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 2, 1989 ~ New jack swing singer Karyn White releases Superwoman, lifted off her eponymous Karyn White debut album ~ One of three songs off Karyn White's debut album to top the Billboard R&B chart and one of three to reach top 10 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, where it reached No.8, Superwoman was written and produced by Kenneth Babyface Edmonds, LA Reid and Daryl Simmons, architects of new jack swing. Years later, White would recollect in an interview with SoulTracks, looking back on the success of Superwoman: “They could've given that song to anybody. Everybody wanted to work with them at that time. So, for them to see in me that strength and that I could really carry that song was brilliant. Besides, Kenneth Babyface Edmonds is one of the most prolific writers of the century. For him to have that sensibility of what a woman really feels, he just gets it”
January 2, 1986 ~ Troy Andrews, commonly known as trombonist, trumpeter, drummer, organist, tubist, producer, actor Trombone Shorty, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Brother of trumpeter, bandleader James Andrews. Leader and in-demand sideman in rock, pop, jazz, funk, hip-hop. Has worked with Lenny Kravitz, U2, the Rebirth Brass Band, Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Jeff Beck, Warren Haynes, Stanton Moore, Kid Rock, Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Madonna, Mark Ronson, Usher, Queen Latifah, Harry Connick Jr, Allen Toussaint, Cee Lo Green, Dierks Bentley, Bettye LaVette, and NekfeuJanuary 2, 1985 ~ Jazz saxophonist, songwriter André Roligheten born in Skien, Norway ~ Leader and sideman. Has worked with Andrew d'Angelo, Theo Bleckmann, Django Bates, Paul Lovens, Axel Dörner, Robin Hayward, Raymond Strid, Bugge Wesseltoft, Mathias Eick, Ola Kvernberg, Paal Nilssen-Love, and Per Zanussi
January 2, 1985 ~ Guitarist Ron Wood marries Jo Karslake in Buckinghamshire, UK ~ Ron Wood had been previously married to model Krissy Findlay from 1971 through 1978, before marrying Jo Karslake in 1985. Wood adopted Karslake's son from a previous marriage, and the couple would have two children of their own, daughter Leah and son Tyrone. Guests at the wedding included Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck, and all of his bandmates from the Rolling Stones with the exception of Mick Jagger. Wood and Karslake remained married until 2009
January 2, 1981 ~ Moses David Green, commonly known as songwriter, lyricist Bud Green, passed away in Yonkers, New York, USA ~ Collaborated with songwriters, composers such as Ray Henderson, Buddy DeSylva, Harry Warren and Slim Gaillard. Co-wrote songs such as Alabamy Bound (Paul Whiteman, Dean Martin, Ray Charles), Ya Gotta Known How To Love (Gene Austin), Sentimental Journey (Les Brown, the Chordettes, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra), and Once In A While (Tommy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, Guy Lombardo) ~ Green was born in 1897
January 2, 1981 ~ Singer David Lynch passed away ~ Co-founding member of the Platters, remaining with the band from its inception in 1952 through the early 1970s, making him one of the few constant members in an ever-revolving line-up. The band is considered one of the prime vocal harmony groups, bridging the pre-rock era with early rock and roll and hugely influential on R&B. Lynch is present on most of the band's best known, including Only You (And You Alone), The Great Pretender, (You've Got) The Magic Touch, My Prayer, Twilight Time, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, and Harbor Lights, all of which reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Lynch was born in 1929
January 2, 1980 ~ Label executive, producer J Mayo Williams, full name Jay Mayo Williams, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Pioneering blues, gospel, jazz producer. Discovered Ma Rainey and Papa Charlie Jackson. Also worked with Blind Lemon Jefferson, Tampa Red, Reverend Thomas A Dorsey, Ida Cox, Jimmy Blythe, Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Freddie Keppard, Tiny Parham, Mahalia Jackson, Alberta Hunter, Blind Boy Fuller, Roosevelt Sykes, Sleepy John Estes, Kokomo Arnold, Peetie Wheatstraw, Bill Gaither, Bumble Bee Slim, Georgia White, Trixie Smith, Monette Moore, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Marie Knight, Tab Smith, and the Harlem Hamfats ~ Willias was born in 1894January 2, 1978 ~ Post-rock keyboardist, flutist, oboist, banjoist, guitarist, bassist, singer Kjartan Sveinsson born in Iceland ~ Married to violinist Maria Huld Markan Sigfúdóttir since 2001. Best known as member of Sigur Rós from 1998 through 2013. Present on songs such as Glósóli, Gobbledigook and Inni Mér Syngur Vitleysingur, all of which reached top 10 in the band's native Iceland
