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 7, 2024 ~ Conductor, composer Amaury du Closel, full name Amaury Barbat du Closel, passed away in Le-Puy-en-Velay, France ~ Well known for founding the Forum Voix Etouffées, an organisation dedicated to raising attention to the music of composers persecuted, exiled, or forgotten, especially those persecuted by totalitarian regimes of the 20th century such as Ernst Krenek, Franz Schreker and Viktor Ullmann. Du Closel has also authored Les Voix étouffées du Troisième Reich, a study of voices silenced by the Nazi regime. Du Closel has conducted numerous orchestras over the course of his lengthy career, including perhaps most notably the Berlin Symphoniker and the Orchéstre les Metamorphoses, and served as artistic director of the Opéra Nomade ~ Du Closel was born in 1956
October 7, 2024 ~ Emily Drinkard, commonly known as singer Cissy Houston, passed away in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Member of gospel group the Drinkard Singers, with whom she had started singing as early as at age 5. Member of the Sweet Inspirations alongside Dee Dee Warwick, which at times also included Dionne Warwick, Dee Dee Warwick, and Doris Troy. The vocal group would not only be successful in their own right, but also became an in-demand backing unit for the likes of Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, the Drifters, Dusty Springfield, Van Morrison, and Elvis Presley. Houston has also recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo singer, notably the eponymous Cissy Houston sophomore album released in 1977, and has earned Grammy Awards for the 1990s gospel albums Face To Face and He Leadeth Me. Over the course of her lengthy career, Houston has appeared on over an estimated 600 recordings including on albums by Aretha Franklin (Lady Soul), Betty Harris, James Cotton, Roberta Flack (Quiet Fire), Bette Midler, Jackie DeShannon, Tim Hardin, Don McLean, Herbie Mann, the J Geils Band, Chaka Khan, Carly Simon, Luther Vandross (Never Too Much), Diana Ross, Teddy Pendergrass, and Houston's daughter Whitney Houston ~ Drinkard was born in 1933
October 7, 2024 ~ Giacomo Pontoriero, commonly known as rock, hard rock guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, talent manager, songwriter, producer Jack Ponti, passed away ~ Got his start in music playing guitar in 1970s band the Rest, which also included a young and then-unknown Jon Bon Jovi as lead singer. Though the band never landed a major record deal, they enjoyed popularity in their native New Jersey, opening for the likes of Southside Johnny and Bruce Springsteen. After the band disbanded, Jon Bon Jovi would rise to fame with the glam metal-infused Bon Jovi, with Ponti co-writing several of the band's earliest songs including Shot Through The Heart, while Ponti would primarily focus on his work as a songwriter, producer, and later talent manager, working with artists such as Bonfire, Babylon AD, Eric Gales, Nelson, and Melvin Taylor. In Europe, Ponti is perhaps best known for his work with Alice Cooper, co-writing half the tracks off Cooper's 1991 Hey Stoopid album, which though poorly received in America did reasonably well in Europe, and for his work with German hard rock outfit Doro, for whom he co-produced the albums Angels Never Die and its follow-up Machine II Machine. Ponti has also served as manager for neo-soul singer India Arie ~ Pontoriero was born in 1958October 7, 2022 ~ Pianist, composer Jure Robeznik passed away ~ Despite the lack of formal musical education authored over a hundred and fifty musical works, focusing primarily on jazz and popular music. Robeznik was bestowed with a Kozina Award by the Society of Slovenian Composers in 2017 ~ Robeznik was born in 1933
October 7, 2022 ~ Latin jazz, hard bop, pop, soul saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Ronnie Cuber, full name Ronald Edward Cuber, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Active since the late 1950s. As a leader active since the mid 1970s, with well over a dozen albums to his name especially acclaimed for the albums Cuber Libre, The Scene Is Clean, NYC Ats and Ronnie. In-demand sideman in jazz, pop and soul, appearing on recordings by Slide Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, George Benson, Dr Lonnie Smith, Lee Konitz, Frank Zappa, Patti Austin, the J Geils Band (Freeze Frame), Grant Green, Billy Joel (Innocent Man), Paul Simon (Graceland), and Dr John ~ Cuber was born in 1941October 7, 2022 ~ Avant-garde pianist, composer Toshi Ichiyanagi passed away in Tokyo, Japan ~ Married to Yoko Ono from 1956 to 1962. Considered one of the premier composers in Japan during the postwar era. Has written operas, orchestral works, chamber music, vocal works, electronic music, and soundtracks. Known for a wide range of influences, including Western-style classical music, avant-garde, and traditional Japanese music ~ Ichiyanagi was born in 1933
