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 25, 1984 ~ Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, commonly known as pop singer Katy Perry born in Santa Barbara, California, USA ~ Initially pursued a career in gospel music, releasing her eponymous Katy Hudson solo debut album in 2001 to little impact. Moving into secular music, and adopting her mother's maiden name Perry as her stage name, Perry would rise to fame with her sophomore One Of The Boys album released 7 years later. The album included her I Kissed A Girl debut single and its follow-up Hot n Cold, respectively a No.1 and No.3 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Would regularly reach the upper echelons of the charts well into the 2010s, scoring the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Waking Up In Vegas, California Gurls featuring Snoop Dogg, Teenage Dream, Firework, ET featuring Kanye West, Last Friday Night (TGIF), The One That Got Away, Part Of Me, Wide Awake, Roar, Dark Horse featuring Juicy J, and Chained To The Rhythm featuring Skip Marley
October 25, 1983 ~ Windel Beneto Edwards, commonly known as reggae, roots reggae, lovers rock, dancehall singer Gyptian, born in Saint Andrew, Jamaica ~ Has been critically compared to Sizzla, Luciano, and Beres Hammond. Active since the mid 2000s Edwards would gain notoriety in his native Jamaica with singles such as Is There A Place, Serious Times, Beautiful Lady, and Mama Don't Cry, leading up to his full-length My Name Is Gyptian debut album released in 2006. Internationally Edwards would gain traction in the early-2010s, perhaps most notably with the modest Billboard R&B hit Hold Yuh
October 25, 1979 ~ Natasha Khan, commonly known as indie pop, art pop, synth-pop singer, songwriter Bat For Lashes, born in London, UK ~ Has recorded about half a dozen albums, her 2006 Fur & Gold debut album's mythical indie-rock solliciting comparisons to Kate Bush and Björk. To mainstream audiences perhaps best known for Daniel, lead single off her sophomore Two Suns album, the single reaching top 40 in the UK. Khan is also known as the lead vocalist of Sexwitch, a collabaration with Dan Carey and krautrock, psychedelic rock band TOY
October 25, 1977 ~ Daniel Alan Maman, commonly known as producer, DJ, rapper the Alchemist, born in Beverly Hills, California, USA ~ Half of hip-hop duo Whooliganz, the other half being Skillz. Closely associated with Dilated Peoples and Mobb Deep. Co-founded Gangrene with longtime collaborator Oh No. Renowned hip-hop producer especially in demand in the early 2000s including for artist such as Nas, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Ghostface Killah, and Snoop Dogg. Also worked with Prodigy, Fashawn, Curren$y, Willie the Kid, Evidence, Budge, Havoc, Boldy James, and Eminem
October 25, 1975 ~ Indie folk singer, guitarist Eirik Glambek Bøe born in Bergen, Norway ~ Co-founding member of rock outfit Skog, known best for their 1996 Tom Tids Tale EP. When the band folded at the end of the decade, Bøe and bandmate bassist Erlend Øye would go on to form the indie folk duo the Kings Of Convenience. Known for their gentle, harmony-rich sound the duo has recorded about half a dozen albums, notably the 2004 release Riot On An Empty Street. British DJ, producer Paul Oakenfold would cover their track Gold For The Price Of Silver in 2003. The song was written and first recorded by the Norwegian duo and Erot for their 2001 Versus album, a collection of the duo's remakes, remixes, and collaborationsOctober 25, 1975 ~ In its 8th week on the charts, Messin' With My Mind by Labelle peaks at No.19 Billboard R&B ~ The trio's previous album, Nightbirds, was Billboard Hot 200 top 10 album. As band member Nona Hendryx had written half the album's tracks, she was encouraged to write more material for the band, and she wrote or co-wrote nearly all of the songs on the 1975 Phoenix. One of the highlights of the album would be the Hendryx-penned Messin' With My Mind, which notably featured producer, arranger Allen Toussaint on piano, and was issued as the album's lead single. Although not as big a hit as Lady Marmalade off their previous album, it would be a respectable hit, reaching top 20 on the Billboard R&B charts. Hendryx would later comment on their management encouraging her to write her own song, at the time an uncommon practice for girl groups: “They believed that artists should and could do that. They asked us if any of us could write, and I said, ‘Well, I write poetry.’ And they said, ‘Well, why don't you try putting it to music?’ And that's where it began.”
