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 19, 1966 ~ Rock bassist, songwriter Aubrey Nunn born in Bloomsbury, UK ~ Best known as member of Faithless from 1995 through 2006. Has also worked with Troy Tempest, the Big Truth Band, Heavy Stereo, Stiltskin, Bee, Dido, Santana, Corinne Bailey Rae, Freak Power, Skinny, Pauline Taylor, Slovo, and R Kelly
November 19, 1964 ~ Blues pianist, singer Johnny Jones passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known for backing Tampa Red, Muddy Waters, and Elmore James. Also worked with Albert King, Jimmy Rogers, Howlin' Wolf, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells, Magic Sam, and Homesick James. As a solo artist known for songs such Big Town Playboy, Sweet Little Woman and Hoy Hoy ~ Jones was born in 1924November 19, 1964 ~ Guitarist, songwriter Robert Young born in Glasgow, UK ~ Long-time member of alternative rock outfit Primal Scream, remaining with the band from its inception in 1984 through 2006. Initially the band's bassist, taking over guitar duties when Jim Beattie left shortly after the 1987 Sonic Flower Groove debut album. Has also guested on Felt's Me And A Monkey On The Moon album, released in 1989 ~ Young passed away in 2014
November 19, 1964 ~ Violet May Burnside, commonly known as jazz saxophonist, bandleader Vi Burnside, passed away in Washington DC, USA ~ Spent much of her career in all-female bands, notably the Dixie Rhythm Girls, the Harlem Play-Girls, the International Sweethearts Of Rhythm. Led her own ensemble, Vi Burnside's All-Stars, from 1949 forward employing sidewomen such as Flo Dreyer and Pauline Brady ~ Burnside was born in 1915
November 19, 1964 ~ Jazz saxophonist, flutist Vincent Herring born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA ~ Earned a California State University music scholarship at age 16. Auditioned for US Military Band, the Jazz Knights, a year later. Moved to West Point. Served one enlisted tour. Went on to play with artists such as Lionel Hampton's big band, Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Horace Silver, Jack DeJohnette, Larry Coryell, Cedar Walton, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, the Mingus Big Band, Nancy Wilson, Roy Hargrove, Art Taylor, Billy Taylor, Carla Bley, Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis, and Jon Faddis
November 19, 1963 ~ Zeena Galatea LaVey, commonly known as singer, songwriter Zeena Schreck, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Daughter of occultist and the Church of Satan-founder Anton Lavey. Married to singer, songwriter, Buddhist teacher Nikolas Schreck from 1988 to 2015. Resigned her position as Church spokesperson in 1990, severed all ties with her father and reverted to Buddhism. Co-director of the experimental music project Radio Werewolf from 1988 through 1993, serving as the group's singer, songwriter and graphic designer. The band would be ranked No.4 on Classic Rock's list of 25 weirdest bands of all time in 2016. Following her departure from the band Schreck would continue in various music projects, often intertwined with visual and performance arts, both as a collaborator and solo artistNovember 19, 1958 ~ Singer, guitarist Chuck Berry records Run Rudolph Run at Chess Studios, Chicago, Illinois ~ Claimed to be written by Chuck Berry, forced to give co-writing credit to Johnny Marks and Marvin Brodie who held copyright to the character of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. Though initially only a modest hit, stalling in the low 60s on the Billboard Hot 100, this 12-bar blues Christmas song would become popular with rockers well into the 2000s and be covered by Keith Richards, Dave Edmunds, Bryan Adams, Jimmy Buffett, Dwight Yoakam, the Tractors, the LA Guns, Rosie Flores, and Billy Idol
November 19, 1957 ~ Ripton Joseph Hylton, commonly known as reggae, dancehall singer Eek-a-mouse, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Active since the late 1970s. Took his stagename after a racehorse he used to bet on. Known for his unique style of scatting. Has worked with producers such as Joe Gibbs, Henry Jujo Lawes, Linval Thompson. Well known songs include Once A Virgin, Wa-do-dem, Wild Like A Tiger, For Hire And Removal, Ganja Smuggling, The Freak and You're The One I Need
November 19, 1957 ~ Singer, actress Ofra Haza, full name Bat-Sheva Ofra Haza, born in Hatikva, Israel ~ Dubbed “the Israeli Madonna” or the prima donna of late 20th century Israeli pop. Represented her native Israel in the 1983 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 2nd place with Hi. Critically acclaimed for albums such as Yemenite Songs co-produced by Thomas Dolby, Shaday, and Desert Wind (Middle East). Has collaborated with artists such as Sisters Of Mercy, Paula Abdul, Sarah Brightman, and Iggy Pop ~ Haza passed away in 2000
