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, 1967 ~ Rock guitarist, producer, film composer Alexandre Azaria born in Paris, France ~ Member of rock band Le Cri De La Mouchè. Briefly member of Indochine. Left after producing the band's 1997 Wax album
September 3, 1967 ~ Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein born in New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Has worked with Jim Hall, Jesse Davis, Lou Donaldson, Larry Goldings, Michael Hashim, Geoffrey Keezer, Melvin Rhyne, Brad Mehldau, Jimmy Cobb, Tom Harrell, Diana Krall, Lee Konitz, Eric Alexander, Joshua Redman, Dr Lonnie Smith, and Walt Weiskopf
September 3, 1965 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones kick off their Irish tour at the Adelphi Theatre, Dublin, Ireland ~ The band play four shows over two consecutive days in Dublin and Belfast. The set list included Around And Around, Time Is On My Side, and (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction. The two-day-tour was documented in the documentary film Charlie Is My Darling, intended as a test to see whether the band's stage charisma would hold up on the screen
September 3, 1965 ~ Hard rock, alternative rock, grunge singer, guitarist Vaden Todd Lewis, full name Vaden Danger Todd Lewis, born in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Influenced by bluegrass, old school country and ZZ Top. Co-founding member of post-grunge outfit the Toadies, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums since the mid 1990s including their best known Play Rock Music released in 2012. Also fronted hard rock band the Burden Brothers, best known for their 2003 Buried In Your Black Heart debut albumSeptember 3, 1963 ~ Violinist, guitarist, mandolinist, keyboardist, singer Jonathan Segel born in Marseilles, France ~ Member of indie rock outfit Camper Van Beethoven from 1984 through 1989, departing the band after conflicts with frontman David Lowery just a year before the band's initial disbandement. Joined a reunited Camper in 1999. Has also worked with Dieselhed, Granfaloon Bus, Jack & Jill, Sideways, Eugene Chadbourne, Sparklehorse, Chaos Butterfly, Michael Zapruder, Sista Maj, and Epidemic
September 3, 1960 ~ Ragtime pianist, composer Joseph Lamb, full name Joseph Francis Lamb, passed away in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Alongside Scott Joplin and James Scott considered one of “the Big Three” of classical ragtime. Of the three the one most influenced by classical music as clear from his use of long phrases and complexer structures. Known for songs such as Excelsior Rag, American Beauty Rag, Nightingale Rag, Top Liner Rag, Champagne Rag, Reindeer Ragtime Two Step and Bohemia ~ Lamb was born in 1887September 3, 1959 ~ Calvin George Scott, commonly known as reggae, roots reggae singer, songwriter Cocoa Tea, born in Clarendon, Jamaica ~ Released his first single in 1974, at the age of 14. However, when Searching In The Hills failed to become a hit, the youngster became disillusioned and departed the music industry, only to return to recording and become a star about a decade later. Over the course of his career, Scott would record over two dozen albums, enjoying popularity both in his native Jamaica and abroad especially during the 1980s and 1990s. Well known songs include Rocking Dolly, I Lost My Sonia, Young Lover, Children Of The Ghetto, and Rikers Island, the latter an adaptation of John Holt's 1977 recording of Up Park Camp. In the mid 1990s, Scott founded the Roaring Lion Records label, which included artists such as Buju Banton, Capleton, Cutty Ranks, and Sizzla on its roster. In America, Scott is perhaps best known for his 2008 song Barack Obama in support of the presidential candidate of the same name ~ Scott passed away in 2025
September 3, 1955 ~ Drummer, percussionist Rob Hirst, full name Robert George Hirst, born in Camden, Australia ~ Founding member of Midnight Oil, known for hits such as Power And The Passion, The Dead Heart, Blue Sky Mine, Truganini and perhaps their best known Beds Are Burning, the latter also reaching the American top 20 in 1987 ~ Hirst passed away in 2026
