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 22, 2023 ~ Jean Audrey Caliste, commonly known as soul, R&B, funk singer Jean Knight, passed away in Tampa, Florida, USA ~ Known for her Stax/Volt single Mr Big Stuff, a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit in 1971. The single sold two million copies and was nominated for a Grammy Award but lost to Aretha Franklin's Bridge Over Troubled Water though. Knight would continue to record into the 1980s but was unable to repeat her earlier success ~ Knight was born in 1943November 22, 2023 ~ Singer, guitarist, banjoist Jim Salestrom, full name James Kevin Salestrom, passed away in Arvado, Colorado, USA ~ Co-founded, fronted country-folk rock outfit Timberline. Member of the Wild Jimbos. Also closely associated with Dolly Parton, backing Parton from 1979 through 1991. Wrote It's Too Soon To Let Our Love End, recorded by Mary MacGregor in 1977 ~ Salestrom was born in 1956
November 22, 2022 ~ Erasmo Esteves, commonly known as singer, songwriter Erasmo Carlos, passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Emerged from the early 1960s Brazilian teen idol scene to become a renowned MPB singer popular throughout the 1970s and beyond, known for his moody and introspective work. Known for songs such as Gatinha Manhosa, Festa De Arrombo, Coquiero Verde and De Noito Na Cama ~ Esteves was born in 1941
November 22, 2022 ~ Pablo Milanés Arias, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Pablo Milanés, passed away in Madrid, Spain ~ Along with Silvio Rodriguez and Noel Nicola seen as one of the founders, pioneers of the nueva trova genre. Actively recording since the mid 1970s. Over 40 albums to his name. Has collaborated with Lilia Vera, Luis Peña, Octavio Sanchez, Armando Garzon, Compay Segundo, Caco Senante, Victor Manuel, Andy Montañez, Raul Torres, Chuco Valdés, and Miguel Nunez ~ Milanes was born in 1943November 22, 2022 ~ Andrew Raeburn Semple, commonly known as pop, merseybeat singer, guitarist Shel Macrae, passed away ~ Member of the Fortunes from 1966 through 1977, present on the early 1970s UK top 10 hits Freedom Come Freedom Go and Storm In A Teacup ~ Semple was born in 1943
November 22, 2021 ~ World singer, guitarist, songwriter Joanne Shenandoah, full name Joanne Lynn Shenandoah, passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA ~ Over a dozen albums to her name, a number with contributions from the likes of Sting, Bono, Sinéad O'Connor, starting with the eponymous Joanne Shenandoah released in 1989. Acclaimed for her 1996 Matriarch (Iroquois Women's Songs) album. Has guested on recordings by Peter Kater, Robbie Robertson, Mary Youngblood, and Tony Hymas Oyaté ~ Shenandoah was born in 1957
November 22, 2020 ~ Gary Allen Wiggins, commonly known as jazz, blues, soul, funk, R&B saxophonist, singer, bandleader, songwriter Detroit Gary Wiggins, passed away in Teck, Germany ~ Active since his teens. Made his first recording, That Good Old Funky Feeling, at age 17 with the Impacs, who would regularly serve as backing unit for groups such as the Dramatics. Wiggins would go on to record as a solo artist as well as become an in-demand sideman, working with artists such as Lefty Dizz, Sunnyland Slim, John Littlejohn, and Ray Charles ~ Wiggins was born in 1952November 22, 2017 ~ Producer, artist manager, label executive George Avakian passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ A major force in de development of the US recording industry worked with artists such as Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Dave Brubeck, Eddie Condon, Keith Jarrett, Erroll Garner, Buck Clayton, Sonny Rollins, Paul Desmond, Edith Piaf, Johnny Mathis, John Cage, Alan Hovhaness, and Ravi Shankar ~ Avakian was born in 1919
November 22, 2017 ~ Jazz pianist, composer, arranger John Coates Jr passed away in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Worked with Wendell Marshall, Kenny Clarke, Rudy van Gelder, Charlie Ventura, Barry Miles, Eddie Gomez, Ron Carter, Woody Shaw, Harry Leahey, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Kai Winding, Urbie Green, Pepper Adams, Coleman Hawkins, Clark Terry, Doc Severinsen, Phil Woods, Marvin Stamm, and Bill Watrous ~ Coates was born in 1938
November 22, 2016 ~ Gloria Lane Kachmalnick, commonly known as mezzo-soprano Gloria Lane, passed away in Trenton, New Jersey, USA ~ Active from the late 1940 through the 1970s. First gained attention with the Broadway operas The Consul in 1950, and Saint Of St Bleeker Street a feww years later. Lane would go on to perform with noted orchstras in the USA and abroad including the New York City Opera, La Scala, the Royal Opera, the Vienna State Opera, and the Vancouver Opera ~ Krachmalnick was born in 1925November 22, 2011 ~ Keyboardist, producer Kristian Schultze passed away in Bad Tölz, Germany ~ Son of composer Norbert Schultze and singer Iwa Wanja. Best known for forming the new-age band Cusco with Michael Holm, recording over 20 albums. Previously, Schultze was a member of Passport alongside Klaus Doldinger, appearing on the albums Looking Thru, Cross Collateral, Infinity Machine, and Iguacu ~ Schultze was born in 1945
