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 4, 2024 ~ Singer Tyka Nelson, full name Tyka Evene Nelson, passed away in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, USA ~ Daughter of jazz pianist John L Nelson and singer Mattie Della Shaw, and the only full sibling of Prince. Nelson has released four albums starting with Royal Blue released in 1988, which included her best known song Marc Anthony's Tune. Nelson wrote the song as at the time she had a crush on singer Marc Anthony, the single would reach top No.33 Billboard R&B ~ Nelson was born in 1960
November 4, 2022 ~ Nicole van Palm, commonly known as singer Nicole Josy, passed away in Brussels, Belgium ~ Formed the duo Nicole & Hugo with her husband Hugo Sigal. The duo were selected to represent Belgium at the 1971 Eurovision Songfestival with Goeiemorgen Morgen. At the last minute Nicole fell ill and they were replaced by Jacques Raymond and Lily Castel who would reach 14th place. In their native Belgium however the original version would remain one of the better-remembered Eurovision entries ~ Van Palm was born in 1946November 4, 2021 ~ Composer Mario Lavista passed away in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Composed chamber music, orchestral and vocal works, and for film. Founded improvisation collective Quanta in 1970. As a composer known for songs such as Dos Canciones and the solo keyboard pieces Mater Dolorosa, Pieze Para Un Pianiste Y Un Piano and Simurg. Chief editor of Pauta, which he founded in 1982, considered one of the foremost music journals in Mexico ~ Lavista was born in 1943
November 4, 2020 ~ Singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter Ken Hensley, full name Kenneth William David Hensley, passed away in Alicante, Spain ~ Best known as member of Uriah Heep, for which Hensley wrote or co-wrote a vast amount fo their best known songs including Lady In Black, Easy Livin', Stealin' and Look At Yourself. Also worked with the Gods, Head Machine, Toe Fat, Weed, Blackfoot, and John Lawton ~ Hensley was born in 1945November 4, 2017 ~ Composer, conductor Dudley Simpson passed away in Sydney, Australia ~ Principal conductur of the Royal Opera House. Best known as a composer for British TV series, including for many Dr Who episodes of the 1960s and 1970s ~ Simpson was born in 1922
November 4, 2016 ~ Edward Hawrysch, commonly known as keyboardist, bassist Eddie Harsch, passed away in Toronto, Canada ~ Best known as the Black Crowes keyboardist from 1991 to 2006, replaced by Rob Clores. Also backed James Cotton in the 1980s. Played with Bulldog and with the Detroit Cobras during the Crowes's hiatus. Co-founding member of Magpie Salute ~ Hawrysch was born in 1957
November 4, 2012 ~ Jazz trumpeter Ted Curson passed away in Montclair, New Jersey, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Penned, and recorded the song Tears For Dolphy for his 1964 album of the same name, the song being an elegy for iconic saxophonist, clarinetist Eric Dolphy who died earlier the same year. The song would become widely used in films. Curson has collaborated with a host of artists including Cecil Taylor, Pepper Adams, Bill Barron, Nick Brignola, Andrew Hill, Charles Mingus, Sal Nistico, Archie Shepp, and Andrzej Trzaskowksi ~ Curson was born in 1935
November 4, 2010 ~ Hector José Regalado, commonly known as percussionist, bandleader, songwriter Rudy Regalado, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Key member of El Chicano, joining the band in 1971 and present on some of the band's best known including the singles Brown Eyed Girl and Tell Her She's Lovely. Fronted his own Chévere, known for the 1990s albums Mollendo Cafe and La Gloria. Toured with Aretha Franklin. Appeared on recordings by Quincy Jones, Joe Zawinul, Alphonse Mouzon, and Alex Acuña ~ Regalado was born in 1943
