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 6, 1946 ~ Jazz fusion, progressive rock guitarist Allan Holdsworth born in Bradford, UK ~ Cited as influence by Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Yngwie Malmsteen and Tom Morello. Described as “the John Coltrane of the guitar” by Robben Ford. First gained attention as member of Igginbottom, known for their sole album Igginbottom's Wrench. Has also worked with Sunship, Nucleus, Tempest, Soft Machine, Tony Williams Lifetime, Pierre Moerlen, Jean-Luc Ponty, Bill Bruford, UK, Gordon Beck, Frank Gambale, Derek Sherinian, Alan Pasqua, Level 42, Gongzilla, Soft Works, and Stanley Clarke ~ Holdsworth passed away in 2017August 6, 1944 ~ Horatios Adolphus Kelly, commonly known as rocksteady, reggae singer Pat Kelly, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Influenced by Sam Cooke. Replaced Slim Smith in the Techniques. Also worked with producers such as Bunny Lee, Lee Scratch Perry, Duke Reid, and Phil Pratt. As a solo artist best known for his 1969 recording of How Long Will It Take ~ Kelly passed away in 2019
August 6, 1942 ~ Avant-garde jazz saxophonist, flutist Byard Lancaster born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Co-founded the Sounds Of Liberation with Khan Jamal. Has also worked with artists such as McCoy Tyner, Archie Shepp, Elvin Jones, Sun Ra, Memphis Slim, Johnny Copeland, Arcana, Ronald Shannon Jackson, Odean Pope, and Larry Young ~ Lancaster passed away in 2012
August 6, 1941 ~ Jazz drummer Svein Christiansen born in Kolbotn, Norway ~ Worked with artists such as the Hot Saints, Oddvar Paulsen, Roy Hellvin, Helge Hurum, Fred Nøddelund, Frode Thingnæs, Einar Iversen, Egil Kapstad, Karin Krog, Terje Bjørklund, Laila Dalseth, Øystein Sevåg, Jens Wendelboe, Susanne Fuhr, Dag Arnesen, Bjørn Alterhaug, Helge Iberg, Svein Finjarn, Odd Børretzen, Bjørn Eidsvåg, Jan Eggum, Lars Klevstrand, Ryfylke Visegruppe, Trond Viggo Torgersen, the Oslo Filharmonien, the Tott Bergh Quintet, and the Tine Asmundsen Trio ~ Christiansen passed away in 2015August 6, 1940 ~ Pianist, composer, arranger Egil Kapstad born in Oslo, Norway ~ Leader and sideman. Appears on over 60 albums. Worked with Karin Krog, Chet Baker, Red Mitchell, Bjørn Johansen, Bjarne Nerem, Jon Larsen, Magni Wentzel, Jan Erik Bold, Lars Klevstrand, Ole Paus, Rolf Jacobsen, Thorgeir Stubø, Per Husby, Laila Dalseth, Bjørn Alterhaug, Bodil Niska, Hilde Hefte, Ola Kvernberg, Staffan William-Olsson, Per Husby, and Hilde Hefte ~ Kapstad passed away in 2017
August 6, 1939 ~ William Nelson Sanders, commonly known as singer, songwriter, producer Sonny Sanders, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Formed the Satintones, the first vocal group to be signed to Motown, in 1957 which also featured Robert Bateman, James Ellis, and Sammy Mack. Also sessioned as backup singer on You Got What It Takes (Marv Johnson), and Money (That's What I Want) (Barrett Strong). Left the label in 1960 but continued to work as arranger on Motown-tracks including Just Like Romeo And Juliet (the Reflections). Also worked with non-Motown artists such as producer Carl Davis, Mary Wells, Edwin Starr (arranged Agent Double-O-Soul), Jackie Wilson, Gene Chandler, the Chi-lites, and Tyrone Davis. Co-wrote Barbara Acklin's Am I The Same Girl with Eugene Record. Co-wrote Wilson Pickett's If You Need Me, later also recorded by Solomon Burke, and by the Rolling Stones ~ Sanders passed away in 2016
