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.
September 28, 1977 ~ Jay Wayne Jenkins, commonly known as rapper Jeezy or Young Jeezy, born in Columbia, South Carolina, USA ~ Helped popularize trap music. Member of Boyz n Da Hood. As a solo artist known for songs such as Soul Survivor featuring Akon, I Luv It, Go Getta featuring R Kelly, and Put On featuring Kanye West. Also collaborated with USDA, Christina Milian, Rihanna, Mannie Fresh, Keyshia Cole, Plies, Ne-Yo, Future, Janelle Monáe, Meek Mill, Gucci Mane, Ludacris, Usher, Lil' Boosie, and DJ DramaSeptember 28, 1977 ~ Rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Koji Nakamura born in Towada, Japan ~ Best known as lead singer of Supercar, considered a major band in Japanese indie rock and known for merging alternative rock with electronic music. The band is acclaimed for their 1998 Three Out Change debut album, considered a landmark in Japanese rock. Nakamura also records as a solo artist and is a member of Lama
September 28, 1977 ~ Albert French, commonly known as bandleader, banjoist Papa French, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Longtime member of New Orleans outfit the Tuxedo Brass Band, led by the renowned Papa Celestin. Following Celestin's death in 1954, trombonist Eddie Pierson would take over leadership until his death in 1958, after which leadership of the band fell to French who led the band until his death. French's son drummer Bob French would lead the band from 1977 until 2012. French senior is also especially noted for his 1965 A Night At Dixieland Hall live album, featuring backing from Jeanette Kimball, Louis Barbarin, Joe Thomas, Waldren Joseph, Wendell Eugene, and Alvin Alcorn ~ French was born in 1910
September 28, 1976 ~ Singer Stevie Wonder releases his Songs In The Key Of Life masterpiece ~ At the height of his fame, with four critically and commercially successful albums under his belt, Music Of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, and Fulfillingness' First Finale, Stevie Wonder seriously considered retiring from music altogether. Instead he signed a new deal with Motown, giving him full artistic control, and recorded Songs In The Key Of Life. It would be the biggest album of his career, holding the Billboard Hot 200 No.1 spot for thirteen consecutive weeks, earn a Grammy Award for Album of the Year, and spawn the Billboard Hot 100 charttoppers I Wish and Sir Duke. It would generally be considered his masterpiece as well as one of the greatest and most influential albums of all-timeSeptember 28, 1975 ~ Country singer, actress Mandy Barnett, full name Amanda Carol Barnett, born in Crossville, Tennessee, USA ~ As a recording artist best known for songs such as Now That's All Right With Me and The Whispering Wind. Also known for playing the title role in the Always Patsy Cline, a musical based on the life of Patsy Cline
September 28, 1972 ~ William Weldon, commonly known as Piedmont blues, country blues singer, slide guitarist Casey Bill Weldon, passed away in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ Influential on Chicago blues. Dubbed “the Hawaiian Guitar Wizard” Weldon was arguably one of the earliest blues musicians to play the slide guitar. As a solo artist known for Somebody Done Changed The Lock On That Door and We Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town. Has also sessioned for artists such as Teddy Darby, Bumble Bee Slim and Peetie Wheatstraw ~ Weldon was born in 1901September 28, 1971 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter AJ Croce, full name Aaron James Croce, born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Son of the late Jim Croce. Debuted with the eponymous AJ Croce in 1993, co-produced by renowned producer T-Bone Burnett, Croce's 1995 sophomore album, That's Me In The Bar, would be produced by Jim Keltner and feature guests Ry Cooder and David Hidalgo
September 28, 1971 ~ Folk rock, indie folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Joseph Arthur born in Akron, Ohio, USA ~ Discovered by Peter Gabriel, who signed Arthur as the first North American artist to his label Real World's roster. Over a dozen albums to his name since the late 1990s, noted specifically for Our Shadows Will Remain released in 2004. Member of supergroup Fistful of Mercy alongside Ben Harper and Dhani Harrison, known for their 2010 As I Call You Down album. Arthur also collaborated in Pearl Jam-bassist Jeff Ament's alternative rock unit RNDM
September 28, 1968 ~ R&B singer, songwriter, actor Sean Levert, full name Sean Edward Levert, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Son of the O'Jays lead singer Eddie Levert. Baby brother of singer Gerald Levert. Member of LeVert, known for a string of R&B hits starting in the mid-1980s such as Pop Pop Pop Goes My Mind, My Forever Love, Sweet Sensation, Addicted To You, Just Coolin' featuring Heavy D, Baby I'm Ready and Casanova, the latter also reaching the Billboard top 10 in 1987 ~ Levert passed away in 2008September 28, 1968 ~ Singer Trish Keenan, full name Patricia Trish Keenan, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Lead singer, founding member of electronic band the Broadcast, best known for their single Come On Let's Go of their The Noise Made By People debut album. Keenan passed away unexpectedly of pneumonia after contracting the swine flu ~ Keenan passed away in 2011
