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 10, 1940 ~ Jazz writer, pianist, arranger Brian Priestley born in Manchester, UK ~ Worked with Tony Faulkner, Alan Cohen, Dave Gelly. Arranged for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. Led the Special Septet. Regular broadcaster on BBC Radio London. Authored biographies of Charles Mingus, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and frequently contributed articles to several music magazines. Taught jazz piano at the Goldsmiths College, London from 1977 through 1993July 10, 1939 ~ John B Richmond, commonly known as jug player Fritz Richmond, born in Newton, Massachusetts, USA ~ Member of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band. Has guested on records by Jackson Browne, Loudon Wainwright III, Maria Muldaur, Geoff Muldaur, Tom Rush, Ry Cooder, Norman Greenbaum, and the Grateful Dead ~ Richmond passed away in 2005
July 10, 1939 ~ Gospel, R&B singer, actress, civil rights activist, songwriter Mavis Staples born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best-known member of family outfit the Staple Singers led by patriarch Roebuck Staples, known for songs such as I'll Take You There and Come Go With Me. Has enjoyed a parallel solo career, recording well over a dozen albums starting with the eponymous Mavis Staples album released in 1969. In-demand collaborator, has worked with Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Prince, Nona Hendryx, George Jones, Natalie Merchant, Ann Peebles, Delbert McClinton, Los Lobos, and Dr John
July 10, 1938 ~ Arnold Lawrence Finkelstein, commonly known as jazz saxophonist Arnie Lawrence, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Actively performing since his teens, including at the famed the Birdland Jazz Club jazz club from age 17 onwards, yet did not record until 1966 appearing on Chico Hamilton's The Dealer. Has worked with Willie Bobo. Toured with Liza Minnelli, toured with Louie Bellson. Founded the New School For Jazz And Contemporary Music in New York in 1986. Relocated to Israel by the late 1990s, where he founded the International Center for Creative Music ~ Lawrence passed away in 2005
July 10, 1938 ~ Jazz, hard bop trumpeter Lee Morgan, full name Edward Lee Morgan, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ One of hard bop's most revered musicians. Perhaps best known for his 1963 crossover hit The Sidewinder. As a leader acclaimed for a string of mid 1950s to mid 1960s albums including Peckin' Time, Lee-Way and Tom Cat. As a sideman, Morgan appeared on albums by Hank Mobley, Dizzy Gillespie (At Newport), Benny Golson, Tina Brooks (Minor Move), Art Blakey, Curtis Fuller, Wayne Shorter (Blues A La Carte), Art Farmer, Wynton Kelly, Quincy Jones (The Birth Of A Band), John Coltrane, Grachan Moncur III, Jackie McLean, Freddie Hubbard, Bud Shank, McCoy Tyner (Tender Moments), and Dr Lonnie Smith. Morgan was shot and killed at age 33 by his wife, who would briefly serve time in prison ~ Morgan passed away in 1972July 10, 1937 ~ Tenor saxophonist George Young born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Perhaps best known for his association with Fuse One, the Manhattan Jazz Quintet, and White Elephant. Has also wrorked with Maynard Ferguson, Walter Bishop Jr, Quincy Jones, Dr John (City Lights), and Christy Baron
July 10, 1936 ~ R&B keyboardist Johnny Griffith, full name John Ellis Griffith Jr, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Influenced by Bud Powell, Glenn Gould, and Oscar Peterson. Member of Motown in-house band the Funk Brothers, with whom he worked on numerous recordings, perhaps most notably playing the electric piano on Marvin Gaye's I Heard It Through The Grapevine and the Temptations' Ain't Too Proud To Beg, and the organ on the Supremes Stop In The Name Of Love and Junior Walker & the All-Stars' Shotgun. Griffith has also appeared on tracks by other Motown artists including Mary Wells, the Miracles, the Marvelettes, and Martha & the Vandellas, and non- Motown acts including the Capitols, Edwin Starr (Agent Double-O-Soul), Jackie Wilson ((Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher), the Chi-lites, and Young-Holt Unlimited ~ Griffith passed away in 2002July 10, 1933 ~ Morris Eugene Simmons, commonly known as rock & roll, rockabilly, country singer, songwriter Jumpin' Gene Simmons, born in Itawamba County, Mississippi, USA ~ Earned his nickname “Jumpin' Gene” for his energetic stage act. Best remembered for Haunted House, his sole hit peaking at No.11 Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. The song would later be covered by a wide array of artists including the Compton Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ace Cannon, Hasil Adkins, Sam the Sham, John Fogerty, and John Anderson. Other songs written or co-written and first recorded by Simmons include Drinkin' Wine, Indian Outlaw, which became a breakout hit for Tim McGraw in 1994, and Peroxide Blonde In A Hopped Up Model Ford, notably covered by Brian Setzer in 2005. Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, whose real name is Chaim Witz, chose his stage name in honor of the rockabilly singer ~ Simmons passed away in 2006
