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.
September 14, 1967 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock bassist, guitarist, singer, songwriter John Power, full name John Timothy Power, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Bassist for the La's from 1986 through 1991, best known for their UK top 20 hit There She Goes of their sole eponymous The La's released in 1988. Founded and fronted the Cast, known for their 1995 All Change album. The album would become the Polydor Records all-time highest selling debut album and spawn the UK top 20 hits Finetime, Alright, Sandstorm, and Walkaway. Power has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Happening For Love released in 2003September 14, 1967 ~ Jazz singer Majken Christiansen born in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Worked with Fjeldtetten, the Swing Society, Per Rick, Ebbe Lundgaard, Peter Reimer, Mogens Kann Fjelsoe, Anders Aarum, Jens Fossum, her husband Torstein Ellingsen, Tore Sandnaes, Stig Hvalryg, Torstein Ellingsen, Frode Kjekstad, Ove Alexander Billington, Magnolia, Sandvika Storband, Bodil Niska, and David Arthur Skinner
September 14, 1965 ~ R&B singer Marvin Gaye releases Ain't That Peculiar single ~ Equalling the success of previous single I'll Be Doggone, also produced by Smokey Robinson, Ain't That Peculiar sold a million copies, topped the Billboard R&B charts, and reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100. Released as the second single off his Moods Of Marvin Gaye album, the song would become one of Marvin Gaye's signature songs from the 1960s. The song would be covered numerous times, including by the Delfonics, Rita Coolidge, Martha Reeves, Alexis Korner, and José Feliciano
September 14, 1959 ~ Pop, synth-pop, new wave singer Morten Harket born in Kongsberg, Norway ~ Lead singer of A-ha, with whom he recorded about a dozen albums. The band would rise to international fame with their 1985 Hunting High And Low debut album which spawned the hit Take On Me, a top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic and best remembered for its iconic video. The band is also especially known for The Living Daylights, theme song of the 1987 James Bond film of the same name. Harken has recorded about half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Poetenes Evangelium released in 1993
September 14, 1956 ~ Singer, songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman born in Harlingen, Texas, USA ~ Best known as a songwriter before also reaching commercial success as a singer. Chapman has written or co-written an array of country and pop songs for artists such as Faith Hill (This Kiss), Trisha Yearwood (Down On My Knees), Martina McBride (Happy Girl), Willie Nelson (Nothing I Can Do About It Now, If My World Didn't Have You), Tanya Tucker (Strong Enough To Bend), Lorrie Morgan (Five Minutes), Mary Chapin Carpenter (Almost Home), Alabama (Here We Are), Suzy Bogguss (Save Yourself), Claudia Church (What's The Matter With You Baby), Holly Dunn (You Say You Will), Crystal Gayle (When Love Is New), Highway 101 (All The Reasons Why, Long Way Down), Terri Clark (Sometimes Goodbye), Mindy McCready (One In A Million), Waylon Jennings (Shine On Me), Ilse de Lange (World Of Hurt), Megan McKenna (Far Cry From Love), and Bette Midler (Color Of Roses)
September 14, 1955 ~ Rock & roll singer Little Richard records Tutti Frutti at J&M Studios, New Orleans, Louisiana ~ Penned by Dorothy LaBostrie and Little Richard. Produced by Robert Bumps Blackwell. Justin Adams guitar, Lee Allen and Alvin Tyler saxophones, Frank Ifield double bass, Earl Palmer drums. Released as a single, b/w I'm Just A Lonely Guy, and included on the Here's Little Richard album
September 14, 1954 ~ Pop, bubblegum pop drummer, bassist, singer Barry Cowsill, full name Barry Steven Cowsill, born in Newport, Rhode Island, USA ~ Member of sibling outfit the Cowsills, best known for The Rain The Park & Other Things, Indian Lake and a live version of Hair, all of which reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100 in the late 1960s. The band disbanded in 1972, but has on occasion reunited ~ Cowsill passed away in 2005September 14, 1953 ~ Thomas Henry Corra, commonly known as cellist Tom Cora, born in Draguignan, France ~ Revered improvisational cellist in experimental jazz and rock. As a leader, solo artist best known for his 1987 Live At The Western Front album. Introduced the cello to honky tonk circuits through his work with Eugene Chadbourne. Formed the Skeleton Crew with guitarist Fred Frith. Formed improvisational trio Third Person with percussionist Samm Bennett and a third person varying from concert to concert including Don Byron, Myra Melford, and Marc Ribot. Other notable collaborations include John Zorn, Curlew, Butch Morris, Nimal, Peter Kowald, Roof, and Andrea Centazzo
