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 2, 1950 ~ Classical clarinetist David Shifrin born in Queens, New York, USA ~ Worked with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Hawaii Symphony, and the Phoenix Symphony
January 2, 1948 ~ Jazz, pop trumpeter John Madrid born in Monterey Park, California, USA ~ Active since the mid 1960s. Appeared on the Outsiders' Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Time Won't Let Me. Would go on to work with Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Si Zentner, Louie Bellson, Butane, Blood Sweat & Tears, Boz Scaggs, and Wayne Newton ~ Madrid passed away in 1990
January 2, 1948 ~ Joseph Marshall, commonly known as jazz drummer Kaiser Marshall, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Considered one of the premier jazz drummers of the 1920s. Worked with Charlie Dixon, Shrimp Jones, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Art Hodes, Wild Bill Davison, Sidney Bechet, Bunk Johnson, Mezz Mezzrow, Louis Armstrong (notably on the 1929 recording Knockin' A Jug), and was a member of McKinney's Cotton Pickers in the late 1920s which at the time also included Benny Carter, Fats Waller and Coleman Hawkins ~ Marshall was born in 1902
January 2, 1948 ~ Drummer, percussionist, producer Keith Forsey born in London, UK ~ Pioneer of disco, closely associated with Giorgio Moroder. Worked with artists such as Claudja Barry, La Bionda, Boney M, Pete Bellotte, Trax, and notably Donna Summer. Produced Billy Idol's 1982 solo debut Billy Idol album and its 1983 follow-up Rebel Yell. Produced Icehouse's breakthrough Primitive Man album. Co-wrote Irene Cara's smash hit Flashdance (What A Feeling) with Moroder and Cara. Co-wrote the Simple Minds' Don't You (Forget About Me). Before disco has worked with the Psychedelic Furs and drummed in Udo Lindenberg's the Panik Orchester as well as for Amon Düül IIJanuary 2, 1948 ~ Keyboardist Kerry Minnear, full name Kerry Churchill Minnear, born in Shaftesbury, UK ~ Classically trained. Key member and songwriter of progressive rock band Gentle Giant. Best known as a keyboardist, Minnear's primary instrument, but adept on a number of instruments including cello, guitar, bass, vibraphone, theremin, timpani and various percussive instruments
January 2, 1947 ~ Adrian Shaw, commonly known as psychedelic rock, rock bassist Ade Shaw, born in Hampstead, UK ~ Asked to join T.Rex in 1977, yet never played with the band as frontman Marc Bolan died shortly thereafter. Co-founded Magic Muscle. Has worked with Hawkwind, the Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, the Deviants, Steve Peregrin Took, Hawklords, and the Bevis FrondJanuary 2, 1947 ~ Mathematician, musicologist, jazz pianist Guerino Mazzola born in Dubbendorf, Switzerland ~ Well known for his music theory book The Topos Of Music, published in 2002. As a pianist appears on over two dozen albums, working with the likes of Mat Maneri, Heinz Geisser, Sirone, Jeff Kaiser, and Scott Fields
January 2, 1946 ~ Michael George Churchill, commonly known as keyboardist Chick Churchill, born in Flintshire, UK ~ Best known as keyboardist of blues-rock outfit Ten Years After from its inception in 1966 until its disbandement in 1976. Released a solo solo album, You And Me, in 1973 which featured Supertramp's Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson and Jethro Tull's Martin Barre. Has worked as a label executive and manager since 1976