November 22, 2011 ~ Jazz, bebop, post-bop, avant-garde drummer, bandleader, composer Paul Motian, full name Stephen Paul Motian, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Advanced improviser who challenged post-bop. Rose to prominence from the late 1950s onward backing Bill Evans including on the highly acclaimed Sunday At The Village Vanguard album. Also closely associated with Keith Jarrett, playing with the latter for about a decade starting in 1967. As a leader known for albums such as Dance, Psalm, and The Story Of Maryam. In-demand sideman, present on albums by George Russell, Lee Konitz, Mose Allison (I Love The Life I Live), Bob Brookmeyer, Paul Bley, Don Cherry (Relativity Suite), Charlie Haden (Closeness Duets), and Chick Corea ~ Motian was born in 1931
November 22, 2004 ~ Garage rock, punk blues, indie rock duo the Black Keys release their 'Till I Get My Way/Girl Is On My Mind double A-side single ~ Issued as the second single off their third studio album, Rubber Factory. The track Girl Is On My Mind, inspired by the track Shot Down from garage rock outfit the Sonics, would be used in a Sony Ericsson advertisement starring tennis players Ana Ivanovic and Daniele Hantuchová. The commercial helped make the band more well known
November 22, 2002 ~ Léon Schlienger, commonly known as songwriter Noël Regney, passed away in Brewster, New York, USA ~ Best known for penning Do You Hear What I Hear with his then-wife and regular songwriting partner Gloria Shayne Baker. The song would first be recorded by Harry Simeone Chorale in 1962 and became a Christmas standard covered by over an estimated 500 artists including the New Christy Minstrels, Pat Boone, Johnny Mathis, Gladys Knight, the Carpenters, and Whitney Houston. Other songs written by the duo include Jo Stafford's Sweet Little Darlin', Bobby Vinton's Rain Rain Go Away, Ginny Arnell's I Wish I Knew What Dress To Wear, and Wilma Burgess' You Can't Stop My Heart From Breaking ~ Schlienger was born in 1922November 22, 2000 ~ Actress, singer Auli'i Cravalho born in Kohala, Hawaii, USA ~ Best known as an actress in the NBC series Rise and the drama film All Together Now. As a singer best known for How Far Will I Go, a modest hit in 2017
November 22, 1997 ~ Rock singer, actor Michael Hutchence passed away in Sydney, Australia ~ Made his singing debut at age eight, singing in a toy commercial. Best known for fronting INXS. The band first gained attention with their third album, Shabooh Shoobah released in 1983, and shot to international fame a few years later with the 1987 Kick album. The latter spawned four American hits, the album's lead single Need You Tonight topping the Billboard Hot 100, while follow-up singles Devil Inside, New Sensation, and Tear Us Apart all reached top 10. Hutchence has been dubbed “the wild man of rock” for his public brawls, onetime open drug use, and several highly publicized romantic involvements including with singers Kylie Minogue and Belinda Carlisle ~ Hutchence was born in 1960
November 22, 1995 ~ Thomas Clague, commonly known as radio host, DJ Tom Clay, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Popular radio DJ remembered best for a number of controversies. Fired from his job at WWOL-AM-FM, Buffalo, after he pulled a stunt in which he played Bill Haley's Rock Around The Clock repeatedly from atop a billboard in Buffalo's Shelton Square. Clay would later be involved in the payola scandal of the late 1950s, and admitted to having accepted thousands of dollars for playing certain records WJBK, Cincinnati. Despite the controversies Clay would rise to popularity every time. As a recording artist, Clay is known for putting together the What The World Needs Now Is Love/Abraham Martin & John collage single, mixing two popular records of the time with children's voices and excerpts from speeches by John F Kennedy, Robert F Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. The single would be a surprise hit and reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Clague was born in 1929
November 22, 1991 ~ Pop outfit Mr Big release To Be With You, lifted off their Lean Into It album ~ With only the barest of arrangements, this tender ballad inspired by a real-life experience stands as one of the most appealing songs speaking of unrequited love. The band's lead singer Eric Martin had written this song when he was still in his mid-teens, totally head over heels infatuated with a girl named Patricia who just wanted to be friends. By the time he eventually got this song together, Martin knew they were not to be. He had a different motivation by this point, as he would later explain: “I wrote it mainly to impress my sister's girlfriends.” Issued as a single off their sophomore album, To Be With You would become Mr Big's one major hit, reaching the top position in over a dozen countries including on the American Billboard Hot 100