July 10, 1931 ~ Gerald Sheldon Herman, commonly known as composer, lyricist Jerry Herman, born in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the most successful Broadway composers of his day perhaps best known for Hello Dolly, which produced the hit title song for Louis Armstrong, and La Cage Aux Follies, the first hit musical about a gay couple ~ Herman passed away in 2019
July 10, 1926 ~ Joe Bennie Pugh, commonly known as blues harpist, singer Forest City Joe or Forrest City Joe, born in Hughes, Arkansas, USA ~ Influenced by Sonny Boy Williamson I, Pugh initially emulated Williamson's style, yet over time he developed his own unique sound. Though he is largely forgotten today and his recording career was brief due to his untimely death at age 33 in a car accident, Pugh was considered one of the prime blues harpists of his day, and has played with Big Joe Williams, Otis Spann, and Muddy Waters. Pugh is known by blues aficionados for his sole single Memory Of Sonny Boy b/w A Woman On Every Street, released to little success in 1949. Had Waters sessioned on Pugh's sole Chess Records record, as was intended, chances are more of his recordings would have seen the light of day, yet the sole single remains the only recording released during Pugh's lifetime ~ Pugh passed away in 1960
July 10, 1924 ~ Jazz bassist, upright bassist Major Holley, full name Major Holley Jr, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Played violin and tuba in his youth, before taking up the bass while in a Navy band. Following his stint in the military, Holley worked with Dexter Gordon, Charlie Parker, and Ella Fitzgerald. In the 1950s, Holley was most closely associated with Oscar Peterson, prior to relocating to the UK for a number of years, where he worked at the BBC. After his return to America, Holley toured with Woody Herman, and subsequently Al Cohn and Zoot Sims, before focusing on session work. Holley has recorded about half a dozen albums with Coleman Hawkins, including the acclaimed Desafinado released in 1963, and has appeared on albums by Kenny Burrell, Clark Terry (Tread Ye Lightly), Shirley Scott (Soul Shoutin'), Milt Jackson, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Phil Woods (Directly From The Half Note), Johnny Lytle, Quincy Jones (Gula Matari), Gerald Wiggins, Milt Buckner, Buddy Tate (The Texas Twister), Ray Bryant, Lee Konitz, Joe Venuti (Sliding By), Roland Hanna, Hilton Ruiz (Cross Currents), Totti Bergh, and Peter Appleyard (Barbados Heat). Holley has also recorded about half a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, perhaps most notably Two Big Mice with Slam Stewart ~ Holley passed away in 1990
July 10, 1919 ~ Bass-baritone opera, concert singer Ian Wallace, full name Ian Bryce Wallace, born in London, UK ~ Active in opera since the mid 1940s, starting with the Sadler's Wells Opera and subsequently the New London Opera House under the direction of Alberto Erede, remaining active on the opera stage through the 1980s. Maintained a parallel career in revue, non-musical theatre, and broadcasting. Has performed as a one-man show for many years, the Flanders & Swann novelty song The Hippopotamus becoming most closely associated with Wallace ~ Wallace passed away in 2009July 10, 1916 ~ Jazz, swing, dixieland trumpeter Dick Cary, full name Richard Durant Cary, born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA ~ Perhaps best known for his late 1940's stint with Louis Armstrong. First gained attention at the beginning of the decade, working with Joe Marsala, to go on work with Joe Marsala, the Casa Loma Orchestra, Brad Gowans, and Billy Butterfield, prior to his tenure with Armstrong. Cary was also closely associated with Jimmy Dorsey, and notably with Eddie Condon during the 1950s. An in-demand arranger and freelancer, Cary has also appeared on recordings by Hot Lips Page, Jack Teagarden (Jazz Great), Pee Wee Russell, Barbara Lea (Lea In Love), Lee Castle, Jimmy McPartland, and Barney Bigard. Cary has recorded over half a dozen albums as a leader, noted specifically for Hot And Cool released in 1958 ~ Cary passed away in 1994
July 10, 1915 ~ Swing, jazz, fusion pianist, organist Milt Buckner, full name Milton Brent Buckner, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Known for his lively, animated stage presence, credited with pioneering the parallel-chords style which would prove influential on the likes of Red Garland, George Shearing, and Oscar Peterson, and with popularizing the Hammond organ in the 1950s. Brother of saxophonist Ted Buckner. Early on in his career, Buckner worked with Don Cox, McKinney's Cotton Pickers, and Cab Calloway. Rose to fame in the 1930s, serving as staff arranger for Lionel Hampton, his feel for rocking rhythms and boogie-woogie fit complementing Hampton's style. Buckner would go on to back Herbie Fields, Wynonie Harris, including on the hit Hey-Ba-Ba-Re-Bop, Rufus Thomas, and Mabel Scott. Buckner has recorded prolifically as a leader since the early 1950s, and is especially acclaimed for the albums Rockin' With Milt and Rockin' Hammond. Buckner would remain in demand, and enjoyed unprecedented success during the final decade of his career from the mid 1960s on, frequently collaborating with Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Buck Clayton, Joe Newman, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Illinois Jacquet, and Big Joe Turner, dying unexpectedly at age 62 of a heart attack three weeks after his last concert ~ Buckner passed away in 1977
