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 4, 1935 ~ Conductor, composer, trumpeter Elgar Howarth born in Cannock, UK ~ To pop audiences perhaps best known as one of the trumpeters guesting on the Beatles-track Magical Mystery Tour of the album of the same name released in 1967. Formed New Music Manchester with fellow students Harrison Birtwistle, Alexander Goehr, Peter Maxwell Davies and John Ogdon. Both as a trumpeter and conductor, Howarth has worked with numerous renowned orchestras. As a conductor he is particularly known for premiering György Ligeti's Le Grand Macabre in 1978 with the Royal Swedish Opera ~ Howarth passed away in 2025November 4, 1932 ~ Folk singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter Tommy Makem born in Keady, Northern Ireland ~ As a solo artist best known for songs such as Four Green Fields, Gentle Annie, The Rambles Of Spring, and The Town Of Ballybay. Worked with the Clancy Brothers, Makem & Clancy, the Flying Fish, Red Biddy, and Roger McGuinn ~ Makem passed away in 2007
November 4, 1931 ~ Ian George Stopfor Harrison, commonly known as singer Clinton Ford, born in Lancashire, UK ~ Popular 1950s, 1960s singer. Known for songs such as Too Many Beautiful Girls, Fanlight Fanny and Run To The Door ~ Harrison passed away in 2009
November 4, 1930 ~ Singer, film and stage actress, TV show host Armida Siguion-Reyna born in Malabon, Philippines ~ Sang leading roles in operas such as Rigoletto, La Traviata, Pagliacci, and The Merry Widow. Acted in well over two dozen feature films. Hosted Aawitan Kita, which aired for over 30 years making it one of the longest-running musical TV shows of the Philippines ~ Siguion-Reyna passed away in 2019
November 4, 1929 ~ Joseph Paul Florio, commonly known as songwriter, producer Paul Vance, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Prolific songwriter with over an estimated 300 songs to his credit, often teaming up with Lee Pockriss. Among their best known are Perry Como's 1957 hit Catch A Falling Star and Brian Hyland's Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini, the latter a 1960 Billboard Hot 100 charttopper. The duo would be sued by songwriters Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and George Shadow Morton for their spoof song and Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit The Leader Of The Laundromat recorded under the moniker the Detergents, which parodied the Shangri-Las' The Leader Of The Pack. The case would be settled out of court ~ Florio passed away in 2022
November 4, 1928 ~ Derek William Ley, commonly known as jazz saxophonist, singer Eggy Ley, born in London, UK ~ Active since the early 1950s playing in bands led by Mick Colliers, Eric Silk, and Stan Sowden, before finding success with his own ensemble in Germany, playing a residency in Hamburg and scoring a 1959 hit single with Blues For St Pauli. Later Ley would co-lead Jazz Legend with Hugh Rainey, record with Cy Laurie, found and front the 1980s unit Hot Shots, and run the Jazzin' Around newspaper. Ley relocated to Canada by the late 1980s where he passed away at age 67 following a heart attack ~ Ley passed away in 1995November 4, 1928 ~ Vibraphonist, drummer Larry Bunker, full name Lawrence Benjamin Bunker, born in Long Beach, California, USA ~ First gained attention in the early 1950s, replacing Chico Hamilton in Gerry Mulligan's ensemble. Would go on to become an in-demand studio musician, perhaps best known for his association with Bill Evans in the early 1960s including on the album Time Remembered. Bunker has also appeared on albums by Hampton Hawes, Harry Babasin (Jazz In Hollywood), Stan Getz (West Coast Jazz), June Christy, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald (Lullabies Of Birdland), Jon Eardley, Eartha Kitt, Sonny Criss, Anita O'Day, Freddie Redd (Piano East Piano West), Buddy Collette (Man Of Many Parts), Stan Kenton, Peggy Lee, Mel Tormé, Frank Sinatra (Only The Lonely), Fred Katz, Carmen McRae, Benny Carter (Aspects), Henry Mancini, Zoot Sims (Choice), Chet Atkins (Chet Atkins In Hollywood), Neal Hefti, the 5th Dimension, Michael Franks, Al Jarreau (We Got By), John Williams (Jaws), Donna Summer, and Tom Waits (Swordfishtrombones) ~ Bunker passed away in 2005
November 4, 1926 ~ Carlos Valdés, commonly known as conga player Patato Valdés, born in Havana, Cuba ~ Especially acclaimed for the 1967 collaborative Patato & Totico album with Totico. Once named “the greatest conguero alive today” by Tito Puente, whom he backed on over a dozen albums including Cuban Carnival and Dance Mania. Co-wrote Epistrophy, recorded by Thelonious Monk. Co-wrote Syeeda's Song Flute, recorded by John Coltrane. An in-demand sideman, Valdes has guested on albums by Kenny Dorham (Afro-Cuban), Art Blakey, Machito (Latin Soul Plus Jazz), Cannonball Adderley, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Mann, Art Taylor (AT's Delight), Max Roach (Percussion Bitter Sweet), Grant Green, Herbie Mann, Charlie Rouse, Dave Pike (Manhattan Latin), Cal Tjader, Johnny Lytle, Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones (Mr Jones), Cachao, Ismael Miranda, Jorge Dalto, and Mario Bauzá (The Tanga Suite) ~ Valdés passed away in 2007November 4, 1924 ~ Organist, pianist, composer Gabriel Fauré, full name Gabriel Urbain Fauré, passed away in Paris, France ~ Considered of the foremost French composers of his generation. Served as the bridge between the Romantic era and modernism of the 20th century. Known for works such as Pavane, Sicilienne, Après Un Rêve, and Clair De Lune ~ Fauré was born in 1845
