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 24, 2025 ~ James Chambers, commonly known as reggae, ska, rocksteady singer, songwriter Jimmy Cliff, passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Best known for his contributions to the 1972 film and soundtrack The Harder They Come, performing the lead role in the film and contributing most of the songs ~ Chambers was born in 1944
November 24, 2024 ~ Drummer, sound engineer Bob Bryar, full name Robert Cory Bryar, passed away in Shelbyville, Tennessee, USA ~ Bryar originally worked as a sound engineer for artists such as the Used and Thrice, befriending My Chemical Romance while the band was touring. Shortly after the release of their Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge sophomore album, Bryar joined My Chemical Romance as a replacement for Matt Pelissier. Bryar has subsequently appeared on all of the band's releases, including on The Black Parade which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 No.9 hit Welcome To The Black Parade, the band's highest-charting single. The band is considered one of the premier alternative rock acts of the 2000s, known for their goth-tinged style and theatrical vocals while borrowing heavily from emo and pop punk. Following his departure from the band in 2010, Bryar continued as a behind-the-scenes figure in tours for several acts, dedicated a significant portion of his time on charitable causes, and worked as a real estate agent. Since the 2010s, Bryar has on occassion performed as a drummer, most notably in a remembrance event for then-recently deceased Rush drummer Neil Peart, yet in 2021 retired from drumming altogether citing ongoing issues with his wrist as well as his age as main reasons ~ Bryar was born in 1979November 24, 2024 ~ Operatic mezzo-soprano Peggy Ann Jones passed away ~ Best known for her association with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, joining the group at age 19 and remaining for some fifteen years. Initially, Jones was a member of the chorus and played small roles to eventually star in major roles in operas such as Iolanthe, The Mikado, The Yeomen Of The Guard, and Ruddigore. Jones departed the company in 1973 on account of an ill health, yet in later years would resume performing including at several WS Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan festivals and notably in the original cast of The Phantom Of The Opera ~ Jones was born in 1939
November 24, 2021 ~ R&B, pop songwriter Marilyn McLeod passed away ~ Staff songwriter for Motown. Best known for co-penning songs such as Diana Ross's Love Hangover, High Inergy's You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On), and Jermaine Jackson's Let Me Tickle Your Fancy. Others who recorded her songs include Junior Walker & the All-Stars, Millie Jackson, Freda Payne, Anita Baker, and Pepsi & Shirlie ~ MacLeod was born in 1939
November 24, 2017 ~ Maria Clotilde Belo de Carvalho Rosa Franco, commonly known as harpist, flutist, composer Clotilde Rosa, passed away in Lisbon, Portugal ~ Co-founded the Lisbon Contemporary Group in 1970, which also included her second husband Jorge Machado. Formed the Trio Antigua by the end of the decade, working with Carlos Franco and Luisa de Vasconcelos, focusing on ancient music. Member of the Porto Symphony Orchestra. Retired her orchestral career in 1987 to teach harp at The Music School of Lisbon's National Conservatory, Lisbon, the first contemporary harp syllabus taught in Portugal ~ Rosa was born in 1930
November 24, 2016 ~ R&B, soul, dance, house singer, songwriter Colonel Abrams, his real name, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Played guitar and keyboards for Heavy Impact. Fronted 94 East, a Minneapolis-based funk unit best remembered for including a then-unknown teenage Prince as its lead guitarist. As a solo artist Abrams is known for a string of 1980s singles including Trapped, which did especially well in Europe, and the Billboard R&B top 10 hits I'm Not Gonna Let You and How Soon We Forget. Upon his death at age 67 on Thanksgiving Day, renowned producer Jellybean, known for Madonna's Holiday and Whitney Houston's Love Will Save The Day, would comment: “It's a sad day for the House music community.” ~ Abrams was born in 1949
November 24, 2006 ~ Bassist Walter Booker passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Played clarinet and saxophone in college. Took up the bass while serving in the same US Army unit as Elvis Presley. Married to pianist Bertha Hope, with whom he formed a trio which also included drummer Jimmy Cobb. Closely associated with both Cannonball Adderley and Nat Adderley, appearing on over half a dozen albums of each of the brothers' individual albums. Underrated stylist, reliable sideman present on albums by Sonny Rollins (On Impulse), Andrew Hill, Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan (The Procrastinator), Art Farmer, Hank Mobley, Wayne Shorter, Archie Shepp, Joe Zawinul, Betty Carter, Maria Muldaur (Sweet And Slow), A Tribe Called Quest (People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm), and Roy Hargrove ~ Booker was born in 1933
