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 15, 1968 ~ Jyrki Pekka Emil Linnankivi, commony known as glam metal, rock singer Jyrki 69, born in Helsinki, Finland ~ Influenced by Elvis Presley, the Doors' Jim Morrison, Iggy Pop and David Bowie. Best known as lead singer of the 69 Eyes, his operatic bass-baritone singing voice drawing comparisons to Type-O Negative's Peter Steele and Sisters Of Mercy's Andrew Eldritch
October 15, 1966 ~ Neo soul singer, songwriter, actor Eric Benét, full name Eric Benét Jordan, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA ~ Member of Gerard in the 1980s. Member of Benét in the 1990s along with his sister Lisa Benét and cousin George Nash Jr. Debuted as a solo artist in 1994 with the album True To Myself. Known for songs such as Spiritual Thang, Spend My Life With You featuring Tamia, I Wanna Be Loved, and Sometimes I Cry. Has collaborated with Earth Wind & Fire, Faith Evans, Chrisette Michele, Ledisi, Eddie Levert, Arturo Sandoval, MC Lyte, and Mariah CareyOctober 15, 1966 ~ Singer, TV personality Ingeborg Sergeant, full name Ingeborg Thérèse Marguerite Sergeant, born in Menen, Belgium ~ Guested on Clouseau's 1988 hit single Verlangen. Represented Belgium in the 1989 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 19th place with Door De Wind. Also known for songs such as Ga Niet Weg, Als Dat Gebeurt, Waarom and Zo Dichtbij
October 15, 1966 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, Cherry Cherry by Neil Diamond peaks at No.6 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Neil Diamond's second single to chart and his first to reach top 10, the self-penned Cherry Cherry is said to have been inspired by a romantic encounter with a much older woman. Though uncredited as songwriters, producers Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich who mentored Diamond early on in his career may have contributed to the writing process. As a full session complete with horns and drums failed to capture the exuberance of the demo, the latter featuring hand claps to provide the rhythm would be used. Producers Barry and Greenwich are present on the recording, providing backing vocals. Diamond would later recall to Rolling Stone: “Ellie was the best background singer ever. She did all the background parts on my early Bang records, Cherry Cherry, She Got The Way To Move Me, Kentucky Woman, all of those records were Jeff and Ellie. They just had this great knack of singing all kinds of background parts and they were great at it. She invented the background parts to Cherry Cherry”
October 15, 1964 ~ Composer, songwriter Cole Porter, full name Cole Albert Porter, passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ One of the most popular songwriters of the 1920s through the 1940s. One of the few of his day who usually wrote both music and lyrics. Known for standards such as Night And Day (Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Joe Henderson, Everything But The Girl), Begin The Beguine (June Knight, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman), I Get A Kick Out Of You (Ethel Merman, Ella Fitzgerald), I've Got You Under My Skin (Virginia Bruce, Frank Sinatra, the Four Seasons, Neneh Cherry), Easy To Love (Frances Langford, Hal Kemp, Billie Holiday) and You're The Top (Paul Whiteman, the Dorsey Brothers) ~ Porter was born in 1891
October 15, 1964 ~ Rock, new age, minimal, world music keyboardist, guitarist, composer Rodrigo Leão, full name Rodrigo Costa Leão Munoz Miguez, born in Lisbon, Portugal ~ Member of Setima Legião, Madredeus and Os Poetas. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Ave Mundi Luminar released in 1993. known for experimenting with modern classical music and pop, merging electronics with string and horn sections. Artists who have guested on Leão's recordings include Portishead's Beth Gibbons, the Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon, the Tindersticks' Stuart A Staples, Rosa Passos and Ryuichi SakamotoOctober 15, 1963 ~ Caron Liza Geary, commonly known as raggamuffin, reggae, dancehall MC, toaster MC Kinky, born in Paddington, UK ~ Reportedly the first white female reggae, dancehall MC. As a solo artist best known for 1991's Get Over It and 1996's Everybody. Led hip-hop, house, trip-hop collective the E-Zee Possee. Has worked with Jesus Loves You, Erasure (Take A Chance On Me), Giorgio Moroder, and Boy George
