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 9, 1982 ~ Singer, songwriter Otto Nielsen, full name Otto Louis Nielsen, passed away in Oslo, Norway ~ Important figure in Norwegian culture with a career spanning five decades. Performed with his sister Gerd Nielsen under the moniker Otto & Gerd in the 1930s. Wrote children's opera. Program director for Norwegian radio show Søndagsposten for nearly two decades. Renowned songwriter ~ Nielsen was born in 1909
October 9, 1979 ~ Alternative rock, indie rock, indie pop, pop rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, mandolinist, bassist, percussionist Alex Greenwald born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Lead singer of Phantom Planet. The band is best known for the singles California and Big Brat, the former used as the theme song of the teen drama The OC and a UK top 10 hit of the band's 2002 The Guest sophomore album. Collaborated with Mark Ronson on the Radiohead-cover Just. Co-produced the Young Veins sole Take A Vacation album, released in 2010. Has also worked with the Like, Phases, and with BlackblackOctober 9, 1979 ~ Lecrae Devaughn Monroe, mononymously known as Christian rapper, producer, actor Lecrae, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Fronted hip-hip group 116 Clique. Debuted as a solo artist with the album Real Talk in 2004 and has recorded steadly since. Best known for songs such as Nuthin', All I Need Is You and Say I Won't featuring Andy Mineo
October 9, 1978 ~ Singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter, actor Jacques Brel, full name Jacques Romain Georges Brel, passed away in Bobigny, France ~ Master of the modern chanson. Influenced Scott Walker, David Bowie, Alex Harvey, Marc Almond, Rod McKuen. Brel has acted in close to a dozen films yet is best remembered as a singer, known for songs such as Le Moribond, Le Colombe, Amsterdam, Marieke and perhaps his best known Ne Me Quitte Pas. English translations of his songs have been recorded by Ray Charles, Judy Collins, John Denver, the Kingston Trio, Nina Simone, Shirley Bassey, Frank Sinatra, and Andy Williams ~ Brel was born in 1929
October 9, 1978 ~ Nicholas Bernard James Adam Byrne Jr, commonly known as pop singer, guitarist, pianist, bassist, songwriter Nicky Byrne, born in Dublin, Ireland ~ Member of Irish boy band Westlife, alongside Kian Egan, Markus Feehily, Shane Filan and Brian McFadden, known for songs such as Swear It Again, Flying Without Wings, Fool Again, What Makes A Man, Queen Of My Heart, Hey Whatever, You Raise Me Up and Amazing, all of which reached top 10 in both the band's native Ireland and the UKOctober 9, 1977 ~ Yafeu Akiyele Fula, commonly known as hip-hop, gangsta rap rapper Yaki Kadafi, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Founding member of Outlawz. His full-length Son Rize Vol.1 solo album would be released posthumously in 2004. Noted for guesting on several Tupac Shakur recordings, perhaps most notably on the tracks All Bout U and When We Ride of the 1996 All Eyez On Me ~ Fula passed away in 1996
October 9, 1976 ~ In its 20th week on the charts, A Fifth Of Beethoven by Walter Murphy hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ A disco instrumental rendition of the first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No.5, Walter Murphy's A Fifth Of Beethoven was initially issued under the group moniker Walter Murphy & the Big Apple Band. Although all instruments were played by just one man, Walter Murphy, the publisher thought the song would be more successful if credited to a group. The single, lifted off the album of the same name, would be Murphy's sole Billboard Hot 100 hit, selling some two million copies. Later the song would be used in the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever. Murphy's follow-up single, Flight '76 based on Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's classical composition Flight Of The Bumblebee, would make a significantly lesser impact, peaking at No.44 Billboard Hot 100
