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 24, 1974 ~ Vincent Fiorello, commonly known as ska punk, pop punk, punk rock drummer, percussionist Vinnie Fiorello, born in Rahway, USA ~ Co-founding member of ska-inspired punk band Less Than Jake, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums. The band is especially acclaimed for their first three albums, namely Pezcore, Losers Kings And Things We Don't Understand, and Losing Streak. Fiorello departed the band in 2019
June 24, 1970 ~ Singer, songwriter Glenn Medeiros, full name Glenn Alan Medeiros, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA ~ Best known for his 1987 smash hit Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You. Collaborated with Elsa Lunghini (Un Roman D'Amitié (Friend You Give Me A Reason)), Bobby Brown (She Ain't Worth It), Ray Parker Jr (All I'm Missing Is You), the Jets (Under Any Moon). Wrote the songs Break These Walls (Sam Verlinden), Follow The Sun (Regina Velasquez, Forte), and These Tears I Cry (Martin Nievera)June 24, 1970 ~ Punk rock guitarist, singer Jeff Ott born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Active since his early teens, co-founding SAG at age 12 which also included friends Aaron Cometbus and Jesse Michaels. The band would eventually be renamed to Crimpshrine, and is best known for the critically acclaimed Lame Gig Contest album released in 1989. Following the band's disbandement Ott founded Fifteen, with whom he recorded two albums. Ott has also authored two books, My World (Ramblings Of An Aging Guitar Punk) and Weapons Of Mass Destruction And The Real War On Terror
June 24, 1969 ~ Classical crossover soprano singer Sissel Kyrkjebø born in Bergen, Norway ~ Considered one of the world's top crossover sopranos. Records pop, folk, classical and opera. Has collaborated with artists such as Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Andrea Bocelli, Bryn Terfel, Josh Groban, Neil Sedaka, Mario Frangoulis, Russell Watson, Brian May, Warren G (Prince Igor), Tommy Körberg, Diana Krall, Charles Aznavour, Dee Dee Bridgewater. Involved in the Titanic soundtrack, originally tapped for the theme song but passed over in favor of Céline Dion. Sang Olympic Hymn at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1994 Winter Olympics held in Lillehammer, Norway
June 24, 1968 ~ Singer Elvis Presley records Memories at Western Recorders, Burbank, California ~ Written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange specifically for Elvis Presley's 1968 comeback TV special. Included on the accompanying album Elvis. Released as a single, paired with Charro on the flip-side, in March 1969. Nancy Sinatra, the Free Design and the Lettermen all recorded cover versions the same year
June 24, 1968 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter Willard Robison passed away in Peekskil, New York, USA ~ Best remembered for penning or co-penning songs such as Cottage For Sale (the Revelers, Guy Lombardo, Ruth Etting), Old Folks (Larry Clinton, Bing Crosby, Mildred Bailey), and A Woman Alone With The Blues (Lee Wiley, Peggy Lee, Anita O'Day) ~ Robison was born in 1894June 24, 1967 ~ Blues rock, southern rock, country guitarist Jeff Cease born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known as early member of the Black Crowes, playing lead guitar on the band's Shake Your Money Maker debut album, replaced by Marc Ford in 1991. Has also worked with the Bitter Pills, Bucky Covington, Trent Tomlinson and Eric Church
June 24, 1967 ~ Sven Kruspe, commonly known as singer, guitarist Richard Kruspe, born in Wittenberge, East Germany ~ Co-founded industrial metal, alternative metal band Rammstein with Oliver Riedel and Christoph Schneider. Also known as lead singer of Emigrate
June 24, 1966 ~ Singer, songwriter Hope Sandoval born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Lead singer of Mazzy Star, known for Halah, Blue Flower and their best known Fade Into You. Has also worked with Massive Attack, the Jesus & Mary Chain, the Chemical Brothers, Veitver, and Mercury Rev
June 24, 1966 ~ British rockers the Rolling Stones kick off their North American tour at Manning Bowl, Massachusetts ~ In support of their Aftermath, the band plays some 30 shows across the USA and Canada through the end of July. The set list includes Not Fade Away, Paint It Black, Under My Thumb, Mother's Little Helper, and (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction. The tour's final set at the Hawai'i International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, is broadcast on Hawaiian radio station KPOI
June 24, 1962 ~ John Wesley Dearth, commonly known as singer, guitarist, bassist John Wesley, born in Brandon, Florida, USA ~ Actively recording since the mid 1990s. Has opened for Marillion on several US tours. Collaborated with Mike Tramp, Fish, Porcupine Tree, and Sound Of Contact
June 24, 1961 ~ Bassist, singer, songwriter Curt Smith born in Bath, UK ~ Formed Graduate with Roland Orzabal, known for their sole 1980 Acting My Age album. The duo would rise to fame as Tears For Fears, scoring a string of 1980s hits. Smith sang lead on hits such as Mad World, Pale Shelter, Change, The Way You Are, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, and Advice For The Young At Heart. Following his departure from the band Smith has recorded as a solo artist, starting with Soul On Board, formed Mayfield, and co-wrote and performed the soundtracks to Meth Head and GravyJune 24, 1961 ~ Jazz drummer Marvin Smitty Smith born in Waukegan, Illinois, USA ~ Closely associated with Steve Coleman, working with Coleman in a number of ensembles including the Five Elements, Strata Institute, and M-Base Collective. Has also guested on albums by Terence Blanchard, Frank Foster, Hamiet Bluiett, Joe Newman, Branford Marsalis, Gunter Hampel, Mulgrew Miller, Kevin Eubanks, Art Farmer, Sonny Rollins, Grover Washington Jr, David Fathead Newman, the CTI All-Stars, Cassandra Wilson, Peter Leitch, and Dianne Reeves
