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 10, 1957 ~ Singer Ricky Nelson performs one of his first singles, a cover of Fats Domino's I'm Walking, on The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet TV show ~ The sitcom, which ran from the early 1950s through the mid 1960s on ABC, featured the real-life Nelson family including parents Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Nelson and their children. The show would elevate Ricky Nelson to stardom, make him one of the first teen idols, and bring rock and roll and rockabilly to mainstream audiences with Nelson charting over 50 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 through the early 1960s. I'm Walking, one of the singer's earliest singles, reached top 10 on the American pop charts. Reportedly, Nelson's idol Elvis Presley was a huge fan of the show
April 10, 1954 ~ Saxophonist Lenny Pickett born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA ~ Member of Tower Of Power from 1973 through 1981, present on most of the band's best known including the 1973 eponymous Tower Of Power album which spawned the singles This Time It's Real, What Is Hip and perhaps their best known So Very Hard To Go, the latter reaching top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100
April 10, 1950 ~ Kim Bokja, commonly known as singer Akiko Wada, born in Osaka, Japan ~ Active since the late 1960s. Known for songs such as No Ame No Naka De and Ano Kane Wo Narasu No Wa
April 10, 1950 ~ Hard rock, heavy metal singer, bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Burke Shelley, full name John Burke Shelley, born in Tiger Bay, UK ~ Critically compared to Rush-bassist Geddy Lee. Co-founding member, frontman of Budgie since 1967, one of the earliest heavy metal bands and held in the highest regard by critics. The band has been cited as a major influence by later artists such as Iron Maiden, Metallica, Van Halen, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden and best known for their mid 1970s albums In For The Kill and Bandolier. Their 2010 tour would be cancelled as Shelley was hospitalised with an anyreusm, following surgery the band de facto ceased to exist ~ Shelley passed away in 2022
April 10, 1950 ~ Funk, funk rock, soul, psychedelic rock guitarist Eddie Hazel, full name Edward Earl Hazel, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Quintessential and hugely influential funk guitarist. Closely associated with George Clinton, member of the Parliaments, Parliament and Funkadelic and especially noted for his guitar solo on the latter's Maggot Brain ~ Hazel passed away in 1992April 10, 1949 ~ Keyboardist Eric Troyer, full name Eric Lee Troyer, born ~ Best known as a co-founding member of ELO Part II and its successor the Orchestra, also writing or co-writing a vast amount of the band's material. In-demand collaborator, notably with Céline Dion. Has also worked with Plácido Domingo, Kiss, James Taylor, Artful Dodger, Aerosmith, Carly Simon, Johnny Winter, Michael Bolton, Scritti Politti, Meat Loaf, Billy Joel, Lou Reed, Barry Manilow, and Sisters Of Mercy
April 10, 1949 ~ Singer, actress Jane Clifton born in Gibraltar ~ Best known as an actress, notably portraying the role of Margo Gaffney in the TV series Prisoner aired on the Australian Network Ten channel. As a singer has worked with Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons, and released her sole solo album, Marriage Of Style in 1993
April 10, 1948 ~ Bassist Fred Smith born in New York, New York, USA ~ Original member of Blondie, departing the band in 1975 to join Television replacing Richard Hell. Present on all of the band's albums, including the acclaimed Marquee Moon album released in 1977. Smith has also appeared on bandmates Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd's solo albums. Has also collaborated with the Roches, Willie Nile, the Peregrins, and the Revelons ~ Smith passed away in 2026
April 10, 1948 ~ Progressive rock, pop rock guitarist, singer Steve Nardelli, full name Stephen Louis Nardelli, born in London, UK ~ Influenced by the Beatles, the Who, the Animals. Founded High Court, renamed to the Syn. The band, which also included a then-unknown Chris Squire, was considered a precursor to Yes. Best known for the mid 1960s singles Grounded and 14 Hour Technicolour Dream, both considered some of the best psychedelic songs ever to come out of Britain. Nardelli would depart the band in 1968 to pursue a career in fashion and sports industry, recording from time to time as a solo artist and eventually reforming the band in the 2000s
