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 4, 1984 ~ Camila Bordonaba Roidan, commonly known as actress, singer, model, theater director Camila Bordonaba, born in El Palomar, Argentina ~ Actress for stage, film and TV series including Rebelde Way. The show would spawn the Latin pop group Erreway which also featured co-stars Felipe Colombo, Luisana Lopilato and Benjamín Rojas, and released the albums Señales, Tiempo and Memoria. In total the band would sell over 1 million records, songs such as Sweet Baby, Resistire, Sera Porque Te Quiero, Tiempo and Para Cosas Buenas all reaching the No.1 spot in the band's native ArgentineSeptember 4, 1984 ~ Country singer George Strait releases Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind, lead single off the album of the same name ~ Another Texas centered song by Texan George Strait, Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind has a man pining over an ex-lover wondering what she's up to now and if she ever thinks of the good times they had together. Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind was previously recorded by Moe Bandy as an album track, yet it would become most closely associated with Strait, who took the song to No.1 Billboard Country. Strait would record several more songs co-written by veteran songwriter Whitey Shafer, including most notably All My Ex's Live In Texas off his 1987 Ocean Front Property album
September 4, 1982 ~ In its 15th week on the charts, Abracadabra by the Steve Miller Band hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Preceded by The Joker in 1974 and Rock'n Me in 1976, Abracadabra would be the band's third and final American No.1 hit. The single would be a global hit reaching top 10 across the globe, including No.1 in nine countries. However, despite its success, the Steve Miller Band was falling out of favor. Miller would later recall to The Word: “We were considered a dinosaur group. Punk was in, new wave, the hair bands, the guys in the green tights and two-foot hairdos, it seemed at the time that our run was over.” Shortly after the success of Abracadabra, Miller would retreat from touring, only to resume his career half a decade later, enjoying popularity as a live performer in the realm of classic rock
September 4, 1981 ~ Beyoncé Giselle Knowles, mononymously known as singer Beyoncé, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Rose to fame as lead singer of Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, known for hits such as No No No, Bills Bills Bills, Say My Name and Bootylicious. Released her debut solo album, Dangerously In Love, in 2003 and has recorded to critical acclaim and commercial success since. Has regularly reached the higher echelons of the pop charts, songs such as Crazy In Love, Déjà Vu, If I Were A Boy, Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) and Perfect Duet with Ed Sheeran all reaching top 10 Billboard Hot 100
September 4, 1977 ~ Lucie Joanne Silverman, commonly known as singer, pianist, songwriter Lucie Silvas, born in Kingston-upon-Thames, UK ~ Debuted with the single It's Too Late in 2000, which charted poorly. A planned debut album was scrapped as the label dropped her. Would focus on sessioning and songwriting for other artists, including Sarah Whatmore, Will Young, Gareth Gates, Rachel Stevens, and Liberty X. Released a fulll-length solo debut album, Breathe In, in 2004, spawning the British top 10 hits What You're Made Of and the title track Breathe InSeptember 4, 1976 ~ Ralph di Stasio, commonly known as R&B singer, songwriter Avery Storm, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Appeared on Nelly's 2004 Suit album, on the Notorious BIG's posthumously released 2005 single Nasty Girl and on Rick Ross's 2008 single Here I Am. Has also worked with Murphy Lee, Mase, Daz Dillinger, Jadakiss, Pitbull, I-20, Wale, Styles P, and Waka Flocka Flame
September 4, 1976 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, You Should Be Dancing by the Bee Gees hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ First issued as a single off Children Of The World, and the second disco hit for the siblings after Jive Talkin' the previous year. Both songs would later be included on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, the film that brought disco, previously the domain of the gay community, to mainstream and made the Bee Gees one of the hottest acts of the 1970s. You Should Be Dancing would be used in the scene where John Travolta clears the dance floor. Travolta had been practising his dance moves for the scene to this song, but when the producers told him Night Fever would be used Travolta insisted they use You Should Be Dancing instead. The song became a favorite for club DJ's, spurring on the audiences to danceSeptember 4, 1976 ~ Percussionist, composer, arranger Samuel Torres born in Colombia ~ Performed professionally since age 12. Has worked with artists such as Alejandro Sanz, Arturo Sandoval, Tito Puente, Chick Corea, Pete Escovedo, Michael Brecker, Don Byron, Paquito d'Rivera, and Candido Camero
