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 7, 2022 ~ Country singer, guitarist, fiddler Jeff Cook, full name Jeffrey Alan Cook, passed away in Destin, Florida, USA ~ Co-founded Wildcountry in 1972 with his cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry. The band would become better known after changing its name to Alabama in 1977 and regularly top the country charts, mostly in the 1980s, with songs such as Love In The First Degree, Mountain Music, and Dixieland Delight ~ Cook was born in 1949
November 7, 2021 ~ Soukous guitarist Bopol Mansiamina passed away in Paris, France ~ Actively recording since the late 1960s. Best known internationally for his work in the 1980s and early 1990s, both as a solo artist and as member of supergroup Les Quatre Etoiles. Has also worked with the Orchestre Bamboula, the Orchestre Rock-a-mambo, Nico Kasanda's African Fiesta Sukisa, the Orchestre Continental, Afrisa, TPOK Jazz, Ya Toupas, and the African All-Stars ~ Mansiamina was born in 1949
November 7, 2020 ~ Wayne Stevens, commonly known as bassist Bones Hillman, passed away in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA ~ Member of Midnight Oil, joining the band in 1987 as replacement for Peter Gifford and remaining until his death. Has also worked with Swingers, Anne McCue, Elizabeth Cook, Sheryl Crow, and Matthew Good ~ Stevens was born in 1958
November 7, 2020 ~ Cándido Camero Guerra, commonly known as conga, bongo player Candido, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman recording since the mid 1950s. Influential in many genres including Afro-Cuban jazz to disco. Especially notable in the disco genre is the 1979 album Dancing And Prancing on the Salsoul Records label, featuring a reworked version of the 1950s song Jingo. The song was originally done by Nigerian percussionist Babatunde Olatunji and has also been recorded by Serge Gainsbourg [as Marabout), James Last, Pierre Moerlen, Fatboy Slim, and notably Santana on their 1969 eponymous debut album Santana. Camero has worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Wynton Kelly, Bobby Sanabria, Benjamin Lapidus, Gene Ammons, Art Blakey, Ray Bryant, Kenny Burrell, Coleman Hawkins, Billy Taylor, Bennie Green, Don Elliott, Stan Kenton, the Lecuona Cuban Boys, Randy Weston, Sonny Rollins, Wynton Kelly, Grant Green, Illinois Jacquet, Gary McFarland, Wes Montgomery, the Tico All-Stars, Bobby Hutcherson, Elvin Jones, Ellen McIlwaine, Erroll Garner, Tito Puente, and Machito ~ Guerra was born in 1921November 7, 2018 ~ Vocal pop singer Scott Herrick passed away in Ajijic, Mexico ~ Member of the Arbors, which also included his brother Tom Herrick as well as the identical twins Ed Farran and Fred Farran, known for a number of 1960s recordings including Symphony For Susan, Just Let It Happen, Graduation Day and perhaps their best known The Letter, the latter a Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit in 1969 and originally a charttopper for the Box Tops three years earlier. The vocal pop quartet is also noted for their follow-up album, Featuring I Can't Quit Her The Letter featuring vocal pop interpretations of songs originally by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Doors, Blood Sweat & Tears, and Simon & Garfunkel ~ Herrick was born ca.1937
November 7, 2017 ~ Conductor, arranger, composer Paul Buckmaster passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for his orchestral collaborations with a wide array of jazz, pop and rock musicians including David Bowie, Elton John, Harry Nilsson, the Rolling Stones, Carly Simon, Shawn Phillips, Miles Davis, Stevie Nicks, Lionel Richie, Céline Dion, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Rogers, Guns 'n Roses, Taylor Swift, Train, and Heart ~ Buckmaster was born in 1946
November 7, 2017 ~ Conductor, arranger, director Robert de Cormier passed away in Rutland, Vermont, USA ~ Worked with Harry Belafonte, Peter Paul & Mary, Milt Okun, Jessye Norman, Kathleen Battle, and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra ~ De Cormier was born in 1922
November 7, 2016 ~ Singer, songwriter, poet, novelist Leonard Cohen, full name Leonard Norman Cohen, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Pursued a career as poet and novelist during the 1950s and most of the 1960s. Eventually turned to music, debuting with the critically acclaimed Songs Of Leonard Cohen in 1967. Known for songs such as Suzanne, Bird On A Wire, Famous Blue Raincoat, and Hallelujah ~ Cohen was born in 1934November 7, 2011 ~ Andrea Marie Truder, commoly known as singer Andrea True, passed away in Kingston, New York, USA ~ Best known for her 1976 disco hit More More More (Part 1). Other notable songs include NY (You Got Me Dancing) and What's Your Name (What's Your Number). Truder worked an adult film actress before turning to singing ~ Truder was born in 1943
