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 8, 1989 ~ Singer, songwriter Stuart Hamblen, full name Carl Stuart Hamblen, passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ One of radio's first singing cowboys, active from the mid 1920s onward. Perhaps best known for penning and first recording This Ole House, covered by over a 100 artists including Rosemary Clooney, Alma Cogan, the Oak Ridge Boys, Liz Anderson, Billie Jo Spears, Bette Midler, and Shakin' Stevens. Other well known songs include Texas Plains which was reworked by Patsy Montana to the million-seller I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart, the oft-covered It Is No Secret What God Can Do, and Remember Me I'm The One Who Loves You covered by Ernest Tubb, Red Foley, and Dean Martin ~ Hamblen was born in 1908
March 8, 1988 ~ Benjamin Joseph Levin, commonly known as producer, DJ, songwriter Benny Blanco born in Reston, Virginia, USA ~ Frequent collaborator and protegé of Dr Luke. As a recording artist known for songs such as Eastside featuring Halsey and Khalid, I Found You featuring Calvin Harris, Better To Lie featuring Jesse Rutherford & Swae Lee, and Roses featuring Juice WRLD. As a producer and songwriter has also worked with Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Sia, the Weeknd, Tory Lanez, Wiz Khalifa, Kanye West, and J Balvin
March 8, 1988 ~ Glen Earl Boothe, commonly known as hip-hop producer, songwriter Knxwledge, born in Freehold Township, New Jersey, USA ~ Draws from jazz, soul, old-school hip-hop, rap. Half of the duo NxWorries, the other half being Anderson Paak. Released his official full-length debut album, Klouds, in 2010. Produced Kendrick Lamar's Momma from the 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly. Has also worked with Blu, Joey Badass, Quelle Chris, Homeboy Sandman, Omarion, Ghostface Killah, Earl Sweatshirt, Prodigy, Action Bronson, and Elijah Boothe
March 8, 1988 ~ Rap group Run-DMC release Mary Mary, lifted off their Tougher Than Leather album ~ Written by Michael Nesmith. Originally recorded by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band for their 1966 East-West album. Covered by the Monkees and included on the band's More Of The Monkees sophomore album released in 1967. Run-DMC would cover the song as a rap rock version, produced by Rick Rubin, with one minor adjustment to the lyrics changing the line “Mary Mary, where ya going to” to “Mary Mary why ya buggin”. The band would also sample Micky Dolenz singing the title, taken from the Monkees recording. Although the Run-DMC single failed to reach the top half of the Billboard Hot 100, it did reach top 20 in New ZealandMarch 8, 1979 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock, indie pop singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter Andy Ross born in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known as member of OK Go since 2005. joining as replacement for Andy Duncan. Present on the albums Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky and Ghosts
March 8, 1979 ~ Chad Bromley, commonly known as rapper, producer Apathy, born in Willimantic, Connecticut, USA ~ Worked with Demigodz, Celph Titled, Doe Rakers, Jedi Mind Tricks, the Army Of The Pharaohs, Styles Of Beyond, the Get Busy Committee, Ryu, and Blue Raspberry
March 8, 1979 ~ Post-hardcore, post-punk, emo, indie rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Geoff Rickly, full name Geoffrey William Rickly, born in Dumont, New Jersey, USA ~ Best known as lead singer of rock outfit Thursday, member of hardcore punk band the United Nations, and member of alternative rock group No Devotion. Produced My Chemical Romance's 2002 I Brought You My Bullets (You Brought Me Your Love) debut album. Guested on recordings by Murder By Death, the Blackout Pact, Touché Amoré, and Man OverboardMarch 8, 1979 ~ Soul, R&B singer Shola Ama born in London, UK ~ Released her full-length Much Love debut album in 1997, which included the UK top 10 hits You're The One I Love and You Might Need Somebody, the latter originally recorded by Turley Richards and notably covered by Randy Crawford and Joe Walsh. Also known for the modest 1999 hit till Believe, one of the first records produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate
