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 14, 1949 ~ Rock, progressive rock guitarist James Young, full name James Vincent Young, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Co-founding member of Styx. Young is sometimes referred to “the Godfather of Styx”. Wrote songs such Miss America and Snowblind. Released a number of solo albums after the band's initial break-up, starting with 1985's City Slicker featuring Jan Hammer
November 14, 1949 ~ Latin pop, easy listening pianist Raúl Di Blasio born in Zapala, Argentina ~ Has worked with Richard Clayderman, Tomey Sellars, Alejandro Fernández, José José, Armando Manzanero, Julio Iglesias, Juan Gabriel, José Feliciano, the London Symphony Orchestra, and Wendy Pedersen
November 14, 1947 ~ Stanley Dural Jr, commonly known as R&B, zydeco singer, accordionist, organist Buckwheat Zydeco, born in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA ~ One of the few zydeco artists to achieve lasting mainstream success. Started in 1950s backing artists such as Joe Tex, Clarence Gatemouth Brown and Clifton Chenier. Known for collaborations with a wide array of artists including Eric Clapton, U2, the Boston Pops, Yo La Tengo, Warren Haynes, Sonny Landreth, Trombone Shorty, JJ Grey, and Steve Berlin ~ Dural passed away in 2016November 14, 1944 ~ Singer Frank Sinatra records If You Are But A Dream ~ Written by Moe Jaffe, Jack Fulton, Nat Bonx. Recorded by Frank Sinatra for Colombia Records with arrangement by Axel Stordahl. First released as the B-side to White Christmas on a 78rpm recording, reaching the top 10 later the same year. Later also recorded by Vic Damone, Duke Ellington, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Etta Jones, Ray Price, and Della Reese
November 14, 1944 ~ Jazz pianist George Cables, full name George Andrew Cables, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Over 30 albums as a leader. Member of Bebop & Beyond. Member of the Cookers. Has also worked with Art Blakey, the Deardorf-Peterson Group, Laurie Antonioli, Chico Freeman, Dexter Gordon, Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, and extensively with Art Pepper
November 14, 1944 ~ Singer Scherrie Payne born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Lead singer for Glass House, known best for their 1969 single Crumbs Off The Table. Subsequently a member of the Supremes from 1973 through 1977, notably present on songs such as He's My Man and It's All Been Said Before and modest disco hits such as You're My Driving Wheel, Love I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good and I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The WalkingNovember 14, 1943 ~ Songwriter, arranger Jean-Claude Petit born in Vaires-sur-Marne, France ~ Arranged for Erick Saint-Laurent, Christine Pilzer and Monique Thubert in he 1960s. Arranged strings for Mink DeVille's Le Chat Bleu album. Also worked with Pierre Delanoë, Toto Cutugno, Vito Pallavicinio, Mireille Mathieu, Jack Arel, and with Jean-Claude Pascal
November 14, 1942 ~ Classical cellist Natalia Gutman, full name Natalia Grigoryevna Gutman, born in Kazan, Russia ~ Married to violinist Oleg Kagan, with whom she has also worked. Known for recording Dmitry Shostakovich's Cello Concerto and Antonín Dvorák's Cello Concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Has performed with numerous renowned orchestras including the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Munich Philharmonic, the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Concertgebouw Orchestra
November 14, 1938 ~ R&B singer Cornell Gunter born in Coffeyville, Kansas, USA ~ Original member of the Platters, leaving the band in 1953 to join the Flairs. Has also toured with Dinah Washington, was a member of the Coasters, and recorded a handful of solo singles in the late 1950s and early 1960s ~ Gunter passed away in 1990
November 14, 1936 ~ Blues harpist, bassist Carey Bell born in Macon, Mississippi, USA ~ Worked with Earl Hooker, Robert Nighthawk, Lowell Fulson, Eddie Taylor, Louisiana Red, Lurrie Bell, Jimmy Dawkins, Lovie Lee, Royal Johnson, Muddy Waters, the Chicago Blues All-Stars, Junior Wells, James Cotton, Billy Branch, Carl Weathersby, Scott Cable, Bob Stroger, John Lee Hooker, Bob Degen, David Honeyboy Edwards, Lazy Lester, Raful Neal, Snooky Pryor, and the Wentus Blues Band ~ Bell passed away in 2007November 14, 1936 ~ Joseph Johnson Jr, commonly known as drummer Smokey Johnson, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Learned trombone as a child. Switched to drums at age 12. Worked with James Sugarboy Crawford, Dave Bartholomew, Earl King, Wardell Quezergue, Professor Longhair (including on the classic recording Big Chief), Snooks Eaglin, and Fats Domino. Co-wrote It Ain't My Fault, a New Orleans classic recorded by the Olympia Brass Band, the Rebirth Brass Band, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Treme Brass Band, Charmaine Neville, Milton Batiste, Shane Theriot, the Young Olympians, the Ambrosia Brass Band, David Roe, and Cole Prior Stevens, and sampled by Silkk The Shocker, Mystikal, and Mariah Carey ~ Johnson passed away in 2015
