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.
October 16, 1978 ~ Abel Talámantez Mendoza, commonly known as singer, songwriter, producer Abel Talámantez born in Pecos, Texas, USA ~ Member of Los Envivo Kings. Has previously worked with Menudo during the 1990s and its spin-off group MDO, as well as with La Sombra, Kumbia Kings, and AB Quintanilla
October 16, 1978 ~ Jazz bassist, composer Eva Kruse born in Hamburg, West Germany ~ Classically trained pianist. Best known as bassist, both on upright bass and bass guitar. Actively recording since the early 2000s. Worked with Firomanum, Arne Jansen, Bunky Green, Bugge Wesseltoft, Nils Landgren, and Niels Klein
October 16, 1977 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter John Mayer born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA ~ Formed the short-lived duo Lo-Fi Masters with Clay Cook. After the duo disbanded would play local clubs before gaining serious exposure at the 2001 South By Southwest, landing him a record deal with Aware Records and eventually Columbia Records. His 2001 full-length Room For Squares and its 2003 Heavier Things would both reach platinum status. Well known songs include No Such Thing, Your Body Is A Wonderland, Daughters, Waiting On The World To Change, Say and Who Says, all of which reached top 20 Billboard Hot 100
October 16, 1974 ~ Producer, songwriter Björn Yttling born in Umea, Sweden ~ One third of Peter Bjorn & John, the other two being Peter Moren and John Eriksson. Co-founded Ingrid. Member of Liv. Also worked with Yttling Jazz, Lykke Li, Chrissie Hynde, Primal Scream, Franz Ferdinand, Sahara Hotnights, Anna Ternheim, the Shout Out Louds, the Hives, Taken By Trees, Nicolai Dunger, Caesar's Palace, Marit Bergman, the International Noise Conspiracy, Moneybrother, Robyn, the Deportees, Camera Obscura, the Concretes, Eldkvarn, the Shins, Sarah Blasko, Natasha Bedingfield, Alex Winston, Benjamin Clémentine, Kygo, Neko Case, and Freja the Dragon
October 16, 1973 ~ Jazz, swing, Dixieland drummer Gene Krupa, full name Eugene Bertram Krupa, passed away in Yonkers, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. One of the first superstar drummers. Influenced by Tubby Hall, Zutty Singleton, Baby Dodds. Noted for his drum solos on the 1937 Benny Goodman recording of Sing Sing Sing (With A Swing) as well as on the 1938 Live At Carnegie Hall performance. Has worked with Red McKenzie, Eddie Condon, Martha Tilton, Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Ventura, and Eddie Shu ~ Krupa was born in 1909October 16, 1972 ~ Anders Trentemøller, mononymously known as alternative rock, indietronica, techno, ambient producer Trentemøller, born in Vordingborg, Denmark ~ Cites Siouxsie & the Banshees, My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Joy Division, and Depeche Mode as influences. Actively recording since the mid 2000s. Well-known for his first three albums, The Last Resort, Into The Great Wide Open, and Lost, all of which reached top 5 in his native Denmark
October 16, 1969 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, drummer, songwriter Jon Poole, full name Jonathan Charles Poole, born in Hertfordshire, UK ~ Brother of session bassist Ed Poole and jazz trombonist Cathi Poole. Draws mostly from punk rock, progressive rock and hard rock but is also influenced by jazz, disco, soul, new wave, synth-pop and other genres. Guitarist for the Cardiacs. Bassist for the Wildhearts and for Lifesigns. Frontman of the God Damn Whores. Co-fronts Dowling Poole with Willie Dowling. Has also worked with Ablemesh, Dr Brighton, Celebricide, and has recorded as a solo artist, notably the Frank Zappa-tribute album Mothers Covers released in 1994
October 16, 1969 ~ Lejzor Szmuel Czyz, commonly known as producer, label executive Leonard Chess passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Co-founded Chess Records with his brother Phil Chess. The label, once described by music critic Cub Koda as “America's greatest blues label”, would become pivotal to the development of blues, electric blues and rock & roll with landmark recordings by Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Gene Ammons, Jimmy Rogers, Rufus Thomas, Doctor Ross, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry, Etta James, Fontella Bass, Koko Taylor, and Little Milton. One of the Chicago-based label's studios was immortalized in the Rolling Stones-instrumental 2120 South Michigan Avenue recorded for their 1964 Five By Five EP ~ Czyz was born in 1917
