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 20, 2023 ~ R&B singer Katherine Anderson, full name Katherine Elaine Anderson, passed away in Dearborn, Michigan, USA ~ Co-founding and constant member of the Marvelettes, one of the seminal 1960s girl groups known for the hits Please Mr Postman, Playboy, and Don't Mess With Bill, all of which reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100. Beechwood 4-5789, Someday Someway, Strange I Know, As Long As He's Mine, Too Many Fish In The Sea, The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game, When You're Young And In Love, and My Baby Must Be A Magician would all reach top 10 Billboard R&B. Following the band's disbandement in 1970 Anderson retired from music ~ Anderson was born in 1944
September 20, 2023 ~ Bennett Kent Stacks, commonly known as punk rock, hardcore punk drummer Kent Stax passed away ~ Co-founding member of pioneering Virginia band Scream. The band is considered one of the most influential hardcore punk units to thrive during the 1980s, drawing from genres as diverse as reggae and metal, with Stacks as one of the fastest and most energetic drummers of the genre. Present on the albums Still Screaming, This Side Up, and Banging The Drum. Stacks departed the band by the late 1980s and would be replaced by a then-unknown teenage Dave Grohl. Stacks rejoined in 2009 and remained with the band until his death of cancer just one day after the band shared music from their upcoming DC Special album, the band's first full-length album since 1993 ~ Stacks was born ca.1962September 20, 2023 ~ Conductor Yaacov Bergman passed away ~ Married to pianist Joan Behrens-Bergman. Well known for his associations with the Walla Walla Symphony, and the Portland Chamber Orchestra. Has also worked with the Colorado Springs Symphony, the New York Heritage Chamber Orchestra, the Osaka Symphonica, and the Israel Chamber Orchestra ~ Bergman was born in 1945
September 20, 2021 ~ Singer Claude Lombard passed away in Boulogne-Billancourt, France ~ Internationally best known for representing her native Belgium in the 1968 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching joint 7th place with Quand Tu Reviendras. Lombard would relocate to France in the 1970s, finding succes as a voice actress for TV and film including Beauty & The Beast and The Prince Of Egypt ~ Lombard was born in 1945
September 20, 2021 ~ Jazz drummer Colin Bailey, full name Colin James Bailey, passed away in Port Hueneme, California, USA ~ Worked with Winifred Atwell, Bryce Rohde, the Australian Jazz Quartet, Vince Guaraldi (Jazz Impressions Of Black Orpheus), Clare Fischer, Joe Pass, Miles Davis, Benny Goodman, George Shearing, Frank Sinatra, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Ed Shaughnessy, Richie Cole, Jimmy Rowles, Red Mitchell, Stefan Scaggiari, Ron Affiff, and Weslia Whitfield ~ Bailey was born in 1934
September 20, 2021 ~ Singer Sarah Dash passed away ~ Closely associated with Patti LaBelle, as a member of both the Blue-belles and Labelle including on the 1974 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Lady Marmalade. Has released a number of solo albums, starting with the 1978 eponymous Sarah Dash which spawned the disco hit Sinner Man. Guested on recordings by the O'Jays, Nile Rodgers, the Marshall Tucker Band, David Johansen, and notably on the Rolling Stones' 1989 Steel Wheels as well as on Keith Richards' 1992 Main Offender solo album ~ Dash was born in 1945September 20, 2018 ~ Producer, label executive Joseph Hoo Kim passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced by noted producer Bunny Lee. Co-founded Channel One Studios and several affiliated labels with his brother Ernest Kim. The studio's houseband the Revolutionaries included noted musicians drummer Sly Dunbar, bassist Robbie Shakespeare and saxophonist Tommy McCook. Kim has produced tracks for numerous Jamaican acts including Black Uhuru, Horace Andy, Stranger & Gladdy (Don't Give Up The Fight), John Holt, Junior Byles, Alton Ellis (I Dig You), the Wailing Souls, Dillinger, Leroy Smart (Blackman), the Mighty Diamonds (The Right Time), and Delroy Wilson ~ Kim was born in 1942
September 20, 2014 ~ Nellie Paulina Burgin, commonly known as actress, singer Polly Bergen, passed away in Southburg, Connecticut, USA ~ Best known as an actress, notably starring in the 1962 Cape Fear film. Also actively recording as a singer, best known for her 1950s albums Bergen Sings Morgan and The Party's Over ~ Burgin was born in 1930
September 20, 2008 ~ Napoleon Brown Goodson Culp, commonly known as R&B singer Nappy Brown, passed away in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA ~ Among the first wave of African-American artists to appeal to white audiences. Known for songs such as Little By Little, Night Time Is The Right Time, It Don't Hurt No More and perhaps his best known Don't Be Angry ~ Culp was born in 1929
