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.
July 1, 1912 ~ Torch singer Roberta Sherwood born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Daughter of Robert Sherwood, a manager of a traveling minstrel show. After the death of her mother, she and her sister Anne Sherwood would be raised on the road, and become a sibling act while in their early teens, performing in vaudeville shows and nightclubs. Sherwood married Broadway actor Don Lanning, with whom she operated a nightclub in Miami through the early 1950s. After the club lost its concession, Sherwood began to seriously focus on her career, leading to her Introducing Roberta Sherwood debut album released in 1956. The album would spawn the modest hit Lazy River, which would be her sole charting hit, peaking in the 50s on the pop charts. Sherwood continued into the 1970s, recording about a dozen albums, but despite being a popular live performer she failed to reach the charts ~ Sherwood passed away in 1999
July 1, 1908 ~ Guitarist, bandleader Alvino Rey born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Married the King Sisters singer Luise King. Worked with Horace Heidt, Al Cohn, Ray Conniff, Neal Hefti, Zoot Sims, Billy May, Herbie Stewart, Dave Tough, Nelson Riddle, Johnny Mandel, George Handy, Jack Costanzo, George Cates, and Esquivel. Rey is also the grandfather of Arcade Fire members Win Butler and William Butler ~ Rey passed away in 2004
July 1, 1899 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter Reverend Thomas A Dorsey born in Villa Rica, Georgia, USA ~ Dubbed “the Father of Gospel” for his influence on the genre and for penning numerous classics including Take My Hand Precious Lord and Peace In The Valley. Dorsey's songs have been recorded by Mahalia Jackson, Albertina Walker, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, BB King, Clara Ward, Dorothy Norwood, Jim Reeves, and Tennessee Ernie Ford ~ Dorsey passed away in 1993