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 7, 1956 ~ Glam rock, punk rock, rock singer, guitarist Gary Twinn born in West Ham, UK ~ Influenced by T.Rex, David Bowie, the New York Dolls, Iggy Pop. Fronts punk rock supergroup the International Swingers formed in 2011, which also includes Blondie drummer Clem Burke, the Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock, and the Alarm guitarist James Stevenson. Has previously worked with Supernaut, the Twenty Flight Rockers, the Honeydippers and Speedtwinn
December 7, 1955 ~ Charles Samuel Loeb, commonly known as guitarist Chuck Loeb, born in Nyack, New York, USA ~ As a child listened to Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Cream, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. Discovered jazz at age 16, listening to guitarists such as Wes Montgomery, George Benson, John McLaughlin, and Pat Martino. Loeb worked with Chico Hamilton, Ray Barretto, Hubert Laws, Stan Getz, and Michael Brecker. Loeb was also a member of Steps Ahead, 4play, Jazz-Funk-Soul, and of Metro ~ Loeb passed away in 2017
December 7, 1954 ~ Singer Brenda Jones born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ One third of sibling outfit the Jones Girls, alongside Shirley Jones and Valorie Jones. Served as backup singers for Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, Aretha Franklin, Linda Clifford, and Tower Of Power. On their own they would score a number of modest hits on Billboard's R&B charts from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s including You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else, Dance Turned Into Romance and I Just Love The Man ~ Jones passed away in 2017December 7, 1954 ~ Pop singer Mike Nolan born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Original member of Bucks Fizz remaining with the band through 1996. Present on songs such as the 1981 Eurovision Songfestival winner Making Your Mind Up, The Land Of Make Believe, My Camera Never Lies, Now Those Days Are Gone, If You Can't Stand The Heat and When We Were Young, all of which reached UK top 10 in the early 1980s
December 7, 1951 ~ Singer, songwriter Henk Temming, full name Christiaan Hendrik Temming, born in Utrecht, the Netherlands ~ Co-founded het Goede Doel with Sander van Herk, known for songs such as Gijzelaar, België (Is Er Leven Op Pluto), Vriendschap and Alles Kan Een Mens Gelukkig Maken with René Froger. Served as producer for Verona, Paul de Leeuw, Richenel, Roberto Jacketti & the Scooters, Herman van Veen, Ramses Shaffy, and the Dolly Dots
December 7, 1950 ~ Pop singer, guitarist Charlie McGettigan, full name Charles Joseph McGettigan, born in Ballyshannon, Ireland ~ Debuted with the album Songs Of The Night And Other Stories in 1986. Internationally best known for winning the 1994 Eurovision Songfestival, teaming up with singer, pianist Paul Harrington, performing Rock 'n Roll Kids which was penned by Brendan GrahamDecember 7, 1949 ~ Country rock, soft rock keyboardist Michael Connor born in Latonia, Kentucky, USA ~ Member of Pure Prairie League from 1972 until the band's initial disbandement in 1988, with whom he recorded well over half a dozen albums including their most acclaimed Pure Prairie League and Bustin' Out. The band is best known for Amie, the 1980 Billboard Hot 100 No.10 hit Let Me Love You Tonight, and I'm Almost Ready, as well as for once including a young Vince Gill in its line-up. Connor rejoined a reunited Pure Prairie League in 1998 and remained with the band until his death at age 54 ~ Connor passed away in 2004
December 7, 1949 ~ Singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter, actor Tom Waits, full name Thomas Alan Waits, born in Pomona, California, USA ~ Initially focused on jazz influences yet over time changed to draw from genres such as blues, rock, vaudeville and experimental music. Known for his trademark gravelly voice and dark subject matter focusing on the underbelly of society. Released his Closing Time debut album in 1973 and has recorded consistently since. Found greater succes by the end of the decade, slowly but steadily building a cult following with a string of critically acclaimed albums starting with 1976's Small Change and followed up with 1978's Blue Valentine and 1980's Heartattack And Vine, the latter considered a masterpiece to this day. Married to songwriter and frequent collaborator Kathleen Brennan since 1980, previously romantically with Rickie Lee Jones and intermittently with Bette Midler
