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 21, 1977 ~ Actor, singer Kristian Ealey, full name Kristian John Ealey, born in Lancashire, UK ~ Appeared in an episode of the British sitcom Bread at age 9. Would go on to pursue a career in acting, best known for his role as Matt Musgrove in the Channel 4 soap Brookside. Lead singer, guitarist of Liverpool band Tramp Attack. Subsequently worked with beat, blues-rock singer Edgar Jones. Played the role of Ringo Starr in the TV biopic In His Life (The John Lennon Story) in 2000 ~ Ealey passed away in 2016November 21, 1974 ~ Composer, pianist Frank Martin passed away in Naarden, the Netherlands ~ Wrote for orchestra, ballet, chamber music, organ, choral music, operas. Closely associated with Emile Jacques-Dalcroze. Founded the Chamber Music Society Of Geneva ~ Martin was born in 1890
November 21, 1974 ~ Country, country-pop singer Kelsi Osborn, full name Kelsi Marie Osborn, born in Magna, Utah, USA ~ Member of sibling outfit SheDaisy, alongside Kassidy Osborn and Kristyn Osborn, known for songs such as Little Good-byes, This Woman Needs, Passenger Seat, Come Home Soon, Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing, all of which reached top 20 of the Billboard Country charts between the late 1990s and mid 2000sNovember 21, 1973 ~ Singer, comedian Allan Sherman passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Mostly known as a comedy writer and television producer, but also as a song parodist known for two early 1960s albums and a number of singles including Hello Mudduh Hello Fadduh (A Letter From Camp) which reached No.2 Billboard in 1963 ~ Sherman was born in 1924
November 21, 1973 ~ Tenor saxophonist Mark Shim born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ As a sideman Shim worked with Hamiet Bluiett, Elvin Jones, Mose Allison, Betty Carter, and Greg Osby. Also recorded as a leader, starting with 1998's Mind Over Matter on Blue Note Records
November 21, 1968 ~ Britpop, rock bassist, guitarist, singer Alex James, full name Steven Alexander James, born in Boscombe, UK ~ Best known as member of Blur. Also worked with Fat Les, Me Me Me, Wigwam, Bad Lieutenant, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor
November 21, 1965 ~ Björk Guomundsdottir, mononymously known as art pop, electronica, experimental pop, rock singer, songwriter Björk born in Reykjavik, Iceland ~ Rose to fame as frontwoman of the Sugarcubes, known for their 1987 hit Birthday. Debuted as a solo artist in 1993 with the aptly title Debut album. Known for songs such as Play Dead featuring David Arnold, Big Time Sensuality, Army Of Me, It's Oh So Quiet, Hyperballad, and Possibly Maybe. Co-wrote Madonna's Bedtime Story. Has collaborated with 808 State, Ölóf Arnalds, Plaid, and Hector ZazouNovember 21, 1962 ~ Pop punk, punk rock, alternative rock singer, guitarist, drummer, keyboardist, banjoist, producer Greig Nori, full name Greig Andrew Nori, born in Sault Ste Marie, Canada ~ Co-lead singer of pop punk outfit Treble Charger, known for songs such as American Psycho and All Time Low. Served as producer for Sum 41, Cauterize, and Hedley. Head of artist management agency Bunk Rock Music, managing acts such as Gob, the Surplus Sons, and the New Cities
November 21, 1960 ~ In its 8th week on the charts, Stay by Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by Maurice Williams back in 1953. He had been trying to convince his date not to go home at 10 o'clock to meet her curfew, but lost the the argument. The encounter inspired the then-15-year-old Williams to write Stay: “Like a flood, the words just came to me”. When Williams recorded the song at the end of the decade, it would become a No.1 hit. The song is noted for being the all-time shortest Billboard Hot 100 charttopper, clocking at just 1 minute 26. Stay has endured the test of time and to this day remains of the most cherished doo-wop songs of the era from time to time brought back into the public's attention, frequently used for TV and film, perhaps most notably in the opening scene of the 1987 Dirty Dancing film. In 1960, Stay had occupied the No.1 spot for one week, succeeded by Elvis Presley's Are You Lonesome TonightNovember 21, 1956 ~ Singer, actress, dancer Cynthia Rhodes born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Co-wrote Perfect Day with then-husband Richard Marx for Chris Botti. Dancer in videos of Marx (Don't Mean Nothing), Toto (Rosanna), and the Bee Gees (The Woman In You). Known for her roles in Flashdance, Staying Alive, and Dirty Dancing
