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 2, 2022 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Mary McCaslin passed away in Hemet, California, USA ~ Influenced by Marty Robbins, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Hedy West, the Beatles, the Bee Gees. Actively recording since the late 1960s with over a dozen albums to her name. Known for her open guitar tunings and distinctive vocal style. Had her songs recorded by the likes of Tom Russell, Bill Staines, Gretchen Peters (Prairie In The Sky), David Bromberg, Kate Wolf, Stan Rogers, and Còig ~ McCaslin was born in 1946October 2, 2021 ~ Guitarist, composer Sebastião Tapajós passed away in Santarem, Brazil ~ Actively recording since the early 1960s with over 50 albums to his name. Composed the soundtrack to the local film Lendas Amazonicas released in 1998. Has collaborated with artists such as Gilson Pernazzetta, João Cortez, Mauricio Einhorn, Paulinho Noguiera, Nilson Chavez, and Jane Duboc ~ Tapajós was born in 1943
October 2, 2018 ~ Engineer, producer Geoff Emerick, full name Geoffrey Ernest Emerick, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Well-known for his association with the Beatles, noted for engineering the albums Revolver, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Abbey Road. Has also engineered albums for the likes of the Zombies, Jackie Lomax, Matt Monro, Paul McCartney, Stealers Wheel, Nazareth, Robin Trower, Steeleye Span, Mott The Hoople, UFO, and John Wetton. Served as producer for Mary Hopkin (Post Card), Badfinger, Split Enz, Elvis Costello (Get Happy), and Big Country ~ Emerick was born in 1945
October 2, 2017 ~ Rock, heartland rock, roots rock, country rock, pop rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Tom Petty, full name Thomas Earl Petty, passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Fronted Mudcrutch, which evolved into Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Solo and with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Petty has sold over 80 million records making him one of the all-time best-selling artists. Known for songs such as Don't Do Me Like That, Refugee, Waiting, Don't Come Around Here No More, Learning To Fly, I Won't Back Down, Free Fallin' and You Don't Know How It Feels. Also a member of supergroup the Traveling Wilburys alongside George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne. The Wilburys had initially intended their first song, Handle With Care, as a one-off for the B-side of Harrison's This Is Love single. The result however was judged too good for that purpose and they decided to record an entire album ~ Petty was born in 1950October 2, 2016 ~ Violinist, conductor Neville Marriner passed away in London, UK ~ Worked with the London Symphony Orchestra, Thurston Dart, Peter Gibbs, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Reginald Jacques, Boyd Neel, the London Mozart Players, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Gulbenkian Orchestra, and the Vienna Philharmonic ~ Marriner was born in 1924
October 2, 2015 ~ Jazz bassist Coleridge Goode, full name George Coleridge Emerson Goode, passed away in London, UK ~ Best known for his association with saxophonist Joe Harriott. Also worked with Johnny Claes, Eric Winstone, Lauderic Caton, Dick Katz, Ray Ellington, Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli, Tito Burns, Chris McGregor, Dudu Pukwana, Ronnie Beer, Laurie Allan, Gwigwi Mrwebi, Laurie Morgan, and Michael Garrick ~ Goode was born in 1914
October 2, 2014 ~ Jazz pianist, composer, arranger Ray Santisi passed away in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Played with Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Mel Tormé, Irene Kral, Herb Pomeroy, Natalie Cole, Buddy DeFranco, Gábor Szabó, Milt Jackson, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Carol Sloane, Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Benny Golson, Boots Mussulli, Shelly Manne, Donald Byrd, Kenny Burrell, Hank Mobley, Duke Jordan, and Bob Moses ~ Santisi was born in 1933
October 2, 2012 ~ James George Tomkins, commonly known as guitarist, arranger Big Jim Sullivan, passed away in Billinghurst, UK ~ Worked with Sid Gilbert, Johnny Duncan, Vince Taylor, Janice Peters, Vince Eager, Marty Wilde, the Wildcats, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Billy Fury, Frank Ifield, Frankie Vaughan, Helen Shapiro, Johnny Hallyday, Freddie & the Dreamers, Cilla Black, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield, Alexis Korner, Blues Incorporated, Georgie Fame, Little Richard, Del Shannon, the Walker Brothers, Donovan, David Bowie, Benny Hill, the New Seekers, Thunderclap Newman, Love Affair, Long John Baldry, Marmalade, the Small Faces, Rolf Harris, George Harrison, the Amazing Blondes, Serge Gainsbourg, Frank Zappa (200 Motels), the Who, James Last, Derek Lawrence, Duncan McKenzie, Dave Berry, Françoise Hardy, Eddy Mitchell, Jimmy Page, Cliff Richard, Clinton Ford, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Alvin Stardust, Petula Clark, Jackie Trent, Sandie Shaw, Chris Farlowe, Ken Dodd, and Overlanders ~ Tomkins was born in 1941
