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 30, 1985 ~ Charles Jamal Smith, commonly known as rapper, singer, producer, DJ Blaqstarr, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Best known for his association with British rapper, singer MIA, introducing her to Rye Rye and working with both of them on her Kala breakout sophomore album released in 2005. Has also worked with Diplo, and Mos Def
September 30, 1985 ~ Singer Feargal Sharkey releases A Good Heart, lead single off his eponymous debut album ~ Feargal Sharkey, the former lead singer of the Undertones, known especially for the anthem Teenage Kicks, surprised punk rock fans with his radio-friendly pop-oriented eponymous debut album. Its lead single, and the singer's solo debut single, was written by Maria McKee about the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, from whom she had recently split. The single would become Sharkey's only solo UK No.1 hit and one of only two to reach top 10. Its follow-up, You Little Thief written by Benmont Tench, would be his second, reaching No.5. Although Tench repeatedly denied so, it is presumed Tench wrote You Little Thief about McKee in reply to her song about him
September 30, 1985 ~ New wave, pop rock outfit the Simple Minds release Alive And Kicking, lead single off their Once Upon A Time album ~ With poor promotion in America, the Scottish band never really caught on across the pond. However, when they did Don't You (Forget About Me) for the coming-of-age film The Breakfast Club it went to No.1 Billboard Hot 100, in large part thanks to the success of the film. The band's next single, Alive And Kicking, would be their second and final American top 10 hit, peaking at No.3. It also reached top 10 in Canada, New Zealand, and across Europe, including No.1 in Italy. In later years, the band would only occasionally reach the charts in America, but they remained popular elsewhere. Retrospectively, lead singer Jim Kerr would contribute Alive And Kicking's success to its sing-along chorus, stating to Billboard: “It's almost like a hymn at the beginning. And just when you think you've heard it all, the ‘la la la’ comes in at the end, which, coincidentally, Don't You (Forget About Me) had, too. The great thing about those choruses is anyone in the world can sing ‘la la la’. You can sing it in Japan, you can sing it in Oslo. That's the most intelligent lyric we ever wrote. Think about it. The whole world can sing that”September 30, 1985 ~ Faheem Rasheed Najm, commonly known as singer, rapper, songwriter, producer T-Pain born in Tallahassee, Florida, USA ~ Released his full-length Rappa Ternt Sanga debut album in 2005. Best known for songs such as I'm Sprung, Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin') featuring Yung Joc, Bartender featuring Akon, Can't Believe It featuring Lil Wayne, 5 O'Clock featuring Wiz Khalifa & Lily Allen
September 30, 1983 ~ Bandleader, tenor saxophonist Freddy Martin, full name Frederick Alfred Martin, passed away in Newport Beach, California, USA ~ Pioneered the tenor-band style. Adapted several classical tunes to jazz. Worked with the Mason-Dixon Band, Arnold Johnson, Jack Albin, Merv Griffin, Buddy Clark, Sid Appleman, Terry Shand, Elmer Feldkamp, and Helen Ward ~ Martin was born in 1906
September 30, 1979 ~ Rock, jazz, bluegrass cellist, guitarist, violist, kazoo player, singer Rushad Eggleston born ~ Has recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist since the late 1990s. Especially acclaimed for his 2002 Fiddlers 4 album. Has guested on recordings by the likes of Cheryl Hoenemeyer, Lissa Schneckenburger, the Wayfaring Strangers, Aiofe Clancy, the Vitamin String Quartet, Darol Anger, Sean Atkins, and Alice Gerrard
September 30, 1978 ~ Jazz trombonist, composer Marshall Gilkes born in Camp Springs, Maryland, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with the Maria Schneider Orchestra, the Sultans Of Swing, Edmar Castaneda, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Stanley Turrentine, Benny Golson, Machito, Giovanni Hidalgo, Chico O'Farrill, Tito Nieves, Raulín Rosendo, Ray Sepulveda, Eddie Santiago, Jose Alberto, Iroko La Banda, and John Fedchock
