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 15, 1948 ~ Drummer Artimus Pyle, full name Thomas Delmer Pyle, born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Drummed for Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1974 through 1977 and again from 1987 through 1991. First appeared on the single Saturday Night Special of the band's Nuthin' Fancy album. Survived the 1977 plane crash that killed bandmates Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines and the band's road manager Dean Kilpatrick. Present on albums such as Gimme Back My Bullets and Street SurvivorsJuly 15, 1948 ~ Singer, keyboardist Tony O'Malley born in Bushey, UK ~ Member of Arrival, known for the 1970 UK top 10 hit Friends. Co-founding member of Kokomo. Joined 10cc after the departure of key members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, present on the band's 1977 Live And Let Live live album. Has also worked with Pino Palladino, Laurence Cottle, Andy Newmark, Hamish Stuart, Alan Spenner, Jim Mullen, Jody Linscott, Ash Soan, Mel Collins, Mornington Lockett, Jeremy Stacey, and Neil Hubbard
July 15, 1947 ~ Peter William Brockbanks, commonly known as keyboardist, guitarist Peter Banks, born in Barnet, UK ~ Important figure in early days of progressive rock. Original guitarist of Yes, remaining with the band through 1970 leaving shortly before the release of their Time And A Word sophomore album. Has also worked with the Devil's Disciples, the Syn, Neat Change, After The Fire, the Flash, Empire, David Cross, Pete Townshend, and Ant-Bee ~ Banks passed away in 2013
July 15, 1947 ~ Songwriter Walter Donaldson passed away in Santa Monica, California, USA ~ Popular songwriter of the 1910s through the 1940s, addding several classics to the Great American Songbook. Songs written or co-written by Donaldson include Did I Remember (Tommy Dorsey, Patti Page, Nancy Wilson), At Sundown When Love Is Calling Me (Bert Kaplan, Mildred Bailey, Teresa Brewer), My Baby Just Cares For Me (Ted Weems, Count Basie, Nina Simone), Love Me Or Leave Me (Ruth Etting, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee), Yes Sir That's My Baby (Gene Austin, Jack Hylton, Nat King Cole) ~ Donaldson was born in 1893
July 15, 1946 ~ Singer Linda Ronstadt, full name Linda Marie Ronstadt, born in Tucson, Arizona, USA ~ First gained attention in the late 1960s fronting the Stone Poneys, quickly venturing out on her own to achieve superstar status in the 1970s with originals and acclaimed covers of pop and rock hits. Focused on folk and country-influenced pop and soft rock during the 1970s. Would also venture into musicals, jazz and R&B-tinged pop in later years. Best known for her renditions of Betty Everett's You're No Good, the Eagles' Desperado and Roy Orbison's Blue Bayou, for duetting with Aaron Neville on the 1980 hit Don't Know Much, and for her collaboration with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris on the 1987 Trio album. In-demand collaborator appearing on over 100 albums including recordings by Bette Midler, Billy Eckstine, Carla Bley, Flaco Jiménez, Warren Zevon, Gram Parsons, Neil Young, Paul Simon, Earl Scruggs, and by Johnny CashJuly 15, 1946 ~ Jazz guitarist Tisziji Muñoz born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Worked with Pharoah Sanders, Paul Shaffer, John Hicks, Bernie Senensky, Bob Moses, Cecil McBee, Nick Brignola, Dave Liebman, Hilton Ruiz, John Medeski, and David Finck
July 15, 1945 ~ Guitarist Peter Lewis, full name Peter Charles Lewis, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Co-founding member of acid rock, folk rock, country rock outfit Moby Grape. The band is best known for their first two acclaimed and influential albums, 1967's Moby Grape debut and 1968's Wow/Grape Jam sophomore albumJuly 15, 1944 ~ Mildred Virginia Jackson, commonly known as R&B, soul, disco singer, songwriter Millie Jackson, born in Thomson, Georgia, USA ~ Member of Facts Of Life. Active since the early 1960s. Occasionally referred to as “the mother of hip-hop” for her long spoken sections. Known for songs such as Ask Me What You Want, My Man A Sweet Man, A House For Sale and If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don't Want To Be Right)
July 15, 1942 ~ Bandleader Glenn Miller and his Orchestra featuring singer Skip Nelson record That Old Black Magic ~ Written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film Star Spangled Banner, in which the song was introduced by Johnny Johnston. Several versions would be released the same year, including by Margaret Whiting, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and perhaps most notably by Glenn Miller, the latter featuring Skip Nelson and the Modernaires. Glenn Miller's single, b/w A Pink Cocktail For A Blue Lady, would be his last No.1 hit. The song would become a standard covered by countless artistsJuly 15, 1942 ~ Guitarist, singer Jerzy Kossela born in Czestochcowa, Poland ~ Co-founding member, lead singer of Czerwone Gitary, remaining with the band from 1965 through 1967, considered to be instrumental in the development of Polish rock. Has also worked with Electron, Niebiesko-Czarni, and Pieciolinie ~ Kossela passed away in 2017
July 15, 1940 ~ John Allan Seay Jr, commonly known as country singer, songwriter Johnny Seay born in Gulfport, Mississippi, USA ~ Popular during the 1950s and 1960s. Best known for his spoken word single Day For Decision, a Grammy Award-nominated hit in 1966. Other well known songs include Frankie's Man Johnny, Nobody's Darling But Mine and My Old Faded Rose ~ Seay passed away in 2016July 15, 1939 ~ Luther Johnson, commonly known as electric blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Luther Houserocker Johnson, born in Hogansville, Georgia, USA ~ Influenced by Jimmy Reed and Lightnin' Slim. Despite enjoying popularity as a live performer for some seven decades from the late 1950s until his death has only recorded two studio albums, namely Takin' A Bite Outta The Blues and Houserockin' Daddy ~ Johnson passed away in 2019
