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.
January 12, 1957 ~ Singer Elvis Presley records All Shook Up at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California ~ Written by Otis Blackwell. Elvis Presley is backed by Scotty Moore on guitar, Bill Black on string bass, DJ Fontana on drums and vocal group the Jordanaires as backing singers. It would be released as a single, paired with That's When Your Heartaches Begin on the flip side, the next March. The single would reach No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Country, and Billboard R&B charts
January 12, 1955 ~ Jazz saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Soprano saxophonist known for her sophisticated style, Bloom straddles post-bop and avant-garde jazz. As a leader, Bloom has recorded over a dozen albums since the 1980s, noted specifically for the mid 2000s albums Like Silver Like Song and Mental Weather. As a collaborator and sidewoman, Bloom has appeared on albums by Jay Clayton, Frederic Hand (Frederic Hand's Jazz Antigua), Cleo Laine (Jazz), Klaus König, Daniel Humair, Ethel Ennis (If Women Ruled The World), Annabelle Wilson, Ron Horton, Bobby Previte (The 23 Constellations Of Joan Miró), and M'Lumbo
January 12, 1955 ~ Reggae singer Johnny Clarke born in Whitfield Town, Jamaica ~ Closely associated with producer Bunny Lee. Known for songs such God Made The Sea And The Sun, Everyday Wondering, Julie and Jump Back Baby. Also worked with Clancy Eccles, Rupie Edwards, the Aggrovators, the Mad Professor, King Tubby, Errol Thompson, and Prince JammyJanuary 12, 1955 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Paul Kelly, full name Paul Maurice Kelly, born in Adelaide, Australia ~ Emerged from the mid 1970s pub rock scene as one of the most acclaimed songwriters drawing from rock, folk and country. Fronted the Dots, known for their hit Billy Baxter. Fronted the Coloured Girls later renamed the Messengers, scoring hits with Before Too Long, Darling It Hurts, To Her Door and Dumb Things
January 12, 1953 ~ Country singer LaWanda Lindsey born in Tampa, Florida, USA ~ Scored a number of modest hits since the late 1960s, starting with Partly Bill released at age 16. Best known for Pickin' Wild Berries and Hello Out There, the former a duet with Kenny Vernon
January 12, 1952 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Ricky Van Shelton born in Danville, Virginia, USA ~ Debuted in 1987 with the album Wild-Eyed Dream and would subsequently reach the higher echelons of the country charts with both originals and covers throughout the early 1990s. Best known for songs such as Somebody Lied, Life Turned Her That Way, I'll Leave This World Loving You, Living Proof, I've Cried My Last Tear For You, I Am A Simple Man, Keep It Between The Lines, Rockin' Years, the latter a duet with Dolly Parton
January 12, 1951 ~ Motonari Takano, commonly known as anisong singer, drummer Ai Takano, born in Tokyo, Japan ~ Nicknamed Motchin. Best known as a solo artist, notably performing the theme songs for Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger, Pettonton and Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion. Drummer for Cama Beats, known best for the Zombies cover Suki Sa Suki Sa Suki Sa originally titled I Love You. Also drummed with the Golden Cups ~ Takano passed away in 2006
January 12, 1951 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Chris Bell, full name Christopher Branford Bell, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known as early member and along with Alex Chilton co-leader of power pop band Big Star, present on the band's 1972 No.1 Record debut album. Influenced artists such as Beck, REM, Teenage Fanclub, the Pixies, Primal Scream, Afghan Whigs, Wilco, and the Replacements ~ Bell passed away in 1978
