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 12, 2023 ~ Michael Cooper, commonly known as reggae keyboardist, guitarist Michael Ibo Cooper, passed away in St Andrew, Jamaica ~ Member of Jamaican pop outfit Inner Circle. Co-founding member of reggae unit Third World, with whom he recorded well over half a dozen albums. The band is best known for Now That We Found Love and Try Jah Love, both of which remain radio staples across Europe to this day. Cooper also appears on albums by the Abyssinians, Burning Spear (Social Living), Buju Banton, Beenie Man, and Beres Hammond ~ Cooper was born in 1952
October 12, 2021 ~ Piper, bodhran player Paddy Moloney passed away in Dublin, Ireland ~ Leader of the Chieftains, which he co-founded in 1962 with Seán Potts and Michael Tubridy. The band has recorded over 40 albums, all of which featuring Moloney, and is especially known for their vast work of collaborations including with artists such as Elvis Costello, Ry Cooder, Rosanne Cash, Béla Fleck, James Galway, Art Garfunkel, Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris, and Mick Jagger ~ Moloney was born in 1938October 12, 2019 ~ Bassist, singer George Chambers passed away ~ Member of psychedelic soul band the Chamber Brothers, known for incorporating elements of traditional gospel and blues, psychedelica and rock into soul. The band, which also includes his siblings guitarist Joe Chambers and harmonica player Lester Chambers, has recorded half a dozen albums and is best known for their 1968 eleven-minute single Time Has Come Today, which reached No.11 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Chambers was born in 1931
October 12, 2019 ~ Jazz pianist, composer, arranger Milcho Leviev passed away in Thessaloniki, Greece ~ First gained serious attention in the 1960s as conductor with Bulgarian National Radio ensembles. As a composer known for works such as Studia, Blues In 9 and Anti-waltz. Has worked with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra, Don Ellis, Billy Cobham, Lainie Kazan, John Klemmer, Art Pepper, and Roy Haynes ~ Leviev was born in 1937
October 12, 2016 ~ Singer, songwriter Robert Bateman passed away ~ Founding member of 1950s R&B outfit the Satintones. Best known as a songwriter, co-writing and producing the Marvelettes' Please Mr Postman which would become Motown's first Billboard No.1 hit. Also co-wrote If You Need Me, first recorded by Wilson Pickett and notably covered by Solomon Burke as well as by the Rolling Stones ~ Bateman was born in 1936October 12, 2016 ~ William Nelson Sanders, commonly known as singer, songwriter, producer Sonny Sanders, passed away ~ Formed the Satintones, the first vocal group to be signed to Motown, in 1957 which also featured Robert Bateman, James Ellis, and Sammy Mack. Also sessioned as backup singer on You Got What It Takes (Marv Johnson), and Money (That's What I Want) (Barrett Strong). Left the label in 1960 but continued to work as arranger on Motown-tracks including Just Like Romeo And Juliet (the Reflections). Also worked with non-Motown artists such as producer Carl Davis, Mary Wells, Edwin Starr (arranged Agent Double-O-Soul), Jackie Wilson, Gene Chandler, the Chi-lites, and Tyrone Davis. Co-wrote Barbara Acklin's Am I The Same Girl with Eugene Record. Co-wrote Wilson Pickett's If You Need Me, later also recorded by Solomon Burke, and by the Rolling Stones ~ Sanders was born in 1939
October 12, 2013 ~ Albert Goldstein, commonly known as jazz saxophonist Al Gay, passed away in Bedfordshire, UK, ~ Worked with the Jive Bombers, Freddy Randall, Bob Wallis, Alex Welsh, Dick Morrisey, Stan Robinson, Paul Carroll, Ian Carr, Kenny Wheeler, Greg Brown, the World's Greatest Jazz Band, Digby Fairweather, Laurie Chescoe, Ron Russell, and the Pizza Express All-Stars ~ Goldstein was born in 1928
October 12, 2011 ~ Producer, songwriter Paul Leka passed away in Sharon, Connecticut, USA ~ In-demand producer, songwriter known for his work with the Chateaus, the Lemon Pipers (The Green Tambourine), Peppermint Rainbow (Will You Be Staying After Sunday), Steam, the Left Banke, Peter Nero, Jimmie Spheeris, Harry Chapin, REO Speedwagon, Lori Lieberman, and Gloria Gaynor ~ Leka was born in 1943
October 12, 2009 ~ Bass-baritone opera, concert singer Ian Wallace, full name Ian Bryce Wallace, passed away in North London, UK ~ Active in opera since the mid 1940s, starting with the Sadler's Wells Opera and subsequently the New London Opera House under the direction of Alberto Erede, remaining active on the opera stage through the 1980s. Maintained a parallel career in revue, non-musical theatre, and broadcasting. Has performed as a one-man show for many years, the Flanders & Swann novelty song The Hippopotamus becoming most closely associated with Wallace ~ Wallace was born in 1919October 12, 2008 ~ Singer Cliff Nobles, full name Clifford James Nobles, passed away in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Fronted Cliff Nobles & Co, which also included bassist Benny Williams, guitarist Bobby Tucker and drummer Robert Marshall, best known for their 1968 single Love Is All Right b/w The Horse which peaked at No.2 Billboard mainly due to the instrumental flip side catching on ~ Nobles was born in 1941
