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 7, 2026 ~ August Edmond George Meyer Jr, commonly known as keyboardist, organist, accordionist, guitarist, singer Augie Meyers, passed away in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Co-founding and alongside lead singer Doug Sahm a key member of the Sir Douglas Quintet, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Mendocino released in 1969. The band would be one of the most influential in Texas, with Meyers' distinctive organ a pivotal element of the band's sound, especially notable on tracks such as She's About A Mover, Mendocino, and Nuevo Laredo. Other than on solo albums, Meyers and Sahm would team up again in the supergroup the Texas Tornados, which also included Flaco Jiménez and Freddy Fender. The supergroup released a string of albums in the 1990s, and are perhaps best known for (Hey Baby) Que Paso, co-written by Meyers, a love song in both English and Spanish which at some point became somewhat of an unofficial anthem of the city of San Antonio. Meyers has recorded nearly two dozen albums of his own starting with Western Head Music Co in 1973, and has guested on albums by Willie Nelson (Shotgun Willie), Jerry Lee Lewis, Yusef Lateef, Katie Trickett, Beausoleil, Bob Dylan (Time Out Of Mind), JR Chatwell, John Hammond Jr (Wicked Grin). Jim Barile, Joe Forlini, the Krayolas, Raul Malo, and Tom Waits. Jerry Dale McFadden, keyboardist of the Mavericks, has praised Meyers' playing, once stating to Rolling Stone: “There's something to be said about simplicity. Augie had a way of reducing his organ fills to just the right part, whether soloing or that pulsing rhythm with minimalist note changes in the chord. When you heard it in a song, you knew instantly that it was Augie Meyers” ~ Meyer was born in 1940
March 7, 2026 ~ Joseph Allen McDonald, commonly known as rock singer Country Joe McDonald passed away in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Lead singer, frontman of psychedelic rock band Country Joe & the Fish, known best for songs such as I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag, The Fish Cheer and Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine, and especially for the 1967 Electric Music For The Mind And Body album which stands as one of the most enduring works of the counterculture era ~ McDonald was born in 1942
March 7, 2026 ~ Singer David Brigati passed away ~ Started as a member of doo-wop outfit the Hi-Fives, known for their 1958 regional hit Dorothy. Member of Joey Dee & the Starliters, scoring a 1961 Billboard Hot 100 charttopper with The Peppermint Twist. Best known as “the Fifth Rascal”, singing backup with the Rascals and occasionaly singing lead such as on Once Upon A Dream ~ Brigati was born in 1940
March 7, 2025 ~ Daniel Cox Jr, commonly known as folk singer, songwriter Danny Cox, passed away ~ Recorded over half a dozen albums since the early 1960s, most notably his best known Feel So Good released in 1974. Cox would enjoy regional popularity as well as on the hootennany circuit, and has guested on recordings by Brewer & Shipley and Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Cox is also well known for co-writing and starring in the 2012 musical play Fair Ball, a musical play addressing racial segregation by telling of the history and courage of baseball players playing in the Negro leagues of baseball. In his youth, Cox sang in a church choir with Rudolph Isley, co-founding member of the Isley Brothers ~ Cox was born in 1943
March 7, 2025 ~ R&B singer, guitarist, producer, songwriter D'Wayne Wiggins, full name D'Wayne Patrice Wiggins, passed away in Oakland, California, USA ~ Founding member of Tony Toni Toné, known for 1990s hits such as Feels Good, If I Had No Loot and Anniversary. Released his Eyes Never Lie solo debut album in 2000, backed by artists such as Darius Rucker, Jamie Foxx and Carlos Santana. Has also collaborated with Alicia Keys, notably on The Diary and If I Was Your Woman, the latter winning Wiggins a Grammy Award for production ~ Wiggins was born in 1961
March 7, 2024 ~ Sidney Liebowitz, commonly known as singer, actor Steve Lawrence, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Formed the husband-wife duo Steve & Eydie with Eydie Gormé, known for songs such as We Got Us, I Want To Stay Here and I Can't Stop Talking About You. Both Gormé and Lawrence enjoyed parrallel solo careers, Lawrence regularly reaching the higher echelons of the charts with songs such as Go Away Little Girl, Pretty Blue Eyes, Footsteps and Party Doll. Lawrence appeared in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, portraying the role of Maury Sline, manager and friend of the band ~ Liebowitz was born in 1935March 7, 2021 ~ Pianist Dmitri Bashkirov, full name Dmitri Aleksandrovich Bashkirov, passed away in Madrid, Spain ~ First gained attention in 1955 winning the Marguerite Long Piano Competition in Paris. Would go on to perform with renowned orchestras such as the Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra ~ Bashkirov was born in 1931
