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, 1986 ~ Aubrey Drake Graham, mononymously known as hip hop, pop rap, R&B singer, songwriter, rapper, producer Drake, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Popularized the Toronto sound. Debuted with the album Thank Me Later in 2010. Known for songs such as The Best I Ever Had, Forever featuring Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem, Find Your Love, Make Me Proud featuring Nicki Minaj, Take Care featuring Rihanna, Hotline Bling, One Dance featuring WizKid & Kyla, Passionfruit, Nice For What, In My Feelings, Toosie Slide, Laugh Now Cry Later featuring Lil Durk
October 24, 1986 ~ Bassist, pianist, singer Johnny Dyani, full name Johnny Mbizo Dyani, passed away in West Berlin, West Germany ~ Member of the Blue Notes, South Africa's first racially integrated jazz band. Founded and fronted Earthquake Power. Founded Xaba with Mongezi Feza and Okay Temiz. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with a wide array of artists including Steve Lacy, Don Cherry, Louis Moholo (Spirits Rejoice), David Murray, Joe Bonner, Abdullah Ibrahim, Khan Jamal (Three), Chris Joris, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Per Henrik Wallin, and Chris McGregor ~ Dyani was born in 1945October 24, 1984 ~ Electronic, ambient keyboardist Steve Hauschildt born in Bay Village, Ohio, USA ~ Member of the Emeralds, a trio drawing from ambient as well as minimalist music and best known for their 2010 Does It Lool Like I'm Here album. Has also recorded as a solo artist, both while with the trio and after its disbandement. Noted for his 2011 Tragedy & Geometry album heavily influenced by 1970s krautrock
October 24, 1984 ~ Film, television, stage actor, singer Walter Woolf King passed away in Beverly Hills, California, USA ~ Started singing professionally at a young age, performing initially mostly in churches. Would become a popular baritone in stage musicals and operettas from the late 1910 onwards, eventually moving to a career in film. Probably best remembered for appearing in supporting roles, notably playing the villain in the Marx Brothers movies A Night At The Opera and Go West ~ King was born in 1899
October 24, 1983 ~ Singer, actress, TV personality Adrienne Bailon, full name Adrienne Eliza Bailon, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Discovered by Latin pop singer Ricky Martin. Member of girl group 3LW, known for the hits No More Baby (I'ma Do Right) and Playas Gon' Play. Also a member of the Cheetah Girls. Released a solo debut album, New Tradiciones, in 2017
October 24, 1983 ~ Rock outfit Yes release Owner Of A Lonely Heart, lifted off their 90125 album ~ Aided by heavy rotation on MTV, Owner Of A Lonely Heart would be the band's biggest hit, reaching top 10 in over half a dozen countries including the No.1 spot on the American Billboard Hot 100. The song, as well as its parent album 90125, marked a considerable shift from their usual progressive rock from the 1970s, a solid portion of their earlier songs regularly running over ten minutes filled with distorted guitar and synthesizers. Suddenly, with Owner Of A Lonely Heart, their most accessible tune yet, the band found a whole new audience who where unaware of their vast back catalogue. The song, as well as its parent album, was produced by Trevor Horn. In its second week atop the Billboard Hot 100 charts, another song produced by Horn, Relax, would reach No.1 in the UK, making Horn the first to simultaneously have the No.1 hit in both the UK and America with two different songs from two different acts
October 24, 1980 ~ Monica Denise Brown, mononymously known as R&B singer Monica, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Influenced by Whitney Houston, Mary J Blige, Betty Wright, Gladys Knight and Anita Baker. Rooted in gospel, touring with a gospel choir as early as at age ten. Would release her Miss Thang debut album in 1995 and has recorded to commercial succes since. Well known songs include Don't Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days), Ain't Nobody featuring Treach, the Brandy-duet The Boy Is Mine, The First Night and Angel Of Mine
October 24, 1980 ~ Pop rock group U2 release I Will Follow, lifted off their Boy debut album ~ Lead singer Bono has stated he wrote the lyrics from the perspective of his mother, who died when he was 14, and that they were about the unconditional love a mother has for her child. After misinterpreting the song as an anthem of conformity, Paul Westerberg of the Replacements wrote the answer song Kids Don't Follow, included on the group's 1982 Stink EP. U2 would release a live version of I Will Follow in 1983, the sole single off their Under A Blood Red Sky live albumOctober 24, 1978 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, percussionist David Knight, full name David Lloyd Knight, born ~ Lead singer for ambient rock band Day One Symphony. Following the band's disbandement in 2008, Knight has recorded as a solo artist, starting with Mandala, merging acoustic and electronic elements. Knight has found some popularity in Malaysia, frequently touring the country and collaborating with the likes of Jerome Kugan and Yuna