August 6, 1937 ~ Baden Powell de Aquino, commonly known as guitarist, composer Baden Powell, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Merges classical techniques with harmony and swing. Plays bossa nova, samba, Latin jazz. As a composer known for Abração Em Madrid, Braziliense, Consolaçao, Canto De Ossanho, and Samba Triste, the latter becoming a jazz standard. Worked with the Steve Bernard Orquestra, Ed Lincoln, Billy Blanco, Herbie Mann, Carlos Monteiro de Souza, Oscar Castro Neves, Stéphane Grappelli, and Herbie Mann ~ De Aquino passed away in 2000
August 6, 1937 ~ Bassist, double bassist Charlie Haden, full name Charles Edward Haden, born in Shenandoah, Iowa, USA ~ One of the most important post-bop jazz bassists with a career spanning five decades. Helped liberate the jazz bassist to free themselves from a strictly serving role. Closely associated with Ornette Coleman, including on the pivotal albums The Shape Of Jazz To Come, Change Of The Century, Free Jazz, The Art Of The Improvisers, and This Is Our Music. As a leader especially acclaimed for his 1970 The Liberation Music Orchestra album with backing unit the Liberation Music Orchestra and his 1987 Quartet West album with Quartet West. Has also worked with Paul Bley, John Coltrane (Live At The Village Vanguard), Denny Zeitlin, Roswell Rudd, the Jazz Composers Orchestra, Gato Barbieri, John McLaughlin, Paul Motian, Keith Jarrett (Backhand), Don Cherry, Art Pepper, Robert Wyatt (Ruth Is Stranger Than Fiction), Old And New Dreams, Pat Metheny (80-81), and John Scofield ~ Haden passed away in 2014
August 6, 1935 ~ Bluegrass mandolinist Herschel Sizemore, full name Herschel Lee Sizemore, born in Sheffield, Alabama, USA ~ As a solo artist best known for penning and first recording the mandolin instrumental Rebecca, named after his mother. Member of the Dixie Gentlemen from 1957 through 1965. Subsequently a member of the Shenandoah Cut-Ups, Country Grass which also included Ricky Skaggs, the Dixie Pals and the Bluegrass Cardinals. Guested on recordings by Rual Yarbrough, Jim Eanes, David Parmley, and Curly Seckler ~ Sizemore passed away in 2022
August 6, 1931 ~ Cornetist, pianist, composer Bix Beiderbecke passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s. Member of the Wolverines. One third of Tram Bix & Lang. Known for his contributions to songs such as Singing The Blues (the Original Dixieland Jazz Band) and I'm Coming Virginia (Will Marion Cook). Has also worked with Jean Goldkette's orchestra, Frankie Trumbauer, and Paul Whiteman ~ Bix was born in 1903
August 6, 1931 ~ Jazz saxophonist Jean-Louis Chautemps born in Paris, France ~ Initially studied medicine and law, yet chose a career in music. Got his first break working with pianist, bandleader Jef Gilson in 1950. Would go on to back stalwarts of French jazz such as Henri Renaud and Albert Nicholas. Has also worked with Claude Bolling, Sidney Bechet, Django Reinhardt, Chet Baker, Zoot Sims, Lester Young, Albert Ayler, Roy Eldridge, Philly Joe Jones, Lester Bowie, and Martial Solal. To pop audiences, Chautemps is perhaps best known for appearing on Elton John's Honky Cat of the 1972 Honky Château album ~ Chautemps passed away in 2022
August 6, 1930 ~ Anna Marie Wooldridge, commonly known as singer, songwriter, actress, civil rights advocate Abbey Lincoln, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Influenced by Billie Holiday. Married to drummer Max Roach from 1962 tot 1970, with whom she also sang including on the 1960 civil rights anthem We Insist. Recorded as a solo artist and guest vocalist from the mid 1950s onwards. Worked with artists such as Benny Carter, Marty Paich, Dave Liebman, Archie Shepp, Steve Coleman, Jerry González, Tarik Shah, Jackie McLean, Clark Terry, Stan Getz, Charlie Haden, Maxine Roach, Rodney Kendrick, Bobby Hutcherson, Victor Lewis, Kenny Barron, Eric Dolphy, Frank Morgan, Bheki Mseleku, Mal Waldron, and Cedar Walton ~ Wooldridge passed away in 2010
