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.
February 1, 1916 ~ Robert Williams Jr, commonly known as jazz bassist, singer Chocolate Williams, born in Augusta, Georgia, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Led the Three Chocolates, which also included guitarist Jerome Darr and pianist Bill Spotswood, performing from the 1940s until his semi-retirement in the mid 1950s. Williams also collaborated with Rex Stewart, Herbie Nichols, and notably with Art Tatum including on the 1941 live album Onyx ~ Williams passed away in 1984
February 1, 1904 ~ Joseph Henton, commonly known as trombonist Tricky Sam Nanton, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Cliff Jackson, Elmer Snowden, and Duke Ellington. Hearing trumpeter Johnny Dunn play with a plunger, he realized the same trick could be used on a trombone. Together with Ellington bandmate Bubber Miley in large part responsible for Ellington's wah-wah sound in the late 1920s ~ Nanton passed away in 1946
February 1, 1901 ~ Poet, social activist Langston Hughes born in Joplin, Missouri, USA ~ One of the earliest innovators of the literary art form jazz poetry, which has been described as poetry that demonstrates jazz-like rhythm or the feel of improvisation. Jazz poetry first emerged in the 1920s. has been adopted by the Beat generation by the 1950s and is considered a huge influence on later art-forms such as hip-hop, rap, and spoken word music ~ Hughes passed away in 1967February 1, 1899 ~ Jazz drummer Andrew Hilaire, full name Andrew Henry Hilaire, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ In-demand collaborator, especially on the Chicago jazz scene, from the 1920s until his premature death at age 36, plagued by ill health. Perhaps best known for his brief tenure with Jelly Roll Morton in the mid 1920s, including on recordings such as Black Bottom Stomp, Dead Man Blues, Grandpa's Jazz, and Doctor Jazz. Hilaire has also notably worked with Lil' Armstrong, Doc Cook, Jerome Don Pasquall, and Eddie South, and led his own band in the early 1930s ~ Hilaire passed away in 1935
February 1, 1894 ~ Ragtime, jazz stride pianist, composer James P Johnson, full name James Price Johnson, born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA ~ Influenced Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, Fats Waller. Known for songs such as Harlem Strut, Keep Off The Grass, Carolina Shout, Worried And Lonesome Blues, and The Charleston ~ Johnson passed away in 1955
February 1, 1859 ~ Cellist, conductor, composer Victor Herbert, full name Victor August Herbert, born in Guernsey ~ Best known for composing Broadway operettas successful from the the 1890 through the start of World War I. Co-founder of ASCAP. Extremely productive, having written over 40 operettas, over 30 compositions for orchestra as well as operas and compositions for cello, violin, piano, choral works and orchestrated numerous works by other composers ~ Herbert passed away in 1924