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 14, 1973 ~ Club, dance, R&B singer Adina Howard born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA ~ Rose to fame during the mid 1990s with her album Do You Wanna Ride, spawning the hit single Freak Like Me. Also known for songs such as What's Love Got To Do With It with Warren G, Freak And U Know It, Nasty Grind, Freaks with Play 'n Skillz & Krayzie Bone, and T-Shirt & Panties featuring Jamie FoxxNovember 14, 1972 ~ Douglas Payne Jr, commonly known as bassist, singer Dougie Payne, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Best known as bassist, backing vocalist of Scottish pop-rock band Travis. Ocassional lead vocalist such as on Little Bit Of Soul and The Distance. Songwriter responsible for tracks such as The Score, Know Nothing, Colder and Something Anything. The latter, taken from the band's 6th studio album, would be the band's first single not written by Fran Healey
November 14, 1972 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Will Hoge born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Drew attention in the 1990s through constant touring leading to a record deal with Atlantic Records in the early 2000s, who re-released his 2001 Caroussel followed by the underpromoted Blackbird On A Lonely Wire in 2003. Perhaps best known for You Make Me Happy, used as the theme song to the sitcom Still Standing, aired on CBS from 2002 through 2006. Has guested on recordings by Shinedown, David Nail, Amy Grant. Songs written by Hoge have been recorded by the Eli Young Band, Ted Russell Kamp and notably Lady Antebellum (Better Off (Now That You're Gone))
November 14, 1970 ~ Rock, indie rock, power pop, alternative rock singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, drummer, songwriter Brendan Benson born in Royal Oak, Michigan, USA ~ Recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with One Mississippi released in 1996. Benson has also served as producer for the Greenhornes, Nice Device, the Mood Elevator, and Whirlwind Heat, and was a member of indie rock supergroup the Raconteurs, which also included guitarist Jack White of the White Stripes
November 14, 1970 ~ Family outfit the Osmonds release One Bad Apple, lifted off their eponymous Osmonds album ~ Written by FAME Music staff songwriter George Jackson, who initially had the Jackson 5 in mind. Many consider One Bad Apple a Donny Osmond single, as he sang the lead vocals, but Donny would not record as a solo artist until 1971. For the Osmonds, One Bad Apple, telling a girl that one bad experience shouldn't dictate her behavior, would be the first charting single and one of their biggest hits, holding the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 spot for five consecutive weeks in early-1971November 14, 1968 ~ Jazz saxophonist Hilton Jefferson passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for leading Cab Calloway's saxophone section from 1940 through 1949. Had previously worked with Claude Hopkins, Chick Webb, Fletcher Henderson, and McKinney's Cotton Pickers. After Calloway worked with Duke Ellington before retiring from music ~ Jefferson was born in 1903
November 14, 1967 ~ Massimo Pezzali, commonly known as pop singer, songwriter Max Pezzali, born in Pavia, Italy ~ Lead singer and primary songrwriter of pop rock band 883. The band is known for songs such as Non Me La Menare, Sei Un Mito and Come Mai, all of which topped the charts in the band's native Italy. Ventured out on his own after the band disbanded, releasing his Il mondo Insieme A Te in 2004, going on to become one of italy's most popular singersNovember 14, 1967 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Nina Gordon, full name Nina Rachel Gordon Shapiro, born in Chicago, Illinois ~ Co-founding member of Veruca Salt present on the band's first two albums 1994's American Thighs and 1997's Eight Arms To Hold You. Wrote the band's hit singles Seether and Volcano Girls. Released her solo debut, Tonight And The Rest Of My Life, in 2000 which also featured Veruca bandmate and brother Jim Shapiro. Rejoined Veruca Salt in 2015
