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, 1978 ~ Pop rock guitarist, violist, percussionist, singer, songwriter Zach Filkins, full name Zachary Douglas Filkins, born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA ~ Co-founding member of OneRepublic, for whom he co-wrote songs such as All Fall Down, Prodigal, Say (All I Need), Sleep, Something's Not Right Here, Stop And Stare, Tyrant, and Won't Stop. The band has released about half a dozen albums, starting with Dreaming Out Loud released in 2007, and is perhaps best known for 2013's Counting Stars, a top 10 hit in several countries including the Netherlands, UK, and their native USASeptember 15, 1975 ~ Ole Anders Olsen, commonly known as singer, guitarist, keyboardist Andy LaPlegua, born in Fredrikstad, Norway ~ Influenced by David Bowie, Motörhead, Prince, the Cure, the Dead Kennedys. Lead singer, co-founding member of Icon Of Coll, Combichrist, Panzer AG
September 15, 1973 ~ In its 13th week on the charts, Delta Dawn by Helen Reddy hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Two other distinct versions were released around the same time, Bette Midler included it on her The Divine Miss M debut album, and Tanya Tucker issued it as her debut single, which reached No.6 Billboard Country propelling the then-13-year-old Tucker to fame. To mainstream pop audiences, however, the best known version would be Helen Reddy's charttopper. Yet Alex Harvey, who had co-written the song with Larry Collins, was the first to record it for his eponymous 1971 Alex Harvey album. Harvey has stated the song was written for his mother. One night, some ten years before writing the song, Harvey had asked his mother not to come to his TV performance, lest she get drunk and embarrass him. That night she died in a car crash, and Harvey believed it was suicide caused by his rejection. For years he suffered from guilt until a cathartic incident, his mother appearing to him in a vision, the night he wrote Delta Dawn. As he would later explain: “I really believe that my mother didn't come into the room that night to scare me, but to tell me, ‘It's okay, ’ and that she had made her choices in life and it had nothing to do with me. I always felt like that song was a gift to my mother and an apology to her. It was also a way to say ‘thank you’ to my mother for all she did”September 15, 1969 ~ Heavy metal, punk, blues singer, guitarist, actress Ani Kyd born in Ontario, Canada ~ Had her 2005 Evil Needs Candy Too debut album produced by Jello Biafra. Has also collaborated with Fuel Injected 45, THOR, Approach The Throne, Paul Hyde, Sandy Scofield, Strapping Young Lad, and Devin Townsend
September 15, 1967 ~ Trumpeter, bandleader, arranger, composer Alan Baylock born in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known as chief arranger for the Airmen Of Note jazz ensemble for over two decades. Has also worked with the One O'Clock Lab Band, Maynard Ferguson, and the Pete Elfman Big Band
September 15, 1967 ~ Singer Amy Keys born ~ Recorded a sole solo album, Lover's Intuition released in 1989. In-demand session and touring backing singer. Has toured with Johnny Hallyday, and with Toto. Present on albums by Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins, Rod Piazza, Julio Iglesias, Curt Smith, Sylvia Vartan, Jason Mraz (Love Is A Four Letter Word), Ringo Starr, Barbra Streisand, Stewart Copeland, and Korn
September 15, 1967 ~ Metal, glam metal, hard rock bassist Jerry Dixon, full name Jerry Lawrence Dixon, born in Pasadena, California, USA ~ Co-founding and constant member of Warrant. The band is best known for their first three albums, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich and Cherry Pie both reaching Platinum, while their third Dog Eat Dog would reach Gold certification. Songs such as Heaven, Cherry Pie, and I Saw Red would all reach top 10 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts
September 15, 1967 ~ Indie rock, slowcore, dream pop drummer, singer Mimi Parker born ~ Co-founded Low in 1993 with her husband guitarist, singer Alan Sparhawk. Considered pioneers of slowcore and known for their atmospheric songs the band is especially acclaimed for their 1995 Long Division sophomore album. Well known songs include Halflight, California, Family Tree, and Sunflower. Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant would cover the band's Monkey and Silver Rider for his 2010 Band Of Joy solo album ~ Parker passed away in 2022September 15, 1964 ~ Singer Tony Bennett releases his Who Can I Turn To single ~ Written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for their The Roar Of The Greasepaint (The Smell Of The Crowd) musical. The musical struggled in the UK, where interest was minimal and the show never reached the West End. However, American theatre producer David Merrick brought the show to America for a lengthy tour. Tony Bennett's hit rendition of Who Can I Turn To, which reached Billboard Hot 100 top 40, would boost sales for the show. In 1965 The Roar Of The Greasepaint (The Smell Of The Crowd) would hit Broadway, where it ran for some 230 performances
September 15, 1961 ~ Rock singer, guitarist Gustavo Cordera, full name Gustavo Edgardo Cordera, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Best known as co-founding member, frontman of rock band Bersuit Vergarabat, remaining with the band from 1987 until 2009. They are best known for their 2004 La Argentinidad Al Palo album. Cordera released his solo debut album, Suelta, in 2009
September 15, 1960 ~ Michel Dorge, commonly known as drummer Mitch Dorge, born in Winnipeg, Canada ~ Member of the Crash Test Dummies from 1991 through 2002, rejoining in later years. Present on the band's best known including the band's 1993 God Shuffled His Feet sophomore album, which included the hit Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm, and its follow-up A Worm's Life released in 1996. Dorge released his sole solo album, As Trees Walking, in 2002
September 15, 1958 ~ Gary Miller, commonly known as punk rock guitarist, keyboardist Dr Know, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Best known as member of punk rock outfit Bad Brains. Has occasionally worked with others, notably Mos Def, Coheed & Cambria on the track Time Consumer, and with the Deftones
September 15, 1958 ~ Singer, songwriter Stewart Francke born in Saginaw, Michigan, USA ~ Played in a succession of bar bands in his late teens and early twenties, with whom at times he opened for the likes of Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Luther Allison, prior to settling down and focusing on a career in journalism. In the mid 1990s, however, Francke returned to music and has recorded about a dozen critically acclaimed albums since while drawing from R&B, garage rock, roots rock, and folk, earning him a loyal following in the Detroit area. Francke is especially known for his 2005 Motor City Serenade album, which featured renowned Motown musicians as well as personal hero Mitch Ryder, and for 2011's Heartless World, on which Bruce Springsteen guested. Upon Francke's passing, his sister Kit Francke-Reese remarked: “I wish I had his words, he truly had a brilliant mind. His music was bright, relatable and beautiful, and he was very thoughtful and funny” ~ Francke passed away in 2025
September 15, 1956 ~ Jacqueline Maureen Graham, commonly known as singer, songwriter Jaki Graham, born in Birmingham, UK ~ First gained serious attention in 1985 duetting with David Grant on Could It Be I'm Falling In Love. Graham would go on to score about half a dozen UK top 20 hits, including Round And Around and Set Me Free. Her 1994 Chaka Khan-cover Ain't Nobody would be a club hit in America
September 15, 1952 ~ Rock drummer, singer Kelly Keagy, full name Kelly Dean Keagy, born in Eugene, Oregon, USA ~ Touring member of Rubicon. Along with guitarist Brad Gillis the only other member to have played in every incarnation of Night Ranger, best known for their Billboard top 10 hits 1984's Sister Christian and 1985's Sentimental Street, both with lead vocals by Keagy. Other well known songs include When You Close Your Eyes, Four In The Morning (I Can't Take It Anymore) and Goodbye. Also worked with King Of Hearts, the Mob and guested on bandmate Gillis' 1993 solo debut Gilrock Ranch
