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 3, 1989 ~ Jazz, swing, Dixieland pianist Eddie Heywood Jr passed away in Miami Beach, Florida, USA ~ Son of blues, jazz pianist Eddie Heywood Sr. Enjoyed popularity especially during the 1940s and 1950s. Occasionally accompanied Billie Holiday in the early 1940s. Partially paralysed twice, leaving him unable to perform for years on end each time, but made a comeback twice. Co-wrote and first recorded Soft Summer Breeze. Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Canadian Sunset, which was first recorded by Hugo Winterhalter in 1956, later recorded by over two hundred artists including Billy Vaughn, Santo & Johnny, Gene Ammons, Wes Montgomery, Illinois Jacquet, Hargus Pig Robbins, and Tommy Emmanuel. Heywood would continue to perform well into the 1980s ~ Heywood was born in 1915
January 3, 1987 ~ Folk singer Alex Campbell passed away in Denmark ~ Known for futing with Ewan MacColl which resulted into folk lovers divided into two camps, the MacCollites and the Campbellites. MacColl took the purist view that folk singers should only sing songs from their own regional heritage, whereas Campbell had an eclectic repertoire and sang whatever he liked, be it a Scottish, English or American song. Also known for a marriage of convenience to Peggy Seeger in 1958, whom he was infatuated with, to keep the American singer from being deported back to America. Ironically, Seeger would later marry MacColl for love, the singer he futed with, and remain married until MacColl's death in 1989 ~ Campbell was born in 1931
January 3, 1987 ~ Singer Aretha Franklin becomes the first female to be inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame ~ Besides Aretha Franklin, other artists inducted in the Hall include the Coasters, Eddie Cochran, Bo Diddley, Marvin Gaye, Bill Haley, Clyde McPhatter, Ricky Nelson, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Smokey Robinson, and Jackie WilsonJanuary 3, 1986 ~ Lloyd Harlin Polite Jr, mononymously known as singer, rapper, songwriter, dancer, actor Lloyd, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Member of preteen-boy band N-Toon. After the group disbanded in 2001 Lloyd set out on a successful solo career, releasing his full length debut album Southside in 2004. Known for songs such as its title track Southside featuring Ashanti, You featuring Lil Wayne, and Get It Shawty
January 3, 1985 ~ Drummer, percussionist Mark Pontius, full name Mark Andrew Pontius, born in Orlando, Florida, USA ~ Member of indie pop band Malbec. Co-founding member of Foster The People remaining with the band through 2021, best known for their 2010 single Pumped Up Kicks which eventually reached Billboard top 10. Has also worked with Mr Gabriel, Jai Wolf and with Elephant Castle
January 3, 1982 ~ Jazz double bassist Tommy Bryant passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Brother of pianist Ray Bryant and singer, drummer Len Bryant. Worked with Billy Krechmer, Elmer Snowden, Jo Jones, Charlie Shavers, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Barney Wilen, Benny Golson, Big Joe Turner, Coleman Hawkins, and Mahalia Jackson ~ Bryant was born in 1930
January 3, 1982 ~ Singer Toni Basil releases Mickey, lifted off her Word Of Mouth album ~ Originally written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn as Kitty, recorded by British pop group Racey for their Smash And Grab debut album. Toni Basil reversed the gender and recorded the song as Mickey, also adding a distinctive chant of “Oh Mickey, you're so fine”. It would be Basil's sole major hit, reaching top 10 in some half a dozen countries including the No.1 spot in Australia, Canada, and America. It has long been rumored Basil had Micky Dolenz of the Monkees in mind, as the two had met on the set for the 1968 film Head, yet she has adamantly and consistenly denied this. Basil would appear on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice more, yet both Shoppin' From A To Z and Over My Head failed to make the top half of the chart
