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 8, 2024 ~ Trombonist, hornist George Bohanon, full name George Roland Bohanon Jr, passed away ~ Bohanon sporadically recorded as a leader, noted most for Boss (Bossa Nova) issued in 1963, yet is best known as an in-demand sideman praised for his fluid sound and ability to play in nearly any setting. Closely associated with Detroit's Workshop Jazz Ensemble, Chico Hamilton, including on the albums Man From Two Worlds and The Dealer, Ernie Wilkins, and Frank Sinatra, backing the latter for nearly a decade starting in the mid-1980s. Over the course of his lengthy career, Bohanon has appeared on albums by John Lee Hooker, Roy Brooks (Beat), the Temptations, the Doors (Soft Parade), Rita Coolidge, Ry Cooder (Into The Purple Valley), Diana Ross, Arlo Guthrie, Willie Hutch (The Mack), Bonnie Raitt (Takin' My Time), Marvin Gaye, Jesse Ed Davis, Flora Purim, Patrice Rushen, Hampton Hawes, the Four Tops, Glen Campbell (Rhinestone Cowboy), Donald Byrd, Quincy Jones, Deniece Williams (This Is Niecy), Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder (Songs In The Key Of Life), the Mighty Clouds Of Joy, Donna Summer (Bad Girls), Frank Capp, Barry White (Just For You), Everette Harp, and Milt Jackson ~ Bohanon was born in 1937
November 8, 2022 ~ Hard rock, blues rock, rock singer Dan McCafferty, full name William Daniel McCafferty, passed away ~ Known for his gritty, raspy vocal delivery, McCafferty fronted Nazareth on nearly two dozen albums over four decades. Their 1973 Razamanaz album, which spawned the UK top 10 hits Broken Down Angel and Bad Bad Boy, and its follow-up Loud 'n Proud released later the same year, both albums produced by Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover, brought them national fame. However, it was their 1975 Hair Of The Dog album that made them an international act on the strength of Love Hurts, originally a 1960 album track for the Everly Brothers. The power ballad would top the charts in half a dozen countries, reached No.8 on the American Billboard Hot 100, and has remained a staple of rock radio since. Although chart success would dry up beyond the 1970s, the band remained a popular live act, especially in Germany, well into the 1990s. Increasingly suffering from COPD, McCafferty retired from the band in 2013: “I could always make another record, but getting up to do an hour and three-quarters, and get people to pay money to come and see me. I can't do that.” McCafferty recorded two more albums as a solo artist, Last Testament in 2019 and No Turning Back released shortly after his death at age 76. Both Brian Johnson of AC/DC and Axl Rose of Guns 'n Roses have cited McCafferty as an influence ~ McCafferty was born in 1946
November 8, 2022 ~ Pierre Kartner, commonly known as singer Vader Abraham, passed away in Breda, the Netherlands ~ Wrote over 1,600 songs. Known for his Smurf-themed songs, the 1971 Wilma Landkroon duet Zou Het Erg Zijn Lieve Opa, and for Het Kleine Café Aan De Haven, the latter covered over 250 times in various languages including by Engelbert Humperdinck (Little Cafe On The Harbour), Audrey Landers (My Favourite Cafe On The Harbour), Mireille Mathieu (Le Café De La Rue Amerique), Joe Dassin (Le Café Des Trois Colombes), and by Peter Alexander (Die Kleine Kneipe) ~ Kartner was born in 1935November 8, 2022 ~ Werner Ferdinande, commonly known as singer Will Ferdy, passed away in Antwerp, Belgium ~ Icon of the gay community, known for being the first Flemish artist to come out. Known for songs such as Belijdenis, Ziede Gij Me Gere, De Stervende, Het Schrijverke and perhaps his best known Christine ~ Ferdinande was born in 1927
November 8, 2020 ~ Ferdinand van Eis, commonly known as blues singer Oscar Benton, passed away in IJmuiden, the Netherlands ~ Duetted with Monica Verschoor on All I Ever Need Is You and Everybody's Telling Me, the latter a top 20 hit in the Netherlands in 1972. Fronted the Oscar Benton Blues Band. Best known for 1974's Roll On Sweet Mississippi and Bensonhurst Blues, the latter a hit in France after the song was included in the 1981 crime-thriller Pour La Peau D'Un Flic starring Alain Delon ~ Van Eis was born in 1949
