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 6, 1951 ~ Edward Gernel Fletcher, commonly known as hip-hop producer, rapper Duke Bootee, born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA ~ Best known for co-writing and appearing on the Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five 1982 hit The Message. The single is considered a landmark hip hop recording as one of the first to take rap music from the house parties of its origins and venture into providing social commentary, its lyrics telling of the stress of inner-city poverty, lack of prospects, and crime ~ Fletcher passed away in 2021June 6, 1951 ~ Rock, power pop singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter Dwight Twilley born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ~ Known best for two Billboard Hot 100 top 20 singles, I'm On Fire in 1975 with his backing unit the Dwight Twilley Band, and Girls in 1984. The latter would feature labelmate Tom Petty providing counterpoint vocals ~ Twilley passed away in 2023
June 6, 1949 ~ Jazz drummer, percussionist Paul Lovens born in Aachen, West Germany ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Alexander von Schlippenbach, the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, the Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, Cecil Taylor, Harri Sjöström, Eugene Chadbourne, Peter Brötzmann, Philipp Wachsmann, and Joëlle Léandre
June 6, 1948 ~ Progressive rock, jazz fusion bassist, guitarist, singer Richard Sinclair born in Canterbury, UK ~ Emerged from the Canterbury scene as a member of several quintessential British bands. Briefly a member of Wilde Flowers in the mid 1960s. Co-founded Caravan in 1968, for whom he wrote In The Land Of Grey And Pink, Golf Girl, and Winter Wine. Subsequently formed Hatfield & the North, notably present on acclaimed albums such as Hatfield & The North and The Rotters' Club. Member of Camel during the late 1970s, member of In Cahoots during the early 1980sJune 6, 1946 ~ Bassist Tony Levin, full name Anthony Frederick Levin, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ In-demand session musician appearing on over some 500 albums. Has worked with King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, Liquid Tension Experiment, John Lennon, Sarah McLachlan, Stevie Nicks, Paul Simon, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Tom Waits, Todd Rundgren, Seal, Warren Zevon, Bryan Ferry, and Laurie Anderson
June 6, 1944 ~ Electronic music pioneer Edgar Froese, full name Edgar Willmar Froese born in Tilsit, Germany ~ Founded Tangerine Dream. Had previously founded psychedelic rock outfit the Ones, once invited to play at Salvador Dali's villa. The encounter inspired Froese to seek a more experimental approach in his music ~ Froese passed away in 2015
June 6, 1944 ~ Montgomery Bernard Alexander, commonly known as jazz pianist Monty Alexander born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Inlfuenced by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Oscar Peterson, Frank Sinatra. Learned piano as a child. Played with Frank Sinatra, befriended Ray Brown and Milt Jackson, while still in his teens. Has worked with Ernest Ranglin, Ed Thigpen, Othello Molineaux, Ernestine Anderson, Mary Stallings, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Golson, James Griffin, and Frank Morgan. Has been married to guitarist Emily Remler, currently married to jazz singer Caterina Zapponi
June 6, 1943 ~ Rock, country singer, pianist, songwriter Joe Stampley born in Springhill, Louisiana, USA ~ Fronted 1960s rock group the Uniques, known for Not Too Long Ago and All These Things. As a solo artist known for a number of 1970s, 1980s Billboard Country top 10 hits. Well known songs include Soul Song, I'm Still Loving You, Take Me Home To Somewhere, Roll On Big Mama, Red Wine And Blue Memories and I'm Gonna Love You Back To Loving Me Again. Also known as a frequent collaborator of singer Moe Bandy, notably on the collaborative albums Just Good Ol' Boys released in 1979 and its follow-up Hey Joe Hey Moe two years later
June 6, 1942 ~ Author, music journalist, blues scholar Paul Garon, full name Paul Arthur Garon, born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Noted for his writings on surrealist works. To blues audiences best known as founding editor of the Living Blues magazine in 1970, which in time would become to be considered an authority on blues music. Authored several books on blues and blues musicians, including A Woman With Guitar (Memphis Minnie's Blues) on Memphis Minnie and The Devil's Son In-Law (The Story Of Peetie Wheatstraw And His Songs) on Peetie Wheatstraw ~ Garon passed away in 2022
June 6, 1939 ~ Composer, pianist Louis Andriessen, full name Louis Joseph Andriessen, born in Utrecht, the Netherlands ~ Son of composer Hendrik Andriessen. Brother of composers Jurriaan Andriessen and Caecilia Andriessen. Co-founded Orkest de Volharding and Hoketus. Also worked with the Schonberg Ensemble, ASKO, and Icebreaker ~ Andriessen passed away in 2021
