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.
June 14, 1940 ~ Pop rock songwriter, producer Bob Feldman, full name Robert C Feldman, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Formed a songwriter, producer team with Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer. The trio were responsible for 1960s hits such as Let's Stomp for Bobby Comstock, Betty Jean for Freddy Cannon, and My Boyfriend's Back for the Angels. The trio's Sorrow would be used as a B-side for the McCoys in 1965, but is better known as recorded by David Bowie who released it as the sole single of his 1973 Pin Ups album. Goldstein, Gottehrer and Feldman would also record several of their songs themselves under the moniker the Strangeloves, most notably I Want Candy, later covered by Brian Poole, the Surfaris, and Bow Wow Wow ~ Feldman passed away in 2023June 14, 1939 ~ Jazz bassist Kent Carter born in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA ~ Son of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra founder Alan Carter. Leader and sideman. Has worked with Steve Lacy, the Jazz Composers Orchestra, Paul Bley, and Gianni Lenoci. Has recorded as a leader since the mid 1970s
June 14, 1937 ~ Pianist Burton Greene born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Emerged from New York's 1960s avant-garde and free-jazz scene. Has worked with Alan Silva, Marion Brown, Cecil Taylor, Rashied Ali, Albert Ayler, Gato Barbieri, Byard Lancaster, Patty Waters, Maarten Altena, Willem Breuker, Roy Campbell Jr, Paul Smoker, and Klezmokum ~ Greene passed away in 2021
June 14, 1937 ~ Jazz double bassist Chuck Berghofer, full name Charles Curtis Berghofer, born in Denver, Colorado, USA ~ Influenced by Leroy Vinnegar, Paul Chambers, Ray Brown. Distinguished jazz bassist with a career spanning six decades. Reportedly worked on over 400 soundtracks. In-demand session musician in jazz, pop and rock. Present on albums by Herb Ellis, Shelly Manne, Nancy Wilson, Nancy Sinatra (Boots), the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Ella Fitzgerald, Love (Forever Changes), Elvis Presley, Frank Zappa, Ry Cooder, Barbra Streisand (The Broadway Album), Mel Tormé, Patti Austin (The Real Me), Bette Midler, Diane Schuur, and Aaron Neville
June 14, 1936 ~ Singer, songwriter Renaldo Benson born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Bass singer of the Four Tops, known for hits such as I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), Reach Out I'll Be There, Keeper Of The Castle, Ain't No Woman Like The One I've Got, Bernadette, and When She Was My Girl. Co-wrote Marvin Gaye's signature song What's Going On ~ Benson passed away in 2005
June 14, 1936 ~ Bossa nova, samba drummer, percussionist, singer Wilson Das Neves born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Key figure in Brazilian music with a career spanning five decades. Over half a dozen albums as a solo artist, especially noted for Samba-Tropi (Até Ai Morreu Neves) released in 1970. In-demand sideman, present on albums by both MPB and international artists including Deodato, Conjunto Castelinho, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Nara Leão, Sarah Vaughan, Chico Buarque, Paul Simon, Toots Thielemans, João Donato, Ney Matogrosso, Dóris Monteiro, and the Orquestra Imperial ~ Das Neves passed away in 2017June 14, 1934 ~ Mieke Berendina Johanna Telgenkamp, commonly known as singer Mieke Telkamp born in Oldenzaal, the Netherlands ~ Best known for her covers of American jazz and pop songs including Here In My Heart, Never On Sunday and Changing Of The Tides, her Dutch million-seller and longtime funeral favorite Waarheen Waarvoor, and for her German schlagers ~ Telkamp passed away in 2016
