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.
April 16, 1966 ~ Drummer, percussionist Dan Rieser born in Columbus, Ohio, USA ~ Member of alternative rock outfit Marcy Playground from 1997 through 2000, present on the band's best known including the Sex And Candy Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit of their eponymous Marcy Playground debut album. Member of alternative country supergroup the Little Willies, which also featured singer, keyboardist Norah Jones. Rieser also backed Jones on several of her solo albums, including the acclaimed Come Away With Me, backed Peter Wolf on Sleepless, and worked with Jen Chapin, Amos Lee, Jim Campilongo, Jason Crigler, Martha Wainwright, Marc Cohn, and Rosanne CashApril 16, 1965 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones play the first of three consecutive nights at L'Olympia, Paris, France ~ Their first visit to France, the band play three consecutive nights at L'Olympia in the French capital. The set list includes Around And Around, Time Is On My Side, Carol, It's All Over Now, and Hey Crawdaddy
April 16, 1964 ~ British pop, rock group the Beatles record A Hard Day's Night at EMI Studios, London, UK ~ Credited to Lennon/McCartney, mostly written by John Lennon with some contributions from Paul McCartney. Produced by George Martin. Prominently featured on the soundtrack of the first Beatles movie, A Hard Day's Night. Released as a single the following July, the UK edition featuring Things We Said Today on the B-side, the USA edition paired with I Should Have Known Better. It would be a No.1 hit on both sides of the Atlantic
April 16, 1964 ~ Bror Fredrik Svensson, commonly known as jazz pianist Esbjörn Svensson, born in Skultuna, Sweden ~ Led the Esbjörn Svensson Trio which included childhood friend percussionist Magnus Öström and bassist Dan Berglund. The trio debuted in 1993 with the album When Everyon Has Gone. In the late 1990s and early 2000s the trio would earn significant acclaim outside Scandinavia with albums such as From Gagarin's Point Of View, Good Morning Susie Soho and A Strange Place For Snow. Svensson has also collaborated with the likes of Nils Landgren, Lina Nyberg, and Viktoria Tolstoy. Svensson died at age 44 in a scuba diving incident, found unconscious lying on the seabed by his diving instructor and 14-year old son ~ Svenssson passed away in 2008
April 16, 1963 ~ Singer Jimmy Osmond, full name James Arthur Osmond, born in Canoga Park, California, USA ~ Youngest of sibling outfit the Osmonds. As a solo artist scored a UK No.1 hit in 1972 with the single Long Haired Lover From Liverpool at age 11, which earned him a mention in the Guinness Book of Records for being the youngest artist to achieve this feat
April 16, 1962 ~ Rock guitarist, drummer, engineer Ian Button born ~ Member of Thrashing Doves from 1985 through 1991. Member of Death In Vegas from 1994 through 2011, present on the band's best known albums The Contino Sessions and Scorpio Rising. Wrote and performed the theme for the children's TV series The Saturday Show aired on BBC. Mixer and sound engineer for several indie labels including Tapete Records, Cherry Red Records, and Fortuna Pop. Has also released a number of solo recordings starting in the early 1990s, using a variety of monikers such as Motorcyclone, Ashley Flowers, and the Anthony Anderson Project
April 16, 1962 ~ Punk, punk rock, hardcore punk singer, songwriter, producer, label owner Ian Mackaye born in Washington DC, USA ~ Best known for co-founding pivotal punk label Dischord Records. Fronted outfits such as Fugazi, the Teen Idles, Embrace, and perhaps most notably the seminal hardcore punk outfit Minor Threat
April 16, 1962 ~ Pianist, composer, arranger, writer Rebeca Mauleón born in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ In-demand collaborator. One of the very few female bandleaders in Afro-Caribbean jazz. Has worked with Tito Puente, Carlos Santana, Armando Peraza, Sheila E, Steve Winwood, Michael Nesmith, and Pete EscovedoApril 16, 1960 ~ Guitarist, producer, songwriter Colin Linden, full name Colin Kendall Linden, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Worked with Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, Stephen Fearing, Tom Wilson, Bruce Cockburn, Lucinda Williams, T-Bone Burnett, Kevin Gordon, Colin James, Emmylou Harris, Leon Redbone, Rita Chiarelli, Chris Thomas King, the Band, Keb' Mo, Charles Esten, Bob Dylan, Joe Mendelson, Willie P Bennett, Amos Garrett, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Levon Helm, and Sue Foley
