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.
March 24, 1949 ~ Pub rock, power pop, pop rock singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter Nick Lowe, full name Nicholas Drain Lowe, born in Walton-on-Thames, UK ~ Member of Brinsley Schwarz, Rockpile and of supergroup Little Village. As a solo artist known best for Cruel To Be Kind and the UK top 10 hit I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass. Produced Elvis Costello's first five albums and wrote What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love & Understanding. Produced New Rose for the Damned, considered the first British punk single. Produced Stop Your Sobbing, the Pretenders debut single. Also worked with Graham Parker, Dr Feelgood, Johnny Cash, Carlene Carter, Paul Carrack, John Hiatt, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and the Men They Couldn't HangMarch 24, 1948 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Frode Gjerstad born in Stavanger, Norway ~ Has worked with artists such as Paal Nilssen-Love, Borah Bergman, Peter Brötzmann, Evan Parker, Derek Bailey, Bjørn Kjellemyr, Terje Isungset, William Parker, Sabir Mateen, John Stevens, Johnny Dyani, Kent Carter, Lasse Marhaug, Nils-Henrik Asheim, Fred Lonberg Holm, and Luis Conte
March 24, 1948 ~ Blues harpist, singer Lee Oskar born in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Founding and key member of 1970s funk-rock outfit War, lending the band its bluesy harp sound until his departure in 1993 and present on pivotal albums such as The World Is A Ghetto, Deliver The World and Why Can't We Be Friends
March 24, 1947 ~ Beverley Kutner, commonly known as folk, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Beverley Martyn, born near Coventry, UK ~ Fronted jug band the Levee Breakers, with whom she played the folk circuit in south east England during the mid 1960s. Subsequently, she has released several singles as a solo artist, including notably Happy New Year, which featured Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, I Love My Dog, and the Donovan produced Museum. In 1969, Martyn would marry John Martyn. The couple have released two duo albums, Stormbringer and The Road To Ruin, before John Martyn's record label urged him to resume his solo career as they believed there was more public interest in solo acts. However, Beverley Martyn would continue to contribute to her husband's solo records until their divorce in 1980. Following her divorce, Martyn has toured with Loudon Wainwright III, released the albums No Frills and The Phoenix And The Turtle, the latter of which featured the Counting Crows bassist Matt Malley and Los Lobos drummer Victor Bisetti ~ Kutner passed away in 2026March 24, 1947 ~ Singer, guitarist Craig Nuttycombe born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Half of folk rock, soft rock duo Lambert & Nuttycombe, the other half being Denis Lambert, best known for their 1970 At Home album. The duo enjoyed some succes on the West Coast but seemingly always stayed on the verge of breakthrough succes. Has also worked with the East Side Kids
March 24, 1947 ~ Drummer Mike Kellie, full name Michael Alexander Kellie, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Member of VIP's, Spooky Tooth, and the Only Ones, including on the latter's Another Girl Another Planet which though not a hit was once described by AllMusic as “arguably, the greatest rock single ever recorded”. An in-demand drummer throughout his career, Kellie has appeared on albums by Traffic (The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys) Joe Cocker, Andy Leigh, Andy Roberts, Luther Grosvenor, Steve Gibbons, Three Man Army, Peter Frampton (Wind Of Change), Jerry Lee Lewis, Splinter, the Who (Tommy), and Paul Kossoff. Kellie released his sole solo album, Music From The Hidden, in 2014 ~ Kellie passed away in 2017March 24, 1947 ~ Singer, songwriter Patti Dahlstrom born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Released four albums in the 1970s, starting with the eponymous Patti Dahlstrom album in 1972. Wrote or co-wrote songs recorded by Anne Murray, Helen Reddy (Emotion), Thelma Houston, Michael Johnson, Captain & Tennille (Feels More Like Dancing), Johnny Rivers (Over The Line), the Riders In The Sky, and Cilla Black (Running Out Of World)
