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 7, 1925 ~ Jazz drummer, vibraphonist Ray Alexander born in Lynbrook, New York, USA ~ Best known for his association with Peggy Lee (Beauty & The Beat), and with Martin Denny (Quiet Village). Has also worked with Claude Thornhill, Bobby Byrne, the Dorsey Brothers, Stan Getz, Mel Tormé, Chubby Jackson, Charlie Barnet, Anita O'Day, and Mel Lewis ~ Alexander passed away in 2002
February 7, 1922 ~ Folk singer, actor Leon Bibb born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Father of Eric Bibb, with whom he also recorded. Performed at the first the Newport Folk Festival in 1959. Blacklisted during the late 1950s for alleged ties to left-wing groups and causes. Acclaimed for his performance on the soundtrack to the 1960 Luis Bunuel-film The Young One ~ Bibb passed away in 2015
February 7, 1921 ~ Nathan Bernstein, commonly known as impresario, bandleader Tito Burns, born in London, UK' ~ As a musician worked with Lou Preager, Carl Barriteau, Denis Rose, Ronnie Scott, Johnny Dankworth, and Tony Crombie. Burns would switch to management by the mid 1950s, serving as manager and impresario for artists such as Cliff Richard, and the Searchers. Burns also served as tour manager for Bob Dylan. He is, however, perhaps most noted for discovering Dusty Springfield, who would go on to become one of the finest British pop soul singers to emerge from the 1960s ~ Bernstein passed away in 2010
February 7, 1921 ~ Wilma Lee Leary, commonly known as bluegrass, country singer, guitarist Wilma Lee Cooper, born in Valley Head, West Virginia, USA ~ Member of family gospel outfit the Leary Family. Married to fiddler, singer Stoney Cooper, with whom she also worked. Starting in the 1940s the duo would score several country hits including Big Midnight Special and There's A Big Wheel. After Stoney's passing in 1977, Wilma Lee would perform and record as a solo artist albeit it less frequently ~ Leary passed away in 2011February 7, 1920 ~ Classical pianist, composer Germaine Mounier born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France ~ Influenced by Frédéric Chopin. Acclaimed as an interpreter of the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Claude Debussy and Ferruccio Busoni, especially in partnership with pianist Hélène Boschi. Has also worked with Yves Nat and Magda Tagliaferro ~ Mounier passed away in 2006
February 7, 1903 ~ Poet, lyricist Ricardo López Méndez born in Izamal, Mexico ~ Founded several radio stations, including XHRLM-FM which still bears his initials. As a songwriter perhaps best remembered for co-writing Amor with Gabriel Ruiz, first recorded by Chucho Martínez Gil in 1940 and covered by well over 100 artists including Xavier Cugat, Cliff Richard, and Trini López ~ López passed away in 1989
February 7, 1896 ~ Bandleader, pianist, songwriter Earl Burtnett born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Popular during the 1920s and 1930s. Worked with Art Hickman including as arranger and writer co-responsible for songs such as Sleep, Leave Me With A Smile and Mandalay. Took over as bandleader when Hickman retired in the late 1920s ~ Burtnett passed away in 1936February 7, 1895 ~ Bandleader, pianist Irving Aaronson born in New York, New York, USA ~ Aaronson's band included musicians such as Phil Saxe, Joe Gillespie, Artie Shaw, Gene Krupa, and Tony Pastor, some of whom would later become noted bandleaders in their own right. Aaronson's most popular song, The Loveliest Night Of The Year, was not recorded with his own band but adapted for Mario Lanza and featured in Lanza's 1950 movie Mario Lanza Great Caruso ~ Aaronson passed away in 1963
February 7, 1883 ~ James Hubert Blake, commonly known as ragtime, jazz pianist, composer Eubie Blake, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Co-wrote the musical Shuffle Along with Noble Sissle. As a composer also known for Bandana Days, Charleston Rag, Love Will Find A Way, Memories Of You and I'm Just Wild About Harry. Resurged in the 1970s, appealing to younger generations, after the release of his retrospective The 86 Years Of Eubie Blake album, released in 1969 ~ Blake passed away in 1983February 7, 1882 ~ Ragtime, dixieland clarinetist, bandleader, composer Wilbur Sweatman, full name Wilbur Coleman Sweatman, born in Brunswick, Missouri, USA ~ Became the youngest bandleader in 1901 by leading the the Forepaugh & Sells Circus Band band. Trailblazer in the racial integration of musical groups. Has worked with the PG Lowery Band, WC Handy, the Mahara Minstrels, and Scott Joplin ~ Sweatman passed away in 1961
February 7, 1779 ~ Composer, organist William Boyce passed away in London, UK ~ Largely forgotten after his death Boyce would nevertheless draw great admiration during his life, admired by the likes of George Frideric Handel, Thomas Arne, Christoph Willibald Gluck, Johann Christian Bach, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Like Ludwig van Beethoven later on, Boyce became deaf yet continued to compose. Perhaps best remembered for his Symphony No.1 In B-Flat, its Allegro being the first piece of music played during the procession of the bride and bridegroom at the conclusion of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 ~ Boyce was born in 1711