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 22, 1961 ~ Pop rock band the Beat Brothers record My Bonnie at Friedrich Ebert Halle, Hamburg, West Germany ~ Tony Sheridan and the then-unknown pop rock band the Beatles record their rock & roll rendition of the traditional Scottish folk song My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean. Produced by Bert Kaempfert it would be released as a single, credited to the Beat Brothers, the following October in Germany and early the following year in the UK. Yet another two years later, at the height of Beatlemania, released in the USA, credited to the Beatles
June 22, 1961 ~ The Elvis Presley film Wild In The Country opens in American movie theaters ~ Based on the 1958 novel The Lost Country the film has Elvis Presley portraying Glenn Tyler, a troubled young man from a dysfunctional family pursuing a literary career. Originally the movie was intended to showcase Elvis the actor rather than Evlis the singer, and RCA-Victor would originally release neither a soundtrack album nor EP. Five songs were recorded for the film, the songs Forget Me Never and Lonely Man left out of the film. The latter would be the first song though from the film released, used as the B-side to Surrender released in February 1961. Other songs would be released as singles or scattered among several compilation albums, the two best known being I Slipped I Stumbled I Fell and the title track Wild In The Country
June 22, 1961 ~ Singer Jimmy Somerville, full name James William Somerville, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Co-founding member, lead singer for mid-1980s synth-pop group Bronski Beat, present on the UK top 10 hits Smalltown Boy, Why, and I Feel Love (Medley) with Marc Almond. After his departure from the band in 1985 founded the Communards with Richard Coles, the duo best known for their Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes cover Don't Leave Me This Way which reached top 10 across Europe including No.1 spots in the UK and the Netherlands. Somerville has also recorded about half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Read My Lips released in 1989June 22, 1960 ~ Pianist, composer Arturo O'Farrill born in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Son of bandleader Chico O'Farrill. Worked with Carla Bley, Chick Corea, Dizzy Gillespie, Howard Johnson, Steve Turre, Lester Bowie, Andy González, Jerry González, Ray Barretto, and Bebo Valdes
June 22, 1960 ~ Jazz singer, guitarist, songwriter Martin Hagfors born in Palo Alto, California, USA ~ As a solo artist acclaimed for his 2011 sophomore Like You album. In-demand collaborator. Has worked with Home Groan, Askil Holm, Cream Of The Crop, Weld, Jagga Jazzist, Tore Andersen, Kristin Berglund, the Tiger City Jukes, Motorpsycho, the Hellbillies, the National Bank, Roy Lønhøiden, Elisabeth Andreassen, Ida Jenshus, and the Brigade
June 22, 1959 ~ Nicola Henri Didier Sirchis, commonly known as rock singer Nicola Sirkis, born in Antony, France ~ Frontman and sole constant member of Indochine, one the best-selling French artists of the 1980s. The band is known for songs such as L'Aventurier, Canary Bay, Troisieme Sexe and J'Ai Demande A La Lune
June 22, 1957 ~ Bassist Garry Beers, full name Garry William Beers, born in Sydney, Australia ~ Member of INXS from its inception until its disbandement in 2012. The band is known for a string of mid-1980s to early 1990s Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits such as What You Need, Need You Tonight, Devil Inside, New Sensation, Tear Us Apart, Suicide Blonde, and Disappear. During the band's hiatus in the late 1980s Beers has also worked with Absent Friends, known for the single I Don't Want To Be With Nobody But You. Co-wrote Tangle With Your Mind with Scott Weiland, recorded by the latter on his 2008 Happy In Galoshes album
June 22, 1956 ~ Rock, post-punk, pop rock, new wave bassist, guitarist, mandolinist, banjoist, keyboardist, percussionist, singer Derek Forbes born in Glasgow, UK ~ Best known as member of the Simple Minds joining the band in 1978 as replacement for Tony Donald. Present on some of the band's best known including Promised You A Miracle, Glittering Prize, Waterfront, and Don't You (Forget About Me). Forbes departed the band in 1985 yet in later years would guest on several recordings, once stating they were the band “he never left.” Has also worked with artists such as Big Country, Propaganda, Oblivion Dust, Spear of Destiny, Fourgoodmen, and the Alarm
June 22, 1955 ~ Paul Julian Strohmeyer, commonly known as singer, multi-instrumentalist Green Gartside, born in Cardiff, UK ~ Best known as frontman of Scritti Politti, known for 1980s, 1990s songs such as Wood Beez (Pray For Aretha Franklin), Absolute, The Word Girl, Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry For Loverboy) and She's A Woman featuring Shabba Ranks. Gartside retired from music for a number of years, disillusioned with the music industry but would return by the late 1990s. Has collaborated with Miles Davis, Chaka Khan, Eurythmics, Elvis Costello, Mos Def, Meshell Ndegeocello, Kylie Minogue, Robyn Hitchcock, the Manic Street Preachers, Tracey Thorn, and Robert WyattJune 22, 1955 ~ Disney's animated feature film Lady & the Tramp, featuring several songs by Peggy Lee, premieres in American theaters ~ The canine film features several songs sung by Peggy Lee, including He's A Tramp, La La Lu and Siamese Cat Song. Lee also serves as voice actress, voicing among others Darling and the Siamese Cats