November 4, 1922 ~ Jazz pianist Ralph Sutton, full name Ralph Earl Sutton, born in Hamburg, Missouri, USA ~ Along with James P Johnson and Fats Waller among the best known and most influential stride pianists. Active since the late 1930s, backing artists such as Jack Teagarden and Bob Scobey before venturing out on his own. Over a dozen albums to his name as a leader, especially acclaimed for his eponymous 1950 Ralph Sutton debut album. Present on albums by Conrad Janis, Jess Stacy, Edmond Hall, Wild Bill Davison, Tony Parenti, Sidney Bechet (Creole Reeds), Clancy Hayes (Swingin' Minstrel), the Lawson-Haggart Band, the World's Greatest Jazz Band, and Dick Cary ~ Sutton passed away in 2001
November 4, 1915 ~ Sebastian Mure, commonly known as guitarist, songwriter Billy Mure born in New York, New York, USA ~ Recorded over a dozen albums as a solo artist. Best known for the Toy Balloons and A String Of Trumpets. In-demand session guitarist during the 1950s and 1960s, appearing on tracks recorded by Paul Anka, Frankie Laine (Rawhide), the Ames Brothers, Eddie Fisher, Don Rondo, Marty Robbins, Bobby Darin (Splish Splash), Eydie Gormé, Connie Francis (Among My Souvenirs), Guy Mitchell, Tony Bennett, Kay Starr, Brian Hyland (Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini), Johnny Mathis, Patti Page, Marcie Blane (Bobby's Girl), Ray Peterson, Johnnie Ray (Cry), and Della Reese ~ Mure passed away in 2013
November 4, 1912 ~ Frances Cohen, commonly known as cabaret, show tune singer, pianist Frances Faye, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ One of the first openly bisexual singers, her stage act often including double entendres and references to lesbianism. Known for songs such as I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate, Mad About The Boy, Sweet Georgia Brown, and For You, performing the latter in the 1937 Bing Crosby musical comedy Double Or Nothing. Faye is also known for writing Well All Right, recorded by the Andrews Sisters ~ Cohen passed away in 1991
November 4, 1907 ~ Claude August Benjamin, commonly known as songwriter, lyricist Bennie Benjamin, born in Christiansted, Danish West Indies ~ Revered pop songwriter. Collaborated with composers such as Sol Marcus, and George David Weiss. Well known songs written or co-written by Benjamin include I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire (Harlan Leonard, Betty Carter, Frankie Laine), Oh What It Seemed To Be (Frank Sinatra, Frankie Carle, Willie Nelson), When The Lights Go On Again (Vaughn Monroe, Gene Autry, Vera Lynn), Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (Nina Simone, the Animals, Elvis Costello), and Wheel Of Fortune (Kay Starr, Eddie Wilcox, Dinah Washington) ~ Benjamin passed away in 1989
November 4, 1906 ~ Michael Joseph O'Sullivan. commonly known as pianist Joe Sullivan, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Influenced by Earl Hines. Wrote and first recorded Little Rock Getaway in 1935, covered by over 50 artists including Frankie Trumbauer, Chet Atkins, Dave Brubeck, and Gerry Mulligan. Acclaimed for his 1955 Mr Piano Man album. Present on recordings by Sidney Bechet, Max Kaminsky, Bob Crosby, Billie Holiday, Marty Paich, Eddie Condon (Chicago And All That Jazz), Jack Teagarden (100 Years From Today), Les Paul, and Dill Jones ~ Sullivan passed away in 1971November 4, 1906 ~ Delta blues pianist Willie Love born in Duncan, Mississippi, USA ~ Influenced by pianist Leroy Carr. Best known for his 1951 recording Everybody's Gone Fishing. Worked with Sonny Boy Williamson II, Charley Booker, Oliver Sain, Elmore James, Joe Willie Wilkins, Little Milton, TJ Green, Junior Blackman, and Eddie Shaw ~ Love passed away in 1953
November 4, 1896 ~ Henry Macgregor Woods, commonly known as songwriter, pianist Harry M Woods, born in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known for contributing to a number of Hollywood musicals including notably The Vagabond Lover, A Lady's Morals, and Road House. Collaborated with songwriters such as Mort Dixon, Al Sherman, Arthur Freed, Rube Bloom, and Gus Kahn. Songs written or co-written by Woods include I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover (Nick Lucas, Ben Bernie, Jean Goldkette), When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain (Kate Smith), What A Little Moonlight Can Do (Violet Loraine, Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine), and Try A Little Tenderness (Ray Noble, Bing Crosby, Otis Redding) ~ Woods passed away in 1970
November 4, 1878 ~ Songwriter Jean Schwartz born in Budapest, Hungary ~ Frequent collaborator of William Jerome. Wrote or co-wrote songs such as I'm A Member Of The Midnight Crew (Eddie Morton), Chinatown My Chinatown (Grace Kerns, Milton Brown), Rock-a-bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody (Al Jolson, Judy Garland, Jackie Wilson), Trouble In Paradise (Eddy Duchin), Trust In Me (Wayne King, Mildred Bailey, Louis Jordan, Etta James), and Wild Romantic Blues (Jane Green) ~ Schwartz passed away in 1956