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 10, 1979 ~ Jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, singer Warren Wolf, full name Warren Edward Wolf Jr, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Worked with vibraphonist Dave Samuels, trumpeter Jason Palmer, Bobby Watson, Karriem Riggins, Donal Fox, Christian McBride, Peter Martin, Gregory Hutchinson, Tim Green, Jeremy Pelt, Mulgrew Miller, Kendrick Scott, Rodney Whitaker, and Jeff Tain-Watts
November 10, 1978 ~ Thomas Wesley Pentz, commonly known as DJ, producer Diplo, born in Tupelo, Mississippi, USA ~ Member of Major Lazer, known for the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Lean On and Cold Water. Formed the duo Jack Ü with Skrillex. Formed LSD with Sia and Labrinth. Formed Silk City with Mark Ronson. Released his full-length Florida solo debut album in 2004. Has served as producer for MIA (Paper Planes), Chris Brown, Alex Clare, Usher, Beyoncé (Hold Up), and Will Smith
November 10, 1978 ~ Eve Jihan Jeffers, known mononymously as rapper, singer, actress Eve, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Discovered by Mase. Guested on DJ Clue's Ruff Ryders Anthem and the Roots' You Got Me. Released her Let There Be Eve (Ruff Ryders' First Lady) solo debut album, which would go on to sell 2 million copies. Well known songs include Gotta Man, Love Is Blind featuring Faith Evans, Let Me Blow Your Mind featuring Gwen Stefani, Gangsta Lovin' featuring Alicia Keys, and Tambourine
November 10, 1978 ~ Pop rock singer Rod Stewart releases Da Ya Think I'm Sexy, lead single off his Blondes Have More Fun album ~ At the time of its release, the song was criticised for its disco-like arrangements, straying from Rod Stewart's blues-oriented rock roots, yet over time the song would earn acclaim for its bass line, steady kick and soaring synthesized strings. Nevertheless, the song would be a global hit and reach the No.1 spot in several countries including Ireland, Canada, the UK, and the USA. Brazilian singer Jorge Ben filed a copyright infringement lawsuit, claiming the chorus had been derived from his song Taj Mahal. The case would be settled amicably in Ben's favor, Stewart later admitting to “unconscious plagiarism” most likely having picked up the tune when visiting the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, BrazilNovember 10, 1977 ~ Banjoist, singer Abigail Washburn born in Evanston, Illinois, USA ~ Married to banjoist Béla Fleck. Member of Uncle Earl, the Sparrow Quartet, Wu Force. Has also worked with Ben Sollee, Jordan McConnell, and Casey Driessen
November 10, 1973 ~ In its 12th week on the charts, Keep On Truckin' (Part 1) by Eddie Kendricks hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Following his bitter split from the Temptations two years earlier, Eddie Kendricks had recorded two solo albums and built a dedicated, cult fanbase, though his reach and commercial success were considerably smaller than with the Temptations who continued to score major hits without him. For Keep On Truckin' Kendricks and then-regular producer Frank Wilson aimed more at the dance floor than the ballads he had been recording. Isued as a single off his third solo album, the eponymous Eddie Kendricks, it became his biggest solo hit and reached No.1 on both the Billboard R&B and all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts. Possibly in response to Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are), a post-Kendricks hit that was party a jab at him, Kendricks included a jab at his former bandmates with the lyrics: “In old Temptations' rain, I'm duckin', for your love through sleet or snow, I'm truckin'.”. The phrase “keep on trucking” is a phrase of encouragement meaning to stay focused regardless of circumstances or setback. The term may originate from Truckin' My Blues Away, a song first recorded by Blind Boy Fuller in the 1930s. Retrospectively, Keep On Truckin' would be acknowledged as a precursor to disco. It is also the only solo Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit for any former member of the TemptationsNovember 10, 1972 ~ Rock outfit Status Quo release Paper Plane, lifted off their Piledriver album ~ Prior to Paper Plane, the band were best known for their pop psychedelia including the UK top 10 hits Pictures Of Matchstick Men and Ice In The Sun. However, it was Paper Plane, their first recording for the Vertigo label that would set the template for the band's sound, 12 bar boogie rockers with a hint of progressive rock, a formula that would work for the band well into the 1980s. Paper Plane would reach No.8 in their native UK. Over the course of their lengthy career, the band would score nearly two dozen UK top 10 hits
