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 30, 1916 ~ Robert William Lane, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, songwriter Tex Morton, born in Nelson, New Zealand ~ Considered a pioneer of country music in New Zealand and Australia, his adopted homeland since the mid 1930s. Also recorded under the moniker the Yodelling Boundary Rider. Strongly influenced by Jimmie Rodgers's yodeling style. Well-known songs include All Set And Saddled, Freight Train Yodel, Mandrake, and My Sweetheart's In Love With A Swiss Mountaineer ~ Lane passed away in 1983
August 30, 1915 ~ Mercy Davis Walton, commonly known as jump blues singer, pianist, songwriter Mercy Dee Walton, born in Waco, Texas, USA ~ Known for a string of singles through the mid 1950s, notably Lonesome Cabin Blues, One Room Country Shack and Come Back Maybellene. The latter in reply to Chuck Berry's then-current hit and future classic Maybellene. A year prior to his death Walton released his Mercy Dee album, featuring backing from harmonica player Sidney Maiden, guitarist KC Douglas, and drummer Otis Cherry ~ Walton passed away in 1962August 30, 1909 ~ Jazz bandleader, singer Willie Bryant, full name William Stevens Bryant, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Started in 1920s vaudeville as a dancer and trumpeter. Formed his first big band in the mid 1930s working with sidemen such as Teddy Wilson, Cozy Cole, Johnny Russell, Benny Carter, Ben Webster, Eddie Durham, Ram Ramirez, and Taft Jordan ~ Bryant passed away in 1964
August 30, 1901 ~ Arranger, orchestrator, composer Conrad Salinger born in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA ~ Orchestrated Broadway productions in the 1930s. Worked on scores of over 75 motion pictures starting in the early 1930s such as most of MGM's musicals including Show Boat, Singing In The Rain, Kiss Me Kate, An American In Paris and Gigi. Mentor to and influence on film composer John Williams who spent a great deal of time around Salinger early in his career. Revered by composers and performers including Nelson Riddle, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and Barbra Streisand ~ Salinger passed away in 1962