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 6, 2025 ~ Pop rock, art rock singer, keyboardist, songwriter Rick Davies passed away in Long Island, New York, USA ~ Sole constant member of Supertramp. Wrote or co-wrote several of the band's best known including Rudy, Bloody Well Right, Crime Of The Century, Goodbye Stranger, Just Another Nervous Wreck, Cannonball and I'm Beggin' You ~ Davies was born in 1944
September 6, 2024 ~ Gilbert Leroy Hamilton, commonly known as R&B, soul singer Johnny Thunder, passed away in Winter Park, Florida, USA ~ Briefly a touring member for the Drifters. Backing singer for Dionne Warwick. Recorded a handful of early 1960s singles under his real name Gil Hamilton, notably Tell Him and Move And Groove, both later successfuly covered by respectively the Exciters and Johnny O'Keefe. Best known for his 1963 Loop-de-loop hit singl ~ Hamilton was born in 1931
September 6, 2024 ~ Wilbur H Jennings, commonly known as songwriter Will Jennings, passed away in Tyler, Texas, USA ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing Eric Clapton's Tears In Heaven and Céline Dion's My Heart Will Go On. Others who have recorded songs penned or co-penned by Jennings include Steve Winwood (When You See A Chance), Whitney Houston, BB King, the Crusaders (Street Life), Rodney Crowell (Many A Long And Lonesome Highway), Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick (I'll Never Love This Way Again), Jimmy Buffett, Barry Manilow, and Diana Ross ~ Jennings was born in 1944
September 6, 2023 ~ Jazz, classical, pop rock bassist Richard Davis passed away in Madison, Wisconsin, USA ~ As a solo artist acclaimed for his 1971 The Philosophy Of The Spiritual album. Best known for his contributions to Eric Dolphy's 1964 Out To Lunch album, Andrew Hill's Point Of Departure the following year, and Van Morrison's 1968 album Astral Weeks. Other notable collaborations include touring with Sarah Vaughan during the late 1950s, classical performances with conductors such as Igor Stravinsky, Leonard Bernstein and Pierre Boulez, and guesting on pop and rock albums such as Bruce Springsteen's Greetings From Asbury Park NJ and Born To Run, Paul Simon's There Goes Rhymin' Simon, Melissa Manchester's Bright Eyes, and Bonnie Raitt's Streetlights ~ Davis was born in 1930September 6, 2020 ~ Actress, singer Anita Lindblom passed away in Paris, France ~ Best known as an actress, appearing in over a dozen films starting in 1957. As a singer best known for Sant Ar Livet, a No.1 hit in her native Norway in 1962. The song was a translation of Roy Hamilton's You Can Have Her ~ Lindblom was born in 1937
September 6, 2018 ~ Percussionist, composer Madeleine Yayodele Nelson passed away ~ Founder, director of the Women Of The Calabash, who performed with the Temptations, Richie Havens, Philip Glass, Odetta, Max Roach, and Ashford & Simpson. As a solo artist Nelson has collaborated with Paul Simon, Edie Brickell, and with Billy Harper ~ Nelson was born in 1948
September 6, 2005 ~ Fingerstyle guitarist Eric Roche passed away in Haverhill, UK ~ Briefly worked as an accountant prior to enrolling at London Musicians Institute, studying classical guitar. After his degree would become head of its guitar department. As a guitar player known for his percussive style involving drumming on the body of guitar. Has released about half a dozen albums, starting with Perc U Later ~ Roche was born in 1967
September 6, 1999 ~ Bassist, upright bassist Arnold Fishkind, full name Arnold Aaron Fishkind, passed away in Palm Desert, California, USA ~ Got his start in music in the mid 1930s, working with the likes of Bunny Berigan, Jack Teagarden, and Les Brown. After serving in the US Army during World War II, Fishkind would go on to become a versatile bassist most closely associated with technically brilliant improvisers such as Lee Konitz and Lennie Tristano. Fishkind has also appeared on albums by Stan Getz, Miles Davis, Billy Bauer (Let's Have A Session), Tony Aless, Ella Fitzgerald (Lullabies Of Birdland), Eartha Kitt (Down To Eartha), Coleman Hawkins, Maynard Ferguson, Miles Davis, Bobby Short, Enoch Light (Dimension 3), Guy Mitchell, and Peanuts Hucko ~ Fishkind was born in 1919