June 22, 1954 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Angélique Ionatos born in Athens, Greece ~ In her early teens fled with her family from Greece after the military coup, resettling in France. Rooted in Greek culture yet drew from classical, jazz, chanson, oriental and tango. Well over a dozen albums to her name since the 1970s, the first few collaborating with her brother Photis Ionatos. Sang in both Greek and French. Known for setting both classic and contemporary text and poetry to music, frequent collaborator of poet Odysseas Elytis ~ Ionatis passed away in 2021
June 22, 1954 ~ Robert James Beckingham, commonly known as violinist, singer, actor, songwriter Bobby Valentino, born in Chatham, UK ~ Not to be confused with the American hip-hop singer Bobby V, once also going by the moniker Valentino. Beckingham founded the Fabulous Poodles. Best known as co-writer of Young At Heart, a UK hit for Bluebells in 1980. The song had previously been recorded by Bananarama
June 22, 1953 ~ Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper, commonly known as pop, new wave, synth-pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Cyndi Lauper, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Known for her distinctive image, sporting a variety of hair colors and an eccentric fashion style. Advocate of LGBT-rights. Has sold over 50 million records. Iconoclastic singer who revolutionized the role of women in rock & roll. Scored the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Girls Just Want To Have Fun, Time After Time, She Bop, All Through The Night, The Goonies R Good Enough, True Colors, Change Of Heart and I Drove All Night
June 22, 1953 ~ Producer, songwriter Ian Levine, full name Ian Geoffrey Levine, born in Blackpool, UK ~ Pivotal producer in the disco scene, regarded a developer of the Hi-NRG style. Discovered Evelyn Thomas, whose Hi-NRG classic High Energy he co-wrote and co-produced. Founded the labels Nightmare Gold Records and Motorcity. Songs co-written by Levine have been recorded by the likes of James Wells, Barbara Pennington (Twenty-Four Hours A Day), LJ Johnson, Seventh Avenue, and Miquel Brown (So Many Men So Little Time)
June 22, 1951 ~ Joseph Allen Carr, commonly known as guitarist, mandolinist, songwriter Joe Carr, passed away in Levelland, Texas, USA ~ Worked with local Texas bands such as Roanoke in the 1970s and Country Gazette in the 1980s. Formed and fronted his own the Texas Lone Star Band from 1987 onwards. Penned a number of instructional books for mandoliin, western swing and flat-picking guitar, banjo and ukulele. Regular contributor to Flatpicking Guitar Magazine and Mandolin Magazine ~ Carr passed away in 2014
June 22, 1949 ~ Singer, guitarist Alan Osmond, full name Alan Ralph Osmond, born in Ogden, Utah, USA ~ Eldest member of the Osmonds sibling outfit. Osmond was also helpful in advancing the solo careers of Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond, and was one of the producers for the Donny & Marie Show, which aired on ABC from 1976 through 1979. Yet, he is best remembered as creative leader, although he rarely sang lead, and producer of the family-friendly sibling outfit especially popular during the first half of the 1970s. Osmond has co-written several of the band's best known including Down By The Lazy River, Hold Her Tight, and Crazy Horses. Upon Osmond's passing, Marie Osmond commented how her brother had always been a natural leader: “Alan became our leader at age 12. How daunting that must have felt to have that immense responsibility, to lead at such a young age. But he never complained. He told me many times, ‘It felt like a mission, a long one, but I loved doing it’. And he did it for us and for all of you” ~ Osmond passed away in 2026
June 22, 1948 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, drummer, songwriter Todd Rundgren born in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Co-founding member of psychedelic band the Nazz. As a solo artist known best for songs such We Gotta Get You A Woman, Hello It's Me and I Saw The Light. Especially acclaimed for the early 1970s albums Something/Anything and A Wizard A True Star. As a producer has worked on albums for Badfinger, the New York Dolls, Grand Funk Railroad (We're An American Band), Hall & Oates, Meat Loaf (Bat Out Of Hell), the Tubes, the Psychedelic Furs, Cheap Trick, XTC (Skylarking), and Bad Religion
June 22, 1947 ~ Howard Lawrence Kaplan, commonly known as singer, keyboardist, clarinetist, saxophonist, songwriter, producer, engineer Howard Kaylan born in New York, New York, USA ~ First gained attention as co-founding member, lead singer for 1960s rock outfit the Turtles, known best for their 1967 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Happy Together. Formed the duo Flo & Eddie, going by the monniker Eddie, with Mark Volman. Closely associated with Frank Zappa as a member of Zappa's backing unit the Mothers Of Invention, present on albums such as Chunga's Revenge, Just Another Band From LA, and 200 Motels. Along with regular collaborator Volman has produced, engineered, or sang backup for artists such as John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, the Ramones, T.Rex, Blondie, the Psychedelic Furs, and Duran DuranJune 22, 1946 ~ Son, trova, Latin jazz, salsa guitarist, singer Eliades Ochoa, full name Eliades Ochoa Bustamente, born in Loma de la Avispa, Cuba ~ Leader of the Cuarteto Patria since 1978. Rose to international fame in the late 1990s for his association with the Buena Vista Social Club, leading to collaborations with Charlie Musselwhite, David Blanco, and Bob Dylan
