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 17, 1944 ~ Rock, country rock, folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Gene Clark, full name Harold Eugene Clark, born in Tipton, Missouri, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member and primary songwriter for the Byrds, songs written or co-written by Clark include I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better, She Don't Care About Time, You Won't Have To Cry, Eight Miles High and Set You Free This Time. Clark initially played rhythm guitar but would relinquish that position to David Crosby, switching to tambourine and harmonica. Also recorded about half a dozen albums as a solo artist and worked with acts such as the New Christy Minstrels, the Gosdin Brothers, Doug Dillard, McGuinn Clark & Hillman, and Carla Olson ~ Clark passed away in 1991November 17, 1943 ~ Conductor, producer, arranger Richard Hewson, full name Richard Anthony Hewson, born in Stockton-on-Tees, UK ~ Founded studio band the Rah Band. Has worked with the Beatles, the Bee Gees, James Taylor, Herbie Hancock, Supertramp, Diana Ross, Carly Simon, Art Garfunkel, Leo Sayer, Carly Simon, Art Garfunkel, Leo Sayer, Al Stewart, Chris De Burgh, Fleetwood Mac, Chris Rea, Cliff Richard, Toyah Willcox, Five Star, and Shakin' Stevens
November 17, 1943 ~ Pianist, singer, producer, songwriter Willie Murphy born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Influenced by Little Richard, Fats Domino, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles. Best known for his association with John Koerner, notably on the duo's acclaimed 1969 album Running Jumping Standing Still, and as pianist, singer, frontman of R&B, blues, rock outfit Willie & the Bees. Produced Bonnie Raitt, Bonnie Raitt's 1971 eponymous debut album. Has also worked as a session musician for Greg Brown, Prudence Johnson, and Little Milton ~ Murphy passed away in 2019
November 17, 1942 ~ Rock singer Bern Elliott born in Erith, UK ~ Fronted 1960s UK outfit Bern Elliott & the Fenmen, known for their 1963 UK top 20 single Money (That's What I Want) and its follow-up New Orleans. The band also included keyboardist Jon Povey and guitarist Wally Waller who would later join the Pretty Things ~ Elliott passed away in 2022
November 17, 1942 ~ Pop rock pianist, singer, songwriter, producer Bob Gaudio, full name Robert John Gaudio, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Closely associated with Frankie Valli, serving as a member of the Four Seasons and writing or co-writing the majority of the group's material including Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like A Man, Dawn Go Away, Ronnie, Rag Doll, Save It For Me, Big Man In Town, Bye Bye Baby, Girl Come Running, and Beggin'. Gaudio also wrote or produced for artists such as Michael Jackson, Barry Manilow, Diana Ross, Eric Carmen, Nancy Sinatra, Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack, and especially Neil Diamond, producing half a dozen albums for the latter as well as the Barbra Streisand-Diamond duet You Don't Bring Me Flowers
November 17, 1941 ~ Old-time guitarist, harmonica player, singer Henry Whitter, full name William Henry Whitter, passed away in Morganton, North Carolina, USA ~ Reportedly the first country singer to record in New York in 1927, though the claim is disputed and Okeh records show no proof. Remembered for recordings such as The New River Train, Put My Little Shoes Away, Lost John, Fox Chase, and perhaps most notably his 1924 release The Wreck On The Southern Old 97 co-penned with regular collaborator GB Grayson. The latter would be covered the same year by Vernon Dalhart as The Wreck Of The Old '97 which paired with The Prisoner's Song on the flip side would become the first million-seller country song ~ Whitter was born in 1892
November 17, 1939 ~ Singer, producer, actor Yuya Uchida born in Nishinomiya, Japan ~ Leading figure in Japanase pop. Befriended John Lennon after opening for the Beatles on their 1966 Japanese tour. Influenced by Jimi Hendrix. Recorded with Frank Zappa and with the Ventures ~ Uchida passed away in 2019
November 17, 1938 ~ Folk, folk-rock, country singer, guitarist, songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, full name Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr, born in Orillia, Canada ~ Helped define the 1960s, 1970s folk-pop sound. Known for songs such as For Lovin' Me, Early Morning Rain, Steel Reel Blues, Ribbon Of Darkness, Black Day In July and perhaps his best known If You Could Read My Mind. His songs would be covered by numerous artists including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, the Kingston Trio, Marty Robbins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, Herb Alpert, Harry Belafonte, Sarah McLachlan, Eric Clapton, John Mellencamp, Tony Rice, Glen Campbell, the Grateful Dead, Olivia Newton-John, Paul Weller, Ultra Naté, and the Tragically Hip ~ Lightfoot passed away in 2023
