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 27, 1984 ~ In its 29th week on the charts, I'm So Excited by the Pointer Sisters peaks at No.9 Billboard Hot 100 ~ First issued as a single from the 1982 So Excited album, it initially reached No.30 Billboard Hot 100. A slighty edited version, however, would be included on their follow-up album Break Out the following year. This time, it would reach top 10. The accompanying video clip for the song was directed by Kenny Ortega, who would later choreograph the movie Dirty Dancing. Ever since its release, the upbeat, joyous song, noted for its thinly veiled innuendo, has been a go-to song for use in films and TV series to convey feelings of excitement, whether sexual or innocent. The song remains one of the group's best known and would be included on Songs of the Century, a list compiled in 2001 by RIAA and the National Endowment For The Arts intended to “promote a better understanding of America's musical and cultural heritage”
October 27, 1983 ~ Keyboardist Vince van Reeken born in The Hague, the Netherlands ~ Best known as member of Di-rect from 2009 through 2016. Appears on singles such as Hold On, The Chase and The Young Ones, all of which reached the Dutch top 30. Previously a member of Juice, a minimal techno producer known under the moniker Vince John and founder of the Jam de la Creme festival an annual music festival in Scheveningen
October 27, 1981 ~ Gilbert Anthony Milam Jr, commonly known as rapper Berner, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ As a solo artist over a dozen albums to his name since the mid 2000s, best known for his 2015 Hempire release. In-demand collaborator, has worked with the Jacka, Messy Marv, Ampichino, San Quinn, B Real, Cam'ron, Styles P, Curren$y, and Larry JuneOctober 27, 1980 ~ Stephen Ross Porter, commonly known as rock, psychedelic pop singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer Steve Peregrin Took, passed away in Notting Hill, UK ~ First gained attention as member of T.Rex alongside Marc Bolan, remaining with the band through 1969. After his split from the band would go on to work with the Pink Fairies and Shagrat ~ Porter was born in 1949
October 27, 1979 ~ Country, bluegrass singer, guitarist, songwriter Jimmie Skinner passed away in Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA ~ Wrote Let's Say Goodbye Like We Said Hello, a 1946 hit for Ernest Tubb. As a recording artist Skinner is best known for a number of late 1950s, early 1960s recordings including What Makes A Man Wander, Dark Hollow, I Found My Girl In The USA, The Riverboat Gambler, and Reasons To Live. Though largely forgotten today, Skinner has notably influenced Johnny Cash, who covered Skinner's Doing My Time. Others who recorded his songs include Ray Campi, Hank Williams (When The Book Of Life Is Read), the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Tony Rice, and Travis Tritt (Don't Give Your Heart To A Rambler) ~ Skinner was born in 1909
October 27, 1978 ~ Singer, songwriter Sabrina Washington, full name Sabrina Fredrica Washington, born in Harlesden, UK ~ Alongside Alesha Dixon and Su-Elise Nash a member of Mis-Teeq from its inception in 1999 to its disbandement in 2005. The band would score a string of UK top 10 hits including Why, All I Want, B With Me and Scandalous, the latter also reaching the American top 40. Released a solo debut single, OMG (Oh My Gosh), in 2010 which didn't chart in the singer's native England but did chart modestly across Europe
October 27, 1978 ~ Vanessa-Mae Vanakorn Nicholson, monoymously known as violinist Vanessa-Mae, born in Singapore ~ Musically trained since a young age. At age 13 became the youngest soloist to record both Ludwig van Beethoven and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's violin concertos. Has recorded over half a dozen albums, starting with Violin released in 1990. Though mostly a classical artist has dabbled in crossover and pop, such as her The Violin Player album and guesting on Janet Jackson's The Velvet Rope album
October 27, 1973 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, Midnight Train To Georgia by Gladys Knight & the Pips hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ The song originated as Midnight Plane To Houston, written and first recorded by Jim Weatherly, inspired by a phrase that stuck from Weatherly's conversation with a friend. Some time later, Cissy Houston wanted to cover the song but changed it to Midnight Train To Georgia so as not to have “Houston” in both the artist name and title. The song would become best known, however, as cut by Gladys Knight, who made it her signature song. Knight had topped the Billboard R&B charts before, Every Beat Of My Heart, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, If I Were Your Woman, and Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) all having reached the top spot as well as top 10 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, yet Midnight Train To Georgia would be her first to top the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. It also earned Gladys Knight & the Pips a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus, and remains one of her best known, widely considered a key recording of the era and cherished to this day
October 27, 1972 ~ Pop singer, pianist Elton John releases Crocodile Rock in the UK, lead single off his Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player album ~ Released in the USA about a month later, this upbeat rocker clearly drawing from 1950s music would become John's first Billboard Hot 100 charttopper. Reportedly, the song was at least partly inspired by Eagle Rock, an early 1970s millionseller in Australia for Daddy Cool, while it also referenced Bill Haley's mid 1950s hit Rock Around The Clock. Elton John would later dismiss criticism the song was derivative: “I wanted it to be a record about all the things I grew up with. Of course it's a rip-off, it's derivative in every sense of the word.”
