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 26, 1960 ~ Pianist, organist, composer Peter Schindler born in lternsteig, West Germany ~ Active mostly in musical theatre. Has worked with the Staatstheater Stuttgart, the Wurttembergische Landesbuhne Esslinge, Saltacello, Pipes & Phones and his own the Peter Schindler Combo
April 26, 1960 ~ Pop, new wave, synth-pop drummer Roger Taylor, full name Roger Andrew Taylor, born in Nechells, UK ~ Member of pop outfit Duran Duran from their inception in the late 1970s until 1985 and again from 2001 onwards. Present on most of the band's best known hits, including the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Hungry Like The Wolf, Is There Something I Should Know, Union Of The Snake, New Moon On Monday, and The Reflex, the latter their first US No.1 hit. Taylor has also worked with Arcadia, Freebass, and formed the electro house Funk Face with Jake RobertsApril 26, 1959 ~ Keyboardist, composer, producer, engineer Jay Oliver born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Worked with Maynard Ferguson, Sheryl Crow, the Eagles, Jimmy Buffett, Wynonna Judd, Glenn Frey, Peabo Bryson, Chick Corea, Dave Weckl, Russ Kunkel, Jay Graydon, and Céline Dion
April 26, 1959 ~ Hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal singer, guitarist, bassist John Corabi in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Fronted Mötley Crüe during Vince Neil's hiatus, appearing on the band's eponymous 1994 album. The band received praise for adjusting their trademark sound by adopting the then-popular trends of grunge and alternative metal, and critics applauded Corabi's vocal range. Despite this, the album would be poorly received by fans. Corabi would later recollect: “Mötley Crüe was the first record that they had done that didn't go platinum, didn't make some sort of crazy noise, and everybody panicked.” Corabi also sang lead on several albums with the Dead Daisies, a supergroup with a revolving line-up which at times contained members of Whitesnake, Guns 'n Roses, Black Sabbath, and Thin Lizzy. Over the course of his lengthy career, Corabi has also been a member of or guested on albums by Angora, the Scream, ESP, Union, Twenty 4 Seven, Brides Of Destruction, and Bruce Kolick, and has recorded several albums as a solo artist starting with Unplugged released in 2012April 26, 1959 ~ Athanasios Papakonstantinou, commonly known as singer Thanassis Papakonstantinou, born in Tyrnavos, Greece ~ Regarded as one of the most original singers in Greek music drawing from traditional folk while still remaining fresh, vibrant and relevant to his own time. Has collaborated with Giannis Aggelakas, Melina Kana, Sokratis Malames, Lizeta Kalimeri, and Nikos Papazoglou
April 26, 1957 ~ Conductor, pianist Rosa Briceño Ortiz born in Caracas, Venezuela ~ First woman to lead the Banda Marical Caracas. In 1983 also became the first woman to lead a Venezuelan symphony orchestra, namely the Orquesta Sinfonica Simon Bolivar ~ Ortiz passed away in 2018
April 26, 1952 ~ Blues-rock drummer, singer Ralph Kinsey born in Gary, Indiana, USA ~ Member of the Kinsey Report, which included his brothers Donald Kinsey and Kenneth Kinsey, family friend Ron Prince and led by patriarch Big Daddy Kinsey. The band recorded about half a dozen albums in the 1980s and 1990s, starting with 1988's Edge Of The City, and has toured with Albert King, and Muddy Waters ~ Kinsey passed away in 2024April 26, 1952 ~ Jazz, blues pianist Zinky Cohn passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Fixture on the 1920s, 1930s Chicago jazz scene, most closely associated with clarinetist Jimmie Noone. Cohn has also worked with Leon Washington, Frankie Franko, Punch Miller, Jabbo Smith, and notably accompanied Georgia White ~ Cohn was born in 1908
April 26, 1951 ~ R&B, jazz, gospel singer, songwriter Billy Newton-Davis born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Member of the Nylons. As a solo artist best known for songs such as Deeper, Find My Way Back, I Can't Take It and the Céline Dion duet Can't Live With You Can't Live Without You. Has also worked with the Boomtang Boys, Deadmau5, and with Nino AnthonyApril 26, 1951 ~ Miguel Atilio Boccadoro Hernandez, commonly known as pop singer, guitarist, trumpeter, bandoneon player Diego Verdaguer, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Married to singer Amanda Miguel. Well over a dozen albums to his name, known best for songs such as Volveré, Corazón De Papel, Usted Qué Haria, La Ladrona, and Voy A Coonquistarte ~ Boccadoro passed away in 2022
