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.
January 10, 1985 ~ Josiah Frazier, commonly known as jazz drummer Cie Frazier, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Considered one of the best New Orleans drummers of his generation with a career spanning six decades, taught to play the drums by Louis Cottrell Sr. Spent most of the 1920s in quintessential ensembles led by the likes of Papa Celestin and Sidney Desvigne, worked part-time during the 1930s, and saw his career resurge in the 1940s working with bandleaders such as Percy Humphrey and Kid Howard. Frazier is well known as the regular drummer for the Eureka Brass Band with whom he also made an appearance in the 1965 The Cincinnati Kid drama film, and for his association with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band well into the 1980s ~ Frazier was born in 1904
January 10, 1983 ~ Pop rock group U2 release New Year's Day, lead single off their War album ~ Based on a love song Bono wrote for his wife, New Year's Day would subsequently be reshaped and inspired by the Polish Solidarity movement. The song marked a few firsts for the band, it was their first UK top 10 hit, their first international hit reaching top 10 in Norway and the Netherlands, and their first ever appearance on the American charts, peaking at No.53 Billboard Hot 100. The accompanying video, shot in the dead of winter in Sweden, was one of their first to enjoy heavy rotation on MTV. Guitarist the Edge would later recall in the official band biography that the four people riding on horseback in the video that appeared to be the four band members were actually four Swedish teenage girls disguised as the members of U2 with masks over their faces, because the band were frozen from shooting in sub-freezing temperatures the day before. The song has remained a concert favorite throughout the band's careerJanuary 10, 1981 ~ Nasri Tony Atweh, mononymously known as singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer Nasri, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Best known as Magic lead singer, known for their 2013 hit single Rude. Also half of producer, songwriter duo the Messengers, the other half being Adam Messinger
January 10, 1981 ~ In its 11th week on the charts, Love On The Rocks by Neil Diamond peaks at No.2 Billboard Hot 100 ~ It had been awhile since Neil Diamond had scored a major hit. He had regularly reached top 10 through the early 1970s, including the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits Cracklin' Rosie and Song Sung Blue, and had topped the charts in 1978 with You Don't Bring Me Flowers, a Diamond original eventually recorded as a duet with Barbra Streisand. However, the soundtrack to The Jazz Singer, which also featured Diamond in his acting debut, brought the singer back to the charts. All three singles off the album, starting with Love On The Rocks, would reach top 10 in America. The soundtrack with all songs performed by Diamond outperformed the movie, as the album sold five million copies and peaked at No.3 Billboard Hot 200, while the movie received poor reviews and only narrowly made a profit at the box officeJanuary 10, 1980 ~ Hip-hop producer, songwriter Maestro born in Windsor, Connecticut, USA ~ Produced artists such as Daz Dillinger, Boo Rossini, Lil Wayne, Ice Cube, Dem Franchize Boyz, Jibbs, 3LW, and Tash. Maestro's work is primarily sample-free, relying heavily on synthesizers and live instruments
January 10, 1979 ~ Amisho Baraka Lewis, commonly known as Christian rapper Sho Baraka, born in Alberta, Canada ~ Co-founding member of Christian hip hop group 116 Clique, present on the albums 13 Letters, Amped and Man Up. As a solo artist best known for the albums Lions And Liars and its follow-up Talented 10th, released respectively in 2010 and 2013, both albums reaching top 10 on the Billboard Christian charts
January 10, 1977 ~ Paul Wesley Evans, commonly known as jazz, classical cornetist Doc Evans, passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Worked with the Carleton Collegians in college. Traded in his saxophone for cornet in the late 1920s. Performed and recorded as a leader, notably for Disc Records and Joco Records throught the 1950s. Founded the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra in the mid 1970s, which he conducted until his death a few years later ~ Evans was born in 1907
January 10, 1976 ~ In its 6th week on the charts, Convoy by CW McCall hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by CW McCall and Chip Davis, the latter co-producing the novelty song with Don Sears, Convoy capitalized on the CB or citizens band craze of the 1970s. Initially released as the second and final single off his 1975 Black Bear Road sophomore album, it would top the Billboard Country charts for six weeks and the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 for one. The song inspired the 1978 film Sam Peckinpah-directed Convoy film, which basically has the same plot as the song telling of truckers going rogue while the police try to stop the out-of-control rebels. McCall would rerecord the song for the film's soundtrack
January 10, 1976 ~ Singer, songwriter, actress Dana Fuchs born in New Jersey, USA ~ Influenced by Esther Phillips and Etta James. Known for albums such as 2003's Kenny Aaronson-produced Lonely For A Lifetime and 2011's Jon Diamond-produced Love To BegJanuary 10, 1976 ~ Jazz drummer Freddy Wike, full name Freddy Augdal Wike, born in Lillehammer, Norway ~ Best known for his association with Frøy Aagre, appearing on the albums Katalyze, Countryside and Cycle Of Silence. Has also worked with D:Koder, Kristin Sevaldsen, and Torbjørn Sletta Jacobsen
January 10, 1976 ~ Chester Arthur Burnett, commonly known as blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Howlin' Wolf, passed away in Hines, Illinois, USA ~ Best remembered for his influence in electric blues alongside rival bluesman Muddy Waters. Known for songs such as Smokestack Lightnin', Killing Floor and Spoonful, all of which regarded as blues, blues rock classics and of major influence on a generation of rock artists ~ Burnett was born in 1910
