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 29, 1974 ~ Classical flutist James Strauss born in Recife, Brazil ~ Drew critical comparison to Lang Lang and Jascha Heifetz. Known for reconstructing Pyotr Tchaikovsky's legendary lost Flute Concerto, now catalogued as a posthumous Tchaikovsky composition. Has worked with numerous renowned symphony and chamber orchestras
November 29, 1974 ~ Rock outfit Status Quo release Down Down, lifted off their On The Level album ~ Written by lead singer Francis Rossi and the band's road manager and occasional harmonica player Bob Young, the band plagiarized themselves a bit as Down Down took its intro from their own Pictures Of Matchstick Men, the band's first hit. The first lyric Rossi wrote was the line “I want all the world to see, to see you laughing, and you're laughing at me”, a line aimed at both his ex-wife and the British press. Status Quo would score nearly two dozen UK top 10 hits throughout the 1990s, yet Down Down would remain their only one to reach the top of the British charts
November 29, 1971 ~ CCM, Christian rock singer, guitarist, songwriter David Crowder, full name David Wallace Crowder, born in Texarkana, Texas, USA ~ Frontman and eponym of the David Crowder Band through 2012, recording as a solo artist since. Has regularly reached the higher echelons of the Christian charts since the mid 2000s. Known for songs such as Open Skies, Everything Glorious, How He Loves, I Am, All My Hope featuring Tauren Wells, Good God AlmightyNovember 29, 1969 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Fredrik Ljungkvist, full name Hakan Fredrik Ljungkvist, born in Kristinehamn, Sweden ~ Leader and sideman. Son of saxophonist Hakan Ljungkvist. Married to jazz singer Lina Nyberg, with whom he also worked. Also worked with Christian Falk, Atomic, the Territory Band, Bobo Stenson, Mats Eilertsen, Firehouse, Marilyn Crispell, and Wadada Leo Smith
November 29, 1969 ~ Guitarist, songwriter Lars Håvard Haugen born in Ål, Norway ~ Best known as lead guitarist of the Hellbillies. Influenced by Steve Morse, Dixie Dregs, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Jerry Donahue, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan. Served as producer for the likes of BigBang, Jonas Fjeld, and Ole Paus
November 29, 1968 ~ Pop singer Jonathan Knight born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Oldest member of boy band New Kids On The Block, which also included his brother Jordan Knight, known for a string of late 1980s, early 1990s Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits including You Got It (The Right Stuff), I'll Be Loving You (Forever), Hangin' Tough, and Step By Step. The band disbanded in 1994 and have sold reportedly over 80 million records to date
November 29, 1968 ~ Trance producer Matt Darey, full name Matthew Jonathan Darey, born in Leicester, UK ~ Early on in his solo career went by the moniker Lost Tribe, notably known for his 1997 The Distant Voices and the 1999 Gamemaster UK top 40 hit. Has been working under his real name since the mid 2000s, releasing his full-length Decade solo debut album in 2004
November 29, 1968 ~ Alternative rock, grunge, post-grunge singer, keyboardist, drummer, songwriter Mike DiMeo born in Long Island, New York, USA ~ Once asked by Ritchie Blackmore to join Deep Purple but aside from some demo recordings with Roger Glover the collaboration never materialized. Best known as member of Riot from 1992 through 2006, leaving the band to join the Masterplan. Has also worked with the Lizards, Midas Fate, Johnny Winter, Phenomena, Ilium, and Brand New
November 29, 1967 ~ Singer Bob Dylan records I'll Be Your Baby Tonight ~ Penned by Bob Dylan, produced by Bob Johnston. First included on the 1967 John Wesley Harding album. The song features Nashville session musicians Pete Drake on steel guitar, Charlie McCoy on bass, and Kenny Buttrey on drums. The song would be covered by over a 100 artists including José Feliciano, Linda Ronstadt, the Hollies, Rita Coolidge, Ray Price, and Kris Kristofferson
