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 2, 1948 ~ Luciano Pozo Gonzalez, commonly known as jazz percussionist, singer, composer Chano Pozo, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Despite a relatively short career, shot and killed at age 33, regarded as a key figure in the development of Latin jazz. Co-wrote several of Dizzy Gillespie's songs including Manteca and Tin Tin Deo. Has worked with Gillespie, Chris Connor, Illinois Jacquet, Ben Webster, Peggy Lee, Machito, Charlie Parker, Clark Terry, and Chico O'Farrill ~ González was born in 1915December 2, 1948 ~ Robbie Eduard, commonly known as pop, rock singer, songwriter Polle Eduard born in Delft, the Netherlands ~ Fronted de Polle Eduard Band, best known for Ik Wil Jou. Also worked with the Tee Set, After Tea, Drama, Rob de Nijs' backing unit Pur Sang, Peter Koelewijn, Hans Vermeulen, and Jody Pijper
December 2, 1947 ~ Country singer Pee Wee King records The Tennessee Waltz at RCA/Victor Studios, Chicago, Illinois ~ Written by Pee Wee King and Redd Stewart. Paired with Rootie Tootie on the flip side released as a single the next January. While on the road King and Stewart were inspired by Bill Monroe's Kentucky Waltz playing on the radio. They used the melody of King's previously written No Name Waltz and as the pair thought of the lyrics Stewart wrote them on a matchbox. The next day they presented the result to music publisher Fred Rose who changed the opening line to “I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz.” It would become a country top 10 hit and one of King's best known. Singer Patti Page notably covered the song in 1950, handpicked because it was a favorite of her father's and initially released on the B-side of a seasonal single, Boogie Woogie Santa Claus
December 2, 1944 ~ Singer, songwriter Dionysis Savvopoulos born in Thessaloniki, Greece ~ Has released about two dozen albums over his lengthy career, starting with To Fortigho in 1966. His debut album would be critically acclaimed, but failed to chart with only a few thousand copies sold. However, over time Savvopoulos, at times compared to both Frank Zappa for his arrangements and Bob Dylan for his politically driven lyrics, would gain a devoted following and has become one of Greece's most beloved songwriters, drawing from traditional Greek musical idioms including laiko and rebetika as well as American rock and folk. In 1967, Savvopoulos would be briefly imprisoned by the then-reigning military junta for his political convictions. Upon hearing of his passing, Prime Minister Kyriakis Mitsotakis stated: “Savvopoulos is gone, leaving behind a strong imprint on music, on lyrics and on public style. Because with his work and stance, he proved that he was a wonderful songwriter. A sensitive Greek” ~ Savvopoulos passed away in 2025
December 2, 1943 ~ Drummer Dave Munden born in Dagenham, UK ~ Co-founding and last remaining original member of the Tremeloes, remaining with band from 1958 through 2018. The band is known for a string of 1960s UK hits including Someone Someone, Twist And Shout, Candy Man and Someone Someone. The 1967 singles Here Comes My Baby and Silence Is Golden, the latter probably their best known, would also crack the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 ~ Munden passed away in 2020December 2, 1941 ~ Bassist Ernest Mothle born in Pretoria, South Africa ~ Member of Jabula, a group of exiled South African musicians living in England, known for a number of 1970s, 1980s albums. In addition to their own work the group has also notably worked with Mike Oldfield on the albums Ommadawn, Incantations and Amarok ~ Mothle passed away in 2011
December 2, 1941 ~ Paul John Guloien, commonly known as jazz saxophonist PJ Perry, born in Calgary, Canada ~ Son of saxophonist Paul Perry, in whose band he worked at age 14. Influenced by Art Pepper, Sonny Stitt, Phil Woods. Declined offers to play in the USA, including from jazz greats such as Terry Gibbs, preferring to remain in his native Canada. Acclaimed for albums such as 1990's Worth Waiting For and 2005's Time FliesDecember 2, 1941 ~ Guitarist Tom McGuinness, full name Thomas John Patrick McGuinness, born in Wimbledon, UK ~ Best known for his association with Manfred Mann, notably present on songs such as Pretty Flamingo. Also wrote several tracks for the band, including LSD, One Way and Cubist Town. Following the disbandement of the band in 1969 McGuinness teamed up with drummer Hughie Flint in McGuinness-Flint, active through 1975. Later joined the Blues Band. Also known as an author, his book So You Want To Be A Rock & Roll Star, published in 1986
December 2, 1935 ~ Jazz pianist Ronnie Mathews born in New York, New York, USA ~ Critically compared to Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, and McCoy Tyner. As a leader best known for his 1963 Doin' The Thang album. Closely associated with drummers Max Roach and Art Blakey. Guested on albums by Bill Hardman, Roland Alexander, Junior Cook, Clifford Jordan, Sonny Stitt, Roy Haynes (Cracklin'), Freddie Hubbard (Breaking Point), Lee Morgan, Donald Byrd (Slow Drag), Jean-Luc Ponty, Abbey Lincoln (People In Me), Louis Hayes, Clark Terry, Woody Shaw, and Clifford Jordan ~ Mathews passed away in 2008
