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 4, 1938 ~ Folk rock, pop rock, garage rock guitarist, bassist, singer, songwriter Declan Mulligan born in Fethard, Ireland ~ Member of the Beau Brummels from 1964 through 1965. Present on the band's first two albums, Introducing The Beau Brummels and The Beau Brummels Vol.2. Noted for his harmonica opening on the 1965 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Laugh Laugh ~ Mulligan passed away in 2021
April 4, 1932 ~ Label executive, producer Clive Davis, full name Clive Jay Davis, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ During a six-decade career in the music industry, Davis, who had studied law at Harvard University, transitioned from a legal role at Columbia Records to eventually become one of the most important label executives and producers in the music industry. Two years after he renegogiated Bob Dylan's contract he helmed Columbia Records and over the course of a few years helped expand the label into pop and rock music. Davis would go on to found and helm Arista Records, and hold executive positions at J Records, LaFace Records, BMG, and Sony BMG. Over the course of his career, Davis had signed and managed names such as Janis Joplin, Santana, Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Aerosmith, Earth Wind & Fire, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Lou Reed, Eurythmics, Dionne Warwick, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley, and numerous others. Davis is also particularly noted for his association with Whitney Houston, orchestrating Houston's career from the get-go including producing all of her early hits. Davis was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Davis remained active as an executive until his death at age 94. In 2020, Davis looking back on the early days of his career commented to Leaders: “I learned on the spot. I accidentally discovered I had a totally unexpected and unexplained gift; ears. This was quite a surprise, but I could, and would, discover great all-time artists” ~ Davis passed away in 2026
April 4, 1928 ~ Alfredo Armenteros, commonly known as trumpeter Chocolate Armenteros, born in Santa Clara, Cuba ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Arsenío Rodriguez, Generoso Jimenez, Chico O'Farrill, Orchestra Harlow, Eddie Palmieri, Cachao, Conjunto Los Astros, José Fajardo, Benny Moré, Tito Puente, Cesar Concepcion, Machito, Wynton Marsalis, Marcelino Guerra, Charlie Palmieri, Noro Marles, Johnny Pacheco, Sonora Matancera, Cedar Walton, and Kip Hanrahan ~ Armenteros passed away in 2016
April 4, 1928 ~ Szymon Bachorz, commonly known as violinist Simón Bajour, born in Nasielsk, Poland ~ Member of Astor Piazzolla's backing unit First Quinteto alongside Jaime Gosis, Kicho Diaz and Horacio Malvicino, appearing on Adiós Nonino. Also worked with Osvaldo Pugliese, the Teatro Colón, and Bajour-Antognazzi ~ Bachórz passed away in 2005
April 4, 1924 ~ Violinist, conductor Victor Feldbrill born in Toronto, Canada ~ Violinist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1949 through 1956. Principal conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra from 1958 through 1968. Resident conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1973 through 1978. Founded the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra in 1974, serving as its conductor through 1978 ~ Feldbrill passed away in 2020
April 4, 1913 ~ McKinley Morganfield, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist Muddy Waters born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, USA ~ Iconic blues artist active since the 1930s. Best known to rock audiences for electrifying the blues, alongside artists such as Howlin' Wolf, in the late 1960s. Profound influence on rock & roll and rock artists. Known for songs such as Hoochie Coochie Man, I Just Want To Make Love To You, Forty Days And Forty Nights, Got My Mojo Working and I'm Ready. Has worked with Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Big Joe Williams, Otis Spann, Bo Diddley, Carey Bell, Pinetop Perkins, Mick Jagger, and Johnny Winter ~ Morganfield passed away in 1983
April 4, 1904 ~ Jazz pianist Arne Hulphers born in Trollhattan, Sweden ~ Active from mid 1920s onwards. Founded own ensemble in 1934, which became one of Sweden's most important dance bands. It included at times, Miff Gorling, Zilas Gorling, and Thore Jederby. Married to Zarah Leander from 1956 until his death ~ Hülphers passed away in 1978
April 4, 1900 ~ Jazz trumpeter Bob Shoffner born in Bessie, Tennessee, USA ~ Worked with Charlie Creath, Tommy Parker, John H Wickliffe, Everett Robbins, Mae Brady, Honore Dutrey, King Oliver, Dave Peyton, Lottie Hightower, Lovie Austin, Jimmy O'Bryant, Ida Cox, Luis Russell, Charles Elgar, Erskine Tate, Jerome Carrington, McKinney's Cotton Pickers, Frankie Jaxon, Fess Williams, Fletcher Henderson, Hot Lips Page, Richard M Jones, and Franz Jackson ~ Shoffner passed away in 1983
April 4, 1896 ~ Mary Ellen Harrison, commonly known as jazz, blues singer Marion Harris, born in Indiana, USA ~ Popular 1920s singer. Reportedly the first white female to sing jazz and blues. Known for songs such as Paradise Blues, After You've Gone, St Louis Blues, Look For The Silver Lining, A Good Man Is Hard To Find, When I Hear That Jazz Band Play, and perhaps her best known I Ain't Got Nobody ~ Harrison passed away in 1944
April 4, 1880 ~ Singer Georg von Trapp, full name Georg Ludwig Ritter von Trapp, born in Zara, Austria ~ Patriarch of the Trapp Family Singers, whose life story, published in Maria von Trapp's 1949 memoir, would serve as the basis for the musical The Sound Of Music penned by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II ~ Von Trapp passed away in 1947
April 4, 1875 ~ Violinist, violist, conductor Pierre Monteux, full name Pierre Benjamin Monteux, born in Paris, France ~ As a conductor perhaps best known for premiering Igor Stravinsky's The Rite Of Spring and Petrusha, Maurice Ravel's Daphnis Et Chloé, and Claude Debussy's Jeux. Over the course of his career, Monteux has conducted numerous renowned orchestras, including notably the Metropolitan Opera, the Boston Symphony, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra ~ Monteux passed away in 1964