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 20, 1980 ~ Twin brothers Gary Jarman and Ryan Jarman born in Wakefield, UK ~ Formed indie rock sibling outfit the Cribs, with Gary on bass, Ryan on guitars and younger brother Ross Jarman on drums. Best known for songs such as Hey Scenesters, Mirror Kissers and Men's Needs. From 2008 through 2011 guitarist Johnny Marr of the Smiths fame also played with the band
October 20, 1978 ~ Actor, comedian, guitarist Fausto Fanti, full name Fausto Fanti Jasmin, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Co-founding member of comedy troupe Hermes & Renato, enjoying a cult following during the late 1990s and early 2000s through appearances on MTV Brasil. Original guitarist of the parodic metal band Massacration, present on the albums The Gates Of Metal Fried Chicken Of Death and Good Blood Headbanguers ~ Fanti passed away in 2014
October 20, 1978 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer Paul Wilson, also known as Paul Pablo Wilson, born in Kinlochleven, UK ~ Member of Terra Diablo from 2000 through 2005, with whom he recorded five albums and regularly opened for Snow Patrol, frequently contributing guitar and keyboards on-stage for the latter joining the band as an official member in 2005, first appearing on the 2006 Eyes Open album
October 20, 1978 ~ Pop singer, guitarist, drummer Venke Knutson born in Birkeland, Norway ~ Released her full-length Scare debut album in 2004, which included the hit singles Panic and Scared. Subsequent hits included Just A Minute, Holiday, Walk The Walk and Jealous 'Cause I Love You, all of which reached top 10 in her native Norway
October 20, 1977 ~ Scriptwriter, lyricist Arnold B Horwitt passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Wrote scripts and lyrics for plays, songs and Broadway shows including Make Mine Manhattan, The Girls Against The Boys, and Plain & Fancy. The latter would include Young & Foolish introduced in the show by David Daniels and Gloria Marlowe. The song, co-written with Albert Hague, would become a standard covered by over 150 artists including the McGuire Sisters, Gogi Grant, the Lettermen, Tony Bennett, and Lesley Gore ~ Horwitt was born in 1918October 20, 1977 ~ Alternative rock drummer Nick Hodgson, full name Nicholas James David Hodgson, born in Leeds, UK ~ Co-founding member, drummer of Kaiser Chiefs. Left the band in 2012, to be replaced by Vijay Mistry. Hodgson is present on the band's best known including Oh My God, I Predict A Riot, Ruby and Never Miss A Beat, all of which reached the British top 10
October 20, 1977 ~ Lynyrd Skynyrd-members Cassie Gaines, Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines die in a plane crash near Gillsburg, Mississippi ~ While on tour a Convair CV-240 carrying several Lynyrd Skynyrd-members and entourage between shows ran out of fuel outside Gillsburg, Mississippi and crashed. Singers Ronnie Van Zant and Cassie Gaines, guitarist Steve Gaines, the band's road manager, the pilot and co-pilot would be killed in the crash. Several other passengers would be severely injured but survived the crash ~ Cassie Gaines was born 1948, Van Zant was born 1948, Steve Gaines was born [artist-steve-gaines]
October 20, 1973 ~ Gianpiero Piras, commonly known as death metal, black metal, doom metal guitarist Gian Pyres, born in London, UK ~ Best known for his association with extreme metal group Cradle Of Filth, appearing on the albums Cruelty And The Beast, Midian, Bitter Suites To Succubi, and Lovecraft & Witch Hearts. Pyres has worked with the likes of Solstice, Dragonlord, Bal-Sagoth, and Theatres Des Vampires
October 20, 1973 ~ Maurizio Lobina, comonly known as dance, dance-pop singer Maury Lobina, born in Asti, Italy ~ Member of Eiffel 65, known for their 1998 hit Blue (Da-ba-dee) which hit the top 10 across continental Europe, the UK and America. Subsequent releases, such as Too Much Heaven and Move Your Body, would also become hits in Europe but fail to chart in America. Also formed the duo Bloom 06 with Eiffel bandmate Jeffrey Jey
