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 7, 1943 ~ Guitarist, singer Mick Abrahams, full name Michael Timothy Abrahams, born in Luton, UK ~ Original guitarist for Jethro Tull, artistic differences with Ian Anderson prompting his departure shortly after the release of their 1968 This Was debut album. Subsequently founded and fronted Blodwyn Pig, their 1969 Ahead Rings Out debut album widely regarded as an important contribution to the late 1960s boom of UK blues rock. Abrahams has also recorded over a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with his eponymous 1971 album ~ Abrahams passed away in 2025April 7, 1938 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Alexander von Schlippenbach born in Berlin, Germany ~ Co-founded the Globe Unity Orchestra. Founded the Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, whose members at one time or another included Willem Breuker, Paul Lovens, Misha Mengelberg, Evan Parker, Aki Takase, and Kenny Wheeler
April 7, 1938 ~ Bebop, hard bop, post-bop trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, full name Frederick Dwayne Hubbard, born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Closely associated with Art Blakey, backing Blakey in the Jazz Messengers for most of the 1960s including on albums such as Mosaic, Caravan and Free For All. Over 50 albums as leader or co-leader, especially acclaimed for Open Sesame, Ready For Freddie and Backlash. In-demand sideman appearing on some of most important jazz albums from the late 1950s onwards including by JJ Johnson, Eric Dolphy (Outward Bound), Tina Brooks, Jackie McLean (Bluesnik), Dexter Gordon, Ornette Coleman (Free Jazz), John Coltrane, Oliver Nelson (The Blues And The Abstract Truth), Herbie Hancock (Takin' Off), Willie Bobo, Wayne Shorter (The All Seeing Eye), Max Roach, Quincy Jones (Walking In Space), George Benson, Don Sebesky, and Milt Jackson (Sunflower). To pop audiences perhaps best known for his trumpet playing on Zanzibar of Billy Joel's 1978 52nd Street album ~ Hubbard passed away in 2008
April 7, 1938 ~ Bassist Spencer Dryden, full name Spencer Charles Dryden, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known for his association with psychedelic rock outfit the Jefferson Airplane, remaining with the band from 1966 through 1970 including on the band's masterpiece Surrealistic Pillow which spawned the hits Somebody To Love and White Rabbit. Member of country rock band the New Riders Of The Purple Sage from 1971 through 1977, after which he became the band's manager. Has also worked with the Peanut Butter Conspiracy and rock supergroup Dinosaurs ~ Dryden passed away in 2005
April 7, 1937 ~ R&B singer Charlie Thomas born in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA ~ When music manager George Treadwell fired his group in 1958, the entire line-up of the the Five Crowns including Thomas would be hired to constitute the new line-up of the Drifters. Sang lead on Sweets For My Sweet and When My Little Girl Is Smiling ~ Thomas passed away in 2023
April 7, 1936 ~ Mary Ellen Reynolds, commonly known as dancer, actress, singer Marilyn Miller, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the most popular Broadway musical stars of the 1920s and 1930s. Rose to fame with her appearances in the 1918 Ziegfeld Follies and headlining the next year's edition playing the role of producer Florenz Ziegfeld Jr's wife. Rumored to be Ziegfeld's mistress, though this was never proven. Also known for roles in stage productions of Peter Pan, Sunny and Rosalie, becoming the highest-paid Broadway star by the late 1920s ~ Reynolds was born in 1898
April 7, 1935 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Bobby Bare, full name Robert Joseph Bare Sr, born in Ironton, Ohio, USA ~ Active since the early 1960s. Known best for his signature song 500 Miles Away From Home, which crossed over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 peaking at No.10 in 1963. Father of singer Bobby Bare Jr. Member of late 1990s country supergroup Old Dogs which also included Jerry Reed, Mel Tillis and Waylon Jennings
April 7, 1932 ~ Calvin Grant Shofner, commonly known as country singer, guitarist Cal Smith born in Gans, Oklahoma, USA ~ Member of Ernest Tubb's backing unit the Texas Troubadours from 1960 through 1969. As a solo artist known best for Country Bumpkin and It's Time To Pay The Fiddler, both hits in 1974. Other well known recordings of his include She Talked A Lot About Texas, I Just Came Home To Count The Memories and Come See About Me ~ Shofner passed away in 2013
