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 20, 1985 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Brantley Gilbert, full name Brantley Keith Gilbert, born in Jefferson, Georgia, USA ~ Co-wrote Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party and Dirt Road Anthem. Released his debut album, A Modern Day Prodigal Son, in 2009. Known for songs such as Country Must Be Country Wide, You Don't Know Her Like I Do, Bottoms Up, One Hell Of An Amen, The Weekend and What Happens In A Small Town with Lindsay Ell
January 20, 1984 ~ Pianist, singer, songwriter, producer Bonnie McKee born in Vacaville, California, USA ~ Debuted as a solo artist with the album Trouble in 2004 after which she was dropped by her label for underperforming. McKee would go on to focus on songwriting, especially in partnership with Katy Perry, scoring numerous hits for Perry (California Gurls, Last Friday Night (TGIF), Roar), Taio Cruz (Dynamite), Cher, Britney Spears (Hold It Against Me), Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert (Chokehold), Carly Rae Jepsen, Rita Ora, Ke$ha (C'mon), Charlie Puth, and Ava MaxJanuary 20, 1981 ~ Metal drummer Martin Marthus Skaroupka born in Brno, Czech Republic ~ Best known as member of Cradle Of Filth, joining in 2006 as replacement for Adrian Erlandsson. Has also worked with Animal Farm, Pink Chubby Guitar, Scharnhorst, Pluggulp, Inner Fear, Happy Death, Entralis, and Titanic
January 20, 1981 ~ Guitarist, singer Nathan Connolly born in Belfast, Northern Ireland ~ Best known as lead guitarist and backing vocalist of Snow Patrol, joining the band in 2002 prior to recording their major label debut, 2003's The Final Straw. Present on UK top 10 hits such as Run, You're All I Have, Chasing Cars, Signal Fire and Take Back The City
January 20, 1975 ~ Country singer Barbara Mandrell releases Wonder When My Baby's Coming Home, lifted off her This Time I Almost Made It album ~ Her last single for Columbia Records before her move to ABC/Dot, this Billy Sherrill-produced ditty actually traces back to the jazz era. Written by Kermit Goell and Arthur Kent, the tune was first released by Connee Boswell in 1942 with several notable covers later the same year by the likes of Sammy Kaye, Jimmy Dorsey, and Kate Smith. Prior to Barbara Mandrell's countrified rendition the song would also be recorded by blues artists such as Charles Brown and Bull Moose Jackson in the 1950s. Infusing country with a hint of soul and a touch of torch, Mandrell's Wonder When My Baby's Coming Home may be one of her most overlooked mid 1970s recordings, spending just nine weeks on the Billboard Country charts and barely making the top 40 peaking at No.39
January 20, 1974 ~ Charles Everett Paxton, commonly known as saxophonist, songwriter Charles Packy Axton, passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Son of Stax/Volt co-founder Estelle Axton. Active since the late 1950s. Member of the Royal Spades, which also included Steve Cropper and Donald Duck Dunn. The band would eventually rename themselves the Mar-keys, known for the 1961 Last Night Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit. Member of the Packers, known for the 1965 single Hole In The Wall which reached top 10 Billboard R&B ~ Axton was born in 1941January 20, 1974 ~ Rock, pop rock singer, guitarist Paskal Jakobsen born in Vlissingen, the Netherlands ~ Co-founded BLØF, known for songs such as Liefs Uit London, Wat Zou Je Doen, Dansen Aan Zee, Alles Is Liefde, Vandaag and Zoutelande. Co-wrote Rob de Nijs' Wat Als Later Nu Is with Danny Vera. Has also collaborated with Fernando Lameirinhas, Cristina Branco, Mark King, Henny Vrienten, and Frank Boeijen
January 20, 1973 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer, actor Benjamin Biolay born in Villefanche-sur-Saône, France ~ Brother of singer Coralie Clément, whose albums he produced. Has also written, arranged or produced for artists such as Keren Ann, Henri Salvador, Juliette Gréco, Julien Clerc, Françoise Hardy, Vanessa Paradis. As a singer and solo artist has recorded since the early 2000s, known best for albums such as 2009's La Superbe, 2012's Vengeance and 2020's Grand Prix, all of which reached top 10 of the French album charts