October 9, 1975 ~ Country singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Brandy Clark, full name Brandy Lynn Clark, born in Morton, Washington, USA ~ Debuted as a recording artist in 2013 with the album 12 Stories produced by Dave Brainard and featuring Vince Gill on backing vocals. Known for songs such as Girl Next Door and the critically acclaimed Stripes. Wrote or co-wrote songs recorded by Sheryl Crow (Homecoming Queen), Jennifer Nettles, Shelley Skidmore, Miranda Lambert (Mama's Broken Heart), Aubrie Sellers, Reba McEntire (She Got Drunk Last Night), LeAnn Rimes (Crazy Women), Billy Currington, the Oak Ridge Boys, Darius Rucker, the Band Perry (Better Dig Two), Kacey Musgraves (Follow Your Arrow), Gretchen Wilson, Wade Bowen, Keith Urban, Ashton Shepherd (Tryin' To Go To Church), Buffy Lawson, Jo Smith, Hayden Panettiere, Kenny Rogers, Mica Roberts, Sarah Darling, Pam Tillis, Ashley McBryde (Voodoo Doll), and Hailey WhittersOctober 9, 1975 ~ Alternative rock, blues bassist Burak Güven born in Istanbul, Turkey ~ Best known as member of Mor Ve Otesi, joining the band in 1997 as replacement for Alper Tekin. Produced Ayca Sen's 2009 Astronot album
October 9, 1975 ~ Rock, avant-garde, experimental singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, percussionist Sean Lennon born in New York, New York, USA ~ Son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Halfbrother to singer Julian Lennon. Member of Cibo Matto, Ghost Of A Sabre Tooth Tiger, the Mystical Weapons, and of Claypool-Lennon Delirium. Active as a film composer since the mid 2000s, starting with Smile For The Camera. Served as producer for both his own bands as well as as Soulfly, Irina Lazareanu, Lana Del Rey (Lust For Life), and the Black Lips
October 9, 1973 ~ Blues singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Gospel, blues singer popular in the 1930s and 1940s. Influenced early rock & roll musicians such as Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Also a major influence on later British stars, such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Keith Richards. Pioneered use of deliberate distortion on the electric guitar. Pushed pop-gospel, gospel-influenced pop into the mainstream. Known for songs such as Rock Me, Down By The Riverside, and Strange Things Happening Every Day ~ Tharpe was born in 1915October 9, 1965 ~ Hard rock, heavy metal, progressive rock bassist, singer, songwriter Andria Busic born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Son of jazz trumpeter André Busic. Brother of drummer Ivan Busic. Has worked with Dr Sin, Ultraje A Rigor, Taffo, Supla, Platina, and with singer Eduardo Araújo
October 9, 1965 ~ Saxophonist, flutist, bandleader, composer, arranger Geir Lysne born in Trondheim, Norway ~ Best known for leading the Geir Lysne Listening Ensemble. Has conducted and led big bands and orchestras such as the Norddeutscher Rundfunk Orchestra, the Danmarks Radio Bigband, the Kristiansand Blåseensemble, the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra
October 9, 1964 ~ Pop, surf outfit the Beach Boys record Dance Dance Dance at RCA-Victor Studios, Los Angeles, USA ~ Written by Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Carl Wilson, marking the latter's first serious songwriting contribution to a Beach Boy single having contributed the song's primary guitar riff. Produced by Brian. Released as a single, b/w The Warmth Of The Sun, it would reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100. Guitarist Glen Campbell is one of the session musicians
October 9, 1961 ~ In its 5th week on the charts, Hit The Road Jack by Ray Charles hits No.1 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Written by Percy Mayfield, whose 1960 a capella demo would find its way to good friend Ray Charles. Charles would be the first to record it, the song noted for its call-and-response vocals between the pianist, begging for forgiveness, only to be rebuffed by his backing singers telling him to “hit the road”. It would be the second Billboard Hot 100 No.1 for the pianist, following Georgia On My Mind the previous year. Hit The Road Jack would also earn Charles a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording. Girl group the Chantels issued their answer song Well I Told You later the same year, in which they voice regret of having told Jack to hit the road: “Well, I told you to hit the road, Jack, I'm sorry now, so, won't you come on back”
