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 19, 1985 ~ Saxophonist Charlie Holmes passed away in Stoughton, Massachusetts, USA ~ Played clarinet and oboe for the Boston Civic Symphony Orchestra in the 1920s. Switched to alto saxophone by the end of the decase and went on to play with a variety of artists including Luis Russell, Red Allen, the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, John Kirby, Cootie Williams, and Duke Ellington. Retired from music in the early 1950s. Best known for composing Sugar Hilll Function ~ Holmes was born in 1910September 19, 1982 ~ Joseph Junior Adenuga, commonly known as hip-hop, grime rapper, MC, producer, songwriter Skepta, born in London, UK ~ Known for songs such as Rescue Me, Greaze Mode with Nafe Smallz and Waze with Chip and Young Adz. Has also collaborated with Rude Kid, Wiley, Ace Hood, the Flatbush Zombies, Devlin, Lethal Bizzle, A$AP Rocky, Dizzee Rascal, and Octavian
September 19, 1979 ~ Louis Ferdinand Busch, commonly known as pianist, producer, songwriter Joe Fingers Carr, passed away in Camarillo, California, USA ~ Dropped out of school at age 16 to pursue a career as a musician. After a few years of touring would return to school, this time the Cincinnati Music Conservatory, to learn more about music theory. A&R executive at Capitol Records by the late 1940s. Has worked with Henry Busse, Clyde McCoy, George Olson, Hal Kemp, and Milton Delugg. As a solo artist, Carr is best known for 1950s songs such as Portuguese Washerwoman, Sam's Song, Zambezi, and Rollercoaster ~ Busch was born in 1910
September 19, 1978 ~ Pianist, arranger, composer Todor Kobakov born in Sofia, Bulgaria ~ As a recording artist best known for his critically acclaimed 2009 Pop Music album. The album features mostly instrumentals inspired by Kobakov's life experiences in both Bulgaria and his adopted homeland Canada. Kobakov has written over half a dozen soundtracks, including for the 2011 neo-noir thriller The Fury starring Samuel L Jackson, released two electronic albums under the moniker Cy Scobie, produced dance remixes for Metric's Emily Haines, and is an in-demand collaborator in Toronto's indie sceneSeptember 19, 1977 ~ Drummer Ryan Dusick born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Founding member, drummer Maroon 5 from 1994 to 2006. Dusick left the band due to serious wrist and shoulder injuries from constant touring. Replaced by Matt Flynn
September 19, 1976 ~ Jermaine Denny, commonly known as rapper Red Cafe, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Underground rapper, releasing several singles and mixtapes since the mid 2000s. Member of Da Franchise. Known best for the 2007 The Co-Op album, a collaborative effort with DJ Envy. Portrayed freestyle rapper DJ Premier in the 2009 the Notorious BIG-biopic Notorious
September 19, 1975 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, producer Baroi Johansson born in Iceland ~ Has worked with Bang Gang, with Keren Ann under the moniker Lady & Bird, and with Jean-Benoît Dunckel under the moniker Starwalker
September 19, 1975 ~ Alternative rock, electronic drummer Cameron McGlinchey born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Served as touring member for alternative rock band the Rogue Traders through 2005, when he joined the band as an official member. Notably present on the band's 2007 Better In The Dark album, which spawned the singles Don't You Wanna Feel, I Never Liked You, and What You're On, before leaving the band in 2008. Married to Natalie Bassingthwaighte, the band's lead singer, with whom he has two children
September 19, 1975 ~ R&B group the Miracles release Love Machine (Part 1), lifted off their City Of Angels album ~ When Smokey Robinson departed the band in the early 1970s to pursue a solo career, after fronting the band for over a decade and writing, co-writing and producing a significant amount of the band's material, many feared the band would lose its appeal. However, now featuring lead singer Billy Griffin, and adopting a funkier, more disco-oriented sound, the band did score several hits through the mid 1970s. Do It Baby and Don't Cha Love It would both reach No.4 Billboard R&B. The following year, Love Machine (Part 1), would also reach top 10 Billboard R&B as well as No.1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, making it only their second Billboard Hot 100 charttopper after The Tears Of A Clown with Robinson some five years earlier. Love Machine (Part 1) would be the band's all-time best-selling single, selling well over 4 million copies. Alas, it would also be the band's last major hit. The band recorded several