September 14, 1952 ~ Blues harpist, singer Darrell Nulisch born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Co-founding member of Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets, departing the band in 1985. Member of Mike Morgan's backing unit the Crawl. Member of Ronnie Earl's band the Broadcasters. Toured with James Cotton, singing for Cotton who had just lost his voice. Guested on Otis Grand's 1996 Perfume & Grime album. Has recorded over half a dozen solo albums, starting with Business As Usual released in 1991September 14, 1950 ~ Pop, palingpop keyboardist, saxophonist, songwriter Dick Plat, full name Albertus Clemmentz Jozef Dick Plat, born in Volendam, the Netherlands ~ Member of the Skyriders. Member of the Left Side. Member of Canyon, known for their track Mooi Volendam. Member of BZN, joining the band in 1988 replacing Thomas Tol. Has also written songs for Wolter Kroes and Maribelle
September 14, 1950 ~ Jazz singer Giacomo Gates born in Connecticut, USA ~ Respected baritone jazz singer worked as a laborer and truck driver into his forties, being discovered by Sarah Vaughan. Influenced by the likes of Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Cab Calloway, Anita O'Day, and Louis Prima. Released his Blue Skies debut album in 1995 and has recorded to critical acclaim since
September 14, 1950 ~ Rock, hard rock, blues rock guitarist Paul Kossoff, full name Paul Francius Kosoff, born in Hampstead, UK ~ Co-founding member of Free, considered by some pioneers of hard rock, for whom he wrote or co-wrote several songs including Oh I Wept and Mr Big. Released his solo album, Back Street Crawler in 1973. Has also worked with John Martyn, Jim Capaldi, Martha Veléz, Amazing Blondel, Uncle Dog, Michael Gately, and Mike Vernon ~ Kossoff passed away in 1976September 14, 1950 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Steve Allee born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Member of the Baron von Ohlen Quartet. Toured with Buddy Rich at age 19. Also worked with John Clayton, John von Ohlen, Slide Hampton, James Moody, Rufus Reid, Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker, Phil Woods, Curtis Fuller, Jeff Hamilton, Tim Hagans, John Bernard Riley, Ira Sullivan, Ed Thigpen, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Milt Hinton, Vincent Gardner, and Bobby Shew
September 14, 1949 ~ Guitarist Ed King born in Glendale, California, USA ~ Founding member of Strawberry Alarm Clock. Member of Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 to 1975, and again from 1987 to 1996. King initially replaced bassist Leon Wilkeson in 1972 but switched to guitar when Wilkeson regretted leaving the band and came back. This resulted in a three-guitar line-up, King, Allen Collins and Gary Rossington. The band would refer to the new line-up as the “three guitar army” ~ King passed away in 2018September 14, 1949 ~ Singer, songwriter Eikichi Yazawa born in Hiroshima, Japan ~ Father of singer Yoko Yazawa. Founded rock & roll outfit Carol in 1972. Released his Tom Mack-produced solo debut I Love You OK in 1975 and has recorded extensively since
September 14, 1948 ~ Frederick Dewey Smith, commonly known as guitarist Fred Sonic Smith born in West Virginia, USA ~ Guitarist of influential punk rockers MC5, best known for the pivotal 1960s punk rock anthem Kick Out The Jams. Later formed the Sonic Rendezvous Band, known for its sole single City Slang. Married to Patti Smith in 1980, the couple have raised two children together. The band Sonic Youth named themselves after Smith's nickname ~ Smith passed away in 1994