December 7, 1948 ~ Singer, actor Gary Morris born in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Discovered by producer Norro Wilson and known for a string of 1980s country-pop hits such as Headed For A Heartache, Wind Beneath My Wings (originally recorded by Roger Whittaker, later also a US No.1 hit for Bette Midler), The Love She Found In Me, Baby Bye Bye, I'll Never Stop Loving You, and Leave Me Lonely. Morris has also duetted with Crystal Gayle and ventured into acting, including in the soap opera The Colbys, in a Broadway production of Les Miserables and in a production of the opera La Bohème alongside singer Linda RonstadtDecember 7, 1948 ~ Jazz double bassist Mads Vinding born in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Began playing professionally at age 16 as house bassist at Café Montmartre, a jazz club in Copenhagen. Appears on over 800 recordings. Has worked artists such as Kenny Drew, Art Farmer, Johnny Griffin, Hank Jones, Duke Jordan, Doug Raney, Yelena Eckemoff, and Idrees Sulieman
December 7, 1948 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Pavol Hammel born in Bratislava, Slovakia ~ Initially rose to fame as lead singer and guitarist of rock outfit Prudy. Has ventured into a successful solo career, starting with the Zvonte Zvonky album in 1969
December 7, 1947 ~ Violinist, bandleader Austin Wylie passed away in Parma, Ohio, USA ~ Members of Wylie's orchestra included at one time or another Jack Jenney, Tony Pastor, Nate Kazebier, Lyle Murphy, Bill Stegmeyer, Joe Bishop, Billy Butterfield, Johnnie Davis, Vaughn Monroe, Claude Thornhill, and Artie Shaw. ~ Wylie was born ca.1893
December 7, 1947 ~ Klapa, pop, jazz, blues singer, pianist, songwriter Oliver Dragojevic born in Split, Yugoslavia ~ One of Croatia's most beloved performers, considered a cultural icon, with a career spanning five decades. Known for merging traditional klapa melodies with jazz. Has performed globally at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, L'Olympia and Sydney Opera House. Member of cult band Batali before venturing out on his own by the early 1970s. Well known songs include Ca Ce Mi Copacabana, Galeb I Ja, Romanca, Oprosti Mi Pape, Stari Morski Vuk, La Musica Di Notte, Bez Tebe, Pred Tvodim Vratima, and Psimo Moja ~ Dragojevic passed away in 2018December 7, 1946 ~ Jazz drummer, composer Phil Treloar, full name Phillip Maurice Treloar, born in Sydney, Australia ~ Active since the late 1960s starting out collaborating with artists such as Alan Lee, Roger Frampton, Barry Guy, Erroll Buddle, Judy Bailey, Bernie McGann. Member of the Jazz Co/op, one of the most influential jazz ensembles of the 1970s performing at major venues such as Sydney Opera House, Sydney Town Hall and Sydney's premier jazz club The Basement. Would go on to work with a host of artists from jazz and improvised music including Bruce Cale, Chico Freeman, David Friesen, Ricky Ford, Chip Jackson, and the World Drum Ensemble
December 7, 1942 ~ Zivorad Jelic, commonly known as rock guitarist Zika Jelic, born in Kraljevo, Yugoslavia ~ Best known as guitarist of YU Grupa, the longest lasting Serbian rock band and credited as a pioneer in merging rock music with elements of traditional Balkan folk music. Jelic co-founded the band in 1970 with among others his brother Dragi Jelic. The pair had also worked together in the 1960s beat band Dzentlmeni
December 7, 1941 ~ Guitarist James Reese, full name James Gordon Reese Jr, born in Amarillo, Texas, USA ~ Best known as guitarist, playing both lead and rhythm guitar, with the Bobby Fuller Four, best known for I Fought The Law, a top 10 hit in 1966 six months prior the lead singer Bobby Fuller's unexpected death
December 7, 1938 ~ Blues harpist, singer Johnny Dyer born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, USA ~ Took up the harmonica at age 7, inspired to take up the harmonica after hearing Little Walter on the radio. Worked with Smokey Wilson, George Harmonica Smith, Jimmy Reed, and JB Hutto, before retiring from music by the 1960s. Resurfaced in the 1980s, collaborating with artists such as Shakey Jake Harris, Harmonica Fats, and Rod Piazza. Has recorded a handful of albums since, notably Shake It released in 1995 ~ Dyer passed away in 2014
December 7, 1936 ~ Jazz pianist, organist Sonny Phillips born in Mobile, Alabama, USA ~ Studied under Ahmad Jamal. Inspired to switch to jazz organ after hearing Jimmy Smith. Closely associated with Gene Ammons, including on the album The Boss Is Back, and with Houston Person, appearing on over half a dozen of the tenor saxophonist's albums. Has recorded as a leader or co-leader since the late 1960s, starting with the acclaimed Sure 'Nuff album. Has guested on albums by Eddie Harris (The In Sound), Rusty Bryant, Billy Butler, Boogaloo Joe Jones, Pucho & his Latin Soul Brothers (Jungle Fire), Willis Jackson, and Etta Jones