June 6, 1936 ~ Levi Stubbles, commonly known as singer Levi Stubbs, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Brother of singer Joe Stubbs who sang with 100 Proof (Aged In Soul), the Falcons, the Contours, and the Originals. Best known as longtime lead singer of the Four Tops, known for songs such as Baby I Need Your Lovin', It's The Same Old Song, Reach Out I'll Be There, Bernadette, Standing In The Shadows Of Love, and Loco In Acapulco ~ Stubbs passed away in 2008June 6, 1936 ~ Blues harpist, singer Raful Neal born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA ~ Bandmate of Buddy Guy in the Clouds. Critically acclaimed for a number of 1990s solo albums. Also worked with Tab Benoit and with the Hoodoo Kings. Nine of his ten children are also blues musicians, including singer Jackie Neal and guitarist Kenny Neal ~ Neal passed away in 2004
June 6, 1935 ~ Jazz guitarist, composer Grant Green born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Father of Grant Green Jr. Green Senior was influenced by Charlie Christian, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Jimmy Raney. Has recorded extensively, both as a leader and as a sideman. Made his first recordings in 1959 backing Jimmy Forrest with Elvin Jones on drums (the LPs All The Gin Is Gone and Black Forrest). Has also backed artists such as Sam Lazar, Willie Dixon, Brother Jack McDuff, Baby Face Willette, Hank Mobley, Stanley Turrentine, Lou Donaldson, Ike Quebec, Horace Parlan, Jimmy Smith, Lee Morgan, Donald Byrd, Wild Bill Davis, Reuben Wilson, and Houston Person. As a leader Green has recorded since the early 1960s, mostly for Blue Note Records, up to his death ~ Green passed away in 1979
June 6, 1925 ~ Jazz trombonist Al Grey born in Aldie, Virginia, USA ~ Best remembered for his work with Count Basie's orchestra. Also worked with Benny Carter, Jimmie Lunceford, Lucky Millinder, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Lorez Alexandria, Ray Bryant, Arnett Cobb, John Hicks, Johnny Hodges, Melba Liston, Jimmy McGriff, Jay McShann, Joe Newman, Oscar Pettiford, Pony Poindexter, Paul Quinichette, Clark Terry, and Randy Weston ~ Grey passed away in 2000
June 6, 1925 ~ Gloria Lane Kachmalnick, commonly known as mezzo-soprano Gloria Lane, born in Trenton, New Jersey, USA ~ Active from the late 1940 through the 1970s. First gained attention with the Broadway operas The Consul in 1950, and Saint Of St Bleeker Street a feww years later. Lane would go on to perform with noted orchstras in the USA and abroad including the New York City Opera, La Scala, the Royal Opera, the Vienna State Opera, and the Vancouver Opera ~ Krachmalnick passed away in 2016
June 6, 1916 ~ Daniel Doroteo Santos Betancourt, commonly known as guaracha, plena, rumba, bolero singer, composer Daniel Santos, born in Santurce, Puerto Rico ~ Active since the early 1930s, initially as a member of Trio Linco. Would go on to perform in night clubs and casinos. Rose to fame as member of Pedro Flores' El Cuarteto Flores, notably present on hits such as Perdon, Amor, El Ultimo Adios and Si Yo Fuera Millonario. After serving in the Army during World War II would emerge as a successful solo singer and songwriter, best remembered for Sierra Maestra ~ Santos passed away in 1992June 6, 1916 ~ Jazz pianist, lecturer, critic John Mehegan born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA ~ Head of jazz department at the Metropolitan Music School in the 1940s and 1950s. Jazz critic. Wrote numerous books on jazz. Recorded half a dozen albums with Charles Mingus, Kenny Clarke, Eddie Costa, and Vinnie Burke ~ Mehegan passed away in 1984
June 6, 1915 ~ Composer, pianist, teacher Vincent Persichetti born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Persichetti's students include Philip Glass, Bruce Adolphe, Louis Calabro, Michael Jeffrey Shapiro, Laurie Spiegel, Kenneth Fuchs, Richard Danielpour, Peter Schickele, Lowell Liebermann, Robert Witt, Elena Ruehr, Wiliam Schimmel, Leonardo Balada, and Leo Brouwer ~ Persichetti passed away in 1987
June 6, 1902 ~ Jazz, swing bandleader, saxophonist Jimmie Lunceford, full name James Melvin Lunceford, born in Fulton, Mississippi, USA ~ Popular during the 1930s and known for his distinctive two-beat rhythm, called the Lunceford two-beat. Well known songs include Rhythm Is Our Business, I'm Nuts About Screwy Business, Four Or Five Times, Wham (Re-bop-boom-bam), For Dancers Only and Stratosphere ~ Lunceford passed away in 1947
June 6, 1893 ~ Karl Karlsson, commonly known as accordionist, songwriter Calle Jularbo, born in Dalarna County, Sweden ~ Most famous accordionist of hist his time. Pivotal to forming Swedish accordion tradition. Extremely productive, recording over 1,500 songs during his career. Wrote and first recorded Livet i Finnskogarna, a song that would later be adapted by the Pinetoppers member George Vaughn Horton. The English version is known as Mocking Bird Hill and would be recorded by Les Paul & Mary Ford, popularized by Patti Page who scored a 1951 Billboard pop No.2 hit with it and later recorded by numerous others ~ Karlsson passed away in 1966
June 6, 1890 ~ Bandleader, singer Ted Lewis, full name Theodore Leopold Friedman, born in Circleville, Ohio, USA ~ Known as “Mr Entertainment”. Started serving under Earl Fuller in the late-1910s. Led his own band by the end of the decade, marketed as Columbia Records' answer to the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. Employed clarinetists such as Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey, Frank Teschemacher, Don Murray. Also included sidemen such as trumpeter Muggsy Spanier and trombonist George Brunies. Particular popular during the 1920s, second only to Paul Whiteman's orchestra ~ Lewis passed away in 1971