August 6, 1928 ~ Visual artist, film director, photographer, producer, band manager Andy Warhol born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as film director, painter, visual arts artist leading in art pop movement. Also produced and managed the Velvet Underground in their early days. Warhol's production role amounted to little more than paying for the band's studio time and the relationship, especially with the band's frontman Lou Reed, would be seriously frailed after the band's debut album ~ Warhol passed away in 1987August 6, 1928 ~ Jazz reedist Pierre Gossez, full name Pierre Fernand Gossez, born in Valenciennes, France ~ Worked with Noel Chiboust, Tony Muréna, Jacques Hélian, Michel Legrand, Martial Solal, Claude Bolling, Sonny Grey, Michel Hausser, André Hodeir, Ivan Jullien, Guy Lafitte, the Paris Jazz All-Stars, Maxim Saury, Dany Doriz, Gunther Schuller, Bob Quibel, Solal, and Jean-Michel Jarre, notably playing the saxophone on the latter's 1986 Rendez-Vous album ~ Gossez passed away in 2001
August 6, 1924 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Jimmy Ricks, full name James Thomas Ricks, born in Adrian, Georgia, USA ~ Co-founded the Ravens with Warren Suttles and remained with the band through 1956. The doo-wop group would become one of the the most influential vocal quartets of the 1940s and early 1950s, known for songs such as Honey, Ole Man River, Write Me A Letter and Rock Me All Night Long ~ Ricks passed away in 1974
August 6, 1923 ~ John Russell Parnell, commonly known as producer, bandleader, drummer, composer Jack Parnell, born in London, UK ~ The “real” conductor of The Muppet Show Orchestra. Musical director for Benny Hill Show. Composed for TV, including well known themes for shows such as Father Brown, Family Fortunes and Love Story. Worked with Kenny Baker, Don Lusher, Betty Smith, Tony Lee, Tony Archer, Johnny Griffin, Ronnie Ross, Kathy Stobart, and the London Big Band ~ Parnell passed away in 2010
August 6, 1921 ~ William Marcel Collette, commonly known as flutist, saxophonist, clarinetist Buddy Collette, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ In 1949 Collette was the first black musician to be hired by a nationally broadcast TV studio orchestra, for You Bet Your Life hosted by Groucho Marx. The conductor received hate-mail for it, yet show, station and musicians stood by Collette. Collette also helped merge an all-black musicians union with an all-white one in the early 1950s. Over the course of his career Collette played with Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Nelson Riddle, Jim Hall, Fred Katz, Carson Smith, Ivie Anderson, Johnny Otis, Gerald Wilson, Ernie Andrews, Charles Mingus, Britt Woodman, John Anderson, Lucky Thompson, Teddy Edwards, Spaulding Givins, Oscar Bradley, Benny Carter, Percy Faith, Joe Liggins, and Louis Jordan ~ Collette passed away in 2010
August 6, 1906 ~ Trombonist Vic Dickenson born in Xenia, Ohio, USA ~ Made his recording debut as a vocalist with Luis Russell in 1930. Member of Blanche Calloway's orchestra in the early 1930s. Led his own bands from the mid 1940s to mid 1950s. Session man ever since working with such greats as Count Basie, Jimmy Rushing, Coleman Hawkins, Pee Wee Russell, Benny Carter, Lester Young, and Sidney Bechet ~ Dickenson passed away in 1984