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 28, 1983 ~ Ronald Wycherley, commonly known as singer, songwriter Billy Fury, passed away in Paddington, UK ~ Popular 1960s singer known for songs such as Colette, Halfway To Paradise, Jealousy, Last Night Was Made For Love, Once Upon A Dream, Like I've Never Been Gone, When Will You Say I Love You, In Summer and In Thoughts Of You, all of which reached the British top 10 ~ Wycherley was born in 1940
January 28, 1983 ~ Sandy Leah Lima, commonly known as singer, actress, songwriter Sandy, born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Dubbed “the Princess of Pop”. First gained attention as half of Sandy & Junior, the other half being her brother Junior Lima. The duo would lead the wave of late 1990s teen pop artist, noted for albums such as 1999's As Quatro Estações and 2000's Quatro Estações (O Show) ranking among Brazil's all-time best-selling albums. The duo disbanded in 2007 and Sandy has released a number of solo albums since, starting with Manuscrito in 2010January 28, 1980 ~ Composer Franco Evangelisti passed away in Rome, Italy ~ Abandoned his engineering studies to pursue a career in music. Revered for his work in electronic music. Co-founding member of the Gruppo Di Improvvisazione Di Nuova Consonanza, which also included Francisco Pennisi and Aldo Clementi ~ Evangelisti was born in 1926
January 28, 1980 ~ Singer Nick Carter, full name Nickolas Gene Carter, born in Jamestown, New York, USA ~ Rose to fame as member of boy band the Backstreet Boys, known for Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits such as Quit Playing Games With My Heart, Everybody (Backstreet's Back), All I Have To Give, I Want It That Way, and Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely. Parallel to his career in the band Carter has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the album Now Or Never released in 2002
January 28, 1978 ~ Freddie Ross, commonly known as singer Big Freedia, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Popularized bounce music, a New Orleans subgenre of hip-hop. Released a full-length debut album, Queen Diva, in 2003. Has collaborated with Mannie Fresh, Galactic, RuPaul, Diplo, Jordin Sparks, Naughty By Nature, Drake (Nice For What), Lizzo, and Ke$ha
January 28, 1978 ~ In its 12th week on the charts, Short People by Randy Newman peaks at No.2 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Devoted fans and critics had always known of and praised Randy Newman's wit, yet many others missed the point of his sole Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, which can only be described as probably one of the funniest songs tackling bigotry. At first glance, Short People mocks short people, but its meaning is blatantly obvious in the last line, “short people are just the same as you and I, all men are brothers until the day they die”. Later, in a 2003 interview with the Sunday Times Newman reflected: “I mean, irony, who's got the time? But it's what I do, and it's what I can't help but do. I couldn't write like Elton John if I tried”January 28, 1977 ~ Singer Joey Fatone, full name Joseph Anthony Fatone Jr, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Member of NSYNC, one of the all-time best-selling boy bands known for hits such I Want You Back, (God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You, Music Of My Heart with Gloria Estefan, It's Gonna Be Me, This I Promise You and Girlfriend featuring Nelly
January 28, 1977 ~ Jazz singer, saxophonist Sissel Vera Pettersen born in Oslo, Norway ~ Known for her experimental vocal techniques and for incorporating performance, theatre and visual art in her work. Has worked with artists such as Jon Balke, Theo Bleckmann, John Hollenbeck, Chick Corea, the Trondheim Voices, Christian Wallumrød, Marc Ducret, Marilyn Mazur, Nikolaj Hess, Mikkel Ploug, and John Tchicai
January 28, 1976 ~ Drummer, percussionist Daniel Buess born in Basel, Switzerland ~ Worked with the Ensemble Phoenix Bazel, Cortex, How2, Noisezone, Zbignieuw Karkowski, Alex Buess, Harry Bedair, Kasper T Toeplitz, John Duncan, Jurg Henneberger, Michael Wertmuller, Phill Niblock, Zev, Julio Estrada, Antoine Chessex, Christoph Bosch, Volker Heyn, Thomas Lauck, Tim Hodgkinson, Marco Papiri, Iancu Dumitrescu, Ana Maria Avram, Jerome Noetinger, and Cadlah ~ Buess passed away in 2016
