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, 1965 ~ Guitarist, singer Guy Picciotto, full name Guy Charles Picciotto, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Best known as guitarist and singer in Fugazi and the Rites Of Sping. Has also collaborated with Mats Gustafsson, Vic Chesnutt, Gossip, Blonde Redhead, the Blood Brothers, the Downtown Boys, and Xylouris-WhiteSeptember 17, 1964 ~ Country singer, songwriter Marty Dodson born in Apple Valley, California, USA ~ Had his songs recorded by the likes of Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney (Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven), George Strait, the Oak Ridge Boys, Plain White T's, Saving Jane, Rascal Flatts, Lonestar, Billy Currington (Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right), Craig Morgan, and Joe Cocker
September 17, 1963 ~ Jazz drummer Jeff Ballard born in Santa Cruz, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Fly, Ray Charles, Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Reid Anderson, Brad Mehldau, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Mark Turner, Miguel Zenón, Eli Degibri, Joshua Redman, the Electric Band, Larry Grenadier, Avishai Cohen, and Ted Nash
September 17, 1962 ~ Mark Anthony Luhrmann, commonly known as film director, writer, music producer, singer Baz Luhrmann born in Sydney, Australia ~ Most active as a film director, the commercially most successful Australian director. Serves as music producer on all of his films soundtracks and as writer on some individual tracks. Also known for 1997 single Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) which would chart in over a dozen countries, reaching the No.1 spot in several including the UK and Ireland
September 17, 1962 ~ Benjamin Winans, commonly known as gospel, R&B singer BeBe Winans, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Comes from the musical Winans family of which many members are noted gospel artists. BeBe is best known as half of Bebe & CeCe Winans, the other half being his sister CeCe Winans, known for songs such as Heaven, Addictive Love, and It's OK
September 17, 1961 ~ Progressive metal singer, guitarist, songwriter Ty Tabor born in Pearl, Mississippi, USA ~ Lead guitarist, co-lead singer for progressive metal outfit King's X, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums since the early 1980s. The band is known for their expansive heavy metal sound, drawing from funk, soul, gospel, and progressive rock, and especially acclaimed for their 1989 Gretchen Goes To Nebraska album . Tabor has also recorded prolifically as a solo artist, starting with Naomi's Solar Pumpkin released in 1997, and collaborated with the likes of Carmine Appice, Neal Casal, Gregg Bissonette, Platypus, Jughead, Lillian Axe, and Queensrÿche
September 17, 1959 ~ Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist Omer Simeon, full name Omer Victor Simeon, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Considered one of the most technically skilled reed players to come out of New Orleans, Louisiana. First gained attention in the mid 1920s working with Jelly Roll Morton, including on classic tracks such as Black Bottom Stomp, The Chant, Doctor Jazz, and notably playing the bass clarinet solo on Someday Sweetheart. Simeon would go on to work with King Oliver, Luis Russell, Erskine Tate, extensively with Earl Hines for most of the 1930s, as well as briefer stints with Horace Henderson, Walter Fuller, Coleman Hawkins, Jimmie Lunceford, Kid Ory, and Wilbur de Paris ~ Simeon was born in 1902
September 17, 1959 ~ Keyboardist, songwriter, producer Will Gregory, full name William Owen Gregory, born in Bristol, UK ~ Best known as lead keyboardist, producer of electronic music duo Goldfrapp, the other half being Alison Goldfrapp. Also worked with Peter Gabriel, the Cure, Portishead, Tori Amos, Paula Rae Gibson, the London Sinfonietta, Tears For Fears, the Loggerheads, and Gas GiantsSeptember 17, 1958 ~ Herbert Bernfield, commonly known as saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader Herbie Fields, passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for his rendition of Dardanella. Worked with Raymond Scott, Lionel Hampton, Neal Hefti, Bill Evans, Eddie Bert, Bernie Glow, Manny Albam, Al Klink, Marty Napoleon, Serge Chaloff, Frank Rosolino, Jim Aton, and Tiny Kahn ~ Bernfield was born in 1919
