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 6, 1948 ~ Psychedelic rock, progressive rock singer, keyboardist, bassist, guitarist, percussionist, cellist, songwriter Arnaldo Baptista, full nme Arnaldo Dias Baptista, born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Son of pianist Clarisse Leite. Co-founded pivotal rock band Os Mutantes with his brother Sérgio Dias and Rita Lee, recording about half a dozen albums with the band before departing in 1973. After his departure, Baptista would release a number of solo albums, starting with 1974's Loki, generally regarded his best work. Baptista briefly rejoined Os Mutantes in the mid 2000s
July 6, 1947 ~ Elizabeth Jurist, commonly known as singer, songwriter Libby Titus, born in Woodstock, New York, USA ~ Though as a solo artist Titus never became a household name, she has earned universal critical acclaim, the New York Times once praising her “feeling for style, (and) appealingly sultry insouciance”. Titus has co-written songs with Carly Simon, Burt Bacharach, Dr John, and Donald Fagen, and was married to the latter since 1993. Previously, Titus was romantically involved with the Band's drummer, singer Levon Helm, with whom she has a daughter, the singer Amy Helm. As a songwriter, Titus is perhaps best known for co-penning Love Has No Pride with Eric Kaz, first recorded by Bonnie Raitt in 1972 for her Give It Up album, and since covered by dozens of artists including Linda Ronstadt, Rita Coolidge, and Lynn Anderson. Titus herself has also recorded the song for her 1977 eponymous Libby Titus sophomore album. Admired by peers, Titus is the subject of several tribute songs, including Carly Simon's Libby, and Dr John's Pretty Libby, while Wendy Waldman adresses their friendship in Long Hot Summer Nights, and Donald Fagen sings about their marriage in The Great Pagoda Of Fun. Titus also portrayed several minor roles as an actress ~ Jurist passed away in 2024
July 6, 1945 ~ Folk, kleinkunst singer, guitarist Zjef Vanuytsel, full name Jozef Guillaume Dymphna Vanuytsel, born in Mol, Belgium ~ Considered one of the leading Flemish kleinkunst artists, alongside Wannes van de Velde and Willem Vermandere. Best known for his 1970 debut album Zotte Morgen. Would return to work as an architect in commercially less successful periods ~ Vanuytsel passed away in 2015
July 6, 1944 ~ Fiddler, mandolinist Byron Berline, full name Byron Douglas Berline, born in Caldwell, Kansas, USA ~ Turned down a 1965 invite from Bill Monroe in order to finish his education first, joining Monroe's backing unit the Bluegrass Boys later on. Following his stint with Monroe, Berline would go on to become an in-demand collaborator, especially noted for his role in several pivotal country-rock acts. Berline has recorded over a dozen albums as a solo artist, and appeared on albums by the Dillards, the Flying Burrito Brothers (The Gilded Palace Of Sin), the Rolling Stones (Let It Bleed), the Byrds, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Gene Clark, Manassas, Bob Dylan, Bill Wyman (Monkey Grip), Gram Parsons, John Denver, Emmylou Harris (Elite Hotel), Lamont Dozier, Hoyt Axton, the Doobie Brothers (Minute By Minute), Rodney Crowell, Elton John, Michael Martin Murphey, T-Bone Burnett, Michelle Shocked, and John McEuen. Berline is also known for founding the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival, held annually in Guthrie, Oklahoma, since 1997 ~ Berline passed away in 2021
July 6, 1944 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Ruthann Friedman born in New York, New York, USA ~ Took up the guitar at age eight, inspired by the music of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Josh White. Probably best known for penning Windy, a 1967 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit for sunshine pop outfit the Association. The song would be recorded by over 50 artists including Floyd Cramer, Astrud Gilberto, Willie Mitchell, Trini López, and Billy Paul. Friedman is also known as a member of Petrus and for her 1970 Constant Companion solo album. Friedman released her original recording of Windy, recorded in 1967 prior to the Association's single, in 2006 on a “lost tapes” compilation albumJuly 6, 1943 ~ Addie Bradley, commonly known as soul singer, songwriter Jan Bradley, born in Byhalia, Mississippi, USA ~ Auditioned for Curtis Mayfield, who would pen Bradley's We Girls and Mama Didn't Lie singles. Also known for subsequent releases including I'm Over You, Just A Summer Memory, It's Your Way and These Tears. Bradley retired from music by the early 1970s
