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 18, 1944 ~ Maria Del Rocío Trinidad Mohedano Jurado, commonly known as singer, actress Rocío Jurado, born in Chiplona, Spain ~ One of the all-time best-selling Spanish female singers with over 16 million records sold. Best known for songs such as Como Una Ola, Como Yo Te Amo, Ese Hombre, Se Nos Rompio El Amor and Vibro ~ Jurado passed away in 2006September 18, 1943 ~ Pianist, conductor, composer Issak Tavior born in Haifa, Israel ~ Best known for his 2004 Vision Of The Valley Of Dry Bones composition. Has worked with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Haifa Symphony Orchestra, and the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg
September 18, 1943 ~ Sharon Finkelstein, commonly known as blue-eyed soul singer Sharon Tandy, born in Johannesburg, South Africa ~ Critically compared to Dusty Springfield, Julie Driscoll and Christine McVie, enjoying some modest succes in 1960s UK wave of blue-eyed soul, Tandy drawing from R&B, British pop and mod-psychedelia. Known for songs such as Hold On, Daughter Of The Sun, Border Town and Toe Hold. Due to the lack of commercial succes Tandy mostly retired from music by the 1970s, recording only sporadically ~ Finkelstein passed away in 2015September 18, 1942 ~ Progressive rock, jam band drummer, keyboardist Andy Farag born in South Bend, Indiana, USA ~ Member of Umphreys McGee, joining the band in 1998 shortly after the release of their Greatest Hits Vol III debut album
September 18, 1941 ~ Singer Frank Tardogno born ~ Original member of doo-wop outfit the Elegants, alongside Arthur Venosa, Carmen Romano, Vito Picone and James Moschello, known for Little Star, a million-seller in 1958
September 18, 1941 ~ Country singer Priscilla Mitchell born in Marietta, Georgia, USA ~ Active since the 1950s, initially a rock & roll backing singer for NRC Records. Married to guitarist, singer Jerry Reed from 1959 until his death. As a solo artist best known for her 1965 Love's Eternal Triangle duet album with country singer Roy Drusky, which spawned the Billboard Country No.1 single Yes Mr Peters. The follow-up album, Together Again released the next year, would be less successful and produce no hit singles. Mitchell would cut a few more solo singles through the end of the decade ~ Mitchell passed away in 2014
September 18, 1940 ~ Francis Thomas Avallone, commonly known as singer, actor Frankie Avalon born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Actor, singer, teen idol with over 30 charting singles from the late 1950s through the early 1960s, best known for the US No.1 hits Venus and Why. Other hits included Just Ask Your Heart, Ginger Bread, Bobby Sox To Stockings and A Boy Without A Girl
September 18, 1940 ~ Singer, songwriter Powell St John, full name Rayward Powell St John, born in Houston, Texas, USA ~ Member of local trio the Waller Creek Boys, which also included Lannie Wiggins and a then-unknown Janis Joplin. Founding member of Mother Earth, present on the band's first two albums. Also remembered as a songwriter, his songs recorded by Big Brother & the Holding Company (Bye Bye Baby), the 13th Floor Elevators (You Don't Know How Young You Are), Boz Scaggs (I'll Forever Sing), and Roky Erickson (Right Track Now) ~ St John passed away in 2021
September 18, 1939 ~ Gospel singer, TV and radio personality Bobby Jones born in Henry, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known as a TV and radio host sometimes referred to as “the Ed Sullivan of Gospel”. Hosted the TV show Bobby Jones Gospel on BET for over three decades, starting in 1980. The show has been incremental to the careers of Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Yolanda Adams, and Smokie Norful
