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 12, 1976 ~ Judith Holfelder-von-der-Tann, commonly known as alternative rock, pop rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Judith Holofernes, born in Berlin, West Germany ~ Best known as lead singer of Wir Sind Helden, rising to fame with their 2002 debut single Guten Tag. Known for their playful use of words and social criticism, the band would release four critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums from the early 2000s through 2010 before disbanding
November 12, 1976 ~ Glam rock, hard rock, pop rock outfit Queen release Somebody To Love, lead single off A Day At The Races ~ Featuring complex harmonies and guitar solos, the song shows similarities to their 1975 monster hit Bohemian Rhapsody. However, for Somebody To Love Freddie Mercury opted to mimick a gospel choir instead of an English choir, layering the voices of Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor to sound like a 100-voice gospel choir. The lyrics, especially combined with the gospel influence, create a song about faith, desperation, and soul-searching, dealing with feelings of desperation and isolation, and the role and existence of God. The single reached top 10 in over half a dozen countries, including the No.2 spot at home, and has received wide critical acclaim, Bass Player magazine stating the song demonstrated that “Queen could swing as hard as it could rock, by channeling the spirit of gospel music”
November 12, 1976 ~ Singer, actor, songwriter Tevin Campbell, full name Tevin Jermod Campbell, born in Waxahachie, Texas, USA ~ Sang lead on Quincy Jones's Tomorrow from the Back On The Block. Debuted in 1991 with the album TEVIN, which went platinum and spawned the hit Tell Me What You Want Me To Do. His 1993 sophomore album, I'm Ready, would go double-platinum and contain the hits I'm Ready and the Kenneth Babyface Edmonds-penned Can We Talk
November 12, 1976 ~ Classical composer Walter Piston, full name Walter Hamon Piston Jr, passed away in Belmont, Massachusetts, USA ~ Got his start in music playing piano and violin in dance bands and orchestras throughout the 1910s, notably serving under Georges Longy. Following a stint in the US Army during World War I, studied music at Harvard University, graduating summa cum laude and teaching at the same university from 1926 until his retirement in 1960. As a classical composer wrote for ballet, orchestral music, chamber music, choral music, and various instruments. Known for works such as Three Pieces For Flute Clarinet & Bassoon, Symphony No.1 and The Incredible Flutist ~ Piston was born in 1894November 12, 1970 ~ Singer, songwriter, activist Sarah Harmer born in Burlington, Canada ~ Member of Saddletramps. Fronted Weeping Tile. Guested on recordings by Blue Rodeo, Great Big Sea, Rheostatics, Bruce Cockburn, Luther Wright & the Wrongs, Loomer, the Skydiggers, Weakerthans, Neko Case, the Great Lake Swimmers, the Tragically Hip, and Bob Wiseman
November 12, 1968 ~ Doom metal, heavy metal singer Aaron Stainthorpe born ~ Constant member, lead singer of My Dying Bride, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums since the early 1990s. The band is considered one of the UK's finest doom metal outfits and is especially acclaimed for their The Light At The End Of The World album released in 1999
November 12, 1968 ~ Disco, house, free jazz trumpeter, guitarist James Duncan born in Toronto, Canada ~ Has released a number of solo dance recordings since the 1990s. In-demand session player, notable credits including appearing on Metro Area's 2002 eponymous Metro Area debut album, and on indie rockers Rapture's House Of Jealous Lovers 12" single. Has also worked with the Silent League, Jon DeRosa, Glenn Branca, and Rhys Chatham
November 12, 1968 ~ Punk rock, riot grrrl, indie rock, electroclash singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer Kathleen Hanna born in Portland, Oregon, USA ~ Considered a feminist icon in rock and pioneer of the riot grrrl movement. First gained attention in the early 1990s as lead singer for Bikini Kill, acclaimed for their 1993 Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah debut album and its 1994 follow-up Pussy Whipped. Also worked with Le Tigre and the Julie Ruin
November 12, 1966 ~ Siblings the Everly Brothers record It's All Over at RCA-Victor Studios, Hollywood, California ~ Written by Don Everly. Produced by Dick Glasser. Released the following month as a single in the US and the Netherlands only, b/w I Used To Love You, it would fail to chart. Two years later, a cover by Cliff Richard made the UK top 10November 12, 1966 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, Poor Side Of Town by Johnny Rivers hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Up to this point, Johnny Rivers had regularly scored hits with more upbeat, energetic songs, yet he was looking to expand his repertoire. Poor Side Of Town marked a stylistic change, venturing into orchestral pop, a move initially frowned upon by label executives. Rivers would recall: “Al Bennett and those guys were going, ‘Man. don't start coming out with ballads. You're gonna kill your career. You got a good thing going with this funky trio rock sound, stay with that’.” However, Poor Side Of Town, written by Rivers and Lou Adler, with strings arranged by Marty Paich who had previously worked with Mel Tormé and Ray Charles, would become his biggest hit yet, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for one week. Its parent album, appropriately titled Changes for the new direction, also did well, peaking at No.33 Billboard Hot 200, making it his first album to crack the top 40
