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 15, 2024 ~ Toriano Adaryll Jackson, commonly known as singer, guitarist Tito Jackson, passed away in Gallup, New Mexico, USA ~ Has recorded well over a dozen albums as a member of sibling outfit the Jackson 5, renamed to the Jacksons in the mid 1970s. The band has scored about a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits, and was especially popular at the turn of the 1970s scoring No.1 hits such as I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save, and I'll Be There. Later hits included Blame It On The Boogie, Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground), and State Of Shock, the latter a collaboration with the Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger. Starting in the early 2000s, Jackson has performed as a solo blues musician on the club circuit, served as a judge on talent contests, and recorded two solo albums. As a solo artist, he is best known for the single Get It Baby featuring Big Daddy Kane off his 2016 Tito Time album. Jackson was married to Delores Dee Dee Martes from 1972 through 1994, with whom he has three sons, Taj Jackson, Taryll Jackson, and TJ Jackson who comprised the R&B trio 3T. As a member of the Jackson 5, Jackson was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1997, the sibling act acknowledged for its own distinctive “bubblegum soul” sound, drawing from vocal groups, contemporary soul and R&B, and classic Motown. Jackson continued to perform with his siblings until his death at age 70 ~ Jackson was born in 1953
September 15, 2023 ~ Francesco Migliacci, commonly known as lyricist, songwriter, actor Franco Migliacci, passed away in Rome, Italy ~ As an actor, Migliacci has appeared in well over a dozen films from the early 1950s through the late 1960s. To music audiences, he is probably best known for co-writing Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) with Domenico Modugno. Originally recorded by Modugno in 1958 the song would become a standard covered by over 300 artists. Other songs co-written by Migliacci have been recorded by Gianni Meccia (Patatina), Neil Sedaka, Rita Pavone, Ennio Morricone, Donatella Moretti, Patty Pravo (La Bambola), and José Feliciano (Che Sarà) ~ Migliacci was born in 1930September 15, 2023 ~ Rock, pub rock bassist, singer, songwriter Paul Woseen passed away ~ Co-founding and alongside lead singer Dave Gleeson the only other constant member of the Screaming Jets, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums starting with 1991's All For One. The band would enjoy popularity in their native Australia especially during the 1990s and is best known for songs such as Better, Shivers, and Helping Hand. Woseen released his sole solo album, Bombido, in 2013 ~ Woseen was born in 1967
September 15, 2023 ~ Pop, bubblegum pop singer Prudence McIntyre, full name Prudence Ann McIntyre, passed away ~ Formed the duo Patience & Prudence with her sister Patience McIntyre. Daughters of orchestra leader Mark McIntyre, they scored two hits in 1956, Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now and Tonight You Belong To Me. Both singles would reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100, both would reach top 20 UK. The siblings continued to record through 1964 but were unable to repeat their earlier surprise succes. Later the duo explained their succes was “just an accident” and the siblings, both in their early teens back when they hit the charts, never intended to become performers ~ McIntyre was born in 1945
September 15, 2020 ~ Conductor, composer Jan Krenz passed away in Warsaw, Poland ~ Best known for his longtime association with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, serving as deputy conductor under Grzegorz Fitelberg from 1949 to 1953 and subsequently following Fitelberg's passing as director through 1968. Premiered Witold Lutoslawski's Musique Funèbre in 1958. Krenz has also conducted orchestras such as the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Concertgebouw Orchestra ~ Krenz was born in 1926September 15, 2020 ~ Composer, conductor Paul Méfano passed away in Chilly-Mazarin, France ~ Founded contemporary classical ensemble the Ensemble 2e2m in 1972, with which he he has premiered more than 500 works by young composers such as Stéphane de Gérando, Thierry Blondeau, Michael Finnissy, Bruce Mather, and Claude Lefebvre, as well as older composers including Morton Feldman and John Cage ~ Méfano was born in 1937