October 15, 1959 ~ Trip hop, IDM, electronica keyboardist Dr Alex Paterson, full name Duncan Alexander Robert Paterson, born in London, UK ~ Influenced by Brian Eno, Cluster, Kraftwerk. Co-founding and sole constant member of ambient house group the Orb, known for the UK top 20 hits Little Fluffy Clouds, Perpetual Dawn, Blue Room, Assasin and Toxygene. Has previously served as roadie for Killing Joke. On occasion collaborated with Pigface, Kris Weston and Robert Fripp
October 15, 1959 ~ Jazz pianist Erik Vermeulen born in Ypres, Belgium ~ Leader and sideman. Has worked with a wide array of Belgian and international artists including Hein van de Geyn, Dré Pallemaerts, Slide Hampton, Clark Terry, Joe Lovano, Steve Grossman, David Schnitter, Art Farmer, Toots Thielemans, Philip Catherine, Barre Phillips, Erwin Vann, Pierre Bernard, Nicolas Thys, Stephane Galland, and Ben Sluijs
October 15, 1957 ~ Music critic, journalist, author, guitarist Greg Tate born in Dayton, Ohio, USA ~ Dubbed “the Godfather of Hip-hop Journalism.” Best known as contributor on black culture and music for the Village Voice, initially as a freelancer starting in 1981 and as a staff writer from 1987 through 2005. His publications hace also been published in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Down Beat, JazzTimes, Rolling Stone, VIBE, and other journals. Authored a number of books, starting with Flyboy In The Buttermilk (Essays On Contemporary America) published in 1992. As a musician, guitarist best known for co-founding and leading the improvisational rock collective Burnt Sugar in 1999, merging funk, jazz, rock, reggae, soul, hip-hop, metal and contemporary classical music ~ Tate passed away in 2021October 15, 1957 ~ Singer Paul Engemann, full name Paul Robert Engemann, born in USA ~ Member of Device, member of Animotion. Frequent collaborator of Giorgio Moroder. As a solo artist best known for Scarface (Push It To The Limit) from the Scarface soundtrack. Also known for Face To Face, Shannon's Eyes, Brain Power, To Be Number One, Neverending Story, American Dream and Reach Out
October 15, 1956 ~ Rockabily, rock & roll singer Gene Vincent records Blues Stay Away From Me at Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee ~ Under the supervision of producer Ken Nelson, Gene Vincent and his backing unit the Blue Caps record Blues Stay Away From Me as well as Teenage Partner, Five Feet Of Lovin' and Cat Man
October 15, 1956 ~ Rock & roll singer, pianist Little Richard records Good Golly Miss Molly at J&M Studios, New Orleans, Louisiana ~ Written by John Marascalco and Robert Bumps Blackwell, the latter also serving as producer. Little Richard claimed he took the piano intro from Ike Turner's 1951 record Rocket '88 and the phrase “Good golly Miss Molly” from a Southern DJ named Jimmy Pennick. Released as a single in early 1958 it would reach top 10 Billboard R&B and has since become a rock & roll standard. Richard was backed by Lee Allen and Alvin Tyler on saxophones, Roy Montrell guitar, Frank Fields bass, and Earl Palmer drums
October 15, 1953 ~ Toriano Adaryll Jackson, commonly known as singer, guitarist Tito Jackson, born in Gary, Indiana, USA ~ Has recorded well over a dozen albums as a member of sibling outfit the Jackson 5, renamed to the Jacksons in the mid 1970s. The band has scored about a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits, and was especially popular at the turn of the 1970s scoring No.1 hits such as I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save, and I'll Be There. Later hits included Blame It On The Boogie, Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground), and State Of Shock, the latter a collaboration with the Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger. Starting