November 14, 1934 ~ Jazz, vocal jazz singer Al Bowlly records Isle Of Capri at Abbey Road Studios, London, UK ~ A tango foxtrot written by Wilhelm Grosz and Jimmy Kennedy. Released the following November Al Bowlly's version would reach top of the pop charts in the US. Other early versions included recordings by Nat Gonella, Gracie Fields, Elmer Feldkamp, and Wingy Manone. Over the years the song would also be covered by Frankie Laine, the Gaylords, Frank Sinatra, and Fats Domino
November 14, 1934 ~ Pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr, full name Ellis Louis Marsalis Jr, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Patriarch of the Marsalis family, father of Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Delfeayao Marsalis and Jason Marsalis. Has recorded over a dozen albums as a leader, and has regularly collaborated with family members. Other notable associations include Nat Adderley, Snooks Eaglin, Steve Masakowski, Art Tatum, Kermit Ruffins, Courtney Pine, Harold Battiste, David Benoit, and Irma Thomas. Marsalis is also well known as an educator, quoted as once saying: “we don't teach jazz, we teach students” ~ Marsalis passed away in 2020November 14, 1932 ~ Robert C Thomas, commonly known as jazz drummer Bobby Thomas born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Best known as a member of Junior Mance's trio in the early 1960s present on albums such as The Soulful Piano Of Junior Mance, and for his association with the Montgomery Brothers appearing on the 1961 Groove Yard album. Thomas has also guested on albums by Gigi Gryce, Herbie Mann, Hubert Laws, Art Farmer, and Dave Pike ~ Thomas passed away in 2013
November 14, 1932 ~ Composer, producer Tsuneo Fukuhara born in Osaka, Japan ~ Adoptive son of composer, producer Fukuhari Choki. Considered a pioneer in fusing traditional Okinawan music with elements from a wide array of genres including classical music, R&B, and bossa nova. Active since the early 1960s has written over an estimated 500 songs, including his best known Bashofu notably covered by Rimi Natsukawa, and Tokiko Kato ~ Fukuhara passed away in 2022
November 14, 1930 ~ Saxophonist Jay Migliori born in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member of Supersax, a tribute band to Charlie Parker. In-demand sideman and session musician, active since the early 1950s. Present on albums by Woody Herman, Jimmy Witherspoon, Lou Rawls (Black And Blue), the Righteous Brothers, the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Richard Groove Holmes, Paul Revere & the Raiders, the Everly Brothers, Nat Adderley, Harry Nilsson, Loudon Wainwright III (Unrequited), Leonard Cohen, the Manhattan Transfer, and Frank Zappa ~ Migliori passed away in 2001
November 14, 1919 ~ Giovanni Alfredo de Simone, commonly known as singer Johnny Desmond, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ As a solo artist known for songs such as Guilty, The Picnic Song, Because Of You, Woman, and Play Me Hearts And Flowers (I Wanna Cry). Also worked with Bob Crosby (You Forgot About Me, Do You Care), Glenn Miller, Don Cornwell, and Alan Dale ~ De Simone passed away in 1985
November 14, 1917 ~ Steel guitarist Noel Boggs, full name Noel Edwin Boggs, born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA ~ Considered a virtuoso on the electric steel guitar, Boggs helped popularize the instrument as a viable instrument in country music. Toured with Hank Penny in the mid 1930s, backed Jimmy Wakely from the late 1930s onwards, and was a member of pivotal Western swing outfit the Texas Playboys, the backing unit of Bob Wills, appearing on some of the band's most classic recordings including Roly Poly and Stay A Little Longer. Over the course of his career, Boggs is said to have appeared on well over 1,000 recordings, an in-demand sideman for the likes of by Moon Mullican, Flatt & Scruggs, Spade Cooley, Merle Travis, the Sons Of The Pioneers, the Maddox Brothers, Curtis Gordon, and Spade Cooley. Boggs has also released a handful of solo albums, and from time to time guested on albums outside his usual circles, perhaps most notably appearing on Eartha Kitt's That Bad Eartha album released in 1953 ~ Boggs passed away in 1974
