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 16, 1918 ~ George Edward Ballard, commonly known as jazz drummer Butch Ballard, born in Camden, New Jersey, USA ~ Worked with Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Cootie Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Pearl Bailey, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Arnett Cobb, Clark Terry, Shadow Wilson, Woody Herman, Harry Carney, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Billy Strayhorn, Kay Davis, Chubby Kemp, Wendell Marshall, John Coltrane, Freddie Green, Harry Sweets Edison, Clark Terry, Emmett Berry, Bardu Ali, Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Arnett Cobb, Lucky Millinder, Bootsie Barnes, Bob Dorsey, Eddy Vincent, Mercer Ellington, and the Philadelphia Legends Of Jazz Orchestra ~ Ballard passed away in 2011
December 16, 1918 ~ Pierre Charles Marcel Napoleon Leroyer, commonly known as songwriter Pierre Delanoë born in Paris, France ~ Wrote thousands of songs recorded by Dalida, Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Petula Clark, Johnny Hallyday, Joe Dassin, Michel Sardou, Mireille Mathieu. Co-wrote Et Maintenant with Gilbert Bécaud, its translation What Now My Love was recorded by Agnetha Fältskog, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, the Supremes, Sonny & Cher, the Temptations. Co-wrote Je T'Appartiens, translated to Let It Be Me recorded by the Everly Brothers, Tom Jones, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and Nina Simone ~ Delanoë passed away in 2006December 16, 1915 ~ Bandleader, pianist, arranger Marty Gold born in New York, New York, USA ~ Pianist, arranger for popular 1940s novelty danceband the Korn Kobblers. Perhaps best remembered for penning Tell Me Why, a 1951 hit record for the Four Aces ~ Gold passed away in 2011
December 16, 1908 ~ Jazz, blues, R&B bassist, tubist Quinn Wilson, full name Quinn Brown Wilson, born in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Worked with Tiny Parham, Walter Barnes, Jelly Roll Morton, Erskine Tate, Earl Hines, Jimmie Noone, Lefty Bates, John Lee Hooker (including on the acclaimed The Folk Lore Of John Lee Hooker), and Franz Jackson ~ Wilson passed away in 1978
December 16, 1895 ~ Andriamananentena Paul Razafinkarefo, commonly known as songwriter, lyricist Andy Razaff, born in Washington DC, USA ~ Remembered for co-penning songs such as Honeysuckle Rose (Bert Stock, Mildred Bailey, Louis Jordan, Horace Henderson), S'posin' (Bob Haring, Rudy Vallée, Erskine Hawkins, the Chordettes), Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now (Louis Armstrong, Lee Wiley, Dinah Washington, Barbra Streisand), Stompin' At The Savoy (Judy Garland, Stan Kenton, Maxine Sullivan), You're Lucky To Me (Ethel Waters), The Joint Is Jumpin' (Fats Waller), and Ain't Misbehavin' (Margaret Simms & Paul Bass, the Charleston Chasers, Chester Gaylord) ~ Razafinkarefo passed away in 1973