March 8, 1979 ~ Singer, TV and radio personality Zena McNally born in Birmingham, UK ~ Early member of pop, R&B group Mis-Teeq, appearing on their 2000 debut single Why but leaving before the debut album was released. As a solo artist McNally released only a few singles off of a sole album to limited commercial succesMarch 8, 1978 ~ Power metal keyboardist Manuel Ramil born in Ares, Spain ~ Best known as keyboardist of Warcry. Influenced by Dream Theater, Yngwie Malmsteen, Angra, Symphony X, Kamelot. Co-founded Sauze. Has also worked with Torquemada, Fake Intermission, and Avalanch
March 8, 1978 ~ John Matthews, commonly known as producer, songwriter Ricardo Autobahn, born ~ Member of the Cuban Boys. Member of Spray. Half of Rik & Daz, the other half being Daz Sampson. Also worked with Lolly Pop, Helen Love, Nathalie Archangel, Jane Nadler, and Christopher Anton
March 8, 1977 ~ Folk, alt-country, indie rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Rocky Votolato born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Co-founding member of indie rock band Waxwing, which also included his brother guitarist Cody Votolato, merging straight up rock with post-hardcore earning them a solid fanbase. Enjoyed a parallel solo career, with about a dozen albums to his name starting with the eponymous Rocky Votolato released in 1999
March 8, 1977 ~ Tedashii Lavoy Anderson, monoymously known as Christian rapper, singer Tedashii, born in Lutkin, Texas, USA ~ Member of 116 Clique, active with the ensemble since the 2008 Unashamed Tour. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the album Kingdom People released in 2006. Well known songs include Dark Days Darker Nights featuring Britt Nicole, and Nothing I Can't Do featuring Lecrae & Trip Lee. Has also collaborated with Folk Angel, J'son, KB, the Family Force 5, and Crowder
March 8, 1976 ~ Gareth Michael Coombes, commonly known as Britpop, alternative rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Gaz Coombes born in Oxford, UK ~ Lead singer, frontman of Supergrass, known for songs such as Going Out, Richard III, Sun Hits The Sky and Moving all of which reached the UK top 10
March 8, 1975 ~ In its 11th week on the charts, Lonely People by America peaks at No.5 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Of the trio, Dan Peek was the spiritual one and firmly rooted in his faith. Penned by Peek, along with his wife Cathy Peek, Lonely People is one such example and definitely Peek's best known America-track clearly showing this side. Peek later explained the idea of the song, he was wondering “what it would be like to wake up and not know anybody”. The recording session would be helmed by famed producer George Martin, best known as regular producer of the Beatles. After leaving the band in 1977 to pursue a solo career as a Christian singer, Peek would still regularly perform Lonely People, with slighty altered lyrics to include the line “don't give up until you drink from the silver cup and give your heart to Jesus Christ”, leaving no doubt as to his intention
March 8, 1974 ~ Drummer, guitarist, keyboardist, singer Adam Ficek, full name Adam Steven Ficek, born in Bletchley, UK ~ Member of the Mains Ignition. Member of the White Sport. Recorded as a solo artist using the moniker Roses Kings Castles, starting in 2008. Perhaps best known for his association with Babyshambles, joining the band in 2005 and present on the albums Down In Albion, The Blinding and the acclaimed Shotters Nation released in 2007
March 8, 1974 ~ Singer, actor Alberto Rabagliati passed away in Rome, Italy ~ Moved to Hollywood in 1927 as the winner of a Rudolph Valentino-lookalike contest but his international acting career never took off and returned to Italy foru years later. Briefly sang with Pippo Barzizza's orchestra before joining the ensemble the Lecuona Cuban Boys. Rose to notoriety through his solo work on the state radio station EIAR in the 1940s. At the time anything foreign was banned yet Rabagliati was alllowed to maintain his American-influenced style. Well-known songs include Ma L'Amore No, Mattinata Fiorentina, Ba-ba=baciami Piccina, Silenzioso Slow, and Bambina Innamorata. His fame as a singer would help restart his acting career, appearing in over a dozen films through the mid 1960s ~ Rabagliati was born in 1906March 8, 1973 ~ Amel Eliza Stowell, commonly known as singer Amel Larrieux, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Formed Groove Theory with Bryce Wilson, rising to fame in the mid 1990s with hits such as the 1995 Billboard top 10 hit Tell Me. Influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Jimi Hendrix, Patrice Rushen. Released her Infinite Possibilities solo debut album in 2000. Has collaborated with Guru, the Roots, Soulive, and Stanley Clarke