November 4, 2008 ~ Bassist, producer Byron Lee, full name Byron Aloysius St Elmo Lee, passed away in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Best known for fronting calypso, ska outfit the Dragonaires, credited with popularizing Caribbean music. The band appears in Dr No, the very first Bond-film, playing Jamaica Jump Up. As a producer closely associated with Toots & the Maytals, working on many of their single releases. Has also worked with Boris Gardiner (Reggae Happening), Hopeton Lewis (Grooving Out On Life), and the Slickers (Johnny Too Bad) ~ Lee was born in 1935November 4, 2007 ~ Songwriter Dorothy LaBostrie passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Best known for co-writing Tutti Frutti for Little Richard. LaBostrie later claimed she had written the song entirely herself, dismissing Richard's claim he was the sole author. Also co-wrote Rich Woman, first recorded by Li'l Millet in 1955, later notably covered by Canned Heat, and co-wrote Irma Thomas signature song Don't Mess With My Man ~ LaBostrie was born in 1928
November 4, 2000 ~ Jazz, bebop drummer Vernel Fournier passed away in Jackson, Mississippi, USA ~ Best known for his association with pianist Ahmad Jamal, recording close to a dozen albums with Jamal and bassist Israel Crosby from the mid 1950s through the early 1960s including the highly acclaimed At The Pershing (But Not For Me). The album would become one of the all-time best-selling jazz albums and remains a favorite among aficionados to this day. Fournier has also recorded with the likes of Norman Simmons, Lorez Alexandria, Jimmy Reed (I'm Jimmy Reed), Frank Strozier, Sam Jones (Down Home), and Gene Shaw. Fournier remained active until the mid 1990s when a stroke confined him to a wheelchair, but he continued his teaching activities ~ Fournier was born in 1928
November 4, 1994 ~ Frederick Dewey Smith, commonly known as guitarist Fred Sonic Smith, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Guitarist of influential punk rockers MC5, best known for the pivotal 1960s punk rock anthem Kick Out The Jams. Later formed the Sonic Rendezvous Band, known for its sole single City Slang. Married to Patti Smith in 1980, the couple have raised two children together. The band Sonic Youth named themselves after Smith's nickname ~ Smith was born in 1948November 4, 1994 ~ Lawrence Arthur Webb, commonly known as jazz drummer, bandleader Speed Webb, passed away ~ Played violin and mellotron before switching to drums. Co-founded and led the Hoosier Melody Lads, with whom he enjoyed popularity from the late 1920s through the 1930s, at times employing noted sidemen such as Art Tatum, Teddy Buckner, Teddy Wilson, Roy Eldridge, Eli Robinson, and Reunald Jones Sr. Webb and his band appeared in several films, including Sins Of The Fathers, Riley The Cop, and His Captive Woman. Other than these soundtracks, no recordings of Webb and his band remained available, which considered his popularity, acclaim and the quality of his sideman is widely regarded a loss to jazz. Webb retired from music by the late 1930s, resuming his studies in enbalming and eventually building a chain of funeral parlours ~ Webb was born in 1906
November 4, 1987 ~ Mariel Semonte Orr, commonly known as rapper Trouble, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Has been releasing mixtapes since the early-2010s. Released his first full-length, the Mike Will Made It collaborative album Edgewood, in 2018. The acclaimed album would also feature appearances from Drake and the Weeknd. Guested on Lupe Fiasco's 2015 album Tetsuo & Youth. Guested on YFN Lucci's Key To The Streets single. Has also worked with Yo Gotti, Waka Flocka Flame, and Trae the Truth ~ Orr passed away in 2022
November 4, 1985 ~ British pop group Simply Red release Holding Back The Years, lifted off their Picture Book debut album ~ The single was first released in late 1985 but failed to make the charts, yet a re-release some six months later would become a hit reaching top 10 in several countries including the Netherlands, the UK, and America. Lead singer Mick Hucknall while still in a previous band, crediting then-bandmate Neil Moss as a co-writer although Moss did not actually co-wrote the song. At the time Hucknall was a fine-art student, and he was inspired by a teacher who told him the greatest paintings are producer when the artist is working in a stream of consciousness. Hucknall tried to apply this principle to songwriting, and the result was Holding Back The Years. When some years later Hucknall released the song with Simply Red, the single earned them a Grammy Award nomination and reached No.1 Billboard Hot 100. At the end of the decade the band would score their second and final American charttopper with If You Don't Know Me By Now, a cover of the 1970s Philly soul classic by Harold Melvin & the Blue NotesNovember 4, 1984 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock, folk rock singer, guitarist, drummer, pianist, songwriter Nick Mulvey born in Cambridge, UK ~ Founding member of the Portico Quartet, leaving the band in 2011 to focus on a solo career. Released his debut EP The Trellis, in 2012. A full-length album, First Mind, followed in 2014. Best known for Cucurucu, which reached the UK top 30 in 2014