September 30, 1977 ~ Iris Colleen Summers, commonly known as singer, guitarist Mary Ford, passed away in Arcadia, California, USA ~ Best known for her recordings with her husband Les Paul, scoring numerous hits during the 1950s including Tiger Rag, Vaya Con Dios, Mockin' Bird Hill, Bye Bye Blues, The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise and perhaps their best known How High The Moon, the latter topping the American charts in 1951. Prior to her marriage, she formed the western trio the Sunshine Girls with Vivian Earles and June Widener, best known for backing Jimmy Wakely ~ Ford was born in 1924
September 30, 1977 ~ Guitarist, singer Nick Curran, full name Nicholas Michael Curran, born in Biddeford, Maine, USA ~ Active since his late teens, touring with Ronnie Dawson. Would go on to play with Kim Lenz & the Jaguars, backing Kim Lenz on tour and record including on the albums The One And Only and It's All True. Released his Fixin' Your Head solo debut album in 1999. Has also worked with the Texas Northside Kings, Degüello, the Lowlifes, and notably the Fabulous Thunderbirds ~ Curran passed away in 2012
September 30, 1977 ~ Rock outfit Status Quo release Rockin' All Over The World, lifted off the album of the same name ~ In America, the best known version is John Fogerty's original, which the former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman wrote and recorded for his 1975 eponymous second solo album, with the single peaking at No.27 Billboard Hot 100. However, in the UK the better known version is the cover by Status Quo, which reached No.3 on the British charts making it the band's tenth UK top 10 hit. Later, the song would become closely associated with the Live Aid charity concert as Status Quo opened their set with it, effectively kicking off the entire multi-artist concert as they were the opening act. Status Quo has re-recorded several versions of the song
September 30, 1976 ~ Sean Divine Jacobs, commonly known as rapper Sheek Louch, born in Yonkers, New York, USA ~ Best known as member of the LOX, a hip-hop trio which also included Styles P and Jadakiss and discovered by Mary J Blige. The trio is known for late 1990s singles such as If You Think I'm Jiggy and Money Power & Respect featuring DMX and Lil' Kim. They are also featured on P Diddy's It's All About The Benjamins and Honey (Bad Boy Remix), both of which reached top 10 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Jacobs has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Walk Witt Me released in 2003
September 30, 1975 ~ Alternative rock, alternative dance singer, guitarist, banjoist, keyboardist, drummer David Geraghty born in Leixlip, Ireland ~ Member of Juniper, known best as the band that launched Damien Rice's career. The band would issue two EPs and the moderately successful singles Weatherman and The World Is Dead prior to Rice's departure in 1998. The remaining members, including Geraghty, would rechristen themselves Bell X1. Geraghty has also recorded as a solo artist while still a band member, starting with Kill Your Darlings in 2007September 30, 1974 ~ Violinist Tim Kliphuis born in Utrecht, the Netherlands ~ Leader and sideman. Classically trained. Influenced by Stéphane Grappelli, Joe Pass, Jean-Luc Ponty. Mixes gypsy jazz with classical and folk. Has worked with Fapy Lafertin, Martin Taylor, the Rosenberg Trio, Paulus Schäfer, Richard Galliano, Frankie Gavin, Charlie McKerron, Roy Percy, Nigel Clark, David Newton, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, and Gjermund Larsen
September 30, 1974 ~ Alternative rock guitarist Varre Vartiainen born in Helsinki, Finland ~ Worked with Gonzo, Nylon Beat, Jim Beard, the Leningrad Cowboys, the Sleepy Sleepers. Noted for leading the trio Husband, which also includes bassist Harri Rantanen and drummer Anssi Nykanen, known for the mid 2000s albums Husband and Homo SapiensSeptember 30, 1972 ~ Composer, visual artist, author François Sarhan born in Rouen, France ~ Known for his multi artform works, mixing stop-motion animation, performance, text and music. Frequent collaborator of William Kentridge. As a solo artist best known for his Lâchez Tout show. Has received commissions from the Ensemble Modern, the Donaueschinger Musiktage, and the Orchestre Philharmonique De Radio France
