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 22, 1947 ~ Willem Edgar van Dijk, commonly known as singer, actor Bill van Dijk. born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands ~ Represented the Netherlands in the 1982 Eurovision Songfestival with Jij En Ik reaching 16th place out of 18. Voice actor for the Dutch version of Sesamstraat. Best known for his roles in stage musicals, notably Dutch productions of Les Miserables, Evita and Miss Saigon. Has worked with Astrid Nijgh, Jan Rot, het VARA Dansorkest, the Skymasters, het Metropool Orkest, and Bruno Basta
December 22, 1946 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Mary McCaslin born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Influenced by Marty Robbins, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Hedy West, the Beatles, the Bee Gees. Actively recording since the late 1960s with over a dozen albums to her name. Known for her open guitar tunings and distinctive vocal style. Had her songs recorded by the likes of Tom Russell, Bill Staines, Gretchen Peters (Prairie In The Sky), David Bromberg, Kate Wolf, Stan Rogers, and Còig ~ McCaslin passed away in 2022
December 22, 1946 ~ Singer, guitarist Rick Nielsen, full name Richard Alan Nielsen, born in Rockford, Illinois, USA ~ Singer, guitarist, primary songwriter of Cheap Trick, known for songs such as I Want You To Want Me, The Flame, Don't Be Cruel and especially known for the 1979 Cheap Trick At Budokan live album. Nielsen guested on recordings by Glen Campbell, John Lennon, Hall & Oates, Mötley Crüe, the Foo Fighters, Alice Cooper, and Gene Simmons
December 22, 1944 ~ Colin Ernest Jenkins, commonly known as rock drummer, pianist, singer, songwriter Barry Jenkins, born in Leicester, UK ~ Member of the Nashville Teens, present on the hits Tobacco Road and Google Eye. Member of the Animals, replacing original drummer John Steel in 1966 remaining with the band until its disbandement in 1968. Credited as co-author on songs such as When I Was Young, San Franciscan Nights, Good Times and Sky Pilot. Has also worked with Heavy Jelly, BB Blunder, and rejoined a new incarnation of the Animals in 1992
December 22, 1944 ~ Michael Ralph Foster, commonly known as rock, pop, jazz fusion, funk bassist, guitarist, mandolinist, keyboardist, percussionist, producer Mo Foster, born in Byfleet, UK ~ As a solo artist acclaimed for his 1991 Southern Reunion album. Authored Seventeen Watts, a semi-autobiographical and anecdotal book published in 1997 about the birth and rise of rock guitar in the UK. Member of Affinity. Member of RMS. In-demand session musician with a career spanning five decades, appearing on over an estimated 300 albums. Notable credits include Olivia Newton-John, Roger Glover (The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshopper's Feast), Fancy, Cerrone (Love In C Minor), Eddie Hardin, Albert Hammond, Gerry Rafferty (Night Owl), Kevin Ayers, Peter Green, Cliff Richard, Gary Moore, Eros Ramazzotti (Musica E), Jeff Beck (Beckology), Luka Bloom, Michael Schenker, and Michael d'Abo ~ Foster passed away in 2023December 22, 1942 ~ Saxophonist Dick Parry, full name Richard Parry, born in Kentford, UK ~ In-demand session musician. Notable credits include several solo saxophone parts with Pink Floyd, perhaps most recognizable in songs such as Money, Us And Them, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, and Wearing The Inside Out. Has also worked with JJ Jackson, Quiver, the Bonzo Dog Band, Mick Grabham, Kaz Lux, the Les Humphries Singers, Jimmy Witherspoon, David Gilmour, and Deborah Bonham
December 22, 1941 ~ Bernard Guerin, commonly known as jazz double bassist Beb Guérin, born in La Rochelle, France ~ Fixture on the Paris jazz scene from the 1960s onwards. In-demand sideman, present on recordings by Jacques Coursil (Way Ahead), Arthur Jones, Alan Silva, Dave Burrell, Clifford Thornton (Ketchaoua), Grachan Moncur III, the Celestrial Communication Orchestra, Sonny Sharrock, Archie Shepp, Jacques Thollot, Toto Bissainthe, and Burton Greene (Aquariana) ~ Guérin passed away in 1980
