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 18, 1943 ~ Drummer Al Foster, full name Aloysius Tyrone Foster, born in Richmond, Virginia, USA ~ The drummer first gained serious attention backing Blue Mitchell on a series of albums, starting with The Thing To Do released in 1964. However, he would become best known for his association with Miles Davis, joining the trumpeter's backing unit in the early 1970s as a replacement for Jack DeJohnette. Foster has recorded about a dozen albums with Davis including Get Up With It, the live albums Agartha and Pangaea, and Star People. Foster recorded a handful of albums as a leader, perhaps most notably the funk-flexing Mixed Roots released in 1978, and has guested on albums by Monty Alexander, Illinois Jacquet (The Soul Explosion), Abbey Lincoln (People In Me), Larry Willis, Duke Jordan, Yusef Lateef (The Doctor Is In & Out), Cecil Payne (Bird Gets The Worm), Dexter Gordon, Clint Houston, Frank Foster, Bob Berg, Jack Wilkins (Merge), Red Garland, Phil Markowitz, Joe Henderson, and Sonny Rollins. His impressive resumé notwithstanding, it was with Davis that Foster would remain most closely associated, the two forming a close friendship. Davis named Mr Foster, a hallucinatory funk composition recorded in the early 1970s, for Foster. Davis has credited the drummer with keeping him in touch with the music scene during his sabbatical years through the early 1980s: “I used to talk to him almost every day when I was retired. I really trusted him during that time” ~ Foster passsed away in 2025
January 18, 1943 ~ Rock, progressive rock keyboardist, songwriter Dave Greenslade born in Woking, UK ~ Member of Colosseum including on the acclaimed albums Those Who Are About To Die Salute You and The Valentyne Suite. Also worked with If, Chris Farlowe's the Thunderbirds and with his own band Greenslade
January 18, 1942 ~ Pioneering electronic musician Klaus Wiese born in Germany ~ Briefly a member of krautrock outfit Popol Vuh, playing tamboura on the albums Hosianna Mantra and Selingpreisung. Best known as a solo artist, one of the great ambient and space music artists and a master of the Tibetan singing bowl. Has regularly collaborated with artists such as Al Gromer Kahn, Mathias Grassow, Oöphoi, Tau Ceti, Saam Schlamminger, Ted de Jong, and Deuter ~ Wiese passed away in 2009January 18, 1942 ~ Saxophonist, flutist Martin Fierro born in Mexico ~ Best known for his work with Doug Sahm, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jerry Garcia (Hooteroll), Legion Of Mary, and with Zero. Has also collaborated with Mother Earth, James Cotton, the String Cheese Incident, and the Dark Star Orchestra ~ Fierro passed away in 2008
January 18, 1941 ~ Pop, country-pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Bobby Goldsboro, full name Robert Charles Goldsboro born in Marianna, Florida, USA ~ Best known for the million-seller Honey, a Billboard No.1 hit in 1968. Other well known songs include Autumn Of My Life, The Straight Life, I'm A Drifter, Muddy Mississippi Lines and Watching Scotty Grow. Also backed Roy Orbison on tour and record in the early 1960s as a member of Candymen
January 18, 1941 ~ Davis Eli Ruffin, commonly known as R&B, soul singer David Ruffin, born in Meridian, Mississippi, USA ~ Brother of singer Jimmy Ruffin. Best known as member of the Temptations from 1964 through 1968, singing lead on songs such as My Girl, Ain't Too Proud To Beg, (I Know) I'm Losing You and I Wish It Would Rain. Debuted as a solo artist in 1969 with the album My Whole World Ended. Known for songs such as My Whole World Ended The Moment You Left Me, I Lost Everything I've Ever Loved, I'm So Glad I Fell For You, Walk Away From Love, Heavy Love, Everything's Coming Up Love and Sexy Dancer. Also recorded with his brother Jimmy, notably the 1970 I Am My Brother's Keeper album, spawning the modest hits When My Love Hand (Comes Tumbling Down) and Your Love Was Worth Waiting For ~ Ruffin passed away in 1991