October 16, 1969 ~ Singer Wendy Wilson born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Daughter of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford of the Honeys. Co-founded Wilson Phillips with sister Carnie Wilson and childhood friend Chynna Phillips, known for a string of 1990s hits including Hold On, You're In Love, The Dream Is Still Alive and You Won't See Me Cry
October 16, 1968 ~ Pop rock, soft rock, roots rock outfit Three Dog Night release their eponymous Three Dog Night debut album ~ Nobody, the album's lead single, would fail to make the Billboard Hot 100. However, its follow-up Try A Little Tenderness reached top 30, and One, the album's third and final single, reached top 10, peaking at No.5. The album itself would reach top 20 on the album charts, peaking at No.11 Billboard Hot 200. The band would continue to enjoy popularity through the mid 1970s, scoring over a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hits, including the charttoppers Mama Told Me (Not To Come), Joy To The World, and Black & WhiteOctober 16, 1965 ~ Jazz vibraphonist Anthony Kerr born in Belfast, UK ~ Worked with Georgie Fame, Charlie Watts, the BBC Big Band, Robbie Williams, Joe Lovano, Jacquie Dankworth, Courtney Pine, David Friedman, Kenny Werner, John Taylor, Louis Stewart, Peter King, Norma Winstone, Mike Westbrook, Ian Shaw, Dale Barlow, Justin Woodward, Stewe Brown, Geoff Gascoyne, and Kathryn Williams
October 16, 1962 ~ Michael Peter Balzary, commonly known as bassist Flea, born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Co-founding member of pivotal rock, alternative rock group the Red Hot Chili Peppers, drawing from idioms as diverse as funk, punk rock, hard rock, hip hop, psychedelic rock. With well over a 100 million records sold the band ranks as one of the all-time best-selling acts and has scored the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Under The Bridge, Scar Tissue and Dani California. Also a member of supergroups Atoms For Peace, ANTEMASQUE and Rocket Juice & the Moon, and has guested on recordings by Pigface, the Mars Volta, Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, Alanis Morissette, Young MC, the Circle Jerks, Fear, Nirvana, and Jane's Addiction
October 16, 1961 ~ Mark Howard James, commonly known as hip hop DJ, producer the 45 King, born ~ His stagename comes from his ability to make beats using obscure 45 RPM records. First gained attention with his 1987 breakbeat track The 900 Number, featuring a looping of a sax solo from Marva Whitney's 1968 Unwind Yourself recording. Not only did his breakbeat track land him a production deal, it would become a hip hop classic sampled by numerous artists. James is also especially acclaimed for his extensive work on Queen Latifah's 1989 All Hail The Queen debut album, serving as co-producer, co-songwriter on nearly half the album's tracks including Dance For Me ~ James passed away in 2023
October 16, 1961 ~ Author, music journalist, radio DJ, TV personality Leo Blokhuis born in Zevenbergen, the Netherlands ~ Known to the public best for his involvement with the long-running Top 2000 à Go-Go TV show presenting a yearly listener poll of all-time greatest songs and for various roles for national radio stations 3FM, NPO Radio 6 and Radio 2. Regarded an authority on pop music for his near-encyclopedic knowledge, earning him both the nickname “Popprofessor” and the 2008 Pop Media Prijs. Authored or co-authored about a dozen books on pop music, debuted as a novelist in 2019 with Blauwe Zomer. Has worked on over half a dozen theater shows, mostly with his wife actress, singer Ricky Koole, starting with Harmonium in 2007, presenting forgotten songs and composers
October 16, 1960 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Bob Mould born in Malone, New York, USA ~ Best known as guitarist, singer, songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s. Has also released solo albums and collaborated with Blowoff, Anton Fier, Tony Maimone, Ground Zero, the Golden Palominos, the Foo Fighters, the 6ths, Throwing Muses, and Soul AsylumOctober 16, 1960 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, singer Gary Kemp born in Islington, UK ~ Co-founding member and principal songwriter of Spandau Ballet, having written or co-written all of the band's UK charting singles including True, Gold, Through The Barricades and Only When You Leave.
