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 31, 2024 ~ Saxophonist, keyboardist, producer, songwriter Casey Benjamin passed away in Maryland, USA ~ Best known as original member of Robert Glasper Experiment, including on the Grammy Award-winning Black Radio album released in 2012. An in-demand sideman in jazz, R&B, and hip hop, Benjamin has also worked extensively with DJ Logic, formed the duo HEAVY with singer Nicky Guiland, and has appeared on albums by the likes of Pucci Amanda Jhones, Arto Lindsay (Prize), Lynette Washington, Stefon Harris (Evolution), DJ Spinna, Howard Britz, Derrick Hodge (Live Today), Kris Bowers (Heroes And Misfits), A Tribe Called Quest, Solange (A Seat At The Table), and Philip Bailey ~ Benjamin was born in [artist-casey-benjamin]March 31, 2022 ~ R&B singer Fred Johnson passed away ~ Member of the Marcels, notably present on the band's debut single Blue Moon which would sell over a million copies and chart the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Though the band would continue to record, and score an ocassional US top 10 hit such as Heartaches, they would be unable to replicate the succes of their debut single ~ Johnson was born in 1942
March 31, 2022 ~ Classical pianist Joseph Kalichstein, sometimes referred to as Yossi Kalichstein, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Concerto, recital, chamber music pianist. Has collaborated with conductors such as André Previn, Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, Zubin Mehta, Leonard Slatkin. Closely associated with violinist Jaime Laredo and Sharon Robinson, the trio having performed at the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter, having recorded works of Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms and Maurice Ravel, and having works written especially for them by the likes of Richard Danielpour, John Corigliano and Daron Hagen ~ Kalichstein was born in 1946March 31, 2021 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Anzor Erkomaishvili passed away in Tbilisi, Georgia ~ Best known for researching and preserving Georgian folk music. Long-time music director of the Rustavi Ensemble, starting in 1968 ~ Erkomaishvili was born in 1940
March 31, 2021 ~ Concert, opera soprano Jane Manning, full name Jane Marian Manning, passed away ~ Mentored by Susan Bradshaw. Married to composer Anthony Payne, with whom she also founded Jane's Minstrels known for performing works by Henry Purcell, Edward Elgar, Percy Grainger, and Arnold Schoenberg, notably the latter's Pierrot Lunaire. Manning had several pieces written especially for her including Judith Weir's King Harald's Saga, Richard Rodney Bennett's Spells, and Matthew King's The Snow Queen ~ Manning was born in 1938
March 31, 2020 ~ Hard bop, post-bop trumpeter Wallace Roney passed away in Paterson, New Jersey, USA ~ Studied with Clark Terry and Dizzy Gillespie. Also the only trumpeter personally mentored by Miles Davis. Leader and sideman. Made his recording debut at age 15. Has collaborated with Bill Hardman, Valery Ponomarev, Woody Shaw, Johnny Coles, Freddie Hubbard, Cedar Walton, Tony Williams, Art Blakey, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Geri Allen, Kenny Barron, Cindy Blackman, Joey DeFrancesco, Vincent Herring, and James Spaulding ~ Roney was born in 1960
March 31, 2019 ~ Britt Elisabet Lindroth, commonly known as singer, actress Britt Damberg, passed away ~ Broke through with Nya Fagelsangen which entered the Swedish national selection for the 1959 Eurovision Songfestival but placed third. Has been recording for most of the 1960s. Retired from the music business in the 1970s to pursue a career as a preschool teacher ~ Lindroth was born in 1937March 31, 2018 ~ Guitarist, singer Steve Lalor passed away in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Daily Flash, known for their blend of folk, jazz and rock setting them apart from the usual garage bands of the era making them a major force in the Seattle underground scene by the mid 1960s. The band is best known for their 1967 single French Girl ~ Lalor was born in 1944
March 31, 2016 ~ Songwriter, lyricist Giorgio Calabrese passed away in Rome, Italy ~ Many of the songs he co-write have become Italian pop classics. As a translator considered a key figure in the popularization of bossa nova and French chanson in his native Italy. Perhaps best known for co-penning Arrivederci for Umberto Bindi, and E Se Domani popularized by Gene Pitney. Others who recorded songs co-written or adapted by Calabrese include Charles Aznavour, Adriano Celentano, Mina, Nana Moskouri, Caterina Valente, and Andrea Bocelli ~ Calabrese was born in 1929March 31, 2016 ~ Jon Terryl Plumeri, commonly known as bassist, pianist, flutist, composer Terry Plumeri, passed away in Dunnellon, Florida, USA ~ Worked with John Abercrombie, Cannonball Adderley, Herbie Hancock, Woody Herman, Quincy Jones, Yusef Lateef, Les McCann, Wayne Shorter, Frank Sinatra, Ralph Towner, Joe Williams, Roberta Flack, and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. Also a film composer with over 50 films to his name ~ Plumeri was born in 1944
