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 30, 1981 ~ Metalcore, post-hardcore singer Beau Bokan, full name Beau Mark Bokan, born in Huntington Beach, California, USA ~ Best known as lead singer of Take The Crown and Blessthefall, joining the latter in 2008 as replacement for Craig Mabbitt. Has guested on recordings by Greeley Estates, Atreyu, LightsNovember 30, 1980 ~ Angenor de Oliveira, commonly known as songwriter, poet, singer Cartola, passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Major figure in the development of samba music. Although he had been active since the 1920s, writing or co-writing over an estimated 500 songs, it would not be until into his sixties he would record his debut album as a singer. As a songwriter known for often recorded songs such as O Sol Nascerá (Isaura Garcia, Maria Toledo, Beth Carvalho), Tive Sim (Cyro Monteiro, Dora Vergueiro), Acontece (Paulinho da Viola, Gal Costa, Leny Andrade), As Rosas Não Falam (Freddy Cole, Nelson Gonçalves, the Trio Irakitan), O Mundo É Um Moinho (Carmen Costa, Ney Matogrosso), and Basta De Clamares Inocência (Elis Regina, Claudia Telles) ~ De Oliveira was born in 1908
November 30, 1979 ~ Singer Joe Jackson releases It's Different For Girls, lifted off his I'm The Man sophomore album ~ Reversing the typical gender roles, Joe Jackson presented an alternate universe where the guy is playing coy while the girl pursues. In 2012, the singer explained to Songfacts: “It was something that I heard somewhere that struck me as a cliché. The sort of thing that someone might say. I thought, What could that be about? And that maybe the idea was to turn it on its head and have a conversation between a man and a woman and what you'd expect to be the typical roles are reversed.” Despite critical acclaim, over the course of his career the singer would score just three top 40 hits in his native UK. It's Different For Girls would be his biggest hit, peaking at No.5. Is She Really Going Out With Him lifted off his 1979 Look Sharp debut album reached No.13. Steppin' Out off the 1982 Night And Day album made it to No.6
November 30, 1978 ~ Clayton Holmes Grissom, commonly known as pop, soft rock, R&B singer, TV personality Clay Aiken, born in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA ~ Finished as runner-up, behind Ruben Studdard, in the second season of American Idol in 2003. Aiken's Measure Of A Man debut album released later the same year would reach multiple-Platinum status, and spawn the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles The Way and Solitaire. Aiken has recorded consistently since, and appeared on the musical stage including Broadway. Aiken is also known as an activist, involved in various causes. In 2014 Aiken ran as the Democratic candidate in North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District, but was defeated by incumbent Republican Congresswoman Renee Elmers
November 30, 1977 ~ DJ, producer, singer Steve Aoki, full name Steve Hiroyuki Aoki, born in New York, New York, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for dance hits such as Light That Never Comes featuring Linkin Park, Just Hold On featuring Louis Tomlinson, All Night featuring Lauren Jauregui, Waste It On me featuring BTS and Let It Be Me featuring the Backstreet Boys. Has also worked with artists such as will.i.am, Afrojack, LMFAO, Iggy Azalea, Lil' Jon, Blink-182, Laidback Luke, Monsta X, Vini Vici, and Fall Out Boy
