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.
November 11, 1952 ~ Singer Paul Cowsill born in Newport, Rhode Island, USA ~ Member of sibling outfit the Cowsills, best known for The Rain The Park & Other Things, Indian Lake and a live version of Hair, all of which reached the Billboard top 10 in the late 1960s
November 11, 1948 ~ Marvin Peterson, commonly known as jazz trumpeter Hannibal Lokumbe, born in Smithville, Texas, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Active since the late 1960s. Has worked with artists such as Cleveland Gay, Diedre Murray, David Amram, Michael Cochrane, George Adams, Cecil McBee, Makaya Ntshoko, Kenny Barron, Billy Hart, Omar Hakim, Lonnie Plaxico, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Gil Evans, Frank Foster, Kip Hanrahan, Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, Grachan Moncur III, Don Pullen, and Pharoah Sanders
November 11, 1948 ~ Producer, songwriter Robert John Mutt Lange born in Mufilira, Zambia ~ Renowned producer especially known for his work with hard rock and arena acts. Married to country, country-pop singer Shania Twain from 1993 to 2010. Has worked with AC/DC, Def Leppard, the Boomtown Rats, Foreigner, Michael Bolton, the Cars, Bryan Adams, Billy Ocean, Céline Dion, Britney Spears, the Corrs, Maroon 5, Lady Gaga, Nickelback, and Muse
November 11, 1947 ~ Rock bassist Bruce Barthol born in Berkeley, California, USA ~ Original bassist for Country Joe & the Fish, present on the albums Electric Music For The Mind And Body, Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die, and Together. Barthol departed the band in 1968, staying on in England following a tour. Barthol has subsequently worked with Formerly Fat Harry, Energy Crisis, and political satire theatre group the San Francisco Mime Troupe ~ Barthol passed away in 2023
November 11, 1945 ~ Bassist, guitarist Chris Dreja, full name Christopher Walenty Dreja, born in Subiton, UK ~ Co-founding member of the Yardbirds, remaining with the band from its inception in 1963 until its initial disbandement in 1969. Reportedly, Dreja was once offered a spot by Jimmy Page in what was to become Led Zeppelin but declined in order to focus on his career as a photographer instead ~ Dreja passed away in 2025
November 11, 1945 ~ Composer, songwriter Jerome Kern, full name Jerome David Kern, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the foremost theater composers of the early 20th century. Collaborated with lyricists such as Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, Dorothy Fields, Johnny Mercer, Ira Gershwin, and Yip Harburg. Kern co-wrote over 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works and films. Well known songs include Ol' Man River (Jules Bledsoe, Paul Robeson, the Ravens), Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (Helen Morgan, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Shore), A Fine Romance (Guy Lombardo, Rudy Vallée, Frank Sinatra), Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (Tamara, Eartha Kitt, the Platters), The Song Is You (Tullio Carminati, Mario Lanza, Rita Reys), and The Way You Look Tonight (Fred Astaire, Billie Holiday, the Dinning Sisters), I've Told Ev'ry Little Star (Walter Slezak, Margaret Whiting, Pat Boone) ~ Kern was born in 1885
November 11, 1945 ~ Vincent James Martellucci, commonly known as singer, guitarist Vince Martell born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Lead guitarist, co-founding member of Vanilla Fudge, known for heavy rock arrangements of contemporary hit songs, most notably the 1966 Billboard top 10 hit You Keep Me Hanging On. The band would be an influence on later acts such as the Nice, Deep Purple, Yes, Styx, Led Zeppelin and Uriah Heep
November 11, 1944 ~ Rock, progressive rock, jazz fusion, classical drummer, actor, author Barney James born in Salford, UK ~ Best known as drummer for Warhorse. Has also worked with Rick Wakeman, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth), Dusty Springfield, PJ Proby, Billy Joel, Frank Zappa, Kenny Loggins, John Martyn, Kiki Dee, James Taylor, and Herbie Hancock ~ James passed away in 2016
November 11, 1944 ~ Folk, blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Chris Smither, full name William Christopher Smither, born in Miami, Florida, USA ~ Debuted in 1970 with the album I'm A Stranger Too. Longtime collaborator of Bonnie Raitt, who once referred to Smither as “my Eric Clapton”. One of Raitt's signature songs, Love Me Like A Man, was written by Smither. Admired by peers such as Josh Ritter, Loudon Wainwright III, Dave Alvin, Peter Case, Tim O'Brien, and Patty LarkinNovember 11, 1944 ~ Singer Frank Sinatra signs with Columbia Records ~ Previously a singer for the orchestras of Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra embarks on a solo career signing with Columbia Records. The singer would record half a dozen albums for the label, starting with The Voice Of Frank Sinatra released in 1946, before switching to Capitol Records
