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 26, 2023 ~ Pop rock, psychedelic rock, jazz rock guitarist Brian Godding passed away ~ Member of 1960s rock outfits the Blossom Toes and BB Blunder before John McLaughlin's Extrapolation album turned him to jazz. Member of Keith Tippett's 1970s band Centipede. Member of jazz fusion group Mirage. Frequent collaborator of Mike Westbrook. Frequent songwriting partner of Kevin Coyne. Has also worked with Julie Driscoll, Solid Gold Cadillac, Annette Peacock, and Lol Coxhill. Godding released his sole solo album, Slaughter On Shaftesbury Avenue, in 2004 ~ Godding was born in 1945
November 26, 2023 ~ Kevin Walker, commonly known as post-punk, gothic rock, new wave guitarist Geordie Walker, passed away in Prague, Czech Republic ~ Earned his nickname for his northeastern “Geordie” accent. First got into music at age eight, mesmerized by Love Sculpture's Sabre Dance. Co-founding member of Killing Joke, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums since its inception in the late 1970s. The post-punk outfit would enjoy popularity especially during the mid-1980s and are best known for Love Like Blood, a UK top 20 hit taken off their 1985 Night Time album. Walker has also played with industrial supergroups Murder Inc and Damage Manual ~ Walker was born in 1958November 26, 2022 ~ Orchestral conductor Henrie Adams passed away ~ Closely associated with the Sinfonietta Geleen. Has also worked with de Kerkelijke Harmonie St Joseph, het Limburgs Symfonie Orkest, the Royal Military Band Johan Willem Friso, and the Royal Band Of Belgian Guides ~ Adams was born in 1954
November 26, 2022 ~ Jazz singer Louise Tobin, full name Mary Louise Tobin, passed away in Carrollton, Texas, USA ~ Sang with Bobby Hackett, Will Bradley, Jack Jenney, and Benny Goodman, notably present on the latter's I Didn't Know What Time it Was and There'll Be Some Changes Made. Married to bandleader Harry James from 1935 through 1943, with whom she has two sons ~ Tobin was born in 1918
November 26, 2021 ~ Composer Stephen Sondheim, full name Stephen Joshua Sondheim, passed away in Roxbury, Connecticut, USA ~ Mentored by Oscar Hammerstein II. Got his first succes writing lyrics for West Side Story, notably songs such as America, Maria and I Feel Pretty. Would go on to become an innovator of the musical genre, known for his unusual choice of subjects and bold, complex song structures. Has theatres named after him on New York's Broadway and in London's West End. Wrote music and lyrics for musicals such as Company, Follies, Sweeney Todd, and Into The Woods. The song Send In The Clowns from 1973's A Little Night Music would instantly become a jazz standard recorded by Judy Collins, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand ~ Sondheim was born in 1930November 26, 2020 ~ Jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer, producer Allan Botschinsky passed away ~ Worked with Ib Glindemann, Oscar Pettiford, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Lee Konitz, Ben Webster, Kenny Dorham, George Gruntz, Nils Lindberg, Bjare Rostvold, and Sahib Shihab ~ Botschinsky was born in 1940
November 26, 2020 ~ Operatic soprano Cecilia Fusco, full name Maria Cecilia Fusco, passed away in Latisana, Italy ~ Daughter of film composer Giovanni Fusco and pianist Adriana Dante. Active since the late 1950s, debuting in Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto in the role of Gilda. Best known for her longtime association with La Scala. Has also worked with opera houses and orchestras such as La Fenice, Teatro Comunale Di Bologna, Teatro Regio Di Parma, La Monnaie, the Cairo Opera House, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Teatro Real, the Washington National Opera and the Metropolitan Opera ~ Fusco was born in 1933
November 26, 2015 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Ronnie Bright, full name Ronald David Bright, passed away ~ Member of a number of quintessential doo-wop groups. Sang with the Valentines from 1954 through 1957. Briefly with the Cadillacs in 1960, including on Tell Me Today. Joined the Coasters in 1968, replacing Will Dub Jones, remaining until 2009. Other notable credits include Jackie Wilson, Barry Mann (Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp Bomp Bomp)), the Deep River Boys, Southside Johnny, and Peter Gabriel (In Your Eyes) ~ Bright was born in 1938
