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 16, 1943 ~ Hard rock, blues rock, boogie rock guitarist, singer, songwriter Dave Peverett, also known as Lonesome Dave Peverett, born in Dulwich, UK ~ Member of blues rock outfit Savoy Brown from 1967 through 1970, including on the acclaimed albums Blue Matter and Raw Sienna. Best known as lead singer, co-founding and constant member of Foghat, known best for their 1975 Fool For The City album which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Slow Ride ~ Peverett passed away in 2000April 16, 1943 ~ Guitarist, composer Sebastião Tapajós born in Santarem, Brazil ~ Actively recording since the early 1960s with over 50 albums to his name. Composed the soundtrack to the local film Lendas Amazonicas released in 1998. Has collaborated with artists such as Gilson Pernazzetta, João Cortez, Mauricio Einhorn, Paulinho Noguiera, Nilson Chavez, and Jane Duboc ~ Tapajós passed away in 2021
April 16, 1940 ~ Radio DJ Christopher Moore born in Washington DC, USA ~ Co-founder, radio DJ of pirate radio station Radio Caroline established in 1964 and broadcasting from international waters in the North Sea. In 1967, at the peak of its popularity, the radio station would have millions of listeners. The station is credited with revolutionizing radio broadcasting in the UK ~ Moore passed away in 2021
April 16, 1940 ~ Jazz drummer Ole Jacob Hansen born in Oslo, Norway ~ Worked with Tore Sandnaes, Mikkel Flagstad, Bjorn Jacobsen, Arlid Wikstron, Kjell Karlsen, Bernt Rosengren, Idrees Sulieman, Eric Dolphy, Donald Byrd, Ditlef Eckhoff, Paul Weeden, Terje Bjørklund, Adonis, Thorgeir Stubø, Lee Konitz, Doug Raney, Laila Dalseth, Jan Erik Vold, Harald Gunhus, Knut Riisnæs, Totti Bergh, and Einar Iversen ~ Hansen passed away in 2000
April 16, 1939 ~ Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien, commonly known as pop, R&B, blue-eyed soul singer Dusty Springfield, born in West Hempstead, UK ~ One of the all-time best-selling artists in the UK and the definitive British blue-eyed soul singer, though she would just as easily draw from pop, traditional pop, chansons, jazz, and country. Praised for the clarity and depth of her emotive vocals. Enjoyed popularity especially during the 1960s, her beehive hairdo, heavy make-up, and evening gowns making her an icon of the swinging sixties. Even though the album initially sold poorly, Springfield is especially acclaimed for her 1969 Dusty In Memphis album, recorded with producer Jerry Wexler. Several would cite the album as one of the all-time best albums, some dubbing it the “all-time rock-era torch record”. Over the course of her career, Springfield racked up over a dozen UK top 20 hits, with I Only Want To Be With You, Wishin' & Hopin', You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, and Son Of A Preacher Man all also doing well on the American Billboard Hot 100 charts ~ O'Brien passed away in 1999
April 16, 1939 ~ Zydeco accordionist John Delafose, full name John Irvin Delafose, born in Duralde, Louisiana, USA ~ As a child would fashion fiddles and guitars out of old boards and cigar boxes. Eventually learned to play fiddle, harmonica and accordion. Earned his living farming and did not pursue a career in music until the early 1970s. Formed the Eunice Playboys in the mid 1970s, his backing unit until his death two decades later. Best known for the 1990s albums Joe Pete Got Two Women and Blues Stay Away From Me, bridging the gap between zydeco's roots and its contemporary sound ~ Delafose passed away in 1994
April 16, 1935 ~ Pop singer Bobby Vinton, full name Stanley Robert Vinton, born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Emerged in the late 1950s. One of the few teen idols to enjoy a long-lasting career, recording well into the 1970s. Known for songs such as Roses Are Red (My Love), Blue On Blue, Blue Velvet, Mr Lonely, Please Love Me Forever, and My Melody Of Love
April 16, 1934 ~ Music manager, impresario, producer, film producer Robert Stigwood, full name Robert Colin Stigwood, born in Port Pirie, Australia ~ Active since the early 1960. Almost went bankrupt organizing and promoting UK tours for Chuck Berry and PJ Proby. Perhaps best known as manager for seminal 1960s blues, rock band Cream. Would merge his agency with the Beatles-manager Brian Epstein's in 1967, after which Stigwood would manage acts such as the Bee Gees and Andy Gibb, and play key roles in theatrical productions of the musicals Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar and as film producer or co-producer for Saturday Night Fever, Grease. Fame, Staying Alive, and Evita featuring Madonna ~ Stigwood passed away in 2016
April 16, 1934 ~ Easy listening, traditional pop singer Vince Hill born in Holbrooks, UK ~ Briefly a member of the Raindrops during the early 1960s before venturing out on his own. Best known for his 1967 rendition of Edelweiss, which reached top 10 in his native UK. Originally written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for their 1959 The Sound Of Music musical, it would become Hill's biggest hit and signature song. Other well known songs include the Edith Piaf-cover Take Me To Your Heart Again, originally La Vie En Rose, as well as Heartaches, Love Letters In The Sand, and Look Around (You'll Find Me There) ~ Hill passed away in 2023
