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 20, 1954 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Enzo Gragnaniello born in Naples, Italy ~ Debuted in 1983 with the eponymus Enzo Gagnaniello album and has recorded steadily to critical acclaim since. Best known for his 1991 song Cu'mmè, made famous by Roberto Murolo & Mia Martini. Other artists who have recorded songs written by Gragnaniello include Andrea Bocelli, Adriano Celentano, and Gerardina Trovato
October 20, 1954 ~ Percussionist, drummer Günter Müller born in Munich, West Germany ~ In-demand free improvisation collaborator and session drummer. Has worked with Gastr del Sol, Christian Marclay, Keith Rowe, Voice Crack, Alfred Harth, and Kurt Liedwart
October 20, 1953 ~ Rock drummer Dave Dowle born in London, UK ~ Started in his early teens playing with the Canterbury Glass, which also included future Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. Would go on to work with Doris Troy, PP Arnold, Brian Auger, the Streetwalkers, Whitesnake, Runner, Midnight Flyer, and Mark ZedOctober 20, 1953 ~ Songwriter Fred E Ahlert passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Noted songwriter, often partnering up with lyricist Roy Turk, whose songs were recorded by Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, Frank Sinatra, Moon Mullican, Dean Martin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Stanley Moldawski, and Fats Waller ~ Ahlert was born in 1892
October 20, 1951 ~ Keyboardist, singer, songwriter Al Greenwood born in Seattle, Washington, USA ~ Founding member and keyboardist of Foreigner through 1980, playing on the albums Foreigner, Double Vision, and on Head Games. Formed Spys in 1981 with Ed Gagliardi, John Blanco, John Digadio and Billy Milne and recorded two albums with them. Greenwood would also guest on albums by Joe Lynn Turner and later Jennifer RushOctober 20, 1951 ~ Bassist, producer Pat Collier born ~ Member of punk outfit the Vibrators, present on the albums Pure Mania and V2. Although at the time, their records sold poorly, the band is critically acclaimed and regarded as one of the more influential 1970s punk outfits. They are best remembered for Automatic Lover off their 1977 debut album, the single their only one to reach the UK top 40, peaking at No.35. Punk outfit Stiff Little Fingers would take their band name from the Vibrators song of the same title. From the 1980s onwards, Collier would establish himself as an engineer, and producer, noted especially for producing the Soft Boys' 1980 sophomore album Underwater Moonlight, and for his work with Robyn Hitchcock. To more mainstream audiences, Collier is perhaps best known for producing the 1983 album Walking On Sunshine for Katrina & the Waves, its title track Walking On Sunshine a top 10 hit in several countries including the USA and the UK ~ Collier passed away in 2024
October 20, 1950 ~ Rock, heartland rock, roots rock, country rock, pop rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Tom Petty, full name Thomas Earl Petty, born in Gainesville, Florida, USA ~ Fronted Mudcrutch, which evolved into Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Solo and with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Petty has sold over 80 million records making him one of the all-time best-selling artists. Known for songs such as Don't Do Me Like That, Refugee, Waiting, Don't Come Around Here No More, Learning To Fly, I Won't Back Down, Free Fallin' and You Don't Know How It Feels. Also a member of supergroup the Traveling Wilburys alongside George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne. The Wilburys had initially intended their first song, Handle With Care, as a one-off for the B-side of Harrison's This Is Love single. The result however was judged too good for that purpose and they decided to record an entire album ~ Petty passed away in 2017October 20, 1947 ~ Beat guitarist Martin Baggott, full name Martin Thomas Baggott, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Lead guitarist of the Applejacks, known for a number of mid 1960s singles including Like Dreamers Do penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Three Little Words and the UK top 10 hit Tell Me When. The band was also the first to record I Go To Sleep, written by the Kinks singer Ray Davies. Others who have recorded the song include Cher on her 1965 All I Really Want To Do solo debut album, Peggy Lee, the Pretenders, Graham Bonnet, and Soulwax
