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, 1971 ~ Triplets Petra Haden, Rachel Haden and Tanya Haden born in New York, New York, USA ~ Formed the sibling trio the Haden Triplets. Cellist Tanya also worked with Lets Go Sailing. Violinist Petra with the Decemberists and Spain. Both Petra and keyboardist, bassist Rachel worked with the Rentals and That Dog
October 11, 1970 ~ Lana Michele Moorr, commonly known as rapper MC Lyte, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Gained notoriety for being the first female rapper to release a solo album, namely her 1988 Lyte As A Rock debut album. Known for songs such as Paper Thin, Cha Cha Cha, Keep On (Keeping On) featuring Xscape, Ruffneck and Cold Rock A Party
October 11, 1970 ~ Bandleader, clarinetist, composer Phil Spitalny passed away in Miami Beach, Florida, USA ~ Popular during the 1930s and 1940s, heyday of the radio shows. Best known for leading an all-female orchestra, Phil Spitalny & his All-Girl Orchestra, a novelty at the time. As a composer perhaps best known for his 1930 song The One I Love Just Can't Be Bothered With Me, covered by Johnny Marvin, Belle Baker, and Sammy Fain ~ Spitalny was born in 1890October 11, 1969 ~ Progressive rock singer, songwriter Tracy Hitchings born in Wallington, UK ~ Lead singer of rock band Landmarq from 1996 through 2017. Though the band is primarily categorised as a progressive rock, neo-progressive rock band, they also draw from album-oriented rock, melodic rock, hard rock, and jazz. Hitchings had previously worked with Quasar, Strangers On A Train, Ulysses, and Gandalf ~ Hitchings passed away in 2022
October 11, 1966 ~ Singer Cliff Richard records It's All Over at EMI Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Don Everly. Originally recorded by the Everly Brothers, whose original single released only in the USA and the Netherlands failed to chart. Cliff Richard's cover, produced by Norrie Paramor, would reach No.24 in the Netherlands and No.9 in the singer's native UK
October 11, 1966 ~ Singer, songwriter Todd Snider, full name Todd Daniel Snider, born in Portland, Oregon, USA ~ Discovered by Keith Sykes, an associate of Jimmy Buffett. Draws from Americana, alt-country, folk, and rock. Snider, considered a humorous postmodern troubadour, has recorded well over a dozen albums since the mid 1990s, including the highly acclaimed Step Right Up released in 1996, and though he never became a household name Snider has built a devoted following, earned critical acclaim and is held in high regard by peers. Songs written or co-written by Snider have frequently been covered by artists, mostly country singers, including Mark Chesnutt, Will Kimbrough, Cross Canadian Ragweed, and Jason Isbell. Snider also fronts the supergroup the Hard Working Americans which includes members of Widespread Panic and Great American Taxi ~ Snider passed away in 2025October 11, 1965 ~ Guitarist, bassist, singer Alexander Hacke born in Berlin, Germany ~ Best known as a member of industrial band Einstürzende Neubauten, joining the band in 1980 shortly after its inception. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the Filmarbeiten album released in 1992, and has collaborated with the likes of Robert Rutman, the Tiger Lillies, FM Einheit, Crime & the City Solution, Gianna Nannina, David Yow, Mona Mur, and Ministry of Wolves
October 11, 1963 ~ Edith Giovanna Gassion, commonly known as singer Edith Piaf, passed away in Plascassier, France ~ One of France's internationally best known stars. Specialized in torch songs and chansons about love, loss and sorrow. Known for songs such as La Vie En Rose, Non Je Ne Regrette Rien, Hymne A L'Amour, Milord, La Foule and L'Accordéoniste ~ Piaf was born in 1915October 11, 1958 ~ Singer Brenda Lee records Let's Jump The Broomstick ~ Recorded previously by Alvin Gaines & the Themes. Written by Charles Robbins. Produced by Owen Bradley. Brenda Lee released the song as a single the next year, paired with Some Of These Days on the flip side, and included it on her 1960 Brenda Lee album
October 11, 1957 ~ Drummer Blair Cunningham born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Brother of the Bar-kays bassist Carl Cunningham who died in the same plane crash that killed Otis Redding. In-demand session drummer. Worked with Denise Lasalle, Robert Johnson, the Detroit Emeralds, Frederick Knight, Echo & the Bunnymen, Haircut 100, John Foxx, the Pretenders, Paul McCartney, Alison Moyet, Sade, Paul Rutherford, the Indigo Girls, Roxy Music, Tina Turner, Lionel Richie, Mick Jagger, Marius Müller-Westernhagen, Kevin Rowland, and the Big DishOctober 11, 1957 ~ Singer, guitarist Jon Langford, full name Jonathan Denis Langford, born in Newport, UK ~ Perhaps best known for co-founding punk outfit the Mekons. Closely associated with post-punk outfit the Three Johns and with alternative country bands Waco Brothers and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with the likes of Dim Subooteyo, the Killer Shrews, the Wee Hairy Beasties, and the Men Of Gwent