December 2, 1931 ~ Composer, pianist Vincent d'Indy, full name Paul Marie Théodore Vincent d'Indy, passed away in Paris, France ~ Inspired to take up composition by Hector Berlioz. Particularly influential as a composer, co-founded the Schola Cantorom de Paris and also taught at the Paris Conservatoire. His students included Albert Roussel, Arthur Honegger, Erik Satie, and Cole Porter. As a composer known best for Symphony On A French Mountain and Istar, though most of his work has fallen out of grace perphaps partly due to his over time growing more extremist anti-liberal and anti-semitic views ~ d'Indy was born in 1851
December 2, 1931 ~ Jazz, bebop, hard bop pianist, composer Wynton Kelly, full name Wynton Charles Kelly, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Inventive jazz pianist influential on the likes of Monty Alexander, Chick Corea, Brad Mehldau, Chucho Valdes. As a leader especially acclaimed for the late 1950s albums Piano (Whisper Not) and Kelly Blue, and for the 1965 live album Smokin' At The Half Note. Also well known for his stint with Miles Davis from the late 1950s through the early 1960s, including on the seminal Kind Of Blue album. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Dizzy Gillespie (School Days), Art Farmer, JJ Johnson, Dinah Washington (Dinah), Billie Holiday (Lady Sings The Blues), Lee Morgan, Frank Wess, Sonny Rollins (Newk's Time), Booker Little, John Coltrane (Giant Steps), Benny Golson, Abbey Lincoln (Abbey Is Blue), Paul Chambers, Cannonball Adderley (The Cannonball Adderley Quintet In Chicago), Blue Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard (Open Sesame), Hank Mobley (Roll Call), Helen Humes, Sam Jones (The Chant), Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Wes Montgomery, Bunky Green (My Baby), Clifford Jordan (In The World), Gene Ammons, and Dexter Gordon ~ Kelly passed away in 1971
December 2, 1918 ~ Jazz, pop pianist, accordionist, songwriter, arranger Milton Delugg born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Active since the 1940s. Musical director, bandleader, accordionist on Broadway Open House aired on NBC, considered a forerunner to The Tonight Show. Co-wrote and first recorded Orange Colored Sky featuring singer Janet Brace, best known as a hit for Nat King Cole. Other songs written or co-written by Delugg include Shanghai (Doris Day), Be My Life's Companion (the Mills Brothers), Shake Hands With Santa Claus (Louis Prima), A Poor Man's Roses Or A Rich Man's Gold (Patsy Cline). Also notably remembered for producing Buddy Holly's iconic Rave On rock & roll classic ~ Delugg passed away in 2015December 2, 1915 ~ Jazz saxophonist Henry Bridges born in Paris, Texas, USA ~ Started in territory bands working with artists such as Don Byas and Charlie Christian. Would go on to work with Alphonso Trent, Anna Mae Winburn, Leslie Sheffield, and Harlan Leonard. Following a stint in the US Army during World War II would work through the early 1960s, collaborating with the likes of Julia Lee, Clifford Blivens, Peppy Prince, Helen Humes, and Damita Jo ~ Bridges passed away in 1986
December 2, 1915 ~ Lyricist, songwriter John DeVries born in Wayne, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Frequent songwriting partner of pianist Joe Bushkin. The pair is perhaps best known for writing Oh Look At Me Now. The song would first be recorded by Tommy Dorsey in 1941 with the vocal refrain performed by Frank Sinatra, Connie Haines, and the Pied Pipers. About a decade and a half later, Sinatra reprised the song for his A Swingin' Affair album, this time arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle. Over the years, the song has been recorded by well over 50 artists, including Bing Crosby, Sam Cooke, Bobby Darin, Jo Stafford, Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mathilde Santing. Joe Bushkin and John DeVries also wrote Hot Time In The Town Of Berlin, which became a hit for Bing Crosby in 1944, during World War II, due to its patriotic lyrics, swinging rhythm, and its orchestral arrangement. Shortly after it became a hit for Crosby, the song would be used in the film short Road To Victory where it was sung by Frank Sinatra ~ DeVries passed away in 1976
December 2, 1896 ~ Michele Alphonso Mosiello, commonly known as trumpeter, composer Mike Mosiello, born in Fraso Telesino, Italy ~ Enlisted in the US Marine Corps as a military musician during World War I and started a musical career after his service. Worked as a studio musician, in big bands, radio orchestras, and in theatres. Worked with Vincent Lopez, Nathaniel Shilkret, Victor Borge, Andy Sannella, and Charles Magnante ~ Mosiello passed away in 1953
December 2, 1895 ~ Pianist Harriet Cohen, full name Harriet Pearl Alice Cohen, born in London, UK ~ Sister of singer Myra Verney. Best known for premiering Ralph Vaughan Williams' Piano Concerto. Had compositions written especially for her by renowned composers such as John Ireland, Béla Bartók, Ernest Bloch and extensively by Arnold Bax, being romantically involved with the latter ~ Cohen passed away in 1967
December 2, 1895 ~ Pianist, organist Jesse Crawford born in Woodland, California, USA ~ Popular 1920s theater organist for silent films. Switched to Hammond organ in the 1930. As a recording artist known for songs such as Rose Marie, Valencia, Russian Lullabye, At Dawning, Roses Of Picardy, Vienna Violins, Louisiana Nocturn', Harlem Holiday, and Hawaiian Honeymoon ~ Crawford passed away in 1962