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 28, 1968 ~ Violinist, singer Caitlin Cary born in Seville, Ohio, USA ~ Worked with Whiskeytown, the Tres Chicas, Thad Cockrell, Small Ponds, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Mitch Easter, Don Dixon, Greg Humphreys, Audley Freed, Jane Scarpantoni, the North Carolina Music Love Army, Jon Lindsay, James Olin Olden, Chris Stamey, Kenny Roby, American Aquarium, Riverbreaks, Sally Spring, Yarn, Chatham County Lines, Monty Warren, Simon Alpin, Cracker, Terry Anderson, Greg Hawks, Hazeldine, and Tami Hart
October 28, 1968 ~ Pop, rock group Jay & the Americans record This Magic Moment ~ Originally recorded by the Drifters featuring Ben E King in 1959. Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. The Americans' cover would be included on the 1969 Sands Of Time album and be used for the B-side of their Since I Don't Have You single
October 28, 1967 ~ In its 6th week on the charts, People Are Strange by the Doors peaks at No.12 Billboard Hot 100 ~ While suffering from depression, singer Jim Morrison came up with an early version of the lyrics on a walk along Laurel Canyon, overlooking the city of Los Angeles. Coming up with the lyrics not only lifted Morrison's spirits, but resulted in one of the band's most acclaimed songs, praised for its compelling lyrics, a touch of black humor used to deal with the topic of alienation. Over time, People Are Strange has become a fan favorite and one of the band's best remembered. It has also been covered by several artists including notably by Echo & the Bunnymen, produced by the Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, for the soundtrack of the 1987 film The Lost Boys
October 28, 1967 ~ Bona Pinder Yayumayalo, commonly known as jazz fusion, world fusion, ethno jazz bassist, guitarist, singer Richard Bona, born in Minta, Cameroon ~ Inspired to take up the electric bass after listening to Jaco Pastorius. Over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, especially noted for his 1999 Scenes From My Life debut album. Well known for his work backing Joe Zawinul in the mid 1990s, and Pat Metheny in the early 2000s. An in-demand sideman, Bona has appeared on albums by Eric Le Lann, Larry Coryell (Spaces Revisited), Jon Lucien, Nestor Torres, Regina Carter, Bob James, Philippe Saisse (Halfway Till Dawn), Renee Rosnes (Art And Soul), Danilo Pérez, Frank McComb, Mike Stern (Voices), Randy Brecker, Jane Monheit, Anton Fig, Bobby McFerrin, George Benson, Lokua Kanza, Lee Ritenour (Smoke 'n' Mirrors), Sadao Watanabe, Hector Martignon (Refugee), Keiko Matsui, Victor Wooten, and Lionel Loueke
October 28, 1965 ~ Jazz, R&B saxophonist Earl Bostic, full name Eugene Earl Bostic, passed away in Rochester, New York, USA ~ Pioneer of post-war R&B. Major influence on John Coltrane. Known for songs such as Flamingo, Harlem Nocturne, Temptation, Sleep, You Go To My Head, Cherokee, Special Delivery Stomp and Where Or When. Bostic has worked with sidemen such as Keter Betts, Jaki Byard, Benny Carter, Teddy Edwards, Benny Golson, Blue Mitchell, Tony Scott, Cliff Smalls, and Stanley Turrentine ~ Bostic was born in 1913October 28, 1965 ~ Singer Shawn Smith born in Spokane, Washington, USA ~ Cites Prince, Kiss, Stevie Wonder, Ice Cube, and Chris Cornell as influences. Member of Brad, Satchel, Pigeonhed, Malfunkshun, and the Twilight Singers. Has recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with Let It All Begin released in 1999 ~ Smith passed away in 2019
October 28, 1963 ~ Singer, songwriter Eros Ramazzotti born in Rome, Italy ~ Broke through with the 1993 album Tutte Storie. Has collaborated with Cher, Tina Turner, Andrea Bocelli, Patsy Kensit, Anastacia, Joe Cocker, Julio Iglesias, Lynn Davis, Ricardo Arjona, Luciano Pavarotti, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Ricky Martin, Andrea Bocelli, Celso Valli, Trevor Horn, and Rick Nowels
October 28, 1963 ~ Singer, guitarist, keyboardist Mario Venuti born in Siracuse, Italy ~ Member of Denovo, known for their 1987 Persuasione sophomore album which is considered one of the premier 1980s Italian albums. Following the band's disbandement in 1990 Venuti has recorded as a solo artist, notably known for his 2003 Veramente hit
October 28, 1960 ~ Singer Wanda Jackson records Right Or Wrong in Nashville, Tennessee ~ A major hit on the country and pop charts. Written by Wanda Jackson, produced by Ken Nelson. It would be released as a single, featuring Funnel Of Love on the B-side, in April 1961 and mark Jackson's turn to a more country-oriented sound, moving away from her late 1950s rock & roll approach
