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 9, 1944 ~ Foster MacKenzie III, commonly known as singer, guitarist Root Boy Slim, born in Asheville, North Carolina, USA ~ Best known for founding and fronting the Sex Change Band, with whom he enjoyed a dedicated fan base in the Washington DC and adjacent Maryland area. The band is best known for their Gary Katz-produced Root Boy Slim & The Sex Change Band With The Rootettes debut album, which included their best known song Boogie Till You Puke. Following his graduation MacKenzie once climbed over the White House fence. The United States Secret service apprehended him and he told officers he was looking for the center of the universe. The incident, brought on by a psychotic break, would lead to a stay at a mental hospital and a diagnosis of schizophrenia, for which he would be medicated the rest of his life ~ MacKenzie passed away in 1993July 9, 1941 ~ R&B singer, songwriter Donald McPherson born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Co-founding member of Main Ingredient, present on songs such as You've Been My Inspiration, Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling In Love) and the McPherson-penned Black Seeds Keep On Growing. McPherson died unexpectedly of leukemia at age 29, Cuba Gooding Sr taking his place as lead singer in the band ~ McPherson passed away in 1971
July 9, 1940 ~ Singer John Salvato born in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA ~ Co-founding member of doo-wop outfit the Duprees, known for 1960s songs such as My Own True Love, Have You Heard, and perhaps their best known You Belong To Me, the latter a favorite with doo-wop and R&B aficionados to this day
July 9, 1938 ~ Film composer Paul Chihara, full name Paul Seiko Chihara, born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Composer-in-residence of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Composer-in-residence of the San Francisco Ballet for about a decade. Composed for numerous films including I Never Promised You A Rose Garden, Crackers, Crossing Delancey and for the 1990 Broadway-production Shogun The Musical
July 9, 1935 ~ Free jazz saxophonist Frank Wright born in Grenada, Mississippi, USA ~ Wright got his start in music playing the bass guitar, backing the likes of Rosco Gordon, Bobby Blue Bland, and BB King, before inspired by Albert Ayler switching to the saxophone. Throughout his career, Wright never became a household name yet with his frantic style, taking an explosive approach to the saxophone rooted in the gutsy emotions of R&B and the blues wailers from his Southern roots, Wright has been acknowledged as a key player in the development of free jazz. Wright was held in high esteem especially in Europe where with only brief intermissions he has lived since the late 1960s. Over the course of his career, Wright has recorded over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, notably the 1967 masterpiece Your Prayer, and has appeared on albums by Noah Howard, Hans Dulfer (El Saxofon), Hannibal Lokumbe, Peter Brötzmann, and Cecil Taylor (Olu Iwa). Close friend and regular collaborator Peter Brötzmann has been quoted as saying: “Wright was a wild man, in a good sense, made music and lived life in his own way. He was one of the first black Americans we got to know really well, and we all learned a lot from that.” Saxophonist John Coltrane dubbed the younger Wright “Little brother”, while others have referred to Wright as “Reverend Frank Wright” for the spirituality of his playing ~ Wright passed away in 1990
July 9, 1935 ~ Singer Mercedes Sosa, full name Haydée Mercedes Sosa, born in Tucuman, Argentina ~ Dubbed “La Negra”, considered one of the premier exponents of nueva cancion updating traditional folk. Refused to leave the country after the military coup in 1976 and would eventually be arrested by the Videla regime during a show along with all the concert-goers. Best known for her Gracias A La Vida signature song. International pressure would lead to her release and she Sosa spent a number of years in exile. Has collaborated with a host of Argentinian and international stars including Martha Argerich, Andrea Bocelli, David Broza, Jaime Roos, Joan Baez, Francis Cabrel, Lucio Dalla, Gal Costa, Lucecita Benítez, Charly García, Nana Moskouri, Pablo Milanés, Milton Nascimento, Pata Negra, Luciano Pavarotti, Shakira, Sting, and Caetano Veloso ~ Sosa passed away in 2009July 9, 1934 ~ Jazz drummer Colin Bailey, full name Colin James Bailey, born in Swindon, UK ~ Worked with Winifred Atwell, Bryce Rohde, the Australian Jazz Quartet, Vince Guaraldi (Jazz Impressions Of Black Orpheus), Clare Fischer, Joe Pass, Miles Davis, Benny Goodman, George Shearing, Frank Sinatra, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Ed Shaughnessy, Richie Cole, Jimmy Rowles, Red Mitchell, Stefan Scaggiari, Ron Affiff, and Weslia Whitfield ~ Bailey passed away in 2021
July 9, 1930 ~ Louis Isidore Bregman, commonly known as arranger, conductor Buddy Bregman, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ First gained attention arranging the Cheers' Bazoom I Need Your Lovin', the first major hit for songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Would go on to become orchestra leader for CBS Radio and by age 25 head Verve's A&R department. Has arranged and conducted for Rosemary Clooney, Anita O'Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Toni Harper, Jane Powell, Ricky Nelson, Fred Astaire, and Gogi Grant ~ Bregman passed away in 2017
