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 6, 1976 ~ Post-rock, art rock, dream pop bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer Georg Hólm born in Iceland ~ Co-founding and along with Jónsi only other remaining original member of Sigur Rós, known for songs such as Glósóli, Gobbledigook, Inni Mér Syngur Vitleysingur, Brennisteinn, and Isjaki
April 6, 1976 ~ Classical, folk, jazz, bluegrass mandolinist, guitarist, violinist Joseph Brent, full name Joseph Frederick Brent, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of 9 Horses. In-demand sideman in a variety of genres. Has worked with Regina Spektor, Jewel, Kishi Bashi, Gary Smulyan. Has also recorded and performed classical music working with renowned orchestras including the Seattle Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Chicago Symphony
April 6, 1974 ~ In its 8th week on the charts, Hooked On A Feeling by Blue Swede hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by Mark James, who had also penned Elvis Presley's final Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Suspicious Minds, Hooked On A Feeling was originally recorded by BJ Thomas back in 1969. However, the song would become best known as covered by Swedish pop rock outfit Blue Swede a few years later. Blue Swede had tweaked the lyrics a little bit, but what made their cover distinctive was the chant used in the intro, which by the way they had lifted off another cover of the song. When Blue Swede released their single, Record World stated “the opening hook will have buyers crying for the ‘oogah chugga’ song.”, and the magazine was right. The Blue Swede cover reached No.1 on the American charts, surpassing the original BJ Thomas single which had peaked at No.5 Billboard Hot 100
April 6, 1973 ~ Glam rock outfit Wizzard release See My Baby Jive, featuring Bend Over Beethoven on the flip side ~ Wizzard's first of two UK No.1 hits, spending four consecutive weeks atop the British charts before being bumped off the top spot by Can The Can by Suzi Quatro, See My Baby Jive was the band's hommage to Phil Spector. Frontman Roy Wood, formerly of the Move and the Electric Light Orchestra, would later explain: “At the beginning of Wizzard, the lineup was two cellists, two drummers, two saxophone players, plus guitar, bass and keyboards. What else can you do with that lineup but create a Phil Spector sound?” Swedish pop group ABBA would later acknowledge See My Baby Jive as an influence on their breakout hit and Eurovision Songfestival winner Waterloo. Wizzard would score half a dozen UK top 10 hits through the mid 1970s, including the No.1 Angel Fingers (A Teen Ballad) and I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, the latter considered a Christmas classic to this day
April 6, 1971 ~ Pop rock sibling outfit the Bee Gees record Country Woman ~ Written by Maurice Gibb. Produced by the band and their manager Robert Stigwood. Intended for the 1971 Trafalgar album though it did not make the final cut. The song, all vocals and instruments solely by Maurice, would be featured however on the B-side of their May 1971 How Can You Mend A Broken Heart single
April 6, 1971 ~ Composer Igor Stravinsky, full name Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Generally acknowledged as one of the most influential composers of the 20th century noted for his stylistic diversity. Rose to fame with three ballets, 1910's Firebird, 1911's Petrushka and 1913's The Rite Of Spring ~ Stravinsky was born in 1882
April 6, 1968 ~ Singer Massiel wins the 13th edition of the Eurovision Songfestival held in London, UK ~ Representing Spain, singer Massiel wins with the song La La La written by Manuel de la Calva and Ramón Arcusa. Runner-ups would be the UK's Cliff Richard with Congratulations in 2nd place, and France's Isabelle Aubret with La Source in 3rd
April 6, 1968 ~ Rosa Deschamps, commonly known as jazz, blues singer, vaudeville entertainer Rosa Henderson passed away in Roosevelt Island, New York, USA ~ Known for 1920s recordings such as Afternoon Blues, Doggone Blues, He May Be Your Dog But He's Wearing My Collar and Papa If You Can't Do Better I'll Let A Better Papa Move In. Worked with the Virginians, Fletcher Henderson, the Choo Choo Jazzers, the Kansas City Five, and the Four Black Diamonds ~ Deschamps was born in 1896
