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.
September 10, 1954 ~ Singer Elvis Presley records Good Rocking Tonight in Sun Studios, Memphis, Tennessee ~ Under the supervision of producer Sam Phillips Elvis Presley playing acoustic rhythm guitar and performing vocals records Good Rocking Tonight, originally a 1947 jump blues hit for Roy Brown, backed by Scotty Moore on lead guitar and Bill Black on double bass. Presley's version would be released later the same month as his sophomore single with I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine featured on the flip-sideSeptember 10, 1953 ~ Trombonist Craig Harris born in Hempstead, New York, USA ~ Major figure in avant-garde jazz. Worked with Sun Ra, Abdullah Ibrahim, David Murray, Lester Bowie, Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers, Muhal Richard Abrams, Charlie Haden, Don Byron, Anthony Cox, Pheeroan Aklaff, Ayibobo, Billy Bang, Don Byron, Carla Cook, Lena Horne, Dollar Brand, Joseph Jarman, the Roots, Henry Threadgill, and the World Saxophone Quartet
September 10, 1952 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Chris Wilson born in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA ~ Lead singer of the Flamin' Groovies, joining the band in 1971 replacing original singer Roy Loney. Present on the band's most acclaimed album, Shake Some Action released in 1976. Co-wrote the album's title track Shake Some Action with Cyril Jordan. Also a longtime member of the Barracudas and recorded as a solo artist
September 10, 1952 ~ Bassist, producer Tony Markellis born in Helena, Montana, USA ~ Best known for his association with Trey Anastasio. Has also worked with Paul Butterfield, Johnny Shines, David Bromberg, Paul Siebel, Rosalie Sorrels, Ellen McIlwaine, Mary McCaslin, Jo Henley, and with jazz fusion group Kilimanjaro ~ Markellis passed away in 2021
September 10, 1951 ~ Giuseppa Romeo, commonly known as singer, songwriter Giuni Russo, born in Palermo, Italy ~ Also recorded under the monikers Giusy Romeo and Junie Russo. Experimental pop singer known for her five-octave range, able to produce extremely high notes. Sings in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, and other languages. Has recorded well over a dozen albums, starting with Love Is A Woman released in 1975. Well-known for songs such as Hurt, Soli Noi, Un' Estate Al Mare, and La Sua Figura ~ Romeo passed away in 2004September 10, 1950 ~ Glam rock, hard rock drummer Don Powell, full name Donald George Powell, born in Bilston, UK ~ Co-founding member of Slade. Co-wrote the 1972 UK top 10 hit Look Wot You Dun. Remained with the band until its initial disbandement in 1992. Member of Quatro Scott & Powell alongside singer Suzi Quatro and Sweet guitarist Andy Scott
September 10, 1950 ~ Anthony Joseph Pereira, commonly known as guitarist, singer, songwriter Joe Perry, born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known as co-founding member and lead guitarist of Aerosmith. Also fronts the Joe Perry Project and is a member of the Hollywood Vampires, alongside Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp.
September 10, 1949 ~ Jazz singer Barbara Morrison born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA ~ Worked with Jimmy Smith, James Moody, Gerald Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Ron Carter, Etta James, Esther Phillips, David T Walker, Dr John, Kenny Burrell, Terence Blanchard, Joe Sample, Cedar Walton, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, Keb' Mo, Doc Severinsen, and Mark Winkler ~ Morrison passed away in 2022
September 10, 1949 ~ Barrie Barlow, commonly known as progressive rock drummer, percussionist Barriemore Barlow born in Birmingham, UK ~ Best known as drummer for Jethro Tull joining the band in 1971 replacing Clive Bunker. Upset by the death of bassist John Glascock Barlow left the band in 1980. Has subsequently played with Kerry Livgren, Robert Plant, Yngwie Malmsteen (Rising Force), John Miles, and Jimmy PageSeptember 10, 1948 ~ Jazz singer, lyricist, songwriter Lorraine Feather, full name Billie Jane Lee Lorraine Feather, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Daugher of renowned jazz critic Leonard Feather and big band singer Jane Feather. Named Billie for her godmother Billie Holiday, Lee for her mother's former roommate Peggy Lee, Lorraine for the jazz standard Sweet Lorraine first recorded by the Radiolites in 1928 and covered by well over 300 artists. Well over a dozen albums to her name, most acclaimed for Ages, Attachments and Flirting With Disaster
