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 2, 2025 ~ Donna Jean Thatcher, commonly known as folk-rock, psychedelia singer Donna Jean Godchaux, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known as a member, singing backing and lead vocals, of the Grateful Dead from 1972 through 1979. Started as a backing and session singer for various artists recording in Muscle Shoals Studios. Sang backup on Percy Sledge's 1966 When A Man Loves A Woman, and on Elvis Presley's 1969 Suspicious Minds. Also heard as session singer on recordings by Boz Scaggs, Duane Allman, Cher, Joe Tex, and Neil Diamond. Married future fellow Dead bandmate Keith Godchaux in 1970. The couple also played with the Jerry Garcia Band and released an album of their own, Keith & Donna, in 1975. Returning the favor Jerry Garcia also guested on the couple's album. Donna would marry bassist Jeff Mattson after her husband's death in 1980. Continues to record and perform with her own band which includes Mattson, as well as occasionally guest on recordings by Bob Weir, Steve Kimock, and the New Riders Of The Purple Sage ~ Thatcher was born in 1947
November 2, 2025 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter John Wesley Ryles passed away ~ Known for a number of country hits starting in 1968 through the mid-1980s including Kay, I've Just Been Wasting My Time, Once In A Lifetime Thing, Shine On Me (The Sun Still Shines When It Rains), Liberated Woman, and Perfect Strangers ~ Ryles was born in 1950
November 2, 2025 ~ Pianist, keyboardist, singer Joseph Byrd, full name Joseph Hunter Byrd Jr, passed away ~ Fronted the short-lived the United States Of America. Has also worked with Tom Scott, Ted Greene, Phil Ochs, Don Buchla, arranged for Ry Cooder on the acclaimed 1979 Jazz, and has composed for several films and TV shows ~ Byrd was born in 1937
November 2, 2023 ~ Jazz clarinetist Michel Pilz passed away ~ Especially acclaimed for Carpathes, a collaborative album with bassist Peter Kowald and drummer Paul Lovens released in 1978. Closely associated with Manfred Schoof, playing intermittently with the trumpeter from the late 1960s through the 1980s. Other notable associations include Alexander von Schlippenbach, the Globe Unity Orchestra (Globe Unity 67 & 70), and Guru Guru ~ Pilz was born in 1945
November 2, 2022 ~ Tango pianist, composer, arranger Atilio Stampone passed away in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Active since the 1940s, working with Roberto Dimas, Pedro Maffia, Robert Rufino, Alberto Camara, and notably Astor Piazzolla. As a solo artist active since the late 1950s, particulary known for his film scores including Un Guapo Del 900 and La Mano En La Trampa as well as for songs such as Con Pan Y Cebolla, Aguatero, Fiesta De Mi Ciudad and Mocosa ~ Stampone was born in 1926November 2, 2021 ~ Folk rock, pop rock, garage rock guitarist, bassist, singer, songwriter Declan Mulligan passed away in Petaluma, California, USA ~ Member of the Beau Brummels from 1964 through 1965. Present on the band's first two albums, Introducing The Beau Brummels and The Beau Brummels Vol.2. Noted for his harmonica opening on the 1965 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Laugh Laugh ~ Mulligan was born in 1938
November 2, 2021 ~ Reggae, ska, rocksteady singer Ernest Wilson, full name Fitzroy Ernest Wilson, passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ In 1963, at age 11, formed the Clarendonians with Peter Austin. Present on mid 1960s local hits such as Rudie Gone A Jail, I'll Never Change, and Try Me One More Time. Wilson ventured out on his own by 1967, his best known hits being Undying Love, Private Number and Freedom Train. Internationally best known for his 1976 Let True Love Be single backed by Harold Butler & the Four Corners. Has also guested on recordings by Beres Hammond, Inner Circle, Johnny Osbourne, Jimmy Reilly, Gregory Isaacs, Tinga Stewart, and Kiddus I ~ Wilson was born in 1951