September 17, 1957 ~ Conductor, music director Michael Morgan, full name Michael DeVard Morgan, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Started playing the piano at age 8. Was conducting two orchestras by age 12, one at his church and one in high school. Best known for his association with the Oakland East Bay Symphony, signing on as music director in 1991 and remaining until his death. Morgan has also guest conducted orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the New York City Opera, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Washington National Opera ~ Morgan passed away in 2021September 17, 1956 ~ Power pop, alternative rock drummer, guitarist, singer Gil Ray, full name George Gilbert Ray, born ~ Member of Game Theory from 1985 through 1989. Member of Loud Family. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with the Happy Eggs, Fade To Black, Shiny Wet Parts, and with the Rain Parade ~ Ray passed away in 2017
September 17, 1956 ~ Roots rock, alternative country singer, bassist, guitarist, songwriter Tom Stevens, full name Thomas Howard Stevens, born ~ Member of the Long Ryders, joining the band shortly after the release of their 10-5-60 debut EP replacing original member Des Brewer. Though the band never became a household name they would prove to be influential on later cowpunk, blending a punk attitude with late 1960s country rock. Stevens would also work with Danny & Dusty, the Byrds singer Gene Clark, Junk Yard Love, and record about half a dozen solo albums and EPs ~ Stevens passed away in 2021
September 17, 1955 ~ Country singer George Jones releases Why Baby Why, lifted off his Grand Ole Opry's New Star album ~ Darrell Edwards had grown up across the street from George Jones in Saratoga, Texas, and after a stint in the Army would reconnect with Jones after a show in Beaumont, Texas, showing Jones several poems he had written. The pair would subsequently co-write several of Jones' early hits, including Why Baby Why, What Am I Worth, and notably Jones' first Billboard Country No.1 hit Tender Years. Following several unsuccessful singles, Why Baby Why would be Jones' first charting hit, reaching No.4 Billboard Country. It has since gone on to become a country classic, recorded by numerous artists including Hank Locklin, Roger McGuinn, Charley Pride, and Patty Loveless. Jones would also re-record the song several times, including as a duet with Gene Pitney in 1966 for their It's Country Time Again collaborative albumSeptember 17, 1953 ~ Andrew MacDonald, commonly known as heavy metal guitarist Duck MacDonald, born in Auburn, New York, USA ~ Best known as member of Blue Cheer from 1989 through 1992 appearing on the albums Blitzkrieg Over Nuremberg and Highlights And Lowlives. Also co-founded Bible Black with Gary Driscoll and Craig Gruber. Worked with the Rods, Kim Simmonds, Playground, Thrasher, and Lone Rager
September 17, 1953 ~ Rock drummer Steve Williams born in UK ~ Joined Welsh rockers Budgie in the mid 1970s, first appearing on the 1975 Bandolier album and has remained with the band since. Also worked with Lowlife and with covers band Mr Hate
September 17, 1952 ~ Country guitarist, keyboardist, mandolinist, banjoist, singer Steve Sanders born in Richland, Georgia, USA ~ Best known as member of the Oak Ridge Boys, joining the band in 1987 replacing William Lee Golden and remaining through 1995. Present on songs such Gonna Take A Lot Of River, Bridges And Walls, Beyond Those Years and Lucky Moon ~ Sanders passed away in 1998
September 17, 1951 ~ R&B, soul singer Theryl Declouet born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Lead singer of Galactic, present on the band's first four studio albums until leaving the band in 2004 for health reasons. Previously, Declouet has recorded as a solo artist using the moniker House Man in the late 1980s ~ DeClouet passed away in 2018
September 17, 1950 ~ John Waldo Waybill, commonly known as singer, producer Fee Waybill, born in Omaha, Nebraska, USA ~ Best known as lead singer and songwriter of the Tubes. Released a solo debut, Read My Lips, in 1984. Also worked, mainly as producer and sometimes as collaborator, with artists such as Toto, Richard Marx, Billy Sherwood, and Bryan Adams
September 17, 1948 ~ Bassist, singer Julien Tarquin born in Marigot, Martinique ~ Member of pop unit La Compagnie Créole, founded in 1975. The band originally sang in Creole but quickly adopted French as their main language. Known for their feel-good, happy-go-lucky vibe they have recorded about two dozen albums and would enjoy popularity in the Francophone world and beyond especially in the 1980s, reportedly selling over 60 million records over the course of their career. Well-known songs include Vive Le Douanier Rousseau, C'est Bon Pour Le Moral, Le Bal Masqué, Ça Fait Rire Les Oiseaux, and Ma Première Biguine-Partie
