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 22, 1925 ~ Dorothy Veronica Langan, commonly known as songwriter, singer, guitarist Dory Previn, born in New Jersey, USA ~ In-demand Hollywood songwriter during the late 1950s and 1960s, mostly in partnership with her husband André Previn who often also conducted the film versions of their songs. The couple have received Academy Award nominations for The Faraway Part Of Town from the film Pepe, One Two Three Waltz from One Two Three, and A Second Chance from Two For The Seesaw. Artists who have recorded songs co-written by Previn include Doris Day (Control Yourself), Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra (You're Gonna Hear From Me), Dionne Warwick ((Theme From) Valley Of The Dolls), John Williams, and Liza Minnelli (Come Saturday Morning). Following the couple's divorce in 1970, Previn has recorded half a dozen albums as a singer including the highly acclaimed Mary C Brown And The Hollywood Sign released in 1972 ~ Langan passed away in 2023October 22, 1925 ~ Classical flutist Elaine Shaffer born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Student of William Kincaid. Shaffer played with the Kansas City Philharmonic, was principal flute of the the Houston Symphony, and worked as a soloist playing festivals with violinist Yehudi Menuhin, pianist Hephzibah Menuhin, and harpsichordist George Malcolm. Composer Ernest Bloch dedicated two works to her, Suite Modale and Two Last Poems (Maybe) ~ Shaffer passed away in 1973
October 22, 1898 ~ John Dickson Kelley, commonly known as jazz pianist, bandleader Peck Kelley, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Best known for leading the 1920s band Peck's Bad Boys, which at times also included Jack Teagarden, Louis Prima, Terry Shand, Wingy Manone, Leon Roppolo and Pee Wee Russell ~ Kelley passed away in 1980
October 22, 1895 ~ Songwriter, music publisher Reg Connelly, full name Reginald John Connelly, born in Buckhurst Hill, UK ~ Frequent songwriting, music publishing partner of Jimmy Campbell, the pair at times publishing or writing music under the common moniker Irving King. The pair wrote or co-wrote a number of oft-covered 1920, 1930s songs including Show Me The Way To Go Home (the New Princes Toronto Band, the California Ramblers, Julie London), If I Had You (the Piccadilly Players, Ben Selvin, Art Tatum), Goodnight Sweetheart (the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, Ruth Etting, Dean Martin, the Flamingos, Connie Francis), By The Fireside (Buddy Campbell, Vera Lynn, Jo Stafford), Try A Little Tenderness (Jack Payne, Frank Sinatra, Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding), and Just An Echo In The Valley (Bing Crosby, Ray Noble, Rudy Vallée) ~ Connelly passed away in 1963
October 22, 1811 ~ Composer, pianist Franz Liszt born in Doborjan, Hungary ~ Prolific composer from the Romantic era, one of the most prominent figures in New German School (Neudeutsche Schule). Friend and musical promoter to many composers of his time including Frédéric Chopin, Richard Wagner, Hector Berlioz, Robert Schumann, Camille Saint-Saëns, Edvard Grieg, Ole Bull, Joachim Raff, Mikhail Glinka, and Alexander Borodin ~ Liszt passed away in 1886
October 22, 1725 ~ Baroque composer Alessandro Scarlatti, full name Pietro Alessandro Gaspare Scarlatti, passed away in Naples, Italy ~ Widely regarded as one of the most important composers of late Baroque, with over 100 operas, 600 cantates to his name. Considered a key figure in what was to become known as the Neopolitan school of opera, Scarlatti's catalogue forms a link between early Baroque Italian vocal styles of the 17th century and the classical school of the 18th century. Pioneered the use of the Italian overture in three movements, allegro, adagio, allegro, which would form the foundation of the classical symphony. Scarlatti was also noted for his novel use of woodwind and horns. But above all, the composer is known for his thematic development and chromatic harmony, influencing later composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Schubert. Well known works include Il Mitridate Eupatore, La Principessa Fedele, Scipione Nelle Spagna, and Il Tigrane. Although Scarlatti was most acclaimed for his operas and less for his sacred works, the mass Saint Cecilia Mass has been regarded as innovative, a style of sacred music later further developed by composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven. Two of Scarlatti's sons, Domenico Scarlatti and Pietro Filippo Scarlatti, would also become composers ~ Scarlatti was born in 1660