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 17, 1961 ~ Actress, soprano singer Rebecca Luker born in Birmingham, Alabama, USA ~ Best known as a Broadway singer, actress starting in the late 1980s performing in productions of The Secret Garden, Show Boat, The Sound Of Music and Mary Poppins. Has also made solo recordings starting in the late 1990s, notably 1996's Rebecca Luker Sings Cole Porter album, and has acted in film and TV productions ~ Luker passed away in 2020
April 17, 1960 ~ Rock & roll singer, guitarist, songwriter Eddie Cochran, full name Ray Edward Cochran, passed away in Bath, UK ~ Pivotal rock & roll singer known for mid 1950s songs such as Twenty Flight Rock, Somethin' Else, C'mon Everybody, and naturally Summertime Blues. Died in a car crash on tour at age 21. Cochran's songs would later be covered by an array of artists including Joan Jett, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Van Halen, Tom Petty, Rod Stewart, T.Rex, Cliff Richard, the Who, the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the White Stripes, the Sex Pistols, Sid Vicious, Rush, the Simple Minds, George Thorogood, Guitar Wolf, Paul McCartney, Alan Jackson, the Move, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Hallyday, and U2 ~ Cochran was born in 1938
April 17, 1958 ~ Guitarist Chieli Minucci born in Huntington, New York, USA ~ Best known as frontman of Special EFX. Has also collaborated with a wide array of artists including Céline Dion, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez, Mark Anthony, Jessica Simpson, Anastacia, Roseanna Vitro, Marion Meadows, Jay Beckenstein, Gerald Veasley, Kirk Whalum, Jeff Lorber, Norman Brown, Bennie Willias, Lao Tizer, Nestor Torres, Mindi Abair, Rick Braun, Jeff Andrews, Nick Collone, Omar Hakim, Bob Baldwin, Heather Mullen, the Backstreet Boys, Donna Summer, Linda Clofalo, Peter Primamore, True Vbe, Jewel, Chaka Khan, Angela Bofill, Ginette Reno, SOLA, Nicole Renee, Noel Pointer, Belle Stars, Roberta Flack, Cheryl Lynn, BB&Q Band, and High Fashion
April 17, 1958 ~ Rhumba, zarzuela singer, pianist, actress Rita Montaner, full name Rita Aurelia Fulcida Montaner y Facenda, passed away in Havana, Cuba ~ Classically trained. One of Cuba's most beloved artists from the 1920s through the 1950s, also enjoying popularity in Europe and America. Best known for Afro-Cuban salon songs including The Peanut Vendor and Siboney ~ Montaner was born in 1900
April 17, 1957 ~ Lance Taylor, commonly known as rapper,DJ Afrika Bambaataa, born in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the originators of breakgbeat DJing, influential on hip-hop. Best known for a number of 1980s electro tracks including Planet Rock, Looking For The Perfect Beat, and Just Get Up And Dance
April 17, 1957 ~ Vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, producer Mark Sherman born in New York, New York, USA ~ A multi-instrumentalist revered in various circles including classical, jazz, pop. Sherman worked with conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Georg Solti, Zubin Mehta, and Herbert von Karajan. Appeared on numerous film and Broadway soundtracks. In-demand sideman and collaborator Sherman has worked with artists such as Kenny Barron, Peggy Lee, Wynton Marsalis, Joe Lovano, Michael Brecker, Michael Bolton, Natalie Cole, Michael McDonald, Joe Beck, Maureen McGovern, Larry Coryell, Rodney Jones, Gloria Lynne, Jennifer Holliday, Tony Bennett, Ann Hampton Callaway, Laverne Butler, Ruth Brown, and Liza MinnelliApril 17, 1956 ~ Label executive, producer Louil Silas Jr born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Founded and headed the Silas Records label, known for advancing the careers of Jesse Powell, Keke Wyatt, London Jones, Tricky Stewart, Aaron Hall, Keith Washington, and perhaps most notably Chanté Moore ~ Silas passed away in 2001
April 17, 1956 ~ Singer Valorie Jones born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ One third of sibling outfit the Jones Girls, alongside Shirley Jones and Brenda Jones. Served as backup singers for Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, Aretha Franklin, Linda Clifford, and Tower Of Power. On their own they would score a number of modest hits on Billboard's R&B charts from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s including You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else, Dance Turned Into Romance and I Just Love The Man ~ Jones passed away in 2001April 17, 1955 ~ Peter Campbell McNeish, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Pete Shelley, born in Leigh, UK ~ Formed punk, punk rock outfit the Buzzcocks with Howard Devoto, best known for their 1978 Ever Fallen In Love With Someone You Shouldn't've hit single. As a solo artist best known for Homosapien, title track of his 1981 Homosapien album ~ Shelley passed away in 2018
