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 21, 1948 ~ Blues singer Zora Young born in West Point, Mississippi, USA ~ Rooted in gospel music. Has collaborated with the likes of Willie Dixon, Sunnyland Slim, Mississippi Heat, Paul DeLay, and Maurice John Vaughn. Toured Europe in the early 1980s with Bonnie Lee and Big Time Sarah, billed as Blues With The Girls. As a solo artist best known for her Travelin' Light album released in 1991January 21, 1946 ~ Singer, songwriter Eric Kaz born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ As a performer worked with American Flyer, the Blues Magoos, Fuller & Kaz, and with the Woodstock Mountain Revue. Most successful as a pop, R&B, country songwriter. Wrote or co-wrote songs for artists such as George Strait, Michael Bolton (That's What Love Is All About), Linda Ronstadt (Love Has No Pride), Bonnie Raitt, Randy Meisner, Kim Carnes (Still Hold On), Tanya Tucker, Suzy Bogguss, Kiki Dee, Kenny Rogers, Alison Krauss, Clay Walker (Hypnotize The Moon), Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Don Johnson (Heartbeat)
January 21, 1945 ~ Guitarist Chris Britton born in Watford, UK ~ Founding and longtime member, lead guitarist of the Troggs remaining with the band through 1972. Rejoined in 1979. Present on the band's best known hits including Wild Thing, With A Girl Like You, I Can't Control Myself and Any Way That You Want Me, all of which reached the UK top 10January 21, 1945 ~ Keyboardist, producer Kristian Schultze born in Frankfurt, Germany ~ Son of composer Norbert Schultze and singer Iwa Wanja. Best known for forming the new-age band Cusco with Michael Holm, recording over 20 albums. Previously, Schultze was a member of Passport alongside Klaus Doldinger, appearing on the albums Looking Thru, Cross Collateral, Infinity Machine, and Iguacu ~ Schultze passed away in 2011
January 21, 1943 ~ Texas blues, jazz guitarist, singer, songwriter Bnois King born in Delhi, Louisiana, USA ~ Self-taught guitarist since picking up an unused guitar from his grandmother's closet at age eight. Worked with James Moody while still in high school. Played in local jazz bands in the late 1970s including with Big Joe Williams. Longtime associate of Smokin' Joe Kubek since the late 1980s up to Kubek's death in 2015January 21, 1943 ~ Jazz double bassist Steve Gilmore born in Trenton, New Jersey, USA ~ Played with Ira Sullivan, the Baker's Dozen Big Band, Flip Phillips, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Mose Allison, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Phil Woods, Richie Cole, the National Jazz Ensemble, John Coates Jr, Meredith D'Ambrosio, Dave Frishberg, Hal Galper, Tom Harrell, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Dave Liebman, Carol Sloane, Susannah McCorkle, Bill Charlap, and Jim Hall
January 21, 1943 ~ Jazz saxophonist, composer Steve Potts born in Columbus, Ohio, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Closely associated with Steve Lacy. Has worked with Eric Dolphy, Roy Ayers, Joe Henderson, Reggie Workman, Chico Hamilton, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin, Slide Hampton, Mal Waldron, Ben Webster, Hal Cornbread Singer, Christian Escoudé, Boulou Ferré, Oliver Johnson, and Richard Davis
January 21, 1942 ~ Charles Hatcher, commonly known as R&B singer Edwin Starr, born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Active since the mid 1960s, scoring hits with Agent Double-O-Soul, I'll Love You Forever, 25 Miles and his best known, the 1970 Vietnam-war protest song War reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Would continue to record to moderate success throughout the funk and disco era, enjoying popularity in the UK throughout the end of the 1970s, notable singles being Eye To Eye Contact and HAPPY Radio ~ Hatcher passed away in 2003
January 21, 1942 ~ Morris Mac Davis, singer, guitarist, songwriter, commonly known as Mac Davis, born in Lubbock, Texas, USA ~ As a songwriter best known for a number of songs most notably recorded by Elvis Presley, including In The Ghetto, Don't Cry Daddy, and Memories and A Little Less Conversation, the last two co-written with Billy Strange. Other artists who recorded his songs include Bobby Goldsboro (Watching Scotty Grow), Vikki Carr, Nancy Sinatra (God Knows I Love You), OC Smith, Jerry Wallace (The Closest I Ever Came), Kenny Rogers, BJ Thomas (I Believe In Music), the Tams, Roy Drusky (Play Me A Little Traveling Music), and Helen Reddy. As a recording artist Davis himself would regularly reach the charts, mostly in the 1970s, with songs such Stop And Smell The Roses, One Hell Of A Woman, Rock 'n Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life), Burnin' Thing, It's Hard To Be Humble and perhaps his best known Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me ~ Davis passed away in 2020
January 21, 1941 ~ Opera singer, conductor Plácido Domingo, full name José Placido Domingo Embil, born in Madrid, Spain ~ Recorded over a 100 complete operas, performing and recording with the most prestigious opera houses. The most acclaimed Otello of his generation. Member of the Three Tenors with José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti, one of the most popular crossover classical groups, especially during the 1990s, recording opera, show tunes, Neapolitan songs and pop hits. Also ventured into Latin and pop music as a solo artist, starting with 1981's Perhaps Love, a duet with country and folk singer John Denver which sold four million copies