November 4, 1983 ~ Emma-Lee Moss, commonly known as indie pop, indie folk, neo folk, anti-folk singer, songwriter Emmy The Great, born in Hong Kong ~ Sings in Chinese and English. First gained attention guesting on Lightspeed Champion's 2008 Falling Off The Lavender Bridge debut album. Would release her First Love debut album the next year, spawning the singles First Love and We Almost Had A Baby. Has collaborated with Fatboy Slim, and Ash
November 4, 1978 ~ In its 13th week on the charts, You Needed Me by Anne Murray hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ By far the biggest hit of her career and her sole Billboard Hot 100 charttopper, You Needed Me would revitalize Anne Murray's career after several years of declining popularity. The song would earn Anne Murray a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, the first to be awarded to a Canadian artist. You Needed Me also did well with country audiences, reaching No.4 on the Billboard Country charts and winning the ACM Award for Song of the Year. Randy Goodrum, sole songwriter of You Needed Me, would later also pen Broken Hearted Me, a Billboard Country No.1 hit for Murray in late 1979November 4, 1975 ~ Kaoru Ishibashi, commonly known as indie pop, indie rock, experimental singer, guitarist, violinist, keyboardist, songwriter Kishi Bashi, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Founding member of Jupiter One. Member of Of Montreal. Released his critically acclaimed 151a solo debut album in 2012 and has recorded to a devout following since
November 4, 1974 ~ Singer, guitarist Cedric Bixler-Zavala born in Redwood City, California, USA ~ Lead singer, guitarist of At The Drive-in. Best known as lead singer of progressive rock outfit the Mars Volta and alongside Omar Rodríguez-López the only other constant member. the band acclaimed for the albums Deloused In The Comatorium, Frances The Mute and Bedlam In Goliath. Has also worked with Foss, the Fall On Deaf Ears, De-Facto, ANTEMASQUE, Anywhere, Big Sir, and Zavalaz
November 4, 1971 ~ Jazz, blues, soul singer, songwriter, actor Gregory Porter born in Sacramento, California, USA ~ Released his debut album, Water, in 2010. Especially acclaimed for his 2014 Grammy Award-winning album Liquid Spirit and 2017's Take Me To The Alley
November 4, 1970 ~ Songwriter, politician Jack Tenney, full name Jack Breckinridge Tenney, passed away in Glendale, California, USA ~ Best remembered as a politician, especially for his role heading the Tenny Committee, researching “Un-American activities” for the California Senate in the 1940s and 1950s. As a songwriter best known for co-writing Mexicali Rose, recorded by Gene Autry, Bing Crosby, Jerry Lee Lewis, Slim Whitman, Vera Lynn, and Jim Reeves ~ Tenney was born in 1898
November 4, 1970 ~ Sara Magdalena Ernman, commonly known as singer Malena Ernman, born in Uppsala, Sweden ~ Best known as an opera singer. Has also performed chansons, cabaret, jazz, and appeared in musicals. To international pop audiences perhaps best known for representing her native Sweden in the 2009 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 21st place with La Voix
November 4, 1969 ~ Dancehall, reggae producer, songwriter Dave Kelly born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Engineer turned producer. Known for producing hits such as Nadine Sutherland & Terror Fabulous' Action, Bounty Killer's Look, Beenie Man's Dude, Cham's Ghetto Story, and Buju Banton's Blessed
November 4, 1969 ~ Ivory Jones, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Deek Watson, passed away in Washington DC, USA ~ Member of the Ink Spots from 1934 through 1944, present on hits such as If I Didn't Care, Address Unknown, Maybe, We Three (My Echo My Shadow & Me) and Don't Get Around Much Anymore ~ Jones was born in 1909