November 14, 1966 ~ Conductor Charles Hazlewood born ~ Conducted a wide array of orchestras including the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchesta, the Copenhagen Philharmonic, the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Concertgebouw Orchestra. Hazlewood has collaborated with a host of musicians from outside classical music such as Squarepusher, Goldie, Wyclef Jean, Labrinth, Adrian Utley, Jason Yarde, Will Gregory, Andy Sheppard, Graham Fitkin, and Jarvis CockerNovember 14, 1965 ~ Indie pop, indie rock singer Stuart A Staples, full name Stuart Ashton Staples, born in Basford, UK ~ Lead singer, guitarist of critics darling indie rock outfit the Tindersticks. The band is especially acclaimed for their first two albums, 1993's Tindersticks and 1995's Tindersticks II. Following the band's initial disbandement Staples has fronted Asphalt Ribbons, recorded as a solo artist and composed a number of soundtracks
November 14, 1963 ~ Rock, grunge drummer Aaron Burckhard born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Original drummer of Nirvana, remaining with the band through late-1987 succeeded by Dale Crover. Only appears on some tracks of With The Lights Out, a box set released in 2004 consisting of previously unreleased recordingsNovember 14, 1963 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Jeff Holdsworth born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Founding member of rock band Phish. Wrote the concert favorites Possum and Camel Walk. Left the band in 1986 shortly before the band recorded their The White Tape debut album
November 14, 1962 ~ Pop, rock & roll singer Billy Fury records Like I've Never Been Gone at Decca Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Paul Hampton and Camille Monte. Recorded by country singer Chase Webster earlier the same year. Billy Fury's single, paired with What Do You Think You're Doing Of on the flip side, would reach UK top 10
November 14, 1962 ~ Singer, songwriter Bob Dylan records Mixed-Up Confusion at Columbia Recording Studio, New York, New York ~ Penned by Bob Dylan. Produced by John Hammond Jr. Recorded with an electric band consisting of George Barnes and Bruce Langthorne on guitars, Dick Wellstood piano, Gene Ramey bass, Herbie Lovelle drums. The song would serve as Dylan's first single b/w Corinna Corinna released the following December. Only the B-side would be included on Dylan's The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan sophomore album, making it the only electric track on the otherwise acoustic album
November 14, 1962 ~ Bassist Charlie Angus, full name Charles Joseph Angus, born in Timmins, Canada ~ Founded punk band L'Étranger with Andrew Cash, known best for their anti-apartheid song One People. Co-founded alternative folk group Grievous Angels. Member of Parliament for the NDP since 2004November 14, 1961 ~ Antonio González Flores, commonly known as rock, pop, flamenco singer, guitarist, pianist, actor Antonio Flores, born in Madrid, Spain ~ Brother of singers Lolita Flores and Rosario Flores. Best known for Cosas Mias, his fourth and final album released in 1995. His previous albums had been commercially unsuccessful yet in hindsight Flores would posthumously be acclaimed as one of Spain's most influential artists ~ Flores passed away in 1995
November 14, 1961 ~ Pop, rock & roll singer Billy Fury records I'd Never Find Another You at Decca Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Previously recorded by Tony Orlando, released earlier the same year. Paired with Sleepless Nights on the B-side the single would reach top 10, making it Billy Fury's second Orlando-cover, the previous one being Halfway To Paradise also written by Goffin & King, to do so
November 14, 1960 ~ In its 8th week on the charts, Georgia On My Mind by Ray Charles hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ This song dates back to the early 1930s, first recorded by Hoagy Carmichael, who co-wrote the song with lyricist Stuart Gorrell. It would, however, become most closely associated with Georgia-born singer, pianist Ray Charles who recorded it for his The Genius Hits The Road album in 1960. The Charles version would be designated the official state song by the State of Georgia in 1979. Both versions would eventually be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Charles cover in 1993, the original Carmichael recording in 2014. It is possible that Georgia On My Mind is written about a woman rather than the state. At the time they wrote the song, neither Carmichael nor Gorrell lived in Georgia, but Carmichael did have a sister named Georgia. Other than Carmichael and Charles, the song has been recorded