October 2, 2012 ~ Clifton Howard Vandevender, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, songwriter Van Howard, passed away in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Best known for fronting Ray Price's backing unit the Cherokee Cowboys from 1954 through 1958. Also worked with Jim Reeves, Johnny & Jack, Slim Whitman, Faron Young, Webb Pierce, Red Sovine, Hank Williams, and Lefty Frizzell ~ Vandevender was born in 1929
October 2, 2009 ~ John Rivas, commonly known as hip-hop, electro DJ Mr Magic, passed away in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Prominent radio DJ, credited by some for hosting the first radio rap show starting in 1979 on New York's WHBI and moving to WBLS by the early 1980s. As a recording artist known for the 1984 12" Magic's Message (There's A Better Way). Closely associated with the Juice Crew, fronted by Magic's on-air assistant Marley Marl ~ Rivas was born in 1956
October 2, 2005 ~ Julius Russell, commonly known as comedian, poet, dancer Nipsey Russell, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as a TV personality appearing on numerous game shows from the 1960s through the 1990s and a regular on Late Night With Conan O'Brien during the show's early years. To pop audiences known for starring as the Tin Man in the 1978 film version of The Wiz alongside Ted Ross, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross ~ Russell was born in 1918October 2, 2002 ~ Singer, internet personality Jacob Sartorius, full name Rolf Jacob Sartorius, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Became an internet sensation from posting comedy skits on Vine and lip-syncing on Musical.ly and TikTok. Has released a number of recordings, starting with the single Sweatshirt in 2016
October 2, 2001 ~ Saxophonist, composer, producer Manny Albam passed away in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, USA ~ Dropped out of school to join Muggsy Spanier. Was mentored in arranging by fellow bandmember Budd Johnson while in Georgie Auld's band. Went on to play with bandleaders such as Charlie Barnet and Charlie Spivak, then on to jazz collaborating, both as a sideman and as leader, with Count Basie, Stan Getz, Bob Brookmeyer, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Hank Jones, Mel Lewis, Art Farmer, Urbie Green, and Milt Hinton. Arranged Leonard Bernstein's score for West Side Story in 1959. Albam would continue to work as an arranger, but would turn more and more to teaching ~ Albam was born in 1922
October 2, 1998 ~ Orven Grover Autry, commonly known as singer, actor Gene Autry passed away in Studio City, California, USA ~ Nicknamed “the Singing Cowboy” Autry appeared in over 90 movies from the mid 1930s throught the mid 1950s. Known for songs such as Back In The Saddle Again, At Mail Call Today, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, and Don't Fence Me In ~ Autry was born in 1907October 2, 1991 ~ Jackie Lee Midkiff, commonly known as country singer, songwriter Jackie Lee, born in Maryville, Tennessee, USA ~ Released his She Does debut single in 2014. The song was written by Kelley Lovelace and Neil Thrasher, originaly put on hold by Kenny Chesney, and would be a moderate country hit for Lee
October 2, 1990 ~ Singer Janet Jackson releases Love Will Never Do (Without You), lifted off her Rhythm Nation 1814 album ~ Produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who co-wrote the song with Janet Jackson, Love Will Never Do (Without You) has Jackson singing in both a lower and higher register. Jam & Lewis had originally envisioned the song to be performed as a duet with a male singer, possibly their compatriot Prince, yet when Jackson sang the lower register “like some guy would do” the producer duo loved the results so much they ditched the duet idea. Love Will Never Do (Without You) would reach No.1 Billboard Hot 100, making it the fourth charttopper off the album, preceded by Miss You Much, Escapade, and Black Cat. All seven singles off the album would reach top 5, making Jackson the first artists to score seven Billboard Hot 100 top 5 hits off one album
October 2, 1990 ~ Singer Whitney Houston releases I'm Your Baby Tonight, lead single off her album of the same name ~ Following accusations of “not being black enough”, Whitney Houston would team up with new jack swing hitmakers Kenneth Babyface Edmonds and LA Reid who had recently produced Houston's then boyfriend Bobby Brown's Don't Be Cruel album. The collaboration proved to be successful, as I'm Your Baby Tonight written and produced by Edmonds and Reid would be critically acclaimed, managed to recapture black audiences, earned the singer a Grammy Award nomination, and rose to the top of the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, becoming her eighth American No.1 hit which at the time tied her with Madonna as the female artist with the most No.1 hits. The song also did well internationally, as it reached top 10 in over a dozen countries. Retrospectively, the song would be widely considered to be one of Houston's all-time best songs. LA Reid would later speak to Billboard about I'm Your Baby Tonight: “We wanted to come up with something that was different than anything Whitney had sung, so we approached it from that angle. We wanted to give her a new direction, and pick up where we felt she was lacking. We felt like she needed more of a black base”
