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 3, 1978 ~ Jason F Sellards, commonly known as pop, rock singer Jake Shears, born in Messa, Arizona, USA ~ Co-lead singer of pop-rock outfit the Scissor Sisters, known for songs such as Filthy/Gorgeous, I Don't Feel Like Dancin', Fire With Fire and Only The Horses. Shears has also collaborated with Erasure's Andy Bell, Nelly, Vladislav Delay, and Kylie Minogue
October 3, 1978 ~ Shannon Marie Kahololani Sossamon, commonly known as actress, director, singer, drummer Shannyn Sossamon, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA ~ Best known as an actress and director. As a musician known for founding Warpaint with her sister Jenny Lee Lindberg, present on the band's debut EP Exquisite Corpse released in 2009
October 3, 1976 ~ Nicolaiih El-Michelle, commonly known as jazz trombonist Herb Flemming, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Besides some work in America, Flemming toured extensively in Europe through the late 1930s, employed in ensembles led by James Reese Europe and Sam Wooding, with his own outfit the International Rhythm Aces, and as accompanist for Josephine Baker. After returning to America, Flemming has worked with Earl Hines, extensively with Fats Waller, and with the likes of Noble Sissle, Red Allen, Albert Nicholas, and Walter Bishop Sr ~ El-Michelle was born in 1898
October 3, 1975 ~ India Arie Simpson, commonly known as R&B, neo-soul singer, songwriter India Arie born in Denver, Colorado, USA ~ Acclaimed multiple Grammy Award-winning neo-soul singer, songwriter. Debuted with the album Acoustic Soul in 2001. Has collaborated with John Mellencamp (Peaceful World), Stevie Wonder, Akon, Anthony David, Keb' Mo, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, and Musiq SoulchildOctober 3, 1975 ~ Talib Kweli Greene, commonly known as rapper Talib Kweli, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ First gained recognition as a member of Black Star and of Reflection Eternal. Released his solo LP, Quality, in 2002, working with a host of producers and guests including DJ Quik, Kanye West, Dave Chappelle. Kweli has been releasing solo albums since and has collaborated with artists such as Mos Def, Hi-Tek, Madlib, and Styles P
October 3, 1973 ~ Saxophonist Eirik Hegdal born in Gjøvik, Norway ~ Best known for his work with the Dingobats from 1995 through 2005 and as leaderof the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra since 2002. Has also worked with Zanussi 5, the Alpaca Ensemble, Lord Kelvin, Eldbjørg Raknes, and Mats Eilertsen
October 3, 1973 ~ Soprano heavy metal singer, songwriter Kari Rueslåtten born in Trondheim, Norway ~ Best known as lead singer of doom metal outfit 3rd & Mortal from 1992 to 1994, one of the earliest metal bands to use a female lead inspiring future bands such as the Gathering and Nightwish. Has since worked briefly with Storm and released several solo albums ranging from Nordic folk to progressive metalOctober 3, 1972 ~ Pop singer Martin Stenmarck, full name Martin Olof Jon Stenmarck, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Internationally best known for representing Sweden in the 2005 Eurovision Songfestival with Las Vegas, reaching 19th place. Nationally known for top 10 hits such Sjumikakliv, 100 År Från Nu (Blundar) and A Million Candles Burning
October 3, 1971 ~ Tariq Trotter, commonly known as MC, rapper Black Thought, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Influenced Logic, Joey Badass, Rapsody, K-OS, Shad. Lead MC of hip-hop outfit the Roots which he co-founded with Questlove. Also worked with Money Making Jam Boys, Damian Marley, Dilated Peoples, Common, Linkin Park, Zap Mama, Danger Mouse, the Hilltop Hoods, Tunde Adebimpe, Fashawn, Murs, Del The Funky Homosapien, and Funkmaster Flex
October 3, 1970 ~ Singer, songwriter Jimmy Ray born in London, UK ~ Cited Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, and Tommy Steele as influences. Half of techno-pop duo Alternative Vision, the other half being Graham Drinnard. As a solo artist best known for his debut single Are You Jimmy Ray, released in 1997, which made the top 20 in both the USA and the singer's native England
October 3, 1969 ~ Singer Gwen Stefani, full name Gwen Renée Stefani, born in Fullerton, California, USA ~ Frontwoman of No Doubt, known for hits such as Just A Girl, Don't Speak, Hey Baby, and It's My Life. Debuted as a solo artist with 2004's critically acclaimed Love Angel Music Baby, which spawned the hit Hollaback Girl. Has been releasing well-received solo records since. Stefani has also collaborated with Brian Setzer (You're The Boss), Moby (South Side), and Eve (Let Me Blow Your Mind)
October 3, 1969 ~ Nehemiah Curtis James, commonly known as Delta blues singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Skip James, passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ First recorded in the early 1930s to initially little succes to be rediscovered in the 1960s blues revival. Known for songs such as Cherry Ball Blues, Illinois Blues, I'm So Glad and Jesus Is A Mighty Good Leader ~ James was born in 1902
October 3, 1967 ~ Pop rock sibling outfit the Bee Gees record Words at IBC Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb. Produced by the band with their manager Robert Stigwood. Released as a single, b/w Sinking Ships, the following January it would become the band's third UK top 10 hit. The single also topped the charts in Germany, Canada, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The single would notably be covered by Rita Coolidge in 1978 and by boy band Boyzone in 1996
October 3, 1967 ~ Jazz, classical pianist Carsten Dahl born in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Recorded well over two dozen albums as a solo pianist, leader or co-leader since the mid 1990s. Especially acclaimed for the albums Will You Make My Soup Hot And Silver, Carsten Dahl Jazzpar 2000 Quintet, and Humilitas. Dahl is also closely associated with saxophonist Thomas Agergaard and drummer Ed Thigpen, and has been an in-demand sideman appearing on albums by Richard Boone, Mads Vinding, Alex Riel, Lars Møller, Cæcilie Norby, and Hanne Boel
