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 6, 2025 ~ Stephen Wayne Finchum, commonly known as hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal drummer Ace Finchum, passed away ~ Drummer, co-founding member of Tigertailz, appearing on the albums Young & Crazy, Bezerk, and Banzai. Critically compared to Mötley Crüe, the LA Guns, and Poison, the band is one of the few UK glam metal acts to reach international success, especially through the singles Love Bomb Baby and Heaven both lifted off their sophomore album. Finchum departed the band in 1991, and has rejoined on occassion in later years ~ Finchum was born in 1961October 6, 2022 ~ Engineer, producer Fred Catero passed away ~ Active since the 1960s. Has worked with artists such as Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Al Kooper, Linda Ronstadt, Mel Tormé, Tower Of Power, and Santana. Founded Catero Records in the 1980s, focusing on jazz acts such as Herbie Hancock, Ernie Mansfield, Laurie Antonioli and Paul Speer ~ Catero was born in 1933
October 6, 2022 ~ George Ivy Hunter, commonly known as singer, songwriter, producer Ivy Jo Hunter, passed away ~ Session keyboardist on a number of early Motown recordings before focusing on songwriting, mostly in partnership with William Mickey Stevenson. Artists who recorded his songs include the Spinners, Martha & the Vandellas (Dancing In the Street), the Four Tops (Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever), the Temptations, the Contours, Jimmy Ruffin, the Marvelettes (Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead), the Miracles, the Isley Brothers (Behind A Painted Smile), Brenda Holloway, Marvin Gaye (You're The One), Chuck Jackson, and Aretha Franklin (Without Love) ~ Hunter was born in 1940
October 6, 2022 ~ Myrna Joy Miller, commonly known as country singer Jody Miller, passed away in Blanchard, Oklahoma, USA ~ Paved the way for future crossover female singers such as Linda Ronstadt, Anne Murray and Olivia Newton-John. Recorded well over a dozen albums, starting with Wednesday's Child Is Full Of Woe released in 1963. Scored about half a dozen Billboard Country top 10 hits through the early 1970s, including Queen Of The House, an answer song to King Of The Road by Roger Miller, no relation. Queen Of The House would also cross over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No.12, and earned Miller a Grammy Award. Songs originally recorded by Miller have been covered by Joe Stampley, Tammy Wynette (Safe In These Lovin' Arms Of Mine), Connie Smith, Barbara Mandrell, Brenda Lee (Never Let Him Go), Jimmy Payne, Jessi Colter (Maybe I Should've Been Listening), Melba Montgomery, and the Whites ~ Miller was born in 1941
October 6, 2020 ~ Edward O'Sullivan Lee, commonly known as reggae producer Bunny Lee, passed away ~ One of Jamaica's most important and influential producers from the late 1960s through the late 1970s, instrumental in the development of dub music. Started as a plugger in the early 1960s for producer Duke Reid, later for Leslie Kong. Would turn to engineering and producing records by 1967, his first hit record being Roy Shirley's Music Field. Founded his own label, Lee, producing artists such as Lloyd Jackson, Lester Sterling, Derrick Morgan, Slim Smith (Everybody Needs Love), the Uniques, Pat Kelly, Max Romeo, Delroy Wilson, Eric Donaldson (Cherry Oh Baby), John Holt, Johnny Clarke, Owen Gray, Cornell Campbell, and King Tubby ~ Lee was born in 1941
October 6, 2020 ~ Rock, hard rock guitarist, songwriter Eddie Van Halen, full name Edward Lodewijk van Halen, passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Considered a virtuoso guitarist. Lead guitarist of Van Halen, which he founded with Mark Stone, David Lee Roth and brother Alex van Halen, known for songs such as Runnin' With The Devil, Eruption, Dance The Night Away, Jump, Panama, Why Can't This Be Love, and When It's Love. Van Halen has also worked with Gene Simmons, Nicolette Larson, Michael Jackson, Brian May, Sammy Hagar, Black Sabbath, Roger Waters, Steve Lukather, and LL Cool J ~ Van Halen was born in 1955