April 26, 1949 ~ Singer, harmonica player, saxophonist Jimmy Hall born in Birmingham, Alabama, USA ~ Lead singer of Southern rock outfit Wet Willie, known for songs such as Street Corner Serenade, Weekend and perhaps their best known song the 1974 hit Keep On Smiling. Has had moderate success with the solo singles Be Happy That Love Has Found You and Fool For Your Love. Guested on Jeff Beck's 1985 album Flash and toured with Hank Williams Jr playing sax and harmonicaApril 26, 1945 ~ Drummer, songwriter Garry Peterson born in Winnipeg, Canada ~ Member of the Guess Who. The band is best known for their 1970 American Woman single which would reach No.1 both in the USA and their native Canada. Other Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits included These Eyes, Laughing, No Time, No Sugar Tonight, and Share The Land
April 26, 1945 ~ Keyboardist, organist, singer Mike Finnigan, full name Michael Kelly Finnigan, born in Troy, Ohio. USA ~ Played with Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker, Etta James, Sam Moore, Crosby Stills & Nash, Buddy Guy, the Manhattan Transfer, Taj Mahal, Michael McDonald, Maria Muldaur, Peter Frampton, Cher, Ringo Starr, Leonard Cohen, Tower Of Power, Rod Stewart, David Coverdale, Tracy Chapman, the Lonely Boys, Bonnie Raitt, and Saving Escape ~ Finnigan passed away in 2021
April 26, 1943 ~ Singer, keyboardist, songwriter Gary Wright, full name Gary Malcolm Wright, born in Creskill, New Jersey, USA ~ Helped establish the synthesizer as a leading instrument in pop and rock. As a solo artist best known for the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles Dream Weaver and its follow-up Love Is Alive, both taken of his 1976 Dream Weaver album. On-and-off member of Spooky Tooth from its inception in 1967 through the mid 1970s, notably present on albums such as Spooky Two and You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw. Guested on George Harrison's acclaimed 1970 All Things Must Pass album, marking the beginning of a longtime friendship. Also played with Ringo Starr & his All-Starr Band ~ Wright passed away in 2023
April 26, 1942 ~ Robert Louis Ridarelli, commonly known as pop, rock & roll singer, drummer, actor Bobby Rydell born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Early 1960s teen idol best known for songs such as Wild One, Swingin' School and Volare, all of which reached Billboard Hot 100 top 10. Appeared in the 1963 feature film Bye Bye Birdie based on the stage play of the same name ~ Ridarelli passed away in 2022
April 26, 1940 ~ Producer, songwriter, film composer Giorgio Moroder, full name Giovanni Giorgio Moroder, born in Ortisel, Italy ~ Pioneering producer and songwriter dubbed “the Father of Disco” and best known for his association with Donna Summer, producing the majority of her work including Love To Love You Baby, I Feel Love, Bad Girls, On The Radio. Also known for a number of pivotal electronic albums, notably 1977's From Here To Eternity, and for composing soundtracks including the Academy Award-winning Midnight Express, American Gigolo, Scarface and Neverending Story
April 26, 1938 ~ Guitarist Duane Eddy born in Coming, New York, USA ~ One of the most popular guitarists of the 1950s and 1960s, known for his distinctive twangy sound. Helped popularize surf music. Cited as an influence by artists as diverse as George Harrison, Dave Davies, Hank Marvin, John Entwistle, Bruce Springsteen, Adrian Belew, and Mark Knopfler. Well known songs include Rebel Rouser, Cannonball, Forty Miles Of Bad Road, Because They're Young, and Dance With The Guitar Man ~ Eddy passed away in 2024
