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 13, 1941 ~ Singer, actor John Davidson born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known as a TV personality and game show in the 1980s and 1990s. Had previously recorded a dozen albums, mostly consisting of covers of contemporary hit covers and some original material. Best known for his 1976 Everytime I Sing A Love Song single
December 13, 1940 ~ Jazz double bassist Reggie Johnson, full name Reginald Volney Johnson, born in Owensboro, Kentucky, USA ~ Took up the trombone in his early teens, and played the instrument throughout his time in high school and in US Army bands before switching to bass at the turn of the 1960s as big bands were fading out. Once turned down an offer to join the then-to-be-formed outfit Blood Sweat & Tears as Johnson thought the band name was a bad idea. Johnson has also turned down offers from Miles Davis and Count Basie because he didn't want to tour at the time. Over the course of his career, Johnson remained an in-demand session bassist, praised for his restraint, precision and sophistication. Johnson has recorded prolifically especially during the 1960s and 1970s, appearing on albums by the likes of Giuseppi Logan, Archie Shepp (Fire Music), Valdo Williams, Marion Brown (Juba-Lee), Art Blakey (Buttercorn Lady), Booker Ervin, Bobby Hutcherson, the Jazz Composers Orchestra, Alan Shorter (Orgasm), John Klemmer, Rudolph Johnson, the Crusaders, Sonny Stitt, Walter Bishop Jr, Kenny Burrell (Both Feet On The Ground), Eddie Lockjaw Davis, the Mingus Dynasty, Tom Harrell, and Steve Grossman (Do It). Johnson recorded one album as a leader, First Edition issued in 1985, featuring backing from Bill Kirchner, Danny Hayes, Marc Cohen, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Ronnie Wells. Johnson, considered the quintessential sideman able to serve in any setting, has been quoted as saying: “Jazz allows you to express yourself more freely, without the restrictions of classical music. It's freedom of expression with good harmony that people can sing along to when they get home” ~ Johnson passed away in 2020
December 13, 1938 ~ Composer Alvin Curran born in Providence, Rhode Island, USA ~ Co-founded Musica Elettronica Viva with Frederic Rzewski and Richard Teitelbaum. As a composer often uses electronics and environmental found sounds and best known for works such as Endangered Species, Crystal Psalms, Living Room Music, large scale works such as Oh Brass On The Grass, sound installation pieces such as Magic Carpet and Gardening With John and especially the Inner Cities, the latter a growing series of solo piano pieces started in 1996 to form one of the longest non-repetitive piano pieces ever written
December 13, 1938 ~ Pop rock, soft rock, country producer Ron Haffkine born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as manager and producer for Dr Hook & the Medicine Show, the band name shortened to Dr Hook in 1975, for whom he produced songs such as Sylvia's Mother, The Cover Of The Rolling Stone, Sharing The Night Together, When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman, and Sexy Eyes, all of which reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Haffkine passed away in 2023
December 13, 1931 ~ Guitarist Wayne Bennett, full name Wayne Talmadge Bennett, born in Sulphur, Oklahoma, USA ~ Active since the 1950s, backing artists such as Amos Milburn, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Arbee Stidham, Jimmy Reed, and Elmore James early on in his career. Perhaps best known for his longtime association with Bobby Blue Bland, praised especially for his guitar playing on songs such as Stormy Monday and Wishing Well, serving as a model for younger guitarists including Eric Clapton. Bennett has also worked with Little Junior Parker, James Cotton, Ramsey Lewis, Tyrone Davis, and Jackie Wilson ~ Bennett passed away in 1992
