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, 1957 ~ Drummer, songwriter Rusty Egan born ~ Member of short-lived new wave band the Rich Kids, which also included the Sex Pistols-bassist Glen Matlock, guitarist Steve New and lead singer Midge Ure. Following the band's disbandement in 1978 would work with the Skids, Shock and perhaps most notably Visage, the latter known for the 1980 hit Fade To Grey which would become regarded as a landmark recording in synth-pop
September 19, 1956 ~ Jazz, cool jazz, fusion vibraphonist, keyboardist, percussionist, bandleader Wolfgang Lackerschmid born in Tegernsee, Germany ~ Over a dozen albums as a leader, starting with Mallet Connection released in 1978. As a sideman Lackerschmid has appeared on recordings by Chet Baker, Joe Gallardo, Biréli Lagrène (Routes To Django), Head Heart & Hands, Andy Bey, and Michal UrbaniakSeptember 19, 1955 ~ Actor, singer Rex Smith born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Late 1970s, early 1980s teen idol. Best known as an actor for stage and TV. Made his acting debut in the Broadway play Grease playing the lead role of Danny Zuko. As a recording artist singer best known for You take My Breath Away and duetting with Rachel Sweet on Everlasting Love
September 19, 1952 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Kathy Kallick born ~ Influenced by John Prine, Steve Goodman, and Tom Dunde. Worked with artists such as Michael Drayton, Laurie Lewis, the Good Old Persons, Tom Bekeny, Amy Steinberg, Peter Rowan, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Claire Lynch, Tim O'Brien, Jody Stecher, Kate Brislin, Darol Anger, James Leva, Sandy Rothman, Molly Tutle, and Clive GregsonSeptember 19, 1952 ~ Pianist, singer, composer, actor Nat Ayer, full name Nathaniel Davis Ayer, passed away in Bath, UK ~ Enjoyed popularity especially in the UK throughout the late-1910s, performing and composing Edwardian musical comedy and revue. Best known for writing the West End hit musicals The Bing Boys Are Here, which spawned the hit If You Were The Only Girl In The World, and Yes Uncle ~ Ayer was born in 1887
September 19, 1951 ~ Engineer, producer Richard Dashut, full name Richard Charles Dashut, born ~ Best known for his association with Fleetwood Mac, producing several of the band's best known albums including Rumours, Tusk, and Tango In The Night, as well as several solo outings by band members Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham, and Christine McVie
September 19, 1949 ~ Lesley Hornby, commonly known as model, actress, singer Twiggy, born in Neasden, UK ~ British cultural icon and prominent teenaged model in 1960s London. Actress for film, TV and stage, notably the 1971 The Boy Friend film, as well as musical actress. Appeared on the cover of the 1973 David Bowie album Pin Ups. Had a notable cameo in The Blues Brothers film released in 1980. Has recorded a number of albums over the years, starting in the early 1970s, with several singles doing quite well in her native UK including the 1976 Here I Go Again top 20 hitSeptember 19, 1947 ~ Pop, country singer, songwriter Urszula Sipinska born in Poznán, Poland ~ Broke through with Zapomnialam in 1967, co-written with her sister. Released her full-length eponymous Urszula Sipinkska debut album in 1971 and has recorded to commercial success and critical acclaim until retiring from music in 1990. Well known songs include To Byl Swiat W Zupulnie Starym Stylu, Sa Takie Dni W Tygodnu, Chce Wyjechac Na Wies and Mam Cudownych Rodzicow
September 19, 1945 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter David Bromberg born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Draws from numerous roots genres including bluegrass, folk, jazz, country, rock & roll. Known for his quirky lyrics. Multi-instrumentalist, revered fingerpicker, plays guitar, dobro, fiddle, mandolin and pedal steel guitar. Co-wrote The Holdup with George Harrison who also appears on Bromberg's 1972 eponymous David Bromberg album. Has also worked with Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, Jorma Kaukonen and Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, Rusty Evans, and Bob Dylan