October 20, 1943 ~ Harry Fisher Henderson, commonly known as blues rock, electric blues singer, guitarist Bugs Henderson, born in Palm Springs, California, USA ~ Recorded well over a dozen albums as a solo artist or with the Bugs Henderson Group or his backing unit the Shuffle Kings. Critically acclaimed for the mid 1990s albums Daredevils Of The Red Guitar and its follow-up That's The Truth. In 2012 a Benefit Bugs concert would be held to aid Henderson suffering from liver cancer. The 11-hour event included artists such as Ray Wylie Hubbard, Smokin' Joe Kubek, and Bnois King. Henderson would die four days after the benefit concert ~ Henderson passed away in 2012October 20, 1942 ~ John Nicholas Shakespeare, commonly known as pop singer, pianist, producer, songwriter John Carter, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Closely associated with Ken Lewis, the duo serving as songwriters and producers for a host of mostly UK artists from the early 1960s through the mid 1970s. Well-known songs penned or co-penned by the duo include That's What I Want (the Marauders), Is It True (Brenda Lee), Funny How Love Can Be (the Ivy League), Can't You Hear My Heartbeat (Herman's Hermits), Peek-a-boo (the New Vaudeville Band), Let's Go To San Francisco (the Flower Pot Men), and Knock Knock Who's There (Mary Hopkin)
October 20, 1938 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, songwriter César Isella born in Salta, Argentina ~ Joined Los Fronterizos in 1956 replacing Carlos Barbarab, remaining with the group through 1966. Wrote a number of the band's best known including La Fiera, Guittarreando and Un Abrazo A Corrientes. As a solo artist perhaps best known for co-writing Cancion Con Todos with poet, lyricist Armando Tejada Gómez, considered a Latin American anthem recorded by numerous artists ~ Isella passed away in 2021
October 20, 1938 ~ Kathleen O'Rourke, commonly known as singer Kathy Kirby, born in Essex, UK ~ Known for early 1960s UK hits such as Dance On, the Doris Day cover Secret Love, Let Me Go Lover, and You're The One. Represented UK at the 1965 Eurovision Songfestival with I Belong, reaching 2nd place right after France Gall's Poupée De Cire (Poupée De Son). Kirby also notably worked with Bert Ambrose, Nat Allen, and the Denny Boyce Band ~ O'Rourke passed away in 2011
October 20, 1937 ~ Singer Wanda Jackson, full name Wanda LaVonne Jackson, born in Maud, Oklahoma, USA ~ Among the first women in rock & roll. Known for a string of 1950s, 1960s hits, earning her the nickname “the Queen of Rockabilly.” Discovered by country singer Hank Thompson. Well known songs include I Gotta Know, Mean Mean Man, Fujiyama Mama, Let's Have A Party, Right Or Wrong, and In The Middle Of A Heartbreak
October 20, 1936 ~ Operatic mezzo-soprano Joanna Simon, full name Joanna Elizabeth Simon, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Sister of soft rock, pop, folk singer Carly Simon and singer, musical theatre composer Lucy Simon. Praised for her distinctive smoky-voiced mezzo-soprano vocals. Active mostly from the early 1960s through the 1980s, working with orchestras such as the New York City Opera, the Washington Opera Society, the New York Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra ~ Simon passed away in 2022
October 20, 1934 ~ William Edward Chialese, commonly known as jazz-rock trumpeter Bill Chase, born in Squantum, Massachusetts, USA ~ Active since the late 1950s, backing artists such as Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton, and Woody Herman. Perhaps best known as leader and eponym of jazz-rock unit Chase, drawing from pop, rock, jazz, and blues. The band recorded the albums Chase, Ennea, and Pure Music, before Chase and three other bandmembers were killed in a plane crash while en route to a scheduled performance ~ Chialese passed away in 1974
October 20, 1934 ~ Jazz, soul jazz saxophonist Eddie Harris born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Recorded some 70 albums as a leader. As a composer best known for writing Freedom Jazz Dance, recorded and popularized by Miles Davis. Sideman on albums by Buddy Montgomery, Buddy Montgomery, Bernard Pretty Purdie, Cedar Walton, Ellis Marsalis Jr, Horace Parlan, and John Scofield ~ Harris passed away in 1996