July 6, 1942 ~ Izora Rhodes, commonly known as singer Izora Armstead, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Formed the duo Two Tons Of Fun with Martha Wash. The duo originally sang backup for Sylvester, but became better known as the Weather Girls, renaming themselves after landing a deal with Fantasy Records. Despite scoring several hits on the Billboard Dance charts, Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven, I Got The Feeling, and It's Raining Men all reaching top 10, only the latter crossed over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No.46 in 1983. It's Raining Men would do especially well in Europe, reaching No.2 in the UK at the time of its release, and remains a staple to this day, especially within the gay community. With no further hits, however, the original duo disbanded in 1988. Armstead later reformed the duo with her daughter Dynelle Rhodes, and after her death in 2004, the daughter continued the duo with other singers, yet none of the later line-ups would be able to repeat the band's earlier success ~ Rhodes passed away in 2004
July 6, 1940 ~ Marilyn Jeanne Seely, commonly known as country singer, songwriter Jeannie Seely, born in Titusville, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Initially pursued a career in the banking industry to turn to songwriting by the mid 1960s, and later singing and acting. Artists who recorded songs written or co-written by Seely include Irma Thomas, Dottie West, Connie Smith, Ray Price, and Faron Young. As a singer, Seely recorded over a dozen albums, including two duet albums with Jack Greene. She is best known for her Grammy Award-winner Don't Touch Me, which peaked at No.2 Billboard Country in 1966. Seely would be the first to record the Hank Cochran-penned song, which became a country classic later recorded by dozens of artists including Eddy Arnold, Don Gibson, Tammy Wynette, Ella Fitzgerald, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Alan Jackson. Other well known songs recorded by Seely include I'll Love You More (Than You Need), the Jack Greene-duet Wish I Didn't Have To Miss You, and Can I Sleep In Your Arms, all of which reached top 10 Billboard Country. Seely has also appeared in the 1980 Honeysuckle Rose romantic drama western, which starred Willie Nelson, acted in several stage plays, and was the first female to host the the Grand Ole Opry. Seely was married to songwriter Hank Cochran from 1969 through 1979 ~ Seely passed away in 2025
July 6, 1939 ~ Terrence Harris, commonly known as bassist Jet Harris, born in London, UK ~ Member of the Shadows from 1958 through 1962. The band is best known for backing singer Cliff Richard on his earliest hits, with Harris notably present on Savage as used in the musical comedy film The Young Ones, and for a string of instrumental hits of their own. Following his departure from the band, Harris would score several moderate hits as a solo artist including Besamo Mucho and Theme From The Man With The Golden Arm, team up with Tony Meehan on a handful of UK top 10 hits such as Diamonds and Scarlet O'Hara, and briefly play with Jeff Beck before disappearing from public view ~ Harris passed away in 2011July 6, 1938 ~ Operatic soprano Deborah Cook born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ First gained serious attention in the early 1970s singing with Theater Bremen. Would go on to work with the Bavarian State Opera, the Hamburg State Opera, the Oper Frankfurt, the Deutsche Oper Am Rhein, the Santa Fe Opera, the Tetro Dell' Opera Di Roma, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the BBC Sympony Orchestra, the Orchestre De Paris, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and the Dresden Philharmonic ~ Cook passed away in 2019
July 6, 1937 ~ Bandleader Benny Goodman records Sing Sing Sing (With A Swing) in Hollywood, California ~ Written by Louis Prima, who recorded the first version the previous year. Goodman's 1937 version would feature Benny Goodman on clarinet, Harry James, Ziggy Elman and Chris Griffin on trumpets, Red Ballard and Murray McEachern on trombones, Hymie Shertzer and George Koenig on alto saxophones, Arthur Rollini and Vido Musso on tenor saxophone, Jess Stacy on piano, Harry Goodman on bass and Gene Krupa on drums
