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 7, 2024 ~ Pianist, singer Jimmy Gilmer passed away in Amarillo, Texas, USA ~ Fronted Jimmy Gilmer & the Fireballs, known for Sugar Shack which reached No.1 Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. Other well known songs included Daisy Petal Pickin' and Bottle Of Wine ~ Gilmer was born in [artist-jimmy-gilmer]September 7, 2023 ~ Contemporary classical composer Akira Nishimura passed away ~ Best known for his orchestral works. Has also composed chamber music, piano works, choral pieces, and the opera Asters which premiered in 2019. Nishimura's works have been recorded by the likes of Nobuko Imai, the Lotus String Quartet, the Osaka Century Orchestra, Thomas Indermuhle, and Yu Kosuge ~ Nishimura was born in 1953
September 7, 2023 ~ Free jazz saxophonist, pianist, bassist, clarinetist, percussionist Charles Gayle passed away ~ After decades of obscurity rose to prominence in the late 1980s and 1990s, starting with the albums Always Born, Homeless and Spirits Before, three albums recorded in a single week. Well over two dozen albums to his name as a leader. Sideman on recordings by Cecil Taylor (Always A Pleasure), Henry Rollins, the Blue Humans, and William Parker ~ Gayle was born in 1939
September 7, 2023 ~ Operatic lyric soprano Margherita Rinaldi passed away in Impruneta, Italy ~ Enjoyed popularity in her native Italy and abroad during the 1960s and 1970s. Perhaps most acclaimed for her role as Giulietta in Vincenzo Bellini's I Capuletti E I Montecchi at La Scala in 1966 under the direction of Claudio Abbado. Has performed with renowned companies including the Dallas Opera, the San Francisco Opera, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, alongside singers such as Alfredo Kraus, Plácido Domingo, and Grace Bumbry. Rinaldi would retire from the stage by the early 1980s yet continue to privately coach young singers ~ Rinaldi was born in 1935
September 7, 2021 ~ Radio host, historian, archivist Phil Schaap, full name Philip van Noorden Schaap, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Historian and archivist specialized in Charlie Parker. Archivist for Savoy Jazz involved with re-issuing tapes of Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington, earning several Grammy Awards for his work as producer, engineer and historical writing. As a broadcaster, radio host known for hosting Bird Flight and Traditions In Swing on WKCR for four decades starting in 1981 ~ Schaap was born in 1951
September 7, 2021 ~ Warren Schexnider, commonly known as swamp pop, country drummer, singer, songwriter Warren Storm, passed away ~ Considered a pioneer of swamp pop, merging R&B, country, Cajun and black Creole music. Known especially for his recording of The Prisoner's Song and Mama Mama Mama (Look What Your Little Boy's Done). Member of the Shondells alongside Rod Bernard and Skip Stewart. Sessioned with artists such as Lazy Lester, Lightnin' Slim, Katie Webster, and Lonesome Sundown ~ Schexnider was born in 1937
September 7, 2018 ~ Malcolm James McCormick, commonly known as MC, rapper Mac Miller, passed away in Studio City, California, USA ~ First gained atttention with the mixtapes Kids and The Best Day Ever, leading up to a full-length studio debut album, Blue Slide Park, in 2011. McCormick has recorded half a dozen albums until his death of an accidental overdose at age 26. McCormick is best known as featured vocalist on Ariana Grande's 2013 Billboard Hot 100 No.9 hit The Way, Grande's first American top 10 hit lifted off her debut album. Grande and Miller would be romantically involved from 2016 through 2018, breaking up some months prior to his death ~ McCormick was born in 1992September 7, 2015 ~ Classical, experimental, jazz, world music harpist Susan Allen passed away in Kirkland, Washington, USA ~ Revered harpist, best known for her use of the electric harp premiering works by contemporary composers such as Ruth Lomon, Elizabeth Walton Vercoe, Roger Bourland, Hayg Boyadjian and William Thomas McKinley. Has collaborated with Harold Budd, Adam Rudolph, Yusef Lateef, and Mark Abel ~ Allen was born in 1951
September 7, 2013 ~ Cellist, composer Fred Katz passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Among the earliest to establish the cello as viable improvising solo instrument in jazz. Classically trained. Studied under Pablo Casale. Played with several symphony orchestra before finding fame in jazz, perhaps most notably as a member of Chico Hamilton's 1950's quintet. Noted composer for TV and film soundtracks. Also worked with Carmen McRae, Dorothy Ashby, Paul Horn, Ken Nordine, and Pete Rugolo ~ Katz was born in 1919
