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, 1980 ~ In its 11th week on the charts, Good Ol' Boys (Theme From The Dukes Of Hazzard) by Waylon Jennings hits No.1 Billboard Country ~ Waylon Jennings was the narrator in the 1975 film Moonrunners. When CBS decided to create a TV show based on the movie, they asked Jennings to reprise his role as narrator and come up with a theme song to the show built around good-hearted rebels Bo and Luke Duke from the fictional Hazzard County. Jennings would appear as narrator in all 121 episodes of The Dukes Of Hazzard until it ended in 1985. The role of Bo Duke was played by John Schneider, who also enjoyed some success as a country singer, notably scoring several Billboard Country top 10 hits in the 1980s
November 1, 1977 ~ Pop rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Alistair Griffin born in Middlesbrough, UK ~ First gained attention in 2003 as contestant on the talent show Fame Academy 2. Released his Bring it On debut album the next year, which included the modest hits Bring It On and You And Me (Tonight), both of which reached top 20 in his native UK. Griffin continued to record but would be unable to repeat his earlier success. To Dutch audiences, Griffin is perhaps best known for co-penning Angel By My Side, a top 10 hit in the Netherlands for singer Do in 2004November 1, 1977 ~ Choral conductor, jazz singer Anine Kruse born in Oslo, Norway ~ Daughter of composer Bjørn Kruse. Co-founding member of vocal group Pitsj, which also included her sister Benedikte Kruse. Has also worked with Det Norske Solistkor and conducted the Bærum Vocal Ensemble
November 1, 1975 ~ Harold Elwin Bice Jr, commonly known as singer, guitarist Bo Bice, born in Huntsville, Alabama, USA ~ First gained major exposure as a contestant on the 4th season of American Idol talent show in 2005, reaching 2nd place behind Carrie Underwood. The Idol exposure gave him the top 10 hit Inside Your Heaven but his debut album, The Real Thing, was only a minor succes. After being dropped by RCA Records, Bice has recorded and self-released a number of albums. Before Idol, Bice has worked with Blue Suede Nickel and Sugar MoneyNovember 1, 1971 ~ Jazz drummer, composer Antonio Sánchez born in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Leader and sideman. Especially known for his association with renowned guitarist Pat Metheny starting in the early 2000s. Composed the score to the 2014 film Birdman, which would be nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score. Has collaborated with Michael Brecker, Dewa Budjana, Gary Burton, Avishai Cohen, Scott Colley, Chick Corea, Bendik Hofseth, and Enrico Pieranunzi
November 1, 1971 ~ Singer, pianist Billy Joel releases his Cold Spring Harbor debut album ~ When hearing the end result, Billy Joel joked he sounded more like the Bee Gees or one of Alvin & the Chipmunks, his voice half a semi-tone higher as the songs played slightly too fast. Label owner Artie Ripp was responsible for the production error, and it cost him his friendship with an infuriated Joel. Regardless of the error, the album sold poorly. Joel would later release live versions of She's Got A Way and Everybody Loves You Now, songs first included on Cold Spring Harbor. In 1983 the album itself would be remastered, and re-released, the pitch adjusted to correct the error, and to enhance the album's sound. Joel, who held no rights to the work and was not involved in the re-release, would later remark the album still didn't sound good to him. The album's title was derived from a hamlet in the town of Huntington, located on Long Island Sound, New York, near Joel's hometown
November 1, 1971 ~ Singer Irene Daye passed away in Greenville, South Carolina, USA ~ Briefly sang with Mal Hallett, prior to working with Gene Krupa from 1938 through 1941, including on the hit Drum Boogie. Following her departure from Krupa's ensemble, Daye initially retired from music to raise a family, married to trumpeter Corky Cornelius. When Cornelius passed away in 1943, Daye returned to the musical stage, singing with Charlie Spivak from 1944 through 1950. Daye married Spivak in 1950, retired from performing, and work as her husband's manager until her death at age 53 ~ Daye was born in 1918November 1, 1967 ~ Singer, songwriter Sophie B Hawkins, full name Sophie Ballantine Hawkins, born in New York, New York, New York, USA ~ Known for a string of mid 1990s hits including Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover, Right Beside You and As I Lay Me Down. Enjoyed greater succes in Europe than in her native America
