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 21, 2024 ~ Bebop, hard bop saxophonist Benny Golson passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the most significant contributors to the development of hard bop, initially known more as a sideman and songwriter before leading or co-leading his own ensembles. Has written numerous standards including Stable Mates (Miles Davis), Whisper Not (Lee Morgan), Blues March (Gigi Gryce), and Along Came Betty (Art Blakey). As a leader best known for his 1957 New York Scene album. Co-founded and co-led the Jazztet with Art Farmer, acclaimed for early 1960s albums such as Meet The Jazztet, Blues On Down, and Another Git Together. In-demand sideman, present on quintessential albums by the likes of Dinah Washington (The Swingin' Miss D), Johnny Griffin, Dizzy Gillespie, Jim Hall, Paul Chambers, Abbey Lincoln (It's Magic), Curtis Fuller, Milt Jackson (Bags' Opus), Blue Mitchell (Out Of The Blue), Jimmy Cleveland, Buddy Rich (Richcraft), Quincy Jones, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Charles Mingus, Shirley Scott, Sam Jones (The Chant), Slide Hampton, Red Holloway, and Sarah Vaughan ~ Golson was born in 1929
September 21, 2022 ~ Drummer, producer Anton Fier passed away in Basel, Switzerland ~ In-demand collaborator in experimental rock, jazz and alternative rock. Member of the Lounge Lizards, the Feelies, the Lodge, and briefly Richard Hell & the Voidoids. Co-founded critically acclaimed eclectic outit the Golden Palominos known for their impressive revolving line-ups. Has also notably worked with Pere Ubu, Bill Laswell, Bob Mould, Jack Bruce, Kenji Suzuki, Ex-Blank-Ex, the Styrenes, and John Zorn ~ Fier was born in 1956
September 21, 2022 ~ Henry Brown, commonly known as percussionist Pucho, passed away ~ Fronted the Latin jazz, soul jazz outfit Pucho & his Latin Soul Brothers active mostly from the mid 1960s through 1973. The band is mostly noted for at one time including percussionist Chick Corea in its line-up ~ Brown was born in 1938
September 21, 2022 ~ Guitarist Ray Edenton, full name Ray Quarles Edenton, passed away in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, USA ~ First-call session musician. Member of the Nashville A-Team. Appears on over 12,000 recordings including Red Kirk's Lovesick Blues, Webb Pierce's There Stands The Glass, the Everly Brothers' Bye Bye Love and Wake Up Little Susie, Marty Robbins' Singing The Blues and Roger Miller's King Of The Road. Has also worked with Julie Andrews, the Beach Boys, Gary Burton, Sammy Davis Jr, Henry Mancini, Reba McEntire, Elvis Presley, Leon Russell, and Neil Young ~ Edenton was born in 1926
September 21, 2021 ~ Electronic, industrial, techno keyboardist, sampler, guitarist, saxophonist, songwriter Richard H Kirk passed away ~ Rose to fame in the 1970s as key member of seminal industrial group Cabaret Voltaire, remaining with the band until its disbandement in 1994. Has also enjoyed a parallel solo career, releasing his Disposable Half-Truths solo debut album in 1980. Has recorded extensively in the 1990s using a variety of monikers, prompting critics to describe him as “techno's busiest man” ~ Kirk was born in 1956
September 21, 2020 ~ Jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, flutist, saxophonist, composer Ira Sullivan passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Started in the 1950s playing trumpet and sax with jazz greats such as Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Wardell Gray, Roy Eldridge, and with Art Blakey. Moved to Florida in the 1960s, out of the spotlight, playing with local younger players including Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny. This would lead to focusing more on teaching as well as incorporating other instruments and genres, such as rock. Sullivan also performed and recorded extensively with Red Rodney in the 1980s, focusing on the music of their youth ~ Sullivan was born in 1931
