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 21, 1935 ~ Classical guitarist Antonio Membrado born in Madrid, Spain ~ Mentored by Andrés Segovia. Known for his renditions of works by Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Heitor Villa-Lobos. Noted for accompanying Paco Ibáñez on his 1964 Paco Ibáñez debut album released in 1964. Also regarded a master of the laúd, an instrument of the cittern family popular in Spanish folk ~ Membrado passed away in 2016
March 21, 1935 ~ Tenor singer, conductor Nigel Rogers, full name Nigel David Rogers, born in Wellington, UK ~ Sang in German, French, Italian, English. Over 70 albums to his name, mostly early music, baroque and sacred music including works by Claudio Monteverdi, George Frideric Handel, Henry Purcell and Johann Sebastian Bach ~ Rogers passed away in 2022
March 21, 1929 ~ Blues guitarist, singer Otis Big Smokey Smothers born in Lexington, Mississippi, USA ~ Brother of Little Smokey Smothers. Member of Howlin' Wolf's backing band from the mid 1950s onwards including on pivotal recordings such as Who's Been Talking, Tell Me, Change My Way, Natchez Burning and I Asked For Water. Also worked with Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Bo Diddley, Ike Turner, JT Brown, Freddie King, Johnny Jones, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Johnny Wiliams, Lester Davenport, Arthur Big Boy Spires, Earl Hooker, and Henry Strong ~ Smothers passed away in 1993March 21, 1919 ~ Gospel singer, pianist, songwriter Robert Anderson born in Anguilla, Mississippi, USA ~ Backed Roberta Martin as a member of the Roberta Martin Singers from 1933 through 1941 and rejoining in later years. Formed and led early 1950s outfit the Caravans. As a solo artist best known for his self-penned Oh Lord Is It I, later notably covered by Mahalia Jackson ~ Anderson passed away in 1995
March 21, 1918 ~ Charles Phillip Thompson, commonly known as swing, bebop pianist, organist, composer, arranger Sir Charles Thompson, born in Springfield, Ohio, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Earl Bostic, Coleman Hawkins, Bennie Moten, Count Basie, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, JC Heard, Lucky Millinder, Illinois Jacquet, Vic Dickensen, Buck Clayton, Dodo Greene, Joe Newman, Paul Quinichette, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Ike Quebec, and Harry Sweets Edison ~ Thompson passed away in 2016
March 21, 1902 ~ Trombonist Santo Pecora born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Active from the early 1920s onwards. Sang with bandleaders Johnny de Droit and Leon Roppolo. Toured with singer Bee Palmer. Joined the New Orleans Rhytm Kings in the mid 1920s. Later he worked with Sharkey Bonano and Wingy Manone. Pecora remained a staple of the local scene into the 1960s ~ Pecora passed away in 1984
March 21, 1902 ~ Edward James House Jr, commonly known as Delta blues guitarist, singer Son House born in Riverton, Mississippi, USA ~ Influential slide guitarist helped develop Delta Blues. Praised for his rhythmic drive, vocal power and emotional intensity. Influenced Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. Known for pre-war releases such as My Black Mama, Preachin' The Blues and Dry Spell Blues. Rediscovered in the 1960s wave of blues revival ~ House passed away in 1988March 21, 1893 ~ Maude Elsie Aileen Muggeridge, commonly known as singer Aileen Stanley, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ One of the most popular singers of the 1920s. Started in vaudeville with her older brother Stanley Muggeridge. Known for songs such as My Mammy, Sweet Indiana Home, When My Sugar Walks Down The Street, Carolina In The Morning, and Singin' The Blues ~ Muggeridge passed away in 1982
March 21, 1893 ~ Armenter Chatmon, commonly known as blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Bo Carter born in Bolton, Mississippi, USA ~ Brother of fiddler Lonnie Chatmon and bassist Sam Chatmon, both of which bandmates in the Mississippi Sheiks alongside their friend guitarist, singer Walter Vinson. Carter was known for his bawdy songs, as evidenced in songtitles such as Let Me Roll Your Lemon, Please Warm My Wiener and My Pencil Won't Write Anymore, and for being one of the first to record Corrine Corrina in 1928. The latter would become a standard recorded by blues, jazz, western swing, folk, country and rock artists including Tampa Red, Big Joe Turner, Red Nichols, Cab Calloway, Art Tatum, Clayton McMichen, Milton Brown, Bob Wills, Rising Sons, Eric Clapton (as Alberta Alberta), Willie Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Asleep At The Wheel, and Brooks & Dunn ~ Chatmon passed away in 1964