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 25, 2026 ~ Darrel George Crofts, commonly known as folk pop, soft rock, pop rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Dash Crofts, passed away ~ Crofts got his nickname as a baby, when their mother entered him and his twin sister Dorothy Crofts in a baby beauty contest, thinking the pair would look even cuter when using the names “Dot & Dash”. Crofts would take up the piano at age five and switch to drums five years later. Crofts would first team up with saxophonist Jim Seals while still in high school. Following graduation, Crofts' father landed him a job but the teen would quit after one day and along with Seals move to California where the pair joined the Champs. Following a stint with the Champs bandmate Glen Campbell as Glen Campbell & the GC's, each went their own way. However, by the end of the decade, Crofts and Seals would team up as a duo, both on vocals and guitars, to score some of the most memorable soft rock hits of the 1970s. The pair would issue about a dozen albums, and provide vocals for the Charles Fox-composed soundtrack of the 1977 sports drama film One On One, before disbanding in 1983. Especially Summer Breeze and Diamond Girl, both of which reached No.6 Billboard Hot 100, endured well beyond the Seventies, the laidback tunes widely considered to have kickstarted the soft rock genre, and remain radio staples to this day. Although the pair were not overly religious, themes such as unity and love stood at the basis of their sound, a sound once described by noted music critic Robert Christgau as “classic folk-schlock”. Crofts himself has been known to comment to Record Mirror: “About the same time as people like Crosby Stills & Nash, we realized that we had to get out of the money-making aspect of loud rock & roll into some music which we really believed in” ~ Crofts was born in 1938March 25, 2025 ~ Engineer, producer, singer Terry Manning, full name Terry Don Manning, passed away in El Paso, Texas, USA ~ Best known as a producer and engineer, with an impressive resumé from the 1960s onwards. Over the course of his lengthy career, Manning has worked on albums by Isaac Hayes (Hot Buttered Soul), Billy Eckstine, Led Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin III), Albert King (Blues For Elvis (Albert King Does The King's Things)), Ronnie Milsap, Luther Ingram, the Staple Singers (Be Altitude (Respect Yourself)), Clarence Gatemouth Brown, ZZ Top (Fandango), George Thorogood, Jason & the Scorchers, Molly Hatchet, Alex Chilton, Joe Walsh, Johnny Winter, Rick Vito, Otis Clay, Joe Cocker, and Byther Smith. Manning also recorded two albums as a solo artist. His first, 1970's Home Sweet Home, originated from engineering a session for the Box Tops, working on a psychedelic version of the band's Choo Choo Train. Stax/Volt VP Al Bell was so enamored with the track, he pressured Manning into recording an entire solo album in the same jokingly vein. In 2013, Manning released his second and final solo album, West Texas Skyline (A Tribute To Bobby Fuller), a tribute to singer Bobby Fuller ~ Manning was born in 1947
March 25, 2024 ~ Christopher Thomas Allen, commonly known as new wave, synth-pop bassist Chris Cross, passed away ~ Member of Ultravox from 1974 through 1987, rejoining in 2008. The band enjoyed popularity in Europe especially during the 1980s, racking up about a dozen hits of which Vienna, All Stood Still and Dancing With Tears In My Eyes all reached top 10 in the band's native UK. Upon hearing of his death, bandmate Midge Ure described Cross as “the glue that held the band together, (and) the logic in the madness and the madness in our lives” ~ Allen was born in 1952
March 25, 2024 ~ Pop, soul singer, producer Humphrey Campbell passed away in Dronten, the Netherlands ~ Represented the Netherlands at the 1992 Eurovision Songfestival with the song Wijs Me De Weg, reaching 9th place. One of the backup singers was Ruth Jacott who would represent the Netherlands the next year, with Campbell as backup singer. Subsequently the two would form a longtime romantic relationship. Campbell has also served as producer, notably working with Jacott, Timeless, and Fluitsma & Van Tijn, and formed the close harmony sibling outfit CC Campbell with his brothers Charles Campbell and Carlo Campbell ~ Campbell was born in 1958