September 15, 2019 ~ Richard Theodore Otcasek, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Ric Ocasek passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Lead singer, rhythm guitarist, songwriter for the Cars. As a solo artist known for the mid-1980s hit Emotion In Motion. In-demand producer, has worked with Suicide, Bad Brains, Weezer, Nada Surf, Guided By Voices, No Doubt, Weezer, Romeo Void, Hole, Bebe Buell, Black 47, Bad Religion, Johnny Bravo, D-Generation, the Wannadies, Possum Dixon, Martin Rev, Jonathan Richman, the Pink Spiders, the Cribs, Alan Vega, Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, and Shwayze ~ Otcasek was born in 1949
September 15, 2018 ~ Musicologist James Haar passed away ~ Specialist in Renaissance music. Editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Musicological Society during the 1960s, and serving as the Society's President during the mid 1970s. Perhaps best known for his doctoral dissertation Musica Mundana (Variations On A Pythagorean Theme), exploring the ancient belief in musica universalis and considered a standard work on the subject to this day. Has taught at Harvard University, the University of Philadelphia, the New York University, and the University of North Carolina ~ Haar was born in 1929
September 15, 2015 ~ John Junla Jones Jr, commonly known as blues, soul blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Johnny Yard Dog Jones, passed away in Decatur, Illinois, USA ~ Influenced by Robert Johnson, T-Bone Walker, OV Wright, Johnnie Taylor, and the Spirit Of Memphis Quartet. Released his sole solo album, the critically acclaimed Ain't Gonna Wory, as late as 1996 at age 55 ~ Jones was born in 1941
September 15, 2013 ~ John Richard Lomax, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Jackie Lomax, passed away in Wirral, UK ~ Member of several bands including Dee & the Dynamites, the Undertakers, Heavy Jelly, and Badger. Best known for his association with George Harrison, who produced several of Lomax's late 1960s recordings notably Sour Milk Sea and the subsequent Is This What You Want debut album released in 1969. Despite warm critical reception and backing from Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, and an all-star session cast including Larry Knechtel, Nicky Hopkins and Hal Blaine, both the single and album would fail to chart on either side of the Atlantic ~ Lomax was born in 1944
September 15, 2012 ~ Singer, songwriter James Sugarboy Crawford passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Best known as author and original recording artist of Iko Iko, originally titled Jock-a-mo later covered by a host of artists including the Dixie Cups, Dr John, the Neville Brothers, James Booker, Belle Stars, the Grateful Dead, Cowboy Mouth, Warren Zevon, Long John Baldry, Aaron Carter, and Cyndi Lauper. The song stands as a classic of New Orleans R&B and remains popular to this day ~ Crawford was born in 1934September 15, 2009 ~ Jazz trumpeter, bandleader Nunzio Rotondo passed away in Rome, Italy ~ Worked with Louis Armstrong, Flavio Ambrosetti, Bill Coleman, Roy Eldridge, Duke Ellington, Zoot Sims, Toots Thielemans, Gil Cuppini, Robert Nicolosi, Romano Mussolini, Gato Barbieri, Franco D'Andrea, Pierre Favre, and Mal Waldron ~ Rotondo was born in 1924
September 15, 2008 ~ Keyboardist, singer, songwriter Richard Wright, full name Richard William Wright, passed away in London, UK ~ Co-founding member of Pink Floyd. Left the band after the 1981 tour to rejoin as a session musician in 1987 becoming a full-time member again in 1994 ~ Wright was born in 1943
September 15, 2007 ~ Pianist, composer, arranger, conductor Aldemaro Romero passed away in Caracas, Venezuela ~ Worked with Dean Martin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Stan Kenton, René Touzent, Machito, Tito Puente, the London Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra ~ Romero was born in 1928
