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 27, 1949 ~ Funk, rock singer, guitarist, producer Bruce Nazarian born ~ First-call session musician. Worked with George Clinton, Don Was, Earl Van Dyke, Richard Pistol Allen, Uriel Jones, Robert White, the Austin Moro Big Band, the 8th Day, Brownsville Station, the A-Band, Randy Jacobs, Midway, Millie Scott, Nighthawk, and Jimmy Lifton ~ Nazarian passed away in 2015
March 27, 1947 ~ Rock, rock & roll keyboardist, bassist, guitarist, singer Andy Bown, full name Andrew Steven Brown, born in Beckenham, UK ~ Member of the Herd through 1969, known for the UK top 20 hits From The Underworld, Paradise Lost, and I Don't Want Our Loving To Die. Member of short-lived psychedelic rock outfit Judas Jump, known for their sole Scorch released in 1970. Best known as member of Status Quo, joining the band in 1976 and first appearing on Blue For You playing piano on the tracks Mad About The Boy and Ease Your Mind
March 27, 1944 ~ Juan Fernando Silvetti Adorno, commonly known as producer, arranger, pianist Silvetti, born in Quilmes, Argentina ~ Internationally best known for Spring Rain, an instrumental disco hit in 1977. In-demand producer and arranger. Worked with numerous artists including José José, Plácido Domingo, Luis Miguel, Paul Anka, Engelbert Humperdinck, Vikki Carr, Ana Cristina, Rocio Dúrcal, Jerry Rivera, Los Kjarkas, Daniela Romo, Armando Manzanero, Daniel Barenboim, Los Nocheros, Ricardo Montaner, Paloma San Basilio, Nazareno Andorno, and Vic Damone ~ Silvetti passed away in 2003March 27, 1943 ~ Paul Koulaksezian, commonly known as composer Paul Koulak, born in Saint Chamond, France ~ Best known for his work for various TV broadcasts and game shows, notably Fort Boyard. To pop audiences known for writing Souviens-toi De Moi for singer Marie-France Dufour and Sans Toi for Martine Clémenceau, the latter France's entry for the 1973 Eurovision Songfestival which reached 15th place ~ Koulaksezian passed away in 2021
March 27, 1941 ~ Walter Sigler, commonly known as singer, instrumentalist, producer, songwriter Bunny Sigler, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Helped develop the “Philly sound” of the early 1970s. Member of South Shore Comission. Worked extensively with producers and songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. As a solo artist known for, among others, Lovey Dovey and (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty. As a songwriter and producer Sigler also worked with the O'Jays (co-wrote Sunshine and When The World Is At Peace), the Whispers, Ecstasy Passion & Pain, Carl Carlton, Jackie Moore, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the Roots, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls, Patti LaBelle, Stephanie Mills, and Curtis Mayfield ~ Sigler passed away in 2017
March 27, 1940 ~ Rocksteady, ska, reggae singer Derrick Morgan born in Clarendon, Jamaica ~ Popular during the 1960s and 1970s, best known for songs such as Tougher Than Tough, Do The Beng Beng, Fat Man, Don't Call Me Daddy, Don't You Know, Conquering Ruler and Seven Letters. The latter, a Bunny Lee-produced cover of the Ben E King song, is ofted cited as the very first true reggae single. Has collaborated with singers such as Desmond Dekker, Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Millicent Todd, and worked with producers such as Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid and Leslie Kong
March 27, 1940 ~ Rockabily, rock & roll, country singer, guitarist Janis Martin, full name Janis Darlene Martin, born in Sutherlin, Virginia, USA ~ One of the few women in male-dominated rock & roll, at times dubbed “the female Elvis Presley” for her dance moves similar to Presley's. Rose to fame while still in her mid-teens, her 1956 Will You Willyum single, b/w the self-penned Drugstore Rock & Roll, selling some 750,000 copies. Other well known songs include My Boy Elvis, Let's Elope Baby, the Roy Orbison cover Ooby Dooby, and Love Me To Pieces ~ Martin passed away in 2007
