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 8, 1988 ~ Drummer Ray Bauduc passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Son of cornetist Jules Bauduc. Best known for his association with Bob Crosby and as a member of the Bobcats, the latter consisting of a subset of Crosby's orchestra. Co-wrote Big Noise From Winnetka, first recorded by the Bobcats it would become a jazz standard recorded by Gene Krupa, Jack Teagarden, Kenny Ball, Cozy Cole, Chico Hamilton, and Bette Midler. Bauduc has also worked with the Riverboat Five, Johnny Bayersdorffer, Joe Venuti, and the Original Memphis Five ~ Bauduc was born in 1906January 8, 1986 ~ Jazz trumpeter, composer Grady Watts passed away in Vero Beach, Florida, USA ~ Best known as a member of the Casa Loma Orchestra from 1931 through 1942, for whom he also penned or co-penned a number of songs including Rhythm Man, You Ain't Been Livin' Right, I Remember, and Touch And Go ~ Watts was born in 1908
January 8, 1986 ~ Jamie Alexander Treays, commonly known as singer, songwriter Jamie T, born in Hammersmith, UK ~ Released his debut album, Panic Prevention, in 2007. Known for songs such as Sheila, If You Got The Money, Clam Down Dearest and Sticks 'n Stones, all of which would reach the UK top 20January 8, 1985 ~ Christian singer, songwriter Rachael Lampa, full name Rachael Maureen Lampa, born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA ~ Rose to fame with her critically acclaimed debut album Live For You, released at age 15, which would spawn the hit single Blessed. Has recorded to critical acclaim since
January 8, 1983 ~ Actor, singer, songwriter Felipe Colombo, full name Felipe Colombo Eguia, born in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Formed pop rock band Erreway with TV series Rebelde Way's co-stars Camila Bordonaba, Luisana Lopilato and Benjamín Rojas, known for songs such as Sweet Baby, Resistire, Sera Porque Te Quiero, Para Cosas Buenas, and Memoria
January 8, 1982 ~ Jazz, classical pianist, composer Dan Tepfer born in Paris, France ~ Best known for his 2011 Goldberg Variations/Variations album. Frequent collaborator of Lee Konitz. Has also collaborated with Richie Barshay, Ben Wendel, Nate Wood, and Billy Hart
January 8, 1982 ~ Punk, rock, post-hardcore singer, songwriter Wil Francis, full name William Roy Francis, born in Kent, Washington, USA ~ Best known as lead singer, primary songwriter of horror punk band Aiden. Has released solo recordings using the moniker William Control and serves as producer for bands such as Fearless Vampire Killers, A Midnight Tragedy and AshestoangelsJanuary 8, 1979 ~ Rock guitarist, bassist Maya Ford, full name Maya Ann Ford, born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Best known as bassist of all-female outfit the Donnas, initially gaining a following in the punk scene and later mixing punk, metal and classic rock and best known for their early 2000s singles Take It Off and Fall Behind Me
January 8, 1979 ~ Sara Elizabeth Dougherty, commonly known as country guitarist, singer Sara Carter, passed away in Lodi, California, USA ~ Married to AP Carter until 1936. Member of the Carter Family, singing lead on most of the band's 1920s and 1930s recordings, the family act considered one of the earliest and most influential acts in the history of country music. Carter wrote or co-wrote several of the band's songs, including My Foothills Home, The Dying Soldier, Lonesome Pine Special, Farther On, and Railroading The Great Divide ~ Dougherty was born in 1898January 8, 1979 ~ Torrance Heather Castellano, commonly known as rock drummer Torry Castellano, born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Founding member of all-female rock outfit the Donnas, known best for the singles Take It Off and Fall Behind Me. Retired from music in 2010 for medical reasons
January 8, 1977 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock, power pop drummer Billy Brimblecom Jr born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ Joined rock band Stick in 1995. Formed power pop outfit Creature Comforts in 1997 with songwriter Christopher Tolle. Worked with the Blackpool Lights from 2004 through 2006, present on the albums Blackpool Lights and This Town's DisasterJanuary 8, 1977 ~ Jazz singer Torun Eriksen born in Lunde, Norway ~ Known for albums such as 2003's Glittercard, 2010's Passage and 2013's Visits, the latter featuring keyboardist David Wallumrød, bassist Audun Erlien and drummer Ola Hultgren
January 8, 1975 ~ Jef Martens, commonly known as DJ, producer Basto, born in Hoogstraten, Belgium ~ Internationally best known for co-producing Scream & Shout featuring Britney Spears. Also a member of the dance act Lasgo alongside producer Peter Luts and singer Jelle van DaelJanuary 8, 1975 ~ Ernesto Shaw, commonly known as hip-hop, R&B rapper, DJ, producer, remixer DJ Clue, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Released his solo debut album, The Professional, the first of a trilogy series, in 1998. Has collaborated with Memphis Bleek, DMX, Missy Elliott, Mary J Blige, Jadakiss, Nicki Minaj, Future, Juelz Santana, French Montana, Plies, and Lil Wayne
January 8, 1975 ~ Country folk, alternative country singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Tift Merritt, full name Catherine Tift Merritt, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Debuted in 2002 with the Bramble Rose album. Best known for the single Good Hearted Man of her 2004 Grammy Award-nominated sophomore Tambourine album. Has collaborated with Chatham County Lines, John Eddie, Chris Stamey, Sally Spring, Teddy Thompson, and Andrew Bird
