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 18, 1988 ~ Synth-pop duo Erasure release The Innocents, the first of four consecutive albums to top the UK charts ~ Though their previous album produced three UK top 10 hits, it would be The Innocents, co-produced with Stephen Hague and Dave Jacob, that made them superstars in their native UK. It also garnered them their biggest successes on the American Billboard Hot 100 chart, the singles Chains Of Love and A Little Respect, fueled by heavy rotation on MTV, both reaching the top 20. To date, The Innocents remains the duo's best-selling album with over 5 million copies sold
April 18, 1987 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) by singers Aretha Franklin and George Michael hits No.1 on the American Billboard Hot 100 ~ The one-off project gave George Michael the chance to sing with one of his musical heroes. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me), written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan, produced by Narada Michael Walden, would earn Franklin and Michael a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. It would also bring back Aretha Franklin to the top of the American charts for the first time in two decades, her previous Billboard Hot 100 charttopper being RESPECT, and mark her first and only time she topped the UK charts
April 18, 1983 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Bob Dylan records Sweetheart Like You at Power Station, New York, New York ~ Penned by Bob Dylan. Produced by Dylan and Mark Knopfler who also plays guitar. Other musicians on the recording: Mick Taylor guitar, Alan Clark keyboard, Sly Dunbar drums, Robbie Shakespeare bass. Included on the Infidels album. Though generally well-received by critics, the single, paired with Union Sundown on the flip side, would stall in the 50s on the Billboard Hot 100
April 18, 1980 ~ Post-punk outfit the Cure release their Seventeen Seconds sophomore album ~ The band had toured the UK as support act for Siouxsie & the Banshees, opening a new horizon to the Cure frontman Robert Smith. It would result in artistic differences between Smith and original bassist Michael Dempsey, the latter leaving the band before the album was recorded. The album would reach UK top 20, and include their first charting single, A Forest, the track noted especially for its distinctive bassline. Smith later commented on Dempsey's departure: “I think the final straw came when I played Michael the demos for Seventeen Seconds and he hated them. He wanted us to be XTC part 2 and, if anything, I wanted us to be Siouxsie & the Banshees part 2. So he left.”
April 18, 1979 ~ Carl Abou Samah, commonly known as pop, R&B, soul, fusion singer, guitarist, pianist Karl Wolf, born in Beirut, Lebanon ~ Has recorded over half a dozen albums, starting with Behind The Face released in 2006. Best known for his 2008 single Africa of his Bite The Bullet sophomore album. The single, a reworking of the 1982 Toto hit, would reach top 10 in Canada, his adopted homeland since age 16April 18, 1977 ~ Rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Phil Jamieson, full name Philip William Jamieson, born in Hornsby, Australia ~ Co-founding member, lead singer, guitarist for alternative rock outfit Grinspoon. The band is known for songs such as Just Ace, Chemical Heart, Lost Control, and Hard Act To Follow
April 18, 1976 ~ Singer Pedro Mariano, full name Pedro Camargo Mariano, born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Son of pianist, arranger Cesar Camargo Mariano and singer Elis Regina, brother of singer Maria Rita and producer João Marcelo Boscoli. With the latter formed the 1990s band Confraria. Over half a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, starting with Pedro Camargo Mariano released in 1997
April 18, 1976 ~ Winston Simon, commonly known as calypso percussionist Winston Spree Simon, passed away ~ Member of the Trinidad All-Steel Percussion Orchestra. Credited with the invention of the Ping Pong steelpan. Honored in the song Tribute To Spree by Van Dyke Parks on his 1976 calypso-tinged Clang Of The Yankee Reaper album ~ Simon was born ca.1930
