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 3, 2023 ~ Guitarist, percussionist, singer José Sébéloue passed away in Metz, France ~ Member of pop unit La Compagnie Créole, founded in 1975. The band originally sang in Creole but quickly adopted French as their main language. Known for their feel-good, happy-go-lucky vibe they have recorded about two dozen albums and would enjoy popularity in the Francophone world and beyond especially in the 1980s, reportedly selling over 60 million records over the course of their career. Well-known songs include Vive Le Douanier Rousseau, C'est Bon Pour Le Moral, Le Bal Masqué, Ça Fait Rire Les Oiseaux, and Ma Première Biguine-Partie ~ Sébéloue was born in 1948
September 3, 2021 ~ Jazz singer Ruth Olay passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Fixture in Hollywood's night club scene from the late 1940s through the early 1960s. Discovered by songwriter Irving Gordon. Mentored by Benny Carter. Got her big break filling in at the last minute for Billie Holiday, who fell ill that day. Released her OLAY! (The New Sound Of Ruth Olay) debut album in 1958 and would continue to record to acclaim well into the 1960s ~ Olay was born in 1924
September 3, 2020 ~ William Whitney Pursell, commonly known as pianist, songwriter Bill Pursell, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for his instrumental 1963 Our Winter Love single, which would reach the Billboard Hot 100 top 10. Would go on to become an in-demand session pianist and arranger, present on many of Johnny Cash's 1960s recordings. Also worked with artists such as Patsy Cline, Johnny Paycheck, Willis Hoover, Joan Baez, Scotty Moore, JJ Cale, Willie Nelson, and Dan Fogelberg ~ Pursell was born in 1926
September 3, 2017 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Walter Becker, full name Walter Carl Becker, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Best known as co-founder of jazz-rock band Steely Dan along with songwriting partner Donald Fagen. Also known as a producer for Fra Lippo Lippi, China Crisis, Michael Franks, John Beasley, and Rickie Lee Jones ~ Becker was born in 1950September 3, 2007 ~ Rock keyboardist, guitarist, singer Carter Albrecht, full name Jeffrey Carter Albrecht, passed away in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Latter day member of the New Bohemians fronted by Edie Brickell, appearing on the Stranger Things released the year before Albrecht's death. Has previously worked with Sorta and fronted his own Dallas-based outfit the Sparrows, known for the critically acclaimed albums Rock & Roll Days and Snowflakes. At the time of his death was working on his first solo album, Jesus Is Alive (And Living In London), posthumously released in 2009 with financial backing from Brickell ~ Albrecht was born in 1973
September 3, 2007 ~ Rockabily, rock & roll, country singer, guitarist Janis Martin, full name Janis Darlene Martin, passed away in Durham, North Carolina, USA ~ One of the few women in male-dominated rock & roll, at times dubbed “the female Elvis Presley” for her dance moves similar to Presley's. Rose to fame while still in her mid-teens, her 1956 Will You Willyum single, b/w the self-penned Drugstore Rock & Roll, selling some 750,000 copies. Other well known songs include My Boy Elvis, Let's Elope Baby, the Roy Orbison cover Ooby Dooby, and Love Me To Pieces ~ Martin was born in 1940
September 3, 2006 ~ Jazz trumpeter Ian Hamer, full name Ian Wilfred Hamer, passed away in Brighton, UK ~ Closely associated with Tubby Hayes. Co-led the Six Sounds with pianist Harry South from 1963 onwards. The sextet would eventually evolve into his own band, the Ian Hamer Sextet, and at times include sidemen such as Dick Morrisey, Kenny Naper, Alan Skidmore, and Daryl Runswick, and Alan Branscombe. To pop rock audiences perhaps best known for guesting on the Beatles track Got To Get You Into My Life of the 1966 Revolver album. Hamer has also appeared on recordings by Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, Shirley Bassey, and Barbra Streisand ~ Hamer was born in 1932September 3, 1992 ~ August Anthony Alsina Jr, commonly known as rapper, singer August Alsina, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Best known for his single I Love This Shit featuring Trinidad James. Debuted in 2014 with the album Testimony
