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.
June 11, 1974 ~ Bassist, songwriter Frode Jacobsen born in Stokmarknes, Norway ~ Co-founding and constant member of Madrugada, one of the most successful Norwegian acts of the late 1990s and 2000s known for their blues-inspired alternative rock. The band is especially acclaimed for the albums The Nightly Disease and The Deep End. The band would initially disband in 2008, following the death of band member, guitarist Robert Burås, but has reformed in the 2020s
June 11, 1973 ~ The 4th edition of Pinkpop takes place in Geleen, the Netherlands ~ A warm day, some 26,000 visitors show up for this edition's bill which includes Beck Bogert & Appice, Stealers Wheel, Alquin, Fairport Convention, Colin Blunstone, and Wishbone Ash
June 11, 1973 ~ Pianist Vanessa Wagner born in Rennes, France ~ Actively recording since the mid 1990s, well known and praised for her interpretations of Sergei Rachmaninoff, Alexander Scriabin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Claude Debussy. In 1999, Wagner was awarded the Victoire de la Musique, the French equivalent of the Grammy Award, for Most Promising Instrumental Soloist. To non-classical audiences, Wagner is best known for her collaborations with electronic musicians such as Murcof, notably appearing on his 2016 Statea album, and Aphex Twin
June 11, 1973 ~ Singer Willie Nelson releases Shotgun Willie, his sixteenth studio album ~ Dropped by RCA-Victor, Willie Nelson headed over to Atlantic Records and recorded Shotgun Willie, the sessions helmed by producer Jerry Wexler. Although the album wasn't particularly commercially successful, Shotgun Willie was warmly received by critics upon its release, and would retrospectively be acknowledged as a key album in Nelson's career and as one of the first albums in what would later become known as outlaw country, a new subgenre of country music considered an alternative to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound. Notable musicians on the album include trumpeter Wayne Jackson and saxophonist Andrew Love, a duo known as the Memphis Horns, as well as Waylon Jennings, Doug Sahm, and backing singer Jessi Colter
June 11, 1971 ~ Benjamin Baruch Ambrose, commonly known as violinist, bandleader Bert Ambrose, passed away in Leeds, UK ~ Considered one of England's finest bandleaders, especially popular from the 1920s through the rise of rock & roll and perhaps best remembered for discovering singer Vera Lynn. Others who have passed through the ranks of Ambrose's orchestras include singers such as Sam Browne, Elsie Carlisle, Denny Dennis, Max Bacon, Evelyn Dall, and Anne Shelton, as well as instrumentalists such as Sylvester Ahola, Ted Heath, Joe Crossman, Joe Jeannette, Bert Read, Joe Brannelly, Dick Escott, and Max Goldberg. With the emergence of rock & roll and the public's shifting preferences, Ambrose was forced to downsize his orchestra and play smaller clubs, playing his last major UK tour in 1956, yet Ambrose ventured out into management including notably representing and working with Kathy Kirby, and Ambrose's recordings would remain popular with radio audiences well into the 21st century ~ Ambrose was born in 1896
June 11, 1970 ~ R&B, vocal R&B group the Spinners release It's A Shame, which would become their breakout hit ~ Reaching top 10 Billboard R&B and top 20 Billboard Hot 100, it would not only become their first major hit, but also one of their biggest and a signature song for the band. Beverly Dewitt Yancey, father of hip-hop producer J Dilla, claims to have ghostwritten the song, but this is disputed by Stevie Wonder, Lee Garrett, and Syreeta Wright, the authors of the song. Wonder also produced the track, marking it as the very first song Wonder produced for an act other than himself. Twenty years after its release, It's A Shame would be heavily sampled by Monie Love in her track It's A Shame (My Sister), which reached top 30 Billboard Hot 100, top 20 in her native UK, and top 10 in the Netherlands
