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 12, 1911 ~ William Dorsey Clayton, commonly known as jazz, swing trumpeter Buck Clayton, born in Parsons, Kansas, USA ~ Influenced by Louis Armstrong. Valued soloist with Count Basie's orchestra from 1936, replacing Hot Lips Page, until joining the US Army in 1943. Has also backed artists such as Lester Young, Teddy Wilson, and Billie Holiday during the same era. Recorded prolifically and toured extensively, especially in Europe, from the late 1940s onward. Especially acclaimed for his Olympia Concert album, recorded live at Olympia, Paris in April 1961, featuring Emmett Berry, Buddy Tate, Sir Charles Thompson, Earle Warren, Gene Ramey, and Oliver Jackson ~ Clayton passed away in 1991
November 12, 1906 ~ Booker T Washington White, commonly known as blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Bukka White, born in Mississippi, USA ~ Known for songs such as Shake 'Em On Down, Po' Boy, Parchman Farm Blues and Fixin' To Die. Had his songs covered by Jeff Buckley, Bob Dylan, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. The Led Zeppelin songs Hats Off To Roy Harper and Custard Pie are both based on White's Shake 'Em On Down ~ White passed away in 1977
November 12, 1891 ~ Composer, songwriter Richard Whiting, full name Richard Armstrong Whiting, born in Peoria, Illinois, USA ~ Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Eadie Was A Lady (Ethel Merman, Cab Calloway, Paul Whiteman), Louise (Ben Pollack), She's Funny That Way (Gene Austin, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra), On The Good Ship Lollipop (Vincent Rose, Wingy Manone, Ruth Brown), Too Marvelous For Words (Glen Gray, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole), I'll Dream Tonight (Dick Powell, Eddy Duchin), Sleepy Time Gal (the Jazz Pilots, Chick Bullock, Art Lund), and My Ideal (Maurice Chevalier, Maxine Sullivan, Dinah Washington) ~ Whiting passed away in 1938
November 12, 1833 ~ Composer Alexander Borodin, full name Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin, born in St Petersburg, Russia ~ One of several prominent 19th-century composers collectively known as the Five, a group dedicated to producing a “uniquely Russian” kind of classical music. A doctor and chemist by training and trade, Borodin is best known as a composer though he regarded medicine and science as his primary occupations. Has composed symphonies, string quartets, and operas including Prince Igor which is considered by some as one of the most important historical Russian operas ~ Borodin passed away in 1887