September 19, 1942 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Danny Kalb born in Mount Vernon, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Blues Project remaining with the band through 1967, rejoining in 1969. Merging blues, R&B, jazz, psychedelia and folk-rock the band is best known for their 1966 Projections sophomore album, its highlight being an 11-minute Muddy Waters-cover Two Trains Runnin' featuring Kalb on guitar and lead vocals ~ Kalb passed away in 2022September 19, 1942 ~ Singer, actress Freda Payne, full name Freda Charcilia Payne, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Sister of singer Scherrie Payne of the Supremes. Active from the mid 1960s through the mid-1980s as singer and actress in musicals and film. Best known for her 1970 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Band Of Gold, penned by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland Jr & Ron Dunbar
September 19, 1942 ~ Drummer, percussionist Ray Cooper born in Watford, UK ~ Influenced by Ginger Baker, Carmine Appice, John Bonham. Known for incorporating at the time unusual instruments such as cowbells, glockenspiel and tubular bells. In-demand session and touring percussionist. Closely associated with Elton John, starting on the 1971 Madman Across The Water. Guested on the Rolling Stones album It's Only Rock And Roll released in 1974. Played on and co-produced George Harrison's 1981 Somewhere In England album. Has also worked with the Descendents, the Wombles, Billy Joel, Blue Mink, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Christine McVie, and Art Garfunkel
September 19, 1941 ~ Ellen Naomi Cohen, commonly known as singer Cass Elliott, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Best known as member of 1960s vocal group the Mamas & the Papas. Has gone on to release solo albums and singles, notably Dream A Little Dream Of Me. Prior to the Mamas & the Papas Cohen was a member of the Big 3 alongside Tim Rose and then-husband James Hendricks ~ Cohen was born in 1974September 19, 1941 ~ Peter Müller, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Peter Horton, born in Feldsberg, Germany ~ Well over a dozen albums to his name since the early 1970s. Internationally best known for representing his native Austria at the 1967 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 14th place with Warum Es Hunderttausend Sterne Gibt ~ Müller passed away in 2023
September 19, 1940 ~ Singer Bill Medley born in Santa Ana, California, USA ~ Influenced by Little Richard, Ray Charles, Bobby Blue Bland and BB King. Best known as the bass-baritone half of the Righteous Brothers, the other half being Bobby Hatfield, known for songs such as You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', Unchained Melody and Soul & Inspiration. Post-Brothers Medley scored a huge hit duetting with Jennifer Warnes on I've Had The Time Of My LifeSeptember 19, 1940 ~ Paul Nigel Vincent Yarlett, commonly known as singer Paul Williams, born in Surbiton, UK ~ Member of Zoot Money. Subsequently worked with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, taking over for John McVie and present on the albums Looking Back and Thru The Years. Member of Juicy Lucy. Member of Tempest, appearing on the band's 1973 eponymous Tempest album. Has also worked with Aynsley Dunbar, Dick Heckstall-Smith, and Allan Holdsworth ~ Yarlett passed away in 2019
September 19, 1940 ~ Sylvia Fricker, also known as Sylvia Tyson, born in Chatham, Canada ~ Formed the folk duo Ian & Sylvia with husband Ian Tyson from 1959 through 1974. The duo recorded over a dozen albums and is best known for You Were On My Mind, covered by numerous artists including We Five and Crispian St Peters. The couple also worked together fronting country rock band the Great Speckled Bird from the late 1960 through the early 1970s. Following her divorce in 1975 Fricker has recorded as a solo artist, notably 1986's Denim Blue Eyes, 1987's Too Short A Ride and 1992's I Walk These Rails all reaching top 20 on the Canadian country charts. Formed the country, folk group Quartette in the early 1990s, with each member also recording as a solo artist