September 3, 1955 ~ Guitarist Steve Jones, full name Stephen Philip Jones, born in London, UK ~ Best known as member of short-lived but pivotal UK punk band the Sex Pistols, noted for their sole 1977 Never Mind The Bollocks (Here's The Sex Pistols) album. Following the band's disbandement Jones has recorded as a solo artist, formed the Professionals and supergroup the Neurotic Outsiders, and collaborated with Johnny Thunders, Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan, and Thin Lizzy
September 3, 1950 ~ Drummer, percussionist Aaron Smith born ~ Session musician, appeared on several 1970s Motown recordings including by the Temptations, Eddie Kendricks and the Undisputed Truth. Member of new wave outfit Romeo Void. Member of Christian alternative rock outfit the 77's
September 3, 1950 ~ Pekka Juhani Maijanen, commonly known as singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, drummer Pave Maijanen, born in Lappeenranta, Finland ~ Best known as member of the Hurriganes in the 1970s, and of Dingo in the 1980s. Has also worked with the Royals, the Rock 'n Roll Band, Pepe & Paradise, Albert Järvinen, and Pave's Mistakes. Represented his native Finland at the 1992 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching last place with the song Yamma Yamma ~ Maijanen passed away in 2021
September 3, 1949 ~ Pianist, composer, bandleader Onaje Allan Gumbs born in New York, New York, USA ~ Sideman and leader. Worked with Kenny Burrell, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Nat Adderley, TK Blue, Betty Carter, Norman Connors, Carlos Garnett, Toninho Horta, Ronald Shannon Jackson, Bennie Maupin, Cecil McBee, Mark Mosly, Avery Sharpe, Woody Shaw, John Stubblefield, Charles Sullivan, and Lenny White
September 3, 1948 ~ Drummer, singer, songwriter Don Brewer, full name Donald Geroge Brewer, born in Flint, Michigan, USA ~ Co-founding and longest serving member of Grand Funk Railroad. Penned several of the band's best known, notably Walk Like A Man, Shinin' On and We're An American Band. Following the band's initial disbandement, Brewer founded the short-lived Flint known for their sole eponymous Flint album. Brewer played bongos on Frank Zappa's Let Me Take You To The Beach of the 1978 Studio Tan album, and worked with Silver Bullet Band backing Bob Seger on tour and on record
September 3, 1947 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Eric Bell born in Belfast, Northern Ireland ~ Best known as co-founding member of Thin Lizzy, appearing on the band's first three albums, Thin Lizzy, Shades Of A Blue Orphanage and Vagabonds Of The Western World. Also appeared on the band's biggest hit Whiskey In The Jar, and co-wrote a number of songs including The Rocker. Also worked with his own the Eric Bell Band, Noel Redding, Mainsqueeze, Whistler, and the Barrelhouse BrothersSeptember 3, 1947 ~ Country, country-pop singer Jim Reeves marries Mary Elizabeth White ~ The couple would not have any children, Jim Reeves believed to be sterile due to complications from a mumps infection. Mary Elizabeth White would remarry in 1969, some five years after Jim's death
September 3, 1945 ~ Acid rock, hard rock bassist, singer George Biondo born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Member of Steppenwolf from 1970, replacing Nick St Nicholas, through 1976. Wrote or co-wrote several of the band's songs including Sparkle Eyes, In Hopes Of A Garden, Two For The Love Of One, Sleep and Lip Service
September 3, 1944 ~ Harris Lloyd Seaton, commonly known as ska, rocksteady, reggae singer, songwriter Bibby Seaton or BB Seaton, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Formed the duo Winston & Bibby with Delano Stewart, the pair later expanding into the Gaylads. The vocal group would become one of the premier rocksteady groups in Jamaica, reigning for about a decade starting in the early 1960s. The group had several hits of their own, including My Jamaican Girl, Don't Say No, and There's A Fire, and served as backing unit for the likes of Ken Parker, Ken Boothe, and Delroy Wilson. Seaton has also recorded as a solo artist, noted for songs such Accept My Apology and Thin Line Between Love And Hate, worked with groups such as the Astronauts, Conscious Minds, and the Messengers, and has written songs recorded by Boothe, Wilson, and the Melodians ~ Seaton passed away in 2024