October 2, 1987 ~ Eoin French, commonly known as indie electronic musician Talos, born ~ Member of Hush War Cry in his early twenties. French debuted as a solo artist in 2013, going by the stage name Talos for the mythical Talos, a giant automaton of bronze that protected Crete. French has released three full-length albums, starting with Wild Alee in 2017 which was hailed as “a spectacularly assured debut deserving of a wide audience” by the Irish Times upon its release. French has studied architecture and continued to lecture at the University College Cork, his alma mater, parallel to his musical career. Upon hearing of his passing, singer Emma Langford stated “Ireland sadly lost a very talented Irish artist, (…) he made beautiful ethereal music and when he played the castle in Limerick it rang out over the river like siren song” ~ French passed away in 2024
October 2, 1987 ~ Theodore Taylor, commonly known as gospel, R&B singer Ted Taylor, passed away in Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA ~ Influenced by Little Willie John, Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson. Started his career singing with the Mighty Clouds Of Joy gospel group. Would go on to sing secular R&B with the Cadets and the Jacks, which were basically the same group. Sang lead on the former's Do You Wanna Rock (Hey Little Girl) and I Cry, and on the latter's Away and My Darling. Taylor ventured out on his own by 1957 and is known for being the first to record Be Ever Wonderful in 1959, notably covered by Dee Dee Sharp in 1963 and by Joe Hinton in 1968. As a solo artist Taylor would also reach national succes with Stay Away From My Baby, a Billboard R&B top 20 hit in 1965 ~ Taylor was born in 1934October 2, 1981 ~ Jazz, classical pianist, singer, actress Hazel Scott, full name Hazel Dorothy Scott, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Child prodigy. Outspoken critic of racial discrimation. Popular jazz, blues, boogie-woogie nightclub performer during the 1930s and 1940s. One of the first Afro-Caribbean women to land respectable roles in major Hollywood films including I Dood It alongside Lena Horne, The Heat's On and Rhapsody In Blue ~ Scott was born in 1920
October 2, 1981 ~ Jazz, swing, big band trumpeter Johnny Windhurst, full name John Henry Windhurst, passed away in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Bix Beiderbecke, Bobby Hackett, Wild Bill Davison, and Bunny Berigan. Worked with Eddie Condon, Sidney Bechet, Art Hodes, James P Johnson, Louis Armstrong, Nappy Lamare, Ruby Braff, George Wettling, Jack Teagarden, Barbara Lea, Buell Neidlinger, Cutty Cutshall, Cliff Leeman, and Edmond Hall ~ Windhurst was born in 1926October 2, 1981 ~ Trumpeter, composer Peter Evans born ~ Not to be confused with musicologist Peter Evans. Evans has worked with a host of modern artists including Weasel Walter, Dave Taylor, Evan Parker, Matana Roberts, Tyshawn Sorey, John Zorn, Mary Halvorson, Peter Brötzmann, Aaron Burnett, Okkyung Lee, and Nate Wooley
October 2, 1978 ~ Albert Brunies, commonly known as jazz cornetist, bandleader Abbie Brunies, passed away in Biloxi, Mississippi, USA ~ Quintessential New Orleans bandleader, helpful in developing the vibrant music scene in New Orleans, Louisiana, from the 1920s through the 1940s. Influential especially on cornetist Papa Ray Ronnei. Brunies is perhaps best known for leading the house band at the Halfway House, a group which at times included players such as Charlie Cordella, Joe Loyacano, Leon Roppolo, Sidney Arodin, and Leo Adde. In the 1940s, Brunies relocated to Biloxi, Mississippi, where he led the Brunies Brothers Dixieland Jazz Band ~ Brunies was born in 1900
October 2, 1978 ~ Singer, actress, model, songwriter Ayumi Hamasaki born in Fukuoka, Japan ~ Released her debut album A Song For xx in 1999 and has been recording steadily since. Known for songs such as Love (Destiny), Boys And Girls, M, Never Ever, Voyage, Heaven, Sparkle, You Were, and Crossroad. Has sold over 50 million records
October 2, 1978 ~ R&B, soul, pop sibling group the Pointer Sisters release Fire, lead single off their Energy album ~ Reportedly, Bruce Springsteen wrote the song for his idol Elvis Presley, whom he sent a demo. As Presley died shortly thereafter, nothing came of it. The song would first be recorded by Springsteen's friend Robert Gordon for his 1978 Fresh Fish Special album. The definitive hit version, however, would be the Pointer Sisters' sultry, smoldering take. It became one of their two highest-charting singles, which just like their other big hit Slow Hand peaked at No.2 Billboard Hot 100. Springsteen had considered to include the song on his own Darkness On The Edge Of Town or The River, but decided it fit neither album. Eventually, Springsteen did release it himself, a 1978 live performance of the song at Winterland, San Francisco, issued as the second and final single off his Live 1975-85 box set