March 7, 2021 ~ Joseph Kiambukuta Londa, commonly known as singer, songwriter Josky Kiambukuta, passed away in Kinshasa, Congo ~ Longtime member of TPOK Jazz, joining the ensemble in 1973. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Chandra, Fariya, KSK, and Bimansha. Has also worked with African Fiesta Sukisa, notably on the track Sadi Naboyi Masume, L'African Jazz, Bana OK, and recorded as a solo artist ~ Kiambukuta was born in 1949
March 7, 2021 ~ Death metal, groove metal singer Lars-Göran Petrov passed away ~ Influenced by Iron Maiden, Bathory, Mercyful Fate, Voivod. First gained attention as drummer in extreme metal band Morbid, then fronted by singer Dead. Would go on to work with Nihilist, from which he was fired for making a pass at the girlfriend of bandmate drummer Nicke Andersson. Rejoined the band in 1992, now renamed to Entombed. Also served as lead singer of metal supergroup Firespawn from 2012 until his death ~ Petrov was born in 1972
March 7, 2021 ~ Jazz, free jazz, avant-garde jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Mark Whitecage passed away ~ Recorded well over a dozen albums as a leader, especially noted for the late 1990s albums Consensual Tension and Split Personality. Married to clarinetist Rozanne Levine, with whom he also worked. Regular collaborator of Gunter Hampel including on the acclaimed albums All The Things You Could Be If Charles Mingus Was Your Daddy and Celestial Glory. Other notable associations include Paul Bley, Annette Peacock (I'm The One), Saheb Sarbib, Soren Anders, Michael Jefry Stevens, Dominic Duval, the Fonda-Stevens Group, Joseph Scianni (Moon Flower), Marshall Allen, Anthony Braxton, the Nu-Band, and Dom Minasi (Quick Response) ~ Whitecage was born in 1937March 7, 2020 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Laura Smith passed away in Mahone Bay, Canada ~ Best known for her 1995 single Shade Of Your Love and for her rendition of the traditional folk song My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean, retitled simply to My Bonnie. Smith also recorded a version of the latter with the Chieftains, who included the track on their 1998 Fire In The Kitchen compilation album ~ Smith was born in 1952
March 7, 2019 ~ Producer, arranger Raymond Donnez passed away ~ Cult hero among Eurodisco fans. Played keys on several Cerrone tracks including on Love In C-Minor. Produced Santa Esmeralda's hit cover Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. Served as conductor for Eurovision Songfestival in 1974, 1976 and 1977 ~ Donnez was born in 1942
March 7, 2017 ~ Composer Francis Thorne, full name Francis Burritt Thorne Jr, passed away in Canaan, Connecticut, USA ~ Jazz-influenced contemporary classical composer best known for his Elegy For Orchestra premiered in 1964 by the Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of Eugene Ormandy. One the first classical composers to write specifically for electric guitar and electric bass guitar ~ Thorne was born in 1922
March 7, 2013 ~ Trumpeter, singer, bandleader Kenny Ball, full name Kenneth Daniel Ball, passed away in Basilden, UK ~ Known for songs such as Samantha, Midnight In Moscow and The March Of The Siamese Children. Worked with Sid Phillips, Charlie Galbraith, Eric Delaney, Terry Lightfoot, the Jazzmen, Don Lushner, John Bennet, Andy Cooper, Ron Weatherbun, Johnny Parker, Hugh Ledigo, Paddy Lightfoot, Ron Bowden, Vic Pitt, John Benson, and John Fenner ~ Ball was born in 1930
March 7, 2013 ~ Peter William Brockbanks, commonly known as keyboardist, guitarist Peter Banks, passed away in Chipping Barnet, UK ~ Important figure in early days of progressive rock. Original guitarist of Yes, remaining with the band through 1970 leaving shortly before the release of their Time And A Word sophomore album. Has also worked with the Devil's Disciples, the Syn, Neat Change, After The Fire, the Flash, Empire, David Cross, Pete Townshend, and Ant-Bee ~ Brockbanks was born in 1947March 7, 2009 ~ Composer André Casanova, full name André Marcel Charles Casanova, passed away in Paris, France ~ Merged romantic spirit with modernity of style. Composed operas, orchestral, chamber and choral music ~ Casanova was born in 1919
