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 16, 1980 ~ Clarence Robert Nolan, commonly known as Western, country singer, songwriter, actor Bob Nolan, passed away in Newport Beach, California, USA ~ Founding member of the Sons Of The Pioneers. Wrote Cool Water and Tumbling Tumbleweeds, both first recorded by the Sons and both regarded as classics in the Western genre and covered by numerous artists ~ Nolan was born in 1908
June 16, 1979 ~ William Jennings Bryan Weber, commonly known as composer Ben Weber, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the first to embrace the 12-tone techniques of Arnold Schoenberg. Rose to prominence in the 1950s. Known for his Violin Concerto, Prelude And Passacaglia Op.42, and his 1961 Piano Concerto. Counted renowned composers such as Aaron Copland, John Cage, and Milton Babbitt among his fans ~ Weber was born in 1916
June 16, 1979 ~ Drummer Damion Reid born in West Covina, California, USA ~ Worked with Greg Osby, Terence Blanchard, Rober Glasper, Cassandra Wilson, Bruce Hornsby, Jacky Terrasson, Ravi Coltrane, Reggie Workman, Marcus Belgrave, Lauryn Hill, Angie Stone, Robert Hurst, Angélique Kidjo, Meshell Ndegeocello, Jason Moran, Steve Lehman, Mark Shim, Dianne Reeves, Bunky Green, Steve Coleman, Greg Ward, Steve Lehman, Miles Okazaki, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Bunky Green, Lucian Ban, Laurent Coq, Jure Pukl, Liberty Ellman, and Igor BezgetJune 16, 1979 ~ Chiara Letizia Pernigotti, commonly known as pop, rock, power metal singer Kiara Laetitia, born in Tortona, Italy ~ Best known as singer for Skylark from 2003 through 2011. Has also recorded as a solo artist and worked with Rockstar Frame, Founded the record label and management company Musicarchy Media, representing acts such as Deadly Circus Fire and Haster
June 16, 1979 ~ Jazz trumpeter Mathias Eick born in Fumes, Norway ~ Brother of bassist Johannes Eick and hornist Trude Eick. Leader and sideman. Has worked with Jagga Jazzist, Manu Katché, the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Thomas Dybdahl, Turbonegro, the DumDum Boys, Motorpsycho, D'Sound, BigBang, Jan Gunnar Hoff, Tore Augestad, Stian Carstensen, Lars Danielsson, the Eple Trio, and Arcturus
June 16, 1976 ~ Folk singer, guitarist Jessica Lee Morgan born ~ Daughter of singer Mary Hopkin and producer Tony Visconti. Influenced by Joni Mitchell. Sang backup for Hazel O'Connor and Elaine Page. Released her I Am Not debut album in 2010. Has also worked with the David Bowie tribute band Holy Holy, which also includes singer Glenn Gregory, drummer Michael Woody Woodmansey, and her father Visconti
June 16, 1976 ~ Rock singer, bassist, guitarist Matt Noveskey, full name William Matthew Noveskey, born in Adrian, Michigan, USA ~ Joined Blue October in 1998, replacing original bassist Liz Mulally. First appeared on the band's 2000 Consent To Treatment major label debut for which he also co-wrote the single James and the live favorite You Make Me Smile. Has also formed side project Icarus Bell and Harvard Of The South, recorded as a solo artist, and serves as producer for the likes of Emphatic, Language Room, Joshua Radin, the Quiet Company, and Alpha Rev
June 16, 1975 ~ Producer, label executive Don Robey, full name Don Deadric Robey, passed away in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Helped develop 1950s, 1960s R&B. Notorious for his controversial business practices. Founded Peacock Records, at one time owned Duke Records. Used the alias Deadric Malone to assign himself songwriting credit. Signed artists such as Ruth Brown, Louis Jordan, Lionel Hampton, T-Bone Walker, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Junior Parker, Bobby Blue Bland, and Johnny Otis ~ Malone was born in 1903June 16, 1973 ~ Gypsy jazz singer, guitarist Thomas Dutronc born in Paris, France ~ Son of singer Jacques Dutronc and Françoise Hardy. Over half a dozen albums to his name, starting with Comme Un Manouce Sans Guitare released in 2007. The album would reach top 10 in his native France. Internationally perhaps best known for his 2008 single J'Aime Plus Paris