October 27, 1972 ~ Singer Stevie Wonder releases Talking Book, the first of eight consecutive albums to reach top 10 Billboard Hot 200 ~ As Stevie Wonder became less reliant on guidance and direction from his label, he came into his own. Talking Book would be a smash hit, earning him his first Grammy Awards. The album would be one of the first R&B albums to connect with rock audiences, and is generally considered one of the prime examples from his classic period, which lasted through the end of the decade. The singles Superstition and You Are The Sunshine Of My Life would both reach the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, both would also be awarded a Grammy Award. The album featured a number of notable guest appearances, Ray Parker Jr played electric guitar on Maybe Your Baby, Jeff Beck and Howard Buzz Feiten handled the guitars on Lookin' For Another Pure Love, and David Sanborn played alto saxophone on Tuesday HeartbreakOctober 27, 1969 ~ Jazz drummer Stephane Galland born in Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Belgium ~ Worked with Pierre van Dormael, the Nasa Na Band, Fabrizio Cassol, Doudou Ndiaye Rose, the Liege Philharmonic Orchestra, Zap Mama, Axelle Red, Joe Zawinul, Bzzz Puk, Greeting From Mercury, Ibrahim Maalouf, Jeroen van Herzeele, KD's Basement Party, Octun, Tomas & Co, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Malcolm Braff, and Laurent David
October 27, 1965 ~ Oliver Albee La Farge, commonly known as folk singer, guitarist Peter La Farge, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Emerged from New York's Greenwich Village folk scene, alongside the likes of Bob Dylan, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Dave Van Ronk, and Pete Seeger. Mentored by Cisco Houston. Best known for The Ballad Of Ira Hayes. The song would later be notably covered by Johnny Cash on his 1964 Bitter Tears (Ballads Of The American Indian) album. Cash credited La Farge with inspiring the entire album, which also included the La Farge-penned As Long As The Grass Shall Grow, Custer, Drums, and White Girl ~ La Farge was born in 1931
October 27, 1963 ~ Jan Vetter, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Farin Urlaub, born in West Berlin, West Germany ~ Influenced by the Beatles and Frank Zappa. Co-founding member of Die Ärzte. The band would record four albums until their initial disbandement in the late 1980s, three of which would reach top 10 in their native Germany, yet the band would score their greatest hits after reforming in the early 1990s, reaching top 10 with the singles Schrei Nach Liebe and Ein Song Namens Schunder. Urlaub has also recorded about half a dozen albums as a solo artist and as frontman and eponym of the Farin Urlaub Racing Team
October 27, 1961 ~ Trumpeter, conductor, teacher Håkan Hardenberger, full name Ulf Håkan Hardenberger, born in Malmö, Sweden ~ Considered a trumpet virtuoso known for premiering contemporary trumpet compositions. Has collaborated with composers such as Harrison Birtwistle, Brett Dean, Hans Werner Henze, and György Ligeti. Performed with orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Wiener Philharmoniker, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the NHK Symphony Orchestra. Also served as artistic director for the Malmo Chamber Music Festival, and has conducted the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, the Malmo Symphony Orchestra, and the Swedish Chamber OrchestraOctober 27, 1960 ~ R&B singer Ben E King records Stand By Me ~ Written by Ben E King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller. Produced by Leiber and Stoller. An early draft was originally intended for the Drifters, King's previous band, who passed on the opportunity. Reportedly based in part, inspired by two other songs, namely the Soul Stirrers' Stand By Me Father written by Sam Cooke and JW Alexander and Charles Albert Tindley's Stand By Me gospel hymn. Released as a single in 1961, b/w On The Horizon, in early 1961. Ben E King's single would top the Billboard R&B chart in 1961, be covered over an estimated 400 times, and again become a hit in the mid-1980s after being used in films and a Levi's TV commercial
October 27, 1953 ~ Pianist, composer, arranger Robert Irving III born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known for his association with Miles Davis from the late 1970s through the late 1980s, present on the 1981 album The Man With The Horn. Has also worked with Al Foster, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Gary Thomas, Bob Berg, Kenny Garrett, Hiram Bullock, Robben Ford, Darryl Jones, Wallace Roney, Lenny White, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kahil El-Zabar, and Ramsey Lewis
October 27, 1952 ~ Jazz, orchestral bassist Ken Filiano born in Patchoque, New York, USA ~ Known for his post-bop, modern creative, and free jazz credits. Acclaimed for his 2002 Subvenire album. In-demand sideman and collaborator, present on albums by Mark Harvey, Vinny Golia, Richard Grossman (Trio In Real Time), Steve Adams, Tina Marsh, Steve Swell, the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, Roswell Rudd (Broad Strokes), Paul Smoker, Fred Hess, Dom Minasi (Time Will Tell), and Larry OchsOctober 27, 1951 ~ Producer, songwriter, label executive Scott Billington born in Melrose, Massachusetts, USA ~ Longtime label executive for Rounder Records. Produced artists in blues, country, cajun, jazz and zydeco idioms including Johnny Shines, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Charlie Rich, Solomon Burke, Johnny Adams, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Irma Thomas, James Booker, Tangle Eye, the Soul Rebels, the Girl Authority, George Thorogood, Amanda Shaw, Corey Harris, Boozoo Chavis, Candye Kane, Chris Ardoin, and the Holmes Brothers
