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 23, 1991 ~ Mackenzie Scott, commonly known as indie rock, folk, alternative rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Torres, born in Orlando, Florida, USA ~ Critically described as heiress to PJ Harvey and Cat Power. Cites Broadway theatre, Brandi Carlile, and Fleetwood Mac as influences. Praised for the maturity of her songwriting. Has recorded about half a dozen albums, starting with the independently released eponymous Torres in 2013
January 23, 1990 ~ Guitarist Allen Collins, full name Larkin Allen Collins Jr, passed away in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Co-founding member, guitarist of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Collins co-wrote many of the band's best known songs including Free Bird, That Smell and Give Me Three Steps. In 1977, Collins survived the plane crash that killed three of his bandmated and eventually recovered. Collins was also a member of the Rossington-Collins Band ~ Collins was born in 1952
January 23, 1989 ~ All-female pop rock, power pop, paisley underground group the Bangles release Eternal Flame, the single would become the band's second and final Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit ~ Released as the second single off their Everything album, it would become the band's second and final Billboard Hot 100 charttopper, the previous being Walk Like An Egyptian. Written by Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg, and Susanna Hoffs. The inspiration for the song came from two eternal flames. Steinberg would later explain: “Susanna was talking about the Bangles having visited Graceland, and she said there was some type of shrine to Elvis Presley that included some kind of eternal flame. As soon as those words were mentioned, I immediately thought of the synagogue in the town of Palm Springs, California where I grew up. I remember during our Sunday school class they would walk us through the sanctuary. There was one little red light and they told us it was called the eternal flame”January 23, 1985 ~ Singer, model, songwriter Donnie Klang, full name Donald Joseph Klang, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known as contestant on reality show, talent show Making The Band 4. Released his debut album, Just A Rolling Stone, in 2008. His sole single, Take You There, stalled at No.10 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Billboard Hot 100 chart
January 23, 1982 ~ Stanley Petey Cox, commonly known as rappper, songwriter Mistah FAB, born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Leading figure of the hyphy scene. Over a dozen albums to his name starting with Nig-Latin released in 2002. Has collaborated with Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, E-40, BoB, Eric Bellinger, DJ Fresh, G-Stack, and Turf Talk
January 23, 1982 ~ Patrick Baril, commonly known as producer, DJ Statik Selektah, born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA ~ Formed hip-hop group 1982 with rapper Termanology. Founder of Showoff Records. Has been recording as a solo artist since 2007, starting with the album Spell My Name Right (The Album). Has also collaborated with Saigon, Freeway, Freddie Foxxx, Freddie Gibbs, Slaine, Action Bronson, Jared Evan, Bun B, Curren$y, Paul Wall, and CJ Fly
January 23, 1981 ~ Robert J Sherwood Jr, commonly known as guitarist, trumpeter, bandleader, radio host Bobby Sherwood, passed away in Auburn, Massachusetts, USA ~ Replaced Eddie Lang as the guitarist for Bing Crosby in 1933 and remained with Crosby till the early 1940s. Worked as a bandleader for Judy Garland at Decca Records. Had his own big band that included Dave Pell and Kitty Kallen at Capitol Records ~ Sherwood was born in 1914
January 23, 1981 ~ Singer Carl Feaster passed away ~ Member of the Chords, best known for their 1954 doo-wop classic Sh-boom, co-written by Feaster. Canadian vocal quartet the Crew Cuts would successfuly cover the song the same year ~ Feaster was born in 1930
