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 24, 1965 ~ Rock, pop singer Margaret Urlich, full name Margaret Mary Urlich, born in Auckland, Australia ~ Ranks as one of New Zealand's most popular artists. Lead singer of new wave outfit Peking Man, known for songs such as Good Luck To You, Lift Your Head Up High and perhaps their best known Room That Echoes. Member of all-girl group When The Cat's Away. Debuted as a solo artist in 1989 with the Robyn Smith-produced Safety In Numbers album, which spawned the New Zealand No.1 hit Escaping ~ Urlich passed away in 2022
January 24, 1965 ~ Jazz singer, pianist, composer Warren Byrd born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Leads the Byrdspeak Ensemble. Has also worked with David Chevan, the Afro-Semitic Experience, Saskia Laroo, the Orchestra Espada, the Explorers Quintet, Eddie Henderson, Archie Shepp, Javon Jackson, JD Parran, Houston Person, and Roseanna VitroJanuary 24, 1964 ~ Drummer, producer, songwriter Aaron Brooks, full name Aaron Anthony Jean Vladimir Brooks, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Co-founded Little Death, teaming up with Moby, Laura Dawn and Daron Murphy. Co-founded alternative rock band Mars Bonfire. Also worked with the Bootheels, the Leisure Cruise, Mark Hudson, Jackie Cruz, Duff McKagan, Circle Of Soul, Erin Evermore, AJ Croce, Lana Del Rey, Jamie Kilstein, and Agenda
January 24, 1964 ~ Guitarist, trumpeter Ed Crawford born in Steubenville, Ohio, USA ~ Best known as lead singer and guitarist of Firehose with former the Minutemen members bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley. The band broke up in 1994 after releasing five albums. Crawford has since played solo as well as stints with the Grand National, Whiskeytown, Southern Culture On The SKids and Mule
January 24, 1963 ~ Randy Rainwater, commonly known as country drummer Keech Rainwater, born in Plano, Texas, USA ~ Member of Canyon alongside Michael Britt. The group recorded two albums and is best known for their 1989 single Hot Nights. Britt and Rainwater would go on to join Lonestar in the early 1990s, which scored well over a dozen Billboard Country top 10 hits throughout the late 2000s including No News, Come Cryin' To Me, Amazed, Smile, What About Now, Tell Her, I'm Already There, My Front Porch Looking In, and Mr Mom
January 24, 1960 ~ Heavy metal, doom metal drummer Barry Stern born ~ Drummer, singer with Zoetrope from 1976 through 1988, present on the albums Amnesty and A Life Of Crime. Member of Trouble from 1989 through 1993, appearing on the albums Trouble and Frustration. Has also worked with D-Connect, Cathedral, Septic Tank, and Debris Inc ~ Stern passed away in 2005January 24, 1959 ~ Jazz keyboardist, violinist, guitarist, bassist, composer Nils Mathisen born in Sandefjord, Norway ~ Known for his contributions to cabaret and musicals. Stems from a musical family with three siblings also being professional musicians, namely bassist Per Mathisen, saxophonist and clarinetist Ole Mathisen and guitarist Hans Mathisen. The latter guested on Mathisen's 2007 Pop Coast album
January 24, 1958 ~ Singer, bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, songwriter Jennifer Maidman born in Upminster, UK ~ Member of the Penguin Café Orchestra from 1984 through 2007. Released her Dreamland solo debut album in 2017. In-demand session musician, collaborator. Has worked with the likes of Joan Armatrading, David Sylvian, Ian Dury, Shakespears Sister, the Proclaimers, Gerry Rafferty, Annie Whitehead, Boy George, Robert Wyatt, Sniff 'n The Tears, and Murray Head
January 24, 1958 ~ Julian Miles Hollans, commonly known as keyboardist Jools Holland, born in London, UK ~ Original member of Squeeze remaining with the band through 1980 and present on some of their best known including Cool For Cats and Up The Junction. Has also worked with Jayne County, Sting, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, George Harrison, David Gilmour, Magazine, The The, Bono, Ruby Turner, and José Feliciano. Also known as the host of Later With Jools Holland, a music show aired on BBC since 1992