September 3, 1987 ~ Composer Morton Feldman passed away in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Pioneer of indeterminate music, a development which also included Christian Wolff, Earle Brown and close friend John Cage. Has composed over 180 works including orchestral music, chamber music, and solo pieces for various instruments ~ Feldman was born in 1926
September 3, 1985 ~ Drummer Jo Jones, full name Jonathan David Samuel Jones passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Hugely influential on Buddy Rich, Kenny Clarke, Roy Haynes, Max Roach, Louie Bellson. Leader and sideman. Worked with Walter Page, Lloyd Hunter, Count Basie, Freddie Green, Gene Ammons, Art Blakey, Bob Brookmeyer, Ray Bryant, Milt Buckner, Blossom Dearie, Roy Eldridge, Ella Fitzgerald, Cass Harrison, Woody Herman, Illinois Jacquet, Budd Johnson, Thad Jones, Charles Mingus, Oscar Peterson, Paul Quinichette, Sonny Stitt, Ben Webster, Dicky Wells, and Lester Young ~ Jones was born in 1911
September 3, 1985 ~ Songwriter Johnny Marks, full name John David Marks, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for writing a number of holiday classics including Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer (Gene Autry), Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree (Brenda Lee), A Holly Jolly Christmas (the Quinto Sisters), I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day (Bing Crosby) and Run Rudolph Run (Chuck Berry) ~ Marks was born in 1909September 3, 1984 ~ Composer, film producer Arthur Schwartz passed away in Kintnersville, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Studied law but pursued a career in songwriting. Has written extensively for Broadway musicals, starting in 1927 with New Yorkers, and films, often in collaboration with Howard Dietz. Noted for producing the 1944 Cover Girl musical film and the 1946 Cole Porter Night & Day bio-pic ~ Schwartz was born in 1900
September 3, 1984 ~ Pop singer Cyndi Lauper releases All Through The Night, lifted off her She's So Unusual debut album ~ Penned and first recorded the previous year by Jules Shear for his Watch Dog album. Shear would express his surprisement at Cyndi Lauper recording his “folk song as a drum machine and techno thing”. Lauper has stated she initially wanted it to be just like Shear's version, yet changed her mind and remade it in her own style. Peaking at No.5, All Through The Night would be Lauper's fourth Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit off her debut album
September 3, 1984 ~ Pop rock group U2 release Pride (In The Name Of Love), lead single off their The Unforgettable Fire album ~ The band's first song to hit top 40 in America, peaking at No.33 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Though at the time of its release, Pride (In The Name Of Love) received mixed reviews, over time it has been acknowledged as one of the band's greatest songs and included in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame list of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. Inspired by the civil rights campaigns of the 1960s, and specifically by Martin Luther King Jr. Guitarist the Edge would later recall: “Because of the situation in our country (Ireland) nonviolent struggle was such an inspiring concept. Even so when Bono told me he wanted to write about King. At first I said, ‘Whoa, that's not what we're about.’ Then he came in and sang the song and it felt right, it was great. When that happens there's no argument. It just was.”September 3, 1983 ~ Singer Stevie Nicks releases If Anyone Falls, lifted off her The Wild Heart sophomore album ~ The song is based on an instrumental synthesizer track written by singer, keyboardist Sandy Stewart, sent to Stevie Nicks by Dallas studio owner, producer Gordon Perry. Stewart would recall the story in a 1984 interview with Record magazine: “The next thing I know, I'm on the phone and Gordon's saying, You can't have it back. They want to use it on Stevie's next album.” The reworked version by Nicks, now including lyrics, would peak at No.14 Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up single Nightbird, lifted off the same album, was a duet with Stewart, with again both singers credited as the song's writers. Nicks and Stewart would continue to collaborate, as Stewart would co-write Seven Wonders, a 1987 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit for Fleetwood Mac, as well as the Nicks solo songs Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind for Nicks' 1994 Street Angel album and Too Far From Texas for Nicks' 2001 Trouble In Shangri-La album
