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 28, 1976 ~ Pianist, organist, choirmaster, film composer Robert Fleming passed away in Ottawa, Canada ~ Best known as a film composer closely associated with Canada's National Film Board, serving as staff composer from 1946 to 1958 and subsequently as its music director until 1970. Has written over 200 scores for film, documentaries and TV including for the 1953 documentary Herring Hunt and the 1962 Canada At Waar documentary series ~ Fleming was born in 1921
November 28, 1975 ~ Drummer Christopher McGuire born ~ Co-founding member of 12 Rods through 1999. Member of Quruli, initially employed as temporary replacement for the summer festivals yet a full-time member in 2003 through late 2004. Member of Kid Dakota. In-demand session and touring musician working with artists such as the Legendary Jim Ruiz Group, the Melismatics, John Vanderslice, Mark Mallman, the Court & Spark, the Mountain Goats and Communist Daughter. Has also served as producer for Squadcar, Barfly and Great Girls BlouseNovember 28, 1974 ~ While performing at Madison Square Garden, New York, singer Elton John is joined by John Lennon, making good on a bet he lost ~ John had bet John Lennon that Whatever Gets You Thru The Night, Lennon's latest single, would reach the No.1 spot on the American charts. Lennon would lose the bet, owing Elton John the guest appearance. The pair perform Lennon's hit and two of the Beatles songs, I Saw Her Standing There and Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. It would be Lennon's only solo Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit. The guest appearance would also be the last concert appearance for Lennon, who would be shot by a deranged fan in 1980
November 28, 1974 ~ Electronic, house, trance keyboardist, guitarist Sacha Collisson born ~ Formed the house duo Aurora with keyboardist Simon Greenaway. They are known for their 2001 Ordinary World track featuring guest vocalist Naimee Coleman which reached top 10 in both the UK and Ireland. Originally the song had been a hit for Duran Duran in 1993
November 28, 1974 ~ Davis Styles, commonly known as rapper Styles P, born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Member of hip-hop group the LOX alongside Sheek Louch and Jadakiss, known best for their 1998 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Money Power & Respect featuring DMX and Lil' Kim. As a solo artist has well over a dozen albums to his name, starting with A Gangster And A Gentleman released in 2002. Also noted for his collaborations with DJ Green Lantern, Talib Kweli, Berner, and Dave East
November 28, 1972 ~ Pop, surf outfit the Beach Boys record Sail On Sailor at Village, Los Angeles, USA ~ Written by Ray Kennedy and Jack Rieley. Released the following February featuring Only With You on the flip side and included on the 1973 Holland albumNovember 28, 1972 ~ Heavy metal guitarist, drummer, keyboardist, bassist, songwriter Jesper Strömblad, full name Cias Håkan Jesper Strömblad, born in Gothenburg, Sweden ~ Best known as co-founding member, multi-instrumentalist of melodic death metal band In Flames. Guitarist for Sinergy. Bassist of Ceremonial Oath. Drummed with Hammerfall. Has also worked with Dimension Zero, All Ends, Resistance, Cyhra, Nightrage
November 28, 1971 ~ Leif Nagell, commonly known as black metal, speed metal, dark ambient guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboardist, singer Fenriz, born in Kolbotn, Norway ~ Best known for forming the extreme metal duo Darkthrone with Nocturno Culto. Famed for his encyclopedic knowledge of metal music. Rejects both the business side of music and the dark image of black metal. Has recorded as a solo artist, including under the monikers Isengard and Neptune Towers, and is an in-demand collaborator, working with artists such as Valhall, Black Death, Dødheimsgard, Storm, Satyricon, Red Harvest, and the Trashcan DarlingsNovember 28, 1970 ~ Heavy metal, power metal guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter Steve Smyth born in California, USA ~ Founded One Machine, known for their acclaimed 2014 The Distortion Of Lies And The Overdriven Truth album. Member of thrash metal supergroup From Hell. Has also worked with Vicious Rumors, Dragonlord, Nevermore, HateSphere, the Esseness Project, Intense, Forbidden, and Testament
November 28, 1968 ~ Pop, surf outfit the Beach Boys record Little Bird at Beach Boys Studio, Los Angeles, California ~ Written primarily by Brian Wilson, credited to Dennis Wilson and Stephen Kalinich. Included on the 1968 Friends album. Used as the B-side of the Friends single released in April 1968November 28, 1968 ~ Pop, dance-pop, pop-rock, R&B producer, songwriter Herbie Crichlow born in UK ~ In-demand producer, songwriter worked with Max Martin, RedOne, David Franks, Denniz Pop, 3T, the Backstreet Boys (Quit Playing Games With My Heart), Zayn Malik, Robyn, Leila K (Open Sesame), Rita Ora (Kiss Me), 5ive, and O-Town
November 28, 1962 ~ Singer, keyboardist, songwriter Denny DeMarchi born in Toronto, Canada ~ Brother of guitarist Steve DeMarchi. Backed Dolores O'Riordan on her 2007 world tour. Toured with the Cranberries during the band's reunion tour from 2009 through 2011. Also noted for his signature keyboard notes on More Than Words Can Say, a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit for Alias in 1990 ~ DeMarchi passed away in 2020
