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 15, 2021 ~ Pinoy folk, pinoy rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Heber Bartolome, full name Heber Gonzalez Bartolome, passed away in Quezon City, Philippines ~ Besides guitar also plays the jaw harp kubing and bandurria, a stringed instrument similar to the mandolin. Known for merging rock and blues with elements of Philippine folk and religious melodies. Best known for songs such as Pasahero, Almusal, Inutil Na Gising, Karaniwang Tao and probably his best known Tayo'y Mga Pinoy and Nena with his band Banyuhay ~ Bartolome was born in 1948
November 15, 2018 ~ Guitarist Roy Clark, full name Roy Linwood Clark, passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Influential figure in country music, best known as host of the variety TV show Hee Haw which ran from 1969 through 1997. Also a singer, guitarist, banjoist with over two dozen albums to his name, starting in the early 1960s. Best known for songs such as Tips Of My Fingers, Yesterday When I Was Young, Thank God And Greyhound, and Somewhere Between Love And Tomorrow ~ Clark was born in 1933November 15, 2017 ~ Gustave Elijah, commonly known as rapper, songwriter Lil' Peep, passed away in Tucson, Arizona, 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 was born in 1996
November 15, 2016 ~ Cellist Jules Eskin, full name Jules Louis Eskin, passed away in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known as principal cellist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Praised for his performances of works by Johannes Brahms, Gabriel Fauré and Ludwig van Beethoven. Also worked with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Boston Chamber Players, and the Burton Quintet Five ~ Eskin was born in 1931
November 15, 2016 ~ Jazz, blues pianist, singer, songwriter Mose Allison passed away in Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA ~ Influenced Jimi Hendrix, JJ Cale, the Yardbirds, the Rolling Stones, Tom Waits, Pete Townshend, Georgie Fame, John Evans. Covered by the Who (Young Man Blues), John Mayall (Parchman Farm), Leon Russell (I'm Smashed), Bonnie Raitt (Everybody's Cryin' Mercy), the Clash (Look Here), Herman Brood (Going To The City). Worked with Stan Getz, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Van Morrison, Ben Sidran, Gerry Mulligan, Phil Woods, Addison Farmer, Frank Isola, Henry Grimes, Paul Motian, Bill Crow, Osie Johnson, Jimmy Knepper, Pepper Adams, Bob Cranshaw, Jerome Richardson, Joe Farrell, Phil Upchurch, Eric Gale, Jack Bruce, Billy Cobham, Steve Masakowski, Randy Brecker, Alec Dankworth, Pee Wee Ellis, Russell Malone, Jay Bellerose, and Roy Babbington ~ Allison was born in 1927
November 15, 2015 ~ Philip Gary Schlein, commonly known as pop, rock singer, songwriter PF Sloan, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ In-demand session musician and member of the Wrecking Crew. Honored in songwriter Jimmy Webb's song titled PF Sloan. Enjoyed his greatest succes as a songwriter writing or co-writing hits, mostly with Steve Barri, for Round Robin, Barry McGuire (Eve Of Destruction), the Searchers, Jan & Dean, Herman's Hermits (Must To Avoid), Johnny Rivers (Secret Agent Man), the Grass Roots (Things I Should Have Said), the Turtles, the Mamas & the Papas, Ann-Margret, Shelley Fabares, Terry Black, and the 5th Dimension ~ Schlein was born in 1945
November 15, 2012 ~ Trombonist, conductor, composer Frode Thingnæs passed away in Oslo, Norway ~ Classical, jazz, pop conductor, composer. Composed the music for Norway's 1974 and 1976 Eurovision Songfestival entries, respectively Hvor Er Du and Mata Hari. Worked with Egil Kapstad, Terje Rypdal, Laila Dalseth, Espen Rud, Bjørn Alterhaug, Per Husby, Popol Ace, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Anne-Karine Strøm, Kampen Janitsjarorkester, Wenche Myhre, Lill Lindfors, Svante Thuresson, Einar Schanke, Alfred Naess, Yngvar Numme, and the Bodega Band ~ Thingnaes was born in 1940
November 15, 2011 ~ Mark Klingman, commonly known as producer, pianist, songwriter Moogy Klingman passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Joined Jimmy James & the Blue Flames at age 16, which also included Jimi Hendrix and Randy California. Founding member of Utopia, best known for also including Todd Rundgren. Played on ten Rundgren solo albums. Member of Glitterhouse. Longtime collaborator of Bette Midler, starting with producing the 1976 Midler/Bob Dylan duet Buckets Of Rain and staying on as musical director, replacing Barry Manilow. Released a number of solo albums with its songs covered by Johnny Winter, Carly Simon, James Cotton, Thelma Houston, Eric Clapton, Barry Manilow and Guns 'n Roses. Has also worked with Lou Reed, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Jeff Beck, Keith Emerson, Mitch Mitchell, Harvey Mandel, and Linda Ronstadt ~ Klingman was born in 1950November 15, 2010 ~ Composer, conductor, TV personality Roberto Pregadio passed away in Rome, Italy ~ Perhaps best known for composing the score to the 1969 spaghetti western The Forgotten Pistolero, noted for its whistling. Composed numerous other soundtracks, starting in the mid 1960s. Previously a pianist with the the RAI Light Music Orchestra, appearing on many RAI radio and TV shows ~ Pregadio was born in 1928