April 18, 1975 ~ Indie rock, folk rock singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, drummer, songwriter Joel Plaskett, full name William Joel Macdonald Plaskett, born in Lunenberg, Canada ~ Lead singer for alternative rock outfit Thrush Hermit, with whom he recorded albums Sweet Homewrecker and Clayton Park. Also co-founded Neuseiland, merging conventional pop song structure with krautrock experimentation and reggae mixing techniques and known for their sole eponymous Neuseiland album released in 1999. Has also recorded over half a dozen albums with the Joel Plaskett Emergency, notably 2003's Truthfully Truthfully album, and over half a dozen albums as a solo artist
April 18, 1975 ~ Singer Van McCoy releases The Hustle featuring the Soul City Symphony, lifted off his Disco Baby album ~ Van McCoy had been a renowned songwriter and producer for well over a decade, responsible for R&B, soul classics recorded by the likes of Chuck Jackson, the Shirelles, the Drifters, Betty Everett (Getting Mighty Crowded), Gladys Knight, Ruby & the Romantics, Jackie Wilson (I Get The Sweetest Feeling), Aretha Franklin, Jerry Butler, and Brenda & the Tabulations (Right On The Tip Of My Tongue), but had yet to score a hit of his own. Though he had previously recorded as a singer himself, the public had never really noticed him. That is, until The Hustle. The million-seller single would be a smash success, reached top 10 in over a dozen countries including No.1 in his native America, earned McCoy a Grammy Award, and made McCoy a household name. A few years after topping the charts, at the tail end of the 1970s, McCoy passed away at age 39 without another solo hit, yet he will forever be fondly remembered for his vast catalogue as a producer and songwriter with over an estimated 700 credits to his name. The Hustle is acknowledged to this day as one of the classic grooves of the era, and remains a radio staple popular with R&B audiences
April 18, 1974 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Mark Tremonti, full name Mark Thomas Tremonti, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Co-founding member of Creed, regarded as one of the major acts of the post-grunge movement. The band's Higher, With Arms Wide Open, My Sacrifice and One Last Breath would all reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100. Co-founded Alter Bridge in 2004, acclaimed especially for their 2013 Fortress album. Frontman and eponym of Tremonti, with whom he recorded since 2012. Has released a solo album of Frank Sinatra-songs, Tremonti Sings Frank Sinatra, in 2022
April 18, 1974 ~ R&B singer Trina Powell born ~ Sister of singer Jesse Powell. Formed the sibling duo Trina & Tamara with her sister Tamara Powell, as a duo known best for being featured on the 1997 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit My Love Is The Shhh by Somethin' For The People. The sisters recorded their own sole album, the eponymous Trina & Tamara in the late 1990s, which spawned the Billboard R&B top 20 hit What'd You Come Here For produced by Curt WilsonApril 18, 1972 ~ Rock, country singer, harmonica player, author JD Wilkes born in Baytown, Texas, USA ~ Best known as lead singer for rockabilly, blues, rock band the Legendary Shack Shakers. Also noted as an in-demand harmonica player, present on recordings by Merle Haggard, Sturgill Simpson, John Carter Cash, Mike Patton, and Hank Williams III
April 18, 1971 ~ Fred Lee Scruggs Jr, commonly known as hardcore rapper, producer, actor Fredro Starr, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of pivotal hardcore rap group Onyx, best known for their 1993 hit single Slam. As a solo artist debuted in 2001 with the album Firestarr. Also known as an in-demand actor for TV and film with over 50 acting credits to his name
April 18, 1964 ~ Mark Berry, commonly known as dancer, percussionist Bez, born in Salford, UK ~ Rose to fame as percussionist, dancer, and de facto mascot of rave band the Happy Mondays, known for a string of early 1990s hits including the UK top 10 singles Step On and Kinky Afro. After the band disbanded, Berry joined Mondays bandmate Shaun Ryder in Black Grape, remaining with the band through 1997April 18, 1964 ~ Rock bassist, guitarist, keyboardist Carl Øyvind Apeland born ~ Best known as member of Vamp. Wrote or co-wrote several of the band's best known including Somar I Hekken, Ingeborg, Sirkus Av Fys and Svin På Skog