November 19, 1957 ~ Pop rock bassist, singer Phil Spalding, full name Philip Trevor Spalding, born in London, UK ~ Session and touring musician active since the mid 1970s. Closely associated with Toyah Willcox, backing Willcox on tour and on record during the early 1980s. Member of GTR, present on the eponymous 1986 GTR album. Has also worked with Bernie Tormé, the Original Mirrors, Julia Downes, Terence Trent d'Arby (Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby), Roger Chapman, Matthew Sweet, Marcella Detroit, Joe Cocker, Mick Jagger (Goddess In The Doorway), Melanie C, Beverley Knight, and Delta Goodrem ~ Spalding passed away in 2023
November 19, 1952 ~ Keyboardist Bill Sharpe, full name William Jeffrey Revell Sharpe, born in Bishop's Stortford, UK ~ Keyboardist of pop, jazz-funk group Shakatak, known for songs such as Easier Said Than Done, Night Birds and Down On The Street. Also known for teaming up with Gary Numan, using the moniker Sharpe & Numan, releasing several mid-1980s singles such as Change Your Mind and I'm On Automatic. Sharpe would continue to work with Shakatak as well as release solo work collaborating with Don Grusin, Jeffrey Osborne, Gerald Albright, Jah Wobble, and Roberto Tola
November 19, 1952 ~ Keyboardist, percussionist, singer, songwriter Eddie Rayner, full name Anthony Edward Charles Rayner, born in Lower Hutt, New Zealand ~ Best known as key member of Split Enz remaining with the band from 1974 through 1984 and present on all of the band's best known including I Got You, One Step Ahead, History Never Repeats, Six Months In A Leaky Boat, Message To My Girl, and I Walk Away. Rayner has recorded as a solo artist, starting with the all-instrumental Horse album in 1995, and has worked with Space Waltz and with Schnell FensterNovember 19, 1951 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Kenny Werner born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Tom Rainey, Ratzo Harris, the Village Vanguard Orchestra, Bob Brookmeyer, Mel Lewis, Toots Thielemans, Betty Buckley, Joe Lovano, Ari Hoenig, Johannes Wiedenmuller, Chris Potter, Dave Douglas, Scott Colley, Brian Blade, Archie Shepp, Lee Konitz, Jane Ira Bloom, Roseanna Vitro, the Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Anders Koppel, and Joyce
November 19, 1945 ~ Songwriter, bassist, keyboardist, producer Alan Tarney born in Workington, UK ~ Member of Cliff Richard backing unit the Shadows, wrote and arranged Richard's 1979 UK No.1 hit We Don't Talk Anymore, produced Richard subsequent albums I'm No Hero (1980) and Wired For Sound (1981). Produced A-ha's Take On Me and co-producing the band's hit albums Hunting High And Low (1985) Scoundrel Days (1986), Stay On These Roads (1988). Also worked with the James Taylor Move, the Tarney Spencer Band, the Kevin Peek Trio, the Hollies, Bow Wow Wow, Dream Academy, Squeeze, Matthew Sweet, and Voice Of The BeehiveNovember 19, 1944 ~ Saxophonist Fred Lipsius born in New York, New York, USA ~ Original saxophonist, arranger of jazz-rock band Blood Sweat & Tears, remaining with the band from 1967 through 1971. Has also worked with artists such as Simon & Garfunkel, Janis Joplin, Cannonball Adderley, Thelonious Monk, Zoot Sims, Eddie Gomez, Al Foster, George Mraz, Larry Willis, Randy Brecker, and Rodney Jones
November 19, 1944 ~ Drummer John Dummer, full name Anthony John Dummer, born in Surbiton, UK ~ Best known for leading British blues outfit the John Dummer Band, a popular act active from the mid 1960s through the mid 1970s. The band is particularly known for at times including musicians such as the Yardbirds' guitarist Top Topham, Tony McPhee, Graham Bond, future the Dire Straits-drummer Pick Withers and Foghat-keyboardist Colin Earl. Following the band's disbandement in 1974 Dummer would work as a promotion manager for MCA Records and A&M Records. Dummer has also drummed for the Darts, Lowell Fulson and Eddie C Campbell
November 19, 1943 ~ Violinist, composer Daniel Kobialka born ~ Best known as second violinist with the San Francisco Symphony from 1975 through 2008. As a composer known for Concerto For The Zeta-Polyphonic Violin, which premiered in 2021. Had Ben Weber's Violin Concerto No.1 dedicated to him. Guest violinist on rock band Ambrosia's 1975 eponymous Ambrosia album, noted for his violin solo on the track Holdin' On To Yesterday ~ Kobialka passed away in 2021
November 19, 1939 ~ Jazz, ethno jazz, fusion, avant-garde drummer, bandleader Branislav Lala Kovacev born in Kikinda, Serbia ~ Learned the trumpet before taking up drums. Key figure in Balkan Ethno jazz, merging traditional Balkan folk with jazz. Co-founded and led the European Jazz Consensus, which also included Alan Skidmore, Gerd Dudek and Adelhard Rodinger, its follow-up the International Jazz Consensus, and the Lala Kovacev Group. An in-demand collaborator, Kovacev has also performed and recorded with the likes of Chick Corea, Horst Jankowski, Mladen Gutesa, Wolfgang Dauner (Et Cetera Live), Zbigniew Seifert, Dusko Gojkovic, Albert Mangelsdorff, Art van Damme, Ack van Rooyen, Michal Urbaniak (Paratyphus B), Chris Hinze, Charlie Mariano, Benny Bailey (Islands), and Chuck Israels ~ Kovacev passed away in 2012