January 2, 1946 ~ Music manager, tour manager Richard Cole born in Kensal Rise, UK ~ Best known as tour manager for Led Zeppelin from 1968 until its dissolution in 1980. Drew ire from the band for several bold statements about their behavior, most infamously in the Stephen Davis-penned Zeppelin-biography Hammer Of The Gods. Has also worked for bands such as Unit 4+2, the Who, the New Vaudeville Band, Vanilla Fudge, the Yardbirds, Eric Clapton, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Uhuru, and Three Dog Night ~ Cole passed away in 2021January 2, 1939 ~ Composer, pianist Franz Hummel born in Schwabmünchen, Germany ~ Virtuoso pianist extensively performing and recording standard reportoire from classical, Romantic and contemporary music through the 1970s before focusing on composition. Wrote operas, symphonies, ballets and chamber music, noted for his 1996 Gesualdo opera ~ Hummel passed away in 2022
January 2, 1939 ~ Albert Abraham Smothers, commonly known as Chicago blues guitarist, singer Little Smokey Smothers born in Tchula, Mississippi, USA ~ Noted for backing Howlin' Wolf on the quintessential 1958 Howlin' Wolf (The Rockin' Chair Album) album, appearing on the tracks I've Been Abused, Howlin' For My Darling, and Mr Airplane. Not to be confused with his brother, guitarist Otis Big Smokey Smothers, who also played with the Wolf. Other notable associations include Magic Sam, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Earl Hooker, Junior Wells, George Mojo Buford, and the Legendary Blues Band ~ Smothers passed away in 2010
January 2, 1936 ~ Bandleader, pianist, songwriter Earl Burtnett passed away in Chicago, Illinois, 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 was born in 1896
January 2, 1936 ~ Singer, songwriter Roger Miller, full name Roger Dean Miller, born in Fort Worth, Texas, USA ~ Known for songs such as When Two Worlds Collide, Dang Me, Chug-a-lug, King Of The Road, Walkin' In The Sunshine and Little Green Apples. As a songwriter had his work recorded by artists such as Jim Reeves (Billy Bayou), Rex Allen, Ray Price (Invitation To The Blues), Ernest Tubb (Half A Mind), Faron Young, Alan Jackson (Tall Tall Trees), Brooks & Dunn, and Dwight Yoakam ~ Miller passed away in 1992January 2, 1933 ~ Hisoa Oma Suzuki, commonly known as jazz double bassist Isao Suzuki born in Tokyo, Japan ~ Worked with artists including Shotaro Moriyasu, Hidehiko Matsumoto, Sadao Watanabe, Hampton Hawes, Ron Carter, Paul Desmond, Ella Fitzgerald, Jim Hall, Wynton Kelly, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Bobby Timmons, Kenny Burrell, and Mal Waldron ~ Suzuki passed away in 2022
January 2, 1931 ~ Accordionist, pianist, clarinetist Frank Marocco born in Joliet, Illinois, USA ~ Generally regarded as one of the premier accordionists, primarily active in jazz and classical circles. As a solo artist known for his 1960 Like Frank Marocco album. To pop and rock audiences best known for his association with the Beach Boys, appearing on the landmark Pet Sounds album released in 1966. Has also guested on albums by Dan Fogelberg, Danny O'Keefe, Tracy Chapman (Crossroads), Ry Cooder, Phil Collins, and Eric Clapton ~ Marocco passed away in 2012January 2, 1928 ~ Conductor, teacher, musicologist Alberto Zedda born in Milan, Italy ~ Conductor specialized in 19th-century Italian repertoire, including opera, symphonic and chamber music. Regarded an authority on Gioachino Rossini, and founder and direct of the Accademia Rossiniana, Pesaro, Italy ~ Zedda passed away in 2017
January 2, 1927 ~ Jazz trumpeter John McLevy born in Dundee, UK ~ Best known for his association with Benny Goodman, touring with the clarinetist throughout Europe in the 1970s and appearing on albums such as The King Swings. McLevy has also worked with the likes of Max Bygraves, Jack Emblow, Tommy McQuater, Krysia Kocjan, and Bob Wilber ~ McLevy passed away in 2002