November 1, 1967 ~ Filippina Lydia Arena, commonly known as singer, actress, songwriter Tina Arena, born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Blessed with an impressive soprano vocal range would become one of Australia's best-selling artists with over 10 million records sold worldwide. First gained serious attention from age 8 onwards singing cover versions on the Australian TV show Young Talent Time. Actively recording as a solo artist since age 17, debuting in 1985 with the dance-pop single Turn Up The Beat. Disappeared from public for a number of years to return by the end of the decade with her full-length Strong As Steel debut album and has recorded mostly to critical and commercial succes since. Well known songs include I Need Your Body, Chains, Burn and Symphony Of LifeNovember 1, 1964 ~ Singer, songwriter Lou Rhodes born in Manchester, UK ~ As a solo singer on the folk side. As a member of Lamb blends trip-hop and jazz. In-demand collaborator, has worked with 808 State, Gerald Simpson, Funkstorung, Pale 3, Sugizo, the Plump DJ's, Sheila Chandra, Eliza Carthy, and Art Of Noise
November 1, 1963 ~ William Kenneth Alpin, commonly known as country, country-rock singer Big Kenny born in Culpepper, Virginia, USA ~ Half of Big & Rich, the other half being John Rich, known for hits such as Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy, Holy Water, Big Time, Comin' To Your City, Lost In This Moment, That's Why I Pray, and Look At You
November 1, 1963 ~ Drummer Rick Allen, full name Richard John Cyril Allen, born in Sheffield, UK ~ Member of Def Leppard since 1978, replacing Tony Kenning, known for songs such as Hello America, Rock Of Ages, Animal, Hysteria, Pour Some Sugar On Me, Love Bites, Rocket, Heaven Is, and When Love And Hate Collide
November 1, 1962 ~ Singer Anthony Kiedis born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA ~ Lead singer of rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers, which he co-founded with Hillel Slovak and Flea, known for songs such as Give It Away, Under The Bridge, Scar Tissue, The Otherside, Californication, Dani California, and Snow (Hey Oh)
November 1, 1962 ~ Punk rock, lo-fi, indie rock guitarist, singer, producer, songwriter Calvin Johnson born in Olympia, Washington, USA ~ Important figure in the modern indie music movement. Co-founding member of several pivotal lo-fi, indie bands including Cool Rays, Beat Happening, the Go Team, the Halo Benders and perhaps most notably Dub Narcotic Sound System, the latter especially acclaimed for their 1998 Out Of Your Mind album. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the album What Was Me released in 2002, and collaborated with the likes of Modest Mouse, Beck, Heavenly, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Mecca Normal, Built To Spill, Fifth Column, and Hive Dwellers
November 1, 1962 ~ Church organist, composer David Briggs, full name David John Briggs, born in Bromsgrove, UK ~ Considered one of the world's premier organ improvisers. Composer of choral and organ music. Influenced by Jean Langlais and Pierre Cochereau
November 1, 1962 ~ Flavia Pozzaglio, commonly known as singer, actress, TV personality Irene Fargo, born in Brescia, Italy ~ Best known for her early 1990s singles La Donna Di Ibsen and Come Una Turandot, the latter inspired by Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot. Both singles would reach top 20 in her native Italy ~ Pozzaglio passed away in 2022November 1, 1962 ~ Film and TV composer Lolita Ritmanis born in Portland, Oregon, USA ~ Orchestrated music for over 100 films and TV programs working with composers such as Michael Kamen, Basil Poledouris, Shirley Walker, Burt Bacharach, and WG Snuffy Walden
November 1, 1962 ~ Keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, flutist Magne Furuholmen born in Oslo, Norway ~ Best known as keyboardist of synth-pop band A-ha, co-wrote a vast amount of the band's best known including Take On Me, Stay On These Roads, Manhattan Skyline, Cry Wolf, Minor Earth Major Sky and You Are The One
November 1, 1961 ~ Siblings the Everly Brothers record Ebony Eyes ~ Written by John D Loudermilk. Released as a single, b/w Walk Right Back, the following January it would reach top 10 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100
