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 30, 1987 ~ Blues, blues rock guitarist, singer Davy Knowles born in Port St Mary, Isle Of Man ~ Influenced by Peter Green, Cream, the Dire Straits. Frontman of Back Door Slam, known for their 2007 Roll Away debut album. The band has opened for the likes of Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, and Chickenfoot. Touring member of the Rhythm Devils. Released his The Outsider debut album in 2014
April 30, 1985 ~ Singer Phil Collins releases Sussudio, lifted off his No Jacket Required album ~ Phil Collins was playing around with a drum machine, and the lyric he came up with was “su-sussudio”, a pseudoword. The singer would later explain: “I kinda knew I had to find something else for that word, then I went back and tried to find another word that scanned as well as ‘sussudio, ’ and I couldn't find one.” The single would reach top 10 in about a dozen countries, including No.1 in America. Some critics have suggested that the song shows remarkable similarity to Prince's 1999. Collins does not deny it, as he is a fan of Prince and remembers frequently listening to 1999 at the time while on tourApril 30, 1984 ~ Country singer, songwriter Tyler Wilkinson born in Belleville, Canada ~ Member of family group the Wilkinsons, which also included his sister lead singer Amanda Wilkinson and father Steve Wilkinson, known for songs such 26 Cents, Fly (The Angel Song), Nothing But Love (Standing In Our Way) and Jimmy's Got A Girlfriend. The band recorded five albums from 1998 through 2007 and was the subject of the CMT fictionalized reality show The Wilkinsons following the family's move back from Nashville to Ontario, Canada. After disbanding in the late 2000s, siblings Amanda and Tyler would continue recording under the moniker the Small Town Pistols
April 30, 1983 ~ Pop, blue-eyed soul duo Hall & Oates release Family Man, lifted off their H2O album ~ Although the duo would mostly write their own songs, ocassionally they did record a cover. Family Man had originally been recorded by Mike Oldfield the previous year for his Five Miles Out album. For Hall & Oates, whose version would be praised for its vocal performance and guitar solo, Family Man would be another Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, peaking at No.6. Two previous singles off the same album, Maneater and One On One, had also reached top 10. Family Man would also reach No.15 in the UK, where Oldfield's original had only been a minor hit, peaking at No.45
April 30, 1983 ~ McKinley Morganfield, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist Muddy Waters passed away in Westmont, Illinois, USA ~ Iconic blues artist active since the 1930s. Best known to rock audiences for electrifying the blues, alongside artists such as Howlin' Wolf, in the late 1960s. Profound influence on rock & roll and rock artists. Known for songs such as Hoochie Coochie Man, I Just Want To Make Love To You, Forty Days And Forty Nights, Got My Mojo Working and I'm Ready. Has worked with Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Big Joe Williams, Otis Spann, Bo Diddley, Carey Bell, Pinetop Perkins, Mick Jagger, and Johnny Winter ~ Morganfield was born in 1913
April 30, 1982 ~ R&B, pop, soul singer Cleo Higgins, full name Cleopatra Madonna Higgins, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Lead singer, eponym of sibling R&B outfit Cleopatra, which also included Yonah Higgins and Zainam Higgins. The group is well known for the UK top 10 hits Cleopatra's Theme, Life Ain't Easy and I Want You Back, all taken of their 1998 Comin' Atcha debut album. Has also recorded as a solo artist, noted for dueting with Russell Watson on Someone Like You
April 30, 1982 ~ Christopher Charles Lloyd, commonly known as rapper, singer, songwriter Lloyd Banks, born in Carrolton, Maryland, USA ~ Member of hip-hop group G-Unit alongside 50 Cent and Tony Yayo. Released his The Hunger For More solo debut album in 2004, which included the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 single On Fire and the top 20 single Karma featuring Avant. Has also collaborated with 50 Cent, Keri Hilson, Eminem, Juelz Santana (Beamer Benz Or Bentley), and Busta RhymesApril 30, 1981 ~ Jazz saxophonist, oboist Frank Socolow passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Active since the early 1940s. Has worked with artists such as Buddy Rich, Chubby Jackson, Artie Shaw, Johnny Bothwell, Charlie Ventura, Sal Salvador, Maynard Ferguson, Terry Gibbs, Phil Woods, Cecil Payne, Manny Albam, Hal McKusick, Johnny Richards, Bill Russo, Joe Morello, Bobby Scott, Gene Krupa, and Terry Gibbs ~ Socolow was born in 1923