November 8, 2020 ~ Vanusa Santos Flores, mononymously known as pop rock singer Vanusa, passed away in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Exponent of the jovem guardia movement, a genre of Brazilian music emerging in the 1960s heavily influenced by both American rock & roll and British invasion. Well over a dozen albums to her name starting with her 1968 eponymous Vanusa debut album ~ Flores was born in 1947
November 8, 2018 ~ Singer Lewis Capaldi releases Someone You Loved, lifted off his Breach EP ~ First issued as a single off Lewis Capaldi's Breach sophomore EP in late 2018, later also included on his Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent full-length debut album, Someone You Loved is a heartbreak song about the feeling you have when in a new relationship you are just getting used to being loved, and then something goes wrong and they leave you. It would be his first major hit, reaching top 10 in well over half a dozen countries, including the No.1 spot in Canada, Ireland, the UK, and America, catapulting the young pop singer to international fame. Someone You Loved would become the best selling single of 2019 in his native UK. Capaldi has later stated it was the saddest song he ever wroteNovember 8, 2013 ~ Enka singer Chiyoko Shimakura passed away in Tokyo, Japan ~ Dubbed “the Goddess of Enka” with a career spanning three decades starting with her 1955 Konoyo No Hana debut single. Well-known songs include Tokyo Kiddo, Ringo Oiwake, Kawa No Nagare No Yoni, and perhaps her best known Jinsei Iroiro, a million-seller released in 1987] ~ Shimakura was born in 1938
November 8, 2011 ~ Dwight Arrington Myers, commonly known as rapper Heavy D, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as frontman of Heavy D & the Boyz, which also included G-Whiz, Trouble T-Roy, and Eddie F. Also known for a number of notable guest appearances including on Janet Jackson's Alright (1989), one of the earliest rap appearances on a pop record, and on Michael Jackson's Jam (1992). Reportedly instrumental in getting Andre Harrell to sign Sean Combs as well as Jodeci ~ Myers was born in 1967
November 8, 2006 ~ Henri-Alain Langolff, commonly known as guitarist Franck Langolff, passed away in Rouen, France ~ Internationally perhaps best known for co-writing Joe Le Taxi with Etienne Roda-Gil. The song would be an international hit for Vanessa Paradis in 1987, reaching top 10 across Europe including Ireland and the UK and top the French charts for 11 weeks. It would propel Paradis, then aged 14, to stardom ~ Langolff was born in 1948
November 8, 2000 ~ Saxophonist, flutist Dick Morrisey, full name Richard Edwin Morrissey, passed away in Deal, UK ~ First gained attention in the early 1960s as a member of the Delta City Jazzmen while still only in his mid-teens. Has recorded well over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, starting with It's Morrisey at age 21. Co-founded If, regarded the premier British jazz-rock band, with Dave Quincy and Terry Smith, with whom he recorded a little over half a dozen albums during the early 1970s. Also closely associated with guitarist Jim Mullen. An in-demand collaborator, Morrisey has played with Ted Heath, Johnny Dankworth, Georgie Fame, Charlie Watts, Geoff Whitehorn, the Average White Band, Peter Gabriel, Craig Nuttycombe, Duncan Browne, Roy Harper, Orange Juice (Rip It Up), Gary Numan, Paul McCartney, Brian Auger, Paul Carrack (Groove Approved), and Barclay James Harvest. Upon Morrisey's death at age 60, the Times described him as “the most brilliant British saxophonist to emerge in the wake of Tubby Hayes, (…) his advocacy of jazz-rock fusion successfully brought jazz to a rock audience and rock to a jazz audience” ~ Morrisey was born in 1940November 8, 1999 ~ Songwriter Gwen Gordy passed away in San Diego, California, USA ~ Sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. Married to singer, label executive Harvey Fuqua. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Lonely Teardrops (Jackie Wilson), All I Could Do Was Cry (Etta James), and Distant Lover (Marvin Gaye) ~ Gordy was born in 1927
