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 8, 1965 ~ William DeBerardinis, commonly known as big band, bebop trombonist Willie Dennis, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Married to singer Morgana King from 1961 until his death. Noted for his ability to overcome the limitations of his instrument through advanced lip and slide techniques. Acclaimed big band musician and bebop soloist. As a leader recorded the forgotten and underrated Four Trombones album in 1953, released in 1957, and co-featuring JJ Johnson, Kai Winding and Bennie Green. Best known for backing Charles Mingus, notably on the pivotal late 1950s albums Mingus Ah Uhm and Blues & Roots. DeBerardinis passed away in a traffic accident aged 39 ~ DeBerardinis was born in 1926
July 8, 1964 ~ Reginald Joseph Ossé, commonly known as hip-hop music attorney, executive, journalist, author Combat Jack, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Legal intern for Def Jam Recordings. Would go on to become a music attorney, representing artists such as Jay-Z, Damon Dash, Clark Kent, Nice & Smooth, and Ski Beatz. Authored Bling (The Hip-Hop Jewellry Book), published in 2006, about hip-hop's fascination with jewellry. Turned podcast pioneer hosting the Combat Jack Show from the early-2010s forward ~ Ossé passed away in 2017
July 8, 1962 ~ Rock, folk, pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Joan Osborne, full name Joan Elizabeth Osborne, born in Anchorage, Kentucky, USA ~ Active since the late 1980s, performing extensively at open mic nights and touring smaller venues slowly building a devoted following. Broke through with her 1995 Relish album which included the hit single One Of Us penned and originally recorded by Eric Bazilian. Would go on to record to critical acclaim drawing from a wide variety of genres including blues, folk, rock, country and R&B. Member of Trigger Hippy from 2014 through 2018
July 8, 1961 ~ Keyboardist, bassist Andy Fletcher, full name Andrew John Leonard Fletcher, born in Nottingham, UK ~ Co-founded Composition Of Sound with Martin Gore and Vince Clarke. After the addition of David Gahan the band would be renamed to Depeche Mode, releasing their Speak & Spell debut album in 1981. The band would go on to become one of the leading and most certainly longest-running acts in synth-pop, new wave, dance-rock, and score hits such as Just Can't Get Enough, Everything Counts, People Are People, Personal Jesus, Enjoy The Silence and Condemnation ~ Fletcher passed away in 2022
July 8, 1961 ~ Toby Keith Covel, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, actor Toby Keith, born in Clinton, Oklahoma, USA ~ Tried out for the Oklahoma Outlaws professional football team but did not make the team. Had promised himself to have a recording contract by age 30, or give up on music as a career. Keith released his eponymous Toby Keith debut album in 1993, which included his Should've Been A Cowboy Billboard Country No.1 debut single. Keith would go on to record some twenty-odd albums and sell over 40 million records. Became a household name with Courtesy Of The Red White And Blue (The Angry American), released in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Over the course of his career, Keith would rack up over a dozen Billboard Country No.1 hits including You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This, the Willie Nelson-duet Beer For My Horses, Love Me If You Can, She Never Cried In Front Of Me, and Made In America ~ Covel passed away in 2024July 8, 1961 ~ Singer Xabiiba Cabdilaahi born in Djibouti, French Somaliland ~ Active since the early 1980s. Became a dominant figure in the Djiboutian music scene from the 1990s forward, known for using satire, metaphor and historical allusions to convey complex themes in an understandable manner. Best known for songs such as Geesi, Farsamo, and Bashahaygow ~ Cabdilaahi passed away in 2020
July 8, 1958 ~ Drummer, singer Fred Young born in Glasgow, UK ~ Co-founding member of country rock, Southern rock outfit the Kentucky Headhunters, which also includes his brother guitarist, lead singer Richard Young, known best for their 1989 Pickin' On Nashville debut album which spawned the country hit singles Dumas Walker, Oh Lonesome Me and Rock 'n Roll Angel
