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 26, 1944 ~ Saxophonist, flutist, singer Arthur Doyle born in Birmingham, Alabama, USA ~ Worked with Gladys Knight, Pharoah Sanders, Sun Ra, Noah Howard, Milford Graves, Alan Silva, the Blue Humans, the Celestial Communication Orchestra, Rudolph Gret, Konx, Sunny Murray, and Hamid Drake ~ Doyle passed away in 2014
June 26, 1943 ~ Clive Powell, commonly known as singer, keyboardist Georgie Fame, born in Leigh, UK ~ One of the first white musicians to be influenced by ska, alongside genres such as jazz and blues. Known for the 1960s UK No.1 hits Yeh Yeh, Get Away, and The Ballad Of Bonnie & Clyde. In-demand sideman and collaborator, having worked with the likes of Andy Fairweather Low, Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading, Craig Nuttycombe, Van Morrison, and Bill Wyman
June 26, 1942 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Gilberto Gil, full name Gilberto Passos Gil Moreira, born in Salvador, Brazil ~ Draws from rock, samba, world music, reggae, soul, disco. Key figure of the late 1960s. Frequent collaborator of Caetano Veloso. Acclaimed for his 1977 Refavela album incorporating African rhythms and a landmark album in Afro-Brazilian music
June 26, 1942 ~ Blues-rock, rock bassist Larry Taylor, full name Samuel Lawrence Taylor, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Bassist and occasional guitarist for Canned Heat through 1970, appearing on the albums Canned Heat, Boogie With Canned Heat, Living The Blues, and Hallelujah. Taylor was present for the performances at the Monterrey International Pop Festival in 1967 and the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in 1969. Taylor is also closely associated with the Monkees, with whom he recorded five albums and notably present on Last Train To Clarksville, the band's last major hit, and with John Mayall, joining Mayall's backing unit the Bluesbreakers after his departure from Canned Heat. Taylor has also appeared on albums by Don Sugarcane Harris, Albert King, Leo Kottke, Chuck E Weiss, John Lee Hooker (The Healer), Charlie Musselwhite, JJ Cale, Tom Waits (Mule Variations), Candye Kane, Kelly Joe Phelps, and Tracy Chapman. Taylor's older brother Mel Taylor is the drummer for surf outfit the Ventures ~ Taylor passed away in 2019June 26, 1939 ~ George Timothy Braithwaite, commonly known as soul jazz saxophonist George Braith, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Known for playing multiple horns at once, a technique pioneered by Rahsaan Roland Kirk. As a leader especially acclaimed for his 1967 Musart album. Has guested on albums by Big John Patton, Roy Ayers, Grant Green, and Bertha Hope. Braith is featured in a mosaic in the 72nd Street station of the New York subway
June 26, 1938 ~ R&B, soul, pop, sunshine pop singer Billy Davis Jr born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Married to singer Marilyn McCoo, his bandmate in the 5th Dimension. The couple also scored a number of hits as a duo including I Hope We Get To Love In Time, You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show), My Reason To Be and Saving All My Love For You, the latter later notably covered by Whitney Houston
June 26, 1937 ~ Reginald Workman, commonly known as jazz, avant-garde jazz, hard bop bassist, double bassist Reggie Workman born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for his associations with John Coltrane, including on the albums My Favorite Things and Olé Coltrane, and with Art Blakey. Over half a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, especially acclaimed for the mid 1990s albums Summit Conference and Cerebral Caverns. Member of Trio 3. Also frequently collaborated with Archie Shepp, Herbie Mann, and Mal Waldron. Other notable associations include Donald Byrd, Duke Jordan, Gigi Gryce, Grant Green, Freddie Hubbard (Hub-Tones), Wayne Shorter (Night Dreamer), Booker Ervin, Roy Ayers, Pharoah Sanders, Max Roach, and Alice ColtraneJune 26, 1935 ~ Pianist, singer Theophilus Beckford born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Considered a pioneer of Jamaican music, especially noted for helping define ska. As a solo artist, Beckford is best known for Easy Snappin', a hit in 1959. Worked with Stanley Motta, Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid, Prince Buster, Leslie Kong, Clancy Eccles, Junior Byles, and the GG All-Stars ~ Beckford passed away in 2001