September 17, 1944 ~ Rock singer, guitarist Les Emmerson, full name Robert Leslie Emmerson, born in Ottawa, Canada ~ Best known as lead singer, guitarist of Five Man Electrical Band, known for songs such as Absolutely Right and I'm A Stranger Here, and its predecessor the Staccatos. Wrote Signs, one of the band's best known, later notably covered by Tesla. As a solo artist known for Cry Your Eyes Out, Watching The World Go By, and Control Of Me ~ Emmerson passed away in 2021
September 17, 1939 ~ Singer Shelby Flint born in North Hollywood, California, USA ~ Best remembered for the 1960s singles Angel On My Shoulder and Cast Your Fate To The Wind. Has also sung for a number of soundtracks, notably Do You Remember Me (Lila's Theme) for Snoopy Come Home and Someone's Waiting For You for the Disney animated feature film The Rescuers. Singer Joni Mitchell once proclaimed that early in her career she wanted to sound just like Flint
September 17, 1929 ~ Jazz, R&B, hard bop saxophonist Curtis Peagler born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Influenced by Charlie Parker, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, and Louis Jordan. Perhaps best known for leading the Modern Jazz Disciples, a short-lived hard bop combo known for their extroverted, aggressive and hard-swinging style and remembered for the acclaimed albums Modern Jazz Disciples and Right Down Front, released respectively in 1959 and 1960. The band was noted among others for including two seldomly used instruments in its sound, a normaphone which is a valve trombone shaped like a saxophone and a euphonium. Over the course of his lengthy career, Peagler released several more albums as a leader, notably I'll Be Around released in 1986, and has performed and recorded with Lem Winchester, Teresa Brewer, Big Joe Turner, Jeannie Cheatham, Frank Wess, Mel Tormé, Freddie Redd (Everybody Loves A Winner), Jimmy Smith, Wynonie Harris, and Ella Fitzgerald. Peagler has been described as “an exciting, extrovert saxophonist who lent color to every band he played in, from Ray Charles in the 1960s to Count Basie in the '70s” by noted music critic Leonard Feather ~ Peagler passed away in 1992September 17, 1929 ~ Sylvester Austin, commonly known as saxophonist Sil Austin, born in Dunnellon, Florida, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Cites Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Sonny Stitt as major influences. Active since the 1940s. Has worked with Roy Eldridge, Cootie Williams and Tiny Bradshaw before setting out on his own, scoring jazzified hits of pop tunes such as Danny Boy, Slow Walk and My Mother's Eyes ~ Austin passed away in 2002
September 17, 1927 ~ Jazz bassist Earl May, full name Earl Charles Barrington May, born in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the most prolific jazz bassists of the postwar era, known for his rich, round sound. Active on the New York club circuit since the early 1950s, backing artists such as Lester Young, Billy Taylor, Gloria Lynne, and Charles Mingus, to become one of the busiests bassists by the end of the decade. Notably present on key albums by Chet Baker, John Coltrane (Lush Life), and Buddy Rich (Driver). Ventured into soul-jazz by the 1960s, gracing albums by Stanley Turrentine, Shirley Scott, and Lou Donaldson. May continued to perform well into the 2000s, passing away at age 80 of a heart attack just days after his last performance ~ May passed away in 2008
September 17, 1926 ~ William Patton Black Jr, commonly known as bassist Bill Black, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known as bassist backing Elvis Presley in Presley's early years. Black later formed Bill Black's Combo with whom he achieved moderate succes with songs such as White Silver Sands, Blue Tango, and Hearts Of Stone. The combo at one time or another included musicians such as Reggie Young, Chips Moman, Tommy Cogbill and William Martin Willis ~ Black passed away in 1965
September 17, 1926 ~ Eugene McDuff, commonly known as keyboardist, organist, bassist Jack McDuff, born in Champaign, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Acclaimed for early 1960s albums such as Brother Jack, The Honeydripper and Brother Jack Meets The Boss. Employed a young George Benson early on in the latter's career. Also worked with Joe Farrell, Willis Jackson, Red Holloway, Joe Dukes, Jimmy Witherspoon, Leo Wright, Kenny Burrell, Pat Martino, David Fathead Newman, Cecil Bridgewater, and Houston Person ~ McDuff passed away in 2001