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, 1987 ~ John Francis Anthony Pastorius III, commonly known as jazz fusion bassist Jaco Pastorius, passed away in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA ~ Best known as member of the Weather Report from 1976 to 1981, including on the albums Black Market and Heavy Weather. As a solo artist acclaimed for the albums Jaco Pastorius, Invitation and Curtain Call. Also present on albums by Pat Metheny, Joni Mitchell (Hejira), Al di Meola, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Herbie Hancock (Mr Hands), and Biréli Lagrène ~ Pastorius was born in 1951
September 21, 1986 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Blake Mills born in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of Simon Dawes, known for their 2005 What No One Hears debut EP and their sole Carnivore album released the following year. Touring guitarist for artists such as Jenny Lewis, Band Of Horses, Cass McCombs, Julian Casablancas, Lucinda Williams. Session musician for Kid Rock, Weezer, the Avett Brothers, Paolo Nutini, Carlene Carter, the Dixie Chicks, Pink, and Lana Del Rey. As a solo artist, Mills is especially acclaimed for his Break Mirrors debut album released in 2010
September 21, 1985 ~ In its 11th week on the charts, Dare Me by the Pointer Sisters peaks at No.11 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Issued as the lead single off their Contact album, Dare Me has lead singer June Pointer tell a love interest to come closer, touch her, and dare her to make a move. It would be the siblings' last major hit, falling just short of the Billboard Hot 100 top 10. Written from an attempted female perspective by Nashville songwriters Sam Lorber and Dave Innis, who would later comment: “There are certain things that are more gender specific and gender appropriate, certain things that a woman can say that guy's not going to be able to get away with saying”
September 21, 1984 ~ Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, commonly known as rapper Wale, born in Washington DC, USA ~ First gained attention with his 2006 single Dig Dug Shake It. Released his full-length debut album, Attention Deficit, in 2009. Best known for Bad featuring Tiara Thomas and On Chill featuring Jeremih. Has collaborated with Lady Gaga, Jazmine Sullivan, Gucci Mane, J Cole, Kid Cudi, French Montana, Lupe Fiasco, Usher, Lil Wayne, Bryson Tiller, Kelly Price, the Roots, and Shawty LoSeptember 21, 1983 ~ Singer, songwriter Asa Taccone born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Former Saturday Night Live writer collaborating with musical comedy trio the Lonely Island which includes his brother Jorma Taccone. Has released solo albums and is the lead singer of Electric Guest
September 21, 1982 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, bassist, pianist, songwriter Amber Rubarth, full name Amber Kristine Rubarth, born in California, USA ~ Has opened for Emmylou Harris, Kenny Loggins, Marc Cohn. Best known for her 2011 Common Case Of Disappearing album which featured duets with Jason Reeves and Jason Mraz, and for her 2017 concept album Wildflowers In The Graveyard. Member of harmony trio Applewood Road. Formed indie folk, indie rock outfit Paper Raincoat with Alex Wong
September 21, 1982 ~ Singer Janet Jackson releases her eponymous Janet Jackson debut album ~ While under the management of her domineering father Joe Jackson, Janet Jackson recorded and released her eponymous debut album when she was only sixteen. Both critically and commercially Janet Jackson was considered a disappointment, as critics felt the album had no distinctive musical personality, the album sold poorly and only two singles charted, neither of which made the top half of the Billboard Hot 100, a stark contrast to the success of her siblings such as the Jacksons or Michael Jackson. Jackson would record one more album, Dream Street in 1984 with some help from her siblings, which performed equally poorly before firing her manager father and breaking free of her family to choose her own, independent path. It was when Jackson teamed up with the Minneapolis songwriter-producer duo of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for her 1986 breakout album Control that she became a superstar
September 21, 1977 ~ Ben Harvey Bailey Smith, commonly known as actor, comedian, rapper, songwriter Doc Brown, born in Kilburn, UK ~ Has recorded about half a dozen albums, starting with Citizen Smith Volume One released in 2004. Best known as an actor for film and TV with roles in TV shows such as Miranda, Rev, The Inbetweeners, and Law & Order UK, and films such as Huge and Other Side Of The Game. Smith wrote the music for the 2011 sci-fi comedy horror film Attack The Block. Smith, known for his love of films, has also frequently co-presented Kermode And Mayo's Film Review on BBC Radio 5