October 7, 2020 ~ Conductor Alexander Alexeev, full name Alexander Vasilievich Alexeev, passed away in St Petersburg, Russia ~ Once offered the post of chief conductor with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra but forced to decline as he was not a member of the Communist Party and not allowed to travel outside the Soviet Union. Has worked with orchestras such as Ulyanovsk State Symphony Orchestra, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Kharkov Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Moscow Radio Orchestra ~ Alexeev was born in 1938October 7, 2018 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer John Wicks passed away in Burbank, California, USA ~ As a recording artist best known as lead singer and primary songwriter of Records. Solo artist from 1982 onwards. Produced and wrote, often with lyricist partner Will Birch, for others including the Searchers, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Too Much Joy, and Michael Monroe ~ Wicks was born in 1953
October 7, 2017 ~ Singer, songwriter Billy Roberts, full name William Moses Roberts Jr, passed away in Georgia, USA ~ Remembered for penning Hey Joe Where You Gonna Go, first recorded by the Leaves in 1965 but best known as recorded by Jimi Hendrix, retitled Hey Joe. The song has been covered by well over a hundred artists ~ Roberts was born in 1936October 7, 2017 ~ James Beaumont, commonly known as singer Jimmy Beaumont, passed away in Mckeesport, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Lead singer of doo-wop outfit the Skyliners, known for songs such as This I Swear, Pennies From Heaven, It Happened Today, Close Your Eyes, Comes Love and their best known Since I Don't Have You, the latter reaching the Billboard top 20 in 1958 ~ Beaumont was born in 1940
October 7, 2012 ~ Free jazz saxophonist, composer John Tchicai, full name John Martin Tchicai, passed away in Perpignan, France ~ Revered leader and sideman present on several pivotal jazz, free jazz albums including John Coltrane's Ascension and Albert Ayler's New York Eye And Ear Control. Founded Cadentia Nova Danica. Member of the Amsterdam Instant Composers Pool. Member of the New York Art Quartet. Also worked with the New York Contemporary Five, Archie Shepp, and Dell Westergaard Lillinger ~ Tchichai was born in 1936
October 7, 2010 ~ Terry Lavitz, commonly known as keyboardist T Lavitz, passed away ~ Gained attention in the early 1980s as a member of Dixie Dregs, first appearing on the Dregs Of The Earth album. After the band's initial disbandement in 1983 would go on to work with Paul Barrère, the Bluesbusters, Mother's Finest, Bill Bruford, Billy Cobham, Widespread Panic, Jefferson Starship, Jazz Is Dead, and Rob Wasserman. Lavitz also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the album Extended Play released in 1984 ~ Lavitz was born in 1956
October 7, 2009 ~ Producer, label executive Shelby Singleton passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Producer at Mercury Records incremental to the careers of Leroy Van Dyke, Ray Stevens, Joe Dowell, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roger Miller, Charlie Rich, Dave Dudley, and Brook Benton. Started his own label by the early 1960s, scoring with hits such as Hey Paul Hey Paula by Paul & Paula and Harper Valley PTA by Jeannie C Riley. Bought Sun Records in 1969 ~ Singleton was born in 1931October 7, 2003 ~ Composer, music critic, author Arthur Berger, full name Arthur Victor Berger, passed away in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Co-founded the academic music journal Perspectives Of New Music, a journal focusing on music theory and analysis. As a composer influenced by Igor Stravinsky, Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern. Best known for neoclassical works such as Serenade Concertante and Three Pieces For Strings ~ Berger was born in 1912
October 7, 2002 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Pierangelo Bertoli passed away in Modena, Italy ~ Close to two dozen album to his name starting with Rosso Colore Dell'amore released in 1974. Known for his strong political convictions bordering on libertarian communism, his song subjects focusing on issues such as the environment, antimilitarism and the plight of marginalized and rebellious people ~ Bertoli was born in 1942
October 7, 1997 ~ Singer Janet Jackson releases The Velvet Rope, her sixth studio album ~ Preceded by Control, Rhythm Nation 1814, and Janet, the brutally honest and self-searching The Velvet Rope became Jackson's fourth consecutive studio album to top the American Billboard Hot 200 album charts. Janet Jackson had experienced an emotional breakdown and suffered from depression, and alongside sociopolitical themes addressed her issues on The Velvet Rope causing some critics to view the album as a “soundtrack to a therapy session”, while in general the album received wide critical acclaim and numerous awards. The singer herself has stated “The Velvet Rope is both the highest and lowest point. On a personal level, it was a low point, because I was going through a depression. That was a difficult time for me. At the same time it was my highest point, because I overcame the depression by talking about the crossroads I was at. (…) Talking it out and creating such an introspective work as The Velvet Rope helped me do that”