April 10, 1947 ~ Neville O'Riley Livingston, commonly known as reggae singer, percussionist Bunny Wailer, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Founded the Wailers with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, remaining with the band from 1963 through 1974. As a solo artist best known for songs such as Cool Runnings, Crucial and Bald Head Jesus ~ Livingston passed away in 2021
April 10, 1947 ~ Actor, singer, guitarist Wayne Massey, full name Donald Wayne Massey, born in Glendale, California, USA ~ Best known as an actor, notably on the ABC daytime soap opera One Life To Live portraying the role of country, rock singer Johnny Drummond. Released two albums as a solo singer and one duet album, When Love Is Right, with Charly McClain, his wife since 1984. Enjoyed considerably more chart success dueting with his wife than as a solo artist, notably with the country top 10 singles With Just One Look In Your Eyes and You Are My Music (You Are My Song)
April 10, 1946 ~ Bassist, singer, actress, producer, label executive Caterina Caselli born in Modena, Italy ~ First gained attention in 1966 with Mi Puo Giuducare, a song rejected by Adriano Celentano. Caselli's version would sell a million copies. A full-length debut album, Casco Doro, would follow later the same year. Also known for other hits up till the end of the decade, notably Il Volto Della Vita (a cover of David McWilliams's The Days Of Pearly Spencer), Perdono and the Paolo Conte-penned Insieme A Te Non Ci Sto Piu. Married label executive Piero Sugar in 1970 and would eventually rise to become head of Sugar Music herself, discovering and signing artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Giun Russo, Elisa, and NegramaroApril 10, 1945 ~ Shirley Ann Rogers, commonly known as conductor, film arranger, orchestrator, composer Shirley Walker, born in Napa, California, USA ~ One of the first female film composers in Hollywood. Known for the scores to Escape From LA, True Lies, and Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm. Collaborated with Danny Elfman, John Carpenter, Lolita Ritmanis, Brad Fiedel, Richard Band, and Carmine Coppola ~ Walker passed away in 2006
April 10, 1941 ~ Bandleader Dick Jurgens and his Orchestra record Elmer's Tune ~ Originally written by Elmer Albrecht in the early 1920s. Adapted and arranged by Dick Jurgens, who named it Elmer's Tune and was the first to record it in 1941. The instrumental tune would reach top 10 on the pop charts. The same year it would be covered by Glenn Miller, who took the song to the No.1 spot. It would become a standard covered by numerous artists including Bob Wills, Grady Martin, and Al Hirt
April 10, 1938 ~ Jazz, experimental drummer, percussionist David Earle Johnson born ~ About half a dozen albums to his name as a leader, starting with Time Is Free in 1978. In-demand sideman present on albums by Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer, Lenny White, Oregon, Miroslav Vitous, the Players Association, Sea Level, Taj Mahal, Bob Belden, and George Tandy ~ Johnson passed away in 1998April 10, 1938 ~ Jazz pianist, keyboardist, composer Denny Zeitlin born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman with over 100 compositions to his name. Wrote the soundtrack for the 1978 scifi film The Invasion Of The Body Snatchers. Has worked with Ira Sullivan, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Haden, Joe Farrell, Wilbur Ware, Bob Cranshaw, David Friesen, David Grisman, and Jeremy Steig
April 10, 1938 ~ Joseph Nathan Oliver, commonly known as cornetist, bandleader, composer King Oliver passed away in Savannah, Georgia, USA ~ Mentor to Louis Armstrong, the latter once exclaiming “if it had not been for Oliver, jazz would not be what it is today.” Noted composer known for songs such as Dippermouth Blues, Doctor Jazz, and other songs still popular to this day ~ Oliver was born in 1881