September 21, 2020 ~ Blue-eyed soul, rock & roll, rockabilly, pop singer, songwriter Roy Head, full name Roy Kent Head, passed away in Porter, Texas, USA ~ Best known for his single Treat Her Right, a 1965 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit recorded with his backing unit the Traits and later notably covered by Otis Redding, Jerry Lee Lewis, Barbara Mandrell (Treat Him Right), Jimmy Page, George Thorogood, and performed by Roy's son Sundance Head as a duet with coach Blake Shelton on The Voice talent contest in 2016 ~ Head was born in 1941
September 21, 2017 ~ Jean Paul Bourque, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, bassist Johnny Burke, passed away in Cobourg, Canada ~ Active since the early 1960s with various country acts, notably the houseband at Toronto's the Horsehoe Tavern and subsequently the Caribou Showband known for their appearances on the national TV show At The Caribou. The band would eventually evolve into Eastwind, with whom Burke would score hits such as I Can't Even Do Wrong Right, Wild Honey and Love Don't Grow On Trees ~ Bourque was born in 1940
September 21, 2016 ~ Singer, songwriter John D Loudermilk passed away in Christiana, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known as a songwriter whose songs have been recorded by George Hamilton IV (A Rose And A Baby Ruth, Abilene), Eddie Cochran (Sitting In The Balcony), Boots Randolph, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed and the Willis Brothers (Big Daddy's Alabama Bound), Connie Francis (He's My Dreamboat), Jerry Lee Lewis, Anne Murray, Sammy Davis Jr, Glen Campbell, Linda Ronstadt, Roy Orbison, Gram Parsons and Vern Gosdin (Break My Mind), Johnny Tillotson and Ernest Ashworth (Talk Back Trembling Lips), Brenda Lee (Weep No More My Baby), Sue Thompson (Norman. Paper Tiger, Sad Movies Make Me Cry), Skeeter Davis, Sandy Posey and Tracey Ullman (Sun Glasses), Marvin Rainwater, Don Fardon and Paul Revere & the Raiders (The Lament Of The Cherokee Indian Reservation), the Everly Brothers (Ebony Eyes), the Nashville Teens, the Blues Magoos, the Jefferson Airplane and Rare Earth (Tobacco Road), the Casinos and Eddy Arnold (Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye), and Mose Allison (You Call It Jogging (I Call It Running Around)) ~ Loudermilk was born in 1934September 21, 2016 ~ Carlos Rico Walker, commonly known as rapper Shawty Lo, passed away in Fulton County, Georgia, USA ~ Member of D4L, known for song such as Bet You Can't Do It Like Me and Laffy Taffy. As a solo artist best known for his 2007 debut album Units In The City and the hit singles Dey Know, Dunn Dunn, and Foolish. Collaborated with Ludacris, Jeezy, Plies, Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, Birdman, Rick Ross, Jim Jones, Trey Songz, Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, and The-Dream ~ Walker was born in 1976
September 21, 2015 ~ Trumpeter, singer, songwriter Ben Cauley passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Sole survivor of the 1967 plane crash that killed singer Otis Redding and four members of the Bar-kays, guitarist Jimmy King, saxophonist Phalon Jones, drummer Carl Cunningham, and keyboardist Ronnie Caldwell. The Bar-Kays, co-founded by Cauley, served as the second houseband for Stax/Volt backing artists such as Redding, Carla Thomas, and Sam & Dave. Redding had taken such a shining to them he picked them as his backing unit for his 1967 tour. Cauley would reform the band with the only other remaining member, bassist James Alexander, who was on another flight. They would go on to back artists such as Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, and the Staple Singers ~ Cauley was born in 1947
September 21, 2015 ~ Jazz, blues saxophonist, flutist Ray Warleigh, full name Raymond Kenneth Warleigh, passed away in London, UK ~ Known for his cleanly articulated alto saxophone and flute lines, fitting for a wide array of styles, and for his ability to play anything at a moment's notice, the Australian-born Warleigh quickly became an in-demand session musician after he relocated to the UK at the start of the British blues boom. Played with artists such as Alexis Korner, Long John Baldry, and John Mayall, notably on Mayall's A Hard Road, as well as with jazz luminaries including Humphrey Lyttelton, Mike Westbrook, and Tubby Hayes. Warleigh has also appeared on albums by Bert Jansch, Nick Drake (Bryter Layter), Michael Gibbs, the Scaffold, Soft Machine (Bundles), Judie Tzuke, Maria Muldaur, Charlie Watts, Matt Bianco, the Dedication Orchestra, John Renbourn, and Kenny Wheeler. Warleigh recorded two albums as a leader, issued some forty years apart, his aptly titled 1968 Ray Warleigh's First Album produced by Scott Walker of the Walker Brothers ~ Warleigh was born in 1938