July 8, 1958 ~ Guitarist Jim Campilongo born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Influenced by artists as diverse as the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, John McLaughlin, Roy Buchanan. Active as a solo artist since the mid 1990s with well over a dozen albums to his name. Member of the Little Willies alongside Norah Jones. In-demand collaborator, worked with Cake, JJ Cale, Steve Cardenas, Nels Cline, Charlie Hunter, Sunny Ozell, Peter Rowan, Martha Wainwright, Gillian Welch, and Steve Cardenas
July 8, 1953 ~ Jazz drummer Ignacio Berroa born in Havana, Cuba ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Haden, Kip Hanrahan, Enrique Jorrin, Tito Puente, Paquito d'Rivera, Silvio Rodriguez, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Hilton Ruiz, Steve Turre, McCoy Tyner, Don Lanphere, Patato Valdés, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Danilo Pérez, Giovanni Hidalgo, Richie Zellon, Lalo Schifrin, and Luis Perdomo
July 8, 1953 ~ Classical concert pianist John Bell Young born in New York, New York, USA ~ Acclaimed for his performances and recordings of the works of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, earning the approval of Scriabin's daughters. Consultant to the first Scriabin International Piano Competition in Moscow in 1995, where a special prize was awarded in his name. Also known as a music critic and author. Retired from performing following a stroke in 2013, yet continued to mentor young aspiring artists ~ Young passed away in 2017
July 8, 1952 ~ Rock bassist, music journalist Aleksandr Lipnitsky, full name Aleksandr Davidovich Lipnitsky, born in Moscow, Russia ~ Member of Soviet alternative rock group Zvuki Mu, which he co-founded in 1983 with lead singer Pyotr Mamonov and Aleksey Bortniychuk. The band is known for their absurdist lyrics and explosive on-stage presence. Lipnitsky remained with the band until 1990. Lipnitsky is also known as a music journalist, specialized in jazz, and radio and TV host ~ Lipnitsky passed away in 2021July 8, 1949 ~ Cellist Colin Walker born ~ To pop, rock audiences best known for playing on Starry Eyed & Laughing's 1975 album track Fool's Gold and for briefly playing with the Electric Light Orchestra from 1972 through 1973, replacing Hugh McDowell. After leaving ELO Walker joined the the Royal Opera House orchestra
July 8, 1947 ~ Rockabilly, rock & roll pianist, songwriter Bobby Sowell, full name Robert G Lee Sowell, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Moved from rockabilly in the 1950s via rock & roll in the 1960s to country from the 1970s onwards. Influenced by Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Muddy Waters, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Floyd Cramer. Has worked with artists such as the Red Notes, Ronnie Scaife, Barry Sowell, the Crackerjacks, Bobby Whitlock, Roy Yeager, Eddie Slusser, and Bill HumbleJuly 8, 1947 ~ Jonathan Ledingham, commonly known as folk-rock singer, bassist, songwriter Jonathan Kelly born in Droghgeda, Ireland ~ Member of Humpy Bong, known for their 1970 single Don't You Be Too Long. Member of Outside, which also included future stars Snowy White and Chaz Jankel. Has also worked with Eric Clapton and Tim Staffell. Kelly has also released a number of solo albums before mostly retiring from music by 1976
July 8, 1947 ~ Antônio Carles Moreira Pires, commonly known as singer, guitarist Moraes Moreira, born in Ituaçu, Brazil ~ One of the most versatile songwriters in Brazilian rock, drawing from rock, samba, choro, balão and classical music. Co-founding member and along with Pepeu Gomes principal songwriter of Novos Baianos. The band is especially acclaimed for Acabou Chorare released in 1972, generally considered one of the all-time greatest and most influential albums in Brazilian rock. Moreira has also recorded well over two dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, starting with the eponymous Moraes Moreira album released in 1975 ~ Moreira passed away in 2020July 8, 1944 ~ Jai Johanny Johanson, commonly known as percussionist Jaimoe, born in Gulfport, Mississippi, USA ~ Worked with Otis Redding and Sam & Dave as a touring drummer prior to founding the Allman Brothers Band with Duane Allman. Retired from the band in 1980 due to back problems, rejoining in later years. Also present on the Sea Level albums Sea Level and Cats On The Coast
