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 3, 1955 ~ Guitarist John Mooney born in East Orange, New Jersey, USA ~ Merges Delta Blues with New Orleans rhythms. Influenced by Son House. Worked with the Meters, Earl King, Snooks Eaglin, Professor Longhair. Debuted as a solo artist with the album Comin' Your Way in 1979 and has recorded steadily since including the acclaimed 1985 album Sideways In Paradise with Jimmy ThackeryApril 3, 1954 ~ Jazz bassist, double bassist Chuck Deardorf born ~ Married to singer Kelly Harland. Leader, co-leader and sideman. Closely associated with Dave Peterson. Has also worked with Don Lanphere, Bud Shank, Jovino Santos Neto, Jim Knapp, Tom Collier, Pete Christlieb, Larry Coryell, Randy Brecker, and Frank D'Rone ~ Deardorf passed away in 2022
April 3, 1953 ~ Conductor, composer Colin Touchin, full name Colin Michael Touchin, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Composed oratorios, sinfoniettes, and works for wind bands and choral groups. As a teacher taught at Cheltham's School Of Music and the University Of Warwick. Founded and conducted the Spires Philhamonic Orchestra And Chorus ~ Touchin passed away in 2022
April 3, 1951 ~ Boogie-woogie, jump blues, jazz pianist, singer Mitch Woods born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Fronts the Rocket 88s, named after the early 1950s song by Jackie Brenston which has often been cited as the first rock & roll song. the Woods describes his music as “rock-a-boogie&dquo;, drawing from boogie-woogie, jump blues and jazz. Debuted in 1984 with the A Steady Date With Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s and has recorded consistently since
April 3, 1950 ~ Songwriter Kurt Weill, full name Kurt Julian Weill passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Leading stage composer best known for his association with Bertolt Brecht and especially known for co-writing The Threepenny Opera which included Mack The Knife which has become a standard recorded by numerous artists including Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darin, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Dave Van Ronk, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Tony Bennett, Bing Crosby, Nick Cave, Dr John, and Michael Bublé ~ Weill was born in 1900
April 3, 1949 ~ Jazz saxophonist Eric Kloss born in Greenville, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Started playing saxophone at age 10. Two years later Kloss played in night clubs with artists such as Bobby Negri, Charles Bell, and Sonny Stitt. At 16 recorded his debut LP Introducing Eric Kloss with Don Patterson and Pat Martino. Kloss, a huge fan of Elvis Presley and the Ventures was attracted to jazz fusion and would continue to play with a wide array of jazz musicians including Jaki Byard, Richard Davis, Alan Dawson, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Richie Cole, Gil Goldstein, Cedar Walton, Jimmy Owens, Kenny Barron, Booker Ervin, Barry Miles, and Terry Silverlight
April 3, 1949 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter Richard Thompson born in Notting Hill, UK ~ First gained prominence as lead guitarist, co-founding member of Fairport Convention, remaining with the band through 1971. Released his Henry The Human Fly solo debut album in 1971. Released several critically acclaimed albums with his then-wife Linda Thompson throughout the early 1980s, notably 1974's I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight. Has also worked with Nick Drake, John Martyn, the Bunch, John Cale, Morris On, French Frith Kaiser Thompson, David Byrne, and the Golden Palominos
April 3, 1946 ~ David Murray Oates, commonly known as bassist Dee Murray, born in Gillingham, UK ~ Briefly a member of the Spencer Davis Group. Best known for backing Elton John through 1975, first appearing on the 1970 Tumbleweed Connection album. Would go on to work with the Mirage, Rick Springfield, Procol Harum, Alice Cooper, Yvonne Elliman, Shaun Cassidy, Kiki Dee, Stefanie Faines, Barbi Benton, Jimmy Webb, Ronnie Hawkins, Lewis Storey, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and John Prine ~ Oates passed away in 1992
