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 29, 2025 ~ Gaetano Senese, commonly known as singer, saxophonist, songwriter James Senese, passed away in Naples, Italy ~ Worked with the Showmen, the Napoli Centrale, Enzo Gragnaniello, and Pino Daniele ~ Senese was born in 1945
October 29, 2022 ~ Composer, songwriter, singer Lucy Simon, full name Lucy Elizabeth Simon, passed away in Piermont, New York, USA ~ Sister of mezzo-soprano Joanna Simon and soft rock, folk rock singer Carly Simon. Formed the sibling duo Simon Sisters with the latter, recording three albums starting with the 1964 album Meet The Simon Sisters which would include the minor hit Winkin' Blinkin' And Nod. Simon would release two solo albums in the 1970s, Lucy Simon and Stolen Time, but is perhaps best remembered for writing the score for the musicals The Secret Garden and Doctor Zhivago, which premiered respectively in 1991 and 2011 ~ Simon was born in 1940
October 29, 2022 ~ Rock bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, engineer Robin Sylvester passed away ~ Best known as member of Bob Weir's side project Ratdog, joining in 2003 as replacement for Rob Wasserman. Began his career in the late 1960s, noted for serving as engineer at Abbey Road Studios and reportedly inspired by Paul McCartney to take up the bass. After relocating to America in the mid 1970s has found employ as session and touring musician, working with the likes of Ry Cooder, Marty Balin, Billy Preston, Christine McVie, and Missing Man Formation ~ Sylvester was born ca.1950
October 29, 2021 ~ Rock, heavy metal journalist, author Malcolm Dome passed away ~ Credited to have coined the term “thrash metal” in 1984 as a reference to the Anthrax-song Metal Thrashing Mad. Wrote for Record Mirror, Kerrang, Metal Hammer, Classic Rock, and other publications. Has authored a number of books, notably The Bible Of Heavy Metal (Encyclopaedia Metallica) published in 1981, as well as books on Aerosmith, Van Halen, Metallica, Bon Jovi, and Mötley Crüe ~ Dome was born ca.1955
October 29, 2018 ~ Southern rock, blues rock, folk-rock, Christian rock singer, songwriter Jimmy Farrar, full name James Edwin Farrar, passed away in LaGrange, Georgia, USA ~ Fronted Raw Energy. Fronted Molly Hatchet from 1980 through 1982, present on the albums Beatin' The Odds and Take No Prisoners. Subsequently founded Gator Country with several Hatchet bandmates. Has also worked with the Southern Rock Allstars ~ Farrar was born in 1950
October 29, 2017 ~ Jazz singer, percussionist Frank Holder passed away in London, UK ~ Following a stint in the Royal Air Force, during which he sang in an Army band, Holder emerged as one of the prime British vocalists of the late 1940s swing dance bands initially working with Jiver Hutchinson's orchestra. Holder would go on to record prolifically throughout the 1960s, initially focusing on swing anjd dance bands, to later venture into Latin jazz. Notable associations include Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes, Bill Le Sage, Hank Shaw, Shake Keane, Phil Seamen, Carmen Munroe, and Mulatu Astatke. Holder continued to perform well into the 2010s, yet would never forget the early days performing at London jazz clubs such as Churchill's Club at Feldman Swing Club: “At Feldman's, a black man would be accepted when you couldn't appear at clubs like the Mayfair or Embassy. Black guys like Coleridge Goode and Ray Ellington were welcome, and all that mattered to Robert and Monty Feldman was that you were a musician” ~ Holder was born in 1925October 29, 2017 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Penny Nichols passed away in California, USA ~ Formed the duo the Greasy Mountain Butterballs with Kathy Smith, the duo toured Vietnam in 1966. Debuted as a solo artist with the Penny's Arcade album in 1967. Also worked with John McEuen, sang backup with Jimmy Buffett's the Coral Reefer Band, and was a member of jazzy outfit Black Imp. Married to actor, musician Harry Shearer from 1974 to 1977 ~ Nichols was born in 1947