April 6, 1965 ~ Charles Thompson IV, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Black Francis or Frank Black, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Frontman of the Pixies, known for quintessential alternative rock, punk rock albums such as 1988's Surfer Rosa, 1989's Doolittle and 1990's Bossanova. Active as a solo artist since the early 1990s under the moniker Frank Black, noted for the the Beach Boys-cover Hang On To Your Ego taken of his 1992 eponymous Frank Black solo debut albumApril 6, 1963 ~ DJ, producer Andrew Weatherall born in Windsor, UK ~ Key DJ, producer, remixer in the 1980s acid house boom. Has remixed tracks for the Happy Mondays, New Order, Björk, the Orb, and My Bloody Valentine. Noted for his production work on Primal Scream acclaimed 1991 Screamadelica album
April 6, 1962 ~ Singer Bobby Vinton releases his Roses Are Red (My Love) single off his Roses Are Red album ~ Bobby Vinton had been recording for a few years, to little success. His first charting single, Roses Are Red (My Love), however, would also become one of his best known. It would top the charts in about half a dozen countries, including the USA, making it the first Billboard Hot 100 charttopper for the Epic Records label. Written by Paul Evans and Al Byron, Vinton first recorded the song as an R&B song, though re-recorded it with a more dramatic arrangement, with strings and vocal choir added. Vinton would score three more No.1 hits through the mid 1960s, Blue Velvet, There I've Said It Again, and Mr LonelyApril 6, 1961 ~ Gene Andrusco, commonly known as rock, alternative rock, funk rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Gene Eugene, born in Fort Frances, Canada ~ Best known for fronting alternative rock band Adam Again. Member of the Swirling Eddies. Co-founding member of supergroup the Lost Dogs. Notable credits as a producer and engineer include 441, Randy Stonehill, the 77's, Daniel Amos, Aunt Bettys, the Kosmos Express and Starflyer '59 ~ Andrusco passed away in 2000
April 6, 1960 ~ Singer Elvis Presley records Crying In The Chapel at RCA Studios, Nashville, Tennessee ~ Written by Artie Glenn. Originally recorded by Glenn's son Darrell Glenn in 1953. Three takes were recorded by Elvis Presley with the Jordanaires in 1960, intended for the RCA gospel album His Hand In Mine, yet since Presley was not pleased the recordings would be shelved for five years. Released as a single in 1965 with I Believe In The Man In The Sky on the flip side it would become one of Presley's best known gospel songs, sell over a million copies and reach top 10 in several countries including America, the UK, and the Netherlands. The recording would later be included on Presley's How Great Thou Art gospel album
April 6, 1960 ~ Jazz guitarist, singer John Pizzarelli, full name John Paul Pizzarelli Jr, born in Paterson, New Jersey, USA ~ Son of swing guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli. Brother of bassist Martin Pizzarelli. Married to singer Jessica Molaskey. Well over a dozen albums as a leader, specifically noted for his 1996 After Hours album. Has apeared on albums by Cleo Laine, Johnny Frigo, Dave Van Ronk, Ersel Hickey, Stéphane Grappelli (Live At The Blue Note), Natalie Cole, Rickie Lee Jones, James Taylor (October Road), Monty Alexander (My America), the Manhattan Transfer, Buddy DeFranco, Debby Boone, Jessica Molaskey (Sitting In Limbo), Paul McCartney, Sara Gazarek, and Jane MonheitApril 6, 1960 ~ R&B singer, pianist Martha Davis passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity throughout the 1950s. Influenced by Fats Waller. Married to bassist Calvin Ponder, with whom she regularly worked. Known for Little White Lies, originally recorded by Dick Haymes, and for the Louis Jordan-duet Daddy-O, the latter a Billboard R&B top 10 hit in 1948 ~ Davis was born in 1917
April 6, 1960 ~ Guitarist Warren Haynes born in Asheville, North Carolina, USA ~ Longtime member of the Allman Brothers Band, first appearing on the band's 1990 Seven Turns album. Co-founding member of jam band Gov't Mule, known for a string of acclaimed albums starting in the mid 1990s. Also closely associated with the Grateful Dead-bassist Phil Lesh. Co-wrote Garth Brooks' Two Of A Kind Workin' On A Full House. Has also worked with David Allan Coe, Dickey Betts, the Dave Matthews Band, Derek Trucks Band, Elvin Bishop, Buckwheat Zydeco, Joe Bonamassa (A New Day Yesterday), Trombone Shorty, Walter Trout, the Nighthawks, and has recorded about half a dozen albums as a solo artist and with his backing unit the Warren Haynes BandApril 6, 1956 ~ Reggae, reggae fusion guitarist, cellist Stephen Cat Coore born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Along with Richard Daley the only constant member of reggae, reggae fusion outfit Third World, known best for songs such as Now That We Found Love, Cool Meditation, Dancing On The Floor and Try Jah Love ~ Coore passed away in 2026