November 10, 1971 ~ Christopher Lee Rios, commonly known as East Coast hip hop, gangsta rap, boom bap rapper Big Pun, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Discovered by Fat Joe, guesting on the 1995 album Jealous One's Envy. Released his solo debut, Capital Punishment, in 2017, the first solo hip-hop album by a Latino artist to go Platinum. Has worked with the Full-A-Clips, Lyrical Assassin, the Beatnuts, Terror Squad, Noreaga, Donell Jones, Ashanti, his son Chris Rivers, Shaquille O'Neal, Easy Mo Bee, Delinquent Habits, and Heavy D ~ Rios passed away in 2000November 10, 1970 ~ Blues, blues-rock guitarist, slide guitarist, singer Eric Sardinas born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA ~ Influenced by Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Big Bill Broonzy, Elmore James, Muddy Waters. Opened for Steve Vai. Known for setting his resonator guitar on fire while playing it, once giving him third-degree burns to his wrist. Best known for his 1999 Treat Me Right debut album and its 2001 Devil's Train follow-up
November 10, 1970 ~ Lamont Jody Hawkins, commonly known as rapper U-God, born in Staten Island, New York, USA ~ Best known as member of the Wu-Tang Clan. As a solo artist debuted with the album Golden Arms Redemption in 2008. Has collaborated with Sheek Louch, Jim Jones, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, GZA, Cappadonna, Method Man, Killah Priest, Scotty Wotty, the Hillside Scramblers, Inspectah Deck, Methods Of Mayhem, Blondie (on the 1999 single No Exit), the Mathematics, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Sean Price, and Cannibal Ox
November 10, 1968 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Chris Cagle born in DeRidder, Louisiana, USA ~ Got his start in Nashville in the late 1990s co-writing songs for David Kersh. Released his Play It Loud debut album by the turn of the century, spawning the singles My Love Goes On And On and the Billboard Country top 10 hit Laredo. Has recorded to commercial succes since. Well known songs include I Breathe In (I Breathe Out), Country By The Grace Of God, What A Beautiful Day, Chicks Dig It, Miss Me Baby and Whay Kinda Gone
November 10, 1967 ~ Ida Prather, commonly known as singer, vaudeville performer Ida Cox, passed away in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for a number of 1920s recordings on Paramount label. Backed by artists such as Jelly Roll Morton, Lovie Austin, the Blues Serenaders, Jimmy O'Bryant, and Tommy Ladnier. Resurged in the late 1930s, early 1940s, recording for Vocalion and Okeh backed by artists such as James P Johnson, Lester Young, Buck Clayton, Dicky Wells, Charlie Christian, Hot Lips Page, Red Allen, JC Higginbotham, and Lionel Hampton ~ Prather was born ca.1888
November 10, 1966 ~ Bassist, producer Steve Mackey, full name Stephen Patrick Mackey, born in Sheffield, UK ~ Best known as bassist for alternative rock outfit Pulp from 1988 through 2002 and again from 2011 through 2013. Present on some of the band's best known including the albums Different Class and This Is Hardcore both of which reached No.1 on the UK album charts. Mackey has also served as producer and remixer for the likes of MIA, Florence + the Machine, the Long Blondes, and Arcade Fire ~ Mackey passed away in 2023
November 10, 1965 ~ Film director, music video director, drummer Jonas Åkerlund, full name Hans Uno Jonas Åkerlund, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Briefly played drums for Swedish black metal band Bathory in the mid-1980s. Best known as a music video director. Earned a Grammy Award for directing Madonna's Ray Of Light video. Won his second Grammy Award for the Paul McCartney concert film Live Kisses. As a video director has also worked for Candlemass, Roxette, Moby, the Prodigy, Metallica, Jamiroquai, Ozzy Osbourne, Lenny Kravitz, Jane's Addiction, the Rolling Stones, Maroon 5, Lady Gaga, Nelly Furtado, David Guetta, Britney Spears, Robin Thicke, and Taylor Swift. Also directed a number of feature films, starting with the black comedy crime drama Spun released in 2002November 10, 1965 ~ Jazz saxophonist Mark Turner born in Fairborn, Ohio, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by John Coltrane and Warne Marsh, drawing critical comparison to the latter. Noted for forming the trio Fly with Larry Grenadier and Jeff Ballard. Has also worked with Avishai Cohen, Marcus Gilmore, Gilad Hekselman, Kurt Rosenwinkel, David Binney, Aaron Goldberg, George Colligan, Jochen Rueckert, Kurt Rosenwinkel, João Barradas, Jakob Bro, Lee Konitz, and Delfeayao Marsalis
November 10, 1962 ~ Jazz trumpeter Kye Palmer born in Redlands, California, USA ~ Best known as member of the Tonight Show Band from 2006 taking over for Lee Thornburg through 2009. Has also recorded as a solo artist and worked with Chris Walden, Bill Cunliffe, LeAnn Rimes, Bob Dylan, Tony Bennett, Diane Schuur, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Brian Setzer, Michael Bublé, Joe Pesci, and Trijntje Oosterhuis
November 10, 1962 ~ Punk drummer Teresa Taylor, also known as Teresa Nervosa, born in Arlington, Texas, USA ~ Member of the Butthole Surfers from 1983 through 1989 alongside King Coffey, the band at the time featuring two drummers playing in unison. Taylor appeared on over half a dozen of the band's albums including the acclaimed Locust Abortion Technician and Hairway To Steven ~ Taylor passed away in 2023
