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 26, 1949 ~ Stride, R&B, folk pianist, guitarist George Winston born in Hart, Michigan, USA ~ Known for playing three distinctive styles, a melodic approach Winston dubs rural folk piano, stride piano influenced by Fats Waller and Teddy Wilson, and New Orleans R&B influenced by Professor Longhair and Henry Butler. Has released well over a dozen albums, starting with his overlooked Piano Solos debut album in 1972, later re-released as Ballads And Blues 1972. Primarily known as a pianist Winston also plays guitar and harmonica ~ Winston passed away in 2023December 26, 1949 ~ Film composer, conductor, orchestrator Ira Newborn born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as a film composer, scoring the soundtracks for films such as Weird Science, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the entire The Naked Gun series and Ace Ventura Pet Detective. Musical director for The Blues Brothers. Has also worked on Broadway and with artists such as the Manhattan Transfer, Ray Charles, and Billy Joel
December 26, 1949 ~ Salsa trumpeter Luis Perico Ortiz born in San Juan, Puerto Rico ~ Worked with Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, the Fania All-Stars, Blondie, David Bowie, Ann-Margret, Dionne Warwick, Diahann Carroll, Trini López, Engelbert Humperdinck, the Puerto Rican Symphony Orchestra, Sammy Davis Jr, Tony Bennett, Paul Anka, and the Supremes
December 26, 1948 ~ Dolores de la Colina Flores, commonly known as singer, songwriter Lolita de la Colina, born in Tampico, Mexico ~ Artists who have recorded her songs include Manoella Torres, Lupita D'Alessio, José José, Daniela Romo, Stephanie Salas, Manolo Muñoz, Ana Gabriel, Maria Dolores Pradera, Gloria Lasso, María Jiménez, Verónica Castro, Manuel Mijares, Roberto Blades, Pepe Aguilar, Chavela Vargas, and Marco Antonio Muñiz
December 26, 1947 ~ R&B, funk bassist, singer George Porter Jr born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Co-founded the Meters with Art Neville, known best for their first two albums, eponymous The Meters and its Look-Kay Py Py follow-up, both released in 1969 and influential on funk artists such as George Clinton, Cameo, James Brown, Sly & the Family Stone. Has also worked with the 7 Walkers, Porter Batiste Stoltz, the Wild Tchoupitoulas. In-demand collaborator and session musician, present on recordings by the Soul Rebels Brass Band, Dr John, Paul McCartney, Robbie Robertson, Willy DeVille, Patti LaBelle, David Byrne, Johnny Adams, Earl King, Warren Haynes, Tori Amos, Snooks Eaglin, and Solomon Burke
December 26, 1947 ~ Salsa singer Marvin Santiago born in San Juan, Puerto Rico ~ Active since the late 1960s. Sang with Rafael Cortijo, starting on the Ahi Na Ma (Put It There) album singing lead vocals on the tracks Vasos En Colores and La Sonora De Felipe Rodriguez. Would go on to sing with Roberto Angleró, Bobby Valentín and with the Fania All-Stars before debuting as a solo artist in 1977 with the album De Los Soneros ~ Santiago passed away in 2004December 26, 1947 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Penny Nichols born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Formed the duo the Greasy Mountain Butterballs with Kathy Smith, the duo toured Vietnam in 1966. Debuted as a solo artist with the Penny's Arcade album in 1967. Also worked with John McEuen, sang backup with Jimmy Buffett's the Coral Reefer Band, and was a member of jazzy outfit Black Imp. Married to actor, musician Harry Shearer from 1974 to 1977 ~ Nichols passed away in 2017
December 26, 1942 ~ Free funk, avant-garde jazz drummer Doug Hammond born in Tampa, Florida, USA ~ Worked with Earl Hooker, Sonny Rollins, Charles Mingus, Sammy Price, Donald Byrd, Wolfgang Dauner, Ornette Coleman, Steve Coleman, Nina Simone, Betty Carter, Marion Williams, Paquito d'Rivera, Arnett Cobb, James Blood Ulmer, Arthur Blythe, and Kirk Lightsey
December 26, 1942 ~ Singer Rob de Nijs born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Known for songs such as Ritme Van De Regen, Jan Klaassen De Trompetter, Malle Babbe, en Zondag ~ De Nijs passed away in 2025
December 26, 1939 ~ Songwriter, lyricist, author Ken Howard, full name Kenneth Charles Howard, born in Worthing, UK ~ Frequent songwriting partner of Alan Blaikley. Well known songs include the UK No.1 hits Have I The Right for the Honeycombs and The Legend Of Xanadu for Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich. Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Howard include the Herd, Lulu, Engelbert Humperdinck, Rolf Harris, Elvis Presley (I've Lost You), the Bay City Rollers, Fiver, and Phil Collins. The duo also wrote for TV and musicals, notably the West End productions Mardi Gras and The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole ~ Howard passed away in 2024
