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 6, 1959 ~ Singer, songwriter Kathy Sledge born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Founding member of sibling group Sister Sledge, known for a string of disco, pop, R&B hits starting in the late 1970s such as He's The Greatest Dancer, We Are Family, and Lost In Music. Kathy Sledge would release a solo album, Heart, in 1992 as well as a handful of singles none of which would reach the chart succes of the Sisters' recordings
January 6, 1958 ~ Singer, guitarist Chuck Berry records Johnny B Goode at Chess Studios, Chicago ~ Said to contain autobiographical elements. Penned by Chuck Berry. Produced by Chess Records brothers Leonard Chess and Phil Chess. Would become a signature song as well as one of the records that defined rock & roll. Covered by over 250 artists including the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Jerry Reed, Roy Buchanan, Bill Wyman. Though partly inspired by Berry's regular backing pianist Johnnie Johnson, the pianist on the original recording is actually Lafayette Leake. Other backing musicians on the record are Willie Dixon on double bass and Fred Below on drums. The opening guitar riff is borrowed from Louis Jordan's 1946 Ain't That Just Like A Woman, featuring guitarist Carl Hogan
January 6, 1957 ~ Rock, punk drummer Iain Shedden born in Lanark, UK ~ Spent most of his career working as a journalist, with music on the side. As a musician active since the early 1980s, his first band being the Jolt enjoying some regional popularity in Scotland. Toured Europe with the Saints in 1982, rejoining them later throughout the remainder of the decade. Has also drummed for the Snakes Of Shake and Summerhill. After relocating to Australia in the early 1990s initially sought employment as a musician yet with opportunities limited worked as music editor at the Australian until his unexpected death caused by an aneurysm ~ Shedden passed away in 2017
January 6, 1953 ~ Soul, R&B, disco singer, songwriter Danny Pearson born in Stonewall, Mississippi, USA ~ Known for his sole album Barry White Presents Mr Danny Pearson released in 1978. It would be produced by Barry White and spawn the Billboard R&B top 20 hit What's Your Sign Girl ~ Pearson passed away in 2018January 6, 1953 ~ Jazz guitarist, songwriter Jon Eberson, full name Jon Arild Eberson, born in Oslo, Norway ~ Son of jazz guitarist Leif Eberson. Father of keyboardist Marte Maaland Eberson. Leader and sideman. Member of Moose Loose, the Radka Toneff Quintet, Blow Out. Has also worked with Ketil Bjørnstad, Sidsel Endresen, the Jazzpunkensemblet, Carl Morten Iversen, Paal Nilssen-Love, Per Zanussi, and Torstein Lofthus
January 6, 1953 ~ Hard rock guitarist Malcolm Young, full name Malcolm Mitchell Young, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Leading hard rock rhythm guitarist. Co-founded AC/DC in 1973 with his older brother lead guitarist Angus Young. Young co-wrote a vast amount of the band's material including High Voltage, TNT, It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n Roll, Dirty Deeds Done Cheap, Whole Lotta Rosie, Highway To Hell, You Shook Me Whole Night Long, and Thunderstruck. Diagnosed with dementia, Young retired from the band in 2014. His brother Angus would reflect on Malcolm's contributions: “Mal kept doing what he could until he couldn't do it anymore, but I have all the material he was working on. There were a lot of riffs, ideas, and bits of choruses. I'd fill things in to see if we had a song. Every album we've ever done has been that way.” ~ Young passed away in 2017
January 6, 1953 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Tomislav Ivcic born in Zadar, Yugoslavia ~ Rose to national fame during the 1970s. Merged pop music with regional folklore. Has recorded about two dozen albums and is best known for songs such as Neman Za Kavu, Veceras Je Nasa Festa which would become an unofficial anthem of the Dalmatia region, and Stop The War In Croatia. Ran as candidate for the HDZ party in the 1993 elections and won a seat in the Croatian Parliament. A few weeks before he was supposed to take office he would die in a car accident at age 40 ~ Ivcic passed away in 1993
January 6, 1951 ~ Blues harpist, singer Kim Wilson born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Influenced by Little Walter, James Cotton, Big Walter Horton, Slim Harpo, Lazy Lester. Co-founding member, frontman of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, known for Wrap It Up and Tuff Enuff. Also records as a solo artist, starting with 1993's Tigerman album, and is an in-demand collaborator for Thunderbird bandmates solo outings and other artists including Ronnie Earl, Roomful Of Blues, Kid Ramos, Snuff Johnson, Bonnie Raitt, Big Jack Johnson, Barrelhouse Chuck, Omar Kent Dykes, Elvin Bishop, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Thornetta Davis, and Ash Grunwald