November 1, 1960 ~ Singer Elvis Presley releases Are You Lonesome Tonight, first recorded by vaudeville singer Charles Hart in 1927 ~ The song, penned by Roy Turk and Lou Handman, had been a hit for several artists in the 1920s and regularly reprised in later years by others. At the suggestion of his manager Col Parker, whose wife was a fan of Gene Austin's rendition, Elvis Presley recorded Are You Lonesome Tonight in the early morning hours at the end of an all-night session. The song marked a change in direction for the singer, broadening his horizon to include a softer, more sensitive side. It worked out well, Presley gained many new fans while still retaining most of his old ones, and Are You Lonesome Tonight would reach No.1 Billboard Hot 100 chart in its third week where it remained for six consecutive weeks, finally giving up the top position to Bert Kaempfert's Wonderland By Night in January 1961. Are You Lonesome Tonight remains one of Presley's best known ballads, cherished to this day. Parker's suggestion to record the song was one of the very few, possibly the only time, he was involved in Presley's choice of materialNovember 1, 1960 ~ Singer, shamisen player Takeharu Kunimoto born in Shimofusa, Japan ~ Performs rokyoky, a genre of traditional Japanese singing, and plays the shamisen, a three-stringed instrument. Besides traditional Japanese music, Kunimoto has also played bluegrass music, notably on the 2007 Appalachian Shamisen album, inspired by a Bill Monroe concert in Tokyo, Japan, he attended at age 14 ~ Kunimoto passed away in 2015
November 1, 1959 ~ Jazz trombonist Conrad Herwig, full name Leo Conrad Herwig III, born in Lawton, Oklahoma, USA ~ Recorded a little over two albums as a leader, specifically noted for New York Hardball released in 1989. Closely associated with Toshiko Akiyoshi, Eddie Palmieri, and the Mingus Big Band. Herwig has also appeared on albums by Marianne Faithfull (Strange Weather), Mario Bauzá, Walt Weiskopf, Paquito d'Rivera (A Night In Englewood), Al di Meola, Michel Camilo, Jim Hall, Joe Henderson, Susannah McCorkle (Let's Face The Music), Buster Poindexter, Tom Harrell, Greg Gisbert (Court Jester), Joe Lovano, Mathilde Santing, Renee Rosnes, Elvis Costello (North), Brian Lynch, Tim Riles, and Issac DelgadoNovember 1, 1956 ~ Blues guitarist, singer Tommy Johnson passed away in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, USA ~ Recorded in the late 1920s. Regarded as the premier Delta blues singer of his day. Influenced Robert Nighthawk, Howlin' Wolf, Hank Williams. Known for songs such as Big Road Blues, Cool Drink Of Water and Canned Heat Blues. The rock group Canned Heat named themselves after the latter ~ Johnson was born ca.1896
November 1, 1955 ~ Country singer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter Keith Stegall, full name Robert Keith Stegall, born in Wichita Falls, Texas, USA ~ As a solo artist recorded two albums, Keith Stegall and Passages. The former, released in 1985, would spawn the Billboard Country top 20 hits Whatever Turns You On, California, and Pretty Lady. Stegall is perhaps best known as a producer, producing or co-producing songs for Alan Jackson, Dr Hook (Sexy Eyes), George Jones, the Zac Brown Band, George Strait (I Hate Everything), and Clay Walker
November 1, 1954 ~ Jazz singer, pianist, guitarist Carmen Lundy, full name Carmen Latretta Lundy, born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Sister of bassist Curtis Lundy. Cites Dionne Warwick, Roberta Flack and Stevie Wonder, as influences. Worked with Thad Jones, Jasmine, Bill O'Connell, Steve Berrios, John Hicks, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Walter Bishop Jr, Don Pullen, Mulgrew Miller, Billy Childs, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kip Hanrahan, Courtney Pine, Marian McPartland, and Quasimode. As a songwriter, Lundy had her work recorded by Kenny Barron (Quiet Times), Ernie Watts (At The End Of My Rope), and Straight Ahead (Never Gonna Let You Go)November 1, 1954 ~ Guitarist, singer Chris Morris, full name Christopher Morris, born in Nottingham, UK ~ Member of Paper Lace, with whom he scored the UK hits Billy Don't Be A Hero, The Black-Eyed Boys, and The Night Chicago Died. All three would reach top 20 in the band's native UK, the latter would also top the American Billboard Hot 100