January 2, 1977 ~ Pianist Erroll Garner, full name Erroll Louis Garner, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Influenced by Earl Hines, James P Johnson, and Fats Waller. Considered one of the most brilliant jazz pianists, Garner has recorded prolifically since the 1940s, and is particularly acclaimed for a string of 1950s albums, including Mambo Moves Garner, Gone Garner Gonest, and Concert By The Sea. As a composer, Garner is especially known for penning and first recording Misty, which would become a jazz standard covered by hundreds of artists including Toots Thielemans, Count Basie, Henry Mancini, King Curtis, Buddy Rich, Sonny Stitt, and Wynton Kelly ~ Garner was born in 1921
January 2, 1975 ~ Singer, guitarist Chris Cheney, full name Christopher John Cheney, born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Lead singer, guitarist of rockabilly outfit the Living End, which he co-founded with Scott Owen. Wrote some of the band's biggest hits including Second Solution, All Torn Down, Pictures In The Mirror, Roll On, One Said To The Other, What's On Your Radio and Wake Up. Has also worked with the Wrights, Sarah McLeod, Dead Men Walking, as well as written songs for artists such as the Black Veil Brides, Reece Mastin and Jimmy BarnesJanuary 2, 1975 ~ Singer, songwriter Douglas Robb born in Agour Hills, California, USA ~ Lead singer of Hoobastank, which he co-founded with Dan Estrin. The band has recorded about half a dozen albums since its inception in the early 2000s, and is best known for their Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit The Reason, the title track of their 2003 sophomore album of the same name
January 2, 1975 ~ Singer Suzi Quatro lands the cover of Rolling Stone with the headline “Suzi Quatro flexes her leather” ~ With a string of UK hits under her belt, including the No.1 hits Can The Can and Devil Gate Drive, the Michigan-born and raised Suzi Quatro lands the cover of Rolling Stone, despite not having any American hits. Quatro would fail to break through in her native country, but the magazine cover did attract attention of the Happy Days producers, landing her a role on the show as Leather Tuscadero
January 2, 1974 ~ Woodward Maurice Ritter, commonly known as country singer, actor Tex Ritter, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Popular from the 1930s through the 1960s. Early country pioneer. Known for starring numerous westerns on radio, TV, screen such as the 1936 film Song Of The Gringo. First artist to be signed to Capitol Records. Known for songs such as I'm Wastin' My Tears On You, When You Leave Don't Slam The Door, and I Dreamed Of A Hillbilly Heaven ~ Ritter was born in 1905January 2, 1973 ~ Bebop, free jazz saxophonist, composer Joe Harriott, full name Joseph Arthurlin Harriott, passed away in Southampton, UK ~ Part of a wave of Caribbean jazz musicians relocating to England in the 1950s. Free-form jazz pioneer. Influenced by Charlie Parker. Especially acclaimed for his 1962 Abstract album. Worked with Tony Kinsey, Phil Seamen, Allan Ganley, Lita Roza, George Chisholm, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Michael Garrick, and Amancio d'Silva ~ Harriott was born in 1928
January 2, 1973 ~ Rufus George Perryman, commonly known as blues, boogie-woogie pianist, singer Speckled Red, passed away in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Influenced by Charlie Spand, James Hemingway, William Ezell. As a solo artist best known for Wilkins Street Stomp and The Dirty Dozens. Has worked with Robert Nighthawk, Willie Hatcher, the Dixieland Rhythm Kings, and Chris Barber ~ Perryman was born in 1892
January 2, 1970 ~ Dansband singer, bassist, songwriter Casper Janebrink, full name Dennis Casper Janebrink, born in Gothenburg, Sweden ~ Lead singer of Arvingarna, internationally best known for representing Sweden at the 1993 Eurovision Songfestival reaching 7th place with Eloise