October 12, 2002 ~ Bandleader, composer, arranger Ray Conniff, full name Joseph Raymond Conniff, passed away in Escondido, California, USA ~ Formed and led the Ray Conniff Singers best known for their 1966 hit Somewhere My Love. Also worked with Rosemary Clooney, Marty Robbins (hanging tree), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis (Chances Are), Guy Mitchell, Johnnie Ray (Just Walking In The Rain), Tony Bennett, Eileen Rodgers, Don Cherry, and Billy Butterfield ~ Conniff was born in 1916
October 12, 1997 ~ Henry John Deutschendorf Jr, commonly known as singer, songwriter John Denver, passed away in Pacific Grove, California, USA ~ One of the most popular singers of the 1970s, known for songs such as Take Me Home Country Roads, Annie's Song, Rocky Mountain High, Calypso, Thank God I'm A Country Boy, Leaving On A Jet Plane, and Sunshine On My Shoulders. Member of the Mitchell Trio, replacing founder Chad Mitchell. Member of the Alpine Trio. Political activist, especially concerned about the environment, but also engaged in charitable causes for the homeless, the poor, and the African AIDS crisis. Campaigned for Jimmy Carter, who became a close personal friend. Founded the Windstar Foundation, dedicated to promoting sustainable living ~ Denver was born in 1943October 12, 1995 ~ Rock, new wave guitarist, keyboardist, saxophonist, songwriter Hans Wärmling, full name Hans Axel Wärmling, passed away in Härryda, Sweden ~ Early member of the Stranglers. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Wasted, My Young Dreams and Strange Little Girl, the latter later notably covered by Tori Amos. Left the band in 1975, replaced by Dave Greenfield ~ Wärmling was born in 1943
October 12, 1993 ~ Singer Janet Jackson releases Again, lifted off her Janet album ~ At first, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis didn't think too much of Again, a sentimental ballad about reconnecting with a former lover they had co-written and co-produced with Jackson as potential filler for the singer's Janet album. However, when the producers of Poetic Justice, a romantic comedy film which featured Janet Jackson in her first big screen leading role, sought a ballad to be used in the film, Again was selected. The song was used in the film to play over the end credits and would be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song, which it lost to Bruce Springsteen's Streets Of Philadelphia of the film of the same name. Again was not included on the soundtrack album, but Jackson did include it on her own studio album. The single would reach No.7 Billboard R&B and top the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, making it her seventh charttopper on the tally. It also reached top 20 in over half a dozen other countries, including No.6 in the UK, No.5 in Sweden, and No.2 in Canada
October 12, 1992 ~ Country singer Garth Brooks releases Somewhere Other Than The Night, lifted off his The Chase album ~ Written by Garth Brooks and Kent Blazy who had previously written Brooks' 1989 If Tomorrow Never Comes Billboard Country No.1 hit. Somewhere Other Than The Night would be his tenth No.1 hit. Although at first glance the song tells of a wife finding new ways to entice her husband, Brooks later explained the moral of the story can apply to all kinds of relationships: “What it was all about was taking time from your busy schedule to show somebody you love them.”
October 12, 1989 ~ Singer, songwriter Sinéad Harnett, full name Sinéad Monica Harnett, born in Finchley, UK ~ Influenced by Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson, and Amy Winehouse. First gained attention in 2011 guesting on Wiley's Walk Away. Would also guest on recordings by Rudimental, Ryan Hemsworth, and Kidnap Kid prior to releasing her NOW debut EP in 2014. Would continue to release several more EPS and singles, leading up to a full-length album, Lessons In Love, in 2019
October 12, 1987 ~ Singer Whitney Houston releases So Emotional, lifted off her Whitney sophomore album ~ The song tells of the singer already having a man, yet still getting So Emotional over an old flame of hers. The upbeat dance-pop track would be her sixth of seven consecutive Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits. The song was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, whose resumé up to this point included hits such as Madonna's Like A Virgin, Cyndi Lauper's True Colors, and Heart's Alone. For So Emotional, producer Narada Michael Walden extensively reworked the songwriter duo's original demo. As Steinberg would later tell Songfacts: “I don't think anyone would ever hear Whitney Houston's version of the song and hear anything Prince-like about the production. Originally our demo had a certain Prince feel to it, in the verse in particular”
October 12, 1985 ~ In its 11th week on the charts, Oh Sheila by Ready For The World hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ This song is commonly misattributed to Prince, due to the similarities to his vocal and musical style, and because of its title sometimes believed to be about Prince-protegé drummer Sheila E. It is neither. When lead singer Melvin Riley of R&B outfit Ready For The World was working on the song he had tried out various names and “Sheila” simply was a name that fit the song best. Lifted off their eponymous debut album, Oh Sheila would be the band's one major hit, reaching the No.1 spot in both America and Canada. The band, hailing from Flint, Michigan, would score one more Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit when Love You Down off their Long Time Coming sophomore album peaked at No.9 in 1986
