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.
October 10, 2025 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter John Lodge, full name John Charles Lodge, passed away ~ Key member of the Moody Blues and along with Justin Hayward one of the band's primary songwriters. Wrote or co-wrote a vast amount of the band's material including Evening (Time To Get Away), Ride My See Saw, Send Me No Wine, Out & In, Isn't Life Strange, I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock & Roll Band) and Gemini Dream. Has also released a number of albums outside of the band, notably 1975's The Blue Jays with bandmate Justin Hayward which reached top 10 UK and his own Natural Avenue two years later ~ Lodge was born in 1945
October 10, 2022 ~ Anita Jean Grilli, commonly known as singer, pianist, arranger Anita Kerr, passed away in Geneva, Switzerland ~ Founded and fronted vocal harmony group the Anita Kerr Singers, known for recording some 50 albums in their own right. The group was also an in-demand backing choir, providing vocals for the likes of Rod McKuen, Red Foley, Eddy Arnold, Ernest Tubb, Patsy Cline, Faron Young, Chet Atkins, and Webb Pierce ~ Grilli was born in 1927
October 10, 2022 ~ Jazz pianist, conductor Kenny Clayton passed away ~ Served as musical director and arranger for the likes of Dick Haymes, Cilla Black, Charles Aznavour, Sacha Distel, Roger Whittaker, and especially Petula Clark working with Clark from the early 1960s through the 2000s. Composed soundtracks for films such as The Ragman's Daughter, The Savage Hunt and Night Train To Murder and directed and arranged for theatrical productions including The Sound Of Music, No Strings and Privates On Parade ~ Clayton was born in 1936
October 10, 2021 ~ Contemporary classical composer Luis de Pablo, full name Luis de Pablo Costales, passed away in Madrid, Spain ~ Among a generation of composers dubbed Generación del 51, known for connecting music in Spain to musical developments in Europe after the Civil War. Co-founded the Grupo Nueva Musica. Co-founded Tiempo & Musica. Founded and organized several festivals and cultural events. Accused of giving too much prominence to “left-wing art” by the Franco regime, accused of supporting Franco by the ETA. Spent a number of years living in exile. Known for film scores such as The Spirit Of The Beehive and The Hunt and for operas such as Kiu and La Señorita Cristina ~ De Pablo was born in 1930October 10, 2015 ~ Robert Wickens Thompson, commonly known as folk rock singer, guitarist Robbin Thompson, passed away in Richmond, Virginia, USA ~ Member of Steel Mill, which also included a then-unknown Bruce Springsteen. Debuted as a solo artist with his 1976 eponymous Robbin Thompson album. Had artists such as Melissa Manchester, Steve Cropper, Waddy Wachtel, Bruce Hornsby and Ellen McIlwaine guest on his recordings. Scored a minor hit with Brite Eyes in 1980 ~ Thompson was born in 1949
October 10, 2015 ~ Rock, jazz saxophonist Steve Mackay passed away in Daly City, California, USA ~ Briefly a member of the Stooges, appearing on some tracks of the 1970 Fun House album. In later years Mackay would recall being “somewhat grateful” for being fired by Iggy Pop after five months, as the band was deteriorating from drug abuse. Mackay would go on to work with a host of underground acts including Violent Femmes, Snakefinger, Commander Cody & his Lost Planet Airmen, Smegma, and the Mojo Boogie Band ~ Mackay was born in 1949
October 10, 2014 ~ Orchestra leader, saxophonist, composer Olav Dale passed away ~ Leader and sideman. Mostly saxophone, other woodwind too. Active since the mid 1970s. Worked with the Bergen Blues Band, Knut Kristiansen, Dag Arnesen, Oslo 13, Terje Rypdal, John Surman, the Lille Fron SaxofoKvartett, Sébastien Dubé, Frank Jacobsen, Stein Inge Brækhus, Torbjørn Hillersoy, Philip Catherine, Paquito d'Rivera, Claudio Roditi, Gustavo Bergalli, Phil Woods, Andy Sheppard, Bennie Wallace, Joe Henderson, Maria Schneider, Martial Solal, Diana Krall, Mathias Rüegg, and Gianluigi Trovesi ~ Dale was born in 1958
October 10, 2013 ~ Calvin Grant Shofner, commonly known as country singer, guitarist Cal Smith passed away Branson, Missouri, USA ~ Member of Ernest Tubb's backing unit the Texas Troubadours from 1960 through 1969. As a solo artist known best for Country Bumpkin and It's Time To Pay The Fiddler, both hits in 1974. Other well known recordings of his include She Talked A Lot About Texas, I Just Came Home To Count The Memories and Come See About Me ~ Shofner was born in 1932
