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.
December 20, 1972 ~ R&B group the O'Jays release Love Train, lifted off their Back Stabbers album ~ Written and produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the group's regular producers, Love Train sent a message of love and unity. It became a signature song for the band, and one of the songs that helped define Philly soul. For the O'Jays, it would be first and only Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit, and their second crossover success after Back Stabbers the previous year, which reached No.3. Singer Eddie Levert would later recall the song didn't have lyrics when they started working on it, with Kenny Gamble writing them on the spot in a matter of minutes: “By the time we started laying down the vocals, we knew we had a hit. Love Train felt like destiny. It had such perfect, timeless lyrics that it was almost as if they'd come from God, and we had to deliver them to the people”
December 20, 1971 ~ Keyboardist Billy Preston releases I Wrote A Simple Song b/w Outa-space, lifted off his I Wrote A Single Song album ~ Lifted off his first album for A&M Records, Billy Preston thought the instrumental Outa-space would be a hit. Label executives were skeptical, so initially the song was issued as the B-side of I Wrote A Simple Song. Preston would be right though, as radio DJ's kept flipping the single over and made the B-side the bigger hit, peaking at No.2, while its A-side stalled at No.77 Billboard Hot 100. Preston named the instrumental Outa-space for its “spacy” sound, Preston playing a clavinet through a wah-wah pedal, a device generally used for electric guitars instead of keyboards. As on most tracks of the parent album, George Harrison can be heard on lead guitar. Outa-space earned Preston a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental PerformanceDecember 20, 1969 ~ Big band, jazz singer, saxophonist Kenny Sargent, full name Laurel Kenneth Sargent, passed away in Dallas County, Texas, USA ~ Best known as lead vocalist, saxophonist for the Casa Loma Orchestra, enjoying popularity in the 1930s and 1940s. Present on some of the band's best known including The Talk Of The Town, Blue Moon, City Called Heaven, and When I Grow Too Old To Dream. Sargent retired from the band in 1943 to pursue a career as a radio host starting with Memphis-based WHHM, remaining active in radio with Tennessee and Texas stations throughout the 1960s ~ Sargent was born in 1906
December 20, 1969 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, Leaving On A Jet Plane by Peter Paul & Mary hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by a very young John Denver, who released the song as a solo single in 1966 titled Babe I Hate To Go. Several renditions were released in 1967 including by the Mitchell Trio, of which Denver was a member, Spanky & Our Gang, and Peter Paul & Mary. The song would become a hit when Peter Paul & Mary re-recorded it a few years later, making it their biggest and final hit. The 1969 hit version greatly benefitted Denver, who by then had recently disbanded the Mitchell Trio and set out to pursue a solo career. Some of Denver's first solo appearances were billed as “John Denver, writer of Leaving On A Jet Plane”. Denver would go on to become one of the biggest-selling acts of the 1970s
December 20, 1968 ~ Songwriter, producer Billy Mann born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ As a songwriter or producer Mann has worked with artists such as Pink, John Legend, Céline Dion, Take That, the Backstreet Boys, Cher, David Guetta, Kelly Rowland, Jessica Simpson, Ricky Martin, Anastacia, Art Garfunkel, Sting, Joss Stone, Robyn, Grover Washington Jr, Chaka Khan, Michael Bolton, Josh Groban, Boyzone, Paula Abdul, Helene Fischer, Cher Lloyd, Hilary Duff, and Jennifer BrownDecember 20, 1965 ~ R&B singer Wilson Pickett records 634-5789 (Soulsville USA) ~ Written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper. The phone number in the title is a reference to the Marvelettes 1962 hit Beechwood 4-5789. Wilson Pickett's single would reach top 20 Billboard Hot 100 and top the Billboard R&B. Singer Patti LaBelle and her group the Blue-belles provided backing vocals. In later years the song would be covered by acts such as Otis Redding, Ry Cooder, Tower Of Power, and Tina Turner
