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 28, 1947 ~ Progressive rock guitarist, sitarist Ken E Henson, full name Kenneth Edward Henson, born in Durban, South Africa ~ Co-founded progressive rock outfits Freedom's Children in the mid 1960s, only recording sporadically. Best known for co-founding the Abstract Truth, with whom he released three albums from 1969 through 1971. Following the band's disbandement Henson would form the duo Finch & Henson with Brian Finch, with whom toured extensively throughout the early 1980s. They would continue to perform until his death at age 60 ~ Henson passed away in 2007March 28, 1947 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion bassist Paul Jackson born in Oakland, California, USA ~ Best known for his association with Herbie Hancock, present on albums such as Head Hunters, Thrust and Flood. Has also appeared on albums by Albert Heath, Azteca (Azteca), Stanley Turrentine, Eddie Henderson, Santana, Stomu Yamashta (Go Too), Charles Earland, Sonny Rollins, and Pete Escovedo ~ Jackson passed away in 2021
March 28, 1941 ~ Hornist, pianist, bassist, film, TV composer Alf Clausen, full name Alf Faye Heiberg Clausen, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Best known as orchestrator and composer for many episodes of the cartoon series The Simpsons. Has also scored numerous other TV series and films including The Naked Gun and Ferris Bueller's Day Off ~ Clausen passed away in 2025
March 28, 1941 ~ Guitarist, harmonica player Charlie McCoy, full name Charles Ray McCoy, born in Oak Hill, West Virginia, USA ~ As a solo artist known for songs such as Cherry Berry Wine, i Really Don't Want To Know, and Today I Started Loving You Again. Renowned session musician Worked with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, Area Code 615, Barefoot Jerry, the Agendas, Johnny Paycheck, Charlie Justice, John Ferguson, Stonewall Jackson, Wayne Moss, Perry Como, Joan Baez, the Steve Miller Band, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Kris Kristofferson, Paul Simon, Ringo Starr, Gene Summers, Ween, the Million Dollar Band, Nancy Sinatra, Gordon Lightfoot, Al Kooper, Willie Nelson, JJ Cale, Ronnie Hawkins, Leon Russell, Bob Seger, Olivia Newton-John, Dan Fogelberg, Vince Gill, and Rodney Crowell
March 28, 1937 ~ Country mandolinist Dean Webb, full name Roy Dean Webb, born in Independence, Missouri, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Dillards. The band would prove to be one of the most important progressive bluegrass acts to emerge from the 1960s, acclaimed for albums such as Back Porch Bluegrass, Wheatstraw Suite, and Copperfields, and influential on a wide range of artists including the Byrds and Linda Ronstadt. An in-demand guest collaborator, Webb has also appeared on albums by Malvina Reynolds, Severin Browne, JD Crowe (JD Crowe & The New South), Allan Clarke, and Jim Ringer ~ Webb passed away in 2018
March 28, 1937 ~ Pop, ragtime, classical, film pianist, conductor, arranger, composer Lincoln Mayorga born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Though best known for his work in classical music, Mayorga has played in a wide variety of genres including pop. Mayorga contributed piano to Big Man, a 1958 Billboard Hot 100 top 5 hit for the Four Preps. Subsequently, teaming up with the group's bassist Ed Cobb, Mayorga formed the Piltdown Men, known for the minor American hit Brontosaurus Stomp, and for the UK top 20 singles McDonald's Cave, Piltdown Rides Again, and Goodnight Mrs Flintstone. Mayorga has also served as staff pianist at Walt Disney Studios, and contributed to the soundtracks of films and TV shows. In the classical world, he is known for guesting with the Moscow Philharmonic, and for collaborating with the likes of Itzhak Perlman, Josef Suk, and Richard Stoltzman. In one capacity or another, Mayorga has also worked on albums by Dick Dale, Sam Cooke (Ain't That Good News), Glenn Yarbrough, Phil Ochs, Frank Zappa (Lumpy Gravy), Barbra Streisand, and Ringo Starr (Goodnight Vienna) ~ Mayorga passed away in 2023