September 28, 1967 ~ Rodolfo Franklin II, commonly known as hip-hop producer, DJ, label executive Clark Kent, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leads a crew of DJs called “the Supermen”, Franklin's moniker derived from the name of Superman's alter ego. DJ for rapper Dana Dane in the late 1980s. Got his first hit producing Junior MAFIA's Player's Anthem in 1995. Reaching No.7 on the Billboard R&B charts, No.13 Billboard Hot 100, Player's Anthem is one of the first hits to feature the Notorious BIG and the first recording that Lil' Kim appeared on. Franklin would go on to produce several other tracks for the Notorious BIG, as well as tracks for Skillz, Estelle, 50 Cent, Canibus, the Future Sound, the Original Flavor, and notably the remix version of Mariah Carey's 2001 Billboard Hot 100 No.2 hit Loverboy. Franklin passed away at age 58 of colon cancer ~ Franklin passed away in 2024
September 28, 1966 ~ Lucius Venable Millinder, commonly known as swing, jump blues, R&B bandleader Lucky Millinder, passed away in Harlem, New York, USA ~ Could neither read nor write music, did not play any instrument. Yet rose to fame leading the Mills Blue Rhythm Band during the 1930s, at the time regarded as the greatest big band to play rhythm & blues employing numerous sidemen who would later rise to fame in their own right including Red Allen, Charlie Shavers, Harry Sweets Edison and JC Higginbotham. Millinder's ensemble is considered influential to the dawn of rock & roll ~ Millinder was born in 1910
September 28, 1965 ~ Bernard Greene, commonly known as Eurodance, hip house, techno rapper, singer BG The Prince Of Rap, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Enjoyed modest succes in Germany, where he lived after being posted by the US Army. Best known for his 1991 hit This Beat Is Hot. Other well known songs include Take Control Of The Party, The Power Of Rhythm, Can We Get Enough, The Colour Of My Dreams, and Stomp ~ Greene passed away in 2023September 28, 1965 ~ Jazz saxophonist, composer Hans Ulrik born in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Worked with Gary Peacock, Adam Nussbaum, Niels Lan Doky, Audun Kleive, Marilyn Mazur, John Scofield, Frans Bak, Jens Melgaard, Klavs Menzer, Hugo Rasmussen, John Abercrombie, Lars Jansson, Mona Larsen, Anders Jormin, Mikkel Hess, Peter Dahlgren, Steve Swallow, Bobo Stenson, Jon Balke, Palle Danielsson, Eivind Sarset, Alex Riel, and Ulf Wakenius
September 28, 1964 ~ Songwriter Nacio Herb Brown, full name Ignacio Herb Brown, passed away in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Known for songs such as Temptation, an early 1930s hit for Bing Crosby, his work on Broadway shows and for scoring numerous Hollywood films, perhaps most notably Singing In The Rain collaborating with lyricist Arthur Freed ~ Brown was born in 1896
September 28, 1963 ~ Zhang Ju Xia Wei, commmonly known as singer Wei Wei, born in Hohhot, China ~ Dubbed “the Empress of Pop”, Wei enjoyed popularity especially during the 1990s and 2000s, has sold over 100 million records, and performed at major events including the 1996 Summer Olympics, the 2010 World Expo, and the 2008 Summer Olympics. Well-known songs include Dedication Of Love, Asian Mighty Winds, and I Want To FlySeptember 28, 1962 ~ Bassist, guitarist, keyboardist Mick Cripps, full name Michael Thomas Cripps, born in Adelaide, Australia ~ Best known as a member of the classic line-up of hard rock unit the LA Guns, present on most of the band's best known including the band's 1988 eponymous LA Guns debut album and its follow-up Cocked And Loaded, considered their two best albums. Cripps departed the band in 1995, and briefly rejoined at the end of the decade before departing again. Cripps has also worked with Burning Retna, Mindphazer, and the Brutalists
September 28, 1959 ~ Singer Angela Groothuizen, full name Angela Paul Groothuizen, born in Alkmaar, the Netherlands ~ Best known as member of pop girl group the Dolly Dots. The band would score numerous top 10 hits in the Netherlands, starting in the late 1970s, including Tell It All About Boys, Hela-do-ladi-do, STOP, Do You Wanna Wanna, She's A Liar, Dreaming Of You, and What A Night. Groothuizen also discovered Roberto Jacketti & the Scooters and co-produced their debut album, Time, with Spargo guitarist Ruud Mulders. Post-Dots Groothuizen studied music, released solo albums, wrote songs for Kinderen Voor Kinderen and Carmen Gomes, collaborated with artists as diverse as the Toppers, Purper and Julya Lo'ko, and established a successful TV career
