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.
December 12, 1915 ~ Singer Frank Sinatra, full name Francis Albert Sinatra, born in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA ~ One of the most popular artists of the 20th century. One of the all-time best-selling artists, having sold over 150 million records. Member of the Rat Pack. Critically acclaimed for albums such as In The Wee Small Hours, Songs For Swingin' Lovers, Come Fly With Me, Only The Lonely and Nice 'n Easy ~ Sinatra passed away in 1998December 12, 1913 ~ Jazz saxophonist Don Stovall born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Started on the riverboats in the 1920s with Dewey Jackson and Fate Marable. Would go on to become one of the great alto-saxophonists of the 1940s, working with the likes of Sammy Price, Snub Mosley, Eddie Durham, Cootie Williams, and Red Allen. Retiring from music altogether at his prime by the early 1950s, Stovall has sadly been largely forgotten ~ Stovall passed away in 1970
December 12, 1910 ~ William Stanley Grinsted, commonly known as singer, banjost Frank Stanley, passed away in Orange, New Jersey, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity mostly throughout the 1890s and early-1900s. Recorded prolifically in the 1900s, both as a solo artist and as a member, leader of the Peerless Quartet including on some of their best known such as You're The Flower Of My Heart Sweet Adeline and Honey Boy ~ Grinsted was born in 1868
December 12, 1896 ~ Abraham Jacob Gornetzsky, commonly known as songwriter Jay Gorney, born in Bialystok, Russia ~ Film and theater songwriter perhaps best remembered for co-penning Brother Can You Spare A Dime with Yip Harburg, first performerd by Rex Weber and covered by over a 100 artists including Bing Crosby, Rudy Vallée, Chick Bullock, Peter Paul & Mary, Tom Jones, Ronnie Lane, George Michael, and Allison Moorer ~ Gorney passed away in 1990