March 28, 1936 ~ Southern gospel, CCM singer Bill Gaither, full name William James Gaither, born in Alexandria, Indiana, USA ~ Influential gospel singer known for fronting the Bill Gaither Trio and the Gaither Vocal Band. Prolific songwriter, often in partnership with his wife, singer Gloria Gaither. Had his songs covered by numerous artists including David Crowder, the Cathedrals Quartet, the Heritage Singers, the Statler Brothers, Elvis Presley. Mentor and father figure to many, advancing the careers of Mark Lowry, Michael W Smith, Sandi Patty, Amy Grant, and Cynthia ClawsonMarch 28, 1930 ~ Contemporary, avant-garde, electronic composer Robert Ashley, full name Robert Reynolds Ashley, born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA ~ Best known for his television operas and theatrical works, often incorporating electronics. Best known for his 1983 TV opera Perfect Lives, reissued on DVD in 2005. Has worked consistently with Joan La Barbara, Thomas Buckner, and Jacqueline Humbert ~ Reynolds passed away in 2014
March 28, 1926 ~ Cecil Bradshaw, commonly known as bandleader, trumpeter, promoter Sonny Bradshaw, born in Kingston, Jamaica ~ Known as “the Dean of Jamaican music” with a career spanning six decades. Worked with Eric Dean, the Jamaican Big Band, Joe Harriott, Dizzy Reece, Ernest Ranglin, Little G McNair, Dwight Pinkney, Monty Alexander, Sarah Vaughan, Johnny Mathis, Lou Rawls, Johnnie Ray, Brook Benton, and Sam Cooke ~ Bradshaw passed away in 2009
March 28, 1923 ~ Singer, actor, songwriter Bob Haymes, full name Robert William Haymes, born in White Plains, New York, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for writing That's All with Alan Brandt, first recorded by Nat King Cole and covered by numerous artists including Bobby Darin, Billy Eckstine, Sam Cooke, Connie Francis, Judy Garland, Ricky Nelson, Mel Tormé, and Sarah Vaughan ~ Haymes passed away 1989March 28, 1923 ~ Jazz bassist Ike Isaacs, full name Charles Edward Isaacs, born in Akron, Ohio, USA ~ Not to be confused with guitarist Ike Isaacs. Played trumpet as a child before switching to bass. Active since the late 1940s. Worked with Tiny Grimes, Earl Bostic, Paul Quinichette, Bennie Green, Lambert Hendricks & Ross, Count Basie, Gloria Lynne, Erroll Garner, Ray Bryant, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Harry Sweets Edison, Bennie Green, and Al Grey. He also accompanied Carmen McRae, whom he later married ~ Isaacs passed away in 1981
March 28, 1923 ~ Trumpeter, cornetist Thad Jones, full name Thaddeus Joseph Jones, born in Pontiac, Michigan, USA ~ Big band-era trumpeter well known as a key soloist with Count Basie, with whom he played for nearly a decade starting in 1954, and Charles Mingus. Co-led the the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra from the mid 1960s onward, which started out as an all-star group and over time included many younger emerging talents in its ever-revolving line-up. As a leader, Jones has recorded extensively since the mid 1950s, especially earning acclaim for the albums The Magnificent Thad Jones, The Fabulous Thad Jones, and Consummation, and has appeared on albums by Osie Johnson, Charlie Parker, Manny Albam, Sarah Vaughan (No Count Sarah), Jimmy Smith, Paul Quinichette, Curtis Fuller (Imagination), Ray Charles (Genius+Soul=Jazz), McCoy Tyner, Ben Webster, Pepper Adams, Joe Williams (Jump For Joy), Shirley Scott (For Members Only), Gil Evans, Sonny Rollins, Oliver Nelson (More Blues And The Abstract Truth), Thelonious Monk, Helen Merrill, Herbie Hancock (Speak Like A Child), Hermeto Pascoal, Grover Washington Jr, Houston Person, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt (Goin' Down Slow), and Kenny Drew. Jones has also collaborated with his equally renowned brothers pianist Hank Jones and drummer Elvin Jones, including in the sibling outfit the Jones Boys ~ Jones passed away in 1986
March 28, 1915 ~ Songwriter Jay Livingston, full name Jacob Harold Levison, born in McDonald, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Songwriting partner of lyricist Ray Evans. Known for songs such as Buttons And Bows (Evelyn Knight, Dinah Shore, Bob Hope, the Ray Conniff Singers), Mona Lisa (Frank Culley, Nat King Cole, Santo & Johnny, Duane Eddy), and Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be) (Doris Day, Ivo Robic, Connie Francis, the Shirelles) ~ Livingston passed away in 2001March 28, 1907 ~ Herbert Hall, commonly known as jazz clarinetist, saxophonist Herb Hall, born in Reserve, Louisiana, USA ~ Son of clarinetist Edward Hall. Brother of bandleader, clarinetist Edmond Hall. Herbert Worked with the Niles Jazz Band, Kid Augustin Victor, Sidney Desvigne, Don Albert, Herman Autrey, Doc Cheatham, Sammy Price, Wild Bill Davison, Benny Morton, Sonny Drootin, Eddie Gibbs, Buzzy Drootin, and Don Ewell ~ Hall passed away in 1996