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 26, 2025 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, new age drummer, pianist Jack DeJohnette passed away in Kingston, New York, USA ~ Played R&B, hard bop, avant-garde, jazz fusion. Classically trained pianist, best known as and considered one of the premier drummers of the 1970s. Well over 30 albums as a leader, starting with The DeJohnette Complex released in 1968. Backed Miles Davis on albums such as Bitches Brew, Jack Johnson, Live/Evil and On The Corner. Has also appeared on albums by Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea (Tones For Joan's Bones), Miroslav Vitous (Infinite Search), George Benson, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Rollins (Next Album), Don Sebesky, Sadao Watanabe (Round Trip), Collin Walcott, John Abercrombie (Timeless), Ron Carter, Arthur Blythe, Chico Freeman (The Outside Within), Kenny Wheeler, Keith Jarrett, Bennie Wallace, Michael Brecker (Don't Try This At Home), and Eliane Elias ~ DeJohnette was born in 1942
October 26, 2023 ~ Rigobert Bamundele, commonly known as soukous guitarist, songwriter Rigo Star, passed away in Reims, France ~ In-demand session guitarist on the French and African world music scenes from the mid-1980s onward. Appeared on albums by Koffi Olomidé, Papa Wemba, M'bilia Bel (Yalowa), Oliver N'Goma, Guy Lobe, Bibi Dens, Elles, and Madilu System. Notably present on Paul Simon's acclaimed 1990 The Rhythm Of The Saints album. Star has occasionally recorded as a solo artist, noted for his 1998 Attention album featuring singer Sam Mangwana ~ Bamundele was born in 1955October 26, 2022 ~ Singer, songwriter Agustín Ramírez, full name Agustín Ramírez Sánchez, passed away ~ Co-founder, frontman of Los Caminantes, for whom he also co-wrote a vast amount of the band's material including Palomita Mensajera, Para Que Quieres Volver, Regresare, He Sabido, Volar Volar, Ven Y Abrazame, Una Noche, Mi Nina, and Lagrimas Al Recordar ~ Ramírez was born in 1962
October 26, 2021 ~ Doris Helen Schetrompf, commonly known as country singer, guitarist Rose Lee Maphis, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Formed a musical duo with her husband guitarist Joe Maphis, pioneering the Bakersfield sound in the 1950s. The couple is perhaps best remembered for penning Dim Lights Thick Smoke (And Loud Loud Music), first recorded by Flatt & Scruggs in 1952. Joe & Rose Lee Maphis released the song as a single in 1953. It has since been covered by numerous artists including Conway Twitty, the Flying Burrito Brothers, the New Riders Of The Purple Sage, the Derailers, Ricky Skaggs, and the Beat Farmers ~ Schetrompf was born in 1922October 26, 2020 ~ Music manager, songwriter, producer Ted White, full name Theodore Richard White, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Manager and first husband of pivotal R&B singer Aretha Franklin, with whom he has one son. The couple were married from 1961 through 1969. Co-wrote several of Franklin's best known, notably Dr Feelgood, Think and (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone ~ White was born in 1931
October 26, 2019 ~ Rock, swamp rock, blues rock guitarist, singer Paul Barrère passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of Little Feat, first appearing on Dixie Chicken, the band's third studio album issued in 1973. Barrère has written or co-written several of the band's songs, including One Love Stand, Let It Roll, and Feats Don't Fail Me Now, one of the band's best known. Barrère has also worked with Taj Mahal, Jack Bruce, Valerie Carter, Helen Watson, Chico Hamilton, Eikichi Yazawa, and Greg Koch ~ Barrère was born in 1948October 26, 2015 ~ Folk singer, songwriter David Rodriguez, full name David Roland Rodriguez, passed away in the Netherlands ~ Influenced by Lightnin' Hopkins, Townes Van Zandt, Lydia Mendoza, Jerry Jeff Walker. Actively recording since the early 1990s. Best known for his 1992 release The True Cross. His composition The Ballad Of The Snow Leopard And The Tanqueray Cowboy would be covered by both Lyle Lovett and Melissa Greener ~ Rodriguez was born in 1952
October 26, 2015 ~ Richard Kirk, commonly known as songwriter Winfield Scott, passed away ~ Perhaps best known for writing Tweedle Dee for Lavern Baker, and co-writing Return To Sender with Otis Blackwell for Elvis Presley. Presley also recorded several other songs written by Blackwell and Scott, including Such An Easy Question, One Broken Heart For Sale, I'm A Roustabout, and Long Legged Girl (With The Short Dress On). Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Scott include Oscar McLollie, the Robins, Johnnie Ray, Clyde McPhatter (Deep Sea Ball), Connie Francis (Many Tears Ago), Solomon Burke, the Drifters, and Ray Charles ~ Scott was born in 1920
