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.
July 18, 1941 ~ Franz Reuther, commonly known as singer, songwriter, producer Frank Farian, born in Kirn, Germany ~ Prior to his career in music, Farian trained as a cook. Performed and recorded as a singer from the late 1960s through the mid 1970s, before becoming one of the most prolific and successful producers to come out of Germany. Acts founded, managed, produced by Farian have sold over 850 million records and earned some 800 gold and platinum certifications. Best known for founding 1970s disco group Boney M, with whom he enjoyed popularity especially in Europe with disco hits such as Daddy Cool, Ma Baker, Rivers Of Babylon, and Rasputin, and for founding Milli Vanilli, known for the late 1980s Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits Baby Don't Forget My Number, Blame It On The Rain, and Girl I'm Gonna Miss You. Other notable acts he was involved with include Le Click, La Bouche, No Mercy, Eruption, and the Far Corporation ~ Reuther passed away in 2024
July 18, 1941 ~ Lonnie McIntosh, commonly known as rock, blues-rock, blue-eyed soul, country, gospel, rockabilly guitarist, singer Lonnie Mack, born in West Harrison, Indiana, USA ~ Influenced by Merle Travis, Les Paul, T-Bone Walker, Ray Charles, and Martha Carson. Acclaimed for his 1963 The Wham Of That Memphis Man album, considered a landmark album influential on blue-eyed soul and rock guitar. Over the decades has faded in and out of the spotlight due to his constant switching between genres. Cited as influence by artists as diverse as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, Ray Benson, Bootsy Collins, Wayne Perkins, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Danny Gatton. Has opened for the Doors and Crosby Stills & Nash. Sessioned for James Brown, Freddie King, Joe Simon, Albert Washington, Dobie Gray, Ronnie Hawkins, and artist-charmaines] ~ McIntosh passed away in 2016
July 18, 1941 ~ R&B singer Martha Reeves, full name Martha Rose Reeves born in Eufala, Alabama, USA ~ Lead singer of Martha & the Vandellas, known for songs such as Heat Wave, Quicksand, Dancing In the Street, Nowhere To Run, I'm Ready For Love, Jimmy Mack
July 18, 1941 ~ Jazz saxophonist Pete Yellin, full name Peter Michael Yellin, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Recorded about half a dozen albums as a leader, specifically noted for It's The Right Thing released in 1973. Inspired to take up the saxophone in the late 1950s after hearing Art Pepper. During the 1960s and early 1970s backed the likes of Chick Corea, Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich, Tito Puente, and notably Joe Henderson. Other notable associations include Mario Bauzá, Charles Earland, Maynard Ferguson, George Benson, Eddie Palmieri, and Bob Mintzer ~ Yellin passed away in 2016July 18, 1940 ~ John Wilson, commonly known as R&B, doo-wop singer John Bootsie Wilson, born ~ Bass singer for doo-wop outfit the Silhouettes, known best for their 1957 hit Get A Job. Originally issued as the B-side to I Am Lonely, the A-side re-release would go on to sell a million copies and be the group's only hit ~ Wilson passed away in 2009
July 18, 1940 ~ Andrew Alexander Terry, commonly known as saxophonist, musical director, arranger, songwriter, producer Mike Terry, born in Hempstead, Texas, USA ~ Member of the Funk Brothers, Motown's in-house band, playing on numerous hits from 1960 through 1967 including tracks by the Miracles, Mary Wells, the Four Tops, Edwin Starr, and the Marvelettes. Terry is especially noted for his saxophone solos on Heat Wave by Martha & the Vandellas and Where Did Our Love Go by the Supremes ~ Terry passed away in 2008
July 18, 1939 ~ Dion Francis DiMucci, mononymously known as pop singer, songwriter Dion born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Rose to prominence as teen idol in the 1950s with the Belmonts. Would go on to a successful solo career, best known for a string of hits through the mid 1960s. Well known songs include Runaround Sue, The Wanderer, Lovers Who Wander, Little Diane, Ruby Baby, Donna The Prima Donna
July 18, 1938 ~ Free jazz bassist, double bassist Buschi Niebergall born in Marburg, Germany ~ Co-founding member of the Globe Unity Orchestra, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Globe Unity 67 & 70 and Globe Unity '74. Also closely associated with Albert Mangelsdorff and Peter Brötzmann. Other notable associations include Gunter Hampel, Manfred Schoof, John Tchicai, Gerd Dudek, and Don Cherry ~ Niebergall passed away in 1990
July 18, 1938 ~ Saxophonist Dudu Pukwana, full name Mtuhutuzeli Dudu Pukwana, born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa ~ Influenced by Nikele Moyake, Charlie Parker, and King Curtis. Member of the Blue Notes, member of Brotherhood Of Breath, recording over half a dozen albums with each. Recorded about a dozen albums as a leader, including the acclaimed In The Townships released in 1974. Pukwana has also appeared on albums by Assagai, Mick Softley, Mike Heron, Hugh Masekela (Home Is Where The Music Is), Jabula, Toots & the Maytals (Reggae Got Soul), Johnny Dyani, George Fenton, and Gary Windo ~ Pukwana passed away in 1990July 18, 1930 ~ Samuel T Lawmaster, commonly known as rockabilly, country singer, songwriter Sammy Masters, born in Sasakwa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Somewhat overlooked singer. As a songwriter best known for Turn The Cards Slowly, a minor hit for Patsy Cline, and for Who Can I Count On, recorded by Bobby Darin as well as by Wayne Newton ~ Lawmaster passed away in 2013
