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 9, 2023 ~ Charles Wilburn Trent, commonly known as bluegrass, country banjoist, dobroist, mandolinist, bassist, guitarist, songwriter Buck Trent, passed away in Branson, Missouri, USA ~ Most revered for his work as a banjo player. Invented the electric banjo. Plays lead guitar on both Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You and Jolene. Other notable collaborations include Bill Monroe during the early 1960s, backing Porter Wagoner for about a decade, and as a regular on Roy Clark's musical variety TV shows The Roy Clark Show and Hee Haw. Trent also toured the Soviet Union with Clark in 1976, the first Soviet tour of any American country music act. As a solo artist Trent is perhaps most acclaimed for the album The Sound Of Bluegrass Banjo released in 1962 ~ Trent was born in 1938October 9, 2023 ~ Pop rock, new wave drummer Hugh Friel passed away ~ Co-founding member of the Atrix, enjoying regional popularity in their native Ireland from their inception in 1978 through the early 1980s. The band is perhaps best known for their debut single The Moon Is Puce produced by future the Pogues guitarist Philip Chevron, and for its follow-up single Treasure On The Wasteland produced by Ultravox-frontman Midge Ure. They released their sole album, Procession, in 1981. Friel had previously worked with the Slow Motion Orchestra ~ Friel was born ca.1952
October 9, 2023 ~ Theatre, opera director Jorge Lavelli passed away in Paris, France ~ Staged numerous plays. To classical music audiences known for staging operas composed by Béla Bartók, Georges Bizet, Claude Debussy, Charles-François Gounod, Sergei Prokofiev, and Igor Stravinsky, working mainly as director for the Paris Opera yet also for the Vienna State Opera, and La Scala ~ Lavelli was born in 1932
October 9, 2023 ~ Pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Kevin Parrott passed away ~ Formed the one-hit-wonder duo Brian & Michael with bassist, singer Michael Coleman, known for their 1978 UK No.1 hit single Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs. The duo originally consisted of Brian Burke and Coleman, but as Burke had left shortly after the first pressing of their debut single his replacement Parrott would be billed as Brian. The duo's follow-up single Evensong would peak in the low 90s on the UK chart. Coleman and Parrott would however remain active in the music industry, either individually or as a team working as songwriters, producers for the Ramblers, Claire & Friends, and Ken Dodd ~ Parrot was born ca.1946
October 9, 2022 ~ Singer, songwriter Andrés Cuervo passed away in Paris, France ~ Released his Tras De Ti debut album in 2008 and has recorded to commercial succes since. Known for songs such as Como Yo Te Quiero, La Receta, Viviria Bien, Te Extrano, Destino Casualidad, and Luna Cuentale ~ Cuervo was born in 1988
October 9, 2022 ~ Jazz bassist, double bassist Chuck Deardorf passed away in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Married to singer Kelly Harland. Leader, co-leader and sideman. Closely associated with Dave Peterson. Has also worked with Don Lanphere, Bud Shank, Jovino Santos Neto, Jim Knapp, Tom Collier, Pete Christlieb, Larry Coryell, Randy Brecker, and Frank D'Rone ~ Deardorf was born in 1954
October 9, 2021 ~ Dimitri Papadopoulos, commonly known as post-punk, no wave, rock drummer Dee Pop, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Constant member of the Bush Tetras, which never achieved mainstream succes yet was highly influential in the early 1980s Manhattan scene and college radio. The band is best known for the singles Too Many Creeps and Can't Be Funky. Has also worked with a wide array of artists including Radio I-Ching, the Shams, John Sinclair, Jayne County, Michael Karoli, the Slits, Lenny Kaye, the Gun Club, Eddie Gale, Roy Campbell Jr, Marc Ribot, Borah Bergman, Darlene Love, and Nona Hendryx ~ Papadopoulos was born in 1956October 9, 2021 ~ Gospel singer, guitarist, organist, songwriter Shawn McLemore, full name Shawn Lamont McLemore, passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Best known for his 1997 Wait On Him debut album which charted on the Billboard Gospel charts. McLemore would continue to record through the 2010s but failed to reach the same level of succes ~ McLemore was born in 1967