November 26, 2013 ~ Arieh Lieb Einstein, commonly known as singer, actor, comedian, songwriter, screenwriter Arik Einstein, passed away in Tel Aviv, Israel ~ Dubbed “the Voice of Israel” and perhaps the most popular and influential Israeli artist of all time acclaimed for pioneering Israeli rock. Has worked with acts such as Shalom Hanoch, Miki Gavrielov, Yoni Rechter, Schmulik Kraus, the Churchills, Batzal Yarok, and the High Windows ~ Einstein was born in 1939
November 26, 2011 ~ Keith Hartley, commonly known as drummer Keef Hartley, passed away in Fulwood, UK ~ Founder and eponym of the Keef Hartley Band, merging jazz, blues and rock. The band played the famed the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in 1969. Also known for his association with John Mayall including on the albums Crusade and The Blues Alone. Has also worked with Vinegar Joe, Dog Soldier, Rory Storm, the Artwoods, and Chicken Shack ~ Hartley was born in 1944November 26, 2009 ~ Jazz-rock keyboardist, arranger, composer Monty Stark passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA ~ Fronted the short-lived jazz-rock outfit the Stark Reality, which also included guitarist John Abercrombie, best known for their reworking of Hoagy Carmichael's children tunes originally intended for a children's show on public TV station WBGH and collected on the 1970 Discovers Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop album ~ Stark was born ca.1940
November 26, 2006 ~ R&B, soul singer Tony Silvester passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Orginal member of 1970s R&B outfit Main Ingredient, remaining with the band through the mid 1970s replaced by Cark Tompkins only to reunite in 1979. Present on the band's best known including the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Everybody Plays The Fool and Just Don't Want To Be Lonely ~ Silvester was born in 1941
November 26, 2002 ~ Country singer, songwriter, actor Baylee Littrell, full name Baylee Thomas Wylee Littrell, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Son of the Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell. Has opened for his father's act as early as age nine, usually playing two songs. Cites Tim McGraw, George Strait, Florida Georgia Line and Johnny Cash as influences. Released his 770 Country debut album in 2019, featuring songs written by Gary Baker, Tyler Hubbard and Littrell himself
November 26, 2001 ~ Country singer Alan Jackson releases Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning), lifted off his Drive album ~ Written in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, which left American traumatized, Alan Jackson voiced the feelings of a nation when he wrote Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning). Jackson has later commented that he felt the song was his greatest achievement. Speaking to the Boot, the singer explained: “Of all the awards, and all that kind of stuff, the music is still what I like. To be able to create a song that really affects people and makes a mark in the music industry, I would have to say that would be a highlight.”
November 26, 1995 ~ Producer David Briggs, full name David Manning Briggs, born in Douglas, Wyoming, USA ~ Best known for his longtime association with Neil Young and Crazy Horse, producing or co-producing quintessential Young albums including Neil Young, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere and After The Gold Rush. Has also worked with Murray Roman, the Lost And Found, Alice Cooper (Easy Action), Tom Rush, Spirit, Grin (Grin, 1+1) as well as Nils Lofgren solo (Nils Lofgren, Cry Tough), Kathi McDonald, and Nick Cave (Henry's Dream) ~ Briggs was born in 1944
November 26, 1992 ~ Western singer John White, passed away ~ Enjoyed popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, going by a variety of monikers most notably Whitey John. Often performed covers of Vernon Dalhart-songs. Best known for Whoopee Ti Yo Yo (Git Along Dogies) and Strawberry Roan ~ White was born in 1902November 26, 1990 ~ Jahmaal Noel Fyffe, commonly known as rapper, songwriter Chip, born in Tottenham, UK ~ Collaborated with artists such as Skepta, TI, Meek Mill, Young Adz. As a solo artist released his I Am Chipmunk debut album in 2009 which spawned the UK top 10 hits Diamond Rings featuring Emeli Sandé, Look For Me featuring Talay Riley, Until You Were Gone featuring Esmée Denters and Oopsy Daisy, the latter a UK No.1 hit.
