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, 1980 ~ Metal, industrial, hardcore punk drummer, DJ Joe Letz born in New York, New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as drummer for industrial metal outfit Combichrist from 2006 through 2019. Has also worked with Amen, Mortiis, Wednesday 13, Genitorturers, Hanzel und Gretyl, Imperative Reaction, Emigrate, Black Light Burns, Pigface, and Aesthetic Perfection. In his downtime Letz serves as organiser and DJ for Rammstein's touring afterparties since 2012
October 26, 1978 ~ Avant-garde, experimental rock electronic musician, songwriter Tyondai Braxton, full name Tyondai Adaien Braxton, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Son of pivotal jazz, classical saxophonist Anthony Braxton. Co-founded Battles in 2002, most noted for their 2007 Mirrored debut album. As a solo artist Braxton is best known for his 2009 Central Market debut album. Braxton is also an in-demand collaborator and sideman, working with numerous artists including Parts & Labor, Risii, Diamond Watch Wrists, the Asphalt Orchestra, and the Dirty Projectors
October 26, 1974 ~ Johannes Sigmond, commonly known as rock singer, songwriter Blaudzun, born in Arnhem, the Netherlands ~ A devoted cycling fan, Sigmond chose his stage name after the Danish cyclist Verner Blaudzun. Sang from an early age on as a member of his family's church choir. Member of Beam. Backed Christian singers such as Larry Norman. Released his eponymous Blaudzun in 2008. Broke through with the 2012 Heavy Flowers and its 2014 follow-up Promises Of No Man's Land
October 26, 1973 ~ Pop rock outfit Wings release Helen Wheels, lifted off their Band On The Run album ~ The title is derived from “Hell on Wheels”, which became Helen Wheels, the nickname the McCartneys had give their Land Rover. Initially, Helen Wheels was issued as a stand-alone single, yet it would be included on the American release of Band On The Run. Later Paul McCartney would explain: “Helen Wheels is our Land Rover. It's a name we gave to our Land Rover, which is a trusted vehicle that gets us around Scotland. It takes us up to the Shetland Islands and down to London. The song starts off in Glasgow, and it goes past Carlisle, goes to Kendal, Liverpool, Birmingham and London. It's the route coming down from our Scottish farm to London, so it's really the story of the trip down. Little images along the way. Liverpool is on the West coast of England, so that is all that means.” The single would reach No.12 in the UK, and No.10 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his sixth American top 10 hit after the disbandement of the BeatlesOctober 26, 1971 ~ Actor, singer Anthony Rapp, full name Anthony Deane Rapp, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Known for his roles in Broadway productions of musicals such as Rent in 1996 and You're A Good Man Charlie Brown in 1999
October 26, 1971 ~ Jazz, classical pianist Vijay Iyer born in Albany, New York, USA ~ Inventive elite jazz pianist with over a dozen albums to his name as a leader, especially noted for Historicity released in 2009. In-demand collaborator and sideman, appearing on numerous recordings since the mid 1990s including albums by Steve Coleman, Liberty Ellman (Orthodoxy), the Masaoka Orchestra, Burnt Sugar, Roscoe Mitchell, Mike Ladd, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Wadada Leo Smith, Dave Douglas, and AR Rahman
October 26, 1970 ~ Pop singer, pianist Elton John releases Your Song, which would become his first major hit ~ At the time, Elton John served as opening act for Three Dog Night. The latter would first record Your Song as an album track for It Ain't Easy, released in March 1970. The band did not release the track as a single, as they wanted to let John have a go with it first. John's version was initially released as the B-side to Take Me To The Pilot, but as radio DJ's preferred the flip side the single was re-released with sides reversed. Your Song would be his first major hit, reaching top 10 in both in the USA and his native UK. It became a signature song for the Brit, one of his best known. Eventually, the song would be covered by over an estimated 400 artists, and listed on several best of lists including being named one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1995October 26, 1967 ~ Pop, surf outfit the Beach Boys record Here Comes The Night ~ Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. Originally included on the 1967 Wild Honey. The band would re-record an 11-minute disco version for their 1979 LA (Light Album) album
October 26, 1967 ~ Punk bassist, banjoist, guitarist, singer Jeff Pinkus, full name Jeffrey David Pinkus, born ~ Best known as member of the Butthole Surfers from 1985 through 1994, including on the acclaimed albums Locust Abortion Technician and its follow-up Hairway To Steven. Pinkus has also worked with the Flaming Lips, Helios Creed, Daddy Longhead, Honky, the Melvins, and Supersuckers
