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 30, 2025 ~ Gerard Scott, commonly known as punk rock, hard rock bassist, guitarist, singer, songwriter Scott Sorry, passed away ~ Worked with Amen, Brides Of Destruction, the Wildhearts and with Sorry & the Sinatras before embarking on a solo career releasing his When We Were Kings debut album in 2016 ~ Scott was born in 1978
October 30, 2023 ~ Pop rock, gospel, R&B drummer Aaron Spears passed away ~ Session drummer active since the early 2000s, appearing on albums by Lady Gaga, Usher (Confessions), Distinguished, Miley Cyrus, JoAnn Rosario, Chaka Khan, DeWayne Woods (My Life's Lyrics), Tiziano Ferro, and Ariana Grande. On the TV side, Spears served as house drummer for the pilot of NBC's 2019 Songland songwriting competition show, and as music coordinator for the third season of The Masked Singer singing competition, aired on Fox in 2020 ~ Spears was born in 1976
October 30, 2022 ~ Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist Anthony Ortega, full name Anthony Robert Ortega, passed away in Encinitas, California, USA ~ Talented improviser. Got his start in the mid 1940s with Earle Spencer. As a leader acclaimed for Jazz For Young Moderns and A Man And His Horns. Toured with Lionel Hampton, including in Europe. As sideman, Ortega has appeared on albums by Clifford Brown, Gigi Gryce, Johnny Hartman (Songs From The Heart), Dinah Washington (The Swingin' Miss D), Maynard Ferguson, Art Farmer, Gerald Wilson, Harper's Bizarre, Elvis Presley (The '68 Comeback Special), and Ella Fitzgerald ~ Ortega was born in 1928October 30, 2020 ~ Classical hornist, pianist, composer Jan Bach passed away ~ Somewhat overlooked composer known for both his seriousness and humor. Wrote for orchestra, chamber music, opera. Perhaps best known for compositions such as Horn Concerto, The French Suite and the opera The Student From Salamanca, which premiered at the New York City Opera in 1980 ~ Bach was born in 1937
October 30, 2019 ~ Ioannes Spanos, commonly known as pianist, songwriter Giannis Spanos, passed away in Kiato, Greece ~ Scored the soundtrack to the 1971 Ekeino To Kalokain feature film. Served as pianist for the like of Serge Gainsbourg, Béatrice Arnac, and Juliette Gréco. As a songwriter had his compositions recorded by the likes of Keti Chomata, Giannist Poulopoulos, and Dimitris Mitropanos ~ Spanos was born in 1934
October 30, 2016 ~ Claude Putman Jr, commonly known as songwriter Curly Putman, passed away in Lebanon, Tennessee, USA ~ Though a fine singer in his own right, Putman is best known as songwriter. Songs written or co-written by Putman include Green Green Grass Of Home (Johnny Darrell, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley), Dumb Blonde (Dolly Parton), D-I-V-O-R-C-E (Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty, Kitty Wells), Our House Is Not A Home (Lynn Anderson), I Wish I Could Hurt That Way Again (Kenny Rogers, John Conlee, Millie Jackson), and He Stopped Loving Her Today (Johnny Russell, George Jones, Johnny Paycheck) ~ Putman passed away in 1930
October 30, 2013 ~ Saxophonist, flutist Frank Wess, full name Frank Wellington Wess, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Protégé of Lester Young. Best known for his time with Count Basie, backing the pianist for a little over a decade including on The Atomic Mr Basie and Basie At Birdland. Well over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, especially noted for 1955's Flutes And Reeds, and his 1959 masterpiece Opus De Jazz. Member of the New York Jazz Quintet, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums in the 1970s and early 1980s. Other notable associations include Sonny Stitt, Eddie Bert, Milt Jackson, Big Joe Turner (The Boss Of The Blues), Lee Konitz, Dinah Washington, Thad Jones (The Fabulous Thad Jones), Sarah Vaughan, Dorothy Ashby (Hip Harp), Tal Farlow, Ray Charles (The Genius of Ray Charles), Quincy Jones, Joe Newman (Jive At Five), Etta Jones, Gene Ammons, Elvin Jones, Pee Wee Russell (Spirit Of '67), Aretha Franklin (Lady Soul), Freddie King, Roberta Flack (First Take), King Curtis, Dakota Staton, and Yusef Lateef ~ Wess was born in 1922
October 30, 2012 ~ Country singer, songwriter Jan Crutchfield passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for penning The Statue Of A Fool, first recorded and popularized by Jack Greene in 1969 and covered by numerous artists including Brian Collins and Ricky Van Shelton. Other songs written or co-written by Crutchfield include Tear Time (Wilma Burgess), Another Lonely Night (Jean Shepard), Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger (Charley Pride), and One More Time (Jerry Lee Lewis) ~ Crutchfield was born in 1938
October 30, 2009 ~ Phillip Jackson, commonly known as harmonica player, singer Norton Buffalo, passed away in Paradise, California, USA ~ First gained attention in the early 1970s working with acts such as Clover, Bill Kirchen, Elvin Bishop. Joined Commander Cody & his Lost Planet Airmen for their 1976 “farewell” tour and present on the band's final live album We've Got A Live One Here. Closely associated with the Steve Miller Band including on the 1977 Book Of Dreams album. Noted for his harmonica playing on Bonnie Raitt's Runaway, a cover of the Del Shannon classic. Jackson has also sessioned for or toured with the Doobie Brothers, Mickey Hart, and Merl Saunders ~ Jackson was born in 1951
