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 27, 2026 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Jon Dee Graham passed away ~ In 1978, Graham dropped out of college to join the Skunks, replacing original member Eddie Munoz, yet frustrated by having only minimal input in the band's creative direction he departed the band the following year. Stints with blues singer Lou Ann Barton, Five Spot, and the Lift followed until he joined Alejandro Escovedo in the True Believers in 1984. Although the roots-rock outfit quickly became a critics darling and captivated audiences across Texas, they were dropped by their label with their already recorded sophomore album never released. Shortly thereafter, the band disbanded and Graham relocated to Los Angeles to find emply as a sideman for the likes of X frontman John Doe, Michelle Shocked, and Patty Smyth. Following a European tour with blues-rocker Calvin Russell, Graham found his way back to Austin where he accepted a job in construction, disillusioned with the music industry. However, singer Kelly Willis persuaded Graham to return to the stage. Although Graham never became a household name, not outside Texas anyway, in his native Austin he eventually reached legendary status for his membership of two pivotal bands, the Skunks and the True Believers, and for over half a dozen solo albums starting with Escape From Monster Island in 1997, drawing from punk, rock and country, and noted for his distinctive narrative songwriting. Although Graham's stint with the Skunks, considered pioneers of cowpunk, was short, and the True Believers only released the one album, it was his time with the former which gave Graham his punk cred while with the latter Graham developed his skill as a songwriter. As a sideman and collaborator, Graham has appeared on albums by Exene Cervenka, Susan Voelz (13 Ribs), the Silos, Kacy Crowley, the Gourds (Stadium Blitzer), Jim Roll, Toni Price, Jack Ingram, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Eliza Gilkyson, Omar & the Howlers, Robyn Ludwyck, James McMurtry, and Ry Cooder. Graham would be inducted in the Austin Music Hall of Fame thrice, as a solo artist in 2000, as a member of the Skunks in 2008, and finally as a member of roots-rock outfit the True Believers in 2009 ~ Graham was born in 1959
March 27, 2023 ~ Peggy Stoutmeyer, commonly known as blues, R&B, gospel singer Peggy Scott-Adams, passed away in Pensacola, Florida, USA ~ Toured with Ben E King as a teenager. Recorded a number of duet singles with Jo Jo Benson during the late 1960s, notably Lovers Holiday, Pickin' Wild Berries and Soulshake. Reemerged nearly three decades later, brought back to the studio by singer and producer Jimmy Lewis, leading to a full-length critically acclaimed Help Yourself debut album in 1996. Has recorded a little over half a dozen blues, R&B and gospel albums since ~ Stoutmeyer was born in 1948March 27, 2017 ~ Jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe, full name Arthur Murray Blythe, passed away in Lancaster, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Chico Hamilton, Gil Evans, Lester Bowie, Jack DeJohnette, McCoy Tyner, Steve Reid, the Leaders, Synthesis, Santi Debriano, Joey Baron, Jack DeJohnette, Chico Freeman, the Music Revelation Ensemble, the World Saxophone Quartet, and Interface ~ Blythe was born in 1940
March 27, 2017 ~ Curtis Clemens, commonly known as singer Clem Curtis, passed away in Olney, UK ~ Singer, founding member of the Foundations, known for songs such as Baby Now That I've Found You, Build Me Up Buttercup, Back On My Feet Again, and Any Old Time (You're Lonely & Sad) ~ Curtis was born in 1940
March 27, 2013 ~ Gospel, country, rock & roll singer Gordon Stoker passed away in Brentwood, Tennessee, USA ~ Longtime member of the Jordanaires, a vocal group credited most with bringing black spirituals to white audiences. The group is also known for touring with Mahalia Jackson, one of the first interracial gospel pairings, as a backing vocal group for Elvis Presley on classic recordings such as (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear, (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care, King Creole, I Got Stung, GI Blues, and Return To Sender, and for backing Patsy Cline on all of her Decca Records-sessions including Crazy, I Fall To Pieces, Walkin' After Midnight and She's Got You ~ Stoker was born in 1924March 27, 2010 ~ Bandleader Peter Herbolzheimer, full name Peter Alexandru Herbolzheimer, passed away in Cologne, Germany ~ Founded and led the Rhythm Combination And Brass big band which accompanied artists such as Esther Phillips, Stan Getz, Nat Adderley, Gerry Mulligan, Toots Thielemans, Clark Terry, and Albert Mangelsdorff. Served as musical director of Germany's youth orchestra, the Bundes Jazz Orchester, from 1987 to 2006 ~ Herbolzheimer was born in 1935