July 18, 1929 ~ Jalacy Hawkins, commonly known as singer, pianist, guitarist, saxophonist Screamin' Jay Hawkins, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Famed for his stage presence and operatic vocal delivery. Best known for his 1956 I Put A Spell On You single, originally intended as a refined blues ballad. Despite being banned from the radio for its outrageous “cannibalistic” style, it would sell over a million copies. The success prompted Hawkins to develop a ghoulish stage persona, delivering wildly theatrical stage performances which included the use of macabre props, predating shock rockers such as Alice Cooper, Screaming Lord Sutch, Ozzy Osbourne, and Marilyn Manson. On how I Put A Spell On You changed it all, Hawkins later remarked: “Before, I was just a normal blues singer. I was just Jay Hawkins. It all sort of just fell in place. I found out I could do more destroying a song and screaming it to death.” ~ Hawkins passed away in 2000July 18, 1928 ~ Jazz trombonist Carl Fontana, full name Carl Charles Fontana, born in Monroe, Louisiana, USA ~ First gained attention in the early 1950s, initially hired by Woody Herman to fill in for Urbie Green but kept on after Green's return. Would go on to work with Lionel Hampton, Hal McIntyre, Stan Kenton, and Kai Winding. After relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada, by the late 1950s, Fontana spent most of his time performing in house orchestras and lounges, at times backing artists such as Sammy Davis Jr, Tony Bennett, and Wayne Newton. The 1970s saw him playing with Louie Bellson, Bill Watrous, Supersax, and notably with drummer Jake Hanna, co-leading the Hanna-Fontana Band, including on the album Live At The Concord album. Fontana only recorded sporadically as a leader, and is noted most for his 1998 Live At Capozzoli's album ~ Fontana passed away in 2003
July 18, 1924 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Earl T Beal born in Donora, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Baritone singer for doo-wop outfit the Silhouettes, known best for their 1957 hit Get A Job. Originally issued as the B-side to I Am Lonely, the A-side re-release would go on to sell a million copies and be the group's only hit ~ Beal passed away in 2001
July 18, 1917 ~ Comedian, singer, guitarist Henri Salvador born in Cayenne, French Guyana ~ Recorded the first French rock & roll songs in 1957 under the moniker Henry Cording, such as Rock'n Roll Mops, Rock Hoquet Va T'Faire Cuire Un Oeuf and Dis-moi Qu'tu M'Aimes Rock, though he would consistently claim he disliked rock & roll. Also known as a TV personality and for a number of 1960s French language adaptations of pop songs including Zorro Est Arrivé and Mais Non Mais Non ~ Salvador passed away in 2008
July 18, 1913 ~ Big band bandleader, clarinetist, saxophonist Nat Temple, full name Nathan Temple, born in London, UK ~ Modeled his playing after Benny Goodman. Rose to fame as a member of Harry Roy's orchestra during the 1930s, including on the 1933 hit Tiger Rag. Following a stint in the British Army during World War II, Temple founded his own orchestra with whom he notably launched the career of vocalist Frankie Vaughan, and backed famed American composer Hoagy Carmichael on his British tour. Temple would quickly become a regular presence on the BBC, providing musical entertainment for various comedy shows, and continued to lead various configurations of his group well into the 1990s. Over the course of his lengthy career Temple has worked with artists such as Benny Lee, Julie Andrews, Eartha Kitt, Petula Clark, and Mel Tormé ~ Temple passed away in 2008
July 18, 1910 ~ Louis Ferdinand Busch, commonly known as pianist, producer, songwriter Joe Fingers Carr, born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Dropped out of school at age 16 to pursue a career as a musician. After a few years of touring would return to school, this time the Cincinnati Music Conservatory, to learn more about music theory. A&R executive at Capitol Records by the late 1940s. Has worked with Henry Busse, Clyde McCoy, George Olson, Hal Kemp, and Milton Delugg. As a solo artist, Carr is best known for 1950s songs such as Portuguese Washerwoman, Sam's Song, Zambezi, and Rollercoaster ~ Busch passed away in 1979July 18, 1909 ~ Ivory Jones, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Deek Watson, born in Mounds, Illinois, USA ~ Member of the Ink Spots from 1934 through 1944, present on hits such as If I Didn't Care, Address Unknown, Maybe, We Three (My Echo My Shadow & Me) and Don't Get Around Much Anymore ~ Jones passed away in 1969
July 18, 1906 ~ Lawrence Arthur Webb, commonly known as jazz drummer, bandleader Speed Webb, born in Peru, Indiana, USA ~ Played violin and mellotron before switching to drums. Co-founded and led the Hoosier Melody Lads, with whom he enjoyed popularity from the late 1920s through the 1930s, at times employing noted sidemen such as Art Tatum, Teddy Buckner, Teddy Wilson, Roy Eldridge, Eli Robinson, and Reunald Jones Sr. Webb and his band appeared in several films, including Sins Of The Fathers, Riley The Cop, and His Captive Woman. Other than these soundtracks, no recordings of Webb and his band remained available, which considered his popularity, acclaim and the quality of his sideman is widely regarded a loss to jazz. Webb retired from music by the late 1930s, resuming his studies in enbalming and eventually building a chain of funeral parlours ~ Webb passed away in 1994