September 15, 1951 ~ Jazz singer Carla White, full name Carla Ruth White, born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Best known for her scat singing. Studied under Lennie Tristano and Warne Marsh. Worked extensively with trumpeter Manny Duran ~ White passed away in 2007September 15, 1950 ~ Anthony Lacen, commonly known as tubist, bandleader Tuba Fats Lacen, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Worked with the Young Tuxedo Brass Band, Ernest Doc Paulin, the Onward Brass Band, the Treme Brass Band, and the Olympia Brass Band. Lacen was married to blues shouter Linda Young ~ Lacen passed away in 2004
September 15, 1947 ~ William Taylor Bryans, commonly known as funk, rock, world drummer, singer, engineer, producer, songwriter, film composer Billy Bryans, born in Montreal, Canada ~ Cited by renowned producer Daniel Lanois as an inspiration. Well-known for his association with the Downchild Blues Band, including producing the band's first notable hit Flip Flop & Fly. Co-founding member of the Parachute Club. Especially noted for producing Lillian Allen's award-winning albums Revolutionary Tea Party and Conditions Critical. Co-wrote the soundtrack to the 1989 thriller Office Party. Also noted for helping promote Latin music in Canada in the 2000s, advancing the careers of Laura Fernandez, Aline Morales, and Alex Cuba ~ Bryans passed away in 2012September 15, 1945 ~ Anton Friedrich Wilhelm Von Webern, commonly known as composer, conductor Anton Webern, passed away in Mittersill, Austria ~ Along with Arnold Schoenberg and Alban Berg considered a leading figure in the Second Viennese School ~ Von Webern was born in 1883
September 15, 1945 ~ Opera singer Jessye Norman, full name Jessye Mae Norman, born in Augusta, Georgia, USA ~ Debuted with the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1968 following winning an ARD International Music Competition. Would go on to sing with renowned orchestras including La Scala, the Opera Company Of Philadelphia, the Metropolitan Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Paris Opera, and the Royal Opera ~ Norman passed away in 2019
September 15, 1941 ~ Singer Signe Anderson born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Original singer for the Jefferson Airplane. Present on their debut album Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, notably on her signature song Chauffeur Blues. Left the band in late 1966, replaced by Grace Slick ~ Anderson passed away in 2016
September 15, 1940 ~ Mariachi, norteño singer Cornelio Reyna, full name Cornelia Reyna Cisneros, born in Reynosa, Mexico ~ Formed Los Relámpagos Del Norte with Ramón Ayala, known for songs such as Mil Noches, Tu Traicion, Lagrimas De Mi Bario and their best known Ya No Llores. Active as a solo artist since the early 1970s, appearing in over 30 films and recording some 60 albums. Notable hits include Me Sacaron Del Tenampa, Lagrimas De Mi Barrio and Me Caiste Del Cielo ~ Reyna passed away in 1997
September 15, 1938 ~ Songwriter, producer Sylvia Moy born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Best known as staff songwriter at Motown, especially closely associated with Stevie Wonder. Moy co-wrote songs such as My Cherie Amour, I Was Made To Love Her, and Never Had A Dream Come True for Stevie Wonder, Honey Chile and Love Bug (Leave My Heart Alone) for Martha & the Vandellas, and It Takes Two for Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston ~ Moy passed away in 2017September 15, 1934 ~ Organist, pianist, composer David Vaughan-Thomas, also known as Pencerdd Vaughan, passed away in Johannesburg, South Africa ~ Though his music is now seldom performed has been described as leading native Welsh musician of his time, bridging the Victorian era to more modern times. Drawing from Welsh literature and folklore, known best for works such as Llyn Y Fan, A Song For St Cecilia's Day, The Bard, and Ysbryd Y Mynydd ~ Thomas was born in 1873
September 15, 1933 ~ Traditional pop, doo-wop tenor singer Pat Barrett born ~ Member of Canadian vocal quartet the Crew Cuts, known for their mid 1950s string of hits including Sh'boom, Earth Angel, Ko-ko-mo I Love You So, Angels In The Sky and Gum Drop ~ Barrett passed away in 2016