September 6, 1994 ~ Pianist, organist Nicky Hopkins, full name Nicholas Christian Hopkins, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Widely considered to be one of the greatest session pianists in rock, especially prolific during the 1960s and 1970s appearing on such classic tracks as You Really Got Me by the Kinks, Revolution by the Beatles, Angie by the Rolling Stones, and Jet Airliner by the Steve Miller Band. Has also worked with Jeff Beck, Joe Cocker, Art Garfunkel, the Jefferson Airplane, George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, the Who, the Easybeats, PJ Proby, Peter Frampton, Bill Wyman, and Graham Parker. Recorded a handful of solo albums, starting with The Revolutionary Piano Of Nicky Hopkins released in 1966 ~ Hopkins was born in 1944
September 6, 1993 ~ Singer Kate Bush releases Rubberband Girl, lifted off her The Red Shoes album ~ Warmly welcomed by critics upon its release, Music Week stating “with Kate at the helm any single would be quirky but by her own otherworldy standards this is Ms. Bush at her most direct”, the single would reach No.12 in the UK, making it her last top 20 hit for over a decade until King Of The Mountain off her 2005 Aerial. Kate Bush herself thought it was a fun song, but it almost didn't make the album. In 2011, she recorded a completely re-worked and nearly unrecognisable version for her Director's Cut album. As to the original version, the singer would later reveal to Mojo magazine: “I was quite happy with the original, but I just wanted to do something really different. It is my least favourite track. I had considered taking it off to be honest. Because it didn't feel quite as interesting as the other tracks. But I thought, at the same time, it was just a bit of fun and it felt like a good thing to go out with. It's just a silly pop song really, I loved Danny Thompson's bass on that, and of course Danny McIntosh's guitar”September 6, 1990 ~ Singer, songwriter Matt McAndrew, full name Matthew Brendan McAndrew, born in Barnegal Light, New Jersey, USA ~ First gained attention as season 7 runner-up on The Voice talent show in 2014, losing out to Craig Wayne Boyd. Released his debut album View Of The Pines and reach the Billboard top 20 with the single Wasted Love the same year. In 2019 McAndrew would join post-hardcore band Slaves as lead vocalist
September 6, 1990 ~ Wesley Oliveira da Silva, commonly known as forro, axé, arrocha singer, producer, songwriter Wesley Safadão, born in Fortaleze, Brazil ~ Collaborated with Ivete Sangalo, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Matheus & Kauan, Anitta, Saia Rodada, Bruno & Marrone, Claude Leitte, Fernando & Soracaba, and Michel TelóSeptember 6, 1986 ~ Folk, indie folk singer, guitarist, fiddler, songwriter Tim Chaisson born in Bear River, Canada ~ Known for his association with the Morning Fold, touring extensively and releasing the acclaimed 2009 collaborative Broken Hearted Beat album. Chaisson is also a member of the East Pointers, known for the albums Secret Victory and What We Leave Behind
September 6, 1985 ~ Giovanni Alfredo de Simone, commonly known as singer Johnny Desmond, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ As a solo artist known for songs such as Guilty, The Picnic Song, Because Of You, Woman, and Play Me Hearts And Flowers (I Wanna Cry). Also worked with Bob Crosby (You Forgot About Me, Do You Care), Glenn Miller, Don Cornwell, and Alan Dale ~ De Simone was born in 1919
September 6, 1985 ~ Webster Gradney Jr, commonly known as rapper, MC Webbie, born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA ~ Released his full-length debut album, Savage Life, in 2005. Known for songs such as Give Me That featuring Bun B and Independent featuring Lil' Phat and Lil' Boosie. Also collaborated with Trina, Letoya Luckett, Three 6 Mafia, and Gucci Mane
September 6, 1984 ~ Country, honky tonk singer Ernest Tubb, full name Ernest Dale Tubb, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Quintessential country singer. Worked with Jimmie Rodgers, his backing unit the Texas Troubadours, Owen Bradley, the Andrews Sisters, Red Foley, the Wilburn Brothers, and Loretta Lynn. Known for songs such as Walking The Floor Over You, Try Me One More Time, Rainbow At Midnight, Slippin' Around, Throw Your Love My Way, Fortunes In Memories, Counterfeit Kisses, and Thanks A Lot ~ Tubb was born in 1914
