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 14, 1977 ~ Llandel Verguilla Malavé, commonly known as reggaeton singer, producer Yandel, born in Cayey, Puerto Rico ~ Half of reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel, known for songs such as Llamé Pa' Verte (Bailando Sexy), Pam Pam, Me Estas Tentando, Abusadora, Gracias A Ti featuring Enrique Iglesias and Follow The Leader featuring Jennifer Lopez/ Yandel released his solo debut album, Quien Contra Mi, in 2003
January 14, 1971 ~ R&B group the Temptations release Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me), which would become a signature song and the band's third Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit ~ Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, the former also serving as producer, Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) lifted off their Sky's The Limit album would be the band's third of four Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits, preceded by My Girl and I Can't Get Next To You. The song would the final single to feature founding member Eddie Kendricks, who departed the group to pursue a solo career, and Paul Williams, who retired for health reasons. The following year, the band would score their fourth and final No.1 hit on the pop charts with Papa Was A Rollin' StoneJanuary 14, 1970 ~ Singer Diana Ross gives her last performance with the Supremes at Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas ~ Vocal group the Supremes perform their last concert featuring Diana Ross, the latter departing the band to pursue a solo career. The group would be joined on-stage by Ross' successor Jean Terrell. Motown owner Berry Gordy Jr would change his mind the same evening, preferring to pick Syreeta Wright as the new lead singer but this was vetoed by singer Mary Wilson
January 14, 1970 ~ R&B group the Supremes perform their final show with Diana Ross at Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas ~ Vocal group the Supremes perform their last concert featuring Diana Ross who would go on to pursue a solo career. The group would be joined on-stage by Ross' successor Jean Terrell. Motown owner Berry Gordy Jr would change his mind the same evening, preferring to pick Syreeta Wright as the new lead singer but this was vetoed by singer Mary Wilson
January 14, 1969 ~ Drummer, guitarist Dave Grohl, full name David Eric Grohl, born in Warren, Ohio, USA ~ Rose to fame as drummer for Nirvana from 1990 through 1994, appearing on the masterpiece Nevermind and its follow-up In Utero. Following the death of lead singer Kurt Cobain, the band disbanded and Grohl would go on to form the Foo Fighters, initially intended as a one-man project. The band would prove an important force in alternative rock and score the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hits Learn To Fly and Best Of You. Grohl has also worked with Scream, Mondo Generator, Them Crooked Vultures, and notably the Queens Of The Stone Age
January 14, 1968 ~ James Todd Smith, commonly known as pop-rapper LL Cool J, born in Bay Shore, New York, USA ~ One of the first, alongside Kurtis Blow and Run-DMC, to achieve mainstream success with hip-hop and rap especially with his 1985 Radio album and accessible poppy songs such as I Need A Beat, Rock The Bells and I Need Love. Other well known recordings include Mama Said Knock You Out, Hey Lover featuring Boyz II Men, Father, Luv U Better, and Control Myself. Has collaborated with EPMD, Keith Sweat, Kenneth Babyface Edmonds, Keith Murray, Ludacris, Brad Paisley, Alicia Keys, Amerie, Busta Rhymes, Marley Marl, and Nelly
January 14, 1967 ~ Rock drummer, percussionist, songwriter Steve Bowman born ~ Co-founding member of the Counting Crows, present on the band's 1993 acclaimed August & Everything After debut album which spawned the hit singles Mr Jones and Round Here. After departing the band in 1994 Bowman has worked with Third Eye Blind, John Wesley Harding, Penelope Houston, and notably Luce including on the song Good Day which was used in the films How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days and 13 Going On 30
January 14, 1967 ~ Zachary Phillip Wylde, commonly known as heavy metal, hard rock, groove metal, southern rock guitarist, keyboardist, singer Zakk Wylde, born in Bayonne, New Jersey, USA ~ Co-founding member, lead singer, guitarist for Black Label Society with whom he recorded about a dozen albums. The band is especially acclaimed for their 1999 Sonic Brew debut album. Closely associated with Ozzy Osbourne, joining Ozzy's backing unit in the late 1980s and present on over half a dozen studio and live albums including the acclaimed 1991 No More Tears album. Lead guitarist, singer for Pride & Glory, known for their sole 1994 eponymous Pride & Glory albumJanuary 14, 1965 ~ Conductor, violinist Andrew Manze born in Beckenham, UK ~ Artistic director of the English Concert. Has also worked with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, and the NDR Radiophilharmonie
January 14, 1965 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Bob Dylan records Subterannean Homesick Blues at Columbia Recording Studio, New York, New York ~ Penned by Bob Dylan, drawing from Jack Kerouac, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Chuck Berry. Produced by Tom Wilson. Released as a single the following March, paired with She Belongs To Me on the flip side. Included on the Bringing It All Back Home album
