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 11, 1957 ~ Country, bluegrass, rock singer, guitarist, songwriter Jim Lauderdale born in New York, New York, USA ~ A singer's singer, highly admired by peers. Anticipated the Americana movement, merging country, pop, rock, blues, and folk. Over 30 albums to his name starting with 1991's Planet Of Love produced by Rodney Crowell and John Leventhal. Guested on albums by Dwight Yoakam, Carlene Carter, Sara Evans, Lucinda Williams (Car Wheels On A Gravel Road), and Buddy Miller. Had his songs recorded by George Strait, Gary Allan, Elvis Costello, Blake Shelton, the Dixie Chicks, Vince Gill, and Patty Loveless
April 11, 1957 ~ Ska, new wave singer, percussionist, trumpeter Neville Staple, full name Neville Eugenton Staple, born in Manchester Parish, Jamaica ~ Member of the Coventry Automatics, initially as the band's roadie. The band would be renamed to the Specials in 1979 and score seminal UK hits such as Message To You Rudy, Too Much Too Young, Do Nothing, Stereotype, Rat Race, and their best known Ghost Town. Subsequently formed the Fun Boy Three with bandmates Lynval Golding and Terry Hall, the trio known for The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum and the Bananarama collaboration It Ain't What You Do (It's The The Way That You Do It). Staple has also recorded as a solo artist, noted for the album The Rude Boy Returns released in 2004 featuring guests such as the Clash guitarist Mick Jones and the Damned-drummer Rat ScabiesApril 11, 1955 ~ Edna Maria Nazario Figueroa, commonly known as singer, songwriter, actress Ednita Nazario, born in Ponce, Puerto Rico ~ Active since the early 1970s. Over two dozens albums to her name. Best known for songs such as Aprendere, Lo Que Son Las Cosas and Tres Deseo
April 11, 1955 ~ Singer, songwriter Michael Callen born in Rising Sun, Indiana, USA ~ Diagnosed with AIDS in the early 1980s became a pioneering activist raising awareness of the disease. Member of a capella quintet the Flirtations. Has recorded two solo albums, Purple Heart released in 1988 and Legacy released posthumously in 1996 ~ Callen passed away in 1993
April 11, 1954 ~ Progressive rock, art-rock guitarist, lutenist, songwriter Francis Lickerish, full name John Francis Lickerish, born in Cambridge, UK ~ Co-founding member of art rock outfit the Enid, present on the band's first four albums. Guested on Kim Wilde's Kids In America hit single. After departing the band in 1980 has returned to college and worked in the fields of adult addiction and family services. Returned to music in the 2000s, founding the folk rock band Secret Green, known for their 2009 To Wake The King debut album
April 11, 1954 ~ Dance bandleader, violinist Paul Specht passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Popular bandleader in the UK during the dance band era. Employed sidemen such as Hank D'Amico, Russ Morgan, Sylvester Ahola, Charlie Spivak, Joe Tarto and Chauncey Morehouse early on in their career ~ Specht was born in 1895April 11, 1951 ~ Guitarist Paul Fox, full name Paul Richard Fox, born in Bermondsey, UK ~ Best known as founding member of UK punk outfit Ruts. Also a member the Dirty Strangers, who recorded two albums featuring guests Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood. Worked with the Choir Militia, the Screaming Lobsters, the Fluffy Kittens, Mat Sargent, and the Riffs ~ Fox passed away in 2007
April 11, 1950 ~ Singer Maria Dimitriadi born in Athens, Greece ~ Sister of singer Aphrodite Manou. Regarded as one of the finest interpreters of Mikis Theodorakis and Thanos Mikroutsikos. Known for songs such as O Levidis, Gia Tin Eleni, Evgenia, and Ena Proino (Anabel) ~ Dimitriadi passed away in 2009
April 11, 1949 ~ Roger Pritchard, commonly known as singer, songwriter Lee Sheriden, born in Horfield, UK ~ Member of Brotherhood Of Man, known for winning the 1976 Eurovision Songfestival with Save Your Kisses For Me which Sheriden co-wrote
April 11, 1943 ~ Jazz double bassist Jacky Samson born in Paris, France ~ Worked with Georges Arvanitas, François Biensan, Milt Buckner, Jimmy Dawkins, Maynard Ferguson, François Guin, Slide Hampton, Michel Hausser, Guy Lafitte, and Jean-Claude Naude
April 11, 1941 ~ Tenor Arthur Davies born in Wrexham, UK ~ Worked with with the Royal Opera London, the English National Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Cincinnati Opera, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Leipzig Opera, the Municipal theater of Santiago, the New Orleans Opera, Teatro Nacional de Sao Carlos, de Vlaamse Opera, and the Teatro Colón ~ Davies passed away in 2018
