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 4, 1932 ~ Thomas Morgan Edwards, commonly known as harmonica player Tommy Morgan, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ One of the most recorded harmonicists, especially active for film and TV playing on an estimated 500 soundtracks including Alfred Newman's How The West Was Won soundtrack and the main themes for the TV series The Rockford Files and Sanford And Son. In-demand session musician, appearing on albums by the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Elvis Presley (Elvis '68 Comeback Special), Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, the Bee Gees, Quincy Jones (Body Heat), the Carpenters, Carly Simon, Neil Diamond (Beautiful Noise), Olivia Newton-John, Melissa Manchester, Frank Zappa, Peter Cetera, Linda Ronstadt, and the Bangles. Morgan retired from music in 2013, following a stroke ~ Edwards passed away in 2022
December 4, 1930 ~ Jazz, cool jazz, post-bop guitarist, arranger, composer Jim Hall, full name James Stanley Hall, born in Buffalo, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Charlie Christian and Barney Kessel. Classically trained. Worked with Chico Hamilton, Jimmy Giuffre, Ben Webster, Lee Konitz, Sonny Rollins, Art Farmer, Big Joe Turner, Johnny Hartman, June Christy, Big Miller, Quincy Jones, Lalo Schifrin, Oliver Nelson, Gerry Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter, and Joe Lovano ~ Hall passed away in 2013
December 4, 1930 ~ Composer Paul-Heinz Dittrich born in Gornsdorf, Germany ~ Considered one of the most influential contemporary composers of Germany. Choral conductor of the FDGB Ensemble. Composed for orchestra, chamber music, cantatas and lieder, often inspired by poetry. Some of his compositions muxes electronic instruments or tape with more conventional instruments and voice. Known for compositions such as Concert Avec Plusieurs Instruments and Requiem Of Reconciliation, the latter commemorating the 50 year anniversary of the end of World War II ~ Dittrich passed away in 2020December 4, 1928 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist, bandleader Frank Tiberi born in Camden, New Jersey, USA ~ Regularly played with Woody Herman since the late 1960s and picked as bandleader shortly before Herman's death in 1987 and has led the band since. Has also worked with Benny Goodman, Urbie Green, Dizzy Gillespie
December 4, 1928 ~ Singer Ruth Etting introduces Love Me Or Leave Me in the Broadway musical Whoopee ~ Written by Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn. Ruth Etting released the song as a single within a month of its introduction on stage. Paired with I'm Bringing A Red Red Rose on the flip side, it would reach No.2 on the pop charts. Both Guy Lombardo and Leo Reisman also recorded the song the same year. The song would become a jazz, pop standard covered by over 300 artists including Billie Holiday, Perry Como, Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, Doris Day, Nina Simone, Brook Benton, and Elkie Brooks
December 4, 1924 ~ Marion Colleen Nolan, commonly known as pop singer Toni Fisher, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Known for songs such as West Of The Wall, Maybe He'll Think Of Me, Why Can't He Leave Me Alone and perhaps her best known The Big Hurt. The latter would later be covered by artists such as Del Shannon, Wes Montgomery, Scott Walker, Vikki Carr, and Nick Cave ~ Nolan passed away in 1999
December 4, 1915 ~ Jazz, swing, Dixieland pianist Eddie Heywood Jr born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Son of blues, jazz pianist Eddie Heywood Sr. Enjoyed popularity especially during the 1940s and 1950s. Occasionally accompanied Billie Holiday in the early 1940s. Partially paralysed twice, leaving him unable to perform for years on end each time, but made a comeback twice. Co-wrote and first recorded Soft Summer Breeze. Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Canadian Sunset, which was first recorded by Hugo Winterhalter in 1956, later recorded by over two hundred artists including Billy Vaughn, Santo & Johnny, Gene Ammons, Wes Montgomery, Illinois Jacquet, Hargus Pig Robbins, and Tommy Emmanuel. Heywood would continue to perform well into the 1980s ~ Heywood passed away in 1989
December 4, 1910 ~ Isadore Soifer, commonly known as songwriter Alex North born in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Film composer, songwriter perhap best remembered for co-penning Unchained Melody with Hy Zaret. The song was originally written for the 1955 film of the same name and first recorded by Todd Duncan. The song would become a standard and be covered by hundreds of artists, perhaps most notably by the Righteous Brothers in 1965. North has also worked on many renowned film scores, nominated for an Academy Award fifteen times but never winning one. Film scores written or co-written by North include A Streetcar Named Desire, Viva Zapata, Spartacus and Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf ~ Soifer passed away in 1991