October 24, 1976 ~ Jason Cullen Green, commonly known as rapper Planet Asia, born in Fresno, California, USA ~ Formed the duo the Cali Agents with Rasco. Member of Gold Chain Military and the Durag Dynasty. Over a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting in the late 1990s, and especially acclaimed for Pain Language released in 2008. In-demand collaborator, has worked with DJ Muggs, Madlib, DJ Fresh, DJ Concept, and Calvin Valentine
October 24, 1973 ~ Folk, alternative folk, folk baroque singer, guitarist, songwriter Laura Veirs, full name Laura Pauline Veirs, born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA ~ Has recorded over a dozen albums since her 1999 eponymous Laura Veirs debut album. Especially acclaimed for Carbon Glacier, her 2004 album produced by then-husband Tucker Martine. Veirs is praised for blending the poetic sensibilities of contemporary folk with the melodic frameworks of indie rock, her lyrics frequently inspired by literary works as well as her own experience. On her songwriting, Veirs has once stated she “likes to be personal in (her) writing, but not overly confessional”. Veirs has appeared, usually as backing vocalist, on recordings by Kym Tuvim, the Decemberists, Mike Dumovich, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down (We Brave Bee Stings And All), Laura Gibson, Langhorne Slim, Beth Orton (Sugaring Season), Sufjan Stevens, and Aoife O'Donovan, and notably teamed up with kd Lang and Neko Case for several mid-2010 albums under the common moniker Case-Lang-Veirs. Veirs was married to producer, songwriter Martine, with whom she has two children, from the early 2000s through the late-2010s
October 24, 1973 ~ Otis Jackson Jr, commonly known as DJ, producer, MC Madlib, born in Oxnard, California, USA ~ Cites Miles Davis, Sun Ra, and David Axelrod as major influences. Widely acclaimed and influential modern hip hop, alternative hip hop producer, known for his eclectic and sample-heavy production style. Jackson is the nephew of jazz trumpeter Jon Faddis, and older brother of producer, rapper Oh No. Member of hip hop trio Lootpack alongside Wildchild and DJ Romes, known for their 1999 Soundpieces (Da Antidote) album. Jackson is especially acclaimed for his The Unseen album issued in 2000 under the monniker Quasimoto, and for his collaboration with MF Doom in the one-off project Madvillain, resulting in the 2004 Madvillainy album. Other notable associations include J Dilla, Talib Kweli, Freddie Gibbs, Karriem Riggins, Declaime, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, and Snoop Dogg
October 24, 1971 ~ Antony Hegarty, commonly known as singer, pianist, songwriter Antony or Anohni, born in Chicester, UK ~ Influenced by Kate Bush, Marc Almond, Alison Moyet, Nina Simone, Otis Redding, and Donny Hathaway. Fronted Antony & the Johnsons, especially acclaimed for their sophomore album I Am A Bird Now released in 2005, which featured guests such as Lou Reed, Boy George, Rufus Wainwright and Devendra Banhart. Anohni also co-wrote and performed the soundtrack to Racing Extinction. In 2016, she became the first openly transgender artist to be nominated for an Academy Award for its lead single Manta Ray for Best Original Song, losing out to Sam Smith's Writing's On The Wall off the James Bond-film Spectre
October 24, 1971 ~ Bass guitarist, double bassist, cellist Frode Berg born in Oslo, Norway ~ Known in the jazz world especially for his association with Helge Lien, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums since the early 2000s including the acclaimed Spiral Case and Asymmetrics, and in the classical world as an orchestral bassist for the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra. Berg has toured with Donna Summer, and has appeared on recordings by Knut Værnes, the Oslo Groove Company, Jens Wendelboe, Gisle Torvik, Silje Nergaard, and Petter Wettre. In 2003, Berg released his Dig It solo debut album
October 24, 1970 ~ Edward Daniel Chesters, commonly known as drummer Eds Chesters born in Bishop Auckland, UK ~ Member of indie rock outfit the Bluetones. The band's 1996 Expecting To Fly debut album would reach the top of the charts in their native UK, and spawn their first UK top 10 single with Slight Return. The band would enjoy popularity especially through the early 2000s with songs such as Cut Some Rug, Castle Rock, Marblehead Johnson, Solomon Bites The Worm, If, and Keep The Fires Burning
