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 4, 1953 ~ New age harpist Andreas Vollenweider born in Zurich, Switzerland ~ Leading new age musician with well over a dozen albums to his name since the early 1980s. Especially acclaimed for his 1983 Caverna Magica sophomore album. Primarily plays the electro-acoustic harp, an instrument of his own making. Has guested on recordings by Carly Simon, Luciano Pavarotti, Lou Bega, and Hans Zimmer, notably present on the latter's Tears Of The Sun soundtrack
October 4, 1952 ~ Drummer Jody Stephens born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Rose to fame as member of pioneering power-pop outfit Big Star, present on all of the original band's three albums starting with the acclaimed No.1 Record 1972 debut album. Has also worked with Golden Smog, with Luther Russell in Those Pretty Wrongs, with the Lemon Twigs and with the ReputationsOctober 4, 1949 ~ Lyric tenor John Aler born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA ~ Particularly known for his interpretations of works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gioachino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, Vincenzo Bellini, and George Frideric Handel. Has performed with renowned orchestras including the Santa Fe Opera, the English National Opera, the Vienna Staatsoper, the Teatro Real, the New York City Opera, the Bayerische Staatsoper, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the London Sinfonietta ~ Aler passed away in 2022
October 4, 1949 ~ Songwriter Stephen Allen Davis born in Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA ~ Has written over 400 songs. Well known songs include Take Time To Know Her (Percy Sledge), The Fool Strikes Again (David Houston), Don't Girls Get Lonely (Glenn Shorrock), Love Has A Mind Of Its Own (BJ Thomas), Radio Heart (Charly McClain), The Best Years Of My Life (Diana Ross), Stand Beside Me (Jo Dee Messina), and No Ordinary World (Joe Cocker). Others who recorded his songs include Tammy Wynette, Alabama, Little Texas, Reba McEntire, Charlie Rich, Barbara Mandrell, Johnny Rodriguez, Meat Loaf, Johnny Duncan, and Joe Stampley ~ Davis passed away in 2022
October 4, 1948 ~ Michael John Robillard, commonly known as guitarist Duke Robillard, born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA ~ Co-founding member of Roomful Of Blues, remaining with the band for a decade until his departure in 1979. Member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds including on the acclaimed 1991 Walk That Walk Talk That Talk album. Although primarily known as a blues, blues-rock, rockabilly guitarist Robillard has enjoyed a parallel solo career with well over 30 albums as a leader, playing jazz, swing, jump blues. Noted for his association with jazz guitarist Herb Ellis and as a member of New Guitar Summit alongside Gerry Beaudoin and Jay Geils. In-demand collaborator, appearing on albums by Al Copley, Snooky Pryor, Pinetop Perkins, Mark Hummel, Bob Dylan (Time Out Of Mind), Eddy Clearwater, Scott Hamilton, Al Basile, Jimmy Witherspoon, Billy Boy Arnold, and Joe Louis Walker
October 4, 1947 ~ Bassist Jim Fielder born in Denton, Texas, USA ~ Original member of Blood Sweat & Tears, remaining with the band from 1967 through 1973 and present on the band's most acclaimed albums 1968's Child Is Father To The Man and its eponymous Blood Sweat & Tears follow-up released the following year. Has also worked with classmate Tim Buckley, Buffalo Springfield, Bloomfield Kooper & Stills, Mastin & Brewer, and with the BohemiansOctober 4, 1947 ~ Paul Alain Leclerc, commonly known as singer, pianist, songwriter Julien Clerc, born in Paris, France ~ Influenced by Georges Brassens and Edith Piaf. Closely associated with songwriters Maurice Vallet and Etienne Roda-Gil. Released his acclaimed eponymous Julien Clerc debut album in 1968. Would open for Gilbert Bécaud the next year. Best known for songs such as Hélène, La Californie and perhaps his best known Cette Melodie
October 4, 1947 ~ Keyboardist Ronnie Leahy born in Glasgow, UK ~ Best known for his associations with artists such as Jack Bruce, Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, the Dukes, and with Nazareth. Would later play with White Trash, Stone The Crows and with the short-lived Tandoori Cassette
