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 23, 1930 ~ Jazz saxophonist Richie Kamuca born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Though lesser known than his contemporaries, Kamuca was one of several acclaimed Lester Young-influenced saxophonists active on the West Coast scene held in the highest regards by his peers. First gained attention as a soloist with the big bands of Stan Kenton and Woody Herman. Especially acclaimed for Tenors Head-On released in 1956, a collaborative album with fellow tenor saxophonist Bill Perkins. An in-demand sideman, Kamuca has appeared on albums by the Lighthouse All-Stars, Chet Baker, Manny Albam, Stan Levey, Nat Pierce (Kansas City Memories), Dempsey Wright, Bill Holman, Anita O'Day (Sings The Winners), Shorty Rogers, Herb Ellis (Nothing But The Blues), Buddy Bregman, Cy Touff, Annie Ross, Shelly Manne, Terry Gibbs, Betty Carter, Zoot Sims (Suitably Zoot), Kenny Burrell, Lee Konitz, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Frank Capp, and Ernestine Anderson. Kamuca remained active until his death of cancer, one day short of his 47th birthday ~ Kamuca passed away in 1977
July 23, 1928 ~ Conductor, double bassist, bass guitarist, composer Bill Lee, full name William James Edwards Lee III, born in Snow Hill, Alabama, USA ~ Father of filmmaker Spike Lee, has also composed the scores for several of his son's films. Has worked with Chris Anderson, Harry Belafonte, Chad Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Aretha Franklin, Odetta, Simon & Garfunkel, Ian & Sylvia, Tom Rush, Burt Bacharach, Peter Paul & Mary, Arlo Guthrie, Tom Paxton, Carolyn Hester, John Lee Hooker, Josh White, Duke Ellington, Malvina Reynolds, Eric Bibb, the Clancy Brothers, and Bob Dylan. Notably, Lee is the only other musician on Dylan's It's All Over Now Baby Blue, widely considered a classic ~ Lee passed away in 2023
July 23, 1923 ~ Producer, songwriter, label executive Ahmet Ertegun born in Istanbul, Turkey ~ Co-founded, along with Herb Abramson, of Atlantic Records in the late 1940s. The label would prove pivotal in the developement of R&B and soul. Helped advance the careers of artists including Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, the Clovers, the Drifters, the Coasters, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Ben E King. By the late 1960s, early 1970s the label would expand into rock and pop, including artists such as Crosby Stills & Nash, Led Zeppelin, and Yes in its stable ~ Ertegun passed away in 2006
July 23, 1919 ~ James Forbes Chapin, commonly known as jazz drummer, teacher, author Jim Chapin, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Did not begin playing the drums until he was 18 years old, after being inspired by iconic jazz drummer Gene Krupa. Spent two decades serving in bands led by the likes of Glen Gray, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey. Authored the drum instruction standard Advanced Techniques For The Modern Drummer published in 1948. The manual is considered the definitive study on coordinated independence for jazz drummers, and Chapin used to carry a pair of drumsticks with him at all times just in case someone would ask him to demonstrate any pattern from the book. Has taught Peter Criss after Criss left Kiss in the early 1980s. Fathered ten children including singers Harry Chapin, Tom Chapin, and Steve Chapin ~ Chapin passed away in 2009July 23, 1917 ~ Eva Alaine Overstake, commonly known as country singer, guitarist Judy Martin, born in Decatur, Illinois, USA ~ First sang at Salvation Army gatherings with her elder sisters, the trio becoming regulars on WLS Chicago radio shows by the early 1930s where they worked with Gene Autry, the Hoosier Hot Shots, and Judy's future husband Red Foley. In 1934, at age 16, Overstake married Foley, with whom she would have three daughters including singer Debby Boone. She notably collaborated with her husband on the late 1940s duets Our Christmas Waltz, Let's Go To Church (Next Sunday Morning), and Remember Me (When The Candle Lights Are Gleaming), and released several recordings as a solo singer. At age 34, Overstake took her own life by overdosing on sleeping pills, the reasons for her suicide were never made public ~ Overstake passed away in 1951
July 23, 1916 ~ William Jennings Bryan Weber, commonly known as composer Ben Weber, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ One of the first to embrace the 12-tone techniques of Arnold Schoenberg. Rose to prominence in the 1950s. Known for his Violin Concerto, Prelude And Passacaglia Op.42, and his 1961 Piano Concerto. Counted renowned composers such as Aaron Copland, John Cage, and Milton Babbitt among his fans ~ Weber passed away in 1979July 23, 1914 ~ Singer, songwriter, author, poet, playwright Alf Prøysen born in Ringsaker, Norway ~ As a singer active since the late 1940s and known for songs such as Tango For To, Lillebrors Vise, Du Ska Tå En Dag I Mårå, Jukveldsvis, Jorgen Hattemaker, Musevisa and Romjulsdrøm. Considered a cultural icon for his contributions to literature, children's books, theatre, TV, radio, film. ~ Prøysen passed away in 1970
July 23, 1901 ~ Dr Cobie Walsh, commonly known as banjoist, bandleader Dock Walsh, born in Lewis Fork, North Carolina, USA ~ Dubbed “the Banjo King of Carolinas” and best known for founding and fronting old time string band the Carolina Tar Heels, active from the late 1920s through the early 1930s. Walsh was one of the first to use a three-finger playing style ~ Walsh passed away in 1967
July 23, 1832 ~ Violinist, conductor Adolf Pollitzer born in Pest, Hungary ~ An interpreter of classic chamber music, Pollitzer was regarded as one of the premier violinists of his day. After relocating to London, the UK, Pollitzer would serve as leader with the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Choral Society. Served as the first professor of violin at the London Academy of Music from its inception in 1861 through 1870, and subsequently as its Principal until his death in 1900. Harold Bauer and Edward Elgar were among his students ~ Pollitzer passed away in 1900
July 23, 1757 ~ Baroque, classical composer Domenico Scarlatti, full name Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti, passed away in Madrid, Spain ~ Son of composer Alessandro Scarlatti. Influenced Béla Bartók, Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Claude Debussy, Vladimir Horowitz, and Dmitri Shostakovich. Best known for his keyboard sonatas, having written over 500 of them ~ Scarlatti was born in 1685