June 14, 1932 ~ Classical cornetist, trumpeter Marcel Lagorce, full name Antoine Marcel Lagorce, born in Ussel, France ~ Trumpet soloist with the Symphony Radio Orchestra from 1957 through 1967, and with the Orchestre De Paris from 1967 through 1993. Member of brass quintet Ars Nova, which also included hornist Georges Barboteu, trumpeter Bernard Jeannoutot, trombonist Camille Verdier, and tubist Elie Raynaud. Taught at Conservatoire de Paris, Paris from 1976 through 1988 ~ Lagorce passed away in 2023
June 14, 1931 ~ Jazz, boogie-woogie pianist, songwriter Jimmy Blythe, full name James Louis Blythe, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Best known for his 1924 recording Chicago Stomp, arguably the first boogie-woogie recording. Other well known songs include Mecca Flat Blues, East Coast Trot, Oriental Man, and Brown Skin Mama. Despite a relatively short career, cut short by his untimely death at age 30 of meningitis, Blythe has recorded with a host of artists including Alexander Robinson, Johnny Dodds, Lonnie Johnson, the State Street Ramblers, Buddy Barton, Charlie Clark, Ma Rainey, Trixie Smith, and proved influential especially on Pinetop Smith and Albert Ammons ~ Blythe was born in 1901
June 14, 1929 ~ Delta blues singer, guitarist Charley Patton records Pony Blues in Richmond, Indiana, USA ~ Penned by Charley Patton. Released later the same year, b/w Banty Rooster Blues. Recorded during his first session, alongside an odd dozen others songs, it would go on to become an oft-covered blues classic. Artists who covered the song include Son House, Howlin' Wolf, Canned Heat, Son House, and Corey HarrisJune 14, 1920 ~ Composer Jacques Datin born in Saint-Lô, France ~ Often collaborated with Maurice Vidalin. Artists who have recorded his songs include Juliette Gréco, Colette Renard, Michèle Arnaud, Marcel Amont, Jean-Jacques Debout, Barbara, France Gall, Jean-Claude Pascal (1961 Eurovision Songfestival winner Nous Les Amoureux), Françoise Hardy, Serge Lama, Claude Nougaro, Serge Reggiani, and Edith Piaf ~ Datin passed away in 1973
June 14, 1909 ~ Balladeer, banjoist, actor Burl Ives, full name Burl Cole Ivanhoe Ives, born in Hunt City, Illinois, USA ~ Known for his own radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger, popularizing folk songs. Would cross over into country music, releasing a string of singles, often covers, such as A little Bitty Tear and A Funny Way Of Laughin'. Also known as an actor, notably earning an Academy Award for his supporting rol as Rufus Hannassey in the 1958 The Big Country film ~ Ives passed away in 1995
June 14, 1908 ~ Arranger, composer, orchestra leader John Scott Trotter born in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA ~ Closely associated with Bing Crosby, backing the singer with the Trotter Orchestra from 1937 through 1954. Also worked with Vince Guaraldi scoring, arranging, conducting the soundtracks to one film and a series of Peanuts TV specials starting with 1966's It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown up to You're A Good Sport Charlie Brown, the latter first aired one day before Trotter's death ~ Trotter passed away in 1975June 14, 1895 ~ Clifton Avon Edwards, commonly known as singer, ukulele player, actor Ukulele Ike, born in Hannibal, Missouri, USA ~ Singer, popular in the 1920s and 1930s with jazzy renditions of pop standards. Scored a No.1 hit in 1929 with Singing In The Rain. Also known as a voice actor in several Walt Disney films including Pinocchio, Dumbo and Fun And Fancy Free ~ Edwards passed away in 1971
June 14, 1835 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer Nikolai Rubinstein, commonly known as Nikolai Grigoryevich Rubinstein, born in Moscow, Russian Empire ~ Generally regarded as one of the greatest pianists of his day, though his reputation over time would become overshadowed by that of his brother Anton Rubinstein. Founded the Moscow Conservatory in 1866, serving as its director until his death. Also known for encouraging and advancing the appeal of Pyotr Tchaikovsky, including premiering the latter's Eugene Onegin opera in 1879. Tchaikovsky would later write Piano Trio In A Minor in Rubinstein's memory ~ Rubinstein passed away in 1881