April 6, 1955 ~ Terri Laird, commonly known as punk rock singer, songwriter Texas Terri, born in Austin, Texas, USA ~ Critically compared to the Plasmatics-frontwoman Wendy O Williams. Founded and fronted the Killer Crows in the mid-1980s. Fronted punk rock outfit Texas Terri & the Stiff Ones, achieving cult status in America and Europe and known for their sole Eat Shit album released in 1998
April 6, 1953 ~ Keyboardist Christopher Franke born in Berlin, Germany ~ Member of pioneering electronica band Tangerine Dream from 1971 to 1987, present on most of the band's key albums including 1973's Atem and 1974's Phaedra. After his split from the band Franke performed live only once, a 1991 set at the Astoria Theatre, London, but recorded prolifically as a solo artist and composed several soundtracks
April 6, 1953 ~ Dottsy Brodt, mononymously known a country singer, guitarist Dottsy, born in Seguin, Texas, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity from the mid 1970s through the early 1980s, songs such as Storms Never Last, I'll Be Your San Antone Rose, Play Born To Lose Again, Here In Love, and Tryin' To Satisfy You all reaching the Billboard Country top 20
April 6, 1950 ~ Folk, folk rock violinist, guitarist, mandolinist, singer Brian McNeill born in Falkirk, UK ~ Actively recording since the late 1970s, both as a solo artist and with the Battlefield Band which he co-founded. Plays a multitude of instruments including violin, viola, guitar, bouzouki, cittern, concertina and hurdy-gurdy. Also known as novelist, debuting with The Busker in 1989April 6, 1948 ~ Progressive rock, classical, folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Gordon Giltrap born in Brenchley, UK ~ Revered guitarist admired by peers, drawing praise from artists such as Marillion's Steve Rothery, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore. Emerged from the 1960s folk scene, debuting in 1968 with the eponymous Gordon Giltrap album. Has recorded consistently since with over two dozen albums to his name
April 6, 1947 ~ Rosemary Ann Lane, commonly known as singer, bassist Rosemary Butler, born in California, USA ~ Bassed in all-female outfits the Ladybirds and Birtha. Went on to become an in-demand backing singer, mostly throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, appearing on recordings by Linda Ronstadt, Del Shannon (Runaway), James Taylor, Warren Zevon, Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt (Sweet Forgiveness), Boz Scaggs, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Rosanne Cash
April 6, 1946 ~ Guitarist, bassist Danny Kortchmar born in Larchmont, New York, USA ~ Closely associated with a number of 1970s singer, songwriters including Linda Ronstadt, David Crosby, David Cassidy, Graham Nash, Neil Young, and Carly Simon. Member of the King Bees, the Flying Machine, the Fugs. Backed James Taylor, including on his 1970 Sweet Baby James album. Backed Carole King, including on her pivotal 1971 Tapestry album. Frequent collaborator of Don Henley, including writing or co-writing songs such as All She Wants To Do Is Dance, Sunset Grill, and New York Minute. Has also worked with Jo Mama, the Attitudes, Jon Bon Jovi, Stevie Nicks, Billy Joel, and Tracy Chapman
April 6, 1946 ~ Reggae, ska, rocksteady, gospel singer Tommy Cowan, full name Thomas Lincoln Cowan, born in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica ~ Active since the mid 1960s. Member of the Merricoles, which achieved fame after changing their name to the Jamaicans in 1967. The band would go on to score hits with songs such as Baba Boom, Sing Freedom, Things You Say You Love, and Woman Go Home. Following the band's disbandement Cowan would go on to work with renowned producer Byron Lee's Dynamic Studios and eventually turn to producing himself, notably the Israel Vibration albums The Same Song and Why Worry. Served as manager for Inner Circle. Helped Bob Marley set up his Tuff Gong studio. After converting to Christianity in the 1990s co-founded the Glory Music record label and co-founded Fun In The Son, Jamaica's largest Christian music festival