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.
August 12, 1942 ~ Clara Francisca Gonçalves, commonly known as samba, MPB singer Clara Nunes, born in Caetanópolis, Brazil ~ Dubbed “the Queen of Samba”, Nunes was considered one of the greatest Brazilian singers of her day alongside Alcione Nazareth and Beth Carvalho, enjoying popularity especially during the 1970s with over a dozen albums to her name including collaborations with Vinicius de Moraes and Paulo Gracindo. Well known songs include Você Passa Eu Acho Graça, E Baiana, Conto De Areia, O Mar Serenou, Coraçãlo Leviano, Na Linha Do Mar, Morena De Angola, and Nação ~ Gonçalves passed away in 1983
August 12, 1942 ~ Classical flutist David Munrow, full name David John Munrow, born in Birmingham, UK ~ During an extended stay in South America, Munrow encountered traditional Latin American music and folk instruments. After returning home to the UK, his interest sparked he began to acquire copies of medieval and renaissance instruments, including traditional folk instruments. From the mid 1960s onward, Munrow would perform and record medieval and renaissance music in various ensembles including with the Musica Reservata and notably the Early Music Consort, the latter of which he co-founded. Munrow would also teach early woodwind instruments at the King's College, and host the BBC Radio 3 show Pied Piper. Despite his brief career, Munrow committing suicide at age 33, he was considered one of the most important figures in the early music movement, pivotal to bringing the music to a wider audience ~ Munrow passed away in 1976August 12, 1941 ~ Terence Perkins, commonly known as rock & roll, pop singer Craig Douglas, born in Newport, UK ~ Popular during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Best known for his Sam Cooke-cover Only Sixteen, which would top the UK charts in 1959 and sell more copies in the UK than the original. Other well known songs include Pretty Blue Eyes, The Heart Of A Teenage Girl, Hundred Pounds Of Clay and When My Little Girl Is Smiling
August 12, 1940 ~ Composer, conductor Alexander Yossifov born in Sofia, Bulgaria ~ As a composer known for writing chamber music, symphonies and the Back To The Beginning opera. Perhaps best known for the composition Prelude And Fuga No.2. As a conductor best known for his association with the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra ~ Yossifov passed away in 2015
August 12, 1940 ~ Swamp pop, country, rockabilly singer, guitarist Rod Bernard, full name Rodney Ronald Louis Bernard, born in Opelousas, Louisiana, USA ~ Cited as a major influence by artists such as CC Adcock, Marc Broussard, Zachary Richard. Formed the 1960s swamp-pop band the Shondells with Warren Storm and Skip Stewart. As a solo artist turned to country by the 1970s. Especially acclaimed for his 1976 album Boogie In Black & White, a collaboration with Clifton Chenier considered a landmark album for its blend of Cajun and black Creole influences ~ Bernard passed away in 2020August 12, 1940 ~ Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen, full name Tony Oladipo Allen, born in Lagos, Nigeria ~ Rose to fame in the 1970s as a member of Fela Kuti's Africa '70. Would go on to collaborate with King Sunny Adé, Ray Lema, Manu Dibango, Sébastien Tellier, Damon Albarn and the Good The Bad & The Queen, Zap Mama, Flea, Rocket Juice & the Moon, and Oumou Sangaré ~ Allen passed away in 2020
August 12, 1939 ~ William Henry Adams Jr, commonly known as producer, label executive Gordon Keith, born ~ Best remembered for being the first to sign the Jackson 5, producing and recording the band's first songs including the band's very first single Big Boy paired with You Changed on the flip side released on the Steeltown Records label in 1968 ~ Adams passed away in 2020
August 12, 1939 ~ Schlager, pop singer Margot Eskens born in Düren, Germany ~ Popular during the 1950s and 1960s. Sold over 40 million records. Known for songs such as Moulin Rouge, Ich Mochte Heut Ausgehn, Tiritomba and perhaps her biggest hit Cindy Oh Cindy. Represented Germany in the 1966 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 10th place with Die Zeiger Der Uhr written by Walter Dobschinski and Hans Bradtke ~ Eskens passed away in 2022