April 11, 1939 ~ Songwriter, singer Freddie Gorman, full name Frederick Cortez Gorman, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing the Marvelettes' Please Mr Postman, an early hit for the Motown label. The song would be covered by numerous artists including the Beatles, Helen Shapiro, and the Carpenters. Other songs co-written by Gorman include I Want A Guy recorded by the Supremes, and Let Somebody Love Me recorded by Chuck Jackson ~ Gorman passed away in 2006
April 11, 1939 ~ Luther Johnson, commonly known as Chicago blues singer, guitarist Luther Guitar Junior Johnson, born in Itta Bena, Mississippi, USA ~ Active since the late 1950s, building up an impressive resume backing numerous blues giants before embarking on a respectable solo career by the mid 1970s. Profited from the 1990s blues boom, attracting a wider audience with a string of acclaimed albums showcasing a soulful voice and solid guitar playing. Notable releases include I Want To Groove With You, Slammin' On The West Side, and Live At The Rynborn. As a sideman Johnson is present on albums by John Lee Hooker, Otis Spann, Muddy Waters (The Unk In Funk), the Nighthawks, Big Leon Brooks (Let's Go To Town), and Willie Kent ~ Johnson passed away in 2022
April 11, 1938 ~ Ragtime era singer, comedian Eddie Morton, full name Edward Farren Morton, passed away in Wildwood, New Jersey, USA ~ Worked for the Philadelphia PD before pursuing a full-time career as a performer, earning him the nickname “the Singing Cop”. Known for songs such as That's Gratitude, Just A Friend Of The Family, You Ain't Talking To Me and Oceana Roll ~ Morton was born in 1870April 11, 1938 ~ Operatic bass singer Kurt Moll born in Buir, Germany ~ Acclaimed for his restrained basso profondo voice. Closely associated with the Cologne Opera. Has also worked with the Mainz Opera, the Wuppertal Opera, the Hamburg State Opera, and the San Francisco Opera ~ Moll passed away in 2017
April 11, 1937 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor Yuzo Kayama born in Yokohama, Japan ~ As a musician perhaps best known for his 1960s instrumental surf recordings, notably Black Sand Beach and Kimi To Itsumademo, the latter selling two million copies. Also well known as an actor with well over a dozen film credits to his name
April 11, 1936 ~ Jaime Sabater, commonly known as boogaloo, salsa singer, percussionist Jimmy Sabater, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Willie Bobo, Uba Nieto, Papi Pagani. Rose to fame as a member of the Joe Cuba Sextet in the 1960s and 1970s, present on songs such as To Be With You and Salsa Y Bembe. After his departure from the band in 1977, Sabater has recorded as a solo artist, and collaborated with the likes of Al Levy, Charlie Palmieri, José Mangual Jr, and Bobby Cruz. Sabater's son, Jimmy Sabater Jr, is a bandleader and trumpeter ~ Sabater passed away in 2012
April 11, 1935 ~ Singer, songwriter Richard Berry born in Extension, Louisiana, USA ~ Member of a number of 1950s doo-wop groups including the Flairs, the Robins, the Penguins, the Cadets, the Chimes, the Crowns, the Five Hunters, the Rams, the Whips, and the Dreamers. Best known as author and original performer of Louie Louie, made famous by Kingsmen and covered by a host of artists including Paul Revere & the Raiders, Frank Zappa, the Beach Boys, the Kinks, the Sonics, Motörhead, Toots & the Maytals, Blondie, Nick Cave, and Lou Reed. Also wrote the often covered Have Love Will Travel ~ Berry passed away in 1997
April 11, 1935 ~ Pierre Kartner, commonly known as singer Vader Abraham, born in Elst, the Netherlands ~ Wrote over 1,600 songs. Known for his Smurf-themed songs, the 1971 Wilma Landkroon duet Zou Het Erg Zijn Lieve Opa, and for Het Kleine Café Aan De Haven, the latter covered over 250 times in various languages including by Engelbert Humperdinck (Little Cafe On The Harbour), Audrey Landers (My Favourite Cafe On The Harbour), Mireille Mathieu (Le Café De La Rue Amerique), Joe Dassin (Le Café Des Trois Colombes), and by Peter Alexander (Die Kleine Kneipe) ~ Kartner passed away in 2022April 11, 1934 ~ Singer Cleotha Staples born in Drew, Mississippi, USA ~ Oldest sibling considered the backbone of family outfit the Staple Singers, best known for 1970s hits drawing from R&B and gospel. The group scored two Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits with 1972's I'll Take You There and 1973's If You're Ready (Come Go With Me) ~ Staples passed away in 2013