December 7, 1935 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter Armando Manzanero, full name Armando Manzanero Canché, born in Ticul, Mexico ~ Son of singer Santiago Manzanero and string player Juanita Canché Baqueiro. Regarded as one of Mexico's finest romantic composers. Known best for songs such as Nunca En El Mundo, Cuando Estoy Contigo and Somos Novios. The latter would be translated to English by Sid Wayne and recorded by numerous artists, notably Perry Como, as It's Impossible. Others who recorded the song include Elvis Presley, Andy Williams, Shirley Bassey, Jerry Vale and Simply Red's Mick Hucknall ~ Manzanero passed away in 2020
December 7, 1935 ~ Singer, songwriter Darrell Glenn, full name Darrell Orvis Glenn, born ~ Best remembered for recording the original of Crying In The Chapel at age 17 in 1953. Despite the recording being intended solely as a demo to get the song published it would be released and became an instant hit. Written by Glenn's father country singer Artie Glenn it would be covered numerous times, perhaps most notably by Elvis Presley in 1960 who shelved the song for five years. Prior to Presley's million-seller the song had been recorded by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Eddy Arnold, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Glenn would go on to become a songwriter, known for penning Indescribably Blue, recorded by Presley, and Bear With Me A Little Longer first recorded by Billy Walker and notably covered by Eddy Arnold. Glenn was also co-owner of Glendale Records and was involved in several other labels including serving as head of A&R with Pompeii Records before becoming an evangelist in the 1970s ~ Glenn passed away in 1990December 7, 1934 ~ Joseph S Ruggiero, commonly known as pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Joey Powers, born in Washington, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Released about a dozen singles from the late 1950s through the early 1970s. Best known for his sole hit Midnight Mary, which reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100 in 1963 ~ Ruggiero passed away in 2017
December 7, 1931 ~ Mandolinist, singer Bobby Osborne, full name Bobby Van Osborne, born in Leslie County, Kentucky, USA ~ Best known as member of sibling outfit the Osborne Brothers, one of the most influentual bluegrass acts of the 1960s and 1970s, with whom he recorded well over a dozen albums. The siblings are best known for their 1967 hit song Rocky Top, the brothers' rendition would be later named an official Tennessee state song. An in-demand mandolinist, Osborne has guested on albums by Gary Burton, JD Crowe, the Country Gentlemen, Mac Wiseman, Vassar Clements, Delbert McClinton (The Jealous Kind), Flatt & Scruggs, the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, Terry Eldredge, Chubby Wise, Tom T Hall, Rhonda Vincent (The Storm Still Rages), and Kenny Baker ~ Osborne passed away in 2023
December 7, 1928 ~ Joan Rosemary Yarrow, commonly known as jazz, big band singer Rosemary Squires, born in Bristol, UK ~ Quintessentially English, Squires enjoyed popularity especially during the 1950s and 1960s with regular appearances on BBC shows such as Melody Time, Workers' Playtime, and especially Top Tunes. Equally at home in big bands, including ensembles led by bandleaders such as Ted Heath, Geraldo, and Cyril Stapleton, and in smaller settings, Squires has recorded about a dozen albums over the course of her career. Squires is also known as the voice of the Fairy Liquid advertisement, which ran intermittently for some four decades starting in the 1960s ~ Yarrow passed away in 2023December 7, 1913 ~ Joseph Marshall Jr, commonly known as jazz drummer Joe Marshall, born in Pensacola, Florida, USA ~ Worked with Milt Larkin, Duke Ellington, Jimmie Lunceford, Ben Webster, Harold Baker, Cyril Hines, Bill Pemberton, Al Sears, Don Abney, Wally Richardson, and Wendell Marshall ~ Marshall passed away in 1992
December 7, 1910 ~ Edmund William Ross, commonly known as bandleader, singer, arranger Edmundo Ros, born in Port Of Spain, Trinidad ~ Formed his own orchestra in the early 1940s, quickly becoming an in-demand artist in London's nightclubs and restaurants. Best known for his 1949 recording of The Wedding Samba, which sold an estimated three million copies ~ Ross passed away in 2011