September 10, 1945 ~ Singer Bing Crosby records Aren't You Glad You're You ~ Music by Jimmy van Heusen, lyrics Johnny Burke. Written for the film The Bells Of St Mary's, starring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman. The song would be nominated for an Academy Award but lose out to It Might As Well Be Spring from the film State Fair. Crosby's single would reach top 10 on the pop charts. Over the years it would be covered by a hosts of artists including Peggy Lee, Gerry Mulligan, Rosemary Clooney, and Rebecca Kilgore
September 10, 1943 ~ Jazz trombonist, singer, composer Garrett List born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Member of Musica Elettronica Viva. Has worked with artists such as Anthony Braxton, Willem Breuker, Johnny Copeland, Arthur Russell, Frederic Rzewski, Keshavan Masiak, La Monte Young, Marianne Schroeder, Morton Feldman, Yoshi Wada, and Christian Wolff ~ List passed away in 2019
September 10, 1941 ~ Conductor, harpsichordist, author, musicologist Christopher Hogwood, full name Christopher Jarvis Haley Hogwood, born in Nottingham, UK ~ Leading figure in the early music revival of the late 20th century. Co-founded the Early Music Consort with David Munrow. Founded the Academy of Ancient Music, known for their performances of baroque and classical music using period instruments. Artistic director of the Handel And Haydn Society. Has also conducted renowned companies such as the Berlin State Opera, La Scala, and the Royal Opera House ~ Hogwood passed away in 2014September 10, 1940 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Eduardo Matteo born in Montevideo, Uruguay ~ Modernised Uruguyan music drawing from beat, jazz, bossa nova and local rhythms. Cited by Jorge Drexler as a major influence. Has his compositions recorded by Pedro Aznar, Hugo Fattoruso, Fernando Cabrera, Leon Gieco, Sandra Mihanovich, Milton Nascimento, and Jaime Roos ~ Mateo passed away in 1990
September 10, 1940 ~ Jazz, post-bop, jazz-funk singer, vibraphonist, keyboardist Roy Ayers, full name Roy Edward Ayers Jr, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Firmly rooted in bebop, Ayers would become one of the premier vibraphonists to emerge from the 1960s. Initially working as a sidemen with artists such as Curtis Amy, Jack Wilson, Gerald Wilson, Teddy Edwards, Chico Hamilton, Hampton Hawes, Phineas Newborn Jr, and notably with Herbie Mann, Ayers ventured out on his own by the early 1970s and would become especially acclaimed for a series of albums over the next decade, pioneering acid-jazz and jazz-funk, notably Vibrations and Music Of Many Colours with Fela Kuti. Best known for composing and performing the soundtrack to the 1973 blaxploitation film Coffy and for singles such as Running Away, Freaky Deaky, and perhaps his best known Everybody Loves The Sunshine, the latter later notably covered by Cibo Matto, D'Angelo, and N'Dambi. In later years, at some point generally acknowledged as “the Godfather of Neo-Soul”, Ayers would become an in-demand collaborator for the likes of Rick James, Whitney Houston, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Coolio, Mary J Blige (Share My World), Eric Benét, Ronny Jordan, Erykah Badu (Mama's Gun), Jill Scott (Who Is Jill Scott), Gerald Levert, Talib Kweli, and Alicia Keys ~ Ayers passed away in 2025
September 10, 1939 ~ Judith Anne Manes, commonly known as soprano singer Judith Nelson, born in Evanston, Illinois, USA ~ Especially known for her performances of baroque music at the beginning of the early music revival of the 1970s and 1980s. Member of the Five Centuries Ensemble. Co-founding member of the Concerto Vocale. Co-founding member of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. Also known for operatic roles in L'Incoronazione Di Poppea and Messiah ~ Nelson passed away in 2012
September 10, 1931 ~ Drummer Franco Manzecchi born in Ravenna, Italy ~ Italian-born drummer who through a series of stops ended up in France by the late 1950s, where he became a valued sticksman on the Paris jazz scene playing with various local ensembles and visiting jazz artists. Following heart surgery, he largely retired from music by the mid 1970s. Manzecchi has appeared on recordings by Chet Baker, André Hodeir, Eraldo Volonté, Eric Dolphy (Naima), and Clark Terry ~ Manzecchi passed away in 1979
