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 16, 2024 ~ Billy Edward Wheeler, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler, passed away in Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA ~ Though he only enjoyed limited chart success, apart from the 1964 Billboard Country No.3 hit Ode To The Little Brown Shack, Wheeler has enjoyed critical success especially as a songwriter and composer, including for over half a dozen plays and musicals, the folk opera Song Of The Cumberland Gap, and dramas, and has penned several novels. To mainstream audiences, Wheeler is perhaps best known for co-penning Jackson, a Grammy Award winner as recorded by Johnny Cash & June Carter, and for penning Coward Of The County, a hit for Kenny Rogers in 1979. Others who have recorded his songs include Judy Henske, the Kingston Trio, Judy Collins, Mel Tillis, John Denver, Richie Havens (High Flying Bird), Jay & the Americans, Glen Campbell, OC Smith (I Ain't The Worryin' Kind), Elvis Presley (It's Midnight), Bob Luman (Jesus Was A Country Boy), Kathy Mattea, and Neil Young ~ Wheeler was born in 1932September 16, 2023 ~ R&B, hip hop, pop singer Irish Grinstead passed away ~ Member of girl trio 702, recording three albums from the late 1990s through the early 2000s. They are best known for the singles Get It Together and Where My Girls At, both of which reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100. The group also guested on Subway's 1995 This Lil' Game We Play Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit, and alongside Magoo on Missy Elliott's 1998 single Beep Me 911, which did not chart in the USA yet reached top 20 in both New Zealand and the UK. Grinstead's twin sister Orish Grinstead was also a member of the group, but ousted prior to recording their debut album ~ Grinstead was born in 1980
September 16, 2023 ~ Jazz, jazz-rock, rock drummer John Marshall, full name John Stanley Marshall, passed away ~ One of the UK's most renowned jazz-rock drummers. Founding member of Nucleus, noted for albums such as Elastic Rock and We'll Talk About It Later. Replaced Phil Howard when he joined Soft Machine in 1972. Has also played with the band's spin-offs Soft Works and Soft Machine Legacy. Other notable collaborations include Graham Collier, Neil Ardley, Jack Bruce (Songs For A Tailor), Centipede, Hugh Hopper, Volker Kriegel, Charlie Mariano (Helen 12 Trees), Eberhard Weber, Ian Carr, Uli Beckerhoff, and Porcupine Tree ~ Marshall was born in 1941
September 16, 2022 ~ James Ellis, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist Jimmy Preacher Ellis, passed away ~ Member of the Travelling Four during the mid 1950s. As a solo artist known for a number of singles starting in the mid 1960s, including I'm Gonna Do It By Myself, Can't Work And Watch You, and Work With What You Got ~ Ellis was born in 1934September 16, 2021 ~ Jiri Mraz, commonly known as jazz bassist, saxophonist George Mraz, passed away in Prague, Czech Republic ~ Leader, co-leader and sideman. Perhaps best known as a member of the New York Jazz Quartet from the mid 1970s through the early 1980s, including on the acclaimed Blues For Sarka album. Also worked extensively with Oscar Peterson, Pepper Adams, Roland Hanna, Tommy Flanagan, John Abercrombie, and with Toshiko Akiyoshi ~ Mraz was born in 1944
September 16, 2020 ~ Roy Charles Hammond, commonly known as R&B, soul singer Roy C, passed away in Allendale County, South Carolina, USA ~ Best known for Shotgun Wedding, which reached top 20 Billboard R&B in 1965. Hammond is also noted for recording Impeach The President with the Honey Drippers, calling for the impeachment of then-President Richard Nixon. The song would become one of the most sampled drum tracks in hip-hop music used in hundreds of songs including MC Shan's The Bridge, De La Soul's Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey) and the Notorious BIG's Unbelievable ~ Hammond was born in 1939
September 16, 2018 ~ Folk, folk rock guitarist, keyboardist, violinist, bassist, pipe player Maartin Allcock passed away in London, UK ~ Best known as lead guitarist of Fairport Convention from 1985 through 1996 and concurrently keyboardist of progressive rock outfit Jethro Tull from 1988 through 1991. Has recorded a handful of solo albums, starting with MAART released in 1990. In-demand session musician reportedly appearing on over 200 albums, has worked with Robert Plant, Blue Tapestry, Beverley Craven, Judith Durham, Dan Ar Braz, Ralph McTell, Dave Swarbrick, Cat Stevens, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Ashley Hutchings, the Reel And Soul Association, the Bad Shepherds, and Bully Wee Band ~ Allcock was born in 1957September 16, 2016 ~ Keyboardist, singer Jerry Corbetta passed away in Denver, Colorado, USA ~ Co-founding member, frontman of Sugarloaf through 1978, known for hits such as Green-eyed Lady, co-written by Corbetta, and Don't Call Us (We'll Call You). Corbetta was also a member of a latter-day incarnation of the Four Seasons, joinng the group at the tail end of the 1970s, and is known for co-wroting the Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson duet You're Looking Like Love To Me, as well as Eric Carmen's Come Back To My Love and Grace Jones's On Your Knees ~ Corbetta was born in 1947
