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 6, 1977 ~ Art Mardigian, commonly known as jazz drummer Art Mardigan, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Active since the 1940s. Perhaps most noted for forming the first house band at the Blue Bird Inn jazz club in Detroit, Michigan, in the late 1940s with Phil Hill and Abe Woodly. Has toured with Woody Herman, and Pete Rugolo, and appears on recordings by the likes of Wardell Gray (Tenor Sax), Dexter Gordon, Annie Ross, Jimmy Raney, Stan Getz, Chris Connor (Sings Lullabies Of Birdland), and Fats Navarro (Nostalgia) ~ Mardigian was born in 1923
June 6, 1971 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Ryan Cohan born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Blends world rhythms, traditional jazz and classical. Wrote and arranged for Ramsey Lewis (Dance Of The Soul, Appasionata). Collaborated with artists including Freddie Hubbard, Milt Hinton, Jon Faddis, Joe Locke, Andy Narell, Curtis Fuller, Pat LaBarbera, Regina Carter, Nick Brignola, Andy Bey, Kurt Elling, Michal Urbaniak, Bob Sheppard, Geoff Bradfield, James Cammack, Lorin Cohen, Tito Carrillo, and Dana Hill
June 6, 1970 ~ In its 10th week on the charts, Make Me Smile by Chicago peaks at No.9 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by James Pankow, who would later comment to Songfacts on the meaning of the song: “Relationships, if they're good, put a big smile on our faces. Love songs have always been a powerful ingredient in the song's process, the songwriting process has often taken writers to that place.” Make Me Smile was part of a thirteen minute song suite from the group's eponymous Chicago sophomore album, and edited down by the record label to be released as a single. The band was unaware their label had released the excerpt of a suite as a single, and had mixed emotions about it. That is, until the single became their breakout hit, peaking at No.9 Billboard Hot 100
June 6, 1968 ~ Guitarist, songwriter Alan Licht born in New Jersey, USA ~ Influenced by the Bee Gees, Wings, Hüsker Dü, Sonic Youth, and Steve Reich, discovering minimalist music after given a copy of the latter's Music For 18 Musicians by his guitar teacher. Generally classified as an avant-garde musician, Licht draws from pop, noise, free jazz, and minimalism. Member of Love Child, the Blue Humans, Run On, and Pacific Ocean. Over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, especially noted for his 2000 Plays Well album, and an in-demand collaborator for the likes of Loren Connors, Keiji Haino, Aki Onda, and Henry Kaiser
June 6, 1968 ~ New jack swing, R&B singer, songwriter Damion Hall born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Member of Guy, joining the band after their 1988 eponymous Guy debut album as replacement for Timmy Gatling. Present on songs such as Wanna Get With U, Let's Chill, D-O-G Me Out and Dancin'. Released his Straight To The Point solo album in 1994, which spawned the single Satisfy You featuring Chanté Moore, a modest hit on the Billboard R&B charts
June 6, 1967 ~ Traditional fiddler, smallpipe player Kathryn Tickell born in Walsall, UK ~ Debuted at 17 with her On Kielder Side album recorded at her parents' house. Would go on to work with the Penguin Café Orchestra, the Chieftains, Jimmy Nail, Linda Thompson, Alan Parsons, Sting, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Steeleye Span
June 6, 1966 ~ Pianist, composer Benoit Delbecq born in St-Germain-en-Laye, France ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Guillaume Orti, Hubert Dupont, Benjamin Henocq, Joseph Carver, Steve Argüelles, Serge Adam, Philippe Foch, Noël Akchoté, Francois Houle, Michael Moore, Jean Jacques Avenel, Mark Helias, Oene Van Geel, Ambitronix, Evan Parker, Fred Hersch, Gerry Hemingway, Joëlle Léandre, Mary Halvorson, Taylor Ho Bynum, Mark Turner, and Gerald Cleaver
June 6, 1966 ~ Shauna Reynolds, commonly known as alternative metal, surf rock, punk rock bassist Sean Yseult, born in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA ~ Perhaps best known as member of White Zombie from 1985 until its disbandement over a decade later. Present on all of the band's recordings, including the acclaimed Soul Crusher released in 1987. Yseult has also touredn with the Cramps, authored the autobiographical I'm In The Band containing tour diaries and photos, and is married to Supagroup singer, rhythm guitarist Chris Lee
