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 27, 1978 ~ Progressive rock, progressive metal bassist Kristoffer Gildenlöw born in Eskilstuna, Sweden ~ Best known as member of Pain Of Salvation. Has also recorded as a solo artist as well as with artists such as Arcana, Cirrha Nova, Lana Lane, Dial, Skytha, Dark Suns, Harmony, Omnia, Shadow Theory, Damian Wilson, For All We Know, the Consortium Project, Niels Vejlyt, Epysode, Renaissance Of Fools, Mr Fastfinger, Kayak, Breaking The Chains, Semantic Saturation, Melanie Mau, Martin Schnella, and Shandon Sahm
July 27, 1977 ~ Bassist, singer Daniel Andriano born in Elgin, Illinois, USA ~ Bassist, co-lead singer of the Alkaline Trio, joining the band in 1997, known for songs such as We've Had Enough, Time To Waste and Help Me. Has also recorded as a solo artist as well as with Slapstick, Tuesday, the Falcon, Ben Weasel, New Found Glory, Stephen Egerton, and with rock supergroup the Damned Things on their 2019 High Crimes alum
July 27, 1977 ~ Swing, jazz, fusion pianist, organist Milt Buckner, full name Milton Brent Buckner, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Known for his lively, animated stage presence, credited with pioneering the parallel-chords style which would prove influential on the likes of Red Garland, George Shearing, and Oscar Peterson, and with popularizing the Hammond organ in the 1950s. Brother of saxophonist Ted Buckner. Early on in his career, Buckner worked with Don Cox, McKinney's Cotton Pickers, and Cab Calloway. Rose to fame in the 1930s, serving as staff arranger for Lionel Hampton, his feel for rocking rhythms and boogie-woogie fit complementing Hampton's style. Buckner would go on to back Herbie Fields, Wynonie Harris, including on the hit Hey-Ba-Ba-Re-Bop, Rufus Thomas, and Mabel Scott. Buckner has recorded prolifically as a leader since the early 1950s, and is especially acclaimed for the albums Rockin' With Milt and Rockin' Hammond. Buckner would remain in demand, and enjoyed unprecedented success during the final decade of his career from the mid 1960s on, frequently collaborating with Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Buck Clayton, Joe Newman, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Illinois Jacquet, and Big Joe Turner, dying unexpectedly at age 62 of a heart attack three weeks after his last concert ~ Buckner was born in 1915
July 27, 1975 ~ Philip Bradford Barr, commonly known as avant-garde, indie rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Brad Barr, born in Providence, Rhode Island, USA ~ Member of the Barr Brothers, which also included his brother Andrew Barr, best known for their 2017 Queens Of The Breakers album. The siblings also worked together in avant-rock group the Slip and electro-folk outfit Surprise Me Mr Davis. Barr has also recorded as a solo artist, noted for his 2008 The Fall Apartment (Instrumental Guitar) album, and has guested on albums by Dan Rockett, Sonya Kitchell (This Storm), Jade McNelis, Plants And Animals, Sophie Hunger, Patrick Watson, Marco Benevento, Little Scream, Morcheeba, and Gracie AbramsJuly 27, 1974 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock, pop punk, folk rock, emo guitarist, singer Fred Mascherino, full name Frederick Paul Mascherino, born in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known as lead guitarist, co-lead singer of alternative rock band Taking Back Sunday, joining the band in 2003 as replacement for John Nolan. Has also worked with the Color Fred, the Terrible Things, the Lemonheads, Brody, Breaking Pangaea, and Say Anything
July 27, 1974 ~ Otis Verries Hicks, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Lightnin' Slim, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Lesser-known of the 1950s bluesmen, yet critically held on par with the likes of peers Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson II. Known for songs such as Farming Blues, It's Mighty Crazy, and Bad Luck Blues ~ Hicks was born in 1913
July 27, 1974 ~ Gospel, urban contemporary gospel singer, keyboardist, songwriter Myron Butler, full name Myron Demond Butler, born in Bradenton, Florida, USA ~ Leads the gospel choir Levi, best known for their 2005 Set Me Free debut album and its 2007 follow-up Stronger. Has also backed singers such as Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Smokie Norful, Donald Lawrence, and Yolanda Adams