September 16, 2015 ~ Guy Béhart-Hasson, commonly known as singer, songwriter Guy Béart, passed away in Garches, France ~ Released his Guy Béart (Qu'on Est Bien) debut album in 1957. Best known for his 1958 L'Eau Vive, the title track of the soundtrack of the same name. Remained popular throughout the early 1970s. Had his songs recorded by Juliette Gréco, Colette Renard, Yves Montand, and Dalida ~ Behart-Hasson was born in 1930
September 16, 2011 ~ Willie Lee Smith, commonly known as blues harpist, drummer, singer Willie Big Eyes Smith, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Helpful in developing the shuffle rhythm. Played the blues harp on Bo Diddley's 1955 Diddy Wah Diddy recording. Best known for his association with Muddy Waters, intermittently backing the singer from the early 1960s onward. Recorded about half a dozen albums with the Legendary Blues Band. Smith is also present on recordings by Otis Spann, Carey Bell, Johnny Winter (Nothin' But The Blues), and Pinetop Perkins. Later in his career, Smith has recorded a number of solo albums, starting with Bag Full Of Blues released in 1995 ~ Smith was born in 1936September 16, 2009 ~ Singer, actor Filip Nikolic passed away in Paris, France ~ Actor, singer. Best known as lead singer of boy band 2BE3. Also a member of Ima Robot. Was in the process of making a solo debut album when he died at 35 of a heart attack induced by a fatal mix of sleeping pills ~ Nikolic was born in 1974
September 16, 2009 ~ Singer Mary Travers, full name Mary Allin Travers, passed away in Danbury, Connecticut, USA ~ Sang backup for Pete Seeger before becoming one third of quintessential 1960s vocal folk group Peter Paul & Mary, alongside Peter Yarrow and Paul Stookey. The group disbanded at the turn of the decade and Travers released five solo albums, starting with 1971's Mary before re-forming the trio in 1978 ~ Travers was born in 1936
September 16, 2008 ~ Jazz bassist, pianist, singer, songwriter Jim Aton, full name James G Aton, passed away ~ Worked with Billie Holiday, Anita O'Day, Bobby Troup, Stan Kenton, Bill Evans, Jimmy Nottingham, Frank Rosolino, Lurlan Hunter, Maynard Ferguson, Georgie Auld, the Chicago Civic Orchestra, Jerry Gray, Stan Levey, Betty Roché, Mavis Rivers, Chico Hamilton, Jim Hall, Fred Katz, Nancy Malcolm, Al Viola, and Earl Hines ~ Aton was born ca.1925
September 16, 2008 ~ Songwriter Norman Whitfield, full name Norman Jesse Whitfield, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Renowned songwriter, producer, usually in partnership with Barrett Strong. Especially associated with the Temptations, producing eight of their albums from the mid 1960s through the early 1970s and co-writing some of their best known including Psychedelic Shack, Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) and Papa Was A Rollin' Stone. Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Whitfield include the Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye (I Heard It Through The Grapevine), Gladys Knight, Edwin Starr (War), the Undisputed Truth (Smiling Faces Sometimes), Yvonne Fair, Willie Hutch, and Rose Royce (Car Wash) ~ Whitfield was born in 1940September 16, 2004 ~ Izora Rhodes, commonly known as singer Izora Armstead, passed away in San Leandro, California, USA ~ Formed the duo Two Tons Of Fun with Martha Wash. The duo originally sang backup for Sylvester, but became better known as the Weather Girls, renaming themselves after landing a deal with Fantasy Records. Despite scoring several hits on the Billboard Dance charts, Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven, I Got The Feeling, and It's Raining Men all reaching top 10, only the latter crossed over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No.46 in 1983. It's Raining Men would do especially well in Europe, reaching No.2 in the UK at the time of its release, and remains a staple to this day, especially within the gay community. With no further hits, however, the original duo disbanded in 1988. Armstead later reformed the duo with her daughter Dynelle Rhodes, and after her death in 2004, the daughter continued the duo with other singers, yet none of the later line-ups would be able to repeat the band's earlier success ~ Rhodes was born in 1942
September 16, 2002 ~ Actor, singer, bandleader Tony Martinez passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Fronted his own band, Tony Martinez & his Mambo, in the 1950s, with whom he appeared in the 1956 film Rock Around The Clock. Perhaps best known as an actor, noted for his role of Pepino in the TV sitcom The Real McCoys, aired on ABC from 1957 through 1962 ~ Martinez was born in 1920
September 16, 1998 ~ Jazz, bebop, free jazz pianist, composer, musicologist Andrzej Trzaskowksi passed away in Warsaw, Poland ~ Musicologist regarded as an authority on syncopated music ~ Trzaskowski was born in 1933