January 3, 1981 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Dave McCabe born in Whiston, UK ~ Early member of Tramp Attack, appearing on the band's debut single Rocky Hangover. After his departure from the band, McCabe founded the Zutons, scoring the UK top 10 hits Why Won't You Give Me Your Love and Valerie both taken of their 2006 Tired Of Hanging Around sophomore album. Co-wrote Mark Ronson's The Bike Song. Released his Church Of Miami solo debut album in 2015. Has also worked with alternative rock band SILENT-KJanuary 3, 1981 ~ Jamie Seerman, commonly known as indie pop, folk-pop singer, songwriter Jaymay, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Actively recording since the mid 2000s. Plays guitar, piano, violin, xylophone. Has collaborated with the Separate, Kevin Devine, Cheyenne, Dirty On Purpose, and with art-metal band Goes Cube. Described by BBC as “the Darling of the Anti-folk scene”
January 3, 1980 ~ R&B, boogie-woogie, jump blues singer, pianist Amos Milburn, full name Joseph Amos Milburn, passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Popular and influential 1940s, 1950s artist. Predated rock & roll. Major influence on Fats Domino. Known for songs such as Down The Road A-Piece, Hold Me Baby, Chicken Shack Boogie, Bad Bad Whiskey, and Thinking And Drinking ~ Milburn was born in 1927January 3, 1980 ~ Pianist, bandleader, composer David Arthur Skinner born on Isle of Wright, UK ~ Released a number of solo albums, starting with 2013's Diagonal Jazz. Has collaborated with Sphinx, the Heavy Horns, Laura Fowles, Øyvind Gravdal, Anders Lonn, and Kristoffer Kompen
January 3, 1980 ~ Groove metal, metalcore guitarist, bassist, drummer Rob Arnold born ~ Cites Kirk Hammett, Dimebag Darrell, Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman and Kerry King as main influences. Best known as lead guitarist for Chimaira and rhythm guitarist for Six Feet Under. Has also worked with the Elite and the Disaster
January 3, 1980 ~ Kees Freek Wouter van den Assem, commonly known as rapper Spacekees, born in Gouda, the Netherlands ~ Active since the early 2000s. Collaborated with Terilekst on the 2005 single Ik Wil Een Meisje. Collaborated with Sef and de Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig's Faberyayo on the 2011 Ski Or Die EP, released under the moniker SLBMG. Founded punk band Spacepunk in 2017
January 3, 1979 ~ New wave, pop rock outfit Blondie release Heart Of Glass, lifted off their Parallel Lines album ~ One of the first songs Debbie Harry and Chris Stein wrote, inspired by Rock The Boat by the Hues Corporation. A working demo was initially called Once I Had A Love, and subsequently referred to as The Disco Song, with its slower, funkier sound and disco beat. It was only when the band teamed up with producer Mike Chapman for the Parallel Lines sessions that the final version materialized. Harry later recalled: “It was years before we recorded it properly. We'd tried it as a ballad, as reggae, but it never quite worked.” The final cut, released as a single in early 1979 would become the band's first Billboard Hot 100 charttopperJanuary 3, 1979 ~ Alternative country singer, guitarist, songwriter Justin Rutledge born in Toronto, Canada ~ Debuted as a solo artist in 2004 with the album No Never Alone and has been recording steadily since. Worked with Kathleen Edwards, Jim Cuddy, Blue Rodeo, Hawksley Workman, Luke Doucet, Dolly Parton, Ron Sexsmith, Jenn Grant, Catherine Maclellan, Melissa McClelland, Joey Wright, Jim Bryson, Dean Drouillard, Oh Susanna, and Roaring Girl Cabaret
January 3, 1979 ~ Jazz, free improvisation trumpeter, hornist, flutist Susana Santos Silva born in Porto, Portugal ~ Active since the late 2000s, early-2010s. Regarded as one of the most original voices of European avantgarde jazz. Best known for her association with Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos and LAMA. Released her solo debut album, Devil's Dress, in 2011. Has notably collaborated with Eric Vloeimans, Torbjörn Zetterberg, the Fire Orchestra, and Fred Frith
January 3, 1978 ~ Symphonic metal, gothic metal singer Ronny Thorsen born in Kristiansand, Norway ~ Best known as lead singer, and from 1994 through 2013 the sole constant member of metal outfit the Trail Of Tears. Has also worked with Viper Solfa, Blood Red Throne, Scariot, and with Tristania
