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.
April 1, 1928 ~ Vibraphonist Harry Sheppard born in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA ~ Got his professional start as a musician in his late teens, working in Sol Yaged's ensemble. Would go on to become an in-demand concert and session vibraphonist throughout the 1950s, backing artists such as Cozy Cole, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Ben Webster, and Coleman Hawkins, and became closely associated with Benny Goodman during the 1960s. Sheppard is also well known as co-creator of the electric vibraphone, an instrument he developed with Claire Omar Musser. Later on in his career, Sheppard has recorded a handful of albums as a leader, perhaps most notably Points Of View released in 1992. Upon hearing of his death, Randall Jamail, who had produced several of Sheppard's albums, commented: “There was nobody like him. Aside from the musicianship, which was phenomenal, he was such a great spirit” ~ Sheppard passed away in 2022
April 1, 1927 ~ R&B, boogie-woogie, jump blues singer, pianist Amos Milburn, full name Joseph Amos Milburn, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Popular and influential 1940s, 1950s artist. Predated rock & roll. Major influence on Fats Domino. Known for songs such as Down The Road A-Piece, Hold Me Baby, Chicken Shack Boogie, Bad Bad Whiskey, and Thinking And Drinking ~ Milburn passed away in 1980
April 1, 1925 ~ Florence Kathleen Stobart, commonly known as jazz saxophonist Kathy Stobart, born in South Shields, UK ~ Worked with Denis Rose, Ted Heath, Jimmy Skidmore, Art Pepper, Peanuts Hucko, Art Thompson, Vic Lewis, Derek Humble, Dill Jones, Bert Courtley, Humphrey Lyttelton, Harry Beckett, John Burch, Lennie Best, Johnny Griffin, Al Haig, Earl Hines, Buddy Tate, Zoot Sims, Marian McPartland, and Dick Hyman ~ Stobart passed away in 2014April 1, 1924 ~ Classical hornist, composer Georges Barboteu, full name Georges Yves Barbateu, born in Algiers, Algeria ~ Best known for his recordings with Jean-François Paillard's chamber orchestra, including Michael Haydn's horn concerto, Joseph Haydn's double horn concerto, and Georg Philipp Telemann's D concerto. Has also worked with the Algiers Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre National de France, and was a member of the quintet Ars Nova ~ Barboteu passed away in 2006
April 1, 1923 ~ Jazz, classical tubist Don Butterfield, full name Don Kiethly Butterfield, born in Centralia, Washington, USA ~ Following a stint in the US Army through 1946 worked with radio orchestras for the remainder of the decade to become an in-demand sideman from the 1950s onwards. Though never a household name has appeared on some of the era's most important albums. Notable credits include Gil Melle, Coleman Hawkins, Teddy Charles, Bob Brookmeyer, Art Farmer (Brass Shout), Perry Como, Cannonball Adderley, Oliver Nelson (Afro-American Sketches), Oscar Peterson, Jimmy Heath, Charles Mingus (The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady), Wes Montgomery, Lee Morgan (Delightfulee), and James Moody ~ Butterfield passed away in 2006
April 1, 1922 ~ Irving Sidney Jordan, commonly known as jazz pianist Duke Jordan, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known for his stint with Charlie Parker, serving in the saxophonist's classic quintet in the mid 1940s and as a guest on later recordings. Married to jazz singer Sheila Jordan from 1952 through 1962, with whom he has one daughter. Over three dozen albums to his name as a solo artist, leader or co-leader, especially noted for 1960's Flight To Jordan, 1973's Brooklyn Brothers with regular collaborator Cecil Payne, and 1973's Two Loves. As a composer especially known for Minor Escamp, first recorded by Jordan in 1954 and covered by numerous artists including Barney Kessel, Dizzy Gillespie, Barney Wilen, Charlie Byrd, and Chet Atkins. An in-demand collaborator, over the course of his lengthy career Jordan has also appeared on albums by Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz, Oscar Pettiford, Vinnie Burke, Tubby Hayes, Art Farmer, Kenny Burrell, Clifford Brown, Ramsey Lewis, Tina Brooks, Dizzy Reece, and Charles McPherson ~ Jordan passed away in 2006
April 1, 1921 ~ Guitarist Arthur Smith born in Clinton, South Carolina, USA ~ Best known for his 1948 instrumental guitar hit The Guitar Boogie. Also known for Banjo Boogie, Boomerang, and Dueling Banjos. As a songwriter had his work recorded by Chet Atkins, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, the Statesmen Quartet, the Cathedrals, Al Hirt, Barbara Mandrell, Willie Nelson, the Gatlin Brothers, the Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Boots Randolph, George Beverly Shea, the Stamps, the Statler Brothers, and Ricky Van Shelton ~ Smith passed away in 2014
April 1, 1921 ~ Composer, pianist, radio and TV personality Steve Race born in Lincolnshire, UK ~ Best known for his association with the BBC, appearing as in-house musician and accompaniest and from the 1950s through the 1980s as a host for various musical TV shows. Credited with recording some of the first British bebop recordings with his the Steve Race Bop Group in 1949, working with musicians such as Leon Calvert, Johnny Dankworth, Jack Fulton and Freddy Gardner ~ Race passed away in 2009
April 1, 1915 ~ Arthur London, commonly known as singer, actor Art Lund, born in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ~ Early on in his career, Lund sang with big bands led by Benny Goodman and Harry James. As a solo artist known for songs such as Mam'selle, Slow Boat To China, What I'll Do, You Call Everybody Darlin', and Peg O' My Heart. Lund also notably played several leading roles in Broadway shows including The Most Happy Fella and Destry Rides Again ~ London passed away in 1990
