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.
November 1, 2025 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Archie Fisher, full name Archie MacDonald Fisher, passed away ~ Brother to singers Cilla Fisher and Ray Fisher. Worked with Robin Williamson, Clive Palmer, Mike Heron, the Incredible String Band, Barbara Dickson, Tommy Makem, Liam Clancy, Tom Paxton, Garnet Rogers, and Frightened Rabbit ~ Fisher was born in 1939
November 1, 2025 ~ Bassist Ray Drummond passed away ~ Leader and sideman. Member of the Drummonds. Has also worked with Manny Boyd, Branford Marsalis, John Hicks, Kenny Barron, Bill Mays, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Arnett Cobb, Ted Curson, Art Farmer, Curtis Fuller, Slide Hampton, Craig Handy, Freddie Hubbard, Etta Jones, Frank Morgan, Idris Muhammad, Houston Person, Pharoah Sanders, Horace Silver, and John Zorn ~ Drummond was born in 1946
November 1, 2022 ~ Recording engineer Joseph Tarsia, full name Joseph Dominick Tarsia, passed away in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Helped define the Philly soul sound of the 1970s. Started his career in music in the early 1960s at Cameo Parkway Records, eventually becoming the label's chief engineer working with artists such as Chubby Checker, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, and the Orlons. Founded his own Sigma Sound recording studio in 1968, which would become home to numerous Philly soul artists including Jerry Butler, Harold Melvin, the O'Jays, and the Stylistics. His success led to opening more recording facilities, his client list including Stevie Wonder, BB King, David Bowie, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Billy Joel, Steely Dan, and Paul Simon ~ Tarsia was born in 1931
November 1, 2022 ~ Kirshnik Khari Ball, commonly known as hip-hop, trap rapper, songwriter Takeoff, passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Formed the trio Migos with Quavo and Offset. The hip hop act is best known for songs such as Bad And Boujee featuring Lil' Uzi Vert, Motorsport with Nicki Minaj & Cardi B, Stir Fry, and Walk It Talk It featuring Drake. Takeoff released his The Last Rocket solo debut album in 2018 ~ Ball was born in 1994November 1, 2022 ~ Composer, producer Tsuneo Fukuhara passed away in Okinawa, Japan ~ Adoptive son of composer, producer Fukuhari Choki. Considered a pioneer in fusing traditional Okinawan music with elements from a wide array of genres including classical music, R&B, and bossa nova. Active since the early 1960s has written over an estimated 500 songs, including his best known Bashofu notably covered by Rimi Natsukawa, and Tokiko Kato ~ Fukuhara was born in 1932
November 1, 2021 ~ Jazz guitarist Emmett Chapman passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for inventing the Chapman stick, a stringed instrument of the guitar family typically tuned with 10 or 12 strings. As a musician influenced by Barney Kessel and John McLaughlin. Started his career in music in the late 1960s backing Kessel, as well as notably Tim Buckley, before forming his own band. The song Back Yard was used in the 1984 Dune film and included on his Parallel Galaxy album released the following year ~ Chapman was born in 1936
November 1, 2021 ~ Guitar builder Gilberto Grácio passed away in Lisbon, Portugal ~ Third generation luthier. Since his sons have no desire to continue the tradition he is the last of the Grácio luthiers, the family considered one of the most important traditional guitar makers in Europe. Towards the end of his life he still worked in his Lisbon workshop yet devoted most of his time teaching two students who kept making guitars according to his family's tradition. Musicians who played his guitars include Carlos Paredes, António Chainho, Fernando Alvim and Jimmy Page ~ Grácio was born in 1936
November 1, 2021 ~ Classical pianist Nelson Freire, full name Nelson José Pinto Freire, passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Leading pianist of his generation noted for his decorous playing and interpretive depth. Has worked with top-notch orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra ~ Freire was born in 1944
