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 11, 2023 ~ Singer, songwriter Rudolph Isley, full name Rudolph Bernard Isley, passed away in Olympia Fields, Illinois, USA ~ Co-founding member of R&B band the Isley Brothers, one of the longest-running family outfits, with whom he recorded about two dozen albums starting with Shout released in 1959. The band is known for Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits such as It's Your Thing, That Lady, and Fight The Power. Rudolph co-wrote and sang co-lead on a vast amount of the band's best known, and sang lead on songs such as It's A Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop), and You Still Feel The Need. Following the death of his brother O'Kelly Isley, Rudolph would record two more albums with the band, Smooth Sailin' and Spend The Night, before retiring from music in 1989 to become a Christian minister ~ Isley was born in 1939October 11, 2021 ~ R&B, pop bassist, singer, songwriter Deon Estus, full name Jeffery Dean Estus, passed away ~ Best known as member of 1980s pop group Wham, centered around Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael. Appears on Michael's first two solo albums, 1987's Faith and 1990's Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1. As a solo artist known for Heaven Help Me which reached top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 ~ Estus was born in 1956
October 11, 2021 ~ Emani Johnson, commonly known as R&B singer Emani 22, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ First gained attention in 2018 collaborating with Trippie Redd on the tracks Emani's Interlude and Fire Starter. As a solo artist known for songs such as Heartbreak Hotel, Better Days and Dripomatic. Ironically died at age 22, the same number she used in her stage name, having released her full-length The Color Red debut album just the year before ~ Johnson was born in 1998October 11, 2020 ~ Minimalist flutist, saxophonist, songwriter Jon Gibson passed away ~ Best known for his association with Philip Glass, co-founding member of the Philip Glass Ensemble and crucial to the development of Glass' sound. Acclaimed for his 1973 Visitations solo debut album, considered a landmark in minimalist music. Has also worked with Larry Austin, Richard Swift, Stanley Lunetta, and Steve Reich ~ Gibson was born in 1940
October 11, 2019 ~ Rock, new age bassist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter Erik Scott passed away ~ Bassist for Flo & Eddie in the 1970s, present on the albums Illegal Immoral And Fattening and Moving Targets. Bassist for Alice Cooper in the 1980s, notably present on albums such as Special Forces and Zipper Catches Skin, also co-producing the latter. Co-founding member of Sonia Dada, known for critically acclaimed albums such as Sonia Dada which spawned the hit You Don't Treat Me No Good, A Day At The Beach, and My Secret Life. Scott subsequently also recorded as a solo artist, starting with his Other Planets album released in 2008 ~ Scott was born in 1948
October 11, 2019 ~ Indian classical music, jazz fusion saxophonist Kadri Gopalnath passed away in Mangalore, India ~ Active since the mid 1970s. Pioneered the use of the saxophone in Carnatic music, a genre originating from southern India. Mentored by singer TV Gopalkrishan. Acknowledged by singer Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer as a Carnatic genius. To Western audiences best known for his collaborations with saxophonist John Handy, the interest from the West leading to worlwide tours. Has also worked with flutist James Newton, and with saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, notably working with the latter on the 2008 collaborative Kinsmen album ~ Gopalnath was born in 1949
October 11, 2015 ~ Post-punk, ambient, industrial drummer John Murphy, full name John Russell Murphy, passed away in Berlin, Germany ~ Son of jazz drummer Russ Murphy. Got his start in music as co-founding member of punk outfit the News, present on singles such as Dirty Lies, Dowanna Love and Sweet Dancer. Would go on to work with Whirlywind, the Associates, Dumb & the Ugly, SPK, Wreckery, Death In June, Browning Mummery, Naevus, The The, Whitehouse, and Gene Loves Jezebel ~ Murphy was born in 1959October 11, 2015 ~ Texas blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Smokin' Joe Kubek passed away in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA ~ Backed Freddie King while still in his teens. Closely associated with Bnois King. Released his solo debut single, the Freddie King/Sonny Thompson-penned Driving Sideways b/w the Doyle Bramhall-penned The Other Side Of Love, in 1985. Released his full-length debut album, Steppin' Out Texas Style, in 1991 and has released over a dozen albums since ~ Kubek was born in 1956