September 18, 1939 ~ Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist Steve Marcus, also known as Steve the Count Marcus, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Well over half a dozen albums as a leader, noted specifically for Count's Rock Album released in 1969. Marcus was considered a pioneering force behind what eventually would become known as fusion. Marcus first gained attention in the early 1960s, initially only temporarily filling in for Charlie Mariano in Stan Kenton's band and later given the gig full-time. Other notable associations include Woody Herman, Gary Burton, Herbie Mann, Larry Coryell, Sonny Sharrock, and drummer Buddy Rich, backing the latter from 1975 until his death over a decade later ~ Marcus passed away in 2005September 18, 1933 ~ Singer, actor Jimmie Rodgers, full name James Frederick Rodgers, born in Camas, Washington, USA ~ Best known for his 1957 Honeycomb hit single, penned by Bob Merrill and previously recorded by Georgie Shaw. Would go on to have a successful run throughout the 1960s with country-pop and crossover songs including Kisses Sweeter Than Wine, Oh-oh I'm Falling In Love Again, Secretly and Are You Really Mine ~ Rodgers passed away in 2021
September 18, 1932 ~ Maureen Theresa Lehane Wishart, commonly known as mezzo-soprano Maureen Lehane, born in London, UK ~ Married to composer Peter Wishart from 1966 until his death in 1984. Perhaps best known for performing in a 1974 production of George Frideric Handel's Ariodante with the Handel Opera Society. Lehane's repertoire over the years also included Claudio Monteverdi, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, and Richard Wagner ~ Lehane passed away in 2010September 18, 1929 ~ Theodora King, commonly known as jazz, pop singer Teddi King, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known for a number of 1950s singles including Married I Can Always Get, Say It Isn't So and perhaps her best known Mr Wonderful, the latter making the top 20 in 1956. Worked with Nat Pierce, Beryl Booker, and George Shearing ~ King passed away in 1977
September 18, 1926 ~ Producer Jim Vienneau, full name James Francis Vienneau, born in Albany, New York, USA ~ Best known for producing It's Only Make Believe for Conway Twitty. It would be Conway's breakout hit, reaching No.1 Billboard Hot 100 in 1958, and has become a classic of the genre recorded by over a hundred artists including Johnny Burnette, Paul Anka, Glen Campbell, Lynn Anderson, and Ronnie McDowell. Twitty would re-record the song as a duet with Loretta Lynn in 1971. Other well known songs produced by Vienneau include Vacation for Connie Francis, Teen Angel for Mark Dinning, and Whole Lotta Woman for Marvin Rainwater. Vienneau has also worked with Hank Williams Jr, Roy Orbison, Bob Gallion, Mel Tillis, and Billy Thunderkloud ~ Vienneau passed away in 2023
September 18, 1923 ~ Jazz saxophonist, oboist Frank Socolow born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Active since the early 1940s. Has worked with artists such as Buddy Rich, Chubby Jackson, Artie Shaw, Johnny Bothwell, Charlie Ventura, Sal Salvador, Maynard Ferguson, Terry Gibbs, Phil Woods, Cecil Payne, Manny Albam, Hal McKusick, Johnny Richards, Bill Russo, Joe Morello, Bobby Scott, Gene Krupa, and Terry Gibbs ~ Socolow passed away in 1981
September 18, 1900 ~ Violinist, composer, teacher Willis James, full name Willis Laurence James, born in Montgomery, Alabama, USA ~ Best known as a teacher, serving as a member of the faculty staff of Spelman College for more than three decades starting in the early 1930s. Studied with Sidney Woodward. Protégé of Kemper Harreld. Member of the Morehouse Quartet. Co-founded the Fort Valley State College Folk Festival which ran anually from 1940 through 1955 ~ James passed away in 1966
September 18, 1894 ~ Singer, pianist, songwriter Willard Robison born in Shelbina, Missouri, USA ~ Best remembered for penning or co-penning songs such as Cottage For Sale (the Revelers, Guy Lombardo, Ruth Etting), Old Folks (Larry Clinton, Bing Crosby, Mildred Bailey), and A Woman Alone With The Blues (Lee Wiley, Peggy Lee, Anita O'Day) ~ Robison passed away in 1968