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 18, 1944 ~ Orville Jones, commonly known as singer, cellist Hoppy Jones, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of the Ink Spots until his death at age 39. Present on hits such as If I Didn't Care, Address Unknown, My Prayer, When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano, Maybe, We Three (My Echo My Shadow & Me), and Don't Get Around Much Anymore. Jones would be succeeded by Herb Kenny, brother of the band's frontman Bill Kenny ~ Jones was born in 1905
October 18, 1944 ~ Classical pianist Nelson Freire, full name Nelson José Pinto Freire, born in Minas Gerais, Brazil ~ Leading pianist of his generation noted for his decorous playing and interpretive depth. Has worked with top-notch orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra ~ Freire passed away in 2021October 18, 1941 ~ Pop rock guitarist Peter Watson born in Romford, UK ~ Early member of the Action, present on the band's critically acclaimed yet commercially unsuccessful Land Of A Thousand Dances b/w In My Lonely Room debut single. Watson left the band in 1966 over financial difficulties that he blamed on the band's manager, and was replaced by Martin Stone. Following his departure from the band Watson largely retired from the music industry
October 18, 1940 ~ Songwriter Cynthia Weil born in New York, New York, USA ~ Formed the songwriter duo Mann/Weil with her husband Barry Mann. Songs written by the couple have been recorded by artists such as Gene Pitney (Looking Through The Eyes Of Love), Deniece Williams, Paul Revere & the Raiders (Kicks), Eydie Gormé, the Ronettes (Walking In The Rain), the Crystals (Uptown), Tony Orlando, Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt (Don't Know Much), the Monkees, BJ Thomas, Elvis Presley (I Just Can't Help Believing), Dusty Springfield (Just A Little Lovin' Early In The Morning), Gladys Knight (Nobody But You), the Drifters (On Broadway), George Benson, Jay & the Americans, Peter Paul & Mary, Ray Charles (None Of Us Are Free), the Everly Brothers, the Animals (We Gotta Get Outta This Place), Arthur Alexander, and the Righteous Brothers (You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin') ~ Weil passed away in 2023October 18, 1940 ~ Pop singer Jacques Higelin, full name Jacques Joseph Victor Higelin, born in Brou-sur-Chantereine, France ~ Actively recording since the early 1970s. Would grow to become one of France's most popular artists due to his incessive touring, usually in smaller, intimate venues. Has collaborated with Brigitte Fontaine, and Areski Belkacem ~ Higelin passed away in 2018
October 18, 1939 ~ Lyric poet, jazz vocalist, translator, author Jan Erik Vold born in Oslo, Norway ~ Core member of the so-called “Profil generation”, a group of artists associated with the literary magazine Profil magazine. Has published numerous poetry collections, prose, essays and other literary pieces. To music audiences known as a jazz vocal reciter, having worked on well over a dozen albums starting in the late 1960s, often collaborating with the likes of Jan Garbarek, Kåre Virud, and Chet BakerOctober 18, 1938 ~ R&B, doo-wop singer Ronnie Bright, full name Ronald David Bright, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of a number of quintessential doo-wop groups. Sang with the Valentines from 1954 through 1957. Briefly with the Cadillacs in 1960, including on Tell Me Today. Joined the Coasters in 1968, replacing Will Dub Jones, remaining until 2009. Other notable credits include Jackie Wilson, Barry Mann (Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp Bomp Bomp)), the Deep River Boys, Southside Johnny, and Peter Gabriel (In Your Eyes) ~ Bright passed away in 2015