January 28, 1976 ~ Jazz trumpeter, violinist, singer Ray Nance, full name Ray Willis Nance, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for his longtime association with Duke Ellington, hired in 1940 as replacement for Cootie Williams and remaining with the orchestra through 1963. Sang lead on recordings such as Jump For Joy, Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin' and Just Squeeze Me But Please Don't Tease Me. Has also worked with Earl Hines, Horace Henderson, Rosemary Clooney, Jaki Byard, Chico Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Budd Johnson, Joya Sherrill, and recorded a number of albums as a leader ~ Nance was born in 1913
January 28, 1976 ~ William Leonard Robert II, commonly known as rapper Rick Ross, born in Carol City, Florida, USA ~ Debuted in 2006 with the single Hustlin' and would follow up with a full-length album, Port Of Miami, later the same year. Known for songs such as Bo featuring T-Pain, Aston Martin Music featuring Drake & Chrisette Michele and Purple Lamborghini featuring Skrillex. Has also collaborated with Nelly, John Legend, Kanye West, Ne-Yo, French Montana, Jadakiss, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, 2 Chainz, DJ Khaled, Gorilla Zoe, Mary J Blige, and French MontanaJanuary 28, 1972 ~ Monifa Carter, mononymously known as R&B singer Monifah, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Known for her association with rapper Heavy D. As a solo artist scored a number R&B, hip-hop hits starting in the mid 1990s including You and her best known Touch It, the latter crossing over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 where it reached No.9
January 28, 1971 ~ Singer Anthony Hamilton, full name Anthony Cornelius Hamilton, born in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA ~ Debuted in 1996 with the album XTC. Rose to fame with his sophomore album, Coming From Where I'm From, in 2003, spawning the hits Coming From Where I'm From and Charlene. Co-wrote the 1999 hit U Know What's Up for Donell Jones. Sang backup for D'Angelo on the 2000 Voodoo tour. Hamilton also guested on tracks by Nappy Roots, Mark Ronson, Jadakiss (Why), Roy Hargrove, Buddy Guy, Jill Scott (So In Love), Elayna Boynton, the Soultronics, Gorillaz, Tupac Shakur, Twista, Angie Stone (Stay For A While), Nick Cannon, and J Moss
January 28, 1971 ~ Pop rock sibling outfit the Bee Gees record How Can You Mend A Broken Heart at IBC Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb. The song reflects on the period of the siblings' break-up and alienation. Produced by the band and their manager Robert Stigwood. Released as a single off their Trafalgar, it would reach No.1 Billboard Hot 100 charts and remains one of their most well known and beloved ballads to this day. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart would be their last major hit until Jive Talkin' in 1975, a stylistic change for the band, ushered in a string of disco hits
January 28, 1969 ~ Singer Stevie Wonder releases his I Don't Know Why single, paired with My Cherie Amour on the flip side ~ Originally released with My Cherie Amour on the flip side, the latter would become the bigger hit. The original single would be a moderate hit, peaking just inside the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. After the single dropped from the charts, however, radio DJ's continued to play the B-side and Motown re-released the single with the sides flipped. It would reach top 10 on both the Billboard R&B charts and the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. My Cherie Amour originated from Oh My Marcia, written by Stevie Wonder for a girlfriend from school. Label head Berry Gordy Jr brought in Henry Cosby and Sylvia Moy to rework the song. The success of the single prompted the label to program an entire album of love songs, My Cherie Amour, released the following August. Wonder has also recorded Spanish and Italian versions of the song, respectively titled Mi Querido Amor and My Cherie Amor
January 28, 1968 ~ Lawrence Muggerud, commonly known as rapper, producer DJ Muggs, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Member of Cypress Hill, known for songs such as Insane In The Brain, I Ain't Goin' Out Like That and Throw Your Set In The Air. Member of Cross My Heart And Hope To Die. Fronts the collective Soul Assasins. In-demand producer for artists such as House Of Pain, Funkdoobiest, Daddy Freddy, Die Antwoord. Remixed tracjs for Janet Jackson, U2, Simply Red, Depeche Mode. Has collaborated with Tricky, GZA, Planet Asia, Ill Bill