in the early 2000s, Jackson has performed as a solo blues musician on the club circuit, served as a judge on talent contests, and recorded two solo albums. As a solo artist, he is best known for the single Get It Baby featuring Big Daddy Kane off his 2016 Tito Time album. Jackson was married to Delores Dee Dee Martes from 1972 through 1994, with whom he has three sons, Taj Jackson, Taryll Jackson, and TJ Jackson who comprised the R&B trio 3T. As a member of the Jackson 5, Jackson was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1997, the sibling act acknowledged for its own distinctive “bubblegum soul” sound, drawing from vocal groups, contemporary soul and R&B, and classic Motown. Jackson continued to perform with his siblings until his death at age 70 ~ Jackson passed away in 2024October 15, 1951 ~ Folk singer Alistair Hulett born in Glasgow, UK ~ Frontman and founder of folk punk band Roaring Jack. Has also worked with Fairport Convention's Dave Swarbrick, released a number of solo albums and formed the Malkies with whom he released one album ~ Hulett passed away in 2010
October 15, 1951 ~ Pop rock, glam rock singer Frank DiMino born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Lead singer of Angel from 1975 to 1981, rejoining on occasion. The band was discovered by Kiss guitarist Gene Simmons and known for their androgynous image. Slammed by rock critics and ridiculized by Frank Zappa in the song Punky's Whips, the band never achieved mass commercial succes but enjoyed a cult following. DiMino also worked with UFO guitarist Paul Raymond on the Paul Raymond Project
October 15, 1947 ~ Keyboardist, songwriter Rod Temperton, full name Rodney Lynn Temperton, born in Cleethorpes, UK ~ Early member of funk, disco outfit Heatwave, for whom he wrote a vast amount of the material including the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Boogie Nights and The Groove Line. Although he continued to write songs for Heatwave, Temperton departed the band after their Central Heating sophomore album to focus on his career as a songwriter. Temperton's biggest claim to fame is writing several of Michael Jackson's best known including Rock With You and Off The Wall for the 1978 Off The Wall album, and Thriller, The Lady In My Life, and Baby Be Mine for the 1982 Thriller album. Others who have recorded his songs include the Brothers Johnson (Stomp), George Benson (Give Me The Night), Bob James, James Ingram & Patti Austin (Baby Come To Me), Donna Summer, the Manhattan Transfer, Michael McDonald (Sweet Freedom), and Quincy Jones ~ Temperton passed away in 2016October 15, 1946 ~ Guitarist David Holt born in Gatesville, Texas, USA ~ Multiple Grammy Award-winner, including for the acclaimed 2000 Stellaluna album, known for preserving traditonal folk, mountain music and southern folktales. Worked with Doc Watson from 1998 until Watson's death in 2012. Also worked with Bill Mooney, Josh Goforth, and Bryan Sutton
October 15, 1946 ~ Nils Paul Danielsson, commonly known as jazz, free jazz double bassist Palle Danielsson, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Studied violin as a child before switching to bass. Danielsson has been playing professionally since his mid-teens, becoming a fixture on the Scandinavian jazz scene backing artists such as Jan Garbarek and Bobo Stenson and visiting American jazz musicians such as Bill Evans, George Russell, and Ben Webster. Danielsson is perhaps best known for his tenure with Keith Jarrett in the latter half of the 1970s, including on the acclaimed albums Belonging and My Song. Danielsson has recorded sporadically as a leader or co-leader, including on the 1992 collaborative album Togetherness with his sister Monica Dominique, and has appeared on albums by Steve Kuhn (Watch What Happens), Karin Krog, Cornelis Vreeswijk, Barre Phillips, Lee Konitz (Altissimo), Albert Mangelsdorff, Enrico Rava (The Pilgrim And The Stars), Collin Walcott (Grazing Dreams), Michel Petrucciani, Christof Lauer, and Peter Erskine ~ Danielsson passed away in 2024