November 12, 1965 ~ Pop singer Bobby Vinton releases his Satin Pillows single ~ Written by Sonny James and Robert Tubert. Produced by Bob Morgan. Taken off Bobby Vinton's Bobby Vinton Sings Satin Pillows And Careless album, the single would reach top 30 in his native USA, top 10 in Canada
November 12, 1964 ~ New jack swing, R&B, gospel bassist, pianist, songwriter, producer Bernard Belle born in Englewood, New Jersey, USA ~ Considered a pioneer of new jack swing. Regular collaborator of Teddy Riley. Best known for his work as a songwriter for the likes of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. Well known songs written or co-written by Belle include Guy's Let's Chill Long Gone, Hi-Five's I Like The Way (The Kissing Game), Jackson's Remember The Time, and Bobby Brown's Two Can Play That Game. Starting in the mid 1990s Belle would dedicate his life to Christ and become one of the most sought after producers, collaborators in the Gospel genre, working with acts such as Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp, Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin and the Winans ~ Belle passed away in 2022
November 12, 1964 ~ James Victor Chesnutt, commonly known as folk rock, indie folk, roots rock, alternative country singer, guitarist, songwriter Vic Chesnutt, born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Debuted in 1990 with his Little album, produced by REM-frontman Michael Stipe. Broke through after the release of 1996's Sweet Relief II (Gravity Of The Situation), a charity album by various alternative artists, including REM, Madonna, the Smashing Pumpkins and Soul Asylum, covering Chesnutt's songs. Chesnutt has recorded well over a dozen albums as a solo artist, and two collaborating with Widespread Panic under the common moniker Brute. Chesnutt has also collaborated with Bob Mould, Lambchop, Elf Power, Bill Frisell, and Guy Picciotto ~ Chesnutt passed away in 2009
November 12, 1962 ~ Laura Elisse Salenger, commonly known as punk rock, post-punk guitarist, singer Brix Smith, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as lead guitarist and major songwriter for post-punk outfit the Fall from 1983 through 1989 and again from 1994 through 1996. Present on the band's best known, including the acclaimed This Nation's Saving Grace album. Fronted side project Adult Net which included the Smiths guitarist Craig Gannon, The The bassist James Eller and Blondie drummer Clem Burke
November 12, 1961 ~ Jazz, rock, rockabilly drummer Bernie Dresel, full name Bernard John Dresel Jr, born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Perhaps best known for his associations with Brian Setzer, working for over a decade with Setzer's big band the Brian Setzer Orchestra including on the albums The Brian Setzer Orchestra and Guitar Slinger, and with Gordon Goodwill, recording over half a dozen albums with Goodwill's group the Big Phat Band since its inception in 2000. An in-demand session drummer, Dresel has also recorded recorded extensively for TV series and appears on albums by Porcupine, David Byrne, Gloria Loring, Van Dyke Parks, José Feliciano, Gerry Mulligan, LeAnn Rimes, Sylvia Vartan, Robben Ford, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Robbie Williams, and released a number of solo albums, starting with Live 'n Bernin' in 2016
November 12, 1961 ~ Classical violinist Michaela Paetsch, full name Michaela Modjeska Paetsch, born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA ~ Best known for being the first American female to record all 24 Niccolò Paganini Caprices for solo violin. Had her first violin lesson at age 3. Has been performing publicly since her early teens, notably soloing with the Pueblo Symphony and the Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra. Paetsch would go on to become an in-demand soloist and recorded prolifically from the late 1980s onward ~ Paetsch passed away in 2023