April 3, 1945 ~ Actress, singer Catherine Spaak born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France ~ Actress, starring in a dozen films as lead actress before age 18. Notable film credits include Circle Of Love directed by Roger Vadim and The Man The Woman & The Money alongside Marcello Mastroianni. As a singer critically compared to French chanteuse Françoise Hardy and best known for a number of early 1960s recordings including some of Hardy's songs under the direction of Ezio Leoni ~ Spaak passed away in 2022April 3, 1944 ~ Singer, guitarist Barry Pritchard, full name Barry Arthur Pritchard, born in Birmingham, UK ~ Member of harmony beat group the Fortunes from its inception in 1961 until 1995, scoring hits with songs such as You've Got Your Troubles, Here It Comes Again, Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again, and Storm In A Teacup ~ Pritchard passed away in 1999
April 3, 1944 ~ Bassist Peter Staples, full name Peter Lawrence Staples, born in Andover, UK ~ Co-founding member of the Troggs, remaining with the band through 1969. Present on the band's biggest hits including Wild Thing and With A Girl Like You
April 3, 1944 ~ Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis, commonly known as pop singer Tony Orlando born in New York, New York, USA ~ Best known as member of Tony Orlando & Dawn, scoring a number of early to mid 1970s hits such as Candida, Knock Three Times, Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree and He Don't Love You Like I Love You
April 3, 1943 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Artie Traum, full name Arthur Roy Traum, born in the Bronx, New York, USA ~ Worked with the Band, Arlen Roth, Warren Bernhardt, Maria Muldaur, Pat Alger, Tony Levin, John Sebastian, Richie Havens, Eric Andersen, Paul Butterfield, Paul Siebel, Rory Block, James Taylor, Pete Seeger, David Grisman, Livingston Taylor, Michael Franks, Happy Traum, the Blues Project, and the Woodstock Mountain Revue ~ Traum passed away in 2008
April 3, 1943 ~ Composer Mario Lavista born in Mexico City, Mexico ~ Composed chamber music, orchestral and vocal works, and for film. Founded improvisation collective Quanta in 1970. As a composer known for songs such as Dos Canciones and the solo keyboard pieces Mater Dolorosa, Pieze Para Un Pianiste Y Un Piano and Simurg. Chief editor of Pauta, which he founded in 1982, considered one of the foremost music journals in Mexico ~ Lavista passed away in 2021
April 3, 1942 ~ Singer Billy Joe Royal born in Valdosta, Georgia, USA ~ Best known for his 1965 album Down In The Boondocks, the title track peaking at No.9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Close friend and frequent collaborator of Joe South, the latter oft serving as co-writer or writer and/or co-producer or producer. Royal is also known for late 1960s songs such as I Knew You When, I've Got To Be Somebody, Hush, and Cherry Hill Park. Royal would continue to chart throughout the 1990s, mainly on the country charts with songs such as Burned Like A Rocket, Old Bridges Burn Slow, Tell It Like It Is, Love Has No Right, and Till I Can't Take It Anymore ~ Royal passed away in 2015
April 3, 1942 ~ Singer Wayne Newton born in Roanoke, Virginia, USA ~ One of the best known entertainers in Vegas, earning him the nickname “Mr Las Vegas”. Best known for songs such as Danke Schoen, Red Roses For A Blue Lady and Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast
April 3, 1938 ~ Joel Adelberg, commonly known as songwriter, producer, singer Jeff Barry born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ First gained attention in the late 1950s, writing or co-writing songs such as Sam Cooke's Teenage Sonata and Ray Peterson's Tell Laura I Love Her. Would go on to co-write numerous 1960s hits, often with his then-wife Ellie Greenwich, including for artists such as Bob B Soxx & the Blue Jeans, the Crystals (Then He Kissed Me), the Raindrops, Darlene Love (Chapel Of Love), the Chiffons, Ray Peterson, Moody & the Deltas, Connie Francis, the Shangri-Las (The Leader Of The Pack), the Dixie Cups, Ike & Tina Turner (River Deep Mountain High), the Ronettes (Be My Baby), and the McCoys
April 3, 1937 ~ Trombonist, bassist Louis Satterfield, full name Louis Edward Satterfield, born in Shaw, Mississippi, USA ~ Member of the Pharaohs. Member of the Phenix Horns. Worked with Earth Wind & Fire, Muddy Waters, Phil Collins, the Emotions, Ramsey Lewis, the Whispers, the Gap Band, Fontella Bass, the Jazzmen, BB King, Rotary Connection, James Cotton, Phil Upchurch, Howlin' Wolf, Donny Hathaway, Odell Brown, Willie Dixon, Terry Callier, the Dells, Clarence Wheeler, Shel Silverstein, Mighty Joe Young, the Chi-lites, the Staple Singers, Valerie Carter, Deniece Williams, Eugene Record, Lamont Johnson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tavares, Stanley Turrentine, Keni Burke, and Ronnie Laws ~ Satterfield passed away in 2004