September 6, 1980 ~ William Stanley Rinehart III, commonly known as singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Bear Rinehart, born in Greenville, South Carolina, USA ~ Co-founding member, lead singer of alternative rock band Needtobreathe, known for songs such as More Time, Something Beautiful, and The Outsiders. Released his Wilder Woods solo debut album in 2019, going by the moniker Wilder WoodsSeptember 6, 1980 ~ Singer, TV personality Kerry Katona, full name Kerry Jayne Elizabeth Katona, born in Warrington, UK ~ Rose to fame as member of girl group Atomic Kitten, known for a string of late 1990s, early 2000s hits including the UK No.1 hits Whole Again, Eternal Flame, and The Tide Is High (Get The Feeling)
September 6, 1979 ~ R&B, funk, disco outfit Kool & the Gang release their Ladies Night album ~ The album marked a stylistic change for the band, while remaining grounded in funky grooves, they added elements of pop and R&B. The album would also be the first to feature new lead vocalist James JT Taylor. Though at the time critics were not particularly thrilled with the stylistic change, it worked out well for the band, starting their most successful run scoring close to a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits through the late 1980s, starting with two singles from Ladies Night, the title track Ladies Night and its successor Too Hot
September 6, 1978 ~ Producer Tom Wilson, full name Thomas Blanchard Wilson Jr, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Founded Transition Records, known for several quintessential mid 1950s jazz releases including Cecil Taylor's Jazz Advance and Sun Ra's Jazz By Sun Ra. As staff producer at Columbia Records especially noted for producing three key Bob Dylan albums, namely The Times They Are A-Changin', Another Side Of Bob Dylan and Bringing It All Back Home. Produced Simon & Garfunkel's 1964 Wednesday Morning 3AM debut album. Has also worked with the likes of the Mothers Of Invention, the Velvet Underground, Eddie Harris, Eric Burdon, and the Blues Project ~ Wilson was born in 1931September 6, 1976 ~ Folk rock, psychedelic folk, samba singer, guitarist, keyboardist, bassist Rodrigo Amarante, full name Rodrigo Amarante de Castro Neves, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Member of Los Hermanos, the Orquestra Imperial, and Little Joy. Debuted as a solo artist in 2013 with the album Cavalo. Well known for writing and performing Tuyo, used as the theme song for the 2015 Netflix series Narcos. Has also composed the soundtrack for the 2018 film Entebbe
September 6, 1975 ~ Pianist, songwriter Shelton Brooks passed away in Los Angeles County, California, USA ~ Ragtime, vaudeville composer known for songs such Some Of These Days (Sophie Tucker, Fletcher Henderson, Louis Armstrong), Darktown Strutters Ball (the Six Brown Brothers, Ted Lewis, the Pickens Sisters), and Trombone Cholly (Bessie Smith, Ronnie Gilbert) ~ Brooks was born in 1886
September 6, 1972 ~ Indie rock guitarist, keyboardist, bassist, drummer, producer Dave Sitek, full name David Andrew Sitek, born in Maryland, USA ~ Best known for his association with TV On The Radio. Has also worked with acts such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Foals, Jane's Addiction, Little Dragon, Beady Eye, Bat For Lashes, and Weezer. Released his solo album, Maximum Balloon, in 2010 using the moniker Maximum Balloon featuring guests such as Talking Heads singer David Byrne, Tunde Adebimpe, and Karen O
September 6, 1971 ~ Singer, songwriter Dolores O'Riordan, full name Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan, born in Ballybricken, Ireland ~ Influenced by Gregorian chants, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, Jim Reeves, Bing Crosby. Rose to fame fronting the Cranberries, becoming one of the most recognizable voices in 1990s rock with songs such as Linger, Zombie, and Salvation. Released her Are You Listening solo debut album in 2007. Duetted with Jah Wobble (The Sun Does Rise), Zucchero (Pure Love), Giuliano Sangiorgi (Senza Fiato). Married to former Duran Duran tour manager Don Burton from 1994 to 2014, with whom she has three children ~ O'Riordan passed away in 2018
September 6, 1971 ~ Rupert Parkes, commonly known as producer, DJ, film composer Photek, born in Hatfield, UK ~ Draws from hip-hop, soul and jazz. About half a dozen albums to his name, starting with Modus Operandi released in 1997. Best known for scoring soundtracks to films such as Blade and Gang Related and TV series such as How To Get Away With Murder. As a remixer known for Daft Punk's End Of Line, Moby's Lie Down In Darkness, and Bob Marley's One Love (People Get Ready)