December 20, 1963 ~ Easy listening, pop singer Barbra Streisand records People at Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York, New York ~ Written by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill for the 1964 Broadway musical Funny Girl starring Barbra Streisand. Released as a Mike Berniker-produced single the following January it would reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100 and become a signature song for Streisand. Featured on the flip side was I Am Woman recorded during the same session, a solo version of the Streisand- Sydney Chaplin duet You Are Woman (I Am Man) from the same musicalDecember 20, 1961 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter Mike Keneally, full name Michael Joseph Keneally, born in Long Island, New York, USA ~ Best known for his association with Frank Zappa, starting on the 1988 tour and remaining until Zappa's death in 1993. Has recorded as a solo artist starting with the 1992 hat album. Has also worked with Steve Vai, Wadada Leo Smith, Ulver, Henry Kaiser, Prairie Prince, Andy West, and Chris Opperman
December 20, 1959 ~ R&B, soul singer Yvonne Gage born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ In-demand session singer for the likes of Captain Sky, Stevie Wonder, Michael McDonald, the Doobie Brothers, Céline Dion, R Kelly, Kem, Janelle Monáe, and Kindred The Family Soul. As a solo artist, Gage is best known for her 1984 Don Burnside-produced Virginity album
December 20, 1957 ~ Singer, songwriter, actress, TV personality Anna Vissi born in Pyla, Cyprus ~ Active since the mid 1970s. Represented Greece at the 1980 Eurovision Songfestival with Autostop, reaching thirteenth place. Bercame a leading figure in 1990s rise of laika-pop. Known for songs such as Methismeni Politia, Oso Exo Foni, Pragmata, Stin Pira, and perhaps her best known Dodeka
December 20, 1957 ~ Bassist Mike Watt born in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA ~ Seminal post-punk bassist. Co-founding member of the Minutemen through 1985. Co-founding member of Firehose through 1994. Co-founding member of Dos. Released his Ball-Hog Or Tugboat solo debut album in 1994. Has also worked with art rock group Banyan, supergroup Big Walnuts Yonder, Black Gang, the Stooges, the Unknown Instructors, Wylde Ratttz, Floored By Four, Steve Mackay, the Hand To Man Band, Anywhere, CUZ, Sonic Youth, and Porno For Pyros
December 20, 1957 ~ Bassist Walter Page, full name Walter Sylvester Page, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Led the Blue Devils. Also worked with the Count Basie Orchestra, Jimmy Rushing, Buster Smith, Lester Young, Hot Lips Page, Jo Jones, Freddie Green, Jimmy McPartland, Eddie Condon, Ruby Braff, Roy Eldridge, Vic Dickenson, and Buck Clayton ~ Page was born in 1900December 20, 1956 ~ Pop, pop rock keyboardist Åke Danielson born in Luleå, Sweden ~ Member of Time Bandits from 1981 through its disbandement in 1988, present on their best known I'm Specialized In You. Has also worked with JP den Tex, Hein Offermans, Ernst Jansz, and Boudewijn de Groot
December 20, 1956 ~ Disco, R&B singer Anita Ward born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for Ring My Bell, a hit in 1979. Ward initially did not like the song but label owner Frederick Knight insisted on adding a dance track to her debut album Songs Of Love to capitalize on the disco trend. The single would top charts across the globe and remains a disco classic to this day. Ward continued to record, scoring a minor hit with Don't Drop My Love but was never able to repeat the succes of Ring My BellDecember 20, 1955 ~ Singer, guitarist Chuck Berry records You Can't Catch Me at Universal Recording Studio, Illinois, USA ~ Previously recorded in a May 1955 session alongside Maybellene and Wee Wee Hours. The December 1955 version however would be the one released, paired with Havana Moon on the flip side. Produced by Leonard Chess and Phil Chess. Music publisher Morris Levy, holding the song's rights, would later sue John Lennon for copyright infringement, the Beatles song Come Together alleged to plagiarize Chuck Berry. The suit was settled out of court. Lennon would record a rendition on his 1975 Rock 'n Roll cover album as part of the settlement
December 20, 1955 ~ Rock, punk, alternative rock guitarist, singer, songwriter Ed Kuepper, full name Edmund Kuepper, born in Bremen, West Germany ~ Co-founding member of punk band the Saints, post-punk group Laughing Clowns, grunge-infused rockers the Aints. As a solo artist best known for a string of acclaimed 1990s albums, notably Honey Steel's Gold released in 1991December 20, 1950 ~ Rock, country, country rock drummer, songwriter Don Heffington born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of Lone Justice, best known for the singles Ways To Be Wicked and Shelter. Member of bluegrass outfit Watkins Family Hour. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with acts such as Lowell George, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne, Victoria Williams, the Wallflowers, the Jayhawks, and Joanna Newsom ~ Heffington passed away in 2021