September 7, 2012 ~ Singer Dorothy McGuire, full name Ruby Christine McGuire, passed away in Paradise Valley, Arizona, USA ~ Formed the sibling outfit the McGuire Sisters with Christine McGuire and Phyllis McGuire. The close-harmony vocal trio would first gain attention in 1952 through Arthur Godfrey's talent contest Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, after which Godfrey hired them for several of his other TV shows. The trio remained active through the late 1960s, and are well known for songs such as Goodnight Sweatheart Goodnight, Muskrat Ramble, It May Sound Silly, Something's Gotta Give, and He. The sisters would top the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice, first with Sincerely in 1955, and again with Sugartime two years later. They have performed for five American presidents, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George HW Bush ~ McGuire was born in 1928
September 7, 2011 ~ Edwin Marshall, commonly known as jazz drummer Eddie Marshall, passed away in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Influenced by Max Roach and Art Blakey. During the 1960s, Marshall backed artist such as Charlie Mariano, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Stan Getz, and Sam Rivers. Toured with Dionne Warwick. Member of 1960s fusion outfit the Fourth Way, 1970s unit Almanac, and of 1980s group Bebop & Beyond, the latter known for a string of tribute albums to the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk. Marshall has also appeared on albums by Smiley Winters, John Klemmer, the Pointer Sisters (Pointer Sisters), Red Garland, Jon Hendricks, Art Pepper, Bobby Hutcherson, Eddie Harris (Tale Of Two Cities), Archie Shepp, and Freddie Hubbard, and taught at the San Francisco School of the Arts, San Francisco. Marshall recorded two albums as a leader, Dance Of The Sun released in 1977, and Holy Mischief released in 1999 ~ Marshall was born in 1938
September 7, 2009 ~ Jazz drummer Eddie Locke passed away in Ramsey, New Jersey, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Member of Bop & Locke alongside drummer Oliver Jackson. Also worked with Dick Wellstood, Tony Parenti, Red Allen, Willie The Lion Smith, Teddy Wilson, Jo Jones, Roy Eldridge, Coleman Hawkins, Tommy Flanagan, Major Holley, Ray Bryant, Kenny Burrell, and Lee Konitz ~ Locke was born in 1930September 7, 2009 ~ Trumpeter Fred Mills, full name William Frederick Mills, passed away in Walton County, Georgia, USA ~ Best known for his association with the Canadian Brass quintet, playing with the ensemble from 1972 through 1996. Also worked with the American Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, and the New York City Opera Orchestra ~ Mills was born in 1935
September 7, 2006 ~ Jessie Lee Frealls, commonly known as blues singer Bonnie Lee, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Big-voiced blues singer dubbed “the Sweetheart of the Blues” and best known for her associations with pianist Sunnyland Slim and bassist Willie Kent. As a solo artist known for songs such as Sad & Evil Woman, I'm Good and Need Your Love So Vad ~ Frealls was born in 1931September 7, 2006 ~ Singer, actress Rosie McClelland born in Essex, UK ~ Half of Sophia Grace & Rosie, the other half being her cousin Sophia Grace Browlee, becoming a Youtube sensation after posting a cover of Nicki Minaj's Super Bass. The pair would also become regular guests on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, eventually hosting their own segment, primarily interviewing musicians, and serving as red carpet events correspondents
September 7, 2005 ~ Singer, songwriter Sergio Endrigo passed away in Rome, Italy ~ Well over two dozen albums to his name starting in the early 1960s. Internationally best known for representing his native Italy at the 1968 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 10th place with Marianne. Other well known songs include L'Arca Di Noè, Lo Che Amo Solo Te and Adesso Si ~ Endrigo was born in 1933
September 7, 2003 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Warren Zevon, full name Warren William Zevon, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Enjoyed a cult following. Best known for his 1978 hit Werewolves Of London. Early on in his career wrote for the Turtles (Like The Seasons, Outside Chance), backed the Everly Brothers, roomed with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. Had his 1975 eponymous Warren Zevon major label debut album produced by Jackson Browne. The album featured guests such as Nicks, Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys, Bonnie Raitt and Linda Ronstadt. The latter would record several of Zevon's songs, including Carmelita, Poor Poor Pitiful Me and Hasten Down The Wind, on her 1976 Hasten Down The Wind album. Zevon would go on to record several critically acclaimed albums, enjoy a steady cult following and become an in-demand collaborator including with artists such as REM's Bill Berry, Peter Buck and Mike Mills in the side project Hindu Love Gods ~ Zevon was born in 1947