January 2, 1970 ~ Death metal singer Frank Mullen, full name Francis Eugene Mullen, born in Long Island, New York, USA ~ Co-founding member, lead singer, frontman of Suffocation, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums including the acclaimed 1995 Pierced From Within album. Mullen is best known for being one of the first to introduce low-pitched growling vocals into the death metal genre. Mullen departed the band in 2018, to be succeeded by Ricky Myers who on occasion had filled in for himJanuary 2, 1970 ~ Marta Simlat, commonly known as Eurodance singer, model JK, born in Kraków, Poland ~ Best known for a number of early to mid 1990s recordings, often working with Whigfield producers Larry Pignagnoli and Davide Riva, including You Make Me Feel Good, You & I and perhaps her biggest hit My Radio. Later it turned out Simlat actually lip-synced all vocal parts, the actual vocals performed and recorded by Giovanna Bersola, Sandra Chambers and Zeitia Massiah
January 2, 1970 ~ Rapper Raymond Ebanks, full name Raymond Anthony Ebanks, born in London, UK ~ Member of Soup De Loop. Best known as frontman of Finnish hip hop outfit the Bomfunk MC's, noted for the international 2000 hit Freestyler. Following the latter's disbandement Ebanks has largely disappeared from the music industry, though he occasionally guested on a few tracks
January 2, 1965 ~ Drummer Paul Kodish born in Willesden, UK ~ Member of hip-hop act Whodini. Worked with drum and bass group Bad Company. Member of electronica band Apollo 440 from 1997 through 2005. Member of Pendulum from 2006 through 2009
January 2, 1963 ~ Singer, actor Dick Powell, full name Richard Ewing Powell, passed away in West Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as an actor, including singing in some musical comedies. Sang I Only Have Eyes For You in the 1934 film Dames. Ventured into directing by the 1950s, making his debut as a director with Split Second, released in 1953 ~ Powell was born in 1904
January 2, 1955 ~ The funeral of R&B pianist, singer John Marshall Alexander, commonly known as Johnny Ace, was held at Clayborn Temple AME Church, Memphis, Tennessee ~ Ace had died the previous Christmas day of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound. Accounts of the incident vary, some saying Ace was playing Russian roulette but most likely he had thought the gun to not be loaded while playing with a .32 caliber while drunk. Ace died age 25, on the verge of breaking through to a mainstream audience. The funeral would be attended by an estimated 5,000 peopleJanuary 2, 1954 ~ Funk, R&B singer Dawn Silva born ~ First gained attention in the mid 1970s as backing vocalist with Sly & the Family Stone. Would go on to form the Brides Of Funkenstein, being the only constant member and notably present on the late 1970s albums Funk Or Walk and Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy. Has also worked with Parliament, Funkadelic, Eddie Hazel, Fred Wesley, Bootsy Collins, and the Gap Band
January 2, 1954 ~ Guitarist Glenn Goins, full name Glenn Lamonte Goins, born in Plainfield, New Jersey, USA ~ Closely associated with George Clinton as a member of funk outfits Parliament and Funkadelic. Notably present on albums such as Mothership Connection and The Clones Of Dr Funkenstein. Sang lead vocals on Bop Gun (Endangered Species). After leaving Clinton in 1977 formed funk outfit Quazar which also included his brother Kevin Goins and drummer Jerome Brailey ~ Goins passed away in 1978January 2, 1952 ~ Contemporary folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Christine Lavin born ~ Actively recording as a solo artist since the mid-1980s. Founded all-female folk outfit the Four Bitchin' Babes in 1990. Named his favorite artist by world-famous scientist Neil Degrasse Tyson
January 2, 1952 ~ Rock & roll, pop, glam rock singer Graeme Strachan also known as Shirley Graeme, full name Graeme Ronald Strachan, born in Malvern, Australia ~ Briefly a member of Frame in the early 1970s. Strachan would, however, rise to fame as lead singer of Skyhooks from 1974 through 1978, rejoining on occasion in later years. Strachan has recorded a solo artist, noted for the mid 1970s Australian top 20 hits Every Little Bit Hurts and The Tracks Of My Tears originally recorded by respectively Brenda Holloway and the Miracles, as well as with supergroup the Party Boys, and worked as a host for several TV shows. Strachan passed away at age 49 in a self-piloted helicopter crash ~ Strachan passed away in 2001