January 28, 1968 ~ William Michael Griffin Jr, commonly known as rapper Rakim born in Wyandach, New York, USA ~ Hugely influential figure in hip-hop. Raised the bar for MC technique and pioneered the use of internal rhymes and multisyllabic rhymes. Half of famed duo Eric B & Rakim, the other being Eric B, known for four albums considered classics of the genre starting with 1987's Paid In FullJanuary 28, 1968 ~ Singer, songwriter Sarah McLachlan born in Halifax, Canada ~ Started playing ukulele at age 4. Studied classical guitar, classical piano, voice at Conservatory. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano range. Also founded the Lilith Fair Tour Event, showcasing female musicians
January 28, 1967 ~ Gospel singer, songwriter Marvin Sapp, full name Marvin Louis Sapp, born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA ~ Member of gospel outfit Commissioned, joining in 1990 as replacement for Keith Staten and present on the albums Number 7, Matters Of The Heart and Irreplaceable Love. Active as a solo singer since the late 1990s, known best for his 2007 single Never Would Have Made It and the 2010 single The Best In Me, the latter earning him a GMA Dove Award. Sapp is also the founder and senior pastor of the Lighthouse Full Center Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan
January 28, 1966 ~ Songwriter, producer Jeff Cohen born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Worked in several executive positions at BMI and Warner Chappell Music from the late 1980s through the mid 1990s before pursuing a full-time career as a songwriter. Artists who recorded his songs include Sugarland, Josh Groban, Macy Gray (Boom Boom), Evan & Jaron (Crazy For This Girl), Nick Lachey, Marc Broussard, Big & Rich (Holy Water), Bethany Joy Lenz, the Spin Doctors, Mandy Moore, Laura Bell Bundy, Ilse de Lange (Beautiful Distraction), Doc Walker (Put It Into Drive), Sandi Patty, Ronan Tynan, the Band Perry (Postcard From Paris), Aamie Miriello, Toby Lightman, and Eleanor BarooshianJanuary 28, 1966 ~ Jazz saxophonist Julian Argüelles born in Lichfield, UK ~ Leader and sideman. Rose to prominence as member of Loose Tubes. Debuted as a leader with the Phaedrus album in 1990. Has worked with Steve Swallow, Archie Shepp, Tim Berne, Hermeto Pascoal, John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, Peter Erskine, Chris McGregor, Evan Parker, Mike Gibbs, John Scofield, Carla Bley, Dudu Pukwana, Arturo Sandoval, Giorgio Gaslini, and Kenny Wheeler
January 28, 1965 ~ Jazz pianist, arranger, bandleader Arthur Schutt passed away in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Wrote Delirium and Bluin' The Black Keys, co-wrote Benny Goodman's Georgia Jubilee. Worked with Paul Specht, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Donald Voorhees, Fred Rich, Nathaniel Shilkret, Frankie Trumbauer, Bix Beiderbecke, the Charleston Chasers, Red Nichols, the Dorsey Brothers, and Bud Freeman ~ Schutt was born in 1902
January 28, 1962 ~ Arthur Edmonds, commonly known as blues harpist, singer Harpdog Brown, born in Edmonton, Canada ~ Performing professionally since age 15. About half a dozen albums to his name, starting with Beware Of Dog released in 1993. Especially acclaimed for the albums Home Is Where The Harp Is released in 1994 and What It Is released in 2014 ~ Brown passed away in 2022
January 28, 1962 ~ Leslie Ann Phillips, commonly known as alternative rock, pop singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Sam Phillips born in Glendale, California, USA ~ Also known under the moniker Leslie Phillips. Best known for the critically acclaimed albums Martinis & Bikinis released in 1994 and Fan Dance released in 2001. Also known for scoring music to TV shows such as Gilmore Girls, Bunheads and The Marvelous Mrs Maiser. Topped Billboar's Christian chart in 1997 with the single Your Kindness. Her song Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us would be recorded by Alison Krauss & Robert Plant on the 2009 collaborative Raising Sand album. Guested on recordings by Mark Heard, Randy Stonehill, Bruce Cockburn, Rodney Crowell, and the WallflowersJanuary 28, 1961 ~ Keyboardist Drew McDowall born in Paisley, UK ~ Member of Coil, working on-and-off with the band from the early 1990s and a full-time member from 1994 through the end of the decade. Formed art-punk outfit Poems in 1978 with his then-wife Rose McDowall. Subsequently also worked with Psychic TV, Compound TV, and with CSD, and recorded about half a dozen solo albums mostly during the 2010s