October 26, 2013 ~ Alfred Orlando Johnson, commonly known as singer Al Johnson passed away ~ Not to be confused with Louisiana singer and pianist Al Johnson. Founder and lead singer of Unifics, known for a handful of late 1960s minor hits including The Court Of Love and The Beginning Of The End. Johnson later released several solo albums, collaborated with jazz and soul producer Norman Connors, co-wrote Deniece Williams's We Have Love For You, and worked with the Whispers in the 1990s ~ Johnson was born in 1948
October 26, 2012 ~ Singer, songwriter, actress Natina Reed, full name Natina Tiawana Reed, passed away in Duluth, Georgia, USA ~ Discovered by Lisa Left-Eye Lopes, who employed her as a writer for TLC. Under the guidance of Lopes, Reed formed the R&B trio Blaque with Brandi Williams and Shamari Fears. The group is known for a handful of late 1990s singles, 808 and Bring It All To Me both peaking in the Billboard Hot 100 top 10. Reed was the girlfriend of rapper Kurupt and mother to their son. Reed died after being hit by a car just shy of her 32nd birthday ~ Reed was born in 1980
October 26, 2011 ~ Garage rock, punk blues, indie rock duo the Black Keys release Lonely Boy, lead single off their El Camino album ~ One of the band's best known, Lonely Boy would become a staple of alternative rock radio. The song would be nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year, losing out to Gotye's Somebody That I Used To Know, yet it did win the awards for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance
October 26, 2010 ~ Singer Katy Perry releases Firework, lifted off her Teenage Dream album ~ A dance-pop anthem of self-empowerment, Katy Perry has said she wants Firework to be her epitaph. Furthermore, Katy Perry has stated the song was influenced by a line in Jack Kerouac's novel On The Road, which reads: “burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes Awww!” The single reached top 10 in well over a dozen countries, including No.1 in New Zealand, Canada, and her native America. Firework was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year, but was bested by Adele's Rolling In The DeepOctober 26, 2006 ~ Henry Shalofsky, commonly known as bebop trumpeter Hank Shaw, passed away in Kent, UK ~ Active since his mid-teens, employed in Teddy Foster's band during World War II. Would go on to work with Oscar Rabin, Frank Weir, and Tommy Sampson, and spent stints in America and Canada, notably backing Oscar Peterson and Maynard Ferguson, before returning to his native England. Shaw became one of the early players at Club Eleven, a London jazz nightclub which played a significant role in the emergence of British bebop. Shaw continued to perform and record, both as a sideman and a leader, well into his eighties before retiring from music for health reasons, working with the likes of Joe Harriott, Tony Crombie, Don Rendell, and Stan Tracey ~ Shalofsky was born in 1926
October 26, 2005 ~ Guitarist, singer David Townsend, full name David Edward Townsend, passed away in Northridge, California, USA ~ Son of singer, producer, songwriter Ed Townsend. Member of Port Authority. Best known as co-founding member of Surface, the R&B band known for songs such as Happy, Closer Than Friends, You Are My Everything, Falling In Love, When Your Ex Wants You Back, Shower Me With Your Love, The First Time and Never Gonna Let You Down. Townsend also served as staff songwriter at EMI, co-writing songs for New Edition (Let's Be Friends), Gwen Guthrie, and Sister Sledge (You're So Fine) ~ Townsend was born in 1955
October 26, 2003 ~ Roy Hartstein, commonly known as drummer, label founder Roy Harte, passed away in Burbank, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Co-founded Nocturne Records and Pacific Jazz Records. Worked mostly as a sideman, including with Bobby Sherwood, Billie Rogers, George Paxton, Ike Carpenter, Vido Musso, Ziggy Elman, Dave Pell, Les Brown, Nappy Lamare, Shorty Rogers, Randy Newman, Herb Geller, Laurindo Almeida, Herbie Harper, Bud Shank, Harry Babasin, Peggy Connely, the Mastersounds, Earl Grant, Frank Capp, Jackie Kelso, Jimmy Wyble, Arnold Ross, and Willie Nelson ~ Hartstein was born in 1924
October 26, 1999 ~ Singer, songwriter Hoyt Axton passed away in Victor, Montana, USA ~ Son of noted songwriter Mae Boren Axton who co-wrote Heartbreak Hotel. Hoyt performed and recorded as a singer but is best known as a songwriter responsible for songs made famous by others such as Joy To The World and Never Been To Spain by Three Dog Night, The Pusher from Easy Rider by Steppenwolf, Greenback Dollar by the Kingston Trio, and The No No Song by Ringo Starr. Other artists who have recorded Hoyt's work include Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, BJ Thomas, John Denver, Waylon Jennings, Jonathan Edwards, and Anne Murray ~ Axton was born in 1938October 26, 1995 ~ Francesco Kramer Gorni, commonly known as bandleader, accordionist, bassist, songwriter Gorni Kramer, passed away in Milan, Italy ~ Active since the 1930s. Co-wrote Crapa Pelada, a hit for Alberto Rabagliati. Wrote Pippo Non Lo Sa, one of the Trio Lescano's biggest hits. Has also worked with Natalino Otto, and Quartetto Cetra ~ Gorni was born in 1913