October 30, 2008 ~ Andrew Alexander Terry, commonly known as saxophonist, musical director, arranger, songwriter, producer Mike Terry, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Member of the Funk Brothers, Motown's in-house band, playing on numerous hits from 1960 through 1967 including tracks by the Miracles, Mary Wells, the Four Tops, Edwin Starr, and the Marvelettes. Terry is especially noted for his saxophone solos on Heat Wave by Martha & the Vandellas and Where Did Our Love Go by the Supremes ~ Terry was born in 1940
October 30, 2006 ~ Singer Gwen Stefani releases Wind It Up, lifted off her The Sweet Escape album ~ Though poorly received by critics, many calling the song horrible, tacky, or a song that “screams for amputation from the tracklisting”, Wind It Up would reach top 10 in over half a dozen countries including the Netherlands, the UK, and America. Gwen Stefani can be heard yodeling on the track, while the song also uses a sample from The Lonely Goatherd off of the The Sound Of Music, earning the pair of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II co-writing credit alongside Stefani and Pharrell Williams. Stefani considered The Sound Of Music her favorite film, and had always wanted to incorporate a beat to one of its songs
October 30, 2006 ~ Bassist, guitarist Ian Rilen, full name Ian William Rilen, passed away in Melbourne, Australia ~ Best known as member of Rose Tattoo. Rilen wrote their best known song Bad Boy For Love but left the band prior to its release. The single was produced by Vanda & Young, known for their close association with AC/DC. Rilen also played with Band Of Light, the Blue Aliens, Blackfeather, Sardine V, Hell To Pay, X, Skindiver, and with the Illustrated Men ~ Rilen was born in 1947
October 30, 2003 ~ Songwriter Ron Davies, full name Ronny Wayne Davies, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Son of country singer Tex Dickerson. Brother of singer, songwriter Gail Davies. Released two albums as a recording artist, Silent Song Through The Land and UFO. Best known as a songwriter. Three Dog Night, Long John Baldry, David Bowie, Dave Edmunds and Shelby Lynne all covered his It Ain't Easy. Other well known Davies songs include Long Hard Climb (covered by Maria Muldaur), The Man I Used To Be (Jerry Jeff Walker) and Waiting On A Dark Eyed Girl (the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) ~ Davies was born in 1946
October 30, 2002 ~ Jason William Mizell, commonly known as DJ, keyboardist, bassist, percussionist, rapper Jam Master Jay, passed away in Queens, New York, USA ~ Member of Run-DMC, credited with bringing hip-hop into the mainstream, known for songs such as It's Like That, King Of Rock, My Adidas, Walk This Way, You Be Illin', and Down With The King featuring Pete Rock & CL Smooth ~ Mizell was born in 1965October 30, 2002 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Michael J Stull passed away ~ Co-founding member of the Wackers, teaming up with Bob Segarini, Randy Bishop, Ernie Earshaw and Bill Trochim. Rumored to be considered Jim Morrison's replacement in the Doors when Morrison left for Paris in 1971. Perhaps just a rumor and the Doors would record without either Morrison or Stull. Still, four years later Stull would actually work on the Butts Band album Hear & Now, which also featured Doors members John Densmore and Robby Krieger ~ Stull was born in 1949
October 30, 2001 ~ Singer Mary J Blige releases No More Drama, lifted off the album of the same name ~ Written and produced by the team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who had previously worked with acts such as Johnny Gill, Jordan Knight, Jon Secada, Mariah Carey, and notably Janet Jackson including on the latter's acclaimed Control and Rhythm Nation 1814 albums. No More Drama tells of going through hard times and moving on from the pain, a topic that struck a chord with Mary J Blige as she felt she had lived the tale. Initially, the song was tapped to be included on Blige's 1999 Mary, yet the singer insisted it would be used as the title track of her next studio album. Upon its release, the song was universally praised by critics, with some calling it her finest recording yet. Years after the song became a hit, reaching top 20 in the Netherlands, UK, and her native America, Blige spoke of the sentiment in an interview with the Daily Telegraph: “I go through the emotion of being a child growing up in the projects, getting robbed, grown-ups snatching our trick-or-treating bags, being shot at, having to fight physically every day of your life, going home to alcoholic aunts and every woman around you being beaten so badly by men you can't even understand it, and then growing up and realizing you're repeating all those patterns, you're drinking the alcohol and doing the drugs and being abused by men, and the pain and frustration of not being able to stop it. I rewind through that every time I sing it. I want to give people the real truth”
October 30, 2000 ~ Actor, singer, pianist, songwriter, TV personality Steve Allen, full name Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Rose to fame in 1954 as original host and co-creator of The Tonight Show, America's first late-night show. Hosted a number of other game and variety shows, perhaps most notably his own The Steve Allen Show starting in 1956. Prolific composer, by his own estimate having written over 8, 500 songs including Cool Yule (Louis Armstrong, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Bette Midler), Pretend You Don't See Her (Jerry Vale, Bobby Vee, Al Caiola), Meet Me Where They Play The Blues (Jack Teagarden, Andy Williams, Maria Muldaur), and They've Got A Lot To Learn (Art Lund, Jennie Smith, Michael Dees) ~ Allen was born in 1921
