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, 1991 ~ Pianist Eileen Joyce, full name Eileen Alannah Joyce, passed away in Redhill, UK ~ Popular in the 1930s and 1940s and at her peak compared in popular esteem to Gracie Fields and Vera Lynn. Drew comparisons to Clara Schumann, Sophie Menter and Teresa Carreño ~ Joyce was born in 1908
March 25, 1991 ~ Royal G Bryant, commonly known as jazz tenor, alto saxophonist Rusty Bryant, passed away in Columbus, Ohio, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Known for his 1952 recording All Nite Long. Worked with Tiny Grimes, Stomp Gordon, Hank Marr, Nancy Wilson, Richard Groove Holmes, Boogaloo Joe Jones, Johnny Hammond Smith, Charles Kynard, and Sonny Phillips ~ Bryant was born in 1929
March 25, 1991 ~ Alexander Balos Williams, commonly known as trombonist Sandy Williams, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for his work with Chick Webb and with Ella Fitzgerald. Also played with Claude Hopkins, Horace Henderson, Fletcher Henderson, Cootie Williams, Sidney Bechet, Duke Ellington, Art Hodes, and Roy Eldridge ~ Williams was born in 1906
March 25, 1988 ~ Sean Michael Leonard Anderson, commonly known as rapper Big Sean, born in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Discovered by Kanye West. Released his full-length Finally Famous solo debut album in 2011. Featured on hits such as West's Mercy, Lil Wayne's My Homies Still and Justin Bieber's As Long As You Love Me. As a solo artist known for the Billboard top 10 hits Dance (A$$) featuring Nicki Minaj and Bounce Back. Has also worked with Twenty 88, Royce da 5'9", Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa, French Montana, Ariana Grande, Eminem, Metro Boomin', and Ty Dolla $ign
March 25, 1987 ~ Country singer, songwriter Meghan Patrick born in Bowman Ville, Canada ~ Cites Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris and Aretha Franklin as influences. Has collaborated with Rodney Clawson, Gord Bamford, Chantal Kreviazuk, Marty Dodson, and Patricia Conroy. Releases her full-length debut album, Grace & Grit, in 2016. Best known for songs such as Still Loving You featuring Joe Nichols, Country Music Made Me Do It, Walls Come Down and Wild As Me, all of which reached top 10 on the Canadian country charts
March 25, 1985 ~ In its 8th week on the charts, One More Night by Phil Collins hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ In this soft rock ballad, a formula that worked well for Phil Collins, the singer pleads with a lover to give him “one more night” to prove his devotion. The song would reach top 10 in several countries, including the No.1 spot in Canada and America. Collins later stated the song just came to him: “I had a tempo in mind. I was thinking of one of the Jacksons' songs actually when I strung a chorus on it. The line ‘one more night’ just fit what I was playing. The rest of the song was written very quickly”
March 25, 1982 ~ Pop singer, songwriter David Bustamante, full name David Bustamante Hoyos, born in San Vicente de la Barquera, Spain ~ First gained attention in 2001 as contestant on the talent contest Operación Triunfo, reaching third place. Has since recorded to commercial succes, selling over 2 million records with 9 of his albums reaching top of the charts in his native Spain. Well known songs include Además De Ti, El Aire Que Me Das, Perdó;name with Luis Fonsi, Gitanas, Cobarde, and FelizMarch 25, 1981 ~ Synth-pop singer, guitarist Cato Sundberg born in Drammen, Norway ~ Member of Donkeyboy, known for their 2009 Caught In A Life debut album and its 2012 follow-up Silver Moon. Two of the debut album's singles, Ambitions and Sometimes, would top the singles charts in the band's native Norway
March 25, 1980 ~ Alternative rock organist Daniel Haglund born in Falun, Sweden ~ Co-founded Butler at age 15. The band would be renamed to Mando Jao, and later still to Mando Diao as the band felt that would offer a better English pronunciation. Present on the band's 2002 Bring 'Em In debut, an album warmly received by critics for its blend of garage rock revival and Brit-pop inspired melodies with touches of mod, soul, and R&B. Haglund departed the band in 2004 to work as a music and German teacher. Shortly thereafter the band would record and release their breakthrough album. Since 2008 Haglund has played intermittently with the band