April 30, 1980 ~ Atsushi Sato, mononymously known as singer, pianist, songwriter Atsushi, born in Koshigo, Japan ~ Best known as co-lead singer of Exile from 2001 through 2016. Has also released a number of solo recordings starting in 2011, notably Itsuka Kitto, Ooo Baby, Melrose (Aisanai Yakusoku), Aio Ryu, Sakura No Kisetsu and Beautiful Gorgeous Love, all of which reached top 3 on the Japanese Oricon singles charts
April 30, 1976 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter Amanda Palmer, full name Amanda MacKinnon Palmer, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Has steadily built a cult following since the early 2000s. Forms the duo the Dresden Dolls with Brian Viglione. Has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Who Killed Amanda Palmer released in 2008, and collaborated with her father Jack Palmer, and with Edward Ka-Spel
April 30, 1974 ~ Jazz pianist Aaron Goldberg born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Harvard University graduate who first gained attention in the late 1990s, early 2000s backing Joshua Redman including on Redman's Beyond album. Once described as a “post-bop pianist of exemplary taste and range” by the New York Times. Recorded about half a dozen albums as a leader, starting with 1998's Turning Point. Over the course of his career, Goldberg has appeared on albums by Guillermo Klein (El Minotauro), Greg Tardy, Darren Barrett (First One Up), Richard Boulger, Jimmy Greene, Magali Souriau, Mark Elf, Matt Penman (The Unquiet), Kathy Kosins (Vintage), John Ellis, Melissa Walker (In The Middle Of It All), and Michael Janisch
April 30, 1973 ~ Pop, R&B singer, actor Jeff Timmons, full name Jeffrey Brandon Timmons, born in Canton, Ohio, USA ~ Founding member of 98°, known for a string of hits starting in the late 1990s, notably the Billboard top 10 hits Because Of You, The Hardest Thing, Thank God I Found You featuring Mariah Carey and Joe, and Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche). Unlike other boy bands the band, which also included Justin Jeffre and brothers Nick Lachey and Drew Lachey, had formed independently instead of being put together by producers or label executives as “yet another commercially viable project”
April 30, 1971 ~ Country singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Carolyn Dawn Johnson born in Grande Prairie, Canada ~ Co-wrote Chely Wright's 1999 hit Single White Female. Released her full-length Room With A View solo debut album in 2001, spawning the hit single Georgia which reached top 10 on the Canadian and top 30 on the American country charts. Subsequent country hits included Die Of A Broken Heart, Head Over High Heels, Crybaby, Taking Back My Brave and Let Me Introduce Myself. In-demand songwriter since the late 1990s. Artists who have recorded songs written or co-written by Johnson include Patty Loveless, Suzy Bogguss, Mindy McCready, Jo Dee Messina (Downtime), and Linda DavisApril 30, 1971 ~ Rock, hard rock guitarist Chris Henderson born in Escatawpa, Mississippi, USA ~ Best known as member of 3 Doors Down, joining the band in 1998, known for a number of hits in the early 2000s notably the Billboard top 10 hits Kryptonite, When I'm Gone and Here Without You. The band would receive considerable negative feedback for the decision to play at Donald J Trump's presidential inauguration in 2017
April 30, 1970 ~ Blues, blues-rock guitarist, singer Wayne Baker Brooks born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Son of Chicago blues guitarist Lonnie Brooks. Brother of blues guitarist, singer Ronnie Baker Brooks. Co-authored the book Blues For Dummies with his father and Cub Koda. Started his own Blues Island Records label in 2003, released his critically acclaimed Mystery solo debut album in 2004April 30, 1969 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Jim Bryson born in Ottawa, Canada ~ Founding member of Punchbuggy. Also worked with Howe Gelb, Lynn Miles, Sarah Harmer, Weakerthans, the Hilotrons, the Tragically Hip, Kathleen Edwards, Kate Maki, Lynn Miles, Tanya Davis, Michael Feuerstack, Oh Susanna, Kalle Mattson, Ken Yates, and Larissa Tandy
