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, 1984 ~ Producer, engineer, visual artist Alex Somers born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Formed the ambient duo Jónsi & Alex with Jónsi, with whom he recorded the album Riceboy Sleeps in 2009. Somers has co-produced several of Sigur Rós's albums including Valtari and Kveikur. Other collaborations include Parachutes, Pascal Pinon, Death Vessel, and Gordi
March 7, 1980 ~ Singer Jermaine Jackson releases Let's Get Serious, lead single off the album of the same name ~ When his siblings departed Motown, Jermaine Jackson decided to stay with the label as he was married to the label head Berry Gordy Jr's daughter Hazel Gordy. In an attempt to revive his son-in-law's solo career, Gordy urged Stevie Wonder to give Jackson a song he had been working on. It paid off, as Let's Get Serious would top the Billboard R&B charts for six consecutive weeks and cross over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at No.9. The song also earned Jackson a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. Wonder had co-written the song with Lee Garrett, served as the song's sole producer, and played drums, guitar, piano, and synthesizer, and provided backing vocals. Jackson would score his second and final Billboard R&B No.1 hit at the end of the decade with Don't Take It Personal off the album of the same nameMarch 7, 1979 ~ Drummer Neal Morgan born in Nevada City, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with Joanna Newsom and Bill Callahan. Has also released a number of solo recordings, starting with 2009's To The Breathing World, and has collaborated with Robin Pecknold, and Morgan Henderson
March 7, 1977 ~ Country singer Barbara Mandrell releases Married But Not To Each Other, lifted off her Midnight Angel album ~ The song had been a solid R&B hit for Denise Lasalle the previous year, whose original reached No.3 Billboard R&B. The song discusses both sides of a couple's struggle to hide their extra-marital affair to avoid hurting each other's feelings. Barbara Mandrell, known among others for her sweet tooth for R&B having previously covered songs such as Otis Redding's I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) and Aretha Franklin's Do Right Woman Do Right Man, would take a crack at the song. It would become the highest-charting single of her career up till that point, peaking at No.3 Billboard CountryMarch 7, 1977 ~ Pop, dance-pop singer, actor Paul Cattermole, full name Paul Gerald Cattermole, born in St Albans, UK ~ Member of S Club 7 from 1998 through 2002, present on songs such as Bring It All Back, S Club Party, Never Had A Dream Come True and Don't Stop Movin' ~ Cattermole passed away in 2023
March 7, 1976 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, singer Mark Kelson born in Melbourne, Australia ~ First gained attention as member of doom metal band Cryptal Darkness, remaining with the band until its dissolution in 2002. Subsequently rose to notoriety as co-founding member of the Eternal. Has also worked with Duncan Patterson, present on the 2011 The Brink debut album of Patterson's band Alternative 4. Sessioned and toured with avant-garde metal outfit Virgin Black
March 7, 1971 ~ Saxophonist, flutist Harold McNair passed away in London, UK ~ Played a calypso singer in the 1958 Island Women film and released a Calypso jazz album, 1960's Bahama Bash, before relocating to England. Toured Europe with Quincy Jones, landed a regular gig at the noted Ronnie Scott's jazz club. Known for a handful of jazz, jazz fusion albums from the mid 1960s through the 1970s, notably 1965's Affectionate Fink which featured David Izenzon and Charles Moffett and 1968's eponymous Harold McNair which contained his best known composition The Hipster. McNair was also an in-demand sideman for non-jazz artists, including Donovan, Nick Drake, Alexis Korner, , Cressida, Edward's Hand, Ginger Baker's Air Force and notably Jimi Hendrix guesting on the track If 6 Were 9 of the Axis (Bold As Love) album ~ McNair was born in 1931March 7, 1968 ~ Singer Elvis Presley records A Little Less Conversation at Western Recorders, Hollywood, California ~ Written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange. Released as the flip side of Almost In Love the following September. Used in the 1968 Elvis Presley movie Live A Little Love A Little. Appearing on the record are Hal Blaine on drums, Al Casey guitar, Larry Knechtel bass, Don Randi piano, with Betty Jane Baker, Sally Stevens, Bob Tebo and John Bahler providing backing vocals.