September 21, 2015 ~ Singer, songwriter Victor Démé passed away in Bobo-Diaoulasso, Burkina Faso ~ Benefitting from a renewed artistic freedom in his native Burkina Faso would rise to national fame in the late 1980s. Promoted by French producers Cameille Louvel and David Commeillas Demé would also find a following in France in the late 2000s with his eponymous Victor Demé, which contained his best known Djôn'maya. Electro, deep house DJ duo Synapson would release a remake of the song in 2014, retitled Djon Maya Mai, which would be a club hit in Belgium and France ~ Démé was born ca.1962
September 21, 2010 ~ Pop, folk, folk rock, blues singer, guitarist, percussionist, songwriter Don Partridge, full name Donald Eric Partridge, passed away in Peaceheaven, UK ~ Busker and one-man-band who briefly found unexpected commercial success at the tail end of the sixties, his 1968 singles Rosie and its follow-up Blue Eyes both reaching top 10 in his native UK, and Breakfast On Pluto released the following year charting in the top 30. Partridge is also known for co-founding Accolade, with whom he recorded two albums during the early 1970s ~ Partridge was born in 1941September 21, 2009 ~ John Wilson, commonly known as R&B, doo-wop singer John Bootsie Wilson, passed away ~ Bass singer for doo-wop outfit the Silhouettes, known best for their 1957 hit Get A Job. Originally issued as the B-side to I Am Lonely, the A-side re-release would go on to sell a million copies and be the group's only hit ~ Wilson was born in 1940
September 21, 2009 ~ Samuel Lee McCollum, commonly known as blues drummer Sam Carr, passed away in Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA ~ Best known as member of the Jelly Roll Kings. Also worked with T-Model Ford, Asie Payton, Robert Walker, Paul Wine Jones, Lonnie Shields, Sonny Boy Williamson II, David Honeyboy Edwards, Buddy Guy, the Delta Jukes, and Dave Riley ~ McCollum was born in 1926
September 21, 2008 ~ Minister, singer, songwriter Isaiah Jones Jr passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Reportedly authored over 100 hymns. Perhaps best known for songs such as God Has Smiled On me recorded by James Cleveland, and the Grammy Award-winner Abundant Life recorded by the Mighty Clouds Of Joy ~ Jones was born ca.1940
September 21, 2007 ~ James Tigner Jr, commonly known as R&B, soul singer, drummer Jimmy Tig, passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Recorded as a leader with various units, best known for Small Town Girl and A Love That Never Grows Cold, from the 1950s through the early 1970s. Would enjoy popularity particular in the Southern states. As a backing musician Tig has worked with a wide array of artists including James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, the Drifters, and Gladys Knight ~ Tigner was born in 1938
September 21, 2006 ~ Raymond Burrell, commonly known as guitarist, bassist, singer Boz Burrell, passed away in Marbella, Spain ~ Member of King Crimson in the early 1970s, appearing on the albums Islands and Earthbound. Co-founding member of Bad Company, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Bad Company debut album and its follow-up Straight Shooter. Also worked with Tea Time 4, Kenny Lynch, Elkie Brooks, Feel For Soul, King Crimson, Roger Chapman, Alvin Lee, Ruby Turner, Duster Bennett, Peter Sinfield, Snape, Jon Lord, and Boxer ~ Burrell was born in 1946September 21, 1998 ~ Gospel singer Martha Bass passed away in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Mother of soul singer Fontella Bass. Briefly toured with the Clara Ward Singers in the early 1950s and present on Wasn't It A Pity How They Punished My Lord. As a solo singer best known for her 1967 album I'm So Grateful, establishing Bass as a premier gospel singer ~ Bass was born in 1921
