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 24, 1982 ~ In its 12th week on the charts, Same Ole Me by George Jones peaks at No.5 Billboard Country ~ The song tells of a couple who have grown old together, but their love is still strong as ever. He's still the “same ole me” who fell for her so many years ago. Vocal harmony country group the Oak Ridge Boys convinced George Jones to record Same Ole Me, and appeared on the recording singing backing vocals. The song would be the first major hit for songwriter Paul Overstreet, who would go on to write or co-write songs for the likes of Mel Tillis, Michael Martin Murphey, Tanya Tucker, Keith Whitley (When You Say Nothing At All), Randy Travis (Forever And Ever Amen), the Judds, Kenny Chesney (She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy), and Blake Shelton. As a solo artist, Overstreet would score over half a dozen Billboard Country top 10 hits from the late 1980s through the early 1990s, including the No.1 hit Daddy's Come Around
April 24, 1982 ~ Pop, pop rock, country pop singer, songwriter, actress Kelly Clarkson, full name Kelly Brianne Clarkson, born in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Rose to fame as winner of the 1st season of American Idol talent show in 2002 and has recorded to commercial succes and critical acclaim since. Known for songs such as Miss Independent, Breakaway, Since U Been Gone, Because Of You, My Life Would Suck Without You, Mr Know It All and Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You). Has collaborated with Trisha Yearwood, Ben Haenow, Reba McEntire, and Kaleb LeeApril 24, 1982 ~ Singer Nicole wins the 27th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in Harrogate, UK ~ Representing her native Germany, Nicole wins with hjer performance of Ein Bisschen Frieden written by Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger. Runner-ups would be Israel's Avi Toledano with Hora in second place, and Switzerland's Arlette Zola with Amour On T'Aime in third. Following Nicole's success at Eurovision Songfestival, the singer would also record Dutch and English translations of the song
April 24, 1980 ~ Jazz accordionist, singer, composer Vincent Peirani born in Nice, France ~ Internationally renowned accordionist. Leader and sideman. Founded Living Being quartet. Also known for collaborating with artists such as Denis Colin, François Jeanneau, Youn Sun Nah, Emile Parisien, Michel Portal, Louis Sclavis, Michael Wollny, Daniel Humair, Laurent Korcia, Yves Simon, and Muriel BlochApril 24, 1979 ~ David Michael Porter, commonly known as experimental pop singer, songwriter Avey Tare, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Co-founding member of experimental pop outfit Animal Collective, especially acclaimed for the album Merriweather Post Pavillion released in 2009. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with the likes of Eric Copeland, Angel Deradoorian, Kristin Anna Valtysdottir, Mickey Hart, Automine, and Terrestrial Tones
April 24, 1977 ~ Punk rock, ska punk, metalcore, alternative rock drummer, guitarist, singer Derek Grant, full name Derek Richard Grant, born ~ Best known as drummer for punk rock outfit the Alkaline Trio, joining the band in 2001 as replacement for Mike Felumlee. First appeared on the album Good Mourning released in 2003. Also known for his associations with Dead Ending, Suicide Machines, Telegraph, Gyga, Thoughts Of Ionesco, Remainder, Walls Of Jericho, and Broken Spoke. Has filled in as guitarist for Face To Face and Gaslight Anthem. Has also released several solo recordings, mostly through online outlets, leading up to the full-length Breakdown studio album released in 2015
April 24, 1975 ~ Songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist Pete Ham passed away in London, UK ~ Co-founding member of mid 1960s rock outfit Iveys. Starting with their 1969 Paul McCartney-penned Come And Get It single the band would go by the name Badfinger. Well known hits include No Matter What, Day After Day, Baby Blue and Without You, penned by Ham and Tom Evans. The latter would be covered by over 180 artists, including notably Harry Nilsson. Despite commercial succes Ham would suffer dire financial straits, ripped off by music management, and broke, depressed and disappointed with the music industry Ham committed suicide at age 27. The emotional scar of his death would also be a factor in bandmate Evans' suicide some eight years later ~ Ham was born in 1947April 24, 1974 ~ Trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger Jordan McLean born in New Rochelle, New York, USA ~ Lead trumpeter of Afrobeat ensemble Antibalas. Has worked with David Byrne, Iron & Wine, Patti Smith, the Alabama Shakes, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, the Roots, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, Beyoncé, Angélique Kidjo, Bosco Mann, Mark Ronson, and Wyclef Jean