September 4, 1975 ~ DJ, producer Mark Ronson, full name Mark Daniel Ronson, born in Notting Hill, UK ~ Stepson of Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones. DJ, turntablist, multi-instrumentalist, producer. Co-produced Amy Winehouse's sophomore album Back To Black. As a solo artist debuted with the Here Comes The Fuzz album in 2003, critically acclaimed but failed to chart. Best known for his high-profile collaborations, including with artists such as Lady Gaga, Adele, Miley Cyrus, Bruno Mars. Produced or co-produced albums by Flip Squad, Nikka Costa (Everybody Got Their Something), Sean Paul, Macy Gray (The Trouble With Being Myself), Ol' Dirty Bastard, Lily Allen, Robbie Williams, and Christina AguileraSeptember 4, 1974 ~ Singer, dancer, model, actress Carmit Bachar, full name Carmit Maile Bachar, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of the Pussycat Dolls. Also released several recordings as a solo artist, and collaborated with Detroit Diamond, Storm Lee, and notably Macy Gray, providing backing vocals for a number of tracks on the latter's 2010 The Sellout album
September 4, 1974 ~ Singer, actress, model Nona Gaye, full name Nona Aisha Gaye, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Daughter of singer Marvin Gaye. Granddaughter of jazz musician Slim Gaillard. Debuted as a singer in 1992. Known for songs such as I'm Overjoyed, The Things We Do For Love and Love Sign, the latter a duet with Prince. As an actress best known for her role as Zee in two parts of The Matrix trilogy
September 4, 1973 ~ Jazz, electronica drummer, keyboardist Wetle Holte born in Sklen, Norway ~ Co-founded the jazz trio Triangle with Håkon Kornstad and Per Zanussi, later renamed to Wibutee, with whom he has recorded a number of albums starting with Newborn Thing released in 1998. Holte has also collaborated with the likes of Beady Belle, Petter Carlsen, Anathema (Distant Satellites), Gunnar Halle, Anneli Drecker, and frequently with Eivind SarsetSeptember 4, 1970 ~ Dohnyale Sharon Hines, commonly known as singer Deni Hines, born in Sydney, Australia ~ Played Maria Magdalena in a 1992 Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Worked with Kylie Minogue, Jimmy Barnes, Wa Wa Nee, Peter Blakeley, the Rockmelons (including lead vocals on the Bill Withers cover Ain't No Sunshine), INXS (vocals on Not Enough Time), James Morrison, Christine Anu, Marcia Hines, and Supafly
September 4, 1970 ~ Heavy metal, groove metal, alternative metal drummer Igor Cavalera, full name Igor Graziano Cavalera, born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil ~ Best known as member of Sepultura, which he co-founded with his brother singer, guitarist Max Cavalera. Has also worked with Cavalera Conspiracy, Nailbomb, Strife, Biohazard, Massacration, Mixhell, and Soulwax
September 4, 1966 ~ Gypsy jazz, swing, jazz fusion guitarist Biréli Lagrène born in Soufflenheim, France ~ Influenced by Django Reinhardt. Worked with Al di Meola, Paco de Lucia, John McLaughlin, Benny Carter, Benny Goodman, Stéphane Grappelli, Larry Coryell, Vic Juris, Philip Catherine, Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, Christian Escoudé, Charlie Haden, and Stanley JordanSeptember 4, 1965 ~ Kurtis El-Khaleel, commonly known as producer, rapper Kurtis Mantronik, born in Jamaica ~ Pivotal to the develoment of hip-hop, specifically sub-genres such as trap music. Frontman and eponym of electro-funk, hip-hop outfit Mantronix. Also an in-demand producer and remixer, known for his work with La India, Kylie Minogue, Fatboy Slim, the Chemical Brothers, and Victoria Beckham
September 4, 1964 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Charlie Robison, full name Charles Fitzgerald Robinson, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Brother of singers Bruce Robison and Robyn Ludwyck. Married to Emily Erwin of the Dixie Chicks. Turned to music after a knee injury ended a potential football career. Worked with Chaparral, the Millionaire Playboys, and Two Hoots & A Holler. Recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Bandera released in 1996. Known for songs such as Barlight, I Want You Bad, Walter, My Hometown, and El Cerrito Place ~ Robison passed away in 2023