April 1, 1910 ~ Asa Harris, commonly known as jazz, R&B pianist Ace Harris, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Spent most of the 1930s with territory bands, including a stint leading the Sunset Royal Serenaders starting in 1937. Well known as pianist for the Ink Spots, taking over from Bob Benson in 1940. Has appeared on some of the group's best known including Whispering Grass, We Three (My Echo My Shadow & Me), I'll Never Smile Again, Until The Real Thing Comes Along, and It's A Sin To Tell A Lie. Harris has also worked with Hot Lips Page, and Erskine Hawkins ~ Harris passed away in 1964April 1, 1910 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinettist Harry Carney, full name Harry Howell Carney, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known for spending over four decades as a member of the Duke Ellington orchestra. Also worked with Benny Goodman (The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert), with Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Hodges, and Billy Taylor ~ Carney passed away in 1974
April 1, 1909 ~ Bandleader, pianist Eddy Duchin born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA ~ Popular bandleader from the 1930s and 1940s and one of the first pianists to lead a successful big band. Duchin's 1938 rendition of the Louis Armstrong song Old Man Mose caused a scandal with the lyric “bucket’ being mistaken for “fuck it.” The scandalous lyrics cased the record to sell 170,000 copies when sales of 20,000 were considered a blockbuster. The song would be banned in England. ~ Duchin passed away in 1951
April 1, 1908 ~ Clarence Robert Nolan, commonly known as Western, country singer, songwriter, actor Bob Nolan, born in New Brunswick, Canada ~ Founding member of the Sons Of The Pioneers. Wrote Cool Water and Tumbling Tumbleweeds, both first recorded by the Sons and both regarded as classics in the Western genre and covered by numerous artists ~ Nolan passed away in 1980
April 1, 1906 ~ Piedmont blues singer, guitarist, violinist, bassist Carl Martin born in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, USA ~ Member of early blues, old-time bands the Four Keys, the Tennessee Chocolate Drops, and the Wandering Troubadours. Accompaniest for the likes of Bumble Bee Slim and Tampa Red. As a solo artist known for songs such as Crow Jane and Old Time Blues. Also especially noted for backing Freddie Spruell on the 1935 recording of Let's Go Riding. Honored by singer, songwriter Steve Goodman in the tribute song You Better Get It While You Can (The Ballad Of Carl Martin) ~ Martin passed away in 1979April 1, 1898 ~ Songwriter, politician Jack Tenney, full name Jack Breckinridge Tenney, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Best remembered as a politician, especially for his role heading the Tenny Committee, researching “Un-American activities” for the California Senate in the 1940s and 1950s. As a songwriter best known for co-writing Mexicali Rose, recorded by Gene Autry, Bing Crosby, Jerry Lee Lewis, Slim Whitman, Vera Lynn, and Jim Reeves ~ Tenney passed away in 1970
April 1, 1897 ~ Lucille Anderson, commonly known as classic female blues singer, Lucille Bogan born in Amory, Mississippi, USA ~ Named as one of “the Big Three of Blues” alongside Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. Known for her provocative lyrics. Known for originals such as Sloppy Drunk Blues, Tricks Ain't Walkin' No More, and Black Angel Blues. Through a series of covers and adaptions the latter would be eventually be recorded by BB King as Sweet Little Angel in 1956. Recorded under the alias Bessie Jackson since 1933 in an attempt to conceal her identity ~ Anderson passed away in 1948
April 1, 1895 ~ Jazz, blues singer, songwriter Alberta Hunter born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Coming from humble beginnings, Hunter would get her start in music performing in a seedy bordello, where she developed a particular skill for improvising lyrics, to eventually become a headlining act in the best venues including touring abroad by the mid 1930s. Hunter is perhaps best known for first recording Down Hearted Blues, which she co-wrote with Lovie Austin. The song would become a million-seller for blues singer Bessie Smith, with Hunter receiving no royalties as her manager had sold the rights. Down Hearted Blues, however, would become a standard covered by dozens of artists including Noble Sissle, Cab Calloway, Mildred Bailey, and Jimmy Rushing. Other well known songs recorded by Hunter include Someday Sweetheart (You'll Be Sorry), Chirping The Blues, and The Love I Have For You. By the late 1950s, Hunter retired from music to return to school and has subsequently worked as a nurse for the next 20 years until being forced into retirement because of her old age. In the 1970s, Hunter resumed her music career, performing and recording several acclaimed albums. Hunter has been posthumously inducted in the Blues Hall Of Fame and the Memphis Music Hall Of Fame ~ Hunter passed away in 1984
April 1, 1866 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer, teacher, author Ferruccio Busoni, full name Ferruccio Dante Michelangiolo Benvenuto Busoni, born in Empoli, Italy ~ Revered yet controversial pianist. Enjoyed an international career as a virtuoso concert pianist. Sought-after teacher of composition. Has worked closely with the leading figures of his day. As a composer wrote for piano, notably the Piano Concerto In C Major Op.39 premiered in 1904, as well as chamber music, vocal and orchestral works, and operas ~ Busoni passed away in 1924