June 16, 1970 ~ DJ, producer, songwriter Alex Neri born in Sarzana, Italy ~ Active as a solo artist since the early 1990s. Co-founding member of Planet Funk with regular collaborator Marco Baroni, known best for their 2001 UK top 10 hit Chase The Sun. Has previously worked with Baroni under several monikers including the Korda Project known for Move Your Body and Kamasutra known for Storm In My Soul
June 16, 1970 ~ Jazz drummer Gregory Hutchinson born in New York, New York, USA ~ Active since the late 1980s. Worked with Red Rodney, Betty Carter, Roy Hargrove, Stephen Scott, Ray Brown, Eric Reed, Joe Henderson, Marcus Printup, Antonio Hart, Joshua Redman, Greg Gisbert, Frank Wess, Steve Wilson, Andy Laverne, Johnny Griffin, Laverne Butler, Peter Bernstein, Claire Martin, Ben Wolfe, Jeremy Davenport, Mark Whitfield, Teodross Avery, Jimmy Smith, Kristin Korb, and with Rodney Whitaker
June 16, 1970 ~ Alonzo Johnson, commonly known as singer, guitarist, violinist, songwriter Lonnie Johnson, passed away in Toronto, Canada ~ Multi-instrumentalist, violin, piano and banjo, focused primarily on guitar. The first to play an electrically amplified violin. Pioneered the single string solo guitar styles later used in blues, rock, jazz. As a guitarist influenced Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, T-Bone Walker, and as a singer Elvis Presley. Worked the riverboats in the 1920s. Played with Charlie Creath, Fate Marable, Victoria Spivey, Alger Texas Alexander, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, the Chocolate Dandies, Eddie Lang, Roosevelt Sykes, Blind John Davis, and Joshua Altheimer ~ Johnson was born in 1899June 16, 1966 ~ Rock bassist Andy Lewis, full name Andrew Joseph Lewis, born ~ Member of the Plunderers from 1985 through 1987, present on the albums No Era Is Safe and Half A Cow. Subsequently formed the Whitlams, remaining with the band through 1995. Member of the Gadflys until his suicide at age 33 ~ Lewis passed away in 2000
June 16, 1965 ~ Stage producer, theater director Eirik Stubø born in Narvik, Norway ~ Son of jazz guitarist Thorgeir Stubø. Brother of jazz guitartit Håvard Stubø and of singer Kjersti Stubø. Best known as theater director of the National Theatre from 2000 to 2008
June 16, 1965 ~ Tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson born in Carthage, Missouri, USA ~ Played with Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, the Harper Brothers, Benny Green, Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones, Ron Carter, Louis Hayes, John Hicks, and the New York Unit
June 16, 1963 ~ Punk rock, rock guitarist Ben Granfelt born in Helsinki, Finland ~ Frontman and eponym of the Ben Granfelt Band, with whom he recorded about a dozen albums since the early 1990s. Also well known for his work with the Leningrad Cowboys, Wishbone Ash, the Gringos Locos, the Guitar Slingers, and Los Bastardos FinlandesesJune 16, 1962 ~ Olufela Ilufmi Anikulapo Kuti, commonly known as singer, saxophonist, trumpeter, keyboardist, songwriter Femi Kuti, born in London, UK ~ Son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Worked in Egypt 80, his father's band. Formed his own band, Positive Force, in 1986. Has collaborated with Dele Sosimi, Common, Mos Def, Jaguar Wright, D'Angelo, Macy Gray, the Soultronics, Nile Rodgers, and Roy Hargrove