September 19, 1937 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Paul Siebel born in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Critically acclaimed, once described by the New York Times as “a folk singer with a country and western bias, (who) sings in high nasal and hillbilly manner, rather like Bob Dylan singing in his early days”. Known for two early 1970s albums, Woodsmoke And Oranges and Jack-Knife Gypsy. Though Siebel never achieved mainstream success, he was held in the highest regard by peers. Perhaps best remembered for penning and first recording Louise, covered by over two dozen artists including Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, and Willy DeVille. Others who covered his songs include Marc Ellington, Jerry Jeff Walker (Then Came The Children), Emmylou Harris, and Waylon Jennings. Siebel was one of the artists referenced in Kris Kristofferson's The Pilgrim (Chapter 33), a song inspired by Kristofferson's own experience of living as a songwriter, as well as those of his often-unemployed peers ~ Siebel passed away in 2022September 19, 1937 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Phil Cracolici born ~ Lead singer of the Mystics, known for the 1959 hit Hushabye. It was a substitute after A Teenager In Love, originally intended for them, was given to labelmates Dion & the Belmonts
September 19, 1934 ~ Producer, label executive Carl Davis, full name Carl H Davis Sr, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Closely associated with Okeh Records, Brunswick Records, and Chi-Sound Records, founding the latter in 1976. First gained serious attention producing Gene Chandler's 1962 hit single Duke Of Earl, later named one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. Would go on to produce for the likes of Major Lance, Walter Jackson, the Artistics, Jackie Wilson ((Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher), Barbara Acklin, Tyrone Davis (Turn Back The Hands Of Time), and Hamilton Bohannon ~ Davis passed away in 2012
September 19, 1932 ~ George Lowen Coxhill, commonly known as saxophonist Lol Coxhill, born in Portsmouth, UK ~ Emerged from the 1960s Canterbury scene to become a highly in-demand sideman. Reportedly inspired Joni Mitchell's song For Free while busking solo on a London bridge. Has worked as a solo artist and worked with Kevin Ayers, Carol Grimes, Delivery, Mike Oldfield, Morgan Fisher, Brotherhood Of Breath, Coxhill-Bedford Duo, the Dedication Orchestra, Django Bates, the Damned, Hugh Metcalfe, Derek Bailey, Hybrid Kids, Trevor Watts Moiré Music, Mick Audsley, Heidi Berry, Caravan, Eugene Chadbourne, Shirley Collins, Lindsay Cooper, the Flying Padovanis, Alexis Korner, the Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Gary Windo, Robert Wyatt, and Penny Rimbaud ~ Coxhill passed away in 2012
September 19, 1931 ~ Benjamin Peay, commonly known as singer, songwriter Brook Benton, born in Lugoff, South Carolina, USA ~ Popular 1950s and 1960s rock & roll, R&B, pop singer known for hits such as It's Just A Matter Of Time, Endlessly, So Many Ways, Kiddio and a number of duets with Dinah Washington such as Baby You've Got What It Takes and A Rocking Good Way (To Mess Around And Fall In Love). Scored his last major hit in 1969, topping the Billboard R&B charts with the Tony Joe White-cover Rainy Night In Georgia ~ Benton passed away in 1988
September 19, 1930 ~ Trumpeter, cornetist, conductor Bram Gay, full name Bramwell Clifford Gay, born in Treorchy, UK ~ Joined the Foden's Band at age 13. Would go on to work with the Royal Opera House starting in the early 1970s, serving as its orchestra director from 1974 through 1995 ~ Gay passed away in 2019September 19, 1927 ~ Nicholas Macioci, commonly known as singer Nick Massi, born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Joined the Four Lovers in 1958, which would evolve into the Four Seasons best known for their association with Frankie Valli. Massi remained with the group through 1965, appearing on some of the band's best known hits including Sherry, Dawn Go Away, Rag Doll ~ Macioci passed away in 2000
September 19, 1926 ~ Raffaele Celéste Rosso, commonly known as trumpeter Nini Rosso, born in San Michele Mondovi, Italy ~ Became one of Italy's most beloved trumpeters in the 1960s. Known for Concerto Disperato which was notably covered by Ken Thorne as Theme From Legion's Last Patrol, and for Il Silenzio which became an international hit in 1965 ~ Rosso passed away in 1994