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 19, 1932 ~ Arley Benton, commonly known as blues guitarist, singer Buster Benton, born in Texarkana, Arkansas, USA ~ Influenced by Sam Cooke and BB King. Member of Willie Dixon's acclaimed blues outfit the Blues All-Stars including on the acclaimed 1973 The All-Star Blues World Of Maestro Willie Dixon And His Chicago Blues Band album. As a solo artist, Benton is best known for the singles Spider In My Stew, written by Dixon, and its follow-up Money Is The Name Of The Game. Benton would subsequently issue his debut album, Spider In My Stew, in 1978. The album has been recognised as one of the prime Chicago blues albums of its day. Benton would record over half a dozen more albums until his death at age 63 ~ Benton passed away in 1996
July 19, 1930 ~ Percussionist, bongo player Preston Epps, full name Preston Eugene Epps, born in Mangum, Oklahoma, USA ~ Considered a one-hit wonder, scoring a 1959 Billboard Hot 100 No.14 hit with Bongo Rock. Epps has learned to play the bongos and other percussion instruments while stationed in Okinawa, Japan, during the Korean war. Following the single's success, Epps issued his Bongo Bongo Bongo the following year, which reached top 40 Billboard Hot 200. Several more bongo-themed singles were released, including Bongo Shuffle, Bongo Boogie, and Bongo Rocket, but none would equal the success of his sole hit Bongo Rock. Despite failing to reach the charts again, Epps continued to perform in Southern California. In 1969, Epps would make a small appearance playing a bongo player in the crime-drama film Girl In Gold Boots, credited as “that Bongo Rock man” ~ Epps passed away in 2019July 19, 1926 ~ Actress, dancer, singer Helen Gallagher born in New York, New York, USA ~ Renowned stage performer starting in the 1950s including in several acclaimed Broadway-productions, especially noted for her roles in Pal Joey, Sweet Charity and No No Nanette. To TV audiences best known as the matriarch Maeve Ryan in the soap opera Ryan's Hope from 1975 through 1989
July 19, 1925 ~ Eva Sue McKee, commonly known as pop, country singer Sue Thompson, born in Nevada, Missouri, USA ~ Best known for her 1960s hits Sad Movies Make Me Cry, Norman and Paper Tiger. Also known as duet partner of Don Gibson in the 1970s, notably on songs such as I Think They Call It Love and Good Old Fashioned Country Love ~ McKee passed away in 2021
July 19, 1924 ~ Jazz trumpeter Dick Collins, full name Richard Harrison Collins, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Best known for his association with Les Brown, recording and touring with the saxophonist for about a decade starting in 1957. Previously Collins had worked with Dave Brubeck, Cal Tjader, Paul Desmond, Nat Pierce (Kansas City Missouri), and Woody Herman (Blues Groove). Following his tenure with Brown, Collins rarely performed, focusing on his day job as a music librarian instead ~ Collins passed away in 2016July 19, 1924 ~ Kenny Thomas Skingle, commonly known as jazz, bebop, progressive jazz saxophonist, bandleader Kenny Graham, born in Ealing, UK ~ Overlooked pioneer of British jazz, active since the mid 1940s in leading dance bands of the era, including ensembles led by Nat Temple, Nat Gonella, Bert Ambrose, Leslie Hutchinson, and Eric Winstone. Well known for forming and leading the Afro-Cubists from the early 1950s onwards, a band aiming to develop an amalgam of bebop, African and Cuban rhythms and super-modern harmonies. Despite critical acclaim, the band only briefly performed and recorded, their hybrid too innovative for the general public. From the mid 1950s onwards, Graham worked primarily as a composer and arranger, to retire from performing entirely in 1958 following medical misfortunes. However, Graham would continue to work as a composer and arranger, notably for Humphrey Lyttelton who recorded his One Day I Met An African and other pieces, and direct sessions for blues artists such as Big Bill Broonzy and Josh White. Graham was dismissive of most modern popular music, specifically rock and roll, once stating he was “completely dedicated to his strong belief in how jazz should sound” ~ Skingle passed away in 1997
July 19, 1922 ~ Jazz pianist Al Haig, full name Alan Warren Haig, born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ One of the finest pianists of the bop era, yet remained in obscurity for most of his career. As a sideman, Haig was present on pivotal recordings early on in his career, notably playing with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, and Stan Getz from the late 1940s through early 1950s. Recorded well over a dozen albums as a leader, especially noted for the 1954 album Al Haig Trio, and Al Haig Today released about a decade later. Haig has also appeared on albums by Art Blakey, Wardell Gray, Mary Lou Williams, Chet Baker, Miles Davis (Birth Of The Cool), Coleman Hawkins, Sarah Vaughan, and Charlie Barnet ~ Haig passed away in 1982
July 19, 1906 ~ Harry Lawrence Hill, commonly known as bandleader, singer Tiny Hill, born in Sullivan, Illinois, USA ~ Billed as “America's Biggest Bandleader” because of his weight of over 365 lb. Enjoyed popularity from the 1930 through the early 1950s, touring extensively. Best known for his signature song Angry, released in 1939, and his 1951 rendition of the Western swing song Hot Rod Race, which reached top 10 on the Billboard Country charts, top 30 on the pop charts. With its hard driving boogie woogie beat, the latter is sometimes referred to as one of the first rock & roll songs. Hill was married three times, his second marriage to country singer Jenny Lou Carson, with whom he also worked. By the the end of the big band era Hill had settled in Colorado, performing regionally with smaller combos ~ Hill passed away in 1971
July 19, 1902 ~ William C Bailey, commonly known as jazz, swing clarinetist Buster Bailey, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Classically trained. Considered a master of the clarinet. Played professionally since age 15, starting with WC Handy's orchestra. Would go on to work with Erskine Tate, King Oliver, Fletcher Henderson, Clarence Williams, Noble Sissle, Edgar Hayes, the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, Midge Williams, Wilbur de Paris, Red Allen, and Louis Armstrong. As a leader, Bailey is known for his 1958 All About Memphis album ~ Bailey passed away in 1967
July 19, 1902 ~ Jazz, stride pianist Cliff Jackson, full name Clifton Luther Jackson, born in Culpeper, Virginia, USA ~ Considered one of the most powerful stride pianists. After relocating to New York in the early 1920s, Jackson played with Lionel Howard, Bob Fuller, and Elmer Snowden. Briefly led his own ensemble, the Krazy Kats, in the early 1930s, before finding employ as a solo pianist playing the nightclubs and as accompanist for singers such as Viola McCoy, Lena Wilson, Sara Martin, Martha Copeland, Helen Gross, and Clara Smith. Jackson is also particularly known as a solo pianist, noted for the 1962 Carolina Shout album. Jackson has also recorded with Eddie Condon, Sidney Bechet, Jimmy Rushing, and Al Sears. Jackson was married to singer Maxine Sullivan from 1950 until his death two decades later ~ Jackson passed away in 1970