March 25, 2023 ~ Classical, film composer Christopher Gunning passed away in Hertfordshire, UK ~ To pop and rock audiences perhaps best known for the distinctive string arrangement on Colin Blunstone's 1972 hit Say You Don't Mind, and for the arrangements on several of singer Lynsey de Paul's singles including Won't Somebody Dance With Me and My Man And Me. However, Gunning is primarily a composer for orchestra, Gunning also serving as conductor with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for several of his symphonies, and a prolific TV and film composer including for nearly all of the Agatha Christie's Poirot TV films, the mystery series Rosemary & Thyme, and well over a dozen feature films including notably Under Suspicion, Firelight, and the Edith Piaf biopic La Vie En Rose, the latter of which earned Gunning a BAFTA Award ~ Gunning was born in 1944March 25, 2023 ~ Composer, producer Nick Lloyd Webber, full name Nicholas Lloyd Webber, passed away in Basingstoke, UK ~ Son of musical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Best known for scoring the BBC drama Love Lies & Records. Other well known compositions include a theatrical and symphonic production of The Little Prince based on the book of the same name by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and the 2017 musical Fat Friends The Musical ~ Webber was born in 1979
March 25, 2022 ~ R&B singer, keyboardist, bassist, percussionist, songwriter, producer Keith Martin's body found at his Quezon City, Philippines home ~ Influenced by the Jackson 5, Prince, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and Stevie Wonder, as well as jazz and funk. Close longtime friend of Johnny Gill, Stacy Lattisaw and Kenny Lattimore. Member of local group Masquerade which also included D'Extra Wiley of future II D Extreme fame. Backed MC Hammer on the Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em and Too Legit To Quit world tours. As a solo artist first gained attention with Never Find Someone Like You, featured in the Bad Boys soundtrack. Martin released his full-length It's Long Overdue debut album the following year, in 1995, and has recorded to mixed succes since ~ Martin was born in 1966
March 25, 2022 ~ Ambient, avant-garde, electronic turntablist, bassist, composer Philip Jeck passed away ~ Has been experimenting with electronics and turntablism since the 1980s, early on in his career focusing mostly on his work with dance and theatre companies including notably collaborating with Laurie Booth. As a recording artist known for a number of 1990s, 2000s albums including Surf, Stoke and especially acclaimed for his 2008 Sand album. Over the years Jeck has worked with the likes of Jah Wobble, Jaki Liebezeit, David Sylvian, Gavin Bryars, and Faith Coloccia ~ Jeck was born in 1952
March 25, 2022 ~ Alternative rock, punk rock, post-grunge drummer Taylor Hawkins, full name Oliver Taylor Hawkins passed away in Bogota, Colombia ~ Influenced by Phil Collins, Stewart Copeland, Stephen Perkins, Jim Gordon, and Neil Peart. Rose to fame as drummer of the Foo Fighters, with whom he recorded eight albums including the acclaimed The Colour And The Shape, There Is Nothing Left To Lose, and Wasting Light. Hawkins has also recorded three albums with his own band, Taylor Hawkins & the Coattail Riders, starting with the eponymous Taylor Hawkins & the Coattail Riders released in 2006, served as touring drummer for Sass Jordan and Alanis Morissette, and recorded with Birds Of Satan, Perry Farrell, Cat Power (You Are Free), Eric Avery, and Coheed & Cambria. Hawkins passed away at age 50 while scheduled to perform with the Foo Fighters later that night. The band later performed two tribute concerts in his honor, featuring an extensive list of guest musicians including John Paul Jones, Alex Lifeson, Paul McCartney, Lars Ulrich, Queen, Rush, Miley Cyrus, Joan Jett, and Alanis Morissette ~ Hawkins was born in 1972
March 25, 2021 ~ Rock bassist, music journalist Aleksandr Lipnitsky, full name Aleksandr Davidovich Lipnitsky, passed away in Moscow Oblast, Russia ~ Member of Soviet alternative rock group Zvuki Mu, which he co-founded in 1983 with lead singer Pyotr Mamonov and Aleksey Bortniychuk. The band is known for their absurdist lyrics and explosive on-stage presence. Lipnitsky remained with the band until 1990. Lipnitsky is also known as a music journalist, specialized in jazz, and radio and TV host ~ Lipnitsky was born in 1952March 25, 2021 ~ Double bassist, conductor, composer Paul W Whear, full name Paul William Whear, passed away ~ Composed for orchestras, bands, choir, vocal music, chamber music and organ. Whear had his works performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Cleveland Philharmonic, the Rochester Civic Orchestra, and the US Navy Band ~ Whear was born in 1925
