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 7, 1925 ~ Saxophonist Dave Schildkraut born in New York, New York, USA ~ Active since the 1940s. Recorded one album as a leader, Last Date released posthumously in 2000. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Stan Getz (West Coast Jazz), Tony Aless, Tony Bennett (Cloud 7), Tito Puente, Miles Davis (Walkin'), and Eddie Bert (Like Cool) ~ Schildkraut passed away in 1998January 7, 1925 ~ Jazz drummer Sam Woodyard born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA ~ Sideman. Worked with Paul Gayten, Joe Holiday, Roy Eldridge, Milt Buckner, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Rich, Claude Bolling, Teddy Wilson, Buddy Tate, Slam Stewart, Steve Lacy, Johnny Hodges, Clark Terry, Sonny Rollins, Rosemary Clooney, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Quincy Jones, Cat Anderson, and Larry Darnell ~ Woodyard passed away in 1988
January 7, 1924 ~ Jazz pianist, steelpan player Russell Henderson, full name Russell Audley Ferdinand Henderson, born in Port Of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago ~ Worked with Lord Pretender, the Mighty Growler, Roaring Lion, Beryl McBurnie, Joe Harriott, Shake Keane, Lord Kitchener, and Young Tiger. Best known for founding the Russ Henderson Steel Band, Britain's first steelband combo, in 1952 ~ Henderson passed away in 2015
January 7, 1923 ~ Ennis L Lowery, commonly known as blues singer, guitarist Larry Dale, born in Hungerford, Texas, USA ~ As a solo artist known for songs such as Let The Doorbell Ring, Big Muddy and Drinking Wine (Spo-dee O-dee). Influenced the Rolling Stones' Brian Jones. Worked with Paul Williams, Big Red McHouston, Mickey Baker, Champion Jack Dupree, and Bob Gaddy ~ Dale passed away in 2010January 7, 1922 ~ Pianist, conductor, arranger, composer Eric Jupp, full name Eric Stanley Jupp, born in Brighton, UK ~ Enjoyed popularity in the 1960s and 1970s in his adopted homeland Australia, best known as cmposer for film and TV and as host of the long-running The Magic Of Music TV show aired by ABC. The show would be syndicated in over two dozen countries and spawn a series of pops albums ~ Jupp passed away in 2003
January 7, 1922 ~ Flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal born in Marseille, France ~ Returned the flute as a classical solo instrument. With his flair and presence Rampal paved the way for flutist superstars such as James Galway and Emmanuel Pahud ~ Rampal passed away in 2000
January 7, 1922 ~ Conductor, arranger, director Robert de Cormier born in Farmingdale, New York, USA ~ Worked with Harry Belafonte, Peter Paul & Mary, Milt Okun, Jessye Norman, Kathleen Battle, and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra ~ De Cormier passed away in 2017
January 7, 1916 ~ John Pickens Jenkins, commonly known as blues, electric blues guitarist, singer Bobo Jenkins, born in Forkland, Alabama, USA ~ Best known for Tell Me Where You Stayed Last Night and the politically themed Democrat Blues, expressing his unease about Dwight D Eisenhower winning the 1952 elections and becoming the first Republican in twenty years to win the White House ~ Jenkins passed away in 1984
January 7, 1915 ~ Luciano Pozo Gonzalez, commonly known as jazz percussionist, singer, composer Chano Pozo, born in Havana, Cuba ~ Despite a relatively short career, shot and killed at age 33, regarded as a key figure in the development of Latin jazz. Co-wrote several of Dizzy Gillespie's songs including Manteca and Tin Tin Deo. Has worked with Gillespie, Chris Connor, Illinois Jacquet, Ben Webster, Peggy Lee, Machito, Charlie Parker, Clark Terry, and Chico O'Farrill ~ González passed away in 1948January 7, 1909 ~ Bernice Maude Gant, commonly known as singer, actress Shirley Ross, born in Omaha, Nebraska, USA ~ Appeared in over two dozen feature films. Best known for duetting with Bing Crosby on Blue Hawaii in the Waikiki Wedding, and with Bob Hope on Thanks For The Memory in The Big Broadcast Of 1938 ~ Gant passed away in 1975
January 7, 1908 ~ Henry James Allen Jr, commonly known as trumpeter Red Allen, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Son of bandleader Henry Allen. Active since the mid 1920s. Has worked with Sidney Desvigne, the Excelsior Brass Band, Sam Morgan, John Casimir, King Oliver, Fate Marable, Fats Pichon, Luis Russell, Don Redman, Fletcher Henderson, the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, Coleman Hawkins, Benny Goodman, Kid Ory, and the Kentucky Jazz Band ~ Allen passed away in 1967January 7, 1903 ~ Tango pianist, orchestra leader, composer Carlos di Sarli born in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ First gained attention serving under the direction of bandleader Anselmo Aleta, Would go on to work with Juan Pedro Castillo, Alejandro Scarpino, José Pécora, Osvaldo Fresedo, Santiago Devin, Ernesto Fama, Ignacio Murillo, and others. As a composer best known for Viejo Milonguero and Meditacion ~ Di Sarli passed away in 1960
January 7, 1898 ~ Jazz, vocal jazz singer Al Bowlly, full name Albert Allick Bowlly, born in Lourenco Marques, Mozambique ~ Popular in 1930s England. Best known for songs such as Goodnight Sweetheart, Close Your Eyes, The Very Thought Of You, Guilty, Love Is The Sweetest Thing and Black Eyes ~ Bowlly passed away in 1941