October 26, 1967 ~ Singer, guitarist Keith Urban, full name Keith Lionel Urban, born in Wangarei, New Zealand ~ Member of the Ranch. As a solo artist gained attention with his 1999 eponymous Keith Urban album, spawning the hit But For The Grace Of God. Has recorded to commercial succes since. Also known for songs such as Where The Blacktop Ends, Who Wouldn't Want To Be Me, You're My Better Half, Making Memories Of Us, Tonight I Wanna Cry, Everybody, Only You Can Love Me This Way, I'm In, Long Hot Summer, We Were Us with Miranda Lambert, and The Fighter featuring Carrie Underwood, all of which reach the top 10 Billboard Country. Has also collaborated with Julia Michaels, Pink, Dolly Parton, Nelly Furtado, Emily West, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Thomas Rhett, Reba McEntire, Nile Rodgers, Pitbull, the Dixie Chicks, Tim Wilson, Olivia Newton-John, Trisha Yearwood, Buddy Guy, John Fogerty, Colt Ford, Jason Derülo, and Kasey Chambers
October 26, 1966 ~ Alma Angela Cohen, commonly known as traditional pop singer Alma Cogan, passed away in London, UK ~ Dubbed “the Girl with the Giggle in her Voice”, Cogan was the highest paid British female singer of her day. Known best for covers of popular American hits, especially those recorded by Rosemary Clooney, Teresa Brewer, Joni James and Dinah Shore. Would fall out of fashion by the 1960s, considered too square for the era. Well known songs include Bell Bottom Blues, Little Things Mean A Lot, I Can't Tell A Waltz From A Tango, and perhaps her best known Dreamboat, the latter topping the UK charts in in 1955 ~ Cohen was born in 1932
October 26, 1966 ~ Jessie Mae Booker, commonly known as R&B, pop songwriter Jessie Mae Robinson, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ One of the first black songwriters to break the colour barrier. Wrote or co-wrote numerous 1940s, 1950s hits recorded by artists such as Charles Brown (Black Night), Eddie Cleanhead Vinson (Cleanhead Blues, Old Maid Boogie), Amos Milburn (Tears Tears Tears), Patti Page (I Went To Your Wedding), Elvis Presley (Let's Have A Party), and Jo Stafford (Keep It A Secret) ~ Booker was born in 1918
October 26, 1965 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones record As Tears Go By at IBS, London, UK ~ Written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Andrew Loog Oldham, the latter also serving as producer. Released later the same year in the USA, paired with Gotta Get Away as the B-side. Released early 1966 in the UK as the B-side of 19th Nervous Breakdown
October 26, 1963 ~ Singer Natalie Merchant, full name Natalie Anne Merchant, born in Jamestown, New York, USA ~ Lead singer, frontwoman of jangle pop outfit 10,000 Maniacs, known for songs such as What's The Matter Here, Trouble Me, Eat For Two, These Are Days, Candy Everybody Wants, and Because The Night. Debuted as a solo artist with her Tigerlily album in 1995
October 26, 1961 ~ R&B outfit the Drifters record When My Little Girl Is Smiling at Atlantic Studios, New York, USA ~ Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Released as a single in February 1962, b/w When My Little Girl Is Smiling, it would reach top 30 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100
October 26, 1960 ~ Francis Drake Ballard, commonly known as songwriter Pat Ballard passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for penning songs such as I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You) (the Four Knights, Bing Crosby, Maria Cole), and Mr Sandman (Vaughn Monroe, the Chordettes, the Four Aces, the Mills Brothers) ~ Ballard was born in 1899
October 26, 1959 ~ Country singer Marty Robbins releases El Paso, lifted off his Gunfighter Ballads & Trail Songs album ~ Widely considered a classic of the genre, the self-penned El Paso sketches a Western saga complete with drama, violence, and romance. The singer falls in love with a Mexican girl, only to shoot and kill another man competing for the girl's love. He steals a horse, a hanging offense back in the days of the Wild West, and makes his escape, but love compels him to return to the scene of the crime, where he is met with a bullet to the chest. El Paso would top both the Billboard Country and all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts, earn Marty Robbins a Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Performance, and became a signature song for Robbins. Robbins would twice more reference the Texas city of El Paso. Faleena (From El Paso) released in 1966 tells the life story of Faleena, the Mexican girl from the original song, and a decade later Robbins released El Paso City, in which Robbins sings of being in an airplane over the city, which reminds him of a song “he heard long ago”
October 26, 1958 ~ Producer, singer, keyboardist Boyd Jarvis, full name Boyd Henry Jarvis, born in New York, New York, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for his 1983 song The Music Got Me. Sued Robert Clivilles and David Cole of C+C Music Factory over copyright infringement, claiming Get Dumb incorporated parts of The Music Got Me, and was awarded some $95,000 in damages. Session musician, remixer, producer, worked with Herbie Hancock, La Toya Jackson, Johnny Kemp, Jellybean, Timmy Regisford, Wally Jump Jr & the Criminal Elements, Colonel Abrams, Club Nouveau, Pretty Poison, François Kevorkian, Johnny Gill, Karyn White, Rick James, Evelyn King, Loose Ends, Chaka Khan, LeVert, Ronny Jordan, and Milk & Honey ~ Jarvis passed away in 2018October 26, 1956 ~ Jazz pianist Mike LeDonne born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Has worked with Benny Golson, Panama Francis, Benny Goodman, Milt Jackson, Art Farmer, Clifford Jordan, Grady Tate, Charles McPherson, James Moody, Sonny Rollins, Ernestine Anderson, Annie Ross, Eric Alexander, Chris Flory, Wycliffe Gordon, Scott Hamilton, Alvin Queen, Duke Robillard, Jim Rotondi, Gary Smulyan, Jim Snidero, and Cory Weeds