September 20, 1994 ~ Clarinetist, saxophonist Jimmy Hamilton passed away in St Croix, Virgin Islands ~ Leader and sideman. Over half a dozen albums as a leader, especially noted for the Swing Low Sweet Clarinet album released in 1960. Best known as a longtime associate of Duke Ellington, replacing Barney Bigard in Duke's orchestra in 1943 and remaining with Ellington for over two decades appearing on over 40 albums including pivotal albums such as Ellington At Newport, Such Sweet Thunder, Black Brown & Beige, and Afro-Bossa. Hamilton has also worked with Lucky Millinder, Jimmy Mundy, Bill Doggett, Teddy Wilson, Eddie Heywood Jr, Yank Porter, and the Clarinet Summit ~ Hamilton was born in 1917
September 20, 1994 ~ Julius Kerwin Stein, commonly known as songwriter, composer Jule Styne, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Best known for a series of Broadway musicals including Gypsy, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Funny Girl. Well known songs written or co-written by Styne include Let Me Entertain You (Sandra Church, Bob Crewe, Ann-Margret), I Don't Want To Walk Without You (Kate Smith, Guy Lombardo, Dinah Shore), It's You Or No One (Harry James, Doris Day, Sarah Vaughan), Saturday Night Is The Loneliest Night Of The Week (Frank Sinatra, Woody Herman, Cootie Williams), Everything's Coming Up Roses (Ethel Merman, Diahann Carroll, Johnny Mathis), Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend (Carol Channing, Marilyn Monroe, Lena Horne), Don't Rain On My Parade (Barbra Streisand, Nancy Wilson, Bobby Darin), and Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow (Vaughn Monroe, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby) ~ Stein was born in 1905September 20, 1990 ~ Singer, actor, songwriter Phillip Phillips born in Albany, Georgia, USA ~ Winner of the 11th season of American Idol, 2012, with the performance of Home. Released his debut album, The World From The Side Of The Moon later the same year
September 20, 1989 ~ Blues singer, guitarist Charley Booker passed away in South Bend, Indiana, USA ~ Recorded a handful of singles in the early 1950s, most notably No Ridin' Blues in 1952. Worked with Willie Love, Elmore James, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Little Milton, Ike Turner, and Houston Boines ~ Booker was born in 1925
September 20, 1989 ~ Njie Efundem Daphné, commonly known as Afrobeats, R&B singer Daphné, born in Buea, Cameroon ~ Sometimes referred to as “the French Björk”, draws from trip-hop, pop and chanson. Influenced by artists as diverse as Henry Purcell, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Stevie Wonder. Best known for Rastafari of her 2016 Here To Stay albumSeptember 20, 1988 ~ J-pop, electropop singer, dancer Ayano Omoto, also known as Nochi, born in Hiroshima, Japan ~ Member of electropop girl group Perfume, known for a string of hits starting in the mid 2000s including Love The World, One Room Disco, Voice, Spring Of Life, Relax In The City, and Tokyo Girl
September 20, 1988 ~ Jazz drummer Sam Woodyard passed away in Paris, France ~ Sideman. Worked with Paul Gayten, Joe Holiday, Roy Eldridge, Milt Buckner, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Rich, Claude Bolling, Teddy Wilson, Buddy Tate, Slam Stewart, Steve Lacy, Johnny Hodges, Clark Terry, Sonny Rollins, Rosemary Clooney, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Quincy Jones, Cat Anderson, and Larry Darnell ~ Woodyard was born in 1925
September 20, 1987 ~ Drummer Jack Lawless born in New Jersey, USA ~ Touring drummer for the Jonas Brothers. Guested on Demi Lovato's 2008 Don't Forget debut album. Member of DNCE, known for their sole eponymous DNCE album released in 2016. Member of Ocean Grove
September 20, 1982 ~ Actress, singer Jessica Pimentel born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Married to extreme metal drummer Tomas Haake. Best known as an actress, noted for her role of Maria Ruiz in the Netflix series Orange Is The New Black. Pimentel is also the lead singer of metal outfit Alekhine's Gun and backing vocalist in Brujeria
September 20, 1980 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, You'll Accomp'ny Me by Bob Seger peaks at No.14 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Bob Seger's Against The Wind had already spawned two top 10 singles, Fire Lake and the title track Against The Wind peaking respectively at No.6 and No.5. The album's third single, You'll Accomp'ny Me fell only shortly behind, reaching the top 20. Little Feat cofounder and in-demand session musician Bill Payne guested on the track, playing organ, synthesizer and piano