October 9, 1960 ~ Post-bop saxophonist, flutist Kenny Garrett born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Described as “the most important alto saxophonist of his generation” by the Washington City Paper, and as “one of the most admired alto saxophonists in jazz after Charlie Parker” by the New York Times. In 1978 he joined the the Duke Ellington Orchestra, then led by Mercer Ellington. Released his debut as a leader, Introducing Kenny Garrett, on the Criss Cross label in 1984. Performed and recorded with artists such as Mel Lewis, Dannie Richmond, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Joe Henderson, Brad Mehldau, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, Brian Blade, Marcus Miller, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, Ron Carter, Elvin Jones, and Mulgrew Miller. Continues to record to this day, both as a sideman and as a leader
October 9, 1960 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter PJ Harvey born in Bridport, UK ~ Critically acclaimed edgy alternative singer. Started as saxophonist in the local band Automatic Diamini, alongside John Parish with whom Harvey would collaborate on most of her solo albumsOctober 9, 1960 ~ Avant-garde jazz pianist, accordionist, composer Satoko Fujii born in Tokyo, Japan ~ Classically trained. Actively recording to critical acclaim since the mid 1990s. Leader or member of several ensembles, both big band and smaller settings, notably the Satoko-Fujii Quartet, Satoko Fujii Min Yoh Ensemble and Double Duo. Has worked with Paul Bley, Mark Dresser, Mark Feldman, Tatsuya Yoshida and Gato Libre. The latter also included her husband trumpeter Natsuki Tamura
October 9, 1958 ~ Guitarist, producer Al Jourgensen born in Havana, Cuba ~ Regarded as leading figure in industrial music. Founder, frontman, sole constant member of Ministry. Also worked with Lard, Lead Into Gold, Acid Horse, Pailhead and with Surgical Meth Machine. Produced for Reverend Horton Heat, Prong, Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, Blackouts, Alan Vega, Iggy Pop, Adrian Sherwood, and Jello Biafra
October 9, 1958 ~ Cellist, conductor Jonathan May, full name Jonathan Paul May, born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA ~ Best known for conducting, and founding, several youth orchestras in Floria. Artistic director of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, which under his guidance grew from a few dozen to over 200 members. Also closely associated with the Daytona Beach Youth Orchestra, and the Florida Young Artists Orchestra. May is married to cellist Maureen May, with whom he has four children ~ May passed away in 2010October 9, 1957 ~ Dixieland violinist, bandleader Carroll Dickerson passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Closely associated with Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines, King Oliver. Pivotal bandleader. Employed sidemen such as Johnny Dunn, Frankie Jaxon, Tommy Ladnier, Honore Dutrey, Natty Dominique, Sterling Conaway, Boyd Atkins, Fred Robinson, Jimmy Strong, Mancy Carr, Pete Briggs, Jimmy Mundy, Buster Bailey, George Mitchell, and Zutty Singleton ~ Dickerson was born in 1895
October 9, 1957 ~ Cecil Campbell, commonly known as reggae, dancehall singer Ini Kamoze born in Port Maria, Jamaica ~ Best known for Here Comes The Hotstepper, which reached top 10 in numerous countries in 1994 including America and the UK
October 9, 1955 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Grazia di Michele, full name Maria Grazia di Michele, born in Rome, Italy ~ Released her Cliché solo debut album in 1978 and has recorded consistently to a devoted fanbase since. best known for her 1986 Le Ragazze Di Gauguin album. Also known for Gli Amon Diversi, a 1993 dut with Rossana Casale
October 9, 1955 ~ Rock, new wave singer, guitarist Shona Laing born in New Zealand ~ Known for songs such as Glad I'm Not A Kennedy and Soviet Snow. Briefly a member of Manfred Mann's Earth Band in the early 1980s, appearing on the 1982 Somewhere In Afrika album
October 9, 1954 ~ Folk rock, pop guitarist, mandolinist, accordionist James Fearnley born in Worsley, UK ~ Member of the Pogues alongside Shane MacGowan and Jem Finer. Also worked with the Low & Sweet Orchestra, Talking Heads, David Byrne, Julia Fordham, Steve Earle, Dylan Walshe, and Melissa Etheridge