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 23, 1966 ~ Rock guitarist, singer Jimi Hendrix records Hey Joe at De Lane Lea, London, UK ~ The authorship of the song has been contested, both Dino Valenti and Billy Roberts being named as possible authors. It would become a rock standard recorded by many, most likely first recorded by garage rockers the Leaves. The best known version however would be Jimi Hendrix' who released it as a single produced by Chas Chandler, b/w Stone Free, in December 1966. It has since become a standard covered by hundreds of artists
October 23, 1965 ~ Petra Pierrette Burger, commonly known as classical crossover singer, musical actress, composer Petra Berger, born in Amstelveen, the Netherlands ~ Formed Chess with her sister Lida Berger, known for I Know Him So Well and Never Change A Winning Team. Has played in musicals such as Cyrano De Bergerac, The Phantom Of The Opera, Beauty & The Beast. Released her solo debut album Eternal Woman in 2001
October 23, 1964 ~ Singer Petula Clark releases Downtown, lifted off her album of the same name ~ Written by Tony Hatch, Downtown tells of the desire to spend time in an urban downtown as a means of escape from everyday life. At the time Petula Clark, already a well-established singer in her native UK, was focused primarily on her career in French, Italian, and German-speaking territories, yet if Hatch would supply her with the right song, she would consider an English-language song. Downtown became a hit in America, making her the first English female singer of the rock era to reach No.1 on the American pop charts, and only the second overall after Vera Lynn with Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart. The feat was remarkable, as she did not even promote the song in the USA. Clark would later recall: “The Ed Sullivan Show had been calling every day while I was on tour in Canada, saying ‘You've got to get here.’ I couldn't get there. Eventually I got there, and the record was No.1”
October 23, 1963 ~ Pop singer Bobby Vinton records My Heart Belongs To Only You ~ Written by Frank Daniels and Dorothy Daniels. Previously recorded by Bette McLaurin, June Christy, and by Jackie Wilson, Bobby Vinton's 1964 single, featuring Warm And Tender on the flip side, would become the most successful, reaching top 10 Billboard Hot 100October 23, 1962 ~ Punk rock, alternative rock guitarist, bassist Ken Fleming born in Winnipeg, Canada ~ Got his start in music as bassist for hardcore punk outfit the Unwanted, remaining with the band through 1985 and present on the 1984 Shattered Silence album. Would go on to work with Grey Skies, SNFU, Econoline Crush, Dog Eat Dogma, Ani Kyd, the Real McKenzies, Isolation 3, Pervcore, and Schulz
October 23, 1961 ~ In its 5th week on the charts, Runaround Sue by Dion hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Singer Dion, full name Dion DiMucci, had risen to fame as lead singer of Dion & the Belmonts, scoring several hits in the late 1950s including notably A Teenager In Love and Where Or When. DiMucci, however, split the quartet and venturing out on his own would score his biggest hit yet with a self-penned song, co-written with then-popular songwriter Ernie Maresca. The song tells of a disloyal lover, Runaround Sue, who loves to be worshipped but as soon as you want a commitment, she's gone. Two years after the song was released, DiMucci married a girl who was actually named Susan. DiMucci would later comment his wife keeps telling people the song is about her, even though she knows it isn't: “She goes around telling everybody, ‘Yeah, I'm Runaround Sue.’ I said, ‘Why do you tell people that?’ She says, ‘They remember me, ’ She said, ‘If I don't tell them that, they won't remember me’”October 23, 1960 ~ Jazz alto, tenor saxophonist Porter Kilbert passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Worked with Nat Towles, Benny Carter, Willard Brown, Curly Russell, Max Roach, Oscar Bradley, Ulysses Livingston, Sonny White, Teddy Brannon, Bumps Myer, Gene Porter, Alton Moore, JJ Johnson, Shorty Haughton, Claude Dunson, Snooky Young, Freddie Webster, Gerald Wilson, Jake Porter, Roy Eldridge, Red Saunders, Coleman Hawkins, Fats Navarro, Milt Jackson, Hank Jones, Clarence Samuels, Horace Henderson, Quincy Jones, Phil Woods, and Carmen McRae ~ Kilbert was born in 1921
