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 14, 1937 ~ Samuel Gene Maghett, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Magic Sam, born in Grenada County, Mississippi, USA ~ Best known for Feelin' Good (We're Gonna Boogie), a hit in 1957. Has worked with Charlie Musselwhite and Sam Lay. On the verge of breakthrough when he died unexpectedly of a heart attack at age 32 ~ Maghett passed away in 1969
February 14, 1935 ~ Jazz trombonist, composer, arranger Rob McConnell, full name Robert Murray Gordon McConnell, born in London, Canada ~ Founder of big band the Boss Brass, which he led from 1967 through 1999. Known for the 1978 Big Band Jazz album, awarded a Juno Award, and for the 1983 All In Good Time album, awarded a Grammy Award ~ McConnell passed away in 2010
February 14, 1934 ~ Hammond organist, pianist Merl Saunders born in San Mateo, California, USA ~ Gained attention in the early 1970s teaming up with the Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia, co-founding the Saunders-Garcia Band which would eventually evolve into Legion Of Mary. Has also recorded as a solo artist, and collaborated with artists such as Mike Bloomfield, David Grisman, Michael Hinton, Tom Fogerty, Vassar Clements, Kenneth Nash, John Kahn, Sheila E, Dinosaurs, and Reconstruction ~ Saunders passed away in 2008
February 14, 1933 ~ Double bassist, composer Bertram Turetzky, full name Bertram Jay Turetzky, born in Norwich, Connecticut, USA ~ Recognized as a versatile double bassist in chamber music, baroque music, classical, jazz, and klezmer. Actively recording since the mid 1960s. Besides bass plays guitar, piano, and banjo. Fine interpreter of the works of the likes of Edgard Varèse, Donald Martino, Kenneth Gaburo, as well as a prolific composer in his own right. Has authored a number of books, notably The Contemporary Contrabass
February 14, 1931 ~ Singer Phyllis McGuire, full name Phyllis Jean McGuire, born in Middletown, Ohio, USA ~ Formed the sibling outfit the McGuire Sisters with Christine McGuire and Dorothy McGuire. The close-harmony vocal trio would first gain attention in 1952 through Arthur Godfrey's talent contest Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, after which Godfrey hired them for several of his other TV shows. The trio remained active through the late 1960s, and are well known for songs such as Goodnight Sweatheart Goodnight, Muskrat Ramble, It May Sound Silly, Something's Gotta Give, and He. The sisters would top the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice, first with Sincerely in 1955, and again with Sugartime two years later. They have performed for five American presidents, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George HW Bush ~ McGuire passed away in 2020
February 14, 1915 ~ Israel Goldner, commonly known as songwriter Irving Gordon, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Took to writing parody lyrics to popular songs in the 1930s. Staff writer for Irving Mills, first solely as lyricist, later also writing music. Commissioned to write lyrics for Duke Ellington, such as on the Billy Strayhorn composition Prelude To A Kiss. Wrote Mister & Mississippi, a 1951 top 10 hit for Patti Page, later also recorded by Eddy Arnold and Tennessee Ernie Ford. Gordon is perhaps best known for penning Unforgettable, originally titled Uncomparable, a hit and signature song for Nat King Cole earning him a Grammy Award when Cole's daughter Natalie Cole covered the song in 1992. Gordon did not care for rock music, once stating that by 1960 the vogue for rhymed words and hummable melodies had passed, so “I became a tennis pro, I have many lives.” ~ Gordon passed away in 1996February 14, 1908 ~ Leonard George Hayton, commonly known as composer, conductor, arranger Lennie Hayton born in New York, New York, USA ~ Discovered by Paul Whiteman. While with Whiteman played with Frankie Trumbauer, Bix Beiderbecke, Red Nichols, Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang. Hayton also played with Bing Crosby. Musical direcor for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in prime time of movie musical. Arranged music for the film Singing In The Rain. Co-arranged Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust ~ Hayton passed away in 1971
February 14, 1894 ~ Benjamin Kubelsky, commonly known as vaudeville violinist, actor, comedian Jack Benny, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Started out as a modestly successful vaudeville entertainer and violinist. Best known as an actor, comedian, radio and TV personality, becoming a household name with his weekly radio show The Jack Benny Program which artist from 1932 through 1955 and its TV equivalent of the same name initially intended as a limited series of specials, yet remaining on air from 1950 through 1960 ~ Kubalsky passed away in 1974February 14, 1875 ~ Concert hall singer Joe Wilson passed away in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK ~ Wrote and sang in the Geordie dialect of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, his native speech. Best known for the songs Keep Yor Feet Still Geordie Hinny and Sally Wheatley, the latter revived during the late 20th century by acts such as Alex Glasgow and the Dubliners ~ Wilson was born in 1841