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.
December 15, 1953 ~ Country singer, songwriter Randy Parton, full name Randel Huston Parton, born in Sevlerville, Tennessee, USA ~ Brother of singers Stella Parton and Dolly Parton, having backed the latter on albums such as New Harvest First Gathering and Rhinestone. As a solo artist best known for being the first to record Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler), a 1984 Billboard Country No.1 hit for Alabama ~ Parton passed away in 2021
December 15, 1952 ~ Jazz bassist Bruce Gertz, full name Bruce David Gertz, born in Providence, Rhode Island, USA ~ Worked with George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi, Mike Stern, John Abercrombie, Joey Calderazzo, Ken Cervenka, Adam Nussbaum, Dan Reiser, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and George Schuller
December 15, 1949 ~ Cellist, conductor, composer Allan Stephenson born in Wallasey, UK ~ Cellist with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra for nearly 25 years starting in 1973. Prolific composer with over a 100 works to his name, perhaps best known for writing one act of the three act opera The Mandela Trilogy, depicting the life of Nelson Mandela ~ Stephenson passed away in 2021
December 15, 1949 ~ Actor, pop singer Don Johnson, full name Donnie Wayne Johnson, born in Flat Creek, Missouri, USA ~ Best known as an actor for TV, notably the popular 1980s TV series Miami Vice, and film. As a singer released two solo albums, 1980's Heartbeat and 1986's Let It Roll. Best known for his Heartbeat top 10 hit and Till I Loved You, the latter a duet with then-girlfriend Barbra Streisand
December 15, 1948 ~ Carlos Alves, commonly known as violinist Carlos Zingaro, born in Lisbon, Portugal ~ Has worked with Carlos Zingaro, Gianluigi Trovesi, Albert Mangelsdorff, Rodrigo Amado, Joëlle Léandre, Paul Lovens, Derek Bailey, Tristan Honsinger, and Richard Teitelbaum
December 15, 1948 ~ Avant-garde, jazz fusion trumpeter Toshinori Kondo born in Mabari City, Japan ~ Active since the late 1970s, known for his avant-garde jazz and ambient recordings. As a leader especially acclaimed for a string of late 1990s, early 2000s albums, most notably Nerve Tripper released in 2003. As a sideman and collaborator, Kondo has appeared on albums by Eugene Chadbourne, Han Bennink (Jazz Bunker), Peter Brötzmann, Herbie Hancock (Future Shock), the Globe Unity Orchestra, Tristan Honsinger, the Die Like A Dog Quartet, Bill Laswell (Points Of Order), and Milford Graves ~ Kondo passed away in 2020
December 15, 1946 ~ Hard rock, psychedelic rock, blues rock drummer Carmine Appice born in Staten Island, New York, USA ~ Brother of drummer Vinny Appice. Influenced drummers such as Iron Maiden's Nicko McBrain, Aerosmith's Joey Kramer, Rush's Neil Peart, Led Zeppelin's John Bonham, Deep Purple's Ian Paice. Authored the drum instruction book The Realistic Rock Drum Method, published in 1972. Has recorded as a solo artist and drummed with acts such as Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Jan Akkerman, Beck Bogert & Appice, KGB, Rod Stewart, Paul Stanley, King Kobra, Blue Murder, Pappo's Blues, and Pat Travers
December 15, 1946 ~ R&B singer, songwriter Harry Ray born ~ Joined the Moments in 1970, with whom he scored the Billboard R&B top 10 hits If I Didn't Care and All I Have the same year. Subsequent singles would include My Thing, Sexy Mama, Dolly My Love. A move to a new label barred the band from using the name and the trio renamed themselves Ray Goodman & Brown in 1978. The first single under their new moniker, Special Lady, would become one of their biggest hits and reach top 10 Billboard Hot 100 and No.1 Billboard R&B ~ Ray passed away in 1992December 15, 1945 ~ Richard Leonard Tuckey, commonly known as rock, folk rock, country rock, pop rock guitarist, songwriter Len Tuckey, born in Aberdeen, UK ~ Lead guitarist with the Nashville Teens from 1969 through 1973. Rose to prominence backing Suzi Quatro, including co-writing a number of her songs including Glycerine Queen and Mama's Boy. Quatro and Powell were married from 1976 to 1992, the couple have two children together
December 15, 1943 ~ Thomas Wright Waller, commonly known as pianist, singer, songwriter Fats Waller, passed away in Kansas City, Missouri, USA ~ Innovative stride pianist quintessential to development of modern jazz. Reportedly once kidnapped to play at gangster Al Capone's birthday party. Fronted Fats Waller's Rhythm. Wrote over 400 songs, many with lyricist Andy Razaff, including Ain't Misbehaving and Honeysuckle Rose ~ Waller was born in 1904