October 10, 2010 ~ James Solomon McDonald, commonly known as Solomon Burke passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Incremental in development of 1960s soul, especially acclaimed for a string of early 1960s albums including If You Need Me, I Almost Lost My Mind and Rock 'n Soul. Co-wrote and first recorded Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, later covered by artists such as the Rolling Stones, Wilson Pickett, and the Blues Brothers. Other well known songs include Cry To Me, Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms), and Got To Get You Off My Mind. Burke would also be one of the first R&B, soul artists to cover a Bob Dylan tune, namely Maggie's Farm which served as the flip side of the 1965 single Tonight's The Night ~ Burke was born in 1940October 10, 2009 ~ Cecil Bradshaw, commonly known as bandleader, trumpeter, promoter Sonny Bradshaw, passed away in London, UK ~ Known as “the Dean of Jamaican music” with a career spanning six decades. Worked with Eric Dean, the Jamaican Big Band, Joe Harriott, Dizzy Reece, Ernest Ranglin, Little G McNair, Dwight Pinkney, Monty Alexander, Sarah Vaughan, Johnny Mathis, Lou Rawls, Johnnie Ray, Brook Benton, and Sam Cooke ~ Bradshaw was born in 1926
October 10, 2008 ~ Singer, songwriter Alton Ellis, full name Alton Nehemiah Ellis, passed away in London, UK ~ Pivotal to development of rocksteady. Half of Alton & Eddy, the other half being Eddy Parkins, known for recordings such as Muriel, Lullabye Angel and I'm Never Gonna Cry. As a solo artist best known for the quintessential rocksteady songs Girl I've Got A Date, featuring Gladstone Anderson, Paul Douglas, Hux Brown, Lynn Tait and Al Jackson Jr, and for Rocksteady, the song that actually named the genre. Ellis also worked with Coxsone Dodd, Vincent Chin, John Holt, Duke Reid, Winston Jarrett, Tommy McCook, Lloyd Charmers, Phyllis Dillon, the Heptones, Bunny Lee, Keith Hudson, and Aspo ~ Ellis was born in 1938
October 10, 2005 ~ Country singer Brad Paisley releases When I Get Where I'm Going, lifted off his Time Well Wasted album ~ Written by George Teren and Rivers Rutherford. Singer Dolly Parton provides harmony vocals. The second single off his When I Get Where I'm Going album, it would receive mixed reviews, some praising the tune as a “certified inspirational winner” while others felt that “Parton helped get this song across the finish line”. Regardless of some negative criticism, it would reach top of the country charts, and actually start a streak of ten consecutive Billboard Country No.1 singles for Brad Paisley. The song would later be covered by several Christian artists, notably Geoff Moore whose 2007 version reached top 20 on the Billboard Christian chartsOctober 10, 2005 ~ Pop rock guitarist Nick Hawkins passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Best known as guitarist for Big Audio Dynamite II from 1990 through 1997, including on the hits Rush and Globe. Hawkins would also work as a producer, including for his wife Jo Beng, and as a film composer. At the time of his death of a heart attack at age 40, Hawkins was working on a still unreleased solo album titled Dusk Till Dawn, scheduled to be released in 2006 ~ Hawkins was born in 1965
October 10, 2002 ~ Swing clarinetist, saxophonist Abe Most, full name Abraham Most, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Brother of flautist Sam Most. Influenced by Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman. Recorded a handful of albums as a leader, especially noted for Swing Low Sweet Clarinet released in 1984. In-demand sideman, including outside of jazz circles, present on albums by Paul Smith, Ella Fitzgerald (Sings The Rodgers And Hart Song Book), Johnny Mandel, Van Alexander, Frank Sinatra (Nice 'n Easy), Rosemary Clooney, Nancy Wilson, Ray Conniff, Randy Newman (Sail Away), Maria Muldaur, Joni Mitchell, Earth Wind & Fire (All 'n All), BB King, Ted Gärdestad, and Madonna ~ Most was born in 1920
October 10, 1999 ~ Guitarist Alfredo Gil, full name Alfredo Bojalil Gil, passed away in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Founding member of Los Panchos, remaining with the band for about four decades starting in the 1940s. The band rose to fame in Latin America with their renditions of classic bolero, romantic ballads and folk songs and are considered one of the top musical trios and one the most influential Latin American artists of all time. The band joined forces with singer Eydie Gormé in the mid 1960s, resulting in a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums ~ Gil was born in 1915October 10, 1999 ~ Songwriter, pianist George Forrest, full name George Forrest Chicester Jr, passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Regular collaborator of Robert Wright, the duo often adapting classical music to create over an estimated 2,000 songs for musicals, revues and films. Perhaps best known for the 1953 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Kismet, the music mostly adapted from compositions by Alexander Borodin ~ Chichester was born in 1915