October 26, 1952 ~ Pop rock, folk, jazz, classical, alternative rock keyboardist, film composer Andy Richards, full name Andrew John Richards, born in London, UK ~ Member of Strawbs during the late 1970s, present on the album Heartbreak Hill. The album was recorded in 1978 but shelved until 1995 due to problems with the record company and management. Following the band's initial split in 1980 Richards has sessioned for a host of artists. Notably present on hit singles such as Relax and Two Tribes by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and Careless Whisper by George Michael. As a session musician Richards would go on to work with Gary Moore, Grace Jones, Billy Squier, Chris De Burgh, Corey Hart, and Annie Lennox. Richards would also establish himself as a producer for the Pet Shop Boys, Prefab Sprout, Holly Johnson, Nick Kamen, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, and T'Pau, and work on numerous soundtracks as an engineer, mixer, or composer including for Bridget Jones's Diary and Slumdog Millionaire
October 26, 1952 ~ Actress, comedian, singer, songwriter Hattie McDaniel passed away in Woodland Hills, California, USA ~ Worked as a singer in minstrel shows and radio, while maintaining manual day jobs, prior to venturing into acting. Has appeared in over an estimated 300 films, though only credited in about 80. Best known for portraying the role of Mammy in the 1939 Gone With The Wind, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress making her the first African-American woman to win an Oscar. McDaniel experienced racism and racial segregation throughout her career and was even actually unable to attend the premiere of Gone With The Wind because it was held at a whites-only theater. Her final wish to be buried in Hollywood Cemetery was denied due to the graveyard being restricted to whites-only at the time ~ McDaniel was born in 1893
October 26, 1951 ~ William Earl Collins, commonly known as bassist Bootsy Collins born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Leading and hugely influential name in funk. Honed his skills first backing James Brown, then George Clinton as a member of Parliament and Funkadelic before going solo. Worked for Brown for a mere 11 months, appearing on some of the key recordings though such as Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine Part 1, Super Bad, Soul Power, Talkin' Loud And Sayin' Nothing and The Grunt. Backed Clinton from 1972 through the early 1980s, while launching a parallel solo career starting in the mid 1970s. As a so artist best known for the albums Ahh The Name Is Bootsy Baby and Bootsy Player Of The Year, released respectively in 1977 and 1978, both reaching the Billboard Hot 200 top 20 and topping the R&B album charts. Collins' best known songs include Pinocchio, Can't Stay Away, and perhaps his best known BootzillaOctober 26, 1951 ~ William Patrick Bennett, commonly known as folk, country singer, mandolinist, songwriter Willie P Bennett, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Best known for his associations with the Dixie Flyers and longtime friend and collaborator Fred Eaglesmith. Also worked with Sneezy Waters, Pat Temple, and sessioned for and toured with nunerous pop and country artists. Recorded as a solo artist since the mid 1970s. Co-wrote Goodby So Long Hello, a 1990 hit for Prayrie Oyster on the Canadian country charts. Bennett came into the spotlight in the late 1990s when Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden and Tom Wilson formed Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, named for Bennett's 1978 album. Bennett suffered an on-stage heartattack in 2007, the year before he died. Highly admired by peers, he posthumously had several tribute songs written for him, including Willie P by David Essig who produced several of his albums, It's Hard To Keep A White Shirt Clean by Corb Lund and Hurricane Heart by Ian Tamblyn ~ Bennett passed away in 2008
October 26, 1947 ~ Lloyd James, commonly known as dub mixer, producer King Jammy, born in Montego Bay, Jamaica ~ Best known as producer for Black Uhuru. Also worked with Wayne Smith, Admiral Bailey, Chaka Demus, Lieutenant Stitchie, Pinchers, Dennis Brown, King Tubby, Bunny Lee, Anthony Johnson, Horace Andy, Junior Reid, Purpleman, Sugar Minott, Barry Brown, Hortense Ellis, Tonto Irie, Little John, Leroy Smart, Michael Palmer, Noel Phillips, the Travellers, U-Brown, Niccadems, Errol Holt, Frankie Paul, Johnny Osbourne, and Hugh Mundell
October 26, 1944 ~ Folk guitarist, singer Jim McCann born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Active since the mid 1960s. Member of the Ludlow Trio, known for their 1966 hit The Sea Around Us. After the band disbanded the following year McCann would mostly work as a solo performer, yet is best known to the general public for his stint with the Dubliners remaining with the band from 1974 through 1979 ~ McCann passed away in 2015