April 30, 1968 ~ Actress, singer Babette van Veen born in Utrecht, the Netherlands ~ Daughter of singer Herman van Veen. Best known as an actress. As a singer known for Ademnood, released under the moniker Linda Roos & Jessica with her Goede Tijden Slechte Tijden co-stars Guusje Nederhorst and Katja Schuurman. The 1995 single was intended as a gimmick but would reach No.1 on the Dutch charts, featured backing vocals by Trijntje Oosterhuis and was produced by Fluitsma & Van TijnApril 30, 1967 ~ Durren Maurice Butler, commonly known as rapper, beatboxer Turbo B, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known as frontman of Snap, appearing on hits such as The Power and Rhythm Is A Dancer. After leaving Snap scored a number of minor solo hits, formed and fronted Centory known for songs such as Point Of No Return and Take It To The Limit, and guested on recordings by Victoria Silvstedt, H-Blockx, and Master Blaster
April 30, 1966 ~ In its 6th week on the charts, Rhapsody In The Rain by Lou Christie peaks at No.16 Billboard Hot 100 ~ By today's standard the lyrics about pre-marital sex on the backseat of a car are pretty mild, but at the time they were considered controversial. The song would be banned by radio, even when they changed the lyrics from “in this car, we went too far” to “our love came like a falling star”. Lou Christie would later recall how he had priests and nuns calling to complain and even TIME magazine did an article on how he was corrupting the youth. Nevertheless, Rhapsody In The Rain became Christie's third American top 20 hit, preceded by Two Faces Have I and Lightnin' Strikes. Christie would score one more major hit when I'm Gonna Make You Mine reached No.10 Billboard Hot 100 at the end of the decade
April 30, 1966 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Richard Fariña, full name Richard George Fariña, passed away in Carmel, California, USA ~ Important Greenwich Village figure. Married to Carolyn Hester, later married to Joan Baez's sister Mimi Baez. Befriended Bob Dylan. Known for songs such as Pack Up Your Sorrows and Birmingham Sunday. Also known for his 1966 novel Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me, the title taken from lyrics of Furry Lewis's I Will Turn Your Money Green. Died in a motorcycle accident two days after his novel was published ~ Fariña was born in 1937
April 30, 1964 ~ Reggae, dancehall singer Barrington Levy, full name Barrington Ainsworth Levy, born in Clarendon, Jamaica ~ Formed the Mighty Multitude with his cousin Everton Dacres, known for the 1977 single My Black Girl. Would start his solo career the following year, still only 14 years old, debuting with the single Long Time Since We Don't Have No Love. Although the single flopped Levy would be a popular performer in Jamaica and gain international fame in the early 1980s, notably with the album Robin Hood, and become an in-demand collaborator
April 30, 1960 ~ R&B, funk, jazz pianist, bandleader, producer, composer Rodney Kendrick born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Cites Randy Weston and Sun Ra as his main influences. Mentored by Barry Harris. Worked with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, James Brown, George Clinton, Freddie Hubbard, Terence Blanchard, Stanley Turrentine, Clark Terry, JJ Johnson, Houston Person, Graham Haynes, Arthur Blythe, and Bheki Mseleku
April 30, 1957 ~ Singer Elvis Presley records Jailhouse Rock at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California ~ Written and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Included in the Elvis Presley film of the same name. Released as a single the next September, paired with Treat Me Nice as the B-side. Cited by gender scholars for its famous references to jailhouse homoerotics in the lyrics
April 30, 1954 ~ Country singer, songwriter Karen Brooks born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Duetted with Johnny Cash on I Will Dance With You and with TG Sheppard on Faking Love. Married to singer Gary P Nunn, with whom she has one child. Sang backup on recordings by Jerry Jeff Walker, Steven Fromholz, Townes Van Zandt, Anne Murray, Emmylou Harris. As a songwriter had her songs recorded by Rosanne Cash, Patty Loveless, Tanya Tucker, Russell Smith, and Crystal GayleApril 30, 1953 ~ Singer Frank Sinatra records I've Got The World On A String ~ Lyrics Ted Koehler, music Harold Arlen. Originally written for the 22nd edition of the Cotton Club series in 1932. First popularized by Cab Calloway. A hit for Bing Crosby & the Dorsey Brothers in 1933. One of the first songs Frank Sinatra recorded, backed by Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra, after his move to Capitol Records
April 30, 1953 ~ Singer, bassist Merrill Osmond, full name Merrill Davis Osmond, born in Ogden, Utah, USA ~ Member of sibling outfit the Osmonds, singing lead or co-lead with Donny Osmond on the majority of the band's songs. As a solo artist had a modest country hit duetting with Jessica Boucher on the 1987 single You're Here To Remember (I'm Here To Forget)