October 10, 1997 ~ Pianist, organist, harpsichordist, composer, conductor George Malcolm, full name George John Malcolm, passed away in London, UK ~ Introduced the harpsichord to new audiences, noted for his concerts with Thurston Dart, Denis Vaughn and Eileen Joyce. Worked with the Pro Arte Orchestra, Geoffrey Parsons, and Simon Preston. As a conductor, Malcolm was most closely associated with the English Chamber Orchestra and the Northern Sinfonia ~ Malcolm was born in 1917
October 10, 1992 ~ Leonard George Sargent, commonly known as singer, pianist Lennie Peters, passed away in Enfield, UK ~ Blinded in one eye at age 5 during a car accident and a thrown brick blinding his other eye at age 16. Uncle of the Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts. Active as a solo artist since the early 1960s, notably known for the singles Let The Tears Begin and And My Heart Cried Again. Formed the duo Peters & Lee with Dianne Lee, previously his backing singer, scoring the hits Welcome Home and Don't Stay Away Too Long. The former would top both the UK and Irish charts in 1973 ~ Sargent was born in 1931
October 10, 1991 ~ R&B, pop-jazz singer, actor Andrzej Zaucha passed away in Kraków, Poland ~ Lead singer of jazz fusion outfit Dzamble, present on the band's Wolanie O Sloncie Nad Swiatem. Member of Anawa, present on the eponymous 1973 Anawa album. Active as a solo artist since the early 1980s, notably known for songs such as Wszystkie Stworzenia Duze I Male and Bylas Serca Biciem. Shot and killed in a crime of passion at age 42 ~ Zaucha was born in 1949October 10, 1991 ~ Mariana Espósito, commonly known as singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, model Lali Espósito, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Dubbed “the Queen of Argentine pop”. First gained attention on the cast of children's TV show Rincón De Luz in 2003. Member of teen pop band the Teen Angels from 2007 to 2012. Released her solo debut A Bailar in 2014, reaching top 10 in Argentina and Uruguay
October 10, 1987 ~ In its 15th week on the charts, Here I Go Again by Whitesnake hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by David Coverdale and Bernie Marsden, the song dealing with Coverdale's strained marriage to his first wife, the song was first recorded for their 1982 Saints & Sinners album. The original 1982 single had been issued in a limited number of countries, and had been a modest hit in some, most notably a top 40 hit in the UK. However, when the band re-recorded the song for their eponymous 1987 Whitesnake album and issued it as a single, it became a hit spending some 28 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 including one week at the top spot. The 1987 single, sometimes also titled Here I Go Again '87, would also reach top 10 in Canada, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the UK. Here I Go Again would remain the band's biggest hit, in America closely followed by their only other top 10 hit, Is This Love peaking at No.2 Billboard Hot 100 later the same year
October 10, 1984 ~ Nicole Mourelatos, commonly known as indie rock, pop rock, baroque pop singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, percussionist, songwriter Doris Cellar, born in Astoria, New York, USA ~ Member of Freelance Whales from 2008 through 2013. The band would gain popularity in 2010 after Twitter used their Generator First Floor song as background music in a video announcing platform changes. Subsequently the same song would also be used by the NBC show Chuck and by Chevrolet for a ad campaign for the Chevy Volt. Cellar has also recorded as a solo artist
October 10, 1983 ~ Giovanni Edgar Charles Galletto-Savoretti, commonly known as folk rock, indie pop singer, guitarist, pianist Jack Savoretti, born in Westminster, UK ~ Released his debut album, Between The Minds, in 2007 and has been recording steadily since. Has opened for Corinne Bailey Rae and for Gavin Degraw. Duetted with Elisa on 2016's Waste Your Time On Me and with Kylie Minogue on 2018's Music's Too Sad Without You. Darling of BBC Radio 2. Though singles would barely reach the charts, starting in 2015 with the album Written In Scars his albums regularly reach the UK top 10
October 10, 1981 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Una Healy, full name Una Theresa Imogene Healy, born in Thurles, Ireland ~ Backed Brian Kennedy on Ireland's entry for the 2006 Eurovision Songfestival, Every Song Is A Cry For Love reached 10th place. Would rise to fame as member of girl group the Saturdays, known for a string of UK top 10 hits starting in 2008 including Just Can't Get Enough, Missing You, All Fired Up and perhaps their best known What About Us featuring Sean Paul, the latter reaching No.1October 10, 1980 ~ Ska singer Tim Maurer, full name Timothy Robert Maurer, born ~ Best known as lead singer for third-wave ska band the Suburban Legends from 1998 through 2000, leaving the band after recording the Origin Edition debut album. Maurer rejoined the band in 2002, now staying on through 2005