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 8, 1910 ~ Lucius Venable Millinder, commonly known as swing, jump blues, R&B bandleader Lucky Millinder, born in Alliston, Alabama, USA ~ Could neither read nor write music, did not play any instrument. Yet rose to fame leading the Mills Blue Rhythm Band during the 1930s, at the time regarded as the greatest big band to play rhythm & blues employing numerous sidemen who would later rise to fame in their own right including Red Allen, Charlie Shavers, Harry Sweets Edison and JC Higginbotham. Millinder's ensemble is considered influential to the dawn of rock & roll ~ Millinder passed away in 1966
August 8, 1907 ~ Swing, jazz saxophonist, bandleader, arranger, songwriter Benny Carter, full name Bennet Lester Carter, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Though Carter also played trumpet, clarinet, and piano, he is most acclaimed as a saxophonist, and regarded a pioneer on the alto sax alongside contemporary Johnny Hodges. Carter got his start in music in the early 1920s, serving as arranger for Fletcher Henderson. Carter has also briefly led McKinney's Cotton Pickers, before forming his first band by the early 1930s. Over the years, he has employed numerous sideman who would later rise to fame including Cozy Cole, Ben Webster, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, JJ Johnson, Max Roach, and Miles Davis. Carter has recorded prolifically, and written and first recorded numerous songs which would go on to become standards, covered by many, including Blue Lou, When Lights Are Low, There I've Said It Again, Key Largo, and Summer Serenade. Carter remained active until his death at age 95, his consistency and longevity unprecedented ~ Carter passed away in 2003August 8, 1904 ~ Pierre Paquet, commonly known as jazz trumpeter, arranger, composer Peter Packay, born in Brussels, Belgium ~ Despite an accident leaving him crippled in one arm decided to learn to play the trumpet. As a composer known for songs such as Alabama Mamma, The Blue Duke, Dixie Melody and Lullaby For A Mexican Alligator. Worked with the Varsity Ramblers, the Red Beans, David Bee, Packay's Swing Academy, and Billy Arnold ~ Paquet passed away in 1965