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 2, 1937 ~ Comedian, pop, folk guitarist, singer Tom Smothers, full name Thomas Bolyn Smothers, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Formed the musical comedy duo the Smother Brothers with his brother Dick Smothers. Initially the siblings aimed to become folk musicians, but as Tom felt he was not good enough to be a professional musician yet funny enough to do comedy, the brothers added comedy bits to their routine. They are best known for a series of own TV shows, notably The Smother Brothers Comedy Hour aired on CBS. To pop and rock audiences Smothers is perhaps best known for playing guitar alongside John Lennon on the latter's 1969 single Give Peace A Chance, one of Lennon's most enduring songs ~ Smothers passed away in 2023February 2, 1935 ~ Blues singer Clara Smith passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Dubbed “the Queen of the Moaners”. Known for songs such as Troublesome Blues, the risqué Whip It To A Jelly and a number of duets with Bessie Smith, no relation, notably My Man Blues and Far Away Blues. Has also worked with Fletcher Henderson, Louis Armstrong, and with Don Redman ~ Smith was born in 1894
February 2, 1932 ~ Vibraphonist Arthur Lyman, full name Arthur Hunt Lyman, born on Kauai, Hawaii, USA ~ Dubbed “the King of Lounge Music”, Lyman is considered one of the architects of what would later become known as exotica. Lyman briefly played with Martin Denny in the 1950s before venturing out on his own and has recorded well over two dozen albums since, perhaps most notably Taboo, Hawaiian Sunset, and I Wish You Love. Lyman's music would be rediscovered in the 1990s space age pop boom. Lyman continued to perform in Hawaii until a year before his death at age 70, and is especially remembered for songs such as Taboo, Love For Sale, and Yellow Bird ~ Lyman passed away in 2002
February 2, 1927 ~ Stanley Gayetzby, commonly known as cool jazz, bebop, bossa nova saxophonist Stan Getz, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Dubbed “the Sound” for his warm, lyrical tone. Rose to prominence in the late 1940s as member of Woody Herman's big band. Would go on to become one of jazz's all-time greatest tenor saxophonists. Known for popularizing bossa nova, among other through collaborations with João Gilberto and Antônio Carlos Jobim and especially with the 1964 hit single The Girl From Ipanema of the collaborative Getz/Gilberto album ~ Gayetzby passed away in 1991February 2, 1925 ~ Tenor singer David Whitfield born in Hull, UK ~ Popular 1950s singer. The first to score a transatlantic charttopper, reaching No.1 in both America and his native England in 1954 with Cara Mia backed by conductor Mantovani and his orchestra. Other well known recordings by Whitfield include Bridge Of Sighs, Answer Me, My September Love, I'll Find You, and William Tell ~ Whitfield passed away in 1980
February 2, 1924 ~ Edward Hammond Boatner Jr, commonly known as bebop, hard bop saxophonist Sonny Stitt, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Toured relentlessly. Recorded over 100 albums. Worked with Tiny Bradshaw, Billy Eckstine, Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Parlan, Bud Powell, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Thad Jones, Chick Corea, Jimmy Jones, Johnny Richards, Quincy Jones, Hank Jones, Dolo Coker, briefly with Miles Davis (the only Stitt-Davis recordings are hard to find 1960 live sets), Jim Hall, Gene Ammons, Booker Ervin, Paul Gonsalves, Leon Spencer, Melvin Sparks, Idris Muhammad, Virgil Jones, Don Patterson, Red Holloway, George Duvivier, and Jimmy Cobb ~ Stitt passed away in 1982
February 2, 1912 ~ Burton Levy, commonly known as pianist, songwriter, lyricist Burton Lane, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Credited with discovering Judy Garland. Co-wrote the Broadway-musicals Finian's Rainbow and On A Clear Day You Can See Forever. Well known songs written or co-written by Lane include I Hear Music (Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Anita O'Day), Old Devil Moon (Charlie Spivak, Gene Krupa, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra), How Are Things In Glocca Morra (Ella Logan, Martha Tilton, Dick Haymes), Too Late Now (Jane Powell, Dinah Shore, Peggy Lee), and On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (Louis Jordan, Sarah Vaughan, Johnny Mathis) ~ Levy passed away in 1997
February 2, 1901 ~ William Weldon, commonly known as Piedmont blues, country blues singer, slide guitarist Casey Bill Weldon, born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA ~ Influential on Chicago blues. Dubbed “the Hawaiian Guitar Wizard” Weldon was arguably one of the earliest blues musicians to play the slide guitar. As a solo artist known for Somebody Done Changed The Lock On That Door and We Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town. Has also sessioned for artists such as Teddy Darby, Bumble Bee Slim and Peetie Wheatstraw ~ Weldon passed away in 1972February 2, 1901 ~ Violinist Jascha Heifetz born in Vilna, Russian Empire ~ Son of Reuven Heifetz, a local violin teacher. Child prodigy. Played Carnegie Hall upon his arrival in America, becoming an instant hit while still in his teens. Acclaimed as “the best violinist since Niccolò Paganini” by some critics. Late in life became a dedicated teacher and champion of socio-political causes ~ Heifetz passed away in 1987
February 2, 1901 ~ Blues singer, guitarist, violinist, songwriter Walter Vinson born in Bolton, Mississippi, USA ~ Member of the Mississippi Sheiks. Perhaps best known for co-writing the blues standard Sitting On Top Of The World with Lonnie Chatmon, first recorded as a country blues song by the Sheiks ~ Vinson passed away in 1975February 2, 1900 ~ Singer Emmett Miller born in Macon, Georgia, USA ~ The link between old-time Southern music, minstrelsy, jazz, and Western swing. Major influence on later country singers including Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Wills, Milton Brown, Tommy Duncan, and Merle Haggard. Backed by Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Gene Krupa and Eddie Lang as early as 1924, recording as the Georgia Crackers. Known for songs such as Lovesick Blues, I Ain't Got Nobody, and Right Or Wrong. Miller's songs have been recorded by Van Dyke Parks, Ry Cooder, Leon Redbone, Louis Prima, and David Lee Roth ~ Miller passed away in 1962
February 2, 1892 ~ Composer, songwriter Clarence Gaskill born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Popular in the early 20th century. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Prisoner Of Love (Russ Columbo), Doo Wacka Doo (Paul Whiteman), I Don't Mind Being Alone (Lou Gold), and perhaps his best known I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me. The latter would be first recorded by Dolores Valesco in 1927 and covered by close to 200 artists including Louis Armstrong, Nat Gonella, Earl Hines, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett, Faron Young, Dinah Washington, and Frank Sinatra ~ Gaskill passed away in 1948
February 2, 1888 ~ Jazz guitarist, tubist Louis Keppard born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Brother of jazz cornetist Freddie Keppard. Member of the Cherry Blossom Band. Led Magnolia, which also included King Oliver and Honore Dutrey. Has also worked with the Tuxedo Brass Band, Manuel Perez, the Olympia Orchestra, the Gibson Brass Band, the Young Excelsior Brass Band, and Wooden Joe Nicholas ~ Keppard passed away in 1986