October 26, 1995 ~ Jazz trombonist, trumpeter, cornetist, percussionist John Sangster, full name John Grant Sangster, passed away in Brisbane, Australia ~ As a solo artist best known for a string of The Lord Of The Rings-inspired albums starting with The Hobbit Suite released in 1973. Has also collaborated with Graeme Bell, Humphrey Lyttelton and with Don Burrows ~ Sangster was born in 1928
October 26, 1994 ~ Singer, pianist, guitarist, harmonica player, songwriter Wilbert Harrison passed away in Spencer, North Carolina, USA ~ Best known for his hits Kansas City, one of the first songs written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and for Let's Work Together, the latter also known as Let's Stick Together and covered by an array of artists including Canned Heat and Bryan Ferry ~ Harrison was born in 1929
October 26, 1991 ~ Singer Vivian Dandridge, full name Vivian Alferetta Dandridge, passed away in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Member of the Dandridge Sisters alongside her sister Dorothy Dandridge and Etta Jones. The trio would headline the Cotton Club, appear in half a dozen films and score hits such as Undecided and If I Were Sure Of You, and some sides with Jimmie Lunceford including Minnie The Moocher Is Dead and You Ain't Nowhere. Following the trio's disbandement in 1940 Dandridge's sister Dorothy would be the most successful, appearing in films such as Carmen Jones and Porgy & Bess, with Vivian only performing in minor roles. Vivian also released a sole solo album, The Look Of Love, yet it remained mostly unnoticed ~ Dandridge was born in 1921October 26, 1987 ~ Power metal, symphonic metal, neoclassical metal guitarist, singer Tommy Johansson born in Boden, Sweden ~ Co-founding member, lead singer, guitarist for Reinxeed with whom he recorded through the mid-2010s before renaming the band Majestica. Overall, the band has recorded over half a dozen albums starting with The Light released in 2008. In 2016 Johannson joined Sabaton, replacing Thobbe Englund
October 26, 1986 ~ Dotan Harpenau, mononymously known as pop, rock singer, songwriter Dotan, born in Jerusalem, Israel ~ Released his Dream Parade debut album in 2010, spawning the hit This Town. Subsequent hits would include Home, Hungry, Shadows Wind and Numb. Would draw harsh criticism in 2018 after media revealed Dotan had boosted his online image through the use of fake social media accounts, praising him and trashing other musicians
October 26, 1986 ~ Roy Michael Reymound, commonly known as rapper, actor Fresku, born in Eindhoven, the Netherlands ~ Influenced by Opgezwolle. Member of de Zwarte Schapen, alongside Karimineel and Teemong. Released his full-length eponymous Fresku solo debut album in 2010 to critical acclaim
October 26, 1986 ~ Quincy Matthew Hanley, rapper, commonly known as Schoolboy Q, born in Wiesbaden, West Germany ~ Influenced by East Coast rappers such as Nas, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, the Notorious BIG, as well as West Coast rappers Kurupt and Tupac Shakur. Member of hip-hop supergroup Black Hippy, along Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and Kendrick Lamar. Released his indie debut album, Setbacks, in 2011 to critical acclaim. Has been recording steadily since. Known for platinum sellers such as Collard Greens, Man Of The Year, Studio and That Part
October 26, 1985 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, Fortress Around Your Heart by Sting peaks at No.8 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Sting's second solo single to reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100, following If You Love Somebody Set Them Free which reached No.3, Fortress Around Your Heart was written about his failing marriage to his first wife, whom he had divorced the previous year. The pain he felt when he couldn't make his marriage work had previously led thim to write some of his biggest hits with the Police, including Every Breath You Take and King Of Pain. The song uses an abandoned fortress within a walled city as a metaphor for a relationship that has been through a figurative war. In a 1985 interview he explained: “It is linked to Wrapped Around Your Finger, a spiteful song about turning the tables on someone who had been in charge. Fortress Around Your Heart, on the other hand, is about appeasement, about trying to bridge the gaps between individuals”