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 16, 1953 ~ Contemporary Christian keyboardist, singer Bryan Duncan born in Riverside, California, USA ~ First gained attention as lead singer of the Sweet Comfort Band. Would subsequently pursue a solo career, recording well over a dozen solo albums. Best known for Christian hits such as Traces Of Heaven, Things Are Gonna Change, Don't Look Away, When It Comes To Love and A Heart Like Mine
March 16, 1953 ~ Free jazz pianist, vibraphonist Paul Plimley, full name Paul Horace Plimley, born in Vancouver, Canada ~ Leader and sideman. Closely associated with bassist Lisle Ellis. Considered one of the finest interpreters of Ornette Coleman on the piano, an instrument usually seen as antithetical to Coleman's music. Has collaborated with Joe McPhee, Barry Guy, Trichy Sankaran, Henry Kaiser, and Mei Han ~ Plimley passed away in 2022March 16, 1952 ~ Jonathan Zazula, commonly known as label executive Jon Zazula, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Owner of New Jersey's Rock'n Roll Heaven record store. Founder of Megaforce Records label. Noted for releasing Metallica's Kill 'Em All debut album. Has also worked with artists such as Disco Biscuits, Warren Haynes, Testament, Overkill, King's X, Frehley's Comet, Ministry, and Anthrax ~ Zazula passed away in 2022
March 16, 1951 ~ Country singer Hank Williams records Hey Good Lookin' at Castle Studios, Nashville, Tennessee ~ Written by Hank Williams, borrowing heavily from the 1942 Cole Porter song of the same name originally written for the musical Something For The Boys. Williams would release his Good Lookin' as a Fred Rose-produced single, b/w My Heart Would Know, in June 1951. It would become a Billboard Country No.1 and over time one of his best known covered by over 200 country, pop, and rock artists
March 16, 1951 ~ Ray Benson Seifert, commonly known as country, Western swing singer, guitarist, songwriter Ray Benson born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Co-founding member, frontman of Asleep At The Wheel. Also known as a producer for artists such as Dale Watson, Suzy Bogguss, Carolyn Wonderland, Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, Brad Paisley, Pam Tillis, Trace Adkins, Merle Haggard, and Vince GillMarch 16, 1950 ~ Bassist, keyboardist Matt Irving born in Glasgow, UK ~ Bassist for Manfred Mann's Earth Band from 1981 to 1986. Key member of Los Pacaminos. Also worked with Lords Of The New Church, Squeeze, Chris Rea, Paul Young, Roger Waters, and shared lead vocals with John Waite on the Babys song Time On My Hands ~ Irving passed away in 2015
March 16, 1949 ~ Rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Elliott Murphy, full name Elliot James Murphy, born in Rockville, New York, USA ~ Member of the Rapscallions. As a solo artist critically acclaimed for his 1973 Aquashow solo debut album and has recorded prolifically since. Subsequent albums would feature guest appearances from artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Mick Taylor, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Sonny Landreth, David Johansen, Violent Femmes, and Cindy Bullens
March 16, 1949 ~ Rock violinist Jerry Goodman born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Member of the Flock. First gained widespread attention appearing on John McLaughlin's 1971 My Goal's Beyond album and subsequently with McLaughlin's the Mahavishnu Orchestra through 1973. As a solo artist known for a number of 1970s, 1980s albums, collaborating with Mahavishnu bandmate keyboardist Jan Hammer. Scored the soundtrack to the 1985 film The Search For Signs Of Intelligent Life In The Universe. Has also worked with Lenny White, Chuck Mangione, Hall & Oates, Don Grusin, Tommy Emmanuel, Dixie Dregs, and Richard MarxMarch 16, 1948 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Eugenio Bennato born in Naples, Italy ~ Brother of rock singer Edoardo Bennato. Co-founded Nuova Compagnia Di Canto Popolare. Co-founded Musicanova. As a solo artist has over a dozen albums to his name, starting with the eponymous Eugenio Bennato released in 1983
March 16, 1948 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Michael Bruce, full name Michael Owen Bruce, born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA ~ Rose to fame as member of Alice Cooper's backing unit from 1966 through 1974, co-wrote songs such as Halo Of Flies and No More Mr Nice Guy and present on classic Cooper albums such as Killer, School's Out and Billion Dollar BabiesMarch 16, 1946 ~ Classical, folk harmonica player Sigmund Groven born in Heddal, Norway ~ Internationally recognised as leading classical harmonica player. Some two dozen albums to his own name. Has collobarated with Terje Rypdal, James Moody, Ketil Bjørnstad, Siegfried Steinkogler, and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra
March 16, 1943 ~ Keyboardist David Briggs, full name David Paul Briggs, born in Killen, Alabama, USA ~ Reportedly played his first professional session at age 14. Would go on to become an in-demand and revered session pianist, organist, named as a member of a loose collective of Nashville-based first-call session musicians dubbed the Nashville Cats. Well known for his work backing Elvis Presley, starting on some tracks of the How Great Thou Art album, recorded in 1960, as a last-minute replacement for Floyd Cramer. Briggs would continue to record and tour with Presley until Presley's death in 1977, including on albums such as That's The Way It Is, He Touched Me, and Today. Over the course of his career, Briggs has also appeared on albums by Roger Miller, Joan Baez (One Day At A Time), Area Code 615, Loretta Lynn, Nancy Sinatra, Kris Kristofferson (The Silver Tongued Devil And I), Jerry Jeff Walker, Lonnie Mack, Ronnie Milsap, JJ Cale (Naturally), Charley Pride, Dolly Parton (Coat Of Many Colors), Tony Joe White, Steve Goodman, the James Gang, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Dan Fogelberg (Home Free), John Prine, Kinky Friedman (Sold American), Willie Nelson (Shotgun Willie), Dobie Gray, Waylon Jennings (Honky Tonk Heroes), Mickey Newbury (Heaven Help The Child), Leon Russell, the Pointer Sisters (That's A Plenty), Bob Seger, Dave Loggins, Guy Clark (Old No.1), Eddie Rabbitt, Glen Campbell, the Statler Brothers, Alabama, the Oak Ridge Boys, Charly McClain, Moe Bandy, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Mark Chesnutt (Too Cold At Home), Sammy Kershaw, Ronnie McDowell, Shania Twain, and Kenny Chesney ~ Briggs passed away in 2025March 16, 1943 ~ Rock, blues-rock guitarist Roger Dean, full name David Roger Bryan Dean, born in Hendon, UK ~ Briefly a member of John Mayall's backing unit the Bluesbreakers, present on the 1965 John Mayall Plays John Mayall album. Also worked with the Nu Notes, Spike Island, the Bluejays, PP Arnold, and Jonathan King ~ Dean passed away in 2008
March 16, 1942 ~ Ronald Clyde Crosby, commonly known as country, outlaw country singer, guitarist, songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker, born in Oneonta, New York, USA ~ Best known for penning Mr Bojangles, covered by numerous artists including the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, JJ Cale, King Curtis, Bobbie Gentry, Whitney Houston, Harry Nilsson, Johnny Paycheck, Bob Dylan, and Nina Simone. Other well known songs include Jaded Lover, The Pickup Truck Song, and Trashy Women ~ Crosby passed away in 2020March 16, 1940 ~ Edith Kay Strother, commonly known as singer Edith Bell, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Formed the sibling duo the Bell Sisters with her older sister Cynthia Bell, adopting their mother's maiden name as stage names. The duo would be discovered in 1951 performing Bermuda, written by Cynthia, on a local Los Angeles TV show. Music publisher Joe Happy Goday would take an interest in the sibling act and had them record the track. The single would reach top 10 on the pop charts the following year, and eventually sell a million copies. The sisters would have two more hits, Wheel Of Fortune which scratched the top 10, and Piece A'Puddin' which reached top 20
March 16, 1936 ~ Frederick Neil, commonly known as folk, folk-pop singer, songwriter Fred Neil, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ~ Best known for penning and first recording Everybody's Talkin', notably covered by Harry Nilsson. Though Neil never became a household name, and actually quickly faded into obscurity past the 1960s folk-rock, folk-pop boom, he was revered by peers and is seen as a pioneer of the folk-rock movement, influencing artists such as Tim Buckley, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Tim Hardin, John Sebastian, Gram Parsons, and Paul Kantner. Neil has recorded over a dozen albums starting in the mid 1960s, and is especially noted for Bleecker & MacDougal released in 1965 and its eponymous Fred Neil follow-up album released the next year ~ Neil passed away in 2001March 16, 1934 ~ Singer Ray C Walker born in Centreville, Mississippi, USA ~ Member of the Jordanaires, a vocal group best known for backing artists such as Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves and notably Elvis Presley, backing the latter on hits such as (Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I, A Big Hunk O' Love, Are You Lonesome Tonight, Can't Help Falling In Love, and Crying In The Chapel
