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 6, 1900 ~ Songwriter, lyricist Leo Robin born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Perhaps best remembered for co-writing Thanks For The Memory with Ralph Rainger, sung by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross in the film The Big Broadcast Of 1938. Other well known songs co-written by Robin include Blue Hawaii (Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley), In Love In Vain (Margaret Whiting, Betty Madigan, Patti Page), Prisoner Of Love (Russ Columbo, Mildred Bailey, Teddy Wilson, the Ink Spots), Miss Brown To You (Billie Holiday, Anita O'Day, Carmen McRae), Love Is Just Around The Corner (the Pickens Sisters, the Dorsey Brothers), and Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend (Carol Channing, Marilyn Monroe, Lena Horne, Della Reese) ~ Robin passed away in 1984
April 6, 1892 ~ Old-time guitarist, harmonica player, singer Henry Whitter, full name William Henry Whitter, born near Fries, Virginia, USA ~ Reportedly the first country singer to record in New York in 1927, though the claim is disputed and Okeh records show no proof. Remembered for recordings such as The New River Train, Put My Little Shoes Away, Lost John, Fox Chase, and perhaps most notably his 1924 release The Wreck On The Southern Old 97 co-penned with regular collaborator GB Grayson. The latter would be covered the same year by Vernon Dalhart as The Wreck Of The Old '97 which paired with The Prisoner's Song on the flip side would become the first million-seller country song ~ Whitter passed away in 1941