January 24, 1957 ~ Vladimir Stefanovski, commonly known as jazz fusion guitar virtuoso Vlatko Stefanovski, born in Prilep, Yugoslavia ~ Credited with inventing “ethno-rock”, fusing rock & roll with traditional folk. Rose to fame as member of rock band Leb & Sol, acclaimed for his guitar work as notably evidenced on the single Devetka/Nie Cervoricata. Also a revered solo artist, film composer, as well as an in-demand collaborator, working with artists such as Miroslav Tadic, Jan Akkerman and Bodan ArsovskiJanuary 24, 1956 ~ Jazz singer, keyboardist Mitchel Forman born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Influenced by Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea. Has worked with Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Phil Woods, Carla Bley, Mel Tormé, Astrud Gilberto, John McLaughlin, Wayne Shorter, John Scofield, Janis Siegel, Diane Schuur, Pat Metheny, Freddie Hubbard, Rickie Lee Jones, Metro, and Wishful Thinking
January 24, 1955 ~ Nicole Monique, commonly known as actress, pop rock singer Véronique Béliveau, born in Montreal, Canada ~ Sang in both French and English. Enjoyed popularity in her native Canada, especially Quebec, with half a dozen albums during the 1980s. Released her Prends Moi Comme Je Suis debut album in 1977. Well known for songs such as Aimer, Je Suis Fidele, C'Est Un Reveur, and Cover Girl (Cache Ton Coeur). Beliveau also contributed to the 1985 charity single Tears Are Not Enough to aid the victims of the famine in Ethiopia, recorded under the group moniker the Northern LightsJanuary 24, 1954 ~ Producer, songwriter Edward D Irons Jr, full name Edward Darryl Irons Jr, born ~ First gained attention as co-founding member of jazz-funk outfit Brick, for whom he co-wrote Dazz which reached top 10 on both the Billboard R&B and all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts. Would go on to work with the SOS Band, Prince, Morris Day, and Snoop Dogg
January 24, 1953 ~ Bassist James Hutchinson born in Lynn, Massachusetts, USA ~ Worked with Copperhead, John Cipollina, Mickey Hart, Sid Page, Point, the Neville Brothers, the Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Bryan Adams, Don Was, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Leavell, Bobby Keys, Kenny Aronoff, BB King, Neil Diamond, Joe Cocker, Linda Ronstadt, Etta James, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Jann Arden, Marc Cohn, Ringo Starr, Eric Burdon, Maria Muldaur, Boz Scaggs, and Elton John
January 24, 1953 ~ Matthew Weiner, commonly known as new wave, synth-pop singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter Matthew Wilder born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for Break My Stride, an international hit in 1984 including top 10 positions in Australia, the UK and America. Wilder would be unable to repeat the single's success but would continue his career as songwriter and producer. Has worked with acts such as No Doubt (Tragic Kingdom), 702, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, and Miley CyrusJanuary 24, 1949 ~ Actor, comedian, singer John Belushi, full name John Adams Belushi born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Actor and comedian emerged from the satirical Saturday Night Live TV show. Best known as half of the Blues Brothers, portraying the role of Joliet Jake Blues in The Blues Brothers film released in 1980 ~ Belushi passed away in 1982
January 24, 1948 ~ Actor, singer, guitarist Michael des Barres, full name Michael Philip des Barres, born in Sussex, UK ~ Founded and fronted Silverhead, Detective and Chequered Past. Replaced Robert Palmer as lead singer in Power Station in 1985. Has released a number of solo albums, starting with I'm Only Human in 1980. Also an in-demand actor, appearing in over 100 different TV shows and almost 30 films
January 24, 1947 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Warren Zevon, full name Warren William Zevon, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Enjoyed a cult following. Best known for his 1978 hit Werewolves Of London. Early on in his career wrote for the Turtles (Like The Seasons, Outside Chance), backed the Everly Brothers, roomed with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. Had his 1975 eponymous Warren Zevon major label debut album produced by Jackson Browne. The album featured guests such as Nicks, Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys, Bonnie Raitt and Linda Ronstadt. The latter would record several of Zevon's songs, including Carmelita, Poor Poor Pitiful Me and Hasten Down The Wind, on her 1976 Hasten Down The Wind album. Zevon would go on to record several critically acclaimed albums, enjoy a steady cult following and become an in-demand collaborator including with artists such as REM's Bill Berry, Peter Buck and Mike Mills in the side project Hindu Love Gods ~ Zevon passed away in 2003
