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 21, 1980 ~ Eugen K Ahn, commonly known as nerdcore rapper Adam Warrock, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Abandoned his job as a lawyer to pursue a full-time career in music. Known for his 2010 War For Infinity debut album. Has collaborated with the likes of Tribe One, Doctor Awkward, Mikal kHill, MC Lars, James Urbaniak, and Amy Gregory
October 21, 1980 ~ Christian alternative rock, pop punk, metalcore bassist Brian Pittman, full name Brian Lee Pittman, born in Canton, Ohio, USA ~ Co-founding member of Christian rock band Relient K, with whom he recorded about half a dozen album. After departing the band 2004 joined Christian metal, metalcore outfit Inhale Exhale, known for their 2006 The Lost The Sick The Sacred album
October 21, 1979 ~ Sidney Denis Prechner, commonly known as producer, radio personality, music critic Denis Preston, passed away in Hove, UK ~ Not contracted to a particular label and described as “Europe's first independent record producer”. Influential in British jazz and skiffle from the 1940s through the 1960s. Active member of the anti-racism, anti-fascism movement. Produced records by artists such as Chris Barber, Acker Bilk (Stranger On The Shore), Alex Welsh, Frank Holder, Sandy Brown, Al Fairweather, Terry Lightfoot, Kenny Baker, Humphrey Lyttelton (Bad Penny Blues), Roger Whittaker, Wout Steenhuis, Joe Harriott, Stan Tracey, Amancio d'Silva, and Guy Warren ~ Prechner was born in 1916October 21, 1978 ~ Keyboardist, keytarist, singer Henrik Klingenberg born in Kemi, Finland ~ Influenced by Kevin Moore, Jon Lord, Jens Johansson, Matt Guillory. Member of Finnish power metal outfit Sonata Arctica. Also worked with Silent Voices, Requiem, and Graveyard Shift
October 21, 1978 ~ King Malachi Street, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, songwriter Mel Street passed away in Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA ~ Regularly hit the higher echelons of the country charts for most of the 1970s. Known for songs such as Borrowed Angel, You Make Me Feel More Like A Man, I Met A Friend Of Yours Today, If I Had A Cheatin' Heart, and Smokey Mountain Memories ~ Street was born in 1933
October 21, 1978 ~ Punk rock outfit the Undertones release Teenage Kicks, later included on their eponymous debut album ~ Initially, Teenage Kicks wasn't included on the band's eponymous The Undertones debut album, but after they sent a copy of the song to renowned radio DJ John Peel, the song took off and would be included on the re-release of the album later the same year. Peel had played the song twice in a row on his radio show, something he had never done before, and has since repeatedly stated Teenage Kicks was his favorite song. Pushed on by Peel's enthusiasm for the band, Teenage Kicks would become the band's first charting single, peaking at No.31 in the UK. The band would go on to score several more hits through the 1980s, including Jimmy Jimmy, the UK No.9 hit My Perfect Cousin, Wednesday Week, and It's Going To Happen, but are most remembered for their energetic punk anthem Teenage Kicks. The band's lead singer Feargal Sharkey would score two major hits off his mid-1980s eponymous Feargal Sharkey solo debut album, as its lead single A Good Heart and its follow-up You Little Thief both reached top 10 in several countries, the former topping the charts in Australia, Belgium, Ireland, and the UK
October 21, 1977 ~ Charles Kente Williams, commonly known as rapper Keak da Sneak, born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Reportedly coined the term “hyphy” in 1994, Oakland slang meaning hyperactive and more specifically used as an adjective describing the local hip-hop culture. Formed Dual Committee at age 15 with 3x Krazy. Williams would go on to collaborate with the likes of E-40, Daz Dillinger, Akon, MC Hammer, the Alchemist, and Lil Wayne. Has recorded well over a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Sneakacydal released in 1999October 21, 1976 ~ Avant-garde, jazz, ambient, electronic, psychedelic folk, metal singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter Guillermo Gonzales born in Verona, Italy ~ Lead singer for extreme metal outfit Mothercare from 1994 through 2008. Following his departure from the band Gonzales has worked with a wide range of artists, spanning from metal to jazz and from ethnic music to progressive rock. Has worked with Ephel Duath, Mugen, Sbibu, Submarine Silence, Perfect Pair, and Tarkampa