January 6, 1950 ~ Gospel, R&B singer Beau Williams born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Debuted in 1982 with the eponymous Beau Williams album. Known for songs such as You Are The One, There's Just Something About You, All Because Of You and perhaps his best known Wonderful, the latter earning him a 1989 Dove Award for Song of the Year
January 6, 1949 ~ Double bassist Chris Laurence born in London, UK ~ Worked with JJ Johnson, Tony Coe, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Clark Terry, Johnny Mathis, Lena Horne, John Surman, Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone, Frank Ricotti, John Parricelli, Martin France, Elton John, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Joni Mitchell, David Gilmour, Michel Legrand, Michael Nyman, Alan Skidmore, Gordon Beck, Elton Dean, Tony Coe, Geoff Eales, Mike de Albuquerque, Gil Evans, John Warren, Mike Figgis, Helen Jane Long, Michel Legrand, Robert Farnon, Clark Terry, Guy Barker, Neil Ardley, Alison Moyet, Elvis Costello, Mark Hollis, and Beryl CookJanuary 6, 1947 ~ Bassist Fedor Freso born in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia ~ Son of composer, conductor Tibor Freso. Worked with the Soulmen, Dezo Ursiny, Prudy, Pavol Hammel, Marián Varga, Collegium Musicum, Fermata, Fero Grigiak, the T&R Band, Peter Lipa, the Traditional Club, Jan Lehotsky, Blue Effect, and Radim Hladik ~ Freso passed away in 2018
January 6, 1947 ~ Singer Sandy Denny born in Wimbledon, UK ~ Pre-eminent British folk-rock singer. Briefly a member of Strawbs with whom she recorded one album, belatedly released in 1973. Joined Fairport Convention in 1968. Formed Fotheringay in 1970. Her composition Who Knows Where The Time Goes was recorded by Judy Collins, Eva Cassidy, Nina Simone, 10,000 Maniacs, and by Cat Power ~ Denny passed away in 1978
January 6, 1946 ~ Roger Keith Barrett, commonly known as guitarist, singer Syd Barrett born in Cambridge, UK ~ Co-founding member, frontman, primary songwriter of Pink Floyd. Regarded as a troubled genius. Fully present on the band's debut Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, contributed partly on their sophomore album A Saucerful Of Secrets. Ousted from the band in 1968. Fully retired from music in 1972, devoting himself to painting and gardening. The band would later record several tributes to Barrett, among which most famously the 1975 song Shine On You Crazy Diamond. Barrett would be cited as an influence by artists such as Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend, Blur, Tangerine Dream, Paul Weller, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, David Bowie, Jimmy Page, Brian Eno, and the Sex Pistols ~ Barrett passed away in 2006January 6, 1945 ~ Gaetano Senese, commonly known as singer, saxophonist, songwriter James Senese, born in Naples, Italy ~ Worked with the Showmen, the Napoli Centrale, Enzo Gragnaniello, and Pino Daniele ~ Senese passed away in 2025
January 6, 1944 ~ Alan Cochevelou, commonly known as singer, harpist, songwriter Alan Stivell, born in Riom, France ~ Considered a precursor to Celtic rock. Revived interest in the Celtic and particarly the Breton harp. Best known for his early 1970s albums, notably Renaissance Of The Celtic Harp and A L'Olympia, earning him a dedicated following in his native France, the UK, and Ireland
January 6, 1943 ~ Avant-garde jazz, free jazz, hard bop drummer Barry Altschul born in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of 1960s quartet Circle alongside Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Anthony Braxton. Has also worked with Lee Konitz, Art Pepper, Fab Trio, Jon Irabagon, Roswell Rudd, Dave Liebman, Denis Levaillant, Sonny Criss, Hampton Hawes, Paul Bley, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Paul Winter, Julius Hemphill, Gebhard Ullmann, Enrico Rava, and Steve Swell
January 6, 1940 ~ Songwriter, producer, singer Van McCoy, full name Van Allen Clinton McCoy, born in Washington DC, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for his 1975 disco hit The Hustle. Mostly active behind the scenes, producing and writing songs for artists such as Gladys Knight (Giving Up), the Stylistics, Betty Everett (Getting Mighty Crowded), Aretha Franklin, Erma Franklin, Peaches & Herb, Sandi Sheldon, Jackie Wilson (I Get The Sweetest Feeling), Lesley Gore, Stacy Lattisaw, Presidents, Chris Bartley, Ruby & the Romantics (When You're Young And In Love), and Melba Moore ~ McCoy passed away in 1979
January 6, 1938 ~ Singer, actor, songwriter Adriano Celentano born in Milan, Italy ~ Pillar of Italian music with over 30 albums to his name. Also known as an actor, appearing in some 40 movies. Credited to have introduced rock & roll to Italy. Best known for songs such as 24,000 Baci, Il Tuo Bacio E'Come Un Rock, La Coppia Piu Bella Del Mondo, Azzuro, and Svalutation