October 4, 1946 ~ Bridget Anne Hobbs, commonly known as folk rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Bridget St John, born in Surrey, UK ~ Best known for her first three albums, including her 1969 debut album Ask Me No Questions produced by label owner, renowned radio DJ John Peel. Duetted with Kevin Ayers on The Oyster And The Flying Fish of Ayers' 1970 Shooting At The Moon album. Would disappear from public view, and hardly record or perform, from the mid 1970s until her 1996 Take The Fifth album. Has collaborated with Mike Oldfield, Robin Frederick, and Michael Chapman
October 4, 1944 ~ Bassist Eddie Gomez born in San Juan, Puerto Rico ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for his work with Bill Evans, backing Evans on tour and on dozens of recordings from 1966 through 1977. Has also worked with Gerry Mulligan, Marian McPartland, Paul Bley, Steps Ahead, Chick Corea, the Manhattan Jazz Quintet, Randy Brecker, Joe Chambers, Billy Cobham, and Eliane EliasOctober 4, 1944 ~ Singer, songwriter Johnny Mercer records Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive ~ Written by Harold Arlen and Mercer. Recorded by Johnny Mercer with vocal group the Pied Pipers and backed by Paul Weston's orchestra, the single would reach top 10 on the pop charts. Several others, including Bing Crosby, Kay Kyser, Dinah Washington, would record their own version within a matter of weeks. The song would go on to become a jazz, pop standard covered by numerous artists, notably Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Dr John, and Al Jarreau
October 4, 1944 ~ Maria de Los Angeles de las Heraz Ortiz, commonly known as mariachi, canción melodica singer, actress Rocio Dúrcal, born in Madrid, Spain ~ Awarded a 2005 Latin Grammy Award, a lifetime achievement award for her contributions to the genre. Known for recordings such as La Guirnalda, Como Tu Mujer, Vestida De Banco, El Destino and Infiel. Worked with Juan Gabriel, Marco Antonio Solís, Luis Sanz, and Silvetti ~ De las Heras passed away in 2006
October 4, 1943 ~ Jump blues, R&B singer, saxophonist, bandleader Louis Jordan records several songs including Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby ~ Penned by Louis Jordan and Billy Jordan. First released as the B-side of GI Jive in June 1944, it would become one of Jordan's most recognisable and popular songs, later covered by numerous artists including Dinah Washington, Joe Jackson on his 1981 Jumpin' Jive album, and by blues icon BB King. The song would also be a 1944 hit record for Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters
October 4, 1942 ~ Bernice Johnson, commonly known as a capella singer, songwriter, social activist Bernice Johnson Reagon, born in Dougherty County, Georgia, USA ~ Member of the Freedom Singers, which she co-founded with Cordell Reagon whom she would latter marry. The quartet fused vblack a capella church singing with popular contemporary songs as well as protest songs and chants. They are best known for We Shall Not Be Moved, the quartet's rendition becoming an anthem of the Civil Rights movement. Johnson also co-founded Sweet Honey In The Rock, with whom she has recorded since the early 1970s including the highly acclaimed Feel Something Drawing Me On album released in 1985. Johnson is also known as a scholar, historian, professor of American history, and as a longtime curator at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC ~ Johnson passed away in 2024October 4, 1942 ~ Composer Diogenes Rivas born in Merida, Venezuela ~ Co-founder, artistic director of the Festival Atemmpo, Caracas. Co-founder, co-artistic director of the Nuit d'Atempo, Paris. Has received commissions from Radio France, the French Ministry of Culture, the Ensemble Aleph. Rivas is particularly known as a researcher of contemporary music, lecturer, and teacher of young composers
October 4, 1942 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, singer Franco Gatti born in Genoa, Italy ~ Co-founded pop, Italo disco outfit Ricchi & Poveri in 1967, one of the most popular Italian pop acts selling over an estimated 20 million records. The band is acclaimed for their unique vocal style based on the intertwining of four different voices, bass, tenor, alto and soprano. Well known songs include L'Ultimo Amore, Mamma Maria, M'Innamore Di Te, Se M'Innamoro, and Sarà Perché Ti Amo. Internationally the group is best known for participating in the 1978 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 12th place with Questo Amore ~ Gatti passed away in 2022October 4, 1942 ~ Joanna Jenneke Josepha Klarenbeek, commonly known as singer, actress Jenny Arean, born in Lisse, the Netherlands ~ First gained attention in the early 1960s working with Wim Kan and Corry Vonk. Ventured into musicals by the 1970s, notably En Nu Naar Bed which spawned the hit single Vluchten Kan Niet Meer with Frans Halsema. The song has become a staple of Dutch radio and remains a favorite to this day
