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, 1921 ~ DJ Alan Freed, full name Albert James Freed, born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Perhaps the first superstar radio DJ, promoting rock & roll, blues, country and R&&B until the payola scandal ended his career in the early 1960s ~ Freed passed away in 1965
December 15, 1917 ~ Hildegard Zadek, commonly known as operatic soprano Hilde Zadek, born in Bromberg, Prussia ~ As a Jew fled Germany in 1934 to Palestine. Returned to Europe in 1945. Soprano best known for her association with the Vienna State Opera, staying with the orchestra from her critically acclaimed 1947 debut starring in Giuseppe Verdi's Aida through 1971. Has also sang with the Munich State Opera, the Berlin State Opera, the Royal Opera House, the Paris Opera, La Scala, and the Bolshoi Theatre ~ Zadek passed away in 2019December 15, 1916 ~ Edwin Lemar Cole, commonly known as jazz pianist, orchestra leader, composer Buddy Cole, born in Irving, Illinois, USA ~ Married Yvonne King, one of the King Sisters. Worked with Alvino Rey, Frankie Trumbauer, Henry Mancini, Jill Corey, Bing Crosby (In A Little Spanish Town), and Rosemary Clooney ~ Cole passed away in 1964
December 15, 1914 ~ David Largus McEnery, commonly known as Western singer, guitarist, songwriter Red River Dave, born in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ Best known for his 1939 recording Amelia Earhart's Last Flight. Also known for playing in several westerns as a singing cowboy, including 1944's Swing In The Saddle, and 1948's Hidden Valey and Echo Ranch. Member of the Swift Boys ~ McEnery passed away in 2002
December 15, 1911 ~ Jazz pianist, bandleader, composer Stan Kenton, full name Stanley Newcomb Kenton, born in Wichita, Kansas, USA ~ Revered bandleader leading his orchestra for well over four decades working in progressive jazz, West Coast jazz, swing, orchestral jazz and other idioms. Has worked with Maynard Ferguson, Zoot Sims, Gerry Mulligan, Nat King Cole, Anita O'Day, Lucky Thompson, June Christy, Chris Connor, Art Pepper, Pete Rugolo, Peter Erskine, and Eddie Safranski ~ Kenton passed away in 1979
December 15, 1910 ~ John Henry Hammond II, commonly known as producer, label executive John Hammond Sr, born in New York, USA ~ Father of singer, guitarist John Hammond Jr. Instrumental in the careers of numerous future stars early on or at pivotal moments in their career such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Charlie Christian, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Teddy Wilson, Big Joe Turner, Pete Seeger, Aretha Franklin, Freddie Green, Leonard Cohen, Arthur Russell, Jim Copp, Asha Puthli, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Mike Bloomfield ~ Hammond passed away in 1987December 15, 1904 ~ Guitarist, steel guitarist Lani McIntyre born in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA ~ Influenced Hank Williams and Elvis Presley. Laid the foundation for the use of the steel guitar, helping popularize the sound. The instrument would become a mainstay in country music. Well-known for his work with Jimmie Rodgers. Recorded prolifically as a solo artist and leader from the mid-1930 until his death in 1951. Backed Bing Crosby and the original version of Blue Hawaii ~ McIntyre passed away in 1951
December 15, 1898 ~ Choral conductor, organist, composer Fritz Werner born in Berlin, Germany ~ Best known for founding the Heinrich-Schütz-Chor Heilbronn in 1947, serving as its conductor until 1973. The ensemble is noted for its vast collection of recordings, especially the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, and for its impressive rotating roster of soloists including Agnes Giebel, Claudia Hellmann, Kurt Huber, Maurice André, and Marie-Claire Alain ~ Werner passed away in 1977
December 15, 1891 ~ Alvin Pleasant Delaney Carter, commonly known as guitarist, singer AP Carter born in Maces Spring, Virginia, USA ~ Patriarch, founding member of the Carter Family, which also included his wife Sara Carter and cousin Mother Maybelle Carter ~ Carter passed away in 1960