October 15, 1946 ~ Pianist, singer, songwriter Richard Carpenter, full name Richard Lynn Carpenter, born in New Haven, Connecticut, USA ~ Alongside singer Karen Carpenter formed the sibling duo the Carpenters, known for a string of lush soft-rock hits, mostly in the 1970s, including Billboard top 10 hits such as (They Long To Be) Close To You), We've Only Just Begun, Rainy Days And Mondays, the Leon Russell & Bonnie Bramlett-penned Superstar, Yesterday Once More and Top Of The World
October 15, 1943 ~ Ralph Gallant, commonly known as drummer Larrie Londin, born in Norfolk, Virginia, USA ~ Revered session, studio, touring drummer. Worked with the Headliners, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Junior Walker & the All-Stars, Elvis Presley, the Notorious Cherry Bombs, Emmylou Harris, Diana Ross, the Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Smokey Robinson, Joe Tex, Wilson Pickett, Lionel Richie, the Carpenters, Jerry Lee Lewis, Boots Randolph, Charley Pride, Randy Travis, Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton, BB King, Albert Lee, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, Jerry Reed, Rosanne Cash, Al Green, Dan Fogelberg, Reba McEntire, Journey, Steve Perry, Adrian Belew, and the Everly Brothers ~ Gallant passed away in 1992
October 15, 1939 ~ Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist Bert Wilson born in Evansville, Indiana, USA ~ Though he never achieved much mainstream success, Wilson is regarded as a creative improvisational player by jazz aficionados. Especially acclaimed for the albums Live At The Zoo released in 1988 and Endless Fingers six years later. Wilson has also appeared on albums by Sonny Simmons, James Zitro, Smiley Winters (Smiley Etc), and Essra Mohawk ~ Wilson passed away in 2013
October 15, 1939 ~ Jazz saxophonist Joe Roccisano, full name Joseph Lucian Rossicano, born in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA ~ Received a Grammy Award for arranging Green Earrings, recorded by Woody Herman for his 1978 Plays Chick Donald Walter And Woodrow album. Roccisano has recorded a handful of albums as a leader, noted particularly for The Shape I'm In released in 1993. As a sideman, he is present on albums by Don Ellis, Toshiko Akiyoshi (Long Yellow Road), the Manhattan Transfer, Frank Capp (Juggernaut Strikes Again), and Louie Bellson ~ Roccisano passed away in 1997October 15, 1938 ~ Afrobeat, highlife singer, saxophonist, keyboardist, trumpeter, guitarist, percussionist, songwriter Fela Kuti, full name Fela Anikulapo Kuti, born in Abeokuta, British Nigeria ~ Regarded as one the most influential musicians to come out of Nigeria. Pioneered Afrobeat, merging traditional Yoruba with funk and jazz. Staunch critic of Nigeria's military junta. Rose to fame with his Africa '70 ensemble in the 1970s, reaching a worldwide audience ~ Kuti passed away in 1997
October 15, 1938 ~ Marvin Earl Johnson, commonly known as R&B singer, pianist, songwriter Marv Johnson, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Notable for recording Come To Me, the very first release on Tamla in 1959, the label which later became Motown. Also known for You Got What It Takes and I Love The Way You Love, both reaching the top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. Johnson would remain with Motown well through the 1970s, working in sales and promotion, as well as write songs for Tyrone Davis, Johnnie Taylor and notably Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation, a 1973 R&B hit for the Dells ~ Johnson passed away in 1993
October 15, 1938 ~ Guitarist, songwriter Robert Ward, full name Robert Jeryl Ward, born in Luthersville, Georgia, USA ~ Founder of the Ohio Untouchables, a band that would later become the Ohio Players. Ward remained with the Untouchables, including on their best known song and Ward's signature song Your Love Is Amazing, until 1965, leaving before the name change. Ward was seen as an unreliable leader, and would regularly get into fights with band members or walk offstage in the middle of a set ~ Ward passed away in 2008