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 29, 1946 ~ Conductor Enoch zu Guttenberg born in Guttenberg. Germany ~ Influenced by Bernhard Paumgartner, Antal Doráti, and Karl von Feilitzsch. Formed several musical ensembles for choral works and choirs including the famed Chorgemeinschaft Neubeurern in 1967. Guttenberg is also an environmental activist, particularly known for co-founding BUND, a German non-profit organization dedicated to protect the natural environment ~ Zu Guttenberg passed away in 2018
July 29, 1946 ~ Pianist, keyboardist Neal Doughty, full name Neal Allan Doughty, born in Evansville, Illinois, USA ~ Sole constant member of REO Speedwagon, with whom he recorded over a dozen albums since the early 1970s. The band enjoyed popularity especially during the first of the 1980s with albums such as Hi Infidelity, Good Trouble, and Wheels Are Turnin'. The power ballads Keep On Loving You and Can't Fight This Feeling would reach the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and both have remained radio staples. Doughty's distinctive keyboard playing is particularly noticable on the organ solo on Roll With The Changes and his honky-tonk piano on 157 Riverside Avenue
July 29, 1945 ~ Jazz fusion, jazz funk, funk, soul jazz guitarist Joe Beck born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Well over a dozen albums as a leader, co-leader or solo artist, noted most for 1975's Beck, 1980's Empathy, and 1991's The Journey. Over the course of his career, Beck has appeared on albums by Mike Mainieri, Gil Evans (Blues In Orbit), Johnny Pate (Outrageous), Al Kooper, Labelle, Gato Barbieri (Fenix), Dom Um Romão, Hank Crawford, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Lonnie Liston Smith (Astral Traveling), Idris Muhammad (Power Of Soul), Bill Watrous, James Brown (Hell), David Sanborn (Taking Off), Paul Simon, Ronnie Foster, Azuquita (Pura Salsa), Miles Davis, Tom Talbert (This Is Living), Nnenna Freelon (Maiden Voyage), and Jimmy Bruno. When reflecting back on the start of his career in the late 1960s, Beck once commented: “My career happened because I happened to be in the right place at the right time in a very unique time of jazz music” ~ Beck passed away in 2008July 29, 1939 ~ Composer Annea Lockwood born in Christchurch, New Zealand ~ Considered a pioneer in sound sculpture and mixed-media composition, merging microtonal music, electro-acoustic soundscapes, and vocal music, while often including natural found sounds. Has recorded well over a dozen albums since the early 1970s, especially acclaimed for a string of mid 1990s albums including World Rhythms released in 1997. Lockwood is also known as a professor, teaching electronic music at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie Town, New York, since the early 1980s
July 29, 1935 ~ Theater director, songwriter Jacques Levy born in New York, New York, USA ~ Frequently collaborated with Roger McGuinn, notably on the single Chestnut Mare of the Untitled album. Perhaps best known for co-writing the majority of songs on Bob Dylan's Desire album, including Hurricane and Isis ~ Levy passed away in 2004
July 29, 1935 ~ Opera, concert singer, conductor Peter Schreier born in Meissen, Germany ~ Started as an alto soloist, notably with the Dresdner Kreuzchor, but would turn to tenor parts later on. Considered one of the leading lyric tenors of the 20th century renowned for his lieder singing and opera roles, particularly in works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Has worked with the Berlin State Opera, the Vienna State Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera ~ Schreier passed away in 2019
July 29, 1935 ~ Classical pianist, musicologist Pietro Spada born in Rome, Italy ~ Pianist and researcher whose work expanded the repertoire of the classical piano. Well known for his research on Muzio Clementi, producing a definitive edition of Clementi's surviving symphonies, and for publishing and first recording many unedited keyboard compositions by Giovanni Paisiello, Gaetano Donizetti, and John Field, with Spada's arrangements later used by soloists and conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, Luciano Pavarotti, and Jean-Pierre Rampal. Through his Boccaccini & Spada Editori publishing company, cofounded with Massino Boccaccini, Spada published numerous previously unpublished compositions of great classical composers. Spada is also well regarded as a music teacher, having held positions at the Florida State University, the Indiana University, the Turin Conservatory, and the Rome Conservatory ~ Spada passed away in 2022
July 29, 1934 ~ Jazz, R&B saxophonist Ernie Fields Jr born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Son of trombonist, pianist Ernie Fields, with whom he has also worked. Composed the score to the 1978 film Disco Godfather. Toured with James Brown alumnus Fred Wesley during the 1990s. Fields was an in-demand session musician, appearing on albums by Alphonso Johnson, Albert King, Freddie Hubbard, Martha Reeves, Marvin Gaye (Here My Dear), Marlena Shaw, Teena Marie (Wild & Peaceful), Rick James (Bustin' Out Of L Seven), Aretha Franklin, Third World, Miles Davis, Two Tons Of Fun, and Stevie Wonder ~ Fields passed away in 2024