October 21, 1976 ~ Folk, alternative country, Americana singer, guitarist, pianist, lute player, violinist, songwriter Josh Ritter born in Moscow, Idaho, USA ~ Released his eponymous 1999 Josh Ritter album while still in college and has recorded to critical acclaim since
October 21, 1975 ~ Shane Bunting, commonly known as hip-hop, hardcore rap, horrorcore rapper Madchild, born in Surrey, Canada ~ Member of Vancouver-based hip hop group the Swollen Members, known best for Bring It Home of their 2001 Bad Dreams sophomore album. Has also recorded prolifically as a solo artist, well known for the albums Dope Sick, Lawn Mower Man, and Silver Tongue Devil
October 21, 1972 ~ In its twelfth week on its charts, My Ding-A-Ling by Chuck Berry hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Though considered a bit of an oddity by critics, and certainly not up to par with his earlier rock & roll classics such as Roll Over Beethoven, Rock & Roll Music, and Johnny B Goode, all considered songs that have helped define rock & roll, the novelty song My Ding-A-Ling would become Chuck Berry's sole Billboard Hot 100 charttopper. Unlike nearly all of Berry's best known and most influential songs, My Ding-A-Ling was not written by Berry but rather by New Orleans stalwart Dave Bartholomew back in the early 1950s, based on the melody of the 19th-century folk song Little Brown Jug. The song tells of the singer receiving a toy consisting of “silver bells hanging on a string” from his grandmother, who calls them his “ding-a-ling”. However, the double entendre was so obvious that at the time of its release My Ding-A-Ling stirred quite some controversy, with several campaigning to ban the song from the radio, which several radio stations obliged to. Nevertheless, despite at best only lukewarm critical reception and the ban, it became Berry's highest-charting singleOctober 21, 1972 ~ Indie rock singer, songwriter Matthew Friedberger born in Oak Park, Illinois, USA ~ Formed the indie rock duo the Fiery Furnaces with his sister Eleanor Friedberger. Has also released solo recordings and worked with bands such as Corndolly, Liquorette, the Mezzanines, and the Grand Vizars
October 21, 1971 ~ Pop rock sibling outfit the Bee Gees record On Time at IBC Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Maurice Gibb. Produced by the band and manager Robert Stigwood. Featured as the B-side of the January 1972 non-album single My World. Both sides would be included on the 1973 The Best Of Bee Gees Volume 2 compilation album
October 21, 1968 ~ Jazz, rock, psychedelic rock keyboardist Jeff Chimenti born in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with several the Grateful Dead spin-offs and side-projects including Dead, Ratdog, Furthur, the Other Ones, the Golden Gate Wingmen, and Dead & Company
October 21, 1967 ~ In its 7th week on the charts, To Sir With Love by Lulu hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ By far her best known song, To Sir With Love was recorded for the soundtrack of the film of the same name, in which Lulu also starred alongside Sidney Poitier. At first, the singer was given only a minor role in the film after director James Clavell saw her performance opening for the Beach Boys. However, Clavell was so impressed by Lulu he expanded her role and had her record the theme song. The song would reach No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a position it held for five consecutive weeks until dethroned by Strawberry Alarm Clock's Incense And Peppermints. Lulu was only the second female British singer to top the American pop charts during the Rock era, and the third overall, preceded by Petula Clark in 1965 with Downtown, and Vera Lynn in 1952 with Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart. In the UK, To Sir With Love was never a hit on its own, issued only as the B-side to Let's Pretend, which peaked at No.11
October 21, 1967 ~ Bassist Tarus Mateen born in Bakersfield, California, USA ~ Worked with Betty Carter, Marlon Jordan, Roy Hargrove, Eddie Harris, Kenny Burrell, Milt Jackson, Mark Whitfield, Tim Warfield, Rodney Kendrick, Terence Blanchard, Kenny Barron, Bobbi Humphrey, Marc Cary, Stefon Harris, Greg Osby, Bernard Pretty Purdie, Nasheet Waits, Stanley Cowell, Mark Shim, Jacky Terrasson, Michael Marcus, Logan Richardson, Jason Moran, Bandwagon, Christina Aguilera, OutKast, Toni Braxton, Goodie Mob, Q-Tip, Lauryn Hill, Ghostface Killah, Ice Cube, and the Roots