September 21, 1976 ~ Jonas Bjerre Terkelsbøl, commonly known as rock singer, guitarist Jonas Bjerre, born in Frederiksberg, Denmark ~ Best known as frontman of indie rock outfit Mew, with whom he has recorded since the late 1990s. The band is best known for their breakout album Frengers, which earned wide critical acclaim in the band's native Denmark, and its follow-up And The Glass Handed Kites, which spawned the Danish No.1 hit The Zookeeper's Boy. The band has enjoyed moderate success in the UK, where several singles charted just outside the top 40. Parallel to his career with Mew, Terkelsbøl has performed and recorded with Apparatjik, which also includes Coldplay-bassist Guy Berryman, A-ha guitarist, keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, and drummer, producer Martin Terefe. Apparatjik first came together in 2009 for a charity album for the human rights organisation Survival International, for which they recorded the track Ferreting, and would issue their full-length We Are Here debut album the following year. The track Ferreting would also be used as the theme song to the BBC documentary series AmazonSeptember 21, 1974 ~ Marvin E Ashbaugh, commonly known as jazz, dixieland pianist Marvin Ash, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influenced by Earl Hines, Fats Waller, James P Johnson, Arthur Schutt. Known for songs such as Maple Leaf Rag, Cannon Ball, Fidgety Feet. Has worked with Count Basie, Herman Waldman, and Wingy Manone ~ Ashbaugh was born in 1914
September 21, 1974 ~ Singer, actor Walter Brennan, full name Walter Andrew Brennan, passed away in Oxnard, California, USA ~ As a singer best known for a number of early 1960s singles, notably Dutchman's Gold, Old Rivers, Mama Sang A Song. Best known as an actor, won an Academy Award thrice for his roles in Come & Get It, Kentucky and The Westerner ~ Brennan was born in 1894
September 21, 1972 ~ William John Paul Gallagher, commonly known as singer, guitarist Liam Gallagher, born in Burnage, UK ~ Member of Oasis, which also included his brother singer, guitarist Noel Gallagher. The band was seen as a defining force in 1990s Britpop and has recorded about half a dozen albums, all of which have topped the charts in their native UK. The band has scored about two dozen UK top 10 hits from the mid 1990s through the 2000s, including the No.1 hits Some Might Say, Don't Look Back In Anger, D'You Know What I Mean, All Around The World, Go Let It Out, The Hindu Times, Lyla, and The Importance Of Being Idle. Gallagher has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the critically acclaimed As You Were album released in 2017, has notably fronted Beady Eye, with whom he recorded two albums in the early-2010s, and collaborated with John SquireSeptember 21, 1972 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer, songwriter Spencer Gibb, full name Spencer David Gibb, born in London, UK ~ Son of the Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb. Godson of Robert Stigwood. Cites the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder and Prince as influences. Released his 4-Track Mind solo debut album in 1997. Founding member of 54 Seconds, known for the 2007 Postcards From California album. Ventured into acting by the mid 2000s
September 21, 1971 ~ Pop, dance-pop singer, dancer Jimmy Constable, full name James Michael Constable, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Member of boy band 911, known for a string of British hits in the mid to late 1990s, including Don't Make Me Wait, The Day We Find Love, Bodyshakin', All I Want Is You, More Than A Woman, and perhaps their best known A Little Bit MoreSeptember 21, 1968 ~ In its 5th week on the charts, Harper Valley PTA by Jeannie C Riley hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by noted storyteller Tom T Hall, based on a true story the song tells of a woman clashing with her local PTA group who objected to her dress, drinking and friendliness with the town's men. As Hall would later explain: “I chose the story to make a statement but I changed the names to protect the innocent.” Issued as Jeannie C Riley's debut single, Harper Valley PTA reached the top of both the Billboard Country and the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts, though not at the same time, a first for any female singer. This feat would not be equaled until 13 years later when Dolly Parton's 9 To 5 would reach the top of both charts. Harper Valley PTA earned Riley a Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Vocal Performance and was voted Single of the Year by the CMA
September 21, 1968 ~ David Jude Jolicoeur, commonly known as singer, rapper Trugoy the Dove, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Member of De La Soul alongside Pasemaster Mase and Posdnuos. The trio played a key role in the birth of jazz rap and alternative hip-hop, their 1989 3 Feet High & Rising debut album considered a landmark album and a hip-hop masterpiece ~ Jolicoeur passed away in 2023
