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 17, 1934 ~ Producer, label executive Don Kirshner, full name Donald Clark Kirshner, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for managing songwriting talent as well as a number of popular pop acts including the Monkees, Kansas, and the Archies. Along with partner Al Nevins co-owner of Aldon Music music publishers, which employed staff songwriters such as Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Neil Sedaka, Neil Diamond, Paul Simon, Phil Spector, Howard Greenfield, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, and Jack Keller ~ Kirshner passed away in 2011
April 17, 1932 ~ Blues guitarist, singer Byther Smith, full name Byther Claude Earl John Smith, born in Monticello, Mississippi, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for a string of well-received 1980s albums. Active since the mid 1950s as a session and club performer, often besides his non-music day job. Has worked with Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Junior Wells and perhaps most notably with Otis Rush, regularly playing rhythm guitar in Rush's backing bands during the 1960s ~ Smith passed away in 2021
April 17, 1930 ~ Engineer, producer Al Schmitt, full name Albert Harry Schmitt, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Multiple Grammy Awards to his name over a career starting in the 1960s as an apprentice of Tom Dowd. Has engineered and or produced albums by Henry Mancini, Cal Tjader, Sam Cooke, Hot Tuna, the Jefferson Airplane (Volunteers), Glenn Yarbrough, Steely Dan, Jackson Browne (Late For The Sky), Neil Young (On The Beach), George Benson, Dr John, Frank Sinatra, Thelonious Monk, Toto, Natalie Cole, Quincy Jones, Madonna, and Michael Jackson ~ Schmitt passed away in 2021April 17, 1930 ~ Singer Alexander Graves born in Ohio, USA ~ Member of Harvey Fuqua's doo-wop outfit the Moonglows, best known for a string of 1950s Billboard R&B hits including Most Of All, We Go Together, See Saw, Please Send Me Someone To Love, and The Ten Commandments Of Love. Their best known, the original Sincerely co-written by Fuqua, would reach No.1 Billboard R&B and top 20 on the pop charts. It would notably be covered by the McGuire Sisters ~ Graves passed away in 2006
April 17, 1930 ~ Skiffle, ragtime, swing, blues, jazz bandleader, trombonist, double bassist Chris Barber, full name Donald Christopher Barber, born in Welwyn Garden City, UK ~ Widely regarded as one of the most important British bandleaders. Spearheaded the traditional jazz revival in the 1950s and became a key figure in the development of 1960s British blues, both by arranging the first UK tours for American blues greats such as Big Bill Broonzy, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, and Muddy Waters, and working with then little known future stars such as Alexis Korner and John Mayall early on in their careers. Barber has performed and recorded prolifically since the mid 1950s, and is especially acclaimed for introducing Lonnie Donegan to the British audience, backing the future “King of Skiffle” on the 1954 single Rock Island Line which kickstarted both Donegan's career and the skiffle rage, and for his 1956 recording of Sidney Bechet's Petite Fleur, which sold over a million copies and reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. Barber would continue to record and perform well into the 2010s. After having led various ensembles for some seven decades, Barber retired from music in 2019 although the Big Chris Barber Band would continue to perform under his name. Barber was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 1991 for his services to music, and received an honorary doctorate from Durham University in 2013 ~ Barber passed away in 2021April 17, 1926 ~ Samuel Lee McCollum, commonly known as blues drummer Sam Carr, born in Marvell, Arkansas, USA ~ Best known as member of the Jelly Roll Kings. Also worked with T-Model Ford, Asie Payton, Robert Walker, Paul Wine Jones, Lonnie Shields, Sonny Boy Williamson II, David Honeyboy Edwards, Buddy Guy, the Delta Jukes, and Dave Riley ~ McCollum passed away in 2009
April 17, 1922 ~ Paul Thatcher Smith, commonly known as jazz, bebop pianist Paul Smith, born in San Diego, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known as accompanist, especially with Ella Fitzgerald. Has worked with Johnny Richards, Les Paul, Tommy Dorsey, Dizzy Gillespie, Anita O'Day, Buddy DeFranco, Louie Bellson, Steve Allen, Stan Kenton, and Mel Tormé ~ Smith passed away in 2013
April 17, 1917 ~ Ramón Santamaria Rodriguez, commonly known as percussionist, bandleader Mongo Santamaria, born in Havana, Cuba ~ Leading figure in the pachanga and boogaloo dance crazes of the 1960s. Would focus primarily on salsa and Latin jazz from the 1970s forward. Known for songs such as Para Ti and Watermelon Man, the latter written and originally recorded by Herbie Hancock ~ Santamaria passed away in 2003
April 17, 1882 ~ Classical pianist, composer Artur Schnabel born in Lipnik, Austria ~ Considered one of the most important pianists of the early 20th century. As a performer especially acclaimed as an interpreter of Ludwig van Beethoven and a champion of Franz Schubert. Founded the Schnabel Trio which also included Alfred Wittenberg and Anton Hekking ~ Schnabel passed away in 1951