September 10, 1930 ~ Maria Micaela Secada Ramos, commonly known as singer Moraima Secada, born in Santa Clara, Cuba ~ Aunt of pop singer Jon Secada. Member of Anacaona, the first all-female Latin-American orchestra. Member of Cuarteto Los Meme. Member of the Cuarteto D'Aida alongside Elena Burke, Omara Portuondo and Haydee Portuondo ~ Secada passed away in 1984
September 10, 1927 ~ Trombonist, pianist, arranger, songwriter Johnny Keating born in Edinburgh, UK ~ Got his start working as a trombonist for Ted Heath, two years in becoming Heath's primary arranger. Wrote a number of soundtracks, perhaps most notably Hotel. The film's theme song This Hotel would be first recorded by Percy Faith and would be covered by Shirley Horn, Nancy Wilson, Carmen McRae, and Stan Kenton. As a performer perhaps best known for Theme From Z-Cars, the theme of the BBC TV drama series Z-Cars, would be adopted by Everton Football Club as their club anthem ~ Keating passed away in 2015
September 10, 1925 ~ Singer, bassist, pianist Roy Brown, full name Roy James Brown, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity especially through the early 1950s. Influential on the early development of rock & roll and R&B. One of the first to incorporate gospel-styled singing into R&B, his pleading vocal style later emulated by BB King, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Bobby Blue Bland, and Jackie Wilson. Perhaps best remembered for Good Rocking Tonight, covered by a wide array of artists including Wynonie Harris, James Brown, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Doors, Montrose, and Joe Ely. Other well known songs include Rockin' At Midnight, Miss Fanny Brown, Love Don't Love Nobody, Cadillac Baby, and at the time his biggest seller Hard Luck Blues ~ Brown passed away in 1981
September 10, 1924 ~ Hans Olof Wickman, commonly known as jazz clarinetist Putte Wickman, born in Falun, Sweden ~ Acclaimed and leading clarinetist. Influenced by Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman. Worked with artists such as Sivuca, Sture Nordin, John Lewis, Red Mitchell, Janne Schaffer, Hal Galper, the Visby Big Band, Arne Domnérus, Björn Skiffs, Viktoria Tolstoy, Babik Reinhardt, Jan Lundgren, Jesper Lundgaard, Alex Riel, Ernie Wilkins, and Joe Newman ~ Wickman passed away in 2006
September 10, 1923 ~ Zoila August Emperatriz Chavarri del Castillo, commonly known as coloratura soprano Yma Sumac, passed in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Known for her extreme vocal range. Prolific singer mastered various styles, perhaps best known as one of the most famous voices in the exotica genre. Stories published in the 1950s claimed that she was an Incan princess, directly descended from Atahualpa, the last Incan emperor. Discovered by Les Baxter she signed to Capitol Records in 1950. Her debut LP, Voice Of The Xtabay, was a smash hit. She continued to have fame throughout the 1950s, playing with Baxter, Danny Kaye, put out several hit albums (notably the 1954 release Mambo), and perform at venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, the Roxy Theatre, Vegas nightclubs, as well as tour internationally ~ Chávarri passed away in 2008
September 10, 1913 ~ Drummer Cliff Leeman born in Portland, Maine, USA ~ Performed with the Portland Symphony Orchestra at age 13. Toured vaudeville in late 1920s. From 1930s onwards worked with artists such as Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet, Johnny Long, Woody Herman, Don Byas, John Kirby, Raymond Scott, Jimmy Dorsey, Ben Webster, the Casa Loma Orchestra, Bob Chester, Eddie Condon, Bobby Hackett, Pee Wee Erwin, Yank Lawson, Bob Haggart, the Lawson-Haggart Band, Ralph Sutton, Billy Butterfield, Bob Crosby, Wild Bill Davison, the Dukes Of Dixieland, Peanuts Hucko, Joe Venuti, the Kings Of Jazz, Bud Freeman, Don Ewell, the World's Greatest Jazz Band, and Jimmy McPartland ~ Leeman passed away in 1986September 10, 1908 ~ Harry Warnow, commonly known as bandleader, pianist, producer Raymond Scott, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Never scored cartoon soundtracks yet familiar to many because Carl Stalling adapted Warnow's music to over 120 Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons. Warnow's compositions can also be heard in Ren & Stimpy Show, The Simpsons, Duckman, and Animaniacs ~ Warnow passed away in 1994
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