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 29, 1909 ~ Aubrey Wilson Mullican, commonly known as singer, pianist Moon Mullican, born in Polk County, Texas, USA ~ Influenced by blues artists such as Bessie Smith, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Leroy Carr, and by country musicians such as Jimmie Rodgers and Bob Wills. Dubbed “the King of the Hillbilly piano players” and hugely influential on rockabilly and country artists including Jim Reeves, Hank Williams, Bill Haley, Elvis Presley and especially Jerry Lee Lewis. Worked with Leon Selph, the Blue Ridge Playboys (Ain't You Kind Of Sorry), the Texas Wanderers (Truck Driver's Blues, I'll Keep On Loving You), the Sunshine Boys, Jimmie Davis, Black Boy Shine, Floyd Tillman, Ernest Tubb, Red Foley. As a solo artist best known for late 1940s, early 1950s recordings such as The Leaves Mustn't Fall, Hey Shah, You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry, Nine Tenths Of The Tennessee River and I Was Sorta Wonderin' ~ Mullican passed away in 1967March 29, 1902 ~ Conductor Mario Rossi born in Bitetto, Italy ~ Closely associated with the RAI Orchestra, serving as chief conductor from 1946 through 1950 and elevating the orchestra to an international level. Also known for his recordings of Il Matrimonio Segreto, The Barber Of Seville, Don Pasquale, Un Ballo In Maschera, Otello, and Falstaff ~ Rossi passed away in 1992
March 29, 1901 ~ Clarinetist Sidney Arodin born in Westwego, Louisiana, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-penning Lazy River with Hoagy Carmichael, first recorded by Carmichael in 1930. The song has become a jazz standard covered by over an estimated 400 artists including Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Gene Vincent, Louis Prima, Bobby Darin, Brenda Lee, and Count Basie. Arodin has been playing professionaly since his mid-teens, working with Johnny Stein, Jimmy Durante, Wingy Manone, Sharkey Bonano, the New Orleans Rhytm Kings, Abbie Brunies, Monk Hazel, and Jones & Collins Astoria Hot Eight ~ Arodin passed away in 1948
March 29, 1878 ~ Albert Gumm, commonly known as songwriter Albert von Tilzer, born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ~ Brother of songwriter Harry von Tilzer. Wrote or co-wrote numerous hit songs including Alcoholic Blues, Honey Boy, I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time, and perhaps most notably Take Me Out To The Ball Game ~ Von Tilzer passed away in 1956