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 8, 1942 ~ Drummer Bobby Elliott, full name Robert Hartley Elliott born in Burnley, UK ~ Original, longtime member of the Hollies. The band is known for 1960s hits such as Just One Look, We're Through, I'm Alive, Look Through Any Window, I Can't Let Go, Carrie Anne, Jennifer Eccles, and Sorry Suzanne Elliott has been cited as an influence by later drummers such as Gilson Lavis, Ric Lee, Cozy Powell, and Ian Paice
December 8, 1942 ~ Frederick Nathaniel Hibbert, commonly known as ska, rockteady, reggae singer, guitarist, songwriter Toots Hibbert, born in May Pen, Jamaica ~ Influenced by Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, James Brown. Pioneering reggae singer. Fronted Toots & the Maytals. Known for songs such as Do The Reggay, reportedly the song that named the genre, Bam-bam, Sweet & Dandy, Romp & Pride, and 54-46 That's My Number. Worked with producers such as Coxsone Dodd, Prince Buster, Byron Lee, Ronnie Nasralla, and Leslie Kong ~ Hibbert passed away in 2020December 8, 1939 ~ Classical, pop flutist James Galway born in Belfast, Northern Ireland ~ Internationally renowned flutist dubbed “the Man with the Golden Flute”. Has worked with the Sadler's Wells Opera, the Covent Garden Opera, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
December 8, 1939 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, pianist, saxophonist, drummer Jerry Butler born in Sunflower, Mississippi, USA ~ Original lead singer of the Impressions, which at the time also included a then-unknown Curtis Mayfield. Present on the acclaimed For Your Precious Love, later covered by numerous artists including Otis Redding, Jackie Wilson, Count Basie and Aaron Neville. After his departure from the band in 1960 Butler would reach chart succes with songs such as He Will Break Your Heart, Moon River, Make It Easy On Yourself and the Betty Everett-duet Let It Be Me. Butler co-penned his highest-charting hit, 1969's Only The Strong Survive reaching No.4 Billboard Hot 100, with future Philly soul architects Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The song would notably be covered by Elvis Presley, Skeeter Davis and Billy Paul ~ Butler passed away in 2025December 8, 1939 ~ Eulis Richardson, commonly known as R&B drummer, percussionist, arranger Soko Richardson, born in New Iberia, Louisiana, USA ~ Most noted for his associations with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, and the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, especially remembered for arrangements on Proud Mary. Has also worked with Ike Turner's the Kings Of Rhythm, Pee Wee Crayton, Bobby Womack, Terry Reid, and Albert Collins ~ Richardson passed away in 2004
December 8, 1938 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, producer Bernie Krause born in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Member of the Weavers from 1963 until the group disbanded the following year. Subsequently formed the duo Beaver & Krause with Paul Beaver, helpful in popularizing the Moog synthesizer in pop music. The duo appeared on Star Collector a track by the Monkees recorded in 1967
December 8, 1936 ~ John Askew, commonly known as rock, pop singer, songwriter Johnny Gentle, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Has gone by several monikers including his given name Askew, Darren Young, and mostly Johnny Gentle. Gentle recorded a handful of songs in the late 1950s and early 1960s, most of which did not chart, starting with Wendy in 1959, followed up with Milk From The Coconut, Darling Won't You Wait, and This Friendly World. Perhaps best remembered for briefly touring Scotland with the Silver Beetles, later known as the Beatles, as his backing band. Gentle's I've Just Fallen For Someone, released in 1962, is reportedly written with some help from John Lennon. Gentle would later co-author the book Johnny Gentle & the Beatles (First Ever Tour), published in 1998 ~ Askew passed away in 2024December 8, 1936 ~ Jazz pianist Larry Vuckovich born in Kotor, Yugoslavia ~ Worked with John Handy, Brew Moore, Cal Tjader, Vince Guaraldi, Irene Kral, Mel Tormé, Jon Hendricks, Dusko Gojkovic, Philly Joe Jones, Dexter Gordon, Arnett Cobb, Buddy Tate, Charles McPherson, Leon Thomas, Scott Hamilton, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Al Cohn, Curtis Fuller, Tom Harrell, Billy Higgins, Milt Hinton, Mel Lewis, Red Mitchell, Michael Moore, Cecil Payne, Walter Booker, Joshua Breakstone, Dennis Irwin, Victor Lewis, and Harvie S
