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.
May 23, 1904 ~ Elizabeth Lloyd Holzman, commonly known as actress, singer, civil rights activist Libby Holman, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ Became known as “the premier torch singer of Broadway” for her performances starting in the mid 1920s. Best known for her signature song Moanin' Low from the 1929 revue The Little Show ~ Holzman passed away in 1971
May 23, 1902 ~ Pianist, bandleader Edgar Hayes, full name Edgar Junius Hayes, born in Lexington, Kentucky, USA ~ Led the Blue Grass Buddies, Eight Black Buddies, the Symphonic Harmonists from the mid 1920s forward. Closely associated with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, playing and arranging with the band from 1931 to 1936. Best known for his late 1930s recordings of Stardust and the original version of In The Mood, later popularized by Glenn Miller ~ Hayes passed away in 1979
May 23, 1902 ~ Cellist, conductor, teacher Hideo Saito born in Tokyo, Japan ~ Not to be confused with his namesake composer Hideo Saito born in 1958. First gained attention in the mid 1920s as principal cellist and soloist with the New Symphony Orchestra. Well known for co-founding the Music School for Children, Tokyo, in 1948 which evolved into the the Toho Gakuen School of Music, Tokyo, a four-year college for further musical education. Saito would serve as professor of the college and chairman its string and conducting departments. Saito has toured USA, Soviet Union, and Europe with the school's the Toho Children's Orchestra, and had been preparing the orchestra for another major tour shortly before his death ~ Saito passed away in 1974