September 28, 1957 ~ Jazz drummer Ernst-Wiggo Sandbakk born in Kjeldebotn, Norway ~ First gained attention appearing on Thorgeir Stubø's debut album Notice released in 1981. Founded jazz, ambient unit Oofotr, with whom he recorded two albums, the eponymous Oofotr released in 1995 and its follow-up Oofotr II released half a decade later. The band also include Stubo's daughter singer Kjersti Stubø. Sandbakk has also collaborated with Arvid Martinsen, Annjo K Greenall, Sigurd Bjørhovde, has been involved with the organization of the Trondheim Jazz Festival, and has taught at the Trondheim Musikkonservatorium, held annually in Trondheim, Norway. To pop audiences, Sandbakk is perhaps best known for guesting on the 1988 Blodig Alvor Na Na Na Na Na album by the DumDum Boys, playing the drums on the track IdyllSeptember 28, 1957 ~ Pop rock saxophonist, percussionist, singer Margo Davidson, full name Margo Isabella Davidson, born ~ Co-founding member of the Parachute Club, with whom she recorded during the 1980s. The band is best known for the singles Rise Up, At The Feet Of The Moon, and Love Is Fire, all of which reached top 40 in their native Canada. The latter, lifted off the band's fourth and final album Small Victories featured John Oates of Hall & Oates as guest singer. Near the band's disbandement around the end of the century, Davidson was briefly a member of Toronto-based band Bratty & the Babysitters, yet she would retire from music altogether soon thereafter to work as an advocate for the homeless ~ Davidson passed away in 2008
September 28, 1956 ~ Maria Albuquerque Miranda, commonly known as singer, guitarist Roberta Miranda, born in João Pessoa, Brazil ~ One of Brazil's best-selling artists with over 15 million records sold. Best known for songs such as A Majestade O Sabia, Va Com Deos and Sol De Minha Vida. Has collaborated with Roberto Carlos, Chitãozinho & Xororó, and Raimundo Fagner
September 28, 1955 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, post-bop pianist, keyboardist Kenny Kirkland, full name Kenneth David Kirkland, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Classically trained. First gained attention in the mid 1970s, touring with fusion violinist Michal Urbaniak. Subssequently worked with bassist Miroslav Vitous, including on the albums First Meeting and Miroslav Vitous Group, and with trumpeter Terumasa Hino, before teaming up with Wynton Marsalis, with whom he would regularly collaborate. Present on some of Wynton's best known albums, including the acclaimed Black Codes (From The Underground). To pop audiences, Kirkland is perhaps best known as a member of the Blue Turtles, a pop-jazz group assembled by the Police singer Sting for his first two solo albums, the 1985 The Dream Of The Blue Turtles and its follow-up Bring On The Night. Other notable associations include Rodney Jones, John Scofield, Chico Freeman, Elvin Jones, Carla Bley, Dizzy Gillespie, Franco Ambrosetti, Branford Marsalis, and Hiram Bullock. Kirkland recorded one album as a leader, the warmly received eponymous Kenny Kirkland released in 1991 ~ Kirkland passed away in 1998
September 28, 1955 ~ R&B, soul singer Little Willie John records Need Your Love So Bad in New York, New York ~ One of Little Willie John's best known, partly because of the late 1960s cover by Fleetwood Mac. Songwriting credits vary from source to source, but the song is believed to be written by John and his brother Mertis John Jr. John was backed by Robert Bubber Johnson on piano, Mickey Baker guitar, Milt Hinton bass, Willis Jackson, David Van Dyke and Reuben Phillips saxophones, and Calvin Shields on drums. Released as a single later the same year it would become one of his best known. In 1969, the Fleetwood Mac-cover became an early hit for the band in the Netherlands and their native UK, remaining a fan favorite from the band's blues-rock days before their transition to a more pop rock oriented sound
September 28, 1954 ~ Guitarist George Lynch born in Spokane, Washington, USA ~ Influenced by Albert King, Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Jan Akkerman, Roy Buchanan, and Yngwie Malmsteen. Twice Lynch auditioned for the position of lead guitarist in Ozzy Osbourne's backing unit, losing out to Randy Rhoads in 1979, auditioning again three years later when he was hired for a few days days before Osbourne changed his mind and went with Jake E Lee instead. A virtuosic guitarist, Lynch would become one of the most influential metal guitarists of the 1980s, especially known for his work with Dokken with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums including the acclaimed Lock And Key and Beast From The East. Lynch has also recorded prolifically as a solo artist, and as frontman of Lynch Mob, the latter especially noted for their 1990 Wicked Sensation debut album
September 28, 1953 ~ Kenneth Burke, commonly known as R&B, soul, funk singer Keni Burke born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Member of sibling outfit the Five Stairsteps, known for You Waited Too Long, Something's Missing and perhaps their best known the 1970 Billboard top 10 hit O-o-h Child. Following the Stairsteps Burke embarked on a solo career, sessioning as guitarist and bassist contributing to recordings by artists such as Sly & the Family Stone, Natalie Cole, Billy Preston, Terry Callier, Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers, Dusty Springfield, Diana Ross, and Gladys Knight