April 24, 1973 ~ Drummer Allan Sørensen born in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Mentored by Mikkey Dee. Influenced by AC/DC, Kiss, Saxon, Dio. Best known for his association with Royal Hunt. Has also worked with acts such as Narita, Prime Time, Andre Andersen, and Cornerstone
April 24, 1973 ~ Alternative rock, alternative metal, post-grunge bassist, drummer Brian Marshall, full name Brian Aubrey Marshall, born in Jackson, Mississippi, USA ~ Influenced by Steve Harris, John Entwistle, Geddy Lee, John Paul Jones, and Doug Pinnick. Co-founding member of Creed, one of the most commercially successful rock bands of the late 1990s. Present on some of the band's best known including the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Higher and With Arms Wide Open. Following his departure from the band in 2000 Marshall has worked with Alter BridgeApril 24, 1971 ~ Mariachi, Latin pop, pop singer Alejandro Fernández, full name Alejandro Fernández Abarca, born in Guadalajara, Mexico ~ Son of singer Vicente Fernández. One of the best-selling Latin music artist with record sales exceeding 20 million. Sang more traditional folk early on in his career, including mariachi and ranchera, but would eventually venture into pop and Latin pop reaching greater status
April 24, 1971 ~ Jasbinder Singh Mann, commonly known as alternative rock singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist Jas Mann, born in Dudley, UK ~ Member of indie pop band the Sandkings through 1992. Lead singer of Babylon Zoo, best known for their Spaceman single which would top the UK charts in 1996 after being used in a Levi's commercial. Other well known songs include Animal Army and The Boy With The X-Ray Eyes
April 24, 1971 ~ Leonard George Hayton, commonly known as composer, conductor, arranger Lennie Hayton passed away in Palm Springs, California, USA ~ Discovered by Paul Whiteman. While with Whiteman played with Frankie Trumbauer, Bix Beiderbecke, Red Nichols, Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang. Hayton also played with Bing Crosby. Musical direcor for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in prime time of movie musical. Arranged music for the film Singing In The Rain. Co-arranged Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust ~ Hayton was born in 1908
April 24, 1970 ~ Pop rock outfit the Moody Blues release Question, lead single off their A Question Of Balance album ~ Back when they were still a beat band, the Moody Blues scored a UK No.1 hit with Go Now, a cover of a Bessie Banks tune, lifted off their The Magnificent Moodies debut album. Over half a decade later, they scored their second-highest UK single with an original, as Question made it to No.2. The song was pieced together from two unfinished songs, which accounts for the change of pace in the middle. Justin Hayward, who wrote the song and performed lead vocal, would later recollect: “Sometime before we taped the album, we documented Question, which was a song that I didn't have on Friday night for the session the following Saturday. But, by the morning, I had it and it was recorded very quickly.” Question would also reach No.21 on the American Billboard Hot 100, top 10 in Canada, Germany, and New Zealand, and No.1 in both Ireland and the Netherlands
April 24, 1970 ~ Blues pianist Otis Spann passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Considered the premier postwar Chicago blues pianist. Closely associated with Muddy Waters, replacing Big Maceo Merriweather as Waters' backing pianist in 1952. Has recorded prolifically as a solo artist since the early 1960s. In-demand collaborator for artists such as Bo Diddley, Howlin' Wolf, BB King, Buddy Guy, Big Mama Thornton, Peter Green, Fleetwood Mac, T-Bone Walker, Joe Turner, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Shines, and Junior Wells ~ Spann was born ca.1924
