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.
April 10, 1911 ~ Pianist, percussionist, bandleader, conductor Martin Denny born in New York, New York, USA ~ Generally considered “the Father of Exotica”, merging lounge jazz, Hawaiian music, Latin rhythms, bird calls, and then-exotic instruments. Best known for his 1959 surprise hit Quiet Village, which sold over a million copies. Denny recorded well over two dozen albums, and is especially acclaimed for Hypnotique, Afro-Desia, and Quiet Village. Denny is also known for launching the careers of vibist Arthur Lyman and of Julius Wechter, the latter later reaching mainstream success with the Tijuana Brass and the Baja Marimba Band. Denny's song Firecracker is said to have inspired Haruomi Hosono to establish the Yellow Magic Orchestra ~ Denny passed away in 2005
April 10, 1911 ~ Singer, saxophonist Victor Lombardo born in London, Canada ~ Original member of family outfit the Royal Canadians alongside Carmen Lombardo, Lebert Lombardo, and the most famous brother Guy Lombardo. Although the group was viewed by some in the jazz and big band community as “boring, mainstream pop”, the group would be immensely popular, especially during the 1940s and 1950s. Trumpeter Louis Armstrong has repeatedly named the group as his favorite orchestra. Victor would take over leadership of the group after his brother Guy's death in 1977 ~ Lombardo passed away in 1994
April 10, 1910 ~ Margherita Maria Francesca LaCentra, commonly known as contralto singer Peg LaCentra, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known for her association with Artie Shaw. Also worked with Leo Reisman, Phil Spitalny, Johnny Green, appeared on Broadway in the 1943 The Patriots musical and ghost sang for a number of feature films ~ LaCentra passed away in 1996April 10, 1902 ~ Conductor, cornetist, composer Harry Mortimer born in Hebden Bridge, UK ~ Son of conductor Fred Mortimer. Considered one of the premier cornetists of his day. Has worked with the Luton Brass Band, the Morris Concert Band. the Hallé Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Northern Orchestra, the Coventry Band, and the Men O'Brass ~ Mortimer passed away in 1992