November 15, 2005 ~ Jazz percussionist Roy Brooks passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ One of the premier drummers to emerge from bop. As a leader especially acclaimed for the early 1970s albums The Free Slave and Ethnic Expressions. An in-demand sideman, Brooks has appeared on albums by Sonny Red, Blue Mitchell, Shirley Scott (Hip Soul), Buddy Tate (Groovin' With Buddy Tate), Stanley Turrentine, Horace Silver (Song For My Father), Chet Baker, Yusef Lateef, Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon, James Moody, Red Rodney, Don Cherry, and Max Roach ~ Brooks was born in 1938
November 15, 2004 ~ R&B singer Fantasia releases Truth Is, lifted off her Free Yourself debut album ~ Following her success on American Idol and scoring a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit with her victory single I Believe from the show, Fantasia would release her debut album within a year. For its lead single Truth Is she teamed up with the Los Angeles-based Danish producer duo Soulshock & Karlin, who had previously worked on hits for Toni Braxton, Tupac Shakur, Monica, Whitney Houston (Heartbreak Hotel), and JoJo. Truth Is would sample Highways Of My Life, an overlooked 1973 single by the Isley Brothers, earning the Isleys co-writing credit. Despite consistent critical acclaim, critics particularly praising Fantasia's energetic delivery and vocal range, Truth Is would be the singer's final major hit, peaking at No.21 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100
November 15, 1994 ~ Country singer Alan Jackson releases Gone Country, lifted off his Who I Am album ~ Alan Jackson has commented he wished he had written Gone Country, because it says a lot of things he'd like to say, further elaborating: “I think it's just a fun song actually, celebrating how country music has become more widespread and accepted by all types of people all over the country.” Written by Bob McDill, the song tells of a lounge singer, a folk singer, and a classically trained singer all eventually finding their way to Nashville. McDill himself had tried his hand at writing pop and rock songs, to little success, prior to becoming an in-demand country songwriter known for penning or co-penning hits such as Amanda and (Turn Out The Light And) Love Me Tonight for Don Williams, You Never Miss A Real Good Thing (Till He Says Goodbye) for Crystal Gayle, and Nobody Likes Sad Songs and Why Don't You Spend The Night for Ronnie Milsap. Gone Country would reach No.1 Billboard CountryNovember 15, 1992 ~ Nunzio Mondello, commonly known as alto saxophonist Toots Mondello passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Played with Mal Hallett, Irving Aaronson, Joe Haymes, Buddy Rogers, Ray Noble, Phil Harris, Benny Goodman, Chick Bullock, Bunny Berigan, Miff Mole, Claude Thornhill, Larry Clinton, Teddy Wilson, Louis Armstrong, and Lionel Hampton ~ Mondello was born in 1911
November 15, 1991 ~ Singer, producer, songwriter Jacques Morali passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Along with Henri Belolo co-founder of and thriving force behind disco acts Ritchie Family (Brazil, The Best Disco In Town, Life Is Music) and the Village People (YMCA, Macho Man, In The Navy). Has also recorded as a solo artist and wrote or co-wrote for a wide array of artists including Patrick Juvet, Régine, Dalida, Eric Russell, Cher, Patricia Norton, Julius Brown, Starlight, Diva, Dennis Parker, David London, Wayne Scott, Lova Moor, Pia Zadora, and Break Machine ~ Morali was born in 1947
November 15, 1989 ~ Michael Ray Stevenson, commonly known as singer, pop-rapper Tyga, born in Compton, California, USA ~ Rose to fame with his 2011 major label debut album Careless World (Rise Of The Last King), which spawned the hits Rack City, Faded featuring Lil Wayne, Far Away featuring Chris Richardson, Still Got It featuring Drake and Make It Nasty. Has recorded steadily since, to middling success, his best known releases being Ayo featuring Chris Brown in 2015 and Taste featuring Offset in 2018
November 15, 1988 ~ Bobby Ray Simmons Jr, commonly known as rapper, producer, songwriter, conspiracy theorist BoB, born in Decatur, Georgia, USA ~ Rose to fame with his 2009 debut single Nothing On You featuring Bruno Mars and has recorded steadily to commercial succes since. As a producer, songwriter, and collaborator Simmons has worked with Haylee Williams, Rivers Cuomo, Lil Wayne, André 3000, Taylor Swift, TI, Nicki Minaj, Juicy J, 2 Chainz, Future, Trey Songz, Ty Dolla $ign, Jessie J, Kendrick Lamar, and E-40. Simmons is an outspoken conspiracy theorist, who believes the moon landing was faked, 9/11 was an inside job, the world will be taken over by the Illuminati, and the US government clones celebrities. In 2017, Simmons started an online crowdfunding campaign to raise funds in order to launch satellites to prove the Earth is flat. At some point, the campaign was halted and no satellite has been launched