March 7, 2009 ~ Singer, actor Jimmy Boyd, full name Jimmy Devon Boyd, passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Known for his 1952 hit I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. Boyd was 13 at the time. Would go on to work with Mitch Miller, Frankie Laine, Rosemary Clooney, Gayla Peevey, Leon Russell, and Snuff Garrett ~ Boyd was born in 1939
March 7, 2000 ~ Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski, commonly known as country singer, accordionist, fiddler, songwriter Pee Wee King, passed away in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Introduced waltzes, polka and cowboy songs to country music. Co-wrote The Tennessee Waltz with Redd Stewart, which would become a country standard covered by numerous artists including Patti Page. Also co-wrote Slow Poke, and You Belong To Me ~ Kuczynski was born in 1914
March 7, 1999 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Lowell Fulson passed away in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Pivotal 1940s, 1950s West Coast blues singer, guitarist. Known for songs such as Three O'Clock Blues, Every Day I Have The Blues, Blue Shadows, Lonesome Christmas, Reconsider Baby (covered by Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, and by Joe Bonamassa), Tramp (covered as a duet version by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas), and Sinner's Prayer ~ Fulson was born in 1921
March 7, 1997 ~ Poet, writer, playwright, lyricist, songwriter Agnieszka Osiecka passed away in Warsaw, Poland ~ Daughter of pianist, composer Wiktor Osiecki. In her own right considered a cultural icon having co-written over an estimated 2,000 songs, collaborating with composers such as Krzysztof Komeda, Seweryn Krajewski, Adam Slawinski, and Zygmunt Konieczny. Of her lyrics Osiecka would comment “I am a journalist, that is why some of my songs are reports which rhyme.” Well known songs co-written by Osiecka include Ballada Wagonowa, Malgoska and Diabel I Raj all recorded by Maryla Rodowicz and Port Piratów recorded by Czerwone Gitary ~ Osiecka was born in 1936
March 7, 1991 ~ Tenor saxophonist Al Klink passed away in Bradenton, Florida, USA ~ Played with Glenn Miller in the early 1940s, including on In The Mood. Moved on to work with Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. Served under Doc Severinsen as a member of the NBC Tonight Show Band. Resurfaced as a member of the World's Greatest Jazz Band. Played with Glenn Zottola and George Masso. Retired to Florida in the mid-1980s ~ Klink was born in 1915March 7, 1989 ~ Christopher Jerrod Dooley Jr, commonly known as rapper Hurricane Chris, born in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA ~ Debuted with the album 51/50 Ratchet in 2006, its lead single the Phunk Dawg-produced A Bay Bay reaching the Billboard top 10. Dooley would be arrested for second-degree murder in 2020
March 7, 1989 ~ Jazz vibraphonist, pianist, saxophonist Karel Velebný passed away in Prague, Czechoslovakia ~ Considered one of the premier figures in modern Czech jazz during the second half of the 20th century. Leader and sideman. Has worked with Karel Krautgartner, co-founded Studio 5 with contrabassist Ludek Hulan, co-founded SHQ with flutist Jan Konopásek, and worked with artists such as Gustav Brom, Jiri Stivin, Frantisek Uhlir, Rudolf Dasek, and Josef Vejvoda ~ Velebný was born in 1931March 7, 1988 ~ Jazz guitarist David Aleksander Sjølie born in Kongsberg, Norway ~ Married to jazz singer Anja Eline Skybakmoen, with whom he has also worked on her albums We're The Houses and Echo. Has also worked with Bendik Bansaas, Ine Hoem, Mopti, and Lise Hvoslef
March 7, 1987 ~ Entela Fureraj, commonly known as singer Eleni Foureira, born in Fier, Albania ~ First gained attention as member of girl group Mystique, joining the band in 2007. Active as a solo singer since the band disbanded in 2009, releasing her eponymous Eleni Foureira debut album in 2010. Internationally perhaps best known for representing Cyprus at the 2018 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 2nd place with Fuego. The song would also be Fereira's first Greek No.1 hit. Subsequent singles such as Caramela, Tomame, Loquita featuring Claydee would also top the Greek chartsMarch 7, 1987 ~ Molly Decima Ure, commonly known as pop rock singer, guitarist Molly Lorenne, born in London, UK ~ Lead singer, lead guitarist for all-female trio the Faders alongside bassist, rhythm guitarist Toy Valentine and drummer Cherisse Osei, known best for their 2005 UK top 20 hit No Sleep Tonight of their sole Plug In And Play album