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 13, 1929 ~ Joseph Anthony Jacobi Passalacqua, commonly known as jazz guitarist Joe Pass, born in New Brunswick, USA ~ Particularly known for his technique, innovative chord inversions and walking basslines and improvisational skills. Has worked extensively with pianist Oscar Peterson and singer Ella Fitzgerald. Also worked as a sideman for artists such as Gerald Wilson, Bud Shank, Les McCann, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Della Reese, Johnny Mathis, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Benny Carter, Milt Jackson, Herb Ellis, Zoot Sims, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, and Count Basie ~ Passalaqua passed away in 1994
January 13, 1926 ~ Jazz trombonist, arranger, composer Melba Liston born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ First woman trombonist to play the 1940s big bands. Eventually better known as an arranger, particularly for Randy Weston. Also arranged for Motown and Stax/Volt. Performed and recorded with Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Quincy Jones, Milt Jackson, Clark Terry, Johnny Griffin, Betty Carter, Jimmy Smith, Dinah Washington, Bennie Green, Jimmy Cleveland, Babs Gonzales, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Cannonball Adderley, Mark Murphy, Sam Jones, Junior Mance, Oliver Nelson, Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones, and Kim Weston ~ Liston passed away in 1999January 13, 1925 ~ Jazz trombonist Nat Peck born in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Glenn Miller, Don Redman, Coleman Hawkins, James Moody, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Michel Legrand, André Hodeir, Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, the Clarke-Boland Big Band, Benny Goodman, and Peter Herbolzheimer ~ Peck passed away in 2015
January 13, 1915 ~ Virginia Lucille Overstake, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, songwriter Jenny Lou Carson, born in Decatur, Illinois, USA ~ Carson started as a singer, yet would become well known as one of the most successful country songwriters of the pre-rock era, enjoying her greatest successes from the mid 1940s through the mid 1950s. Became the first female country songwriter to score a Billboard Country No.1 hit when Tex Ritter took the Carson-penned You Two Timed Me One Time Too Often to the top of the tally. Carson got her start in music at age 17, performing with her sisters Evelyn Overstake and Eva Alaine Overstake, the latter later known as Judy Martin, under the monikers the Three Little Maids and the Little Country Girls. Going by a variety of monikers, Carson has also performed or recorded with Winnie Lou & Sally and with the Prairie Ramblers, before adopting the Carson moniker to perform a cowgirl show on the rodeo circuit, establishing herself as a modern day Annie Oakley, the 19th century sharpshooter and folk heroine who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. However, mentored by Fred Rose, Carson would find her greatest success as a songwriter. Well known songs written or co-written by Carson included Jealous Heart first recorded by Tex Ritter, which became a standard covered by over an estimated 150 artists including Ivory Joe Hunter, Kitty Wells, Bob Luman, Clyde Moody, Bing Crosby, Loretta Lynn, and Bonnie Owens, Chained To A Memory recorded by Eddy Arnold, Skeeter Davis, Hank Locklin, and Slim Whitman, and Let Me Go Devil recorded by Wade Ray, Georgie Shaw, and Johnny Bond. Carson has been married four times, including to WLS National Barn Dance singer, guitarist and comedian Red Blanchard, and to big band bandleader Tiny Hill. Country singer Red Foley, with whom Carson has co-written songs, was married to Carson's sister and one-time bandmate Judy Martin. Carson would be inducted in the the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971 ~ Overstake passed away in 1978
January 13, 1909 ~ Jazz guitarist, banjoist, singer Danny Barker, full name Daniel Moses Barker, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Worked with Cab Calloway, Lucky Millinder, Benny Carter, Jelly Roll Morton, Baby Dodds, James P Johnson, the Dukes Of Dixieland, Sidney Bechet, Mezz Mezzrow, Fess Williams, Billy Fowler, Albert Nicholas, Bunk Johnson, Charlie Parker, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Paul Barbarin, Vic Dickenson, and Billie Holiday ~ Barker passed away in 1994
January 13, 1909 ~ Jazz trombonist Quentin Jackson born in Springfield, Ohio, USA ~ Best known for his stints with Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington, working with the latter's orchestra for a little over a decade starting in 1949. Other notable collaborations include Clark Terry, Dinah Washington (The Swingin' Miss D), Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles (The Genius of Ray Charles), Bill Coleman, Randy Weston, Count Basie, Oliver Nelson, Shirley Scott (For Members Only), Billy Taylor, Charles Mingus (The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady), Milt Jackson, Herbie Mann, Barbara Lewis (Workin' On A Groovy Thing), Jimmy Smith, the Manhattan Transfer, and Johnny Hodges ~ Jackson passed away in 1976January 13, 1905 ~ Trumpeter, bandleader Percy Humphrey, full name Percy Gaston Humphrey, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Brother of clarinetist Willie Humphrey and trombonist Earl Humphrey. Worked with the Eureka Brass Band, Sweet Emma Barrett, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Emanuel Paul ~ Humphrey passed away in 1995
January 13, 1885 ~ Songwriter James Monaco, full name James Vincent Monaco, born in Formia, Italy ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want To Do It) with lyricist Joseph McCarthy, performed originally by Al Jolson in 1913 and recorded by numerous artists including Doris Day, Perry Como, Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin, and Patsy Cline. Also known as a frequent collaborator of Johnny Burke, especially writing for several Bing Crosby films. Four songs co-written by Burke would receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Song: Only Forever from 1940's Rhythm On The River co-written with Burke, We Mustn't Say Goodbye from 1943's Stage Door Canteen co-written with Al Dubin, I'm Making Believe from 1944's Sweet And Low-down co-written with Mack Gordon, I Can't Begin To Tell You from 1945's The Dolly Sisters also co-written with Gordon ~ Monaco passed away in 1945