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 8, 2024 ~ George Bruno Money, commonly known as R&B, blues keyboardist, organist, singer Zoot Money, passed away ~ The definitive early 1960s organist in British blues and R&B. Though not as well known as contemporary John Mayall, Money was a highly respected bandleader and like Mayall's backing unit the Bluesbreakers the Money-led rock & roll-infused R&B outfit the Big Roll Band served as a finishing school for several musicians early on in their career. Artists who passed through the ranks of Money's band include pianist Dave Greenslade, drummer Jon Hiseman, bassist Tony Reeves, saxophonist Clive Burrows, and guitarist Andy Summers, the latter later rising to stardom as a member of the Police. Money was active with the Big Roll Band, briefly named Dantalian's Chariot at the end of their run, for most of the 1960s, the band best known for their sole UK top 30 hit single Big Time Operator, and for their 1966 Live At Klook's Kleek live album. Money has also recorded as a solo artist, and has appeared on albums by Alexis Korner, the Animals, Peter Green, Andy Roberts, Centipede, Mike McGear, Grimms (Rocking Duck), Long John Baldry, Kevin Ayers, Kevin Coyne, and Roger McGough. Money had taken his stage name “Zoot” after seeing jazz saxophonist Zoot Sims perform in concert ~ Money was born in 1942
September 8, 2023 ~ Christian rock, gospel, rock & roll singer, guitarist Mylon LeFevre, full name Mylon Rae LeFevre, passed away in Newark, Texas, USA ~ Best known for writing Without Him. After Elvis Presley recorded the song for the 1967 How Great Thou Art album, it would be covered by over a hundred artists. LeFevre was a member of family outfit the LeFevres in his early teens, founded and fronted Broken Heart, and has recorded prolifically as a solo artist from the mid 1960s through the 1990s. Noted especially for the albums Mylon (We Believe) released in 1970 and Road To Freedom released in 1973, the latter a collaboration with Alvin Lee ~ LeFevre was born in 1944
September 8, 2023 ~ Country singer Zach Bryan releases I Remember Everything featuring Kacey Musgraves, lifted off his eponymous 2023 album ~ The he-said she-said tale finds the narrators at the end of their romantic road, reflecting on their past relationship with tragicallly different perspectives. While Zach Bryan recalls the good times, Kacey Musgraves recalls the downside, accusing him of not being the man he once promised to be. Written and performed by Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves, both drew from personal experience as each had gone through a divorce. Both singers had been around for a while, recording to critical acclaim, yet debuting at No.1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 I Remember Everything gave both Bryan and Musgraves their first charttopper on the tally. The song would also reach top 10 in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. Furthermore, I Remember Everything earned the duo Grammy Award nominations for Best Country Song and Best Country Duo or Group Performance, winning the latter
September 8, 2022 ~ Rock singer, bassist, keyboardist Marciano Cantero passed away in Mendoza, Argentina ~ Influenced by the Beatles and the Beach Boys. Lead singer of Los Enanitos Verdes, which he co-founded with Felipe Staiti and Daniel Piccolo in 1979. Started a parallel solo career in 1990 with the Luna Nueva album. Has also collaborated with Andrés de León, Vanaz, and Los Rancheros ~ Cantero was born in 1960September 8, 2022 ~ Rock & roll, rockabilly guitarist, singer, songwriter Sonny West, full name Joseph Sonny West, passed away in Grove, Oklahoma, USA ~ Active since the mid 1950s, recording a number of rockabilly singles which at the time made little impact but over time proved to be influential. Sharing a manager with Buddy Holly, West would become best known as co-author and original artist of All My Love and Rave On. Both songs would be covered by Holly, the former renamed to Oh Boy, and would become quintessential rockabilly songs ~ West was born in 1937
September 8, 2021 ~ Singer, guitarist, actor Uno Loop passed away in Keila, Estonia ~ Active since the 1950s. Member of Sinilind, jazz group Metronoom, the Estonian Radio Male Quartet. Active as a solo singer since the 1960s, performing light pop, jazz, estrada music. Known for solo hits such as Loke Preerias and Mis Varvi On Armastus, and Heidy Tamme-duets such as Uued Laulud and Na-na-na ~ Loop was born in 1930
September 8, 2019 ~ Camilo Blanes Cortés, commonly known as singer, songwriter, producer Camilo Sesto, passed away in Madrid, Spain ~ Member of Los Dayson and of Los Botines in the 1960s. Went solo in 1970, known for songs such as Algo De Mi, Yo Soy Asi, Isabel, and Mienteme. Has written songs for Angela Carrasco, Miguel Bosé, Lucía Méndez, Charytin Goyco and José José ~ Cortés was born in 1946