January 20, 1971 ~ Singer, songwriter Gary Barlow born in Cheshire, UK ~ Best known as lead singer of boy band Take That. Released his solo debut album, The Open Road, in 1997, which spawned the hit singles Forever Love and Love Won't Wait. Has collaborated with Chris Martin, Ellie Goulding, Midge Ure, Michael Bublé, Agnetha Fältskog, Jörgen Elofsson, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Has produced and/or written for Matt Cardle, Robbie Williams, Westlife, Lily Allen, Elton John, Olly Murs, T-Pain, Will Young, N-Dubz, Lawson, Shirley Bassey, Donny Osmond, Delta Goodrem, and Elaine Page
January 20, 1971 ~ Progressive rock, metal, experimental rock guitarist, singer, songwriter Paul Masvidal, full name Paul Albert Masvidal, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico ~ Cites Andrés Segovia, Django Reinhardt, Jimmy Page, Alex Lifeson, Eddie Van Halen, Scott Henderson and Warren Cuccurullo as influences. Founding member of Cynic, remaining with the band for three decades. Has also worked in side projects and as a collaborator with acts including Æon Spoke, Onward With Love, Crypha, Seaweed, Death, Gordian Knot, Persefone, and Neil Grant
January 20, 1971 ~ Ahmir Khalib Thompson, commonly known as drummer, DJ, producer, actor Questlove, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Co-founding member, co-frontman of the Roots, known best as the house band for Jimmy Fallon's late night show. The band is critically acclaimed for their jazz-influenced approach to hip-hop and has recorded about a dozen albums since the early 1990s. Notable singles include What They Do featuring Raphael Saadiq and You Got Me featuring Erykah Badu and Eve. Questlove has also served as producer for the likes of Elvis Costello, Common, D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Bilal, Jay-Z, Nikka Costa, Booker T Jones, Al Green, Amy Winehouse, and John Legend
January 20, 1971 ~ Jazz composer, pianist Zoe Rahman born in Chichester, UK ~ Leader and sidewoman. Over half a dozen albums since the early 2000s as a solo artist, leader or co-leader. Noted specifically for the 2013 collaborative album Unison with bassist, saxophonist George Mraz. Rahman has also worked with Courtney Pine, Clark Tracey, the Soothsayers, Keziah Jones, David Walcott, Mekaal Hasan, Reem Kelani, Tony Bianco, Natacha Atlas, and Brigitte Escobar
January 20, 1969 ~ Bassist, songwriter Nicky Wire born in Tredegar, UK ~ Member and primary lyricist of alternative rock band the Manic Street Preachers, known for songs such as A Design For Life, If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next, You Stole The Sun From My Heart, The Masses Against The Classes, So Why So Sad, The Love Of Richard Nixon and Your Love Alone Is Not Enough, all of which reached the British top 10. Wire released a solo album, I Killed The Zeitgeist, in 2006January 20, 1966 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist Lewis Taylor, full name Andrew Lewis Taylor, born in London, UK ~ Worked with psychedelic rock band the Edgar Broughton Band. Released two psychedelia albums in the 1980s, Laugh Yourself Awake and What Lovely Melodies, using the moniker Sheriff Jack. Moved into neo-soul in the 1990s issuing several albums under his birth name, starting with the eponymous Lewis Taylor in 1996. Retired from music in the mid 2000s
January 20, 1966 ~ Tracy Richard Irving Ulrich, commonly known as hard rock, glam metal guitarist, singer Tracii Guns, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of Guns 'n Roses, shortly after its inception replaced by Slash. Also worked with the LA Guns, Brides Of Destruction, Contraband, the League Of Gentlemen, Gilby Clarke, the Devil City Angels, Poison, Quiet Riot, and Hollywood Rose
January 20, 1966 ~ Christian singer, guitarist, songwriter Wes King born in Winder, Georgia, USA ~ Best known for his 1993 album The Robe and its follow-up Common Creed, the latter spawning the modest hits Life Is Precious, The Love Of Christ, and Common Creed. Has guested on recordings by Phil Keaggy, Kim Hill, Julie Miller, Cindy Morgan, and Carmen Liana