June 22, 1946 ~ Avant-garde jazz, forró keyboardist, accordionist, flutist, saxophonist, guitarist, songwriter Hermeto Pascoal born in Lagoa de Canoa, Brazil ~ Leader and sideman. Important figure in Brazilian music since the mid 1960s. Worked with Edu Lobo, Elis Regina, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Airto Moreira, Humberto Clayber, and the Quarteto Novo. Internationally best known for appearing on the pivotal Miles Davis album Live/Evil released in 1971 ~ Pascoal passed away in 2025
June 22, 1944 ~ Traditional pop, pop singer Peter Asher born in London, UK ~ Formed the duo Peter & Gordon with Gordon Waller, known for the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits I Go To Pieces, Lady Godiva and perhaps their best known A World Without Love. Also known as an in-demand producer for artists such as James Taylor, Barbara Keith, Kate Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, JD Souther, David Sanborn, Bonnie Taylor, Cher, 10,000 Maniacs, Ringo Starr, Sarah Brightman, Kenny Loggins, Sophie B Hawkins, Boyzone, and Wilson Phillips
June 22, 1943 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Steve Weber born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for co-founding psychedelic folk outfit the Holy Modal Rounders with singer, fiddler Peter Stampfel. The band has recorded over half a dozen albums and earned a cult following with their unique blend of folk and psychedelia. Reportedly the track Hesitation Blues of their 1964 eponymous The Holy Modal Rounders was the first song to include the word “psychedelic” in its lyrics. Weber and Stampfel have also briefly played with the Fugs ~ Weber passed away in 2020
June 22, 1942 ~ Eumir Deodato de Almeida, commonly known as pop, rock, R&B, jazz, funk pianist, producer, songwriter, arranger Eumir Deodato, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Plays and draws from a wide variety of genres, at times merging several idioms into an orginal hybrid. As a recording artist best known for his 1973 Prelude album, which would sell 5 million copies and earn him a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental for the track Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001). Has produced and arranged on over 500 albums including the Kool & the Gang hits Celebration, Ladies Night and Too Hot. Has also worked with Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Paul Desmond, Con Funk Shun, Björk, kd Lang, Marcos Valle, Kevin Rowland, Luiz Bonfá, Astrud Gilberto, Roberto Menescal, Milton Nascimento, Stanley Turrentine, Brenda K Starr, Billy Cobham, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, the Fun Lovin' Criminals, Kleeer, Chuck Mangione, and Dom Um Romão
June 22, 1936 ~ Kristoffer Kristofferson, commonly known as country, outlaw country singer, guitarist, songwriter Kris Kristofferson, born in Brownsville, Texas, USA ~ One of the most beloved country singers to emerge from the late 1960s. Regarded as a Renaissance man of country music, known for his poetic, literate, and regularly brutally honest lyrics. Had several of his songs recorded by hundreds of artists each. Wrote For The Good Times, first recorded by Bill Nash and covered by numerous artists including Ray Price, Al Green, and Elvis Presley. Wrote Sunday Morning Coming Down, first recorded by Ray Stevens. Co-wrote Me & Bobby McGee, first recorded by Roger Miller and a posthumous Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit for Janis Joplin, Kristofferson's one-time girlfriend. Wrote and first recorded Help Me Make It Through The Night, later a smash hit for Sammi Smith. Spearheaded the 1970s outlaw country movement. Member of country supergroup the Highwaymen alongside frequent collaborators Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. Over the course of his career, Kristofferson has recorded well over a dozen albums as a solo artist, as well as several with his then-wife Rita Coolidge. Kristofferson is also an accomplished actor, noted for his roles in A Star Is Born opposite Barbra Streisand, Convoy and the Blade trilogy ~ Kristofferson passed away in 2024June 22, 1934 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter, children's author Leon Rosselson born in Harrow, UK ~ Rose to prominence in the early 1960s as a regular on the BBC TV show That Was The Week That Was, performing his own satirical songs and has continued to record and perform since. In later years also known as an author, writing well over a dozen children's books, perhaps most notably Rosa's Singing Grandfather published in 1991
June 22, 1934 ~ Nerlynn Taitt, commonly known as guitarist, bassist Lynn Taitt, born in San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago ~ Rocksteady pioneer. Worked with the Sheiks, the Cavaliers, the Comets, Baba Brooks, the Skatalites, Tommy McCook, Supersonics, the Jets, Hux Brown, Headley Bennett, Hopeton Lewis, Gladstone Anderson, Winston Wright, Bunny Lee, Duke Reid, Joe Gibbs, Coxsone Dodd, Sonia Pottinger, Derrick Morgan, Desmond Dekker, Lee Scratch Perry, Ken Boothe, Bob Marley, Joe Higgs, and the Kingpins ~ Taitt passed away in 2010