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 8, 1920 ~ Concert pianist Abbey Simon, full name Abbey Henry Simon, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Protégé of Josef Hofmann. Worked with the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, and the Trenton Symphony Orchestra ~ Simon passed away in 2019
January 8, 1914 ~ Jazz, big band singer Ruby Wright born in Anderson, Indiana, USA ~ Not to ber confused with her namesake country singer Ruby Wright. Mostly unknown in her native America, Wright was best known for a number of UK hits during the 1950s including Bimbo, Three Stars, and Let's Light The Christmas Tree. Wright was married to bandleader Barney Rapp, in whose orchestra she also sang ~ Wright passed away in 2004
January 8, 1904 ~ Hudson Woodbridge, commonly known as Chicago blues guitarist, pianist, singer, songwriter Tampa Red, born in Smithville, Georgia, USA ~ Known for his single-string slide style. Influenced Big Bill Broonzy, Robert Nighthawk, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Mose Allison. Best known for recordings such as Anna Lou Blues, Black Angel Blues, Crying Won't Help You, It Hurts Me Too and Love Her With A Feeling ~ Woodbridge passed away in 1981January 8, 1900 ~ Blues mandolinist Fiddlin' Joe Martin born in Edwards, Mississippi, USA ~ Played the Delta joints for over five decades starting in his mid-teens. Proficient on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, washboard, and drums. Present on Son House's highly sought after 1941 recordings, which included Levee Camp Blues, Government Fleet Blues, and Walking Blues. Has backed artists such as Willie Brown, Charley Patton, Howlin' Wolf, and perhaps most notably Woodrow Adams, reportedly appearing on all of the latter's recordings ~ Martin passed away in 1975
January 8, 1713 ~ Baroque violinist, composer Arcangelo Corelli passed away in Rome, Italy ~ Influential on Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. Marked an epoch in chamber music. Pivotal to the development of moderne genres such as sonata and concerto. ~ Corelli was born in 1653