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 31, 1940 ~ Bassist Wilton Felder born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Founding member of the Jazz Crusaders, later renamed to the Crusaders. Also worked a house bassist for Motown, appearing on records by Grant Green, the Jackson 5 (I Want You Back), and Marvin Gaye. Sessioned for seventies pop-rock artist such as Seals & Crofts, John Cale, Steely Dan, Billy Joel, Randy Newman, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, and Michael Franks ~ Felder passed away in 2015
August 31, 1939 ~ Jazz, swing, funk, R&B double bassist, composer, arranger, producer Cleveland Eaton, full name Cleveland Josephus Eaton II, born in Fairfields, Alabama, USA ~ Best known for his associations with Ramsey Lewis and Count Basie. Known by funk aficionados for his 1975 recording Plenty Good Eaton. Worked with wide array of artists including John Klemmer, Ike Cole, Bunky Green, the Dells, Bobby Rush, Minnie Riperton, Jerry Butler, Rotary Connection, George Benson, Henry Mancini, Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams, Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Peggy Lee, Mimi Hines, Sammy Davis Jr, Julie London, Bobby Troup, Brook Benton, Lou Rawls, Nipsey Russell, Morgana King, Gloria Lynne, Herbie Hancock, the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, the Platters, the Temptations, and the Miracles ~ Eaton passed away in 2020August 31, 1939 ~ Bossa nova, samba, choro, Latin jazz pianist, arranger, composer Francis Hime, full name Francis Victor Walter Hime, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Perhaps best known for writing the jazz standard Minha (All Mine), recorded by Bill Evans, Tony Bennett, and Eliane Elias
August 31, 1939 ~ Rock & roll, rockabilly drummer Jerry Allison, full name Jerry Ivan Allison, born in Hillsboro, Texas, USA ~ Best known for backing Buddy Holly as a member of the Crickets. Credited as a co-writer on the hits That'll Be The Day and Peggy Sue. The latter was originally titled Cindy Lou but renamed to charm Allison's girlfriend, and future wife, Peggy Sue ~ Allison passed away in 2022August 31, 1939 ~ Saxophonist, bandleader, composer Paul Winter born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Formed and fronted various ensembles including the Paul Winter Sextet, the Paul Winter Consort and the Earth Band
August 31, 1938 ~ Blues singer, guitarist, songwriter John Koerner, also known as Spider John Koerner, born in Rochester, New York, USA ~ Closely associated with Dave Ray and Tony Glover, the trio recording and performing in various configurations, in solo turns and duets, but rarely as a trio. Ray suggested that it would be more accurate to refer to them not as Koerner Ray & Gloever, but rather Koerner and/or Ray and/or Glover. However, as a trio they did notably perform at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964, captured on the Newport Folk Festival 1964 (Evening Concerts III) album. In later years they would occasionally perform together, until Ray's death in the early 2000s. Koerner is also known for his 1965 Spider Blues album, and for teaming up with Willie Murphy for the 1969 collaborative Running Jumping Standing Still album. Koerner is considered an early influence on Bob Dylan, of whom Koerner has been quoted as saying: “We were all goofy, you know. We were thinkers and drinkers and artists and players, and Dylan was one of us. He was another guy.” ~ Koerner passed away in 2024
August 31, 1937 ~ Robert Lee Parker, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Bobby Parker, born in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA ~ Member of Otis Williams & his Charms. Played lead guitar with Bo Diddley. Toured with Paul Williams, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Lavern Baker, Clyde McPhatter, and with the Everly Brothers. As a solo artist best known for his 1961 single Watch Your Step which peaked at No.51 Billboard Hot 100. The song would later be covered by artists such as the Spencer Davis Group, Dr Feelgood, Steve Marriott, Adam Faith, and by Carlos Santana ~ Parker passed away in 2013August 31, 1937 ~ Free jazz vibraphonist, clarinetist, saxophonist, flutist, pianist Gunter Hampel born in Göttingen, Germany ~ Over 50 albums to his name starting in the mid 1960s. Best known for leading the Galaxie Dream Band, founded in 1972. Has collaborated with John McLaughlin, Muruga Booker, Udo Lindenberg, Archie Shepp, Marion Brown, and Perry Robinson
August 31, 1935 ~ Rockabilly, pop rock pianist, singer Dean Beard born in Santa Anna, Texas, USA ~ Dubbed “the West Texas Wild Man” and known for a number of moderately successful 1950s recordings, notably Rakin' & Scrapin' released in 1957 featuring saxophonist Jim Seals and drummer Dash Crofts of later Seals & Crofts-fame. Has also worked with the Champs ~ Beard passed away in 1989August 31, 1933 ~ Jazz saxophonist Herman Riley born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Tough-toned tenor saxophonist became a fixture on the Los Angeles jazz scene. Riley recorded only one album as a leader, the jam album Herman released in 1986, but was an in-demand sideman for numerous artists for some four decades starting in the mid 1960s. Riley is perhaps known best for his work with Blue Mitchell in the 1970s, including the acclaimed The Last Tango Is Blues album. Other notable appearances include albums by Della Reese, Bobby Bryant, Roy Brown, Bobby Hutcherson, Gene Ammons, Cal Tjader, Billy Brooks (Windows Of The Mind), Frank Capp (The Live At The Century Plaza), Dr John, Earth Wind & Fire, Gladys Knight, Stacy Rowles (Tell It Like It Is), Dave Grusin, Jimmy Smith, Sandy Graham (Sandy Graham), Lorez Alexandria (I'll Never Stop Loving You), Kenny Burrell, and Etta James ~ Riley passed away in 2007