July 27, 1974 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock, indie folk singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer, pianist, songwriter Pete Yorn, full name Peter Joseph Yorn, born in Pompton Plains, New York, USA ~ Rose to prominence with his acclaimed 2001 Musicforthemorningafter debut album. Known for songs such as Life On A Chain, Strange Condition, Come Back Home and Crystal Village. Has opened for Coldplay. Has collaborated with REM's Peter Buck, Guided By Voices, and Scarlett Johansson
July 27, 1973 ~ Metal drummer Abe Cunningham, full name Abraham Benjamin Cunningham, born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Influenced by the Police drummer Stewart Copeland, Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell and by Cream drummer Ginger Baker. Longtime drummer of alternative metal outfit the Deftones, with whom he recorded close to a dozen albums since the mid 1990s. The band is known especially for their 1997 Around The Fur sophomore album and its highly acclaimed White Pony released in 2000. The band is considered one of the prime progenitors of the nu-metal movement, known for their experimental nature, with Cunningham's frantic rhythms providing a key element of the band's sound. Cunningham has been praised as a drummer “whose abilities stretch further than most metal-scene sticksmen”July 27, 1973 ~ R&B percussionist, singer Roger Durham, full name Roger Lee Durham, passed away ~ Co-founding member of Bloodstone, with whom he recorded three albums until his untimely death at age 27 following a riding accident. Present on the band's best known, Natural High, Never Let You Go, and Outside Woman, all of which reached top 10 Billboard R&B. Durham died at age 26 from internal injuries after being thrown from a horse. The band continued to record well into the 1980s, but was unable to repeat their earlier success ~ Durham was born in 1946
July 27, 1972 ~ Singer, keyboardist, actress Maya Rudolph born in Gainesville, Florida, USA ~ Musically first drew attention in the mid 1990s as a member of the Rentals. Regular contributor to Saturday Night Live from 2000 to 2007. Works mainly as a film and television actress
July 27, 1969 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Edward Simon born in Punta Cardon, Venezuela ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Greg Osby, Bobby Watson, Horizon, Terence Blanchard, Herbie Mann, Paquito d'Rivera, Bobby Hutcherson, Jerry González, John Patitucci, Arturo Sandoval, Manny Oquendo, Don Byron, Horacio Hernandez, the Ensemble Venezuela, the Afinidad Quartet, Larry Grenadier, Avishai Cohen, Brian Blade, Milton Cardona, Shane Endsley, Alan Ferber, Craig Handy, Diego Urcola, Adam Cruz, and Luia Pulido
July 27, 1969 ~ House, techno, progressive house DJ, producer, remixer Timo Maas born in Bückeburg, West Germany ~ First gained attention remixing Azzido Da Bass' Dooms Night single in 2000. Resident DJ at Ibiza's famed DC10 nightclub. Released his Loud in 2002. Has remixed for Depeche Mode, Fatboy Slim, Jamiroquai, Moloko, and Muse
July 27, 1967 ~ Jazz guitarist Hans Mathisen born in Sandeford, Norway ~ Leader and sideman. Brother of bassist Per Mathisen, guitarist Nils Mathisen, and of saxophonist Ole Mathisen. Hans was influenced by Pat Metheny and Wes Montgomery. Worked with Quarternion, Brinck Johnson, Halvard Kausland, Kare Conradi, Johannes Eick, Per Oddvar Johansen, Gary Husband, Espen Rud, Jens Fossum, and Kjell Karlsen
July 27, 1967 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, percussionist, songwriter Juliana Hatfield born in Wiscasset, Maine, USA ~ Influenced by X, Olivia Newton-John, and the Police. Best known for fronting the Juliana Hatfield Three, which also included bassist Dean Fisher and drummer Todd Phillips. The trio is best known for the album Become What You Are which included the single My Sister. Formed the duo the Minor Alps with Nada Surf guitarist Matthew Caws. Collaborated with Paul Westerberg under the group moniker the I Don't Cares. Worked with the Lemonheads, present on the early 1990s albums It's A Shame About Ray and Come On Feel The Lemonheads. Has also worked with the Blake Babies, Some Girls, and recorded as a solo artistJuly 27, 1964 ~ Heavy metal, groove metal, rock bassist Rex Brown, full name Rex Robert Brown, born in Graham, Texas, USA ~ Best known as bassist of Pantera from 1982 through 2003, notably present on songs such as Floods, Walk and 5 Minutes Alone. Has also worked with Down, Kill Devil Hill, Crowbar, Rebel Meets Rebel, Jerry Cantrell, and Cavalera Conspiracy
