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 15, 1976 ~ Singer, guitarist Gary Lightbody born in Bangor, Northern Ireland ~ Co-founding member, lead singer, rhythm guitarist of pop rock unit Snow Patrol, known for the 2000s UK top 10 hits Run, You're All I Have, Signal Fire, and Take Back The City. Their 2006 Chasing Cars single would reach top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. Lightbody has also founded the supergroups the Reindeer Section and Tired Pony
June 15, 1975 ~ Jazz, pop singer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter Chiara Civello born in Rome, Italy ~ Writes and sings in Italian, English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. Over half a dozen albums to her name since the mid 2000s, especially noted for Eclipse released in 2017. Has duetted with Gilberto Gil, Chico Buarque, Esperanza Spalding, James Taylor, and Pino Daniele
June 15, 1974 ~ In its 9th week on the charts, Billy Don't Be A Hero by Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by British songwriters Mitch Murray and Peter Callander, Billy Don't Be A Hero tells of a woman who pleaded with her fiancée to keep his head low and not be a hero as he goes off to war. However, he dies a hero after he volunteers for a risky mission, the one thing she had hoped he would not do. At the time, many listeners believed the song to be about the then-ongoing Vietnam war, yet most likely the songwriters had the American Civil War in mind when writing the song. Murray had initially intended to give the song to a major artist, but Callander's wife had seen Paper Lace win the talent contest Opportunity Knocks and suggested they would be given the song. Paper Lace's original single would top the UK charts. In America, however, the best known version would be the cover by Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods, which sold over three million copies. Over the next few years, the group would score several more American top 40 hits, but proved unable to repeat the success of their sole charttopperJune 15, 1974 ~ Rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Øystein Greni born in Oslo, Norway ~ Son of singer, songwriter Thor Sigbjørn Greni. Co-founding and sole constant member, singer, lead guitarist for BigBang, with whom he recorded about a dozen albums starting with Waxed released in 1995. The band would become one of the principal Norwegian rock acts, in large part thanks to Greni's songwriting skills
June 15, 1972 ~ Country singer Bobby Bare records Sylvia's Mother at Mercury Custom Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee ~ Written by Shel Silverstein, containing autobiographical elements and written about his failed releationship with a woman named Sylvia Pandolfi. It would be a bigger hit, reaching Billboard Hot 100 top 10, for Dr Hook & the Medicine Show, recorded just months earlier. Bobby Bare's Jerry Kennedy-produced version would be the country hit, released later the same year b/w Music City USA it would reach top 20 Billboard Country
June 15, 1972 ~ R&B singer, songwriter Carl Thomas, full name Carlton Neron Thomas, born in Aurora, Illinois, USA ~ Best known for his 1999 I Wish hit single, which reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 20. It would be included on the singer's Emotional album released in 2000. Subsequent singles such as Emotional, Can't Believe with Faith Evans and Make It Alright would do quite well on the Billboard R&B charts yet fail to cross over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100
June 15, 1972 ~ Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby, commonly known as punk rock, glam punk, hard rock, heavy metal singer, guitarist, songwriter Hank von Hell, born in Gravdal, Norway ~ Frontman, lead singer of Turbonegro starting in 1993, merging glam rock, punk rock and hard rock first achieving international recognition in the mid- to late 1990s. Especially known for their 1998 The Apocalypse Dudes. Husby was known for his theatrical stage presence, including wearing Alice Cooper-like makeup. As a solo artist best known for Rom For Alle, a duet with Maria Solheim which topped the Norwegian charts in 2009. Has also fronted Doctor Midnight & the Mercy Cult. Portrayed the role of Cornelis Vreeswijk in the 2009 biopic Cornelis ~ Husby passed away in 2021
