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 29, 1933 ~ Singer, pianist, actor Ramses Shaffy born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France ~ Emerged from the 1960s to become one of the Netherlands' most beloved singers. Known for songs such as Sammy, We Zullen Doorgaan, Pastorale with Liesbeth List, Laat Me and perhaps his best known Zing Vecht Huil Bid Lach En Bewonder. Many of his songs remain popular to this day ~ Shaffy passed away in 2009
August 29, 1932 ~ Jazz saxophonist, flutist Jerry Dodgion born in Richmond, California, USA ~ Worked with Rudy Salvini, Gerald Wilson, Vernon Alley, Billie Holiday, Benny Carter, Red Norvo, Benny Goodman, Oliver Nelson, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Herbie Hancock, Duke Pearson, Blue Mitchell, Count Basie, Marian McPartland, Sonny Clark, Charlie Mariano, Randy Brecker, Lou Donaldson, Bobby Hackett, JJ Johnson, Etta Jones, Yusef Lateef, Blue Mitchell, Quincy Jones, Wes Montgomery, Shirley Scott, Jimmy Smith, and Stanley Turrentine ~ Dodgion passed away in 2023
August 29, 1932 ~ Paolo Zavalloni, commonly known as pop, funk, soul, disco pianist, singer, songwriter Paolo Zavallone, born in Riccione, Italy ~ Active since the 1950s. Member of Henghel Gualdi's orchestra. Rose to fame in the 1970s as bandleader in several TV shows and composer and singer of their theme songs. Best known for his 1977 disco hit Amada Mia Amore Mio with El Pasador. Other well known songs include Non-Stop, Kilimangiaro, and Papa Ha La Bua, Has also composed for others, notably Le Notti Lunghi for Adriano Celentano ~ Zavalloni passed away in 2023August 29, 1929 ~ Gospel singer, songwriter, actress Albertina Walker born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Influenced by Mahalia Jackson. Known for songs such as Please Be Patient With Me, I Can Go To God In Prayer, The Best Is Yet To Come, The Impossible Dream, and Joy Will Come. Worked with the Pete Williams Singers, the Willie Webb Singers, the Robert Anderson Singers, the Caravans, James Cleveland, Bessie Griffin, Shirley Caesar, Dorothy Norwood, Inez Andrews, Loleatta Holloway, John McNell, Cassietta George, Delores Washington, the Cathedral Of Love Choir, Metro Mass Choir, the West Point Choir, the Sisters Of Glory, Thelma Houston, CeCe Peniston, Phoebe Snow, and Lois Walden ~ Walker passed away in 2010
August 29, 1928 ~ Paul Evans, commonly known as jazz saxophonist Stump Evans, passed away in Douglas County, Kansas, USA ~ One of the first jazz saxophonists. Worked with the Creole Jazz Band led by King Oliver, the Dixie Syncopators, Priscilla Stewart, Jelly Roll Morton's outfit the Red Hot Peppers, Erskine Tate, and Jimmy Wade. Evans passed away at age 23 of tuberculosis ~ Evans was born in 1904
August 29, 1927 ~ Jimmy Yves Newman, commonly known as country, cajun singer, guitarist, songwriter Jimmy C Newman, born in Mamou, Louisiana, USA ~ Influenced by Cajun music, the C in his artist name stands for Cajun. Enjoyed popularity in country scenes from the early 1950s through the 1960s. Regular performed at the Grand Ole Opry. Known for songs such as Cry Cry Darling, A Fallen Star, A Lovely Work Of Art, and DJ For A Day, all of which reached top on the Billboard Country charts ~ Newman passed away in 2014August 29, 1927 ~ Thomas Raymond Kelly, commonly known as jazz double bassist Red Kelly, born in Shelby, Montana, USA ~ Worked with Charlie Barnet, Herbie Fields, Claude Thornhill, Red Norvo, Red Mitchell, Woody Herman, Dick Collins, Nat Pierce, Maynard Ferguson, Med Flory, Stan Kenton, Lennie Niehaus, the Modest Jazz Trio, Jim Hall, and Harry James ~ Kelly passed away in 2004
August 29, 1924 ~ Ruth Lee Jones, commonly known as singer, pianist Dinah Washington, born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA ~ Popular 1950s jazz singer, drew from blues, R&B, traditional pop. Debuted in 1944 with Evil Gal Blues. Also known for hits such as Ain't Misbehavin', Am I Asking Too Much, Baby Get Lost, I Wanna Be Loved, Cold Cold Heart, What A Difference A Day Makes, the Brook Benton duet Baby You've Got What It Takes, and September In The Rain. Worked with Lionel Hampton, Clifford Brown, Clark Terry, Cannonball Adderley, and Ben Webster ~ Jones passed away in 1963August 29, 1924 ~ Singer, actress Maria Dolores Pradera born in Madrid, Spain ~ Recognised as one of the most admired voices in Spain and Latin America. Started as an actress in the 1950s. Focused on her music career since the 1960s, specializing in bolero, ballad, ronda, folk and other traditional idioms ~ Pradera passed away in 2018
August 29, 1922 ~ Jazz trumpeter Rolf Ericson born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Over half a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, most notably Stockholm Sweetnin' released in 1985. In-demand sideman, present on albums by the Lighthouse All-Stars, Chet Baker, Harold Land, Ernestine Anderson, Stan Kenton, Quincy Jones, Buddy Rich, Charles Mingus (The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady), Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster, and Monica Zetterlund ~ Ericson passed away in 1997
August 29, 1920 ~ Saxophonist Charlie Parker born in Kansas City, Kansas, USA ~ Pivotal be-bop pioneer. Helped change the image of a jazz musician from entertainer to intellectual. Best known for songs such as Yardbird Suite and Ornithology. Influenced by Count Basie, Bennie Moten, Buster Smith. Worked with Jay McShann (who gave Parker his nickname, Yardbird, usually shortened to Bird), Earl Hines, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Christian, Kenny Clarke, William Fleet, Miles Davis, Curley Russell, and Max Roach. As a tribute to Parker, the Rolling Stones drummer and jazz aficionado Charlie Watts wrote the children's book Ode To A High Flying Bird ~ Parker passed away in 1955