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.
March 11, 1940 ~ Jose Alberto Garcia Gallo, commonly known as singer, songwriter Alberto Cortez born in Rancul, Argentina ~ Began elementary school at Conservatory at age 6. Began composing by age 12. Sang in Argentine with the Arizona Orchestra and with Mario Cardi. Sang and toured with the San Francisco Jazz Orchesetra. Moved to Belgium at age 20 and recorded his first album, Suco Suco. Eventually established himself as one of Latin America's most renowned composers ~ Gallo passed away in 2019March 11, 1940 ~ Minimalist flutist, saxophonist, songwriter Jon Gibson born ~ Best known for his association with Philip Glass, co-founding member of the Philip Glass Ensemble and crucial to the development of Glass' sound. Acclaimed for his 1973 Visitations solo debut album, considered a landmark in minimalist music. Has also worked with Larry Austin, Richard Swift, Stanley Lunetta, and Steve Reich ~ Gibson passed away in 2020
March 11, 1939 ~ Leonardo Jiménez, commonly known as accordionist, singer Flaco Jiménez, born in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Son of conjunto pioneer Santiago Jiménez Sr. Influenced by Clifton Chenier. Vibrant accordion virtuoso drawing from norteño, tex mex and tejano music, with some two dozen albums to his name starting in the early 1970s. Especially acclaimed for the 1988 Arriba El Norte album. Member of Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados. Guested on Ry Cooder's Chicken Skin Music and on the Rolling Stones's Voodoo Lounge. Has also collaborated with the likes of Doug Sahm, Dr John, David Lindley, Peter Rowan, Bob Dylan, and Dwight Yoakam ~ Jiménez passed away in 2025March 11, 1939 ~ Susanna Talley, commonly known as country, folk singer, songwriter Susanna Clark, born in Atlanta, Texas, USA ~ Married to Guy Clark. Wrote or co-wrote several well known country songs including Dottsy's I'll Be Your San Antone Rose, Don Williams' Come From The Heart and Carlene Carter's Easy From Now On ~ Talley passed away in 2012
March 11, 1932 ~ Trumpeter, flugelhornist Atle Hammer born in Oslo, Norway ~ Towering figure on the Oslo jazz scene known for several international collaborations. Trained in the USA as a civil engineer and worked at the Norwegian State Railways before establishing himself as the leading trumpeter in Norway in the 1950s. Played with a host of artists including Erik Amundsen, Mikkel Flagstad, Egil Kapstad, Laila Dalseth, Pepper Adams, George Russell, Red Holloway, Bjarne Nerem, James Moody, Terje Venaas, Elvin Sannes, Tom Olstad, Harald Bergersen, Erling Aksdal, Thorgeir Stubø, and the Per Husby Quintet ~ Hammer passed away in 2017
March 11, 1932 ~ Avant-garde jazz, contemporary classical violinist, violist, composer Leroy Jenkins born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. First gained attention playing with the loose collective the Association For The Advancement Of Creative Musicians in the mid 1960s, led by Muhal Richard Abrams. First recorded in 1967, appearing on Abrams' Levels And Degrees Of Light. Would team up with Anthony Braxton and Wadada Leo Smith recording Braxton's 3 Compositions Of Jazz album the following year. Would go on to collaborate with Creative Construction Company, Archie Shepp, Philly Joe Jones, Alan Silva, Don Cherry, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Paul Motian, Dewey Redman, Andrew Cyrille, and Cecil Taylor. As a composer gapped the bridge between several idioms including jazz, classical and rap, and perhaps best known for his 1994 Fresh Faust jazz-rap opera. At the time of his death Jenkins was working on two new operas, Bronzeville and Minor Triad, the latter a musical drama about the lives of Paul Robeson, Lena Horne and Cab Calloway ~ Jenkins passed away in 2007March 11, 1931 ~ Jazz drummer, arranger Allan Ganley, full name Allan Anthony Ganley, born in Tolworth, UK ~ Took up drumming in his mid-teens, playing professionally a few years later after a stint in the Royal Air Force. Got his start in music playing in ensembles led by Jack Parnell, Bert Ambrose, and Johnny Dankworth. Closely associated with Tubby Hayes and Cleo Laine, recording several albums with each since the early 1960s. Would go on to appear on albums by the likes of Ronnie Ross, Joe Harriott (Indo-Jazz Suite), Jim Hall, Slim Gaillard, Stéphane Grappelli, Spike Robinson (It's A Wonderful World), Al Cohn (Keeper Of The Flame), Carol Kidd, Ruby Braff, Tony Coe, David Newton, and Ronnie Scott. To non-jazz audiences perhaps best known for backing Amy Winehouse on sessions for the BBC, included on Winehouse's posthumously released Amy Winehouse At The BBC album ~ Ganley passed away in 2008
March 11, 1930 ~ Harpsichordist Anneke Uittenbosch born in Haarlem, the Netherlands ~ Has taught harpsichord at the Maastricht Academy of Music. Well known for recording Leonhardt Consort with Gustav Leonhardt and Ton Koopman. Toured the USA with her husband baritone Lieuwe Visser, performing 17th and 18th century choral compositions. Throughout her career Uittenbosch was primarily devoted to the works of organist Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck ~ Uittenbosch passed away in 2023
March 11, 1926 ~ Contemporary, electronic composer, producer Ilhan Mimaroglu, full name Ilhan Kemaleddin Mimaroglu, born in Istanbul, Turkey ~ Staff producer for Atlantic Records. Notably worked with Freddie Hubbard, produced Charles Mingus's Changes One and Changes Two, and contributed to the soundtrack of Fellini's Fellini Satyricon ~ Mimaroglu passed away in 2012
March 11, 1921 ~ Bandoneon player, composer Astor Piazzolla born in Mar del Plata, Argentina ~ Virtuoso bandoneonist. Father of Nuevo Tango. Worked with Anibal Troilo, the Orquesta Tipica, the Orquesta de Cuerdas, Jorge Sobrel, Octeto Buenos Aires, Leopoldo Federico, Enrique Mario Francini, Hugo Baralis, Juan Vasssalo, Jose Bragato, Atilio Stampone, Juan Carlos Copes, Maria Nieves, Jaime Gosis, Simón Bajour, Horacio Malvicino, Kicho Diaz, Joge Luis Borge, Edmundo Rivero, Amelita Baltar, Gerry Mulligan, Tullio de Piscopo, Roberto Goyneche, Cacho Tirao, Osvaldo Pugliese, the Kronos Quartet, and Pablo Ziegler ~ Piazzolla passed away in 1992
March 11, 1920 ~ Jazz pianist, bandleader Ike Carpenter, full name Isaac Monroe Carpenter, born in Durham, North Carolina, USA ~ Active during the 1940s and 1950s. Worked briefly with Boyd Raeburn before becoming a popular attraction in his own right working the West Coast nightclubs. Featured with his band in the 1950s films Rhythm And Rhyme and Holiday Rhythm. Employed sidemen such as Lucky Thompson, Gerald Wilson, Ted Nash, Jay Cameron, and George Weidler ~ Carpenter passed away in 1998
March 11, 1919 ~ Trumpeter, composer, arranger Mercer Ellington born in Washington DC, USA ~ The only child of Duke Ellington. Mercer led his own bands which at one time or another included Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Dorham, Idrees Sulieman, Chico Hamilton, Charles Mingus, and Carmen McRae. Mercer wrote several pieces that became standards including Things Ain't What They Used To Be, Jumpin' Punkins, Moon Mist, and Blue Serge. Mercer also was a road manager for Cootie Williams, musical director for Della Reese, composed for and played trumpet and horn in his father's orchestra, and led the orchestra after Duke's death ~ Ellington passed away in 1996March 11, 1914 ~ William Max Geserick, commonly known as jazz drummer, producer Carlo Krahmer, born in London, UK ~ Worked with Johnny Claes, Claude Bampton, George Shearing, and others ~ Geserick passed away in 1976