March 27, 2006 ~ Rock, hard rock, blues, country, R&B bassist, guitarist, singer, songwriter Peter Wells, full name Peter William Wells, passed away in Sydney, Australia ~ Co-founding member, bassist for Buffalo, a band considered influential in the development of Australia's heavy metal, pub rock and psychedelic rock movements. When the band folded in 1976, Wells formed Rose Tattoo, with whom he recorded three albums. The band is perhaps best known for their Bad Boy For Love hit single taken of their 1978 Rose Tattoo debut album. Wells also recorded as a solo artist and with Blues Hangover ~ Wells was born in 1946
March 27, 2002 ~ Actor, comedian, singer, composer Dudley Moore, full name Dudley Stuart John Moore, passed away in Plainsfield, New Jersey, USA ~ Best known as leading figure in the UK's late 1960s satire boom and an in-demand comedy actor, notably in 1981's Arthur earning him an Academy Award nomination. Also an accomplished pianist, often with a satirical or comic twist and noted for the mid 1960s singles Goodbye-ee and The Ballad Of Spotty Muldoon both in collaboration with Peter Cook ~ Moore was born in 1935
March 27, 2000 ~ Singer, songwriter Ian Dury, full name Ian Robins Dury, passed away in London, UK ~ Emerged among wave of punk, punk-pop, early new wave though none of the era's idioms fitted him. Known for his wordplay and lyrical prowess including complex rhyming akin to rap. Debuted in 1977 with the New Boots & Panties album. Known for Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, the Gene Vincent-tribute Sweet Gene Vincent and perhaps his best known Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick ~ Dury was born in 1942March 27, 1997 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer, songwriter Aaron Collins passed away in California, USA ~ Member of the Jacks, known for 1955's Why Don't You Write Me. Member of the Cadets, known for the 1956 hit Stranded In The Jungle. Member of the Flares, known for Foot Stomping released in 1961. As a solo artist released a sole solo album, 1957's Calypso USA, which included the singles Pretty Evey and Rum Jamaica Rum ~ Collins was born in 1930
March 27, 1993 ~ Clifford Laconia Jordan, commonly known as tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Blues-infused be-bop saxophonist. Well over two dozen albums to his name as a leader, starting in the mid 1950s. Especially acclaimed for Blowing In From Chicago released in 1957 and In The World released in 1969. Along with Eric Dolphy, Jordan backed Charles Mingus on his 1964 European tour. As a sideman Jordan appears on albums by Johnny Griffin (A Blowin' Session), Sonny Clark, Lee Morgan, JJ Johnson, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Pony Poindexter (Pony's Express), Charles McPherson, Joe Zawinul, Cedar Walton (The Electic Boogaloo Song), Hugh Lawson, Dizzy Reece (Manhattan Project), Mal Waldron, and Carmen McRae ~ Jordan was born in 1931March 27, 1990 ~ Kimbra Lee Johnson, mononymously known as pop singer Kimbra, born in Hamilton, New Zealand ~ Influenced by Prince, Björk, and Jeff Buckley. Debuted in 2011 with the album Vows, spawning the hits Settle Down, Cameo Lover, Two Way Street. Internationally perhaps best known as featured vocalist on Gotye's 2012 global monster-hit Somebody That I Used To Know. Has also worked with John Legend, Nelly Furtado, and Jacob Collier
March 27, 1989 ~ Pop outfit Simply Red release If You Don't Know Me By Now, lifted off their A New Flame album ~ Written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the song would first be recorded in 1972 by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass on lead vocals. Fondly remembered to this day, the original version would retrospectively be acknowledged as one of the songs that defined Philly soul. When Simply Red covered the track for their third studio album, Music Week predicted a sure fire winner, stating “top-notch purveyors of smooth soul Simply Red deliver(ed) this excellent version of the Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes classic”. They would be right, as If You Don't Know Me By Now earned the band a Grammy Award for Best R&B song and peaked at No.1 Billboard Hot 100. The Simply Red cover also reached top 10 in over a dozen other countries, including No.1 in Australia and New ZealandMarch 27, 1988 ~ Jessica Ellen Cornish, commonly known as pop, dance-pop, EDM, R&B, hip-hop singer, songwriter Jessie J, born in London, UK ~ Released her full-length debut album, Who You Are, in 2011 and has recorded to critical acclaim and commercial succes since. Known for songs such as Do It Like A Dude, Price Tag featuring BoB, Domino, It's My Party and Bang Bang featuring Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj
