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, 1950 ~ Singer, harpist Mory Kanté born in Albadaria, French Guinea ~ Best known for Yé Ké Yé Ké, a top 10 hit throughout Europe in 1987, topping the singles charts in several countries including the Netherlands. Also a member of the Rail Band taking over as lead singer in 1973 when Salif Kreita left ~ Kanté passed away in 2020
March 29, 1949 ~ Punk rock, new wave, post-punk keyboardist Dave Greenfield, full name David Paul Greenfield, born in Brighton, UK ~ Longtime member of the Stranglers joining the band within a year of its formation and remaining until his death 45 years later. Wrote Golden Brown, which was first dismissed by the band but would become one of their greatest hits ~ Greenfield passed away in 2020
March 29, 1949 ~ Saxophonist Michael Brecker, full name Michael Leonard Brecker, born in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Brother of Randy Brecker, with whom he regularly worked including under the moniker the Brecker Brothers. Member of Dreams. In-demand session musician and sideman, appearing on albums by Horace Silver, Billy Cobham, Lou Reed (Berlin), Donald Fagen, Eric Clapton, John Lennon (Mind Games), Aerosmith (Get Your Wings), Dan Fogelberg, Steely Dan (Gaucho), Frank Zappa, Bruce Springsteen (Born To Run), Chaka Khan (Chaka), the Blue Öyster Cult, Patti Austin, Art Garfunkel (Fate For Breakfast), Chick Corea, Billy Joel (An Innocent Man), George Benson, Aretha Franklin (Aretha), Charles Mingus, Max Roach, the Dire Straits (Brothers In Arms), Michael Franks, Carly Simon, and McCoy Tyner ~ Brecker passed away in 2007
March 29, 1948 ~ Alternative country singer, guitarist Johnny Dowd born in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Drew comparisons to Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Captain Beefheart. Actively recording since the late 1990s. Has collaborated with Jim White, Willie B, Jackie Leven, het Beukorkest, and Anna Coogan
March 29, 1947 ~ Rock, pop rock singer, keyboardist, songwriter Bobby Kimball, full name Robert Troy Kimball, born in Grange, Texas, USA ~ Member of SS Fools. Rose to fame as lead singer of Toto from 1977 through 1984 and again from 1998 through 2008. Present on most of the band's best known including the band's first four albums, spawning hits such as Hold The Line, Rosanna, Africa and I Won't Hold You Back. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Rise Up released in 1994, and collaborated with the Far Corporation, Yoso, and Kimball Jamison
March 29, 1947 ~ Rock & roll, rockabilly, neo-rockabilly singer Robert Gordon, full name Robert Ira Gordon, born in Bethesda, Maryland, USA ~ Influenced by Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Jack Scott, Billy Lee Riley, and Eddie Cochran. First gained attention with a number of 1960s songs with the Confidentials, notably It's Summertime, Money and There's Something On Your Mind. In the 1970s, Gordon briefly strayed into punk rock, singing with Tuff Darts, before returning to rock & roll and neo-rockabilly. Gordon is also especially noted for the 1978 Fresh Fish Special album with Link Wray, and the 1996 The Humbler (Live) album which also featured Danny Gatton ~ Gordon passed away in 2022
March 29, 1945 ~ John David Percy Keen, commonly known as singer, keyboardist, drummer, songwriter Speedy Keen, born in Ealing, UK ~ Best known as member of Thunderclap Newman, for whom he wrote the band's UK No.1 hit Something In The Air of their sole Hollywood Dream album released in 1970. The band was formed by label executive, producer Kit Lambert and Pete Townshend specifically to showcase the talents of Keen, Jimmy McCulloch and Andy Newman. Previously Keen shared a flat with and served as driver for Townshend. Keen had also written Armenia City In The Sky for Townshend's band the Who, the song included on their 1967 The Who Sell Out. Keen would go on to record two albums as a solo artist, Previous Convictions and Y' Know Wot I Mean, and work as a session musician ~ Keen passed away in 2002March 29, 1944 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Terry Jacks, full name Terrence Ross Jacks, born in Winnipeg, Canada ~ Best known for Seasons In The Sun, an international hit in 1974. The song was based on Rod McKuen's re-write of Jacques Brel's Le Moribond and originally intended for the Beach Boys with Jacks tapped as producer
