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 2, 1928 ~ Jazz, hard bop pianist Horace Silver, full name Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silver, born in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA ~ Hard bop pioneer. Influenced by Nat King Cole, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Art Tatum, and Teddy Wilson. Critically acclaimed for a number of 1960s albums, especially Song For My Father and Serenade To A Soul Sister. Known for recordings such as Doodlin', Peace, and Sister Sadie. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Clifford Brown, JJ Johnson, Art Blakey, Miles Davis (Miles Davis Quartet), Kenny Dorham (Afro-Cuban), Art Farmer, Milt Jackson, JR Monterose (JR Monterose), Gerry Mulligan, Ray Charles, Tina Brooks (Minor Move), Wes Montgomery, and Gigi Gryce ~ Silver passed away in 2014September 2, 1917 ~ Pianist, conductor, film composer Armando Trovaioli born in Rome, Italy ~ Best known as a prolific film composer with over 300 credits to his name, including for Anna scoring the international hit El Negro Zumbon. Also wrote the music for a number of musicals, notably 1962's Rugantino and 1974's Aggiungi Un Post A Tavola ~ Trovajoli passed away in 2013
September 2, 1914 ~ Lawrence Laury, commonly known as boogie-woogie, blues, gospel, jazz pianist, singer Booker T Laury, born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA ~ Influenced by Roosevelt Sykes, Sunnyland Slim, and Speckled Red. Although Laury performed for most of his adult life, playing clubs and coffeehouses in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri, often working with Mose Vinson and lifelong friend Memphis Slim, Laury did not release his Nothing But The Blues solo debut album until well into his sixties ~ Laury passed away in 1995September 2, 1901 ~ Filipino Napoli, commonly known as jazz trumpeter, bandleader Phil Napoleon, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ First performed on-stage at age 5. Co-founded the Original Memphis Five with pianist Frank Signorelli, known for their 1927 hit Clarinet Marmelade. Has also worked with the Cotton Pickers, the Charleston Chasers, Leona Williams, Alberta Hunter, and with Jimmy Dorsey ~ Napoli passed away in 1990
September 2, 1896 ~ Edith Goodall, commonly known as vaudeville, blues singer Edith Wilson, born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA ~ Worked with Johnny Dunn, Fletcher Henderson, Florence Mills, Hot Chocolates, Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Bill Robinson, Duke Ellington, Alberta Hunter, Cab Calloway, Noble Sissle, Eubie Blake, Little Brother Montgomery, and Terry Waldo ~ Goodall passed away in 1981