April 26, 1938 ~ Doo-wop, R&B singer, songwriter Maurice Williams born in Lancaster, North Carolina, USA ~ Fronted the Zodiacs, previously named the Royal Charms and the Gladiolas, known best for the 1960 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Stay. At 1:36 it would be the shortest charttopper in Billboard history. The song would notably be covered by the Hollies in 1963, earning the band their first UK top 10 single, by the Four Seasons the same year, and by Jackson Browne in 1978. The original Zodiacs version would be included on the soundtrack of the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, leading to a renewed interest and chart success. Other well known songs include Little Darlin', which was a No.11 hit on the Billboard R&B charts for the band in 1957, then still called the Gladiolas, with a cover by Canadian quartet the Diamonds released the same year reaching No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the 1965 recording May I, which made little impact at the time of its release but would sell over a million copies over the years ~ Williams passed away in 2024April 26, 1932 ~ Frank Caldarone, commonly known as jazz singer, guitarist Frank D'Rone, born in Brockton, Massachusetts, USA ~ Active during 1950s and 1960s, starting with the 1959 album Frank D'Rone Sings. Best known for his 1960 single Strawberry Blonde (The Band Rocked On) ~ Caldarone passed away in 2013
April 26, 1928 ~ Bebop pianist Herman Foster born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Eric Dixon, Dick Carter, Herbie Jones, Lou Donaldson, King Curtis, Bill English, Seldon Powell, Al Casey, Gloria Lynne, Earl May, Frankie Dunlop, Grassella Oliphant, Herman Wright, Bruno Carr, Jeff Fuller, Victor Jones, Joan Shaw, Jean DuShon, and Johnny Hartman ~ Foster passed away in 1999
April 26, 1926 ~ Joseph Benjamin Hutto, commonly known as blues slide guitarist, singer JB Hutto, born in Blackville, South Carolina, USA ~ Known for songs such as Combination Boogie, Loving You and Dim Lights. Worked with Eddie Porkchop Hines, Earring George Mayweather, Johnny Dyer, Johnny Jones, Sunnyland Slim, and Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre. Took over Hound Dog Taylor's backing unit the House Rockers after Taylor's death in 1975 ~ Hutto passed away in 1983
April 26, 1925 ~ William Dermot Colleran, commonly known as bluegrass singer, mandolinist, guitarist Mac Martin, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Playing professionaly while still in high school, starting out duetting with Ed Brozi. Formed the Pike County Boys in the late 1940s, and due to the band consisting of three “Bills” changed his stage name to Mac. Perhaps best known for founding the Dixie Travelers, active for about two decades starting in 1957 ~ Colleran passed away in 2022
April 26, 1924 ~ Theodore Marcus Edwards, commonly known as tenor saxophonist Teddy Edwards, born in Jackson, Mississippi, USA ~ Edwards played with a host of leading jazz musicians including Charlie Parker, Roy Milton, Wynonie Harris, Vince Guaraldi, Joe Castro, Ernie Andrews, Dexter Gordon (notably on the 1947 seminal album The Duel), Houston Person, Benny Goodman, rocker Tom Waits (with whom Edwards toured on the Heartattack And Vine tour), Sonny Criss, Richard Groove Holmes, Milt Jackson, Hank Jones, Julie London, Shelly Manne, Les McCann, Howard McGhee, Freddie Redd, Max Roach, Clifford Brown, Jimmy Smith, Leroy Vinnegar, and Gerald Wilson ~ Edwards passed away in 2003
April 26, 1921 ~ Joseph Francis Giuffre, commonly known as saxophonist, arranger, composer Jimmy Giuffre, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Leader an sideman. Worked with Jimmy Giuffre 3, Woody Herman (wrote The Four Brothers), Howard Rumsey, the Lighthouse All-Stars, Shorty Rogers, Shelly Manne, Jim Hall, Ralph Peña, Jim Atlas, Bob Brookmeyer, Buddy Clark, Steve Swallow, Kiyoshi Tokunaga, Randy Kaye, Herb Ellis, Lee Konitz, Paul Bley, Chet Baker, Elmer Bernstein, Ray Brown, Peggy Connely, Buddy DeFranco, Shelly Manne, Helen Merrill, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Lennie Niehaus, Anita O'Day, Bill Russo, Sonny Stitt, and Duane Tatro ~ Giuffre passed away in 2008
April 26, 1921 ~ Jazz saxophonist, bandleader Preston Love, full name Preston Haynes Love, born in Omaha, Nebraska, USA ~ Took up the saxophone at age 15 and was playing with Count Basie by his early twenties. Active in territory bands in the 1940s and 1950s, most notably with Nat Towles and Lloyd Hunter, before leading his own groups. As a leader noted for the Johnny Otis-produced Preston Love's Omaha Bar-B-Q album released in 1969. Love has also guested on albums by Frank Zappa (Freak Out), T-Bone Walker, Shuggie Otis (Here Comes Shuggie), Cal Tjader, and Lucky Millinder ~ Love passed away in 2004