October 28, 1957 ~ Singer, baglama player Ahmet Kaya born in Malatya, Turkey ~ Noted for his collaborations with Ferdi Tayfur and Huseyin Demirel. As a solo artist best known for his 1994 Sarkilanm Daglara album, which included politically charged songs on the Kurdish-Turkish conflict ~ Kaya passed away in 2000
October 28, 1955 ~ Singer Dean Martin records Memories Are Made Of This ~ Written by Terry Gilkyson, Richard Dehr, Frank Miller. Previously recorded by Ray Conniff's orchestra featuring vocalist Mindy Carson. The more popular version however would be Dean Martin's, released as a single in November with all three songwriters singing backup, reaching No.1 on the pop charts. Later versions would be recorded by Petula Clark, Bing Crosby, the Everly Brothers, Frank Sinatra, Little Richard, the Statler Brothers, and Johnny Cash
October 28, 1953 ~ John Charles Barrett, commonly known as songwriter, producer Desmond Child born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Member of 1970s pop band Desmond Child & Rouge, alongside Myriam Valle, Maria Vidal and Diana Grasselli. Best known as a songwriter, producer. Wrote or co-wrote songs recorded by Kiss (I Was Made For Lovin' You), Cher, Aerosmith (Dude (Looks Like A Lady)), Bon Jovi (You Give Love A Bad Name), Bonnie Tyler, Dream Theatre, Per Gessle, Ricky Martin (Livin' La Vida Loca), Selena Gomez, Kelly Clarkson, Meat Loaf, Billy Squier, Jimmy Barnes, John Waite, Jennifer Rush, Ronnie Spector, Joan Jett, Michael Bolton (How Can We Be Lovers), Bonfire, Ace Frehley, Robin Beck, RATT, Steve Vai, LeAnn Rimes, Chynna Phillips, Roxette, Chicago, Hanson, Sisqó (Thong Song), Carrie Underwood (Inside Your Heaven), the Scorpions, Katy Perry (Waking Up In Vegas), Tokio Hotel, and ZeddOctober 28, 1952 ~ Krautrock, proto-punk, art rock drummer, guitarist, singer Thomas Dinger born ~ Member of pivotal krautrock unit Neu, alongside his brother Klaus Dinger, and present on the 1975 Neu 75 album. Subsequently worked with La Düsseldorf, again with his brother Klaus, appearing on the band's first three albums La Düsseldorf, Viva and Individuellos ~ Dinger passed away in 2002
October 28, 1951 ~ Bassist John Regan born in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA ~ Perhaps best known for his association with Ace Frehley, notably on the 1987 Frehley's Comet album, and for backing Peter Frampton from 1979 through 2011. Also present on albums by the likes of Chip Taylor, Billy Idol (Whiplash Smile), John Waite, David Bowie, Robin Trower, and Jamie Oldaker ~ Regan passed away in 2023October 28, 1950 ~ Singer, songwriter Annette Humpe born in Hagen, West Germany ~ Annette is best known as a member of Ideal and as a songwriter for Udo Lindenberg, Die Prinzen, Lucilectric, Sin With Sebastian, and Nena. Humpe also worked with her sister Inga Humpe in the band the Neonbabies and under the moniker Humpe & Humpe
October 28, 1945 ~ Jazz, blues, rock saxophonist Elton Dean born in Nottingham, UK ~ Member of Bluesology, led by Long John Baldry. The band's pianist Reginald Kenneth Dwight would later combine their two first names for his stage name, Elton John. Dean would go on to work with Centipede, Robert Wyatt, Keith Tippett, Soft Machine, Ninesense, Soft Heap, In Cahoots, the Anglo-Italian Quartet, and Equipe Out. Dean has also recorded well over a dozen albums as a leader, starting with the eponymous Elton Dean released in 1971 ~ Dean passed away in 2006October 28, 1945 ~ Jazz clarinetist Michel Pilz born in Bad Neustadt, Germany ~ Especially acclaimed for Carpathes, a collaborative album with bassist Peter Kowald and drummer Paul Lovens released in 1978. Closely associated with Manfred Schoof, playing intermittently with the trumpeter from the late 1960s through the 1980s. Other notable associations include Alexander von Schlippenbach, the Globe Unity Orchestra (Globe Unity 67 & 70), and Guru Guru ~ Pilz passed away in 2023
October 28, 1945 ~ Glyn Geoffrey Ellis, commonly known as pop, beat singer Wayne Fontana, born in Manchester, UK ~ Named himself “Fontana” after Elvis Presley's backing drummer DJ Fontana. Best known for his 1965 hit The Game Of Love backed by the Mindbenders, which reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic ~ Ellis passed away in 2020