October 9, 2020 ~ Punk bassist Pierre Kezdy passed away in Glenview, Illinois, USA ~ Brother of the Effigies-frontman John Kezdy. Pierre is best known for co-founding 1980s punk outfit Strike Under, which evolved into Trial By Fire after the departure of lead singer Steve Bjorklund. Has also worked with Naked Raygun, Pegboy, the Rainbow Girls, the Interceptors, and the Arsenal ~ Kezdy was born in 1962October 9, 2020 ~ Operatic soprano Ruth Falcon passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Debuted with the New Orleans Opera in 1968 playing the role of Frasquita in Carmen. Would go on to work with the New Orleans Opera, the New York City Opera, the Bavarian State Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, the Paris Opera, the Wiener Staatsoper, the Teatro Colón, and the Opera De Monte Carlo ~ Falcon was born in 1942
October 9, 2014 ~ Lincoln Valentine Scott, commonly known as reggae, dub drummer Style Scott, passed away in Manchester Parish, Jamaica ~ Drummer for Roots Radics, which served as the rhythm section of many top-notch Jamaican stars including Bunny Wailer, Israel Vibration and Gregory Isaacs. Later teamed up with British dub producer Adrian Sherwood to form the core of Dub Syndicate. Also drummed on Revenge Of The Mozabites, the 1979 debut album of Suns Of Arqa ~ Scott was born in 1956October 9, 2006 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter Marek Grechuta, full name Marek Michel Grechuta, passed away in Kraków, Poland ~ Formed the cabaret group Anawa with Jan Kanty Pawluskiewicz, acclaimed for their 1967 Anawa album. Active as a solo artist since the early 1970s with about a dozen albums to his name ~ Grechuta was born in 1945
October 9, 2006 ~ Singer, percussionist, guitarist Rosanna Tavares passed away in Belo Horizonte, Brazil ~ Member of Rosanna & Zélia, known for collaborating with artists such as Dino Saluzzi, Howard Levy, Katharina Franck, and Shantel ~ Tavares was born in 1961
October 9, 2005 ~ Electric blues, delta blues singer, guitarist Paul Wine Jones passed away in Jackson, Mississippi, USA ~ For most of his life played merely as a pastime, working with local musicians. Released two albums in the 1990s, 1995's Mule and 1996's Pucker Up Buttercup. Jones passed away of cancer at age 59. The album Stop Arguing Over Me was released posthumously in 2006 ~ Jones was born in 1946October 9, 2003 ~ Jazz trombonist Carl Fontana, full name Carl Charles Fontana, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ First gained attention in the early 1950s, initially hired by Woody Herman to fill in for Urbie Green but kept on after Green's return. Would go on to work with Lionel Hampton, Hal McIntyre, Stan Kenton, and Kai Winding. After relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada, by the late 1950s, Fontana spent most of his time performing in house orchestras and lounges, at times backing artists such as Sammy Davis Jr, Tony Bennett, and Wayne Newton. The 1970s saw him playing with Louie Bellson, Bill Watrous, Supersax, and notably with drummer Jake Hanna, co-leading the Hanna-Fontana Band, including on the album Live At The Concord album. Fontana only recorded sporadically as a leader, and is noted most for his 1998 Live At Capozzoli's album ~ Fontana was born in 1928
October 9, 2003 ~ Jazz saxophonist Don Lanphere, full name Donald Gale Lanphere, passed away in Redmond, Washington, USA ~ Burst onto the New York scene in his late teens with a series of impressive recordings including with Fats Navarro, Woody Herman, Artie Shaw, Claude Thornhill, Charlie Barnet, and Billy May, before disappearing from view after a drug bust. For some two decades, Lanphere either ran the family music store or was out of music altogether, before making a remarkable comeback recording some dozen albums from the early 1980s until his death, including the acclaimed Into Somewhere, Don Still Loves Midge, and Lopin', the latter featuring Bud Shank and Denney Goodhew ~ Lanphere was born in 1928