January 21, 1941 ~ Singer, guitarist Richie Havens, full name Richard Pierce Havens, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Havens enjoyed a solid, devoted cult following. Best known for his performance at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in 1969, a major turning point in his career. To mainstream audiences, he is known for his 1971 rendition of Here Comes The Sun, a Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit ~ Havens passed away in 2013January 21, 1936 ~ Fird Eaglin J, commonly known as guitarist, singer Snooks Eaglin, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Worked with the Flamingoes, which also included Allen Toussaint. Has also worked with James Sugarboy Crawford, James Booker, Smokey Johnson, Ellis Marsalis, Professor Longhair, the Wild Magnolias, Henry Butler, Earl King, and Tommy Ridgley ~ Eaglin passed away in 2009
January 21, 1934 ~ Pop, jazz singer Eva Olmerová born in Prague, Czechoslovakia ~ Widely regarded as one of the premier Czech singers, despite her career hindered by the authorities. Critically compared to Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and Janis Joplin. Known for her associations with the Semafor Theatre, Karel Mares, and Emil Viklický ~ Olmerová passed away in 1993
January 21, 1933 ~ Jazz singers Billy Hughes and Lee Wiley record You're An Old Smoothie ~ Billy Hughes and Lee Wiley, backed by Victor Young & his Serenaders, record You're An Old Smoothie. Written by Nacio Herb Brown, BG DeSylva, Richard Whiting. Originally performed by Ethel Merman & Jack Haley, later also recorded by Paul Whiteman, Diahann Carroll, and Ella Fitzgerald
January 21, 1927 ~ Tabla, sitar player Harihar Rao born in Mangalore, India ~ Close friend and protegé of Ravi Shankar. Fused Indian and Western music. Best known for leading the Hindustani Jazz Sextet, which also included trumpeter Don Ellis. Also noted for the 1966 album Raga Rock, recorded under the moniker the Folkswingers featuring Harihar Rao, containing instrumental renditions of popular rock songs of the day including Norwegian Wood, Eight Miles High and Paint It Black, originally recorded by respectively the Beatles, the Byrds and the Rolling Stones ~ Rao passed away in 2013January 21, 1926 ~ Composer Franco Evangelisti born in Rome, Italy ~ Abandoned his engineering studies to pursue a career in music. Revered for his work in electronic music. Co-founding member of the Gruppo Di Improvvisazione Di Nuova Consonanza, which also included Francisco Pennisi and Aldo Clementi ~ Evangelisti passed away in 1980
January 21, 1923 ~ Maria Dolores Flores Ruiz, commonly known as copla, flamenco, pasodoble singer, actress Lola Flores, born in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain ~ Married to flameco guitarist El Pescaílla. The couple's children Lolita Flores, Rosario Flores and Antonio Flores have all achieved fame as singers. Over two dozen albums to her name as a singer, including a number with her husband. Appeared in some three dozen films as an actress ~ Flores passed away in 1995January 21, 1918 ~ Cellist, conductor Antonio Janigro born in Milan, Italy ~ Member of Macek Sulek Janigro Trio. Started his conducting career by the late 1940s. Has worked with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Radio Zagreb Orchestra, and I Solisti Di Zagreb ~ Janigro passed away in 1989
January 21, 1918 ~ Enrique Diaz, commonly known as tango double bassist Kicho Diaz, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Worked with Jose Pascual, Anselmo Aieta, Anibal Troilo, Orlando Goni, Roberto Gianitellu, Juan Miguel Toto Rodriguez, Francisco Florentino, Astor Piazzolla, Horacio Salgán, Ubaldo de Lio, Enrique Mario Francini, Pedro Laurenz, Mariano Mores, and Sexteto Mayor ~ Díaz passed away in 1992
January 21, 1916 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer James W Alexander, full name James Woodie Alexander II, born in Hamilton, Mississippi, USA ~ Key figure in development of gospel and soul. Member of the Pilgrim Travelers. A&R executive who signed and guided the Soul Stirrers, furthering Sam Cooke's career. Has also recorded and produced artists such as Johnnie Taylor, Billy Preston, the Valentinos, Bobby Blue Bland, Little Junior Parker, Bobby Womack, Solomon Burke, and Little Richard ~ Alexander passed away in 1996
January 21, 1906 ~ Swing double bassist Hank Wayland, full name Hank Frederic Gregson Wayland, born in Fall River, Massachusetts, USA ~ Fixture of the 1930s New York swing scene, playing in ensembles led by Benny Goodman, Red Norvo, Artie Shaw, Bunny Berigan, and Larry Clinton. After relocating to California by the mid 1940s, Wayland became a session musician for the likes of Eddie Miller and Wingy Manone active through the 1950s ~ Wayland passed away in 1983
January 21, 1902 ~ Singer, actor, orchestra leader Smith Ballew born in Palestine, Texas, USA ~ One of the most recognizable voices on hundreds of dance bands and jazz records starting in the late 1920. Became one of the earliest singing cowboys though a series of musical Westerns for Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox, continuing in supporting roles until the 1950s ~ Ballew passed away in 1984
January 21, 1895 ~ Mary Pollock, commonly known as pianist, organist, songwriter Muriel Pollock, born in Kingsbridge, New York, USA ~ Married to pianist, singer, songwriter Will Donaldson from 1933 until his death in 1954. Pollock composed and performed for Broadway shows, radio programs and children's plays. Well known credits include 1920s stage productions such as Ups-A-Daisy in which she duetted on piano with Constance Mering, Pleasure Bound, and Shoot The Works. As a recording artist mostly active from the late 1920s through the mid-1930 ~ Pollock passed away in 1971