November 2, 2021 ~ R&B, soul, disco singer, trumpeter, keyboardist, percussionist, songwriter Ronnie Wilson passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Gap Band, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums. The band, formed in 1967, is centered around brothers Ronnie, Charlie Wilson and Robert Wilson, and known for their infectuous bass-heavy sound. Even though their earlier efforts did not catch on, they would be pivotal to developing the funk sound of the 1970s and 1980s with Billboard R&B top 10 hits such as Shake, Oops Upside Your Head, Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me), Yearning For Your Love, Early In The Morning, You Dropped A Bomb On Me and Beep-a-freak. Nirvana-drummer Dave Grohl credits the band for inspiring the drum intro on Smells Like Teen Spirit ~ Wilson was born in 1948
November 2, 2016 ~ Jazz bassist Bob Cranshaw, full name Melboure Robert Cranshaw, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Though never a household name, revered among jazz aficionados for his consistent excellence, timing, and versatility. Best known for his longtime association with Sonny Rollins, including on albums such as The Sound Of Sonny, The Bridge, and What's New. Cranshaw can also be heard on albums by the likes of Cy Touff, Sonny Criss, Wayne Shorter (Second Genesis), Sonny Red, Carmen McRae, Lee Morgan, Junior Mance (Junior's Blues), Donald Byrd, Barry Harris, Charlie Rouse, Lee Morgan (The Sidewinder), Pepper Adams, Ben Webster, Grant Green (Solid), Shirley Scott, Joe Henderson (Inner Urge), Milt Jackson, Johnny Lytle, Betty Carter, Wes Montgomery (Bumpin'), Jackie McLean, Bobby Hutcherson, Freddie Hubbard, Hank Mobley (A Slice Of The Top), Grady Tate, Yusef Lateef, Horace Silver (Serenade To A Soul Sister), Duke Pearson (Now Hear This), and George Benson ~ Cranshaw was born in 1932
November 2, 2014 ~ Bernard Stanley Bilk, commonly known as clarinetist, singer Acker Bilk, passed away in Bath, UK ~ Reportedly, earned the nickname “Acker” from the Somerset slang for friend or mate. Became the second British artist to score a No.1 on the American pop charts in 1962, preceded only by Vera Lynn's Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart a decade earlier. Originally Bilk had named the instrumental Jenny, for his daughter, but changed its title to Stranger On The Shore for use in a British TV series of the same name. Other well known Bilk songs included Summer Set, Buona Sera, and That's My Home ~ Bilk was born in 1929
November 2, 2014 ~ Blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Michael Coleman passed away ~ Well-known for backing James Cotton for about a decade starting in the late 1970s, including on the acclaimed 1984 High Compression album, before venturing out on his own. Has recorded about half a dozen albums as a solo artist, especially praised for Blues Brunch At The Mart released in 2006. Coleman has also guested on albums by John Primer, Angela Brown, Malik Yusef, and Jimmy Dawkins ~ Coleman was born in 1956
November 2, 2009 ~ Bassist, producer Mark Smith, full name Mark Alexander Smith, passed away in Battersea, UK ~ One-time bassist of mid-1980s synth-rockers Boys Don't Cry. Member of the Adam Phillips Band. Fronted the Futility Orchestra. In-demand session musician and producer, worked with a host of artists including the Waterboys, Leo Sayer, Gonzales, Percy Sledge, Terry Reid, Alvin Stardust, Chris Farlowe, Patricia Kaas, Bryan Ferry, Chris Spedding, Tony O'Malley, Barbara Dickson, Shania Twain, Zoot Sims, Neneh Cherry, Lionel Richie, Ronan Keating, Malcolm McLaren, Charlotte Church, Van Morrison, and George Michael ~ Smith was born in 1960
November 2, 2006 ~ Chauncey Leon Westbrook, commonly known as jazz, R&B, soul guitarist Chauncey Lord Westbrook, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Recorded a sole solo album, Get Out Of Town released in 1956. In-demand session musician, especially associated with Buddy Johnson and Aretha Franklin. Westbrook has also appeared on albums by Little Willie John (Fever), Rex Stewart, Shorty Baker, Charlie Rouse, Jimmy Witherspoon, Solomon Burke (If You Need Me), and Jimmy Scott ~ Westbrook was born in 1921
