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 17, 1980 ~ Guitarist, pianist, singer Isaac Hanson, full name Clarke Isaac Hanson, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Member of pop rock unit Hanson, centered around Isaac and his younger brothers Taylor Hanson and Zac Hanson. The band shot to fame with their Billboard Hot 100 No.1 single Mmmbop off their 1997 Middle Of Nowhere debut album while all three brothers were still in their early to mid-teens. The single I Will Come To You of the same album also reached top 10. The siblings recorded about a dozen albums since, but failed to repeat their earlier success
November 17, 1979 ~ Rock, blues rock, progressive rock, progressive folk bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer John Glascock passed away in London, UK ~ Member of Carmen from 1972 through 1975, including on the acclaimed Fandangos In Space album. Member of Jethro Tull from 1976 until his death in 1979. Praised as “the best bass player in rock” by Ritchie Blackmore. Has also worked with the Gods, Head Machine, Toe Fat, Chicken Shack, Maddy Prior, and Richard Digance ~ Glascock was born in 1951
November 17, 1978 ~ Shock rock singer Alice Cooper releases From The Inside, his fourth solo studio album ~ A concept album inspired by Alice Cooper's stay in a New York asylum due to his alcoholism, each of the characters in the songs based on actual people he met there. The album's lead single How You Gonna See Me Now, written by Alice Cooper, Bernie Taupin and Dick Wagner, would reach top 20 Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No.12November 17, 1978 ~ Jazz pianist Evans Bradshaw passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Childhood friend of pianist Phineas Newborn Jr, reportedly turning Newborn on to the ivories. While working a day job in a auto factory, Bradshaw was spotted during a side gig and given the opportunity to record two albums in the late 1950s, Look Out For Evans Bradshaw and the Pieces Of Eighty-Eight. Despite his recordings being warmly received, Bradshaw has not recorded since ~ Bradshaw was born ca.1933
November 17, 1978 ~ Rock, heavy metal, hip-hop bassist, guitarist, rapper, singer Gabe Rosales born in Laguna Beach, California, USA ~ First gained attention in his late teens, appearing on Lynch Mob's Smoke This album. Would go on to record as a solo artist, noted for his 2009 Vital Nonsense, and work with a wide array of artists from numerous genres including rock, pop, fusion, funk, hip-hop and metal. Has worked with Jennifer Lopez, Fat Joe, Christina Milian, the Police's Andy Summers, and Nicole Scherzinger
November 17, 1976 ~ Actress, pop singer, songwriter Sofi Bonde born in Gothenburg, Sweden ~ A chance meeting with Roxette guitarist Micke Norde would lead to a record deal, releasing her One debut album in 2001. It would spawn the singles Back In Your Arms, Hey Boy and Little Things. Would go on to become an in-demand songwriter, her songs featured on TV shows such as Entourage, The Vampire Diaries, Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place
November 17, 1973 ~ Patrick Hall, commonly known as rapper Gangsta Pat, born in Whitehaven, Tennessee, USA ~ Son of iconic Stax/Volt session drummer Willie Hall. One of the first rap artists from Memphis to make the move from an indie to a major label, active since the start of the gangsta rap era. Released his No.1 Suspect debut album in 1991
November 17, 1972 ~ Anti-folk singer, guitarist Kimya Dawson born in Bedford, New York, USA ~ Earned a cult following and critical acclaim as member of anti-folk duo the Moldy Peaches alongside Adam Green, best known for their 2001 recording Anyone Else But You. Dawson has recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with 2002's I'm Sorry That Sometimes I'm Mean. Has also collaborated with Ben Kweller, Antsy Pants, the Bundles, the Uncluded, Aesop Rock, They Might Be Giants, the Mountain Goats, Third Eye Blind, and Regina SpektorNovember 17, 1967 ~ Guitarist, producer Michael Andrews born in San Diego, California, USA ~ Also goes by the moniker Elgin Park. Founding member of the Greyboy Allstars. Best known for the Tears For Fears-cover Mad World recorded with Gary Jules for the Donnie Darko soundtrack