October 6, 2020 ~ Traditional pop, reggae, vocal jazz singer Johnny Nash. full name John Lester Nash Jr, passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ One of the first non-Jamaican artists to record in Jamaica. Best known for I Can See Clearly Now, a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit in 1972. Other well known songs include Let's Move And Groove, the Sam Cooke-cover Wonderful World, and Let's Go Dancing ~ Nash was born in 1940
October 6, 2019 ~ Peter Edward Baker, commonluy known as rock drummer Ginger Baker, passed away in Canterbury, UK ~ Regarded by some as rock's first superstar drummer, especially for his role in the short-lived but quintessential 1960s trio Cream alongside bassist Jack Bruce and guitarist Eric Clapton. Drew from jazz and African rhythms. Has also worked with Blues Incorporated, the Graham Bond Organisation, and Blind Faith. Also noted for founding and fronting Ginger Baker's Air Force in the 1970s. Would go on to become an in-demand collaborator in rock, world music and jazz, working with acts such as Fela Kuti, Atomic Rooster, Hawkwind, Masters Of Reality, Bill Laswell, Charlie Haden, and Bill Frisell ~ Baker was born in 1939October 6, 2018 ~ Choral conductor Lorna Cooke DeVaron passed away in Rydal, Pennsylvania, USA ~ One of the most important choral conductors of the 20th century. Premiered works by Benjamin Britten, Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Irving Fine, Gunther Schuller, and Daniel Pinkham ~ DeVaron was born in 1921
October 6, 2017 ~ Walter Sigler, commonly known as singer, instrumentalist, producer, songwriter Bunny Sigler, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Helped develop the “Philly sound” of the early 1970s. Member of South Shore Comission. Worked extensively with producers and songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. As a solo artist known for, among others, Lovey Dovey and (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty. As a songwriter and producer Sigler also worked with the O'Jays (co-wrote Sunshine and When The World Is At Peace), the Whispers, Ecstasy Passion & Pain, Carl Carlton, Jackie Moore, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the Roots, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls, Patti LaBelle, Stephanie Mills, and Curtis Mayfield ~ Sigler was born in 1941
October 6, 2015 ~ Singer Billy Joe Royal passed away in Morehead, North Carolina, USA ~ Best known for his 1965 album Down In The Boondocks, the title track peaking at No.9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Close friend and frequent collaborator of Joe South, the latter oft serving as co-writer or writer and/or co-producer or producer. Royal is also known for late 1960s songs such as I Knew You When, I've Got To Be Somebody, Hush, and Cherry Hill Park. Royal would continue to chart throughout the 1990s, mainly on the country charts with songs such as Burned Like A Rocket, Old Bridges Burn Slow, Tell It Like It Is, Love Has No Right, and Till I Can't Take It Anymore ~ Royal was born in 1942October 6, 2015 ~ Joseph Johnson Jr, commonly known as drummer Smokey Johnson, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Learned trombone as a child. Switched to drums at age 12. Worked with James Sugarboy Crawford, Dave Bartholomew, Earl King, Wardell Quezergue, Professor Longhair (including on the classic recording Big Chief), Snooks Eaglin, and Fats Domino. Co-wrote It Ain't My Fault, a New Orleans classic recorded by the Olympia Brass Band, the Rebirth Brass Band, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Treme Brass Band, Charmaine Neville, Milton Batiste, Shane Theriot, the Young Olympians, the Ambrosia Brass Band, David Roe, and Cole Prior Stevens, and sampled by Silkk The Shocker, Mystikal, and Mariah Carey ~ Johnson was born in 1936
October 6, 2012 ~ Guitarist, singer Nick Curran, full name Nicholas Michael Curran, passed away in Austin, Texas, USA ~ Active since his late teens, touring with Ronnie Dawson. Would go on to play with Kim Lenz & the Jaguars, backing Kim Lenz on tour and record including on the albums The One And Only and It's All True. Released his Fixin' Your Head solo debut album in 1999. Has also worked with the Texas Northside Kings, Degüello, the Lowlifes, and notably the Fabulous Thunderbirds ~ Curran was born in 1977