November 24, 2003 ~ Country singer Teddy Wilburn, full name Thurman Theodore Wilburn, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Child performer since the mid 1930s, alongside his older brother Doyle Wilburn under the moniker the Wilburn Children. Discovered by Roy Acuff, who brought them to the Grand Ole Opry in 1940. Following each brother's stints in the Army, the brothers would reconvene as the Wilburn Brothers. They were offered the chance to record Heartbreak Hotel before Elvis Presley, but declined as they felt the song was “strange and almost morbid”. The duo would record well into the 1970s, backing Webb Pierce on the 1954 Billboard Country top 10 hit Sparkling Brown Eyes, and reaching the top 10 on their own with songs such as Which One Is To Blame, Trouble's Back In Town, Roll Muddy River, and Hurt Her Once For Me ~ Wilburn was born in 1931
November 24, 2001 ~ Singer Melanie Thornton, full name Melanie Janene Thornton. passed away near Bassersdorf, Switzerland ~ Germany-based singer best known as lead singer of 1990s Eurodance duo la Bouche, alongside rapper Lane McCray, working with producer Frank Farian who also masterminded bands such as Boney M and Milli Vanilli. Thornton started a solo career in late 2000, starting with the single Love How You Love Me. She released her sole solo album, Ready To Fly, the next year. Thornton died in a plane crash while touring to promote the album and in particular the holiday-themed single Wonderful Dreams (Holidays Are Coming). The single has since repeatedly hit the German charts around the Holiday season, aided by Coca-Cola using the track for its TV commercials ~ Thornton was born in 1967November 24, 1999 ~ Pianist, songwriter Howard Biggs, full name Howard Maceo Biggs, passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Influential in doo-wop and the first days of rock & roll. Perhaps best known for writing or co-writing Bye Bye Baby Blues and Write Me A Letter for the Ravens, and Got You On My Mind for Big John Greer. The latter would later be recorded by Big Joe Turner, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Eric Clapton. Other songs written or co-written by Biggs include I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Roy Hamilton, Elvis Presley), Melancholy Me (Eddy Howard), and If I Could Have Your Love Again (Brook Benton) ~ Biggs was born in 1916
November 24, 1997 ~ Monique Andree Serf, commonly known as singer, songwriter Barbara, passed away in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France ~ Lifelong friend and frequent interpreter of Jacques Brel. Known as a poetic songwriter herself. Best remembered for songs such as Ma Belle Histoire D'Amour C'Est Vous, L'Aigle Noir, Nantes, Solitude, Gottingen, and Petite Cantate. Quintessential to the Nouvelle Chanson genre, influential on artists such as Keren Ann, Benjamin Biolay, Coralie Clément, Emilie Simon, Daphné, and Vincent Delerm. Non-French artists who have covered Barbara's songs include Marc Almond, Martha Wainwright, Conchita Mendivil, Regina Spektor, and Ana Silvera ~ Serf was born in 1930
November 24, 1997 ~ Britpop, rock outfit the Verve release Lucky Man, lifted off their Urban Hymns album ~ Singer Richard Ashcroft has repeatedly admitted the song was inspired by his wife, further adding in an interview with Q Magazine that this was his favorite song he's ever written, “because it seems to be able to ignite or connect with an energy every time it's performed, without fail.” Bitter Sweet Symphony and The Drugs Don't Work had both reached top 10 in their native UK, peaking respectively at No.2 and No.1. Lucky Man would peak at No.7, making it their third single off Urban Hymns, their most successful album, to reach top 10. In 2006, U2 frontman Bono named Lucky Man as one of the songs he'd wish he had writtenNovember 24, 1996 ~ Composer Edison Denisov, full name Edison Vasilievich Denisov, passed away in Paris, France ~ Mentored by Dmitri Shostakovich. Admired by Igor Stravinsky. Gained recognition with Le Soleil Des Incas for soprano and chamber ensemble published in 1964. Other well known works include the operas Lécume Des Jours and Quatre Filles, and the ballet Confession. Had many of his compositions criticized and banned by the Russian authorities for its “Western influences” ~ Denisov was born in 1929