April 3, 1936 ~ Hard bop, soul jazz saxophonist, flutist Harold Vick born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA ~ Blues-infused saxophonist on par with Booker Ervin, David Fathead Newman, and Wilton Felder. Over half a dozen albums as a leader, noted especially for his 1963 Steppin' Out debut. As a sideman Vick has appeared on albums by Jack McDuff, Gene Ammons, Big John Patton (Oh Baby), Blue Mitchell, Houston Person (Houston Express), Labelle, Bernard Pretty Purdie (Soul Is Pretty Purdie), Jackie DeShannon, Randy Crawford, Ashford & Simpson, Angela Bofill (Angel Of The Night), Richard Groove Holmes, and Abbey Lincoln ~ Vick passed away in 1987
April 3, 1936 ~ Hard bop, soul jazz organist Jimmy McGriff, full name James Harrell McGriff, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Worked with Charles Earland, Don Gardner, Arthur Prysock, Candido, Carmen McRae, Junior Parker, Buddy Rich, Rusty Bryant, Al Grey, Red Holloway, David Fathead Newman, Frank Wess, Eric Alexander, and Hank Crawford ~ McGriff passed away in 2008
April 3, 1936 ~ Double bassist Scott LaFaro, full name Rocco Scott LaFaro, born in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Despite a relatively short career, cut short by a traffic accident at age 25, one of most influential jazz bassists on par with Charlie Haden and Charles Mingus. Praised for his countermelodic style of accompaniment and his practically unmatched virtuosity. Best known for his association with pianist Bill Evans, including on the highly acclaimed Sunday At The Village Vanguard album recorded live less than two weeks before his death. Has also appeared on albums by Hampton Hawes (For Real), Buddy DeFranco, Victor Feldman (Latinsville), Tony Scott, Booker Little, and Ornette Coleman (Free Jazz) ~ LaFaro passed away in 1961
April 3, 1934 ~ Guitarist Jimmy Nolen born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA ~ Best known for his association with James Brown, member of the JB's, present on hits such as Papa's Got A Brand New Bag, I Got You I Feel Good, It's A Man's Man's Man's World, Cold Sweat, Bring It Up Hipster's Avenue, Ain't It Funky Now, Funky Drummer, and The Boss. Has also worked with Johnny Otis (Willie & The Hand Jive), and George Harmonica Smith. Influenced by T-Bone Walker, BB King, Lowell Fulson. Known for his innovative guitar playing, often referred to as “chicken scratch”. Major influence on future R&B, funk and hip-hop acts such as Earth Wind & Fire, Tower Of Power, Chic, George Clinton, and Eric B & Rakim ~ Nolen passed away in 1983
April 3, 1928 ~ Songwriter, singer, guitarist Don Gibson born in Shelby, North Carolina, USA ~ Revered singer, songwriter. Pivotal to development of country. Wrote country classics such as Sweet Dreams and I Can't Stop Loving You. Nicknamed “the Bad Poet” for his songs about loneliness and lost love. Member of Sons Of The Soil. Artists who recorded his songs include Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, and Neil Young ~ Gibson passed away in 2003
April 3, 1922 ~ Doris Mary Ann Kapelhoff, commonly known as singer, actress Doris Day, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA ~ One of the biggest film stars of the 1960s. Active as a singer since the late 1930s. Recorded an estimate 650 songs. Known for recordings such as Sentimental Journey, My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time, You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart), I Got The Sun In The Morning, It's Magic, Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be). Has worked with artists such as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Bob Crosby, and Les Brown ~ Kappelhoff passed away in 2019
April 3, 1921 ~ Jazz pianist Earl Washington born in Evergreen, Illinois, USA ~ Classically trained. Dubbed “the Ghost” for his light complexion. First gained attention in the late 1940s backing Red Saunders, remaining with Saunders through 1954. Subsequently led his own ensemble, collaborated frequently with Quincy Jones, composed jingles and soundtracks, and wrote for several Motown artists ~ Washington passed away in 1975