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 24, 2024 ~ Rodolfo Franklin II, commonly known as hip-hop producer, DJ, label executive Clark Kent, passed away in Green Brook Township, New Jersey, USA ~ Leads a crew of DJs called “the Supermen”, Franklin's moniker derived from the name of Superman's alter ego. DJ for rapper Dana Dane in the late 1980s. Got his first hit producing Junior MAFIA's Player's Anthem in 1995. Reaching No.7 on the Billboard R&B charts, No.13 Billboard Hot 100, Player's Anthem is one of the first hits to feature the Notorious BIG and the first recording that Lil' Kim appeared on. Franklin would go on to produce several other tracks for the Notorious BIG, as well as tracks for Skillz, Estelle, 50 Cent, Canibus, the Future Sound, the Original Flavor, and notably the remix version of Mariah Carey's 2001 Billboard Hot 100 No.2 hit Loverboy. Franklin passed away at age 58 of colon cancer ~ Franklin was born in 1967
October 24, 2023 ~ Hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal drummer Steve Riley passed away ~ Best known as a member of WASP during the mid to late 1980s, recording three albums with the band, and as a longtime member of the LA Guns, present on the band's best known including the 1988 LA Guns debut album, and its 1989 Cocked And Loaded follow-up. Riley can also be heard on albums by Roadmaster, Open Hand, George Lynch, and Bulletboys ~ Riley was born in 1956October 24, 2021 ~ Bluegrass, country banjoist Sonny Osborne passed away ~ Formed the Osborne Brothers with Bobby Osborne, best known for their 1967 Rocky Top hit single. In-demand session musician, member of the Nashville A-Team. Also worked with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, and Bill Monroe's backing unit the Bluegrass Boys ~ Osborne was born in 1937
October 24, 2018 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Tony Joe White passed away in Leiper's Fork, Tennessee, USA ~ Critically acclaimed. Highly admired by peers. Wrote and first recorded Polk Salad Annie, a song perhaps most closely associated with Elvis Presley who would adopt it as a live favorite. Wrote and first recorded Rainy Night In Georgia, covered by over a hundred artists including Brook Benton, Ray Charles, and Randy Crawford. Wrote Undercover Agent For The Blues and Steamy Windows, both first recorded by and hits for Tina Turner in her comeback period in the mid-1980s ~ White was born in 1943
October 24, 2018 ~ Melvin Ragin, commonly known as guitarist Wah Wah Watson, passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ As a member of the Funk Brothers played on key Motown recordings including by Gladys Knight, the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye (What's Going On), and the Four Tops. Released his sole solo album, the moderately received Elementary, in 1977. Remained an in-demand session musician for a wide array of R&B, pop and jazz artists well into the 2000s, appearing on albums by Buddy Miles, Quincy Jones (Body Heat), Etta James, Herbie Hancock, Freddie King, Bill Withers, Bobby Womack, the Pointer Sisters, Yvonne Fair (The Bitch Is Black), Eric Clapton, the Alessi Brothers, Smokey Robinson, Gato Barbieri, Michael Jackson (Off The Wall), Deniece Williams, Blondie (Autoamerican), Boz Scaggs, Brian McKnight, Coolio (My Soul), Angélique Kidjo, Angie Stone (Black Diamond), Boney James, Raphael Saadiq (Stone Rollin'), and Marcus Miller ~ Ragin was born in 1950
October 24, 2017 ~ Pianist, singer Fats Domino passed away in Harvey, Louisiana, USA ~ Rock & roll pioneer. Best-selling African-American artist of the 1950s. Most popular singer of New Orleans R&B. Known for songs such as The Fat Man, I'm Walking, Ain't That A Shame, and Blueberry Hill. Closely associated with producer Dave Bartholomew. Employed sidemen such as Herbert Hardesty, Alvin Tyler, Billy Diamond, Frank Fields, Earl Palmer, Smokey Johnson, Reggie Houston, and Lee Allen ~ Domino was born in 1928October 24, 2017 ~ Robert Peter Williams, commonly known as actor, singer Robert Guillaume, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for his role as Benson in the TV series Soap and its spin-off Benson. Also known for numerous roles in stage plays and musicals, including on Broadway, starting in the late 1950. Notable credits include Free And Easy, Golden Boy, Guys And Dolls, and Porgy & Bess ~ Williams was born in 1927
October 24, 2016 ~ Eduard Christiani, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Eddy Christiani passed away in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands ~ Best known for songs such as Zonnig Madeira, Ouwe Taaie, Spring Maar Achterop, and Daar Bij De Waterkant. During World War II performed for occupying German military as well as, secretly, support the Dutch resistance ~ Christiani was born in 1918
October 24, 2015 ~ Jazz trombonist Nat Peck passed away in London, UK ~ Worked with Glenn Miller, Don Redman, Coleman Hawkins, James Moody, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Michel Legrand, André Hodeir, Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, the Clarke-Boland Big Band, Benny Goodman, and Peter Herbolzheimer ~ Peck was born in 1925