June 26, 1934 ~ Country, bluegrass mandolinist Frank Wakefield, full name Franklin Delano Roosevelt Wakefield, born in Emory Gap, Tennessee, USA ~ Learned the harmonica, guitar, and bass as a child, switching to mandolin in his mid-teens, Wakefield would eventually become one of the most acclaimed and innovative mandolinists, expanding the range of the instrument. Has recorded about a dozen albums as a solo artist, most noted for Frank Wakefield With Country Cooking released in 1972. An in-demand collaborator and sideman, Wakefield is especially known for his work with Red Allen, Jimmy Martin, the Greenbriar Boys, and Ralph Stanley. In the 1960s, Wakefield has also made strides in the classical world, composing classical mandolin sonatas and arranging classical pieces for traditional bluegrass instruments, leading to performances with the New York Philharmonic, then led by Leonard Bernstein, and guest appearances with the Boston Pops. To rock audiences, Wakefield is well known for touring with Jerry Garcia, as well as with the New Riders Of The Purple Sage, and for opening for the Grateful Dead. Wakefield has also recorded with Don McLean, David Grisman (Early Dawg), the all-star outfit the Bluegrass Mandolin Ensemble (Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza), and Bill Jorgenson ~ Wakefield passed away in 2024June 26, 1930 ~ James Deuchar, commonly known as jazz trumpeter, arranger Jimmy Deuchar, born in Dundee, UK ~ Taught the trumpet by John Lynch. Rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s, to become regarded as one of Britain's premier bebop trumpeters. As a leader, especially renowned for his eponymous 1953 Jimmy Deuchar album. Closely associated with Tubby Hayes, and the Clarke-Boland Big Band, recording over half a dozen albums with each. An in-demand sideman into the 1990s, Deuchar has appeared on albums by Victor Feldman, Georgie Fame, Mark Murphy, Charlie Watts (Live At Fulham Town Hall), Jack Sharpe, Chris Barber, the Jazz Couriers, Monica Zetterlund, Ronnie Scott, Johnny Keating, Allen Eager, and Zoot Sims ~ Deuchar passed away in 1993
June 26, 1928 ~ Jazz saxophonist Don Lanphere, full name Donald Gale Lanphere, born in Wenatchee, Washington, USA ~ Burst onto the New York scene in his late teens with a series of impressive recordings including with Fats Navarro, Woody Herman, Artie Shaw, Claude Thornhill, Charlie Barnet, and Billy May, before disappearing from view after a drug bust. For some two decades, Lanphere either ran the family music store or was out of music altogether, before making a remarkable comeback recording some dozen albums from the early 1980s until his death, including the acclaimed Into Somewhere, Don Still Loves Midge, and Lopin', the latter featuring Bud Shank and Denney Goodhew ~ Lanphere passed away in 2003June 26, 1927 ~ Lucy Ardans, commonly known as pianist, conductor Lucy Scarbrough, born in Encino, New Mexico, USA ~ A lifelong admirer of Frédéric Chopin, Scarbrough is perhaps best known for founding the El Paso Chopin Festival. As a conductor most closely associated with the El Paso Opera and the El Paso Civic Orchestra, working with the latter for some three decades ~ Scarbrough passed away in 2020