September 30, 1970 ~ Progressive metal guitarist Jason Gobel born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Member of Cynic from 1988 through 1994, present on the band's 1993 Focus debut album. Guested on Monstrosity's 2001 Enslaving The Masses, and Gordian Knot's 2003 Emergent. Has also worked with Portal and Eggshell Repair Kit
September 30, 1969 ~ Metal drummer, guitarist, bassist Asgeir Mickelson born in Norway ~ Best known as co-founding member of Spiral Architect and member of Borknagar. Has also worked with Enslavement Of Beauty, Hardingrock, Highland Glory, ICS Vortex, Ihsahn, Scariot, Lunaris, Myoclon, Sarke, Sturmgeist, Testament, Thornbound, Veil Of Secrets, and Vintersorg
September 30, 1969 ~ Rock saxophonist Theo Lengyel, full name Theobald Brooks Lengyel, born ~ Sessioned with Mr Bungle before joining as a full-time member. Present on the band's best known albums, 1991's Mr Bungle and 1994's Disco Volante. In 2024, Lengyel was found guilty of the murder of his girlfriend
September 30, 1967 ~ Rock, indie rock drummer, singer Kurt Dahle, full name Kurt Colin Dahle, born in Moose Jaw, Canada ~ Co-founded Age Of Electric, known for their Make A Pest A Pet album which spawned the modest hit Remote Control. Member of Limblifter, known for the hits Tinfoil, Vicious, Screwed It Up, Ariel vs Lotus and Wake Up To The Sun. Dahle earned critical acclaim especially with the New Pornographers, notably with the albums Mass Romantic and Twin Cinema. Dahle has also served as producer for the likes of the Bloody Chicletts, Pokiok Falls, and the OrganSeptember 30, 1967 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, Funky Broadway by Wilson Pickett peaks at No.8 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Wilson Pickett's second and final Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, the other being Land Of 1,000 Dances in 1966. Though the best remembered version would be Pickett's, originally Funky Broadway was penned and first recorded by Arlester Dyke Christian a year earlier with his band Dyke & the Blazers. However, the original version which stalled at No.65 is credited as the first charting single with the word “funk” in its title. Contrary to common conception, the “Broadway” in the title doesn't refer to the New York Broadway, but rather to Broadway Road in Phoenix, Arizona, hometown of the small Artco label which issued the original Dyke & the Blazers single
September 30, 1964 ~ Ernest Giuseppe Anastasio III, commonly known as guitarist, singer Trey Anastasio, born in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Co-founding member, lead singer of Phish. Has also worked with Oysterhead, the Ghosts Of The Forest, Surrender To The Air, the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Phil Lesh, Toots & the Maytals, and Dave Matthews
September 30, 1963 ~ Country, southern rock singer, songwriter Eddie Montgomery born in Danville, Kentucky, USA ~ Brother of singer John Michael Montgomery. Half of Montgomery Gentry, the other half being Troy Gentry, known for songs such as If You Ever Stop Lovin' Me, Something To Be Proud Of, Lucky Man, Back When I Knew It All and Roll With Me. The duo has collaborated with Charlie Daniels, Toby Keith, and Five For FightingSeptember 30, 1962 ~ Marlon Williams, commonly known as rapper, producer Marley Marl, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Influenced hip-hop icons such as RZA, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Madlib. Best known as a producer, worked with Eric B & Rakim (Paid In Full), LL Cool J, Roxanne Shanté, Craig G, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Kool G Rap, MC Shan, and the Juice Crew
September 30, 1961 ~ Alternative rock, synth-pop singer, guitarist, percussionist, keyboardist Andy Kubiszewski born in Charleston, South Carolina, USA ~ Member of the Exotic Birds. Member of The The, present on the albums Dis-Infected and Solitude. Drummed on Nine Inch Nails' acclaimed 1994 The Downward Spiral album. Has also worked with Prick, Stabbing Westward, Twinstar, Darling Waste, and Lucky Pierre
September 30, 1961 ~ Singer, songwriter, actress Crystal Bernard born in Garland, Texas, USA ~ Best known as actress, particularly for starring in the NBC sitcom the Wings. As a singer and songwriter known for two albums in the 1990s and a number of singles. Dueted with Peter Cetera on I Wanna Take Forever Tonight, and with Jim Messina on Watching The River Run