November 19, 1939 ~ Warren Thomas Moore, commonly known as singer, songwriter Warren Pete Moore, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Member of the Chimes. Member of the Miracles. Songwriter, oft in collaboration with Smokey Robinson, for many hits for others including the Temptations (It's Growing, Since I Lost My Baby), Marvin Gaye (Ain't That Peculiar, I'll Be Doggone). Moore's compositions have been recorded by Linda Ronstadt, Aretha Franklin, George Michael, the Rolling Stones, Ramsey Lewis, Tom Jones, Luther Vandross, the Four Tops, and Debby Boone ~ Moore passed away in 2017
November 19, 1938 ~ Henry Medress, commonly known as producer, songwriter Hank Medress, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Member of doo-wop group the Linc-Tones, which also included a young and unknown Neil Sedaka. After Sedaka's departure the Tones would rename themselves the Tokens, known best for their 1961 hit The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh). Medress also worked on a producer including for the Chiffons (He's So Fine), Tony Orlando & Dawn, Melissa Manchester, David Johansen, Rick Springfield, Dan Hill (Never Though (That I Could Love)), and Richard Simmons ~ Medress passed away in 2007
November 19, 1938 ~ Songwriter, producer Jerry Fuller born in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Scored a minor hit as a solo artist with a rockabilly rendition of the country classic Tennessee Waltz in 1959. However, Fuller would become best known as a songwriter and producer, scoring his first major hit when Ricky Nelson took Travelin' Man to the top of the American charts in 1961. Fuller had originally written the song with Sam Cooke in mind, but Cooke passed, and the song would become one of Nelson's earliest and best known songs. Subsequently, Nelson recorded some two dozen more songs written by Fuller, including the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits A Wonder Like You, Young World, and It's Up To You. Following a stint in the Army, and touring with the Champs, Fuller relocated to New York, where he discovered the Knickerbockers, for whom he produced the 1965 Billboard Hot 100 No.20 single Lies. Fuller is also known writing and producing several hits for Gary Puckett, notably Young Girl, Lady Willpower, and Over You, and for his work with Mark Lindsay, the Peanut Butter Conspiracy, and OC Smith, producing the hits The Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp and Little Green Apples for the latter ~ Fuller passed away in 2024
November 19, 1937 ~ Singer Jimmy Lewis, full name James Eddie Lewis, born in Itta Bena, Mississippi, USA ~ Member of the Drifters, replacing Bobby Hendricks as lead singer in 1963 and remaining through 1965. Has also recorded as a solo artist, noted for the single The Girls From Texas. Frequently collaborated with Ray Charles, specifically writing or co-writing and appearing on all tracks of the 1969 Charles album Doing His Thing and duetting on If It Wasn't For Bad Luck. Others who have recorded songs written or co-written by Lewis include Bobby Womack (Got To Get You Back), Albert King, Bobby Blue Bland, ZZ Hill (Love Is So Good When You're Stealing It), and Peggy Scott-Adams ~ Lewis passed away in 2004November 19, 1936 ~ Clarinetist, flutist, quena player Gilbert Favre born in Geneva, Switzerland ~ Traded in his clarinet for the quena, a traditional flute of the Andes, after relocating to South America. Co-founding member of Los Jairas, one of the most popular 1960s Bolivian folk outfits. Closely associated with singer Violeta Parra with whom he was also romantically involved. Parra would later dedicate Run Run Se Fue Pa'l Norte to him. Has also worked with Alfrede Dominguez, and Erneste Cavour ~ Favre passed away in 1998
November 19, 1936 ~ Guitarist Robert White, full name Robert Willie White, born in Billmeyer, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Influenced by Oscar Moore and Wes Montgomery. Best known as guitarist of the Funk Brothers, the house studio band at Motown. Appears on numerous recordings including the Temptations' My Girl for which White wrote and performed the guitar riff, Can I Get A Witness (Marvin Gaye), You Keep Me Hangin' On (the Supremes), My Cherie Amour (Stevie Wonder), Something About You (the Four Tops), and on It's A Shame (the Spinners) ~ White passed away in 1994
November 19, 1934 ~ Conductor David Lloyd-Jones, full name David Matthias Lloyd-Jones, born in London, UK ~ Specialized in British and Russian music, including translating Russian operas. Best known as co-founder of the Opera North, serving as its director and conductor from 1978 through 1990. Has also worked with the Royal Opera House, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Opera Company, the Welsh National Opera, and the Scottish Opera ~ Lloyd-Jones passed away in 2022