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 17, 2024 ~ John David Souther, commonly known as rock, country, country-rock singer, guitarist, songwriter JD Souther, passed away in Sandia Park, New Mexico, USA ~ Best known for co-writing several hits for the Eagles, including The Best Of My Love, New Kid In Town, Victim Of Love and Heartache Tonight. Others who have recorded his songs include Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt (Faithless Love), Nicolette Larson, Kenny Rogers, and Don Henley. Souther was also a member of Longbranch Pennywhistle, the Souther Hillman Furay Band, and recorded as a solo artist, notably You're Only Lonely and Her Town Too, the latter a duet with longtime friend James Taylor ~ Souther was born in 1945September 17, 2023 ~ Rock, garage rock bassist, rhythm guitarist Lies Adji Rachman passed away ~ Member of Indonesian all-female outfit Dara Puspita, which also included her elder sister Titiek Adji Rachman on lead guitar. The band endured pressure from the Sukarno regime, which saw rock music as an unwanted Western influence. Following the regime's collapse the band would release four albums, starting with Jang Pertama in 1965. Despite remaining popular the band would disband in 1972, in part caused by the strains of relentless touring ~ Rachman was born in 1946
September 17, 2022 ~ R&B singer, actress Marva Hicks, full name Marva Denise Hicks, passed away ~ Best known for Never Been In Love Before of her 1991 eponymous Marva Hicks album, the single reaching top 10 on the Billboard R&B charts. Other charting singles included One Good Reason and I Got You Where I Want. Would go on to become an in-demand backing singer for acts such as Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. As the 90s progressed Hicks would focus on her acting career, portraying roles in action movies and TV series such as LA Law and Star Trek Voyager, voicing over animated characters often including singing, and performing in the theatre in musical plays including productions of The Lion King, Motown The Musical and The Wiz both off and on Broadway ~ Hicks was born in 1975
September 17, 2021 ~ Dorothy Rosalie Glaimo, commonly known as jazz drummer, singer Dottie Dodgion, passed away in Pacific Grove, California, USA ~ Sang with Charles Mingus as a teenager. Would go on to work with Carl Fontana, Benny Goodman, Marian McPartland, Eddie Gomez, Al Grey, Wild Bill Davison, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Ruby Braff, Joe Venuti, her husband Jerry Dodgion, Walter Norris, George Mraz, Melba Liston, George Wein, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Frank Wess, Jimmy Rowles, Carol Sloane, Pepper Adams, Tommy Flanagan, Roland Hanna, Sal Nistico, Herb Ellis, Chris White, Bob Cranshaw, Joe Newman, and Harold Danko ~ Dodgion was born in 1929
September 17, 2019 ~ Hard bop, post-bop, soul jazz pianist, composer Harold Mabern passed away in New Jersey, USA ~ Described as one of the great post-bop pianists, Mabern has recorded over 20 albums as a leader, starting with A Few Miles From Memphis released in 1968. Initially started on drums. Self-taught on piano by emulating Charles Thomas and Phineas Newborn Jr. In the mid 1950s Mabern played in Chicago with artists such as Walter Baby Sweet Perkins. Moved to New York in 1959 and replaced Tommy Flanagan in trumpeter Harry Sweets Edison's backing band. Backed Jimmy Forrest for a recording that resulted in the albums All The Gin Is Gone and Black Forrest. Mabern continued to perform, tour and record as a sideman with artists such as Lionel Hampton, the Jazztet, Betty Carter, Johnny Hartman, Arthur Prysock, Donald Byrd, Roy Haynes, Miles Davis, JJ Johnson, Sonny Rollins, Lee Morgan, Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley, Blue Mitchell, Sarah Vaughan, and Joe Williams ~ Mabern was born in 1936
September 17, 2013 ~ Alexandra Sandøy, commonly known as pop, rock, funk, disco singer Alex Naumik, passed away in Oslo, Norway ~ Known for her versatile singing voice, spanning four octaves. Exiled to Siberia with her family during the Stalinist era. Collaborated with Agnieszka Osiecka and Adam Slawinski while living in Poland. Resumed her music career in the 1970s, by now living in Norway. Eponym and frontwoman of Alex, acclaimed for their 1976 eponymous Alex debut album, regarded as the first Norwegian funk-rock album. Has also worked with David Foster, Andráe Crouch, the Police's Andy Summers, Glen Matlock ~ Sandøy was born in 1949September 17, 2013 ~ Marvin Karlton Rainwater, commonly known as country, pop, rockabilly singer, songwriter Marvin Rainwater, passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Best known for a number of late 1950s hits, notably Gonna Find Me A Bluebird, Whole Lotta Woman and Nothin' Needs Nothin' (Like I Need You). UK guitarist Hank Marvin chose his stage name in honor of Rainwater ~ Rainwater was born in 1925