October 11, 1956 ~ Saxophonist Doug Lawrence born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA ~ Worked with Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Roy Eldridge, Buck Clayton, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Wild Bill Davis, Hank Jones, Mel Lewis, George Cables, the Jazz Knights, Grover Mitchell, Marha Lornin, Ken Peplowski, Cynthia Scott, Richard Allen, Tony Corbiscello, Loren Schoenberg, Jamie Cullum, and Clyde Stubblefield
October 11, 1955 ~ Jazz fusion, folk jazz, world fusion guitarist, producer Peter Sprague, full name Peter Tripp Sprague, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Chick Corea, Hubert Laws, Larry Coryell, David Benoit, Sérgio Mendes, the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra, the San Diego Symphony, Dianne Reeves, Denise Donatelli, Kevyn Lettau, Bob Magnusson, Billy Childs, Geoffrey Keezer, Eric Marienthal, and Warren Wiebe
October 11, 1954 ~ Music manager, author Danny Sugerman, full name Daniel Stephen Sugerman, born ~ Best known as music manager for the Doors, replacing the band's original manager Bill Siddons after the death of lead singer Jim Morrison. Sugerman has also authored several books about the band and Morrison, most notably No One Here Gets Out Alive co-penned with Jerry Hopkins and published in 1980. Sugerman has also managed Ray Manzarek's post-Doors solo career, Iggy Pop, and glam punk band the Joneses ~ Sugerman passed away in 2005
October 11, 1952 ~ Keyboardist, flutist, singer, composer, producer Brian Jackson, full name Brian Robert Jackson, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known for his close association with Gil Scott-Heron througout the 1970s, especially on songs such as The Bottle. Has also collaborated with Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Will Downing, Gwen Guthrie, Kool & the Gang, and the Manhattan Transfer's Janis Siegel. Released his first solo album, Gotta Play, in 2000 featuring guest appearances from Ayers and Scott-HeronOctober 11, 1952 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Paulette Carlson born in Northfield, Minnesota, USA ~ Founding member, lead singer of Highway 101, known for Somewhere Tonight, Cry Cry Cry, (Do You Love Me) Just Say Yes and Who's Lonely Now. Released her solo debut album, Love Goes On, in 1991, spawning the modest country hit I'll Start With You
October 11, 1951 ~ Pop rock, progressive rock, new wave singer, guitarist, pianist, violinist, songwriter Jean-Jacques Goldman born in Paris, France ~ Formed the popular trio Fredericks Goldman Jones with Carole Fredericks and Michael Jones, known for a string of 1990s singles including Ne An 17 A Leidenstadt, juste Apres, Nuit and their best known A Nos Actes Manques. As a solo artist known for songs such as Long Is The Road (Américain), Je Te Donne, La vie par Procuration and Puisque Tu Pars, all of which reached top 10 in France. Has also co-written for Céline Dion, notably D'Eux, If That's What It Takes, I Don't Know and FlyOctober 11, 1950 ~ Albert Anderson, commonly known as songwriter, guitarist, percussionist Al Anderson, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Backed Bob Marley as a member of the Wailers. Also worked with Word Soud & Power, Peter Tosh, Ben Harper, and Lauryn Hill
October 11, 1950 ~ Soul, R&B, pop saxophonist, flutist, percussionist Andrew Woolfolk, full name Andrew Paul Woolfolk II, born in Texas, USA ~ Best known as longtime member of Earth Wind & Fire. Also guested on albums by Deniece Williams (Song Bird), Stanley Turrentine (Tender Togetherness), Phil Collins (Dance Into The Light), Twennynine (Best Of Friends), Philip Bailey (The Wonders Of Love), Level 42 (Standing In The Light), Valerie Carter (Just A Stones Throw Away), and Tracie Spencer (Tracie Spencer) ~ Woolfolk passed away in 2022October 11, 1948 ~ Gospel singer Cynthia Clawson, full name Cynthia Dee Clawson, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Acclaimed gospel singer best known for songs such as The Lord's Prayer featuring Andráe Crouch, the Archers, and BJ Thomas, Softly And Tenderly from the Academy Award-winning The Trip To Bountiful film and for Somewhere In Between