November 1, 2021 ~ Patrick Carmen Azzara, commonly known as jazz guitarist, composer Pat Martino, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Admired guitarist quintessential to post-bop, fusion and soul jazz movements. Noted for his mathematical approach of the instrument. Began playing professionally at age 15. Played and recorded with Eric Kloss and with Willis Jackson early in his career, the latter being pivotal to Martino's career. Martino also worked with organists including Charles Earland, Richard Groove Holmes, Jack McDuff, Don Patterson, Trudy Pitts, Jimmy Smith, Gene Ludwig, Robert Piere, and Joey DeFrancesco. In 1980 an aneurysm left Martino with amnesia and no recollection or knowledge of his career or how to play the guitar, forced to learn how to play from zero ~ Azzara was born in 1944November 1, 2020 ~ Jazz saxophonist Pedro Iturralde, full name Pedro Iturralde Ochoa, passed away in Madrid, Spain ~ Flamenco-infused jazz. As a composer best known for his Czárdás composition. Has worked with the Spanish National Orchestra, Paco de Lucia, Pepe De Antequerra and notably with Donna Hightower on the latter's 1974 I'm In Love With Love album ~ Iturralde was born in 1929
November 1, 2020 ~ Philip Krokidis, commonly known as DJ, producer Phil K, passed away ~ Alongside other Melbourne acts such as NuBreed and Andy Page one of the most prominent to emerge from the Aussie Breaks music scene. Member of the Operators, the Hi-fi Bugs and Lostep. Released his Sound Not Scene solo debut album in 2000 ~ Krokidis was born in 1969
November 1, 2017 ~ Singer, actress, environmental activist Katie Lee passed away in Jerome, Arizona, USA ~ Earned the nickname “the Desert Goddess of Glenn Canyon” for her activism opposing the Glen Canyon Dam, calling for the canyon to be returned to its natural state. As a singer active since the mid 1950s and best known for her acclaimed Love's Little Sisters album released in 1975 ~ Lee was born in 1919
November 1, 2012 ~ Heavy metal, extreme metal, deathcore singer, bassist, songwriter Mitch Lucker, full name Mitchell Adam Lucker, passed away in Huntington Beach, California, USA ~ Influenced by artists such as Korn, the Deftones, Slayer, Black Sabbath, Nirvana, and Van Halen. Lucker is best known as lead singer of deathcore band Suicide Silence, with whom he recorded four albums including the acclaimed No Time To Bleed until his death at age 28 in a motorcycle accident ~ Lucker was born in 1984November 1, 2011 ~ Violinist, composer, arranger André Hodeir passed away in Versailles, France ~ Formed the Jazz Groupe de Paris which also included Bobby Jaspar, Pierre Michelot and Nat Peck. Also worked with Donald Byrd, Idrees Sulieman, Frank Rehak, Hal McKusick, Eddie Costa, George Duvivier, and Annie Ross ~ Hodeir was born in 1921
November 1, 2008 ~ Zoila August Emperatriz Chavarri del Castillo, commonly known as coloratura soprano Yma Sumac, passed in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Known for her extreme vocal range. Prolific singer mastered various styles, perhaps best known as one of the most famous voices in the exotica genre. Stories published in the 1950s claimed that she was an Incan princess, directly descended from Atahualpa, the last Incan emperor. Discovered by Les Baxter she signed to Capitol Records in 1950. Her debut LP, Voice Of The Xtabay, was a smash hit. She continued to have fame throughout the 1950s, playing with Baxter, Danny Kaye, put out several hit albums (notably the 1954 release Mambo), and perform at venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, the Roxy Theatre, Vegas nightclubs, as well as tour internationally ~ Chávarri was born in 1923
