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 29, 2025 ~ Joseph Glenn Damron, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, banjoist, violinist Dick Damron, passed away in Lacombe, Canada ~ Regarded as one of the premier Canadian country singers drawing from rockabilly, honky-tonk, and gospel. Over the course of his six-decade career, starting in the early 1960s, Damron has recorded some two dozen albums, and scored over a dozen Canadian country top 10 singles including the No.1 hits Hitch Hikin', Countryfied, Rise 'n' Shine, On The Road, and Susan Flowers. Songs written by Damron have also been recorded by the likes of Charley Pride, George Hamilton IV (Countryfied), Wilf Carter, Terry Carisse, Orval Prophet, and the Rhythm Pals. Damron is also known as an author, having penned two fictional thrillers and his autobiography The Legend And The Legacy ~ Damron was born in 1934
March 29, 2025 ~ Actor, singer Richard Chamberlain, full name George Richard Chamberlain, passed away in Waimanalo, Hawaii, USA ~ Became a teen idol for playing the title role in 1960s TV series Dr Kildare. Scored a Billboard Hot 100 No.10 hit in 1962 with the show's Theme From Dr Kildare (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight) and would record on occasion throughout the 1970s. Chamberlain was also the first to record They Long To Be Close To You, penned by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, which fizzled yet at the turn of the 1970s became a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit and signature song for the Carpenters. Despite some success as a singer, Chamberlain would become best known as an actor, at times referred to as “the King of Miniseries”, noted specifically for leading roles in Dr Kildare, Shogun, and Thorn Birds. Over the course of his career, Chamberlain has appeared in over two dozen feature films, numerous TV series, and several stage plays including in the musical theatre ~ Chamberlain was born in 1935
March 29, 2024 ~ Gerald Conway, commonly known as rock, progressive rock, folk rock drummer Gerry Conway, passed away ~ Perhaps best known for his association with Cat Stevens during the 1970s, backing Stevens on a little over half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Tea For The Tillerman and Teaser & The Firecat, and as longtime member of Pentangle, which also included his wife singer Jacqui McShee. An in-demand sideman and collaborator, Conway has also appeared on albums by Eclection, Fairport Convention (What We Did On Our Holidays), Matthews Southern Comfort, Steeleye Span, Andy Roberts (Urban Cowboy), Keith Christmas, Sandy Denny, Shelagh McDonald, Mike McGear (McGear), Ralph McTell (Easy), Jethro Tull, Joan Armatrading, Richard Thompson, and John Martyn (No Little Boy) ~ Conway was born in 1947
March 29, 2023 ~ Singer Brian Gillis, also known as Brian Brizz Gillis, passed away ~ Early member of LFO (Lyte Funky Ones), remaining with the band through 1999. Present on the minor 1995 hit If I Can't Have You, a cover of the 1977 Yvonne Elliman disco hit. Frustrated however with the lack of progress the band had made, Gillis left the band in 1999 prior to recording the band's eponymous LFO (Lyte Funky Ones) debut album. The album would spawn the band's two biggest hits, Summer Girls and Girl On TV both reaching top 10 Billboard Hot 100. Following his departure from the band Gillis found employment as a radio promoter ~ Gillis was born in 1975March 29, 2023 ~ Charles Emanuel Sherrell, commonly known as R&B, funk bassist, guitarist, keyboardist Sweet Charles Sherrell, passed away ~ Best known for backing James Brown for the better part of two decades starting in 1968. Credited by Brown with being the first bassist to incorporate techniques such as thumping on the strings, essential to Brown's evolution from soul to funk. Notably present on Brown hits such as Say It Loud I'm Black And I'm Proud, Mother Popcorn and Give It Up Or Turn It Loose. Sherrell also recorded the unsuccessful For Sweet People From Sweet Charles solo album, backed Al Green, and worked with several Brown alumni including Marva Whitney, Lyn Collins, and extensively with Maceo Parker including on the latter's Funk Overload album ~ Sherrell was born in 1943
March 29, 2022 ~ Wolfrando Lavalan Jr, commonly known as rock, blues rock, alternative rock, progressive rock singer, guitarist Jun Lopito, passed away ~ Member of the Jerks alongside Pinoy rock legend Pepe Smith from the late 1970s through the early 1990s. Has also worked with Grace Nono, Tropical Depression, Sampaguita, and Pinikpikan. Released his Bodhisattvas solo debut album in 1995 ~ Lavalan was born in 1957
March 29, 2022 ~ Donald Orlando Shaw, commonly known as reggae singer Tabby Shaw, passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Formed roots reggae harmony group the Mighty Diamonds with Judge Ferguson and Bunny Simpson, best known for their 1976 The Right Time debut album. Originally recorded Pass The Kouchie in 1981, notably covered by pop-reggae outfit Musical Youth as Pass The Dutchie ~ Shaw was born in 1955