December 26, 1939 ~ Producer Phil Spector, full name Harvey Philip Spector, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ One of the most influential producers in pop music history, known for his Wagnerian approach to rock & roll. Active since the late 1950s, co-founding member, guitarist of the Teddy Bears and writing their 1958 Billboard No.1 hit To Know Is To Love Him. Founded Phillies Records in 1960, at the time becoming the youngest label owner to date at age 21. Scored numerous hits throughout the 1960s as writer, co-writer, producer of acts such as the Ronettes, the Crystals, the Righteous Brothers and Ike & Tina Turner. Produced the Beatles final album, Let It Be. Continued his chart succes in the 1970s with artists such as Leonard Cohen, Dion and the Ramones. Sentenced in 2009 to 19 years to life for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson ~ Spector passed away in 2021December 26, 1934 ~ Cantastorie, folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Otello Profazio, full name Otello Ermanno Profazio, born in Rende, Italy ~ Draws heavily from traditional folk of South Italy, especially Sicily and Calabria. Acclaimed for his 1964 Il Treno Del Sole album. Also known for the 1970s albums Il Brigante Musolino and Qua Si Campa D'Aria. Host of several TV music programs, notably Quando La Gente Canta aired on Secondo Canala ~ Profazio passed away in 2023
December 26, 1933 ~ Jazz guitarist Billy Bean, full name William Frederick Bean, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Charlie Ventura, Red Callender, Buddy Collette, Paul Horn, John Pisano, Bud Shank, Milt Bernhart, Les Elgart, Herb Geller, Lorraine Geller, Calvin Jackson, Zoot Sims, Tony Bennett, Hal Gaylor, Walter Norris, Stan Getz, Herbie Mann, John Lewis, Dennis Budimir, Buddy DeFranco, and Fred Katz ~ Bean passed away in 2012
December 26, 1926 ~ Composer Earle Brown born in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, USA ~ Established his own formal and notational systems. Creator of “open form” a style of musical construction that has influenced numerous composers including John Zorn. Among his best known compositions are December 1952, Available Forms I & II (Centering), and Cross Sections And Color Fields ~ Brown passed away in 2002
December 26, 1926 ~ Monte Rex Budwig, commonly known as jazz double bassist Monty Budwig, born in Pender, Nebraska, USA ~ In-demand sideman and collaborator, especially associated with Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne, and Vince Guaraldi. Budwig has also appeared on albums by Lennie Niehaus, Stan Getz, Woody Herman, Tal Farlow, Art Pepper, Frank Rosolino (Frank Rosolino Quintet), June Christy, Henry Mancini (The Music From Peter Gunn), Zoot Sims (Choice), Benny Goodman, Thelonious Monk (At The Blackhawk), Junior Mance, Sonny Criss (Rockin' In Rhythm), Jimmy Rowles, Mundell Lowe, Soprano Summit, Herb Ellis, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Al Cohn, and Lew Tabackin. Budwig recorded one album as a leader, the highly acclaimed Dig released in 1978 ~ Budwig passed away in 1992
December 26, 1915 ~ Jazz singer, pianist, songwriter Una Mae Carlisle born in Zanesville, Ohio, USA ~ Has been performing publicly since age 3. Discovered by Fats Waller, a major influence and future collaborator of hers, while stil in her teens. Toured Europe in the 1930s. Has recorded with sidemen such as Lester Young, Benny Carter and John Kirby in the 1940s. As a songwriter perhaps best known for Walkin' By The River, originally recorded by Hal Kemp in 1940 and notably covered by Mitchell Ayres, Ella Fitzgerald and Della Reese. Married to John Bradford, owner of 1940s Harlem jazz club Gee-Haw Stables ~ Carlisle passed away in 1956
December 26, 1911 ~ Beecher Ray Kirby, commonly known as country guitarist, steel guitarist, dobroist, banjoist, singer Bashful Brother Oswald, born in Sevier County, Tennessee, USA ~ Popularized the resonator guitar and dobro. Original and sole constant member of Roy Acuff's backing unit the Smoky Mountain Boys, notably present on songs such as Precious Jewel, Wreck On The Highway, and Old Age Pension Check. In-demand session musician and collaborator, including with the all-star the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on the 1972 Will The Circle Be Unbroken album, and solo artist, recording about half a dozen albums starting with the eponymous Bashful Brother Oswald album released in 1962 ~ Kirby passed away in 2002
December 26, 1906 ~ Songwriter Morgan Lewis, full name William Morgan Lewis Jr, born in Rockville, Connecticut, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing How High The Moon with lyricist Nancy Hamilton, first featured in the 1940 Broadway revue Two For The Show by Alfred Drake and Frances Comstock. The song would become a jazz standard recorded by Benny Goodman, Stan Kenton, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Marvin Gaye, Gloria Gaynor, and Stéphane Grappelli ~ Lewis passed away in 1968
December 26, 1902 ~ Delta blues, country blues, acoustic blues harpist, singer, guitarist JD Short born in Fort Gibson, Mississippi, USA ~ Cousin of Big Joe Williams and David Honeyboy Edwards. Plays a number of instruments including guitar, harmonica, piano, saxophone, drums. As a solo artist best known for songs such as Lonesome Swamp Rattlesnake and You're Tempting Me. Worked with the Neckbones, Henry Spaulding, Douglas Williams, and Son House. Re-emerged in the early 1960s blues revival ~ Short passed away in 1962