more albums over the next few years, one for Motown and two unsuccessful albums for Columbia Records, but fell out of favor by the late 1970s. However, their legacy remains as one of the most influential R&B groups to emerge in the 1960s and Motown's top-selling act. The label's founder Berry Gordy Jr has been quoted as saying that “without the Miracles Motown would not be the Motown that it is today”September 19, 1974 ~ Model, actress, TV personality, singer Victoria Silvstedt born in Skelleftehamn, Sweden ~ As a singer known for her sole album, the dance-pop Girl On The Run released in 1999 which included the singles Hello Hey, Rocksteady Love and Party Line. Has recorded sporadically since as she stated she loves singing but it is just a hobby
September 19, 1973 ~ Ingram Cecil Connor III, commonly known as country, country rock, folk rock singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Gram Parsons passed away in Joshua Tree, California, USA ~ Key figure in the development of country rock, though he hated the term, merging country, R&B, blues, soul, folk and rock. Member of the International Submarine Band. Briefly a member of the Byrds, notably present on the The Sweethearts Of The Rodeo album. Member of the Flying Burrito Brothers. As a solo artist known for his 1973 GP debut album and its posthumously released Grievous Angel follow-up, both considered landmark albums ~ Connor was born in 1946
September 19, 1972 ~ Folk rock, folk pop outfit America release Ventura Highway, lead single off their Homecoming sophomore album ~ There is no actual Ventura Highway, however, there is a Highway 101 running through Ventura County, California. The song was inspired by a childhood memory of Dewey Bunnell, as he would later explain: “It was 1963 when I was in seventh grade, we got a flat tire and we're standing on the side of the road and I was staring at this highway sign. It said Ventura on it and it just stuck with me. It was a sunny day and the ocean there, all of it” The single would reach No.8 Billboard Hot 100, making it the band's third consecutive top 10 hit after A Horse With No Name and I Need You. In 2001, Janet Jackson would interpolate the song on her Someone To Call My Lover hit. Jackson's producer suggested to build a song around the America hit, to which she readily agreedSeptember 19, 1972 ~ Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist Andrew Morgan passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Member of sibling outfit the Young Morgan Band. Also worked with the Imperial Band, Kid Howard, Kid Rena, Kid Thomas Valentine, Alphonse Picou, Herb Morand, Kid Clayton, the Young Tuxedo Brass Band, Percy Humphrey, Sweet Emma Barrett, Alvin Alcorn, the Onward Brass Band, the Eureka Brass Band, and Captain John Handy ~ Morgan was born in 1901
September 19, 1971 ~ Daniel Kretschmer, commonly known as hip hop, reggae, dancehall singer D-Flame, born ~ Member of 1990s rap group the Asiatic Warriors, with whom he recorded the albums Told Ya and Strength. Following the band's disbandement has embarked on a solo career, starting with Basstard released in 2000. Known for the collaborative singles Sorry featuring Jan Delay and Burnin' Nonstop featuring Wayne Marshall
September 19, 1969 ~ Jazz, avant-garde jazz, electro-jazz, jazz-rock trumpeter Cuong Vu born in Saigon, Vietnam ~ Known for his boundary-pushing style with about a dozen albums to his name as a leader since the late 1990s, noted especially for 2005's It's Mostly Residual. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Orange Then Blue, Bobby Previte, Dave Douglas (Sanctuary), Ron Sexsmith, Oscar Noriega, Laurie Anderson, Pat Metheny (Speaking Of Now), Myra Melford, the Naked Truth, Joel Harrison, and David Bowie (Toy Toy-Box)
September 19, 1968 ~ Techno DJ, producer, remixer Dave Clarke, full name David Maurice Clarke, born in Brighton, UK ~ Dubbed “the Baron of Techno” by renowned radio DJ John Peel. First gained attention in the 1980s in Amsterdam's night club scene, regulary appearing at the famed Richter nightclub. Produced remixes for artists such as Kevin Saunderson's Inner City, the Chemical Brothers, New Order and Underworld. As a solo artist best known for the singles Southside and No One's Driving, both of which reached the British top 40 in 1996