March 24, 1947 ~ Jazz oboist, clarinetist, saxophonist Paul McCandless born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Founding member of Oregon. Worked with the Flecktones, the Paul Winter Consort, Al Jarreau, Barre Phillips, Theo Jörgensmann, Leftover Salmon, Art Lande, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Pierluigi Balducci, Suzanne Ciani, Alex de Grassi, David Friesen, Tony Furtado, Steven Halpern, Mark Isham, Peter Kater, Jaco Pastorius, Fred Simon, Michael Manring, Will Ackerman, Carla Bley, Cyrus Faryar, Kevin Kern, Todd Phillips, Vasant Rai, Wynton Marsalis, Taliesin Orchestra, Eberhard Weber, Victor Wooten, Ralph Towner, and Kit Walker
March 24, 1946 ~ Drummer Colin Petersen, full name Frederick Colin Petersen, born in Kingaroy, Australia ~ Best known for his association with the Bee Gees, backing the siblings on nearly half a dozen of their early albums including Idea and Odessa before departing the band by the late 1960s to be succeeded by Terry Cox, the latter formerly of Pentangle. Petersen was the first non-Gibb to join the band, and is present on hits such as To Love Somebody, Massachusetts, Words, and I Started A Joke. Petersen is also known as an actor, landing his first role in Smiley at only nine years old. Petersen has also drummed with Steve & the Board and Humpy Bong, served as artist manager for among others Jonathan Kelly, and dabbled in painting. When looking back on his days as a drummer, Petersen commented in 2022: “I wasn't the most technically skilled drummer, but I think that sometimes less is more. When you're limited, you have to get creative, just like Chuck Berry, who made magic with just a few chords. For me, it was always about serving the song” ~ Petersen passed away in 2024March 24, 1946 ~ Krautrock, proto-punk, art rock, post-punk drummer, guitarist, keyboardist, singer Klaus Dinger born in Scherfede, Germany ~ Appeared on Kraftwerk's 1970 eponymous Kraftwerk debut album, playing on the track Von Himmel Hoch. Best known as co-founding member of pioneering krautrock band Neu, the group actually being named by Dinger, known for the albums Neu, Neu 2, and Neu 75. Though they initially had little commercial success the band would in retrospect be credited as quintessential to the development of krautrock and prove influential on later genres such as electronica and punk. Following the band's initial disbandement in 1975 Dinger has played with La Düsseldorf, and recorded as a solo artist ~ Dinger passed away in 2008
March 24, 1942 ~ Saxophonist Don Wise, full name Donald Grover Wise, born in Westerly, Rhode Island, USA ~ Recorded a handful of albums as a leader, noted particularly for Swingin' Up A Storm released in 2005. Best known for his association with Delbert McClinton, backing the singer for over two decades including on albums such as One Of The Fortunate Few, Room To Breathe, and Cost Of Living. Other notable associations include Jodi Benson, Bugs Henderson, Kevin McKendree, the Delta Riders, Todd Sharp, Teresa James, and Rob Roy Parnell ~ Wise passed away in 2024
March 24, 1941 ~ Songwriter, producer Michael Masser, full name Michael William Masser, born in Rancho Mirage, California, USA ~ Best known for writing or co-writing songs such as Touch Me In The Morning, Last Time I Saw Him and Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) (Diana Ross), Didn't We Almost Have It All and Greatest Love Of All (Whitney Houston), In Your Eyes (George Benson), Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You (Glenn Medeiros), Hold Me (Teddy Pendergrass), Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You (Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson), and Miss You Like Crazy (Natalie Cole) ~ Masser passed away in 2015March 24, 1938 ~ Pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader Steve Kuhn born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Studied with Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Gary McFarland. Performed and recorded with Stan Getz, Art Farmer, Oliver Nelson, Gary McFarland, Ron Carter, Scott LaFaro, Harvie S, Sheila Jordan, Billy Drummond, David Finck, Miroslav Vitous, Steve Swallow, Ron Carter, Al Foster, Jack DeJohnette, Joey Baron, and Pee Wee Russell
March 24, 1936 ~ Donald James Randolph, commonly known as R&B, rock & roll, soul, pop singer, songwriter Don Covay, born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA ~ Songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Chubby Checker, the Rolling Stones (Mercy Mercy), Booker T Jones, Steve Cropper, Etta James, Otis Redding, Little Richard (I Don't Know What You Got But It's Got Me), Gene Vincent, Wanda Jackson, Solomon Burke (I'm Hanging Up My Heart For You), Connie Francis, Steppenwolf, Bobby Womack, Gladys Knight (Letter Full Of Tears), Wilson Pickett, the Small Faces, Grant Green, Aretha Franklin (Chain Of Fools), and Peter Wolf ~ Covay passed away in 2015