October 25, 1973 ~ Singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Tara MacLean, full name Tara Margaret Charity MacLean, born in Charlottetown, Canada ~ Member of Shaye alongside Kim Stockwood and Damhnait Doyle from 2002 through 2007. Best known as a solo artist, some dozen albums to her name starting with her Silence debut album released in 1996. Well known songs include Evidence, If I Fall and Light Of The Stable. Has guested on recordings by Jim Brickman, Annette Ducharme, Tom Cochrane, the Devlins, and Danko JonesOctober 25, 1972 ~ Calvin Massey, commonly known as jazz trumpeter Cal Massey, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Not to be confused with his namesake cousin pianist Cal Massey. Trumpeter Massey studied under Freddie Webster, and backed artists such as Jay McShann, Jimmy Heath, and Billie Holiday. In the mid 1950s, Massey led an ensemble featuring Jimmy Garrison, McCoy Tyner, and Albert Tootie Heath. As a recording artist, he is highly acclaimed for his 1961 Blues To Coltrane album. However, he is best known as a composer, his songs recorded by the likes of John Coltrane (Bakal), Freddie Hubbard (Assunta), Jackie McLean (Message From Trane), Lee Morgan (These Are Soulful Days), Philly Joe Jones (Fiesta), and Archie Shepp (Cry Of My People) ~ Massey was born in 1928
October 25, 1971 ~ Rock, heavy metal guitarist, keyboardist, singer Neil Fallon born in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA ~ Co-founding member, lead singer of rock outfit Clutch, with whom he has recorded about a dozen albums since the early 1990s including the acclaimed eponymous Clutch released in 1995. Fallon is also the lead singer for the Company Band and Dunsmuir, and has played guitar for the Bakerton Group appearing on their 2009 El Rojo album
October 25, 1970 ~ Richell Rene Wright, commonly known as singer, songwriter Chely Wright, born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ As a songwriter had her songs recorded by Brad Paisley, Richard Marx, the Indigo Girls, Mindy Smith, and Clay Walker. As a singer, Wright debuted in 1994 with the album The Woman In The Moon, which spawned the modest hit Shut Up & Drive. Broke through with the 1999 album Single White Female. Critically acclaimed especially for her 2016 album I Am The Rain, which featured guests such as Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell and drew comparisons to Carole King's Tapestry. Openly lesbian, founder and spokeswoman of the Like Me Organisation championing LGBT rights
October 25, 1970 ~ Southern gospel, country singer, pianist, songwriter Gordon Mote, full name Gordon James Mote, born in Gadsden, Alabama, USA ~ Has backed or collaborated with artists such as Lee Greenwood, Trisha Yearwood, Tanya Tucker, Porter Wagoner, the Gaither Vocal Band, the Gaither Homecoming, and the Signature Sound. Guested on Alan Jackson's 2001 Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning). As a solo artist, pianist debuted with the 2005 Christmas Piano (The Holly And The Ivory). His 2007 Don't Let Me Miss The Glory, his third studio album, would mark his entrance as a singerOctober 25, 1970 ~ Hardcore punk, post-hardcore, emo, indie rock, rock singer, songwriter Jon Bunch, full name Jonathan James Esbern Bunch, born in Harbor City, California, USA ~ Best known for fronting post-hardcore outfit Sense Field and rock band Further Seems Forever. Has also worked with War Generation, Lucky Scars, Reason To Believe (Save Yourself), and Fields Forever ~ Bunch passed away in 2016
October 25, 1969 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, I'm Gonna Make You Mine by Lou Christie peaks at No.10 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Most of Christie's earlier hits, notably Two Faces Have I and Lightnin' Strikes, were written by Twyla Herbert and Lou Christie. I'm Gonna Make You Mine, however, Christie's third and final American top 10 hit was written by Tony Romeo, who also penned I Think I Love You, a major hit for the Partridge Family in 1970. I'm Gonna Make You Mine featured two distinct backing vocalists, Ellie Greenwich and Linda Scott. The former was a noted songwriter, having co-penned hits such as Da-doo-ron-ron and Then He Kissed Me for the Crystals, Be My Baby for the Ronettes, and Hanky Panky for Tommy James & the Shondells. Scott had scored the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits I've Told Ev'ry Little Star and Don't Bet Money Honey in the early 1960s, and would make one of her last appearances on record singing backing vocals on I'm Gonna Make You Mine