November 17, 1967 ~ R&B, pop, new jack swing, hip hop singer Ronnie DeVoe, full name Ronald Boyd DeVoe Jr, born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, USA ~ Member of new jack swing outfit New Edition, the band name being a reference to the Jackson 5 and the Jacksons, and known for hits such as Cool It Now, If It Isn't Love and I'm Still In Love With You. Following the band's disbandement in 1990 DeVoe would form Bell Biv DeVoe with bandmates Ricky Bell and Michael Bivins, the band's Poison debut album would sell 5 million copies and spawns the hit singles Poison, Do Me, BBD (I Thought It Was Me), When Will I See You Smile and Dope all reaching top 10 Billboard R&B
November 17, 1967 ~ R&B outfit Sly & the Family Stone release Dance To The Music, lifted off the album of the same name ~ At the insistence of CBS Records executive Clive Davis the band toned their radical sound down on Dance To The Music. When they heard the end result, none of the band members were particularly thrilled. However, it did the trick as Dance To The Music would be the band's first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, peaking at No.8. The hit single also garnered the band attention from mainstream audiences while still keeping their distinctive and in retrospect pioneering sound featuring rock guitar riffs, a funky bass, syncopated drums, a gospel-styled organ, and prominent horns
November 17, 1966 ~ Jazz bassist, composer Ben Allison born in New Haven, Connecticut, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Key figure in the Herbie Nichols Project. Formed the loose collective the Jazz Composers Collective and served as its director from 1992 until its disbandement in 2005. The collective is known for a series of annual concerts, premiering over 300 works by some 50 composers. Well over a dozen albums as a leader. Guested on recordings by Frank Kimbrough, Michael Blake, Ted Nash, Lee Konitz, Curtis Stigers, and Larry Goldings
November 17, 1966 ~ Singer, songwriter Jeff Buckley, full name Jeffrey Scott Buckley, born in Anaheim, California, USA ~ Son of singer Tim Buckley. Rose to fame on the strength of his sole studio album, Grace, released in 1994. Drowned at age 30 during a spontaneous evening swim. Best known for his cover of the Leonard Cohen-classic Hallelujah ~ Buckley passed away in 1997November 17, 1965 ~ Singer, violinist, guitarist, keyboardist, bassist, mandolinist, songwriter Amanda Brown, full name Amanda Gabrielle Brown, born in Australia ~ Classically trained. Best known as member of the Go-Betweens from 1986 through 1989, present on the albums Tallulah and 16 Lovers Lane. Brown also sessioned with acts such as REM, the Reels, Silverchair, David Bridie, the Cruel Sea, the Apartments, and Boxcar. Released her Incognita solo debut album in 2002
November 17, 1962 ~ In its 5th week on the charts, Big Girls Don't Cry by the Four Seasons hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe, the latter also producing the track, was inspired by a line in the 1955 western Tennessee's Partner featuring John Payne and Rhonda Fleming. When Payne's character slaps Fleming's, he asks her what she thinks about being slapped. She gets ups, composes herself, and replies: “Big girls don't cry.” Crewe jotted down the line, and wrote the song the next day. Big Girls Don't Cry was designed to sound like its predecessor, Sherry, which had first reached No.1 just two months earlier. Both songs would spend five weeks each at the top spot without appearing in year-end charts. Big Girls Don't Cry has remained popular to this day, regularly covered or referenced, and has been used in various films including perhaps most notably for the opening scene of the 1987 Dirty Dancing film, which is set in 1963November 17, 1962 ~ Composer, multi-instrumentalist Nick Pynn born ~ Plays fiddle, banjo, mandolin, mandocello, viola and violin, dulcimer, guitar, and other string instruments. Especially noted for his use of bass pedals. Worked with the Famous Potatoes, Steve Harley, Herbie Flowers, Adrian Oxaal, Richard Durrant, Jane Bom Bane, the Lost & Found Orchestra, and Kate Daisy Grant
November 17, 1961 ~ Arranger, composer, conductor Vince Mendoza born in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA ~ Best known as producer, arranger. Has worked with Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Robbie Williams, Björk, Elvis Costello, and Joni Mitchell. As a composer had his songs recorded by Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker, Charlie Haden. Served as chief conductor of het Metropole Orkest from 2005 to 2013November 17, 1958 ~ In its 8th week on the charts, Tom Dooley by the Kingston Trio hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ A traditional folk song, this murder ballad tells of an actual real-life story of the 1866 murder of Laura Foster in Wilkes County, North Carolina, by her lover Tom Dula, pronounced as “Dooley” in local dialect. The song dates back further, its exact origins unknown, yet Grayson & Whitter, a duo consisting of GB Grayson and Henry Whitter, were the first to record the song back in 1929. Folk outfit the Kingston Trio had most likely first heard it as recorded by folklorist Frank Warner in the early 1950s, and would cut the song themselves. It became their first hit, and was named Best Country & Western Performance at the very first Grammy Awards ceremony. Over the years, several other artists have recorded the song, yet the definitive hit version remains the 1958 hit by the Kingston Trio