October 23, 1959 ~ Alfred Matthew Yankovic, commonly known as singer Weird Al Yankovic, born in Lynwood, California, USA ~ Known for his humurous songs, often parodying specific pop songs and pop culture in general. Among his best known are Eat It parodying Michael Jackson's Beat It, Like A Surgeon parodying Madonna's Like A Virgin, and White & Nerdy parodying Chamillionaire's Ridin'. Also an in-demand music video director, having worked with Ben Folds, Hanson, the Black Crowes, and the Presidents of the United States
October 23, 1956 ~ Jazz singer Dianne Reeves born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ While still in high school, Reeves was discovered by Clark Terry. Reeves sang with Stanley Turrentine, Lenny White, joined Caldera, formed Night Flight with Billy Childs, toured with Harry Belafonte. Has been named a successor to Dinah Washington and Carmen McRae and her sound has been compared to Patti Austin, Vanessa Rubin, Anita Baker, and Regina Belle. As a solo artist Reeves has been releasing records since the early 1980s
October 23, 1956 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Dwight Yoakam. full name Dwight David Yoakam, born in Pikeville, Kentucky, USA ~ Known for songs such as Guitars Cadillacs, Little Sister, the Buck Owens-duet Streets Of Bakersfield, I Sang Dixie, I Got You, You're The One, It Only Hurts When I Cry, Ain't That Lonely Yet, and A Thousand Miles From Nowhere
October 23, 1956 ~ Jazz trombonist Joel Helleny born in Paris, Texas, USA ~ Worked with Mel Lewis, Roy Eldridge, Benny Goodman, the Memphis Nighthawks, Buck Clayton, Jimmy McGriff, George Wein, Frank Wess, Randy Sandke, Warren Vaché Jr, Kenny Davern, Scott Hamilton, Greg Cohen, Keith Ingham, and Marty Grosz ~ Helleny passed away in 2009October 23, 1955 ~ Pianist, hornist, percussionist, film composer Graeme Revell born in Auckland, New Zealand ~ Rose to fame in the 1980s as frontman of industrial, electronic outfit SPK. After the band folded has worked primarily as a film composer, well known credits including the soundtracks to The Crow, From Dusk To Dawn, Bride Of Chucky, Lara Croft Tomb Raider, and Sin City
October 23, 1952 ~ Drummer Pierre Moerlen born in Colmar, France ~ Member of Gong, present on acclaimed albums such as Angel's Egg and You. Closely associated with Mike Oldfield, appearing on about half a dozen of Oldfield's albums starting with 1975's Ommadawn. Has also worked with Steve Hillage, Slap Happy, Mick Taylor, Sally Oldfield, Phil Lynott, and Biréli Lagrène ~ Moerlen passed away in 2005
October 23, 1951 ~ Carlos Alberto Garcia, commonly known as singer, songwriter Charly García, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ One of the most influential Latin American rock singers. Member of two of Argentina's most important bands, Sui Generis in the 1970s, Serú Girán in the 1980s. Member of progressive rock outfit Las Maquia De Hacer Pajaros. Member of folk-rock supergroup PorsuigiecoOctober 23, 1951 ~ David Steinfath, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, songwriter David Wills born in Pulaski, Tennessee, USA ~ As a singer debuted in 1975 with the album Barrooms To Bedrooms. Regularly hit the country charts through the late 1980s, best known for songs such as There's A Song On The Jukebox, The Eyes Of A Stranger and Miss Understanding. Staff songwriter for BMI and its subsidiairy Pride Music Group. Co-wrote George Straitt's If You're Thinking You Want A Stranger (There's One Coming Home) with Blake Mevis, co-wrote Garth Brooks' Wild Horses with Bill Shore
October 23, 1950 ~ Singer Al Jolson passed away in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Dubbed the “King of Blackface” performers, performing with a tainted blackface depicting African-Americans, though he has been credited to fight racism on Broadway as early as 1911. Starred in the first talking picture The Jazz Singer in 1927, followed by a series of successful musical films during the 1930s. The first to perform for WW2 troops overseas. The first to perform for the military overseas during the Korean war, a tour which left him physically exhausted. He was posthumously awarded the Medal for Merit by Defense Secretary Marshall ~ Jolson was born in 1886October 23, 1949 ~ Albert Wesley Wilson, commonly known as jazz pianist Buster Wilson, passed away ~ Worked with King Oliver, Dink Johnson, Charlie Lawrence, Mutt Carey, Jimmie Noone, Curtis Mosby, Paul Howard, Lionel Hampton, Les Hite, Jelly Roll Morton, Mutt Carey, Ed Garland, Jimmie Noone, Kid Ory, Bud Scott, and Zutty Singleton ~ Wilson was born in 1897
