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 22, 1922 ~ Mother of Irving Berlin passes away, inspiring several Berlin songs ~ Lena Lipkin Beilin passes away, inspiring her son Irving Berlin to pen All By Myself, All Alone and What'll I Do. All would become standards, covered by numerous artists
July 22, 1918 ~ Singer Marion Harris records After You've Gone ~ Music by Turner Layton, lyrics Henry Creamer. First recorded for Victor Records and popularized by Marion Harris. Would later be covered by numerous artists, including Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Django Reinhardt, Art Tatum, Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Peggy Lee, Phil Collins, Anthony Braxton, Jamie Cullum, and Curtis Stigers
July 22, 1917 ~ Trombonist, violinist Lou McGarrity born in Athens, Georgia, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Benny Goodman, Eddie Condon, the Lawson-Haggart Band, the World's Greatest Jazz Band, Kenny Davern, Urbie Green, Bobby Hackett, JJ Johnson, Jimmy McPartland, Charlie Parker, and Cootie Williams ~ McGarrity passed away in 1971
July 22, 1913 ~ Francesco Kramer Gorni, commonly known as bandleader, accordionist, bassist, songwriter Gorni Kramer, born in Rivarolo Mantovano, Italy ~ Active since the 1930s. Co-wrote Crapa Pelada, a hit for Alberto Rabagliati. Wrote Pippo Non Lo Sa, one of the Trio Lescano's biggest hits. Has also worked with Natalino Otto, and Quartetto Cetra ~ Gorni passed away in 1995
July 22, 1907 ~ Jazz guitarist, banjoist, composer Perry Botkin born in Springfield, Ohio, USA ~ Active since the late 1920s, starting in Wayne Eucher's big band. Would go on to work with the Original Memphis Five, Hoagy Carmichael (Hong Kong Blues), Al Jolson, Buddy Cole, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Paul Whiteman, Bob Hope, and Spike Jones. Also noted for his association with Bing Crosby, serving as Crosby's musical director for over a dozen years. Botkin's son Perry Botkin Jr is also a musician, perhaps best known for co-writing Nadia's Theme (The Young And Restless) with Barry Devorzon ~ Botkin passed away in 1973July 22, 1881 ~ Jazz clarinetist George Baquet, full name George Francis Baquet, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Incremental in the development of early New Orleans jazz. Son of Theogene V Baquet, brother of Achille Baquet and Harold Baquet, all clarinetists. George has worked with PT Wright, the Georgia Minstrels, Buddy Bolden, John Robichaux, Freddie Keppard, the Onward Brass Band, the Original Creole Orchestra, Sam Gordon's the Lafayette Players, the New Orleans Nighthawks, Bessie Smith, Jelly Roll Morton, and Sidney Bechet ~ Baquet passed away in 1949
July 22, 1878 ~ Pianist, songwriter Ernest R Ball born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Best known for co-penning When Irish Eyes Are Smiling with George Graff Jr and Chauncey Olcott, the latter introducing the song in the 1912 musical show Isle O' Dreams. The song would become a standard recorded by numerous artists including Bing Crosby, Connie Francis, Hank Locklin, and Frank Zappa ~ Ball passed away in 1927