November 7, 2007 ~ Ralph Joseph Reynolds, commonly known as singer Jody Reynolds, passed away in Palm Desert, California, USA ~ Best known for The Endless Sleep, a top 10 hit in 1958. Its follow-up, Fire Of Love, would chart significantly less but eventually become a blues-punk classic and later be covered by MC5 and the Gun Club ~ Reynolds was born in 1932
November 7, 2005 ~ Country, country-pop singer Carrie Underwood releases Some Hearts, lifted off the album of the same name ~ Written by Diane Warren. Originally intended for Belinda Carlisle, who recorded the tune as a demo for her 1987 Heaven On Earth release, yet did not include it on the album. Prior to Carrie Underwood, the song had been recorded by Marshall Crenshaw, Kelly Levesque, and Maria Arredondo. Yet, despite only charting on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, where Underwood's single peaked at No.12, the song would become most closely associated with Underwood
November 7, 2000 ~ Reggae DJ, singer Shaggy releases It Wasn't Me featuring Ricardo RikRok Ducent, lifted off his Hot Shot album ~ With Ricardo RikRok Ducent singing most of the lyrics, the song tells of a man getting caught with his pants down with another woman asking his friend, Shaggy, what to do. The song was inspired by a comedy routine Eddie Murphy performed in his movie Raw, that no matter what you're accused of, just say “it wasn't me”. Of course, ultimately, the singer realizes the advice to simply deny everything makes no sense when you're caught in the act, and he decides to confess and apoligize. Initially, It Wasn't Me was never intended to be released as a single, but when the album was leaked to radio, it became a much-requested song. Issued as the album's lead single, it would become Shaggy's first Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit
November 7, 1996 ~ Jazz, hard bop trumpeter Carmell Jones passed away in Kansas City, Kansas, USA ~ Over half a dozen albums as a leader, especially acclaimed for his 1965 The Remarkable Carmell Jones album. Closely associated with Gerald Wilson, appearing on several of Wilson's 1960s albums including Moment Of Truth. Toured and recorded with Horace Silver, notably present on the 1965 landmark album Song For My Father. An in-demand sideman, Jones has also appeared on albums by Bud Shank, Curtis Amy, Tricky Lofton, Vi Redd, Nancy Wilson, Roy Ayers (West Coast Vibes), Sarah Vaughan (Sarah Sings Soulfully), Harold Land, Jimmy Woods, Booker Ervin (The Blues Book), Charles McPherson, Nathan Davis (The Hip-Walk), Herbie Mann, and Jean-Luc Ponty ~ Jones was born in 1936
November 7, 1996 ~ ELla Mrija Lani Yelich O'Connor, commonly known as singer, songwriter Lorde, born in Auckland, New Zealand ~ Teaming up with producer Joel Little released her debut EP, Love Club, in 2013. It contained the single Royals which would make her an international sensation. A debut album, Pure Heroine would follow the same year. Lorde has also co-written songs for others including the Broods, Ariana Grande, and for the Bleachers
November 7, 1994 ~ Rock, heartland rock, roots rock singer, guitarist Tom Petty releases You Don't Know How It Feels, lead single off his Wildflowers album ~ In the late 1980s and early 1990s Tom Petty received plenty of promotion on MTV. However, as there was a minor reference to marijuana in the lyrics, the station edited the video before airing it, playing the word ‘joint’ backwards, much to Petty surprise. The singer would later tell Storytellers: “The strangest thing happened. I wrote You Don't Know How It Feels not thinking that it was controversial in any way and I nearly left this song off the album 'til the very end, and we put it on. Imagine my surprise when this song comes on television and they say, ‘Let's roll another noojh,’ which sounded worse to me than joint. Because, I don't know if you've ever had a ‘noojh,’ but it sounds really wicked.” The single would reach No.13 Billboard Hot 100 and earned Petty a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
November 7, 1993 ~ Jazz singer Adelaide Hall, full name Adelaide Louise Hall, passed away in London, UK ~ Leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance with a career spanning seven decades. Has worked with artists such as Art Tatum, Ethel Waters, Josephine Baker, Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, Fela Sowande, Rudy Vallée, Jools Holland, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, and opthers ~ Hall was born in 1901November 7, 1992 ~ Edward Groner, commonly known as jazz bassist, pianist, singer Duke Groner passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Worked with Nat Towles, Jimmie Lunceford, Horace Henderson, Kenny Clarke, Thelonious Monk, Buster Bennett, Wild Bill Davis, Jelly Holt, Horace Palm, Emmett Spicer, Kirk Stuart, Hurley Ramey, Wallace Burton, and Jim Beebe ~ Groner was born in 1908