September 3, 1982 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock, pop punk singer, pianist, producer Andrew McMahon born in Concord, Massachusetts, USA ~ Active since the early 1990s. Founded Left Here, which also included future Something Corporate-bandmates Kevin Page and Brian Ireland. Has also recorded as a solo artist, notably under the monniker Jack's Mannequin
September 3, 1981 ~ Classical cellist, pianist Gautier Capuçon born in Chambéry, France ~ Brother of violinist Renaud Capuçon. Has worked with conductors such as Bernard Haitink, Pierre Boulez, and Claudio Abbado. Noted for his recordings of Johannes Brahms trios with his brother violinist Renaud Capuçon and pianist Nicholas Angelich. Capuçon is also an accomplished pianist, occasionaly playing jazz recreationally
September 3, 1981 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter Jesse Quin, full name Jesse Joseph Quin, born in Bedford, UK ~ Best known as a member of Keane, starting as a session musician on the band's 2008 album Perfect Symmetry and becoming a full-time member by 2011. Quin also worked with Mt Desolation, the Wedding Band, Laura Marling, and with King Charles
September 3, 1980 ~ Christopher Dorsey, commonly known as rapper BG, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Member of rap group Hot Boys, alongside Juvenile and Turk. Worked with the BG'z. Known for his platinum 1999 solo album Chopper City In The Ghetto. Collaborated with Lil Wayne, Mannie Fresh, TI, Trey Songz, Big Tymers, Missy Elliott, Mack 10, David Banner, C-Murder, and Young BuckSeptember 3, 1980 ~ Jazz, heavy metal singer, guitarist, songwriter Jørgen Munkeby born in Oslo, Norway ~ Worked with Morten Qvenild, Torstein Lofthus, Alis, Jagga Jazzist, the Shining, Damp, Chrome Hill, Motorpsycho, the Enslaved, Ihsahn, In Lingua Mortua, Bertine Zetlitz, the Big Band, Superfamily, Grand Island, Jim Stark, the Casualties Of Cool, Emperor, Marty Friedman, and Amorphis
September 3, 1979 ~ Tomislav Milicivic, commonly known as guitarist Tomo Milicevic, born in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina ~ Best known as lead guitarist of rock outfit Thirty Seconds To Mars from 2003 replacing Solon Bixler through 2018, first appearing on the band's 2005 A Beautiful Lie sophomore album. Classically trained. From an early age influenced by classical music and jazz musicians such as Stéphane Grappelli, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia, turning to rock, blues and alternative rock later citing Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, and Depeche Mode as influencesSeptember 3, 1978 ~ Jazz, R&B, pop producer, music publisher, promoter Joe Davis, full name Joseph M Davis, passed away in Richmond, Virginia, USA ~ Perhaps best known for his association with Fats Waller, convincing the shy, relucting pianist to pursue a performing career. As a manager helped dozens of blues and pop singers to get signed to a variety of major and minor labels from the 1920s onward. Founded and ran Triangle Music Publischin Co. Founded several labels, including Beacon Records and Jay-Dee Records ~ Davis was born in 1896
September 3, 1973 ~ Clarinetist Albert Nicholas passed away in Basel, Switzerland ~ Versatile on several reeds, mostly played clarinet. Active since the late-1910s. Nicholas has played with Buddy Petit, King Oliver, Manuel Perez, Luis Russell, Red Allen, Charlie Holmes, JC Higginbotham, Chick Webb, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton. The late 1940s Dixieland revival rejuvenated his career and he went on to team up with greats such as Art Hodes, Bunk Johnson, Kid Ory, and in particular Ralph Sutton ~ Nicholas was born in 1900
September 3, 1971 ~ Pierre Steffen Baigorry, commonly known as reggae, dancehall singer, guitarist, pianist Peter Fox, born in Berlin, West Germany ~ Member of Seeed, known for merging German hip-hop, reggae and dancehall. As a solo artist known for his 2008 Stadtaffe, which spawned the singles Alles Neu, Haus Am See and Schwarz Zu Blue, all of which reached top 10 in his native GermanySeptember 3, 1970 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Alan Wilson passed away in Topango Canyon, California, USA ~ Best known as co-founder, frontman, lead singer, primary songwriter of Canned Heat, known for songs such as On The Road Again, and Going Up The Country ~ Wilson was born in 1943