March 27, 1987 ~ Pop rock group U2 play a rooftop concert in Los Angeles to film their video for Where The Streets Have No Name, leading to surprised looks among some delighted onlookers, while other were upset because they were stopping traffic ~ The band play an impromptu mini-concert on the roof of the Republic Liquor Store on the corner of 7th and Main Street in Los Angeles, California. The band play Where The Streets Have No Name four times, film recordings of the performance to be used for their music video to accompany the single's release. The band also play People Get Ready, In God's Country, Sunday Bloody Sunday, and Pride (In The Name Of Love). The single Where The Streets Have No Name would reach top 20 Billboard Hot 100, while the video earned the band a Grammy Award for Best Performance Music Video. When asked whether the video concept was similar to the famous 1969 Apple Records rooftop concert by the Beatles, used in the movie Let It Be, Bono stated: “We've ripped off the Beatles many times before”March 27, 1984 ~ Singer, songwriter Laura Critchley born in Little Sutton, UK ~ Opened for the Sugababes and Boyzone. Duetted with Ronan Keating. Touring backing singer for Tom Jones. Released her Sometimes I debut album in 2007 to critical acclaim, which included the moderate indie hit Today's Another Day
March 27, 1983 ~ Swing double bassist Hank Wayland, full name Hank Frederic Gregson Wayland, passed away in California, USA ~ Fixture of the 1930s New York swing scene, playing in ensembles led by Benny Goodman, Red Norvo, Artie Shaw, Bunny Berigan, and Larry Clinton. After relocating to California by the mid 1940s, Wayland became a session musician for the likes of Eddie Miller and Wingy Manone active through the 1950s ~ Wayland was born in 1906
March 27, 1982 ~ Pac-Man Fever by Buckner & Garcia peaks at No.9 Billboard Hot 100, making the song the only one about a classic video game to reach the American top 10 ~ The title song of their Pac-Man Fever album, an album consisting entirely of songs about arcade video games, each song using sound effects from their respective corresponding game. The single would sell over a million copies, and be the only song about a video game to reach top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up single, Do The Donkey Kong lifted off the same album, would fail to reach the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No.103
March 27, 1976 ~ Psychedelic, ambient, electronic, experimental producer Adam Forkner born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Has been recording solo project since the early 2000s, going by the monikers VVRSSNN, White Rainbow and Airboy Express. Has also worked with World, Yume Bitsu, Surface Of Eceon, the Dirty Projectors, and Atlas SoundMarch 27, 1976 ~ Pianist, conductor, arranger, songwriter Leon Carr passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Wrote or co-wrote songs recorded by the likes of Harry James, Pearl Bailey (Hug Me A Hug Kiss Me A Kiss), Teresa Brewer, the Blossoms, the Cinderellas, Patti Page (Two Thousand Two Hundred Twenty Three Miles), Craig Alden, Brook Benton (Hotel Happiness), the Tymes, Ruby & the Romantics (Hey There Lonely Boy), Bobby Vinton, Bonnie Guitar, Tom Jones (The Young New Mexican Puppeteer), and Eydie Gormé ~ Carr was born in 1910
March 27, 1976 ~ Jazz, R&B saxophonist, songwriter Tia Fuller born in Aurora, Colorado, USA ~ Member of Beyoncé's all-female touring band in 2006. As a jazz leader debuted in 2005 with the album Pillar Of Strength and has recorded steadily since. Has worked with Esperanza Spalding, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jon Faddis, Sean Jones, Roy Haynes, Jon Batiste, Joe Budden, and Nancy Wilson
March 27, 1975 ~ Composer, conductor Arthur Bliss, full name Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss, passed away in London, UK ~ Influenced by Maurice Ravel, Igor Stravinsky, Les Six. Enjoyed popularity especially during the interbellum between World War I and II. Perhaps best known for his symphony A Colour Symphony, premiered in 1922 ~ Bliss was born in 1891
March 27, 1975 ~ Stacy Ann Ferguson, commonly known as singer Fergie born in Hacienda Heights, California, USA ~ Member of Wild Orchid. Rose to fame after joining Black Eyed Peas in 2001, which also marked a transgession for the band moving from alternative to a more radio-friendly, mainstream appeal and massive global success. Present on hits such as Let's Get It Started, Don't Phunk With My Heart, My Humps, I Gotta Feeling, Imma Be and Just Can't Get Enough. As a solo artist released her full-length album The Dutchess in 2006, spawning the Billboard top 10 hits London Bridge, Fergalicious featuring will.i.am, Glamorous featuring Ludacris and Big Girls Don't CryMarch 27, 1975 ~ Torch singer, songwriter, actress Gertrude Niesen passed away in Hollywood, California, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity in the 1930s and 1940s performing in musicals and films. Best remembered for recording the first version of Smoke Gets In Your Eyes in 1933, penned by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach and later covered by numerous artists including the Platters whose version topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958 ~ Niesen was born in 1911
March 27, 1974 ~ Bluegrass, country fiddler, mandolinist Aubrey Haynie born in Tampa, Florida, USA ~ Member of the Time Jumpers. Influenced by Chubby Wise. As a solo artist known for a handful of albums containing mostly self-penned songs, starting with Doin' My Time, released in 1997