October 18, 1935 ~ Tenor saxophonist, hornist Sam Reed born in Kingstree, South Carolina, USA ~ A mainstay on the Philadelphia scene, internationally perhaps best known as musical director for Teddy Pendergrass during the 1970s. Reed had been working as a sideman and session musician since the late 1950s, backing jazz greats such as Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Dizzy Gillespie early on in his career. In Philadelphia, Reed is especially renowned for his early 1960s stint leading the house band at the Uptown Theatre, a legendary venue where Reed and his band backed visiting musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown. Reed also became closely associated with producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, helping the famed duo shape the Philly sound working with the likes of Archie Bell & the Drells, Labelle, Billy Paul, and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Upon hearing of his death, Lovett Hines, artistic director of the Philadelphia Clef Club described Reed as among the very top of the Philly saxophonists, distinguished by his versatility, adding: “the only thing that kept him from getting world-class fame was that he elected to stay in Philadelphia” ~ Reed passed away in 2021
October 18, 1934 ~ Berit Maria Jonsson, commonly known as operatic dramatic soprano Berit Lindholm, born in Stockholm, Sweden ~ Closely associated with the Royal Opera House, the Bayreuth Festival, and the Vienna State Opera. Known best for portraying heroines such as Brunnhilde in Richard Wagner's Der Ring Des Nibelungen and Chrysothemis in Richard Strauss's Elektra ~ Jonsson passed away in 2023
October 18, 1933 ~ Jazz, blues pianist Bross Townsend, full name Bross Elvie Townsend, born in Princeton, Kentucky, USA ~ After relocating to Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, Townsend would initially back local musicians such as Jimmy Scott and Wynonie Harris. Townsend would go on to work with the likes of Gene Ammons, John Coltrane, and Memphis Slim. He eventually became a fixture on the New York scene, performing as a solo artist as well as backing artists such as Bubba Brooks, Woody Herman, Diana Ross, and Arvell Shaw. He is also especially known for his association with Carrie Smith, regularly backing the singer. Townsend recorded only a few albums as a leader, noted specifically for I Love Jump Jazz released in 1995, and was a member of the 3B's with bassist Bob Cunningham and drummer Bernard Pretty Purdie ~ Townsend passed away in 2003
October 18, 1926 ~ Charles Edward Anderson Berry, commonly known as rock & roll, R&B guitarist, singer Chuck Berry, born in St Louis, Missouri, USA ~ Influenced by Muddy Waters and T-Bone Walker. A pioneering rock & roll guitarist, Berry was one of the first to take blues and R&B from its black roots to cross the color gap and appeal to white audiences, and was noted for his rollinking guitar riffs and signature duck walk, a crouching movement across the stage while playing his guitar. Berry would become hugely influential, notably on artists such as the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, and the Beatles, with a series of hits starting with Maybellene in 1955. Other well known songs, many considered pivotal to the development of rock & roll, and subsequently rock, include Roll Over Beethoven, Rock & Roll Music, Nadine, You Never Can Tell, Sweet Little Sixteen, and Johnny B Goode. Berry was among the very first to be inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1986, the Hall stating: “While no individual can be said to have invented rock and roll, Berry comes the closest of any single figure to being the one who put all the essential pieces together” ~ Berry passed away in 2017
October 18, 1925 ~ Vernon Harrison, commonly known as country blues, boogie woogie, jazz singer, pianist, songwriter Boogie Woogie Red, born in Rayville, Louisiana, USA ~ Has worked with Sonny Boy Williamson I, Washboard Willie, Baby Boy Warren, Lonnie Johnson, Tampa Red, John Lee Hooker, and Memphis Slim. Perhaps best known for his 1974 Live At The Blind Pig album, earning him critical praise and interest in Europe ~ Harrison passed away in 1992
October 18, 1923 ~ Country blues singer, guitarist, songwriter Jessie Mae Hemphill, born near Como, Mississippi, USA ~ Active in informal settings and family bands, including with her grandfather Sid Hemphill, before starting a solo career as a recording artist by the late 1970s, early 1980s. About a dozen albums to her name, starting with the full-length She-Wolf released in 1981. Well known for penning Lord Help The Poor And Needy, notably covered without credit by indie rock, folk rock singer Cat Power ~ Hemphill passed away in 2006