March 31, 2014 ~ DJ, producer Frankie Knuckles passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Known as “the Godfather of House Music”, Knuckles was pivotal in development of house music in the 1980s. Closely associated with Larry Levan. Reigned as club DJ in Chicago's the Warehouse through late-1982 when Knuckles opened his own club. As a recording artist and producer he is best known for his collaborations with Jamie Principle, especially Your Love and Baby Wants To Ride. Co-produced the Pet Shop Boys' I Want A Dog from their 1988 Introspective album. Also worked with Chip E, David Morales, Lisa Michaelis, Marshall Jefferson, Loose Ends, Adeva, and Nicki Richards ~ Knuckles was born in 1955
March 31, 2006 ~ John Lenwood McLean, commonly known as saxophonist Jackie McLean, passed away in Hartford, Connecticut, USA ~ Son of guitarist John McLean Sr. Received informal training from Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, and Charlie Parker. While still in high school, McLean played with Kenny Drew, Sonny Rollins, and Andy Kirk Jr. One of the few bop players to venture into free jazz, McLean has recorded prolifically from the mid 1950s through the late 1960s, and is especially noted for the albums New Soil, Capuchin Swing, and Jackie's Bag. McLean has also been acknowledged for his gift for spotting young talent, employing sidemen such as Tina Brooks, Charles Tolliver, Ray Draper, Jack DeJohnette and Lenny White early on in their career ~ McLean was born in 1931
March 31, 1997 ~ Acid jazz, funk, R&B outfit the Brand New Heavies release Sometimes, lifted off their Shelter album ~ Following the departure of lead singer N'dea Davenport, the British acid jazz outfit attracted another American-born singer. Siedah Garrett, well known for appearing on Michael Jackson's 1987 hit I Just Can't Stop Loving You, signed on and would co-write Sometimes with Jan Kincaid. It would become their biggest hit, peaking at No.11 UK. Although critically warmly received by American critics, Billboard describing the single as “a slinky sliver of soul that demand the immediate attention”, the release was largely overlooked by the American mainstream listeners as it stalled at No.88 Billboard Hot 100. It did fare better on the Billboard R&B charts though, where the single reached No.20
March 31, 1997 ~ Jazz double bassist Eddie Jones passed away in West Hartford, Connecticut, USA ~ Best known for his association with Count Basie, joining the Count Basie Orchestra in 1953 and backing Basie in several ensembles through 1962. Has also worked with Dorothy Ashby, Bob Brookmeyer, Kenny Clarke, Jimmy Cleveland, Al Grey, Coleman Hawkins, Milt Jackson, Joe Newman, Paul Quinichette, Buddy Tate, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, and with the Jones Boys, the latter a one-off put together by Quincy Jones of musicians named Jones but all unrelated ~ Jones was born in 1929
March 31, 1993 ~ Songwriter, lyricist Mitchell Parish passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Well-regarded Tin Pan Alley lyricist who collaborated with composers such as Hoagy Carmichael, Al Goodman, and Loften Mitchell. Among his best known songs are Stardust (Art Tatum, Louis Prima, Louis Armstrong, Willie Nelson), Sweet Lorraine (Teddy Wilson, Nat King Cole), Deep Purple (where Deep Purple got their band name from, the song being a favorite of Ritchie Blackmore's grandmother), Stars Fell On Alabama (Al Bowlly, Louis Armstrong, Jack Teagarden, Jimmy Buffett, Billie Holiday, Doris Day, Mel Tormé, Renee Olstead, Vera Lynn, Harry Connick Jr), and the Holiday classic Sleigh Ride (the Andrews Sisters, the Ronettes, Ella Fitzgerald, the Carpenters, Air Supply) ~ Parish was born in 1900
March 31, 1992 ~ Country singer Wynonna Judd releases Wynonna, her solo debut album ~ The singer had been massively successful as half of the mother-daughter duo the Judds, one of the all time most popular country duos. However, when mother Naomi Judd was diagnosed with hepatitis she retired from music and Wynonna Judd, initially reluctantly, set out on a solo career. Her solo debut album Wynonna would become one of the all-time best selling albums by a female artist, selling over five million copies, and spawn the Billboard Country No.1 hits She Is His Only Need, I Saw The Light, and No One Else On Earth. The singer had started working on her debut album halfway through the Judds farewell tour, however, she was so nervous about going out on her own, she pulled the plug in the middle of the recording sessions. The singer would later recollect to the Washington Post: “I called it off. I freaked (producer) Tony Brown out, it was like, I don't want to do this, this is too much, I'm going to take a year off, I might take five years off, I can't stand the pressure. But one fan sent MCA Records $20 and said she wanted to be the first to buy Wy's record and that literally made the difference between me feeling sorry for myself and getting up off my butt and driving myself to the studio”