November 17, 1957 ~ Jazz trumpeter, clarinetist Wooden Joe Nicholas passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Influenced by Buddy Bolden and Bunk Johnson. Noted for his loud volume and endurance. Worked with King Oliver, Raymond Burke, Louis Nelson, and founded and led the Camelia Brass Band. Nicholas has spent the entirety of his career in New Orleans, and is the uncle of clarinetist Albert Nicholas ~ Nicholas was born in 1883
November 17, 1955 ~ Fitzroy Edwards, commonly known as singer Edi Fitzroy, born in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica ~ First gained attention with the 1978 single Miss Molly Colly, which reached the Jamaican top 10. Soon after Fitzroy toured the UK with Mikey Dread, opening for the Clash. Went on to collaborate with noted producers such as Lloyd Norris, and Trevor Elliot (who produced Check For You Once, the singer's debut album). Fitzroy would continue to record steadily, including hits such as Princess Black and The Gun. Fitzroy would keep his day job, accountancy, until the mid 1990s before focusing solely on his music career ~ Edwards passed away in 2017November 17, 1955 ~ Ragtime, jazz stride pianist, composer James P Johnson, full name James Price Johnson, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, Fats Waller. Known for songs such as Harlem Strut, Keep Off The Grass, Carolina Shout, Worried And Lonesome Blues, and The Charleston ~ Johnson was born in 1894
November 17, 1955 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, percussionist Peter Cox, full name Peter John Cox, born in Kingston, UK ~ Half of Go West pop duo, the other half being Richard Drummie, known for hits such as We Close Our Eyes, Call Me, Faithful and King Of Wishful Thinking. Has also worked with Chris Slade, Colin Pattenden, Tony Hadley, and Bernie Nolan
November 17, 1951 ~ Eva Alaine Overstake, commonly known as country singer, guitarist Judy Martin, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ First sang at Salvation Army gatherings with her elder sisters, the trio becoming regulars on WLS Chicago radio shows by the early 1930s where they worked with Gene Autry, the Hoosier Hot Shots, and Judy's future husband Red Foley. In 1934, at age 16, Overstake married Foley, with whom she would have three daughters including singer Debby Boone. She notably collaborated with her husband on the late 1940s duets Our Christmas Waltz, Let's Go To Church (Next Sunday Morning), and Remember Me (When The Candle Lights Are Gleaming), and released several recordings as a solo singer. At age 34, Overstake took her own life by overdosing on sleeping pills, the reasons for her suicide were never made public ~ Overstake was born in 1917
November 17, 1947 ~ Folk rock, roots rock, rock guitarist, bassist, mandolinist, violinist, singer Rod Clements, full name Roderick Parry Clements, born in North Shields, UK ~ Founded Lindisfarne with Alan Hull, best known for the 1972 UK top 10 hit Meet Me On The Corner penned by Clements. Co-founded Jack The Lad with Ralph McTell and Bert Jansch. Appeared on McTell's solo hit The Streets Of London. Has also recorded as a solo artist and collaborated with the likes of Rab Noakes, Peter Hammill, Wizz Jones, and Kathryn Tickell
November 17, 1946 ~ Progressive rock, folk rock, rock guitarist, mandolinist, flutist, saxophonist, songwriter Martin Barre, full name Martin Lancelot Barre, born in King's Heath, UK ~ Lead guitarist for rock band Jethro Tull from 1968 until its disbandement in 2011, present on all of the band's recordings except their This Was debut album. The band is acclaimed for the early 1970s albums Aqualung and its follow-up Thick As Brick, both considered landmark albums in progressive rock. Barre has also recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting wih A Summer Band released in a limited edition in 1992. Guitarists such as Mark Knopfler, Joe Bonamassa, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani have cited Barre as an influence