November 24, 1994 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Paul Brunelle passed away in Granby, Canada ~ Considered the pioneer of Quebec country music, especially influential on Willie Lamothe. Known for songs such as Cruel Destiny, On This White Rock, In A Night Of Stars, The Song Of The Vagabond, and In The Distance (There In My Prairie). To American audiences best known for his 1955 novelty yodeling hit The Cowboy Of The Mountains ~ Brunelle was born in 1923
November 24, 1994 ~ Singer, songwriter Reece Mastin born in Scunthorpe, UK ~ Winner of the third season of The X-Factor Australia in 2011. Subsequently released his eponymous Reece Mastin album, spawning the hit single Good Night. Also known for songs such as Shut Up & Kiss Me, Shout It Out and Rock Star, all of which reached the top 20 in both Australia and New Zealand
November 24, 1993 ~ Blues guitarist, singer Albert Collins, full name Albert Gene Collins, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Cousin of Lightnin' Hopkins, who introduced him to the guitar. Dubbed “the Master of the Telecaster”, Collins helped shape the legacy of T-Bone Walker into a straight-forward, modern blues template. Influentual on guitar-driven acts such as Canned Heat, Gary Moore, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Well over a dozen albums to his name, especially acclaimed for 1965's The Cool Sound Of Albert Collins and 1978's Ice Pickin'. To younger blues audiences known for the 1985 Showdown collaborative album with Robert Cray and Johnny Copeland, which earned the trio a Grammy Award ~ Collins was born in 1932
November 24, 1991 ~ Paul Charles Caravello, commonly known as drummer Eric Carr, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Ringo Starr, John Bonham, Keith Moon, Lenny White. Joined rock band Kiss in 1980, taking over from Peter Criss, recording over half a dozen albums with the band until his death of heart cancer at age 41. Co-wrote Don't Leave Me Lonely, recorded by Bryan Adams for his 1983 Cuts Like A Knife album. Carr also guested on the WOW album, recorded by Wendy O Williams in 1984 following her split from the Plasmatics ~ Carr was born in 1950
November 24, 1991 ~ Farrokh Bulsara, commonly known as singer Freddie Mercury, passed away in London, UK ~ Frontman, lead singer for Queen, known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range. Wrote or co-wrote a vast amount of the band's best known songs including Killer Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, Somebody To Love, Seven Seas Of Rye, Don't Stop Me Now, Bicycle Race, Play The Game, We Are The Champions, and Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Outside the band Mercury has released two albums, 1985's Mr Bad Guy and 1988's Barcelona, the latter a collaboration with Montserrat Caballé, as well as a number of singles, perhaps most notably the Platters cover The Great Pretender released in 1987 ~ Bulsara was born in 1946November 24, 1990 ~ Singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter Tom Odell, full name Thomas Peter Odell, born in Chicester, UK ~ Influenced by Elton John, David Bowie, Billy Joel, Randy Newman, Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen. Released his full-length debut album, Long Way Down, in 2013 and has recorded to critical acclaim since. Best known for the singles Another Love and Real Love, both of which reached the UK top 10
November 24, 1988 ~ Glam metal, pop metal outfit Bon Jovi release Born To Be My Baby, lifted off their New Jersey album ~ Written by singer Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora, and songwriter Desmond Child, Born To Be My Baby tells of a young working-class couple struggling through life yet whatever hardships they may endure, they have each other to help them through: “We both got jobs 'cause there's bills to pay, we got something they can't take away, our love, our lives”. Born To Be My Baby reached No.3 Billboard Hot 100. Lead singer Jon Bon Jovi later stated he believed it would have reached No.1 if it had been issued in its original, toned-down acoustic version. Nevertheless, all five of the album's singles would reach top 10, with Bad Medicine and I'll Be There For You both hitting the No.1 spot, making New Jersey the first glam metal album to spawn five top 10 singles
November 24, 1985 ~ Joseph Vernon Turner Jr, commonly known as jump blues, R&B singer Big Joe Turner, passed away in Inglewood, California, USA ~ Important to the development of R&B and rock & roll. According to songwriter Doc Pomus “rock & roll would have never happened without him.” Best known for being the first to record the Charles Calhoun-penned Shake Rattle & Roll, a hit in 1954 and generally regarded as one of the first rock & roll records. Over the years, the song would be recorded by well over a hundred artists including Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Conway Twitty, Buddy Holly, and Canned Heat. Turner is also well known for songs such as Roll 'Em Pete, Cherry Red, I Want A Little Girl, Wee Baby Blues, SK Blues, Corrine Corrina, and Midnight Special ~ Turner was born in 1911