December 22, 1940 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer Branislav Hronec born in Hronsek, Slovak Republic ~ After stints with the West Coast Combo and the Bratislava Jazz Studio founded the Bran Hronec Group in 1963, later renamed to the Bran Hronec Orchestra, with whom he recorded and toured internationally throughout the 1980s ~ Hronec passed away in 2022
December 22, 1939 ~ Gertrude Pridgett, commonly known as blues singer Ma Rainey passed away in Rome, Georgia, USA ~ Dubbed “the Mother of the Blues” and one of the first generation of blues singers to record. Bridged vaudeville and Southern blues. Worked with Will Rainey, the Rabbit's Foot Minstrel Show, the Tub Jug Washboard Band, Louis Armstrong, Reverend Thomas A Dorsey, the Georgia Jazz Band. Recorded over 100 songs in the 1920s including Bo-Weevil Blues, Moonshine Blues, See See Rider and Soon This Morning ~ Rainey was born in 1886
December 22, 1938 ~ Bassist, clarinetist, keyboardist Brian Locking born in Bedworth, UK ~ Briefly a member of Cliff Richard's backing unit the Shadows, including in the Summer Holiday film. Has also worked with the Wildcats, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Joe Brown, Conway Twitty, and Brenda Lee ~ Locking passed away in 2020
December 22, 1938 ~ Doo-wop, R&B singer, songwriter Sylvester Potts born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Member of bands such as the Four Sonics, the Hi-Fidelities, the Blenders and the Contours for which he also wrote or co-wrote numerous songs including It Must Be Love, One Day Too Late, Flashback, Spread The News Around, Storm Warning, Do The See-Saw and You Hurt Me So. Other artists who recorded his songs include Jimmy Ruffin (How Can I Say I'm Sorry), Marnie Galore (It Ain't Necessary), the Temptations (Give It Up), and Mary Wells (Have A Little Patience And Wait, and Free From Your Spell)
December 22, 1937 ~ R&B singer, guitarist, songwriter Alvin Robinson born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ As a solo artist known for two 1960s tracks, the minor hit Something You Got, and Down Home Girl which was later notably covered by the Rolling Stones for their 1965 Rolling Stones No.2 album. Robinson recorded through the late 1960s but failed to chart. As a session musician Robinson is best known for his work with Dr John, present on the albums Dr John's Gumbo, Hollywood Be Thy Name, and City Lights. Robinson has also appeared on albums by Maria Muldaur, Ringo Starr Carly Simon, Tom Waits (Blue Valentine), and Chuck E Weiss ~ Robinson passed away in 1989
December 22, 1935 ~ Giuseppe Caruso, commonly known as composer, conductor, arranger Pippo Caruso, born in Catania, Italy ~ Best known as conductor, bandleader for several TV shows, starting with Canzonissima in the early 1970s, aired on RAI 1. Also wrote A Ruota Libera for Mita Medici, L'Amore È for Lorella Cuccarini & Alessandra Martines, and composed for films including Kill Johnny Ringo and Maladolescenza ~ Caruso passed away in 2018December 22, 1928 ~ Singer Bing Crosby, backed by Paul Whiteman & his Orchestra, record Makin' Whoopee ~ Written by Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson for the 1928 musical Whoopee, in which Eddie Cantor sang lead vocals. The Bing Crosby-Paul Whiteman version is one of the earliest recordings, and would reach the top 10 of the pop charts. The song would become a standard, later covered by numerous artists including Rudy Vallée, as a duet by Doris Day and Danny Thomas, by Frank Sinatra on the acclaimed Songs For Swingin' Lovers album, Harry Nilsson on his A Little Touch Of Schmilsson In The Night album, and by Dr John & Rickie Lee Jones earning the duo a Grammy Award in 1989