March 8, 1971 ~ Jakob Franz Wolff, commonly known as label executive, photographer, producer Francis Wolff, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Of Jewish descent emigrated to New York by the late 1930s, teaming up with childhood friend and Blue Note co-founder Alfred Lion. Until the latter's retirement in 1967 Wolff would concentrate on the company's financial affairs and day to day running of the business, only occasionally supervising recording sessions. Nevertheless his contributions proved important to the label's success. Wolff also served as the company's photographer, his work used for publicity material and album sleeves. The publication of the 1995 book The Blue Note Years The Jazz Photography Of Francis Wolff would help make the public more aware of his work as one of the leading jazz photographers ~ Wolff was born in 1907March 8, 1971 ~ Rock bassist, songwriter Jason Slater born ~ Briefly a member of Third Eye Blind, leaving the band shortly after recording their demo. Would go on to work with acts such as the Snake River Conspiracy, the Band Of Flakes, Revenge Of The Triads and Brougham. Has also worked as producer for artists such as Interstate '76, Earshot and notably Queensrÿche ~ Slater passed away in 2020
March 8, 1970 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Anat Fort born near Tel Aviv, Israel ~ Debuted in 1999 with her Peel album. Worked with Paul Bley, Paul Motian, Gianluigi Trovesi, Lieven Venken, and Rene Hart
March 8, 1970 ~ Lolita Shanté Gooden, commonly known as hip-hop singer, rapper Roxanne Shanté, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Member of the Juice Crew. Released her full-length solo debut album, Bad Sister, in 1989. Has collaborated with Sparky D, Steady B, UTFO, Marley Marl, and MC Shan
March 8, 1970 ~ Neo-soul, funk singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, saxophonist, percussionist, songwriter Van Hunt born in Dayton, Ohio, USA ~ Influenced by the Isley Brothers, Curtis Mayfield, Thelonious Monk, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, and Neil Young. Released his eponymous Van Hunt debut album in 2004. Most acclaimed for his What Were You Hoping For album released in 2011. Perhaps best known for collaborating with John Legend and Joss Stone on the 2005 rendition of Family Affair for the Different Strokes By Different Folks Sly & the Family Stone tribute album, the recording earning them a 2007 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group
March 8, 1966 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Bob Dylan records Just Like A Woman ~ Penned by Bob Dylan. Produced by Bob Johnston. Included on the 1966 Blonde On Blonde album. Issued as a single, b/w Obviously 5 Believers, the following August. In the UK, where Dylan's single wasn't released, Manfred Mann would reach top 10 that summer with their cover version
March 8, 1966 ~ Christian rock, rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, producer Bob Herdman, full name Robert Vaughn Herdman, born ~ Following a stint in the Army Herdman convinced friends Mark Stuart and Barry Blair to record two songs for which he had written lyrics. The song My God would draw the attention of label executive Ron Griffin who signed the band, then named A-180. Renamed to Audio Adrenaline they would become one of the best known bands in Christian music, selling over three million records. Well known songs include Big House, Walk On Water, People Like Me, Hands And Feet, and Leaving 99
March 8, 1966 ~ Punk rock guitarist John Nolan born ~ Member of Behind The Magnolia. Member of Bored, present on the band's debut album Negative Waves and its follow-up Take It Out On You album. Left the band in 1991 along with Tim Hemensley to form the Powder Monkeys, releasing the albums Smashed On A Knee, Time Wounds All Heels and Lost City Blues before disbanding in the early 2000s ~ Nolan passed away in 2021