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.
November 13, 1953 ~ Drummer, singer, songwriter Andrew Ranken born in Ladbroke Grove, UK ~ Constant member of the Pogues. The band merged the raw energy of punk with the structures of Irish folk and has recorded about half a dozen albums before disbanding in the late 1990s. They are especially acclaimed for their 1985 Rum Sodomy & The Lash sophomore albums and its 1988 follow-up If I Should Fall From Grace With God. Ranken has also appeared on albums by Steve Earle (Copperhead Road), Kirsty MacColl, and Joe Strummer ~ Ranken passed away in 2026
November 13, 1953 ~ Jazz guitarist Chris Flory born in New York, New York, USA ~ Cites Charlie Parker, Charlie Christian, T-Bone Walker, and Jimi Hendrix as main influences. Enjoyed the vast personal record collection of Gil Evans while babysitting Gil's kids, immersing himself in the sounds of Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, and Lester Young. Closely associated with Scott Hamilton, a close friend, with whom he played intermittently from 1975 through the early 1990s. Has recorded about half a dozen albums as a leader, especially noted for his 1993 City Life sophomore album. Flory can also be heard on albums by Ruby Braff, Maxine Sullivan (Uptown), Flip Phillips, Duke Robillard, Judy Carmichael, Keith Ingham (We're In The Money), and Doc Cheatham
November 13, 1951 ~ Pop, power pop drummer Bill Gibson born in Sacramento, California, USA ~ Constant member of Huey Lewis & the News, with whom he scored about a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits during the 1980s including the charttoppers The Power Of Love, Stuck With You, and Jacob's Ladder
November 13, 1951 ~ Pianist, composer Nikolai Medtner, full name Nikolai Karlovich Medtner, passed away in London, UK ~ Contemporary of Sergei Rachmaninoff and Alexander Scriabin. Prolific composer focused on works for piano and to lesser extent violin. Best known for his series of Fairy Tales ~ Medtner was born in 1880November 13, 1949 ~ Guitarist, singer Roger Steen born in Pipestone, Minnesota, USA ~ Member of San Francisco-based glam rock, proto-punk outfit the Tubes. To European audiences the band is best known for White Punks On Dope of the band's eponymous 1975 The Tubes debut album, which was produced by Al Kooper. To American audiences the band is known for the radio-friendly Billboard Hot 100 top 10 single She's A Beauty taken of their 1983 Outside Inside album
November 13, 1949 ~ Singer, guitarist Terry Reid, full name Terrance James Reid, born in St Neots, UK ~ Passed up the opportunity to sing lead for what would become Led Zeppelin, preferring to tour as a support act for Cream's 1968 American tour. Recommended Robert Plant, as well as John Bonham, to Jimmy Page who was putting together the new band. Reid has also performed as an opening act on tours by the Rolling Stones, Jethro Tull, and Fleetwood Mac ~ Reid passed away in 2025
November 13, 1947 ~ Guitarist, songwriter Toy Caldwell, full name Toy Talmadge Caldwell Jr, born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA ~ Co-founding member, lead guitarist, primary songwriter for the Marshall Tucker Band, with whom he recorded about a dozen albums since the early 1970s. Sang lead on Can't You See, one of their best known which was later notably covered by Waylon Jennings. The band, which also included his brother Tommy Caldwell on bass, is considered one of the premier 1970s Southern rock outfits, drawing from a wide array of genres including blues, country, jazz, R&B, gospel, and rock & roll. They are especially known for their 1974 Where We All Belong album. Caldwell departed the band in 1983 ~ Caldwell passed away in 1993
November 13, 1946 ~ Country, Americana, country-rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard born in Soper, Oklahoma, USA ~ Released his Ray Wylie Hubbard & the Cowboy Twinkles debut album in 1975 and has recorded consistently since, and though commercially disappointing Hubbard quickly gained a cult following among outlaw and red dirt country aficionados for his literate songwriting in songs ranging from dark introspectives to rowdy barroom anthems. Perhaps best known for writing Redneck Mother, made famous by Jerry Jeff Walker. Hubbard's 1990s albums, specifically Loco Gringos Lament and its follow-up Dangerous Spirits, would gain him wider attention and also spark a resurged interest in his earlier work
November 13, 1945 ~ Singer, songwriter Benny Borg born in Gothenburg, Sweden ~ Married to singer, actress Kirsti Sparboe from 1972 to 1978, who also recorded Den Store Dagen penned by Borg. Known in his adopted homeland Norway as a gifted singer and songwriter, his songs have been recorded by Inger Lise Anderson (En Spännende Dag För Josefine), Gro Anita Schønn, and Bjøro Håland. Internationally perhaps best known for representing Norway at the 1972 Eurovision Songfestival with Småting, a collaborative effort with singer Grethe Kausland, reaching 14th placeNovember 13, 1945 ~ Jazz saxophonist, flutist Knut Riisnæs born in Oslo, Norway ~ Fixture on the Oslo jazz scene with a career spanning five decades starting in the mid 1960s. Son of pianist Eline Nygaard Riisnæs. Brother of pianist Anne Eline Riisnæs and saxophonist Odd Riisnæs. Present on albums by Karin Krog, Terje Rypdal, Arild Andersen, Edward Vesala, the Oslo Groove Company, Sigurd Ulveseth, and Fra Lippo Lippi ~ Riisnæs passed away in 2023