September 21, 1995 ~ Ska punk, pop rock, alternative rock outfit No Doubt release Just A Girl, lead single off their Tragic Kingdom album ~ The band had recorded two albums, to little commercial success, prior to Tragic Kingdom, which would become their breakthrough album selling over 15 million copies worldwide and catapulting the band, especially lead singer Gwen Stefani, to international stardom. Just A Girl, the album's lead single, would be their first major hit reaching top 30 in America, top 10 in the UK. Subsequently, the single Don't Speak from the same parent album would reach the top position in over half a dozen countries, including the Netherlands and the UK. Don't Speak did not chart on the American Billboard Hot 100 as it was not officially released in the USA, but did receive significant airplay on American radio stations
September 21, 1992 ~ Kim Jong-dae, commonly known as K-pop, R&B singer, songwriter Chen, born in Daejeon, South Korea ~ Member of boy band EXO, known for a string of 2010 hits in their native South Korea including the No.1 hits December 2014 (The Winter's Tale), Love Me Right, Monster, and Ko Ko Bop. Following the band's disbandement Jong-dae has recorded as a solo artist starting with his April And A Flower solo debut EP which spawned the hit single Beautiful GoodbyeSeptember 21, 1992 ~ Eva Celia Lesmana, commonly known as actress, singer, guitarist, songwriter Eva Celia, born in Jakarta, Indonesia ~ Daughter of jazz keyboardist Indra Lesmana and singer, actress Sophia Latuba. Best known as an actress for TV and film. As a singer known for Reason and Against Time, releasing her full-length And So It Begins album in 2016
September 21, 1989 ~ Jazz saxophonist Bill Barron, full name William Barron Jr, passed away in Middletown, Connecticut, USA ~ Praised as an adventurous saxophonist by peers and critics. First gained attention in the late 1950s working with Cecil Taylor, appearing on the Love For Sale album. Closely associated with Philly Joe Jones and Ted Curson. Barron would spent much of his career as an educator, with positions at the City College of New York, New York, and the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. His day job made it financially possible to not have to rely on gigs and record sales, and record non-commercial music. Barron has recorded about a dozen albums since the early 1960s, all of which featured his younger brother pianist Kenny Barron, and is noted especially for Hot Line released in 1962. Barron has also recorded with Charles Mingus, Dexter Gordon (Revelation), and Ted Heath ~ Barron was born in 1927September 21, 1989 ~ Jared Evan Siegel, commonly known as singer, rapper, producer, songwriter Jared Evan, born in Great Neck, New York, USA ~ Cites artists as diverse Sublime singer Bradley Nowell, the Beatles, Radiohead, Method Man, Mos Def, Stevie Wonder, and Cream as his main influences. Has released two collaborative albums with producer Statik Selektah, Boom Bap & Blues and Still Blue, prior to his full-length The Blanket Truth solo debut album in 2016
September 21, 1989 ~ Jason Joel Desrouleaux, commonly known as singer, songwriter Jason Derülo, born in Miramar, Florida, USA ~ After having guested on tracks by Pitbull, Birdman, and Pixie Lott, Derülo issued his Whatcha Say debut single in 2010, followed by his eponymous full-length Jason Derülo debut album later the same year. The single would reach top ten in over half a dozen countries, including No.1 Billboard Hot 100 in his native America. Derülo has recorded to consistent commercial success since, racking up over half a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits including Talk Dirty, Wiggle, and Savage Love (Laxed Siren Beat). An in-demand collaborator, Derülo has worked with Florida Georgia Line, Hardwell, Pentatonix, Flo Rida, David Guetta, Sofía Reyes, Gucci Mane, and Meghan Trainor