March 29, 1943 ~ Allan Peter Stanley Kowbell, commonly known as rock, soft rock, country rock singer, guitarist, bassost, keyboardist, accordionist, songwriter Chad Allan, born in Winnipeg, Canada ~ Founded Al & the Silvertones in the early 1960s with Randy Bachman. The band would eventually evolve into the Guess Who. Allan is present on the band's It's Time album, yet departed the band in 1966 prior to their rise to international fame. Allan and Bachman would again team up in Brave Belt, a predecessor to Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and is present on the band's Brave Belt and Brave Belt II albums
March 29, 1943 ~ Country singer Randy Barlow born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Emcee and road manager for Dick Clark's Caravan Of Stars tour in the mid 1960s. As a recording artist has recorded a handful of albums from the mid 1970s through the early 1980s. Best known for his 1978 Fall In Love With Me sophomore album. All three of the album's singles, Slow And Easy, No Sleep Tonight and Fall In Love With Me Tonight, would reach top 10 Billboard Country ~ Barlow passed away in 2020March 29, 1943 ~ Songwriter, TV personality Shay Healy born in Sandymount, Ireland ~ Wrote Johnny Logan's What's Another Year, Ireland's 1980 Eurovision Songfestival winner. Wrote or co-wrote several musicals, notably 2005's The Wiremen and 1977's The King, the latter about the life of Elvis Presley and premiered just two month's after Presley's death ~ Healy passed away in 2021
March 29, 1943 ~ Evángelos Odysseás Papathanassiou, commonly known as pianist, keyboardist, composer Vangelis, born in Agria, Greece ~ Member of Aphrodite's Child, acclaimed for their 1972 666 album which is considered a landmark album in progressive, psychedelic rock. Formed the duo Jon & Vangelis with Yes lead singer Jon Anderson. Acclaimed film composer, noted for the soundtracks to Blade Runner, 1492 (Conquest Of Paradise) and Chariots Of Fire. The latter, released in 1981, would earn Papathanassiou an Academy Award for Best Original Score ~ Papathanassiou passed away in 2022March 29, 1940 ~ Jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer, producer Allan Botschinsky born in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Worked with Ib Glindemann, Oscar Pettiford, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Lee Konitz, Ben Webster, Kenny Dorham, George Gruntz, Nils Lindberg, Bjare Rostvold, and Sahib Shihab ~ Botschinsky passed away in 2020
March 29, 1940 ~ Astrud Evangelina Weinert, commonly known as bossa nova, jazz singer Astrud Gilberto, born in Salvador, Brazil ~ Best known for her contributions to the 1963 Getz/Gilberto album, a collaborative album by Stan Getz and her then-husband João Gilberto, singing lead on two of the the album's tracks including the hit The Girl From Ipanema. Released her solo debut album The Astrud Gilberto Album in 1965 and has recorded well over a dozen albums since ~ Gilberto passed away in 2023March 29, 1940 ~ Richard Graham Sarstedt, commonly known as pop rock singer, guitarist, actor Eden Kane, born in New Delhi, British India ~ Teen idol known for a string of early 1960s UK top 10 hits including Get Lost, Forget Me Not, I Don't Know Why, Boys Cry and perhaps his best known I Ask You, the latter topping the charts in 1961