October 24, 1970 ~ Indie rock, psychedelic folk, lo-fi guitarist, drummer, bassist, keyboardist Jeff Mangum, full name Jeffrey Nye Mangum, born in Ruston, Louisiana, USA ~ Once described as “the JD Salinger of Indie rock” by Slate magazine. Known for his complex, lyrically dense songwriting and his public image as a recluse. Co-founding member, singer, guitarist, primary songwriter of Neutral Milk Hotel, which is hailed especially for their 1998 In The Aeroplane Over The Sea album. As a co-founding and key member of the music collective the Elephant 6 Recording Company, Mangum has also notably been associated with Major Organ & the Adding Machine, Circulatory System, the Apples In Stereo, and the Olivia Tremor Control. Mangum has also recorded as a solo artist, including under the moniker Korena Pang, and has hosted several shows on the New Jersey radio station WFMUOctober 24, 1970 ~ Jazz singer, songwriter, producer Magos Herrera born in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Sings in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Has collaborated with Javier Limon, Tim Riles, Aaron Goldberg, Pedro Aznar, the Ed Simon Trio, John Patitucci, Luis Perdomo, Adam Rogers, Tim Hagans, her husband Alex Kautz, Paolo Prestini, Jeff Ziegler, Arturo Estable, Eugenia Lion, and the Trio Afora Afora
October 24, 1970 ~ Singer Natassa Theodoridou born in Thessaloniki, Greece ~ Debuted in 1997 with the eponymous Natassa Theodoridou album. Has worked with Notis Sfakianakis, Paschalis Terzis, Giorgos Theofanous, Yiannis Parios, Elli Kokkinou, Giorgos Mazonakis, Antonis Vardas, Michalis Hatzigiannis, Eleanna Vrachali, Evanthia Reboutsika, Natalia Germanou, and Triantaphyllos
October 24, 1969 ~ Singer, guitarist, producer, songwriter Jesse Harris born in New York, New York, USA ~ Founded the Ferdinandos, which also consisted of Tony Scherr, Tim Luntzer and Kenny Wollesen. Half of Once Blue, a duo with Rebecca Martin. Worked in various roles with Norah Jones, Melody Gardot, Madeleine Peyroux, Nikki Yanofsky, Lizz Wright, John Zorn, Petra Haden, Lana Del Rey, Maria Gadú, Vinicius. Revered songwriter whose work is recorded by Smokey Robinson, George Benson, Pat Metheny, Kandace Springs and Solomon BurkeOctober 24, 1969 ~ Heavy metal singer, guitarist, keyboardist Peter Dolving born in Gothenburg, Sweden ~ Best known as lead singer for the Haunted from 1996 through 1998, appearing on the band's 1998 eponymous The Haunted debut album, and again from 2003 through 2012, recording five more albums with the band. Has also worked with Mary Beats Jane, Gusto, Rosvo, Syntacks, and iamfire, and recorded as a solo artist
October 24, 1966 ~ Singer Stevie Wonder releases A Place In The Sun, lifted off his Down To Earth album ~ Written by Ron Miller and Bryan Wells, produced by Henry Cosby. Paired with Sylvia on the flip side, A Place In The Sun would peak at No.9 Billboard Hot 100, making it Stevie Wonder's third pop top 10 hit, preceded by Fingertips and Uptight (Everything's Alright). Instrumentation was provided by the Funk Brothers, with both the Originals and the Andantes providing backing vocals. Over the years, A Place In The Sun would be covered by dozens of artists including the Young Rascals, the Four Tops, Glen Campbell, and the Staple SingersOctober 24, 1964 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones kick off their 2nd American tour at the Academy of Music, New York, New York ~ In support of their 12 x 5 album, the band plays about a dozen shows through mid-November, starting with two shows played at the Academy of Music. The set list includes It's All Over Now, a tune originally by the Valentinos which they picked up on their previous visit to America
October 24, 1963 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Bob Dylan records The Times They Are A-Changin' at Columbia Recording Studio, New York, New York ~ Produced by Tom Wilson. Served as title track of Bob Dylan's 1964 album of the same name. Released as a single, b/w Just Allow Me One More Chance, in March 1965. Notably covered by the Byrds on their 1965 Turn Turn Turn album. Others who recorded the song include Simon & Garfunkel, the Beach Boys, Flatt & Scruggs, Cher, Nina Simone, and Billy JoelOctober 24, 1962 ~ Alternative rock, shoegaze bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, singer Debbie Googe, full name Deborah Ann Googe, born in Yeovil, UK ~ Best known as co-founding member of My Bloody Valentine, remaining with the band through 1995 to rejoin in 2007. Present on the band's best known including the Loveless 1991 sophomore album which reached top 10 in the band's native UK. Founded indie rock supergroup Snowpony which also included Katherine Gifford. Has also worked with Primal Scream, Thurston Moore, Tim Burgess, and Laurie Anderson
October 24, 1962 ~ Drummer, keyboardist, songwriter John Wright born in Victoria, Canada ~ Cited as influence on Nirvana's Dave Grohl and Green Day's Tré Cool. Best known as member of punk rock, punk-jazz band Nomeansno. Member of the Hanson Brothers. Brother of Rob Wright, bandmate in both aforementioned bands. Has also worked with Demon, DOA, the Showbusiness Giants, and Compressorhead