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, 1952 ~ Progressive rock drummer Andy Ward, full name Andrew John Ward, born in Epsom, UK ~ Founding member of Camel, staying with the band to 1981. Briefly a member of Marillion, appearing on the hit single Garden Party of the band's Script For A Jester's Tear debut album. Also worked with Caravan Of Dreams, the Mirage, Chrysanthemums, and the Bevis Frond
September 28, 1951 ~ Pop rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Jim Diamond, full name James Aaron Diamond, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Lead singer of PhD, known for the 1982 UK top 10 hit I Won't Let You Down. As a solo artist known for 1984's I Should Have Known Better and 1986's Hi Ho Silver, both of which also reached top 10 in the UK ~ Diamond passed away in 2015
September 28, 1951 ~ Phillip Jackson, commonly known as harmonica player, singer Norton Buffalo, born in Oakland, California, USA ~ First gained attention in the early 1970s working with acts such as Clover, Bill Kirchen, Elvin Bishop. Joined Commander Cody & his Lost Planet Airmen for their 1976 “farewell” tour and present on the band's final live album We've Got A Live One Here. Closely associated with the Steve Miller Band including on the 1977 Book Of Dreams album. Noted for his harmonica playing on Bonnie Raitt's Runaway, a cover of the Del Shannon classic. Jackson has also sessioned for or toured with the Doobie Brothers, Mickey Hart, and Merl Saunders ~ Jackson passed away in 2009
September 28, 1950 ~ Songwriter, producer Phil Galdston, full name Philip Edward Galdston, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing Save The Best For Last with Wendy Waldman and Jon Lind, an early 1990s top 10 hit for Vanessa Williams in over half a dozen countries including her native America where it reached No.1 Billboard Hot 100. Other songs co-written by Galdston have been recorded by Barry Manilow (Why Don't We Live Together), Lorenzo Lamas, Sheena Easton, and Suzy Bogguss
September 28, 1945 ~ Country, rock pianist, organist, clavinetist Bobby Ogdin, full name Robert Ford Ogdin, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ In-demand session musician best known as a member of Elvis Presley's 1970s backing unit the TCB Band. Member of the Marshall Tucker Band from 1984 through 1989. An in-demand session musician Ogdin has appeared on numerous albums over a career spanning four decades. Notable credits include Dennis Linde, Ronnie Milsap (Night Things), BJ Thomas, Willie Nelson (Stardust), Leo Kottke, Amy Grant, Levon Helm (American Son), Mickey Newbury, Tom Jones, the Judds, the Statler Brothers, Kenny Rogers, George Jones, Travis Tritt (Country Club), Shelby Lynne, Pam Tillis (Sweetheart's Dance), Ween, Jo Dee Messina, Bonnie Bramlett, and Jim Lauderdale
September 28, 1945 ~ Actress, singer Conny Van Dyke, sometimes credited as Connie Van Dyke, born in Cape Charles, Virginia, USA ~ Best known as an actress and TV personality, notably starring in the neo noir film Framed, she also had the distinction of being one of the first white singers to be signed to Motown in the early 1960s, while still only in her mid-teens. She cut a few sides for the label, Oh Freddy and It Hurt Me Too, the latter penned and first recorded by Marvin Gaye, before by her own account her music career came to an end after her mother became concerned she might become romantically attracted to one of her black labelmates. Van Dyke recorded two albums in the mid 1970s as a country artist, Conny Van Dyke and Conny Van Dyke Sings For You, but with lack of promotion her music did not get much attention ~ Van Dyke passed away in 2023September 28, 1943 ~ Klaus Karl Kassbaum, commonly known as bassist Nick St Nicholas born in Hamburg, Germany ~ Best known as a member of Steppenwolf from 1968 through 1970 as well as in some later reunion reincarnations of the band. Present on the studio albums At Your Birthday Party and Monster. Has also worked with the Sparrows, Blue Cheer and notably formed supergroup World Classic Rockers in the late 1990s
September 28, 1942 ~ Classical pianist, teacher Anatol Ugorski born in Rubtsovsk, USSR ~ As a student gained attention through his love of avant-garde pieces, including from renowned yet in the USSR controversial Western composers, premiering pieces by Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, Olivier Messiaen, and Pierre Boulez. By the late 1960s he would be banned by the authorities and his career halted for ten years, confined to work in the provinces and in private performances only. The Ugorski family would emigrate to Germany by the 1990s, setting him of on an international career. Ugorski has performed solo and with orchestras such as the WDR Symphony Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, and the Orchestre De Paris, and serve as professor at the the Hochschule fur Musik Detmold, Detmold ~ Ugorski passed away in 2023September 28, 1942 ~ Producer, songngwriter Gary Klein born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Wrote Marcie Blane's Bobby's Girl. In-demand producer working with a wide array of artists from pop, rock, country, jazz. Has produced albums for Tim Hardin, Dolly Parton (Here You Come Again), Barbra Streisand, Glen Campbell (Southern Nights), Gladys Knight, Donna Summer (Bad Girls), Engelbert Humperdinck, Janis Ian, the Marshall Tucker Band, Stephanie Mills, Tracey Ullman, and BJ Thomas