October 20, 1934 ~ Rock & roll singer, pianist Roy Young, full name Roy Frederick Young, born in London, UK ~ Toured with Chuck Berry. Sessioned on David Bowie's Low album, released in January 1977. Other notable associations include the John Barry Seven, Tony Sheridan, the Beat Brothers, Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers, future Foreigner member Dennis Elliott, future the Average White Band member Onnie McIntyre, Long John Baldry, Ian Hunter, Howie Casey, John Gustafson, and Jimi Magnole ~ Young passed away in 2018October 20, 1931 ~ Singer, actress Hana Hegerová born in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia ~ Dubbed “the Queen of Czechoslovak chanson” and primarily a singer of chansons, including Czech versions of songs originally by Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel, Kurt Weill, and Charles Aznavour. Enjoyed some popularity in German-speaking countries, yet forced to stop her activities abroad by Czech authorities from the mid 1970s through early 1980s. Hegerová retired from music in 2011 ~ Hegerová passed away in 2021
October 20, 1931 ~ Cellist Jules Eskin, full name Jules Louis Eskin, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known as principal cellist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Praised for his performances of works by Johannes Brahms, Gabriel Fauré and Ludwig van Beethoven. Also worked with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Boston Chamber Players, and the Burton Quintet Five ~ Eskin passed away in 2016
October 20, 1929 ~ Jazz, tango, nuevo tango guitarist, composer Horacio Malvicino born in Concordia, Argentina ~ Studied medicine but decided to pursue a career in music, bitten by the jazz, tango bug playing in the renowned jazz club the Bop Club Argentino in Buenos Aires. Influenced by Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, and Benny Goodman. Most closely associated with Astor Piazzolla, including in Piazzolla's pioneering 1950s nuevo tango line-ups. Malvicino would lead several ensembles from the 1960s onward, notably the Horacio Malvicino Jazz Quintet, and has composed numerous soundtracks ~ Malvicino passed away in 2023
October 20, 1910 ~ Singer, guitarist Charlie Fuqua born ~ Co-founded the Ink Spots with Jerry Daniels and Deek Watson, remaining with the band through 1952. From 1943 through 1945 friend Bernie Mackey replaced Fuqua who served in the US Army. The band is best known for If I Didn't Care, Maybe, We Three (My Echo My Shadow & Me), Don't Get Around Much Anymore, and The Gypsy ~ Fuqua passed away in 1971
October 20, 1908 ~ Singer, songwriter Stuart Hamblen, full name Carl Stuart Hamblen, born in Kellyville, Texas, USA ~ One of radio's first singing cowboys, active from the mid 1920s onward. Perhaps best known for penning and first recording This Ole House, covered by over a 100 artists including Rosemary Clooney, Alma Cogan, the Oak Ridge Boys, Liz Anderson, Billie Jo Spears, Bette Midler, and Shakin' Stevens. Other well known songs include Texas Plains which was reworked by Patsy Montana to the million-seller I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart, the oft-covered It Is No Secret What God Can Do, and Remember Me I'm The One Who Loves You covered by Ernest Tubb, Red Foley, and Dean Martin ~ Hamblen passed away in 1989October 20, 1907 ~ Jazz guitarist Carl Kress born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Known for late 1930s recordings such as Peg Leg Shuffle, Helena, Love Song, Sutton Mutton and Afterthoughts. Worked with Paul Whiteman, the Boswell Sisters, the Dorsey Brothers, Bix Beiderbecke, Hoagy Carmichael, Miff Mole, Red Nichols, Adrian Rollini, Frankie Trumbauer, Eddie Lang, Tony Mottola, Bobby Hackett, Pee Wee Russell, and Muggsy Spanier ~ Kress passed away in 1965
October 20, 1906 ~ Singer Johnny Moore, full name John Dudley Moore, born in Austin, Texas, USA ~ Brother of guitarist Oscar Moore. Leader of the Three Blazers, which also included Charles Brown and Eddie Williams, considered one of the premier R&B units of the 1940s and a major influence on Chuck Berry. Moore would leave the band in 1948 for lack of recognition and financial reward. The two remaining Blazers would continue with a succession of lead singers, Moore would venture into a successful solo career ~ Moore passed away in 1969October 20, 1904 ~ Florence Marjorie Robertson, commonly known as stage and film actress, singer, dancer Anna Neagle, born in Forest Gate, UK ~ Provided glamour and sophistication in war-torn London during World War II. Known for lightweight musicals, comedy and especially for her roles in historical dramas ~ Robertson passed away in 1986