April 17, 1954 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, jazz funk guitarist Dewayne McKnight, full name Dewayne Stephen McKnight, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Member of Herbie Hancock's backing unit the Headhunters from 1975 through 1978. Also closely associated with funk icon George Clinton as a member of Clinton's loose collectives Parliament, Funkadelic and the P-Funk All-Stars from 1978 through 2008. Briefly played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers after original guitarist Hillel Slovak's death in 1988, quickly replaced by John FruscianteApril 17, 1954 ~ Frank LaRocca, commonly known as rock drummer, producer Frankie LaRocka, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Briefly a member of Scandal, appearing on the band's eponymous Scandal debut EP released in 1982. Has also drummed for Bon Jovi, David Johansen, Bryan Adams, and John Waite. Would go on to serve as A&R executive and producer, noted for signing the Spin Doctors and producing the band's 1991 Pocketful Of Kryptonite album ~ LaRocca passed away in 2005
April 17, 1954 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Michael Sembello, full name Michael Andrew Sembello, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for his 1983 hit song Maniac taken of his solo debut album Bossa Nova Hotel and featured in Flashdance soundtrack. Previously a studio musician, featured on the Stevie Wonder albums Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs In The Key Of Life, notably playing the guitar lead on Contusion and co-writing Saturn. Wrote Carousel, intended for Michael Jackson's Thriller (replaced by Human Nature). Produced Jennifer Batten's 1992 Above Below & Beyond solo debut album as well as Valeria Lynch's 1994 Caravana de Sueños albumApril 17, 1953 ~ Drummer, singer Noel Crombie born in Wellington, New Zealand ~ Constant member of Split Enz, known for songs such as My Mistake, I Got You, One Step Ahead, History Never Repeats, Six Months In A Leaky Boat, and Message To My Girl. Following the group's disbandement, Crombie formed Schnell Fenster but would depart the band before their debut album was released
April 17, 1952 ~ Singer, bassist Jerry Knight born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Founding member of Raydio, which also included Ray Parker Jr, best known for Jack And Jill, You Can't Change That and perhaps their best known A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do). Also half of Ollie & Jerry, the other half being drummer Ollie E Brown, known for Breaking (There Is No Stopping Us) which was used as the theme song to the 1984 Breakin' feature film and would reach the Billboard top 10. Knight has also written and produced for artists such as the Whispers, Patrice Rushen, DeBarge, Howard Hewett, and Elkie Brooks ~ Knight passed away in 1996
April 17, 1950 ~ Jazz drummer Robert Jospé born in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Co-led jazz fusion outfit Cosmology which also included Dawn Thompson and John d'Earth, known for their eponymous Cosmology album released in 1977. Recorded about half a dozen albums as a leader, notably Blue Blaze released in 1999. Formed the Robert Jospé Express in 2012, which also included the Dave Matthews Band-keyboardist Butch Taylor. Jospé has also collaborated with Barbara Martin, John McCutcheon, Peter Kater, and Kim RosenApril 17, 1949 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Michael J Stull born in Eureka, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Wackers, teaming up with Bob Segarini, Randy Bishop, Ernie Earshaw and Bill Trochim. Rumored to be considered Jim Morrison's replacement in the Doors when Morrison left for Paris in 1971. Perhaps just a rumor and the Doors would record without either Morrison or Stull. Still, four years later Stull would actually work on the Butts Band album Hear & Now, which also featured Doors members John Densmore and Robby Krieger ~ Stull passed away in 2002