March 16, 1933 ~ Mezzo-soprano Teresa Berganza, full name Teresa Berganza Vargas, born in Madrid, Spain ~ Admired for her technical virtuosity and beguiling stage presence. Key singer in Gioachino Rossini renaissance, noted for roles in Cinderella, The Italian Girl In Algiers, and notably as Rosina in The Barber Of Seville, the latter a signature role for Berganza. Has worked with renowned companies such as La Scala, the Royal Opera House, the Metropolitan Opera, the Paris Opera, and the Opera Bastille ~ Berganza passed away in 2022
March 16, 1930 ~ Bebop, hard bop pianist Tommy Flanagan, full name Thomas Lee Flanagan, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Influenced by Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson, Nat King Cole, and Bud Powell. Well known as accompaniest to Ella Fitzgerald, first working with the singer in the mid 1950s and later serving as her steady pianist and music director for about a decade starting in the late 1960s. Flanagan has recorded over three dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, and is specifically noted for releases such as The Tokyo Recital, Alone Too Long, and Thelonica. Flanagan has also served as sideman on a number of quintessential 1950s, 1960s albums, perhaps most notably Saxophone Colossus (Sonny Rollins), Critics Choice (Pepper Adams), Flute Souffle (Herbie Mann), Giant Steps (John Coltrane), and In A Mellow Tone (Coleman Hawkins) ~ Flanagan passed away in 2001March 16, 1927 ~ Rueben Braff, commonly known as swing, dixieland, jazz trumpeter, cornetist Ruby Braff born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with George Barnes, Ellis Larkins, Buck Clayton, Pee Wee Russell, John Pizzarelli, Larry Adler, Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Scott Hamilton, Woody Herman, Milt Hinton, Dick Hyman, Ralph Sutton, and George Wein ~ Braff passed away in 2003
March 16, 1926 ~ Mezzo-soprano, dramatic soprano opera, concert, lieder singer Christa Ludwig born in Berlin, Germany ~ Daughter of baritone, tenor singer Anton Ludwig and mezzo-soprano Eugenie Besalla-Ludwig. Married to bass-baritone Walter Berry from 1957 to 1970. Enjoyed a career spanning over four decades starting in the late 1940s. Known for her performances of opera, lieder, religious works including oratorio, masses and passions. Closely associated with the Vienna State Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. Has also worked with the Oper Frankfurt, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Royal Opera House ~ Ludwig passed away in 2021March 16, 1922 ~ Jazz pianist John Young, full name John Merritt Young, born in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA ~ Recorded a number of 1950s, 1960s albums as a leader backed by drummer Eldridge Freeman and bassist Leroy Jackson. Regular sideman of saxophonist Eddie Johnson. Appears on the 1959 T-Bone Walker album T-Bone Blues. Has also worked with Dexter Gordon, Big Joe Turner, Von Freeman, Lorez Alexandria, Gene Ammons, Bobby Bryant, George Freeman, Al Grey, and Sonny Stitt ~ Young passed away in 2008
March 16, 1917 ~ Classical flutist, pianist, conductor Albert Tipton born ~ Student of William Kincaid. Principal flutist with the National Symphony Orchestra. Toured with Leopold Stokowski. Tipton has also worked with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the St Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and regularly performed with his wife pianist Mary Norris ~ Tipton passed away in 1997
March 16, 1915 ~ Songwriter, lyricist Sammy Gallop born in Duluth, Minnesota, USA ~ Known for his big band and swing songs of the 1940s and 1950s. Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Elmer's Tune, recorded by the likes of the Andrews Sisters, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and Ella Fitzgerald. Others who recorded songs co-written by Gallop include Stan Kenton, Billie Holiday (No Good Man), Guy Lombardo, Jerry Gray, Nat King Cole, and Jack Teagarden ~ Gallop passed away in 1971
March 16, 1910 ~ James Rachell, commonly known as country blues singer, guitarist, mandolinist, songwriter Yank Rachell, born near Brownsville, Tennessee, USA ~ Master of the blues mandolin. Co-wrote She Caught The Katy (And Left Me A Mule To Ride) with Taj Mahal, the latter recording it first on his 1968 The Natch'i Blues. The song would notably be covered by the Blues Brothers as the opening track for That Girl Belongs To Yesterday film released in 1980. The “Katy” refers to the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad ~ Rachell passed away in 1997