November 1, 2005 ~ Rapper, singer Nelly releases Grillz featuring Paul Wall and Ali & Gipp, lifted off his Sweatsuit album ~ The song tells of the cosmetic dentistry that many rappers had done to show off their wealth, the dental work is called a “grill” as it makes their mouth resemble the grill of a car. The song song would feature samples from Destiny's Child's Soldier and MC Shan's Left Me Lonely, and features an uncredited vocal by Blaque singer Brandi Williams. Grillz reached No.1 Billboard Hot 100, a position it held for two consecutive weeks, and earned Nelly, Paul Wall and Ali & Gipp a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Performance as a Duo or Group, an award that would go to Chamillionaire's Ridin'November 1, 2004 ~ Trumpeter, singer, guitarist Mark Ledford passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as member of the Pat Metheny Group from the mid-1980s onwards including on Secret Story, We Live Here and Imaginary Day. Member of Chroma. Also sessioned with artists such as Stephanie Mills, Jon Hendricks, Special EFX, Michael Brecker, Kevin Eubanks, Don Byron, Faith Evans (Faith), Living Colour, Prince, the Rippingtons, Uri Caine, and Joe Locke ~ Ledford was born in 1960
November 1, 2004 ~ Richard Terrence Knapp, commonly known as singer, songwriter, producer Terry Knight, passed away in Temple, Texas, USA ~ Fronted Terry Knight & the Pack, known for songs such as Change On The Way, the Yardbirds cover You're A Better Man Than I, the Ben E King cover I (Who Have Nothing) and Love Love Love Love Love. ~ Knapp was born in 1943
November 1, 1996 ~ Gustave Elijah, commonly known as rapper, songwriter Lil' Peep, born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Helped pioneer emo revival of rap and rock. Member of GothBoiClique. Known for songs such as Benz Truck, Awful Things featuring Lil' Tracy, and perhaps his best known the posthumously released Falling Down featuring XXXTentacion, the latter reaching the Billboard top 20 in 2018 ~ Ahr passed away in 2017
November 1, 1990 ~ Bassist, guitarist Ray Pohlman, full name Merlyn Ray Pohlman, passed away in California, USA ~ Musical director for the Shindogs, the house band for the TV show Shindig. In-demand session musician present on hundreds of 1950s and 1960s recordings, including songs such as Bring It On Home To Me by Sam Cooke, Be My Baby by the Ronettes, and Help Me Rhonda, Good Vibrations and God Only Knows by the Beach Boys ~ Pohlman was born in 1930
November 1, 1989 ~ Bruce Fielder, commonly known as DJ, producer, remixer Sigala, born in Norwich, UK ~ Released his full-length Brighter Days debut album in 2015, which included his highest-charting and best known single the UK No.1 hit Easy Love. Subsequent hits would include Sweet Lovin' featuring Bryn Christopher, Say You Do featuring Imani & DJ Fresh, Came Here For Love featuring Ella Eyre, Lullaby featuring Paloma Faith, Heaven On My Mind featuring Becky Hill and You For Me featuring Rita Ora
November 1, 1988 ~ Country singer Garth Brooks releases The Dance, lifted off his eponymous debut album ~ Written by Tony Arata, The Dance can be interpreted both as a love song and as a story of someone dying because of something he believes in. Issued as the fourth and final single of his eponymous debut album, it would spend three consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Country charts, bumped off the top spot by Dan Seals' Good Times. One of Garth Brooks' earliest hits, The Dance has remained a concert favorite throughout his career and is considered a signature song for the singer. Brooks credits the back to back success of The Dance and its follow-up Friends In Low Places for his phenomenal successNovember 1, 1986 ~ Beulah Belle Thomas, commonly known as singer Sippie Wallace, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Among the top singers of her era. Known for songs such as Up The Country Blues, Special Delivery Blues, Bedroom Blues, and I'm A Mighty Tight Woman. Has worked with Louis Armstrong, Roosevelt Sykes, Little Brother Montgomery, and Victoria Spivey ~ Wallace was born in 1898
November 1, 1983 ~ John Paul Cooper, commonly known as soul, alternative rock singer, guitarist, songwriter JP Cooper, born in Middleton, UK ~ Best known for his single September Song, a UK top 10 hit in 2016. Has collaborated with Don Diablo, Jonas Blue (Perfect Strangers), Petit Biscuit, Craig David, and Stefflon Don
November 1, 1981 ~ Tommy Karevik Paige, commonly known as heavy metal, hard rock singer, guitarist Tommy Karevik, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Best known as lead singer for metal outfits Seventh Wonder and Kamelot. Has also worked with Firecracker, Vindictiv, and notably with Ayreon, portraying the main character on the latter's 2013 The Theory Of Everything album