October 23, 1949 ~ Krautrock, progressive rock, electronic drummer, keyboardist Harald Grosskopf born in Hildesheim, Germany ~ Important figure in German Krautrock. Early member of a then-unknown the Scorpions during the late 1960s. Closely associated with Klaus Schulze, including on the pivotal Moondawn released in 1976. Member of Wallenstein and Ashra. Co-founded Lilli Berlin, remaining with the band from 1980 through 1983. Acclaimed for his 1980 Synthesist solo debut album, considered a cult classic in German electronic music. Has also worked with the Cosmic Jokers, Joachim Witt, Bernd Kistenmacher, Mario Schönwäder, and 17 HippiesOctober 23, 1949 ~ Singer Perry Tavares, full name Perry Lee Tavares, born ~ Member of sibling R&B, disco outfit Tavares, known best for She's Gone, It Only Takes A Minute, Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel, Don't Take Away The Music and More Than A Woman, the latter notably featured on 1977 Saturday Night Fever soundtrack
October 23, 1949 ~ Free jazz, free improvisation cellist, composer Tristan Honsinger born in Burlington, Vermont, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Especially acclaimed for the 1996 Map Of Moods album and its 1999 follow-up A Camel's Kiss. Frequently collaborated with pianist Cecil Taylor and guitarist Derek Bailey. Member of the Henneman String Quartet and the ICP Orchestra. As a sideman present on recordings by Borbetomagus, Butch Morris, Anthony Braxton (October Meeting 1991), Tobias Delius, Alexander von Schlippenbach, and Sean Bergin ~ Honsinger passed away in 2023
October 23, 1949 ~ Michael Richard Burston, commonly known as metal, hard rock guitarist Würzel, born in Cheltenham, UK ~ Best known as Motörhead guitarist from 1985 through 1995, playing on six studio albums, starting with 1986's Orgasmatron, and two live-albums. Has since guested with the band on occasion, released a modest amount of solo recordings, and was reportedly working on new material at the time of his death ~ Burston passed away in 2011
October 23, 1947 ~ Patsy Lewis, commonly known as soul, R&B, gospel singer Pat Lewis, born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Got her start in music in the early 1960s, forming the Adorables which also included her sister Dianne Lewis. Released her Can't Shake It Loose solo debut single in 1966. Over the next few years Lewis recorded several more singles, some of which later became popular among Northern soul aficionados, and worked as a backing singer for Motown. From the early 1970s onward, Lewis became a regular backing singer for the likes of Aretha Franklin, Isaac Hayes, David Porter, Tommy Smiley, David Ruffin, and George Clinton. In the late 1980s, Lewis was signed to the UK-based Motorcity Records label for whom she sang with the reformed girl group the Andantes, as a solo artist, and worked as arranger on numerous of the label's recordings ~ Lewis passed away in 2024October 23, 1946 ~ Folk singer Agnes Buen Garnås born in Telemark, Norway ~ Comes from a renowned musical family, which included her brothers fiddlers Hauk Buen and Knut Buen with whom she has also worked. Has recorded over a dozen albums since the mid 1970s, consisting of ancient unaccompanied Norwegian ballads. Outside of folk circles, Garnås is perhaps best known for collaborating with saxophonist Jan Garbarek on the late 1980s, early 1990s albums Rosensfole and Twelve Moons ~ Garnås passed away in 2024
October 23, 1945 ~ Jazz, R&B saxophonist Ernie Watts, full name Ernest James Watts, born in Norfolk, Virginia, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Buddy Rich, Doc Severinsen, Marvin Gaye, Torsten de Winkel, Tom Coster, Charlie Haden, Gene Ammons, Paul Anka, Willie Bobo, Brass Fever, Kenny Burrell, Donald Byrd, Jennifer Holliday, Lee Ritenour, David Axelrod, Joe Cocker, Boz Scaggs, Gloria Gaynor, Sarah Vaughan, Aaron Neville, Bill Withers, Natalie Cole, Randy Crawford, James Taylor, Paul McCartney, Patti Austin, Bob Seger, Deniece Williams, Marvin Gaye (Let's Get It On), Maria Muldaur, Aretha Franklin, Michael Franks, Bonnie Raitt (Takin' My Time), Cheryl Lynn, Charlie Haden, Betty Wright, Cher, Bobby Hutcherson, Barbra Streisand, Jim Messina, JJ Johnson, Teena Marie, Quincy Jones, Glenn Frey, John Mayall, Randy Newman (Trouble In Paradise), Carmen McRae, Helen Reddy, Donna Summer, and Gerald Wilson
October 23, 1943 ~ Benjamin Anzelwitz, commonly known as bandleader, violinist, songwriter Ben Bernie, passed away in Hollywood, California, USA ~ One of the first generation of stars, alongside Paul Whiteman, Ted Lewis, Al Jolson. Started in vaudeville. First to record Sweet Georgia Brown which he co-wrote with Maceo Pinkard and Kenneth Casey, the song would become a jazz standard ~ Bernie was born in 1891