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 22, 2023 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer, teacher François Glorieux passed away ~ Influenced by Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, jazz, blues, and Latin rhythms. Has composed over 300 works, mostly orchestral pieces yet also chamber music, works for solo instruments, and scores for film and TV. As a conductor led nearly 6,000 recitals and concerts the world over, working with renowned orchestra such as the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, the Locke Brass Consort, the BBC Radio Orchestra, the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra, and most extensively with the Ballet of the 20th Century ~ Glorieux was born in 1932
September 22, 2023 ~ Country, blues, bluegrass guitarist, mandolinist, fiddler, singer Mike Henderson passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Member of early 1980s blues outfit the Bel Airs, appearing on the 1984 Need Me A Car album. Member of the Roosters and spin-off group the Kingsnakes, renamed to the Snakes prior to releasing their 1989 eponymous The Snakes album. The group is best known for the Henderson-penned Powerful Stuff, which would notably be covered by the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Henderson has also recorded nearly half a dozen albums as a solo artist and with his backing unit the Bluebloods, starting with Country Music Made Me Do It released in 1994 ~ Henderson was born in 1953September 22, 2023 ~ Peter Müller, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Peter Horton, passed away ~ 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 was born in 1941
September 22, 2022 ~ Guitarist, singer, producer, songwriter David Malachowski, full name David Frank Malachowski, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Reckless, the Greg Austin Band, Janie Fricke, Commander Cody & his Lost Planet Airmen, Shania Twain, Savoy Brown, Garth Hudson, Phoebe Legere, Mechanical Bull, Genya Ravan, Anthony Rapp, and Daphne Rubin Vega ~ Malachowski was born in 1955
September 22, 2021 ~ Bassist, double bassist Bob Moore, full name Bob Loyce Moore, passed away ~ First call session bassist, reportedly appearing on over an estimated 17,000 recordings, including most of Patsy Cline's Decca Records recordings such as I Fall To Pieces, Crazy and She's Got You. Moore has frequently arranged for Roy Orbison, plays the bass intro on Roger Miller's King Of The Road, and has worked with Bob Dylan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Brenda Lee, Patti Page, Moby Grape, and Quincy Jones. Occasionally Moore recorded as a solo artist, most notably scoring a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit in 1961 with the instrumental Mexico, which sold over two million copies worldwide ~ Moore was born in 1932
September 22, 2021 ~ Classical violinist, concertmaster, conductor Jan Stanienda passed away ~ Joined the Polish Chamber Orchestra in 1975, becoming its concertmaster and soloist two years later. Would go on to work with numerous renowned conductors, soloists and orchestras including Yehudi Menuhin, Maurice André, Guy Touvron, and Grzegorz Nowak. Concertmaster of the Sinfonia Varsovia in the mid to late 1980s. Artistic director of the Leopoldinum Chamber Orchestra in the early 1990s. Artist director of the Wratislavia Chamber Orchestra since 1996 ~ Stanienda was born in 1953
September 22, 2018 ~ Charles Nicholas Hodges, commonly known as rock, pop, rockney singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, banjoist Chas Hodges, passed away ~ Formed the duo Chas & Dave with Dave Peacock, best known for the singles Rabbit and Ain't No Pleasing You. Hodges has also worked with the Outlaws, Heads Hands & Feet, the Rebel Rousers, the Tornados, the Lancasters, and recorded as a solo artist ~ Hodges was born in 1943
September 22, 2011 ~ Singer Rihanna releases We Found Love featuring Calvin Harris, lifted off her Talk That Talk album ~ DJ, producer Calvin Harris had scored several major hits in the UK and across Europe, yet teaming up with Rihanna made him well known in America as well. Critical reception was mixed with some calling it Rihanna's best, while others were more critical. Rolling Stone even stated the song was “much ado about very little indeed,” adding it was the worst song of her career, yet would “probably top the Billboard Hot 100 anyway.” Commercially, the song did very well and it became the biggest hit of their careers for both Rihanna and Calvin Harris as We Found Love topped the charts in some two dozen countries including the UK and America. The single would sell over 11 million copies globally, making it one of the all-time best selling singles