January 14, 1965 ~ Richard Walters, commonly known as rapper Slick Rick born in London, UK ~ Rose to prominence in the mid-1980s as member of Doug E Fresh's backing unit the Get Fresh Crew, known for songs such as The Show and La-di-da-di. Both songs are considered hip-hop classics, the latter becoming one of the most sampled songs in history. As a solo artist debuted in 1988 with the album The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick, which spawned the hits Teenage Love and Children's Story. Has also collaborated with Montell Jordan, Aaliyah, OutKast, Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Chamillionaire, Al B Sure, Jermaine Dupri, Kid Capri, Rahzel, Will Smith, Macy Gray, Tony Touch, Mos Def, Mariah Carey, and Snoop Dogg
January 14, 1964 ~ R&B outfit the Isley Brothers record Who's That Lady at Bell Sound Studios, New York, New York ~ At the time still a trio, the sibling act record the first version of Who's That Lady. Released later the same year as a single, which did not chart. By 1973, however, with the addition of Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, and Chris Jasper the trio had expanded to a sextet and reworked the song, adding organ, congas, and a funky guitar line by Ernie. Now titled That Lady, it would become a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit for the band, top 20 in the UK, and help establish Ernie as a funky powerhouse guitaristJanuary 14, 1962 ~ David Anthony Healy, commonly known as industrial, post-punk, alt-country, rock singer, guitarist, bassist David Virgin, born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Member of Broken Toys. Member of SPK. Member of Sekret Sekret. Released his Landlord Green solo debut album in 1992. Has also served as producer for the likes of the Thought Criminals, the Dublin City Rounders, Kate Dineen, and Ciaran Moran
January 14, 1959 ~ Jazz guitarist Nguyên Lê born in Paris, France ~ Worked with Randy Brecker, Vince Mendoza, Eric Vloeimans, Carla Bley, Michel Portal, Renaud Garcia-Fons, Per Mathisen, Marc Johnson, Peter Erskine, Trilok Gurtu, Michel Alibo, Karim Ziad, Romain Labayer, Gergo Borlai, Terri Lyne Carrington, Aida Khann, Corin Curschellas, Meshell Ndegeocello, Bojan Zulfukarpasic, Francois Verly, Art Lande, Jamey Haddad, Michel Benita, Himiko Paganotti, Illya Amar, Stephane Galland, Sylvain Gontard, Stephane Guillaume, Celine Bonacina, Daniel Zimmerman, Paul McCandless, Danny Gottlieb, Tino di Geraldo, Carles Benavent, Safy Boutella, the Caine Ensamble, Paolo Fresu, Francois Moutin, Cæcilie Norby, and Dhafer Youssef
January 14, 1957 ~ Drummer Steve Jordan born in New York, New York, USA ~ In-demand session musician. Best known as a drummer for the TV shows Saturday Night Live and Late Night With David Letterman. Has also worked with Steve Khan, Anthony Jackson, Manolo Badrena, the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards, the X-Pensive Winos, the Blues Brothers, John Mayer, Don Henley, John Mellencamp, Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, Sonny Rollins, BB King, Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow, Neil Young, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys, John Scofield, Herbie Hancock, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa, the Verbs, Patti Austin, Bunky Green, Booker T & the MG's, Andrés Calamaro, Josh Groban, George Benson, Bonnie Tyler, Mark Ronson, Ziggy Marley, Steve Cropper, Bruno Mars, Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart, Vince Gill, Solomon Burke, Garland Jeffreys, and Cissy Houston
January 14, 1956 ~ Chanson, pop, new wave singer, songwriter Étienne Daho born in Oran, French Algeria ~ Cites artists as diverse as Serge Gainsbourg, the Velvet Underground, the Beach Boys and Syd Barrett as influences. Well over a dozen albums to his name, recording to critical acclaim and commercial succes since the early 1980s drawing from surf, new wave, drum and bass, hi-NRG, pop, rock, and chansons. Especially noted for the albums Pop Satori, Paris Ailleurs, and Corps Et Armes. Daho is also an in-demand collaborator, having worked with a wide array of French and international artists including Brigitte Fontaine, Air, the Working Week, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Jane Birkin, Marianne Faithfull, Françoise Hardy, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vanessa Paradis, and Dani
January 14, 1954 ~ Drummer Ed Mann born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known for his association with Frank Zappa, appearing on over 30 of his albums including Sheik Yerbouti, Joe's Garage Acts I II & III, Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar and Them Or Us. Mann has also worked with Tommy Mars, Banned From Utopia, Project Object, Agent Moosehead, and Desert Rain. Mann has also recorded several albums as a solo artist, perhaps most notably Global Warming released in 1995. Upon hearing of his death, fellow Zappa alumnus Chad Wackerman described Mann as a masterful and brilliant percussionist, adding Mann “could play anything Zappa threw at him and I never once heard him make a mistake” ~ Mann passed away in 2024