November 11, 1944 ~ Concert promoter, organizer Michael Lang born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Best known as co-organizer of the famed Woodstock festival, fully named the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, held over three days in 1969 drawing over 400,000 visitors. The event is considered a pivotal moment in pop, rock history. Lang is also known as executive and owner of Just Sunshine Records, which released albums by Karen Dalton, Betty Davis, and Mississippi Fred McDowell. Lang also served as artist manager for Joe Cocker, Rickie Lee Jones, and Willy DeVille ~ Lang passed away in 2022
November 11, 1940 ~ Soul, funk, R&B guitarist Dennis Coffey, full name Dennis James Coffey, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ In-demand session musician. Worked with Motown house band the Funk Brothers. Notably present on psychedelic-soul hits by the Temptations such as Cloud Nine, Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) and Psychedelic Shack, Edwin Starr's War, and the Supremes' Someday We'll Be Together. As a solo artist known for Scorpio, a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit in 1971
November 11, 1940 ~ Jazz bassist Mario Pavone born in Waterbury, Connecticut, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Paul Bley, Bill Dixon, Barry Altschul, Wadada Leo Smith, Gerry Hemingway, Anthony Braxton, Thomas Chapin, Michael Sarin, Matt Wilson, Gerald Cleaver, Peter Madsen, Joshua Redman, Tony Malaby, Dave Douglas, Steven Bernstein, George Schuller, Craig Taborn, Jimmy Greene, Samm Bennett, and Paul Bley ~ Pavone passed away in 2021
November 11, 1936 ~ Songwriter Jack Keller, full name James Walter Keller, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Revered songwriter, often in collaboration with Howard Greenfield, Gerry Goffin, Noel Sherman and other staff writers at Aldon Music, responsible for 1950s and 1960s hits such as Everybody's Somebody's Fool, Breaking In A Brand New Heart and My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own for Connie Francis, Venus In Blue Jeans for Jimmy Clanton, Run To Him for Bobby Vee, and Your Used To Be for Brenda Lee. Other artists who recorded his songs include Neil Sedaka, Nat King Cole, Patti Page, the Everly Brothers, Bobby Goldsboro, the Monkees, and Perry Como ~ Keller passed away in 2005
November 11, 1933 ~ Jazz bassist Sture Nordin born in Ostersun, Sweden ~ Leader and sideman. Expelled from the Royal Swedish Academy Of Music for playing jazz. Worked with Lars Gullin, Putte Wickman, Rune Ofverman, Egil Johansen, Josh White, Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon, Clark Terry, Johnny Griffith, Benny Bailey, Gábor Szabó, Dick Morrisey, Jan Johansson, Rolf Ericson, Jan Allan, Arne Domnérus, Cornelis Vreeswijk, and Lee Konitz ~ Nordin passed away in 2000
November 11, 1932 ~ Alan Levitt, commonly known as jazz drummer Al Levitt, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Active since the early 1950s. As a leader known for his 1968 We Are The Levitts album. Studied with Lennie Tristano. Closely associated with Lee Konitz, including on the albums In Harvard Square and Jazz At Storyville. Other notable collaborations include Paul Bley, Jimmy Raney, Lionel Hampton, Barney Wilen, Stan Getz (Stan Getz And The Cool Sounds), Alain Jean-Marie, Horace Parlan (Glad I Found You), Chet Baker, and Duke Jordan ~ Levitt passed away in 1994
November 11, 1932 ~ Theatre, opera director Jorge Lavelli born in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Staged numerous plays. To classical music audiences known for staging operas composed by Béla Bartók, Georges Bizet, Claude Debussy, Charles-François Gounod, Sergei Prokofiev, and Igor Stravinsky, working mainly as director for the Paris Opera yet also for the Vienna State Opera, and La Scala ~ Lavelli passed away in 2023
November 11, 1931 ~ Classical cellist Leslie Parnas born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Closely associated with the St Louis Symphony Orchestra, serving as its principal cellist from 1954 through 1962. Close friend and regular collaborator of Pablo Casals, up to and including serving as Casals' palbearer at his funeral. Renowned as a soloist and recitalist, has worked with leading orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg ~ Parnas passed away in 2022