September 15, 2004 ~ John William Cummings, commonly known as guitarist, singer Johnny Ramone passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding member and rhythm guitarist of the Ramones. Known within the punk community as one of the few conservatives and a staunch supporter of the GOP. The UK single Bonzo Goes To Bitburg would be retitled My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes To Bitburg) on American releases as Cummings found the title insulting to Reagan, at the time US President ~ Cummings was born in 1948
September 15, 1994 ~ Baritone saxophonist Haywood Henry, full name Frank Haywood Henry, passed away ~ Leader and sideman. Member of the Bama State Collegians, renamed to the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra when Erskine Hawkins took leadership. Has also worked with Tiny Grimes, Julian Dash, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Eddie Harris, Willis Jackson, Rex Stewart, Brook Benton, Bill Doggett, Charles Brown, Ruth Brown, Rusty Bryant, King Curtis, Aretha Franklin (on the quintessential Lady Soul album), Jimmy Witherspoon, Wilbur de Paris, Max Kaminsky, Snub Mosley, Louis Metcalf, Steve Turre, Earl Hines, Sy Oliver, and the New York Jazz Repertory Company. Reportedly sessioned on over 1,000 rock & roll records in the 1950s and 1960s, many of them uncredited ~ Henry was born in 1913
September 15, 1988 ~ Singer Roy Orbison records She's A Mystery To Me for the album of the same name ~ Written by U2's the Edge and Bono, the latter also playing electric guitar on the recording. As Roy Orbison died in December 1988, She's A Mystery To Me would be released posthumously in early 1989 as a single. The other musicians on the recording were Orbison vocals and guitar, Benmont Tench on piano, Howie Epstein on bass guitar and Jim Keltner on drumsSeptember 15, 1987 ~ Alexander Ray Torres, commonly known as metalcore, post-hardcore guitarist Alex Torres born in Arizona, USA ~ Worked with Eyes Set To Kill, present on the band's 2006 When Silence Is Broken The Night Is Torn EP. Member of Greeley Estates from 2007 through 2010. Member of Alesana, joining the band in 2010 as replacement for Jake Campbell. Member of the Dead Rabbitts
September 15, 1987 ~ Bandleader, saxophonist, clarinetist, producer, arranger Joe Reisman passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ As a saxophonist and clarinetist Reisman played with the Casa Loma Orchestra, Louis Prima, Bob Crosby, Frankie Masters, and Jack Teagarden. As an arranger and producer worked for Ray Bauduc, Gene Williams, Patti Page (including on The Tennessee Waltz and How Much Is That Doggie In The Window), Eartha Kitt, Sarah Vaughan, June Valli, Georgia Gibbs, and the Ames Brothers. Reisman was also closely associated with Henry Mancini, serving as producer for about thirty years starting with 1964's Our Man In Hollywood ~ Reisman was born in 1924
September 15, 1986 ~ George Virden Watsky, mononymously known as alternative hip-hop, slam poetry rapper, singer, songwriter Watsky, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Best known for his 2011 viral video Pale Kid Raps Fast, featuring his trademark chopping style. Has recorded over half a dozen albums, starting with the eponymous Watsky released in 2011. In 2020 Watsky set the Guinness World Record for longest rapping marathon, rapping for 33 hours 33 minutes and 19 seconds
September 15, 1985 ~ Charles Melvin Williams, commonly known as jazz, jump blues, R&B trumpeter, bandleader Cootie Williams, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Considered one of the leading trumpeters of the 1930s, known specifically for his use of the plunger mute. Backed the likes of James P Johnson, Chick Webb, and Fletcher Henderson, before rising to fame as a member of Duke Ellington's orchestra, notably present as a soloist on songs such Echoes Of Harlem, Air Shaft, and The Shepherd Who Watches Over The Night. Ellington also wrote the instrumental Concerto For Cootie specifically tailored to showcase Williams, a song later reworked to Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me with lyrics added. At the turn of the 1940s, Williams joined Benny Goodman's orchestra, a move that caused a stir at the time, and which was commemorated by Raymond Scott in the song When Cootie Left The Duke. Williams has also led his own bands, at times employing sidemen such as Charlie Parker, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Bud Powell, and Eddie Cleanhead Vinson. Williams recorded about half a dozen albums as a leader, and is noted specifically for the 1950s albums The Big Challenge and its follow-up Cootie Williams In Hi-Fi. Williams returned to play with Ellington in the early 1960s, remaining with the orchestra until Duke's death in 1974 ~ Williams was born in 1911