October 21, 1965 ~ William Patton Black Jr, commonly known as bassist Bill Black, passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known as bassist backing Elvis Presley in Presley's early years. Black later formed Bill Black's Combo with whom he achieved moderate succes with songs such as White Silver Sands, Blue Tango, and Hearts Of Stone. The combo at one time or another included musicians such as Reggie Young, Chips Moman, Tommy Cogbill and William Martin Willis ~ Black was born in 1926October 21, 1964 ~ Pop singer, multi-instrumentalist Levent Yuksel born in Antalya, Turkey ~ Debuted in 1993 with the LP Med Cezir. Internationally best known for his 196 hit Zalim, which was translated into numerous languages and used in numerous ads worldwide
October 21, 1964 ~ R&B girl group Martha & the Vandellas record Nowhere To Run at Hitsville USA, Detroit, Michigan ~ Written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland Jr, with Brian and Lamont also signing on as producers. Released as a single the following year, b/w Motoring, it would reach top 10 on both the Billboard R&B and the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts and become one of the band's signature songs
October 21, 1962 ~ Delta blues, country blues, acoustic blues harpist, singer, guitarist JD Short passed away in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Cousin of Big Joe Williams and David Honeyboy Edwards. Plays a number of instruments including guitar, harmonica, piano, saxophone, drums. As a solo artist best known for songs such as Lonesome Swamp Rattlesnake and You're Tempting Me. Worked with the Neckbones, Henry Spaulding, Douglas Williams, and Son House. Re-emerged in the early 1960s blues revival ~ Short was born in 1902
October 21, 1959 ~ Rock, jazz, funk, R&B, lounge, drum and bass singer Cleveland Watkiss born in London, UK ~ Co-founder of influential jazz big band the Jazz Warriors. Praised for his smooth vocal prowess. In-demand collaborator for artist from a wide array of genres. Has worked with Courtney Pine, Stevie Wonder, Shakatak, James Taylor, the Working Week, the Who, Coldcut, Lisa Stansfield, Maxi Priest, Goldie, Björk, Talvin Singh, Bob Dylan, Jackie Mittoo, Keith Richards, Art Blakey, Sly & Robbie, Carlinhos Brown, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Carlinhos Brown, Robbie Williams, Joe Cocker, Bobby McFerrin, Janet Kay, Soul II Soul, Kenny Wheeler, Sugar Minott, the London Community Gospel Choir, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the London Chamber Orchestra
October 21, 1959 ~ Alternative rock, punk singer, keyboardist Dana Kletter born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Formed blackgirls with Eugenia Lee Johnson and Hollis Brown, critically described as a dark art folk trio. They are acclaimed for the albums Procedure and Happy, released respectively in 1989 and 1991. Following the band's disbandement Kletter would form alternative rock band Dish, drawing from guitar-driven garage rock and piano-based pop. Kletter has also recorded as a solo artist, guested on Hole's Live Through This, and is a published authorOctober 21, 1959 ~ Pop, new wave, neofolk singer, guitarist, keyboardist, drummer Rose McDowall born in Glasgow, UK ~ Active since the late 1970s. Member of art-punk trio Poems. Formed the duo Strawberry Switchblade with Jill Bryson, known for their 1984 UK top 10 hit Since Yesterday. Formed the 1990s folk-rock outfit Sorrow, with whom she recorded two albums. Has also worked with Current '93, Felt, Death In June, Coil, Spell, and Sol Invictus
October 21, 1958 ~ Michael Schermick, commonly known as glam metal, hard rock guitarist Michael Kelly Smith, born in Pennsylvania, USA ~ Member of Cinderella. After his departure from the band co-founded Britny Fox with former bandmate drummer Tony Destra
October 21, 1958 ~ Rock bassist Paul Abrahams born in Sydney, Australia ~ Member of the Reels, present on the band's first two albums, namely The Reels released in 1979 and its follow-up Quasimodo's Dream released in 1981. Abrahams has also worked with Tommy Emmanuel, Rat Tat Tat, Chris Bettro, Peter Blakeley, and Wendy Matthews