November 11, 1930 ~ Walter Louis Garland, commonly known as country, rock & roll, jazz guitarist Hank Garland born in Cowpens, South Carolina, USA ~ Scored the million-seller Sugarfoot Rag at age 18. Best known for his association with Elvis Presley from 1958 through 1961, incuding on songs such as I Need Your Love Tonight, A Big Hunk O' Love, I Got Stung, Stuck On You, Little Sister, and I Feel So Bad. Also worked with Don Gibson (Sweet Sweet Girl), Little Jimmy Dickens (I Got A Hole In My Pocket), Benny Joy (Bundle Of Love), Brenda Lee, Mel Tillis, Patsy Cline (Let The Teardrops Fall), Marty Robbins, Lefty Frizzell (You're Humbuggin' Me), Faron Young (Alone With You), the Everly Brothers, Johnnie Strickland, Boots Randolph, Roy Orbison, Conway Twitty, and Moon Mullican. Recorded a jazz album, 1961's Jazz Winds From A New Direction, before a car crash later the same year cut his career short ~ Garland passed away in 2004
November 11, 1928 ~ Jazz, blues singer Ernestine Anderson born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Compared to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Billie Holiday. Worked with Robert Bumps Blackwell, Lionel Hampton, Gigi Gryce, Rolf Ericson, Quincy Jones, Ray Brown, the Concord All-Stars, and George Shearing ~ Anderson passed away in 2016
November 11, 1927 ~ Jazz, blues pianist, singer, songwriter Mose Allison born in Tippo, Mississippi, USA ~ Influenced Jimi Hendrix, JJ Cale, the Yardbirds, the Rolling Stones, Tom Waits, Pete Townshend, Georgie Fame, John Evans. Covered by the Who (Young Man Blues), John Mayall (Parchman Farm), Leon Russell (I'm Smashed), Bonnie Raitt (Everybody's Cryin' Mercy), the Clash (Look Here), Herman Brood (Going To The City). Worked with Stan Getz, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Van Morrison, Ben Sidran, Gerry Mulligan, Phil Woods, Addison Farmer, Frank Isola, Henry Grimes, Paul Motian, Bill Crow, Osie Johnson, Jimmy Knepper, Pepper Adams, Bob Cranshaw, Jerome Richardson, Joe Farrell, Phil Upchurch, Eric Gale, Jack Bruce, Billy Cobham, Steve Masakowski, Randy Brecker, Alec Dankworth, Pee Wee Ellis, Russell Malone, Jay Bellerose, and Roy Babbington ~ Allison passed away in 2016
November 11, 1926 ~ Jazz trumpeter Irvin Stokes, full name Irvin Sonny Stokes, born in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA ~ Worked with Charlie Singleton, Tiny Bradshaw, Duke Ellington, Mercer Ellington, Erskine Hawkins, Buddy Johnson, Andy Kirk, Jimmie Lunceford, Austin Powell, Bobby Donaldson, the Savoy Sultans, Lou Donaldson, Panama Francis, George Kelly, Illinois Jacquet, Oliver Jackson, Count Basie, Spanky Davis, and the Statesmen Of Jazz ~ Stokes passed away in 2007
November 11, 1925 ~ Jazz, pop pianist, singer, composer Bruno Martino born in Rome, Italy ~ Active since the early 1950s, playing the jazz nightclubs with Enrico Simonetti and Piero Piccioni. Worked with the RAI Orchestra for the Italian TV network RAI. As a bandleader and composer perhaps best known for his 1960 hit Estate, which would become a standard covered by the likes of João Gilberto, Chet Baker, Toots Thielemans, Shirley Horn, and John Pizzarelli. Also known for Dracula Cha Cha, which he originally composed for the 1959 horror-comedy film Tempi Duri Per I Vampiri, which would also be included in the films Italian Graffiti and Two Weeks In Another Town and inspire the title of Kim Newman's 1998 novel Dracula Cha Cha Cha set in late 1950's Italy ~ Martino passed away in 2000
November 11, 1923 ~ Jazz trumpeter Willie Cook born in Tangipahoa, Louisiana, USA ~ Started on the violin, switching to trumpet in his teens. First gained serious attention backing King Perry in the 1930s. Worked with Jay McShann in the 1940s, succeeding Charlie Parker. Also well known as a member of Duke Ellington's orchestra, serving as lead trumpeter for about a decade starting in 1951 including on the acclaimed 1953 set The 1953 Pasadena Concert. Cook has also recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Tormé, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Billy Taylor, Paul Gonsalves, Sarah Vaughan, and Ernie Wilkins. Cook relocated to Sweden in the early 1980s ~ Cook passed away in 2000
November 11, 1918 ~ Jazz singer Louise Tobin, full name Mary Louise Tobin, born in Aubrey, Texas, USA ~ Sang with Bobby Hackett, Will Bradley, Jack Jenney, and Benny Goodman, notably present on the latter's I Didn't Know What Time it Was and There'll Be Some Changes Made. Married to bandleader Harry James from 1935 through 1943, with whom she has two sons ~ Tobin passed away in 2022