January 10, 1974 ~ Jazz double bassist, composer, arranger Eddie Safranski passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Worked with Hal McIntyre, Miff Mole, Stan Kenton, Charlie Barnet, Benny Goodman, Marian McPartland, Tony Bennett, Sonny Berman, Barney Bigard, John Cacavas, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Sammy Herman, Dick Hyman, JJ Johnson, Billy Maxted, Anthony Perkins, André Previn, Joe Venuti, and Cootie Williams ~ Safranski was born in 1918January 10, 1972 ~ Conductor, composer Al Goodman passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as orchestra conductor for numerous Broadway productions including Flyin' High, The Student Prince and Blossom Time ~ Goodman was born in 1890
January 10, 1972 ~ Rock singer, guitarist Andy Yorke born in Oxford, UK ~ Younger brother of Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke. Best known as lead singer, guitarist for the Unbelievable Truth, releasing their Almost Here debut album in 1998. Yorke released a solo album, Simple, in 2008
January 10, 1971 ~ Ernesto Caceres, commonly known as jazz saxophonist Ernie Caceres, passed away in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Brother of violinist Emilio Caceres and pianist Pinero Caceres. Active since the late 1920s. As a co-leader known for the 1970 album Ernie & Emilio with his brother Emilio. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Mildred Bailey (The Rockin' Chair Lady), Frank Sinatra (The Voice), Bobby Hackett, Ella Fitzgerald (Lullabies Of Birdland), Sidney Bechet, Ruby Braff, Barbara Lea (Lea In Love), Teresa Brewer, Dick Cary, Jimmy McPartland, and Sidney Bechet ~ Caceres was born in 1911
January 10, 1968 ~ Pop rock sibling outfit the Bee Gees record Jumbo ~ Written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb. Produced by the band with their manager Robert Stigwood. Released as a single, paired with The Singer Sang His Song, the following March as either a double A-side single or with Jumbo as the lead track depending on territory.January 10, 1968 ~ Olufemi Sanyaolu, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Keziah Jones, born in Lagos, Nigeria ~ Describes his hybrid as “blufunk”, a combination of raw blues and edgy funk. Also draws from traditional Nigerian Yoruba music and soul. Debuted in 1992 with the Blufunk Is A Fact album
January 10, 1966 ~ Jazz saxophonist, composer Kristin Sevaldsen born in Lillehammer, Norway ~ Leader and sidewoman. Best known for her acclaimed Impressions debut album, released in 2007. Has collaborated with Lewi Bergrud, Dag Stokke, Per Hillestad, Gaute Ormåsen, and Cecilia Vennersten
January 10, 1966 ~ Philip Lane Stewart II, commonly known as producer, songwriter Laney Stewart, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Worked with B2K, Chanté Moore, Alex Jacke, K-Ci & JoJo, Shanice, the Winans, Tony Toni Toné, Keith Washington, Jason Weaver, Go West, Aaron Hall, and the Whispers
January 10, 1964 ~ Rock, alternative rock singer, guitarist Brad Roberts, full name Bradley Kenneth Roberts, born in Winnipeg, Canada ~ Lead singer and besides keyboardist Ellen Reid the only other constant member of the Crash Test Dummies. The band is internationally best known for Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm of their 1993 God Shuffled His Feet album, the single reaching top 10 in several countries including the UK and America. Superman's Song, Swimming In Your Ocean, Afternoons And Coffeespoons, The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead and He Liked To Feel It would reach top 10 in their native Canada
January 10, 1964 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones record Not Fade Away at Olympic Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty. Produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. Released in the UK the next month, paired with Little By Little on the B-side, it would become their first UK top 10 hit peaking at No.3. In America, Not Fade Away would be issued in March as their American debut single, which only barely made it to the top half of the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at No.48. The USA single feature the John Lennon/Paul McCartney-penned I Wanna Be Your Man on the flip side
January 10, 1959 ~ Alternative rock, hard rock guitarist, singer Curt Kirkwood, full name Curtis Matthew Kirkwood, born in Amarillo, Texas, USA ~ Best known as lead singer and primary songwriter for Meat Puppets, blending punk rock with country and psychedelic rock. The band is best known for the songs Backwater and We Don't Exist of their 1994 Too High To Die and Scum of its follow-up album No Joke released the following year. Kirkwood has also guested on Nirvana's MTV Unplugged In New York album, worked with Eyes Adrift and Volcano, and recorded as a solo artistJanuary 10, 1958 ~ Singer, songwriter Lise Cabble born in Amager, Denmark ~ Member of all-female rock bands Clinic Q and Miss B Haven. As a songwriter best known for co-writing Emmelie de Forest's Only Teardrops, the 2013 Eurovision Songfestival winner
January 10, 1956 ~ Singer Elvis Presley records Heartbreak Hotel in RCA Studios, Nashville, Tennessee ~ The first on his new RCA label, Elvis Presley records this tune taking lead vocals and acoustic guitar, backed by Scotty Moore, Chet Atkins, Bill Black, Floyd Cramer. It would be released later the same month, featuring I Was The One on the flip side and earn Presley his first gold recordJanuary 10, 1956 ~ Singer Shawn Colvin, full name Shawna Lee Colvin, born in Vermillion, South Dakota, USA ~ Actively recording since the late 1980s. Best known for her 1997 Grammy Award-winning Sunny Came Home, a Billboard top 10 single. Has guested on recordings by Bruce Hornsby, Tony Bennett, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Curtis Stigers, Jimmy Webb, Béla Fleck, Buddy Miller, Judy Collins, Billy Childs, and recorded a collaborative album, 2016's Colvin & Earle, with Steve Earle