October 20, 1971 ~ Singer, actress, TV personality Dannii Minogue, full name Danielle Jane Minogue, born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Sister of pop singer, actress Kylie Minogue. First gained attention on the TV show Young Talent Time and for her role as Emma Jackson in the soap opera Home And Away. Debuted as a singer with the album Love And Kisses in 1991, which spawned the hit singles Love And Kisses, Baby Love, Jump To The Beat and Success. The follow-up album, 1993's Get Into You, would be less successful and apart from an occasional return to pop music Minogue has since mostly focused on a career in the theatre, earning critical acclaim and awards
October 20, 1971 ~ Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr, commonly known as rapper Snoop Dogg, born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Rose to fame in the early 1990s, initially as protegé of Dr Dre. Prominently present on Dre's 1992 pivotal The Chronic solo debut album. Would release his own Doggystyle solo debut album, produced by Dre, the following year. The album would reach quadruple platinum status and spawn the hits What's My Name and Gin And Juice, both considered landmark recordings from the golden age of rap. Has since recorded well over a dozen albums, mostly to critical acclaim and commercial success. Closely associated with 213, the Eastsidaz, Wiz Khalifa, the Broadus Boyz, and DPGC. Well known songs include Still A G Thang, Beautiful featuring Pharrell Williams and Charlie Wilson, Drop It's Like It's Hot featuring Pharrell, and Sensual Seduction, all of which reached top 20 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100
October 20, 1965 ~ Aidan Zammit Lupi, commonly known as jazz, R&B, pop keyboardist, guitarist, singer Aidan Zammit, born in Sliema, Malta ~ Alongside Mike Francis and Mario Puccioni a member of Mystic Diversions, the trio recording about half a dozen albums. Member of Goblin, with whom he composed and recorded a significant number of soundtracks. Touring keyboardist for the likes of Marco Mengoni, Il Volo, Claudio Baglioni and Gianni Morandi. In-demand songwriter and collaborator, has worked in one capacity or another with acts such as Andrea Bocelli, Nicola Piovani, Bungaro, Antonello Venditti, and Angelo Branduardi. Released his Exposed solo debut album in 2019
October 20, 1965 ~ Alternative rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, bassist, percussionist Norman Blake born in Bellshill, UK ~ Member of a number of 1980s groups the Pretty Flowers, the Boy Hairdressers and notably BMX Bandits, co-writing some of the latter's best known including Disco Girl, Serious Drugs and Right Across The Street. Best known as lead singer and primary songwriter for Teenage Fanclub, which he co-founded with Raymond McGinley in 1989. The band is known mainly for a string of 1990s recordings including What You Do To Me, Mellow Doubt and the UK top 20 hit Ain't That Enough. Parallel to his career with the band Blake has collaborated with the likes of Eugene Kelly, the Trash Can Sinatras, Kevin Ayers, the Reindeer Section, Snowgoose, and with New Mendicats. Blake has also produced the Beep Seals' 2018 Things That Roar albumOctober 20, 1964 ~ Jepther McClymont, commonly known as roots reggae singer, songwriter Luciano, born in Davyton, Jamaica ~ Best known for 1990s hits such as Give My Love A Try, Shake It Up Tonight, It's Me Again Jah, and Who Could It Be. Has worked with producers such as Castro Brown, Freddie McGregor, Blacka Dread, Sly & Robbie, and Philip Fatis Burrell
October 20, 1964 ~ Singer Marie Daulne born in Isiro, Congo ~ Founder, lead singer of Zap Mama, best known for their 1993 sophomore Adventures In Afropea 1 album. Daulne has guested on records by Michael Franti (Listener Supported, Comin' To Gitcha), Common (Ferris Wheel), and DJ Krush (Danger Of Love)
October 20, 1963 ~ Pop, surf outfit the Beach Boys record Little Saint Nick at United Western Recorders, Hollywood, California ~ Produced by Brian Wilson. Written by Wilson and Mike Love, the latter earning co-writing credit after a lawsuit in 1990. Released the a few days before Christmas 1963 as a non-album single, featuring an a capella version of The Lord's Prayer on the flip side. Other versions of the song would appear on the band's 1964 The Beach Boys Christmas Album album and on reissues
