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, 1917 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Julien-François Zbinden born in Rolle, Switzerland ~ Active since the late 1930s. Composed over a hundred works including stage works, concertante works, chamber and vocal works. Best known for his symphonies, collected on the 2007 Orchestral Works album as performed by various artists. Also closely associated with Radio Suisse Romande, initially working as a recording manager, promoted to the head of the music department in 1956 ~ Zbinden passed away in 2021November 11, 1917 ~ Ellerton Oswald White, commonly known as jazz pianist Sonny White, born in Panama City, Panama ~ Worked with Jesse Stone, Willie Bryant, Sidney Bechet, Teddy Hill, Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke, Frankie Newton, Billie Holiday, Artie Shaw, Benny Carter, Big Joe Turner, Lena Horne, Dexter Gordon, Hot Lips Page, Harvey Davis, Wilbur de Paris, Eddie Barefield, and Jonah Jones ~ White passed away in 1971
November 11, 1913 ~ Bandleader, saxophonist, clarinetist, pianist Ivy Benson born in Holbeck, UK ~ Enjoyed popularity throughout the 1940s leading an all-female jazz, swing band. The band would become the resident BBC Radio house band by 1943 and is also well known for entertaining the Allied troops during and shortly after World War II ~ Benson passed away in 1993
November 11, 1912 ~ Harold Stevens Hopper, commonly known as singer, songwriter, film composer, screenwriter Hal Hopper, born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA ~ Original member of vocal group the Pied Pipers, including appearing in the 1938 film Alexander's Ragtime Band. Hopper would go on to compose themes tunes for several TV shows such as Judge Roy Bean, Colt 45, 26 Men, Circus Boy, and Bearcats ~ Hopper passed away in 1970
November 11, 1887 ~ Gilliam Barmon Grayson, commonly known as old-time fiddler, singer GB Grayson, born in Ashe County, North Carolina, USA ~ Influential early country musician known for a handful of important recordings in the mid to late 1920s, often in partnership with Henry Whitter. Best remembered for recordings such as Going Down The Lee Highway, Rose Connally, Ommie Wise and Train 45. In later years songs written, co-written, adapted or first recorded by Grayson would be covered by the Kingston Trio (Tom Dooley), the Rolling Stones (Handsome Molly), and Ralph Stanley (Little Maggie) ~ Grayson passed away in 1930
November 11, 1883 ~ Conductor Ernest Ansermet, full name Ernest Alexandre Ansermet, born in Vevey, Switzerland ~ One of the first in the field of classical music to take jazz seriously. Founded the Orchestra de la Suisse Romande in 1918, with whom he toured extensively in Europe and America. Well known for recording Igor Stravinsky's Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra in 1930, with Stravinsky himself at the keys ~ Ansermet passed away in 1969