July 6, 1937 ~ Eugene Drake Dixon, commonly known as singer, producer, songwriter, label executive Gene Chandler, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Member of the Dukays. R&B pioneer dubbed “the Duke of Earl” after one of his best known songs, Duke Of Earl which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. Later songs such as Nothing Can Stop Me, Rainbow '65, I Fooled You This Time and Groovy Situation would also fare quite well on the Billboard R&B chartsJuly 6, 1936 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Charles Baskerville born in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA ~ Member of Shep & the Limelites, with whom he recorded a string of singles in the first half of the 1960s including Ready For Your Love, Three Steps From The Altar, and What Did Daddy Do. Though most of their singles failed to reach the top half of the Billboard Hot 100, the trio are acknowledged as one of the finest and most consistent doo-wop outfits. Their best known, Daddy's Home, reached the top 10, peaking at No.2 in 1961, and over the years would be covered by dozens of artists, including notably Gene Chandler, Dee Dee Sharp, Chuck Jackson & Maxine Brown, Paul Anka, and Cliff Richard ~ Baskerville passed away in 1995
July 6, 1936 ~ Jean Vanobbergen, commonly known as singer, songwriter Lange Jojo or Grand Jojo, born in Brussels, Belgium ~ Cultural icon in his native Belgium with over three dozen albums to his name, starting in the early 1970s. Known for his self-mockery and festive songs. Well known songs include Chef Un P'tit Verre On A Soil, Sergent Flagada, La Petite Bête A Bon Dieu, and Jules César ~ Vanobbergen passed away in 2021
July 6, 1934 ~ Singer, actress Pia Colombo, full name Eliane Marie Amélie Pia Colombo, born in Aisne, France ~ Once dubbed the successor to Edith Piaf by critics, yet Colombo never became a household name. As a singer especially acclaimed for the album Pia Chante Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weill released in 1969. Politically committed, besides Brecht and Weill, she was especially known as a gifted interpreter of songs written by Serge Gainsbourg, Jacques Brel, Georges Brassens, Hanns Eisler, Leo Ferré, and her husband Maurice Fanon. Colombo has also ventured into acting, both on stage and the big screen ~ Colombo passed away in 1986
July 6, 1934 ~ Bebop pianist René Urtreger born in Paris, France ~ A fixture on the Paris jazz scene since the mid 1950s. First gained serious attention backing American expatriates saxophonist Don Byas and trumpeter Buck Clayton, their 1954 Salon du Jazz performance becoming legendary. After a stint in the French Army, Urtreger would land a regular gig at the Club St Germain, a renowned jazz club on Paris' left bank, where he would be noticed by Lester Young who invited Urtreger to his touring band. Urtreger is also especially acclaimed for his contribution to Miles Davis' soundtrack Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud released in 1957. Urtreger has recorded some two dozen albums as a leader, and has guested on recordings by Chet Baker, Claude François, Bobby Jaspar, Hubert Fol, Kenny Clarke, Michel Hausser, Stuff Smith, and Nathan Davis
July 6, 1932 ~ DiFosco T Ervin Jr, commonly known as singer, songwriter Big Dee Irwin, born in Harlem, New York, USA ~ Lead singer of 1950's vocal group the Pastels, known for their debut single Been So Long, penned by Ervin. Best known for duetting with Little Eva on the 1963 single Swinging On A Star, a top 40 hit in America, top 10 in the UK. Also known for a handful of earlier modest R&B hits such as 1959's I Can't Help It (I'm Falling In Love), 1960's Let's Try Again and 1961's Someday You'll Understand Why. Has also worked as a songwriter for Clydie King, Ray Charles, and Bobby Womack ~ Ervin passed away in 1995
July 6, 1927 ~ Pianist, composer Dolores Claman, full name Dolores Olga Claman, born in Vancouver, Canada ~ Best known for composing The Hockey Theme, long used as the theme song for CBC's A Hockey Night In Canada TV show, and for A Place To Stand, initially used for the film of the same name that accompanied Montreal Expo '67 and over time regarded as Ontario's unofficial provincial anthem ~ Claman passed away in 2021July 6, 1926 ~ Jazz trombonist Frank Rehak born in New York, New York, USA ~ In-demand session musician throughout the late 1960s, his career cut short by a heroin addiction and financial problems. Perhaps best known for appearing on the pivotal Miles Davis albums Miles Ahead, Porgy & Bess and Sketches Of Spain. Other notable credits include Nat Pierce, Manny Albam, Quincy Jones (This Is How I Feel About Jazz), Perry Como, Big Maybelle, Charlie Byrd, Chubby Jackson, Ruth Brown (Late Date With Ruth Brown), Creed Taylor, Woody Herman, and Gil Evans (The Individualism Of Gil Evans) ~ Rehak passed away in 1987