June 11, 1969 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist Assif Tsahar born in Tel Aviv, Israel ~ Recorded about a dozen albums as a leader starting in the mid 1990s, especially acclaimed for The Hollow World released in 1999. As a sideman present on albums by the Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra, In Order To Survive, Rashied Ali, Susie Ibarra (Flower After Flower, Hamid Drake, the New York Underground Orchestra, Andy McWain, Derek Bailey, and Digital PrimitivesJune 11, 1969 ~ Alternative rock guitarist, keyboardist, drummer Steven Drozd, full name Steven Gregory Drozd, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Best known as member of the Flaming Lips, initially on drums and switching to guitar in 2002 when newly joined member Kliph Scurlock took over drumming duties. Has also worked with Elliott Smith, Jay Farrar, Steve Burns, You In Me, and the Electric Wurms
June 11, 1967 ~ Trumpeter Alex Sipiagin born in Yaroslavi, Russia ~ Leader and sideman. Has worked with Gil Evans, George Gruntz, Dave Holland, the Mingus Big Band, Michael Brecker, Mulgrew Miller, Opus 5, Conrad Herwig, Monday Michiru, Toshiko Akiyoshi, David Binney, Bill Bruford, Larry Coryell, Deborah Cox, Michael Franks, Andy Laverne, Luis Perdomo, Lonnie Plaxico, Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Sanborn, and Jim Snidero
June 11, 1967 ~ The KFRC Fantasy Fair & Magic Mountain Music Festival held in Marin County, California, USA ~ One-time event. Day 2 of 2. Would serve as a template for rock festivals and as the start of the Summer Of Love. In total some 36,000 visitors would attend the two-day festival. Today's bill included the Jefferson Airplane, the Byrds, PF Sloan, Captain Beefheart, the Seeds, the Grass Roots, the Loading Zone, Tim Buckley, Every Mothers Son, the Steve Miller Band, Country Joe & the Fish, Sons Of Champlin, Lamp Of Childhood, the Mystery Trend, Penny Nichols, the Merry-Go-Round, and the New Salvation Army Band
June 11, 1966 ~ Country, folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Bruce Robison, full name Bruce Ben Robison, born in Bandera, Texas, USA ~ Brother of singers Robyn Ludwyck and Charlie Robison. Married to singer Kelly Willis since 1996. Released his eponymous Bruce Robison in 1996 and has recorded to local fame and a devoted fanbase since. Wrote or co-wrote several songs that became hits for others, including Angry All The Time recorded by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Travelin' Soldier recorded by the Dixie Chicks and Wrapped recorded by George Strait
June 11, 1964 ~ Asa Harris, commonly known as jazz, R&B pianist Ace Harris, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Spent most of the 1930s with territory bands, including a stint leading the Sunset Royal Serenaders starting in 1937. Well known as pianist for the Ink Spots, taking over from Bob Benson in 1940. Has appeared on some of the group's best known including Whispering Grass, We Three (My Echo My Shadow & Me), I'll Never Smile Again, Until The Real Thing Comes Along, and It's A Sin To Tell A Lie. Harris has also worked with Hot Lips Page, and Erskine Hawkins ~ Harris was born in 1910June 11, 1964 ~ Clarinetist Antti Sarpilla, full name Antti Juhani Sarpila, born in Helsinki, Finland ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for fronting his Benny Goodman-inspired the AS Swing Band active since 1982. Has worked with the Swedish Swing Society, Lars Estrand, Mark Shane, Björn Sjödin, and Gerhard Aspheim
June 11, 1964 ~ Singer, producer, songwriter Penny Ford born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Lead singer of Eurodance act Snap, featured on songs such as The Power, Ooops Up, Cult Of Snap, and Mary Had A Little Boy. Also worked with Klymaxx and Soul II Soul. As a solo artist known for recordings such as Daydreaming and I Lose Control
June 11, 1963 ~ Singer, bassist, songwriter, actress, voice actress Britta Phillips born in Boyne City, Michigan, USA ~ First gained attention as the singing voice of the lead character in the animated Jem TV series, which ran from 1985 through 1988. Starred in the teen rock movie Satisfaction performing several tracks. Married to Galaxie 500's Dean Wareham since 2006, with whom she also worked in the indie pop, dream pop band Luna and the duo Dean & Britta. Previously married to Fountains Of Wayne lead guitarist Jody PorterJune 11, 1963 ~ Dance-pop, house, Hi-NRG singer Gioia Bruno, full name Carmen Gioia Bruno, born in Italy ~ Member of girl group Exposé, known for a string of late 1980s, early 1990s hits mostly taken of the band's first two albums. Well-known songs include Come Go With Me, Point Of No Return, Let Me Be The One, and the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Seasons Change. Bruno has also recorded as a solo artist and recorded with Will To Power