March 27, 1937 ~ TV composer, pianist Alan Hawkshaw, full name William Alan Hawkshaw, born in Leeds, UK ~ Best known as a composer of theme tunes, notably for the children's TV show Grange Hill and the TV game show Countdown. Scored a 1979 Billboard Dance No.1 hit with Here Comes That Sound Again with his disco group Love De-luxe. Has also worked as a session musician and collaborator, including with Emile Ford, the Shadows, Olivia Newton-John, Serge Gainsbourg, Cliff Richard, and Donna Summer ~ Hawkshaw passed away in 2021March 27, 1932 ~ Herman Parker Jr, commonly known as singer, songwriter Junior Parker, born in Coahoma County, Mississippi, USA ~ Known for songs such as Next Time You See Me, Driving Wheel, Annie Get Your Yo-Yo, Sweet Home Chicago, and The Things That I Used To Do. Worked with the Blue Flames, Pat Hare, Bobby Blue Bland, Johnny Ace, the Blues Consolidated Revue, and Ike Turner ~ Parker passed away in 1971
March 27, 1931 ~ Songwriter John Marascalco born in Grenada, Mississippi, USA ~ Wrote or co-wrote several songs pivotal to the development of rock & roll, including Wouldn't You Know for Billy Lee Riley, Be My Guest for Fats Domino, Rock 'n Roll Dance for Lloyd Price, If You Want My Love for Gene Vincent, Good Golly Miss Molly, Ready Teddy and Rip It Up for Little Richard, Other artists who recorded his songs include Jesse Belvin, Buddy Holly, Wanda Jackson, Billy Crash Craddock, Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, the Zombies, Harry Nilsson, and Los Lobos
March 27, 1927 ~ Jazz saxophonist Bill Barron, full name William Barron Jr, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Praised as an adventurous saxophonist by peers and critics. First gained attention in the late 1950s working with Cecil Taylor, appearing on the Love For Sale album. Closely associated with Philly Joe Jones and Ted Curson. Barron would spent much of his career as an educator, with positions at the City College of New York, New York, and the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. His day job made it financially possible to not have to rely on gigs and record sales, and record non-commercial music. Barron has recorded about a dozen albums since the early 1960s, all of which featured his younger brother pianist Kenny Barron, and is noted especially for Hot Line released in 1962. Barron has also recorded with Charles Mingus, Dexter Gordon (Revelation), and Ted Heath ~ Barron passed away in 1989
March 27, 1927 ~ Morris Meyer Ostrofsky, commonly known as producer, label executive Mo Ostin, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Got his start in the music business in the 1950s at Verve. Hired by Frank Sinatra in 1960 to run Sinatra's Reprise Records. Best known for his longtime association with Warner Bros, and considered one of a select few who helped shape modern pop and rock music. Inducted in the the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2003. Over the course of his career, Ostin has signed and worked with acts such as the Kinks, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, REM, Randy Newman, and Prince ~ Ostrofsky passed away in 2022March 27, 1926 ~ R&B singer Frankie Ervin, full name Frank Miller Ervin, born in Blythe, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with Johnny Moore including on the 1953 single Dragnet Blues, and with the Shields including on the 1958 single You Cheated. Also recorded with various other groups and as a solo artist from the early 1950s through the early 1960s, albeit it to lesser chart success ~ Ervin passed away in 2009
March 27, 1924 ~ Singer, pianist Sarah Vaughan born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Quintessential jazz singer. Started with Earl Hines after winning a contest at Apollo Theater Amateur Night. Has recorded with Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, Georgie Auld, before going solo by the mid 1940s. Vaughan's singing has often been compared to that of opera singers, the New York Times characterizing Vaughan in her obituary as a “singer who brought an operatic splendor to her performances of popular standards and jazz” ~ Vaughan passed away in 1990
March 27, 1920 ~ Conductor Richard Hayman, full name Richard Warren Joseph Hayman, born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known for his longtime association with the Boston Pops Orchestra. In the classical world, Hayman has also worked with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the St Louis Symphony, and the Grand Rapids Symphony. In pop music, Hayman has arranged for the likes of Barbra Streisand, Bob Hope, Liza Minnelli, and Olivia Newton-John ~ Hayman passed away in 2014
March 27, 1914 ~ Roy Landman, commonly known as singer Snooky Lanson, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known as a singing star on the NBC series Your Hit Parade, hired by bandleader Ray Noble. Had previously worked with Francis Craig's dance band. Also known as a singer in several radio orchestras, including for shows such as Appointment With Music, Saturday Showcase and Sunday Night Serenade ~ Landman passed away in 1990
