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.
October 15, 1935 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Barry McGuire born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA ~ Known for his rendition of the PF Sloan-written Eve Of Destruction, a major hit in 1965 and one of the gloomiest protest songs of the 1960s. McGuire became a born-again Christian in the early 1970s and would go on to pioneer of contemporary Christian musicOctober 15, 1934 ~ Jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist Alan Elsdon born in London, UK ~ Worked with Cy Laurie, Graham Stewart, Terry Lightfoot, Kid Ory, Red Allen, Edmond Hall, Albert Nicholas, Wingy Manone, Howlin' Wolf, and Keith Nichols ~ Elsdon passed away in 2016
October 15, 1931 ~ Lionel Frederick Cole, commonly known as singer, pianist Freddy Cole, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Brother of Nat King Cole and Ike Cole, father of Lionel Cole. Influenced by John Lewis, Teddy Wilson and Billy Eckstine. Toured with Johnny Coles and Benny Golson backing Earl Bostic. Recorded for European and UK-based labels. Worked with Grover Washington Jr. Recorded jingles. Was the subject of the 2006 documentary The Cole Nobody Knows ~ Cole passed away in 2020October 15, 1930 ~ Songwriter, producer Kent Harris, full name Kent Levaughn Harris, born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA ~ Best known as writer of novelty songs, most notably Shoppin' For Clothes recorded by the Coasters, and Cops & Robbers by Bo Diddley. Others who recorded songs produced or written by Harris include the Duals, Adolph Jacobs, Mighty Hannibal, the Sevilles, Prentice Moreland, Dorothy Berry, Jimmy Norman, and Ty Karim ~ Harris passed away in 2019
October 15, 1925 ~ Machouston Baker, commonly known as guitarist Mickey Baker, born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Half of Mickey & Sylvia, the other half being Sylvia Robinson, known for their 1956 hit Love Is Strange. Also worked with Doc Pomus, the Drifters, Ray Charles, Ivory Joe Hunter, Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, Louis Jordan, and Coleman Hawkins ~ Baker passed away in 2012
October 15, 1918 ~ Conductor, composer Alfredo Diez Nieto born in Havana, Cuba ~ Founded and conducted the Orquesta Popular De Conciertos. Composed symphonies and chamber music, incorporating elements from traditional Cuban folk music. Well known works include Los Diablitos, Estampas and Sudor Y Látigo. Led the band of the Cuban Revolutionary Army in 1965 and 1966. Also closely associated with the Orquesta Sinfonica De La Escuala Nacional De Musica and the Orquesta Sinfonica De Camaguey, acclaimed for his interpretations of works composed by the likes of Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Ignacio Cervantes, Alejandro García Caturla, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Eduardo Sánchez de Fuentes and Antonio Vivaldi ~ Nieto passed away in 2021
October 15, 1917 ~ Jazz, R&B guitarist Carl Hogan born ~ Worked with the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra, George Hudson, and most notably with Louis Jordan. Appeared on a number of pivotal Jordan recordings including Choo Choo Ch'boogie, Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens, Let The Good Times Roll, Open The Door Richard, and Ain't That Just Like A Woman. Hogan's guitar riff on the latter would be cited as “the most famous signature in rock & roll” and was copied, nearly note for note, on Chuck Berry's Johnny B Goode rock & roll classic ~ Hogan passesd away in 1977
October 15, 1917 ~ Trombonist Paul Tanner born in Skunk Hollow, Kentucky, USA ~ Best known for his association with Glenn Miller, playing with the the Glenn Miller Orchestra from 1938 to 1942. Also known for developing the Electro-theremin, which he played on the opening theme of the TV show My Favorite Martian and on several recordings by the Beach Boys including Good Vibrations, Wild Honey and I Just Wasn't Made For These Times ~ Tanner passed away in 2013October 15, 1913 ~ Arranger, composer, conductor Nook Schreier born in Taylorville, Illinois, USA ~ Wrote songs for artists such as Tiny Hill, Bobby Christian, Earl Backus, Mike Simpson, Sarah Vaughan, Vic Damone, and Patti Page. Traveled with the Smother Brothers as their conductor ~ Schreier passed away in 2008
October 15, 1912 ~ R&B, jazz singer, pianist Nellie Lutcher, full name Nellie Rose Lutcher, born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA ~ Influenced by Earl Hines, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole. Sister of saxophonist Joe Lutcher. Named as an influence by Nina Simone. Worked with Ma Rainey, and with Clarence Hart. Known for songs such as The One I Love Belongs To Someone Else, Hurry On Down, He's A Real Gone Guy, Fine Brown Frame, Birth Of The Blues, and I Want To Be Near You ~ Lutcher passed away in 2007