November 26, 1990 ~ Singer Rita Ora, full name Rita Sahatciu Ora, born in Pristina, Kosovo ~ Debuted in 2012 with the album Ora which spawned the hit singles RIP and How We Do (Party). Has worked with Tinie Tempah, Chris Brown, Sigma, Liam Payne, Cardi B, Bebe Rexha, Charli XCX, Kygo, Tiësto, Jonas Blue, DJ Fresh, Iggy Azalea, and Aviciis
November 26, 1988 ~ Alternative rock, experimental rock, pop singer, guitarist, keyboards, producer, songwriter Blake Harnage, full name Blake Preston Harnage, born in Stuart, Florida, USA ~ Known for his association with artists such as PVRIS, Hands Like Houses, All-Time Low, With Beating Hearts, and notably experimental rock band Versa, co-founding the latter with singer Sierra Kay in 2013
November 26, 1987 ~ Harvey Zimmerman, commonly known as songwriter Bill Giant, passed away ~ Best known for co-writing some 40 songs for Elvis Presley, usually with Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye. Well known songs include Fountain Of Love, Roustabout, Paradise Hawaiian Style, Edge Of Reality and notably (You're The) Devil In Disguise. Others who recorded his songs include Mickey Denton, the Everly Brothers (That's Old Fashioned (That's The Way Love Should Be)), and Gene Chandler ~ Zimmerman was born in 1930November 26, 1981 ~ Rock drummer Julian Doro born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Co-founding member of garage rock band the Whigs, debuting in 2005 with the Give 'Em All A Big Fat Lip album. Has briefly toured with the Eagles Of Death Metal, including at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris during the 2015 terrorist attacks. 90 concert visitors were killed, all band members survived the attacks
November 26, 1981 ~ Singer Natasha Bedingfield, full name Natasha Anne Bedingfield, born in London, UK ~ Released her debut album, Unwritten, in 2004. Known for songs such as These Words, I Wanna Have Your Babies, Soulmate, Love Like This, and Pocketful Of Sunshine
November 26, 1979 ~ Songwriter, producer Beau Dozier, full name Beau Alexandré Dozier, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Son of renowned Motown producer and songwriter Lamont Dozier of Holland-Dozier-Holland. Dozier reportedly co-wrote his first song at age seven, I Cry For You recorded by Ben E King for his 1987 Save The Last Dance For Me album. By the end of the 1990s, Dozier would found the production company Beautown Entertainment, and produce and write for artists such as Christina Milian, the Backstreet Boys, Boyz II Men, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, 3LW, PYT, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Dr Luke, and Fifth Harmony. Well-known songs written or co-written by Dozier include Anything for JoJo, Lie About Us for the Pussycat Dolls, Kryptonite for Guy Sebastian and Spoiled for Joss Stone. Dozier is best known for his association with the talent show American Idol ~ Dozier passed away in 2025
November 26, 1978 ~ Jazz trombonist Frank Rosolino passed away in Van Nuys, California, USA ~ Worked with Kenny Burrell, Paul Chambers, Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones, Thad Jones, Elvin Jones, Bob Chester, Glen Gray, Tony Pastor, Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé, Quincy Jones, Shelly Manne, Francy Boland, Terry Gibbs, Stan Kenton, Pete Rugolo, Elmer Bernstein, Frank Capp, Benny Carter, Ray Charles, Paulinho Da Costa, Dizzy Gillespie, Chico Hamilton, Charlie Mariano, Anita O'Day, Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Cal Tjader, Tower Of Power, and Sarah Vaughan ~ Rosolino was born in 1926
November 26, 1977 ~ In its 11th week on the charts, We're All Alone by Rita Coolidge peaks at No.7 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by Boz Scaggs, who included the song on his Silk Degrees album released the previous year. Rita Coolidge's version, however, would become more well known than the original. For Coolidge We're All Alone would become one of only two Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits over the course of her career, having reached No.2 earlier in 1977 with (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher & Higher, slightly retitled from the original (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher by Jackie Wilson