November 10, 1958 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Brooks Williams born in Statesboro, Georgia, USA ~ Draws from roots music, jazz, blues, classical, folk. Over two dozen albums to his name starting with North From Statesboro released in 1990. Closely associated with Boo Hewerdine. Has also worked with Jim Henry, Guy Davis, Hans Theessink, Steve Tilston, and Sloan Wainwright
November 10, 1952 ~ Gary Allen Wiggins, commonly known as jazz, blues, soul, funk, R&B saxophonist, singer, bandleader, songwriter Detroit Gary Wiggins, born in Inkster, Michigan, USA ~ Active since his teens. Made his first recording, That Good Old Funky Feeling, at age 17 with the Impacs, who would regularly serve as backing unit for groups such as the Dramatics. Wiggins would go on to record as a solo artist as well as become an in-demand sideman, working with artists such as Lefty Dizz, Sunnyland Slim, John Littlejohn, and Ray Charles ~ Wiggins passed away in 2020
November 10, 1950 ~ Peter Bramall, commonly known as rock, pop, power pop singer, guitarist Bram Tchaikovsky, born in Lincolnshire, UK ~ Rose to fame as the most visible member of pub rock band the Motors in 1977 and 1978, present on the band's first two albums 1 and Approved By The Motors. The band is best known for their 1977 single Dancing The Night Away and their 1978 singles Airport and Forget About You. After Bramall's departure the band would release one more album, 1980's Tenement Steps, which would be considerably less successful. Bramall himself would score a Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit with Girl Of My Dreams of his 1979 Strange Man Changed Man solo debut albumNovember 10, 1950 ~ Percussionist Sikiru Adepoju born in Eruwa, Nigeria ~ Closely associated with OJ Elemode, Babatunde Olatunji and a number of the Grateful Dead-drummer Mickey Hart's side projects including the Rhythm Devils and Bembe Orisha. Has also worked with Stevie Wonder, Pete Sears, Kai Eckhardt, Airto Moreira, and the String Cheese Incident
November 10, 1949 ~ William Polak, commonly known as soul singer Billy Price born in Pair Lawn, New Jersey, USA ~ First gained attention backing guitarist Roy Buchanan in the mid 1970s. Founded and fronted the Keystone Rhythm Band, known for the albums They Found Me Guilty and Is It Over. Active as a solo artist since the early 1990s. Has collaborated with artists such as the Nighthawks' Mark Wenner, Monster Mike Welch and Otis Clay, especially noted for his collaboration with the latter on the 2015 This Time For Real album
November 10, 1947 ~ Alta Sherral Willis, commonly known as singer, songwriter Allee Willis, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ As a singer released her sole album, Childstar, in 1974. As the album did not sell well and she did not enjoy performing would focus on songwriting since. Perhaps best known for co-writing Earth Wind & Fire's September and Boogie Wonderland. Others who have recorded songs written or co-written by Willis include Bonnie Raitt, Rita Coolidge, Herbie Hancock, Patti LaBelle (Come What May), Debby Boone, Valerie Carter, Pablo Cruise, Narada Michael Walden, Maxine Nightingale, Lani Hall, LTD, Leo Sayer, the Pointer Sisters (Neutron Dance), Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Pet Shop Boys (What Have I Done To Deserve This), Cyndi Lauper, the Rembrandts (I'll Be There For You), and LaChanze ~ Willis passed away in 2019
November 10, 1947 ~ Country, pop singer, guitarist Dave Loggins, full name David Allen Loggins, born in Mountain City, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for his 1974 Billboard Hot 100 No.5 hit Please Come To Boston, lifted off his Apprentice (In A Musical Workshop) sophomore album. Over the years, the song would be covered by numerous artists, including notably Tammy Wynette, Joan Baez, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Royal, and Reba McEntire. Loggins recorded three more albums through the end of the decade. However, despite critical acclaim, as a solo singer he would fail to repeat his earlier success. Others did reach the charts though with songs penned by Loggins. Three Dog Night had taken Pieces Of April to the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 back in 1971, while both Kenny Rogers and Juice Newton scored a mid-1980s Billboard Country No.1 hit with one of his songs, respectively Morning Desire and You Make Me Want To Make You Mine. Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Loggins include Tanya Tucker, Rita Coolidge, John Conlee, Alabama, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Dave Grusin, the Bellamy Brothers, Johnny Cash, and Wynonna Judd. As a singer, Loggins would have one more hit, duetting on Anne Murray's Nobody Loves Me Like You Do, which reached No.1 Billboard Country in late 1984 ~ Loggins passed away in 2024
November 10, 1947 ~ Progressive rock singer, bassist, guitarist Greg Lake, full name Gregory Stuart Lake, born in Dorset, UK ~ Co-founding member of King Crimson, present on the albums In The Court Of The Crimson King and its follow-up In The Wake Of Poseidon. One third of Emerson Lake & Palmer, with whom he recorded Lucky Man which he write at age 12. As a solo artist best known for I Believe In Father Christmas, a UK top 10 hit in 1975 and a Christmas favorite ever since ~ Lake passed away in 2016