January 23, 1981 ~ Composer Samuel Barber, full name Samuel Osmond Barber II, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ One of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century, known for orchestral, operatic, choral works. Best known for his 1936 Adagio For Strings, which remains a favorite with orchestras to this day. Also known for the 1957 opera Vanessa and for his 1962 Concerto For Piano And Orchestra, both of which would earn him a Pullitzer Prize ~ Barber was born in 1910
January 23, 1980 ~ Lee Brown, commonly known as jazz singer, songwriter Babs Gonzales, passed away in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Noted for penning Pop Pop-a-da. Worked with Charlie Barnet and with Lionel Hampton before forming his first own ensemble in 1946. His sidemen over the years would include Tadd Dameron, Tony Scott, Roy Haynes, James Moody, JJ Johnson, Julius Watkins, Sonny Rollins, Art Pepper, Wynton Kelly, and Don Redman. Later in his career he would collaborate with artists such as Jimmy Smith, Bennie Green, Lenny Hambro, and Johnny Griffin ~ Brown was born in 1919January 23, 1978 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Josh Thompson born in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, USA ~ Released his debut album, Way Out There, in 2010. Also known as a songwriter, wrote or co-wrote songs for Jason Aldean (Any Ol' Barstool), Blake Shelton, Justin Moore, Brad Paisley (A Man Don't Have To Die), and Darius Rucker
January 23, 1978 ~ Guitarist, singer Terry Kath, full name Terry Alan Kath, passed away in Woodland Hills, California, USA ~ Influenced by the Ventures, Dick Dale, Howard Roberts, George Benson, Kenny Burrell, Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix. Founding member of Chicago, considered integral to the band's early sound. Wrote songs such as Introduction, Free Form Guitar, Beginnings, Once Or Twice and Mississippi Delta Blues. Sang lead on I'm A Man, Make Me Smile, Free, Wishing You Were Here and Brand New Love Affair ~ Kath was born in 1946
January 23, 1978 ~ Vic Urick, commonly known as traditional pop singer Vic Ames, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Member of the Ames Brothers, consisting of four Urick brothers, their actual family name, raised on classical and operatic music. The sibling act would first perform as the Amory Brothers, and later shorten the name to the Ames Brothers. Active since the mid 1940s, the vocal group shot to national fame in 1949 following a performance on the musical radio quiz Sing It Again aired on CBS Radio, quickly becoming an in-demand nightclub act. The singles Rag Mop, Sentimental Me, and You You You all reached the top of the charts. They recorded well over a dozen albums through the early 1960s, at times backed by the orchestras of Hugo Winterhalter, Joe Reisman, and Sid Ramin, before disbanding ~ Urick was born in 1925
January 23, 1978 ~ Singer Yvonne Elliman releases If I Can't Have You, lifted off the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack album ~ Initially Yvonne Elliman was tapped to sing How Deep Is Your Love, another ballad penned by the Gibb siblings for the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. However, the soundtrack album's executive producer Robert Stigwood decided the Bee Gees were to keep How Deep Is Your Love for themselves while Elliman would be given the disco-styled If I Can't Have You. It became Elliman's sole Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit, ending an eight-week run for the Bee Gees' Night Fever, yet another song from the same soundtrack, at the top spotJanuary 23, 1976 ~ Jazz pianist Harmen Fraanje born in Roosendaal, the Netherlands ~ Leader and sideman. Debuted in 2004 with the album Sonatala, featuring guitarist Nelson Veras, drummer Matthieu Chazarenc and bassist Hein van de Geyn. Has also worked with Ernst Reijseger, Mola Sylla, Toma Gouband, Brice Soniano, Guilhem Verger, Malik Mezzadri, Fredrik Ljungkvist, Clemens van der Feen, Flin van Hemmen, Michael Moore, and Mats Eilertsen
January 23, 1976 ~ Singer, actor, activist Paul Robeson, full name Paul Leroy Robeson, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Recorded more than 250 songs over a three decade career starting in the mid 1920s. Known for a number of film performances, notably 1925's Show Boat with his rendition of Ol' Man River becoming the benchmark for all future performers of the song. Robeson is also known as an athlete, law scholar, and social activist ~ Robeson was born in 1898January 23, 1975 ~ Indie rock, alternative rock basisst, keyboardist, guitarist, singer Nick Harmer, full name Nicholas Scott Harmer, born in Landstuhl, West Germany ~ Bassist for Death Cab For Cutie, known for songs such as Soul Meets Body, I Will Follow You In The Dark, I Will Possess Your Heart, and You Are A Tourist