November 2, 1998 ~ Singers Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston release their When You Believe duet single ~ Written by Stephen Schwartz, noted musical theatre and film composer and lyricist, for the soundtrack of the animated feature film The Prince Of Egypt, the song tells a message that if you have faith and can believe, miracles can happen. Two versions of the song were recorded for the soundtrack album The Prince Of Egypt. The original version was used in the film, sung by Sally Dworsky, Michelle Pfeiffer and a children choir's soloist Andrew Bryan. A second version sung by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, with producer Kenneth Babyface Edmonds providing additional music and lyrics, was issued as the lead single off the soundtrack album. As there was tension between Carey and Houston, the two singers ended up recording their parts separately. Producer Kenneth Babyface Edmonds would later recall to Vulture the two singers also didn't trust eachother's respective producers: “They both asked for me and neither of them were going to do it from what I understand unless I was the producer. Mariah's producer was Walter Afanasieff at the time and did most of her stuff and Whitney's was David Foster. So neither one of them trusted those producers; Whitney wouldn't have trusted Walter and Mariah wouldn't have trusted David.” The Carey-Houston pop version reached top 10 in well over a dozen countries including the Netherlands, Ireland, and the UK, and became a moderate hit in America, where it peaked at No.15 Billboard Hot 100
November 2, 1997 ~ Jazz double bassist Carson Smith passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Brother of bassist Putter Smith. Backed Billie Holiday at her November 1956 Carnegie Hall concert on famed performances of Lady Sings The Blues, Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do, and My Man. Also closely associated with Gerry Mulligan, who later acknowledged that Smith's ideas helped shape the style of Mulligan's 1950s group, his most revered line-up. As an in-demand sideman, Smith can also be heard on albums by Clifford Brown, Stan Getz (West Coast Jazz), Chico Hamilton, Chet Baker (Chet Baker Sings), Russ Freeman, Mavis Rivers (We Remember Mildred Bailey), and Buddy Rich ~ Smith was born in 1931November 2, 1996 ~ Singer, guitarist Eva Cassidy, full name Eva Marie Cassidy, passed away in Bowie, Maryland, USA ~ Debuted in 1992 with the album The Other Side, a duet album with the Godfather of Go-Go Chuck Brown. Rose to fame after her death, notably through the compilation album Songbird, gaining critical acclaim and fans such as Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney ~ Cassidy was born in 1963
November 2, 1996 ~ Blues harpist, singer William Clarke passed away in Fresno, California, USA ~ Worked with George Harmonica Smith, Hollywood Fats, Junior Watson, Rick Holmstrom, John Marx, Craig Printup, Steve Samuels, Joel Foy, Alex Schultz, Ronnie Earl, Al Blake, Barry Levenson, Kid Ramos, Jeff Ross, Willie Brinlee, Bill Stuve, Tyler Pederson, Jerry Monte, Brian Fahey, Perry Lopez, and Rob Rio ~ Clarke was born in 1951
November 2, 1992 ~ Singer Whitney Houston releases I Will Always Love You, recorded for the soundtrack of The Bodyguard which also starred Houston ~ Initially Whitney Houston and producer Clive Davis had tapped What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted, originally recorded by Jimmy Ruffin in 1966, as the theme song to the film The Bodyguard. However, when they learned that a rendition by Paul Young would be used for the film Fried Green Tomatoes, they chose to cover Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You instead. The song would hit Billboard Hot 100 No.1 three days after The Bodyguard opened in theaters, hold the top position for over three months, and eventually sold over 24 million copies, making it the all-time best-selling single by any female artist, and won Houston a Grammy Award for Record of the Year
November 2, 1987 ~ Singer Tanya Tucker releases I Won't Take Less Than Your Love, lifted off her Love Me Like You Used To album ~ Tanya Tucker had a good run during the 1970s, racking up over a dozen Billboard Country top 10 hits. By the early 1980s, though, her popularity waned and for several years she struggled with a drug addiction. However, her 1986 Girls Like Me album brought her back to the spotlight, with all four singles reaching top 10. Its follow-up album, Love Me Like You Used To, gave her three more hits including the Billboard Country No.1 hit I Won't Take Less Than Your Love, on which Tucker was joined by Paul Davis and Paul Overstreet. The song asks how to repay the priceless, with each of the three taking the lead on their own