September 17, 2006 ~ Rock guitarist Al Casey, full name Alvin Wayne Casey, passed away in Phoenix, Arizona, USA ~ First gained attention playing guitar on the mid 1950s Sanford Clark hit The Fool, which reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100. Has worked with Duane Eddy from the mid 1950s through the end of the decade, for whom he also wrote Ramrod. Closely associated with Johnny Cash, appearing on well over a dozen of Cash's albums including the acclaimed I Walk The Line released in 1964. Also guested on albums by Lee Hazlewood, Nancy Sinatra, the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), the Monkees, and Elvis Presley (Elvis '68 Comeback Special) ~ Casey was born in 1936September 17, 2005 ~ Songwriter Joel Hirschhorn passed away in Thousand Oaks, California, USA ~ Closely associated with songwriting partner Al Kasha, with whom he won an Academy Award for Best Original Song twice, namely with The Morning After from The Poseidon Adventure in 1972 and We May Never Love Like This Again from The Towering Inferno in 1975. Has also written for artists such Elvis Presley (Your Time Hasn't Come Yet Baby), Roy Orbison, and Helen Reddy (Candle On The Water) ~ Hirschhorn was born in 1937
September 17, 2002 ~ Michael Marmarosa, commonly known as jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger Dodo Marmarosa, passed away in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Active since the mid 1940s. Started in big bands orchestras under the direction of leaders such as Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, and Artie Shaw. Recorded with smaller groups in the bebop and swing idioms, including with artists such as Howard McGhee, Charlie Parker, and with Lester Young. Led his own bands. By the end of the 1940s Marmarosa had mostly dropped out of the music business due to health reasons. He would however record and perform sporadically throughout the early 1970s ~ Marmarosa was born in 1925
September 17, 2002 ~ Following her win on the first edition of the talent contest American Idol aired on Fox, singer Kelly Clarkson releases her A Moment Like This debut single ~ Written by Jörgen Elofsson and John Reid, intended to be released by whoever would win American Idol. Clarkson's fellow finalists Justin Guarini, Nikki McKibbin and Tamyra Gray had each also recorded a version in case they won. As Kelly Clarkson won her version would be released, which reached No.1 Billboard Hot 100 in its third week on the charts, up from No.52 the previous week. Clarkson included the song the following year on her full-length Thankful debut album. Clarkson would go on to score numerous hits, including the No.1 singles My Life Would Suck Without You in 2009 and Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) in 2012. In the UK, where Clarkson's original A Moment Like This wasn't that big of a hit, the song would be notably covered by another talent contest winner, singer Leona Lewis taking her rendition to the top of the UK charts in the Christmas week of 2006, outselling the rest of that week's top 40 combined, after she had won the third season of The X-Factor aired on ITVSeptember 17, 1999 ~ Frank Ableson, commonly known as singer Frankie Vaughan, passed away in Oxford, UK ~ English easy listening singer actively recording since the early 1950s. Known as “Mr Moonlight” after one of his early hits, Give Me The Moonlight (Give Me The Girl). Best known for his covers of American hit songs by Perry Como, Jimmie Rodgers, Guy Mitchell, Jim Lowe, Boyd Bennet, and the Fleetwoods ~ Abelson was born in 1928
September 17, 1994 ~ Salah Abdi Abdulle, commonly known as hip hop rapper, songwriter Dree Low, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Catapulted to national fame with his 2019 No Hasta Manana debut album and has recorded to commercial success since. Well-known songs include Min Niva featuring Einár, Pippi, XO featuring Yasin, and Ice Cream featuring Greekazo
September 17, 1985 ~ Gospel, R&B singer, songwriter Zacardi Cortez, full name Zacardi Renye Louis Cortez, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Mentored and influenced by John P Kee. Backed James Fortune on the 2007 The Transformation album. As a solo artist known for the 2012 The Introduction and its 2014 follow-up Reloaded, both of which would reach top on the Billboard Gospel charts
September 17, 1982 ~ Singer Diana Ross releases Muscles, lead single off her Silk Electric album ~ As fitness was all the rage in the early 1980s, remember the Jane Fonda workout videos, Muscles, written and produced by Michael Jackson, was originally intended as an R&B reply song to Olivia Newton-John's Physical smash hit. Muscles would earn Diana Ross a Grammy Award nomination and reached No.10 Billboard Hot 100. Singer Patti Austin guested on backing vocals
