market this band, but which later became a cult classic ~ North passed away in 2021
March 24, 1951 ~ Douglas Campbell Thomson, commonly known as bassist Dougie Thomson, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Member of the Alan Bown Set. Joined Supertramp in 1972, initially as a temporary stand-in and becoming an official full-time member the following year remaining until the band's hiatus in 1988. Present on the band's best known including UK top 20 hits such as Dreamer, The Logical Song and Breakfast In America