November 28, 1962 ~ Alternative metal, alternative rock, grunge drummer, singer, songwriter Matt Cameron, full name Matthew David Cameron, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Member of Skin Yard. Rose to fame as member of Soundgarden, joining the band in 1986 as replacement for Scott Sundquist. Joined Pearl Jam in 1998. Also involved in several side projects including Temple Of The Dog, Nighttime Boogie Association, Hater, and Wellwater Conspiracy
November 28, 1961 ~ Singer Patty Zomer, full name Patricia Alida Maria Zomer, born in Haarlem, the Netherlands ~ Best known as member of pop girl group the Dolly Dots. The band would score numerous top 10 hits in the Netherlands, starting in the late 1970s, including Tell It All About Boys, Hela-do-ladi-do, STOP, Do You Wanna Wanna, She's A Liar, Dreaming Of You, and What A Night
November 28, 1958 ~ Dance-pop singer, songwriter Michael Camacho born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Along with Gary Mudbone Cooper formed the duo Sly Fox, known for their sole hit Let's Go All The Way of their 1985 album of the same name. The single would reach top 10 in America, the UK, the Netherlands, and elsewhere
November 28, 1956 ~ David Paul Day, commonly known as singer, songwriter David Van Day, born in Brighton, UK ~ Half of vocal duo Dollar, the other half being Thereza Bazar. Also a member of Guys & Dolls in the 1970s and of a latter-day line-up of Bucks Fizz in the 1990s
November 28, 1956 ~ Howard Williams Johnson, commonly known as soul, disco singer Howard Johnson, born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Founding member of Niteflyte, known for their 1979 single If You Want It. Would embark on a solo career after the band disbanded. As a solo artist best known for So Fine and Let This Dream Be Real
November 28, 1955 ~ Rock drummer, bassist, guitarist Rob Harper born in London, UK ~ Previously while in college a member of the Cafe Racers which also included Mark Knopfler, future frontman of the Dire Straits. Briefly a tour drummer with the Clash from late 1976 through early 1977. Would go on to work with a number of bands including R&B outfit the Marauders and notably as guitarist with the short-lived power pop unit the Dazzlers known for their 1979 single Lovely Crash
November 28, 1953 ~ Heavy metal, doom metal bassist Greg Mayne, full name Gregory Clifford Mayne, born ~ Member of Space Meat. Co-founding member of pioneering doom metal band Pentagram, remaining with the band from 1971 through 1976. Along with Randy Palmer Mayne briefly rejoined lead singer Bobby Liebling in 1988 working on a new album, the renewed Pentagram line-up would split up after their first performance ~ Mayne passed away in 2021
November 28, 1951 ~ Blues guitarist Peter Malick born in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA ~ While in his teens member of psychedelic rock band Listening, a prime example of what became known as the Bosstown Sound merging psychedelica, hard rock and progressive rock. Would go on to back renowned blues artists such as Otis Spann, Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker and James Cotton. Served as conductor and music director for a touring production of the musical Hair. Subsequently joined James Montgomery backing band appearing on the 1973 First Time Out album and its 1974 follow-up High Roller. Would retire from music for about two decades, reemerging in the late 1990s as a solo artist, starting with 1998's The Wrong Side Of My Life, and collaborator working with the likes of Butch Norton, Jung Yong-hwa and Norah Jones
November 28, 1949 ~ Keyboardist Paul Shaffer born in Thunder Bay, Canada ~ Best known as musical director, bandleader on David Letterman from 1982 through 2015. Also worked with Saturday Night Live, the Blues Brothers, the Mark & Clark Band, Honeydrippers, Donald Fagen, Ronnie Wood, Grand Funk Railroad, Diana Ross, BB King, Asleep At The Wheel, Cyndi Lauper, Carl Perkins, Yoko Ono, Blues Traveler, Jeff Healey, Cher, Barry Manilow, Chicago, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Nina Hagen, Robert Plant, Peter Criss, Brian Wilson, Warren Zevon, Miles Davis, Lew Soloff, Lou Marini, and Earl Scruggs. Co-wrote It's Raining Men with Paul Jabara, a hit for the Weather Girls in 1982
November 28, 1948 ~ Gerard Bertelkamp, commonly known as folk rock, soft rock, pop rock singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter Beeb Birtles born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Member of the Little River Band from 1975 through 1983, including on the band's best known such as It's A Long Way There, Help Is On Its Way and Home On Monday. Also recorded as a solo artist and worked with Zoot, Mississippi, Graham Goble, Birtles & GobleNovember 28, 1948 ~ Saxophonist, flutist, singer Dave Winthrop born ~ Member of Supertramp from 1970 through 1973, present on the band's 1971 Indelibly Stamped album and lead vocalist on Potter. Member of Chicken Shack from 1976 through 1979, rejoining in later years
November 28, 1948 ~ Operatic soprano Mariana Nicolesco born in Gaujani, Romania ~ Best known for her association with the Metropolitan Opera, performing the role of Nedda in Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci from 1978 through 1986. Has also worked with La Scala, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra ~ Nicolesco passed away in 2022