January 12, 1949 ~ R&B, pop-jazz singer, actor Andrzej Zaucha born in Kraków, Poland ~ Lead singer of jazz fusion outfit Dzamble, present on the band's Wolanie O Sloncie Nad Swiatem. Member of Anawa, present on the eponymous 1973 Anawa album. Active as a solo artist since the early 1980s, notably known for songs such as Wszystkie Stworzenia Duze I Male and Bylas Serca Biciem. Shot and killed in a crime of passion at age 42 ~ Zaucha passed away in 1991January 12, 1948 ~ Jazz fusion guitarist John Ethridge, full name John Michael Glyn Eth, born in London, UK ~ Influenced by Hank Marvin and Django Reinhardt. Best known for his work with Soft Machine, primarily in the mid to late 1970s, and its spin-off Soft Machine Legacy. Also worked with Rush Release, Warhorse, Darryl Way, Danny Thompson, Nigel Kennedy, Andy Summers, Zappatistas, Icarus, Stéphane Grappelli, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Elton Dean, Fairport Convention, Chris Jagger, Nik Turner, and Pye Hastings
January 12, 1947 ~ James A Gold, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Jim Gold, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Frontman of soft rock band Gallery, with whom he recorded two albums through the mid 1970s. The band is best known for Nice To Be With You off their 1972 debut album of the same name. The single, penned by Gold and produced by Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey, would reach top 10 in several countries, including Australia, New Zealand, top the charts in Canada, and reach No.4 in their native America. Two subsequent singles of the same album, I Believe In Music and Big City Miss Ruth Ann, would also reach top 30 on the American Billboard Hot 100 charts
January 12, 1946 ~ Pianist, singer, songwriter George Duke born in San Rafael, California, USA ~ Known for his solo albums, starting with The George Duke Quartet in 1966, as well as for his many collaborations including with Jean-Luc Ponty, Cannonball Adderley, Frank Zappa, the Mothers Of Invention, and Ruth Underwood. Has also produced pop and R&B hits for A Taste Of Honey, Jeffrey Osborne, Deniece Williams, Anita Baker, Rachelle Ferrell, Everette Harp, Gladys Knight, Melissa Manchester, Barry Manilow, the Pointer Sisters, Smokey Robinson, Seawind, and Take 6 ~ Duke passed away in 2013January 12, 1945 ~ R&B, soul singer Abrim Tilmon born in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA ~ Member of the Detroit Emeralds, known for songs such Show Time, Do Me Right, You Want It You Got It, Baby Let Me Take You In My Arms, and Feel The Need ~ Tilmon passed away in 1982
January 12, 1945 ~ Rock, blues rock singer Maggie Bell born in Glasgow, UK ~ Characterised by some as UK's counterpart to Janis Joplin. Co-founding member, co-lead vocalist of Stone The Crows from 1968 through 1973, known best for their 1971 Teenage Licks album. Has also worked with Long John Baldry, Rod Stewart (Every Picture Tells A Story), Midnight Flyer, the British Blues Quintet, Jon Lord, Denny Laine, and Rick Wakeman
January 12, 1944 ~ Singer, trumpeter, hornist Cynthia Robinson born in Sacramento, California, USA ~ Co-founding, constant member of Sly & the Family Stone, notably present on hits such as Dance To The Music and I Want To Take You Higher. Cousin of Larry Graham, bandmate in both Family Stone and Graham Central Station. Robinson has also guested on albums by Funkadelic (The Electric Spanking Of War Babies), Flash Cadillac, Dorothy Norwood, Robert Cray, Rose Stone, and Prince. Robinson would be described as “the original hypeman” by Questlove of the Roots ~ Robinson passed away in 2015
January 12, 1941 ~ John William Baldry, commonly known as singer Long John Baldry, born in East Haddon, UK ~ Worked with Rod Stewart, Elton John, Alexis Korner, Cyril Davies, Steampacket, and Caleb Quaye. Known for songs such as Let The Heartaches Begin and Don't Try To Lay No Boogie Woogie On The King Of Rock & Roll ~ Baldry passed away in 2005January 12, 1941 ~ Charles Jones III, commonly known as jazz guitarist, cornetist, singer Olu Dara, born in Natchez, Mississippi, USA ~ Father of rapper Nas. Leader and sideman. Formed the Okra Orchestra and the Natchezsippi Dance Band. Worked with Material, David Murray, Henry Threadgill, Hamiet Bluiett, Don Pullen, Charles Brackeen, James Blood Ulmer, Cassandra Wilson, Dr John, Rhys Chatham, Carlos Garnett, Terumasa Hino, Nona Hendryx, Tim Berne, and the Be Good Tanyas
