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 31, 1964 ~ Heavy metal guitarist, singer Jeff Hanneman, full name Jeffrey John Hanneman, born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Influenced by Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Minor Threat and the Dead Kennedys. Hanneman would rise to fame as co-lead guitarist of Slayer, the band considered one of “the Big Four” of thrash metal alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Hanneman has recorded about a dozen albums with the band since its inception in the early 1980s, and wrote songs for every Slayer album until his death at age 49 of liver failure ~ Hanneman passed away in 2013
January 31, 1963 ~ R&B singer Marvin Gaye releases his That Stubborn Kinda Fellow sophomore album ~ Although the album itself did not chart, it gave Marvin Gaye his first chart success with three out of four of the album's singles becoming hits. Hitch Hike reached top 20 Billboard R&B. Stubborn Kind Of Fellow and Pride & Joy both reached top 10 on the same chart, with the latter also hitting top 10 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Like the majority of the album, all three hit singles were co-written by Gaye. All three also featured Martha & the Vandellas as backing singers, singer Martha Reeves later recalled that upon first meeting Gaye of how shy he was, but as he he took off his hat and glasses and started singing she immediately had a crush on himJanuary 31, 1961 ~ Jazz, funk, soul, pop trumpeter, composer, arranger Rüdiger Baldauf born in Bensberg, Germany ~ Classically trained. In-demand session, touring musician and collaborator. Member of the United Jazz+Rock Ensemble from 1999 through 2002. Has also worked with James Brown, Liza Minnelli, Seal, Shirley Bassey, Michael Bublé, Maceo Parker, Joe Zawinul, Udo Jürgens, Bernard Pretty Purdie. Released his Own Style solo debut album in 2010
January 31, 1959 ~ Rock, jazz fusion drummer Jeff Sipe, full name Jeffery Lee Sipe, born in Berlin, West Germany ~ Founding member of the Aquarium Rescue Unit. Also closely associated with Leftover Salmon and the Zambiland Orchestra. Has collaborated with Trey Anastasio, Jeff Coffin, Jimmy Herring, Warren Haynes, Keller Williams, Jonas Hellborg, Susan Tedeschi, Bruce Hampton, Drew Emmitt, the Steep Canyon Rangers, and Jazz Is Dead
January 31, 1959 ~ Progressive rock keyboardist Mickey Simmonds, full name Michael John Simmonds, born in Chesterfield, UK ~ Session musician, arranger, composer best known for his association with Mike Oldfield, Renaissance, Camel, Fish. Has also worked with Joan Armatrading, Paul Young, the Rutles, Art Garfunkel, Kiki Dee, Mastermind, Elkie Brooks, Judie Tzuke, Bucks Fizz, Jennifer Rush, and the Bonzo Dog Band
January 31, 1958 ~ Indie rock singer, guitarist David Freel born ~ Co-founded Swell with drummer Sean Kirkpatrick in 1989. Influenced by a wide array of artists and genres ranging from Pink Floyd to Ennio Morricone the band would release close to a dozen albums over the following two decades including the acclaimed Well, Too Many Days Without Thinking and For All The Beautiful People ~ Freel passed away in 2022
January 31, 1956 ~ John Lydon, commonly known as singer, songwriter Johnny Rotten born in Finsbury, UK ~ Lead singer of pivotal punk group the Sex Pistols, known for their landmark Never Mind The Bollocks (Here's The Sex Pistols) album. Subsequently fronted Public Image Ltd, scoring the UK top 20 hits Public Image, Death Disco, This Is Not A Love Song and Rise. Guested on Time Zone's 1984 single World Destruction, an early example of rap rock also featuring Afrika Bambaataa and Bill Laswell
January 31, 1955 ~ Ford Lee Washington, commonly known as vaudevillian, pianist, singer Buck Washington, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Formed the duo Buck & Bubbles with John W Bubbles, reportedly becoming the first black artists to appear on TV anywhere in the world performing at the Alexandra Palace in November 1936 aired by the BBC. Washington is also known for backng artists such as Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith and Coleman Hawkins ~ Washington was born in 1903January 31, 1955 ~ Vocal group Somethin' Smith & the Redheads release their It's A Sin To Tell A Lie single, paired with My Baby Just Cares For Me on the B-side ~ Originally written by Billy Mayhew and first recorded by Freddy Ellis in 1936. Popularized by pianist Fats Waller who recorded the song the same year. The vocal trio would make it their biggest hit, reaching top 10 on the pop charts in 1955. Over the years, the song has been recorded by about an estimated hundred artists including Billie Holiday, Patti Page, Big Maybelle, Pat Boone, Tony Bennett, Bobby Vinton, Steve Goodman, and John Denver