June 26, 1926 ~ Fiddler Kenny Baker, full name Kenny Clayton Baker, born in Burdine, Kentucky, USA ~ Influenced by Marion Sumner, Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli. Considered one of the most infuential fiddlers in bluegrass. Best known as a member of the Bluegrass Boys, backing Bill Monroe for over two decades starting in 1957, his characteristic long-bow style adding a smoothness and clarity to the band's sound. Baker has recorded about a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, notably 1955's Baker's Dozen featuring a young Sam Bush, and has appeared as a sideman on numerous albums including by Josh Graves, Buck White, Charlie McCoy (Harpin' The Blues), Tom T Hall, Mac Wiseman, the Osborne Brothers (The Bluegrass Collection), Pete Wernick, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Alison Krauss (Two Highways), the Masters, the Yellowjackets (Greenhouse), Mark O'Connor, John Lee Hooker (Don't Look Back), and Bill Jorgenson ~ Baker passed away in 2011June 26, 1925 ~ Jazz pianist, composer, arranger Ken Moule, full name Kenneth John Moule, born in Barking, UK ~ Got his start in his music in the 1940s, backing the likes of Johnny Dankworth, Oscar Rabin, Remo Cavalotti, Bobby Kevin, Bert Ambrose, and Frank Weir. As a composer, Moule is perhaps best known for the suite Jazz At The Toad released in 1958, based on the Kenneth Grahame children's book The Wind In The Willows. From the mid 1950s through the early 1980s, Moule led a number of ensembles employing sidemen such as Cab Kaye, George Chisholm, Lennie Bush, Allan Ganley, Don Rendell, and Kenny Wheeler. In the late 1970s, Moule notably served as the music arranger for the BBC drama series Secret Army, also appearing as Paul, the restaurant pianist, in several episodes ~ Moule passed away in 1986
June 26, 1915 ~ Singer, songwriter Joan Whitney, full name Joan Whitney Kramer, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Student of vocal coach Alex Kramer, whom she eventually married. As a husband-wife songwriting team they would become known for penning a number of hits, notably the 1947 Jimmy Dorsey-hit High On A Windy Hill. Other successes would include Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens for Louis Jordan, Deep As The River for Harry Belafonte and Love Somebody for Buddy Clark and Doris Day ~ Whitney passed away in 1990
June 26, 1905 ~ Stella Gloria Crowson, commonly known as jazz singer Teddy Grace, born in Arcadi, Louisiana, USA ~ Radio singer working with big bands led by Bob Crosby, Paul Whiteman, Al Katz, Tommy Christian, and Mal Hallett for most of the 1930s. Recorded for Decca Records from 1937 to 1940 working with sidemen such as Bobby Hackett, Jack Teagarden, Charlie Shavers, Buster Bailey, Pee Wee Russell, and Bud Freeman. Joined the Women's Army Corps in 1940, sang at war bond rallies, lost her voice and was unable to speak for years, never again sang ~ Crowson passed away in 1992June 26, 1903 ~ James Burke Oden, commonly known as blues singer, pianist, songwriter St Louis Jimmy Oden, born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for his 1941 single Goin' Down Slow. His friend and frequent collaborator Muddy Waters would record Oden's Take The Bitter With The Sweet and Soon Forgotten. Has also worked with Roosevelt Sykes, Guitar Pete Franklin, Sunnyland Slim, and Otis Spann ~ Oden passed away in 1977
June 26, 1902 ~ Classical tenor Hugues Cuénod, full name Hugues-Adhémar Cuénod, born in Corseaux-sur-Vevey, Switzerland ~ Helpful in reviving interest in Baroque music. Active since the 1920s, initially as a concert recitalist. Would go on to enjoy an international career in opera, operetta and musical theatre, praised for his diction and technique. Has sung with La Scala, the Royal Opera House, and holds the record for the oldest person to debut at the Metropolitan Opera, appearing as Emperor Altoum in Giacomo Puccini's Turandot in 1987 at the age of 84 ~ Cuénod passed away in 2010
June 26, 1901 ~ Albert Irving Silverman, commonly known as songwriter, lyricist Al Stillman, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing I Believe, recorded by Jane Froman, Mahalia Jackson, Elvis Presley, the Rascals, and Loretta Lynn, and for co-writing Home For The Holidays, recorded by Perry Como, Lorne Greene, Johnny Tillotson, and the Carpenters. Others who recorded his songs include Ray Kinney, Tommy Dorsey, the Four Lads, Pat Boone, and Cher ~ Silverman passed away in 1979