March 29, 2020 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Joe Diffie, full name Joe Logan Diffie, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Debuted in 1990 with the A Thousand Winding Roads album and would regularly reach the higher echelons of the country charts throughout the 1990s. Known for songs such as Home, If The Devil Danced In Empty Pockets, Third Rock From The Sun, Pickup Man and Bigger Than The Beatles, all of which topped the Billboard Country charts. In-demand songwriter, written or co-written songs recorded by Holly Dunn, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina. In-demand collaborator, worked with artists such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, George Jones, and Marty Stuart ~ Diffie was born in 1958March 29, 2020 ~ Composer, conductor Krzysztof Penderecki passed away in Kraków, Poland ~ Internationally acclaimed. Wrote operas, orchestral works, concertos, choral music, chamber music. Known best for works such as Threnody To The Victims Of Hiroshima, St Luke Passion, Polish Requiem, Anaklasis and Utrenja ~ Penderecki was born in 1933
March 29, 2019 ~ Angeline Rache de Lanerolle, commonly known as singer Angeline Gunathilake, passed away in Colombo, Sri Lanka ~ Dubbed “the Silver Bell of Sinhala cinema” working primarily as a playback singer for films (whereas the actresses would lip-sync) on over 5,000 songs ~ De Lanerolle was born in 1939
March 29, 2019 ~ Margaret Ann Lewis, commonly known as singer, songwriter Margaret Lewis, passed away in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA ~ Co-wrote songs for artists such as Dale Hawkins (La-Do-Dada), David Houston (Mountain Of Love), Margaret Whiting (I Almost Called Your Name), Jeannie C Riley (The Girl Most Likely), Dee Mullins (I Am The Grass), Johnny Adams (Reconsider Me), Connie Francis (Wedding Cake), and Peggy Scott (Soulshake) ~ Lewis was born in 1939
March 29, 2016 ~ Pop, rock pianist, singer, songwriter Andy Newman passed away ~ Member of Thunderclap Newman from 1969 to 1971, a band formed by the Who's Pete Townshend and producer Kit Lambert to showcase the talent of John Speedy Keen, Jimmy McCulloch and Newman. The band would top the UK charts with their single Something In The Air in 1969, taken of the band's sole Hollywood Dream studio album ~ Newman was born in 1942
March 29, 2016 ~ Rock, progressive rock, jazz fusion, classical drummer, actor, author Barney James passed away in Henley-on-Thames, UK ~ Best known as drummer for Warhorse. Has also worked with Rick Wakeman, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth), Dusty Springfield, PJ Proby, Billy Joel, Frank Zappa, Kenny Loggins, John Martyn, Kiki Dee, James Taylor, and Herbie Hancock ~ James was born in 1944
March 29, 2016 ~ Anna Marie Duke, commonly known as singer, actress Patty Duke, passed away in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, USA ~ Best known as an actress, notably in the 1962 film The Miracle Worker for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and for playing the role of “identical cousins” in her own The Patty Duke Show TV show which aired from 1963 through 1966. As a singer recorded occasionally, noted for the 1965 Billboard top 10 hit Don't Just Stand There ~ Duke was born in 1946March 29, 2016 ~ Singer, guitarist Phil Humphrey passed away in Minnesota, USA ~ Half of early 1960s duo the Fendermen, the other half being Jim Sundquist, best known for their single Mule Skinner Blues which reached the Billboard top 10 in 1960 ~ Humphrey was born in 1937
March 29, 2014 ~ Antonio Salas, commonly known as drummer Billy Mundi, passed away ~ Former Hells Angel. Timpanist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic before moving into studio work. Worked with Skip Battin's Skip & Flip, Tim Buckley, Frank Zappa and the Mothers Of Invention (Freak Out), Geoff Muldaur, Maria Muldaur, Mastin & Brewer, Earth Opera, and Rhinoceros ~ Mundi was born in 1942
March 29, 2013 ~ Singer, pianist, actor, songwriter Enzo Jannacci, full name Vincenzo Jannacci, passed away in Milan, Italy ~ Worked with Rocky Mountains, the Rock Boys, Adriano Celentano, Giorgio Gaber, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Bud Powell, Franco Cerri, Mina, Paolo Conte, Dario Fo, Irene Grandi, Ligabue, Renato Pozzeto, Enrico Ruggero, Roberto Vecchioni, Francesco de Gregori, Fabrizio de André, and Seltori. As a solo artist known for songs such as L'Ombrello Di Mio Fratello, Milanon Milanin, L'Armando, and La Fotografia ~ Jannacci was born in 1935March 29, 2013 ~ Baritone singer Marvin Junior, full name Marvin Curtis Junior, passed away in Harvey, Illinois, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Dells, known best for their 1956 single Oh What A Night which became a staple of R&B, a signature tune and would be rerecorded several times during the band's lengthy career ~ Junior was born in 1936