March 25, 1980 ~ Pianist, conductor, teacher Walter Susskind, full name Jan Walter Susskind, passed away in Berkeley, California, USA ~ While in Amsterdam for a piano recital, Germany invaded his native Czechoslovakia. On advise from his mother he decided not to return home, but flee to the UK. Susskind would go on to become a sought-after conductor, working with renowned orchestras in his adopted homeland the UK, Australia, the USA, and Canada, where he founded the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in 1960. Although Susskind, a naturalised Brit, spent considerable periods of time outside of Britain, he said he would never dream of giving up his British citizenship. Susskind's mother would be interned by the Nazis, but survived the war ~ Susskind was born in 1913March 25, 1979 ~ Drummer Franco Manzecchi passed away in Konstanz. West Germany ~ Italian-born drummer who through a series of stops ended up in France by the late 1950s, where he became a valued sticksman on the Paris jazz scene playing with various local ensembles and visiting jazz artists. Following heart surgery, he largely retired from music by the mid 1970s. Manzecchi has appeared on recordings by Chet Baker, André Hodeir, Eraldo Volonté, Eric Dolphy (Naima), and Clark Terry ~ Manzecchi was born in 1931
March 25, 1979 ~ Michael Martinez, commonly known as hip-hop, alternative hip-hop rapper, producer Onry Ozzborn, born in Farmington, New Mexico, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member of several alternative hip-hop groups including Grayskull, Dark Time Sunshine, and Oldominion. Over half a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, particularly acclaimed for Alone released in 2001. In-demand collaborator for the likes of Dim Mak, Snafu, Rudy & the Rhetoric, Grand Tapestry, and Aesop Rock
March 25, 1979 ~ Sultan Banks, commonly known as hip-hop producer, rapper Traxamillion, born in San Jose, California, USA ~ First gained attention producing Super Hyphy, a moderate 2005 hit on the hyphy circuit for Keak da Sneak. Banks has released about half a dozen mixtapes and albums, notably The Slapp Addict album in 2006, and has produced tracks for Mistah FAB, Brooke Hogan (About Us), MC Lars, Drew Deezy, and Clyde Carson. Banks passed away at age 42 of cancer, while in hospice care at his aunt's home ~ Banks passed away in 2022March 25, 1979 ~ Rock band Van Halen kick off their World Vacation Tour at the Selland Arena, Fresno, California ~ With their 1978 debut album having sold over a million copies within its first year, the band embark on their first full headlining tour. Critics would praise them for their well choreographed and “irresistibly entertaining” show. The band play a little over a 100 dates across North America, Europe, and Japan in support of their Van Halen II sophomore album, to conclude the tour in early October at the Forum, a venue in Inglewood, California, where brothers Alex van Halen and Eddie Van Halen lived
March 25, 1976 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Chris Murphy, full name Christopher Bryce Scooby Murphy, born in Australia ~ Gained widespread attention in 2006 as contestant on the talent show Australian Idol, reaching 4th place. Would release a full-length eponymous Chris Murphy album the following year. Fronted Murphy's Lore since 1993, known for the albums People In Grass Houses, Best Laid Plans and The Universe Conspires. The band has opened for acts such as Jimmy Barnes and Daryl Braithwaite
March 25, 1975 ~ Singer Melanie Blatt, full name Melanie Ruth Blatt, born in London, UK ~ Rose to fame as member of girl group All Saints, known for hits such as Never Ever, Bootie Call, Pure Shores and Black Coffee. As a solo artist scored a UK top 20 hit with Do Me Wrong in 2003. Has also collaborated with Artful Dodger, and Outsidaz
March 25, 1975 ~ Bassist, songwriter, producer, author Tony Grey, full name Antony Phillip Grey, born in Newcastle, UK ~ Worked with Hiromi, John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Reeves Gabrels, Kelly Buchanan, Naveen Kumar, Tomoyasu Hotei, Gavin Degraw, Dennis Chambers, Bill Evans, Zack Alford, Zakir Hussain, Grégoire Maret, Gary Husband, Mino Cinélu, Brian Blade, Mike Stern, Karsh Kale, Wayne Krantz, Dave Holland, Mark Giuliana, Kenwood Dennard, David Fiuczynski, Fabrizio Soti, Raymond Angry, Gene Lake, Chris Dave, Faiguni, Reb Beach, Deantoni Parks, Lionel Loueke, and Oli Rockberger