June 24, 1960 ~ Pop, rock & roll singer Billy Fury records Wondrous Place at Decca Studios, London, UK ~ Previously recorded by Jimmy Jones on his Good Timin' debut album, released earlier the same year. Written by Jeff Lewis and Bill Giant. Produced by Jack Good. Released as a single, Alright Goodbye on the flip side, the following September. Billy Fury's rendition would reach top 30 UK. Notably covered by supergroup the Last Shadow Puppets, featured as the B-side of their 2008 The Age Of Understatement debut singleJune 24, 1960 ~ Country, country rock, Americana singer, songwriter Chris Knight born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Influenced by Steve Earle. Has recorded over half a dozen albums, starting with his eponymous Chris Knight debut album released in 1998. Had artists such as Lee Ann Womack, John Prine, and Buddy Miller guest on his recordings. Songs written or co-written by Knight have been recorded by Fred Eaglesmith, Cross Canadian Ragweed (Cry Lonely), the Great Divide, Ty Herndon, and Montgomery Gentry (She Couldn't Change Me)
June 24, 1960 ~ Deborah Christine Garrett, commonly known as singer, songwriter Siedah Garrett, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ In-demand collaborator. Duetted with Michael Jackson on I Just Can't Stop Loving You. Co-wrote Jackson's Man In The Mirror. Also worked with the Pointer Sisters, the Brand New Heavies, Quincy Jones, Tevin Campbell, Donna Summer, Madonna, Jennifer Hudson, Dennis Edwards, Quincy Jones, Alphonse Mouzon, Brian Auger, Alex Ligertwood, Ray Parker Jr, Vikki Carr, David Paich, Spencer Davis, Lenny Castro, Salvador Santana, Walfredo Reyes Jr, Pete Escovedo, Shannon, Jon Anderson, the Carpenters, Phyllis Hyman, Glenn Medeiros, Peter Cetera, Barbra Streisand, Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald, Santana, Bryan Ferry, Earth Wind & Fire, Pebbles, and AnastaciaJune 24, 1959 ~ New wave, synth-pop, post-punk singer, bassist, guitarist, keyboardist Andy McCluskey, full name George Andrew McCluskey, born in Wirral, UK ~ Pioneered electro-pop founding Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark with keyboardist Paul Humphreys, scoring hits with songs such as Enola Gay, Souvenir, Joan Of Arc, Maid Of Orleans, Talking Loud And Clear, and Sailing On The Seven Seas. Also serves as main songwriter for the girl group Atomic Kitten
June 24, 1959 ~ Bassist Chris Childs, full name Christopher James Childs, born in Writtle, UK ~ Member of Thunder, joining the band in 1996 as replacement for Mikael Höglund. Has also worked with Go West, Andy Summers, Robert Hart, Colin Blunstone, Gordon Haskell, Debbie Gibson, Greenslade, Bowes & Morley, Never The Bride, and Don Airey
June 24, 1958 ~ Mezzo-soprano, contralto singer, opera director Annette Jahns born in Dresden, East Germany ~ Closely associated with the Semperoper. Performed classical contralto and mezzo-soprano roles in several worled premieres including Matthias Pintscher's Thomas Chatterton and Peter Ruzicka's Celan ~ Jahns passed away in 2020
June 24, 1958 ~ Pop, rock bassist Branko Isakovic born in Veljevo, Yugoslavia ~ Best known as co-founding member of Bulevar. Has also worked with Suncokret, Propaganda, Idoli, Dejan Cukic, Kerber, Bilja Krstic, Teodulija, Kal, and Divine Sound
June 24, 1958 ~ Christian singer, songwriter Kathy Troccoli born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Known for songs such as Help Myself To You, My Life Is In Your Hands, Go Light Your World and perhaps her best known the secular Everything Changes hit, the latter also crossing over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 reaching the top 20June 24, 1958 ~ Southern gospel singer, songwriter Mark Lowry, full name Mark Alan Lowry, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Member of Bill Gaither's pivotal the Gaither Vocal Band. Notably known for co-writing Mary Did You Know, first recorded by Michael English and covered by numerous artists including Clay Aiken, Cee Lo Green, Reba McEntire, and Dolly Parton
June 24, 1957 ~ Terence Wilson, commonly known as rapper, toaster, singer, drummer Astro, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Member of UB40 from 1979 through 2013, present on the band's best known including the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits Red Red Wine and Can't Help Falling In Love. His nickname comes from his childhood, wearing a pair of Dr Martens boots of a model named “Astronaut” ~ Wilson passed away in 2021
June 24, 1956 ~ Rockabily, rock & roll singer Gene Vincent records Jezebel at Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee ~ Under the supervision of producer Ken Nelson, Gene Vincent and his backing unit the Blue Caps record Jezebel as well as Crazy Legs, Peg O' My Heart and Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine
June 24, 1956 ~ Blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Michael Coleman born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Well-known for backing James Cotton for about a decade starting in the late 1970s, including on the acclaimed 1984 High Compression album, before venturing out on his own. Has recorded about half a dozen albums as a solo artist, especially praised for Blues Brunch At The Mart released in 2006. Coleman has also guested on albums by John Primer, Angela Brown, Malik Yusef, and Jimmy Dawkins ~ Coleman passed away in 2014