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 4, 1958 ~ R&B, soul singer Little Willie John records Talk To Me ~ Written by Joe Seneca. Little Willie John released the song as a single within a month, b/w Spasms, which would reach top 5 Billboard R&B and top 20 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Covered by Aretha Franklin for her Soul '69 album, though the track did not make the cut. Also notably covered by singer Mickey Gilley in 1982, earning him a top 20 spot on the Billboard Country charts
January 4, 1957 ~ Patricia Lee Ramey, commonly known as country, neotraditional country singer Patty Loveless born in Pikeville, Kentucky, USA ~ Blends honky-tonk and country rock with an emotional ballad style while remaining true to country's traditions. Married to producer Terry Lovelace from 1976 to 1988, from whom she derives her stage name. Married to producer Emory Gordy Jr since 1989. Over a dozen albums to her name, starting with the 1986 eponymous Patty Loveless album, and known for hits such as Timber I'm Falling In Love, Chains, Blame It On Your Heart, You Can Feel Bad and Lonely Too LongJanuary 4, 1956 ~ Twin brothers drummer Alex Cline and guitarist Nels Cline born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Both brothers would at times collaborate, such as in Quartet Music. Alex would also work with Gregg Bendian's Interzone and Cloud Plate. Nels, the more famous brother, would work with Banyan, Black Gang, Nels Cline Singers, Scott Amendola Band and perhaps most notably Wilco
January 4, 1956 ~ Rock, post-punk, new wave, synth-pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Bernard Sumner born in Manchester, UK ~ Co-founding member of influential post-punk outfit Joy Division, best known for their 1980 single Love Will Tear Us Apart. After the suicide of frontman Ian Curtis the remaining threesome would form New Order, going on to score UK top hits such as Blue Monday, Confusion, Thieves Like Us, Fine Time, and Regret. Sumner also co-founded Electronic with Johnny Marr and Neil Tennant in the early 1990s. Co-founded the more rock-oriented Bad Lieutenant in 2007January 4, 1955 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, producer Clive Gregson, full name Clige James Gregson, born in Ashton-under-Lyne, UK ~ As a songwriter had his work recorded by artists such as Kim Carnes, Norma Waterson, Fairport Convention, Smokie, and Nanci Griffith. As a performer has worked with Any Trouble, Richard Thompson, Christine Collister, Eddi Reader, Boo Hewerdine, Mark Griffiths, and Andy Roberts
January 4, 1954 ~ Pianist, composer Jacques Demierre born in Geneva, Switzerland ~ Worked with Dorothe Schurch, Radu Malfatti, Hans Koch, Martial Solal, Han Bennink, Joëlle Léandre, Carlos Zingaro, Ikue Mori, Lucas Niggli, Barry Guy, Urs Leimgruber, Barre Phillips, Sylvie Courvoisier, Malcolm Braff, and Michel Wintsch
January 4, 1954 ~ Pop singer, guitarist Waldemar Bastos, full name Waldemar dos Santos Alonse de Almeida Bastos, born in Sao Salvador do Congo, Angola ~ Drew from Afropop, fado and Brazilian influences. Emigrated to Portugal in the early 1980s to escape the civil war in his native Angola. Especially known for his 1982 Estamos Juntos album ~ Bastos passed away in 2020January 4, 1951 ~ Conductor, composer, priest Ronald Corp, full name Ronald Geoffrey Corp, born in Wells, UK ~ Founder and artistic director of the New London Orchestra and the New London Children's Choir, championing rarely heard late 19th and 20th century repertoire by composers such as Darius Milhaud, Erik Satie, Elinor Remick Warren, Virgil Thomson, John Foulds, and Grazyna Bacewicz. A prolific composer himself, Corp has written choral and orchestral works, recorded with his own ensembles as well as with the BBC Singers, the Royal Liverpool Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra, and renowned singers such as Rebecca de Pont Davies, Sarah Castle, and Magid El-Bushra ~ Corp passed away in 2025
January 4, 1950 ~ Pop, rock guitarist, bouzouki player Wout Pennings born in Nijmegen, the Netherlands ~ Best known for his association with singer, songwriter Frank Boeijen. Founded 1970s country-rock outfit Country Road. Also worked with Lenny Kuhr, Kaz Lux, Rob de Nijs, Auto Da Fé, de Boem Boem Bluesband, Kali Tichi, Nels Busch, Henk Wanders, and Emanuel Pessanha ~ Pennings passed away in 2014