July 15, 1936 ~ Child actor, pianist, singer, producer, arranger, A&R executive Hidle Brown Barnum born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Won a talent contest at age 4, landing him a role in the 1942 The Valley Of The Sun Marches On film. Would continu his acting career with appearances on The Amos 'n Andy SHow, and The Jack Benny Show. Member of 1950s doo-wop outfits the Dootones and the Robins. A&R executive for the Whippet label. As a solo artist best known for Lost Love, a hit in 1961. Would record three albums as a pianist-singer during the remainder of the decade. Would go on to work as an arranger for a wide array of artists including Lou Rawls, Count Basie, OC Smith, Frank Sinatra, the Supremes, Donna Loren, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Gladys Knight, and Melinda Marx. Co-wrote Your Love, a 1977 hit for Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis JrJuly 15, 1934 ~ Composer Harrison Birtwistle born in Accrington, UK ~ Prolific contemporary classical composer known best for The Triumph Of Time and the operas The Mask Of Orpheus, Gawain and The Minotaur. The latter would be named as one of the most important 21st-century pieces by the Guardian in 2019. Also known for co-founding the Pierrot Players ensemble with composer, conductor Peter Maxwell Davies ~ Birtwistle passed away in 2022
July 15, 1933 ~ Bandleader, cornetist Freddie Keppard passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Brother of jazz guitarist Louis Keppard. Founded the Olympia Orchestra in the early-1900s, a band that also featured Alphonse Picou. Has also worked with Frankie Duson, the Original Creole Band, Doc Cook's Dreamland Orchestra, Jimmie Noone, Johnny Dodds, Erskine Tate, Lil' Armstrong, John Wyycliffe ~ Keppard was born in 1890
July 15, 1933 ~ Leonald Francois Gauthier, commonly known as singer Hal Willis, born in Rouyn Noranda, Canada ~ Half of the rock & roll duo Hal & Ginger, the other half being his wife Ginger Willis, scoring 1950s hits such as My Pink Cadillac and Bop-a-dee Bop-a-dop. Along with Hank Snow the only Canadian artists to tour with Elvis Presley. As a solo artist best known for The Lumberjack, a million-seller in 1965 ~ Gauthier passed away in 2015July 15, 1932 ~ Jazz, swing, choro clarinetist, saxophonist Paulo Moura born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Active since the mid 1950s with over two dozen albums to his name. Noted for his 1962 Carnegie Hall performance alongside Sérgio Mendes. Has worked with Cannonball Adderley, Herbie Mann, Clara Sverner, and Raphael Rabello ~ Moura passed away in 2010
July 15, 1932 ~ Blues harpist, singer, songwriter Willie Cobbs born in Smale, Arkansas, USA ~ Best known for his 1960 recording You Don't Love Me, loosely based on Bo Diddley's She's Fine She's Mine. Cobbs' tune would be covered by a wide array of artists including the Allman Brothers Band, the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, John Mayall, and Dawn Penn, the latter reworking the R&B, blues tune to the classic rocksteady tune You Don't Love Me (No No No) in 1967 ~ Cobbs passed away in 2021
July 15, 1931 ~ Label executive, music publisher Robert Gordy, full name Robert Louis Gordy, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Scored a minor hit in 1958 with Everyone Was There under the moniker Bob Kayli, co-written with his brother Berry Gordy Jr. Best known as executive at Motown's publishing arm Jobete Music from 1961 through 1985. Has also written or co-written a number of early 1960s successes, most notably Marvin Gaye's You're What's Happening In The World Today, which was used as the flip side of I Heard It Through The Grapevine, and the Supremes' Your Kiss Of Fire ~ Gordy passed away in 2022July 15, 1928 ~ Bebop, free jazz saxophonist, composer Joe Harriott, full name Joseph Arthurlin Harriott, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Part of a wave of Caribbean jazz musicians relocating to England in the 1950s. Free-form jazz pioneer. Influenced by Charlie Parker. Especially acclaimed for his 1962 Abstract album. Worked with Tony Kinsey, Phil Seamen, Allan Ganley, Lita Roza, George Chisholm, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Michael Garrick, and Amancio d'Silva ~ Harriott passed away in 1973
July 15, 1913 ~ Lloyd Estel Copas, commonly known as country singer, songwriter Cowboy Copas born in Adams County, Ohio, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity from the 1940s onward until his death at age 49, dying in the same plane crash that killed Hawkshaw Hawkins and Patsy Cline. First gained attention replacing Eddy Arnold in Pee Wee King's backing band. As a solo artist Copas is best known for songs such as Filipino Baby, Signed Sealed And Delivered, Tennessee Waltz, Tennessee Moon, Candy Kisses, The Strange Little Girl, Tis Sweet To Be Remembered, Alabam, and Flat Top, all of which reached top 10 Billboard Country ~ Copas passed away in 1963
July 15, 1904 ~ Lyricist, songwriter Dorothy Fields born in New York, New York, USA ~ Co-wrote over 400 songs, mostly for Broadway and Hollywood musicals, many of which have become jazz standards. Well known songs include A Fine Romance (Guy Lombardo, Billie Holiday), On The Sunny Side Of The Street (Harry Richman, Chick Webb, Lionel Hampton), Pick Yourself Up (Fred Astaire, Anita O'Day, Frank Sinatra), I'm In The Mood For Love (Jack Little, Frances Langford, Sarah Vaughan), You Couldn't Be Cuter (Irene Dunne, Freddy Martin, Tommy Dorsey), and Big Spender (Helen Gallagher, Peggy Lee, Shirley Bassey) ~ Fields passed away in 1974