October 18, 1920 ~ Maria Amalia Mercouri, commonly known as actress, singer, activist, politician Melina Mercouri, born in Athens, Greece ~ As a singer best known for Hartino To Fengaraki from the Greek production of A Streetcar Named Desire, Athenes Ma Ville, and Melinaki. At the time of the coup d'ét in Greece, she was abroad and had her Greek citizenship revoked for leading the protest against the dictatorial regime. After the regime's fall in 1974 returned to Greece and co-founding the centre-left political party PASOK. Later Mercouri would serve as Minister for Culture, the first woman to do so ~ Mercouri passed away in 1994October 18, 1919 ~ Anita Belle Colton, commonly known as jazz singer Anita O'Day, born in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ Dubbed the “Jezebel of Jazz” O'Day has worked with Max Miller, Gene Krupa, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Louis Armstrong, Oscar Peterson, Dinah Washington, George Shearing, Cal Tjader, Thelonious Monk, and Benny Goodman ~ Colton passed away in 2006
October 18, 1918 ~ Jazz pianist, singer, songwriter, actor Bobby Troup, full name Robert Wesley Troup Jr, born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Released over a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting in the early 1950s. Best remembered for writing (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66, first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1946, and covered by over an estimated 400 artists including Louis Jordan, Chuck Berry, the Rolling Stones, Dr Feelgood, and Asleep At The Wheel. As an actor best known for portraying the role of Dr Joe in the TV series Emergency opposite his wife Julie London. Prior to marrying London in 1959, Troup has also produced her 1955 hit Cry Me A River ~ Troup passed away in 1999October 18, 1905 ~ Elizabeth Anne Locher, commonly known as folk singer Anne Warner, born ~ Folklorist, song collector known to have preserved and recorded some 1,000 traditional folk songs with her husband Frank Warner, including Tom Dooley, He's Got The Whole World In His Hands and Days Of Forty-nine ~ Locher passed away in 1991
October 18, 1904 ~ Paul Evans, commonly known as jazz saxophonist Stump Evans, born in Lawrence, Kansas, USA ~ One of the first jazz saxophonists. Worked with the Creole Jazz Band led by King Oliver, the Dixie Syncopators, Priscilla Stewart, Jelly Roll Morton's outfit the Red Hot Peppers, Erskine Tate, and Jimmy Wade. Evans passed away at age 23 of tuberculosis ~ Evans passed away in 1928
October 18, 1901 ~ Jazz singer Annette Hanshaw, full name Catherine Annette Hanshaw, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Among the most popular stars of the late 1920s through the 1930s. Recorded some 250 songs. Sold over four millions records by the mid 1930s. Known for songs such as 1929's Big City Blues and 1930's Body & Soul. Worked with the Original Memphis Five, Willard Robison, Sam Lanin, Lou Gold, Rudy Vallée, Red Nichols, Miff Mole, Phil Napoleon, Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, Adrian Rollini, Vic Berton, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Jack Teagarden, and Glen Gray ~ Hanshaw passed away in 1985
October 18, 1893 ~ Composer Charles Gounod, full name Charles-François Gounod, passed away in St Cloud, France ~ Composed choral music, chamber music, song suites and operas, most notably Faust and Romeo Et Juliette. Influenced composers such as Jules Massenet, Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy ~ Gounod was born in 1818
October 18, 1879 ~ Violinist, conductor, composer Grzegorz Fitelberg born in Daugavpils, Russian Empire ~ Alongside Karol Szymanowski, Ludomir Rózycki, and Mieczyslaw Karlowicz part of a generation of Polish artists dubbed the Young Poland Group, known for their promotion of neo-romaticism, impressionism and art nouveau. Of Jewish descent fled Europe during World War, several of his family members interned and murdered in the Holocaust, to return after the war. Best known as a conductor active since the early-1900s, working with orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Warsaw Opera, the Vienna State Opera, the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, the Teatro Colón, and perhaps most notably the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra ~ Fitelberg passed away in 1953