September 4, 1963 ~ Power metal, heavy metal singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, drummer Tim Aymar, full name Timothy Lee Aymar, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ First gained attention as member of Triple X, present on the band's 1991 Bang album. Member of progressive metal band Control Denied from 1997 through 2001, present on the band's 1999 The Fragile Art Of Existence debut album. Lead singer for Pharaoh, with whom he recorded five albums including the acclaimed Be Gone released in 2008. Aymar has also worked with Psycho Scream, Vicious Cycle, Advent Of Bedlam, and 313 ~ Aymar passed away in 2023
September 4, 1955 ~ Pop rock, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter David Broza born in Haifa, Israel ~ Merges pop with Israeli, Spanish and English influences. Perhaps best known for his Steve Earle-produced East Jerusalem West Jerusalem album released in 2014, bringing together Israeli and Palestinian musicians and promoting a message of collaboration and coexistence. Also known for Together, used in over 148 countries as the theme song for UNICEF's 50th birthday celebrations. Has also collaborated with Wyclef Jean, Townes Van Zandt, Jackson Browne, and Shawn Colvin
September 4, 1949 ~ Pop, rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Darryl Cotton, full name Darryl Grant Cotton, born in Adelaide, Australia ~ Co-founding member, lead singer of Zoot, known for songs such as 1 x 2 x 3 x 4, Monty And Me, Evil Child and perhaps their best known Eleanor Rigby. The latter, a hard rock cover of the Beatles song, would reach top 10 in the band's native Australia. After the band disbanded in the early 1970s Cotton would form the duo Darryl & Beeb with bandmate Beeb Birtles, soon renamed to Frieze. Has also recorded as a solo artist, notably scoring the 1980 hit Same Old Girl. Teamed up with Ronnie Burns and Russell Morris, forming the trio Burns Cotton & Morris in the 1990s ~ Cotton passed away in 2012
September 4, 1947 ~ Drummer, actor Peter Behrens passed away in Sanderbusch, Germany ~ Formed the band Trio, known best for the hit Da Da Da of their eponymous 1982 Trio debut album. The single would reach top 10 across Europe and sell over 13 million copies. Following the band's disbandement in 1986 Behrens would work as a social worker, record as a solo artist to moderate succes, and by the late 1980s venture into acting ~ Behrens passed away in 2016
September 4, 1946 ~ Jazz, avant-garde, bebop, post-bop, modal jazz saxophonist, flutist Dave Liebman born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Closely associated with Richie Beirach. Also worked with Quest, Chick Corea, John Scofield, Kenny Kirkland, Terumasa Hino, George Mraz, Al Foster, Ron McClure, Elvin Jones, Joachim Kühn, Daniel Humair, Paolo Fresu, Bobo Stenson, and Abbey Rader
September 4, 1945 ~ Guitarist Danny Gatton, full name Daniel Wood Gatton Jr, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Guitar virtuoso. Member of the Offbeats. Member of Liz Meyer & Friends. Founded the Redneck Explosion. Fuses jazz, blues, country, bluegrass, rock & roll, rockabilly and more into a hybrid style referred to by Gatton as “redneck jazz.” Hugely admired by musicians such as Buckethead, Joe Bonamassa, Lenny Breau, James Burton, Chris Cheney, Vince Gill, Johnny Hiland, Evan Johns, Albert Lee, Les Paul, Arlen Roth, Richie Sambora, Ricky Skaggs, Slash and Steve Vai ~ Gatton passed away in 1994September 4, 1940 ~ Charles Hemphill, commonly known as singer Sonny Charles, born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA ~ Lead singer of 1960s, 1970s R&B, pop, soul outfit Checkmates Ltd, known for their 1969 Phil Spector-produced Black Pearl Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit single. Charles, also released a number of solo recordings during the 1980s, and played with the Steve Miller Band from 2008 to 2012
September 4, 1939 ~ Rock & roll, R&B singer George Lanius born ~ Lead singer for one-hit wonder quintet the Crescendos, known for their 1957 Oh Julie hit. The single would reach top 10 on both the Billboard R&B and all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts and sell over one million copies, earning the group a gold record. The group would record several other singles which failed to chart and disband by the end of the decade ~ Lanius passed away in 1996