December 20, 1950 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist, violinist Ferus Mustafov, also known as King Ferus Mustafov, born in Stip, Yugoslavia ~ Active since the late 1960s. Considered a leading figure in Balkan folk, gypsy, and Rom music, enjoying popularity especially in his native Macedonia. Credited as one of the artists to have brought international attention to Balkan music. Internationally perhaps best known for his 1995 King Ferus album ~ Mustafov passed away in 2023
December 20, 1948 ~ Engineer, producer Alan Parsons born in London, UK ~ Studio engineer and producer honed his skills on pivotal albums such as Abbey Road by the Beatles and The Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd. As a musician and recording artist became a household name with the Alan Parsons Project from the mid 1970s forward, working with a revolving set of studio musicians. Best known for songs such as Games People Play, Time, Eye In The Sky and Don't Answer Me, all of which reached the Billboard top 20December 20, 1948 ~ Ohannes Tuncboyaci, commonly known as pop bassist, keyboardist, guitarist, producer, songwriter Onno Tunç, born in Istanbul, Turkey ~ Brother of singer Arto Tuncboyaciyan. Active since the 1960s. Known for songs such as Suc Bende, O Hep Bana, Iki Tas Çorba, Bize Gidelim, and Aya Benzer. Has collaborated with Emin Findikoglu, Özdemir Erdogan, Nilüfer, Bülent Ortaçgil, Ajda Pekkan, Nükhet Duru, Askin Nur Yengi, Zuhal Olcay, and with Sezen Aksu ~ Tunçboyaci passed away in 1996
December 20, 1947 ~ Psychedelic rock, rock, jazz fusion bassist Doug Lubahn born ~ Perhaps best known for his session work for the Doors, starting on the Strange Days album. The band offered Lubahn a permanent spot in the band but he declined. Co-founding member of Clear Light, known for their sole eponymous Clear Light album released in 1967. Founded jazz-rock unit Dreams with Jeff Kent. Bassist and co-lead vocalist for Pierce Arrow for whom Lubahn wrote Treat Me Right, later a Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit for Pat Benatar. Lubahn has also worked with Riff Raff, Billy Squier, and Ted Nugent ~ Lubahn passed away in 2019
December 20, 1946 ~ Per-Åke Tommy Persson, commonly known as blues, reggae singer, guitarist, songwriter Peps Persson born in Klippan, Sweden ~ Early on in his career played mostly blues-tinted songs, would gravitate more towards reggae from the mid 1970s on. Known for having reworked many famous blues and reggae hits, including originals from Muddy Waters, Elmore James and Bob Marley, into Swedish
December 20, 1945 ~ Peter George John Criscuola, commonly known as rock, hard rock drummer, singer, actor Peter Criss born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of Kiss, remaining with the band through 1980 playing only one song, his own composition Dirty Livin', on the 1979 Dynasty album. Present on the band's best known including Rock & Roll All Nite, Calling Dr Love, I Was Made For Lovin' You and Sure Know Something. Released his eponymous Peter Criss debut album in 1978. Has also worked with the Barracudas, the Keep, Balls Of Fire, Criss-Penridge Alliance, Chelsea, and Criss
December 20, 1944 ~ Drummer, percussionist, producer Bobby Colomby born in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member of jazz-rock fusion outfit Blood Sweat & Tears, present on hits such as And When I Die, You've Made Me So Very Happy and Spinning Wheel. Has also worked with John Cale, Terry Riley, Jaco Pastorius, the Jacksons (producing the 1978 Destiny album), Eddie Palmieri, Richard Marx, Paula Cole, and Jeff Lorber
December 20, 1943 ~ Walter Washington, commonly known as blues, funk, R&B singer, guitarist Walter Wolfman Washington, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Backed Lee Dorsey while stil in his teens. Formed the All Fools Band in the 1960s. Probably best known for his association with Johnny Adams, backing Adams for about two decades starting in the 1970s. Released his Rainin' In My Life solo debut album in 1981 and has recorded consistently since, about a dozen albums to his name heavily drawing on blues yet incorporating funk and R&B ~ Washington passed away in 2022