January 20, 1965 ~ DJ Alan Freed, full name Albert James Freed, passed away in Palm Springs, California, USA ~ Perhaps the first superstar radio DJ, promoting rock & roll, blues, country and R&&B until the payola scandal ended his career in the early 1960s ~ Freed was born in 1921January 20, 1965 ~ R&B, dance, house, soul singer Heather Small born in London, UK ~ Lead singer of M-People, known for a string of UK 1990s dance, dance-pop hits including One Night In Heaven, Moving On Up, Don't Look Any Further, Renaissance, Sight For Sore Eyes, Search For The Hero, Just For You and Angel St. Debuted as a solo artist with the album Proud in 2000
January 20, 1965 ~ Singer John Michael Montgomery born in Danville, Kentucky, USA ~ Brother of singer Eddie Montgomery, with whom he also worked. As a solo artist debuted in 1992 with the Life's A Dance album and has since regularly reached the higher echelons of the country charts with singles such as I Love The Way You Love Me, I Swear, Be My Baby Tonight, If You've Got Love, I Can Love You Like That, Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident), and Little GirlJanuary 20, 1960 ~ Jazz drummer, composer Jeff Tain-Watts born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ~ Leader and sideman. Has worked with Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Betty Carter, Michael Brecker, Alice Coltrane, Ravi Coltrane, Troy Roberts, Robin Eubanks, Harry Connick Jr, Kenny Kirkland, Terence Blanchard, Sonny Fortune, Kenny Garrett, Conrad Herwig, McCoy Tyner, and John Beasley
January 20, 1960 ~ Composer, organist Nils-Henrik Asheim born in Oslo, Norway ~ Known for chamber music, orchestral works, musical theater, saced music and electronic music. Frequent collaborator of Anne-Lise Berntsen. In the jazz and electronica idions has worked with Paal Nilssen-Love, Frode Gjerstad, Lasse Marhaug, and is known as founder of the improvisational collective the Stavanger Kitchen Orchestra
January 20, 1960 ~ Bassist Scott Thunes born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ In-demand session bassist worked with Wayne Kramer, Andy Prieboy, Frank Zappa (most of the 1980s including on the albums Them Or Us and The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life), Mike Keneally, Fear, the Waterboys, Big Bang Beat, the Mother Hips, and Heavy Bones
January 20, 1958 ~ Dub producer Adrian Sherwood, full name Adrian Maxwell Sherwood, born in London, UK ~ Best known as a dub producer working with artists such as Prince Far I, Little Axe, Mikey Dread, Bim Sherman, Lee Scratch Perry, Style Scott, and Suns Of Arqa. Thriving force behind Dub Syndicate. Has also worked outside the dub and reggae idiom, especially as a remixer. Member of Tackhead collective. Has worked with Coldcut, Depeche Mode, Primal Scream, Pop Will Eat Itself, Sinéad O'Connor, Skinny Puppy as well as artists such as Ministry, Cabaret Voltaire, KMFDM, and Nine Inch Nails
January 20, 1957 ~ Saxophonist Andy Sheppard born in Warminster, UK ~ Leader and sideman. First gained attention in the late 1970s as a member of Sphere. Released his eponymous Andy Sheppard debut album in 1987, produced by and featuring Steve Swallow. In-demand sideman, worked with Lumière, Urban Sax, Keith Tippett, Naná Vasconcelos, John Parricelli, Carla Bley, Gil Evans, George Russell, Han Bennink, Claude Deppa, Gary Valente, John Martyn, Judie Tzuke, the Blue Aeroplanes, Barbara Dennerlein, Peter Erskine, Tore Johansen, Lee Morgan, Sylvain Sylvain, and Trio LiberoJanuary 20, 1954 ~ Jazz guitarist, composer, arranger Steve Rochinski, full name Stephen James Rochinski, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Worked with Tal Farlow, Attila Zoller, Jimmy Raney, Pete Candoli, Conte Candoli, Tim Hagans, Joe Lovano, Greg Hopkins, Gary Foster, Pat Harbison, Jeff Sherman, Hal Melia, Chip Stephens, Hank Marr, Brad Goode, Joe Hunt, Scott Lee, Walt Weiskopf, Wade Beach, Amy Shook, Jeff Antoniuk, Tony Martucco, Chuck Redd, Richard Evans, Bob Freedman, Anthony Tillman, and Andrei Ryabov
January 20, 1954 ~ R&B, disco, soul, funk singer, songwriter Stuart Bascombe born in Harlem, New York, USA ~ Member of Black Ivory, known for 1970s Billboard R&B hits such as Don't Turn Around, You & I, I'll Find A Way, and Time Is Love. Co-wrote Raekwon's Criminology of the 1995 Only Built 4 Linx album. Co-wrote Q-Tip's Gettin' Up of the 2008 The Renaissance album