January 12, 1939 ~ Singer, guitarist Hiroshi Kamayatsu born in Tokyo, Japan ~ Co-founded 1960s rock band the Spiders, best known for their Yuhiganaiteiru hit single. Co-founded Vodka Collins, one of the first Japanese glamrock outfits known best for Sands Of Time released in 1973. Also recorded as a solo artist, notably RTB for the anime series Sentou Yousei Yukikaze, and worked with Sans Filtre ~ Kamayatsu passed away in 2017
January 12, 1939 ~ Vocal jazz group the Ink Spots featuring Bill Kenny record If I Didn't Care ~ Written by Jack Lawrence, the initial response from friends would be mostly negative. Recorded by the Ink Spots, released as a single featuring Knock Kneed Sal On The Mourner's Bench on the flip side it would become one of the all-time best-selling singles, selling 19 million copies. Over the years it would be recorded by numerous others, notably Connie Francis, the Platters, and David Cassidy
January 12, 1939 ~ Country singer William Lee Golden born in Brewton, Alabama, USA ~ Best known as member of the Oak Ridge Boys from 1965 through 1987, rejoining in 1995. Also recorded as a solo artist, starting in 1986 with the album American Vagabond which spawned the modest country hits Love Is The Only Way Out and You Can't Take It With You
January 12, 1935 ~ Operatic lyric soprano Margherita Rinaldi born in Turin, Italy ~ Enjoyed popularity in her native Italy and abroad during the 1960s and 1970s. Perhaps most acclaimed for her role as Giulietta in Vincenzo Bellini's I Capuletti E I Montecchi at La Scala in 1966 under the direction of Claudio Abbado. Has performed with renowned companies including the Dallas Opera, the San Francisco Opera, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, alongside singers such as Alfredo Kraus, Plácido Domingo, and Grace Bumbry. Rinaldi would retire from the stage by the early 1980s yet continue to privately coach young singers ~ Rinaldi passed away in 2023January 12, 1932 ~ Bebop saxophonist, flutist Hadley Caliman born in Idabel, Oklahoma, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Carlos Santana, Joe Henderson, Earl Hines, Freddie Hubbard, Jon Hendricks, Earl Anderza, Patrice Rushen, Don Ellis, Hampton Hawes, Bobby Hutcherson, Azar Lawrence, Malo, Julian Priester, the Fangs, Gerald Wilson, Thomas Marriott, the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, and with Pete Christlieb ~ Caliman passed away in 2010
January 12, 1931 ~ Ska, rocksteady, reggae saxophonist Roland Alphonso born in Havana, Cuba ~ Co-founding member of pioneering 1960s Jamaican outfit the Skatalites. They are best known for their 1965 recording Guns Of Navarone, produced by Coxsone Dodd and featuring Alphonso as lead singer. A sleeper hit in the UK, reaching top 40 two years after its initial release, the song would over time nevertheless become to be seen as a landmark recording in ska. The song would again be a hit in the UK in 1980, as a mostly instrumental cover by ska revivalists the Specials. Originally the song, written by Dimitri Tiomkin, traces back to 1961, when it was recorded by the Sinfonia Of London as the theme song to the film of the same name ~ Alphonso passed away in 1998
January 12, 1930 ~ Singer, guitarist Glenn Yarbrough, full name Glenn Robertson Yarbrough, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA ~ First gained attention as lead singer of the Limeliters from 1959 through 1963, known for songs such as There's A Meetin' Here Tonight, A Dollar Down, Have Some Madeira M'Dear, and The Lonesome Traveler. As a solo artist best known for his 1965 single Baby The Rain Must Fall. Yarbrough would later rejoin a reformed Limeliters incarnation and play the oldies circuit ~ Yarbrough passed away in 2016January 12, 1929 ~ Jazz bandleader, composer, arranger Rich Matteson, full name Richmond Albert Matteson, born in Forest Lake, Minnesota, USA ~ Worked with Bob Scobey, the Dukes Of Dixieland, Harvey Phillips, the Matteson-Phillips Tubajazz Consort, and Louie Bellson ~ Matteson passed away in 1993