October 29, 2013 ~ Rapper Eminem releases The Monster featuring Rihanna, lifted off his The Marshall Mathers LP 2 album ~ The song finds Eminem battling his inner demons while guest vocalist Rihanna embraces hers. The pair had previously worked together on Eminem's Love The Way You Lie and its sequel Love The Way You Lie (Part II), as well as on Rihanna's Numb of her Unapologetic album. Rapper Eminem has later stated he wanted Rihanna on the track as soon as found the beat, but that it wasn't just her vocal abilities that made him team up with the Barbadian singer again: “The perception of the record, what it's saying, I thought it would be a good idea to have her on it because I think people look at us like we're both a little nuts. That's one of the things that I was telling her in making the record: I think that people look at us a little crazy.” The single would reach No.1 Billboard Hot 100 in its sixth week, and earned the pair a Grammy Award
October 29, 2011 ~ Pianist, composer Walter Norris passed away in Berlin, Germany ~ Considered a brilliant pianist, known for his harmonically complex yet melodic improvisations. Recorded about a dozen albums as a leader, notably Synchronicity and Winter Rose, the latter a collaborative effort with Aladár Pege. Over the course of his lengthy career, Norris has appeared on albums by Frank Rosolino, Jack Sheldon (The Quartet And The Quintet), Ornette Coleman, Pepper Adams (Julian), Chet Baker, Herb Geller, and Joe Pass. Norris relocated to Berlin, Germany, by the late 1970s, where he would spend the remainder of his life ~ Norris was born in 1931October 29, 2008 ~ Samuel Fuller, commonly known as bassist Sam Fuller, passed away ~ Member of psychedelic pop group the Rainy Daze known best for their 1967 modest hit That Acapulco Gold and sole album of the same name. The single would make it to the high 70s on the Billboard Hot 100 but was pulled once it was realized it was a pro-marijuana song ~ Fuller was born in 1946
October 29, 2006 ~ R&B saxophonist, bandleader Joe Lutcher, full name Joseph Woodman Lutcher, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Brother of singer Nellie Lutcher. Known for songs such as Shuffle Woogie, Rocking Boogie and Mardi Gras, the latter later covered by Professor Longhair and by Fats Domino. Has worked with Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr, the Mills Brothers, Karl George, Bill Ellis, Leon Beck, Harold Morrow, Dick Booker Hart, and Little Richard ~ Lutcher was born in 1919
October 29, 2005 ~ Singer Barbara Pittman passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ One of the few female singers at Sun Records. Known for a handful of mid- to late 1950s singles such as I Need A Man, Two Young Fools In Love, Everlasting Love and Handsome Man ~ Pittman was born in 1938
October 29, 2001 ~ Henry Berthold Robinson, commonly known as jazz tenor saxophonist Spike Robinson passed away in Writtle, UK ~ While in the Navy, as a musician, and stationed in Britain played with English beboppers such as Tommy Pollard, Johnny Dankworth, and Victor Feldman. Worked as an engineer for the next three decades before returning to music recording with Victor Feldman, Ray Brown, Dick Morrisey, Bill Le Sage, Alec Dankworth, Bill Eyden, Louis Stewart, Harry Sweets Edison, Al Cohn, Roy Williams, and Claude Tissendier ~ Robinson was born in 1930
October 29, 1997 ~ George Walker Nicholas, commonly known as jazz saxophonist, singer Big Nick Nicholas, passed away in Queens, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by Coleman Hawkins. Influential on John Coltrane who included his tribute, Big Nick, on the 1962 album Duke Ellington & John Coltrane. Nicholas has worked with Hank Jones, Thad Jones, Earl Hines, Tiny Bradshaw, Sabby Lewis, JC Heard, Lucky Millinder, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Sarah Vaughan, Bennie Green, Buck Clayton, and Illinois Jacquet ~ Nicholas was born in 1922
October 29, 1990 ~ British pop rock outfit the Beautiful South release their Choke sophomore album ~ Warmly received by critics, Trouser Press stating that “Choke makes it clear that the Beautiful South has ample pop sense and pure venom to keep its unique act going for quite a while”. The chart success of the album, like its predecessor reaching No.2 in their native UK, was aided by the album's lead single, A Little Time, their sole UK No.1 single
October 29, 1988 ~ In its 11th week on the charts Don't You Know What The Night Can Do by Steve Winwood peaks at No.6 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Steve Winwood granted brewing company Anheuser-Busch permission to use the song for their Michelob brand in order to gain sponsor funds for his upcoming tour. However, when the ad came out before Winwood's single the singer was accused of “selling out”. Winwood would later explain in his biography: “They started putting the commercial on the TV before the single was out. It looked like I had written a beer jingle!”