October 3, 1967 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, mandolinist, fiddler, songwriter Woody Guthrie, full name Woodrow Wilson Guthrie, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Quintessential protest singer focusing on American socialism and anti-fascism, influential on generations of future artists including Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, and Jeff Tweedy. Well known for songs such as Bury Me Below The Willow, 1913 Massacre and by far his best known This Land Is Your Land ~ Guthrie was born in 1912
October 3, 1966 ~ Jazz singer, songwriter Dave Lambert, full name David Alden Lambert, passed away in Westport, Connecticut, USA ~ Brought modern singing into jazz. Best known as a member of Lambert Hendricks & Ross alongside Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross. Also sang with with Lambert & Co teaming up with Mary Vonnie, Leslie Dorsey, David Lucas, Sarah Boatner. Killed in a roadside accident aged 49 ~ Lambert was born in 1917October 3, 1966 ~ Glam metal, hard rock guitarist, keyboardist, singer Frank Hannon born in Sacramento, California, USA ~ Co-founded City Kidd with bassist Brian Wheat, which evolved into Tesla. The band released their Mechanical Resonance debut album in 1986 which spawned the singles Modern Day Cowboy and Little Suzi. Subsequent hits would include the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Love Song and Signs. After the band's initial disbandement in the mid 1990s Hannon would form Moon Dog Mane
October 3, 1963 ~ Jazz pianist Niels Lan Doky born in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Brother of jazz bassist Chris Minh Doky, with whom he also worked in the Doky Brothers. has also collaborated with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, John Scofield, Gino Vannelli, Pat Metheny, Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, Woody Shaw, Charlie Haden, John McLaughlin, Jack DeJohnette, Al Jarreau, and Adam Nussbaum
October 3, 1962 ~ Thomas Lee Bass, commonly known as heavy metal, hard rock, glam metal, nu metal drummer Tommy Lee born in Athens, Greece ~ Co-founding member of Mötley Crüe, known for a string of hits from the mid-1980s through the 1990s including Smokin' In The Boys Room, Girls Girls Girls, Dr Feelgood and Without You. Has also founded rap metal group Methods Of Mayhem, recorded as a solo artist, and guested on recordings by Richard Marx, Rob Zombie, Cee Lo Green, the Bloody Beetroots, and the Smashing PumpkinsOctober 3, 1960 ~ Avant-garde jazz, classical tubist Michel Godard born in Hèricourt, France ~ Worked with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio France, Michel Portal, Louis Sclavis, Enrico Rava, Michael Riessler, Horace Tapscott, Christof Lauer, Kenny Wheeler, Ray Anderson, Sylvie Courvoisier, Simon Nabatov, Linda Sharrock, Pierre Favre, Misha Mengelberg, Gianluigi Trovesi, Willem Breuker, the ARTE Quartett, and Dave Bargeron
October 3, 1955 ~ Bassist Allen Woody, full name Douglas Allen Woody, born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known as a member of the Allman Brothers Band from 1989 through 1997. Co-founded Gov't Mule in 1994, initially a side project, with Allmans bandmate guitarist Warren Haynes and former Dickey Betts drummer Matt Abts ~ Woody passed away in 2000
October 3, 1955 ~ Rock, progressive rock, hard rock guitarist Vidoja Bozinovic, also known as Dzindzer, born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia ~ Briefly a member of Pop Masina, co-founding member of Rok Masina, both of which included his brother guitarist Zoran Bozinovic. Perhaps best known as longtime member of Riblja Corba, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums starting with Istina released in 1985October 3, 1954 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Dawayne Bailey born in Manhattan, Kansas, USA ~ Backed Bob Seger as member of Silver Bullet Band, including on the 1986 album Like A Rock. Member of Chicago from 1986 through 1995. Also worked with Gerard McMahon, Private Parts, Jason Scheff, Shayna, Belly Puddke, the Usual Suspects, Stuart Hamm, Raise The World, Robert Lamm, Jeff Duff, and Véronique Sanson
October 3, 1954 ~ Guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Although his career was cut short by an untimely death, Vaughan is considered one of the most influential and gifted guitarists in blues rock. Baby brother of Jimmie Vaughan. Paved the way for guitarists such as Robert Cray, Jeff Healey, Robben Ford, Walter Trout. Recorded half a dozen albums starting with Texas Flood released in 1983. Guested on recordings by David Bowie, Johnny Copeland, Marcia Ball, Lonnie Mack, James Brown, Dick Dale, Stevie Wonder, and Jennifer Warnes ~ Vaughan passed away in 1990October 3, 1953 ~ Composer, poet, author Arnold Bax, full name Arnold Edward Trevor Bax, passed away in Cork, UK ~ Closely associated with pianist Harriet Cohen. At the time regarded as an important yet isolated figure, his works rediscovered after his death. Best known for his symphonic poem Tintagel. Wrote symphonies, choral music, vocal music, chamber music and piano music ~ Bax was born in 1883
October 3, 1953 ~ Roger Prud'homme, commonly known as pop singer Martin Stevens, born in Verdun, Canada ~ Sang in English and French. Enjoyed popularity in the disco era in his native Canada. Known for songs such as J'Aime La Musique (Comme Un Fou), Sans Ton Amour, and the Harry Vanda & George Young-penned Love Is In The Air. His rendition of the latter would precede the internationally more famous version by John Paul Young by a mere couple of weeks. Prud'homme published his Sexe Drogue Et Disco autobiography in 2007 ~ Prud'homme passed away in 2023