March 25, 1974 ~ Alternative rock, electronica, trip hop, reggae fusion singer, guitarist Finley Quaye born in Edinburgh, UK ~ Son of vaudeville pianist Cab Kaye. Half-brother of guitarist Caleb Quaye. Debuted in 1997 with the album Maverick A Strike. It spawned the hits Sunday Shining, It's Great When We're Together and Even After All, the latter reaching the UK top 10. Has collaborated with A Guy Called Gerald, William Orbit (Dice), Timo Maas, Cathy Claret, Ava Leigh, and Christopher Chaplin
March 25, 1972 ~ Singer Vicky Leandros wins the 17th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Edinburgh, UK with her performance of Après Toi ~ Representing Luxembourg, Vicky Leandros wins with the song Après Toi written by Leo Leandros, Klaus Munro and Yves Dessca. Runner-ups were the UK's the New Seekers with Beg Steal Or Borrow in second place, and Germany's Mary Roos with Nur Die Liebe Lässt Uns Leben in thirdMarch 25, 1971 ~ Alternative metal, alternative rock bassist Michael McKeegan, full name Michael Robert McKeegan, born in Lame, Northern Ireland ~ Best known as co-founding member of Therapy, and along with Andy Cairns the only original member still with the band. Has also worked with Evil Priest, the Sons Of Massey and the Gemils
March 25, 1969 ~ Bandleader Billy Cotton, full name William Edward Cotton, passed away in London, UK ~ Popular bandleader from the 1920s onwards and one of the few to remain popular after the British dance band era and well into the 1950s. Known for songs such as Somebody Stole My Gal. Also appeared in a number of films starting in the 1930s ~ Cotton was born in 1899
March 25, 1969 ~ House, dance, dance-pop singer, songwriter Cathy Dennis born in Norwich, UK ~ Rose to fame as singer with D-Mob, notably present on the 1989 single C'mon And Get My Love which is considered an underground dance classic. Released her solo debut album Move To This in 1990. Known for songs such as Just Another Dream, Touch Me All Night Long and Too Many Wails. Would go on to become an in-demand songwriter. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Bumper To Bumper for the Spice Girls, Before Your Love for Kelly Clarkson, and I Kissed A Girl for Katy PerryMarch 25, 1967 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones kick off their European tour at the Idrottens Hus, Helsingborg, Sweden ~ The band plays a little over two dozen shows across nine countries through mid-April, in support of the Between The Buttons album and particularly the singles Let's Spend The Night Together and Ruby Tuesday. The tour would also mark one of the first times a Western rock act played behind the Iron Curtain as they do two shows in Warsaw. Visitors were told to behave or they would be removed from the venue, however, a riot broke out. Soviet officials were not pleased and it would be a long while before the Stones would return to Eastern Europe
March 25, 1967 ~ In its 7th week on the charts, Happy Together by the Turtles hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Contrary to what the title implies, Happy Together is not a song about a couple in love, but rather about unrequited love as the singer imagines “how the world could be so very fine, if I should call you up”. At the fade out of the song the singer apparently realizes though it will never be and reverts into small talk about the weather. The song was written by Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon, who pitched the song to several acts before the Turtles grabbed it. It would become their biggest hit and sole Billboard Hot 100 No.1 song. A few months after Happy Together topped the charts, the Turtles would score another hit written by the same songwriters when She'd Rather Be With Me peaked at No.3 Billboard Hot 100. Other artists who recorded songs written by the same team would include Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Petula Clark, Three Dog Night (Celebrate), Michelle Phillips, and Barbra Streisand
March 25, 1967 ~ Flamenco guitarist, composer Vicente Amigo, full name Vicente Amigo Girol, born in Guadalcanal, Spain ~ Closely associated with Manolo Sanlúcar. Accompanied singers such as El Pele, Camarón de la Isla, and Luis de Córdoba. Served as producer for Remedios Amaya and José Mercé. As a solo artist best known for his 2000 Ciudad De Las Ideas album. Has also collaborated with Miguel Bosé, Pedro Aznar, Nacho Cano, Josh Groban, Alberto Iglesias, Alejandro Sanz, Sting, and Potito