December 13, 1930 ~ Jazz bassist Ben Tucker born in Brentwood, Tennessee, USA ~ Worked with Art Pepper, Billy Taylor, Quincy Jones, Grant Green, Dexter Gordon, Hank Crawford, Junior Mance, Herbie Mann, Dave Bailey, Victor Feldman, Larry Bunker, Bobby Thomas, Ray Crawford, Tommy Tedesco, Patato, Mose Allison, Kenny Burrell, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Lou Donaldson, Teddy Edwards, Gil Evans, Chico Hamilton, Roland Hanna, Willis Jackson, Illinois Jacquet, Clifford Jordan, Yusef Lateef, Junior Mance, Warne Marsh, Pat Martino, James Moody, Gerry Mulligan, Mark Murphy, Oliver Nelson, Lalo Schifrin, Bola Sete, Jimmy Smith, Jeremy Steig, Sonny Stitt, and Harold Vick ~ Tucker passed away in 2013
December 13, 1930 ~ Country, bluegrass, gospel singer Buck White born in Oklahoma, USA ~ Formed the family outfit the Whites with daughters Sharon White and Cheryl White, known for 1980s Billboard Country top 10 hits such as You Put The Blue In Me, Hangin' Around, Give Me Back That Old Familiar Feeling and Pins And Needles ~ White passed away in 2025
December 13, 1928 ~ Jazz, R&B guitarist Joe Messina, full name Joseph Lucian Messina, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Influenced by Charlie Parker, Les Paul and George Barnes. While a studio musician at ABC television, Messina accompanied artists such as Sonny Stitt, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Jack Teagarden, Lee Konitz, Jimmy Giuffre, Pepper Adams, Donald Byrd, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Frank Rosolino, and Dizzy Gillespie. Recruited in the late 1950s by Berry Gordy Jr for Motown houseband the Funk Brothers. Appears on recordings by the Supremes (Someday We'll Be Together), the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops (I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)), Stevie Wonder (For Once In My Life), the Miracles, and Martha & the Vandellas (Dancing In the Street) ~ Messina passed away in 2022
December 13, 1926 ~ Free jazz pianist Borah Bergman born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Earl Hines, Bud Powell, Lennie Tristano, and Ornette Coleman. Has worked with sidemen such as Evan Parker, Thomas Chapin, Andrew Cyrille, Roscoe Mitchell, Thomas Buckner, Joe McPhee, Wilber Morris, Rashied Ali, Hamid Drake, Ivo Perelman, Peter Brötzmann, Conny Bauer, and John Zorn ~ Bergman passed away in 2012
December 13, 1925 ~ Actor, comedian, singer Dick Van Dyke, full name Richard Wayne Van Dyke, born in West Plains, Missouri, USA ~ Started his career as entertainer on radio and TV, in nightclubs, on the theatrical stage. Starred in the 1961 Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie earning him a Tony Award. Became a household name through his TV sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show, aired on CBS from 1961 through 1966. Would go on to appear in numerous films, musical films and TV shows
December 13, 1912 ~ Singer, accordionist, songwriter Luiz Gonzaga, full name Luiz Gonzaga Do Nascimento Sr, born in Exu, Brazil ~ Regarded as one of the most important figures of the 20th century in Brazilian music. Credited as founder of the balão genre. Hailed as a “revolutionary” by Antônio Carlos Jobim and as “the first significant cultural icon with mass appeal” by Caetano Veloso ~ Gonzaga passed away in 1989
December 13, 1909 ~ Jazz trumpeter Lou Mucci, full name Louis Raphael Mucci, born in Syracuse, New York, USA ~ Active since his early teens, initially playing baritone horn before switching to trumpet. Has worked with the likes of Mildred Bailey, Red Norvo, Glenn Miller, Helen Merrill, Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Miles Davis (Miles Ahead), and Kenny Burrell ~ Mucci passed away in 2000
December 13, 1901 ~ Label executive, producer Eli Oberstein, full name Elliott Everett Oberstein, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Held various positions at various labels from the late 1920s until his death in 1960. Founded the Bluebird label, successful during the Depressian era with country and blues musicians such as the Delmore Brothers, Ernest Tubb, Big Bill Broonzy, and Roosevelt Sykes. As head of A&R at Victor signed Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. Also known for having made deals with songwriters, music publishers, and others in what would later evolve into the payola scandal ~ Oberstein passed away in 1960