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 18, 1915 ~ Luis Martínez Griñán, commonly known as son cubano, guaracha, bolero pianist, arranger, composer Lilí Martínez, born in Guantanamo, Cuba ~ Though never achieving much fame outside his native Cuba considered perhaps the greates sonero pianist, cited as an influence by the likes of Chucho Valdes, Papo Lucca, and Eddie Palmieri. Has worked with Arsenío Rodriguez, the Conjunto Chappotin, the Estrellas De Chocolate, and los Diablos Rojos. Martínez never recorded as a leader and retired from music in 1967 ~ Martínez passed away in 1990
August 18, 1908 ~ Jazz, blues pianist Zinky Cohn born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Fixture on the 1920s, 1930s Chicago jazz scene, most closely associated with clarinetist Jimmie Noone. Cohn has also worked with Leon Washington, Frankie Franko, Punch Miller, Jabbo Smith, and notably accompanied Georgia White ~ Cohn passed away in 1952
August 18, 1907 ~ Bandleader, producer, engineer Enoch Light born in Canton, Ohio, USA ~ Classically trained violinist. Led various dance bands from the late 1920s onwards, most notably the Light Brigade. Pioneered the use of stereo recording and as a result received little airplay early on in his career, most stations broadcasting on the mono AM band ~ Light passed away in 1978
August 18, 1906 ~ Blues pianist, guitarist Curtis Jones born in Naples, Texas, USA ~ Best known for his recordings of Lonesome Bedroom Blues, Tin Pan Alley and Decoration Blues, the latter covered by Sonny Boy Williamson I. One of Jones' songs, Highway 51, was included on Bob Dylan's 1962 eponymous debut album Bob Dylan ~ Jones passed away in 1971
August 18, 1897 ~ Albert Wesley Wilson, commonly known as jazz pianist Buster Wilson, born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Worked with King Oliver, Dink Johnson, Charlie Lawrence, Mutt Carey, Jimmie Noone, Curtis Mosby, Paul Howard, Lionel Hampton, Les Hite, Jelly Roll Morton, Mutt Carey, Ed Garland, Jimmie Noone, Kid Ory, Bud Scott, and Zutty Singleton ~ Wilson passed away in 1949
August 18, 1872 ~ Marimba player, recording manager Harry Yerkes born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Though largely forgotten today considered by to have predated jazz fusion. Provided a link between ragtime and early jazz, many of his work better classified as light classical. Enjoyed popularity with a number of ensembles bearing his name, often playing a behind the scene role as band managaer, organizer, producer. Best known for founding the Yerkes Jazarim Orchestra and the Yerkes Marimbaphone Band, peaking in the late-1910s and early 1920s ~ Yerkes passed away in 1954