October 7, 1997 ~ Eddie Ray White, commonly known as country singer, guitarist Johnny Darrell, passed away in Kennesaw, Georgia, USA ~ Perhaps best known for first recording the Curly Putman-penned Green Green Grass Of Home, which did not chart but would later notably be covered by over an estimated 250 artists including Porter Wagoner, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley. Darrell did reach the Billboard Country top 10 with the Mel Tillis-penned single Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town in 1967, later notably recorded by Kenny Rogers, and with the Bobby Goldsboro-penned With Pen In Hand in 1968 ~ Darrell was born in 1940
October 7, 1996 ~ R&B singer Toni Braxton releases Un-break My Heart, lifted off her Secrets sophomore album ~ Written by Diane Warren, who had previously written charttoppers for Starship, Chicago, Bad English, and Céline Dion, and produced by David Foster, Un-break My Heart would become Toni Braxton's biggest hit, spending eleven consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 to be finally dethroned by Wannabe by the Spice Girls. The single would sell well over 10 million copies worldwide, 3 million in America, making it one of the all-time best selling singles, and earned Braxton a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Abroad it reached top 10 in some two dozen other countries, including No.5 in Canada, and No.2 in the Netherlands, Ireland, and the UK. Based on chart performance, Un-break My Heart would be songwriter Diane Warren's biggest success on the American charts. Warren, who was surprised nobody had yet used the phrase “un-break my heart”, knew from the git-go the song would be a hit, yet Braxton felt differently: “Braxton hated that song. She didn't want to do it. And then after she had a hit with it she told me she didn't want another one of those”
October 7, 1992 ~ Jazz drummer Ed Blackwell, full name Edward Joseph Blackwell, passed away in Hartford, Connecticut, USA ~ Rose to fame backing Ornette Coleman, including on pivotal albums such as Free Jazz and The Art Of The Improvisers. In-demand sideman, present on albums by the American Jazz Quintet, Eric Dolphy (Here And There), Don Cherry (Complete Communion), Karl Berger, Archie Shepp (On This Night), Clifford Jordan (In The World), Albert Heath, Stanley Cowell, Marion Brown, Old And New Dreams, Anthony Davis, and Mal Waldron ~ Blackwell was born in 1929October 7, 1991 ~ Zhang Yixing, commonly known as K-pop, Mandopop, hip hop, R&B, EDM singer, rapper, dancer, actor Lay Zhang, born in Changsha, China ~ Member of boy band EXO, enjoying popularity during the 2010 in Japan and their native South Korea. Yixing has released his Lay 02 Sleep debut album in 2017 and has recorded to commercial success since. Also ventured into acting for film and TV
October 7, 1988 ~ Jazz guitarist, bass guitarist Ulysses Livingston passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Roadie for Horace Henderson. Would go on to work as a musician with artists such as Lil' Armstrong, Frankie Newton, Sammy Price, Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Cee Pee Johnson, and the Spirits Of Rhythm, as well as lead his own band the Four Blazes ~ Livingston was born in 1912
October 7, 1987 ~ Synth-pop, indie pop singer, keyboardist, drummer, songwriter Lauren Mayberry, full name Lauren Eva Mayberry, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Member of Boyfriend/Girlfriend and the Blue Sky Archives prior to rising to fame as co-founding member of Chvrches. The latter's 2013 The Bones Of What You Believe debut album would reach top 20 on the American charts, top 10 in their native UK. Mayberry has also worked with Marshmello, Death Cab For Cutie, the National, and Hayley Williams, and launched her parallel solo career in 2023. Mayberry is also known as a staunch advocate on several social issues, most notably women's rights, and is an outspoken of president Donald J TrumpOctober 7, 1983 ~ Jazz pianist Aaron Parks born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Terence Blanchard including on the Grammy Award-winning A Tale Of God's Will (A Requiem For Katrina) album. Member of James Farm alongside Joshua Redman, Matt Penman, and Eric Harland. Has also worked with Kurt Rosenwinkel, Mike Moreno, Christian Scott, Dayna Stephens, Wynton Marsalis, Kendrick Scott, Ambrose Akinmusire, Gretchen Parlato, Sara Leib, Lage Lund, Derrick Hodge, Dhafer Youssef, and Ben Wendel
October 7, 1983 ~ Steven Ellison, commonly known as jazz rap, hip-hop, experimental rapper, producer Flying Lotus born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ As a solo artist released a full-length solo album, 1983, in 2006 and has been recording steadily since. Composed several soundtracks. As a collaborator and producer worked with Woke, Snoop Dogg, Herbie Hancock, Mickey Factz, Kendrick Lamar, Thundercat, Mac Miller, José James, Dudley Perkins, Oddisee, and Chance the Rapper
October 7, 1982 ~ Pop singer, actress Anastasia Stotskaya, full name Anastasia Aleksandrovna Stotskaya, born in Kyiv, Ukraninian SSR ~ Discovered by Philipp Kirkorov. Released her eponymous Anastasia Stotskaya debut album in 2003. Best known for the songs Veny-reki and The Woman Who Sings