October 11, 1947 ~ Bassist Fred Hopkins born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as one third of Air, alongside Henry Threadgill and Steve McCall. Also worked with Muhal Richard Abrams, Arthur Blythe, Oliver Lake, the Association For The Advancement Of Creative Musicians, Diedre Murray, Roy Haynes, Don Pullen, Hamiet Bluiett, Charles Brackeen, Peter Brötzmann, Oliver Lake, David Murray, Tom Varner, and the World Saxophone Quartet ~ Hopkins passed away in 1999
October 11, 1947 ~ Hugo Verbraeken, commonly known as pop singer Hugo Sigal, born in Leopoldstad, Belgian Congo ~ Formed the duo Nicole & Hugo with his wife Nicole Josy. The duo is best known for Goeiemorgen Morgen, intended for the 1971 Eurovision Songfestival but Nicole fell ill at the last moment and the duo were replaced by Jacques Raymond and Lily Castel. Their 1973 Baby Baby entry, again representing Belgium, would finish last
October 11, 1946 ~ Daryl Franklin Hohl, commonly known as singer, guitarist, keyboardist, vibraphonist Daryl Hall, born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Formed Hall & Oates with John Oates, the duo recording over a dozen albums since the early 1970s. The pair had first met in the mid 1960s while both were enrolled at Temple University, Pennsylvania, and found out they had similar tastes in music. Hall was sessioning for Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Thom Bell, future architects of Philly soul, and Oates led his own soul band. Over the next few years the pair would work together in a string of local R&B and doo wop bands. However, Hall transferred to another school and Oates formed the soft rock unit Gulliver, with whom he recorded one album before the band disbanded. At the end of the decade, Oates returned to Philadelphia and the pair teamed up again, this time writing and performing their own songs as a duo. Initially, their sound was strongly influenced by folk, and it took them a while to find their trademark blend of pop, soul and a touch of rock. Their breakout hit, the tender ballad Sara Smile written for Hall's then-girlfriend Sara Allen, would reach No.4 Billboard Hot 100 in 1976 quickly followed by the re-release of She's Gone also making the top 10. The duo would score about a dozen more top 10 hits over the next decade, including the No.1 hits Rich Girl, Kiss On My List, Private Eyes, I Can't Go For That (No Can Do), Out Of Touch, and Maneater. Their well constructed sound made Hall & Oates one of the most popular acts during the first half of the 1980s, and in 1984 RIAA announced they had earned a total of 19 gold and platinum awards, making them the most successful duo since the Everly Brothers. The hits dried up by the late 1980s, however, the pair would continue to record, albeit it to lesser success, and regularly tour well into the next millenium. Hall & Oates are fondly remembered for defining 1980s blue-eyed soul, or as AllMusic described it “strong hooks and melodies that adhered to soul traditions without being a slave to them”, with many of their hits popular radio staples to this day. In 2014, the duo were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame for their “at times infectious, at times poignant, and nearly always wildly popular” music. Questlove of the Roots has been quoted as saying “Hall & Oates will cure any known ailment” Outside of Hall & Oates, Daryl Hall also enjoyed some success. Hall and Sara Allen wrote Swept Away for Diana Ross, which reached No.19 Billboard Hot 100 and No.3 Billboard R&B in 1984. Dreamtime lifted off Hall's 1986 Three Hearts In The Happy Machine solo sophomore album would reach No.5 Billboard Hot 100. Hall and Allen, the subject of Hall & Oates' breakout hit Sara Smile remained together for nearly 30 years, the couple breaking up in 2001October 11, 1946 ~ Drummer Gary Mallaber born in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Member of Raven. Member of Kid Lightning. Perhaps best known for his work with the Steve Miller Band. In-demand session drummer and ocassional vibraphonist, appearing on recordings by the Greg Kihn Band, Eddie Money, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Peter Frampton, Poco, Joan Armatrading, the Beach Boys, John Lennon, David Cassidy, Bonnie Raitt, Merrell Fankhauser, Bob Seger, and Warren Zevon
October 11, 1946 ~ Guitarist, singer George McCorkle boen in Chester, South Carolina, USA ~ Best known as founding member of the Marshall Tucker Band, wrote the band's first top 40 hit Fire On The Mountain. Also worked with the Toy Factory, Pax Parachute and released a solo album, American Street, in 1999 ~ McCorkle passed away in 2007