October 24, 2014 ~ Violinist, conductor Robert Brink, full name Robert Greenleaf Brink, passed away in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Closely associated with harpsichordist Daniel Pinkham. Premierd works by Walter Piston, Henry Cowell, Alan Hovhaness. As a violinist served under conductors such as Serge Koussevitzky, Aaron Copland, Darius Milhaud. Founded the Boston Classical Orchestra, serving as its concertmaster until 1995. Also founded and conducted the Orchestra For The Art Of Music ~ Brink was born in 1924
October 24, 2012 ~ Country, rock & roll singer, guitarist, songwriter Bill Dees, full name William Marvin Dees, passed away in Mountain Home, Arkansas, USA ~ Best known for his association with Roy Orbison, co-writing well over a dozen of Orbison's songs including It's Over, Breakin' Up Is Breakin' My Heart, The Fastest Guitar Alive and Orbison's best known Oh Pretty Woman. At the time of its release, the latter would be a career-changer for Dees, as he was able to quit his day job and joined Orbison on tour. Decades later, Dees would recollect in an interview with NPR how amazed he was at the response: “I went to England twice and crossed Europe once with him. I was shocked when we got off the plane in London, and there was like 10,000 people there at the airport meeting the plane. And I'd just been playing cards with the guy. And I stepped off that plane, and then I thought, oh my, look at this.” Over the years, Oh Pretty Woman has become a rock and roll classic, named one of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, and covered by hundreds of artists. Besides Orbison, artists such as Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, Billy Joe Royal, and Gene Pitney have recorded songs written or co-written by Dees. As a singer, Dees himself has released albums from time to time, including notably Saturday Night At The Movies in 2000, a collection of songs written or co-written by Dees previously sung by Orbison ~ Dees was born in 1939
October 24, 2008 ~ Hammond organist, pianist Merl Saunders passed away in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Gained attention in the early 1970s teaming up with the Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia, co-founding the Saunders-Garcia Band which would eventually evolve into Legion Of Mary. Has also recorded as a solo artist, and collaborated with artists such as Mike Bloomfield, David Grisman, Michael Hinton, Tom Fogerty, Vassar Clements, Kenneth Nash, John Kahn, Sheila E, Dinosaurs, and Reconstruction ~ Saunders was born in 1934
October 24, 2006 ~ Singer, songwriter, poet, author Bruno Lauzi passed away in Milan, Italy ~ Renowned singer with over two dozen albums to his name starting in the 1960s. Well known songs include Ritornerai, Amore Caro Amore Bello, Onda Su Onda and Genova Per Noi. Had his songs recorded by the likes of Sergio Endrigo, Ivana Spagna, Mia Martini, Georges Moustaki, and Ornella Vanoni. Briefly pursued a political career in the 1980s, but without much success. Also known as an author with over half a dozen publications to his name, both poetry and prose ~ Lauzi was born in 1937
October 24, 2005 ~ Singer Kate Bush releases King Of The Mountain, lifted off her Aerial album ~ The singer's first hit in a little over a decade as Kate Bush had taken a break from the music industry in the mid 1990s, King Of The Mountain would reach No.4 UK. Bush's drawling vocal delivery is meant to imitate Elvis Presley's style as Presley, and in particular the fame he endured, served as the main inspiration for the song. Bush would later explain to BBC Radio:“I was very much writing about Elvis. I mean that kind of fame that he must've been living with, must've been unbearable. I can't imagine what it must be like. I don't think human beings are really built to withstand that kind of fame”October 24, 2001 ~ Bassist Kim Gardner passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ First gained attention in the mid 1960s as a member of the Birds, a band best known for the cuts No Good Without You and Leaving Here. Gardner has subsequently worked with mod outfit the Creation, Santa Barbara Machine Head which also included Jon Lord and Ronnie Wood, with jazz-rock band Ashton Gardner & Dyke known for the 1971 hit Resurrection Shuffle, and with Badger. For much of the 1970s, Gardner would be an in-demand touring and session musician working with artists as diverse as Bo Diddley and Eric Clapton ~ Gardner was born in 1946