October 28, 1943 ~ Conductor Kenneth Montgomery born in Belfast, Northern Ireland ~ Conductor and music director for renowned companies including the Sadler's Wells Opera, the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, the Opera Northern Ireland, and the Ulster Opera. Outside of the UK best known for his association with the Netherlands Radio Symphony, serving as its principal conductor from 1985 through 1989, and as director of opera studies at the Royal Conservatory the Hague since 1991 ~ Montgomery passed away in 2023October 28, 1941 ~ Bassist, arranger, conductor David Van De Pitte born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Member of Johnny Trudell's orchestra for most of the 1960s. In-house arranger for Motown from 1968 through the early 1970s. Especially known for conducting the orchestra on Marvin Gaye's 1971 masterpiece What's Going On album. Also arranged songs for the Four Tops, the Supremes, Gladys Knight (If I Were Your Woman), the Temptations (Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)), and Stevie Wonder. Following his departure from the label by 1972 has freelanced, working with the likes of Paul Anka, Millie Jackson, and George Clinton ~ Van de Pitte passed away in 2009
October 28, 1941 ~ Brian Robson Rankin, commonly known as guitarist, banjoist, pianist, singer, songwriter Hank Marvin born in Newcastle, UK ~ Arguably the first British guitar hero influential on a host of UK artists including George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Peter Frampton, and Tony Iommi. Rose to fame as lead guitarist for the Shadows, a band primarily known for instrumentals such as Apache, FBI, Wonderful Land, and Foot Tapper. The band would also serve as backing unit for Cliff Richard. Marvin has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with the eponymous Hank Marvin released in 1969 during the band's hiatusOctober 28, 1939 ~ Jazz singer, pianist Andy Bey, full name Andrew Wideman Bey Jr, born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Known for his four-octave vocal range. First performed in front of local audiences at age 8. Recorded his first solo album, Mama's Little Boy's Got The Blues, at age 13. Formed Andy & the Bey Sisters with siblings Salome Bey and Geraldine Bey at age 17, with whom he recorded three albums and toured Europe. As a leader or solo artist, Bey has recorded close to a dozen albums well into the 2010s, especially acclaimed for his 1998 Shades Of Bey album. Bey was also an in-demand collaborator, notably working with Horace Silver on several religious-themed albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s including That Healin' Feelin', and has appeared on albums by Howard McGhee, Duke Pearson (Now Hear This), Max Roach (Members Don't Get Weary), Gary Bartz, Stanley Clarke, Archie Shepp (Kwanza), and Pharoah Sanders ~ Bey passed away in 2025
October 28, 1939 ~ Folk, country, pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Jim Post, full name Jimmie David Post, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ About a dozen albums to his name as a solo artist. Best known for forming the short-lived duo Friend & Lover with his then-wife Cathy Conn, scoring the 1968 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Reach Out Of The Darkness. Has frequently collaborated with Mick Scott and Tom Dunde, and despite little chart success was considered a mainstay on the Chicago folk scene ~ Post passed away in 2022
October 28, 1938 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer, film composer Howard Blake born in London, UK ~ Enjoyed a career spanning five decades with over an estimated 650 works to his name. Known best as a film composer with well over a dozen scores to his name, perhaps most notably for the animated feature film The Snowman released in 1982. Provided additional orchestral pieces to the 1980 sci-fi opera superhero film Flash Gordon, its soundtrack mostly written and performed by Queen. Over time Blake would increasingly be recognised for his classical works including concertos, oratorios, ballets, and operasOctober 28, 1938 ~ Jazz bandleader John Kirby and the Onyx Club Boys record Undecided for Decca Records ~ Written by Sid Robin and Charlie Shavers. John Kirby's version would be the first to be recorded, released as a single paired with From A Flat To A C on the flip side. The song would become a jazz standard recorded by numerous artists including Chick Webb featuring Ella Fitzgerald, the Dandridge Sisters, Django Reinhardt's the Quintette du Hot Club, the Ames Brothers backed by Les Brown's orchestra, Harry James, Al Hirt, and Natalie Cole