April 16, 1958 ~ Jazz guitarist Ulf Wakenius, full name Ulf Karl Erik Wakenius, born in Halmstad, Sweden ~ Over a dozen albums as a leader or solo artist, starting in the mid-1980s. Member of Guitars Unlimited. Member of Hawk On Flight. Founding member of Grafitti. Has collaborated with Ray Brown, Cæcilie Norby, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Oscar Peterson, Svend Asmussen, Inger Marie Gundersen, Nils Landgren, Per Mathisen, Bugge Wesseltoft, and Putte Wickman
April 16, 1956 ~ Singer, guitarist Chuck Berry records Too Much Monkey Business ~ Written by Chuck Berry. Produced by Leonard Chess and Phil Chess. Berry was backed by pianist Johnnie Johnson on piano, Willie Dixon double bass, Fred Below drums. Released as a single the following September, paired with Brown Eyed Handsome Man. The song would be covered by numerous artists, particularly popular with acts from the British Invasion, notably covered by the Kinks on their eponymous 1964 The Kinks debut album. The song would also be referenced by a number of artists, such as glam rocker Johnny Thunders' Too Much Junkie Business paying hommage to both Berry and Bo Diddley's Polls, and by Michael Jackson on Monkey Business containing the line “too much monkey business”
April 16, 1956 ~ Terry Lavitz, commonly known as keyboardist T Lavitz, born in Lakewood, New Jersey, USA ~ Gained attention in the early 1980s as a member of Dixie Dregs, first appearing on the Dregs Of The Earth album. After the band's initial disbandement in 1983 would go on to work with Paul Barrère, the Bluesbusters, Mother's Finest, Bill Bruford, Billy Cobham, Widespread Panic, Jefferson Starship, Jazz Is Dead, and Rob Wasserman. Lavitz also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the album Extended Play released in 1984 ~ Lavitz passed away in 2010April 16, 1953 ~ Singer, guitarist Geoffrey Oryema born in Soroti, Uganda ~ Exiled Ugandan singer. Sang in Swahili, Acholi, English, and in French. Gained international attention with the release of his sophomore album, Beat The Border, in 1993. Worked with Jean-Pierre Alarcen, Patrick Buchmann, and with Peter Gabriel ~ Oryema passed away in 2018
April 16, 1953 ~ Kurt Meier, commonly known as singer, producer, songwriter Kurt Maloo, born in Zurich, Switzerland ~ Half of Doublé, the other half being Felix Haug, known for their 1986 international hit The Captain Of Her Heart. Has also worked with Troppo, with Ping Pong, and recorded as a solo artist
April 16, 1953 ~ Singer, activist, politician Peter Garrett, full name Peter Robert Garrett, born in Sydney, Australia ~ Lead singer of rock band Midnight Oil, best known for their 1987 Diesel And Dust album which spawned the international hit single Beds Are Burning. Also known as activist focusing on social and environmental issues. Also a politician for the Australian Labor party from 2004 through 2013 serving as MP, Minister for Environment and Minister for School Education
April 16, 1952 ~ Charles Jeremy Jankel, commonly known as guitarist, pianist, percussionist, singer Chaz Jankel, born in Starmore, UK ~ Best known as member of Ian Dury's backing unit the Blockheads, co-writing some of the band's best known including Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, and Reasons To Be Cheerful Part 3. Had previously worked with Dury in the pub rock band Kilburn & the High Roads. Also known for his association with Long John Baldry, notably on the track Let's Go of the 1973 Good To Be Alive album. As a solo artist best known for the singles Glad To Know You and Number One and as a film composer, including the soundtracks for DOA and K2April 16, 1952 ~ Guitarist, singer Jukka Tolonen born in Helsinki, Finland ~ Rose to fame as member of progressive rock outfit Tasavallan Presidentti. Also recorded numerous solo albums starting in the early 1970s and has collaborated with Wigwam, Charlie Mariano, the Nordic Jazz Quintet, Eero Koivistoinen, and Piirpauke
April 16, 1951 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Sabir Mateen born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Cecil Taylor, William Parker, Alan Silva, Butch Morris, Wilber Morris, Raphe Malik, Steve Swell, Roy Campbell Jr, Matthew Shipp, Marc Edwards, Jemeel Moondoc, William Hooker, Henry Grimes, Rashid Bakr, and Hamid Drake