October 24, 2000 ~ Rap rock outfit Crazy Town release Butterfly, lifted off their The Gift Of The Game album ~ Written as a love song by Crazy Town co-lead singers Shifty Shellshock and Bret Mazur for Shellshock's then-girlfriend who collected butterflies. Shellshock, real name Seth Binzer, later told of how the song came to be, lying on the bed he spotted a butterfly on the ceiling and came up with the line “you're my butterfly, baby” and then the rest came naturally. The song was issued as the third single of their debut album. The album had been out for over a year, with the previous two singles, Toxic and Darkside, making little impact. However, Butterfly became a global hit and propelled the band to fame. The song heavily samples Pretty Little Ditty by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Peppers Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante, and Chad Smith were given co-writing credit. The girlfriend didn't stick around that long though, the couple would be together for three years
October 24, 2000 ~ Hip hop, R&B act OutKast release Ms Jackson, lifted off their Stankonia album ~ Dré, who formed the nucleus of OutKast with Big Boi, felt he was purposely being kept away from a child he had with singer Erykah Badu. So he wrote Ms Jackson to tell Badu's mother his side of the story. The name Ms Jackson was made up as Badu's mother is actually named Kolleen Wright, yet she knew the song was about her the first time she heard it. For OutKast it would be their first Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit. The Atlanta act would reach the top of the charts twice more, Hey Ya and The Way You Move both also made it to No.1October 24, 1998 ~ Grace Martin Tandon, commonly known as pop, synth-pop, electronica singer Daya born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for her single Hide Away, which reached Billboard top 30 in 2015. Featured vocalist on the Chainsmokers' 2016 top 10 hit Don't Let Me Down. Has also collaborated with Gryffin, Illenium, and RL Grime
October 24, 1997 ~ Dibesh Pokarel, commonly known as pop rock, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Arthur Gunn, born in Kathmandu, Nepal ~ Runner-up in the 18th season of American Idol in 2020, losing to singer, songwriter Just Sam
October 24, 1997 ~ Rachel Keen, commonly known as singer Raye, born in London, UK ~ Opened for Years & Years, Jess Glynne, Rita Ora, Halsey, and for Khalid. Released a debut EP, Welcome To The Winter, in 2014. As a sidewoman and collaborator, Keen has appeared on tracks by Jonas Blue (By Your Side), Charli XCX, Mr Eazi, Mabel, Stefflon Don, David Guetta (Stay (Don't Go Away)), and Kojo Funds
October 24, 1994 ~ Chrystal Soo-jong, commonly known as K-pop singer, actress Krystal Jung, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Member of girl group fx, known for songs such as Nu Abo, Pinocchio (Danger), Electric Shock, and Rum Pum Pum Pum. Soo-jong has also recorded as a solo artist and ventured into acting
October 24, 1991 ~ Singer Timmy T releases One More Try, lifted off his Time After Time album ~ Inspired by a break-up, One More Try finds Timmy T pleading with an ex-girlfriend to give it one more try: “One more try I didn't know how much I loved you, one more try let me put my arms around you, living all these lonely nights without you, oh, baby can we give it one more try.” It is unclear whether they ever did get back together, but it would give the freestyle singer his sole major hit, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and helped push his Time After Time debut album to No.46 on the Billboard Hot 200 charts. Timmy T would issue his All For Love sophomore album two years later, but was unable to repeat his earlier success. Nevertheless, the singer continued to perform well into the 2010s
October 24, 1989 ~ Edmund Gregory, commonly known as jazz, hard bop saxophonist Sahib Shihab, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Luther Henderson, Thelonious Monk, Fletcher Henderson, Tadd Dameron, Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke, John Coltrane, Quincy Jones, Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, Kenny Dorham, Benny Golson, Brass Fever, Donald Byrd, Betty Carter, Roy Haynes, Abbey Lincoln, Specs Powell, AK Salim, Mal Waldron, and Idrees Sulieman ~ Gregory was born in 1925
October 24, 1988 ~ Benjamin Eidson, commonly known as rockabilly guitarist, singer Benny Joy, passed away ~ Known for a handful of late 1950s songs, including Spin The Bottle, Hey High School Baby and Bundle Of Love, but would fail to break through. Worked as disk jockey on the American Bandstand TV show. Also known as a songwriter for artists such as Marty Robbins, Jackie Wilson, Charlie Rich, Debbie Reynolds, Johnny Rivers, and Carl Smith ~ Eidson was born in 1935
October 24, 1988 ~ Pop, dance-pop singer Tiffany releases All This Time, lead single off her Hold An Old Friend's Hand sophomore album ~ The singer had three Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits under her belt, I Think We're Alone Now and Could've Been both reaching the No.1 position when Tiffany was just 16 years old, and I Saw Him Standing There a respectable hit at No.7. All This Time would be the singer's last top 10 hit, peaking at No.6. Later, Tiffany remarked: “I fell in love with that song. The melody was kind of haunting, just those kind of strings in the beginning, that kind of sound. It was haunting but yet uplifting at the same time. It was just different for me and I've always liked that kind of sound”