March 24, 1935 ~ Bassist Carol Kaye born in Everett, Washington, USA ~ In-demand session bassist. Member of the Wrecking Crew. Appears on an estimated 10,000 recordings over the course of 5 decades. Worked with Ritchie Valens (La Bamba), Phil Spector, Quincy Jones, Lalo Schifrin, Sam Cooke, the Crystals (Then He Kissed Me), the Righteous Brothers (You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'), Frank Zappa, Frank Sinatra, Simon & Garfunkel, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Monkees, Sonny & Cher, Nancy Sinatra (These Boots Are Made For Walkin'), the Beach Boys, Barbra Streisand (The Way We Were), and Frank BlackMarch 24, 1932 ~ Jazz pianist, singer, songwriter Dave Mackay, full name David Owen Mackay, born in Syracuse, New York, USA ~ Fixture on the southern California jazz scene, grounded in bop and hard bop. Well over half a dozen albums as a leader. In-demand sideman, present on recordings by Don Ellis, Warne Marsh, Bill Henderson, Michael Parks, Emil Richards, Chet Baker, and Lori Bell ~ McKay passed away in 2020
March 24, 1930 ~ Cristóbal Halffter Jiménez-Encina, commonly known as classical composer Cristóbal Halffter, born in Madrid, Spain ~ Married to pianist Maria Manuela Caro. Regarded as the most important of a group of composer dubbed the Generación del 51. Best known for a number of works during the 1960s and 1970s touching on human rights, most notably the 1968 choral composition Yes Speak Out Yes. Other well known pieces include his 1954 neoclassical Piano Concerto and the 2000 opera Don Quijote ~ Jiménez passed away in 2021
March 24, 1924 ~ Jazz trumpeter Dave Burns, full name David Phillip Burns, born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, USA ~ Recorded occasionally as a leader, noted most for his 1964 Warming Up album. Active since the early 1940s, Burns has worked with artists such as the Savoy Sultans, Dizzy Gillespie (In Paris), Art Blakey, Duke Ellington, George Wallington, James Moody (Hi-Fi Party), Art Taylor (AT's Delight), Milt Jackson, Al Grey (Having A Ball), Willie Bobo, Lou Donaldson, Dave Pike (Manhattan Latin), Mal Waldron, Solomon Burke (King Solomon), and Eddie Jefferson ~ Burns passed away in 2009
March 24, 1922 ~ Bandleader, guitarist, producer, songwriter, arranger Dave Appell born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Arranged for Jimmie Lunceford, Benny Carter, Earl Hines. Led the house band for Cameo/Parkway, backing artists such as Charlie Gracie, John Zacherle, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, the Dovells, Dee Dee Sharp, the Orlons, also serving as producer on a number of these recordings such as Checker's Let's Twist Again. Enjoyed succes in the early 1970s co-producing several hits for Tony Orlando & Dawn including Knock Three Times and Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree ~ Appell passed away in 2014
March 24, 1922 ~ Clarence Beeks, commonly known as jazz singer King Pleasure, born in Oakdale, Tennessee, USA ~ Early vocalese singer, putting vocals to previously instrumental songs. Cited by Van Morrison as an influence. Known for recordings such as Moody's Mood For Love, Red Top, I'm Gone, and Jumping With Symphony Sid. Worked with Matthew Gee, Teddy Edwards, Harold Land, Gerald Wiggins, Earl Palmer, Lem Davis, Ray Abrams, Cecil Payne, Leonard Gaskin, Blossom Dearie, Peck Morrison, Herbie Lovelle, Kenny Clarke, JJ Johnson, Lucky Thompson, Danny Bank, Paul Chambers, Jon Hendricks, Quincy Jones, Kai Winding, and Eddie Jefferson ~ Beeks passed away in 1982March 24, 1908 ~ Edward Groner, commonly known as jazz bassist, pianist, singer Duke Groner born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, USA ~ Worked with Nat Towles, Jimmie Lunceford, Horace Henderson, Kenny Clarke, Thelonious Monk, Buster Bennett, Wild Bill Davis, Jelly Holt, Horace Palm, Emmett Spicer, Kirk Stuart, Hurley Ramey, Wallace Burton, and Jim Beebe ~ Groner passed away in 1992
March 24, 1895 ~ Dance bandleader, violinist Paul Specht born in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Popular bandleader in the UK during the dance band era. Employed sidemen such as Hank D'Amico, Russ Morgan, Sylvester Ahola, Charlie Spivak, Joe Tarto and Chauncey Morehouse early on in their career ~ Specht passed away in 1954