November 7, 1992 ~ Classical violinist, conductor Henri Temianka passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influenced by Eugène Ysaÿe, Jacques Thibaud, Bronislaw Huberman. Has played througout the 1940s with renowned orchestras in Europe and the USA and conductors such as Pierre Monteux, John Barbirolli, Fritz Reiner, Otto Klemperer and William Steinberg. Also noted for his longtime association with the Paganini Quartet and the California Chamber Symphony ~ Temianka was born in 1906
November 7, 1990 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, banjoist, flutist, bassist, drummer, songwriter Matt Corby, full name Matthew John Corby, born in Oyster Bay, Australia ~ Runner-up in the 2007 edition of Australian Idol at age 16. Noted for his 2011 Into The Flame EP, moving into a new direction with a more soul-influenced sound. Reached the Australian top 10 with his 2013 single Resolution
November 7, 1986 ~ Bassist, clarinetist Tracy Pew, full name Tracy Franklin Pew, passed away in Melbourne, Australia ~ Closely associated with Nick Cave, serving as a member of Boys Next Door, the Birthday Party and Cave's backing unit the Bad Seeds including on the acclaimed 1986 Kicking Against The Pricks album. Prone to epileptic seizures, at times exacerbated by drug abuse, Pew would die later the same year at age 28 following a fit whilst in his bath resulting in severe head injuries and a brain haemorrhage several days later ~ Pew was born in [artist-tracy-pew]
November 7, 1984 ~ Lana Jurcevic, commonly known as pop singer La Lana, born in Zagreb, Yugoslavia ~ Released her eponymous La Lana debut album in 2003. Has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Croatian music including Niksa Bratos, Ante Pecotic, Muc Softic, Luka Nizetic and Severina. Internationally best known for her So Messed Up single, released in 2020
November 7, 1983 ~ Marcelle Germaine Tailleferre, commonly known as composer Germaine Tailleferre, passed away in Paris, France ~ The only female member of a group of six composers dubbed Les Six, all living and working in the Paris district Montparnasse during the 1920s. Chose her stage name Tailleferre to spite her father who did not support her musical ambitions. Known best for works such as First Piano Concerto, Harp Concertino and the ballets La Nouvelle Cythère and Sous Les Ramparts D'Athènes, the latter a collaborative work with poet, dramatist Paul Claudel ~ Taillefesse was born in 1892
November 7, 1983 ~ Singer, guitarist Zach Myers, full name Michael Zachery Myers, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Cites Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Page, Phil Lynott, Damon Johnson, and the Edge as influences. Co-founding and constant member, lead singer, guitarist for supergroup the Fairwell, known for their Schizophrenic Love Songs Part I album. Lead singer for Allen Mack Myers Moore. Member of Shinedown, initially as a touring guitarist, bassist, joining the band as an official member in 2008, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Attention Attention released in 2018. Toured with Saliva in the mid 2000s, filling in for Saliva. Guested on Hanson's Don't Let Me DownNovember 7, 1982 ~ Guitarist Marc Orrell, full name Marc John Orrell, born in Worchester, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known as a member of the Dropkick Murphys from 2000 through 2008. Has also worked with Eleventh Hour, Gimme Danger, Far From Finished, Black Pacific, the Wild Roses
November 7, 1981 ~ In its 11th week on the charts, Private Eyes by Hall & Oates hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ The blue-eyed soul duo of Daryl Hall and the more reserved John Oates weren't that fond of making videos, but understood it was part of the marketing. Showing the pair dressed in typical detective dress, the video for Private Eyes was shot in just a few hours on a minimal budget. Nevertheless, the video received heavy rotation on MTV, and would help push the single to the top of the charts. The early to mid-1980s would be the most successful period for Hall & Oates, racking up a about a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits. Private Eyes would also be a career booster for Warren Pash, who had co-written the song. Decades later Pash would comment: “I'm quite proud of it. And I think Daryl's a brilliant guy. He gave me the break of a lifetime. Every day I wake up and have a little ‘thank you Daryl’ moment”