September 16, 1997 ~ R&B singer Usher releases My Way, his sophomore album ~ Although Usher's eponymous 1994 debut album had gotten the smooth R&B singer some attention, it would be his My Way sophomore effort that made him a household name and earned him the moniker “the King of R&B”. The album featured backing from several then-popular artists, including Monica, Lil' Kim, and the album's co-producer Jermaine Dupri, spawned three multi-platinum singles including his first No.1, while the album itself reached top of the Billboard R&B album charts and No.4 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 200. Its lead single You Make Me Wanna, a Billboard Hot 100 No.2 hit, would earn the singer his first Grammy Award. Of the two other singles, Nice & Slow would reach the No.1 spot, and the title track, My Way, peaked at No.2 Billboard Hot 100
September 16, 1994 ~ Jazz pianist Bernie Leighton passed away in Coconut Creek, Florida, USA ~ Active since the late 1930s. Leader and sideman. Worked with Bud Freeman, Leo Reisman, Raymond Scott, Benny Goodman, Dave Tough, Billie Holiday, Neal Hefti, Artie Shaw, John Serry Sr, James Moody, Bob Wilber, Tony Bennett, Gerry Mulligan, Mark Murphy, Charlie Parker, Jack Teagarden, and Cal Tjader ~ Leighton was born in 1921
September 16, 1993 ~ Frank Anthony Peter Vincent Monterose Jr, commonly known as jazz saxophonist JR Monterose, passed away in Utica, New York, USA ~ Began studying clarinet in his early teens, switching to tenor saxophone a few years later. Although Monterose never became a household name, he is held in the highest esteem by critics, peers and classic jazz aficionados. Monterose is especially acclaimed for a string of late 1950s and early 1960s albums, perhaps most notably Straight Ahead. Monterose is also particularly known for appearing on Pithecanthropus Erectus, the 1956 breakout album by Charles Mingus. Other notable associations include Henry Busse, Claude Thornhill, Teddy Charles, René Thomas (Guitar Groove), Jon Eardley, Kenny Burrell, Kenny Dorham, and George Wallington. Monterose was influenced by Tex Beneke, Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins, and John Coltrane, yet refused to be pigeonholed in any particular style and has been quoted as saying “I've tried all my life to avoid copying, if I can't be myself, there's no point being in jazz” ~ Monterose was born in 1927
September 16, 1993 ~ Leland Tyler Wayne, commonly known as producer, DJ, label executive Metro Boomin', born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Also known under the monikers Metro and Young Metro. Closely associated with the Atlanta hip-hop and trap scene and easily counted as one of its most important producers during the 2010s. Hits produced or co-produced include Tuesday (ilovemakonnen), Mask Off (Future), Bank Account (21 Savage), Congratulations (Post Malone), Bad And Boujee (Migos), Tunnel Vision (Kodak Black), and Heartless (the Weeknd). As a solo artist, DJ, has released several mixtapes, collaborative albums and the acclaimed 2018 Not All Heroes Wear Capes solo album
September 16, 1992 ~ Operatic tenor Henri Legay passed away in Paris, France ~ Debuted in 1950 with the Royal theater Of La Monnaie in Brussels, Belgium. Closely associated with the Opera-Comique. Perhaps best remembered for his 1955 recording of the Jules Massenet-opera Manon alongside Victoria de los Angeles ~ Legay was born in 1920September 16, 1992 ~ Singer, songwriter Nick Jonas born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Rose to fame as member of sibling outfit the Jonas Brothers alongside Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas, known for the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Burnin' Up and Tonight. After the band folded in 2013 would focus on acting and a solo singing career, notably reaching succes with his third solo album, 2016's Last Year Was Complicated release. In 2019 the brothers reformed
September 16, 1984 ~ Ketevan Melua, commonly known as singer, songwriter Katie Melua, born in Kutaisi, Soviet Union ~ Recorded over half a dozen albums, starting with Call Off The Search released in 2003. Best-known for her 2005 hit Nine Million Bicyles off her sophomore Piece By Piece album, her first UK top 10 hit. Although most of her subsequent albums would reach top 10 in her native UK, making her the best-selling female artist in the UK during the mid 2000s despite rarely reaching the charts with singles. In 2007 though, she scored her sole UK No.1 hit with What A Wonderful World, a charity single for the British Red Cross, which featured Melua singing over the original recording by the late Eva CassidySeptember 16, 1984 ~ Rock, hard rock, alternative rock guitarist Oumi Kapila born in Coventry, UK ~ Best known as lead guitarist for rock outfit Filter. Touring member of Combichrist. Guested on Billy Ray Cyrus's 2012 Change My Mind album, noted for his guitar solo on Good As Gone. Released his full-length Bending Stress solo debut album to critical acclaim in 2019