December 8, 1933 ~ Singer, songwriter, producer Dick Glasser, full name Richard Eugene Glasser, born in Canton, Ohio, USA ~ Penned and recorded Angels In The Sky in 1954. Following Glasser's release the song would be bought by RCA Records who gave it to singer Tony Martin. Part of the deal was that Glasser would pull his release. The following year the song would be covered by the Crew Cuts, whose version became a million-seller. Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Glasser included Bobby Vee, PJ Proby, Gene Vincent (Teardrops), Chet Atkins (I Will), Johnny Cash, and the Kingston Trio. Glasser would also serve as producer and label executive for the labels Dolton, Warner Bros Records, and MGM Records, notably producing the 1975 CW McCall hit Convoy for the latter ~ Glasser passed away in 2000
December 8, 1925 ~ James Oscar Smith, commonly known as hard bop, soul jazz, jazz-funk organist, keyboardist Jimmy Smith, born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Helped popularize the Hammond organ in jazz. Influenced Jimmy McGriff, Brother Jack McDuff, Don Patterson, Richard Groove Holmes, Tony Monaco and Larry Goldings. Worked wih Oliver Nelson, Kenny Burrell, George Benson, Quincy Jones, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Joey DeFrancesco, BB King, Dr John, and Etta James ~ Smith passed away in 2005
December 8, 1925 ~ Singer, pianist, percussionist, dancer, actor, comedian Sammy Davis Jr, full name Samuel George Davis Jr, born in Harlem, New York, USA ~ Active since age three, performing in vaudeville shows with his father Sammy Davis Sr and the Will Mastin Trio. Starred in the 1956 Broadway production Mr Wonderful. Member of the Rat Pack, known among others for the 1960 film Oceans 11. As a solo artist best known for songs such as Hey There, Something's Gotta Give, Love Me Or Leave Me, What Kind Of Fool Am I, Me And My Shadow with Frank Sinatra, I've Gotta Be Me, and perhaps his best known The Candy Man, the latter topping the American charts in 1972 ~ Davis passed away in 1990December 8, 1922 ~ Clarinetist Sol Yaged born in Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Benny Goodman. Offered a chair with the Buffalo Philharmonic, but embraced jazz instead. In-demand sideman through the 1940s and early 1950s, working with the likes of Phil Napoleon, Coleman Hawkins, Red Allen, and Jack Teagarden. Led his own ensembles from the mid 1950s onward, a fixture on the New York jazz scene through the late 1990s ~ Yaged passed away in 2019
December 8, 1918 ~ Gérard Marcel Tisserand, commonly known as baritone singer Gérard Souzay, born ~ Active since the mid 1940s. Recitalist, opera singer, considered one of the finest mélodie singers. Frequent collaborator of pianist Dalton Baldwin. Sang in over a dozen languages. Noted for his interpretations of Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann. Had works written especially for him and his sister, soprano Geneviève Touraine, by Jacques Leguerney ~ Tisserand passed away in 2004
December 8, 1914 ~ Western swing, honky tonk singer, guitarist, songwriter Floyd Tillman born in Ryan, Oklahoma, USA ~ Instrumental in the development of Western swing and honky tonk. Influenced Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Ray Price, Frankie Miller, Connie Smith, Lawton Williams, Mel Tillis, Darrell McCall, and George Jones. Worked with Adolph Hofner, Mack Clark, Leon Selph, the Blue Ridge Playboys, Cliff Bruner, Ted Daffan, and Moon Mullican. Wrote It Makes No Difference Now, recorded by Jimmie Davis. As a solo artist known for songs such as I Love You So Much It Hurts, I'm Gonna Change All My Ways, Each Night At Nine, Slippin' Around, and perhaps his best known They Took The Stars Out Of Heaven ~ Tillman passed away in 2003December 8, 1912 ~ Jazz critic, producer, impresario Hugues Panassié born in Paris, France ~ Influential yet controversial figure. Founded the Hot Club De France in the early 1930s, an organization to promote jazz, swing and blues. Produced sessions by Mezz Mezzrow and Tommy Ladnier. During World War II managed to keep broadcasting jazz standards fooling the occupying Nazis by submitting obtuse French translations of the titles to censors and relabeling records although many of them were American jazz ~ Pannassié passed away in 1974
December 8, 1899 ~ Conductor John Farnsworth Hall born in Petersham, Australia ~ Member, violinist of the Farmer's Trio, a 1920s pioneering radio chamber trio with Horace Keats and John Boatwright. Would go on to become a renowned conductor, notably associated with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra ~ Hall passed away in 1987