January 18, 1940 ~ Double bassist, pianist, vibraphonist Don Thompson, full name Donald Winston Thompson, born in Powell River, Canada ~ Fixture on the Toronto jazz scene. Worled with Paul Desmond, Ed Bickert, Rob McConnell, Dave Robbins, Fraser MacPherson, Lenny Breau, Sonny Greenwich, Jim Hall, Milt Jackson, Art Farmer, James Moody, Zoot Sims, Clark Terry, Harry Sweets Edison, Frank Rosolino, Slide Hampton, Lee Konitz, Abbey Lincoln, Sarah Vaughan, Red Rodney, Joe Henderson, Dewey Redman, Red Mitchell, Sheila Jordan, and Kenny Wheeler
January 18, 1940 ~ Jazz, rock bassist, double bassist, cellist Lindsay L Cooper born in Glasgow, UK ~ Influenced by Thelonious Monk, King Oliver, Derek Bailey. Regularly worked as a ship's musician before settling in London, finding employ as an in-demand session musician. Present on the 1973 Mike Oldfield album Tubular Bells, Has also worked with Evan Parker, Keith Tippett, Kenny Wheeler, Ken Colyer, Talisker, Amalgam, the Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Bobby Bradford, Lol Coxhill, and Day & Taxi ~ Cooper passed away in 2001January 18, 1938 ~ Hargus Melvin Robbins, commonly known as country, rock pianist Hargus Pig Robbins, born in Spring City, Tennessee, USA ~ In-demand session musician since the mid 1950s. Appears on classic country tracks such as White Lightning (George Jones), I Fall To Pieces (Patsy Cline), Coal Miner's Daughter (Loretta Lynn), Behind Closed Doors (Charlie Rich), The Gambler (Kenny Rogers). Has also worked with Dolly Parton, Connie Smith, Patti Page, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, JJ Cale, John Hartford, Mark Knopfler, Merle Haggard, Roger Miller, Moe Bandy, and Conway Twitty ~ Robbins passed away in 2022
January 18, 1934 ~ Violist, author David Dalton, full name David Johnson Dalton, born in Springville, Utah, USA ~ Best known for his scholarly accomplishments. As a faculty member of Brigham Young University, Utah, Dalton's main contribution was the establishment of the the Primrose International Viola Archive, one of the largest viola archives in the world. Dalton is also known as president of the American Viola Society and of the International Viola Society ~ Dalton passed away in 2022
January 18, 1926 ~ Robert Edward Moncrief, commonly known as country singer, songwriter Bobby Edwards, born in Anniston, Alabama, USA ~ Known for a string of country hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s including Long Gone Daddy, Jealous Heart, You're The Reason and Don't Pretend ~ Moncrief passed away in 2012January 18, 1916 ~ Jazz, R&B, rock & roll bassist, bandleader, arranger, songwriter Doles Dickens born in North Carolina, USA ~ Active from the 1930 through the 1960s. Worked with Eddie Durham, Buster Smith, Eddie South, the Five Red Caps, Piano Red, Wilbert Harrison, Varetta Dillard, Jimmy Witherspoon, Mahalia Jackson, Bill Haley, and Lavern Baker ~ Dickens passed away in 1972
January 18, 1915 ~ Bouzouki player, violinist, songwriter Vassilis Tsitsanis born in Trikala, Greece ~ One of the leading Greek composers, widely regarded as one of the founders of Rebetiko and Laiko. Recorded prolifically starting in the late 1930s. Had his compositions recorded by Sotiria Bellou, Marika Ninou, Ioanna Georgekopoulou, and Prodromos Tsaousakis ~ Tstitsanis passed away in 1984
January 18, 1911 ~ David Daniel Kaminsky, commonly known as actor, singer, dancer Danny Kaye, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Starred in close to 20 feature films from the late 1930 through the 1960s. Known for his comedy routine, pantomimes and novelty songs. Released a number of albums, starting with 1949's eponymous Danny Kaye album. Has collaborated with the Andrews Sisters (Civilization (Bong Bong Bong)), Gordon Jenkins, Eileen Wilson, and with Louis Armstrong ~ Kaminsky passed away in 1987
January 18, 1841 ~ Romantic composer, pianist Emmanuel Chabrier, full name Alexis-Emmanuel Chabrier, born in Ambert, France ~ Influenced Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Francis Poulenc. Coming from a bourgeois family who did not approve of a musical career Chabrier studied law and worked as a civil servant until age 39 before finally turning to a life of music. Best known for the orchestral works España and Joyeuse Marche, yet also write operas and piano music ~ Chabrier passed away in 1894