December 22, 1922 ~ Harold Franklin Hawkins, commonly known as singer, guitarist Hawkshaw Hawkins born in Huntington, West Virginia, USA ~ Known for his rich, smooth vocals. Drew from blues, boogie and honky tonk. Married to country singer Jean Shepard. Best known for his 1962 single Lonesome 7-7203. The song would be released three days before his death, perishing in the same plane crash that also killed Cowboy Copas and Patsy Cline, and would reach No.1 Billboard Country after his death. Other well known songs include Dog House Boogie, I Love You A Thousand Ways, I'm Waiting Just For You, and Slow Poke ~ Hawkins passed away in 1963December 22, 1913 ~ Jazz, rock & roll pianist, arranger, composer Dudley Brooks born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ In-house pianist for Paramount Studios, for whom he worked closely with Elvis Presley on a number of albums and films including GI Blues, Blue Hawaii, and Girls Girls Girls. Brooks, one of several African Americans who worked with Presley, downplayed allegations that Presley was racist. Brooks is also well known for co-writing the Christmas classic (Everybody's Waiting For) The Man With The Bag, first recorded by Kay Starr in 1950 and covered by over 70 artists ~ Brooks passed away in 1989
December 22, 1910 ~ Trumpeter Reunald Jones Sr born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Father of trumpeter Reunald Jones Jr. Perhaps best known for his association with Count Basie, playing with the Count Basie Orchestra from 1952 through 1957. Has also worked with the Jones Boys, Speed Webb, Charlie Johnson, the Savoy Bearcats, Fess Williams, Chick Webb, Sam Wooding, Claude Hopkins, Willie Bryant, Teddy Hill, Don Redman, Erskine Hawkins, Duke Ellington, Jimmie Lunceford, Lucky Millinder, Sy Oliver, George Shearing, and Nat King Cole ~ Jones passed away in 1989December 22, 1905 ~ Jazz saxophonist Art Christmas born in Kingston, Canada ~ Plays trumpet, piano, percussion, xylophone. Regarded as one of the leading and most influential saxophonists in the Britain jazz and dance band scenes from the 1920 through the 1940s. Has worked with Paul Specht, the Savoy Orpheans, Billy Mason, Roy Fox, and Jack Payne ~ Christmas passed away in 1961
December 22, 1901 ~ Abram Naumovich Kostelyanetz, commonly known as conductor, arranger Andre Kostelanetz, born in St Petersburg, Russia ~ Best known for arranging and recording light classical music, pop tunes, Broadway show tunes for mass audiences, especially on his weekly CBS radio show Andre Kostelanetz Presents starting in the 1930s. Kostelanetz has also notably worked with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra ~ Kostelanetz was born in 1980
December 22, 1901 ~ Danny Pollo, commonly known as jazz clarinetist Danny Polo, born in Clinton, Indiana, USA ~ Active since the early 1920s, working in Europe from the late 1920s through the mid 1930s. Worked with Claude Thornhill, Elmer Schoebel, Merritt Brunies, Arnold Johnson, Ben Bernie, Jean Goldkette, Paul Ash, Bert Firman, Lud Gluskin, Ben Berlin, Arthur Briggs, Bert Ambrose, Ray Ventura, Joe Sullivan, and Jack Teagarden, appearing with the latter in the 1942 Bing Crosby-film The Birth Of The Blues ~ Pollo passed away in 1949
December 22, 1900 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer Alan Bush, full name Alan Dudley Bush, born in London, UK ~ Composed orchestral works, pageants, choruses, and operas. A committed communist, his uncompromising political beliefs would hinder his career and have him largely ignored by the music establishment even resulting in a brief ban. Drawing strong protests and opposed by then-prime minister Winston Churchill the ban would be short-lived, annulled following the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. The composer's strong pro-Soviet stance during the Cold War would however leave him largely ignored in the West, his four operas premiered in East Germany ~ Bush passed away in 1995
December 22, 1883 ~ Composer Edgard Varèse, full name Edgard Victor Achille Charles Varèse, born in Paris, France ~ Dubbed by some as “the Father of Electronic Music” with a relatively small catalogue yet recognised as a major influence by major late 20th century composers including Milton Babbitt, Olivier Messiaen, John Cage, Morton Feldman, Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Iannis Xenakis, Frank Zappa, and John Zorn. Varese founded the International Composers Guild in 1921 and Pan-American Association Of Composers in 1926 ~ Varèse passed away in 1965