April 24, 1968 ~ Pop rock, funk rock drummer, keyboardist, bassist Aaron Comess born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA ~ Studied under legendary session drummer Bernard Pretty Purdie. Co-founding and constant member of the Spin Doctors, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums. They are best known for the hits Two Princes and Little Miss Can't Be Wrong, which respectively peaked at No.17 and No.7 Billboard Hot 100, both taken of the band's 1991 Pocket Full Of Kryptonite debut album. Comess has also guested on albums by Deanna Kirk, Marc Cohn, and Saul Zonana, produced and performed on Joan Osborne's 2000 Righteous Love album, and issued his Catskills Cry solo debut album in 2006April 24, 1967 ~ Yvette Montagnon, commonly known as classical guitarist, composer Ida Presti, passed away in Rochester, New York, USA ~ Child prodigy. Would go on to become a highly acclaimed classical guitarist, perhaps best known for premiering Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto De Aranjuez broadcast on French radio in 1948. Following her marriage to classical guitarist Alexandre Lagoya in 1951, she would abandon her solo career and work with Lagoye as a duo ~ Montagnon was born in 1924
April 24, 1964 ~ Bassist Paul Ryder, full name Paul Anthony Ryder, born in Little Hulton, UK ~ Founding member of pivotal Manchester band the Happy Mondays remaining with the band through 1993 and rejoining in later years. Present on the band's best known including Step On, Kinky Afro and Loose Fit, all of which reached top 20 in their native UK. Ryder has also ventured into acting, appearing in the films The Ghosts Of Oxford Street, Losing It and perhaps most notably 24 Hour Party People ~ Ryder passed away in 2022
April 24, 1963 ~ Alternative metal, funk metal, experimental rock, alternative rock, hardcore punk, avant-garde bassist, keyboardist, guitarist, producer Bill Gould born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with Faith No More, serving as the band's bassist and producer. They are best known for their 1990 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Epic and their 193 cover Easy, originally a hit for the Commodores. Gould has also worked with Brujeria, Jello Biafra, Milk Cult, and the Fear Factory, and served as producer for the likes of Naive, CMX (Vainajala, Beatsteaks, and Elvis JacksonApril 24, 1963 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Bob Dylan records Masters Of War ~ One of Bob Dylan's best known protest songs in part inspired by President Dwight D Eisenhower's farewell address before leaving the White House referencing the military-industrial complex. Based on the traditional song Nottamun Town as arranged by veteran folksinger Jean Ritchie Dylan's lyrics are a protest against the Cold War nuclear arms race. It would be included on the The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan album released later the same year
April 24, 1963 ~ Drummer, percussionist Horacio Hernandez born in Havana, Cuba ~ Worked with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Roy Hargrove, Edward Simon, Michel Camilo, Joanne Bracken, Carlos Santana, Italuba, Eddie Palmieri, Alejandro Sanz, Yerba Buena, Kazumi Watanabe, Fahir Atakoglu, Meddy Gerville, Robby Ameen, Mariza, Kip Hanrahan, Zucchero, Salazh Trio, and Osamu
April 24, 1959 ~ Heavy metal singer Eric Wagner born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known as founding member, lead singer of Trouble, considered a pioneer in the doom metal genre. Wagner left he band in 1997 to rejoin in 2000, then leaving again in 2008 to be replaced by Kory Clarky. Wagner has also worked with Lid, Blackfinger, and the Skull ~ Wagner passed away in 2021
April 24, 1958 ~ Singer Bobby Darin records Early In The Morning ~ Written by Bobby Darin and Woody Harris. Released on Brunswick Records using the alias the Rinky-dinks, due to contractual obligations. Darin's own label, ATCO Records, discovered the deception and Brunswick was forced to turn over the master tapes. Future releases would be under Darin's own name
April 24, 1957 ~ David John Haskins, commonly known as singer, bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter David J born in Northampton, UK ~ Best known as bassist for gothic rock band Bauhaus and Love & Rockets. Has also recorded as a solo artist, notably the David Bowie tribute song The Day That David Bowie Died, composed soundtracks for a number of plays and films, and wrote and directed his own plays, notably Silver For Gold (The Odyssey Of Edie Sedgwick) and The Chanteuse And The Devil's MuseApril 24, 1956 ~ Ragtime, jazz bandleader, composer Julius Lenzberg passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity during the 1910s and 1920s. Best known for his 1913 composition Hungarian Rag, a ragtime adaptation of Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies. His succes inspired others to “rag” popular classical melodies though none were as successful as Lenzberg ~ Lenzberg was born in 1878