June 15, 1971 ~ Beth Torbert, commonly known as alternative rock, pop punk singer, songwriter Bif Naked, born in New Delhi, India ~ Prior to venturing out on her own sang with punk outfits Gorilla Gorilla and Chrome Dog. As a solo artist enjoyed popularity since the 1990s, acclaimed especially for her 1998 I Bificus sophomore album and its 2001 follow-up Purge. The latter would spawn the single I Love Myself Today, a smash hit in CanadaJune 15, 1971 ~ Drummer Nasheet Waits born in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of M'Boom. Also worked with Fred Hersch, Antonio Hart, Joe Lovano, Jason Moran, Andrew Hill, Tony Malaby, Bunky Green, William Parker, Eddie Gomez, Casimir Liberski, John Medeski, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Mark Turner, Ralph Alessi, Rob Brown, Avishai Cohen, Ethan Iverson, Christian McBride, Igor Lumpert, David Murray, and Tony Malaby
June 15, 1969 ~ Alternative rock, punk rock drummer, percussionist Dave Rees born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Spent the 1980s playing with Entirely Distorted, Broken Smile, and My Dog Popper. Best known as a member of the Wheat Chiefs from 1990 through 1992, the short-lived Cowboy Dick and subsequently as a member of a reformed SNFU through the end of the decade. Rees retired from music by the late 1990s to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, working as an editor for several TV shows
June 15, 1969 ~ O'Shea Jackson Sr, commonly known as rapper Ice Cube, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founded pioneering rap group NWA with Eazy E and Dr Dre. The band is known for its politically conscious subjects and controversial, often violent lyrics. Albums such as Straight Outta Compton, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, and Death Certificate have all been considered ground-breaking and pivotal to the development of gangsta rap. Jackson has also ventured into acting, appearing in over three dozen films, co-wrote and starred in the 1995 comedy film Friday, and directed the 1998 film The Players ClubJune 15, 1968 ~ Neville Williams, commonly known as pop singer, actor Gary Miller, passed away in London, UK ~ Enjoyed popularity from the mid 1950s through the early 1960s. Best known for his sole UK top 10 hit, Robin Hood, used as the theme to the TV series The Adventures Of Robin Hood. Other charting singles included The Yellow Rose Of Texas, Garden Of Eden, and The Story Of My Life ~ Williams was born in 1924
June 15, 1968 ~ In its 11th week on the charts, Mony Mony by Tommy James & the Shondells peaks at No.3 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Lead singer Tommy James wanted a party rock song, a throwback to the early 1960s. The band struggled for about a month pasting together several elements with still no clue to what the lyrics or title should be other than that they wanted a two-syllable girl's name that was memorable and silly. It was only when James and songwriting partner Ritchie Cordell looked out of James' New York apartment, that they saw the “Mutual of New York Insurance Company” sign, spelling out M-O-N-Y. They had found their title. The single would become the band's sole UK charttopper and their third American top 10 hit. In 1987, British rocker Billy Idol scored a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit with his cover version, surpassing the originalJune 15, 1966 ~ Jazz, classical saxophonist Andy Scott born in Bournemouth, UK ~ Active since the mid-1980s. Formed and led several ensembles, including the Apollo Saxophone Quartet, the London Saxophonic, and notably Sax Assault, the latter frequently featuring guests such as Bob Mintzer and Gwilym Simcock. As a solo artist Scott is especially noted for his 2006 My Mountain Top album
June 15, 1965 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones kick off their European tour at the Odeon Theatre, Glasgow, UK ~ The band plays slightly over a dozen shows through the end of June. Following four dates in Scotland they follow up with dates in Scandinavia. It would be their second visit there, this time also including Norway and Finland. The set list includes songs such as Not Fade Away, Pain In My Heart, It's All Over Now, and Time Is On My Side
June 15, 1962 ~ Pianist, conductor Alfred Cortot, full name Alfred Denis Cortot, passed away in Lausanne, Switzerland ~ One of the most renowned classical musicians of the 20th century. As a pianist revered for his insight into Romantic works including Frédéric Chopin, César Franck, and Camille Saint-Saëns, and for his association with cellist Pablo Casals and violinist Jacques Thibaud with whom he established the model for the classical piano trio. As a conductor, best known for bringing the music of Richard Wagner to French audiences, overcoming the initial resistance to Wagner. Cortot's legacy would be tainted for his role in World War 2, having worked with the rump state Vichy regime, although he had defended the rights of Jewish musicians and had helped several Jews survive the War ~ Cortot was born in 1877June 15, 1959 ~ Country singer, guitarist Jeff Stevens, full name Jeffery David Stevens, born in Alum Creek, West Virginia, USA ~ Formed Jeff Stevens & the Bullets with brother bassist Warren Stevens, cousin drummer Terry Dotson, and rhythm guitarist Jim Mayo. The band is best known for their 1986 Bolt Out Of The Blue. After the band disbanded in 1990 Stevens would go on to become an in-demand songwriter. Well-known songs include Reckless recorded by Alabama, and Carried Away and Carrying Your Love With Me both recorded by George Strait. Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Stevens include Chris LeDoux, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, and Luke Bryan
June 15, 1959 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Tor Endresen born in Bergen, Norway ~ Over a dozen albums to his name starting in the mid-1980s. Best known for the early 1990s hits Ingen Er Sa Nydelig Som Du and Radio Luxembourg. His 1986 Black Rain single of his Call Me Stranger was nearly selected for the The Living Daylights James Bond film, but lost to A-ha who recorded The Living Daylights as the film's theme song
June 15, 1957 ~ Rock guitarist Brad Gillis, full name Bradley Frank Gillis, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA ~ Along with drummer Kelly Keagy the only other member to have played in every incarnation of Night Ranger, best known for their Billboard top 10 hits 1984's Sister Christian and 1985's Sentimental Street. Other well known songs include When You Close Your Eyes, Four In The Morning (I Can't Take It Anymore) and Goodbye. Gillis has also guested on albums by Rubicon (Rubicon), Ozzy Osbourne (Speak Of The Devil), Fiona (Like A Gun), Vicious Rumors, Derek Sherinian, Queensrÿche (Frequency Unknown), and has released a number of solo albums notably 1993's Gilrock Ranch which spawned the top 20 hit Honest To GodJune 15, 1956 ~ Reggae guitarist, singer David Hinds born in Handsworth, UK ~ Co-founding member, rhythm guitarist, lead singer for Steel Pulse, one of Britain's most acclaimed reggae outfits known for blending politically conscious roots sounds with infectious R&B and dance grooves. The band has recorded over a dozen albums since its inception in 1978, their best known being Handsworth Revolution, True Democracy, and Rage & Fury
June 15, 1954 ~ Country singer, keyboardist, songwriter Terri Gibbs, full name Teresa Fay Gibbs, born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Known for a string of 1980s country hits including Rich Man, Mis'ry River, Ashes To Ashes, Anybody Else's Heart But Mine and perhaps her best known Somebody's Knockin', the latter her debut single which also reached top 20 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 in 1980
June 15, 1951 ~ Rock, progressive rock keyboardist, vibraphonist, percussionist, singer Steve Walsh born in St Joseph, Missouri, USA ~ Best known as longtime member of Kansas, present on a dozen of the band's albums. Sang lead on some of the band's best known including Carry On Wayward Son, Dust In The Wind, Point Of Know Return, and All I Wanted. Walsh was a member from 1973 through 1981, and again from 1985 through 2014. Walsh has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Schemer-Dremer released in 1980, recorded several albums with Streets, and has appeared on recordings by Steve Hackett, glam metal outfit Blonz, Trent Gardner, and the Explorers Club
June 15, 1950 ~ Christian rock keyboardist John Lawry born ~ Best known for his tenure with Petra, joining the band in 1984 as replacement for John Slick. The band would be regarded as one of the premier Christian rock bands, and influential on later Christian artists. Lawry would remain with the band for 10 years and appear on 9 albums
June 15, 1950 ~ Pop, jazz singer Patti Page records Back In Your Own Backyard ~ Written by Billy Rose and Dave Dreyer. Previously recorded by Al Jolson who got co-writing credit but reportedly wrote little of it, by Ruth Etting, and by Eva Taylor, all in 1928. Billie Holiday recorded it in 1938. Patti Page's 1950 version would nearly reach top 20, peaking at No.23, but only chart one week. Later versions would be done by the Andrews Sisters, Peggy Lee, Brenda Lee, Vera Lynn, and by Nancy Wilson, among others
June 15, 1948 ~ Pop singer, keyboardist Paul Michiels, full name Paul Anna Kamiel Michels, born in Heist-op-den-Berg, Belgium ~ Member of Octopus. Member of Soulsister, known for the international hit The Way To Your Heart. One third of the Big M's, alongside Robert Mosuse and Hervé Martens