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, 1954 ~ Raymond Ian Burns, commonly known as singer Captain Sensible, born in Balham, UK ~ Co-founding member, bassist, guitarist of the Damned, known best for their cult debut single New Rose, Love Song and perhaps their best known Eloise, the latter reaching the UK top 10 in 1986. As a solo artist known for Happy Talk and Glad It's All Over, both of which reached the UK top 10
April 24, 1954 ~ Bassist, singer Jack Blades, full name Jack Martin Blades, born in Palm Desert, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of supergroup Damn Yankees, scoring an early 1990s Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit with High Enough. Also well known as a member of Rubicon and Night Ranger, and for his association with Tommy Shaw recording under the moniker Shaw-Blades. Has written or co-written songs recorded by Aerosmith, Cher, Journey (Higher Place), Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, and Roger Daltrey. Has also recorded as a solo artist, and collaborated with Mötley Crüe, Tak Matsumoto Group, the Revolution Saints, and Ringo Starr
April 24, 1951 ~ Jean-Jacques Ferret, commonly known as virtuoso jazz guitarist, composer, arranger Boulou Ferré, born in Paris, France ~ Comes from a family of musicians, his father Matelo Ferret, and his uncle, Baro Ferret, both played with Django Reinhardt's the Quintette du Hot Club. Played with John Coltrane at age 13. Debuted as a solo artist with the album Boulou With the Paris All-Stas in 1966, backed by Michel Gaudry, Maurice Vander, and Eddy Louiss. Also worked with Dexter Gordon, Patrice Caratini, Philly Joe Jones, Bob Reid, Chet Baker, Steve Lacy, Gunter Hampel, Kenny Clarke, Warne Marsh, Svend Asmussen, Louis Vola, the Corporation Gypsy Orchesta, Steve Potts, Christian Escoudé, Takashi Kako, Babik Reinhardt, Philippe Combelle, Christone Astorfi, Alain Jean-Marie, and with his brother Elios FerreApril 24, 1951 ~ Debra Piazza, commonly known as blues pianist Honey Piazza born in Fairfield, California, USA ~ Best known for co-founding the Mighty Flyers with her husband singer Rod Piazza, known for their energetic blues hybrid, drawing from jump blues, West Coast blues and Chicago blues
April 24, 1950 ~ Singer Ismaíla Touré born in Ziguinchor, Senegal ~ Member of Senegalese outfit Touré Kunda, with whom he recorded well over a dozen albums starting with E'mma Africa released in 1980. The band would enjoy popularity and critical acclaim especially in France from the mid-1980s forward. The band achieved wider international attention after Touré and several bandmembers collaborated with guitarist Carlos Santana on Africa Bamba of the latter's 1999 The Supernatural album ~ Touré passed away in 2023
April 24, 1949 ~ Pop rock, chanson singer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter Véronique Sanson, full name Véronique Marie Line Sanson, born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France ~ Debuted in 1972 with the album Amoureuse to become one of France's most popular artists of the 1970s redefining the French chanson. Romantically involved with singer Michel Berger from 1967 through 1972. Married to singer Stephen Stills from 1973 to 1979, with whom she has one son
April 24, 1946 ~ Double bassist, composer Stafford James born in Evanston, Illinois, USA ~ Also plays the violin. Switched to bass before starting his professional career. Worked with Pharoah Sanders, Monty Alexander, Sun Ra, Alice Coltrane, Albert Ayler, Melba Moore, David Frost, Artie Johnson, Diahann Carroll, Fred Travalena, Rashied Ali, Roy Ayers, Al Haig, Barry Harris, Andrew Hill, Andrew Cyrille, Chico Hamilton, Gary Bartz, Art Blakey, the Jazz Messengers, Frank Strozier, Harold Mabern, Louis Hayes, Jimmy Heath, Mulgrew Miller, Akua Dixon, Barney Wilen, Freddie Hubbard, Onaje Allan Gumbo, Ronnie Burrage, Richard Davis, Ray Mantilla, Warren Smith, Gary Bartz, Dexter Gordon, Bill Hardman, Louis Hayes, Lavelle, Cecil Payne, and Oliver LakeApril 24, 1945 ~ Jazz, world percussionist, guitarist Collin Walcott born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Member of Oregon. Member of Codona. Present on the 1972 Miles Davis album On The Corner. Has also worked with David Amram, Don Cherry, Larry Coryell, Egberto Gismonti, and Paul Winter ~ Walcott passed away in 1984
April 24, 1945 ~ Hervé Fomeri, commonly known as rock & roll singer, actor Dick Rivers, born in Nice, France ~ Along with Johnny Hallyday one of the artists credited with bringing rock & roll to France. Influenced by Elvis Presley Took his stage name after “Deke Richards”, the character Elvis portrayed in his 1957 Loving You film. Briefly the lead singer of Les Chats Sauvages before venturing into a solo career by the early 1960s ~ Fomeri passed away in 2019