April 10, 1936 ~ R&B singer Bobbie Smith, full name Robert Steel Smith, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Longtime member of the Spinners, at times known as the Detroit Spinners or the Motown Spinners. Sang lead or co-lead on several of the band's best known including That's What Girls Are Made For, I'll Always Love You, Could It Be I'm Falling In Love, the Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Then Came You with Dionne Warwick, and Games People Play. The band would be inducted in the 2023 class of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, acknowledging them as “one of the most beloved R&B vocal groups in the world, (who) came to define the Philadelphia sound despite their Motor City origins.” ~ Smith passed away in 2013
April 10, 1932 ~ Poet, painter, bassist, songwriter Adrian Henri born in Birkenhead, UK ~ To music audiences best known as founding member of poetry-rock group the Liverpool Scene, a darling of radio DJ John Peel who also produced the band's 1967 debut album, The Incredible New Liverpool Scene. Despite growing a devoted cult following with their merger of rock and poetry, opening for Led Zeppelin, and a performance at the 1969 the Isle Of Wight Festival, the band never achieved much commercial success. Nevertheless, especially as a poet Henri's characterisation of popular culture in verse helped to widen the audience for poetry among British youth of the late 1960s ~ Henri passed away in 2000
April 10, 1932 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Nate Nelson born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Member of doo-wop outfit the Flamingos, joining the band in late 1954 as replacement for Sollie McElroy. First appeared on the 1955 single I'm Yours. Has also worked with the Platters, joining the group in 1965 replacing Paul Robi ~ Nelson passed away in 1984
April 10, 1930 ~ Pianist, bandleader, composer Claude Bolling born in Cannes, France ~ Especially known as a film composer with over 100 scores to his name. Worked with Lionel Hampton, Roy Eldridge, Kenny Clarke, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Alexandre Lagoya, Pinchas Zukerman, Maurice André, and Yo-Yo Ma ~ Bolling passed away in 2020April 10, 1928 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist, pianist Fraser MacPherson, full name John Fraser MacPherson, passed away in Vancouver, Canada ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Ray Norris, Dave Robbins, Paul Ruhland. First-call session musician throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Especially acclaimed for the 1979 Live At The Planetarium album, his first album as a leader ~ Macpherson passed away in 1993
April 10, 1928 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Jerzy Matuszkiewicz born in Jaslo, Poland ~ Dubbed “the Father of Polish Jazz” for his pioneering role in post-World War II jazz. Best known as leader of Melomani. After the band disbanded in 1958 Matuszkiewicz would perform as a solo artist and from the mid 1960s forward focus on composing for film ~ Matuszkiewicz passed away in 2021
April 10, 1927 ~ Baritone singer David Daniels born ~ Performed opera and musical comedy. Perhaps best remembered for introducing the song Young & Foolish alongside Gloria Marlowe in the 1955 Broadway-musical Plain & Fancy. The song, written by Albert Hague and Arnold B Horwitt, would become a standard, covered by over 150 artists including the McGuire Sisters, Gogi Grant, the Lettermen, Tony Bennett, and Lesley Gore ~ Daniels passed away in 2002
April 10, 1927 ~ Jazz, soul-jazz guitarist George Freeman, full name George Thomas Freeman, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Brother of saxophonist Von Freeman and drummer Eldridge Freeman. Influenced by T-Bone Walker and Charlie Christian. Mainstay on the Chicago jazz scene, starting in the 1940s backing artists such as Joe Morris, Tom Archia, Lester Young, and Charlie Parker. Closely associated with Richard Groove Holmes during the 1950s and 1960s, including on the acclaimed Groove album released in 1961, and with Gene Ammons during the early 1970s, including on the Black Cat album. As a leader especially known for a series of 1970s funky soul-jazz albums, perhaps most notably the live album Friday The 13th At The Cook County Jail featuring an all-star cast including organist Jimmy McGriff, Marion Booker Jr, and Cedar Walton. Following a period of relative inproductivity, Freeman resurged in the early 2000s and continued to perform and record until his death. Freeman passed away shortly before a scheduled performance in honor of his upcoming 98th birthday at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge in his native Chicago ~ Freeman passed away in 2025