January 14, 1952 ~ Michael Cooper, commonly known as reggae keyboardist, guitarist Michael Ibo Cooper, born in Clarendon, Jamaica ~ Member of Jamaican pop outfit Inner Circle. Co-founding member of reggae unit Third World, with whom he recorded well over half a dozen albums. The band is best known for Now That We Found Love and Try Jah Love, both of which remain radio staples across Europe to this day. Cooper also appears on albums by the Abyssinians, Burning Spear (Social Living), Buju Banton, Beenie Man, and Beres Hammond ~ Cooper passed away in 2023
January 14, 1951 ~ Bassist Mark Egan, full name Mark McDanel Egan, born in Brockton, Massachusetts, USA ~ Well known for his association with Pat Metheny, including on the acclaimed albums Pat Metheny Group and American Garage. Co-founded jazz fusion outfit Elements with drummer Danny Gottlieb, a longtime college friend and bandmate in Metheny's backing unit, the jazz fusion outfit recording well over half a dozen albums since the early 1980s including notably Illumination released in 1987. Egan has recorded about a dozen albums as a leader, starting with 1985's Mosaic, and is a prolific sideman present on albums by David Sanborn, Walter Bishop Jr (Cubicle), Steve Grossman, Michael Franks, Mark Murphy (The Artistry Of Mark Murphy), Mimi Fariña, Mike Stern, Sting (Nothing Like The Sun), David Liebman, Tuck & Patti, Laurie Anderson (Strange Angels), Chroma, Marc Cohn (Marc Cohn), David Wilcox (Home Again), Dee Carstensen, Art Garfunkel, Jules Shear (Between Us), Chuck Loeb, Gato Barbieri, Gil Evans, George Gruntz, Eric Andersen, Cyndi Lauper (The Body Electric), Flora Purim, and Joan Osborne
January 14, 1951 ~ Producer, arranger, engineer Peter Collins, full name Peter Julian Alexander Collins, born in Reading, UK ~ Briefly a pop performer and jingle writer before becoming a producer in the 1980s, starting with UK acts such as Musical Youth, Tracey Ullman, and Nik Kershaw. After relocating to the USA, Collins would establish himself as an in-demand producer working with a wide array of artists including Queensrÿche, Voice Of The Beehive, the Indigo Girls (Indigo Girls), Gary Moore, Alice Cooper (Hey Stoopid), Suicidal Tendencies (The Art Of Rebellion), Nanci Griffith, Bon Jovi, Billy Squier, Sneaker Pimps, Letters To Cleo, the Brian Setzer Orchestra (The Dirty Boogie), Shawn Mullins, the Cardigans, Jewel, LeAnn Rimes, and Lisa Loeb. Upon hearing of his passing, guitarist Alex Lifeson of Rush, for whom he produced four albums, commented: “Collins will forever live in my memory as Mr. Big, sitting at his control center beside a recording console with his ubiquitous tools: a legal pad, an ashtray and a Monte Cristo No.2” ~ Collins passed away in 2024
January 14, 1949 ~ Progressive rock, reggae bassist, singer, songwriter Charlie Tumahai, full name Charles Turu Tumahai, born in Orakei, New Zealand ~ Best known as a member of Be Bop Deluxe, joining the band after their first album and present on some of their most acclaimed including the 1976 Sunburst Finish album. Tumahai has also worked with several other noted groups from New Zealand, Australia, and the UK including Mississippi, which later evolved into the Little River Band, as well as Chain, Healing Force, the Dukes, Tandoori Cassette, and reggae outfit Herbs. Tumahai is also known as an advocate for several Maori causes, working as a voluntary member to assist young Maori offenders, and helping develop an arts program for Maori prisoners. Following a heart attack, Tumahai passed away unexpectedly at age 46 ~ Tumahai passed away in 1995January 14, 1949 ~ Jazz clarinetist George Baquet, full name George Francis Baquet, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Incremental in the development of early New Orleans jazz. Son of Theogene V Baquet, brother of Achille Baquet and Harold Baquet, all clarinetists. George has worked with PT Wright, the Georgia Minstrels, Buddy Bolden, John Robichaux, Freddie Keppard, the Onward Brass Band, the Original Creole Orchestra, Sam Gordon's the Lafayette Players, the New Orleans Nighthawks, Bessie Smith, Jelly Roll Morton, and Sidney Bechet ~ Baquet was born in 1881
January 14, 1949 ~ Wilhelm Levkowitz, commonly known as vaudeville singer Willie Howard, passed away ~ Formed the sibling duo the Howard Brothers with his younger brother Eugene Howard. The duo were among the earliest openly Jewish performers and known for their burlesque and vaudeville performances and appeared in several Broadway revues, most notably The Passing Show series starting in the early-1910s and the George Gershwin-penned Girl Crazy musical in 1930 ~ Levkowitz was born in 1883
January 14, 1948 ~ Rock singer, songwriter Roy Kenner born in Toronto, Canada ~ Lead singer of late 1960s R&B outfit Mandala. Member of Bush. Subsequently fronted the James Gang from 1972 through 1974, present on the albums Straight Shooter, Passin' Thru, Bang, and Miami. Member of Law, appearing on the album Breakin' It and Hold On To It
January 14, 1948 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer T-Bone Burnett born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ First gained attention as Bob Dylan's guitar player ih the 1970s. Widely revered and sought-after producer who has worked with the Counting Crows, Los Lobos, his wife Sam Phillips, Gillian Welch, Gregg Allman, Roy Orbison, Elvis Costello, and John Mellencamp. Has been releasing solo albums since 1980