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, 1901 ~ Jazz singer Adelaide Hall, full name Adelaide Louise Hall, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance with a career spanning seven decades. Has worked with artists such as Art Tatum, Ethel Waters, Josephine Baker, Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, Fela Sowande, Rudy Vallée, Jools Holland, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, and opthers ~ Hall passed away in 1993
October 20, 1890 ~ Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, commonly known as ragtime, jazz pianist, arranger, bandleader Jelly Roll Morton born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Leading figure in early New Orleans jazz. Claimed to have invented jazz. Known for writing classics such as Jelly Roll Blues, King Porter Stomp, Wolverine Blues, Black Bottom Stomp, I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say. Employed sidemen such as Kid Ory, Omer Simeon, George Mitchell, Johnny St Cyr, Barney Bigard, Johnny Dodds, Andrew Hilaire. Has also worked with Russell Procope, Lorenzo Tio, Artie Shaw, Ward Pinkett, Bubber Miley, Johnny Dunn, Sidney Bechet, Bud Freeman, Paul Barbarin, Cozy Cole, and Zutty Singleton ~ LaMothe passed away in 1941October 20, 1819 ~ Music publisher Joseph Carr passed away in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Considered one of the most important music publishers in the early history of the United States. Known for publishing stage works, vocal music, instrumental music, mostly originally from Europe but also works by influential American composers including Alexander Reinagle and James Hewitt. Father of Thomas Carr and Benjamin Carr, both music publishers and musicians ~ Carr was born ca.1739