October 11, 2000 ~ Jazz bassist Sture Nordin passed away in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Leader and sideman. Expelled from the Royal Swedish Academy Of Music for playing jazz. Worked with Lars Gullin, Putte Wickman, Rune Ofverman, Egil Johansen, Josh White, Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon, Clark Terry, Johnny Griffith, Benny Bailey, Gábor Szabó, Dick Morrisey, Jan Johansson, Rolf Ericson, Jan Allan, Arne Domnérus, Cornelis Vreeswijk, and Lee Konitz ~ Nordin was born in 1933
October 11, 1994 ~ Singer Janet Jackson releases You Want This, lifted off her Janet album ~ The new jack swing and funk-tinged You Want This tells of the singer being told by her girlfriends some guy is checking her out. The song, written and produced by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, is built around samples of Love Child by the Supremes and Jungle Boogie by Kool & the Gang, earning all original songwriters of the sampled songs co-writing credit. You Want This would be warmly received by critics, with Billboard stating “the groove sparks an appealing vocal that is by turns playful and seductive.” The single edit differed from the album version as it features MC Lyte, one of the first female rappers to make a serious impact. MC Lyte would later comment: “By that time, Janet and I were friends. It was just a matter of her asking if I wanted to do it. I was just about to go on tour with her and do her U.S. leg. Coupled with that, they asked me to do a song with her that we could perform while we were on that tour.” You Want This would reach No.8 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, as well as top 20 in the UK, Australia, and New ZealandOctober 11, 1992 ~ Belcalia Marlenis Almánzar, commonly known as rapper, actress, songwriter Cardi B, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Released her debut studio album, Invasion Of Privacy, in 2018, to commercial success and critical acclaim. Known for songs such as Bodak Yellow (Money Moves), I Like It, and Please Me. Collaborated with Red Cafe, A$AP Rocky, Rita Ora, Jennifer Lopez, Maroon 5 (Girls Like You), DJ Snake, Ed Sheeran, and French Montana
October 11, 1990 ~ R&B outfit Surface release The First Time, lifted off their 3 Deep album ~ With David Townsend, formerly of Port Authority, and David Conley, formerly of Mandrill, as its nucleus, Surface would score their biggest hit when The First Time reached the top of the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, a position it held for two weeks. The band had previously reached top 10 with 1989's Shower Me With Your Love, which had peaked at No.5. The band would do better on the Billboard R&B charts, where they scored nine top 10 hits, four of which reached the top spot, before disbanding in the mid 1990s
October 11, 1989 ~ Cory Marquardt, commonly known as country, country rock, outlaw country, hard rock singer, drummer, guitarist, songwriter Cory Marks, born in North Bay, Canada ~ Cites Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Ozzy Osbourne, Rush as influences. Released his This Man debut album in 2015, followed by Who I Am in 2020. Perhaps best known for his Outlaws & Outsiders single featuring Ivan Moody, Travis Tritt and Mick MarsOctober 11, 1988 ~ Singer Bobby Brown releases My Prerogative, lifted off his Don't Be Cruel sophomore album ~ Brown had already completed the sessions for his second solo album, but felt it was still missing something, so he traveled to New York to meet up with produced Teddy Riley and came up with My Prerogative co-written with Riley, Gene Griffin, Aaron Hall, and Timmy Gatling. At this point in his career, Bobby Brown had taken a lot of slack for departing the highly successful group New Edition to pursue a solo career, and My Prerogative was Brown's response to the criticism: “A lot of things had been said about Bobby Brown, why was he doing this (a solo career). It's my way of expressing to people it's your prerogative to do as you want, but make sure what you do is the right thing.” The single would be the biggest hit of career, reaching top 10 in Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK, and his native America, where it topped both the Billboard R&B and the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts
October 11, 1988 ~ Singer Sheena Easton releases The Lover In Me, lead single off the album of the same name ~ Teaming up with producers Kenneth Babyface Edmonds and LA Reid, who co-wrote the song with regular collaborator Daryl Simmons, Sheena Easton's The Lover In Me would become her first major hit in the UK, peaking at No.15, since the James Bond theme For Your Eyes Only over half a decade earlier. The Lover In Me would also reach top 20 in Belgium, Canada, Ireland, and the Netherlands. In America, it peaked at No.2 Billboard Hot 100, making it her seventh and final top 10 hit