April 24, 1945 ~ Drummer Doug Clifford born in Palo Alto, California, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival and as a member of 1990s reincarnation Creedence Clearwater Revisited. Clifford also guested on albums by Mark Spoelstra, Tom Fogerty, Don Harrison, the Sir Douglas Quintet, Billy C Farlow, and Greg Kihn.April 24, 1944 ~ Bernard St Clair Lee, commonly known as St Clair Lee, born in California, USA ~ Best known as singer of the Hues Corporation, scoring a Billboard top 10 hit with their single Rock The Boat taken of their 1973 Freedom For The Stallion album. Previously the band had contributed to the Blacula soundtrack, a 1973 blaxploitation version of the classic Dracula tale ~ Lee passed away in 2011
April 24, 1944 ~ Producer Tony Visconti, full name Anthony Edward Visconti, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Produced close to a dozen T.Rex albums, including the acclaimed masterpiece Electric Warrior. Best-known perhaps for his work with David Bowie, producing a dozen of the singer's albums including The Man Who Sold The World, Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps), and Blackstar. Has also served as producer or co-producer for the likes of Badfinger, Strawbs, Argent, Sparks, Thin Lizzy, Iggy Pop (The Idiot), Elaine Page, the Boomtown Rats, the Stranglers, John Hiatt (All Of A Sudden), the Manic Street Preachers, Alejandro Escovedo, Kaiser Chiefs, and Esperanza Spalding
April 24, 1943 ~ Singer, arranger Richard Sterban born in Camden, New Jersey, USA ~ Member of country, gospel quartet the Oak Ridge Boys, joining the band in 1972 and noted for his vocal bass solo on the band's 1981 smash hit Elvira. Prior to joining the band Sterban sang with JD Sumner & the Stamps, a vocal group backing Elvis Presley
April 24, 1942 ~ Barbara Joan Streisand, commonly known as singer, stage and film actress Barbra Streisand, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ One of the few to hold what is commonly abbreviated to an “EGOT”, having been awarded an Emmy Award, Grammy Award, Oscar and Tony Award. Has scored nearly a dozen No.1 albums and nearly half a dozen singles over a decade spanning seven decades. Best known for songs such as The Way We Were, the Neil Diamond-penned You Don't Bring Me Flowers and No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) with Donna SummerApril 24, 1940 ~ Guitarist George Tomsco born ~ Co-founding and longtime member of the Fireballs, named for Jerry Lee Lewis's rock & roll classic Great Balls Of Fire and known for songs such as Torquay, Quite A Party and perhaps their best known Sugar Shack, the latter topping the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963
April 24, 1940 ~ Harry Samuel Paris, commonly known as singer, actor Michael Parks, born in Corona, California, USA ~ Best known as an actor, star of the Then Came Bronson TV series, acclaimed for his role of Adam in the 1966 film The Bible (In The Beginning}. As a singer admired by peers and enjoys a cult following. Best known for the 1969 Closing The Gap debut album and its follow-up 1970's Long Lonesome Highway, its title track Long Lonesome Highway reaching the Billboard top 20 ~ Parks passed away in 2017
April 24, 1937 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, soul jazz saxophonist Joe Henderson born in Lima, Ohio, USA ~ Influenced by Charlie Parker. Well over two dozen albums as a leader, drawing from bebop, R&B, Latin jazz, and avant-garde. Best known for an impressive string of acclaimed 1960s albums, starting with Page One, and three tribute albums released in the 1990s celebrating the music of Billy Strayhorn (Lush Life), Miles Davis (So Near So Far), and Antônio Carlos Jobim (Double Rainbow). As a composer, Henderson is best known for Recorda-me, Serenity, Inner Urge, Isotope, and Black Narcissus, all covered by numerous artists. Though primarily a leader, Henderson has guested on numerous albums including landmark recordings by Lee Morgan (The Sidewinder), Horace Silver (Song For My Father), Andrew Hill (Point Of Departure), and Herbie Hancock (The Prisoner). Other notable associations include Kenny Dorham, Blue Mitchell, Johnny Coles, Grant Green, Duke Pearson, Freddie Roach, Pete La Roca, Larry Young, Bobby Hutcherson, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Ayers, Joe Zawinul, McCoy Tyner, Lee Konitz, Alice Coltrane, Miroslav Vitous, Flora Purim, Ron Carter, Patrice Rushen, Woody Shaw, Ben Sidran, Chick Corea, Mal Waldron, and Chaka Khan ~ Henderson passed away in 2001April 24, 1935 ~ Hornist, tuba player Allan Jaffe born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Took over management of the New Orleans Preservation Hall in 1961, which has since become an institute of standing and invaluable to the preservation of traditional New Orleans jazz ~ Jaffe passed away in 1987