January 2, 1924 ~ Jazz, R&B singer Arthur Prysock born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA ~ First gained attention in the 1940s as lead vocalist with bandleader Buddy Johnson, singing lead on songs such as They All Say I'm The Biggest Fool, Jet My Love, I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone and Because. Ventured out on his own in the early 1950s, over the years earning a reputation as an emotive balladeer recording both originals and covers. Known for R&B hits such as I Didn't Sleep A Wink Last Night, Good Rockin' Tonight, The Very Thought Of You and It's Too Late Baby It's Too Late. Recorded well into the 1980s ~ Prysock passed away in 1997January 2, 1924 ~ Åse Carola Helmersen, commonly known as pop, schlager singer Åse Wentzel, born in Trondheim, Norway ~ Married to violinist Odd Wentzel-Larsen. Their daughter is singer, guitarist Magni Wentzel. Wentzel enjoyed popularity during the 1950s and 1960s with songs such as Domino, Du Du Du, Vaya Con Dios with Thor Raymond and Midnattstango with Jan Høiland, the latter topping the charts in Norway in 1963 ~ Wentzel passed away in 2009
January 2, 1915 ~ Drummer Nick Fatool born in Milbury, Massachusetts, USA ~ One of the most in-demand drummers of the 1940s. Worked with Joe Haymes, Don Beston, Bobby Hackett, Benny Goodman, the Riverboat Five, Artie Shaw, Alvino Rey, Claude Thornhill, Les Brown, Jan Savitt, Harry James, Erroll Garner, Louis Armstrong, Jess Stacy, Tommy Dorsey, Matty Matlock, John Scott Trotter, Glen Gray, Bob Crosby, Andy Russell, Betty Hutton, Billy May, Dave Barbour, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Freddie Black, Gordon Macrae, Jack Teagarden, Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford, Margaret Whiting, Tennessee Ernie Ford, the Andrews Sisters, the Pied Pipers, and Wingy Manone ~ Fatool passed away in 2000January 2, 1910 ~ Jazz trumpeter Henry Goodwin, full name Henry Clay Goodwin, born in Columbia, South Carolina, USA ~ Worked with Claude Hopkins, Cliff Jackson, Elmer Snowden, Lucky Millinder, Willie Bryant, Charlie Johnson, Cab Calloway, Kenny Clarke, Edgar Hayes, Sidney Bechet, Cecil Scott, Art Hodes, Mezz Mezzrow, Bob Wilber, Jimmy Archey, and Earl Hines ~ Goodwin passed away in 1979
January 2, 1905 ~ Composer Michael Tippett, full name Michael Kemp Tippett, born in Eastcote, UK ~ Along with Benjamin Britten ranked as one of the leading British composers of the early 20th century. Known for works such as Child Of Our Time, Fantasia Concertante On A Theme Of Corelli, and A Midsummer Marriage ~ Tippett passed away in 1998
January 2, 1904 ~ Singer James Melton born in Moultrie, Georgia, USA ~ Popular 1920s, 1930s balladeer, traditional pop singer worked with Roxy's Gang, the Revelers, Jane Froman before moving into opera by the late 1930s performing roles with the Cincinatti Zoo Opera Company, the Philadelphia La Scala Opera Company, and the Chicago Civic Opera ~ Melton passed away in 1961
January 2, 1897 ~ Martha Jane Greene, commonly known as actress, singer Jane Green, born in Kentucky, USA ~ Popular 1920s singer known for her association with Florenz Ziegfeld Jr and appearing in several Broadway productions including 1919's Nine O'Clock Review, 1923's Nitties Of 1923 and 1925's Greenwich Follies Revue. Married to songwriter Jimmy Byler from 1918 until Byler's death in 1924 ~ Greene passed away in 1931
January 2, 1892 ~ Opera, symphonic conductor Artur Rodzinski born in Split, Austria ~ Discovered by Leopold Stokowski who invited him to be his assistant with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Would go on to work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Especially acclaimed for conducting Richard Wagner's Tristan Und Isolde with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1958. Exhausted from the performance he checked into the hospital where he would die less than two weeks later ~ Rodzinski passed away in 1958