October 25, 1968 ~ Art rock, indie rock, pop, country singer, guitarist, keyboardist, percussionist, songwriter David McCormack, full name David Liam McCormack, born in South Brisbane, Australia ~ Best known as frontman for indie rock outfit Custard, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums starting with Buttercup/Bedford released in 1992. The band is best known for Girls Like That (Don't Go For Guys Like Us), a modest hit in their native Australia in 1998. McCormack released his The Matterhorn solo debut album in 2001
October 25, 1968 ~ Todd Thomas, commonly known as singer, songwriter Speech, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA ~ Frontman, co-founding member of progressive hip hop act Arrested Development, known best for their pivotal 1992 3 Years 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of debut album. The album spawned the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Tennessee, People Everyday and Mr Wendal. The group would release two more albums, critically acclaimed but commercially less successful. Thomas would release his eponymous Speech solo debut album in 1996
October 25, 1968 ~ R&B group the Temptations release Cloud Nine, lifted off the album of the same name ~ The song marked a stylistic change for the band, being the first to incorporate elements from psychedelic music. When band member Otis Williams introduced producer Norman Whitfield to the music of Sly & the Family Stone, who had just had a hit with Dance To The Music, Whitfield was initially reluctant to follow this radical sound, commenting that psychedelic soul was nothing but a passing fancy. He gave it a go though, and within a few weeks had created the backing tracks for Cloud Nine. The single would be well received, Cashbox calling it “near revolutionary”, and reached top 10 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard R&B charts. Over the next few years Whitfield would produce a string of ever more eclectic and socio-politically themed songs for the band, including Runaway Child Running Wild, Psychedelic Shack, and Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)
October 25, 1967 ~ Bubblegum pop rock outfit the Monkees release Daydream Believer, lifted off their The Birds The Bees & The Monkees album ~ Written by John Stewart, who penned the song shortly before his departure from the Kingston Trio. We Five and Spanky & Our Gang had been offered the song, yet both declined. With Davy Jones taking the lead vocals, the Monkees initially recorded the song for their Pisces Aquarius Capricorn & Jones Ltd album, however the song was put on hold and included on their next album. Preceded by Last Train To Clarksville and I'm A Believer, Daydream Believer would become their third and final Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit, a position it held for four consecutive weeks. Upon its release, Billboard described Daydream Believer as a “well written easy beat rhythm ballad”, while Cashbox praised its “fascinating rhythms”. Over the years, the song would be recorded by well over an estimated hundred artists, including notably Canadian country-pop singer Anne Murray whose 1979 single reached No.12 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and No.3 on the Billboard Country chartsOctober 25, 1965 ~ Conductor Hans Knappertsbusch passed away in Munich, West Germany ~ Best known for his performances of works composed by Richard Wagner, Anton Bruckner and Richard Strauss. Worked with the Bavarian State Opera until his dismissal by the nazis in 1936. Other notable associations include the London Philharmonic, the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, and the Suisse Romande Orchestra ~ Knappertsbusch was born in 1888