March 25, 2019 ~ Jazz double bassist Lisle Atkinson, full name Lisle Arthur Atkinson, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Learned to play the violin as a child, switching to bass in his early teens. First gained attention backing Nina Simone through the mid 1960s, following his graduation fromr the Manhattan School of Music, New York. Present on several of Simone's best known albums including the 1964 live album Nina Simone In Concert and Pastel Blues issued the next year. Subsequently worked with Betty Carter through the mid 1970s, including on At The Village Vanguard. Atkinson is also well known for leading the Neo Bass Ensemble, formed in 1983 and noted for simultaneously featuring five bassists in its line-up. An in-demand session bassist throughout his career, Atkinson has appeared on albums by Walt Dickerson, Mary Lou Williams, Frank Strozier (Remember Me), Howard McGhee (Here Comes Freddy), Junior Cook, Horace Parlan, Richard Wyands (Then Here And Now), Roni Ben-Hur, Andrew Cyrille, Norman Simmons, Benny Carter (More Cookin'), Jeanne Lee (Natural Affinities), Hilton Ruiz, and Joshua Breakstone ~ Atkinson was born in 1940March 25, 2018 ~ Erik Sven Fernström, commonly known as rockabilly, rock singer, actor Jerry Williams, passed away in Taby, Sweden ~ Lead singer for 1960s outfit the Violents, known best for their Darling Nelly Grey hit single. Worked with Roadwork throughout the 1970s. As a solo artist, Williams is best known for Did I Tell You, a No.1 hit in his native Sweden in 1989 ~ Fernström was born in 1942
March 25, 2013 ~ Singer Ariana Grande releases The Way featuring Mac Miller, lead single off her Yours Truly debut album ~ Up to this point, Ariana Grande was known as an actress noted for her role on the Nickolodeon TV series Victorious. She had also issued a non-album single, Put Your Hearts Up, in 2011, a release she would later regret. The Way, however, would be her breakout single as a pop singer and widely anticipated the single would reach No.9 Billboard Hot 100, the first top 10 hit both for Grande and Mac Miller. The song was initially intended for Jordin Sparks, who co-wrote the song for her own album, yet as it remained sitting on the shelf for over a year, Grande took a stab it. Sparks would later comment how pleased she was with Grande's rendition: “I'm just so grateful somebody who can sing and actually interpret the lyrics is singing this.” Grande would score a dozen more Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits through the end of the decade
March 25, 2013 ~ Country singer Tim McGraw releases Highway Don't Care, a collaborative single with Taylor Swift lifted off McGraw's Two Lanes Of Freedom album ~ Issued as a collaborative single by Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw featuring Keith Urban on guitar. The song tells of a male narrator, McGraw, separated from his lover who is driving, while a song comes on the car radio, the lines sung by Swift. The highway doesn't care where she's going, but the narrator does. The song would win numerous accolades, including three American Country Awards, two CMA Awards, two BMI Awards, and a Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Duo or Group Performance. The single would reach No.4 Billboard Country, No.22 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. In an interview with Billboard, McGraw spoke of his song and Swift's contribution: “Taylor sang her ass off on that thing. This was also one of the first songs I found for this album, and I knew instantly I wanted Taylor on it. The great thing about Highway Don't Care is the perspective it's told from, her voice is the song coming through the radio”
March 25, 2009 ~ Country, soft rock singer, guitarist Dan Seals, full name Danny Wayland Seals, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Brother of Jim Seals. First gained attention as half of the 1970's duo England Dan & John Ford Coley with John Ford Coley, known for songs such as Simone, I'd Really Love To See You Tonight, Nights Are Forever Without You and Love Is The Answer. As a solo artist known for country hits such as Meet Me In Montana with Marie Osmond, Everything That Glitters Is Not Gold, Bop, You Still Move Me, I Will Be There, Three Time Loser, One Friend, Addicted, Big Wheels In The Moonlight, Love On Arrival, and Good Times ~ Seals was born in 1948March 25, 2009 ~ Percussionist Manny Oquendo passed away in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Worked with Eddie Palmieri, Carlos Valero, Luis del Campo, Juan El Boy Torres, Chano Pozo, Jose Budet, Juanito Sanabria, Marcelino Guerra, Jose Curbelo, Pupi Campo, Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, Vicentico Valldes, Conjunto Liber, Andy González, Eddie Palmieri, and Paul Quinichette ~ Oquendo was born in 1931