July 29, 1933 ~ Lloyd Arrington Sparks, commonly known as singer, guitarist, banjoist, songwriter Randy Sparks, born in Leavenworth, Kansas, USA ~ Founded the New Christy Minstrels, most acclaimed for their 1962 Presenting The New Christy Minstrels debut album, and for often-covered songs such as Green Green, Saturday Night and Today written or co-written by Sparks. The band is also especially noted for including Barry McGuire and for launching the careers of John Denver and Kenny Rogers. Sparks also founded the Back Porch Majority, initially intended as a rehearsal space for the Minstrels, yet the group would become successful on its own, recording about half a dozen albums. A 1964 review by the New York Times would read: “The Minstrels maintain the sort of bubbling good spirits that ought to be bottled and sold at every supermarket in the land. They suggest a Norman Rockwell portrait of nine youths who are smiling their way through song and life” ~ Sparks passed away in 2024July 29, 1931 ~ Jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger Kjell Karlsen, full name Kjell Oddvar Karlsen, born in Sarpsborg, Norway ~ Father of singer Webe Karlsen. Founded his first orchestra at age 16. Has worked with Karin Krog, Totti Bergh, Bjørn Johansen, Harald Bergersen, Ole Jacob Hansen, Frode Thingnæs, Erik Amundsen, Grynet Molvig, Laila Dalseth, Odd Børre, and Kirsti Sparboe ~ Karlsen passed away in 2020
July 29, 1930 ~ James Frank Stewart, commonly known as label executive, producer Jim Stewart, born in Middleton, Tennessee, USA ~ Co-founded the Stax/Volt label with his sister Estelle Axton in 1957. The company would be one of the defining forces in 1960s, 1970s R&B and soul with a roster of artists that included Rufus Thomas, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Don Covay, Johnnie Taylor, the Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes, and Booker T & the MG's. The latter was initially formed as the label's in-house studio band, yet are also specifically remembered for several recordings in their own right, some of which including the instrumental Green Onions are regarded as among the funkiest grooves of the era ~ Stewart passed away in 2022
July 29, 1927 ~ Howard Weiss, commonly known as conductor, pianist, arranger Peter Howard, born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Rose to prominence in the 1960s, conducting and arranging the original Broadway productions of Hello Dolly, 1776, and Annie. Other notable credits include arranging for productions of musicals such as Chicago, The Tap Dance Kid, and Crazy For You ~ Weiss passed away in 2008
July 29, 1925 ~ Michail Theodorakis, commonly known as composer, activist Mikis Theodorakis, born in Chios, Greece ~ One of Greece's most acclaimed composers, having scored over 1,000 works. Has scored music for films such as Zorba The Greek which included Sirtaki, Z and Serpico. Wrote The Mauthausen Trilogy, one of the most revered musical pieces written about the Holocaust. Also active as a politician, known for his leftist ideas, and having served in several positions including MP and minister ~ Theodorakis passed away in 2021
July 29, 1923 ~ Guitar amplifier builder Jim Marshall born in Kensington, UK ~ Pioneer of guitar amplification, dubbed “the Father of Loud”. Founded Marshall Amplification in 1962, known for manufacturing guitar amplifiers regarded among the best available, used by the biggest names in rock. Marshall was awarded an OBE, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in 2003 for ”services to the industry and charity” ~ Marshall passed away in 2012
July 29, 1916 ~ Jazz, swing guitarist Charlie Christian, full name Charles Henry Christian, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Pioneering guitarist considered an innovator on the electric guitar. Rose to fame at the turn of the 1940s as a member of Benny Goodman's ensemble, including on classic sides such as Soft Winds, Stardust, Memories Of You, Poor Butterfly, I Surrender Dear, and On The Alamo. Though his success was brief, his career cut short by his untimely death of tuberculosis at a mere age 25, Christian is considered one of the all-time most important guitarists, helping bring the guitar to the forefront, predating both bebop and cool jazz, and a major influence on jazz artists such as trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, saxophonist Charlie Parker, and pianist Thelonious Monk, as well as a wide range of guitarists from just about every genre including T-Bone Walker, Eddie Cochran, Cliff Gallup, Scotty Moore, Chuck Berry, BB King, Jimi Hendrix, and Carlos Santana. At his induction in 1990, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame stated “Christian took electric guitar out of the rhythm section and into the spotlight, (his) single-string technique proving that the guitar could be a lead instrument” ~ Christian passed away in 1942