November 30, 1975 ~ Malinda Gayle McCready, commonly known as country singer Mindy McCready, born in Fort Myers, Florida, USA ~ Sometimes referred to as “the Amy Winehouse of Country” for the turmoil and struggles she encountered in her personal life. Recorded five well-received albums, before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound a month after her former boyfriend, father of her younger son, had done the same on the exact same porch just one month earlier. Best known for the Billboard Country No.1 hit Guys Do It All The Time off her 1996 Ten Thousand Angels debut album. Other well known songs include Ten Thousand Angels, Maybe He'll Notice Her Now with Richie McDonald, A Girl's Gotta Do What A Girl's Gotta Do, and You'll Never Know ~ McCready passed away in 2013November 30, 1973 ~ Heavy metal bassist John Moyer born in El Paso, Texas, USA ~ Best known as bassist for the Disturbed, joining the band in 2004 as replacement for Steve Kmak and first appearing on the Ten Thousand Fists album released in 2005. Has also worked with supergroup the Adrenalin Mob from 2012 through 2014, with Stereo Satellite, Art of Anarchy and with Operation Mindcrime since 2015
November 30, 1970 ~ Singer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter Luther Russell born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Formed the Bootheels, teaming up with Jakob Dylan and Aaron Brooks. Released his solo debut, Lowdown World, in 1997. Worked as producer for artists including Richmond Fontaine, Fernando, Relationship, Noah & the Whale, the Folks, and the Horse Stories. Teamed up with former Big Star drummer Jody Stephens to form Those Pretty Wrongs in 2015
November 30, 1969 ~ Singer Neil Diamond makes his only appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, performing two of his songs ~ Early on in his career a relatively unknown Neil Diamond performs Sweet Caroline and Holly Holy on the show. Both songs had been released earlier the same year, both would reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100. Diamond would later comment: “I only did The Ed Sullivan Show once, but it was the biggest show in the world. And my parents came and sat in the audience”
November 30, 1968 ~ Desiree Annette Weekes, commonly known as singer Des'ree, born in Croydon, UK ~ Known for 1990s hits such as You Gotta Be, Life, Kissing You and Feel So High
November 30, 1968 ~ Pianist, composer Sylvie Courvoisier born in Lausanne, Switzerland ~ Leader with over 25 records to her name. Also a sidewoman. Has worked with artists such as Mark Feldman, Kenny Wollesen, Drew Gress, Mephista, Ikue Mori, Susie Ibarra, Herb Robertson, Tim Berne, Tom Rainey, Mark Dresser, Vincent Courtois, Ellery Eskelin, John Zorn, Michel Godard, Erik Friedlander, Mark Nauseef, Jacques Demierre, Evan Parker, and Herb Robertson
November 30, 1967 ~ Pop rock sibling outfit the Bee Gees record Really And Sincerely ~ Described as one of the band's most emotive, melodramatic songs. Written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb. Produced by Robert Stigwood and the band. The band had recorded an earlier version, featuring piano instead of organ, the day before. The second version would be included on the 1968 Horizontal album. Released early 1968 as the B-side to And The Sun Will Shine in France, as the B-side to the Dutch single release of Let There Be Love in 1970.
November 30, 1966 ~ Guitarist Jeff Beck is fired from the Yardbirds after playing with the band for about a year and a half ~ Beck, who had joined the band in March the previous year, is fired from the band. Jeff Beck had recorded the albums For Your Love, Having A Rave Up, and Roger The Engineer with the band. Beck would later comment on his dismissal: “I had to go home and that was probably the worst because I had nothing. I'd given my guitar to Jimmy Page. And I was living back with Mom with no money.”