September 8, 2017 ~ Singer, songwriter Don Williams, full name Donald Ray Williams, passed away in Mobile, Alabama, USA ~ Known as “the Gentle Giant” of country music. Formed the Pozo Seco Singers which also included Susan Taylor and Lofton Cline. Staff songwriter with Cowboy Jack Clement's music publishers. Strong influence on later country singers. Had his songs recorded by the likes of Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Lefty Frizzell, Josh Turner, Sonny James, Alison Krauss, Billy Dean, Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers, Lambchop, Alan Jackson, Tomeu Penya, Waylon Jennings, and Pete Townshend ~ Williams was born in 1939
September 8, 2016 ~ Cecil Bustamente Campbell, commonly known as singer, songwriter Prince Buster, passed away in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Highly influential on later reggae and ska artists. Helped define Jamaica's sound through a number of quintessential recordings in the 1960s, including Madness, The Ten Commandments Of Man, One Step Beyond, Al Capone, and Whine And Grine. His career slowed down in the 1970s to be rediscovered in the 1980s covered by British artists such as Madness and the Specials ~ Campbell was born in 1938September 8, 2015 ~ Robert Lee Wilson, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Smokey Wilson, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Has been releasing solo records since the late 1970s. Fronted the house band at his own Pioneer Club Watts. Worked with Booba Barnes, Big Jack Johnson, Frank Frost, Big Joe Turner, Rod Piazza, Hollywood Fats, Percy Mayfield, Pee Wee Crayton, and Albert Collins ~ Wilson was born in 1936
September 8, 2014 ~ Trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger Gerald Wilson passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Arranged songs for Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Julie London, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, and Nancy Wilson. Worked with Jimmie Lunceford, Clark Terry, Willie Smith, Jimmy Nottingham, Benny Carter, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie. As a bandleader employed sidemen including Snooky Young, Carmell Jones, Bud Shank, Joe Maini, Harold Land, Teddy Edwards, Don Raffell, Joe Pass, Richard Groove Holmes, Roy Ayers, Bobby Hutcherson, Luis Bonilla, Rick Baptist, Randall Willis, Shuggie Otis, Anthony Wilson, Eric Otis, Jimmy Owens, Oscar Brashear, Ron Barrows, and Jon Faddis ~ Johnson was born in 1918September 8, 2010 ~ Bebop saxophonist, flutist Hadley Caliman passed away in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Carlos Santana, Joe Henderson, Earl Hines, Freddie Hubbard, Jon Hendricks, Earl Anderza, Patrice Rushen, Don Ellis, Hampton Hawes, Bobby Hutcherson, Azar Lawrence, Malo, Julian Priester, the Fangs, Gerald Wilson, Thomas Marriott, the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, and with Pete Christlieb ~ Caliman was born in 1932
September 8, 2008 ~ Pierre Job, commonly known as composer, producer Hector Zazou, passed away in Paris, France ~ First gained attention as half of the duo ZNR alongside Joseph Racaille, noted for their 1976 Barricade 3 debut album. Would go on to become an in-demand producer and collaborator working with artists such as Sandy Dillon, MImi Goese, Barbara Gogan, Sevara Nazarkhan, Carlos Núnez, and Anne Grete Preus ~ Zazou was born in 1948
September 8, 2000 ~ Raul Salvador Intini Pepe, commonly known as actor, singer Raul Roulien, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Widely considered the first male Brazilian star in Hollywood. As a singer enjoyed popularity in his native Brazil during the late 1920s. Moved to Hollywood by the early 1930 where he would feature in over a dozen films, notably 1933's Flying Down To Rio starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers ~ Intini was born in 1905
September 8, 1992 ~ Experimental, rock, blues, jazz singer, songwriter Tom Waits releases his Bone Machine album ~ Released to near-universal critical acclaim, and retrospectively included on several Best Albums of the 1990s lists, including by Pitchfork and Rolling Stone. Recorded in a room in the cellar area of Prairie Sun Recording Studios, Cotate, California, described by Tom Waits as “just a cement floor and a hot water heater”, the album is noted for its rough, stripped-down style. David Hidalgo, Les Claypool, and Keith Richards guest on the album. Bone Machine was the first Waits album on which he played drums and percussion extensively. Around the time of its release, Waits stated: “I like to play drums when I'm angry. At home I have a metal instrument cal, metal objects, and I like playing it with a hammer. I love it. Drumming is therapeutic. I wish I'd found it when I was younger.”September 8, 1991 ~ Folk pop singer, guitarist Alex Kinsey born ~ Cites Jason Mraz as his biggest influence. Formed the duo Alex & Sierra with Sierra Deaton, gaining attention winning the third season of the US edition of talent contest The X-Factor USA aired on Fox in 2013. They would release a full-length album, It's About Us, the following year spawning the modest hit Scarecrow