June 16, 1958 ~ Pop, Christian rock singer, songwriter Brent Bourgeois, full name Brent Thomas Bourgeois, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Co-leader of Bourgeois Tagg alongside Larry Tagg, known best for I Don't Mind At All taken of their 1987 Todd Rundgren-produced Yoyo album. After the band's disbandement Borugeois has recorded as a solo artist, starting with the eponymous Brent Bourgeois album released in 1990 featuring guests such as Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie and Rick Vito. Has also served as producer and songwriter for others, mainly in the genre of contemporary Christian music, notable credits including Michael W Smith, Jars Of Clay, Anointed, Michelle Tumes, and Cindy MorganJune 16, 1958 ~ Alternative rock, pop guitarist Jóhannes Helgason born in Reykjavik, Iceland ~ Best known as co-founding member of Peyr, present on the band's 1980 Silenced To Death debut album. Helgason left the band in 1981 to resume his aeronatical studies to become a pilot
June 16, 1958 ~ Rock drummer Marcel Schmidt born in Haarlem, the Netherlands ~ Worked with artists such as de IJsbrekers, de Gigantjes, Grin, Gotcha, Neo Punkz, de Raggende Manne, and the Invisible Girls
June 16, 1957 ~ Country lyricist, promoter Paul Gilley, full name Herbert Paul Gilley passed away in Morgan County, USA ~ Though records are unclear and sometimes disputed lyrics to a number of quintessential country songs are attributed to Gilley, including Ray Price's Crazy Arms and two of Hank Williams' best known, namely Cold Cold Heart and I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. Gilley reportedly once remarked it's not too bad being uncredited, since “you get paid for the lyrics, sometimes well paid.” ~ Gilley was born in 1929
June 16, 1955 ~ Guitarist, singer Gary Howard, full name Gary William Howard, born in Ilford, UK ~ Member of the Royal Engineers Acoustic Band from 1979 through 1985. Sessioned for the Christians and Paul McCartney. Perhaps best known as a member of a capella unit the Flying Pickets from 1986 through 1994, first appearing on the band's Waiting For Trains sophomore album
June 16, 1954 ~ Guitarist Dennis Cahill born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Formed Midnight Court with fiddler Martin Hayes, merging traditional Irish music with rock & roll. After the band folded in the early 1990s the duo would continue to work together, drawing critical acclaim. Both would also be involved with the Celtic supergroup the Gloaming, best known for their eponymous The Gloaming released in 2014 ~ Cahill passed away in 2022
June 16, 1954 ~ Garrick Roberts, commonly known as pop, rock guitarist Garry Roberts, born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Co-founded the Boomtown Rats with Johnnie Fingers, soon employing bassist Pete Briquette, guitarist Gerry Cott, drummer Simon Crowe and lead singer Bob Geldof. The band would score a number of hits in their native Ireland and the UK including Like Clockwork, Rat Trap, Banana Republic and their best known I Don't Like Mondays. After the band folded in 1985 Roberts would work as a sound engineer for acts such as Simply Red, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark and Flesh For Lulu ~ Roberts passed away in 2022June 16, 1953 ~ Drummer Ian Mosley born in Paddington, UK ~ Best known as member of Marillion, joining the band in 1984 as replacement for original drummer Mick Pointer. First appeared on the band's Fugazi sophomore album. Has previously worked with Gordon Giltrap, and notably with Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett appearing on the latter's Highly Strung and Till We Have Faces solo albums
June 16, 1953 ~ Drummer, percussionist Malcolm Mortimore, full name Malcolm Paul Mortimore, born in Wimbledon, UK ~ Has worked with Arthur Brown, Ian Dury, Herbie Flowers, Gentle Giant, Spike Heatley, Tom Jones, GT Moore, Mick Jagger, Chris Jagger, Oliver Jones, Barney Kessel, Chris Spedding, and Troy Tate