October 11, 1985 ~ Sollie Paul Williams, commonly known as singer, actor Tex Williams passed away in Newhall, California, USA ~ Best known for he novelty hit Smoke Smoke Smoke That Cigarette. Also known for songs such as California Pola, That's What I Like About The West, Talking Boogie and Life Gets Tee-jus Don't It ~ Williams was born in 1917
October 11, 1979 ~ Pop punk, punk rock, alternative dance, synth-pop, dance-pop singer, bassist, songwriter Gabe Saporta, full name Gabriel Eduardo Saporta, born in Montevideo, Uruguay ~ Member of Humble Beginnings while in his teens. Rose to fame with Midtown, known for the acclaimed albums Save The World Lose The Girl, Living Well Is The Best Revenge and Forget What You Know. After the band disbanded Saporta founded Cobra Starship, venturing more into electronic music, scoring hits with Good Girls Go Bad featuring Leighton Meester and You Make Me Feel featuring Sabi, both of which reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100
October 11, 1976 ~ Author, scriptwriter, songwriter Alfredo Bracchi passed away in Milan, Italy ~ As a songwriter known as a frequent collaborator of Giovanni D'Anzi, working prolifically for radio, film and stage from the 1930s through the 1950s. The pair is responsible for songs such as Lina Termini's Ma L'Amore No, Tony Dallara's Bambina Innamorata and Carlo Buti's Ti Diro. Other artists who recorded their songs include Caterina Valente, Ornella Vanoni, Gigliola Cinquetti, Nicola Arigliano, Luciano Pavarotti, and José Carreras ~ Bracchi was born in 1897
October 11, 1976 ~ Singer Connee Boswell passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ One third of close harmony trio the Boswell Sisters, alongside siblings Martha Boswell and Helvetia Boswell, known for 1930s hits such as I Found A Million Dollar Baby In A Five An Ten Cent Store, Rock & Roll, The Object Of My Affection, Dinah, and Alexander's Ragtime Band ~ Boswell was born in 1907October 11, 1975 ~ Tomacz Kuklicz, commonly known as hip-hop DJ, producer DJ Tomekk, born in Kraków, Poland ~ First gained serrious attention touring with Kurtis Blow in the early 1990s. Has also worked with Run-DMC, Public Enemy, Ice-T, the Wu-Tang Clan, LL Cool J, KRS One, Grandmaster Flash, DJ Jazzy Jeff, MC René. Known best for 1999's 1-2-3 (Rhymes Galore), 2000's Ich Lebe Fur Hip Hop and 2002's How You Like That (Ja Ja Ja)
October 11, 1975 ~ Pianist, arranger Jimmy Sherman, full name James Benjamin Sherman, passed away in Pennsylvania, USA ~ Started in dance bands in the late 1920s. Worked with Jimmy Gorham, Alphonso Trent, Peanuts Holland, Al Sears, Stuff Smith, Lil' Armstrong, Putney Dandridge, Mildred Bailey, Billie Holiday, and notably with the Charioteers as a full member from 1938 to 1952 ~ Sherman was born in 1908
October 11, 1974 ~ Singer, pianist Billy Joel releases his Streetlife Serenade album ~ Joel had been on the road a lot, touring clubs and theatres, including opening for acts such as the Beach Boys. It left Billy Joel little time to write new material, while at the same time under pressure to release an album after the success of its predecessor Piano Man. The album was a bit disappointing, despite spawning the top 40 hit The Entertainer, and included several instrumentals. Later Joel would say of the album: “Interesting musical ideas, but nothing to say lyrically. I was trying to be Claude Debussy in the title track, it didn't work.”
October 11, 1974 ~ Glam rock, hard rock, pop rock outfit Queen release Killer Queen/Flick Of The Wind, the double A-side lead single off their Sheer Heart Attack album ~ The band had two albums under their belt, and scored a UK hit with Seven Seas Of Rhye which scratched the top 10. It was Killer Queen, however, taken off their third studio album that would be their first major international hit, reaching top 20 Billboard Hot 100 and No.2 in their native UK. Guitarist Brian May would later comment: “Killer Queen was the turning point. It was the song that best summed up our kind of music, and a big hit, and we desperately needed it as a mark of something successful happening for us.”October 11, 1973 ~ Trip hop, electronica, nu jazz singer, songwriter Shana Halligan born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Daughter of Blood Sweat & Tears-pianist Dick Halligan. Formed the trip-hop act Bitter Sweet with Kiran Shahani, known for their 2007 The Mating Game album. Following the band's disbandement moved to Europe to pursue a solo career and collaborated with Nouvelle Vague, Serj Tarkian, and the Thievery Corporation
October 11, 1972 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter Pete Donnelly born in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA ~ Member of NRBQ. Also worked with Soul Asylum, Tommy Stinson, Mike Viola. Co-wrote I Can't Imagine, the title track of Shelby Lynne's 2015 album. Has also released a handful of solo albums, starting with Another Day On You released in 1999