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 26, 1934 ~ Huey Pierce Smith, commonly known as R&B pianist Huey Piano Smith, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Helped develop a distinctive New Orleans piano sound. Influentual on artists such as Dr John and the Meters. Known for songs such as Little Liza Jane, Everybody's Whalin', The Rocking Pneumonia & The Boogie-Woogie Flu, Genevieve, Don't You Just Know It and Pop-eye. Backed Little Richard on his early Specialty Records recordings. Also worked with Guitar Slim, Lloyd Price, Earl King, Smiley Lewis, Bobby Marchan, and Dave Bartholomew ~ Smith passed away in 2023
January 26, 1932 ~ Country singer, guitarist, songwriter Claude Gray born in Henderson, Texas, USA ~ Paved the way for pop-oriented country artists. Dubbed “the Tall Texan”, Gray would become best known for his 1960 hit Family Bible, penned by Willie Nelson. Other well known songs include I'll Have Another Cup Of Coffee (Then I'll Go), My Ears Should Burn (When Fools Are Talked About), Knock Again True Love, I Never Had The One I Wanted and How Fast Them Trucks Can Go ~ Gray passed away in 2023January 26, 1928 ~ Swing, big band trombonist Dick Nash, full name Richard Taylor Nash, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Brother of saxophonist Ted Nash. Father of saxophonist Ted Nash. First call Hollywood session musician, especially associated with Henry Mancini. Also worked with Pete Rugolo, Lalo Schifrin, Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson, Louie Bellson, Tex Beneke, Esquivel, Anita O'Day, Harry James, Nat King Cole, Mel Tormé, Art Pepper, Ray Anthony, Don Ellis, Pete Fountain, Jimmy Witherspoon, Teresa Brewer, Randy Crawford, Julio Iglesias, Sue Raney, Barry Manilow, Kenny Rogers, Paul Chihara, Julia Migenes, and Sonny Criss
January 26, 1924 ~ Hildur Alice Hilson, commonly known as singer, actress Alice Babs, born in Vastervik, Sweden ~ Internationally best known as a jazz singer and for representing Sweden at the first Eurovision Songfestival held in 1958, finishing in 4th place with Lilla Stjärna. Has also sung Swedish folklore, Elizabethan repertoire and opera ~ Nilsen passed away in 2014
January 26, 1913 ~ Edward Chester Babcock, commonly known as film, TV, theater composer Jimmy van Heusen, born in Syracuse, New York, USA ~ Quintessential composer. Won four Oscars for Best Original Song and close to a dozen nominations. Collaborated with lyricists such as Sammy Cahn, Johnny Burke, Eddie DeLange, David Kapp, Carl Sigman, Johnny Mercer, Phil Silvers, and Buddy Kaye ~ Babcock passed away in 1990
January 26, 1908 ~ Violinist Stéphane Grappelli born in Paris, France ~ Dubbed “the Grandfather of jazz violinists” and co-founder of the Quintette du Hot Club with Django Reinhardt. Acclaimed for albums such as Violins No End, Venupelli Blues, and Live In London. Grappelli had his compositions recorded by Charlie Byrd, Chet Atkins, Baden Powell, Jethro Burns, and Biréli Lagrène, and guested on albums by Duke Ellington, Svend Asmussen, Barney Kessel, Michel Legrand, Gary Burton, Paul Simon (Paul Simon), Gary Burton, the Rowans, David Grisman (Hot Dawg), and Mark O'Connor ~ Grappelli passed away in 1997
January 26, 1905 ~ Vaudeville pianist, songwriter Al Goodhart born in New York, New York, USA ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing I Apologize, a hit for Bing Crosby in 1931 and covered by numerous artists including Billy Eckstine, Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin, and Bobby Vinton. Other songs co-penned by Goodhart include Auf Wiedersehen My Dear (Jack Denny, Bert Ambrose, Russ Columbo), I Saw Stars (Freddy Martin, Joe Haymes, Etta Jones), and Serenade Of The Bells (Sammy Kaye, Jo Stafford, Gene Autry) ~ Goodhart passed away in 1955January 26, 1905 ~ Maria Augusta Kutschera, commonly known as singer Maria von Trapp, born in Vienna, Austria ~ Stepmother and matriarch of the Trapp Family Singers. Wrote The Story Of The Trapp Family, published in 1949. The book would inspire the 1956 German film The Trapp Family which in turn inspired the 1959 Broadway musical The Sound Of Music by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and its 1965 film version starring Julie Andrews ~ Kutschera passed away in 1987
January 26, 1900 ~ Country fiddler Clayton McMichen born in Allatoona, Georgia, USA ~ Founded the Home Town Boys. Worked with the Skillet Lickers, which also included Gid Tanner, one of the nation's most successful country acts of the 1920. As a solo artist known for recordings such as Sweet Bunch Of Roses and My Carolina Home. Wrote Peach Pickin' Time, a hit for Jimmie Rodgers ~ McMichen passed away in 1970