August 31, 1931 ~ Singer Bing Crosby records Dancing In The Dark ~ Music by Arthur Schwartz, lyrics Howard Dietz. Introduced by John Barker in the 1931 revue Band Wagon. First recorded by Bing Crosby with studio orchestra directed by Victor Young, it would reach the top 5. Covered by numerous artists, including Artie Shaw, Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington, Patti Page, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Ella Fitzgerald, and Diana Krall
August 31, 1918 ~ Lyricist, songwriter Alan Jay Lerner born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as co-author of several musicals and films, including An American In Paris, Gigi, Camelot, Brigadoon and My Fair Lady ~ Lerner passed away in 1986
August 31, 1916 ~ Conductor, violinist Everett Lee born in Wheeling, Virginia, USA ~ Mentored by conductor Artur Rodzinski. First gained attention in 1943, playing violin and oboe in the pit orchestra for the Broadway opera Carmen Jones, an all-black retelling of Georges Bizet's Carmen. Would go on to conduct Leonard Bernstein's production of On The Town, making him the first African-American to regularly conduct a Broadway show. Also noted for guest conducting the Louisville Orchestra, making him the first African-American to conduct a white orchestra in the American South. Founded the interracial orchestra the Cosmopolitan Symphony Orchestra. Also closely associated with the New York City Opera, the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra ~ Lee passed away in 2022August 31, 1911 ~ Ignacio Arsenio Travieso Scull, commonly known as bandleader, composer Arsenío Rodriguez, born in Matanzas, Cuba ~ Contributed to the development of son montuno, the basic template of modern-day salsa. Worked with the Orquesta Casino de la Playa, Septeto Boston, Antonio Arcana, Chano Pozo, Machito, Dizzy Gillespie, and Mario Bauzá ~ Scull passed away in 1970
August 31, 1910 ~ Guitarist Lauderic Caton, full name Lauderic Rex Caton, born in Arima, Trinidad ~ Influenced by Lonnie Johnson and Charlie Christian. Fleeing from the Nazis, Caton made his way to the UK by way of France and Belgium, where he worked with pianist Ram Ramirez. Although Caton also played the saxophone, double bass, and banjo, he is best remembered for pioneering the use of electric guitar in British jazz, cited by some as “Britain's first champion of the electric guitar”. Caton would become especially known for backing Don Marino Barreto and his gigs at the Jigs Club, London, where he would be discovered by Fats Waller and Duke Ellington. Caton would also become known as a builder of guitar amplifiers and a tutor, including mentoring Hank Marvin of future fame with the Shadows. Caton remained active through the late 1950s ~ Caton passed away in 1999
August 31, 1907 ~ Jazz saxophonist, violinist Edgar Sampson, full name Edgar Melvin Sampson, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Active since the mid 1920s, working with the likes of Duke Ellington, Bingie Madison, Billy Fowler, Fletcher Henderson, and Rex Stewart. Best known for his brief tenure with Chick Webb's ensemble from 1933 through 1936, during which time Sampson also co-wrote several of Webb's best known, including If Dreams Come True, Don't Be That Way, and Stompin' At The Savoy. The latter would become a standard, covered by over an estimated 400 artists including Coleman Hawkins, Cozy Cole, Art Pepper, and Charlie Byrd. Other well known songs co-written by Sampson include Blue Lou, first recorded by Benny Carter, and Lullaby In Rhythm, first recorded by Benny Goodman. Following his tenure with Webb, Sampson has worked with Artie Shaw, Red Norvo, Teddy Wilson, and Ella Fitzgerald, and from the late 1940s onwards Latin jazz artists such as Marcelino Guerra, Tito Puente, and Tito Rodriguez ~ Sampson passed away in 1973
August 31, 1903 ~ Radio and television broadcaster Arthur Godfrey, full name Arthur Morton Leo Godfrey, born in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Popular in the mid 1950s. Known for musical radio and TV shows such as Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts ~ Godfrey passed away in 1983
August 31, 1899 ~ Pianist Todd Rhodes, full name Todd Washington Rhodes, born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA ~ Influential in early jazz and later R&B. Active from the 1920s through the late 1950s. Has worked with McKinney's Cotton Pickers, Benny Carter, Coleman Hawkins, Fats Waller, Rex Stewart, Doc Cheatham, Don Redman, Hank Ballard, Dave Bartholomew, Wynonie Harris, Connie Allen, and Lavern Baker. As a solo artist best remembered for songs such as Blues For The Red Boy, Pot Likker, Your Daddy's Doggin' Around, and Your Mouth Got A Hole In It ~ Rhodes passed away in 1965
August 31, 1886 ~ Songwriter L Wolfe Gilbert, full name Louis Wolfe Gilbert, born in Odessa, Russian Empire ~ Perhaps best remembered for writing Down Yonder, first recorded by the Peerless Quartet in 1921, and for co-writing Ramona, first recorded by Paul Whiteman in 1928. Both songs have become standards, covered by numerous artists. Other well known songs written or co-written by Gilbert include Waitin' For The Robert E Lee (Al Jolson), If I Didn't Know Your Husband And You Didn't Know My Wife (Whispering Jack Smith), Lucky Lindy (Vernon Dalhart), and Jeannine I Dream Of Lilac Time (Gene Austin) ~ Gilbert passed away in 1970