November 22, 1988 ~ Singer Paula Abdul releases Straight Up, lifted off her Forever Your Girl debut album ~ Paula Abdul had already issued two singles, Knocked Out and (It's Just) The Way That You Love Me, off her Forever Your Girl debut album, but it was Straight Up issued as the album's third single that became her breakout hit and kicked off a string of six consecutive Billboard Hot 100 charttoppers. A key factor in Abdul's rise to fame would be her knack for slick dance routines, and the music videos would receive heavy rotation on MTV, helping push her songs to the top of the charts. Prior to becoming a singer, Abdul had been a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers, a dancer, and choreographer, including notably for Janet Jackson's music videos to What Have You Done For Me Lately, Nasty, and When I Think Of You, all of which became hits in part due to the well-choreographed music videos
November 22, 1986 ~ In its 13th week on the charts, I'll Be Over You by Toto peaks at No.11 Billboard Hot 100 ~ For I'll Be Over You, Toto guitarist Steve Lukather teamed up with Randy Goodrum, a songwriter from outside the band who had previously written songs for Anne Murray (You Needed Me), Michael Johnson, Tommy Overstreet, Rita Coolidge, Dave Loggins, Tammy Wynette, Kenny Rogers, Michael Martin Murphey, and George Benson. Lukather, who also sang lead with Michael McDonald providing vocal counterpoint, would later explain the song's lyrics: “What the song is basically saying is, the guy has broken up with a girl, and realized that he should never have broken up with this girl, and he's still really deeply in love with her. Sort of like a warning to people, like, you never know how good you got it until you don't have it anymore.” Peaking at No.11, I'll Be Over You would be Toto's fifth and final single to reach top 20 Billboard Hot 100November 22, 1985 ~ Pop rock singer, guitarist, producer, songwriter Austin Brown, full name Nathaniel Austin Brown, born in Tarzana, California, USA ~ Not to be confused with Home Free singer Austin Brown. Son of singer Rebbie Jackson. In-demand producer and songwriter, working with artists such as Tim & Bob, the Underdogs, Cory Rooney, Q-Tip, Pharrell Williams, and Macy Gray. Released his Canyon Sessions solo debut EP in 2017
November 22, 1985 ~ Hayley Carline, commonly known as reggae, regggae fusion singer Ava Leigh, born in Chester, UK ~ Known for the singles La La La and Mad About The Boy. Co-wrote Governmentalist recorded by Joss Stone featuring Nas
November 22, 1985 ~ Singer Whitney Houston releases How Will I Know, lifted off her eponymous Whitney Houston debut album ~ The husband-wife duo George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam were asked to write songs for Janet Jackson's upcoming Control album, and came up with How Will I Know. Jackson never recorded the song, as it didn't quite match her style at the time. Yet, a demo reached Arista Records executive Clive Davis who was thrilled and simply had to have the then-unknown Whitney Houston record it for her debut album. It would become Houston's second No.1 hit. For Houston's Whitney sophomore album, Merrill and Rubicam would write the lead single, I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) which would also top the Billboard Hot 100. A few years later Merrill and Rubicam, under the moniker Boy Meets Girl, scored a major hit of their own as Waiting For A Star reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic, peaking at No.9 in the UK and No.5 on the American Billboard Hot 100November 22, 1984 ~ Singer Nathalie Nordnes born in Bergen, Norway ~ Released her Hush Hush debut album in 2003, duetting with Sondre Lerche on the track Good Times. Would record a handful of albums throughout the early-2010s working with producers such as Hans Petter Gundersen, Kato Adland, Rob Ellis. Perhaps best known for Cars And Boys, a top 20 hit in her native Norway of her 2005 Join Me In The Park sophomore album
November 22, 1984 ~ Actress, singer Scarlett Johansson, full name Scarlett Ingrid Johansson, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as an actress, noted for roles in films such as Manny & Jo, The Horse Whisperer, Lost In Translation and The Girl With A Pearl Earring. Has also recorded as a singer, starting with 2008's Anywhere I Lay My Head received to mixed reviews despite a stellar cast including David Bowie. Would go on to release a few more recordings throughout the decade, notably collaborating with Pete Yorn, and Este Haim, and occasionally sing on soundtracks