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 28, 1909 ~ Jerome Philip Herst, commonly known as lawyer, songwriter Jerry Herst, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for writing So Rare with Jack Sharpe. The song was first published in 1937 and would be a late-career hit for Jimmy Dorsey just months before his death in 1957. Others who have recorded the song include Carl Ravell, Gus Arnheim, Ella Fitzgerald, King Curtis, Chet Atkins. Herst has also collaborated with Felton Kaufmann, Richard O'Kreamer, and wrote or co-wrote a number of instrumental works and musicals. Herst practiced law from the mid-1930 through the mid 1940s ~ Herst passed away in 1990
May 28, 1903 ~ Composer, conductor Walter Goehr born in Berlin, Germany ~ Married to pianist Laelia Goehr, the couple's son was composer Alexander Goehr. Studied with Arnold Schoenberg. Of Jewish descent forced to seek employment outside Germany. Staff conductor for EMI. Conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra for the 1937 premiere recording of Georges Bizet's Symphony In C. Conducted the BBC Theatre Orchestra for the premiere performance of the radio play The Dark Tower with music by Benjamin Britten. As a composer known for the 1931 opera Malpopita, which would not be performed live until 2004 ~ Goehr passed away in 1960May 28, 1898 ~ Tuba player, bandleader Andy Kirk, full name Andrew Dewey Kirk, born in Newport, Kentucky, USA ~ Best known as leader of the Clouds Of Joy taking over for Terrence Holder in 1929. The band would also include pianist Mary Lou Williams and is best known for songs such as I Won't Tell A Soul (I Love You) featuring vocalist Pha Terrell, Take It & Git and Hey Lawdy Mama ~ Kirk passed away in 1992
May 28, 1787 ~ Composer, violinist Leopold Mozart, full name Johann Georg Leopold Mozart, passed away in Salzburg, Germany ~ Best known as father and teacher of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and as author, his violin textbook Versuch Einer Gründlichen Violinschule published in 1756. Sacrificed his own career to promote his son's yet several works, notably Toy Symphony, remain popular ~ Mozart was born in 1719