April 16, 1933 ~ Songwriter, arranger, producer Perry Botkin Jr born in New York, New York, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Nadia's Theme (The Young And Restless), originally titled Cotton's Dreams, with Barry Devorzon, who performed the song. Nadia's Theme (The Young And Restless) was originally used for the soundtrack of the 1971 Bless The Beasts And The Children film but would become best known as the theme to the soap opera The Young & The Restless since its premiere in 1973. The song would be informally retitled to Nadia's Theme after it became associated with gymnast Nadia Comaneci during and after the 1976 Summer Olympics. Botkin is also closely associated with the Incredible Bongo Band, and has served as arranger for Bobby Darin, Harry Nilsson, Gary Crosby, the Lettermen, Ed Ames, and Harper's Bizarre. Botkin Jr was the son of jazz guitarist, banjoist and composer Perry Botkin ~ Botkin passed away in 2021
April 16, 1931 ~ Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, pianist, bandleader Gérard Badini born in Paris, France ~ The son of an opera singer, Badini was raised in a musical household. Badini started on clarinet in the early 1950s, playing New Orleans jazz-style ensembles backing the likes of Michel Attenoux, Jimmy Archey, Lil' Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Peanuts Holland. By the late 1950s, Badini had switched to tenor saxophone and continued to serve as a sideman, notably touring with Claude Bolling as well as with Roger Guérin and Geo Daly. During the 1960s, Badini worked with Alice Babs, Duke Ellington, Cat Anderson, Jef Gilson, and François Guin. In 1973, Badini formed his first own ensemble, Swing Machine, which at times incorporated sidemen such as Raymond Fol, Helen Humes, Sonny Payne, and Sam Woodyard. From the mid-1980s through the late 1990s, Badini would play piano in and lead its successor, Super Swing Machine ~ Badini passed away in 2025
April 16, 1931 ~ John Wesley Funchess, commonly known as electric blues slide guitarist John Littlejohn, born in Lake, Mississippi, USA ~ Learned to play on a discarded guitar his father had won in a crap game. Influenced by Elmore James, BB King, Muddy Waters, and Lightnin' Hopkins, and according to his own account the first tune Littlejohn learned to play actually was Hopkins' rendition of Baby Please Don't Go. Littlejohn left home at an early age, to eventually find his spot on the Chicago blues scene by the early 1950s, where he became a fixture praised for his passionate, energetic delivery. Littlejohn has worked with Jimmy Reed, including on the acclaimed albums Rockin' With Reed, I'm Jimmy Reed, and Jimmy Reed At Carnegie Hall, as well as with Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Rogers, Donny Hathaway, Andrew McMahon, Lafayette Leake, and Carey Bell. Although Littlejohn rarely recorded as a solo artist, he is remembered by blues aficionados for his 1969 Chicago Blues Stars debut album, produced by Willie Dixon and Arhoolie Records president Chris Strachwitz, featuring both originals and covers of songs written by Elmore James, Willie Dixon, Brook Benton, and JB Lenoir. Despite a superb mastery of the instrument, peer admiration and critical acclaim, Littlejohn never achieved the level fame he should have gotten. Upon his death at age 62, the Chicago Tribune described Littlejohn as “one of the foremost slide guitarists, a dynamic vocalist and a noted bandleader” ~ Funchess passed away in 1994
April 16, 1930 ~ Herbert Jay Solomon, commonly known as flutist, saxophonist, clarinetist Herbie Mann, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ One of the first jazz musicians to specialize on the flute. Early pioneer of merging jazz and world music. Over 80 albums to his name as leader or co-leader, starting in the mid 1950s. Has worked with artists such as Chet Baker, Art Blakey, Carmen McRae, Joe Wilder, Bobby Jaspar, Buddy Collette, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Baden Powell, Chick Corea, Duane Allman, Sonny Sharrock, Donald Duck Dunn, and the New York Jazz Quartet. To pop audiences best known for his 1975 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Hijack featuring Cissy Houston on vocals, originally recorded by Barrabás ~ Solomon passed away in 2003April 16, 1929 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer Ed Townsend born in Fayetteville, Tennessee, USA ~ Has made some records of his own, notably the 1958 hit For Your Love, but is primarily known as a songwriter and producer responsible for songs made famous by Jimmy Holiday (How Can I Forget), Theola Kilgore (The Love Of My Man), and most notably Marvin Gaye (Let's Get It On) ~ Townsend passed away in 2003