verse. Davis starts off by singing about a husband who asks his wife how to repay her for supporting him through his hardest times. Tucker sings about a son asking his mother how to repay her for all she taught him. Finally, Overstreet plays the part of a man asking God how to repay Him for the gift of life. For each, the answer is the same, “I won't take less than your love.” I Won't Take Less Than Your Love spent twentyfour weeks on the Billboard Country charts including one week at the top spotNovember 2, 1977 ~ Drummer Deantoni Parks born in Newnan, Georgia, USA ~ Briefly a member of progressive rock outfit the Mars Volta, touring with the band for a couple of months in 2006 before being replaced by Thomas Pridgen. Member of Bosnian Rainbows. Co-founding member of KUDU. Well over half a dozen albums as a solo artist. Collaborated with the likes of John Cale, Meshell Ndegeocello, Juan Alderete, and extensively with Omar Rodríguez-López
November 2, 1975 ~ Indie rock singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter Chris Walla, full name Christopher Ryan Walla, born in Bothell, Washington, USA ~ Member of Death Cab For Cutie. Wrote or co-wrote many of the band's best known including Title And Registration and I Will Possess Your Heart. Also an in-demand producer and engineer, having worked on releases by the Velvet Teen, Nada Surf, Hot Hot Heat, David Cross, Rocky Votolato, the Postal Service, and the Thermals
November 2, 1975 ~ Blues mandolinist Fiddlin' Joe Martin passed away in Walls, Mississippi, USA ~ Played the Delta joints for over five decades starting in his mid-teens. Proficient on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, washboard, and drums. Present on Son House's highly sought after 1941 recordings, which included Levee Camp Blues, Government Fleet Blues, and Walking Blues. Has backed artists such as Willie Brown, Charley Patton, Howlin' Wolf, and perhaps most notably Woodrow Adams, reportedly appearing on all of the latter's recordings ~ Martin was born in 1900
November 2, 1974 ~ Alternative rock, synth-pop, electronic, post-rock guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter Iain Cook, full name Iain Andrew Cook, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Member of Les Tenglies, going by the moniker Johnny Dymes. Co-founding member of post-rock outfit Aereogramme remaining with the band until its disbandement in 2007. Member of the Unwinding Hours. Perhaps best known as member of Chvrches, drawing from synth-pop, indietronica, indie pop and electronic dance scoring the modest UK hits The Mother We Share and Recover
November 2, 1974 ~ Singer Joe Cocker releases You Are So Beautiful, lifted off his I Can Stand A Little Rain album ~ Written by Billy Preston and then-regular songwriting partner Bruce Fisher. Reportedly, though uncredited, Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys also had a hand in the creative process, helping Preston finish the melody and contributing some of its lyrics. Though interpreted by just about everyone as a love ballad, Preston's inspiration was actually his mother, not a lover. When Preston learned that Sam Moore regularly performed the song aiming to woo young women in his audience, he was appalled: “That song's about my mother!” Throughout the years, the song would be recorded by over an estimated 200 artists. The best known version of the song, however, is Joe Cocker's. It peaked at No.5 Billboard Hot 100, his highest-charting single as a solo artist, and remains a wedding favorite and radio staple to this day
November 2, 1974 ~ Cornell Ira Haynes Jr, commonly known as MC, rapper Nelly, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Debuted in 2000 with the album Country Grammar, spawning the hits Country Grammar and Ride Wit Me featuring City Spud. Would go on to score hits with Hot In Herre, Dilemma featuring Kelly Rowland, Shake Ya Tailfeather featuring P Diddy & Murphy Lee, Over And Over featuring Tim McGraw, Grillz featuring Paul Wall and Ali & Gipp, and Just A Dream. Has also worked with Jagged Edge, Brian McKnight, Fat Joe, the Notorious BIG, Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, Kane Brown, Justin Timberlake, Jaheim, Christina Aguilera, Akon, T-Pain, Nicki Minaj, Pharrell Williams, Jeremih, and Florida Georgia Line