September 19, 1968 ~ Clyde Julian Foley, commonly known as country, gospel, rockabilly singer, guitarist, banjoist, songwriter Red Foley, passed away in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA ~ Dubbed “Mr Country Music” Foley was one of the most popular country singers of the 1940s and 1950s, selling over 25 million records. His 1951 rendition of Peace In The Valley hit recording, originally recorded by Mahalia Jackson in 1937, would become one of the first gospel songs to sell over a million copies. Other well known songs include Smoke On The Water, Shame On You, New Jolie Blonde (New Pretty Blonde), Tennessee Saturday Night, Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy, Birmingham Bounce, Midnight and the Kitty Wells-duet One By One ~ Foley was born in 1910
September 19, 1965 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Tom Maxwell born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA ~ Lead singer of swing revival band the Squirrel Nut Zippers through 1999, for whom he also wrote the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Hell of the acclaimed 1996 Hot album. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Samsara in 1999, and regularly collaborated with Squirrel bandmate Ken Mosher including on several soundtracks for TV and film notably for the animated feature film Happily Never After
September 19, 1964 ~ Patricia Lynn Yearwood, commonly known as country singer, guitarist Trisha Yearwood born in Monticello, Georgia, USA ~ Rose to fame with her 1991 She's In Love With The Boy debut single, which would reach No.1 on the Billboard Country charts. Its accompanying eponymous Trisha Yearwood debut album would sell over 2 million copies. Would continue to record to commercial succes, scoring Billboard Country top 10 hits with songs such as That's What I Like About You, The Woman Before Me, The Wrong Side Of Memphis, Walkaway Joe featuring Don Henley, XXX's And OOO's (An American Girl) and Believe Me Baby (I Lied). Yearwood has been married to country singer Garth Brooks since 2005
September 19, 1963 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock, post-punk singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, percussionist, songwriter Jarvis Cocker, full name Jarvis Branson Cocker, born in Sheffield, UK ~ Figurehead of Britpop during the mid 1990s. Frontman and sole constant member of Pulp, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums. The band is especially acclaimed for Different Class released in 1995. All four of the album's singles, Common People, Sorted For E's And Wizz, Disco 2000, and Something Changed would all reach top 10 in the band's native UK. Jarvis has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Jarvis in 2006, and worked as a radio host for the BBC
September 19, 1961 ~ R&B group the Miracles release Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues, lifted off their Cookin' With The Miracles sophomore album ~ Despite not becoming a major hit at the time, peaking at No.52 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts, No.11 Billboard R&B, Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues would retrospectively be recognised as one of the earliest singles to define both the band's and the label's signature sound, using classic call and response vocals and heavy strings throughout. The song was written by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White, produced by Motown head Berry Gordy Jr, and arranged by conductor Riley C Hampton, marking the first time the label employed an outside arrangerSeptember 19, 1961 ~ Fingerstyle guitarist Peter Autschbach born in Siegen, Germany ~ Played in a 1995 production of the rock opera Tommy. Worked with the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra in early 2000s productions of the musicals Cabaret and West Side Story. Has released well over a dozen albums as a solo artist, with his band Terminal A, and with regular collaborators Ralf Illenberger
September 19, 1959 ~ Chicago house, deep house producer, DJ Marshall Jefferson born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Known best for his 1986 single Move Your Body (The House Music Anthem), the first house song to use piano. Worked with artists such as Virgo, Jungle Wonz, On The House, Cece Rogers, Sterling Void, Ten City, Frankie Knuckles, and Solardo
September 19, 1959 ~ Jazz, pop, folk, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Sally Barker born in Barrow-upon-Soar, UK ~ Founding member of the Poozies. As a solo artist one of four finalists on the third season of talent show The Voice UK aired on BBC One in 2014, alongside Christina Marie, Jamie Johnson and winner Jermain Jackman
September 19, 1958 ~ Heavy metal singer, guitarist, songwriter Lita Ford, full name Lita Rossana Ford, born in London, UK ~ Lead guitarist in the Runaways. As a solo artist best known for the 1989 single Close My Eyes Forever, a duet with Ozzy Osbourne and a Billboard top 10 hit in 1989