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 24, 1930 ~ Singer, songwriter JP Richardson, also known as the Big Bopper, born in Sabine Press, Texas, USA ~ Best known for Chantilly Lace and White Lightning, the latter notably covered by George Jones. Passed away in the same plane crash that killed Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly ~ Richardson passed away in 1959October 24, 1929 ~ Contemporary classical, avant-garde composer George Crumb, full name George Henry Crumb Jr, born in Charleston, Virginia, USA ~ Influenced by Gustav Mahler, Claude Debussy, and Béla Bartók. Known for compositions such as Star-Child, Makrokosmos, Ancient Voices Of Children, Vox Balaenae, and perhaps his best known The Echoes Of Time And The River, the latter winning him the 1968 Pullitzer Prize for Music ~ Crumb passed away in 2022
October 24, 1927 ~ Singer, songwriter Gilbert Bécaud born in Toulon, France ~ Dubbed “Monsieur 100,000 Volts” for his energetic stage performances. Best known for Nathalie and Et Maintenant. The latter would be translated to English as What Now My Love, with lyrics from Carl Sigman, and covered by numerous artists including Eddy Arnold, Petula Clark, Lee Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Ben E King, Martha Reeves, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, the Righteous Brothers, and Sonny & Cher ~ Bécaud passed away in 2001
October 24, 1927 ~ Jean-Claude Villeminot, commonly known as comedian, actor, singer Jean-Claude Pascal, born in Paris, France ~ Representing Luxembourg, Pascal won the 1961 Eurovision Songfestival with Nous Les Amoureux written by Jacques Datin and Maurice Vidalin. Would have another try, again for Luxembourg, in 1981 with C'Est Peut-être Pas L'Amérique which he co-wrote with Sophie Makhno and Jean-Claude Petit, reaching 11th place ~ Villeminot passed away in 1992October 24, 1914 ~ Saxophonist Jimmy Powell, full name James Theodore Powell, born in New York, New York, USA ~ In-demand sideman, present on over an estimated 100 albums since the 1940s. Especially acclaimed for his work with Count Basie in the mid 1940s, and Dizzy Gillespie in the 1950s, including on the 1957 At Newport album. Other notable associations include Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Don Byas, Hal Cornbread Singer, Illinois Jacquet, Betty Carter, Otis Redding, and Bernard Pretty Purdie, notably present on the latter's 1974 Soul Is Pretty Purdie album ~ Powell passed away in 1994
October 24, 1907 ~ André Echkyan, commonly known as reed player, bandleader André Ekyan, born in Meudon, France ~ Led the house band at Le Perroquet, Paris, during the late 1920s. Worked with Jack Hylton, Gregor, Tommy Dorsey, Django Reinhardt, Tommy Benford, Jacques Butler, Benny Carter, Big Boy Goudie, Coleman Hawkins, Mezz Mezzrow, Bobby Nichols, Joe Turner, and Ray Ventura ~ Echkyan passed away in 1972
October 24, 1906 ~ Alexander Balos Williams, commonly known as trombonist Sandy Williams, born in Summerville, South Carolina, USA ~ Best known for his work with Chick Webb and with Ella Fitzgerald. Also played with Claude Hopkins, Horace Henderson, Fletcher Henderson, Cootie Williams, Sidney Bechet, Duke Ellington, Art Hodes, and Roy Eldridge ~ Williams passed away in 1991October 24, 1892 ~ Twin sisters dancers, singers, actresses Jenny Dolly and Rosie Dolly born in Balassagyarmat, Hungary ~ Popular in 1910s and 1920s vaudeville and musical theatre. Identical twin sisters Rosie (real name Rozsika Deutsch) and Jenny (real name Gyula Deutsch), working as a sibling act under the moniker the Dolly Sisters. Each also pursued a parallel individual career from the mid-1910s forward ~ Jenny passed away in 1941, Rosie in [artist-rosie-dolly]
October 24, 1879 ~ Benjamin Albert Rolfe, commonly known as trumpeter, bandleader, radio personality, film producer BA Rolfe born in Brasher Falls, New York, USA ~ Known as “the Boy Trumpet Wonder” would go on to become a film director, best known for acquiring Dyreda Art Film Company in 1915. The company's last production was the mystery series The Master Mystery starring renowned magician Harry Houdini ~ Rolfe passed away in 1956October 24, 1863 ~ Violinist Arnold Rosé, full name Arnold Josef Rosé, born in Iasi, Romania ~ Best known for leading the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for some five decades. Founded the Rosé Quartet, considered the finest string quartet of its day ~ Rosé passed away in 1946