October 12, 1985 ~ New wave, post-punk guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, singer Ricky Wilson, full name Ricky Helton Wilson, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of the B52's, which also included his sister Cindy Wilson, with whom he recorded four albums until his death at age 32 of AIDS-related complications. Notable songs featuring Wilson include Rock Lobster, Planet Claire, Private Idaho, Whammy Kiss, and Summer Of Love. Wilson had kept his illness private as he did not want anyone to worry about him. Upon his death in 1985, the band had just completed their Bouncing Off The Satellites album. Devastated by Wilson's death, the band did only little promotional work and no touring to promote the album. No substitute was sought for Wilson, with bandmate Keith Strickland replicating Wilson's riffs in live performances of their earlier material. Outside of the B52's, Wilson has only appeared on one album, playing guitar on the track Breakin' In My Heart off Tom Verlaine's eponymous Tom Verlaine solo debut album issued in 1979 ~ Wilson was born in 1953
October 12, 1983 ~ Guitarist, steel guitarist, arranger, composer Chris Combs, full name Christopher Kyle Combs, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Best known as a member of progressive jazz unit Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, joining the band in 2008. Combs is sole composer of The Race Riot Suite released in 2011, a conceptual piece that tells of the infamous 1921 Tulsa race riots. The album is considered a masterpiece. As a solo artist Combs is best known for his 2017 COMBSY album, drawing from influences as diverse as Charles Mingus, George Harrison, Radiohead, and Marc Ribot
October 12, 1979 ~ Glam rock, hard rock, pop rock outfit Queen release Crazy Little Thing Called Love in the UK, lead single off their The Game album ~ Written by Freddie Mercury as a tribute to his musical heroes Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard. The song would be the band's first Billboard Hot 100 No.1 during Mercury's lifetime, holding the top position for four consecutive weeks. Mercury later commented: “Crazy Little Thing Called Love took me five or ten minutes. I did that on the guitar, which I can't play for nuts, and in one way it was quite a good thing because I was restricted, knowing only a few chords. It's a good discipline because I simply had to write within a small framework. I couldn't work through too many chords and because of that restriction I wrote a good song, I think”
October 12, 1978 ~ Singer Nancy Spungen, full name Nancy Laura Spungen, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Known for her tumultuous romance with the Sex Pistols singer Sid Vicious. Found stabbed to death in the couple's Chelsea Hotel hotel room in New York. Vicious would be arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The band's manager Malcolm McLaren has adamntly defended Vicious was innocent, as Vicious was comatose for much of the night and he suspected Spungen got into an altercation with one of their party guests instead. A reunion album was announced to cover the costs of the singer's legal defense. Vicious would be released on bail with additional conditions, but passed away four months later at age 21 of a heroin overdose while awaiting trial ~ Spungen was born in 1958October 12, 1977 ~ Rock guitarist Scott Metzger born in Trenton, New Jersey, USA ~ In-demand collaborator and sideman in a wide array of genres including rock, soul, country, jazz and surf. Member of Joe Russo's Almost Dead. Has also worked with Phil Lesh, John Scofield, John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Shooter Jennings, Trixie Whitley, Anders Osborne, Dean Ween, Stanton Moore, Circles Around The Sun, Particle, Marco Benevento, Frank Bango, and American Babies
October 12, 1976 ~ Alternative rock, indie pop, trip hop, electronic singer, guitarist, songwriter Dave Okumu born in Vienna, Austria ~ Frontman of Invisible, known best for their 2009 eponymous The Invisible debut album. Okumu released his Knopperz solo debut album in 2021. In-demand producer, songwriter, collaborator, working with acts such as Robert Miles, Amy Winehouse, Rosie Lowe, Jane Birkin, King Sunny Adé, and Anna Calvi. Okumu is also specifically noted for co-writing and co-producing Jessie Ware's 2010 Devotion debut album
October 12, 1972 ~ Wilfred Williams, commonly known as singer Billy Williams, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Lead singer of the Charioteers from 1930 to 1950, known for hits such as So Long, the Frank Sinatra-collaboration Don't Forget About Tomorrow, Open The Door Richard and A Kiss And A Rose. As a solo artist known for songs such as Why Did I Tell You I Was Going To Shanghai, It's No Sin and his best known the Fats Waller-cover I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter, the latter a 1957 hit selling over a million copies ~ Williams was born in 1910October 12, 1972 ~ Jazz trumpeter Eugene Ball born ~ As a composer known for Fool Poet's Portion first performed by the Bennetts Lane Big Band which included Ball. Has also worked with Paul Grabowsky, Mike Nock, Tony Gould, Graeme Lyall, Don Burrows, Jamie Cullum, the Hoodangers, the Andrea Keller Quartet, the Allan Browne Quintet, and the Australian Art Orchestra