January 31, 1954 ~ Adriaan van den Berg, commonly known as rock, hard rock, glam metal, blues rock guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Adrian Vandenberg, born in The Hague, the Netherlands ~ Member of Dutch outfit Teaser, known for their eponymous Teaser album released in 1978. Rose to national fame in the early 1980s as leader, eponym of Vandenberg, known for the hits Burning Heart and Friday Night. Internationally best known as a member of Whitesnake during their most successful period. Noted for his guitar solo on the 1987 re-recorded version of Here I Go Again, which reached No.1 Billboard Hot 100. Co-wrote all of the band's music for the 1989 Slip Of The Tongue album. Vandenberg has also worked with Manic Eden, fronted Vandenberg's Moonkings, and designed the cover art for several albums
January 31, 1953 ~ Sarah Streeter, commonly known as blues singer Big Time Sarah, born in Coldwater, Mississippi, USA ~ Worked with Magic Slim, Buddy Guy, the Aces, Junior Wells, Johnny Bernard, Erwin Helfer, and Sunnyland Slim. Also closey associated with Zora Young and Bonnie Lee, touring under the moniker Blues With The Girls. Ventured out on her own in the early 1980s, releasing her Undecided debut album in 1985 ~ Streeter passed away in 2015
January 31, 1951 ~ Charles Blake Cochran, commonly known as theatrical manager, impresario Charles B Cochran, passed away in London, UK ~ Manager, agent, producer responsible for some of the most successful revues and musicals of the 1920s and 1930s, manager of the renowned the Royal Albert Hall. Introduced or promoted talents such as Beatrice Lillie, Gertrude Lawrence, Noël Coward, Jessie Matthews, Yvonne Printemps, Lizbeth Webb, Anna Neagle, Florence Desmond, and the Dolly Sisters ~ Cochran was born in 1872
January 31, 1951 ~ Efren Eugene Benita, commonly known as singer, songwriter, producer Dave Benton, born in Oranjestad, Aruba ~ Internationally best known for winning the 2001 Eurovision Songfestival representing his adopted homeland of Estonia together with Tanel Padar and 2XL with the song EverybodyJanuary 31, 1951 ~ Keyboardist, singer, songwriter Harry Wayne Casey born in Hialeah, Florida, USA ~ Pioneered the disco genre in the 1970s as founder and frontman of KC & the Sunshine Band, known for hits such as Get Down Tonight, That's The Way (I Like It), Shake Shake Shake Shake Your Booty, I'm Your Boogie Man and Please Don't Go, all of which would top the Billboard Hot 100
January 31, 1951 ~ Phillip Geoffrey Target-Adams, commonly known as art-rock, experiment rock, jazz fusion, art pop, pop rock guitarist, songwriter Phil Manzanera born in London, UK ~ Well known as lead guitarist for Roxy Music, 801, and Quiet Sun. As a solo artist well over a dozen albums to his name since the mid 1970s, including collaborations with John Wetton, Andy Mackay, Sérgio Dias and Tania Libertad. In-demand session musician, present on recording by Nico, Godley & Creme, Yukihiro Takahashi, David Gilmour. Has also served as producer for the likes of John Cale, Split Enz, Nina Hagen (Revolution Ballroom), Fito Paez, Monica Naranjo, and Enrique Bunbury
January 31, 1950 ~ Rock, blues, folk guitarist Jimmy Faulkner born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Active since the 1960s. Member of the Jangle Dangle Band. Member of the Freak Show. Member of the Fleadh Cowboys. Has also worked with the Floating Dublin Blues Band, Christy Moore, Dónal Lunny, Mary Coughlan, Paul Brady, and Luka Bloom ~ Faulkner passed away in 2008
January 31, 1946 ~ Guitarist, singer Terry Kath, full name Terry Alan Kath, born in Chicago, Illinois, 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 passed away in 1978