November 12, 1959 ~ Roots rock, blues harpist, singer Lester Butler born in Virginia, USA ~ Fronted the Red Devils, known for their sole 1992 King King produced by Rick Rubin. The band has also recorded a number of songs with the Rolling Stones-frontman Mick Jagger the same year, most of which were never released. The song Checkin' Up On My Baby would be included on the 2007 Jagger compilation The Very Best Of Mick Jagger. Butler has also fronted 13, known for their sole eponymous 13 album released in 1997 ~ Butler passed away in 1998November 12, 1957 ~ Chris Julian Irwin, commonly known as film producer, music producer Chris Julian, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Co-founded Calliope Productions, a New York recording studio and production company active through the mid 1990s which became the center of the Native Tongues hip-hop collective. Julian has worked with artists such as De La Soul, Biz Markie, Naughty By Nature, Deee-lite, A Tribe Called Quest, 3rd Bass and PM Dawn. Has also collaborated with artists outside hip-hop such as Don Was, Manny Marroquin, Jimmy Webb, Art Garfunkel, Chaka Khan, David Bowie, Vanessa Williams, and David Crosby
November 12, 1955 ~ Isaac Willis, commonly known as rock guitarist, singer Ike Willis, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Best known for backing Frank Zappa on tour and record from 1978 through 1988, notably present on albums such as Joe's Garage Acts I II & III, Tinsel Town Rebellion, You Are What You Is and The Man From Utopia. Also worked with the Zappa tribute band Zappa Plays Zappa led by Dweezil Zappa
November 12, 1955 ~ Pop, rock singer, guitarist Les McKeown, full name Leslie Richard McKeown, born in Edinburgh, UK ~ Best known as lead singer of the Bay City Rollers from late 1973, replacing Gordon Clark, through 1978. Present on hits such as Bye Bye Baby, Give A Little Love, Love Me Like I Love You and I Only Want To Be With You. After the band disbanded in 1978 has recorded over half a dozen solo albums, starting with All Washed Up released in 1979 ~ McKeown passed away in 2021November 12, 1955 ~ James Walton Aldridge Jr, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer Walt Waldridge, born in Florence, Alabama, USA ~ Member of the Shooters. Best known as a Nashville songwriter with dozen of hits to his name. Artists who recorded songs written or co-written by Aldridge include Ronnie Milsap ((There's) No Gettin' Over Me), Barbara Mandrell, Earl Thomas Conley (Holding Her And Loving You), Travis Tritt, Heartland, Pam Tillis (Better Off Blue), and Conway Twitty (She's Got A Single Thing In Mind)
November 12, 1954 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Olivier Hutman born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France ~ Founded Moravagine with Denis Barbier and Mino Cinélu. Member of jazz-rock ensemble Chute Libre. Has also worked with Christian Escoudé, Marc Berteaux, Pepper Adams, Art Farmer, Harry Sweets Edison, James Moody, Toots Thielemans, Didier Lockwood, Eddy Louiss, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Frank Wess, Clifford Jordan, Henri Salvador, Yves Montand, Charles Aznavour, and Camille Bertault
November 12, 1953 ~ Drummer, singer Calum Macdonald born in Lochmaddy, UK ~ Drummer for Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig from 1973 through 2018, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums. Coming from a traditional folk background and over time venturing towards a more pop oriented folk rock sound, the band has enjoyed popularity especially in their native UK during the late 1980s and 1990s. As of the late 1990s, following Canadian singer Bruce Guthro's entry into the band, they have also built a following in Canada. The band is especially acclaimed for their Once In A Lifetime album, released in 1988. Calum and his bandmate and brother bassist Rory Macdonald have been the only two constant members of the band and wrote the bulk of their songs
November 12, 1953 ~ Vasilis Kesoglidis, commonly known as folk, laika singer Vasilis Karras, born in Kokkinochori, Greece ~ Started performing in 1969, at age 16, at a local club, quickly becoming a regional favorite due to his distinctive raspy voice. Would continue to perform thoughout Northern Greece throughout the 1970s building a steady reputation. Released his Alismonites Ores debut album in 1980 recording steadily over the next few years. Shot to national fame in the early 1990s. Known best for the 1990s albums Tilefonise Mou and Epistrefo. Has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Greek music including Michalis Rakintzis, Zafeiris Melas, Phoebus, Despina Vandi, and Tolis Voskopoulos ~ Kesoglidis passed away in 2023November 12, 1951 ~ The musical Paint Your Wagon, written by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, opens at the Shubert Theatre, New York ~ The Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe-penned musical had a try-out in Philadelphia the previous September before its Broadway opening at the Shubert Theatre, where it would run for 289 performances. Popular songs from the show include Wand'rin Star, I Talk To The Trees, and They Call The Wind Maria. A West End production would open in 1953, which ran for 477 performances. The musical would be made into a musical film in 1969 with a highly revised plot and some new songs added composed by Alan Jay Lerner and André Previn