September 22, 2011 ~ Pop, jazz, R&B singer Vesta Williams, full name Mary Vesta Williams, passed away in El Segundo, California, USA ~ Known for her four-octave vocal range, Williams released about half a dozen albums starting with Vesta in 1986. Although none of her singles would reach the top half of the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, Williams would regularly reach the higher echelons of the Billboard R&B charts through the early 1990s, with Once Bitten Twice Shy, Sweet Sweet Love, Congratulations, and Special all reaching top 10. Both prior and parallel to her career as a solo artist, Williams has appeared as a backing singer on albums by LTD, the Commodores, Gordon Lightfoot, Anita Baker (Rapture), Jermaine Jackson, Sting (Nothing Like The Sun), Stephanie Mills, Julio Iglesias, Gladys Knight, Patti Austin, and George Duke. Williams has also ventured into acting, co-hosted a morning show on the Dallas-Fort Worth area KRNB radio station, and became known as an advocate for the prevention of childhood obesity and juvenile diabetes ~ Williams was born in 1957
September 22, 2010 ~ Edwin John Fisher, commonly known as singer, actor Eddie Fisher, passed away in Berkeley, California, USA ~ One of the most popular artists in the early 1950s. Married to Debbie Reynolds (children Carrie Fisher, Todd Fisher). Later married to Connie Stevens (children Joely Fisher, Tricia Leigh Fisher). Fisher was known for songs such as Thinking Of You, Any Time, Tell Me Why, Wish You Were Here, I'm Walking Behind You, I Need You Now, and The Heart ~ Fisher was born in 1928
September 22, 2000 ~ Jazz trumpeter Willie Cook passed away in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Started on the violin, switching to trumpet in his teens. First gained serious attention backing King Perry in the 1930s. Worked with Jay McShann in the 1940s, succeeding Charlie Parker. Also well known as a member of Duke Ellington's orchestra, serving as lead trumpeter for about a decade starting in 1951 including on the acclaimed 1953 set The 1953 Pasadena Concert. Cook has also recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Tormé, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Billy Taylor, Paul Gonsalves, Sarah Vaughan, and Ernie Wilkins. Cook relocated to Sweden in the early 1980s ~ Cook was born in 1923
September 22, 1998 ~ Heinz Meier, commonly known as pianist, bandleader, arranger, songwriter Henry Mayer, passed away ~ Best known for composing Der Sommerwind with lyricist Hans Bradtke. The song would first be recorded by Grethe Ingmann in 1965, and be covered by well over 150 artists mostly either as an instrumental or with English lyrics by Johnny Mercer, the song renamed to Summer Wind. Artists who have recorded the song include Wayne Newton, Frank Sinatra, Brenda Lee, Shirley Bassey, and Eddy Arnold. The song has also been recorded in Czech, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, French, and Spanish ~ Meier was born in 1925
September 22, 1997 ~ Singer Janet Jackson releases Got 'Til It's Gone featuring Q-Tip & Joni Mitchell, lead single off her The Velvet Rope album ~ Built around a sample of Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi, Got 'Til It's Gone was received to mostly positive reviews. Critics have praised Janet Jackson for displaying finesse, maturity, subtle vocal styling and raw edgy rhythms. the Los Angeles Times has described the song as “cool, breezy hip-hop, (which) cannily intertwines a Joni Mitchell sample and a seductive guest rap by Q-Tip”. As the song wasn't issued as an official single in America, it wasn't eligible to be listed on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the song received significant airplay in America, reached top 10 in over half a dozen countries including Australia, the Netherlands, and the UK, and has become a fan favorite performed by Jackson on nearly every tour since. In an interview with Jet Magazine, Jackson explained what message she tried to convey: “Got 'Til It's Gone is about a great lesson learned, appreciate what you have while you have it. In my life, I try to take nothing for granted, even if I don't always succeed”
September 22, 1997 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones release Anybody Seen My Baby, lead single off their Bridges To Babylon album ~ Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, with co-writing credits awarded to kd Lang and Ben Mink for its similarity to Lang's Constant Craving. Jagger and Richards claimed to have never heard Lang's song before, not consciously anyway, only having discovered the similarity after completing Anybody Seen My Baby. As Richards reported in his Life memoirs: “My daughter Angela and a friend were at Redlands and I was playing the record and they start singing this totally different song over it. They were listening to kd Lang's Constant Craving. It was Angela and her friend that recognized it.”September 22, 1996 ~ Rapper, songwriter Ameer Vann, full name Ameer Emmanuel Yann, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Co-founded hip-hop collective Brockhampton in 2015 with high school friends Kevin Abstract, Joba, Matt Champion and Merlyn Wood. Vann left the group in 2018 following sexual abuse allegations. Has since worked as a solo artist, releasing his Emmanuel solo debut EP in 2019