October 9, 1999 ~ Vibraphonist Milt Jackson passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Revolutionized the vibraphone. Long-time member of the Modern Jazz Quartet. As a leader or co-leader especially acclaimed for albums such as Jackson's Ville, Bags & Trane with John Coltrane, Bags' Opus, and Sunflower. Also present on albums by the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk (The Genius Of Modern Music Vol.1), Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Hank Mobley, Quincy Jones (This Is How I Feel About Jazz), Charlie Parker, Miles Davis (Porgy & Bess), and Ray Charles ~ Jackson was born in 1923October 9, 1996 ~ Country, folk singer Colleen Peterson, full name Colleen Susan Peterson, passed away ~ Member of 3's A Crowd. Member of Quartette. Solo artist. Cast in Canadian 1970 production of Hair. Also worked with the Charlie Daniels Band, Gordon Lightfoot, Tom Waits, Ry Cooder, Waylon Jennings, Roger Miller, Janie Fricke, Marty Stuart. As a songwriter had her work recorded by Anne Murray, Ronnie Prophet and by Sylvia Tyson ~ Peterson was born in 1950
October 9, 1996 ~ Pianist, singer, composer, actor Per Asplin passed away in Oslo, Norway ~ Starred in a number of films. Created the annual Christmas show Putti Plutti Pott And Santa's Beard. Participated in the prestigious Melodi Grand Prix a number of times. Best remembered as member of vocal group the Monn Keys ~ Asplin was born in 1928
October 9, 1993 ~ Singer Scotty McCreery born in Garner, North Carolina, USA ~ Winner of the 10th season of American Idol in 2011. Debuted with the album Clear As Day, spawning the hit singles I Love You This Big and The Trouble With Girls. Also known for songs such as See You Tonight and Five More Minutes
October 9, 1991 ~ Gerhard Höllerich, commonly known as schlager singer, actor Roy Black, passed away in Heldenstein, Germany ~ Took his stage name for his black hair color and his idol Roy Orbison. Started singing rock & roll but soon switched to romantic songs pressed by his manager, first gaining attention with the 1966 single Ganz In Weiss which sold over one million copies. Black would go on to become one of Germany's most beloved schlager singers, scoring hits well into the 1980s ~ Höllerich was born in 1943
October 9, 1988 ~ Guitarist Cliff Gallup passed away in Norfolk, Virginia, USA ~ Member of Gene Vincent's backing unit the Blue Caps through late 1956, appearing on some 35 tracks including Race With The Devil, Blue Jean Bop and Be-bop-a-lula. Regarded as one of early rock & roll's most technically proficient electric guitarists. Influential on Eric Clapton, Brian Setzer and Jeff Beck. At the request of his widow obituaries in local newspapers made no mention of his time with Vincent ~ Gallup was born in 1930
October 9, 1988 ~ Elmer Alexander, commonly known as jazz drummer Mousey Alexander, passed away in Orlando, Florida, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Jimmy McPartland, Marian McPartland, the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, Johnny Smith, Benny Goodman, Bud Freeman, Eddie Condon, Charlie Ventura, Red Norvo, Clark Terry, Ralph Sutton, Sy Oliver, Doc Severinsen, Eddie Barefield, Buck Clayton, Beverly Kenney, Lee Konitz, Gene Krupa, Sal Salvador, and Jimmy Witherspoon ~ Alexander was born in 1922October 9, 1984 ~ Justin Clarke, commonly known as grime MC, rapper, songwriter Ghetts, born in London, UK ~ Known for his intricate rhyme schemes. Has toured with Kano. Member of the Nasty Crew. Released his solo debut album, Rebel With A Cause, in 2014
October 9, 1984 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, singer Heather Baker born ~ Touring and session guitarist for the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Adam Lambert, Bonnie McKee, and Bea Miller. Member of all-female Iron Maiden-tribute band the Iron Maidens from 2007 through 2010, going by the moniker Adrienne Smith using a female version of guitarist Adrian Smith's name. Member of post-hardcore band Fake Figures