January 24, 1946 ~ R&B singer Clarence Tex Walker born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA ~ Best known as member of Bill Pinkney's R&B unit the Original Drifters from 1966 through 1973, joining the band after serving a tour in the US Army in Vietnam. Walker subsequently fronted the Coasters, recorded as a solo artist, and notably worked with Big Joe Turner, including providing lead vocals on the latter's acclaimed Big Joe Turner's Memphis Blues Caravan album released in 1995 ~ Walker passed away in 2007January 24, 1942 ~ Singer Bing Crosby records Miss You ~ Written by Charles Tobias, Harry Tobias, Henry Tobias. Recorded in 1929 by Rudy Vallée. Revived in 1942 when used in the film Strictly In The Groove where it was sung by the Dinning Sisters. Both Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore would each reach the pop top 10 with their respective covers in 1942. In later years the song would be covered by Bill Haley, Dinah Washington, and Nat King Cole
January 24, 1941 ~ Singer Aaron Neville born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Father of singer, keyboardist Ivan Neville and singer, rapper Jason Neville. Member of sibling outfit the Neville Brothers alongside Art Neville, Charles Neville and Cyril Neville. Member of the Wild Tchoupitoulas. As a solo artist known for the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Tell It Like It Is and Everybody Plays The Fool. Duetted with Linda Ronstadt on Don't Know MuchJanuary 24, 1941 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Michael Chapman born in Leeds, UK ~ Cited as a major influence by Thurston Moore, Steve Gunn, Ryley Walker, and Meg Baird. Acclaimed singer, virtuoso guitarist rooted in folk drawing from numerous genres including rock, jazz and blues with over 40 albums to his name, starting with the fingerpicking folk classic Rainmaker released in 1969 ~ Chapman passed away in 2021
January 24, 1941 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Neil Diamond born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Hugely popular and influential singer, songwriter. Has sold over 100 million records. Known for his flashy on-stage outfits. Has topped the Billboard Hot 100 with songs such as Cracklin' Rosie, Song Sung Blue, Longfellow Serenade, Desirée, You Don't Bring Me Flowers, America, and Yesterday's Songs
January 24, 1939 ~ Country, rock & roll singer, guitarist, songwriter Bill Dees, full name William Marvin Dees, born in Borger, Texas, USA ~ Best known for his association with Roy Orbison, co-writing well over a dozen of Orbison's songs including It's Over, Breakin' Up Is Breakin' My Heart, The Fastest Guitar Alive and Orbison's best known Oh Pretty Woman. At the time of its release, the latter would be a career-changer for Dees, as he was able to quit his day job and joined Orbison on tour. Decades later, Dees would recollect in an interview with NPR how amazed he was at the response: “I went to England twice and crossed Europe once with him. I was shocked when we got off the plane in London, and there was like 10,000 people there at the airport meeting the plane. And I'd just been playing cards with the guy. And I stepped off that plane, and then I thought, oh my, look at this.” Over the years, Oh Pretty Woman has become a rock and roll classic, named one of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, and covered by hundreds of artists. Besides Orbison, artists such as Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, Billy Joe Royal, and Gene Pitney have recorded songs written or co-written by Dees. As a singer, Dees himself has released albums from time to time, including notably Saturday Night At The Movies in 2000, a collection of songs written or co-written by Dees previously sung by Orbison ~ Dees passed away in 2012January 24, 1939 ~ Harold Ray Ragsdale, commonly known as country, pop, gospel, novelty singer, keyboardist, trumpeter, songwriter Ray Stevens born in Clarksdale, Georgia, USA ~ Known for novelty songs such as Gitarzan and The Streak, as well as for the Grammy Award-winning 1970 country-pop hit Everything Is Beautiful, the latter becoming a standard covered by Bing Crosby, Neil Sedaka, and Foster & Allen