March 29, 2011 ~ Operatic tenor, conductor Robert Tear passed away in Hammersmith, UK ~ First gained attention in the mid 1960s performing in a number of Benjamin Britten operas, starting with The Rape Of Lucretia with the English Opera Group. Britten was so thrilled with Tear that he wrote two roles with Tear's voice in mind, namely Misael in The Burning Fiery Furnace and the title role in The Prodigal Son. Tear is also closely associated with the Royal Opera House, remaining with the company from the 1970s until his retirement in 1999. In the 1980s Tear conducted the London Mozart Players, the English Chamber Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Philharmonia Orchestra ~ Tear was born in 1939
March 29, 2008 ~ Jazz drummer, arranger Allan Ganley, full name Allan Anthony Ganley, passed away in Slough, UK ~ Took up drumming in his mid-teens, playing professionally a few years later after a stint in the Royal Air Force. Got his start in music playing in ensembles led by Jack Parnell, Bert Ambrose, and Johnny Dankworth. Closely associated with Tubby Hayes and Cleo Laine, recording several albums with each since the early 1960s. Would go on to appear on albums by the likes of Ronnie Ross, Joe Harriott (Indo-Jazz Suite), Jim Hall, Slim Gaillard, Stéphane Grappelli, Spike Robinson (It's A Wonderful World), Al Cohn (Keeper Of The Flame), Carol Kidd, Ruby Braff, Tony Coe, David Newton, and Ronnie Scott. To non-jazz audiences perhaps best known for backing Amy Winehouse on sessions for the BBC, included on Winehouse's posthumously released Amy Winehouse At The BBC album ~ Ganley was born in 1931
March 29, 2004 ~ Jazz, traditional jazz trumpeter Colin Smith, full name Colin Ranger Smith, passed away in London, UK ~ Best known as longtime accompanist for Acker Bilk, starting in the late 1950s. From 1977 onwards also played with John Picard, Ian Stewart, Dick Morrisey, and the Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts in an ad-hoc ensemble that would evolve into Rocket 88. Other notable associations include Terry Lightfoot, Cy Laurie, Tony Coe, Bob Wilber, and the Pizza Express All-Stars ~ Smith was born in 1934
March 29, 2001 ~ Pianist John Lewis, full name John Aaron Lewis, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Count Basie, Art Tatum, Hank Jones, Oscar Peterson. Best known as co-founding member, musical director of the Modern Jazz Quartet, acclaimed for albums such as Fontessa, Third Stream Music and Lonely Woman. Accompanied Charlie Parker on pivotal recordings such as Parker's Mood and Blues For Alice. Backed Miles Davis on Birth Of The Cool album. Also present on albums by the likes of Zoot Sims, Dizzy Gillespie (In Paris), Clifford Brown, Illinois Jacquet, Benny Golson, Sonny Rollins, Gil Evans (Pacific Standard Time), Charlie Byrd, Les McCann, Sonny Stitt (Stitt Plays Bird), Joe Pass, Ramsey Lewis, and Buddy Rich ~ Lewis was born in 1920
March 29, 2000 ~ R&B singer Toni Braxton releases He Wasn't Man Enough, lead single off her The Heat album ~ Produced by Rodney Jerkins, who co-wrote the song with Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, and Harvey Mason Jr, He Wasn't Man Enough was bolder, more assertive, and more upbeat than earlier hits, mostly ballads. The single would reach top 10 in over a dozen countries, including No.5 in the UK, No.4 in the Netherlands, and No.2 on the American Billboard Hot 100, making it her sixth and final American top 10 hit, and earned Toni Braxton a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance beating fellow nominees Aaliyah, Erykah Badu, Kelly Price, and Jill Scott. Critically, the song received near-universal praise with many considering He Wasn't Man Enough to be among her best, and NME stating “Braxton can probably claim the best set of tonsils in soul-pop”
March 29, 1999 ~ Joe Goreed, commonly known as jazz, blues singer Joe Williams, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Best known for his association with Count Basie, staying with Basie for most of the 1950s including on songs such as Everyday I Have The Blues and Alright Okay You Win. Williams has also worked with Lionel Hampton, Jimmie Noone, Les Hite, Coleman Hawkins, Red Saunders, Harry Sweets Edison, Junior Mance, Cannonball Adderley, Clark Terry, Thad Jones, Norman Simmons, and Henry Johnson ~ Goreed was born in 1918
March 29, 1996 ~ R&B trio SWV release You're The One, lifted off their New Beginning sophomore album ~ Issued as the lead single about a month ahead of their sophomore album, the song would be welcomed by critics. At the time of its release, Billboard noted the single showed a preview “strong enough to fend off the dreaded sophomore slump”, yet You're The One would be the only single off the album to reach top 10. Peaking at No.5 Billboard Hot 100 it would be their fourth and final American top 10 hit. Despite critical acclaim both for their sophomore album and their next, Release Some Tension, the trio's run seemed to be over. They disbanded in 1998, with each of the three members going on to solo careers. The trio reconvened in the mid 2000s, yet were unable to match their earlier success