June 6, 1964 ~ Paul Dudley Walden, commonly known as acid house, house, techno DJ Guru Josh, born on Jersey, Channel Islands ~ Rose to fame with his 1989 debut single Infinity, later included on his sole album of the same name, which became a club hit across Europe and reached top 10 in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, and Walden's native UK. Over the years, the song has been re-released several times in various remixes. Other well known songs include Freaky Dreamer, Holographic Dreams, Whose Law (Is It Anyway), and Frozen Teardrops. Walden died by suicide at age 51, following struggles with substance abuse, depression, and a break-up with his girlfriend ~ Walden passed away in 2015
June 6, 1963 ~ Pop, rock & roll singer Billy Fury records In Summer at Decca Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Valerie Murtagh, Elaine Murtagh, Ray Adams. Produced by Dick Rowe. Released the following month it would give Billy Fury a UK top 10 hit. The flip side featured the Johnnie Ray-cover I'll Never Fall In Love Again
June 6, 1963 ~ Reggae, dancehall singer Junior Reid born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Lead vocalist of Black Uhuru on the albums Brutal, Positive and Black Uhuru Live In New York. As a solo artist known for songs such as Speak The Truth, Youthman, Bank Clerk, and Know Myself. Fronted the Voice Of Progress. Also guested on tracks by the likes of Sugar Minott, Hugh Mundell, Augustus Pablo, Ludacris, the Game (It's Okay (One Blood)), Busta Rhymes, T-Pain, Bun B, Jadakiss, Mims (This Is Why I'm Hot), Waka Flocka Flame, Fat Joe, Ace Hood, Birdman, and DJ KhaledJune 6, 1961 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter Art Gillham passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Considered one of the very first crooners, known for songs such as Angry, I'm Confessing, Shine On Harvest Moon, I'd Climb The Highest Mountain, Cecilia, I'm Waiting For Ships That Never Come In, Thinking and Tenderly ~ Gillham was born in 1895
June 6, 1961 ~ Heavy metal singer, bassist Tom Araya, full name Tomás Enrique Araya Diaz, born in Viña del Mar, Chile ~ Alongside guitarist Kerry King the only other constant member of Slayer, with whom he has recorded about a dozen albums. Know for their fast and agressive style the band is considered one of “the Big Four” of thrash metal, alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Araya worked as a respiratory therapist in the early 1980s and used his earnings to finance the band's 1983 Show No Mercy debut album. Araya has notably guested on recordings by Alice In Chains, Atari Teenage Riot, Soulfly, and the Rollins Band
June 6, 1960 ~ Rock, hard rock, progressive metal guitarist, singer Steve Vai, full name Steven Siro Vai, born in Carle Place, New York, USA ~ Hailed for his technical prowess. First gained attention in the late 1970s backing Frank Zappa, notably present on albums such as Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar, You Are What You Is and Them Or Us and the subject of the song Stevie's Spanking on the latter album. Released his Flex-Able solo debut album in 1984. Especially known for his 1990 Passion And Warfare album. Has collaborated with Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, Mary J Blige, and Ozzy Osbourne
June 6, 1959 ~ James Samuel Harris III, commonly known as producer, songwriter Jimmy Jam, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Member of the Time, which also included Terry Lewis. Would partner up with Lewis to become one of the most in-demand producer, songwriting duos starting in the late 1980s, working with the SOS Band, Cherrelle, Alexander O'Neal, Change, Cheryl Lynn, Lionel Richie, Herb Alpert, TLC, Yolanda Adams, Jordan Knight, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, Usher, Johnny Gill, Patti LaBelle, Mary J Blige, Chaka Khan, Mariah Carey, Mya, Prince, Bryan Adams, George Michael, Kelly Price, Gwen Stefani, New Edition, Eric Benét, and perhaps most notably and extensively Janet JacksonJune 6, 1959 ~ Drummer John Keeble born in Islington, UK ~ Best known as drummer of New Romantic band Spandau Ballet from 1979 through 1990, rejoining in 2009. Present on the band's best known including the band's 1983 True album which spawned the UK top 10 hits Lifeline, True and Gold
June 6, 1959 ~ Jazz guitarist Paul Bollenback, full name Paul Norris Bollenback, born in Hinsdale, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Scott Ambush, Charlie Byrd, Joey DeFrancesco, Herb Ellis, Della Reese, Arturo Sandoval, Stanley Turrentine, Jim Snidero, Gary Bartz, Pat Bianchi, Terri Lyne Carrington, Joe Locke, Houston Person, and Carol SloaneJune 6, 1958 ~ Ragtime, vaudeville pianist, songwriter, musical director Ford Dabney, full name Ford Thompson Dabney, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Important figure in pre-jazz era. Best remembered for co-writing Shine, a 1932 hit for Bing Crosby and the Mills Brothers. The song would become a standard, recorded by numerous others ~ Dabney was born in 1883