December 15, 1939 ~ Cynthia Ann Birdsong, commonly known as R&B singer Cindy Birdsong, born in Camden, New Jersey, USA ~ Member of Patti LaBelle's 1960s group the Blue-belles. Best known as member of the Supremes, officially joining the band in 1967 as replacement for co-founding member Florence Ballard. Would first sing mostly backing vocals, from 1970 forward after the departure of Diana Ross gaining a more prominent role. Briefly retired from the band in 1972 and 1973, replaced by Lynda LaurenceDecember 15, 1939 ~ Singer, songwriter Stefan Demert born in Nykoping, Sweden ~ As a solo artist or occasionally duetting with his wife actress and singer Jeja Sundstrom known for songs such as Balladen Om Den Kaxiga Myran, Till Sj, and Anna Anaconda. Demert was also a member of Visor & Bockfot alongside his wife Sundström, Sid Jansson, and Bjorn Stabi ~ Demert passed away in 2018
December 15, 1938 ~ Richard Adam Ziegler, commonly known as singer, songwriter Ritchie Adams, born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Lead singer of Fireflies, present on You Were Mine and I Can't Say Goodbye. Would go on to become a successful songwriter, writing or co-writing songs such as Tossin' & Turnin' (Bobby Lewis), Happy Summer Days (Ronnie Dove), The Tra La La Song (One Banana Two Banana) (Banana Splits), After The Lovin' (Engelbert Humperdinck), and The Next Hundred Years (Al Martino) ~ Ziegler passed away in 2017December 15, 1936 ~ Chicago blues, electric blues singer, songwriter Andrew Odom born in Denham Springs, Louisiana, USA ~ Has released three solo albums, starting with 1969's Farther On Down The Road. Worked with Albert King, Johnny Wiliams, Earl Hooker, Pinetop Perkins, Carey Bell, Geno Skaggs, Freddie Roulette, Johnny Big Moose Walker, Jimmy Dawkins, Otis Rush, and Magic Slim ~ Odom passed away in 1991
December 15, 1936 ~ Pianist, bandleader, composer Eddie Palmieri born in New York, New York, USA ~ Active since the early 1960s, merging jazz with salsa. Influenced by Thelonious Monk and McCoy Tyner. Founded and led La Perfecta, La Perfecta II, and Harlem River Drive. Best known for the 1975 collaborative album The Sun Of Latin Music with Lalo Rodríguez, the first record to earn a Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording. Palmieri has also worked with artists such as Tito Rodriguez, Ismael Quintana, Barry Rogers, Manny Oquendo, Cheo Feliciano, and Cal Tjader ~ Palmieri passed away in 2025
December 15, 1934 ~ Jazz, hard bop, soul jazz trombonist Curtis Fuller, full name Curtis DuBois Fuller, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Influenced by Urbie Green, JJ Johnson, and Miles Davis, Fuller would establish himself as one of the few trombonists able to make the trombone sound fluid and inviting. Prior to leading his own ensembles, Fuller played in an Army band alongside Cannonball Adderley, and honed his skills in his native Detroit with the likes of Kenny Burrell and Yusef Lateef. Fuller was a member of the Jazztet alongside Benny Golson and Art Farmer, and as a member of the Jazz Messengers backed Art Blakey through the mid 1960s including on Caravan, Ugetsu, and Indestructible. Fuller has recorded over two dozen albums as a leader, including notably The Opener, Blues-Ette and Soul Trombone. Over the course of his career, Fuller has appeared on albums by Jackie McLean (Makin' The Changes), Lou Donaldson (Lou Takes Off), Clifford Jordan, Lee Morgan, Jimmy Smith, Machito (Latin Soul Plus Jazz), Kenny Dorham, Wilbur Harden, Abbey Lincoln (It's Magic), John Coltrane (Blue Train), Jimmy Heath, Sonny Clark, Gil Evans (Pacific Standard Time), Blue Mitchell, Gigi Gryce, Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, Phil Woods (Rights Of Swing), Dexter Gordon, Paul Chambers, Freddie Hubbard (The Artistry Of Freddie Hubbard), Stanley Turrentine, Hank Mobley, Joe Henderson (Mode For Joe), Wayne Shorter (Schizophrenia), Ella Fitzgerald, Woody Shaw, and Slide Hampton ~ Fuller passed away in 2021
December 15, 1934 ~ R&B singer Johnny Moore, full name John Darrel Moore, born in Selma, Alabama, USA ~ Member of the Hornets. Best known as a lead singer of the Drifters, remaining with the band from 1954 through 1957, and again from 1964 through 1978. Present on most of the band's best known including Saturday Night At The Movies, Come On Over To My Place, At The Club, and Up In The Streets Of Harlem ~ Moore passed away in 1998
December 15, 1932 ~ Singer, songwriter Jesse Belvin, full name Jesse Lorenzo Belvin, born in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Influenced by Nat King Cole and Billy Eckstine. Served as a model for Sam Cooke. Co-wrote Earth Angel, a hit for the Penguins. Member of the Shields. Member of Big Jay McNeely's backing unit Three Dots & A Dash. As a solo artist best known for songs such as Beware, The Girl In My Dreams and Guess Who. Died in car crash at age 27 following a concert date before a integrated audience in Little Rock, Arkansas. To this day rumours persist regarding the accident's circumstances ~ Belvin passed away in 1960