November 29, 1963 ~ Alternative rock guitarist Greg Lisher born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Co-founding member, lead guitarist of Camper Van Beethoven and its indie progressive rock spin-off Monks of Doom. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Handed Down The Wire released in 2001, and guested on recordings by Jonathan Segel, the Electric Chairmen, and the Filthy Thievin' Bastards
November 29, 1963 ~ Art rock, dream pop, post-rock singer, songwriter Tim Bowness born in Latchford, UK ~ Best known as member of No-Man, formed in 1987 with Porcupine Tree-frontman Steven Wilson. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with his My Hotel Year debut album released in 2004, and guested on recordings by Peter Chilvers, Plenty, Richard Barbieri, Nosound, Judy Dyble, and Geoff Downes
November 29, 1963 ~ R&B, neo-soul, jazz singer, songwriter Will Downing, full name Wilfred Downing, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Married to Unlimited Touch singer Audrey Wheeler. Worked with Jennifer Holliday, Kool & the Gang, Gerald Albright, Billy Ocean, Regina Belle, Rachelle Ferrell, Mica Paris, and Chanté MooreNovember 29, 1962 ~ Anders Allhage, commonly known as heavy metal guitarist Andy LaRocque, born in Gothenburg, Sweden ~ Best known as member of King Diamond since 1985. Has also worked with Death, IllWill, At The Gates, Dimmu Borgir, and Yyrkoon. Served as producer for artists such as Sacramentum, Falconer, Evergrey, Ancient, and Dragonland
November 29, 1962 ~ Singer, songwriter Noel Burke born in Belfast, Northern Ireland ~ Member of Saint Vitus Dance, known for their 1987 Love Me Love My Dogma album. Best known as lead singer of Echo & the Bunnymen from 1989 through 1993, replacing original singer Ian McCulloch after the release of the band's eponymous 1987 Echo & the Bunnymen album. The sole album featuring Burke, 1990's Reverbation, would be poorly received by critics, did not chart and the band would be dropped by their label. McCulloch would rejoin a reformed incarnation of the band in 1996
November 29, 1962 ~ Robert Laurence Albert Simpson, commonly known as guitarist Ronny Jordan, born in London, UK ~ Spearheaded 1990s acid jazz movement. Came to prominence after being featured on Guru's Jazzmatazz (Volume 1) released in 1993. Best known for his 1992 rendition of So What, a cover of the old Miles Davis tune ~ Jordan passed away in 2014November 29, 1961 ~ Session guitarist Duke Levine born in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA ~ Has worked with Shawn Colvin, Peter Wolf, Lucy Kaplanski, Bill Morrisey, Jonatha Brooke, John Gorka, David Maxwell, Jeanie Stahl, Ellis Paul, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Slaid Cleaves, and the J Geils Band
November 29, 1959 ~ Christian rock, alternative rock drummer, percussionist, songwriter Steve Hindalong born ~ Member of the Choir. Member of the Lost Dogs. Also released solo work and has collaborated with Mark Heard, Terry Scott Taylor, Riki Michele, Adam Again, the Prayer Chain, Poor Old Lu, the Common Children, All Star United, and Michael Knott
November 29, 1957 ~ Rock, jazz fusion guitarist Jennifer Batten born in New York, New York, USA ~ Session and solo musician. Backed Michael Jackson on three world tours from 1987 through 1997 as well as on Jackson's 1993 Super Bowl performance. Toured and recorded with Jeff Beck. Had her solo debut album, 1992's Above Below & Beyond, produced by Michael Sembello. Has also worked with Natalie Cole, Sara Hickman, Miguel Mateos, Dave Rodgers, Domino, the Rainbow Girls, Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff, Carl Anderson, Carmine Appice, Dave Martone, and Black Sand
November 29, 1955 ~ Jazz drummer Adam Nussbaum born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Dave Liebman, John Scofield, Eliane Elias, Randy Brecker, Gary Burton, Toots Thielemans, Michael Brecker, Carla Bley, John Abercrombie, George Cables, Ted Curson, Gil Evans, Hal Galper, Lee Konitz, Rick Margitza, Sigurd Ulveseth, and Miroslav VitousNovember 29, 1954 ~ Ollie Johnson, commonly known as Dixieland jazz pianist, clarinetist, drummer Dink Johnson, passed away in Portland, Oregon, USA ~ Younger brother of double bassist William Manuel Johnson. Influenced by Jelly Roll Morton. Member of the Original Creole Band. Wrote The Krooked Blues, recorded by King Oliver ~ Johnson was born in 1892