March 25, 2009 ~ Juan Alberto Ficicchia, commonly known a jazz drummer Tito Alberti, passed away in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Father of Soda Stereo-drummer Charly Alberti. Best known for founding Jazz Casino, fusing Caribbean steel drums with Latin jazz. Has also worked with Xavier Cugat, and Dámaso Pérez Prado ~ Ficicchia was born in 1923
March 25, 2008 ~ Singer, arranger Gene Puerling, full name Eugene Thomas Puerling, passed away in San Anselmo, California, USA ~ Founded and led both the Hi-Lo's and the Singers Unlimited. Known for his innovative use of harmony vocals, influencing numerous artists including Take 6, the King's Singers, the Manhattan Transfer, Chanticleer, GLAD, the Free Design and the Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson ~ Puerling was born in 1929
March 25, 2006 ~ Maria de Los Angeles de las Heraz Ortiz, commonly known as mariachi, canción melodica singer, actress Rocio Dúrcal, passed away in Torrelodones, Spain ~ Awarded a 2005 Latin Grammy Award, a lifetime achievement award for her contributions to the genre. Known for recordings such as La Guirnalda, Como Tu Mujer, Vestida De Banco, El Destino and Infiel. Worked with Juan Gabriel, Marco Antonio Solís, Luis Sanz, and Silvetti ~ De las Heras was born in 1944
March 25, 2004 ~ Radio DJ, nightclub DJ, producer, remixer Tom Wilson passed away ~ Closely associated with the Scottish dance music scene. Best known for his radio show Steppin' Out, aired on Radio Forth for over a dozen years starting in 1985. Nightclub DJ. Record producer, remixer, worked with artists such as N-Trance, the Time Frequency, Ice MC, Scooter, and DJ Dado ~ Wilson was born in 1951
March 25, 2001 ~ Delme Jones, commonly known as operatic baritone Delme Bryn-Jones, passed away ~ Originally a coal miner, abandoned his work as well as a prospect of a potential rugby career to study music. Debuted in 1959 with the Sadler's Wells Theatre in 1959. Would go on to work with the New Opera Company, the Welsh National Opera, and the San Francisco Opera ~ Jones was born in 1934
March 25, 1997 ~ Country singer, songwriter Stan Coster passed away in Manilla, Australia ~ Father of country singer Tracy Coster. Key figure in Australian country, Wrote or co-wrote dozens of songs recorded by Slim Dusty, including By A Fire Of Gidgee Coal, The Bushman's Song, and The Wobbly Boot Hotel. Others who recorded his songs include Buddy Williams, Joy McKean, John Williamson, and Gordon Parsons ~ Coster was born in 1930
March 25, 1996 ~ Country singer George Strait releases Blue Clear Sky, lead single off the album of the same name ~ Strait immediately took a liking to the song, but initially struggled with its title and lyrics. Bob DiPiero, one of the song's writers, would explain he got the line from the Forrest Gump film: “About halfway through the movie, Forest has a dialogue where he is talking about his girlfriend, Jenny. The dialogue went something like this, ‘Jenny was gone, then all of a sudden, out of the blue clear sky, she was back.’ Well, of course it's backwards. The real term is ‘out of the clear blue sky,’ but it grabbed my attention. The next day I was in a songwriting session with John Jarrard and Mark D Sanders. I told them about this backwards idea and we wrote Blue Clear Sky about how love seems unfindable and then out of the blue, you find it.” George Strait's single would reach No.1 Billboard CountryMarch 25, 1992 ~ Drummer Phillip Wilson passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as founding member of the Art Ensemble Of Chicago and as member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Formed jazz-rock band Full Moon with fellow Butterfield Band member Buzz Feiten, known for their 1972 eponymous Full Moon which is now considered one of the finest early jazz fusion works. Has also jammed with Jimi Hendrix and collaborated with artist such as the Last Poets, Fontella Bass, Olu Dara, Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Sam Lazar, Roscoe Mitchell, David Murray, Anthony Braxton, Carla Bley, Lester Bowie, and Bill Laswell. Wilson would be murdered at age 50 by Marvin Slater. The killer was caught after attention from the America's Most Wanted TV show and would be sentenced to 33 years in prison ~ Wilson was born in 1941