April 17, 1949 ~ Producer, arranger, saxophonist Steve Singleton, full name Stephen Barry Singleton, born in Sheffield, UK ~ Co-founding member of 1980s new wave, pop outfit ABC, remaining with the band through 1983 and present on the UK top 10 hits Poison Arrow, The Look Of Love and All Of My Heart
April 17, 1948 ~ Keyboardist, songwriter Jan Hammer born in Prague, Czech Republic ~ To pop audiences best known for his TV and film scores, notably Miami Vice's Miami Vice Theme and Crockett's Theme, yet enjoyed a long career as in-demand session musician, collaborator and leader starting in the late 1960s. Member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, present on the critically acclaimed albums The Inner Mounting Flame, Birds Of Fire and Between Nothingness And Eternity. Present on about half a dozen Jeff Beck albums, starting with Wired released in 1976. Also frequently collaborated with Al di Meola, including on Elegant Gypsy. Also present on albums by Jeremy Steig, Elvin Jones, Frank Foster, James Brown, Billy Cobham, the Fania All-Stars, Horacee Arnold, Tommy Bolin (Teaser), John Abercrombie (Timeless), Jack DeJohnette, Mick Jagger (She's The Boss), and Richard ClaydermanApril 17, 1945 ~ Anthony Crane, commonly known as singer, guitarist Tony Crane, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Co-founded the Merseybeats, best known for their 1963 UK top 10 hit I Think Of You. The follow-up singles Don't Turn Around and Wishin' & Hopin' would reach top 20. After the band folded in 1966 Crane and bandmate Billy Kinsley would record as the vocal duo the Merseys, scoring a UK top 10 hit with the McCoys-cover Sorrow
April 17, 1943 ~ Singer Bobby Curtola, full name Robert Allen Curtola, born in Port Arthur, Canada ~ Bobby of Bobby & the Bobcats. As a solo singer known for a string of 1960s Canadian hits, occasionally crossing the border into American charts, including Hitchhiker, The Fortuneteller, Aladdin, Indian Giver, As Long As I'm Sure Of You, and Walking With My Angel ~ Curtola passed away in 2016
April 17, 1942 ~ Charles Anthony Williams, commonly known as jazz bassist Buster Williams, born in Camden, New Jersey, USA ~ Worked with Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Sphere, Nancy Wilson, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Betty Carter, Sphere, the Mary Lou Williams Collective, Sarah Vaughan, Sathima Bea Benjamin, Shirley Horn, Carmen McRae, Roseanna Vitro, Helen Merrill, Nnenna Freelon, Jon Lucien, Champian Fulton, the Jazz Crusaders, McCoy Tyner, Dexter Gordon, Roy Ayers, Stanley Turrentine, Frank Foster, Illinois Jacquet, Mary Lou Williams, Kenny Barron, Jimmy Rowles, Steve Turre, Harold Land, Bobby Hutcherson, Cedar Walton, Billy Higgins, Cecil Payne, Houston Person, Emily Remler, Red Rodney, Chet Baker, and Woody Shaw
April 17, 1941 ~ Jazz, vocal jazz singer Al Bowlly, full name Albert Allick Bowlly, passed away in London, UK ~ Popular in 1930s England. Best known for songs such as Goodnight Sweetheart, Close Your Eyes, The Very Thought Of You, Guilty, Love Is The Sweetest Thing and Black Eyes ~ Bowlly was born in 1898
April 17, 1940 ~ Ronald Wycherley, commonly known as singer, songwriter Billy Fury, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Popular 1960s singer known for songs such as Colette, Halfway To Paradise, Jealousy, Last Night Was Made For Love, Once Upon A Dream, Like I've Never Been Gone, When Will You Say I Love You, In Summer and In Thoughts Of You, all of which reached the British top 10 ~ Wycherley passed away in 1983
April 17, 1938 ~ Claus Herwig, commonly known as singer Teddy Parker, born in Brno, Czechoslovakia ~ Enjoyed popularity in his adopted homeland Germany in the 1960s. Best known for songs such Musikanten Der Liebe and Abends In Madrid both duets with Leonie Brückner, and as a solo artist known for Nachtexpress Nach St Tropez which topped the German charts for three weeks ~ Herwig passed away in 2021April 17, 1936 ~ Anthony J Belluci, commonly known as singer, accordionist Tony Bellus, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known for his 1959 self-penned Robbin' The Cradle. Bellus would continue to perform at nightclubs and restaurants well into the 1980s but would not repeat the chart succes of Robbin' The Cradle