September 22, 1996 ~ Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton, commonly known as actress, singer Dorothy Lamour, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as an actress, notably in the Road To…-series alongside Bob Hope and Bing Crosby starting with The Road To Singapore released in 1940. Active as a big band singer since the early 1930s, noted for introducing standards such as Moon Of Manakoora, I Remember You, It Could Happen To You and But Beautiful ~ Slaton was born in 1914
September 22, 1986 ~ Rock outfit Status Quo release In The Army Now, lifted off the album of the same name ~ Written and first recorded by Bolland & Bolland, which consisted of the Dutch siblings Rob Bolland and Ferdi Bolland. The original 1981 single would do well in Scandinavia, reaching No.2 in Sweden and No.1 in both Finland and Norway. However, internationally the song would become best known as covered by Status Quo about half a decade later. The British rockers added a prominent synthesizer riff and slightly edited the lyrics, removing a reference to the Vietnam war, and issued In The Army Now as the third single off their album of the same name. The Status Quo cover would reach top 10 in about a dozen countries, including No.2 in their native UK, making it one of their biggest hits. Around the same time Status Quo revived In The Army Now, Bolland & Bolland would score a massive hit co-writing and producing Falco's Rock Me Amadeus, which reached top 10 in over a dozen countries including No.1 in Austria, Germany, the UK, and AmericaSeptember 22, 1985 ~ Virtuoso jazz pianist, composer Aaron Diehl born ~ Worked with Benny Golson, Joe Temperley, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Warren Wolf, Lew Tabackin, and Wycliffe Gordon
September 22, 1984 ~ Drummer Ross Jarman born in Wakefield, UK ~ Formed indie rock sibling outfit the Cribs, alongside Gary Jarman on bass, Ryan Jarman on guitar. Best known for songs such as Hey Scenesters, Mirror Kissers and Men's Needs. From 2008 through 2011 guitarist Johnny Marr of the Smiths fame also played with the band
September 22, 1983 ~ Country singer George Strait releases You Look So Good In Love, lead single off his Right Or Wrong album ~ The song has the narrator seeing an ex-lover fall in love with another man. He feels sorry for himself, but realizes he wasn't the one for her. It simply wasn't meant to be. George Strait did a video for the song, his first, but was so unhappy with it he asked for it to be taken off the air and refused to do music videos for several years. You Look So Good In Love, written by Glen Ballard, Rory Bourke and Kerry Chater, would top the Billboard Country charts, making it his third No.1 hit after Fool Hearted Memory and A Fire I Can't Put Out
September 22, 1982 ~ Pop, rock singer, songwriter Christon Kloosterboer, also known mononymously as Christon, born in Zwolle, the Netherlands ~ First gained attention as a contestant in the 2004 edition of the Dutch talent show Idols. Member of XYP. Founding member, lead singer, frontman and sole songwriter of Rigby. Has written or co-written for a wide array of both Dutch and international artists including Aloe Blacc, Ziggy Marley, Lost Frequencies, Ronnie Flex, Guus Meeuwis, and Thomas Berge
September 22, 1981 ~ Alternative rock, post-hardcore, emo, pop punk, pop rock singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Adam Lazzara, full name Adam Burbank Lazzara, born in Sheffield, Alabama, USA ~ Lead singer of Taking Back Sunday since the early 2000s. Has released a solo album, Because It Works, in 2013
September 22, 1980 ~ Singer Kate Bush releases Army Dreamers, lifted off her Never For Ever album ~ An anti-war song, Kate Bush takes the perspective of a mother whose son has just been killed in war. Kate Bush would explain to Zigzag: “I'm not slagging off the Army, it's just so sad that there are kids who have no O-levels and nothing to do but become soldiers, and it's not really what they want. That's what frightens me.” Army Dreamers would be one of nearly 70 songs banned fropm BBC Radio airplay during the 1991 Gulf War
September 22, 1976 ~ Indie folk, indie pop, indie rock singer, guitarist, bassist Christian Wargo born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Formed Crystal Skulls in 2004. Best known as a member of indie folk outfit the Fleet Foxes, joining the band in 2008 and first appearing on the Sun Giant EP. Touring bassist for the Foo Fighters' Nate Mendel in support of Mendel's If I Kill This Thing We're All Going To Eat For A Week 2015 solo album. Wargo has also worked with Danielson Famile, Geoff Baker, Rocky Votolato, Ester Drang, and Poor Moon
September 22, 1973 ~ Blake Sennett Swendson, commonly known as indie rock, alt rock guitarist, singer Blake Sennett, born in San Diego, California, USA ~ Child actor known for supporting roles in the Nickelodeon series Salute Your Shorts and the ABC series Boy Meets World. Lead guitarist for indie rock outfit Rilo Kiley. Lead singer, guitarist for the Elected. Co-lead Night Terrors Of 1927 with Jarrod Gorbel. Produced albums for the Humanimals and Rachel Zevita