November 15, 1978 ~ Singer Kenny Rogers releases The Gambler, lead single off the album of the same name ~ Written by Don Schlitz, the song features poker metaphors to offer life advices, dealing the hand you're dealt, and knowing when to hold the cards, when to fold them. Prior to Kenny Rogers, the song had been recorded by several artists, including Bobby Bare and Johnny Cash, but never really caught on. It was Kenny Rogers who broke the song to mainstream, topping the Billboard Country charts and reaching No.16 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 at a time when country songs rarely crossed over to the pop charts. The song would earn Rogers a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, and Schlitz one for Best Country Song. Following the song's success, Schlitz was able to quit his day job as a computer operator and focus on his songwriting. Schlitz would go on to write hits for the likes of Alabama, Randy Travis, Keith Whitley, the Bellamy Brothers, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Vince GillNovember 15, 1978 ~ Singer, actress Samantha Shelton, full name Samantha Sky Shelton, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as an actress for TV and film. Member of jazz cabaret group If All The Stars Were Pretty Babies from 2001 through 2005 alongside singer, actress Zooey Deschanel. Shelton has also released a number of EP's as a solo singer
November 15, 1977 ~ Songwriter Albert E Brumley, full name Albert Edward Brumley, passed away in Powell, Missouri, USA ~ Pivotal to gospel music, especially southern gospel. Wrote over 800 songs including Brown's Ferry Four's If We Never Meet Again, Jimmie Davis' I Cannot Find The Way Home, Mac Wiseman's Dreaming Of A Little Cabin, and Reverend JM Gates' I'll Fly Away ~ Brumley was born in 1905
November 15, 1976 ~ Heavy metal guitarist Christian Andreu, full name Christian Roger Andreu, born in Bayonne, France ~ Influenced by classical music, hard rock and metal artists including Metallica, Morbid Angel and Slayer, folk rockers Les Têtes Raides and alternative rock singer Björk. Best known as lead guitarist of metal band Gojira. Guested on Familha Artus' album Orb released in 2007November 15, 1975 ~ Country singer Ed Bruce releases Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys, lifted off his eponymous Ed Bruce album ~ Written by Ed Bruce and his then-wife Patsy Bruce, the narrator warns mothers not to let their children become cowboys because of the tough and rootless life of cowboy culture. Though a solid hit for Bruce, peaking at No.15 Billboard Country in 1976, the song would become best known as covered by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson for their 1978 collaborative Waylon & Willie album. The Jennings-Nelson track would be issued as a single and spent four weeks atop the Billboard Country charts, becoming somewhat of an anthem for the then-popular outlaw country movement, of which both Jennings and Nelson were key figures. Bruce would go on to enjoy popularity through the mid-1980s, scoring a little over a dozen Billboard Country top 20 hits including You're The Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had which topped the chart in 1982
November 15, 1974 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Chad Kroeger, full name Chad Robert Kroeger born in Hanna, Canada ~ Lead singer, guitarist, co-founding member of Nickelback, known for Billboard top 10 hits such as How You Remind Me, Someday, Photograph and Far Away. Also worked with Suits XL, Default, Theory Of A Deadman, Carlos Santana (Why Don't You & I), Bo Bice, and DaughtryNovember 15, 1974 ~ Jazz bassist Reuben Rogers born in St Thomas, Virgin Islands ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Marcus Roberts, Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Joshua Redman, Nicholas Payton, Mulgrew Miller, Jackie McLean, Charles Lloyd, Dianne Reeves, Ron Blake, Aaron Goldberg, Bob Reynolds, Carl Allen, Donald Harrison, Jimmy Greene, Phil Woods, Peter Martin, Tomasz Stańko, Kate McGarry, and Denzal Sinclaire
November 15, 1972 ~ Pop rock outfit the Doobie Brothers release Jesus Is Just Alright, lifted off their Toulouse Street sophomore album ~ After hearing the version by the Byrds, the Doobie Brothers would regularly play the song during live concerts. Eventually they recorded it for their Toulouse Street sophomore album. Released as the album's second single, the cover by the Doobie Brothers would spend eleven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No.35, surpassing the version by the Byrds which barely dented the charts and had stalled at No.97. Although none of the Doobie Brothers were particularly religiously inclined, their top 40 hit went on to become popular with Christians during the early 1970s. It remains a staple of classic rock radio to this day. The song actually traces back to gospel singer Art Reynolds, its sole songwriter and the first to record it with the Art Reynolds Singers for their 1966 Tellin' It Like It Is album
November 15, 1972 ~ Singer Jermaine Jackson releases Daddy's Home, lead single off his Jermaine solo debut album ~ Originally a Billboard Hot 100 No.2 hit back in 1961 for Shep & the Limelites, Jermaine Jackson's cover of the classic would be warmly received by critics. Record World predicted “(Jackson's) funky ballad should be a natural winner”, and they would be right as it did reach top 10 in the Netherlands, Canada and America, reaching No.9 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and No.3 on the Billboard R&B charts. Although issued as a Jermaine Jackson solo single, all four of the Jackson 5 bandmate siblings were present on the recording providing background vocals