October 20, 1962 ~ Edgardo Moroni, commonly known as jazz pianist, composer Dado Moroni, born in Genoa, Italy ~ Self-taught. Leader and sideman. Worked with Jimmy Woods, Freddie Hubbard, Clark Terry, Zoot Sims, Harry Sweets Edison, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, Hank Jones, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and Alvin QueenOctober 20, 1961 ~ Jazz drummer Audun Kleive born in Skien, Norway ~ Son of organist Kristoffer Kleive, brother of organist Iver Kleive. Worked with Terje Rypdal, Per Jorgensen, Jon Balke, Petter Wettre, Jan Bang, Erik Honoré, 1300 Oslo, Kari Bremnes, Arve Henriksen, Jan Gunnar Hoff, Marilyn Mazur, Eivind Sarset, Pierre Dørge, Thomas Gustafsson, Bendik Hofseth, Per Husby, the Magnetic North Orchestra, Silje Nergaard, and Lina Nyberg
October 20, 1961 ~ John Richard DeGiuli, commonly known as rock singer, guitarist Johnnie Dee, born in Montreal, Canada ~ Lead singer for Honeymoon Suite which he founded with guitarist Derry Grehan. The band is best known for songs such as New Girl Now and Feel It Again, both used in the 1980s TV series Miami Vice. Songs such as What Does It Take, Love Changes Everything, and Lookin' Out For Number One would also chart well in the band's native Canada. Dee released his Songs In Dee solo album in 2004October 20, 1958 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter Mark King, full name Mark Raymond King, born in Cowes, Isle of Wight ~ Lead singer, bassist of Level 42 known for his slap style playing of the bass guitar. Released his solo debut album, Influences, in 1984. Member of supergroup Gizmodrome, which also include the Police's Stewart Copeland, Adrian Belew and Vittorio Cosma
October 20, 1958 ~ Zouk singer, guitarist, bassist, percussionist Patrick Saint-Eloi born in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe ~ Leading figure in the Zouk genre. Co-lead singer of Kassav. Has also recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting in the 1980s ~ Saint-Eloi passed away in 2010
October 20, 1956 ~ Jazz guitarist, composer Martin Taylor born in Harlow, UK ~ Son of jazz bassist William Buck Taylor. Influenced by Django Reinhardt, Ted Greene, Kenny Burrell, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Nelson Riddle, Duke Ellington, and by Art Tatum. Worked with Lennie Hastings, Ike Isaacs, Stéphane Grappelli, Chet Atkins, David Grisman, Bryn Terfel, Sacha Distel, John Ethridge, Jack Emblow, Coleridge Goode, Steve Howe, Alan Barnes, Frank Vignola, and Tommy Emmanuel
October 20, 1955 ~ Harmonica player Mark Feltham born in Bermondsey, UK ~ Longtime member of Nine Below Zero. In-demand session musician. Worked with Rory Gallagher, the Alarm, Box Of Frogs, Anthony Moore, Mick Clarke, Roger Daltrey, Dave Kelly, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, New Model Army, Talk Talk, Scarlet Fantastic, Roachford, Godley & Creme, The The, Deacon Blue, Nazareth, Andrew Ridgeley, the Almighty, the Lightning Seeds, Annie Lennox, the Catherine Wheel, Joe Cocker, Oasis, Robbie Williams, Paul Carrack, PJ Proby, Mark Hollis, Texas, Roger Chapman, Mark Owen, Beth Gibbons, and Gary BarlowOctober 20, 1955 ~ Composer, pianist Ofer Ben-Amots born in Haifa, Israel ~ Perhaps best known for his chamber opera Fool's Paradise, initially intended for children, and for Avis Urbanis for amplified flute. Ben-Amots has written for stage, voice and orchestra, choir, and solo instruments. Ben-Amots is a professor at Colorado College and artistic director for the Center for Jewish Culture and Creativity
October 20, 1955 ~ Conductor, composer Thomas Newman, full name Thomas Montgomery Newman, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Son of composer Alfred Newman. Prolific film composer with numerous credits over a career spanning four decades. Notable credits include The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, Finding Nemo, the James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre, and Elemental