December 15, 1931 ~ Charlie Daniel Richmond, commonly known as jazz, R&B, pop, rock drummer Dannie Richmond, born in New York, New York, USA ~ Leader and sideman. Best known for his association with Charles Mingus, backing the pianist on some three dozen albums from the mid 1950s until Mingus' death in 1979 including the quintessential Mingus Ah Uhm and The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady. Also present on albums by the likes of Chet Baker (Chet Baker Sings), Jimmy Knepper, Eric Dolphy (Outward Bound), Booker Ervin (The Book Cooks), Ted Curson, Bert Jansch, Bennie Wallace, Mal Waldron, and Duke Jordan (Tivoli One) ~ Richmond passed away in 1988
December 15, 1930 ~ Gospel singer Rodessa Barrett, also known as Rodessa Barrett Porter, born ~ Last surviving member of gospel trio the Barrett Sisters, which also included her sisters DeLois Barrett and Billie Barrett. The sibling outfit have performed and recorded for some seven decades, making them one of the longest-lasting gospel outfits, and record well over a dozen albums. The trio would especially gain attention after being notably featured in the 1982 critically acclaimed documentary Say Amen Somebody, which prompted The New Yorker to comment the siblings “brought the film an emotional pitch, and we in the audience want to go on soaring”. Singer Roberta Martin guested on the trio's 1963 Jesus Loves Me debut album ~ Barrett passed away in 2024
December 15, 1929 ~ Jazz, hard bop pianist Barry Harris, full name Barry Doyle Harris, full name Barry Doyle Harris, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Influenced by Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell. Recorded well over a dozen albums since the late 1950s as a solo artist or leader, usually in smaller ensembles such as trios or quartets. Especially accclaimed for At The Jazz Workshop, Barry Harris Plays Tadd Dameron, and The Bird Of Red And Gold. As a sideman, Harris is present on albums by Art Farmer, Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley (Mobley's Message), Benny Golson, Harold Land (West Coast Blues), Cannonball Adderley, Wes Montgomery (The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes Montgomery), Yusef Lateef, Sonny Red, Sal Nistico, Lee Morgan (The Sidewinder), Charles McPherson, Coleman Hawkins, Illinois Jacquet (Bottoms Up), Eddie Jefferson, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt (Constellation), and Milt Jackson ~ Harris passed away in 2021December 15, 1928 ~ Country singer Ernest Ashworth, full name Ernest Bert Ashworth, born in Huntsville, Alabama, USA ~ Known for a number of 1960s country hits including Each Moment Spent With You, Everybody But Me, I Love To Dance With Annie, The DJ Cried and perhaps his best known Talk Back Trembling Lips, all of which reached top 10 of the Billboard Country charts ~ Ashworth passed away in 2009
December 15, 1928 ~ Violinist Ida Haendel born in Chelm, Poland ~ Child prodigy. Won numerous prestiguous award well before her teens such as for instance the Warsaw Conservatory Gold Medal for her performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's Violin Concerto or the Huberman Prize in 1933, at only 5 years old. Would go on to perform the world over and work on numerous acclaimed recordings during a career spanning seven decades. Notable recordings include Johann Sebastian Bach's Sonatas And Partitas For Solo Violin and Johannes Brahms' Violin Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra, ~ Haendel passed away in 2020December 15, 1925 ~ Violinist, conductor Jack Rothstein born in Warsaw, Poland ~ Member of the London Czech Trio. Conducted the Boyd Neel Orchestra, the Northern Sinfonia, the Johann Strauss Orchestra, and the Viennese Orchestra Of London. Also known for his work with TV and radio and as a member of the Wombles. Played violin on the Beatles-songs I Am The Walrus and Within You Without You ~ Rothstein passed away in 2001
December 15, 1924 ~ Soul jazz, blues guitarist Billy Butler, full name William Butler Jr, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Best known for his association with Bill Doggett, including writing and performing on the 1956 hit Honky Tonk. Butler also worked with Al Casey, King Curtis, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Wild Bill Davison, Tommy Flanagan, Panama Francis, Benny Goodman, Johnny Hodges, Floyd Candy Johnson, David Fathead Newman, Houston Person, Sammy Price, Jimmy Smith, Norris Turney, Dinah Washington, Joey Dee & the Starliters (The Peppermint Twist), Gene Ammons, James Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Hodges, Illinois Jacquet, Freddie King, Houston Person, and Yusef Lateef ~ Butler passed away in 1991
December 15, 1924 ~ Esther Lowy, commonly known as singer, accordionist, activist Esther Béjarano, born in Saarlouis, Germany ~ Survived Auschwitz by joining the newly formed the Women's Orchestra Of Auschwitz. After the war would keep the memory of the Holocaust alive through music and lectures and notably as founder and chairperson of the the International Auschwitz Committee which also included cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch. Founded the musical group Coincidence in 1980 with her daughter and son, performing songs from the ghetto, Hebrew folk and anti-fascist reportoire ~ Béjarano passed away in 2021