October 27, 1949 ~ Club owner, label executive, producer Clifford Antone born in Port Arthur, Texas, USA ~ Fixture on the Austin, Texas, music scene. Mentor to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, Kim Wilson, and Gary Clark Jr. Founder, owner of renowned blues club Antone's, which opened in the mid 1970s, and founder, label executive of the independent Antone's Records & Tapes record label. The club, one of the city first music venues, helped lead to Austin's reputation as a music city. Upon hearing of his death, then-mayor Will Wynn would comment: “One of the primary reasons Austin is known as ‘Live Music Capital of the World’ is because of Antone.” ~ Antone passed away in 2006October 27, 1948 ~ Singer, actor Gianni Nazzaro born in Naples, Italy ~ Recorded some 50-odd singles, mostly covers, from 1965 through 1968 going by the moniker Buddy before reverting to his given name. Best known for Solo Noi released in 1968 and Me Chiammi Ammore released in 1970. Would continue to chart regularly throughout the decade before slowing down in the 1980s ~ Nazzaro passed away in 2021
October 27, 1948 ~ Blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Sherman Robertson born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA ~ Draws from zydeco, swamp blues, electric blues, R&B. First gained serious attention backing Clifton Chenier during the 1980s, notably present on the albums Live At The and San Francisco Blues Festival. Guested on Paul Simon's Graceland album. Following Chenier's death in 1987 Robertson would work with Rockin' Dopsie and Terrance Simien before venturing out on his own. As a solo artist best known for the album I'm The Man released in 1994 ~ Robertson passed away in 2021October 27, 1946 ~ Country keyboardist, clavinetist, songwriter Steve Hardin, full name Stephen Joseph Hardin, born in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Best known as a songwriter. Penned songs such as I Love My Truck for Glen Campbell and Breakin' Down for Waylon Jennings. Member of Point Blank, for whom he wrote the concert favorite Mean To Your Queenie ~ Hardin passed away in 2015
October 27, 1945 ~ Jazz bassist Arild Andersen born in Strømmen, Norway ~ One of Norway's best known bassists. Known especially for his stint with Jan Garbarek, notably present on the aclaimed Afric Pepperbird album. Well over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, including collaborations with Sheila Jordan, John Abercrombie, and Bill Frisell. Also present on albums by the likes of George Russell, Don Cherry (Eternal Rhythm), Robin Kenyatta, Roswell Rudd, Charlie Mariano, Frode Alnæs, Ketil Bjørnstad, and Karin Krog
October 27, 1943 ~ Pianist, bandleader, composer, playwright, poet Weldon Irvine, full name Weldon Jonathan Irvine Jr, born in Hampton, Virginia, USA ~ Wrote or co-wrote over 500 songs including To Be Young Gifted & Black with Nina Simone, first recorded by the latter on her 1970 Black Gold album and notably covered by Aretha Franklin 2 years later. Mentor to many New York hip-hop artists including Q-Tip and Mos Def ~ Irvine passed away in 2002October 27, 1942 ~ Composer, musicologist David Johnson, full name David Charles Johnson, born in Edinburgh, UK ~ Internationally recognised scholar whose work did much to rediscover and reinvent 18th century Scottish music, setting it in historical context. His doctoral thesis would lead to the 1972 Music And Society In Lowland Scotland In The 18th Century, considered a seminal work in its field. Despite a varied body of compositions, including operas, string quartets, and cello suites, his work as a composer would not be as well known as his scholastic work and only earn him local recognition ~ Johnson passed away in 2009
October 27, 1942 ~ Country singer, songwriter Lee Greenwood, full name Melvin Lee Greenwood, born in South Gate, California, USA ~ Well over a dozen albums to his name since the early 1980s. Best known for his patriotic country hit single God Bless The USA. Other successes included Somebody's Gonna Love You, Going Going Gone, Dixie Road, I Don't Mind The Thorns (If You're The Rose), Don't Underestimate My Love For You, Hearts Aren't Made To Break (They're Made To Love) and Mornin' Ride, all of which did well on Billboard Country charts
October 27, 1942 ~ Guitarist Philip Catherine born in London, UK ~ Released his debut album, Stream, in 1972. Has worked with Larry Coryell, Charles Mingus, Benny Goodman, Didier Lockwood, Christian Escoudé, Chet Baker, Tom Harrell, Lou Bennett, Kenny Drew, Dexter Gordon, Stéphane Grappelli, Karin Krog, Paul Kuhn, Sylvain Luc, Michael Mantler, Charlie Mariano, Palle Mikkelborg, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Enrico Rava, Toots Thielemans, Miroslav Vitous, Focus, Jean-Luc Ponty, Laura Fygi, Laila Dalseth, Vladimir Cosma, Karin Krog, Charlie Mariano, Airto Moreira, Alphonse Mouzon, Zbigniew Seifert, Jasper van 't Hof, Johan Verminnen, Barney Wilen, Enrico Pieranunzi, and Robert Wyatt