November 24, 1984 ~ In its 11th week on the charts, Better Be Good To Me by Tina Turner peaks at No.5 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Tina Turner's second top 10 hit off Private Dancer, one of the strongest comeback albums in music history, and her second top 10 hit overall, preceded by the charttopper What's Love Got To Do With It off the same album. The song was originally recorded by Spider back in 1981, written by the band's keyboardist Holly Knight and producer Mike Chapman. It was the first song ever co-written by Knight, who would later go on to co-write songs such as Love Is A Battlefield and Invincible for Pat Benatar, Pleasure And Pain for Divinyls, and Rag Doll for Aerosmith. On the origins of Better Be Good To Me, Knight has commented: “I was seeing a guy at the time who kind of had this adorable little crush on me, this German guy. He came to my house and left me some flowers and a note, and it said something like, ‘If you're good to me.’ And I'm thinking, you know, if I can twist that around I can make it into a song”
November 24, 1979 ~ Guitarist, singer Rebecca Barlow born ~ One third of Christian girl group BarlowGirl, formed with her siblings bass guitarist, keyboardist Alyssa Barlow and drummer Lauren Barlow. Initially a backing band for their father Vince Barlow, the trio would become a popular festival act, and aided by a tribute song titled Barlow Girls by fellow Christian rockers Superchick, rose to fame prior to releasing their eponymous 2004 BarlowGirl debut album. They are best known for the singles Never Alone and I Need You To Love Me. They recorded about half a dozen albums, most acclaimed for their 2009 Love & War album, before disbanding the band in the early 2000s
November 24, 1974 ~ R&B, funk, disco outfit Kool & the Gang release Jungle Boogie, lifted off their Wild And Peaceful album ~ A near-instant club hit and their first to reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit, peaking at No.4. The album itself would do pretty well too, their first to peak inside top 40 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 200. All of the album's three singles did well, the album's lead single Funky Stuff peaked just inside the top 30 Billboard Hot 100, while Hollywood Swinging reached top 10 and hit the No.1 spot on the Billboard R&B charts. Jungle Boogie would remain a fan favorite for the remainder of their career, and one of the best remembered dance tracks of the mid 1970s. The song would also be used in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction, repopularizing the song with mainstream audiencesNovember 24, 1972 ~ Conductor, music director Alexander Smallens passed away in Tucson, Arizona, USA ~ Worked with the Boston Opera Orchestra, the Anna Pavlova Ballet Company, the Chicago Opera Company, the Philadelphia Civic Opera Company, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Radio City Music Hall ~ Smallens was born in 1889
November 24, 1972 ~ Singer David Bowie releases The Jean Genie, lifted off his Aladdin Sane album ~ Its melody originated from an impromptu jam Mick Ronson played on the band's tour bus between gigs. David Bowie finished the song in New York while hanging out with actress Cyrinda Foxe. The singer would later describe the song as a smorgasbord of Americana, written for Foxe's amusement. Issued as Aladdin Sane's lead single, it peaked at No.2 in the UK, making it his highest-charting single up to that point. The lyric “he's so simple minded, he can't drive his module” would serve as the inspiration for the Simple Minds bandname. Drive-In Saturday, a follow-up single from the same album, would also do well, peaking at No.3
November 24, 1972 ~ Jazz, classical pianist Hall Overton, full name Hall Franklin Overton, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Married to singer, songwriter Nancy Overton. Spent the 1950s in jazz, rarely stepping into the spotlights but treasured as a sideman and particularly as an arranger for the likes of Stan Getz, Teddy Charles, Jimmy Raney, Red Mitchell, Jimmy Raney, and Thelonious Monk. Especially acclaimed for his orchestral arrangements for two of Monk's major dates, both captured on record, 1959's The Thelonious Monk Orchestra At Town Hall and 1963's Big Band And Quartet In Concert. In later years, Overton would focus primarily on classical music, both as an arranger and teacher. Overton also composed the opera Huckleberry Finn opera, premiered by the Juilliard Opera Company in 1971, a year prior to his death at age 52 ~ Overton was born in 1920