September 17, 1982 ~ British pop group Wham release Young Guns (Go For It), lifted off their Fantastic debut album ~ While the duo's debut single, Wham Rap (Enjoy What You Do), initially flopped, Young Guns (Go For It) issued as the band's sophomore single did reach the top 10 in their native UK, peaking at No.3. Following its success, a reissue of Wham Rap (Enjoy What You Do) would also reach top 10, as did the following two singles, Bad Boys and Club Tropicana. According to biographer Rob Jovanovic the song is about “death by matrimony”, written from experience, describing old school friends marrying and settling down, while George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley were still having fun. This was rather presumptious, as the two were not yet 20 years old when it was releasedSeptember 17, 1978 ~ Actor, singer Nick Cordero, full name Nicholas Eduardo Albert Cordero, born in Hamilton, Canada ~ Best known for his roles in the 2014 production of Bullets Over Broadway, portraying the role of Cheech earning a Tony Award nomination. Has also acted in non-musical roles for TV and film ~ Cordero passed away in 2020
September 17, 1975 ~ Robert Alan Diaz, commonly known as freestyle rapper Pumpkinhead, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Redman, Leaders Of The New School, Doug E Fresh, Tupac Shakur. Guested on recordings by Immortal Technique and Jean Grae. Debuted with a full-length album, The Old Testament, in 2001 ~ Diaz passed away in 2015September 17, 1974 ~ Apani N Smith, commonly known as MC, rapper Apani B, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Worked with Organized Konfusion, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, and MF Doom. As a solo artist debuted with the album Rhyme Related in 1999
September 17, 1973 ~ Pop, soft rock duo the Carpenters release Top Of The World, lifted off their A Song For You album ~ The siblings initially intended the song solely as an album cut, yet after country singer Lynn Anderson successfuly covered the song, reaching No.2 Billboard Country, the Carpenters decided to release the track as a single, well over a year after its parent album A Song For You hit the stores. The siblings' version, written by Richard Carpenter and regular collaborator John Bettis, would be the second of three Billboard Hot 100 charttoppers for the Carpenters, preceded by (They Long To Be) Close To You) and followed by the Marvelettes-cover Please Mr Postman
September 17, 1973 ~ Easy listening orchestra leader, composer Hugo Winterhalter passed away in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA ~ Active since the mid 1930s. Sideman and arranger for Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Raymond Scott, Claude Thornhill. Conducted for Dinah Shore and Billy Eckstine. Best known for his work at RCA-Victor starting in the 1950s, arranging and conducting on recordings by Perry Como, Harry Belafonte, Eddie Fisher, Jaye P Morgan, and the Ames Brothers. Winterhalter is also known for penning the main theme for the 1962 film Diamond Head ~ Winterhalter was born in 1909September 17, 1969 ~ Warren Sabir McGlone, commonly known as hip-hop MC Steady B, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Among the first wave of Philadelphia-area emcees to gain notoriety in the mid-1980s. Known for songs such as Take Your Radio, Fly Shanté featuring Roxanne Shanté, and Just Call Us Def. Formed hardcore hip-hop outfit CEB with Cool C and Ultimate Eaze in the early 1990s. Currently serving a life sentence for his role in a botched armed robbery and second-degree murder of polive officer Lauretha Vaird. The crime would inspire the G Love & Special Sauce song Slipped Away (The Ballad Of Lauretha Vaird) of the 1997 Yeah It's That Easy album
September 17, 1968 ~ Shon Adams, commonly known as hyphy, hip-hop producer, rapper E-A-Ski, born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Has released a number of EPs in the 1990s, his full-length The Resume solo debut album as late as 2010. Best known as producer for Spice 1, including the 1993 187 He Wrote album, and for Luniz, the hip hop duo's 1995 Operation Stackola album reaching Platinum certification. Has also worked with the likes of Master P, Ice-T, Ice Cube, B-Legit, Messy Marv, Too $hort, and MC RenSeptember 17, 1966 ~ Douglas Davis, commonly known as rapper and human beatbox Doug E Fresh, born in Barbados ~ Known as the “Human Beatbox” Davis was a pioneer of beatboxing, mimicking drums and various special effects solely using mouth, lips, throat and a microphone. As a member of the Fresh Crew he appeared on two songs, The Show and La-di-da-di, which launched Davis into stardom. Both songs, especially the 12" versions, are now considered early hip-hop classics