October 29, 1987 ~ Ebba Tove Else Nilsson, commonly known as electropop, synth-pop, dance-pop, indie pop singer, songwriter Tove Lo, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Described as Sweden's darkest pop export, known for her raw, grunge-influenced take on pop music featuring dark and highly autobiographical lyrics. Cites Courtney Love, Nirvana, Robyn, Lykke Li, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Amy Winehouse, and Jeff Buckley as influences. Released her Queen Of The Clouds debut album in 2014 and has recorded consistently since. Well-known songs include Habits (Stay High), Talking Body, and Cool Girl
October 29, 1987 ~ Woodrow Charles Herman, commonly known as big band, swing, cool jazz bandleader, saxophonist, clarinetist, singer Woody Herman, passed away in West Hollywood, California, USA ~ Rose to prominence as bandleader in the 1930s. Known for songs such as At The Woodchopper's Ball, Blues In The Night, Laura, Blue Flame, Sabre Dance and Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me. Employed sidemen such as Pete Candoli, Chuck Wayne, Ralph Burns, Zoot Sims, Serge Chaloff, Al Cohn, Gene Ammons, Oscar Pettiford, Shelly Manne, Michael Moore, and Sal Nistico ~ Herman was born in 1913October 29, 1986 ~ Jazz, blues, R&B guitarist Jerome Darr passed away in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Active since the early 1930, starting out in jug band the Washboard Serenaders. Perhaps best known as member of the Three Chocolates during the 1940s and 1950s alongside bassist, singer Chocolate Williams and pianist Bill Spotswood. Darr has also backed Freddie Mitchell, Buddy Johnson, Paul Quinichette, and Charlie Parker on his 1954 I Get A Kick Out Of You recording ~ Darr was born in 1910
October 29, 1986 ~ Natalie Knutse, commonly known as bassist, keyboardist, singer Nataly Dawn, born in Sacramento, California, USA ~ As a solo artist Dawsen debuted in 2009 and has been recording since. She is also half of the husband-wife duo Pomplamoose, the other being Jack Conte, and has collaborated with a host of artists including with Lauren O'Connell in My Terrible Friend
October 29, 1983 ~ Pop, Europop singer Amit Sebastian Paul born in Boden, Sweden ~ Member of the A-Teens, initially an ABBA-cover band later on venturing into original material. The band would regularly reach the higher echelons of the Swedish charts starting in 1999. Well known songs include Mamma Mia, Happy New Year, Upside Down, Halfway Around The World and Floorfiller
October 29, 1983 ~ Pop, blue-eyed soul duo Hall & Oates release Say It Isn't So, lifted off their Rock 'n Soul Part 1 album ~ One of two new songs, the other being Adult Education, recorded for the greatest hits album Rock 'n Soul Part 1. Say It Isn't So would spend four weeks at No.2 Billboard Hot 100, held off the top spot by Say Say Say, a duet by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. The follow-up single Adult Education would also reach top 10, peaking at No.8
October 29, 1982 ~ Organist, composer William Lloyd Webber, full name William Southcombe Lloyd Webber, passed away in London, UK ~ Father of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. Composed orchestral music, chamber music, choral and vocal music. Firmly embedded in the romanticism of composers such as Sergei Rachmaninoff, Jean Sibelius, and César Franck ~ Lloyd Webber was born in 1914
October 29, 1979 ~ Ramon Fulwood, commonly known as funk drummer Tiki Fulwood, passed away in Washington DC, USA ~ Closely associated with George Clinton, starting as a member of doo-wop outfit the Parliaments and remaining with Clinton through the early 1970s as a member of Funkadelic. Present on the albums Funkadelic, Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow, and Maggot Brain, before departing the band in 1971 following a dispute over payment. Fulwood has also played with Tyrone Davis, the Chairmen Of The Board, and briefly with Miles Davis before dying of stomach cancer at age 35 ~ Fulwood was born in 1944
October 29, 1976 ~ Rock, alternative rock singer, guitarist Mark Sheehan, full name Mark Anthony Sheehan, born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Member of boy band Mytown, known for the moderate hit Do It Like This and their sole eponymous Mytown album. Following the band's disbandement in 2001 Sheehan co-founded alternative rock outfit the Script with whom he recorded half a dozen albums, all of which would reach top of the charts in their native Ireland. Well-known songs include The Man Who Can't Be Moved, For The First Time, Hall Of Fame featuring will.i.am, and Superheroes. The single Breakeven of their eponymous The Script debut album would reach top 20 on the American Billboard Hot 100 ~ Sheehan passed away in 2023