September 7, 2002 ~ R&B singer Erma Franklin, full name Erma Vernice Franklin, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Elder sister of singer Aretha Franklin. Best known for recording the original version of Piece Of My Heart in 1967, which reached top 10 Billboard R&B and earned Franklin a Grammy Award nomination. However, the song would become best known as covered by Big Brother & the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin the following year. Franklin's original remained her sole charting single ~ Franklin was born in 1938
September 7, 1993 ~ Swing, dixieland, jazz harpist Adele Girard, full name Adele Beatrice Girard, passed away in Denver, Colorado, USA ~ Brought up in a musical household, her father Leon Girard a violinist and conductor who played in the pit orchestras to accompany silent movies and her mother Eleisa Girard a pianist. Trained on the piano and starting her professional career as a vocalist with Harry Sosnik in the early 1930s, Girard would go on to become arguably the greatest jazz harpist, and the first woman to introduce the harp as a viable instrument in jazz, preceded only by the little-known Casper Reardon. In 1937, Girard would join Joe Marsala's combo, which also included Eddie Condon and Buddy Rich, and marry the swing clarinetist later the same year. Girard's work with Marsala through the 1950s, though largely forgotten today, ranks among the finest swing recordings of its day. Little is heard from Girard beyond the 1950s, though on occassion the couple would perform including with guest musicians such as Shelly Manne, Dick Cary, Neal Hefti, and Leonard Feather. Following Marsala's death in 1978, tributing her late husband Girard would perform along the California coast, sometimes accompanied by longtime family friend clarinetist Bobby Gordon ~ Girard was born in 1913
September 7, 1993 ~ Walter Williams, commonly known as Chicago blues guitarist, singer Lefty Dizz, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Earned his nickname by playing a right-handed Stratocaster left-handed. Noted for his energetic flamboyant stage presence. Best known for fronting Shock Treatment and for his associations with Junior Wells, JB Lenoir and Hound Dog Taylor. Has also worked with Lacy Gibson, Earl Hooker, Junior Cannady, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Big Moose Walker, and Louisiana Red. Also appears on Muddy Waters' 1981 live album Live At The Checkerboard Lounge which also featured the Rolling Stones-members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ron Wood ~ Williams was born in 1937
September 7, 1981 ~ Synth-pop, new wave, alternative rock outfit Depeche Mode release Just Can't Get Enough, lifted off their Speak & Spell debut album ~ The final single to be written by co-founding member keyboardist Vince Clarke, who would leave the band the following November. Just Can't Get Enough, paired with Any Second Now on the flip side, became the band's first UK top 10 hit, peaking at No.8, and over time one of the band's best known. A 1985 live version would reach top 10 in the Netherlands
September 7, 1978 ~ Rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Dan Elkan born in Nevada City, California, USA ~ Best known as singer, guitarist of Them Hills. Has also worked with Broken Bells, Hella, Kim Deal. Guested on recordings by Team Sleep, Norah Jones, Zach Hill. Produced the 2007 Aaron Ross album Shapeshifter
September 7, 1978 ~ Rock, hard rock drummer Keith Moon, full name Keith John Moon, passed away in London, UK ~ Best known as drummer of the Who, as well as its predecessor the High Numbers. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as I Need You, Cobwebs And Strange, In The City, Girl's Eyes. Also worked with Jeff Beck (Beck's Bolero), the Plastic Ono Band, Ringo Starr, Curly Smith, and Jim Keltner ~ Moon was born in 1946
September 7, 1975 ~ Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd begin recording their Gimme Back My Bullets album at the Record Plant, Los Angeles, California ~ Over the course of three days, the band record the first three tracks for their upcoming album, Every Mothers Son, the JJ Cale-cover I Got The Same Old Blues, and Cry For The Bad Man. The remainder of the tracks would be recorded at the end of November in Macon, Georgia. Reportedly, the band had originally intended to name the album Ain't No Dowd About It in honor of Tom Dowd, the album's producerSeptember 7, 1969 ~ Keyboardist, percussionist, singer, songwriter Jean-Benoît Dunckel born in Versailles, France ~ Worked with Orange in the 1980s. Best known as half of Air, the other half being Nicolas Godin, formed in the mid 1990s. Debuted as a solo artist, using the moniker Darkel, in 2006. Has also worked with the New Young Pony Club's Lou Hayter and with Baroi Johansson
September 7, 1969 ~ Guitarist Liam Tyson, full name Liam Sean Tyson, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Member of Pyramid Dream. Lead guitarist of the Cast, present on all of band's original three studio albums All Change, Mother Nature Calls and Magic Hour. Backed Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant in the mid 2000s Plant side project Strange Sensation. Rejoined a reformed reincarnation of the Cast in 2010