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 26, 1944 ~ Robert Landis Frank, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Bob Frank born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Cult singer, songwriter debuted with his critically acclaimed 1972 eponymous album, Bob Frank. Has worked extensively with John Murry and shared stages with Tim Buckley, Townes Van Zandt, Lightnin' Hopkins, Jimmy Driftwood, and Gus Cannon. Staff songwriter for Tree Publishing. Dubbed “the greatest songwriter you never heard” by noted producer, pianist, singer Jim Dickinson. Also had his songs recorded by Chris LeDoux, and Gary Momahan ~ Frank passed away in 2019
February 26, 1943 ~ Rock, country rock, country guitarist, singer Paul Cotton, full name Norman Paul Cotton, born in Fort Rucker, Alabama, USA ~ Member of the Illinois Speed Press. Perhaps best known as member of country-rock outfit Poco, joining the band in 1970 as replacement for Jim Messina. Penned several of the band's best known including Barbados, Indian Summer, Ride The Country, Bad Weather and Heart Of The Night, the latter a Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit of the 1979 Legend album ~ Cotton passed away in 2021February 26, 1942 ~ Jazz saxophonist, composer Lennart Åberg born in Helsingborg, Sweden ~ Founded jazz fusion group Rena Rama in 1972. Perhaps best known for his association with George Russell backing Russell in the 1980s, notably on the 1983 The Essence Of George Russell album alongside Jon Christensen, Arild Andersen and Jan Garbarek. Has also recorded as a solo artist and taught jazz history at the Royal College Of Music, Stockholm ~ Åberg passed away in 2021
February 26, 1939 ~ Saxophonist Trevor Watts born in York, UK ~ Active since the mid 1960s. Though initially strongly identified with avant-garde jazz, Watts is equally at home in straight jazz, rock, and blues contexts. As a leader especially acclaimed for the 1988 With One Voice album, recorded with his Trevor Watts Moiré Music ensemble. Co-founded the Spontaneous Music Ensemble with drummer John Stevens in 1965, one of the premier ensembles in British free improvisation. Founded Amalgam in 1967. Also closely associated with the London Jazz Composers Orchestra. Other notable collaborations include Steve Lacy, Keith Tippett, Elton Dean, Derek Bailey, Enjambre Acustico Urukungulo, and Bobby Bradford
February 26, 1938 ~ Country singer, songwriter Jan Crutchfield born in Paducah, Kentucky, USA ~ Best known for penning The Statue Of A Fool, first recorded and popularized by Jack Greene in 1969 and covered by numerous artists including Brian Collins and Ricky Van Shelton. Other songs written or co-written by Crutchfield include Tear Time (Wilma Burgess), Another Lonely Night (Jean Shepard), Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger (Charley Pride), and One More Time (Jerry Lee Lewis) ~ Crutchfield passed away in 2012
February 26, 1932 ~ Country, rock & roll, outlaw country singer, guitarist, songwriter Johnny Cash born in Kingsland, Arkansas, USA ~ Iconic country singer with a career spanning well over four decades and a reach far beyond country audiences, incorporating elements from a wide array of genres including rockabilly, gospel, blues, folk and gospel. Has recorded over 50 albums since the mid 1950s with record sales north of 90 million, making him one of the all-time best-selling artists. Known for his bass-baritone voice and themes of sorrow, moral tribulation and redemption and signature black attire. Signature songs include I Walk The Line, I Got Stripes, Ring Of Fire and A Boy Named Sue. Frequent collaborator of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson including in the country supergroup the Highwaymen. Rejuvenated his career in the 1990s with a string of critically acclaimed albums, the American Recordings-series, finding new audiences outside country ~ Cash passed away in 2003February 26, 1930 ~ Drummer Doug Sandom born in Greenford, UK ~ The first drummer of the Who. At the time Sandom was in his thirties while the other members were in their late teens. Sandom was fired after an audition at Fontana Records where the label's producer Chris Parmeinter expressed a dislike for Sandom's drumming. Within a month drummer Keith Moon took over. Sandom does not appear on any Who recordings ~ Sandom passed away in 2019
February 26, 1928 ~ Pianist, singer Fats Domino born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Rock & roll pioneer. Best-selling African-American artist of the 1950s. Most popular singer of New Orleans R&B. Known for songs such as The Fat Man, I'm Walking, Ain't That A Shame, and Blueberry Hill. Closely associated with producer Dave Bartholomew. Employed sidemen such as Herbert Hardesty, Alvin Tyler, Billy Diamond, Frank Fields, Earl Palmer, Smokey Johnson, Reggie Houston, and Lee Allen ~ Domino passed away in 2017February 26, 1926 ~ Pianist Chris Anderson born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Influenced Herbie Hancock. Leader and sideman. Active since the mid 1940s. Best known for his 1960 My Romance album. Worked with Von Freeman, Charlie Parker, Dinah Washington, Bill Lee, Art Taylor, Walter Perkins, Philly Joe Jones, Frank Gant, Charlie Haden, Clifford Jordan, Sun Ra, and Frank Strozier ~ Anderson passed away in 2008
February 26, 1925 ~ Saxophonist, bandleader, producer Dave Pell born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Played in the big bands of Tony Pastor, Bob Astor, Bobby Sherwood, and Les Brown. Moved on to leading his own ensembles in the early 1950s, employing sidemen such as Pepper Adams, Benny Carter, Mel Lewis, Red Mitchell, Marty Paich, and Art Pepper, Pell continued to work as a sideman for Shorty Rogers, Pete Rugolo, Benny Goodman, and Gene Krupa. He also produced for the Tops, Uni, and Librty labels throughout the 1960s, most notably producing Gary Lewis & the Playboys as well as the T-Bones (No Matter What Shape Your Stomach's In) ~ Pell passed away in 2017February 26, 1916 ~ John Herbert Gleaon, commonly known as actor, comedian, singer Jackie Gleason, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known as actor and comedian, notably in The Honeymooners and his own The Jackie Gleason Show. Also a singer known for a string of million-seller “mood music” albums, starting with Music For Lovers Only released in 1957 ~ Gleason passed away in 1987
February 26, 1908 ~ Bolero, opera tenor Nestor Mesta Cháyres born in Ciudad Lerdo, Mexico ~ Dubbed “El Gitano de Mexico” and especially known as an interpreter of Agustín Lara and Maria Grever. Worked with the Symphony Orchestra Of Mexico, the Philadelphia Orchestra, Alfredo Antonini, John Serry Sr, and the Montreal Philharmonic Orchestra ~ Cháyres passed away in 1971
February 26, 1907 ~ Harry Goldberg, commonly known as Dixieland jazz saxophonist, bandleader Harry Gold, born in Leytonstone, UK ~ Driving force behind Britain's post-war Dixieland revival. Decided to pursue a career in music after seeing the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in concert in the late-1910s. Has worked with the Magnetic Dance Band, the Florentine Dance Band, and notably the Metronomes, establishing himself as a gifted arranger during his stint with the latter, and with Oscar Rabin. Rose to fame in the late 1940s, early 1950s leading the Pieces Of Eight ~ Goldberg passed away in 2005
February 26, 1879 ~ Violist, conductor, composer Frank Bridge born in Brighton, UK ~ Bridge wrote chamber music and orchestral pieces. Violinist for the Grimson Quartet. Played viola with the English String Quartet. Privately tutored Benjamin Britten, who would later pay homage with the composition Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge based on Bridge's Three Idylls For String Quartet ~ Bridge passed away in 1941