July 9, 1929 ~ Bluegrass, country, gospel mandolinist, fiddler, guitarist, singer Jesse McReynolds, full name Jesse Lester McReynolds, born in Coeburn, Virginia, USA ~ Known for his innovative technique on the mandolin. Formed the duo Jim & Jesse with his brother Jim McReynolds, recording and performing from the 1950s until Jim's death in 2002. Guested on the Doors' 1969 Soft Parade album. Has also recorded with Bill Monroe and with bluegrass supergroup the Masters ~ McReynolds passed away in 2023
July 9, 1929 ~ Producer, singer, songwriter Lee Hazlewood, full name Barton Lee Hazlewood, born in Mannford, Oklahoma, USA ~ Widely acclaimed as genius, ranked among America's all-time greatest songwriters. Best known for his work producing Duane Eddy in the 1950s and collaborating with Nancy Sinatra in the 1960s including producing and writing These Boots Are Made For Walkin'. As a solo artist best known for his output in the 1960s, often described as cowboy psychedelia. Once described as the world's cheeriest fatalist, especially due to his 1969 masterpiece Trouble Is A Lonesome Town. Hazlewood would retire from music by the early 1970s ~ Hazlewood passed away in 2007
July 9, 1927 ~ Edmund Dantes Urick, commonly known as traditional pop singer, actor Ed Ames, born in Malden, Massachusetts, USA ~ Member of family outfit the Ames Brothers, known for a number of 1950s hits including Rag Mop, Sentimental Me, Can Anyone Explain (No No No), Undecided, The Man With The Banjo, The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane and Tammy. Ames is also well known as an actor, noted for portraying Mingo in the TV series Daniel Boone ~ Ames passed away in 2023
July 9, 1924 ~ Organist, composer Pierre Cochereau, full name Pierre Eugène Charles Cochereau, born in Saint-Mandé, France ~ Best known as organist of the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris from 1955 until his death nearly three decades later. Regarded as one of the greatest organists and improvisers of his day. After his death the Conservatory of Nice would be renamed in his honour ~ Cochereau passed away in 1984
July 9, 1923 ~ Lois LaVerne Williamson, commonly known as country singer Molly O'Day, born in Pike County, Kentucky, USA ~ After some limited success in local dances and radio bands, notably with Johnnie Bailes first gained serious attention in 1940 teaming up with Lynn Davis & his Forty Niners, marrying Lynn Davis within a few months. In 1945 the band would be renamed to the Cumberland Mountain boys to be quickly discovered by renowned music publisher Fred Rose. Successes such as Six More Miles, The Tramp On The Street and Singing Waterfall quickly followed. Recorded and toured throughout the 1960s, retiring from the stage by the 1960s to focus on singing in churches and do evangelistic work despite attempts by among others Ralph Stanley to lure her back to the stage ~ Williamson passed away in 1987July 9, 1921 ~ Jazz drummer Irv Kluger born in New York, New York, USA ~ Played violin before learning drums. Mostly active during the 1940s. Worked with Georgie Auld, Bob Chester, Freddie Slack, Dizzy Gillespie, Boyd Raeburn, Bobby Byrne, Herbie Fields, Stan Kenton, Artie Shaw, Tex Beneke, the Gramercy Five, Dave Pell, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, and Pete Rugolo ~ Kluger passed away in 2006
July 9, 1916 ~ Pianist, songwriter Joe Liggins born in Seminole, Oklahoma, USA ~ Architect, along with artists such as Roy Milton, of the small-band jump blues. Co-founded and fronted Honeydrippers, best known for their 1945 smash hit Honeydripper. Other notable recordings include Got A Right To Cry, Tanya, Blow Mr Jackson, Little Joe's Boogie, and Pink Champagne. ~ Liggins passed away in 1987
July 9, 1915 ~ Composer David Diamond, full name David Leo Diamond, born in Rochester, New York, USA ~ Classical composer best known for 1944's Rounds for string orchestra. Composed symphonies, concertos, chamber music, piano pieces and vocal music. Honorary composer-in-residence of the Seattle Symphony ~ Diamond passed away in 2005July 9, 1890 ~ Walter Henry Heath, commonly known as songwriter Hy Heath, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Frequent songwriting partner of the likes of Johnny Lange and Fred Rose. Co-wrote Mule Train, used in the 1950 film Singing Guns where it was sung by Vaughn Monroe. It would earn Heath an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, losing out to Mona Lisa from Captain Carey USA. Heath also co-wrote Take These Chains From My Heart with Fred Rose, originally recorded by Hank Williams and covered by well over a hundred artists including Ray Charles, George Jones, Don Gibson, and Glen Campbell. Others who recorded songs co-written by Heath include Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Jordan, Kitty Wells, and Joni James ~ Heath passed away in 1965
July 9, 1869 ~ Composer, conductor, violinist Arnold Volpe born in Lithuania ~ Composed mainly chamber music, including string quartets and mazurkas for violin and orchestra ~ Volpe passed away in 1940