October 25, 1962 ~ Drummer Chad Smith, full name Chad Gaylord Smith, born in St Paul, Minnesota, USA ~ Best known as drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, joining the band in 1988 as replacement for Jack Irons. First appeared on the band's Mother's Milk album, released in 1989. Its follow-up album, 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik, would propel them to fame with singles such as Give It Away and especially Under The Bridge. Smith has also worked in various side-projects and supergroups including Chickenfoot and his own all-instrumental Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats. Outside of the Peppers Smith also collaborated with the likes of Wild Colonials, Anacrusis, Glenn Hughes, Johnny Cash, John Fogerty, Jennifer Nettles, Joe Satriani, the Dixie Chicks, Eddie Vedder, and Lana Del Rey
October 25, 1959 ~ Rock, new wave singer, songwriter Chrissy Amphlett, full name Christine Joy Amphlett, born in Geelong, Australia ~ Founding member, frontwoman of Divinyls, known for the international hit I Touch Myself, which reached top 10 in America, the UK and in the band's native Australia ~ Amphlett passed away in 2013
October 25, 1957 ~ Pop, rock guitarist Robbie McIntosh born in Sutton, UK ~ Influenced by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, Jimi Hendrix, Fats Waller, Django Reinhardt, and Louis Armstrong. Member of the Pretenders from 1982 through 1987, present on the albums Learning To Crawl and Get Close. Has also worked with Paul McCartney, John Mayer, 70% Proof, the Foster Brothers, Filthy McNasty, Chris Thompson, Dean Martin's Dog, Jerry Harrison, Aynsley Lister, Kevin Ayers, Cher, Eric Bibb, Chuck Berry, Joe Cocker, Nine Below Zero, Paul Carrack (Groove Approved), Mark Knopfler, Roger Daltrey (Under A Raging Moon), Mark Hollis, Talk Talk, Tasmin Archer, Tears For Fears, Eros Ramazzotti, Tori Amos, and Norah JonesOctober 25, 1956 ~ Hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal guitarist, singer Matthias Jabs born in Hannover, West Germany ~ Best known as longtime lead guitarist for the Scorpions, appearing on all albums since Lovedrive released in 1979. Present on hits such as Still Loving You, No One Like You (Live), Wind Of Change, Send Me An Angel and Alien Nation
October 25, 1955 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion trombonist Robin Eubanks born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Brother of guitarist Kevin Eubanks and trumpeter Duane Eubanks. Closely associated with Dave Holland, backing Holland in several ensembles for well over a decade. Over half a dozen albums as a leader, especially noted for Different Perspectives released in 1988. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Sun Ra (The Other Side Of The Sun), Art Blakey, Branford Marsalis, Stefan Winter, Geri Allen, Mark Helias, Talking Heads (Naked), Lou Rawls, Lonnie Plaxico, Cassandra Wilson, Fred Wesley, Andrew Hill, Bobby Previte, and Grover Washington JrOctober 25, 1954 ~ Free jazz saxophonist John Butcher born in Brighton, UK ~ Well over 60 albums to his credit as a leader or co-leader since the mid-1980s, especially acclaimed for the albums News From The Shed, Lights View, Contest Of Pleasures and Apples Of Gomorrah
October 25, 1954 ~ Folk-punk drummer Victor De Lorenzo born ~ Known for his minimalist drum kit, often nothing more than a snare drum a tranceaphone and steel brushes. Co-founded folk-punk outfit Violent Femmes with bassist Brian Ritchie in 1980, initially just a rhythm section and expanded with singer, guitarist Gordon Gano the next year. The band is best known for the late 1980s, early 1990s singles Nightmares and American Music. De Lorenzo would remain with the band through 1993, leaving to focus on his own music and other projects including touring with former the Velvet Underground-drummer Moe Tucker. De Lorenzo rejoined a reincarnation of the Femmes in 2000, remaining with the band through the end of the decade