June 11, 1958 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter, film composer Barry Adamson born in Manchester, UK ~ First gained attention as member of late 1970s, 1980s group Magazine, best known for their single Shot By Both Sides. Briefly a member of the Buzzcocks. Member of Visage, present on the albums Visage and The Anvil. Worked with Nick Cave, appearing on the albums From Her To Eternity, The Firstborn Is Dead, Kicking Against The Pricks, and Your Funeral My Trial. Has also recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Moss Side Story released in 1989
June 11, 1958 ~ Singer Elvis Presley records I Got Stung at RCA Studios, Nashville, Tennessee ~ Written by Aaron Schroeder and David Hill. Produced by Steve Sholes. It would be Elvis Presley's last recording of the 1950s as he was about to deploy to Germany to serve in the Army. The single would be released in October as a double A-side, also featuring One Night
June 11, 1956 ~ Jazz, dixieland saxophonist, composer Frankie Trumbauer, full name Orie Frank Trumbauer, passed away in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ Leading jazz saxophonist of the 1920s and 1930s. Known for songs such as Krazy Kat, Red Hot, Plantation Moods and Trumbology. Closely associated with Bix Beiderbecke and Eddie Lang, recording under the group moniker Tram Bix & Lang including the landmark recordings Singin' The Blues in 1927 and the first hit recording of the Hoagy Carmichael-penned Georgia On My Mind in 1931 ~ Trumbauer was born in 1901June 11, 1954 ~ Violinist Alexander Balanescu born in Bucharest, Romania ~ Best known as founder and leader of the Balanescu Quartet. Also closely associated with the Michael Nyman Band. Collaborated with Gavin Bryars, David Byrne, Keith Tippett, Carla Bley, Goldfrapp, the Pet Shop Boys, and Grace Jones
June 11, 1954 ~ Jazz drummer John Bernard Riley born in Aberdeen, Maryland, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Woody Herman, Stan Getz, Milt Jackson, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, John Scofield, Bob Mintzer, Gary Peacock, Mike Stern, Joe Lovano, Franck Amsallem, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, John Patitucci, Bob Berg, George Gruntz, Bobby Paunetto, Mike Metheny, Lalo Schifrin, Randy Sandke, Todd Coolman, Steve Hobbs, Red Rodney, Haze Greenfield, Ludwig Nuss, and Vince Mendoza
June 11, 1952 ~ Southern rock, country singer, guitarist Donnie Van Zant, full name Donald Newton Van Zant, born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Younger brother of the late Lynyrd Skynyrd-lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, older brother of Johnny Van Zant. Formed 38 Special with Johnny, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums including the acclaimed early 1980s albums Wild-Eyed Southern Boys and Special Forces. Donnie and Johnny also formed the duo Van Zant, known best for their 2005 Get Right With The Man. Van Zant retired from music in 2013 due to health reasons related to inner-ear nerve damage
June 11, 1948 ~ Lynsey Monckton Rubin, commonly known as singer, songwriter Lynsey de Paul, born in London, UK ~ Songwriter, wrote or co-wrote songs for Jack Wild (Taking It Easy, Bring Yourself Back To Me), Del Davis (Sugarloaf Hill), and the Fortunes (Storm In A Teacup). As a solo artist best known for a string of 1970s hits including Sugar Me, Getting A Drag and Won't Somebody Dance With Me. Represented UK in the 1977 Eurovision Songfestival with the song Rock Bottom, co-written with Michael Moran. The song would reach 2nd place, losing out to France's Marie Myriam's L'Oiseau Et L'Enfant ~ Rubin passed away in 2014June 11, 1948 ~ Patricia Mary Higgins, commonly known as pop singer, music journalist Pat Wilson, born ~ Married to singer Ross Wilson, who wrote Bop Girl for her. The single would reach top 10 in her native Australia. A follow-up single, Strong Love, reached top 30. Wilson released her sole full-length album, Strong Love, in 1984. Wilson had previously worked as a music journalist, going by the pen name Mummy Cool, for the pop music newspaper Go-Set
June 11, 1947 ~ Reggae singer, songwriter Eric Donaldson born in St Catherine, Jamaica ~ Founded reggae trio the West Indians with Leslie Burke and Hector Brooks known for their 1968 JJ Johnson-produced Right On Time. Went solo in the early 1970s, known for songs such as Sweet Jamaica, Land Of My Birth and perhaps his best known Cherry Oh Baby, the latter notably covered by the Rolling Stones