September 28, 1941 ~ Jazz saxophonist Mike Osborne, full name Michael Evans Osborne, born in Hereford, UK ~ Member of Brotherhood Of Breath, notably present on the albums Bremen To Bridgewater and Eclipse At Dawn. Member of saxophone trio SOS with John Surman and Alan Skidmore. Has also worked with Mike Westbrook, Michael Gibbs, Alan Skidmore, Kenny Wheeler, and Norma Winstone ~ Osborne passed away in 2007
September 28, 1940 ~ Norris Jones, commonly known as jazz, free jazz, avant-garde jazz bassist Sirone, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Active since the late 1950s. Best known for co-founding the Revolutionary Ensemble with Leroy Jenkins and Frank Clayton and as a member of Phalanx. Has also worked with the likes of Marion Brown, Gato Barbieri, Pharoah Sanders, Sonny Sharrock, Albert Ayler, Sun Ra, John Coltrane, Clifford Thornton, Dewey Redman, and Cecil Taylor ~ Jones passed away in 2009
September 28, 1938 ~ Singer Ben E King born in Henderson, North Carolina, USA ~ Best known for Stand By Me, Don't Play That Song (You Lied), and Supernatural Thing (Part I). Former lead singer of the Drifters, singing lead on songs such as There Goes My Baby, Save The Last Dance For Me, and on I Count The Tears ~ King passed away in 2015September 28, 1938 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Gerd Dudek, full name Gerhard Rochus Dudek, born in Wroclaw, Poland ~ Brother of bandleader Ossi Dudek, with whom he also worked. Would go on to work with Kurt Edelhagen, Manfred Schoof, the Globe Unity Orchestra, the Berliner Jazz Quintet, Karl Blume, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Loek Dikker, Wolfgang Dauner, Branislav Lala Kovacev, Don Cherry, and George Russell ~ Dudek passed away in 2022
September 28, 1938 ~ Jazz, blues saxophonist, flutist Ray Warleigh, full name Raymond Kenneth Warleigh, born in Sydney, Australia ~ Known for his cleanly articulated alto saxophone and flute lines, fitting for a wide array of styles, and for his ability to play anything at a moment's notice, the Australian-born Warleigh quickly became an in-demand session musician after he relocated to the UK at the start of the British blues boom. Played with artists such as Alexis Korner, Long John Baldry, and John Mayall, notably on Mayall's A Hard Road, as well as with jazz luminaries including Humphrey Lyttelton, Mike Westbrook, and Tubby Hayes. Warleigh has also appeared on albums by Bert Jansch, Nick Drake (Bryter Layter), Michael Gibbs, the Scaffold, Soft Machine (Bundles), Judie Tzuke, Maria Muldaur, Charlie Watts, Matt Bianco, the Dedication Orchestra, John Renbourn, and Kenny Wheeler. Warleigh recorded two albums as a leader, issued some forty years apart, his aptly titled 1968 Ray Warleigh's First Album produced by Scott Walker of the Walker Brothers ~ Warleigh passed away in 2015
September 28, 1937 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer Glenn Sutton, full name Royce Glenn Sutton, born in Hodge, Louisiana, USA ~ Probably best remembered for co-writing Almost Persuaded with Billy Sherrill, a song first recorded by David Houston in 1966 and covered by numerous artists including Conway Twitty, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Etta James and perhaps most notably Freddy Fender. Produced I Never Promised You A Rose Garden for then-wife Lynn Anderson. Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Sutton include Faron Young, Jerry Lee Lewis (What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me)), Bob Luman, Patti Page, Red Steagall, Ronnie Milsap, and Ricky Skaggs ~ Sutton passed away in 2007
September 28, 1936 ~ Jazz guitarist Emmett Chapman born ~ Best known for inventing the Chapman stick, a stringed instrument of the guitar family typically tuned with 10 or 12 strings. As a musician influenced by Barney Kessel and John McLaughlin. Started his career in music in the late 1960s backing Kessel, as well as notably Tim Buckley, before forming his own band. The song Back Yard was used in the 1984 Dune film and included on his Parallel Galaxy album released the following year ~ Chapman passed away in 2021
September 28, 1935 ~ Tenor saxophonist, flutist Bent Jædig born in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Worked with Rudi Fuesers, Peter Herbolzheimer, Allan Botschinsky, Bent Axen, Dusko Gojkovic, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Alex Riel, Don Cherry, Tete Montoliu, Jimmy Woode, Philly Joe Jones, Louis Hjulmand, Hugo Rasmussen, Carsten Dahl, Wild Bill Davison, Art Farmer, Stan Getz, and Ernie Wilkins ~ Jædig passed away in 2004