April 7, 1927 ~ Drummer, social activist Babatunde Olatunji born in Alido, British Nigeria ~ Leader and sideman. Admired by peers, especially John Coltrane who wrote and recorded the song Tunji as a tribute to Olatunji. Referenced by Bob Dylan in I Shall Be Free. Covered by Carlos Santana (Jing-go-la-ba). Worked with Cannonball Adderley, Horace Silver, Quincy Jones, Pee Wee Ellis, Stevie Wonder, Randy Weston, Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln, Mickey Hart, Airto Moreira, Muruga Booker, Sikiru Adepoju, Halim El-Dabh, Randy Weston, Max Roach, Kai Winding, Herbie Mann, Serge Gainsbourg, Richie Havens, Taj Mahal, and Tupac Shakur ~ Olatunji passed away in 2003
April 7, 1919 ~ Jump blues, R&B blues shouter Jimmy Nelson, also known as Jimmy T99 Nelson, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Mentored by Big Joe Turner, whose shouting style he emulated. Recorded a number of singles during the 1950s, most notably T-99 Blues which would top the Billboard R&B charts, Meet Me With Your Black Dress On, and Free And Easy Mind. Nelson would work day jobs through the 1970s, performing and sitting in with bands on occasion. As a singer would reemerge after Ace issued a compilation album of previously unreleased Nelson songs in the 1980s ~ Nelson passed away in 2007
April 7, 1918 ~ Michael Andrew Hucko, commonly known as big band clarinetist Peanuts Hucko, born in Syracuse, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Noted for his clarinet solo on Cole Porter's What Is This Thing Called Love. Worked with Charlie Spivak, Benny Goodman, Ray McKinley, Eddie Condon, Jack Teagarden, Louis Armstrong, Al Cohn, Warren Covington, and the Lawson-Haggart Band. Led the Glenn Miller Orchestra in the 1970s ~ Hucko passed away in 2003
April 7, 1917 ~ Robert David Mirsky, commonly known as pop arranger, producer Robert Mersey, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Got his start in music in the 1950s, working as arranger with songwriter duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Would go on to work as arranger and producer at Columbia Records starting in the early 1960s, notably working on tracks recorded by the likes of Andy Williams (Can't Get Used To Losing You), Barbra Streisand, Bobby Vinton, Dion (You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want To Do It)), Aretha Franklin, Mel Tormé, Julie Andrews, and Patti Page (You Can't Be True Dear) ~ Mirsky passed away in 1994
April 7, 1915 ~ Eleanora Fagan, commonly known as jazz, swing singer Billie Holiday, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Iconic singer pioneered jazz singing. Active from the mid 1930s until her death at age 44. Known for her emotive voice, tragic lifestory and struggles with men and substance abuse. Well known songs include What A Little Moonlight Can Do, A Fine Romance, I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Carelessly, Mean To Me, I'm Gonna Lock My Heart, Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be) and perhaps her best known Strange Fruit ~ Fagan passed away in 1959
April 7, 1912 ~ Jacob Louis Schwartz, commonly known as songwriter Jack Lawrence, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Wrote All Or Nothing At All, Frank Sinatra's first solo hit. Co-wrote Tenderly, Sarah Vaughan's first hit. Others songs written or co-written by Lawrence include Music From Beyond The Moon (Vic Damone, Tony Martin), If I Didn't Care (the Ink Spots, Bob Crosby, the Platters, Brenda Lee), With The Wind And The Rain In Your Hair (Kay Kyser, Georgie Auld, Frances Langford), Yes My Darling Daughter (Dinah Shore, Eydie Gormé, Sandie Shaw), Tenderly (Dick Farney, Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole), and Foolin' Myself (Chick Bullock, Teddy Wilson) ~ Schwartz passed away in 2009April 7, 1908 ~ Bandleader, conductor, composer Percy Faith born in Toronto, Canada ~ Popularized easy listening. Rose to fame in the 1950s. Closely associated with Mitch Miller. In-demand arranger for pop singers such as Tony Bennett, Doris Day, Johnny Mathis, Guy Mitchell. As a bandleader best known for Delicado, The Song From Moulin Rouge and Theme From A Summer Place ~ Faith passed away in 1976