October 16, 1960 ~ Pianist, singer, composer Leila Pinheiro born in Belem, Brazil ~ Bossa nova singer. Debuted in 1983 with the eponymous Leila Pinheiro album and has recorded steadily since. Worked with Antônio Carlos Jobim, João Donato, Ivan Lins, Francis Hime, Toninho Horta, the Zimbo Trio, Pat Metheny, Baden Powell, and Toquinho
October 16, 1956 ~ Rockabily, rock & roll singer Gene Vincent records Double Talkin' Baby at Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee ~ Under the supervision of producer Ken Nelson, Gene Vincent and his backing unit the Blue Caps record Double Talkin' Baby as well as Hold Hug Me Rock Me and Unchained Melody
October 16, 1956 ~ Rock & roll singer Little Richard records Send Me Some Lovin' at J&M Music Shop, Louisiana, USA ~ Written by John Marascalco and Leo Price. Produced by Robert Bumps Blackwell. The song would be first released as the B-side of the Little Richard's 1957 Lucille single. Notable covers include Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, Gene Vincent and John Lennon. Richard also recorded The Girl Can't Help It and Baby Face during the same session, backed by Lee Allen and Alvin Tyler on saxophones, Edgar Blanchard guitar, Frank Fields bass and Earl Palmer drums
October 16, 1956 ~ Conductor, violinist Marin Alsop born in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Symphony, the Scottish National Orchestra, and the City Of London Sinfonia
October 16, 1954 ~ Saxophonist Tim Berne born in Syracuse, New York, USA ~ Leader, co-leader, sideman. Renowned avant-garde saxophonist, heavily influenced by R&B. Over a dozen albums to his name as a leader, acclaimed especially for the albums 7x, Mutant Variations and Fulton Street Maul. Closely associated with Paraphrase, Big Satan, Hardcell. Has also worked with Bill Frisell, Marilyn Crispell, Michael Formanek, Bruno Chevillon, Umberto Petrin, Drew Gress, Ingrid Laubrock, David Torn, and John Zorn
October 16, 1953 ~ No wave, new wave, punk rock bassist George Scott III born in Burlington, Iowa, USA ~ Known for role in late 1970s New York no wave movement influential on later acts such as Sonic Youth, working with artists such as the Contortions, the Human Switchboard, John Cale, and Lydia Lunch. Following his death at age 26 of a heroin overdose, 8 Eyed Spy would call it quits. Another band, the Raybeats, however which was also co-founded by Scott would continue with Danny Amis taking over Scott's bass duties ~ Scott passed away in 1980
October 16, 1953 ~ Rock, space rock, progressive rock, hard rock keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, singer Tony Carey born in Watsonville, California, USA ~ First gained attention guesting on Rainbow's 1976 acclaimed Rising, especially noted for his keyboard work on the tracks Tarot Woman and A Light In The Black. Has since recorded well over a dozen albums as a solo artist and as primary force, frontman of Planet P Project. Has guested on recordings by Pat Travers, Omega, Jennifer Rush, Joe Cocker, Chris Norman, Sinner, José Carreras, and Evil Masquerade
October 16, 1952 ~ Bassist Cordell Boogie Mosson born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA ~ Member of United Soul alongside Garry Shider, known for several early 1970s George Clinton-produced tracks including I Miss My Baby and Baby I Owe You Something Good. Cordell continued to work with Clinton as a member of both Parliament and Funkadelic ~ Mosson passed away in 2013
October 16, 1952 ~ Lutenist Jakob Lindberg born in Djursholm, Sweden ~ Best known for recording the complete works for lute of John Dowland. Also known as an acclaimed interpreter of Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Luigi Boccherini and Joseph Haydn. Has accompanied artists such as Nigel Rogers, Ian Partridge, Emma Kirkby, Anne Sofie von Otter. Has collaborated with the English Concert, the Academy of Ancient Music, the Taverner Choir, the Monteverdi Choir, the Purcell Quartet and the Chaiaroscuro QuartetOctober 16, 1952 ~ Trombonist, sousaphonist, singer Ray Anderson born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Anthony Braxton, Barry Altschul, George Gruntz, David Murray, Charlie Haden, Dr John, Luther Allison, Bennie Wallace, Gerry Hemingway, Henry Threadgill, John Scofield, Roscoe Mitchell, Randy Sandke, Bobby Previte, James E Pugh, George Russell, and Han Bennink