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 23, 1942 ~ Ralph Reichenthal, commonly known as composer Ralph Rainger, passed away in Palm Springs, California, USA ~ Wrote or co-wrote songs such as Moanin' Low (Libby Holman, Leo Reisman, Lena Horne), Havin' Myself A Time (Kay Kyser, Billie Holiday), Easy Living (Teddy Wilson, Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington), June In January (Richard Himber, Guy Lombardo, Julie London), A Guy What Makes His Time (Mae West), Blue Hawaii (Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley), Thanks For The Memory (Dorothy Lamour, Bob Hope, Benny Goodman), and You're A Sweet Little Heartache (Henry King, Artie Shaw, Red Norvo) ~ Reichental was born in 1901
October 23, 1941 ~ Rock, blues-rock, boogie rock, hard rock bassist Greg Ridley, full name Alfred Gregory Ricley, born in Carlisle, UK ~ Co-founding member of Spooky Tooth. Co-founding member of Humble Pie remaining with the band until its initial disbandement. The band is known for songs such as Black Coffee, 30 Days In The Hole, I Don't Need No Doctor and Natural Born Boogie ~ Ridley passed away in 2003
October 23, 1940 ~ Eleanor Louise Greenwich, commonly known as songwriter, singer Ellie Greenwich, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Rose to fame as half of husband-wife songwriter team with Jeff Barry responsible for 1960s hits such as Da-doo-ron-ron and Then He Kissed Me (the Crystals), Be My Baby and Baby I Love You (the Ronettes), Chapel Of Love (the Dixie Cups), The Leader Of The Pack (the Shangri-Las), and River Deep Mountain High (Ike & Tina Turner) ~ Greenwich passed away in 2009October 23, 1940 ~ Drummer Freddie Marsden born in Liverpool, UK ~ Original member of Gerry & the Pacemakers, alongside Les Chadwick, Arthur McMahon and his brother Gerry Marsden, known for a string of 1960s UK hits such as How Do You Do It, I Like It, You'll Never Walk Alone, I'm The One, Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying and Ferry Cross The Mersey ~ Marsden passed away in 2006
October 23, 1939 ~ Folk singer, songwriter Archie Fisher, full name Archie MacDonald Fisher, born in Glasgow, UK ~ Brother to singers Cilla Fisher and Ray Fisher. Worked with Robin Williamson, Clive Palmer, Mike Heron, the Incredible String Band, Barbara Dickson, Tommy Makem, Liam Clancy, Tom Paxton, Garnet Rogers, and Frightened Rabbit ~ Fisher passed away in 2025
October 23, 1937 ~ Singer Yvonne Staples born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Manager and occasional member of the Staple Singers, replacing her brother during his time in the Army and again, briefly, in 1970. As a singer, Staples is present on the band's best known album, Be Altitude (Respect Yourself), which included their biggest hit singles Respect Yourself and I'll Take You There. The latter would reach the No.1 spot on both the Billboard R&B and all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts ~ Staples passed away in 2018
October 23, 1933 ~ Carol Augustus Anthony, commonly known as soul blues, swamp pop singer, pianist Carol Fran, born in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA ~ Known for a number of 1960s singles, perhaps most notably a 1962 swamp pop version of the Platters-classic The Great Pretender. Has worked with artists such as Guitar Slim, Nappy Brown, Lee Dorsey, Joe Tex. Resurged in the 1990s releasing a string of albums, often collaborating with her husband guitarist Clarence Hollimon, including the Soul Sensation album released in 1992 ~ Anthony passed away in 2021
October 23, 1933 ~ Composer, arranger, vibraphonist, singer Gary McFarland born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Bill Evans, Gerry Mulligan, Johnny Hodges, John Lewis, Stan Getz, Bob Brookmeyer, Anita O'Day, Gary Burton, Shirley Scott, Zoot Sims, Wendy & Bonnie, Gábor Szabó, Lena Horne, and Steve Kuhn ~ McFarland passed away in 1971
October 23, 1925 ~ Classical, entekhno, film composer, pianist, violinist, accordionist Manos Hatzidakis born in Xanthi, Greece ~ Member of the Greek Resistance during World War II. Widely recognized as one the premier Greek composers and one of the main proponents of the Entekhno genre. Closely associated with Nana Moskouri, who recorded several of his songs including Never On Sunday used as the theme song for the 1960 comedy film of the same name. The song would earn Hatzidakis an Academy Award and become a worldwide hit. In total Hatzidakis has written over two dozen soundtracks ~ Hatzidakis passed away in 1994
October 23, 1919 ~ Singer, actress, environmental activist Katie Lee born in Aledo, Illinois, USA ~ Earned the nickname “the Desert Goddess of Glenn Canyon” for her activism opposing the Glen Canyon Dam, calling for the canyon to be returned to its natural state. As a singer active since the mid 1950s and best known for her acclaimed Love's Little Sisters album released in 1975 ~ Lee passed away in 2017October 23, 1918 ~ Actor, guitarist Ulrik Neumann born in Copenhagen, Denmark ~ Father of guitarist Mikael Neumann and singer Ulla Neumann. Perhaps best known as an actor, appearing in some 20 films from 1940 through the mid 1960s. As a guitarist known as one third of the trio the Swe-Danes alongside singer Alice Babs and violinist Svend Asmussen, active during the late 1950s and early 1960s ~ Neumann passed away in 1994
October 23, 1901 ~ Bandleader, songwriter Moe Jaffe born in Vilnius, Lithuania ~ Has co-written over 250 songs including Collegiate (Waring's Pennsylvanians, the Revelers, the Crew Cuts), If I Had My Life To Live Over (Larry Vincent), The Gypsy In My Soul (Jack Harris, Margaret Whiting, Anita O'Day), If You Are But A Dream (Jimmy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Screamin' Jay Hawkins), and Bell Bottom Trousers (the Jesters, Louis Prima) ~ Jaffe passed away in 1972
October 23, 1892 ~ Rufus George Perryman, commonly known as blues, boogie-woogie pianist, singer Speckled Red, born in Hampton, Georgia, USA ~ Influenced by Charlie Spand, James Hemingway, William Ezell. As a solo artist best known for Wilkins Street Stomp and The Dirty Dozens. Has worked with Robert Nighthawk, Willie Hatcher, the Dixieland Rhythm Kings, and Chris Barber ~ Perryman passed away in 1973