January 23, 1974 ~ Electronic, trip-hop, alternative rock singer, guitarist, mandolinist, bassist, keyboardist, percussionist Chris Corner, full name Christopher Anthony Corner, born in Middlesbrough, UK ~ Founding member of Sneaker Pimps, known for UK top 30 hits such as 6 Underground, Spin Spin Sugar, and Post-Modern Sleaze. Active as a solo artist since 2004 under the moniker IAMX
January 23, 1974 ~ Trumpeter Don Fagerquist passed away in Canoga Park, California, USA ~ In-demand soloist worked with Mal Hallett, Gene Krupa, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Les Brown, Dave Pell, and Ella Fitzgerald in the 1940s and 1950s. Only recorded sparsely as a leader. Signed on as staff musician for Paramount Films in 1956, still recording with the likes of Shelly Manne, Mel Tormé, Art Pepper, Pete Rugolo, Frank Comstock, Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Paul Weston, Si Zentner, and Dean Martin. By 1966 Fagerquist quit studio recording altogether due to health issues ~ Fagerquist was born in 1927January 23, 1974 ~ Luis Raul Marrero, commonly known as Christian hip-hop, reggaeton rapper, producer, songwriter Funky, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico ~ Over half a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, starting with Funkytown released in 2002. In-demand collaborator and producer, has worked with the likes of 116 Clique, Marcos Wit, Jesús Adrián Romero, Manny Montes, Julissa, Musiko, and Alex Zurdo
January 23, 1972 ~ Mabel Louise Smith, commonly known as singer Big Maybelle, passed away in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Revered singer known best for her 1956 hit Candy. Also known for recording Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On in 1955, produced by a then-unknown Quincy Jones, two years before Jerry Lee Lewis's pivotal rock & roll version. Active since the mid 1930s working with the all-female the International Sweethearts Of Rhythm, Christine Chatham, Tiny Bradshaw, and Hot Lips Page. Other well known early R&B recordings include Gabbin' Blues, My Country Man, and Way Back Home ~ Smith was born in 1924January 23, 1970 ~ DJ, producer Alex Gaudino, full name Alessandro Alfonso Fortunato Gaudino, born in Salerno, Italy ~ Known for dance hits such as Destination Unknown featuring Crystal Waters, Watch Out featuring Shena, I'm In Love (I Wanna Do It) featuring Maxine Ashley and What A Feeling featuring Kelly Rowland
January 23, 1968 ~ Punk rock, hardcore punk, skate punk singer Jason Sears, full name Jason Kemper Sears, born in Santa Barbara, California, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member of Rich Kids On LSD, a band initially associated with the nardcore scene yet over time expanding to West Coast hardcore drawing from rock and heavy metal. The band is well known for their 1987 Rock 'n Roll Nightmare album ~ Sears passed away in 2006
January 23, 1967 ~ Rodney Dion Baker, commonly known as blues, soul blues, electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Ronnie Baker Brooks, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Son of Chicago blues icon Lonnie Brooks. Brother of blues guitarist Wayne Baker Brooks. Debuted in 1998 with the album Golddigger, produced by Janet Jackson. Best known for his third album, 2006's The Torch, produced by Jellybean Johnson and with contributions from his father, Eddy Clearwater, Jimmy Johnson, Willie Kent and Al KaponeJanuary 23, 1964 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Jonatha Brooke born in Illinois, USA ~ Draws from rock, folk, pop. Known for witty wordplay and complex harmonies. Formed the folk-rock duo the Story with Jennifer Kimball releasing two albums, namely 1991's Grace In Gravity and 1994's The Angel In The House. Debuted as a solo artist with her Plumb album in 1995 and has recorded steadily since. Has also guested on albums by Lisa Loeb, Chris Botti, and Patty Larkin