January 8, 1974 ~ Pop rock sibling outfit the Bee Gees record Mr Natural at Command Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb. The band's first single produced by Arif Mardin. Released later the same year as single of their Mr Natural album, paired with It Doesn't Matter Much To Me on the flip sideJanuary 8, 1974 ~ Producer, songwriter, arranger John Eriksson born in Hortlax, Sweden ~ One third of Peter Bjorn & John, the other two being Peter Moren and Björn Yttling. Founded percussion quartet Peaux, has also worked with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchesta, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Myung-whun Chung, Herbert Blomstedt, Yevgeny Svetlanov, Hortlax Cobra, Holiday For Strings, Lykke Li, the Teddybears, Magnus Granberg, Sahara Hotnights, the Deportees, Nicolai Dunger, and Folke
January 8, 1974 ~ Steven William King, commonly known as alternative rock, indie rock bassist Stove King, born in Ellesmore Port, UK ~ Co-founded Mansun with Paul Draper, remaining with the band through 2002 leaving halfway through the recording sessions for Kleptomania, the band's fourth and final album. The band is best known for songs such as She Makes My Nose Bleed, Legacy, and I Can Only Disappoint U
January 8, 1973 ~ Eurodance singer Lutricia McNeal born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA ~ First gained attention as lead singer with Swedish dance act Rob-n-Raz, known for their 1993 hit In Command. Debuted as a solo artist with her 1996 single Ain't That Just The Way, a dance cover of a 1975 song by Barbi Benton
January 8, 1973 ~ Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques, commonly known as singer Sean Paul, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ As a solo artist best known for the singles Get Busy and Temperature. In-demand collaborator including for artists such as Busta Rhymes, Beyoncé (Baby Boy), Blu Cantrell, Santana, Rihanna, Eve, Estelle, the Saturdays (What About Us), Major Lazer, Enrique Iglesias, Sia (Cheap Thrills), Magic, Clean Bandit (Rockabye), and Enrique IglesiasJanuary 8, 1968 ~ Gilles Lagrandeur, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, songwriter Gil Grand born in Sudbury, Canada ~ Known for a handful of late 1990s country hits, including Let's Start Livin', I Already Fell and his best known Famous First Words, all of which would reach top 20 of the Canadian country charts
January 8, 1968 ~ Shortly after his death (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay by Otis Redding is released ~ Although Otis Redding had been a regular appearance on the Billboard R&B charts, he had yet to score that one major hit. Sadly though, while he was on the verge of breaking through to mainstream audiences, Redding and several of his entourage perished in a plane crash while on tour. Released shortly after his death, with the final touches completed by regular collaborator Steve Cropper, (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay would be that major hit, and the first posthumously released single in chart history to reach No.1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Though Redding would be acknowledged during his lifetime by critics and R&B aficionados, it wasn't until after his death that he became a household name, widely recognized as one of the all-time greatest R&B singers. Since his death, (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay has been regularly included on all-time bests lists and covered by hundreds of artists
January 8, 1967 ~ Robert Sylvester Kelly, commonly known R&B, pop soul singer, songwriter, producer R Kelly, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ One of the most successful artists of the 1990s, selling over 75 million records. Known for songs such as I Believe I Can Fly, Bump 'n Grind, Your Body's Callin', Gotham City, If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time, The World's Greatest. Briefly married to singer Aaliyah, the marriage annulled within a year. Produced or co-produced artists such as Michael Jackson (You Are Not Alone), the Isley Brothers, Toni Braxton, Changing Faces, Sparkle, Blaque (808), Public Announcement, K-Ci & JoJo, Maxwell, Kelly Price, Syleena Johnson, B2K (Bump Bump Bump), Ginuwine, and Jennifer Hudson. Kelly was arrested in 2019 on federal charges alleging sex crimes and obstruction of justice, and sentenced to serve a total of 31 years in prisonJanuary 8, 1966 ~ Alternative rock, grunge, glam punk singer, keyboardist, bassist, guitarist, songwriter Andrew Wood, full name Andrew Patrick Wood, born in Columbus, Mississippi, USA ~ Known for his work with two bands pivotal to the birth of grunge music, founding Malfunkshun in 1980 and Mother Love Bone in 1988. Wood would die of a heroin overdose just weeks before the release of the latter's debut album, Apple ~ Wood passed away in 1990
January 8, 1966 ~ Heavy metal, hardcore punk singer, guitarist Dale Henderson born in Venice, California, USA ~ Frontman, primary songwriter, sole constant member of crossover thrash band Beowülf. Has also worked with 1980s punk band Black Sheep and 1990 rock outfit Kool WhipJanuary 8, 1966 ~ Heavy metal, Christian metal guitarist Glenn Rogers born ~ Active since the mid-1980s, starting with Dissenter. Would go on to work with Vengeance Rising, Hero, Deliverance, Steel Vengeance, Hirax, Lambs Among Wolves, Heretic, Once Dead, and Primal