October 6, 2004 ~ Salsa singer Marvin Santiago passed away in Bayamón, Puerto Rico ~ Active since the late 1960s. Sang with Rafael Cortijo, starting on the Ahi Na Ma (Put It There) album singing lead vocals on the tracks Vasos En Colores and with La Sonora De Felipe Rodriguez. Would go on to sing with Roberto Angleró, Bobby Valentín and the Fania All-Stars before debuting as a solo artist in 1977 with the album De Los Soneros ~ Santiago was born in 1947October 6, 2000 ~ Jazz pianist, singer Pat Flowers, full name Ivelee Patrick Flowers, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Worked with Fats Waller during the last year of Waller's life. Subsequently manager Ed Kirkeby attempted to book him as Waller's successor. Flowers would record for most of the decade in New York, eventually returning to Detroit where he would become a mainstay on the local jazz scene ~ Flowers was born in 1917
October 6, 1998 ~ Singer Brandy releases Have You Ever, lifted off her Never Say Never sophomore album ~ Written by Diane Warren, who had previously penned hits for the likes of Starship, Cher, Michael Bolton, Roberta Flack, Céline Dion, and Toni Braxton. Produced by David Foster, known for his work with the likes of Chicago, Barbra Streisand, and Whitney Houston. Brandy was elated to work with a producer like Foster, as she would later recall: “That was the first time I had been in the studio with a producer like Foster. My voice wasn't as developed as it is now and the song required what producers call ‘money notes’, the kind that get you a No.1 on the charts! I was really nervous but it all worked just fine.” Have You Ever, which finds the then-19-year-old Brandy pining for an ex who is not coming back, would indeed become a No.1 hit, her sole Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit as a solo artist. Previously she had reached the top of the charts duetting with Monica on The Boy Is Mine, a single largely inspired by the Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney duet The Girl Is Mine
October 6, 1998 ~ Double bassist Jean-François Jenny-Clark passed away in Paris, France ~ Regarded as one of the most important bassists of European jazz. First gained serious attention as member of Don Cherry's mid 1960s European quintet alongside drummer Aldo Romano, including on the highly acclaimed Symphony For Improvisers album. Though primarily active in jazz, Jenny-Clark is also known as a member of Diego Masson's Musique Vivante ensemble, interpreting contemporary compositions by John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Pierre Boulez. An in-demand collaborator, and occasional co-leader, Jenny-Clark has appeared on album by Barney Wilen, Michel Portal, Steve Lacy (Plays Monk), Martial Solal, Gato Barbieri (Bolivia), Albert Mangelsdorff, Charlie Mariano, Jean-Luc Ponty, Paul Motian (Le Voyage), Kenny Wheeler (Around 6), Michel Petrucciani, Joachim Kühn (From Time To Time Free), John Greaves, Pierre Boulez, Daniel Humair, Jane Birkin (Versions Jane), Jasper van 't Hof, and Richard Galliano ~ Jenny-Clark was born in 1944
October 6, 1997 ~ Acid jazz, funk, R&B outfit the Brand New Heavies release You've Got A Friend, lifted off their Shelter album ~ The band had made a name for themselves on the British R&B scene with three critically acclaimed albums featuring lead singer N'dea Davenport. Following her departure, the band employed another American-born singer, Siedah Garrett, who first appeared on the Shelter album. Garrett, perhaps best known for appearing on Michael Jackson's hit I Just Can't Stop Loving You, co-wrote the UK No.11 hit Sometimes, their highest charting up to this point. Its follow-up, a cover of the Carole King classic You've Got A Friend, did even better and reached No.9. Garrett also fell on good ears with critics, as Music Week declared “recruiting Siedah Garrett has given the Brand New Heavies a new lease of life”
October 6, 1996 ~ Thereon Eugene Daffan, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, songwriter Ted Daffan, passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Wrote the seminal Truck Driver's Blues originally recorded by Cliff Bruner in 1939 with Moon Mullican singing lead. Daffan also wrote, and was the first to record, both I'm A Fool To Care and Born To Lose. Both would become standards, the former covered by Gene Autry, Jim Reeves, Connie Francis, and Fats Domino, while the latter has been recorded by Porter Wagoner, Ferlin Husky, Don Gibson, and Ray Charles ~ Daffan was born in 1912