January 4, 1949 ~ Progressive rock bassist, flutist, singer Peter Farrelly born in Belfast, Northern Ireland ~ Though he never achieved much fame, Farrelly was praised for his vocal ability and throbbing bass lines. Best known as lead singer of progressive rock outfit Fruup. Through the mid 1970s the progressive rock band, an oddity in their native Northern Ireland, toured relentlessly including as support act for the likes of Genesis, Queen, and King Crimson, and recorded four albums which garnered them some popularity, particularly on the student scene, but despite warm critical reception never made them famous. In later years, Fruup's recordings, especially the band's 1973 Future Legends debut album, have gathered greater recognition than they were gifted on release. Following the band's disbandement, Farrelly founded the Crowd, a new wave rock hybrid inspired by the Doors and the Stranglers, which was praised by critics yet disbanded before releasing a full-length album ~ Farrelly passed away in 2025
January 4, 1947 ~ Avant-rock, experimental rock drummer, percussionist Chris Cutler born in Washington DC, USA ~ Best known as member of Henry Cow from 1971 until its disbandement in 1978. In-demand sideman and collaborator, appearing on over an estimated 100 albums. Has worked with Art Bears, Cassiber, News From Babel, Pere Ubu, Gong, Mother Gong, Fred Frith, Lindsay Cooper, Zeena Parkins, Peter Blegvad, Lutz Glandien, (EC) Nudes, the Science Group, Telectu, the Residents, Tom Cora, Aksak Maboul, Brainville, the Orckestra, Vril, and John GreavesJanuary 4, 1947 ~ Bernard Patrick Neeson, commonly known as guitarist, bassist, singer Doc Neeson born in Belfast, Northern Ireland ~ Frontman of Australian hard rock outfit the Angels from its inception in 1976 through its initial disbandement in 1999, known for songs such as No Secrets, Into The Heat, Fashion And Fame, Stand Up, We Gotta Get Out Of This Place and Dogs Are Talking ~ Neeson passed away in 2014
January 4, 1945 ~ Steel guitarist JayDee Maness born in Loma Linda, California, USA ~ Founding member of the Desert Rose Band. Has also worked with Gram Parsons, the International Submarine Band, the Byrds (The Sweethearts Of The Rodeo), Buck Owens, Ray Stevens, Vince Gill, Barbra Streisand, Michael Nesmith, and Eric Clapton, including notably on the latter's 1992 hit Tears In Heaven
January 4, 1945 ~ Renán Patricio Sánchez Gajardo, commonly known as pop, pop rock singer, balladeer Patricio Renán, born in Concepcion, Chile ~ Emerged in the mid 1960s, soon recognized as on one of the Nueva Ola stars. Has recorded close to a dozen albums over the course of his career. Best known for songs such as Por Amor, Son Recuerdos and Soy Culpable ~ Sánchez passed away in 2022
January 4, 1945 ~ Pop, jazz singer Priscilla Paris born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ One third of sibling outfit the Paris Sisters, alongside her older sisters Albeth Paris and Sherrell Paris. Sang lead on I Love How You Love Me. Also recorded a number of solo records, starting with Priscilla Sings Herself released in 1967 ~ Paris passed away in 2004January 4, 1944 ~ Merseybeat singer, songwriter Jimmy Campbell born in Liverpool, UK ~ Lead singer, co-founding member of the Kirkbys, known for the 1966 It's A Crime single. The band would eventually be renamed to 23rd Turnoff, though fail to chart. In later years Campbell would be recognized as “the era's lost songwriter” especially acclaimed for the band's 1967 Michael Angelo single ~ Campbell passed away in 2007
January 4, 1942 ~ Guitarist John McLaughlin born in Doncaster, UK ~ Pioneering jazz fusion guitar virtuoso. Cited as an influence by Steve Morse, Scott Henderson, Omar Rodríguez-López, Paul Masvidal, Ben Weinman. Gave guitar lessons to Jimmy Page. Draws from a variety of genres including jazz, rock, world music, classical, flamenco and blues. Present on the groundbreaking Miles Davis albums In A Silent Way, Bitches Brew, Jack Johnson and On The Corner. Known best for founding and fronting the Mahavishnu Orchestra, acclaimed for the early 1970s albums The Inner Mounting Flame and Birds Of Fire. Has also worked with Pearls Before Swine, Georgie