November 8, 1999 ~ Trumpeter, hornist, percussionist Lester Bowie passed away in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Married to singer Fontella Bass, for whom he also served as musical director. Co-founded the Art Ensemble Of Chicago. Cosely associated with the Association For The Advancement Of Creative Musicians and the Leaders. Early on in his career backed blues artists such as Little Milton, Melvin Jackson and Albert King and R&B artists such as Solomon Burke, Joe Tex, Rufus Thomas. In jazz has collaborated with the likes of Jack DeJohnette, Roscoe Mitchell, Sunny Murray, Archie Shepp, and Wadada Leo Smith. To pop rock audiences, Bowie is perhaps best known for guesting on David Bowie's, no relation, 1993 Black Tie White Noise album, of which the song Looking For Lester named for him ~ Bowie was born in 1941
November 8, 1993 ~ Singer Céline Dion releases The Power Of Love, lifted off her The Colour Of My Love album ~ Originally co-written and recorded by Jennifer Rush for her 1984 eponymous Jennifer Rush album. The single did well in Europe, Canada, and Australia, making her a one-hit wonder, though surprisingly it failed to reach the top half of the American Billboard Hot 100. Prior to Céline Dion, the song would also be recorded by Air Supply, Laura Branigan, James Last, and Shirley Bassey, yet the definitive hit version would be Dion's, which reached top 10 in numerous countries. In America, Dion would reach the top position, making it the best selling single of 1994, and earn the Canadian singer several nominations including for a Grammy Award in the category Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The song has been recorded by over an estimated 100 artists, including translations into Dutch, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish
November 8, 1992 ~ Keith Moore Mitchell, commonly known as bassist Red Mitchell, passed away in Salem, Oregon, USA ~ Started on piano, switching to bass while a member of the Army Band stationed in Germany. Has recorded prolifically as a leader or co-leader since the mid 1950s. Especially acclaimed for Presenting Red Mitchell, One Long String, and Chocolate Cadillac. A highly versatile and valued sideman, Mitchell has appeared on albums by Hampton Hawes, Red Callender (Red Callender Speaks Low), Lennie Niehaus, Stan Getz (West Coast Jazz), Barney Kessel (Kessel Plays Standards), Jon Eardley (From Hollywood To New York), Herbie Harper, Bobby Troup, Bill Perkins, Stuff Smith (Violins No End), Russ Freeman, Quincy Jones (This Is How I Feel About Jazz), Billie Holiday, Frances Faye, André Previn (Pal Joey), Jim Hall (Jazz Guitar), Chet Baker, Henry Mancini (The Music From Peter Gunn), Ella Fitzgerald, Zoot Sims (Choice), Mose Allison, and Joe Sample. In the late 1960s, Mitchell relocated to Sweden where he continued to perform and record. Mitchell's brother Whitey Mitchell is also a professional jazz bassist ~ Mitchell was born in 1927
November 8, 1991 ~ Frances Cohen, commonly known as cabaret, show tune singer, pianist Frances Faye, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ One of the first openly bisexual singers, her stage act often including double entendres and references to lesbianism. Known for songs such as I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate, Mad About The Boy, Sweet Georgia Brown, and For You, performing the latter in the 1937 Bing Crosby musical comedy Double Or Nothing. Faye is also known for writing Well All Right, recorded by the Andrews Sisters ~ Cohen was born in 1912
November 8, 1986 ~ In its 7th week on the charts, Amanda by Boston hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Tom Scholz had been working on the song since 1980. When a raw demo was leaked in 1984 and found its way to radio stations, the tape would quickly spread across stations and become a much-requested song before Boston's label, then Epic Records, served stations with cease and desist orders to get the song off the air. A few years later Boston, who had switched to MCA Records by now, issued the song as the lead single off their Third Stage album. Amanda would become their highest charting single, occupying the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 spot for two consecutive weeks. Boston's earlier hits More Than A Feeling and Don't Look Back had peaked respectively at No.5 and No.4November 8, 1984 ~ Jazz, world percussionist, guitarist Collin Walcott passed away in Magdeburg, Germany ~ Leader and sideman. Member of Oregon. Member of Codona. Present on the 1972 Miles Davis album On The Corner. Has also worked with David Amram, Don Cherry, Larry Coryell, Egberto Gismonti, and Paul Winter ~ Walcott was born in 1945