September 20, 1979 ~ Pop rock, indie singer, pianist, guitarist, drummer Daniel Victor born in Windsor, Canada ~ Best known for the collaborative project Neverending White Lights, for which Victor provided all instrumentation working with guest vocalists including Dallas Green, Nick Hexum, Melissa Auf Der Maur and Rob Dickinson
September 20, 1978 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Dan Gillespie Sells, full name Daniel Giles Gillespie Sells born in London, UK ~ Influenced by Karen Carpenter, Freddie Mercury and Neil Young. Frontman, lead singer of the Feeling, known for the UK top 10 hits Sewn, Never Be Lonely and I Thought It Was Over. Guested on Sophie Ellis-Bextor's 2007 Trip The Light Fantastic album, co-writing the songs Only One and Love Is HereSeptember 20, 1977 ~ Singer, actress, producer, songwriter Namie Amuro born in Nana, Japan ~ Leading figure in J-Pop. Pop culture icon throughout Asia. Member of the Super Monkeys. As a solo artist known for songs such as Body Feels Exit, Can You Celebrate, Hide And Seek, A Walk In The Park, and I Have Never Seen
September 20, 1976 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, mandolinist, pianist, songwriter Ana Egge born in Estevan, Canada ~ Actively recording since the mid 1990s. Best known for her 2004 Out Past The Light album, notably featuring singer Ron Sexsmith, and for her 2011 Steve Earle-produced Bad Blood album. Has collaborated with the Sentimentals, Michael Jerome, Trish Klein, Joel Plaskett, Steve Addabbo, Iris DeMent, and Kelly Hogan
September 20, 1975 ~ Bandleader, actor, pianist Vincent Lopez passed away in North Miami, Florida, USA ~ Bandleader from the big band and swing eras who employed many noted musicians early in their career such as Artie Shaw, Xavier Cugat, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Mike Mosiello, Fred Lowery, Glenn Miller, and singers Betty Hutton and Marion Hutton. Later musicians such as Eddy Duchin and Liberace were influenced by Lopez's flamboyant style of piano playing ~ Lopez was born in 1895
September 20, 1973 ~ Saxophonist Ben Webster, full name Benjamin Francis Webster, passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Influenced by Johnny Hodges. Spent the 1930s working with artists such as Blanche Calloway, Bennie Moten, Cab Calloway, Fletcher Henderson, and notably starting in 1940 Duke Ellington. Known for his instantly recognisable warm sound, Webster was considered one of the most influential and important swing tenor saxophonists, alongside Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. As a leader or co-leader, Webster has recorded prolifically, and is noted especially for the albums Ballads, Soulville, See You At The Fair, and For The Guv'nor (Tribute To Duke Ellington). Following his rise to fame as a leader, Webster continued to regularly appear as a sideman including on quintessential jazz albums such as Woody Herman's Songs For Hip Lovers, Billie Holiday's Body And Soul, Songs For Distingué Lovers, and All Or Nothing At All, Oliver Nelson's More Blues And The Abstract Truth, and Barney Kessel's Let's Cook. Webster used the same saxophone from 1938 until his death over three decades later. He left instructions that the horn was never to be played again. It is on display in the Institute Of Jazz Studies, Newark, New Jersey ~ Webster was born in 1909
September 20, 1973 ~ Jazz guitarist, composer, arranger, producerr Jack Marshall, full name Jack Wilton Marshall, passed away in Newport Beach, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Staff producer at Capitol Records during the late 19500s and 1960s. Produced albums by Howard Roberts and Jack Sheldon. Composed for TV series such as The Munsters, penning the theme, and movies such as Thunder Road, The Giant Gila Monster and Kona Coast. Has guested on recordings by Laurindo Almeida, Benny Carter, Judy Henske, Harry James, Barney Kessel, Jody Miller, Marian Montgomery, Louis Prima, Shorty Rogers, and Jack Teagarden ~ Marshall was born in 1921
September 20, 1973 ~ Folk, rock, soft rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Jim Croce, full name James Joseph Croce, passed away in Natchitoches, Louisiana, USA ~ Released two unsuccessful albums before breaking through with You Don't Mess Around With Jim in 1972, which spawned the hit singles Time In A Bottle, That's Not The Way It Feels and the title track You Don't Mess Around With Jim. His follow-up album, 1973's Life And Times, would give him the hit Bad Bad Leroy Brown. Croce's career was cut short when he died at age 30 in a plane crash while on tour, the day before I Got A Name, lead single and title track of his fifth and final album, was set to be released ~ Croce was born in 1943