September 28, 1935 ~ Richard Bernhard Smith, commonly known as lyricist Dick Smith, passed away in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for co-writing Winter Wonderland with composer Felix Bernard. The song was first recorded by Richard Himber's orchestra featuring lead vocals by Joey Nash in 1934, and would become a Christmas classic recorded by over 1,500 artists including the Andrews Sisters, Johnny Mercer, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, Dean Martin, Paul Anka, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, the Platters, Aretha Franklin, Peggy Lee, Merle Haggard, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Willie Nelson. Other well known songs co-written by Smith include The Breeze (That's Bringing My Baby Back To Me), first recorded by Henry King, and When A Gypsy Makes His Violin Cry, first recorded by Jane Pickens. Smith passed away of tuberculosis one day short of his 34th birthday ~ Smith was born in 1901
September 28, 1934 ~ Singer, actress Brigitte Bardot, full name Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot, born in Paris, France ~ One of the best known sex symbols of the 1950s and 1960. Appeared in close to 50 films, the most famous being And God Created Woman, several musicals and recorded over 50 songs. Retired from the entertainment industry in the early 1970s but remained a popular culture icon. Also known as an animal activist. Would become a controversial figure in later years for her support for hardright politics and fined repeatedly for inciting racial hatred ~ Bardot passed away in 2025
September 28, 1931 ~ Jazz saxophonist John Gilmore born in Summit, Mississippi, USA ~ Best known for his association with Sun Ra, recording almost exclusively with the latter from the 1950s through the 1990s. As a co-leader best known for the 1957 album Blowing In Chicago, a session co-led with Clifford Jordan and with backing from Horace Silver, Curly Russell and Art Blakey. Gilmore also worked with Paul Bley, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Elmo Hope, Andrew Hill, Pete La Rosa, Phil Upchurch, and Dizzy Reece ~ Gilmore passed away in 1995
September 28, 1930 ~ Leonard Raymond Sipes, commonly known as country singer Tommy Collins, born in Bethany, Oklahoma, USA ~ Popular from the 1950s through the 1970s, Collins helped develop the Bakersfield sound. As a singer known for songs such as You Better Not Do That, Whatcha Gonna Do Now, It Tickles and If You Can't Bite Don't Growl. As a songwriter known for a number of quintessential country songs recorded by Merle Haggard (The Roots Of My Raisin'), Buck Owens (But I Do), Ferlin Husky (I Could Sing All Night), and Faron Young (If You Ain't Lovin' You Ain't Livin') ~ Sipes passed away in 2000
September 28, 1929 ~ Frances Elizabeth Taylor, commonly known as dancer, actress Frances Taylor-Davis, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Toured extensively as a dancer with the Katherine Dunham Company throughout South America and Europe. Became the first African-American ballerina to perform with the Paris Opera Ballet in 1951, her performance receiving rave reviews. Appeared in Broadway musicals such as Mr Wonderful, Shinbone Alley, and West Side Story. Married to trumpeter Miles Davis from 1959 through 1968. Although the marriage was marred by increasing domestic violence as Davis' substance abuse worsened, Taylor has served as inspiration for some of the trumpeter's best known including the song Fran Dance, and the entire Porgy & Bess album ~ Taylor passed away in 2018
September 28, 1928 ~ Trumpeter, singer Earl Nelson born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA ~ Member of 1950s doo-wop outfit the Hollywood Flames, notably singing lead on the 1957 Buzz Buzz Buzz hit single. Formed the duo Bob & Earl with Bobby Day. As a solo artist known for his sole album The Duck, its title track reaching No.4 Billboard R&B and No.14 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, released under the moniker Jackie Lee ~ Nelson passed away in 2008
September 28, 1928 ~ Cora Ann Walton, commonly known as singer Koko Taylor, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Discovered by Willie Dixon. Sometimes referred to as “the Queen of the Blues” and known for her rough, raw, powerful vocals. Influenced Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi, Shemekia Copeland, and Shannon Curfman. Broke through with the Dixon-penned Wang Dang Doodle in 1964, previously recorded by Howlin' Wolf. The single would sell a million copies and reach top 10 Billboard R&B. Taylor would enjoy popularity especially from the mid 1970s through the 1980s with a string of albums for the Alligator Records label including the acclaimed I Got What It Takes and The Earthshaker. Taylor continued to perform well into her 70s, at times giving over 70 concerts per year ~ Taylor passed away in 2009
September 28, 1923 ~ Percussionist, singer Tuli Kupferberg born in New York, New York, USA ~ Counterculture poet, author, pacifist anarchist. Co-founded satirical rock group the Fugs with poet Ed Sanders. Eclectic and hugely influential the band is most acclaimed for their 1966 Kill For Peace album. Kupferberg is also known for appearing in Allen Ginsberg's poem How, telling of a person who “jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge and walked away”. The incident in question actually occurred on the Manhattan Bridge in 1944, after which Kupferberg was picked up by a tugboat and taken to the hospital ~ Kupferberg passed away in 2010