June 6, 1955 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Curtis Wright, full name Curtis Blaine Wright, born in Huntington, Pennsylvania, USA ~ First gained attention in the 1980s as a member of the Super Grit Cowboy Band and subsequently as a backing singer and guitarist for Vern Gosdin. As a singer, Wright is best known for fronting Shenandoah for half a decade starting in 2002. Prior to his tenure as the band's lead singer, Wright had co-written several well known Shenandoah tracks including their Billboard Country No.1 hit Next To You Next To Me, as well as Rock My Baby, You Can Say That, and Tied To A Tumbleweed. While with Shenandoah, the singer has also served as a touring member of Pure Prairie League. Wright departed Shenandoah in 2007 to join Reba McEntire's band. Despite being a passionate singer and guitarist in his own right, Wright has had only moderate success as a solo artist. She's Got A Man On Her Mind of his unreleased Slick Hick album only barely made top 40 Billboard Country, peaking at No.38 in 1989, while the two singles of his eponymous 1992 album, Hometown Radio and If I Could Stop Lovin' You, both failed to reach the top half of said tally. Others have had more success with songs co-written by Wright, Shenandoah scored two top 10 hits, while A Woman In Love by Ronnie Milsap and What's It To You by Clay Walker have both topped the Billboard Country chart. Others who have recorded songs written or co-written by Wright include Patty Loveless, Dennis Robbins, Conway Twitty, Chris Ward, Connie Smith, and George Jones. Wright has also formed the short-lived duo Orrall & Wright with regular songwriting partner Robert Ellis Orrall. Unlike most other country duos at the time, Orrall and Wright shared lead vocals on every song of their sole eponymous album, released in 1994, which earned the pair a CMA nomination for Duo of the YearJune 6, 1955 ~ Rock, pop guitarist Jan van der Meij born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Member of Vitesse from 1977 through 1980. Co-founded Powerplay with Peter van Straten and Leon Klaasse. Van der Meij has also worked with Frédérique Spigt, Jan Rot, and the Beatles tribute band the Analogues
June 6, 1955 ~ Actress, comedian, singer, author Sandra Bernhard born in Flint, Michigan, USA ~ Best known as a stand-up comedian and actress, notably portraying the role of Nancy Bartlett Thomas on the ABC sitcom Roseanne from 1991 until 1997. Bernhard performs classic pop, jazz, and blues, and has recorded about a dozen albums, both as a singer and comedian
June 6, 1954 ~ Raymond Alan Norcia, commonly known as blues harpist, singer Sugar Ray Norcia, born in Stonington, Connecticut, USA ~ Best known for leading Sugar Ray & the Bluetones, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Knockout released in 1989. In the early 1990s Norcia has also served as lead singer for Roomful Of Blues, including on the 1994 Dance All Night album. Norcia is also present on albums by Big Walter Horton, Ronnie Earl, Ann Peebles, Michelle Wilson, Otis Grand (Nothing Else Matters), Porky Cohen, Sax Gordon, Duke Robillard, and Joe Louis WalkerJune 6, 1953 ~ Guitarist June Yamagishi born in Ise City, Japan ~ Best known for his association with the Wild Magnolias, notably present on the 1996 1313 Hoodoo Street album, and Papa Grows Funk, with whom he has recorded since the early 2000s. Prior to relocating to New Orleans in the mid 1990s, Yamagishi has worked with and fronted several bands in his native Japan including the West Road Blues Band, the Sooo Baad Revue, Chickenshack, and the Band Of Pleasure. Yamagishi has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with Really released in 1979
June 6, 1952 ~ Drummer, timpanist, composer Kjell Sampkopf born in Bærum, Norway ~ Central figure on the Norwegian contemporary music scene. Associated with the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Norske Opera. Composed orchestral works, chamber music and pieces for percussion
June 6, 1952 ~ Electronic, pop rock singer, drummer, keyboardist Yukihiro Takahashi born in Tokyo, Japan ~ Rose to fame in the early 1970s as drummer for the Sadistic Mika Band. Formed the Yellow Magic Orchestra with Ryuichi Sakamoto and Haruomi Hosono, considered a pioneering group predating the electropop boom of the 1980s. The band is especially acclaimed for their 1979 Solid State Survivor album. Takahashi has also recorded extensively as a solo artist since the late 1970s ~ Takahashi passed away in 2023