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, 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
October 4, 1921 ~ John Willie Henry, commonly known as bassist, arranger Shifty Henry, born in Edna, Texas, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for Let Me Go Home Whiskey, later also recorded by Amos Milburn and by Asleep At The Wheel, and Hyping Women Blues, covered by T-Bone Walker. Henry worked with Dinah Washington, Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, the Treniers, Illinois Jacquet, and Miles Davis. Henry was mentioned by name in the Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller-pennned Jailhouse Rock in the line: “Shifty Henry said to Bugs, for heaven's sake, no one's looking, now's a chance to make a break.” ~ Henry passed away in 1958
October 4, 1914 ~ Marvin E Ashbaugh, commonly known as jazz, dixieland pianist Marvin Ash, born in Lamar, Colorado, USA ~ Influenced by Earl Hines, Fats Waller, James P Johnson, Arthur Schutt. Known for songs such as Maple Leaf Rag, Cannon Ball, Fidgety Feet. Has worked with Count Basie, Herman Waldman, and Wingy Manone ~ Ashbaugh passed away in 1974
October 4, 1909 ~ Jazz violinist, trumpeter, saxophonist, clarinetist Noël Chiboust born in Thorigny-sur-Marne, France ~ Worked as violinist with Ray Ventura, as trumpeter with Freddy Johnson, Michel Warlop, Coleman Hawkins, Guy Paquinet, and as saxophonist with Bill Coleman, Joe Keyes, Serge Glykson, Raymond Wraskoff, Fred Adison ~ Chiboust passed away in 1994