November 21, 1956 ~ Producer, songwriter Terry Lewis born in Omaha, Nebraska, USA ~ Member of the Time, which also included Jimmy Jam. Would partner up with Jam to become one of the most in-demand producer, songwriting duos starting in the late 1980s, working with the SOS Band, Cherrelle, Alexander O'Neal, Change, Cheryl Lynn, Lionel Richie, Herb Alpert, TLC, Yolanda Adams, Jordan Knight, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, Usher, Johnny Gill, Patti LaBelle, Mary J Blige, Chaka Khan, Mariah Carey, Mya, Prince, Bryan Adams, George Michael, Kelly Price, Gwen Stefani, New Edition, Eric Benét, and perhaps most notably and extensively Janet JacksonNovember 21, 1955 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Ab Baars born in Axel, the Netherlands ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Cumulus, Trebbel, Roscoe Mitchell, the ICP Orchestra, Anthony Braxton, Cecil Taylor, Tristan Honsinger, Sonic Youth, the ICP Orchestra, Ig Henneman, Orkest de Volharding, Sunny Murray, Steve Lacy, Roswell Rudd, Theo Jörgensmann, Ken Vandermark, and Michiyo Yagi
November 21, 1955 ~ Singer, guitarist Jacob Desvarieux born in Paris, France ~ Founding member of the Sweet Bananas, known best for their recording of Bilboa Dance. Key member of Caribbean music group Kassav, which he co-founded with Pierre-Edouard Décimus in 1979, known for their 1988 Sye Bwa single which reached the French top 20. As a solo artist acclaimed for his 1999 Euphrasine's Blues album ~ Desvarieux passed away in 2021
November 21, 1953 ~ Clarinetist Larry Shields passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as a member of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, the first jazz band to record commercially. Co-wrote the band's Clarinet Marmalade and At The Jazz Band Ball. Influential on later clarinetists such as Benny Goodman and Dink Johnson. Also played with Papa Jack Laine, Bert Kelly, King Watzke, and Paul Whiteman ~ Shields was born in 1893
November 21, 1949 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Rainer Bruninghaus born in Bad Pyrmont, Germany ~ Formed Colours with Eberhard Weber and Charlie Mariano. Has also worked with Volker Kriegel, Manfred Schoof, Kenny Wheeler, Markus Stockhausen, Fredy Studer, Jan Garbarek, Carla Bley, Bob Brookmeyer, Gary Burton, Bobby McFerrin, Jim Hall, Manu Katché, Albert Mangelsdorff, Paul McCandless, Alphonse Mouzon, Archie Shepp, and Steve Swallow
November 21, 1948 ~ Drummer Alphonse Mouzon born in Charleston, South Carolina, USA ~ Best known as a member of the Weather Report. First gained attention as member of Larry Coryell's fusion band Eleventh House. Has also played with Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Patrick Moraz, Betty Davis, Chubby Checker, Albert Mangelsdorff, Jaco Pastorius, Chicano, David Paich, Brian Auger, Alex Ligertwood, Ray Parker Jr, Lenny Castro, Vikki Carr, Pete Escovedo, Marcos J Reyes, Siedah Garrett, Walfredo Reyes Jr, Arild Andersen, Donald Byrd, Doug Carn, Norman Connors, Miles Davis, Al di Meola, Roberta Flack, the Fania All-Stars, Carlos Garnett, Herbie Hancock, Miki Howard, Bobbi Humphrey, Joachim Kühn, Les McCann, Eugene McDaniels, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Salvador Santana. and with Spencer Davis ~ Mouzon passed away in 2016November 21, 1948 ~ Keyboardist, organist, composer John Bundrick, also known as Rabbit Bundrick, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Best known for his work with the Who. Also collaborated with Eric Burdon, Bob Marley, Free, Crawler, Mallard, Blackwell, Johnny Nash, Paul Kossoff, Simon Kirke, Tetsu Yamauchi, Sandy Denny, John Martyn, Donovan, Kevin Ayers, John Cale, Bryn Haworth, Jim Capaldi, Eric Burdon, Pete Townshend, the Only Ones, Deep End, Roger Waters, Fairport Convention, Mick Jagger, and Neil Hamburger
November 21, 1948 ~ Keyboardist, guitarist, singer Lonnie Jordan born in San Diego, California, USA ~ Founding member of War, known for songs such as Spill The Wine, The World Is A Ghetto, The Cisco Kid, Low Rider, and Summer. Also worked with Eric Burdon, Tanya Tucker, T.Rex, Los Lobos, and Bobby Womack
November 21, 1948 ~ Michael Edward Smith, commonly known as rock photographer Mick Rock, born in London, UK ~ Often referred to as “the Man Who Shot the Seventies” and best known as David Bowie's official photographer. Artists who have used his photos for album cover art include the Stooges (Raw Power), Lou Reed (Transformer, Coney Island Baby), Waylon Jennings (Lonesome On'ry & Mean), Cat Stevens (Foreigner), Queen (Sheer Heart Attack), Cockney Rebel (The Psychomodo), the Ramones (End Of The Century), Joan Jett (I Love Rock 'n Roll), Third Eye Blind (Out Of The Vein), and Miley Cyrus (Plastic Hearts) ~ Smith passed away in 2021
