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 3, 1937 ~ TV, producer, songwriter Glen A Larson born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ Best known as a TV producer responsible for hit shows such as Battlestar Galactica, Magnum PI and Knight Rider. As a musician known as an original member of folk revival, satire group the Four Preps, scoring hits with 26 Miles (Santa Catalina) and Big Man in the late 1950s, both co-written by Larson ~ Larson passed away in 2014
January 3, 1936 ~ Jazz pianist Joe Haider born in Darmstadt, Germany ~ Worked with Benny Bailey, Dusko Gojkovic, Nathan Davis, Booker Ervin, Klaus Doldinger, Hans Koller, Leo Wright, Attila Zoller, George Mraz, Peter Trunk, Philly Joe Jones, Joe Nay, Kurt Bong, Klaus Weiss, Pierre Favre, Heinz Bigler, Isla Eckinger, Peter Giger, Slide Hampton, Woody Shaw, Andy Scherrer, Roman Schwaller, Sandy Patton, and Don Menza
January 3, 1928 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Al Belletto born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Able to transition from traditional jazz to swing to bop. As a leader best known for The Al Belletto Sextette released in 1955. Belletto's ensemble would be absorbed into Woody Herman's in the late 1950s. Belletto has also worked with Sharkey Bonano, Louis Prima, Wingy Manone, and the Dukes Of Dixieland ~ Belletto passed away in 2014January 3, 1928 ~ Singer Ruth Etting records Back In Your Own Backyard ~ Written by Billy Rose and Dave Dreyer. Paired with When You're With Somebody Else on the flip side, Ruth Etting's rendition would become one of the more popular versions of this song. Around the same time also recorded by Eva Taylor, and by Al Jolson (who got co-writing credit but reportedly wrote little of it). Later also by Patti Page, Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, Margaret Whiting, the Andrews Sisters, Peggy Lee, Brenda Lee, and Vera Lynn
January 3, 1926 ~ R&B singer, guitarist, songwriter Danny Overbea born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for his 1950s recordings Train Train Train and Forty Cups Of Coffee. Popular club performer, noted for his guitar skills, playing behind his back, and with his teeth, many such moves emulating T-Bone Walker ~ Overbea passed away in 1994
January 3, 1922 ~ Sambista, singer, songwriter Guilherme de Brito, full name Guilherme de Brito Bollhorst, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ About half a dozen albums to his name as a recording artist. Best known as a songwriter, having written some 150 songs, most of them samba, frequently in partnership with Nelson Cavanquinho. Well known songs co-written by De Brito include Raul Moreno's A Flor E O Espinho, Beth Carvalho's Folhas Secas, and Quando Eu Me Chamar Saudade first recorded by Cavaquinho ~ De Brito passed away in 2006January 3, 1922 ~ Classical pianist, composer Ronald Smith, full name Ronald Bertram Smith, born in London, UK ~ Inluenced by Edwin Fischer. Best known for his recordings of Charles-Valentin Alkan's pieces, rekindling a public interest for Alkan's work. Smith wrote a biography of Alkan and served as President of the Alkan Society from its inception in 1977 until his death ~ Smith passed away in 2004
January 3, 1920 ~ Jazz, swing, blues, folk singer, pianist, songwriter Renato Carosone born in Naples, Italy ~ Revered as a canzone napoletana performer. One of only two artists, the other being Domenico Modugno, to enjoy considerable succes in America without translating his songs to English. Known for songs such as O Sarracino, Caravan Petrol, Tu Vuo Fa L'Americano, Maruzella and Pigliate Na Pastiglia ~ Carosone passed away in 2001
January 3, 1919 ~ Herbert Horatio Nichols, commonly known as jazz pianist, composer Herbie Nichols born in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Wrote the classic Lady Sings The Blues, made famous by Billie Holiday. Obscure during his lifetime, now highly regarded by many ~ Nichols passed away in 1963
January 3, 1916 ~ Cellist Bernard Greenhouse born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Co-founded the Beaux Arts Trio with violinist Daniel Guilet and pianist Menahem Pressler in the mid 1950s. Acknowledged for its precise playing, the trio's repertoire includes the standard piano works ranging from Maurice Ravel and Gabriel Fauré to Ludwig van Beethoven. Greenhouse remained with the trio through 1987 to be succeeded by Peter Wiley ~ Greenhouse passed away in 2011
January 3, 1916 ~ Singer Maxene Andrews, full name Maxene Anglyn Andrews, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Member of sibling outfit the Andrews Sisters, known for songs such as Beer Barrel Polka, Beat Me Daddy Eight To The Bar, Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree, Rum And Coca-Cola, and perhaps their best known Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy ~ Andrews passed away in 1995
January 3, 1902 ~ James Preston McDonald, commonly known as jazz trombonist Preston Jackson, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Mentored by Roy Palmer and Honore Dutrey. Fixture on the 1920s Chicago jazz scene, backing artists such as Tig Chambers, Al Simone, Eli Rice, Art Simms, Bernie Young, and Richard M Jones. Would go on to play with Erskine Tate, Louis Armstrong, Frankie Jaxon, Jimmie Noone, Roy Eldridge, and Johnny Dodds ~ McDonald passed away in 1983January 3, 1893 ~ Jazz saxophonist Rudy Wiedoeft, full name Rudolph Cornelius Wiedoeft, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Popularized the saxophone as a viable instrument. As a composer known for songs such as Valse Erica, Valse Llewellyn, Saxema, Saxophobia and Sax-o-phun ~ Wiedoeft passed away in 1940
January 3, 1878 ~ Ragtime, jazz bandleader, composer Julius Lenzberg born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity during the 1910s and 1920s. Best known for his 1913 composition Hungarian Rag, a ragtime adaptation of Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies. His succes inspired others to “rag” popular classical melodies though none were as successful as Lenzberg ~ Lenzberg passed away in 1956