April 16, 1929 ~ Rodothas Hamilton, commonly known as R&B singer Roy Hamilton, born in Leesburg, Georgia, USA ~ Popular from the mid 1950s through the early 1960s. Merged classical phrasing with black gospel feeling. Best known for 1954's You'l Never Walk Alone and 1955's Unchained Melody, the two first major hits of the Epic Records label ~ Hamilton passed away in 1969
April 16, 1924 ~ Enrico Nicola Mancini, commonly known as songwriter, composer, arranger, conductor Henry Mancini, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Popular film composer with four Academy Awards to his name. Perhaps best known for penning Peter Gunn Theme and soundtrack for the television series of the same name, Moon River from Breakfast At Tiffany's and the Theme From The Pink Panther ~ Mancini passed away in 1994
April 16, 1924 ~ Jazz, rock & roll saxophonist Rudy Pompilli, full name Rudolph Clement Pompilli, born in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Started in jazz, playing with among others Ralph Marterie. Joined Bill Haley's backing unit the Comets in 1955 replacing Joey Ambrose and quickly learned the rock & roll routine which included playing the sax while laying on-stage on his back making Pompilli one of the most visible Comets. Pompilli remained with the band for two decades, present on most of the band's biggest hits including Rock Around The Clock. Pompilli is tributed in the instrumental song Rudy's Rock, a concert favorite, and co-wrote Week-End ~ Pompilli passed away in 1976
April 16, 1923 ~ Swing, soul, jazz trombonist Bennie Green born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Earl Hines, Charlie Ventura, Count Basie, George Benson, Booker Ervin, Buck Clayton, Sonny Criss, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Slim Gaillard, Jo Jones, Howard McGhee, Cecil Payne, Ike Quebec, Sarah Vaughan, and Randy Weston ~ Green passed away in 1977April 16, 1923 ~ Jazz vibraphonist, accordionist Geo Daly born in Bois Colombes, France ~ Became house vibraphonist at the Club St Germain in 1952. Worked with Don Byas, Bill Coleman, Bernard Peiffer, Marcel Bianchi, Claude Bolling, Michel de Villers, Roy Eldridge, Duke Ellington, Andre Persiany, Dave Pochonet, Lester Young, Boulou Ferré, les Petits Francais, Moustache, and Michel Attenoux ~ Daly passed away in 1999
April 16, 1917 ~ Producer, songwriter Bobby Robinson born in Union, South Carolina, USA ~ Founded or co-founded a number of record labels including Red Robin Records, Sue Records, and Fire Records. Produced hits by Champion Jack Dupree, Wilbert Harrison (Kansas City), Buster Brown, the Shirelles (Dedicated To The One I Love), Sam Myers, Bobby Lewis, Dave Baby Cortez (The Happy Organ), King Curtis (Soul Twist), his nephew Spoonie Gee, Les Cooper, Elmore James (The Sky Is Crying), Lightnin' Hopkins, Lee Dorsey (Ya-Ya), the Packmen, Gladys Knight & the Pips (Every Beat Of My Heart, Knight's first hit), the Fearless Four, Pumpkin & Friends, Funky 4+1, Kool Moe Dee, the Treacherous Three, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five (Superrappin'), and Doug E Fresh ~ Robinson passed away in 2011April 16, 1917 ~ Singer Lucienne Delyle born in Paris, France ~ Broke through with the 1942 hit Mon Amant De Saint-Jean to become one of France's most popular female singers throught the 1950s. Married to trumpeter Aimé Barelli. The singer Minouche Barelli is their daughter ~ Delyle passed away in 1962
April 16, 1911 ~ Dixieland, jazz pianist Alton Purnell born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Best known for his work with George Lewis from the mid 1940s through the 1950s, including on the hit recording of The Saints. Previously, Purnell had worked mainly in New Orleans, collaborating with the likes of Isaiah Morgan, Alphonse Picou, Sidney Desvigne, Cousin Joe, and Bunk Johnson. Following his tenure with Lewis, Purnell would relocate to Los Angeles, where he backed artists such as Teddy Buckner, Joe Darensbourg, Kid Ory, Barney Bigard, and Ben Pollack. Purnell has also recorded as a leader through the 1970s, perhaps most notably With John Defferary's Quartet & Quintet released in 1971 ~ Purnell passed away in 1987
April 16, 1910 ~ Dixieland, jazz saxophonist Boyce Brown born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Worked with Wingy Manone, Bob Casey, Danny Alvin. Perhaps best known for his 1935 session with Paul Mares released in 1955 on the Chicago Style Jazz album. After a stint in a monastary, Brown recorded his sole album as a leader, 1956's Brother Matthew, notably featuring guitarist Eddie Condon ~ Brown passed away in 1959April 16, 1893 ~ Frederic Mompou Dencausse, commonly known as classical pianist, composer Federico Mompou, born in Barcelona, Spain ~ Darling of 1920s Paris. Influenced by Erik Satie and Gabriel Fauré. Critically described as the sole successor to Claude Debussy. Composed for piano, guitar, voice, ballet, and choral works. Would seldom perform his own compositions in public, other than at small, intimate soirees. Well-known compositions include Scènes D'Enfants and Suite Compostelana ~ Dencausse passed away in 1987