November 13, 1944 ~ R&B, soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter Timmy Thomas born in Evansville, Indiana, USA ~ Best known for the self-penned Why Can't We Live Together, which topped the Billboard R&B charts in 1972 and reached top 10 on the pop charts on both sides of the Atlantic. The song would be covered by a wide array of artists including Tinga Stewart, Sade, Joan Osborne, Maria Muldaur, Lucky Peterson, and Ronnie Earl. Thomas would record well throughout the 1980s, songs such People Are Changin', What Can I Tell Her and Gotta Give A Little Love (Ten Years After) all reaching top 30 on the Billboard R&B charts ~ Thomas passed away in 2022
November 13, 1942 ~ John Paul Hammond, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter John Hammond Jr, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Son of noted record producer, talent scout John Hammond Sr. As a solo artist recorded prolifically since the early 1960s, and though only receiving moderate commercial success Hammond is especially acclaimed for a string of mid- to late 1960s albums starting with Big City Blues helping usher in the blues revival. Admired and respected by more famous artists such as Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, Duane Allman, Dr John, Levon Helm, Mike Bloomfield, Charlie Musselwhite, and Tom Waits, many of whom he befriended and collaborated with ~ Hammond passed away in 2026
November 13, 1941 ~ Singer, songwriter Raymond Froggatt, full name Raymond William Froggatt, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Spent most of the 1960s fronting the Buccaneers, later renamed to Monopoly and ultimately the Raymond Froggatt Band, starting in rock & roll and moving towards country as the decade progressed. Though chart success eluded them, others would find success with covers of his songs. Beat band the Dave Clark Five would reach UK top 10 with The Red Balloon, originally titled Callow-La-Vita, as would Cliff Richard with Big Ship. Australian singer Russell Morris would have a hit Australia and New Zealand with Rachel. Froggatt would go on to record well into the 2000s as a solo country singer, and is best known for his 1974 Rogues & Thieves album ~ Froggatt passed away in 2023
November 13, 1940 ~ Annette Kleinbard, commonly known as pop singer Carol Connors, born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA ~ Lead singer for the Teddy Bears, known for their 1958 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit To Know Is To Love Him written by band member Phil Spector, Spector's first major hit. The band would soon disband as Spector aimed to focus more on a behind the scenes role as producer and songwriter. Connors would go on to become a songwriter, noted for co-writing Hey Little Cobra recorded by the Rip-chords, and With You I'm Born Again recorded by Billy Preston & Syreeta Wright
November 13, 1940 ~ Janet Ann Polun, commonly known as jazz singer, educator Janet Lawson, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Influenced by Charlie Parker, Lester Young, and Sonny Rollins, critically compared to Sarah Vaughan. Seriously underrated post-bop singer, known for her expressive scat singing. Acclaimed for her early 1980s albums The Janet Lawson Quintet and Dreams Can Be. Her father's long-term illness resulted in her leaving the music industry for much of the second half of the 1980s, but has worked as a jazz educator and performed occasionally since ~ Polun passed away in 2021
November 13, 1940 ~ Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu, commonly known as rumba, soukous singer, bandleader, songwriter Tabu Ley Rochereau, born in Bagata, Congo ~ Along with Nico Kasanda and Franco Luambo pioneered soukous. Said to have composed over 3,000 songs. Shot to fame in 1956 as member of L'African Jazz singing on the hit Indépendance Cha Cha. Would go on to found African Fiesta, one of the most successful acts in African music known for songs such as the million-seller Afrika Mokli Mobimba. Formed Afrisa in 1970, continuing his hit streak with compositions such as Sorozo, Kaful Mayay, Aon Aon and Mose Konzo ~ Tabu passed away in 2013