April 11, 1927 ~ Songwriter, lyricist, singer Alberto Testa born in São Paulo, Brazil ~ Frequent collaborator of Tony Renis, with whom he wrote Quando Quando Quando, a bossa nova styled pop song originally written in Italian. The song was first recorded by Renis in 1962 and has since become a standard covered by over 250 artists in about a dozen languages, the word ‘quando’ retained in most likely nearly all but, obviously, the instrumental versions. Notable covers have been recorded by Tito Rodriguez, Pat Boone, Nana Moskouri, the Drifters, Engelbert Humperdinck, Xavier Cugat, and as a duet by Michael Bublé and Nelly Furtado, and by Fergie and will.i.am, the latter version recorded for the 2009 musical film Nine. The song also briefly appears in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers where during an effort to reform the band, Jake and Elwood find five of their members playing the song in a deserted lounge. Quando Quando Quando remains Testa's biggest claim to fame, yet other songs co-written by Testa have been recorded by Caterina Valente, Plácido Domingo, Shirley Bassey, and Barbra Streisand. The Prayer, which Testa co-wrote with David Foster, Tony Renis and Carole Bayer Sager, would be recorded by Céline Dion and Andrea Bocelli for the 1998 musical animated feature film Quest For Camelot after both artists had recorded their own versions. The duet version would earn a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, and subsequently win a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals the following year ~ Testa passed away in 2009April 11, 1925 ~ Saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist Emil Mangelsdorff born in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany ~ Imprisoned by the Gestapo for playing jazz and eventually forced to enlist in Hitler's army. Brother of trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff. Has worked with Joe Klimm, Jutta Hipp, Atilla Zoller, and George Gruntz ~ Mangelsdorff passed away in 2022
April 11, 1918 ~ Jazz, R&B, soul double bassist, bassist Jimmy Lewis born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Not to be confused with namesake singer Jimmy Lewis of the Drifters. Active since the 1950s performing with the likes of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Cootie Williams, Billie Holiday, Ivory Joe Hunter. Moved to bass guitar during his time with King Curtis. Present on albums by Al Casey, Solomon Burke (If You Need Me), Willis Jackson, John Hammond Jr, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Wilson Pickett (In The Midnight Hour), Byrdie Green, Buddy Terry, Richard Groove Holmes, Charles Kynard (Afro-Disiac), Grant Green, Houston Person, Horace Silver, Boogaloo Joe Jones, and Tiny Grimes ~ Lewis passed away in 2000
April 11, 1912 ~ Jazz double bassist, artist manager John Levy born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA ~ In addition to an impressive resume as a bassist and accompanist, Levy is often credited as the first African-American artist manager in jazz managing artists such as Cannonball Adderley, Wes Montgomery, Shirley Horn, Ramsey Lewis, and perhaps most notably Nancy Wilson. As a bass player, Levy has accompanied a wide array of artists including Stuff Smith during their tenure at The Onyx Club, Billie Holiday in her 1948 Carnegie Hall comeback concert, George Shearing on tracks such as September In The Rain, Conception, and Move, and Erroll Garner on the Savoy recordings. Levy studied the piano and violin prior to taking up the bass in high school. Levy himself found the bass was his basis, his foundation as a musician, and has been quoted as saying: “As it turned out, my forte, or what I was best known for as a musician, as a bass player, was the accompanying part of it. I had the sense of rhythm and I had the sense of the bassline and what it meant to the soloist who was playing.” As a business man, Levy cultivated an air of trust, preferring a handshake to a formal contract, and approached his work in very much the same way he approached playing, aiming to help his clients fulfill their own potential. In his memoir, Levy would remark his job was “to build with what they gave me”. Levy was inducted into the International Jazz Hall of Fame in 1997, and named a Jazz Master by the National Endowment For The Arts in 2006 ~ Levy passed away in 2012
April 11, 1910 ~ Actor, singer, trumpeter Johnnie Davis, full name John Gustave Davis, born in Brazil, Indiana, USA ~ Scat singer. Worked with Leo Baxter and Fred Waring before finding employ in Hollywood in the late 1930s, notaby in the 1937 film Hollywood Hotel introducing the Johnny Mercer-penned Hooray For Hollywood. Davis would star in over a dozen films ~ Davis passed away in 1983