April 16, 1950 ~ Singer, actress Colleen Hewett born in Bendigo, Australia ~ Began singing professionally at age 12 as a member of the Esquires. Also a member of vocal group the Creations, soul group Dice and of Ian Saxon & the Sound. As a solo singer she scored a number of Australian Top 40 hits starting in the early 1970s including Super Star, Day By Day, Carry That Weight, Dreaming My Dreams With You, and Gigolo. Also ventured into acting including in a local version of the Who's rock opera Tommy, and in various Australian TV series such as Prisoner and Flying Doctors
April 16, 1947 ~ Gerald Rafferty, commonly known as folk rock, soft rock, pop rock singer, guitarist, bassist, pianist, songwriter Gerry Rafferty, born in Paisley, UK ~ Influenced by the Beatles and Bob Dylan. Member of folk-pop outfit the Humblebums, with whom he recorded the albums The New Humblebums and Open Up The Door at the tail end of the 1960s. Rose to fame as a member of Stealers Wheel, co-founded with school friend Joe Egan. The group would score two major hits in the early 1970s with Stuck In The Middle With You, which reached top 10 on both sides of the pond, and the somewhat underrated deliciously gentle Star, which still cracked the top 30 both in America and their native England. Following the band's disbandement in 1975, Rafferty resumed his solo career, and has recorded over half a dozen albums well into the 2000s. As a solo artist, Rafferty is best known for Baker Street, again a top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Its parent album City To City, released in 1978, topped the American Billboard Hot 200 album charts ~ Rafferty passed away in 2011
April 16, 1947 ~ Rock, progressive rock, hard rock drummer Lee Kerslake, full name Lee Gary Kerslake, born in Bournemouth, UK ~ Nicknamed the Bear. Best known as longtime member of Uriah Heep, with whom he recorded well over a dozen albums starting with Demons & Wizards, the band's fourth studio album. Kerslake remained with the band from 1971 through 1982, and again from 1982 through 2007. Kerslake has also recorded with the Gods, Head Machine, Toe Fat, the National Head Band, Ken Hensley, David Byron, Ozzy Osbourne, appearing on Osbourne's 1980 solo debut album Blizzard Of Oz and its follow-up Diary Of A Madman, and with Living Loud. Kerslake recorded one solo album, Eleventeen, which was released posthumously in 2021 ~ Kerslake passed away in 2020
April 16, 1947 ~ Fingerstyle guitarist Stefan Grossman born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of folk outfit the Even Dozen Jug Band who only recorded one album, 1964's eponymous The Even Dozen Jug Band, but are fondly remembered by aficionados for also including future folk and folk-rock stars including Blood Sweat & Tears's Steve Katz, singer Maria Muldaur and Lovin' Spoonful's John Sebastian. Grossman would go on to co-found Kicking Mule Records in 1970, a label that helped popularize fingerpicking guitaristsApril 16, 1946 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Ivar Antonsen born in Fauske, Norway ~ Important figure on the Oslo jazz scene since the late 1960s. Influenced by Johann Sebastian Bach and Igor Stravinsky. Closely associated with Jan Garbarek, Palle Mikkelborg, Arild Andersen and Espen Rud. Has also worked with Thorgeir Stubø, Alex Riel, Jesper Lundgaard, Peter Sprague, Andy Laverne, John Surman, Ben Webster, Jimmy Heath, Slide Hampton, Art Farmer, and Knut Riisnæs
April 16, 1946 ~ Alexander Lee Spence, commonly known as rock, psychedelic folk, psychedelic rock guitarist, bassist, drummer, singer Skip Spence, born in Windsor, Canada ~ Drummed on the Jefferson Airplane's 1966 Jefferson Airplane Takes Off debut album. Co-founding member, guitarist of highly acclaimed late 1960s rock outfit Moby Grape remaining with the band through 1969, present on the albums Moby Grape, Wow/Grape Jam and Moby Grape '69 ~ Spence passed away in 1999
April 16, 1945 ~ Bassist Johnny Sandlin born in Decatur, Alabama, USA ~ Session bassist, guitarist, drummer. Member of the Impacts, the Five Minutes, and alongside Duane Allman and Gregg Allman a member of Hour Glass. Best known as an engineer and producer who worked with Widespread Panic, Wet Willie, the Aquarium Rescue Unit, and perhaps most notably extensively with the Allman Brothers Band ~ Sandlin passed away in 2017