March 29, 1940 ~ Singer Raymond Davis born in Sumter, South Carolina, USA ~ Best known for his longtime association with George Clinton, co-founding member of the Parliaments, worked with Funkadelic and Parliament. Briefly a member of a latter-day incarnation of the Temptations, taking over for the late Melvin Franklin and present on the 1995 For Lovers Only album ~ Davis passed away in 2005
March 29, 1938 ~ Operatic tenor William Brown born in Jackson, Mississippi, USA ~ Worked with the Baltimore Opera Company, the Little Orchestra Society, the Lake George Opera, the New York City Opera, the Connecticut Opera, and the New York Philharmonic ~ Brown passed away in 2004
March 29, 1936 ~ Singer Bing Crosby, backed by Victor Young and Orchestra, records Robins And Roses ~ Written by Joe Burke and Edgar Leslie. Recorded by several artists, it was Bing Crosby's version that would become the biggest hit. Released as a single, b/w We'll Rest At The End Of The Trail, it would reach No.2 on the American pop charts. Other 1936 versions would be recorded by Orville Knapp, and by both Jimmy Dorsey and separately his brother Tommy DorseyMarch 29, 1934 ~ Delme Jones, commonly known as operatic baritone Delme Bryn-Jones, born in Brynamman, UK ~ 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 passed away in 2001
March 29, 1925 ~ Composer Lyudmila Lyadova, full name Lyudmila Aleskeevna Lyadova, born in Sverdlovsk, Russia ~ Daughter of violinist Alexei Lyadov and singer Julia Lyadova. Sang with her mother starting in World War II as entertainment for the Russian troops, continuing to perform as a duo through the early 1950s. Has since worked as a composer, often collaborating with lyricist, poets such as Sergey Mikhalkov, Yevgeny Yevtusenko, Vladimir Petrov. Known for works such as Spanish Dance, Volga Suite, Concert Polka, The Great Battle, and The Tale Of Eremu Daniel And Evil Forces ~ Lyadova passed away in 2021
March 29, 1924 ~ Twin sisters Ginger Dinning and Jean Dinning born in Enid, Oklahoma, USA ~ Members of sibling outfit the Dinning Sisters, alongside older sister Lou Dinning, known for late 1940s top 20 hits such as My Adobe Hacienda, I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now, I Beg Your Pardon and Buttons And Bows ~ Jean passed away in 2011, Ginger in 2013
March 29, 1924 ~ Country, rockabilly singer, guitarist, fiddler, songwriter Jimmy Work born in Akron, Ohio, USA ~ Best known for Making Believe, penned and recorded by Work in 1954. The song would become a country classic covered by numerous artists including Lefty Frizzell, Kitty Wells, Eddy Arnold, Wanda Jackson, Faron Young, Dolly Parton, Don Gibson, Ernest Tubb, and Emmylou Harris ~ Work passed away in 2018
March 29, 1918 ~ Singer, actress Pearl Bailey, full name Pearl Mae Bailey, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Vaudeville performer made her Broadway debut in St Louis Woman in 1946. Won a Tony Award for the title role in the original all-Black production of Hello Dolly ~ Bailey passed away in 1990
March 29, 1914 ~ Deasy Browning, commonly known as R&B pianist, singer, songwriter Camille Howard, born in Galveston, Texas, USA ~ Member of Roy Milton's R&B outfit the Solid Senders, notably present on 1940s hits such as RM Blues and Thrill Me. Enjoyed a parallel solo career, often with Milton backing her, enjoying her first solo hit in 1948 with the self-penned X-Temporaneous Boogie. Would enjoy about a dozen more hits through the early 1950s, including You Don't Love Me, Fiesta In Old Mexico, and Money Blues (If You Ain't Got No Money I Ain't Got No Use For You). With chart success diminishing in the face of the growth of rock & roll, Howard retired from music by the mid 1950s ~ Howard passed away in 1993
March 29, 1912 ~ Actor, songwriter Willy van Hemert, full name Willem Catharinus van Hemert, born in Utrecht, the Netherlands ~ Co-wrote two of the Dutch winning Eurovision Songfestival entries. 1957's Net Als Toen performed by Corry Brokken, co-written with Guus Jansen, and 1959's Een Beetje performed by Teddy Scholten, co-written with Dick Schallies ~ Van Hemert passed away in 1993