March 7, 1967 ~ Randel Guss, commonly known as alternative rock, folk rock, rock drummer Randy Guss, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member of Toad The Wet Sprocket, remaining with the band from its inception in 1986 through 2020. The band is best known for the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hits All I Want and Walk The Ocean, both taken of the 1991 Fear album. Guss has also appeared on Lapdog's 2003 Mayfly album
March 7, 1967 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist Willie Smith, full name William McLeish Smith, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Worked with Jimmie Lunceford, Charlie Spivak, Harry James, Duke Ellington, Billy May, Louie Bellson, Nat King Cole, Gene Krupa, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Barney Kessel, Jimmie Lunceford, Rose Murphy, Red Norvo, André Previn, Googie René, and Kay Starr ~ Smith was born in 1910
March 7, 1962 ~ Singer Brenda Lee records Everybody Loves Me But You ~ Written by Ronnie Self. Produced by Ronnie Self. Released as a single the following April, paired with Here Comes That Feeling on the B-side. The single would be a Billboard Hot 100 top 1o hit for Brenda Lee, peaking at No.6
March 7, 1962 ~ Leslie Wunderman, commonly known as pop, dance-pop singer Taylor Dayne, born in Long Island, New York, USA ~ Enjoyed a string of hit singles starting with her debut Tell It To My Heart in 1987. Other well known songs include Love Will Lead You Back, Prove Your Love and I'll Always Love You
March 7, 1961 ~ Warrel George Baker, commonly known as reavy metal, progressive metal, thrash metal, power metal singer Warrel Dane, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Classically trained. Infuenced by Ronnie James Dio, Rob Halford, George Strait and Bruce Dickinson. Best known as lead singer of Sanctuary and Nevermore. Has also worked with Serpent's Knight, Sanctuary, Behemoth, Shaded Enmity. Released his sole Praises To The War Machine solo album in 2008 and was working on a second album at the time of his death ~ Baker passed away in 2017
March 7, 1960 ~ Douglas White, commonly known as hard rock, power metal, neoclassical metal singer Doogie White, born in Motherwell, UK ~ Active since the mid-1980s. Has notably worked with Ritchie Blackmore, serving in Rainbow from 1994 through 1997, with Yngwie Malmsteen from 2002 through 2007, and with Michael Schenker, serving in Temple Of Rock from 2011 through 2016. Has occasionally recorded as a solo artist, and collaborated with La Paz, Cornerstone, Praying Mantis, Rata Blanca, Tank, and AlcatrazzMarch 7, 1954 ~ Rock, punk rock, garage rock drummer James Baker, full name James Lawrence Baker, born in Perth, Australia ~ Key figure in Australia's punk rock scene, known as a member of several quintessential outfits. Inspired by the Beatles-drummer Ringo Starr, Baker purchased his first drum kit while still in his mid-teens and was performing professionally the next year. Upon returning from travels to America and the UK, where he saw early live performances by the Ramones, the Flamin' Groovies, the Dictators, and Johnny Thunders, Baker co-founded punk rock trio the Victims in 1977, known for their Television Addict debut single which is considered a pioneering cut from the Australian punk scene. Subsequently Baker played with the Scientists, one of the most notable independent groups to emerge from down under and influentual on later artists including Mudhoney and Nirvana, briefly with the Hoodoo Gurus including on their landmark Stoneage Romeo debut album, the Beasts Of Bourbon, and with the Dubrovniks. Despite battling terminal cancer, Baker continued to perform until his death, releasing his sole solo album Born To Rock in 2024, and joining the Victims on stage for their last ever shows in late 2024 ~ Baker passed away in 2025
March 7, 1953 ~ Drummer Kenny Aronoff born in Albany, New York, USA ~ Best known for his association with both John Mellencamp and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Has also worked as a session and touring drummer for a host of other artists including the BoDeans, John Fogerty, Cinderella Chickenfoot, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Smashing Pumpkins, Richard Thompson, Bob Seger, Melissa Etheridge, Jon Bon Jovi (Blaze Of Glory), Avril Lavigne, and ChickenfootMarch 7, 1952 ~ Reggae producer Donovan Germain born in Jamaica ~ Worked with artists such as Cultural Roots, Sugar Minott (Good Thing Goin'), Audrey Hall, Freddie McGregor, Delroy Wilson, Marcia Griffiths, Tenor Saw, Buju Banton, Mad Cobra, Cutty Ranks, Morgan Heritage, Wayne Wonder, and Beres Hammond