October 6, 1993 ~ R&B singer Toni Braxton releases Breathe Again, lifted off her eponymous Toni Braxton debut album ~ Written by Kenneth Babyface Edmonds, who co-produced the song with Daryl Simmons and LA Reid, Breathe Again would become the highest-charting off her debut album, peaking at No.3 Billboard Hot 100, making it her second American top 10 hit after its direct predecessor Another Sad Love Song. Over two consecutive years, both songs would earn Toni Braxton a Grammy Award for Best R&B Female Vocal Performance. Breathe Again also did well internationally as it reached top 10 in well over half a dozen countries including Canada, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the UK. Years later, Braxton would state Breathe Again was one of her favorite songs to perform, as she told Billboard in 2018: “It's my go-to song that I can sing anytime. If I need to warm up, if I need to impress you with my vocal skills, if I want to feel good as I help heal people with broken hearts, that's the song I'm going to sing. It's like that classic black Chanel dress that goes with everything. You just change it up with accessories”
October 6, 1982 ~ Pianist, bassist, guitarist, percussionist William Butler, full name William Pierce Butler, born in The Woodlands, Texas, USA ~ Key member of Arcade Fire, fronted by his brother Win Butler, known for songs such as Keep The Car Running, Ready To Start, Reflektor and Afterlife. Butler also co-wrote the soundtrack for the 2013 film Her with Owen Pallett, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Policy released in 2015
October 6, 1981 ~ Singer Stevie Nicks releases Leather And Lace featuring Don Henley, lifted off her Bella Donna solo debut album ~ Written by Stevie Nicks at the request of Waylon Jennings who sought a song to sing with his then-wife Jessi Colter, Leather And Lace tells of an incompatible couple, hence the title, who nevertheless were together. However, when Nicks had finally finished Leather And Lace, Jennings and Colter were breaking up. Instead of having Jennings record the song without Colter, Nicks kept the song for herself and had her former boyfriend Don Henley sing the male counterpart. Peaking at No.6 Billboard Hot 100, it would the first major hit for Nicks away from Fleetwood Mac as well as the first for Henley away from the Eagles. Both singers would go on to successful solo careers
October 6, 1980 ~ Pop, R&B songwriter, singer Lincoln Chase passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Occasionally recorded as a singer. Best known as a songwriter, enjoying succes from the 1950s through the mid 1960s. Song written or co-written by Chase include Must I Cry Again (the Hilltoppers), Rain Down Rain (Big Maybelle), Salty Tears (Chuck Willis), Such A Night (the Drifters), Please Don't Freeze (Ruth Brown), Jim Dandy (Lavern Baker), and The Nitty Gritty (Shirley Ellis) ~ Chase was born in 1926October 6, 1979 ~ Singer, keyboardist, songwriter Julian Velard born in New York, New York, USA ~ First gained serious attention opening for singer Amy MacDonald on her 2008 This Is The Life uk tour. Released his The Planeteer sophomore album in 2009, earning him critical acclaim and a following especially in the Netherlands
October 6, 1979 ~ In its 21st week on the charts, Sad Eyes by Robert John hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ The late 1970s were the disco heyday, but at some point the sentiment changed, with an anti-disco backlash turning people to other music as well. It was in this sentiment that Sad Eyes could become a hit. In the ballad Sad Eyes, the narrator is touched by his lover's tears as they end their temporary fling as his regular partner returns. When Sad Eyes reached No.1 Billboard Hot 100, it ended a six-week reign for one of the year's biggest hits, the Knack's My Sharona. The song would be the biggest hit of John's career, and the second of only two top 10 hits for Robert John, preceded by his 1973 The Lion Sleeps Tonight No.3 hit. Robert John would continue to record through the mid-1980s before fading from public view. Singer Darlene Love was one of the three backing singers on Sad Eyes