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 20, 1935 ~ Composer, conductor Otakar Ostrcil passed away in Prague, Czechoslovakia ~ Influenced by Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss and Arnold Schoenberg. Considered one of the leading composers in Czech Modernism, alongside Josef Suk and Vítezslav Novák. Best known for his symphonic works Impromptu, Suite In C Minor and Symfonietta and his operas Poupé and Honzovo Kralovstvi ~ Ostrcil was born in 1879
August 20, 1934 ~ Peter E Kleinow, commonly known as guitarist Sneaky Pete Kleinow, born in South Bend, Indiana, USA ~ Influenced by Jerry Byrd. Best known as member of pivotal country-rock outfit the Flying Burrito Brothers from 1968 through 1971, present on all of the original band's three albums including the landmark The Gilded Palace Of Sin album. Also worked with several of the band's reunion line-ups and spin-off bands. In-demand session guitarist, steel guitarist with a host of rock, folk, country artists including Joe Cocker, Dillard & Clark, Delaney & Bonnie (To Bonnie From Delaney), the Byrds, Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat, Jackson Browne (Jackson Browne), Rita Coolidge, John Lennon (Mind Games), Ringo Starr, Stevie Wonder (Songs In The Key Of Life), the Golden Palominos, and Leonard Cohen ~ Kleinow passed away in 2007August 20, 1933 ~ Rockabilly guitarist, producer Roland Janes born in Brookings, Arkansas, USA ~ Best known for his association with Cowboy Jack Clement and for his work as producer and session musician at Sun Records through 1963. Worked with artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Lee Riley, Charlie Rich, and Sonny Burgess ~ Janes passed away in 2013
August 20, 1931 ~ Francis Cappucio, commonly known as jazz, pop, rock drummer, percussionist, vibraphonist Frank Capp, born in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA ~ Co-led the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut with pianist Nat Pierce from 1975 until Pierce's death in 1992. Had been active in music since the early 1950s, initially gaining attention as a member of Stan Kenton's orchestra. In-demand session musician in jazz, pop, and rock. Present on albums by Art Pepper, Benny Goodman, André Previn, Henry Mancini (The Music From Peter Gunn), Dinah Shore, Sonny & Cher, Nancy Sinatra, the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), the Monkees, Frank Zappa, Harry Nilsson, Bette Midler, Tina Turner (Simply The Best), and John Denver ~ Cappucio passed away in 2017
August 20, 1929 ~ Thomas Clague, commonly known as radio host, DJ Tom Clay, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Popular radio DJ remembered best for a number of controversies. Fired from his job at WWOL-AM-FM, Buffalo, after he pulled a stunt in which he played Bill Haley's Rock Around The Clock repeatedly from atop a billboard in Buffalo's Shelton Square. Clay would later be involved in the payola scandal of the late 1950s, and admitted to having accepted thousands of dollars for playing certain records WJBK, Cincinnati. Despite the controversies Clay would rise to popularity every time. As a recording artist, Clay is known for putting together the What The World Needs Now Is Love/Abraham Martin & John collage single, mixing two popular records of the time with children's voices and excerpts from speeches by John F Kennedy, Robert F Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. The single would be a surprise hit and reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Clague passed away in 1995
August 20, 1927 ~ James Elbert Raney, commonly known as jazz guitarist Jimmy Raney, born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Best known for his early 1950s work with Red Norvo, replacing Tal Farlow in the Red Norvo Trio, and for backing Stan Getz during the same period. At home in various jazz idioms including cool jazz, bebop, post bop and hard bop. Has also worked with Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Buddy DeFranco, Al Haig, and Bob Brookmeyer. Suffered from Ménière's disease which eventually led to near deafness in both ears. This did not stop him from playing however, hailed by the New York Times in his obituary as “one of the most gifted and influential postwar jazz guitarists” ~ Raney passed away in 1995
August 20, 1926 ~ Jazz trombonist Frank Rosolino born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Worked with Kenny Burrell, Paul Chambers, Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones, Thad Jones, Elvin Jones, Bob Chester, Glen Gray, Tony Pastor, Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé, Quincy Jones, Shelly Manne, Francy Boland, Terry Gibbs, Stan Kenton, Pete Rugolo, Elmer Bernstein, Frank Capp, Benny Carter, Ray Charles, Paulinho Da Costa, Dizzy Gillespie, Chico Hamilton, Charlie Mariano, Anita O'Day, Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Cal Tjader, Tower Of Power, and Sarah Vaughan ~ Rosolino passed away in 1978
August 20, 1923 ~ Country, country-pop singer Jim Reeves, full name James Travis Reeves, born in Galloway, Texas, USA ~ Charted records from the 1950s through the 1980s. Dubbed “Gentleman Jim”. Instrumental in creating the lush Nashville sound, reaching audiences outside country circles. First gained attention with the single Mexican Joe in 1953. Frequently worked with producer Steve Sholes early on in his career. Known for songs such as Welcome To My World, I Guess I'm Crazy, Blue Side Of Lonesome, and Make The World Go Away ~ Reeves passed away in 1964
August 20, 1905 ~ Weldon Leo Teagarden, commonly known as jazz, swing, dixieland trombonist, singer Jack Teagarden, born in Vernon, Texas, USA ~ Preeminent trombonist of the pre bebop era. Best known as a sideman in ensembles led by Paul Whiteman and Louis Armstrong. Has also worked with Peck Kelley, Benny Goodman, Bix Beiderbecke, Red Nichols, Jimmy McPartland, Mezz Mezzrow, Glenn Miller, Eddie Condon, Red Allen, and Ben Pollack. Notably present on the Red Allen Kid Ory & Jack Teagarden At Newport album, released on Verve in 1957 ~ Teagarden passed away in 1964
August 20, 1900 ~ Rhumba, zarzuela singer, pianist, actress Rita Montaner, full name Rita Aurelia Fulcida Montaner y Facenda, born in Guanabacoa, Cuba ~ Classically trained. One of Cuba's most beloved artists from the 1920s through the 1950s, also enjoying popularity in Europe and America. Best known for Afro-Cuban salon songs including The Peanut Vendor and Siboney ~ Montaner passed away in 1958August 20, 1873 ~ William Henry Bell, commonly known as composer, conductor WH Bell, born in St Albans, UK ~ Principal of the South African College Of Music, Cape Town, from 1912 through 1935. As a composer wrote operas, orchestral, symphonic and chamber music. Perhaps best remembered for South African Symphony and Viola Concerto ~ Bell passed away in 1946