July 6, 1925 ~ Rock & roll, rockabilly, western swing singer, guitarist Bill Haley, full name William John Clifton Haley, born in Highland Park, Michigan, USA ~ Rock & roll pioneer. Has sold over 60 million records. Scored numerous hits throughout the 1950s, most with his backing unit the Comets, including Crazy Man Crazy, Dim Dim The Lights (I Want Some Atmosphere), Burn That Candle, and Razzle Dazzle, all considered pivotal in the early development of rock and roll. Haley's best known, See You Later Alligator and Rock Around The Clock, are considered classics and remain popular to this day, in part due to being frequently used in films and TV series ~ Haley passed away in 1981
July 6, 1924 ~ Luigi Balassoni, commonly known as drummer, bandleader, composer Louie Bellson, born in Rock Falls, Illinois, USA ~ Pioneered the use of two bass drums. Along with Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, considered among the finest drummers of their generation and the first drummer superstars. Known for both his extensive drums solos, sometimes running over fifteen minutes, as well as for being a fine accompanist playing quietly in the background. Served in big bands led by Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Duke Ellington, notably writing Skin Deep while with the latter. Well over 50 albums to his name as a leader or co-leader, acclaimed especially for Concerto For Drums released in 1956. Married to singer Pearl Bailey from 1952 until her death in 1990, for whom he also served as musical director. In a 2005 interview with Jazz Connection magazine, looking back on his lengthy career, Bellson talked of his main influences: “I have to give just dues to two guys who really got me off on the drums, Big Sid Catlett and Jo Jones. All three of us (Bellson, Rich, Krupa) realized what Jones did and it influenced a lot of us. We all three looked to Jo as the ‘Papa’ who really did it. Gene helped bring the drums to the foreground. Buddy was a great natural player. But we also have to look back at Chick Webb's contributions, too” ~ Balassoni passed away in 2009
July 6, 1916 ~ Jazz pianist Bill Clifton born in Toronto, Canada ~ An in-demand accompanist of the swing era, and considered an early and important influence on jazz pianist Bill Evans. Clifton decided to become a professional musician after hearing the music of Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington. Noted for his Piano Moods, released in 1950 as one of the first long-playing records, yet best known as a sideman to the likes of Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Bud Freeman, and Abe Lyman. Clifton also accompanied some of the era's greatest singers including Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Ukulele Ike, and Ilene Woods ~ Clifton passed away in 1967
July 6, 1903 ~ Country, bluegrass guitarist, singer Charlie Monroe born in Rosine, Kentucky, USA ~ Older brother of bluegrass icon Bill Monroe, with whom he also worked. Founded Kentucky Pardners which at times included Lester Flatt, Red Rector, Curly Seckler and Ira Louvin ~ Monroe passed away in 1975July 6, 1902 ~ Jazz bassist, double bassist Louis Vola born in La-Seyne-sur-Mer, France ~ Best known for his work with Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli as a co-founding member of the Quintette du Hot Club. Has also worked with Ray Ventura, Duke Ellington and with Charles Trenet ~ Vola passed away in 1990
July 6, 1892 ~ Songwriter, lyricist, screenwriter Jack Yellen, full name Jack Selig Yellen, born in Raczki, Russian Empire ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Happy Days Are Here Again, first recorded by Charles King in 1929 and covered by numerous artists including Leo Reisman, Ben Selvin, Bert Ambrose, Adriano Celentano. The song would be used for Franklin Roosevelt's 1932 presidential campaign. Other well known songs co-written by Yellen include Ain't She Sweet (Lou Gold, Pearl Bailey, Gene Vincent, Frank Sinatra), Happy Feet (Paul Whiteman, Leo Reisman, Jack Hylton), Hard Hearted Hannah (The Vamp Of Savannah) (Ukulele Ike, Ray McKinley, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles), and My Yiddishe Momme (Willie Howard, Patti Page, Connie Francis) ~ Yellen passed away in 1991