September 21, 1967 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter David Grubbs born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Veteran of Chicago's indie scene. Co-founding member of Squirrel Bait, Bastro, and Gastr del Sol. Following the latter's disbandement in the late 1990s, Grubbs has recorded prolifically as a solo artist and collaborator. Noted especially for his 2002 Rickets & Scurvy album
September 21, 1967 ~ Audrey Faith McGraw, commonly known as country singer Faith Hill born in Jackson, Mississippi, USA ~ One of the all-time most successful female country singers, sold over 40 million albums. Active since the early 1990s, shooting to national fame with albums such as her debut Take Me As I Am and its follow-up It Matters To Me, crossing over to mainstream and reaching international success by the end of the decade with the albums Faith and Breathe. Best known for songs such as This Kiss, Breathe, The Way You Love Me, Let's Make Love, Mississippi Girl, and Sunshine And Summertime. Several of Hill's hits feature Tim McGraw, to whom she has been married since 1996September 21, 1967 ~ Drummer Tyler Stewart, full name Tyler Joseph Stewart, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Drummer for melodic alt-pop outfit Barenaked Ladies, critically described as one of Canada's most successful exports since the early 1990s. The band has recorded over a dozen albums, is especially acclaimed for 1990s albums such as Gordon, Rock Spectacle, and Stunt, of which the latter spawned their Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit One Week
September 21, 1964 ~ Armenter Chatmon, commonly known as blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Bo Carter passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Brother of fiddler Lonnie Chatmon and bassist Sam Chatmon, both of which bandmates in the Mississippi Sheiks alongside their friend guitarist, singer Walter Vinson. Carter was known for his bawdy songs, as evidenced in songtitles such as Let Me Roll Your Lemon, Please Warm My Wiener and My Pencil Won't Write Anymore, and for being one of the first to record Corrine Corrina in 1928. The latter would become a standard recorded by blues, jazz, western swing, folk, country and rock artists including Tampa Red, Big Joe Turner, Red Nichols, Cab Calloway, Art Tatum, Clayton McMichen, Milton Brown, Bob Wills, Rising Sons, Eric Clapton (as Alberta Alberta), Willie Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Asleep At The Wheel, and Brooks & Dunn ~ Chatmon was born in 1893
September 21, 1964 ~ Country, bluegrass, gospel singer, bassist, songwriter Daryl Mosley born in Waverly, Tennessee, USA ~ Wrote Ask The Blind Man (He Saw It All), a signature song for southern gospel trio the Booth Brothers. Co-founding member of bluegrass quartet New Tradition, for whom he wrote some of their best known including Seed Of Love, With His Hand In Wood and On His Knees. Member of the Osborne Brothers from 2001 through 2003 replacing Terry Smith. Co-founding member of the Farm Hands, known best for their 2018 Colors album. Mosley released his solo debut album, The Secret Of Life, in 2020September 21, 1956 ~ Rock singer, guitarist, pianist, percussionist Celeste Carballo born in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Acclaimed for her wide vocal range. Draws from blues, hard rock, punk and tango. One of the first Argentinian musicians to come out as lesbian. Best known for songs such as Sere Judia, Mi Ultimo Blues, Mujer Contra Mujer and Una Cancion Diferente
September 21, 1953 ~ Jazz, pop singer Patti Page records Changing Partners ~ Written by Larry Coleman with lyrics by Joe Darion. Patti Page released the song as a single, paired with Where Did My Snowman Go on the flip side, which No.3 on the Billboard pop charts in 1954. The same year also recorded by Bing Crosby peaking at No.17, by Kay Starr who took it to No.13, and by Dinah Shore who only barely beat Starr reaching No.12. Pop singer Elvis Costello would include the song as the closing track on his Secret Profane & Sugarcane album, released in 2009
September 21, 1952 ~ Rock guitarist Dave Gregory, full name David Charles Gregory, born in Swindon, UK ~ Member of XTC from 1979, first appearing on the Drums And Wires album, through 1998. Present on all three of the band's UK top 20 hits, Making Plans For Nigel, Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me), and Senses Working Overtime. Member of progressive rock outfit Big Big Train from 2012 through 2020, previously having guested on some of the band's recordings. Gregory has also sessioned on albums by Peter Gabriel (Peter Gabriel 3), Porcupine Tree (In Absentia), and Steven Wilson (Hand Cannot Erase)September 21, 1951 ~ Pop singer Ivano Fossati, full name Ivano Alberto Fossati, born in Genoa, Italy ~ Member of progressive rock group Delirium. Has been releasing solo albums since the early 1970s. Also worked with Fabrizio de André, Riccardo Tesi, Anna Oxa, Mia Martini, Ornella Vanoni, Shirley Bassey, Francesco de Gregori, Laura Pausini, and Dalida