September 8, 1991 ~ Isadore Soifer, commonly known as songwriter Alex North passed away in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Film composer, songwriter perhap best remembered for co-penning Unchained Melody with Hy Zaret. The song was originally written for the 1955 film of the same name and first recorded by Todd Duncan. The song would become a standard and be covered by hundreds of artists, perhaps most notably by the Righteous Brothers in 1965. North has also worked on many renowned film scores, nominated for an Academy Award fifteen times but never winning one. Film scores written or co-written by North include A Streetcar Named Desire, Viva Zapata, Spartacus and Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf ~ Soifer was born in 1910September 8, 1989 ~ Tim Bergling, commonly known as producer and DJ Avicii, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Rose to prominence with the 2011 single Levels. Also known for songs such as Wake Me Up, Hey Brother, Addicted To You, and I Could Be The One ~ Bergling passed away in 2018
September 8, 1987 ~ Choreographer, director, dancer Justin Peck born in Washington DC, USA ~ Has choreagraphed over 25 works for companies such as the New York City Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Miami City Ballet, and the Paris Opera Ballet. Has worked with composers such as Sufjan Stevens, the National's Bryce Dessner, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass
September 8, 1987 ~ Cameron Jibril Thomaz, commonly known as rapper Wiz Khalifa born in Minot, North Dakota, USA ~ Debuted in 2006 with the album Show & Tell. Topped the US singles chart the next year with the single Black And Yellow. Has been recording, and scoring hits, regularly since. Also known for songs such as Work Hard Play Hard, We Them Boys, and See You Again. Collaborated with Curren$y, Rick Ross, Wale, Stargate, Tinie Tempah, 50 Cent, Ty Dolla $ign, Charlie Puth, Miley Cyrus, and Juicy JSeptember 8, 1986 ~ Leah Labelle Vladowski, commonly known as singer Leah Labelle, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Sang in the Total Experience Gospel Choir during childhood. Finalist in third season of American Idol in 2004. Backup singer for Keri Hilson. Robin Thicke, Jordin Sparks, the Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears, and Eric Benét. Released a sole solo album, Pharrel Williams & Jermain Dupri Present Leah Labelle, in 2012 ~ Vladowski passed away in 2018
September 8, 1982 ~ Progressive metal, drummer, guitarist, keyboardist Hannes Grossmann born in Bayreuth, Germany ~ Drummer for Necrophagist, notably present on the band's 2004 Epitaph sophomore album. Member of Obscura alongside Christian Muenzer and Jeroen Paul Thesseling. Member of industrial metal outfit Blotted Science, present on the 2011 The Animation Of Entomology EP. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with The Radial Covenant released in 2014, and collaborated with Shapeshift, Asurim, Alkaloid, Fractured Dimension, Hate Eternal, Gomorrah, and Triptykon
September 8, 1981 ~ Zanamari Lalic, commonly known as singer Zanamari Percic, born in Makarska, Croatia ~ Rose to fame in the mid 2000s after winning the first edition of the talent contest Hrvatski Idol, the Croatian equivalent of Pop Idol. Would release her Zanamari the following year. Would form the pop rock group J'Animals in 2010, with whom she has recorded three albums starting with Druga Vrsta released in 2011
September 8, 1980 ~ Pop, rock, power pop singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Eric Hutchinson born in Washington DC, USA ~ Recorded and self-released his Sounds Like This debut album in 2007, after his record label shut down, and has recorded steadily since. Known for songs such as Rock & Roll, OK It's Alright With Me, Not There Yet, Watching You Watching Me and Tell The World. His 2012 Moving Up Living Down album would crack the Billboard Hot 200 top 30, peaking at No.29
September 8, 1979 ~ Alecia Beth Moore, commonly known as singer Pink, born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Named Madonna and Janis Joplin as biggest influences. Member of the Choice. Debuted in 2000 with the album Can't Take Me Home, working with producers such as Kenneth Babyface Edmonds, Kandi Burruss, and Christopher Tricky Stewart. The album spawned the US top 10 hits There You Go and Most Girls. Has been charting hits since including Get The Party Started, Just Like A Pill, So What, Just Give Me A Reason, and Raise Your Glass. Has collaborated with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya, Linda Perry, Dallas Austin, Scott Storch, William Orbit, Tim Armstrong, Damon Elliott, Max Martin, Billy Mann, Christopher Rojas, Butch Walker, Dr Luke, the Indigo Girls, India Arie, Annie Lennox, John Legend, Eminem, Nate Ruess, TI, Dallas Green, and Elton John