October 4, 1940 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion bassist Steve Swallow born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Closely associated with Jimmy Giuffre, Gary Burton, Carla Bley, also romanticaly involved with the latter since the 1980s. By the 1970s became one of the earliest jazz double bassists to switch entirely to electric bass guitar. As a composer his songs have been covered by Jim Hall, Bill Evans, Chick Corea and Stan Getz. Swallow has collaborated with Sheila Jordan, Steve Kuhn, Michael Mantler, John Scofield, Chico Hamilton, Pierre Favre, Pat Metheny, and Paul Motian
October 4, 1937 ~ Free jazz, blues, soul jazz, pop singer Leon Thomas, full name Amos Leon Thomas Jr, born in East St Louis, Illinois, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Referred to as “the John Coltrane of jazz vocalists”. Influenced James Moody, Tim Buckley, Bobby McFerrin. Worked with Armando Peraza, Jimmy Forrest, Grant Green, the Jazz Messengers, Dakota Staton, Pharoah Sanders, Freddie Hubbard, Santana (Welcome, Lotus), Gary Bartz, Jeri Brown, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Hodges, Archie Shepp, and Malachi Thompson ~ Thomas passed away in 1999October 4, 1937 ~ Country steel guitarist Lloyd Green born in Leaf, Mississippi, USA ~ Notable for his session work with Lynn Anderson, Don Williams, George Hamilton IV, Johnny Paycheck, Jean Stafford, Johnny Cash, the Byrds, the Monkees, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, and Alan Jackson
October 4, 1935 ~ Cynthia Sue Strother, commonly known as singer Cynthia Bell, born in Harlan County, Kentucky, USA ~ Formed the sibling duo the Bell Sisters with her baby sister Edith Bell, adopting their mother's maiden name as stage names. The duo would be discovered in 1951 performing Bermuda, written by Cynthia, on a local Los Angeles TV show. Music publisher Joe Happy Goday would take an interest in the sibling act and had them record the track. The single would reach top 10 on the pop charts the following year, and eventually sell a million copies. The sisters would have two more hits, Wheel Of Fortune which scratched the top 10, and Piece A'Puddin' which reached top 20 ~ Strother passed away in 2024
October 4, 1929 ~ Country singer, guitarist Leroy Van Dyke, full name Leroy Frank Van Dyke, born in Spring Fork, Missouri, USA ~ Recorded over 500 songs. Best known for the hit singles The Auctioneer and Walk On By. Other well known songs include If A Woman Answers Hang Up The Phone, Black Cloud, Roses From A Stranger, A Big Man In A Big House, Birmingham, and Just A State Of Mind
October 4, 1927 ~ Jazz pianist Walter Bishop Jr born in New York, New York, USA ~ Worked with Milt Jackson, Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, Hank Mobley, Jimmy Garrison, GT Hogan, Gene Ammons, Shorty Baker, Doc Cheatham, Art Blakey, Rocky Boyd, Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Curtis Fuller, John Handy, Bill Hardman, Ken McIntyre, Blue Mitchell, Oscar Pettiford, Dizzy Reece, Archie Shepp, and with Sonny Stitt ~ Bishop passed away in 1998October 4, 1925 ~ Musical actor, singer Edmund Lyndeck born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA ~ Performed in regional theater for over a decade before making his Broadway debut in 1969, starring in the original production of 1776. Other notable credits include Into The Woods, Mrs Warren's Profession, A Doll's Life, Merlin and perhaps his best known role as Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd ~ Lyndeck passed away in 2015
October 4, 1922 ~ Composer, conductor Dudley Simpson born in Malvern, Australia ~ Principal conductur of the Royal Opera House. Best known as a composer for British TV series, including for many Dr Who episodes of the 1960s and 1970s ~ Simpson passed away in 2017