November 30, 1965 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Bob Dylan records Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window ~ Penned by Bob Dylan. Produced by Bob Johnston. Though recorded during the Highway 61 Revisited sessions the song was never included on any original studio album. Released as a single, b/w Highway 61 Revisited, the following December it would peak in the low 50s on the Billboard Hot 100 and reach top 20 in the UK. Dylan is backed by Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson, who would later become known as the Band with several pivotal albums in their own rightNovember 30, 1965 ~ Singer, bassist, songwriter Tod Ashley born in Greenville, North Carolina, USA ~ Co-founding member of Cop Shoot Cop and Firewater. Previously while in art school played in Shithaus alongside Jon Spencer of later the Blues Explosion-fame. Has also worked with Lubricated Goat, Foetus, the Red Expendables, Skeleton Key, and Baba Zula
November 30, 1964 ~ Kevin Anthony Johnson, commonly known as reggae singer, songwriter, producer Sanchez, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Popular late 1980s singer. Known for songs such as Lady In Red, Loneliness Leave Me Alone, and the Tracy Chapman-cover Can I Hold You. Has worked with producers such as Red Dragon, Winston Riley and Philip Fatis Burrell
November 30, 1961 ~ Singer, songwriter Elisabeth Kontomanou born in Lyon, France ~ Worked with Conversation, Michel Legrand, Alain Jean-Marie, Jean Michel Pelc, Daryl Hall, Franck Amsallem, Toots Thielemans, Richard Bona, Stephane Belmondo, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Leon Parker, and Geri Allen
November 30, 1959 ~ Singer, drummer, guitarist, actor, TV personality Bart Peeters, full name Bart August Maria Peeters, born in Mortsel, Belgium ~ First gained attention as frontman of the Radios, known for songs such as I'm Into Folk and She Goes Nana
November 30, 1959 ~ Post-punk, rock guitarist, bassist Dan Catsis, full name Daniel Catsis, born ~ Co-founding member, guitarist for punk outfit the Glaxo Babies, known best for their 1980 Put Me On The Guest List sophomore album. Also worked with the Pop Group, appearing on the band's For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder albumNovember 30, 1959 ~ Post-punk, experimental rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Giannis Aggelakas born in Thessaloniki, Greece ~ Frontman of rock band Trypes, known for albums such as Enia Pliromena Tragoudia and Kefali Gemati Chrysati considered landmark albums in Greek rock. Has pursued a parallel solo career since 2000, experimenting with Greek folk msic and collaborating with the likes of Thanassis Papakonstantinou and Psarantonis
November 30, 1959 ~ Blues, electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Mike Morgan, full name Michael Robert Morgan, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Over a dozen albums to his name, starting with Raw & Ready released in 1990. Has worked with Darrell Nulisch, Lee McBee, Jim Suhler, Gary Primich, Randy McAllister, and Keith Ferguson
November 30, 1959 ~ Heavy metal keyboardist Randy Gane, full name Randall Rutherford Gane, born in Mt Clemens, Michigan, USA ~ Best known as member of Operation Mindcrime. Also worked with progressive metal band Myth and Queensrÿche
November 30, 1958 ~ John Willie Henry, commonly known as bassist, arranger Shifty Henry, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for Let Me Go Home Whiskey, later also recorded by Amos Milburn and by Asleep At The Wheel, and Hyping Women Blues, covered by T-Bone Walker. Henry worked with Dinah Washington, Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, the Treniers, Illinois Jacquet, and Miles Davis. Henry was mentioned by name in the Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller-pennned Jailhouse Rock in the line: “Shifty Henry said to Bugs, for heaven's sake, no one's looking, now's a chance to make a break.” ~ Henry was born in 1921
November 30, 1958 ~ Stacey Lynn Swain, commonly known as dance-pop, Hi-NRG singer, songwriter Stacey Q, born in Fullerton, California, USA ~ Best known for Two Of Hearts, a 1986 top 10 hit in several countries including USA and Canada. Other well known songs include Insecurity, Music Out Of Bonds, Don't Make A Fool Of Yourself and Give You All My Love
November 30, 1957 ~ Rock drummer Dave Betts, full name David Michael Albert Betts, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Drummer for Honeymoon Suite, best known for songs such as New Girl Now and Feel It Again, both used in the 1980s TV series Miami Vice. Songs such as What Does It Take, Love Changes Everything, and Lookin' Out For Number One would also chart well in the band's native CanadaNovember 30, 1957 ~ Guitarist John Ashton, full name John Geza Ashton, born in London, UK ~ Best known as guitarist of the Psychedelic Furs. After the Furs hiatus starting in 1992 Ashton turned to producing working with artists such as Marianne Faithfull, Sisters Of Mercy, Red Betty, Seven Color Sky, and the Secret Post
November 30, 1957 ~ Keyboardist Richard Barbieri born in London, UK ~ Member of new wave band Japan until its disbandement, known for the UK top 10 hit Ghosts of their 1981 Tin Drum album. Member of progressive rock outfit Porcupine Tree since 1993. Has also worked with No-Man, the Dolphin Brothers, Indigo Falls, and Steve Hogarth