July 8, 1944 ~ Guitarist Michael Dunford born in Adlestone, UK ~ Early member of the Nashville Teens, briefly playing with the band in the early 1960s to be replaced by John Allen. Best known as key member of progressive rock band Renaissance, described as “her guiding light” by the band's singer Annie Haslam. The band is especially acclaimed for their mid 1970s work, notably the albums Turn Of The Cards and its follow-up Scheherazade And Other Stories ~ Dunford passed away in 2012July 8, 1941 ~ Reggae engineer, producer, singer Lynford Anderson born in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica ~ As a singer best known for his 1968 single Pop A Top. The song would be used by Canada Dry in an advertising campaign in the 1970s. Best known as a gifted engineer, regarded as a genius by some, working extensively with producers such as Lee Scratch Perry and Byron Lee ~ Anderson passed away in 2020
July 8, 1940 ~ Rock, jazz bassist Roy Babbington born in Kempston, UK ~ Closely associated with the Canterbury scene. Best known for his stints with Soft Machine and Soft Machine Legacy. Has also worked with Delivery, Nucleus, Michael Gibbs, Keith Tippett, Centipede, Alexis Korner, Mike d'Abo, Chris Spedding, Harvey Andrews, Schunge, Solid Gold Cadillac, the Ovary Lodge, Judie Tzuke, Elvis Costello, Carol Grimes, Mose Allison, the BBC Big Band, Stan Tracey, Cherry Vanilla, Johnny Dankworth, John Harle, Trevor Herion, Magna Carta, Sal Nistico, and Chris Youlden
July 8, 1935 ~ Sidney Liebowitz, commonly known as singer, actor Steve Lawrence, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Formed the husband-wife duo Steve & Eydie with Eydie Gormé, known for songs such as We Got Us, I Want To Stay Here and I Can't Stop Talking About You. Both Gormé and Lawrence enjoyed parrallel solo careers, Lawrence regularly reaching the higher echelons of the charts with songs such as Go Away Little Girl, Pretty Blue Eyes, Footsteps and Party Doll. Lawrence appeared in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, portraying the role of Maury Sline, manager and friend of the band ~ Liebowitz passed away in 2024July 8, 1934 ~ Bluegrass singer, guitarist, banjoist Alice Gerrard born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Revered member of the folk and bluegrass scene since the mid 1960s. Duetted with Hazel Dickens. Member of the Strange Creek Singers with Dickens, Mike Seeger, Tracy Schwarz and Lamar Grier. Also recorded as a solo artist, noted for her Pieces Of My Heart album released in 1994
July 8, 1932 ~ Genaro Louis Vitaliano, commonly known as singer Jerry Vale, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Best known for charting the pop charts mostly with covers of romantic ballads, You Don't Know, Have You Looked Into Your Heart, as well as a number of classic Italian-American songs such as Amore Scusami, O Sole Mio, Volare, and Al-di-la ~ Vitaliano passed away in 2014
July 8, 1930 ~ Keyboardist Earl Van Dyke born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Best known as main keyboardist for Motown house band the Funk Brothers during the late 1960s and early 1970s, taking over for Joe Hunter. Can be heard on classic songs such as the Four Tops' Bernadette, Marvin Gaye's I Heard It Through The Grapevine and the Temptations' Runaway Child Running Wild. Prior to his tenure with the Brothers Van Dyke worked as a jazz session organist with Blue Note Records artists such as Fred Jackson and Ike Quebec. Van Dyke is also known for his 1967 hit 6 By 6 ~ Van Dyke passed away in 1992
July 8, 1930 ~ Producer, songwriter, &R director, label executive Frank Slay, full name Frank Conley Slay Jr, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Frequent songwriting partner of Bob Crewe during the late 1950s and 1960s, the pair being responsible for songs such as Silhouettes and Daddy Cool for doo-wop outfit the Rays, and Tallahassee Lassie for Freddy Cannon. Slay would become A&R director for Swan Records in 1961 and continue to work with Cannon. Other notable production credits include Strawberry Alarm Clock's Incense And Peppermints and Sugarloaf's Don't Call Us (We'll Call You), both of which reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 respectively in 1967 and 1974 ~ Slay passed away in 2017
July 8, 1927 ~ Country music publisher Bob Beckham, full name Robert Joseph Beckham, born in Stratford, Oklahoma, USA ~ Best known as head of Combine Music Publishing from 1964 through 1989. Mentor and father figure to numerous Nashville-based songwriters. Pivotal to the careers of Kris Kristofferson and Dennis Linde. Helpful to generations of others including Dolly Parton, Dennis Linde, Larry Gatlin, Tony Joe White, and Billy Swan ~ Beckham passed away in 2013