September 14, 1947 ~ Singer, game show host, actor Jon Bauman born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known as Bowzer from Sha Na Na, instantly recognisable for his “greaser” hair and clothes. The band both revived and parodied 1950s rock & roll and doo-wop, and is best known for their 1972 album The Night Is Still Young, their appearance in the 1978 musical comedy film Grease, and for their own syndicated TV show The Sha Na Na Show. Bauman joined the band in 1970, replacing Alan Cooper. Following his departure from the band in 1983 Bauman has worked as a game show host, a VJ, and actor appearing in numerous TV shows. Bauman is also a political activist and spokesman for several committees associated with the Democrats. Bauman also helped pass legislation, known as the Truth in Music Act, that would compel any group using the name of a classic group to have at least one of the original members
September 14, 1946 ~ Folk singer Tom Hunter passed away in Bellingham, Washington, USA ~ Best known for his children's songs, notably tracks such as My Washing Machine Eats Socks, The Shirt Song, and There's A Monster In My Closet. In 2013 the Children's Music Network posthumously awarded Hunter the Magic Penny Award. In addition to his work as a singer Hunter has worked in radio, hosting the God Talk radio show on label San Franciscan KGO Radio station ~ Hunter passed away in 2008September 14, 1945 ~ Rock, blues, country, pop guitarist, producer, songwriter, film composer Geoff Levin born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Member of the Black Mountain Boys, which also included Jerry Garcia. Member of People, known for their 1968 hit I Love You. Best known as a film composer with over 60 soundtracks to his name. As a guitarist and dobroist has guested on recordings by Buffy Sainte-Marie, Jimmie Spheeris, Dick Glass, Rita Coolidge, and Wings Hauser
September 14, 1943 ~ Antti Yrjo Hammarberg, commonly known as rock, folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Irwin Goodman, born in Hameenlinna, Finland ~ Protest singer popular from the 1960s forward with some two dozen albums to his name. Frequent collaborator of lyricist Vexi Salmi. Well known songs include Tyomiehen Lauantai, En Kerro Kuinka Jouduin Maimisiin, El Tippa Tapa, Poing Poing Poing, Haistakaa Pasja Koko Valtiovalta and Rentun Ruusu ~ Hammarberg passed away in 1991
September 14, 1941 ~ Alexis Clair Snouffer, commonly known as guitarist Alex St Clair, born ~ Best known for his association with Captain Beefheart, appearing on the Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band's first two albums, 1967's Safe As Milk and 1968's Strictly Personal ~ Snouffer passed away in 2006
September 14, 1941 ~ Producer, arranger James Anthony Carmichael born in Gadsgen, Alabama, USA ~ Throughout the 1960s, Carmichael worked as an arranger for the Olympics, Bill Cosby, Bob & Earl, and the Soul Runners. Best known as Motown producer and arranger from the early 1970s onwards. Pivotal to the careers of Lionel Richie and the Commodores, producing or co-producing a long string of hits including Easy and Brick House. Also worked with the Four Tops, the Miracles, the Supremes, the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, Eddie Kendricks, Atlantic Starr, and Diana Ross
September 14, 1940 ~ Reggae singer Winston Jarrett born in St Ann Parish, Jamaica ~ Member of Alton Ellis' backing band the Flames. Sang on quintessential rocksteady songs such as Dancecrasher, Cry Tough, Rocksteady and Girl I've Got A Date. Also wrote or co-wrote several of Ellis' songs including Sunday Coming and True Born African. Jarrett would go on to form the Righteous Flames with Edgar Gardner and Junior Green, known for songs such as Zion I Love You. Also worked with Coxsone Dodd, Lee Scratch Perry, and Danny Clarke
September 14, 1937 ~ Saxophonist Joseph Jarman born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA ~ One of the earliest members of the jazz collective the Association For The Advancement Of Creative Musicians. Co-founding member of the Art Ensemble Of Chicago. Well over a dozen albums to his name as leader or co-leader starting in the mid 1960s, often in collaboration with Famoudou Don Moye. Has also worked with Anthony Braxton, Equal Interest, Johnny Dyani, Craig Harris, Marilyn Crispell, and Myra Melford ~ Jarman passed away in 2019September 14, 1937 ~ R&B, blues, disco singer Ronnie Jones, full name Ronald Hugo Jones, born in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA ~ Worked with Alexis Korner, Blues Incorporated, John McLaughlin, the Nighttimers, Claudja Barry, Cooper Terry, Spagna, the Soul Syndicate. Resides in Italy. Wrote the song Lo Bambino Tu for Zucchero