March 11, 1914 ~ Symphony conductor James Guthrie, full name James Kelley Guthrie, born ~ Founded the San Bernardino Community Orchestra at age 15, the orchestra would later evolve into the San Bernardino Symphony. Known for conducting the first performance of the Hollywood Grand Opera Association in 1936, earning him critical acclaim. Also closely associated with the Riverside Symphony Orchestra. Established the Guthrie Music Rental Library in 1974 with the aim to rent out scores and sheet music at affordable prices to schools, colleges and orchestras in order to encourage music performance ~ Guthrie passed away in 1996
March 11, 1914 ~ Organist, composer William Lloyd Webber, full name William Southcombe Lloyd Webber, born in London, UK ~ Father of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. Composed orchestral music, chamber music, choral and vocal music. Firmly embedded in the romanticism of composers such as Sergei Rachmaninoff, Jean Sibelius, and César Franck ~ Lloyd Webber passed away in 1982March 11, 1905 ~ Maurice Alfred Cohen, commonly known as songwriter, lyricist Michael Carr, born in Leeds, UK ~ Best remembered for co-writing South Of The Border with Jimmy Kennedy for the 1939 film of the same name. The song would be first recorded by Billy Cotton and covered by numerous artists including Gene Autry, Frank Sinatra, Sam Cooke, Patsy Cline, Fats Domino, and Gene Pitney ~ Cohen passed away in 1968
March 11, 1900 ~ Anthony George Sannella, commonly known as bandleader, violinist, pianist, reedist, guitarist Andy Sannella, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Worked with Nathaniel Shilkret, Leonard Joy, Ben Selvin, Adrian Schubert, Bert Hirsch, Sam Lanin, Art Gillham, Ukulele Ike, Frank Crumit, Seger Ellis, and Johnny Marvin ~ Sannella passed away in 1962
March 11, 1898 ~ Irving Milfred Mole, commonly known as trombonist Miff Mole, born in Roosevelt, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Known for recordings such as Slippin' Around, Red Hot Mama, Miff's Blues and There'll Come A Time (Wait And See). Worked with the Original Memphis Five, Sophie Tucker, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Sam Lanin, Eddie Lang, Jimmy Dorsey, Red Nichols, Vic Berton, and the Charleston Chasers ~ Mole passed away in 1961
March 11, 1897 ~ Classical, avant-garde pianist, composer, impresario, techer, publisher Henry Cowell, full name Henry Dixon Cowell, born in Menlo Park, California, USA ~ Earned a reputation as a controversial and eccentric composer, blending folk melodies, dissonant counterpoint and unconvential orchestration. Leading figure of avant-garde music for the first half of the 20th century. Influential on composers such as Béla Bartók, Olivier Messiaen, Krzysztof Penderecki, progressive rock keyboardists such as Keith Emerson and Pink Floyd's Richard Wright, and free jazz pianists such as Cecil Taylor and Sun Ra. Also known as an author, his 1930 book New Musical Resources is still considered a useful resource for composers ~ Cowell passed away in 1965
March 11, 1893 ~ Eugene Charles Staples, commonly known as jazz singer, trombonist, bandleader Blue Steele, born in Arkansas, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity through the 1930s, working with sidemen such as Pat Davis, Gene Gifford, and Kenny Sargent, and singers such as Kay Austin, Mabel Batson, and Bob Nolan. His popularity waned over the course of the 1930s, yet Staples would continue to work, conducting a radio orchestra in the 1940s, leading smaller ensembles, and notably leading the dixieland revival group the Rhythm Rebels in the 1950s, the latter including Elmer Schoebel ~ Staples passed away in 1971
March 11, 1881 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer Nikolai Rubinstein, commonly known as Nikolai Grigoryevich Rubinstein, passed away in Paris, France ~ 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 was born in 1835March 11, 1781 ~ Composer Anthony Philip Heinrich born in Schönbüchel, Bohemia ~ Most prominent pre-Civil War American composer, dubbed “Father Heinrich” ~ Heinrich passed away in 1861