January 6, 1937 ~ Doris Elaine Higginson, commonly known as singer, songwriter Doris Troy born in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Best known for her 1963 soul hit Just One Look. Discovered by James Brown. Wrote Dee Clark's How About That. Original member of the Sweet Inspirations alongside Dionne Warwick, Cissy Houston and Dee Dee Warwick. Sang backup with Solomon Burke, the Drifters, the Rolling Stones (You Can't Always Get What You Want), Carly Simon (You're So Vain), Pink Floyd (on The Dark Side Of The Moon album), Humble Pie, Kevin Ayers, Edgar Broughton, George Harrison, Johnny Hallyday, Vivian Stanshall, Dusty Springfield, Nick Drake, and Junior Campbell ~ Troy passed away in 2004January 6, 1937 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter Paolo Conte born in Piedmont, Italy ~ In-demand songwriter discovered by producer Lilli Greco before starting a solo career as singer. Has co-written songs for Adriano Celentano, Caterina Caselli, Fausto Leali, and Enzo Jannacci. Released his eponymous Paole Conte solo debut album in 1970. Best known for songs such as Come Di, Via Con Me, Conte L'Orchestrina and perhaps his best known Max, the latter a hit across Europe in 1987
January 6, 1935 ~ Antonino LoTempio, commonly known as singer, clarinetist, saxophonist, actor Nino Tempo, born in Niagara Falls, New York, USA ~ Won his first talent contest at age 4, and appeared on TV with Benny Goodman at age 7. As a child actor, Tempo notably appeared in the 1949 drama film The Red Pony and the 1954 biopic The Glenn Miller Story. Tempo would go on to become an in-demand session musician, appearing on albums by Bobby Darin, Nancy Sinatra (How Does That Grab You), Linda Ronstadt, Herb Alpert, Kinky Friedman, John Lennon (Rock 'n Roll), Elkie Brooks, Kenny Rankin, Jim Krueger, Lisa Hartman, and Bernadette Peters. To pop audiences, Tempo is perhaps best known for forming the duo Nino Tempo & April Stevens with his sister April Stevens, the siblings scoring a 1963 Billboard Hot 100 charttopper with Deep Purple, and for fronting 1970s outfit 5th Ave Sax with whom he scored the modest 1973 hit Sister James. As a songwriter, Tempo is known for writing or co-writing All Strung Out and I Can't Go On Living Without You Baby, both first recorded by the sibling duo, and Teach Me Tiger which would become a signature song for April Stevens ~ LoTempio passed away in 2025
January 6, 1932 ~ John Alexander Burchell, commonly known as pianist, bandleader, composer John Burch, born in London, UK ~ Wrote Preach And Teach, recorded by Georgie Fame in 1966, later covered by Buddy Rich. Led early 1960s ensembles which included future UK rock stars such as Dick Heckstall-Smith, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce. Also worked with Allan Ganley, Jeff Clyne, Bobby Wellins, Freddie Hubbard, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and Red Rodney ~ Burchell passed away in 2006
January 6, 1931 ~ Jazz trombonist Keith Christie, full name Keith Ronald Christie, born in Blackpool, UK ~ Brother of clarinetist Ian Christie, bandmate in the Christie Brothers Stompers. Also worked with Humphrey Lyttelton, Ken Colyer, Dicky Hawdon, Johnny Dankworth, Cleo Laine, George Chisholm, Harry Klein, Kenny Baker, Vic Ash, Wally Fawkes, Tommy Whittle, Ted Heath, Don Lusher, Allan Ganley, Ronnie Ross, Art Ellefson, Vic Lewis., Jimmy Deuchar, Harry South, Benny Goodman, Tubby Hayes, Paul Gonsalves, Ian Hamer, Stan Tracey, Kenny Wheeler, Bobby Lamb, Ray Premru, Phil Seamen, and Tony Kinsey ~ Christie passed away in 1980
January 6, 1924 ~ Banjoist Earl Scruggs, full name Earl Eugene Scruggs, born in Cleveland, North Carolina, USA ~ Well known for his association with guitarist, mandolinist Lester Flatt. The pair had backed Bill Monroe during the mid 1940s, and would form the Foggy Mountain Boys by 1948, and later record simply as Flatt & Scruggs. The duo recorded over a dozen albums through the late 1960s and are considered one of the finest and most influential duos in bluegrass. Well-known songs include Foggy Mountain Breakdown and The Ballad Of Jed Clampett. The pair parted ways in 1969 over artistic differences, with Scruggs leaning toward including more progressive sounds including tracks by the likes of Bob Dylan while Flatts stuck to the traditionalist bluegrass sound ~ Scruggs passed away in 2012January 6, 1872 ~ Composer, pianist Alexander Scriabin, full name Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin, born in Moscow, Russian Empire ~ Influenced by Frédéric Chopin. Contemporary of Sergei Rachmaninoff and Nikolai Medtner. One of the most innovative and controversial of the early modern composers and main exponent of Russian Symbolist movement ~ Scriabin passed away in 1915