March 31, 1991 ~ Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist John Carter, full name John Wallace Carter, passed away in Inglewood, California, USA ~ Early on in his career Carter backed artists such as Bobby Bradford, Hampton Hawes, and Harold Land. Recorded over a dozen albums as a leader, co-leader or solo artist. Especially acclaimed for Roots And Folklores (Episodes In The Development Of American Folk Music), a suite of albums heralded as some of the best 1980s jazz releases. Also well known for his work with the Clarinet Summit ~ Carter was born in 1929
March 31, 1990 ~ K-pop rapper, singer Bang Yong-guk born in Seoul, South Korea ~ Member of South Korean boy band BAP, enjoying popularity in Japan and South Korea with songs such as 1004 (Angel), Warrior, No Mercy, and Excuse Me. Yong-guk departed the group in 2018, a year before its disbandement, and released his The Colors Of Love debut album in 2023
March 31, 1986 ~ Gospel, R&B, soul singer, songwriter O'Kelly Isley passed away in Alpine, New Jersey, USA ~ Oldest brother and founding member of the Isley Brothers, known for hits such as Shout, This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You), It's Your Thing, I Turned You On, Keep On Doin', Love The One You're With, Pop That Thang, That Lady, Between The Sheets, and Choosey Lover ~ Isley was born in 1937March 31, 1985 ~ Johnny Reed McKinzie Jr, commonly known as rapper Jay Rock, born in Watts, California, USA ~ Member of hip-hop supergroup Black Hippy alongside Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul. As a solo artist released his full-length Follow Me Home in 2011. Best known for his 2018 single King's Dead feat Lamar, Future & James Blake. Has also worked with Lil Wayne, will.i.am, Rich the Kid, Jeremih, and Snoop Dogg
March 31, 1984 ~ Singer, guitarist, drummer, songwriter Jack Antonoff born in Bergenfield, New Jersey, USA ~ Lead singer of the Bleachers. Guitarist and drummer of .fun. Previously a member of Steel Train. Also a revered songwriter and producer, worked with Taylor Swift, Lorde, St Vincent, Lana Del Rey, Kevin Abstract, Carly Rae Jepsen, the Dixie Chicks, and Troye Sivan
March 31, 1983 ~ Noah James Shebib, commonly known as hip-hop, R&B producer, songwriter 40, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Member of Nite City. In-demand producer, best known for his association with Drake. Has also worked with Lil Wayne, Alicia Keys, Action Bronson, Jamie Foxx, the Weeknd, PartyNextDoor, DJ Khaled, and A$AP RockyMarch 31, 1983 ~ Emilie Jeanne-Sopie Welti, commonly known as electro folk singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Sophie Hunger, born in Bern, Switzerland ~ Lead singer of indie rock group Fisher from 2004 through 2007. Composes and sings in English, French, German and Italian. Home-recorded her 2006 solo debut album Sketches On Sea in a few days. Has recorded to critical acclaim and a devoted international fanbase since
March 31, 1982 ~ Pop rock outfit Toto release Rosanna, lead single off their Toto IV album ~ At the time, all band members were highly in-demand session musicians, perhaps among the most-recorded musicians of their day, but as a band they had only scored one American top 10 hit. Rosanna would be their biggest hit up to this point, reaching top 10 in about half a dozen countries including No.6 in the Netherlands, No.4 in Canada, and No.2 on the American Billboard Hot 100. The song was named for actress Rosanna Arquette, who at the time was dating the band's keyboardist Steve Porcaro. The band's frontman David Paich, who wrote the song would later explain in a Songfacts interview: “Rosanna was about a high school love, one of my first loves, but I just tagged another Rosanna's name on there because she was going at the time with Steve Porcaro, my best friend. He had just met her and was looking to title a song with her name, and it just fit perfectly for that song right there. So it's got her name on it, but it's really about another high school sweetheart, which is how songs happen sometimes.” Porcaro and Arquette would break up not long after the single was released
March 31, 1981 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Ryan Bingham born in Hobbs, New Mexico, USA ~ Discovered by the Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford. Earned critical acclaim, especially for his first two albums, 2007's Mescalito, and 2009's Roadhouse Sun. Worked with Dead Horses, Matthew Papa Smith, Elijah Ford, Jeb Venable, Justin Stanley, Jim Scott, and John Bazz