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 21, 1939 ~ Myra Barnes, commonly known as R&B, soul, funk singer Vicki Anderson, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Closely associated with James Brown, serving as Brown's main female singer from 1965 replacing Anna King through 1968 succeeded by Marva Whitney. Anderson would rejoin Brown's band in 1972 and remain for another three years. As a solo artist best known for her 1970 The Message From The Soul Sisters feminist anthem. Anderson was the widow of Brown-sideman Bobby Byrd, and mother of singer Carleen Anderson from her previous marriage ~ Barnes passed away in 2023November 21, 1934 ~ Classical pianist Gerhard Erber born in Dessau, Germany ~ Co-founding member of chamber music ensemble the Gruppe Neue Musik Hanns Eisler, one of the first from East Germany to tour beyond the Iron Curtain. Has also worked with the Aulos Trio and duetted with artists such as Max Rostal, Oleg Kagan, and Raffael Hillyer ~ Erber passed away in 2021
November 21, 1933 ~ Ollie Imogene Shepard, commonly known ass honky-tonk singer, songwriter Jean Shepard, born in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, USA ~ Paved the way for female country singers. Grand Ole Opry member since 1955. Her 1953 duet with Ferlin Husky, Dear John Letter, was the first post-war single by a female country artist to sell a million copies. Also known for songs such as A Satisfied Mind, Beautiful Lies, I Want To Go Where No One Knows Me, and Have Heart Will Love. Married to Hawkshaw Hawkins, who died in the same plane crash that killed Patsy Cline. She gave birth to their son one month later. Later married singer Benny Birchfield ~ Shepard passed away in 2016
November 21, 1927 ~ Bandleader, director Charlie Palmieri, full name Carlos Manuel Palmieri, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Known as the “Giant of the Keyboard.” Worked with Tito Puente, Johnny Pacheco, Papiro Allende, Willie Rodriguez, Adalberto Santiago, Celia Cruz, Herbie Mann, Ismael Rivera, Rafael Cortijo, Ismael Quintana, Bobby Capó, Mongo Santamaria, and Ray Barretto ~ Palmieri passed away in 1988
November 21, 1921 ~ Vivian Stapleton, commonly known as actress, singer Vivian Blaine, born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Started as a singer with dance bands in the late 1940s. Starred in a number of Hollywood films during the 1940s. Returned to the stage in 1950 playing the role of Miss Adelaide in the Frank Loesser-musical Guys And Dolls. She would do some 1, 200 performances on Broadway, over 500 in London's West End, take the show to Vegas and recreate her role in the 1955 film version. Blaine would star in numerous plays, films, and guest in TV series throughout the 1980s ~ Stapleton passed away in 1995
November 21, 1919 ~ Elnora Ruth Procter, commonly known jazz singer Eleanor Collins, born in Edmonton, Canada ~ Dubbed Canada's “First Lady of Jazz”. Active since her mid-teens. Critically compared to Lena Horne and Ella Fitzgerald. Has performed in stage productions of of Finian's Rainbow, Kiss Me Kate, and You Can't Take It With You. Well known for her association with several radio and TV shows, notably Bamboula (A Day In The West Indies), the first variety TV show featuring an interracial cast, and her own The Eleanor Show aired from 1955 onwards making her the first female, the first person of colour, and the first jazz singer to headline a show on national TV. Collins would continue to perform in clubs and concert into the 1980s ~ Procter passed away in 2024
November 21, 1913 ~ Rural blues singer, guitarist KC Douglas born in Sharon, Mississippi, USA ~ Influenced by Tommy Johnson. Perhaps best known for his first recording, Mercury Blues released in 1948. The song would later be covered by Steve Miller, David Lindley, Ry Cooder, Dwight Yoakam, Alan Jackson, and by Meat Loaf ~ Douglas passed away in 1975November 21, 1911 ~ Swing jazz drummer Alvin Burroughs born in Mobile, Alabama, USA ~ Played with Walter Page and Alphonso Trent before heading to Chicago around 1930. Played with Hal Draper, Horace Henderson, and extensively with Earl Hines. In the 1940s Burroughs backed greats such as Milt Larkin, Benny Carter, Red Allen, and George Dixon ~ Burroughs passed away in 1950
November 21, 1909 ~ R&B pianist, bandleader, arranger Lloyd Glenn, full name Lloyd Colquit Glenn, born in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ As a solo artist known for 1950s R&B hits such as Chica Boo and Old Time Shuffle Blues. As a sideman played on a number of classic R&B, rock & roll recordings including T-Bone Walker's 1947 hit Call It Stormy Monday, Lowell Fulson's Blue Shadows ~ Glenn passed away in 1985
November 21, 1907 ~ Samuel Ram, commonly known as producer, manager, songwriter Buck Ram, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Produced all of the Platters recordingsm wrote or co-wrote many of their biggest hits including Only You (And You Alone), The Great Pretender, (You've Got) The Magic Touch, Twilight Time, and Enchanted. Ram also produced, wrote and arranged for artists including the Penguins, the Coasters, the Drifters, Ike & Tina Turner, Ike Cole, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and Ella Fitzgerald ~ Ram passed away in 1991
November 21, 1904 ~ Tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins, full name Coleman Randolph Hawkins, born in Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA ~ Leader and sideman. The first to tailor his method of improvisation to the saxophone rather than imitate the techniques of the clarinet. Major influence on players such as Chu Berry, Charlie Barnet, Tex Beneke, Ben Webster, Vido Musso, Herschel Evans, Buddy Tate, and Don Byas. Worked with Kenny Burrell, Benny Carter, Buck Clayton, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Tiny Grimes, Fletcher Henderson, Abbey Lincoln, Shelly Manne, Thelonious Monk, Django Reinhardt, Max Roach, Ben Webster, and Randy Weston ~ hawkins passed away in 1969November 21, 1902 ~ Jazz pianist, arranger, bandleader Arthur Schutt born in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Wrote Delirium and Bluin' The Black Keys, co-wrote Benny Goodman's Georgia Jubilee. Worked with Paul Specht, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Donald Voorhees, Fred Rich, Nathaniel Shilkret, Frankie Trumbauer, Bix Beiderbecke, the Charleston Chasers, Red Nichols, the Dorsey Brothers, and Bud Freeman ~ Schutt passed away in 1965
November 21, 1891 ~ Bandleader, pianist Charlie Fess Johnson born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Led the Paradise Ten, whose sidemen at one time or another included Jabbo Smith, Leonard Davis, Sidney De Paris, Thomas Morris, Charlie Irvis, Jimmy Harrison, Benny Carter, and Edgar Sampson ~ Johnson passed away in 1959