November 13, 1939 ~ Leo Morris, commonly known as drummer Idris Muhammad, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ As a leader acclaimed for his 1970 Black Rhythm Revolution debut album. Renowned session jazz, R&B, funk drummer active since his mid-teens. Played on the Hawketts's Mardi Gras Mambo at age 15, and on Fats Domino's Blueberry Hill two years later. Appeared on albums by Willis Jackson, Nat Adderley (Calling Out Loud), Pharoah Sanders, Grant Green, Horace Silver, Sonny Stitt, Grover Washington Jr (Inner City Blues), Hank Crawford, Eric Gale, Bob James, Roberta Flack, Richard Groove Holmes (Good Vibrations), Freddie Hubbard, Luiz Bonfá, George Benson, John Scofield (Groove Elation), and Rusty Bryant ~ Morris passed away in 2014
November 13, 1938 ~ Producer, engineer, guitarist Adrian Barber born in Ilkley, UK ~ Early on in his career, Barber served as lead guitarist in Cass & the Casanovas and its successor the Big Three, departing the group in 1962. However, Barber would become best known as an engineer and producer, noted especially for recording Live At The Star Club (Hamburg Germany 1962) by the Beatles, and for producing both the Allman Brothers Band's eponymous The Allman Brothers Band debut album and the Velvet Underground's 1970 Loaded album. In one capacity or another, Barber has also worked on albums by Buffalo Springfield, Joe Zawinul, Herbie Mann, Cream, Shirley Scott, Vanilla Fudge, the Bee Gees (Odessa), Freddie King, Aerosmith, and Jack Bruce ~ Barber passed away in 2020
November 13, 1938 ~ Jazz, pop, classical pianist Warren Bernhardt, full name Warren Brooks Bernhardt, born in Wausau, Wisconsin, USA ~ Over a dozen albums as a leader. First gained attention in the early 1960s working with Paul Winter. Would go on to work with George Benson, Gerry Mulligan, Jeremy Steig. Member of Steps Ahead. Briefly musical director for Steely Dan in the mid 1990s, present on the band's 1995 Alive In America album. Backed Simon & Garfunkel on their 2003 reunion tour. Has also worked with Kenny Burrell, Tim Hardin, Mike Mainieri, Pat Martino, Don McLean, Art Farmer, and White Elephant ~ Bernhardt passed away in 2022
November 13, 1932 ~ Pop, country-pop singer, songwriter Dick Flood, full name Richard E Flood, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Though a gifted singer in his own right, Flood is best known as a songwriter. His songs have been recorded by Anita Bryant, Wynn Stewart, Billy Grammer, Kathy Linden, the Wilburn Brothers (Trouble's Back In Town), Billy Graves, and George Hamilton IV (I Wanna Go Where Nobody Knows Me). Songs written by Flood were often found on the B-side of popular singles, such as Here Comes That Song Again used by Roy Orbison as the B-side of Only The Lonely, earning Flood the nickname “Flip side Flood” in the music business ~ Flood passed away in 2023
November 13, 1928 ~ Hampton Barnett Hawes Jr, commonly known as jazz pianist Hampton Hawes, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Considered a key pianist in 1940s, 1950s jazz. Was playing with leading West Coast musicians including Dexter Gordon, Wardell Gray, Art Pepper, Shorty Rogers, and Teddy Edwards, by his teens. Upon his return from serving in the US Army Hawes formed his own trio with bassist Red Mitchell and Chuck Thompson, later supplemented by guitarist Jim Hall, producing records at the time considered to be some of the finest to come out of the West Coast. Other notable associations include the Lighthouse All-Stars, Barney Kessel (Kessel Plays Standards), Curtis Fuller, Charles Mingus, Benny Carter (Jazz Giant), and Sonny Rollins ~ Hawes passed away in 1977November 13, 1925 ~ Double bassist, conductor, composer Paul W Whear, full name Paul William Whear, born in Auburn, Indiana, USA ~ Composed for orchestras, bands, choir, vocal music, chamber music and organ. Whear had his works performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Cleveland Philharmonic, the Rochester Civic Orchestra, and the US Navy Band ~ Whear passed away in 2021
November 13, 1921 ~ Jazz double bassist Eddie Calhoun born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA ~ Closely associated with Erroll Garner, touring and recording extensively with the pianist for about a decade including on the acclaimed Concert By The Sea album released in 1955. An in-demand sideman, Calhoun is also present on recordings by Ahmad Jamal (Piano Scene Of Ahmad Jamal), Willis Jackson, Roger Ramirez, and Horace Henderson ~ Calhoun passed away in 1993November 13, 1915 ~ Leon Jerry Guthrie, commonly known as Western swing singer Jack Guthrie, born in Olive, Oklahoma, USA ~ Best known for his 1945 hit Oklahoma Hills, a rewritten version of Woody Guthrie's Oklahoma Hills. The two were cousins ~ Guthrie passed away in 1948
November 13, 1915 ~ Actor, singer, songwriter Miguel Aceves Mejía born in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico ~ Enjoyed popularity during the golden age of Mexican film. Dubbed “the God of Ranchera” starred in over 60 films and recorded over 1,500 songs. Known for songs such as El Pastor, Se Me Hizo Fácil, Yo Tenia Un Chorro De Voz, Vaya Con Dios, La Malagueña Salerosa, Cuatro Caminos, El Pescado Nadador, and Oh Gran Dios ~ Mejía passed away in 2006