August 12, 1937 ~ Texas blues, electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Roy Gaines, full name Roy James Gaines, born in Waskom, Texas, USA ~ Brother of blues saxophonist Grady Gaines. Released a handful of overlooked solo recordings in the mid 1950s but would spend most of his career backing others. Has worked with Bobby Blue Bland (It's My Life), Junior Parker, Big Mama Thornton, Roy Milton, Chuck Willis, T-Bone Walker, Ray Charles, the Everly Brothers, the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and Gladys Knight. From the early 1980s on would record as a solo artist from time to time, perhaps most notably his 1982 Gainelining album containing the track A Hell Of A Night ~ Gaines passed away in 2021August 12, 1930 ~ Pianist, drummer, bandleader Stan Greig, full name Stanley Mackay Greig, born in Joppa, UK ~ Founded and fronted the London Jazz Big Band and the Stan Greig Trio. Also worked with Sandy Brown, Ken Colyer, Humphrey Lyttelton, Bruce Turner, Al Fairweather, Dave Shepherd, Johnny Hawksworth, George Melly, Wally Fawkes, and Charlie Watts ~ Greig passed away in 2012
August 12, 1929 ~ Alvis Edgar Owens Jr, commonly known as singer, songwriter Buck Owens, born in Sherman, Texas, USA ~ Pioneered the Bakersfield sound, most evidently in songs such as The Streets Of Bakerfield. Also known for songs such as Above And Beyond, Foolin' Around, Under The Influence Of Love, Act Naturally, and I've Got A Tiger By The Tail. Hugely influential on future generations, most notably Dwight Yoakam, and the Derailers. Had his songs covered by Johnny Rivers (Under Your Spell Again), Emmylou Harris (Together Again), the Beatles (Act Naturally), and Cake (Excuse Me I Think I've Got A Heartache) ~ Owens passed away in 2006
August 12, 1927 ~ Singer Porter Wagoner born in West Plains, Missouri, USA ~ Charted over eighty singles on the country charts. Known for songs such as Satisfied Mind, Misery Loves Company, I've Enjoyed This As Much As I Can, Sorrow On The Rocks, Green Green Grass Of Home, The Cold Hard Facts Of Life, and The Carroll County Incident. Discovered and introduced the world to Dolly Parton, with whom Porter sang several hit duets including Daddy Was A Old Time Preacher Man, Please Don't Stop Loving Me and Making Plans ~ Wagoner passed away in 2007August 12, 1926 ~ Singer Joe Jones, full name Joseph Charles Jones, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Discovered the Dixie Cups. Discovered Shirley & Lee. Pianist and arranger for BB King. As a solo artist best known for the 1960 Billboard top 10 hit You Talk Too Much and the original recording of Carnival Time, the latter later successfuly covered by the Rivieras ~ Jones passed away in 2005
August 12, 1918 ~ Israel Brodsky, commonly known as songwriter Roy C Bennett, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Well known for his association with Sid Tepper, the pair writing over three dozen songs for Elvis Presley including For The Millionth And The Last Time, A Boy Like Me A Girl Like You, The Lady Loves Me, Kismet, and perhaps most notably GI Blues. Bennett and Tepper also wrote over a dozen songs for Cliff Richard, including The Young Ones which became Richard's best-selling single. Others who recorded songs co-written by Bennett include Louis Prima, Vaughn Monroe (Red Roses For A Blue Lady), Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como, Art Mooney (Nuttin' For Christmas), Carl Perkins (Glad All Over), Marty Robbins, and Conway Twitty ~ Brodsky passed away in 2015August 12, 1915 ~ Harold West, commonly known as jazz, R&B drummer Doc West, born in Wolford, North Dakota, USA ~ Active since the late 1930s. Worked with Tiny Parham, Erskine Tate, Roy Eldridge, Chick Webb, Hot Lips Page, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Tiny Grimes, Don Byas, Oscar Pettiford, Slam Stewart, Leo Watson, Wardell Gray, Billie Holiday, Erroll Garner, Big Joe Turner, and Jay McShann ~ West passed away in 1951
August 12, 1914 ~ Jazz pianist, songwriter Ruth Lowe born in Toronto, Canada ~ Served as pianist in Ina Ray Hutton's all-female ensemble the Melodears, prior to marrying Chicago music publicist Harold Cohen. Sadly, Cohen would die about a year into the marriage after which Lowe returned to her native Toronto where in grief she penned I'll Never Smile Again. The song would become a jazz standard first recorded by Ray Eberle in 1940 with backing from Glenn Miller's orchestra. Later the same year it would become Frank Sinatra's first major hit. Others who have recorded the song include Sarah Vaughan, Ferlin Husky, the Platters, Billie Holiday, and Eddy Arnold. Other notable songs co-written by Lowe include My First Love, first recorded by Jimmy Dorsey, Put Your Dreams Away, recorded by Sinatra, and Take Your Sins Away, recorded by the Travellers ~ Lowe passed away in 1981August 12, 1890 ~ Conductor, composer Al Goodman born in Nikopol, Ukraine ~ Best known as orchestra conductor for numerous Broadway productions including Flyin' High, The Student Prince and Blossom Time ~ Goodman passed away in 1972