November 8, 1984 ~ Singer, songwriter, actress Tasha Thomas passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for her role as Aunt Em in the original Broadway production of The Wiz. Sang backup on Jim Croce's You Don't Mess Around With Jim debut album. Sang backup on Slade's Nobody's Fools album. Sang backup on the Kiss, Love Gun album. As a solo singer best known for her 1979 single Shoot Me With Your Love, which reached top 30 on the Billboard R&B charts ~ Thomas was born ca.1950November 8, 1983 ~ Pianist James Booker, full name James Carroll Booker III, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Known for songs such as Doin'The Hambone, Thinkin About My Baby, Gonzo. Has worked with Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, Lloyd Price, John Boudreaux, Jessie Hill, Alvin Robinson, John Mayall, Ringo Starr, the Doobie Brothers, Labelle, Maria Muldaur, and Dr John ~ Booker was born in 1939
November 8, 1980 ~ In its 11th week on the charts, On The Road Again by Willie Nelson hits No.1 Billboard Country ~ Written for the film Honeysuckle Rose, Willie Nelson penning the first outline of the song on a air sickness bag in a matter of minutes when he was on a plane with the film's director and producer, who asked him to write a song about being on the road. Nelson put off writing the melody for months until the day before recording it in the studio, as he later explained in his autobiography: “I saw no reason to put a melody to something I wasn't ready to record. I knew I wouldn't have any problem pulling the melody out of the air.” The film featuring Nelson as a struggling country singer bombed, yet the song was nominated for an Academy Award, bested by Irene Cara's Fame from the film of the same nameNovember 8, 1977 ~ Jullyann Inderia Gordon, commonly known as producer, songwriter, singer, actress Jully Black, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Starting in the late 1990s worked as songwriter and guest vocalist for artists including Nas, Saukrates, Choclair, Kardinal Offishal, Destiny's Child, and Sean Paul. She released her solo debut in 2005, received numerous awards and is dubbed “Canada's Queen of R&B” by fans and critics
November 8, 1977 ~ Tiffany Jane Wood, commonly known as indie, pop rock singer, songwriter Tiffani Wood, born in Newcastle, Australia ~ Member of girl pop trio Bardot, known for the early 2000s hits Poison, ASAP, and I Need Somebody which would all reach top 10 in their native Australia. Wood later pursued a solo career, releasing her Bite Your Tongue debut album in 2006, but failed to reach the same level of success
November 8, 1976 ~ Jazz drummer Eric Harland born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Especially acclaimed for his 2006 Sangam debut album and its follow-up Rabo De Nube released in 2008. Member of the SF Jazz Collective from 2005 through 2012. Has also worked with Charles Lloyd, Prism, James Farm, McCoy Tyner, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Aaron Goldberg, Julian Lage, Chris Potter, and Terence Blanchard
November 8, 1975 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, Low Rider by War hits No.1 Billboard R&B ~ Driven by BB Dickerson's funky bassline and Charles Miller's alto saxophone and harmonica riff, Low Rider takes the image of the lowrider, the practice of hydraulically hot-rodding classic cars, and extends the image to a lifestyle. The song would be covered by artists as diverse as nu metal band Korn and disco and soul singer Barry White, and sampled by numerous hip hop artists including notably the Beastie Boys in Slow Rider of their 1986 Licensed To Ill debut album. The original War single reached No.7 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard R&B chart, making it their only single to reach the No.1 spot on any chart