July 10, 1911 ~ Charles Melvin Williams, commonly known as jazz, jump blues, R&B trumpeter, bandleader Cootie Williams, born in Mobile, Alabama, USA ~ Considered one of the leading trumpeters of the 1930s, known specifically for his use of the plunger mute. Backed the likes of James P Johnson, Chick Webb, and Fletcher Henderson, before rising to fame as a member of Duke Ellington's orchestra, notably present as a soloist on songs such Echoes Of Harlem, Air Shaft, and The Shepherd Who Watches Over The Night. Ellington also wrote the instrumental Concerto For Cootie specifically tailored to showcase Williams, a song later reworked to Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me with lyrics added. At the turn of the 1940s, Williams joined Benny Goodman's orchestra, a move that caused a stir at the time, and which was commemorated by Raymond Scott in the song When Cootie Left The Duke. Williams has also led his own bands, at times employing sidemen such as Charlie Parker, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Bud Powell, and Eddie Cleanhead Vinson. Williams recorded about half a dozen albums as a leader, and is noted specifically for the 1950s albums The Big Challenge and its follow-up Cootie Williams In Hi-Fi. Williams returned to play with Ellington in the early 1960s, remaining with the orchestra until Duke's death in 1974 ~ Williams passed away in 1985
July 10, 1907 ~ Fulton Allen, commonly known as singer, guitarist Blind Boy Fuller, born in Wadesboro, North Carolina, USA ~ One of the most popular Piedmont blues artists. Known for a number of 1930s recordings, perhaps most notaby his rendition of Rag Mama Rag. Other well known songs include I Want Some Of Your Pie, Truckin' My Blues Away and Get Yer Yas Yas Out. The latter's title would be adapted by the Rolling Stones for their 1970 Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out live album ~ Fuller passed away in 1941
July 10, 1904 ~ Jazz singer Ivie Anderson born in Gilroy, California, USA ~ Best known for her association with Duke Ellington, remaining with the orchestra for over a decade starting in 1931. Present on recordings such as It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing, I've Got The World On A String, When My Sugar Walks Down The Street, Solitude, Stormy Weather, and Mood Indigo ~ Anderson passed away in 1949
July 10, 1900 ~ Songwriter, lyricist Mitchell Parish born in Lithuania, Russian Empire ~ Well-regarded Tin Pan Alley lyricist who collaborated with composers such as Hoagy Carmichael, Al Goodman, and Loften Mitchell. Among his best known songs are Stardust (Art Tatum, Louis Prima, Louis Armstrong, Willie Nelson), Sweet Lorraine (Teddy Wilson, Nat King Cole), Deep Purple (where Deep Purple got their band name from, the song being a favorite of Ritchie Blackmore's grandmother), Stars Fell On Alabama (Al Bowlly, Louis Armstrong, Jack Teagarden, Jimmy Buffett, Billie Holiday, Doris Day, Mel Tormé, Renee Olstead, Vera Lynn, Harry Connick Jr), and the Holiday classic Sleigh Ride (the Andrews Sisters, the Ronettes, Ella Fitzgerald, the Carpenters, Air Supply) ~ Parish passed away in 1993
July 10, 1895 ~ Composer Carl Orff born in Munich, German Empire ~ Best known for his 1937 cantata Carmina Burana. One of the few composers allowed to work under the Nazi regime and a controversial figure, both accused of ties to the regime and of ties to the Resistance movement and persecuted Jewish composers. After the War Orff claimed he helped establish the White Rose resistance group, though this claim has been disputed. Eventually, American denazification authorities would change his classification from “gray unacceptable” to “gray acceptable”, allowing him to continue to compose for public presentation ~ Orff passed away in 1982
July 10, 1894 ~ Composer, songwriter Jimmy McHugh, full name James Francis McHugh, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Prolific songwriter, popular from the 1920 through the 1950s. Songs co-written by McHugh include On The Sunny Side Of The Street (Harry Richman, Chick Webb, Billie Holiday), Cuban Love Song (Paul Whiteman, Don Barretto, Ruth Etting), Don't Blame Me (Walter Woolf King, Paul Weston, Sarah Vaughan), A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening (Frank Sinatra, the Ink Spots, Eddy Arnold), I Just Found Out About Love (Nat King Cole, Ronnie Hilton), Let's Get Lost (Vaughn Monroe, Jimmy Dorsey, Kay Kyser), Exactly Like You (Roger Wolfe Kahne, Benny Goodman, Punch Miller), and I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (Dolores Valesco, Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines) ~ McHugh passed away in 1969