September 3, 1944 ~ Engineer, producer Bill Price born ~ Chief engineer on the Who singer Pete Townshend's solo albums. Mixer, engineer on some of the 1970s pivotal albums including the Sex Pistols' Never Mind The Bollocks (Here's The Sex Pistols). Has also worked with acts such as the Clash, Guns 'n Roses, Sparks, the Jesus & Mary Chain, the Waterboys, and Mott The Hoople ~ Price passed away in 2016September 3, 1943 ~ Jazz bandleader, director, arranger Kjell Öhman, full name Kjell Ingemar Öhman, born in Sweden ~ Appeared on over 3000 albums. Worked with Marcus Österdahl, Alice Babs, Georgie Fame, Charlie Norman, Svend Asmussen, Arne Domnérus, Ulf Wakenius, Rune Gustafsson, Hans Backenroth, and Ulf Lundell ~ Öhman passed away in 2015
September 3, 1943 ~ Journalist, author, singer Mick Farren, full name Michael Anthony Farren, born in Cheltenham, UK ~ Counterculture, UK underground figure. Known for a number of 1950s recordings with proto-punk band the Deviants, such as You've Got To Hold On, and a number of 1970s recordings. most of them solo, including Play With Fire, Half Price Drinks and Broken Statue. Has collaborated with MC5's Wayne Kramer, co-wrote Hawkwind's Lost Johnny and Motörhead's Keep Us On The Road and Damage Case with Lemmy Kilmister. Wrote two dozen novels and a number of non-fiction works including four Elvis Presley biographies. As a journalist and music critic worked for the International Times, New Musical Express and the Los Angeles CityBeat ~ Farren passed away in 2013
September 3, 1942 ~ Guitarist Al Jardine born in Lima, Ohio, USA ~ Best known as rhythm guitarist for the the Beach Boys. occasionally sang lead vocals such as on Help Me Rhonda and Then I Kissed Her. Jardine befriended fellow football player Brian Wilson in high school and is a founding member of the band. Upon formation of the band Jardine tried to steer the group towards folk but was overruled, the band settling on rock & roll instead.September 3, 1941 ~ George Francis Morton, commonly known as producer, songwriter George Shadow Morton, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best remembered for producing and writing several hits for the the Shangri-Las including Remember (Walking In The Sand) and The Leader Of The Pack. Also worked with Janis Ian, Vanilla Fudge, Iron Butterfly, Haystacks Balboa, Isis, and the New York Dolls ~ Morton passed away in 2013
September 3, 1940 ~ Pianist, bandleader, musicologist James Dapogny born in Berwyn, Illinois, USA ~ As a musicologist, Dapogny is best known for writing extensively about Jelly Roll Morton. As a musician best known for founding and leading the Chicago Jazz Band which backed Sippie Wallace and the Chenille Sisters and included members such as Jon Erik Kellso, Mike Karoub, Russ Whitman, and Kim Cusack ~ Dapogny passed away in 2019
September 3, 1940 ~ Singer, songwriter Kenny Pickett, full name Kenneth Georger Pickett, born in Ware, UK ~ Lead singer of the Creation, remaining with the band from 1966 through 1968 and rejoining in later reincarnations. Present on early recordings such as Making Time, Painter Man and Cool JerkZ ~ Pickett passed away in 1997
September 3, 1937 ~ Jazz bassist Larry Ridley born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Sideman and leader. Played with Chet Baker, Kenny Burrell, Al Cohn, Dameronia, Teddy Edwards, Red Garland, Dexter Gordon, Stéphane Grappelli, Joe Venuti, Slide Hampton, Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, Philly Joe Jones, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley, James Moody, Lee Morgan, Horace Silver, Lucky Thompson, and with Gerald Wilson