March 7, 1952 ~ Guitarist, drummer, singer Ernie Isley born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Member of Isley-Jasper-Isley and of the Isley Brothers. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Fight The Power (Part 1 & 2), Harvest For The World, Voyage To Atlantis, At Your Best You Are Love, Footsteps In The Dark, That Lady, Between The Sheets and Take Me To The Next Phase
March 7, 1952 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Jules Shear born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Has recorded as a solo artist and fronted the Funky Kings, the critically acclaimed Jules & the Polar Bears, the Reckless Sleepers, and Raisins In The Sun. Best known for penning and first recording several songs that became bigger hits for others. Singer Cyndi Lauper would score a 1983 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit with All Through The Night, the Bangles would reach top 30 with If She Knew What She Wants in 1985, and Alison Moyet would take Whispering Your Name to the UK top 20 in 1994. Shear was also the subject of the Til Tuesday track J For Jules, the band's singer Aimee Mann reflecting on their relationship after breaking up
March 7, 1951 ~ Smooth jazz, jazz-funk, funk bassist Rocco Prestia, full name Francis Rocco Prestia Jr, born in Sonora, California, USA ~ Cited James Jamerson and Bootsy Collins as influences. Perhaps best known as member of funk outfit Tower Of Power from 1968 through 1977, rejoining in later years. Notably present on some of the band's best known including the 1973 hit What Is Hip. As a solo artist released his sole Everybody On The Bus album in 1999 ~ Prestia passed away in 2020
March 7, 1948 ~ Singer, flutist, composer, arranger Danilo Caymmi, full name Danilo Candido Tostes Caymmi, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Regarded as one of the foremost Brazilian wind instrument musicians. Worked with Antônio Carlos Jobim, Edmundo Souto, Sarah Vaughan, Tom & Dito, and David LiebmanMarch 7, 1947 ~ Progressive rock singer Jane Relf born in Richmond, UK ~ Sister of the Yardbirds singer Keith Relf, with whom she also worked in progressive rock band Renaissance. Has also worked with Illusion and Stairway, and recorded sporadically as a solo artist, noted for her sole single, Without A Song From You, released in 1971
March 7, 1946 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Charlie Panigoniak born in Chesterfield Inlet, Canada ~ Inuk musician known for his relections on northern life. Discovered by producer Doug Ward in the early 1970s. Awarded the the Order Of Nunavut in 2012, naming him ambassador for the Inuk people for his cultural contributions to the territory and its people ~ Panagoniak passed away in 2019
March 7, 1946 ~ Bluegrass, country mandolinist, singer Jimmy Gaudreau born in New Shannock Switch, Rhode Island, USA ~ Influential in progressive and traditional bluegrass. Especially acclaimed for the albums The Gaudreau Mandolin Album and Lonesome Wind, released respectively in 1979 and 2001. Also known for his work with the Country Gentlemen, Tony Rice, and JD Crowe. Other notable collaborations include Spectrum, Chesapeake, Carolina Star, Moondi Klein, Bill Emerson, Béla Fleck (Natural Bridge), and Bill Clifton
March 7, 1946 ~ Keyboardist, organist Matthew Fisher born in London, UK ~ Member of Procol Harum, notably playiong the Hammond organ on the band's A Whiter Shade Of Pale. Would go on to produce records for Robin Trower, James Dewar, Tir Na Nog and enjoy a reasonably successful solo career with albums such as Journey's End, I'll Be There, and the 1980 eponymous Matthew Fisher album, the latter spawning the hit Why'd I Have To Fall In Love With You
March 7, 1946 ~ Peter Blankfield, commonly known as singer, songwriter Peter Wolf born in New York, New York, USA ~ Lead singer of the J Geils Band from 1967 through 1981, known for songs such as Looking For A Love, Give It To Me, Must Of Got Lost, Centerfold and Freeze Frame. Wolf left the band after their 10th album, Freeze Frame. Released his solo debut album, Lights Out, in 1984. As a solo artist best known for the Billboard top 20 hits Lights Out and Come As You Are, the latter the title track of his 1987 sophomore album