January 31, 1944 ~ Blues harpist Charlie Musselwhite, full name Charles Douglas Musselwhite, born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, USA ~ Came to prominence in the 1960s as one of the pioneering “white bluesmen” alongside artists such as Mike Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield. Reportedly served as inspiration for Elwood Blues, the character from The Blues Brothers film. Has over 20 albums to his name, starting with 1967's Stand Back (Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's Soutside Band), and is an in-demand collaborator for guests such as Bonnie Raitt, the Blind Boys Of Alabama, Tom Waits, Hot Tuna, Ben Harper, John Lee Hooker, James Cotton, and Elvin Bishop
January 31, 1937 ~ Composer, pianist Philip Glass born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Written operas, concertos, string quartets, chamber music and film scores. Glass describes himself as a composer of “music with repetitive structures”, yet a classicist rooted in harmony and counterpoint. To pop and rock audiences best known for his collaborations with artists such as Brian Eno. Has also worked with Paul Simon, Suzanne Vega, Mick Jagger, Leonard Cohen, David Byrne, and Natalie Merchant
January 31, 1937 ~ Pianist, songwriter Pierre Papadiamandis born in Nogent-sur-Marne, France ~ Best known for his association with Eddy Mitchell starting in the mid 1960s, initially as backing pianist and starting with 1966 J'Ai Oublié De L'Oublier serving as Mitchell's primary songwriter. Papadiamandis has written or co-written over 200 songs for Mitchell. Others who have recorded his songs include Ray Charles, Céline Dion, Grace Jones (I Need A Man), Michel Delpech, Johnny Hallyday, and Françoise Hardy ~ Papadiamandis passed away in 2022
January 31, 1936 ~ Jazz trombonist Garnett Brown born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Worked with the Crusaders, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton, Chico Hamilton, Charles Lloyd, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Art Blakey, Duke Pearson, Booker Ervin, Hubert Laws, Lou Donaldson, Stanley Turrentine, Frank Foster, Eddie Harris, George Benson, Ray Bryant, Houston Person, Charles Tolliver, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Gil Evans, Muddy Waters, Joe Thomas, Bernard Pretty Purdie, Airto Moreira, Ronnie Foster, Dakota Staton, Reuben Wilson, Richard Groove Holmes, Yusef Lateef, Charles Earland, Don Sebesky, Jack McDuff, Bo Diddley, Les McCann, Billy Cobham, Arif Mardin, Horace Silver, and Ahmad Jamal
January 31, 1936 ~ Ska, reggae trumpeter, saxophonist Lester Sterling, also known as Lester Ska Sterling, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Brother of keyboardist Keith Sterling. Co-founding member of seminal ska outfit the Skatalites, remaining with the band through its initial disbandement in 1965 and involved in several its later reunions. The band is known for a number of early to mid 1960s recordings, notably Guns Of Navarone, and was an in-demand studio band for a wide array of Jamaican artists including Bob Marley. Following the band's disbandement Sterling has recorded as a solo artist, worked with Byron Lee's unit the Dragonaires, and with the Third World All-Stars ~ Sterling passed away in 2023January 31, 1936 ~ Baritone singer Marvin Junior, full name Marvin Curtis Junior, born in Harrell, Arkansas, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Dells, known best for their 1956 single Oh What A Night which became a staple of R&B, a signature tune and would be rerecorded several times during the band's lengthy career ~ Junior passed away in 2013
January 31, 1932 ~ Peter Mooney, commonly known as folk singer, songwriter Pete St John, born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Best known for penning The Fields Of Athenry, first recorded by Danny Doyle in 1979 and notably covered by Paddy Reilly. Other songs penned by Mooney include Rare Ould Times and The Ferryman, both originally recorded by the Dublin City Ramblers and covered by a number of artists, the former by Flogging Molly and Ciarán Sheehan, the latter by Johnny McEvoy and the Dubliners ~ Mooney passed away in 2022
January 31, 1930 ~ Pop, rock, country keyboardist, producer Al De Lory, full name Alfred V De Lory, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as producer and arranger for a string of 1960s hits by Glen Campbell, including Gentle On My Mind, By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Wichita Lineman, and Galveston. As a session musician De Lory had played keyboards for various Phil Spector-productions, including He's A Rebel by the Crystals, and notably guested on the Beach Boys landmark 1966 Pet Sounds album ~ De Lory passed away in 2012