November 21, 1947 ~ Samba singer, trumpeter, clarinetist Alcione Nazareth, full name Alcione Dias Nazareth, born in Sao Luis, Brazil ~ One of the most beloved female samba singers gaining international fame in the late 1970s. Well over two dozen albums to her name. Dedicated the song João De Deus to Pope John Paul II upon his visit to Brazil in 1987. Other well known songs include Nãp Deixe O Samba Morrer, Lá Vem Vicê, Gostoso Veneno and Ilha Da mar´November 21, 1947 ~ Singers Buddy Clark and Doris Day record Love Somebody ~ Written by Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer. Day's first attempt at moving away from big band the shift in style would prove successful. Released as a single it would reach top 10 on the pop charts. Buddy Clark and Doris Day also duetted on Confess featured on the flip side, penned by Bennie Benjamin and George David Weiss
November 21, 1947 ~ Folk guitarist, bouzouki player, singer Gordon Jones born in Merseyside, UK ~ Co-founded Silly Wizard with guitarist Bob Thomas in the early 1970s. The band would gradually develop a cult following and is most acclaimed for their 1981 Wild & Beautiful album
November 21, 1944 ~ Percussionist, conga player, singer Milton Cardona born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico ~ Influenced by Mongo Santamaria. Especially acclaimed for the albums Bembe and Cambucha, released respectively in 1985 and 1999. A mainstay on New York's salsa scene, Cardona reportedly appears on over an estimated 1,000 recordings including albums by Willie Colón, Clifford Thornton, Héctor Lavoe, Cachao, Ismael Miranda, Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, the Fania All-Stars, Kip Hanrahan, Eddie Palmieri, Michael Brecker (Now You See It (Now You Don't)), David Byrne, Ronnie Cuber (The Scene Is Clean), David Sánchez, Steve Turre, Marlena Shaw, Paul Simon, Mario Bauzá (Messidor's Finest), Herbie Mann, and Paquito d'Rivera ~ Cardona passed away in 2014
November 21, 1942 ~ Pop, rock pianist, singer, songwriter Andy Newman born in Hounslow, UK ~ Member of Thunderclap Newman from 1969 to 1971, a band formed by the Who's Pete Townshend and producer Kit Lambert to showcase the talent of John Speedy Keen, Jimmy McCulloch and Newman. The band would top the UK charts with their single Something In The Air in 1969, taken of the band's sole Hollywood Dream studio album ~ Newman passed away in 2016
November 21, 1941 ~ Bandleader Alvino Rey and his orchestra, featuring vocals from Bill Schallen and Skeets Herfurt, record Deep In The Heart Of Texas ~ Written by Don Swander and June Hersher. Released the following January it would reach top of the pop charts. Besides Alvino Rey, Perry Como, the Merry Macs, Horace Heidt, and Bing Crosby would each separately chart with their respective versions. Used in a number of 1942 films, namely sung by Tex Ritter and Jimmy Wakely in Deep In The Heart Of Texas, and by Gene Autry in both Stardust On The Stage and Autry joined by Smiley Burnette and Joe Strauch Jr in Heart Of The Rio Grande. Over the years the song would become a country classic, covered by a wide array of artists
November 21, 1941 ~ Saxophonist Andrew Love born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Noted session musician. Member of the Memphis Horns alongside longtime compadre trumpeter Wayne Jackson. Has backed artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Neil Diamond, Elvis Presley, and Dusty Springfield. Has toured with the Doobie Brothers, Jimmy Buffett, and Robert Cray ~ Love passed away in 2012
November 21, 1941 ~ David C Randolph Jr, commonly known as jazz organist Butch Cornell, born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA ~ Classically trained pianist, switched to jazz organ after hearing Jimmy Smith. Appeared on albums by Willis Jackson, Stanley Turrentine (Sugar), Boogaloo Joe Jones, Grover Washington Jr, Patrick Lamb, and Ron Carter ~ Randolph passed away in 2008
November 21, 1941 ~ Songwriter, singer David Porter born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Frequent songwriting partner of Isaac Hayes. Songs written or co-written by Porter have been recorded by Homer Banks, Sam & Dave (Soul Man, Hold On I'm Coming), the Charmels, Carla Thomas (Let Me Be Good To You), the Emotions, the Sweet Inspirations, Johnnie Taylor (I Got To Love Somebody's Baby), Ruby Johnson (I'll Run Your Hurt Away), Soul Children, Don Covay, William Bell (Share What You Got (But Keep What You Need)), Albert King (Personal Manager), the Bar-kays, Rufus Thomas, Mable John (Your Good Thing (Is About To End)), Eddie Floyd, and Charlie Rich