September 15, 1983 ~ John Maurice Hartman, commonly known as jazz singer, pianist Johnny Hartman passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Critically acclaimed, admired by peers, never widely known. Fresh out of the US Army, Hartman won a singing contest awarding him a one-week engagement with Hines. Hines hired him for a year. Dizzy Gillespie snatched Hartman when the Hines orchestra broke up, and he sang with Dizzy for about a year. He briefly teamed up with pianist Erroll Garner before going solo in 1950. In 1955 he released his first solo album, Songs From The Heart, followed by a handful more, all on small labels and to little commercial succes. In 1963 John Coltrane asked Hartman to do a collaboration album. The result, Johnny Coltrane & Johnny Hartman, is widely considered a classic. Despite the attention, a label move and teaming up with famed producer Bob Thiele, Hartman failed to reach a wider audience. He continued to perform and record up to his death, mostly on smaller labels. Hartman did receive a Grammy-nomination for Best Male Jazz Vocalist following his LP Once In Every Life. Four of the tracks would later be included on the soundtrack to The Bridges Of Madison County, introducing the late Hartman to a younger generation ~ Hartman was born in 1923
September 15, 1983 ~ William Correa, commonly known as jazz percussionist Willie Bobo passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Played with Mongo Santamaria, George Shearing, Cal Tjader, Carlos Santana, Nat Adderley, Dorothy Ashby, Bob Brookmeyer, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Miles Davis, Victor Feldman, José Feliciano, Benny Golson, Dexter Gordon, Grant Green, Chico Hamilton, Slide Hampton, Herbie Hancock, Eddie Harris, Bobby Hutcherson, Herbie Mann, Les McCann, Gary McFarland, Buddy Miles, Wes Montgomery, Oliver Nelson, Dave Pike, Tito Puente, Ike Quebec, Terry Reid, Dannie Richmond, Charlie Rouse, AK Salim, Doc Severinsen, Sonny Stitt, Gábor Szabó, Clark Terry, and with Don Wilkersen ~ Correa was born in 1934
September 15, 1981 ~ Charles Bullock, commonly known as jazz, dance band singer Chick Bullock, passed away in California, USA ~ A popular session vocalist during the late 1920s and 1930s, Bullock has sung on some 500 sides working with the likes of Duke Ellington, Luis Russell, Cab Calloway, Bunny Berigan, Bill Coleman, Jack Teagarden, Tommy Dorsey, Joe Venuti, and Eddie Lang. Bullock rarely performed live because of a disfigurement due to an eye disease. In the early 1940s the recording ban, a union strike over royalty payments, effectively ended Bullock's recording career. Bullock would retire from music altogether two years later, and has spent the remainder of his life working in real estate ~ Bullock was born in 1898
September 15, 1980 ~ Jazz pianist Bill Evans, full name William John Evans, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Classically trained, influenced by Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, Evans was noted most for his technical ability and sense of harmony. As a leader, Evans is especially acclaimed for the early 1960s albums Portrait In Jazz, Explorations, and Sunday At The Village Vanguard. A revered sideman, Evans has also appeared on landmark albums by Charles Mingus, Jimmy Knepper, Chet Baker, Miles Davis (Kind Of Blue), Art Farmer, Tony Scott, Bob Brookmeyer, Cannonball Adderley, Oliver Nelson (The Blues And The Abstract Truth), Benny Golson, and Freddie Hubbard ~ Evans was born in 1929
September 15, 1980 ~ Sertanejo singer Fernando Fakri de Assis born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Known as the “Soracaba” in Fernando & Soracaba, a duo he formed with Fernando Zorzanello Bonifácio. Active since the mid 2000s the duo enjoys popularity in their native Brazil and is known for songs such as Paga Pau, Madri, Férias Em Salvador, É Tenso, Mô, and Bobeia Pra Ver