November 29, 1954 ~ George Edward Wade, commonly known as music hall comedian, singer, actor George Robey, passed away in Saltdean, UK ~ One of the most popular music hall performers of the late 19th and early 20th century. Perhaps best known for starring in the 1916 revue The Bing Boys Are Here, notably duetting with Violet Loraine on the song If You Were The Only Girl (In The World) ~ Wade was born in 1869
November 29, 1951 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist Roger Troutman, sometimes known mononymously as Roger, born in Hamilton, Ohio, USA ~ Fronted Zapp, which also included his brother Larry Troutman, known for 1980s funk, R&B hits such as More Bounce To The Ounce, Dance Floor, I Can Make You Dance and Computer Love. Troutman was shot and killed by his brother Larry in an apparent murder-suicide. The band would disband after the death of the two brothers ~ Troutman passed away in 1999
November 29, 1950 ~ Wendy Steiner, commonly known as rock, pop, country singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Wendy Waldman, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Daughter of composer Fred Steiner and violinist Shirley Steiner. First recorded as member of turn of the 1970s band Bryndle, which also included Karla Bonoff. Released her Love Has Got Me solo debut album in 1973, earning critical acclaim. The same year Maria Muldaur would record two of her songs, Vaudeville Man and Mad Mad Me, on the eponymous Maria Muldaur album. Waldman recorded consistently throughout the remainder of the decade as well as establish herself as an in-demand songwriter. Artists who recorded songs written or co-written by Waldman include Judy Collins, Barbi Benton, Twiggy, Randy Meisner, Kim Carnes, Albert Hammond, Patti Austin (The Way I Feel), Crystal Gayle, Johnny Van Zant, Helen Reddy, Kenny Rogers, Vanessa Williams (Save The Best For Last), Reba McEntire, Don Johnson (Heartbeat), Bette Midler, Highway 101, Cher, and Sonny Landreth
November 29, 1949 ~ Rock, pop singer, keyboardist, producer, songwriter Brian Cadd, full name Brian George Cadd, born in Perth, Australia ~ Staple of Australian rock with a career spanning five decades starting in the 1960s. Member of bands such as the Groop, Axiom, the Bootleg Family Band. Active as a solo artist since the early 1970s. Internationally perhaps best known as a latter-day touring member of country-rock outfit the Flying Burrito Brothers from 1991 through 1993 before returning to Australia. Has produced acts such as Robin Jolley, Ronnie Burns, Broderick Smith, Tina Arena, Glenn Shorrock. Composed for film. Songs written or co-written by Cadd have been recorded by Masters Apprentices, Gene Pitney, the Pointer Sisters (Love Is Like A Rolling Stone), Glen Campbell, Dobie Gray, Cilla Black, the Little River Band, John Farnham, Wayne Newton, the Charlie Daniels Band (Still Hurting Me), Bonnie Tyler, Joe Cocker, Ringo Starr.
November 29, 1947 ~ Singer Clare Torry born in Marylebone, UK ~ Perhaps best known for the writing and performing the wordless vocals in Pink Floyd's Great Gig In The Sky of their 1973 The Dark Side Of The Moon. Covered Dolly Parton's Love Is Like A Butterfly used as opening theme for the BBC-series Butterflies which ran from 1978 to 1983. Session singer for artists such as Kevin Ayers, Olivia Newton-John, the Alan Parsons Project, Shriekback, Procol Harum, Gary Brooker, Matthew Fisher, Cerrone, Meat Loaf (duetting on Nowhere Fast), Johnny Mercer, the Doctors Of Madness, Culture Club, and Tangerine Dream
November 29, 1947 ~ Guitarist, mandolinist, bassist, keyboardist, singer Ronnie Montrose born in Denver, Colorado, USA ~ Regarded as one of the most influential guitarists in early hard rock. Frontman, eponym of Montrose from 1973 through 1977, the band's eponymous Montrose debut album often cited as America's answer to Led Zeppelin. Subsequently led Gamma from 1979 through 1983. In-demand session musician, worked with the likes of Van Morrison, Herbie Hancock, Beaver & Krause, Boz Scaggs, Edgar Winter, Gary Wright, Dan Hartman, the Hoodoo Rhythm Devils, Lauren Wood, Earth Quake, the Neville Brothers, Marc Bonilla, and Sammy Hagar ~ Montrose passed away in 2012