by over an estimated 1,000 artistsNovember 14, 1959 ~ Albert Wichard, commonly known as blues, jazz drummer Al Wichard or Al Cake Wichard, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ In-demand sideman and session drummer best known for his association with the Bihari Brothers, sibling founders of Modern Records and several subsidiaries considered pivotal in the transformation of black oriented R&B into rock & roll. Over the course of his career, Wichard has worked in various bands led by Johnny Alston, at times alongside bandmates such as King Fleming, Wilbert Baranco, and Addison Farmer. Recorded with Jimmy Witherspoon through the early 1950s. Led his own combo, the Al Wichard Sextette, with whom he has backed Hoagy Carmichael, and was a member of James von Streeter's septet. Wichard has also notably recorded with Wynona Carr, Brother Joe May, and Little Willie Littlefield. Wichard made a cameo appearance as a drummer in a jazz club scene in the 1950 film DOA, a Rudolph Maté directed film noir considered a classic of the genre ~ Wichard was born ca.1919
November 14, 1956 ~ Folk, blues, sertanejo, chamamé, guarania singer, violist, guitarist, songwriter, actor Almir Sater, full name Almir Eduardo Melke Sater, born in Campo Grande, Brazil ~ Influenced by Tião Carreiro & Pardinho, Tonico & Tinoco and Délia & Delinha. First gained attention in 1980 when Sergio Reis recorded his composition Sonhos Guaranis. Would release his Estradeiro solo debut album the following year and has recorded to critical acclaim since. Especially acclaimed for the 2018 AR album, a collaborative effort with Renato Teixeira
November 14, 1954 ~ Yiannis Chryssomallis, commonly known as keyboardist, producer, songwriter Yanni, born in Kalamata, Greece ~ Draws from numerous genres including jazz, classical, soft rock and world music. Best known for his 1994 Live At The Acropolis album, reportedly one of the all-time best-selling concert albums. Has had well over a dozen albums chart the Billboard New Age album charts
November 14, 1952 ~ John Antonopoulos, commonly known as rock, jazz, blues guitarist Johnny A, born in Malden, Massachusetts, USA ~ Rose to local fame in the Boston area in the 1970s with his band the Streets, known for singles such as What Gives. The band would also serve as support act for artists such as Aerosmith and Bob Seger. Would go on to front the bands Hidden Secret and Hearts On Fire in the 1980s, again reaching local succes. Sessioned throughout the 1990 with Mingo Lewis, Delaney & Bonnie and Bobby Whitlock. Guitarist and musical director for former the J Geils Band-frontman Peter Wolf, co-produced the latter's 1996 Long Line album. Has recorded as a solo artist since the late 1990sNovember 14, 1951 ~ Bassist Alec John Such born in Yonkers, New York, USA ~ Member of Bon Jovi from its inception in 1983 through 1994. Present on the band's best known including the 1987 Slippery When Wet album which would go on to sell over 20 million copies and spawn the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits You Give Love A Bad Name, Livin' On A Prayer and Wanted Dead Or Alive ~ Such passed away in 2022
November 14, 1951 ~ Pop rock, glam rock drummer Barry Brandt born ~ Drummer of Angel from 1975 to 1981, rejoining on occasion. The band was discovered by Kiss guitarist Gene Simmons and known for their androgynous image. Slammed by rock critics and ridiculized by Frank Zappa in the song Punky's Whips, the band never achieved mass commercial succes but enjoyed a cult followingNovember 14, 1950 ~ Country, folk singer Colleen Peterson, full name Colleen Susan Peterson, born in Peterborough, Canada ~ Member of 3's A Crowd. Member of Quartette. Solo artist. Cast in Canadian 1970 production of Hair. Also worked with the Charlie Daniels Band, Gordon Lightfoot, Tom Waits, Ry Cooder, Waylon Jennings, Roger Miller, Janie Fricke, Marty Stuart. As a songwriter had her work recorded by Anne Murray, Ronnie Prophet and by Sylvia Tyson ~ Peterson passed away in 1996
November 14, 1950 ~ Rock, pop guitarist Leo van de Ketterij born in Vlissingen, the Netherlands ~ Best known as member of Shocking Blue in 1970 and 1971 succeeding Robbie van Leeuwen. Has also worked with the Flying Arrows, Flarth, Universal Delight, Minisink Townhouse, the Cave, and with the L&C Band, the latter also including his wife singer Cindy Tamo ~ Van de Ketterij passed away in 2021