April 18, 1963 ~ Country singer Bobby Bare records Detroit City in Nashville, Tennessee ~ Written by Danny Dill and Mel Tillis. Previously recorded by Billy Grammer as I Wanna Go Home, yet the song would become most closely associated with Bobby Bare. His Chet Atkins-produced single, b/w Heart Of Ice, would reach top 20 Billboard Hot 100, and top 10 Billboard Country earning Bare his first major hitApril 18, 1963 ~ Singer Paul McCartney meets the actress Jane Asher after a performance with his band the Beatles at the Royal Albert Hall for the radio show Swingin' Sound Of '63 ~ The pair would become one of the most popular couples in England and get engaged, but they never marry and split up in 1968 after Jane Asher catches Paul McCartney in bed with another woman. McCartney had written several songs inspired by Asher, including And I Love Her, You Won't See Me, I'm Looking Through You, What You're Doing, and For No One. Following the couple's break-up, McCartney would soon start to date Linda Louise Eastman, whom he married in 1969
April 18, 1958 ~ Bassist, songwriter Les Pattinson, full name Leslie Thomas Pattinson, born in Ormskirk, UK ~ Co-founding member of Echo & the Bunnymen, best known for their 1983 Porcupine album which spawned the band's first UK top 10 hit in The Cutter. Pattinson remained with the band through 1993 and rejoined in later years
April 18, 1954 ~ Jazz, Latin jazz percussionist, keyboardist Andy Narell born in New York, New York, USA ~ Founded the Steel Bandits, a novelty steelpan band. Also known as a solo artist, starting with 1979's Hidden Treasures album and has recorded extensively since. Joined the Caribbean Jazz Project in 1995, which also included Paquito d'Rivera. Has also worked Béla Fleck, Darol Anger, Aretha Franklin, Jimmy Haslip, Boney James, Biréli Lagrène, Patti LaBelle, Marcus Miller, Taj Mahal, Toto, Spyro Gyra, and Narada Michael Walden
April 18, 1953 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, rock, pop drummer Danny Gottlieb, full name Daniel Richard Gottlieb, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Co-founding member of the Pat Metheny Group. Co-founding member of Elements. Briefly a member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, present on the band's 1984 Mahavishnu album. Has also worked with Gary Burton, Michael Franks, Second Story Television, Gil Evans, Al di Meola, Joe Beck, the Blues Brothers, George Gruntz, Nguyên Lê, Kenneth Sivertsen, Sting, and Steven Curtis ChapmanApril 18, 1953 ~ Singer, songwriter Larry Cassidy, full name Lawrence John Cassidy, born in Blackpool, UK ~ Formed and fronted the Blackpool outfit Section 25, which also featured his brother drummer Vin Casidy and guitarist Paul Wiggin. The band would go on to work with producers such as Joy Division's singer Ian Curtis, Rob Gretton, Martin Hannett, and New Order's Bernard Sumner ~ Cassidy passed away in 2010
April 18, 1953 ~ Actor, singer Rick Moranis born in Ottawa, Canada ~ Best known as an actor, appearing in films such as Ghostbusters, Brewster's Millions and Honey I Shrunk The Kids. Also half of musical comedy duo Bob & Doug McKenzie in the 1980s. As a solo singer recorded a handful of albums, starting with You Me The Music & Me released in 1989
April 18, 1952 ~ Pop, palingpop singer, guitarist Piet Keizer born ~ Member of the Q-Tips. Member of the Cats since 1972, previously having worked as a roadie for the band. Initially promoted to singer, guitarist as a temporary replacement for Cees Veerman who suffered throat problems yet remained with the band until its disbandement two years later. Sang lead on the tracks Linda and Going Home
April 18, 1949 ~ Conductor Andrew Powell born in London, UK ~ Closely associated with the Alan Parsons Project, credited as arranger, conductor and composer on almost all of the Alan Parsons Project's album. Produced Kate Bush's 1989 The Kick Inside debut album. Has also worked with Chris De Burgh, Nick Heyward, Michael Crawford, Elaine Page, the Hollies. Composed for film and TV, notably the films Ladyhawke and Rocket Gibraltar. Conducted renowned orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmonic OrchestraApril 18, 1949 ~ Singer Ezio Pinza records Some Enchanted Evening ~ Written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for the 1949 South Pacific stage musical, which starred Ezio Pinza in a Tony Award-winning lead role. The song has been widely regarded as one of the finest ever written for any musical. Several artists would reach top 10 on the pop charts in 1949 with their respective renditions, including Pinza, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Perry Como