January 3, 1976 ~ In its 13th week on the charts, Saturday Night by the Bay City Rollers hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ The Scottish outfit first issued Saturday Night in 1973 as a single off their Rollin' debut album, yet although three other singles off the same album reached UK top 10, Saturday Night failed to reach the charts. However, when they re-recorded it for a greatest hits compilation in 1975, despite the fact that the song never had been a hit, Saturday Night actually did become a hit and reached the top of the American charts. The original Rollin' album and 1973 single were released only in the UK, the re-recorded single and compilation album were issued in America but not at home. The band would score two more American top 10 hits, Money Honey issued as the follow-up to Saturday Night reached No.9, and You Made Me Believe In Magic off their 1977 It's A Game album peaked at No.10January 3, 1976 ~ Isidore Kaufman, commonly known as vaudeville singer Irving Kaufman, passed away in Indio, California, USA ~ Member of comedy and music group the Avon Comedy Four from 1913 through 1919. Would go on to record prolifically throughout the 1920s, notably with the Broadway Bell-Hops on songs such as He's The Last Word, Don't Somebody Want Somebody To Love and The Westerners ~ Kaufman was born in 1890
January 3, 1975 ~ Producer, DJ Thomas Bangalter born in Paris, France ~ Best known as half of electronica, dance, house duo Daft Punk, the other half being Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo, active since the late 1990s and known for hits such as Around The World, One More Time, Face To Face, and Get Lucky. The duo has collaborated with artists such as Panda Bear, Julian Casablancas, the Weeknd, Giorgio Moroder, and Nile Rodgers
January 3, 1972 ~ Songwriter, film composer John Elliott passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Reportedly wrote or co-wrote over 600 songs for motion pictures, most notably for Roy Rogers and Dale Evans films. Co-wrote with Sonny Burke, Harold Spina (Dinah Shore's It's So Nice To Have A Man Around The House), and with Lew Quadling (Bing Crosby's Sam's Song) ~ Elliott was born in 1914
January 3, 1970 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head by BJ Thomas hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 for the first of four consecutive weeks ~ Written by noted songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the score of the 1969 film Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head tells of a man who overcomes his troubles with a positive attitude: “there's one thing I know, the blues they send to meet me won't defeat me, it won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me.” The song was first offered to Ray Stevens, but as he liked neither the film nor the song, it was given to BJ Thomas who had previously scored the hit song Hooked On A Feeling, which peaked at No.5 Billboard Hot 100. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head would reach top 10 in several countries, including the No.1 spot in America, and earned the singer the Academy Award for Best Original Song
January 3, 1969 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist James Carter born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ An admired saxophonist since the late 1980s and repeat winner of DownBeat Critics & Readers Choice Award for baritone saxophone. Carter worked with musicians such as Lester Bowie, Julius Hemphill, his cousin jazz violinist Regina Carter, Frank Lowe, Kathleen Battle, the World Saxophone Quartet, Cyrus Chestnut, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, the Mingus Big Band, Karrin Allyson, the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, Ginger Baker, Hamiet Bluiett, Herbie Hancock, Ronald Shannon Jackson, Christian McBride, DD Jackson, Liz McComb, Marcus Miller, Junko Onishi, Madeleine Peyroux, Odean Pope, Steve Turre, Roseanna Vitro, and Rodney WhitakerJanuary 3, 1969 ~ Folk, country singer Nikki Nelson born in La Mesa, California, USA ~ Lead singer of Highway 101, joining the band in 1991 as replacement for Paulette Carlson, present on the albums Bing Bang Boom and The New Frontier. Carlson returned in 1995 leading Nelson to pursue a solo career
January 3, 1967 ~ Operatic soprano Mary Garden passed away in Inverurie, UK ~ Described as “the Sarah Bernhardt of Opera“Garden rose to fame in the early 20th century working mostly in England and continental Europe. Leading soprano with Parisien the Opera-Comique in the early-1900s. Brought to America by Oscar Hammerstein I in 1907. Worked with the Manhattan Opera House, the Boston Opera Company, the Philadelphia Opera Company, and the Chicago Grand Opera Company. Garden retired from the stage in the mid 1930s ~ Garden was born in 1874