Fame, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter (Super Nova), Joe Farrell, Miroslav Vitous, Jack Bruce, Don Sebesky, Stanley Clarke, Fuse One, and SantanaJanuary 4, 1941 ~ David Lee Jr, commonly known as jazz drummer, composer David Lee, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Got his start in music in the late 1960s, backing Dizzy Gillespie. Closely associated with Sonny Rollins, appearing on several of the tenor saxophonist's albums including Next Album and The Cutting Edge. Has also guested on recordings by Joe Zawinul (Concerto Retitled), Leon Thomas, Albert Dailey (The Day After The Dawn), Lonnie Liston Smith, Charlie Rouse, Richard Wyands (Then Here And Now), Professor Longhair, Earl Tubinton, Ron Levy, Snooks Eaglin (Out Of Nowhere), Lowell Fulson, Grady Gaines, and Ellis Marsalis ~ Lee passed away in 2021
January 4, 1940 ~ Christopher Morris, commonly known as pop singer, pianist Lance Fortune, born in Birkenhead, UK ~ Classicaly trained pianist. Enjoyed local succes while still in school with his rock & roll group the Firecrests. Discovered by impresario Larry Parnes who gave him the stage name Fortune, a name he had earlier considered for Georgie Fame. Best known for two 1960s UK hits, Be Mine and This Love I Have You, the latter reaching top 10
January 4, 1939 ~ Composer Jon Appleton, full name Jon Howard Appleton, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Pioneer in electro-acoustic music, known for compositions such as Chef D'Oeuvre and Newark Airport Rock ~ Appleton passed away in 2022
January 4, 1938 ~ R&B, funk, soul drummer Greg Webster born in Hamilton, Ohio, USA ~ Although he departed the band slightly before their rise to fame, Webster was a key member of funk outfit the Ohio Players. Webster led the band from its inception in 1964 until 1974, appearing on the albums Observations In Time, Pain, and Pleasure. The latter would spawn the band's first major hit, Funky Worm, which reached No.15 Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard R&B charts. Although Webster did not remain with the band for its most successful run, he is considered pivotal in helping create the band's distinctive sound, and is acknowledged as a pioneer drummer whose drumming style and beats have been emulated by many, including in the hip hop community ~ Webster passed away in 2022
January 4, 1937 ~ Pianist, songwriter Gaynel Hodge born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-penning Earth Angel, a 1954 hit for the Penguins. Founding member of the Platters, the Turks, the Hollywood Flames. Has also worked with artists such as Lou Rawls, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Guitar Watson, Dr John, Ted Taylor, Richard Berry, Dick Dale, the Chamber Brothers, the Rivingtons, and Duane Eddy ~ Hodge passed away in 2020
January 4, 1937 ~ Operatic mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry, full name Grace Ann Melzia Bumbry, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Leading mezzo-soprano, soprano. Paved the way for later African-American opera singers. Closely associated with the Basel Opera. Has also performed with the Paris Opera, the Royal Opera House, the Vienna State Opera, the San Francisco Opera, and sang at Ronald Reagan's 1981 Presidential inauguration ~ Bumbry passed away in 2023
January 4, 1937 ~ William Stevenson, commonly known as songwriter, producer William Mickey Stevenson, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Closely associated with the Motown label and its subsidiaries, serving as A&R executive, songwriter, and producer from its inception in 1959 until 1967. Organized and established the house band the Funk Brothers. Well-known songs co-written by Stevenson include Beechwood 4-5789 for the Marvelettes, Pride & Joy for Marvin Gaye, Dancing In the Street for Martha & the Vandellas, and Nothing's Too Good For My Baby for Stevie WonderJanuary 4, 1936 ~ Bandleader Joe Venuti tops the very first instance of Billboard's list of hits, then named Hit Parade, with Stop Look Listen ~ The magazine publishes their first weekly hit list, based on sales and airplay with Joe Venuti earning the honor of having the very first official No.1 Billboard hit. Over the years the magazine's hit charts would become the definitive hit chart in American media and pop culture