April 24, 1931 ~ Songwriter Clint Ballard Jr, full name Clinton Conger Ballard Jr, born in El Paso, Texas, USA ~ Wrote two major hits, Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders' The Game Of Love and Linda Ronstadt's You're No Good, the latter originally recorded by Dee Dee Warwick but the bigger hit for Ronstadt though. Other artists who have recorded his songs include Walter Jackson, Gene McDaniels, Johnny Tillotson, the Tremeloes, Ricky Nelson, the Hollies (I'm Alive), Jan & Dean, Jimmy Jones (Good Timin'), the Zombies, Alvin Stardust, the Kalin Twins, Billy Eckstine, Nancy Wilson, Malcolm Vaughan (Ev'ry Hour Ev'ry Day Of My Life), the Swinging Blue Jeans, Johnny Burnette, Louis Prima, Connie Francis, Frankie Laine, Frankie Avalon (Ginger Bread), Bobby Rydell, Patti Page, and Arthur Prysock ~ Ballard passed away in 2008
April 24, 1930 ~ Jazz pianist Frank Strazzeri born in Rochester, New York, USA ~ Active since the early 1950s, backing visiting musicians such as Roy Eldridge and Billie Holiday while still living in his native Rochester. Relocated to New Orleans by the mid 1950s, where he played Dixieland with Sharkey Bonano and Al Hirt prior to venturing into bebop with the likes of Charlie Ventura and Woody Herman. Relocating once again, this time to Los Angeles, Strazzeri became an in-demand session musician from the early 1960s onward, appearing on albums by Curtis Amy, Herb Ellis, Carmell Jones, and Roy Haynes. Strazzeri has recorded over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, and is especially acclaimed for Wood Winds West released in 1992. To pop rock audiences Strazzeri is best known for touring with Elvis Presley in the early 1970s, including for several Madison Square Garden dates and the 1973 Aloha From Hawaii worldwide telecast ~ Strazzeri passed away in 2014
April 24, 1928 ~ Saxophonist Johnny Griffin, full name John Arnold Griffin III, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Considered one of the all-time greatest tenor saxophonists and a pioneering figure in hard bop, nicknamed “the Little Giant” for his short posture and big sound. Influenced by Gene Ammons, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, and John Coltrane, while also drawing from a rich musical palette including classical and opera. Played with T-Bone Walker while still in high school. Joined the big band of Lionel Hampton, who persuaded him to trade in the alto sax for a tenor, within days of his high school graduation. Closely associated with Joe Morris and Arnett Cobb through the early 1950s, and with Pepper Adams, Max Roach, Donald Byrd, Bud Powell, Elmo Hope, Art Blakey, Thelonious Monk, and Eddie Lockjaw Davis over the next decade. Well over three dozen albums to his name as a leader or co-leader, including the highly acclaimed A Blowin' Session which featured both John Coltrane and Hank Mobley, Live At Minton's Playhouse, Salt Peanuts, and Bush Dance. Relocated to France in the early 1960s and subsequently to the Netherlands a decade and a half later, preferring the European music scene embittered by the critical acceptance of free jazz in America. Charter member of the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band, backed visiting American jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie, and collaborated with Klaus Doldinger in the fusion band Passport. Griffin remained active until the end, passing away of a heart attack at age 80 only days after his last performance in Hyères, France ~ Griffin passed away in 2008April 24, 1924 ~ Bandleader Isham Jones records It Had To Be You at Brunswick Studios, New York, New York ~ Music Isham Jones, lyrics Gus Kahn. Released as a single b/w After The Storm the following July it would reach No.1 on the pop charts. The song would become a standard, over the years covered by artists as diverse as Ruth Etting, Betty Hutton, Doris Day, Billie Holiday, Patti Page, Ray Charles, the Crew Cuts, Barbra Streisand, James Brown, Harry Nilsson, and Don McLean
April 24, 1922 ~ Operatic baritone Matti Lehtinen born in Lappeenranta, Finland ~ Associated with the Cologne Opera from 1952 through 1955. Freelanced in opera, oratorio and lieder until 1963 before returning to his previous position at the Finnish National Opera, where over the years he appeared in over 60 operatic roles ~ Lehtinen passed away in 2022
April 24, 1921 ~ Jazz double bassist Aaron Bell, full name Samuel Aaron Bell, born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Lucky Millinder, Teddy Wilson, Billie Holiday (Lady Sings The Blues), Lester Young, Stan Kenton, Johnny Hodges, Cab Calloway, Carmen McRae, Ray Bryant, Dick Haymes, Duke Ellington, Sam Woodyard, Buck Clayton, Earl Hines, Friedrich Gulda, Sonny Stitt, Charles Thompson, Mose Allison, Harold Ashby, Mae Barnes, Urbie Green, Junior Mance, Sam Most, Jimmy Rushing (If This Ain't The Blues), Buddy Tate, Norris Turney, and Randy Weston ~ Bell passed away in 2003April 24, 1916 ~ Guitarist, arranger Eldon Shamblin, full name Estel Eldon Shamblin, born in Clinton, Oklahoma, USA ~ Considered one of the premier electric guitarists in Western Swing. Influenced by Eddie Lang. Worked with the Alabama Boys, Bob Wills' backing unit the Texas Playboys, Merle Haggard's backing unit the Strangers, the Four Giants Of Swing, Leon McAuliffe, Tiny Moore, Willie Nelson, Joe Venuti, Mac Wiseman, the Tractors, and Asleep At The Wheel ~ Shamblin passed away in 1998