July 27, 1963 ~ Bassist Karl Mueller born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Bass guitarist, co-founding member of Soul Asylum. In 2006 Soul Asylum released Silver Lining, containing Muller's last work before his untimely death in 2005 ~ Mueller passed away in 2005
July 27, 1963 ~ Jazz singer Karrin Allyson born in Great Bend, Kansas, USA ~ Classically trained pianist. Member of Tomboy. Sings in several langages and just about every genre including bossa nova, blues, bebop, samba, jazz standards, pop standards, ballads, soft rock, and folk rock
July 27, 1960 ~ Pianist Conway Savage born in Victoria, Australia ~ Best known as keyboardist, organist, backing singer of Nick Cave's backing unit the Bad Seeds from 1990 onwards including on the quintessential Cave albums Murder Ballads, The Boatman's Call and on No More Shall We Part. Previously a member of the Happy Ophans, the Scrap Museum, and of country band the Feral Dinosaurs. Also worked with Kim Salmon, Dave Graney, David McComb, Spencer P Jones, Robert Forster, Martyn P Casey, Mick Harvey, Suzy Higgi, and Charlie Owen ~ Savage passed away in 2018July 27, 1960 ~ Jazz saxophonist Jean Toussaint born in St Thomas, Virgin Islands ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Wallace Roney, the Jazz Messengers, Steve Williamson, Courtney Pine, Julian Joseph, Jason Rebello, Cleveland Watkiss, McCoy Tyner, Gil Evans, Kirk Lightsey, Cedar Walton, Max Roach, Horace Silver, Jeff Tain-Watts, and Lionel Loueke
July 27, 1958 ~ Organist, harpsichordist, conductor Christopher Jackson, full name Christopher Donald Jackson, born in Halifax, Canada ~ Closely associated with Studio De Musique Ancienne De Montreal. Noted for conducting the ensemble on the 1998 Heavenly Spheres album, consisting of 15h, 16th century choral compositions ~ Jackson passed away in 2015
July 27, 1958 ~ Singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter John Gorka born in Colonia, New Jersey, USA ~ Dubbed “the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement” by Rolling Stone magazine. Formed the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band with Doug Anderson, Russ Rentler and Richard Shindell. Member of folk supergroup Red Horse, alongside Lucy Kaplanski and Eliza Gilkyson. Has also collaborated with Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin, Michael Manning, Christine Lavin, Dave Van Ronk, Cliff Eberhardt, David Massengill, and Frank ChristianJuly 27, 1957 ~ Jazz, avant-garde jazz guitarist, singer, composer, arranger Joel Harrison born in Washington DC, DC, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Cites the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, the Allman Brothers Band and guitar virtuoso Danny Gatton as influences. Acclaimed for albums such as 2003's Free Country and 2009's Urban Myths. Has collaborated with artists such as Dave Liebman, Mark Feldman, Marty Ehrlich, David Binney, Dewey Redman, Norah Jones, Uri Caine, and Christian Howes
July 27, 1955 ~ Rock, heavy metal drummer, guitarist Bobby Rondinelli born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Worked with Rainbow, Doro, Quiet Riot, Black Sabbath, Sun Red Sun, Rondinelli, the Blue Öyster Cult, McCoy, the Dali Gaggers, Mark Stein, the Lizards, Axel Rudi Pell, Mark Duda, and WarlockJuly 27, 1955 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist, pianist, bandleader Edward Wilkerson Jr born in Terre Haute, Indiana, USA ~ Founder, director of 8 Bold Souls. Has also worked with the Association For The Advancement Of Creative Musicians, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Shadow Vignettes, Frequency, Roscoe Mitchell, Douglas Ewart, the Temptations, Chico Freeman, Geri Allen, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Aretha Franklin, and George Lewis