November 17, 1935 ~ Avant-garde jazz, free jazz trombonist Roswell Rudd, full name Roswell Hopkins Rudd Jr, born in Sharon, Connecticut, USA ~ Over two dozen albums as a leader or co-leader. Especially acclaimed for Malicool, a 2003 collaborative album with Toumani Diabaté. In-demand sideman, guested on albums by Buell Neidlinger, Cecil Taylor (Cell Walk For Celeste), the New York Art Quartet, Archie Shepp (Four For Trane), Robin Kenyatta, the Jazz Composers Orchestra, the Liberation Music Orchestra, Steve Lacy, Carla Bley (Dinner Music), Enrico Rava, Elton Dean, Glen Hall, Han Bennink, Beausoleil (Alligator Purse), and Rebecca Ferguson ~ Rudd passed away in 2017November 17, 1934 ~ Conductor, harpsichordist Alan Curtis born in Mason, Michigan, USA ~ Known for his work in baroque opera. Founded the ensemble Il Complesso Barocco. Has interpreted pieces by Jean-Philippe Rameau, Johann Sebastian Bach, Claudio Monteverdi, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Louis Couperin ~ Curtis passed away in 2015
November 17, 1931 ~ Trombonist, composer Wayne Andre born ~ In-demand sideman in pop and rock since the 1970s. Started in jazz and big band in the early 1950s working with Charlie Spivak, the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, Woody Herman, Kai Winding (composed Winding's Nutcracker), Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry, Benny Goodman, Urbie Green, Art Farmer, and Carl Fontana. Starting in the early 1970s became a sought-after session musician outside jazz as well. Can be heard on albums such as Bruce Springsteen's Born To Run and Alice Cooper's School's Out. Also sessioned for Liza Minnelli, George Benson, Gloria Gaynor, Bob James, Quincy Jones, the Players Association, Jaco Pastorius, Grover Washington Jr, Patti Austin, Roy Ayers, Cy Coleman, Judy Collins, Chick Corea, Hank Crawford, Eric Gale, the Heath Brothers, Terumasa Hino, Lena Horne, Janis Ian, Yusef Lateef, Charlie Mariano, Van McCoy, Stephanie Nakasian, Milton Nascimento, Vicki Sue Robinson, David Ruffin, Marlena Shaw, Tina Turner, Steely Dan, Frankie Valli, Sarah Vaughan, Martha Veléz, Harold Vick, Randy Weston, and Zulema ~ Andre passed away in 2003November 17, 1928 ~ Jazz trombonist, trumpeter, cornetist, percussionist John Sangster, full name John Grant Sangster, born in Melbourne, Australia ~ As a solo artist best known for a string of The Lord Of The Rings-inspired albums starting with The Hobbit Suite released in 1973. Has also collaborated with Graeme Bell, Humphrey Lyttelton and with Don Burrows ~ Sangster passed away in 1995
November 17, 1926 ~ Dixieland, swing trombonist, vibraphonist George Masso born in Cranston, Rhode Island, USA ~ Enjoyed a long, yet somewhat underrated career interspered with stints as a music teacher for financial stability. Inspired to take up the trombone after hearing Lou McGarrity play on Benny Goodman's Yours. Perhaps best known for his work with Jimmy Dorsey during the late 1940s. Close to a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, acclaimed especially for the 1993 collaborative album Let's Be Buddies with Dan Barrett. Other notable associations include Wild Bill Davison, Buck Clayton, Charlie Ventura, Eddie Miller, the World's Greatest Jazz Band, Maxine Sullivan, and the Lawson-Haggart Band ~ Masso passed away in 2019November 17, 1923 ~ Concert pianist, teacher Ruth W Greenfield, full name Ruth Miriam Wolkowsky Greenfield, born in Key West, Florida, USA ~ Broke racial barriers, bringing together black and white students, taught by black and white teachers. Studied composition with Nadia Boulanger. Best known for founding the Fine Arts Conservatory. Also taught at Miami Dade College ~ Greenfield passed away in 2023
November 17, 1919 ~ Orchestrator, conductor, arranger, composer Hershy Kay born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ One of the most in-demand orchestrators for Broadway shows, closely associated with once-classmate Leonard Bernstein. Orchestrated several of Bernstein's musicals including On The Town, Peter Pan and Candide. Has also orchestrated musicals for Marc Blitzstein, Harvey Schmidt, Cy Coleman, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. To jazz audiences perhaps best known for conducting the orchestra on Stan Getz's 1961 Focus album ~ Kay passed away in 1981
November 17, 1915 ~ Clarence Francis Cherock, commonly known as swing trumpeter Shorty Sherock, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Active since the late 1930s. Worked with Jimmy Dorsey, Gene Krupa. Benny Carter, Nelson Riddle. Featured soloist at Norman Granz's 1944 Jazz At The Philharmonic concert, alongside greats such as Illinois Jacquet, Jack McVea, JJ Johnson, Nat King Cole, and Les Paul ~ Cherock passed away in 1980
November 17, 1911 ~ Edward Maxwell Miller, commonly known as pianist, vibraphonist, composer Max Miller, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Influenced by Igor Stravinsky, Béla Bartók, Paul Hindemith. Perhaps best remembered for being the first to employ singer Anita O'Day, then aged 19, who sang lead with Miller's band in the late 1930s performing in Chicago venues such as the Three Deuces and the Off-Beat ~ Miller passed away in 1985