November 14, 1915 ~ Jazz guitarist Billy Bauer, full name William Henry Bauer, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Jerry Wald, Carl Hoff, Woody Herman, the First Herd, Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Chubby Jackson, Bill Harris, Lennie Tristano, Lee Konitz, Tony Aless, George Barnes, Al Caiola, Harry Carney, Helen Carroll, Al Cohn, Cozy Cole, Tommy Dorsey, Bobby Hackett, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Hasselgard, Coleman Hawkins, Billie Holiday, JJ Johnson, Beverly Kenney, Big Miller, Chico O'Farrill, Seldon Powell, Barry Ulanov, Charlie Ventura, Ben Webster, and Cootie Williams ~ Bauer passed away in 2005November 14, 1910 ~ Singer, songwriter, revue performer, theater director Jens Book-Jenssen, full name Jens Peter Book Jennsen, born in Bærum, Norway ~ Recorded prolifically in the 1930s and 1940s with some 400 recordings to his name, best known for Lysene Tennes Der Hjemme, En Litten Gyllen Ring, and De Lyse Netters Melodi. Book-Jenssen continued to perform, touring extensively, well into the 1970s ~ Book-Jenssen passed away in 1999
November 14, 1904 ~ Jazz, blues pianist Art Hodes, full name Arthur W Hodes, born in Nikoliev, Russia ~ By some considered the greatest white jazz, blues pianist of his day. Honed his skills in Chicago's thriving 1920s jazz scene, making his recording debut in 1928 with Wingy Manone. Spent most of the 1930 in obscurity before relocating to New York by the end of the decade, where he became an in-demand collaborator backing artists such as Joe Marsala and Mezz Mezzrow, prior to forming his own ensemble. Recorded well over a dozen albums as a leader, noted specifically for the mid 1950s albums Art Hodes Hot Five and Chicago Rhythm Kings. Hodes has also guested on recordings by Sidney Bechet, Tony Parenti (Tony Parenti And His New Orleanians), Albert Nicholas (All-Star Stompers), Edmond Hall, Barney Bigard (Bucket's Got A Hole In It), Max Kaminsky, and Kenny Davern ~ Hodes passed away in 1993November 14, 1904 ~ Singer, actor Dick Powell, full name Richard Ewing Powell, born in Mountain View, Arkansas, USA ~ Best known as an actor, including singing in some musical comedies. Sang I Only Have Eyes For You in the 1934 film Dames. Ventured into directing by the 1950s, making his debut as a director with Split Second, released in 1953 ~ Powell passed away in 1963
November 14, 1902 ~ Traditional pop, folk singer Carlo Buti born in Florence, Italy ~ As a boy paid by other men to serenade their girlfriends. Actively recording since the 1930s with over 1,500 songs to his name. Dubbed “the Golden Voice of Italy”, compared to Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra ~ Buti passed away in 1963
November 14, 1901 ~ Singer, pianist Morton Downey, full name Sean Morton Downey, born in Wallingford, Connecticut, USA ~ Major influence on the Ink Spots singer Bill Kenny. Dubbed “the Irish Nightingale” for his Irish ancestry and his creamy high-timbred sound, easily mistaken for a female voice, Downey enjoyed his greatest success during the 1920s and 1930s. Best known for first recording I'll Always Be In Love With You, a smash hit for Downey in 1929, and over the years recorded by over a 100 artists including Nat Gonella, Mel Tormé, Georgia Gibbs, Count Basie, Vera Lynn, Jimmy Witherspoon, Lloyd Price, and Eddy Arnold. Other well known songs include All I Need Is Someone Like You, California Skies, In The Valley Of The Roses, That's How I Spell Ireland, and Wabash Moon ~ Downey passed away in 1985
November 14, 1900 ~ Composer, conductor Aaron Copland born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Acclaimed contemporary classical composer, referred to as “the Dean of American Composers” by peers and critics. Began writing songs at the age of eight. Best known for Appalachian Spring, Fanfare For The Common Man, and Third Symphony ~ Copland passed away in 1990
November 14, 1900 ~ Violinist, conductor Adolf Pollitzer passed away in London, UK ~ An interpreter of classic chamber music, Pollitzer was regarded as one of the premier violinists of his day. After relocating to London, the UK, Pollitzer would serve as leader with the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Choral Society. Served as the first professor of violin at the London Academy of Music from its inception in 1861 through 1870, and subsequently as its Principal until his death in 1900. Harold Bauer and Edward Elgar were among his students ~ Pollitzer was born in 1832