March 27, 1909 ~ Saxophonist Ben Webster, full name Benjamin Francis Webster, born in Kansas City, Kansas, USA ~ Influenced by Johnny Hodges. Spent the 1930s working with artists such as Blanche Calloway, Bennie Moten, Cab Calloway, Fletcher Henderson, and notably starting in 1940 Duke Ellington. Known for his instantly recognisable warm sound, Webster was considered one of the most influential and important swing tenor saxophonists, alongside Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. As a leader or co-leader, Webster has recorded prolifically, and is noted especially for the albums Ballads, Soulville, See You At The Fair, and For The Guv'nor (Tribute To Duke Ellington). Following his rise to fame as a leader, Webster continued to regularly appear as a sideman including on quintessential jazz albums such as Woody Herman's Songs For Hip Lovers, Billie Holiday's Body And Soul, Songs For Distingué Lovers, and All Or Nothing At All, Oliver Nelson's More Blues And The Abstract Truth, and Barney Kessel's Let's Cook. Webster used the same saxophone from 1938 until his death over three decades later. He left instructions that the horn was never to be played again. It is on display in the Institute Of Jazz Studies, Newark, New Jersey ~ Webster passed away in 1973
March 27, 1906 ~ Charles Ellsworth Russell, commonly known as jazz, bebop, dixieland, post-bop, free jazz saxophonist, clarinetist Pee Wee Russell, born in Maplewood, Missouri, USA ~ Leader and sideman. As a composer known for songs such as Pee Wee's Blues, Oh No, Stuyvesant Blues, Midnight Blue, and Missy. Worked with Frankie Trumbauer, Bix Beiderbecke, Jean Goldkette, Louis Prima, Bobby Hackett, Eddie Condon, Art Hodes, Muggsy Spanier, Marshall Brown, Ruby Braff, Buck Clayton, Thelonious Monk, and Al Sears ~ Russell passed away in 1969
March 27, 1905 ~ Blues singer, pianist, songwriter Leroy Carr born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Known for his laid-back style. Early influence on T-Bone Walker, Amos Milburn, Jimmy Witherspoon, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles. Enjoyed a good run of well-charting songs, starting with his 1928 debut single How Long How Long Blues, until his death at age 30. Other well known songs include Blues Before Sunrise, Midnight Hour Blues and Hurry Down Sunshine. Had his songs covered by Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Moon Mullican, Champion Jack Dupree, Long John Baldry, Memphis Slim, and Eric Clapton ~ Carr passed away in 1935
March 27, 1904 ~ Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader Hal Kemp, full name James Hal Kemp, born in Marion, Alabama, USA ~ Active since the late 1920s. Best known for songs such as Shuffle Of To Buffalo, There's A Small Hotel, Got A Date With Angel, Lamplight, You're The Top, and Where Or When. Worked with Skinnay Ennis, Bunny Berigan, John Scott Trotter, Art Jarrett. Kemp passed away two days after a car crash. His orchestra would continue to perform for a while but disbanded in the early 1940s ~ Kemp passed away in 1940
March 27, 1899 ~ Lyricist, playwright, poet Bixio Cherubini born in Leonessa, Italy ~ Active since the late 1920s. Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Mamma with frequent collaborator Cesare Andrea Bixio, first recorded by Beniamino Gigli in 1940 and covered by numerous artists including Connie Francis, Toni Arden, and Sergio Franchi. His songs have also been recorded by the likes of Ines Talamo (Cuore Vagabondo), Gigi Beccaria, Bruno Pallesi, Claudio Villa (Il Torrente), Carla Boni, Claudio Villa, and Narciso Parigi ~ Cherubini passed away in 1987
March 27, 1851 ~ Composer, pianist Vincent d'Indy, full name Paul Marie Théodore Vincent d'Indy, born in Paris, France ~ Inspired to take up composition by Hector Berlioz. Particularly influential as a composer, co-founded the Schola Cantorom de Paris and also taught at the Paris Conservatoire. His students included Albert Roussel, Arthur Honegger, Erik Satie, and Cole Porter. As a composer known best for Symphony On A French Mountain and Istar, though most of his work has fallen out of grace perphaps partly due to his over time growing more extremist anti-liberal and anti-semitic views ~ d'Indy passed away in 1931