October 30, 2000 ~ Pop rock group U2 release their All That You Can't Leave Behind album, which would earn the band seven Grammy Awards over two consecutive years ~ The band had wandered, a bit, into alternative rock and dance in the 1990s. Although their two previous albums did well, the band returned to their rock roots on All That You Can't Leave Behind. Reuniting with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, a duo that had previously worked on The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, and Achtung Baby, the move was welcomed by both critics and fans, and the album would be a critical and commercial success. The album would top the charts in over two dozen countries including the Netherlands, the UK, and their native Ireland. It would also earn the band seven Grammy Awards, its lead single Beautiful Day won three Grammy Awards at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards including Record of the Year, and its fourth and final single Walk On won the following year. All That You Can't Leave Behind is the only album ever to have two singles win Record of the Year in two consecutive yearsOctober 30, 1989 ~ Matthew Lopez, commonly known as hip-hop rapper Aston Matthews, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of the Cutthroat Boyz alongside Vince Staples and Joey Fatts. As a solo artist has released a number of solo recordings, notably the mixtape Aston 3:16 released in 2014. Has collaborated with the likes of A$AP Mob, the Alchemist, Statik Selektah, Dash, and Madchild
October 30, 1989 ~ R&B, pop, dance-pop singer Vanessa White, full name Vanessa Karen White, born in Yeovil, UK ~ Praised for her vocal range, drawing comparisons to Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey. Appeared in a number of West End musicals, notably The Lion King and The King And I, prior to her rise to fame in the 2000s as a member of the Saturdays. The girl group is known for a string of UK top 10 hits, including Just Can't Get Enough, Forever Is Over, and What About Us featuring Sean Paul. White released her Chapter One solo debut album in 2016, followed by Chapter Two the following year
October 30, 1982 ~ In its 17th week on the charts, Who Can It Be Now by Men At Work hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Men At Work started as an acoustic duo consisting of singer Colin Hay and guitarist Ron Strykert, playing pubs in their native Australia until discovered and signed by an American who worked for CBS Records. Issued as the band's debut single, Who Can It Be Now would become a major hit, reaching top 20 across Europe and No.1 on the American Billboard Hot 100. Its follow-up single Down Under also reached No.1 Billboard Hot 100, while their Business As Usual parent album would hold the top spot on the American album charts 15 weeks, a record at the time for longest stay atop the charts for a debut album. The band's lead singer Hay would later comment on how Who Can It Be Now came to be, sitting in a tree hut miles from anywhere:“Sitting in the middle of the bush in New South Wales and that song just popped out. My girlfriend at the time said, ‘that will be your first hit, that song, ’ and she was right”
October 30, 1978 ~ The Muppet Show episode featuring guest shock rock singer Alice Cooper airs in the USA ~ Alice Cooper's dark, somewhat sinister persona served as the theme for the episode, which cast him as an agent of the devil looking for souls to purchase. Three of the singer's songs are used in the show, Welcome To My Nightmare, You And Me, and School's Out
October 30, 1978 ~ New wave, pop rock outfit Blondie release Hanging On The Telephone, lifted off their Parallel Lines album ~ Blondie had gotten hold of a cassette with Hanging On The Telephone by the Nerves. The original version had been a commercial flop, yet Blondie made it a hit. It became their third UK top 10 hit, after Denis and I'm Always Touched By Your Presence Dear earlier the same year. Lead singer Debbie Harry later recalled: “We were playing it in the back of a taxicab in Tokyo, and the taxicab driver started tapping his hand on the steering wheel. When we came back to the USA, we found that the Nerves weren't together anymore and we said, ‘Gee, we should record this’.”October 30, 1978 ~ Gerard Scott, commonly known as punk rock, hard rock bassist, guitarist, singer, songwriter Scott Sorry, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Worked with Amen, Brides Of Destruction, the Wildhearts and with Sorry & the Sinatras before embarking on a solo career releasing his When We Were Kings debut album in 2016 ~ Scott passed away in 2025
October 30, 1976 ~ Country, country-pop singer Kassidy Osborn, full name Kassidy Lorraine Osborn, born in Magna, Utah, USA ~ Member of sibling outfit SheDaisy, alongside Kristyn Osborn and Kelsi Osborn, known for songs such as Little Good-byes, This Woman Needs, Passenger Seat, Come Home Soon, Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing, all of which reached top 20 of the Billboard Country charts between the late 1990s and mid 2000s